Disappearing New York

I love New York. What once seemed larger than life, now seems smaller and foreign to me. When I visit my beloved areas of Chinatown, Flushing, East Village, Jackson Heights, I expect to see the streets run by the people of the neighborhood. It saddens me to see our city run by large fat american food establishments and less small immigrant owned shops, which let me remind you is the backbone of New York eats. What's next? Am I going to find this Wednesday's Dining Out headlined: Red Hook vendors start building brick and morter stores in Manhattan. Please kill me if they do.

Not everyday I get to wake up for brunch, but last Friday before work I got to try Shopsin in the Essex Market. You've probably drove pass it and not even notice that there was a market. Once you walk in you know your in New York, no frills, no organic, no bullshit and food stamps accepted. I hate large menus. I love to eat so it's tough for me to choose only one thing, I usual go for the most unusual item that I don't get to eat everyday. Shopsin's menu is the god of all menus, there are over 200 choices, and everyone one of them is a culinary creation. They are Mets fans, which automatically is a plus. Let me tell you I wanted everything on the menu, but decided to go for Mr. Mention: Jerk oxtail, Beef-a-Roni, Soft Scrambles, and potato toast. I've always said you can measure a good cook by their eggs, and they were perfect. My fooding friend had lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes and cheese grits. She always manages to pick the best items on the menu. It was all wonderful!! One of my pet peeves is service, but at this general store you're not going to get it. I wasn't turned off, instead I embraced it. It's not like they don't know what they're doing, it was genuinely their personality. I love food that represent the people, and you''ll find it here. If you want rustic East Village style peasant food head over to Shopsin. For dessert walk down two stalls to Roni Sues Chocolates and get the Chocolate covered Bacon. Believe it.

 

Shopsin

 

Menu

  

Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes with Cheese Grits

 

Me Mention: Jerk Oxtail, Beef-a-roni, Soft Scrabbles, Potato toast

 

Delicious

 

Roni Sue's Chocolates

  

Pig Candy: Dark and Milk Chocolate Covered Bacon