New York Adventures - Part Trois - Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs, James Gandolfini and the Pony Bar!

Oh Crif Dogs, this is by far the new form of the old classic. In the last leg of my foodie journey to NYC the most unforgettable parts was the amazing "gorument" hot dog. Now real hot dog lovers out there will know well of the Nathan's Hot Dogs on Coney Island, and Gray's Papaya in Midtown - these are the die hard people's hot dog. These are the upscale hot dogs to the now becoming extinct cart or "dirty" dogs that once littered wall street, and now are regulated to out side the Met and next to the park, for the tourists of course
Oh quick tangent, New Yorkers HATE tourists, now i'm not just talking about the tourists that are snapping picture of everything including the flies, but all of them, Problem? there everywhere!!! NYC is a city of immigrants, there are NOO natives left, there gone! I couldn't even find a good Jewish Begal, and Katz deli was more expensive than ever! So all those out there who are still under the dilusion that New York is the 1970's Bob Dylan song full of art, sex, drugs, and inspiration--reality check! Times Square rules New York, and it's more like Toyko than Utpoia -- commercialization everywhere! Ok, tangent over! >>Hot Dogs'>>> so for those classic hot dog lovers, Crif Dogs takes it on to a whole new height! check some of this menu goodness out:

1. Jon-jon Deragon the crif dog with a schmear of cream cheese, scallions & everything bagel seeds
2. Tsunami a house dog, bacon wrapped , with teriyaki, pineapple and green onions

And even better......the Stoner packs!!!

The Stoner paks
Stoner Pak 1 enough for on dude with a monster case of the munchies				10
Stoner Pak 2 enough for two dudes with the munchies or one desperately hungry dude in need of sustenance				20
Stoner Pak 3 enough food to fill three, even four of the most desperately hungry dudes & fiends alike				30
Stoner Pak 4 a biblical combo of indulgence, if you may. one of the 7 deadly sins. long live gluttony				40

That's right kids! this is the best ever!! this is definitely not be missed!

And on to our famous Italian pastries! now if you caught my tangent from above then you'll know that the disappointment that I feel for this "New" New York, but some things never change, and this is one Ferrara's Italian Bakery, right on the outside of the toursisty (not the real) Chinatown and has been since 1892! Serving up everything from Cannoli to Napoleons, fruit tarts, and eclairs!!! It's definitely not a normal tourist spot, and there is a plethora of older Italian women throughtout the restaurant, so for an insider look check this one out!

Ok, so my James Gandolfini moment- we were hoping to get tickets to see Gods of Carnage with Marica Gay Harden and James Gandolfini, and were waiting in a horrendous line with Mr. Mr. drives up himself in his cream colored Cadillac and jumps out with this Soprano sature and throws (tosses) a water bottle at a friend/ driver/ bum (j/k) and walks/ swaggers on in to the back lot to prepare for his show that evening! awww celebrity siteing! Mine can only be trumped by my firends who walked right into Mr. Mr. and he stepped back and said "waoo there" -- in that one there was actual contact and a strange look on both side - his because she just walked into James Gandolfini, and hers because she was trying to figure out who he was!!!! oh well, such is life as a New Yorker!

AWWW the Pony Bar ---- a local favorite in the Hell's Kitchen area, and known for their American Craft Beers! And the best part is when they ring the bell and all the drafts (over 15) are switched out for new ones! So much beautiful beer! From Abby styles to white Belgians, Raspberry wheat's to superdark brown's and to top it all off they also had boutique Bourbon!! Now for those of you close to the Diva, you know I'm a Bourbon bitch, and ohhhh mamma, a 4 grain (bellisema), and a single malt, it's alll about the goodness!

And on to the main event!!!! Casalulla, well if Bourbon gets me going, cheese gets me there! and this place is a local haunt KNOWN for there cheese selection, they even had their Fromoger deliver the plating, and descriptions of the cheese!Pieces of yummy cheesey, pork, and red peppers!

A triple creme with macaroons, ash rind cow's milk with pea roumalade, cow's milk with hazelnut caviar, raw goat's milk with hmmmm? my drunken brain, pecrinno with pesto, and blue (very smelly, only the best) with dark chocolate!!
Pig's Ass Sandwich! I swear that's really the name! and it's been a long time since I've had a sandwich that was soo well executed! Just succulent, savory, smoky, and cheesy!

Their gorgeous cheese case is an antique jewelery case, transformed to hold real gems! (cheese, obviously)

The last taste of the evening, goat's cheese dipped in chocolate, covered in walnuts! Paired of course with an outstanding red, I'm not quite sure of the name as I had 3 glasses of wine in front of me at the time (for tasting purposes of course!) -- now I've heard some varied reactions to how this might have tasted and I'm here to DECLARE: outstanding, creamy, a savory, chocolaty and salty concoction -- i would say something like a Sunday cone by with a more creamy and tart center! Too bad they don't make these in California! :(

Ok and finally we finished the last night with drinks at Therapy, an outstanding gay bar with an utterly fabulous Queen at the top of the cake called PEPPERMINT! this girl was so beautiful, and a singer that harks of Tony Braxton! Check this NYC Diva out below!!!!

So that's the end of the Journey, a decedent plane ride home in
First class cause I was soo very tired from my adventures,
I mean if there wasn't free cocktails in first class I might not
have made it all the way from San Francisco to the
disappointment that was Grape and Gourmet a.k.a
Best of Sacramento II - the lame version!
Well as for food and atmosphere in NYC I'll be back,
I mean I didn't even get a chance to galk and swoon over
Thomas Keller or Mr. Hottie (i kid not) Anthony Bourdain!