Mason Jar NYC - Disappointing Food and a Western Ghost Town Bar

On my second visit to Mason Jar, I was reminded of how disappointing this place was and am now wondering why this place is still around. BOURBON and BEER. That's why! They have a wide selection of bourbon and beers, slightly over 20 each, that will definitely keep the patrons coming back for more. But is it enough to keep this place afloat? Sure, liquor/beverages have high margins, but you need something else to supplement that income, especially when New York City rents are so high. So, my best guess is that the Mason Jar will be short-lived - which is unfortunate since its a relatively new establishment to the area.

So why such a bad review?

FOOD IS HORRIBLE. If you like bland food, then this is your place. On my most recent visit, I ordered the pulled pork entree with two sides. The pulled pork tasted something akin to Chipotle's or Qdoba's shredded pork, but blander if you can believe it (and I think the fast food chains are a chin ahead of mason jar on this one). The garlic mashed potatoes tasted like they came out of a box - something I was not expecting. A friend ordered the meatloaf that touted "bacon" and I swear I didn't taste any bacon in that thing.

Sadly, I can't say my first visit was any better. My friends and I visited this place shortly after it opened. We ordered the BBQ ribs, Pretzel Burger and DOH, the Pulled Pork. And, my opinion then was the same as it was tonight -- bad, just plain bad.

I will say one thing, of all the things that are pretty good or decent at this place, its the Jalapeno Corn Bread. They used to serve it as "the bread when you first sit down", but that is no longer being served as your 'welcome' bread.

The decor is nice - sort of reminds me of Galway Hooker. Either way, I wish they spent a little less on the decor and more on a good chef -- that way they could sell a lot more liquor when its comforted by good food!

Its just too bad that this place doesn't have better food, otherwise, I think it would actually have a good chance. But, if you want to name your restaurant as an "American BBQ comfort bar/restaurant" than you should probably serve some decent BBQ! Especially if you know your competitors are Blue Smoke, Wildwood and Hill Country, which are all within a 1-1.5 mile radius. Heck, I would even throw in Hill Stone (previously Houston's) as their direct competitor.

What's the verdict? This place is not recommended for dining, even if you are having a craving for BBQ - its just not worth it. If you're interested in having some drinks, I'd suggest coming for Happy Hour which starts at 5 and ends at 7. Or, even if you're looking for a low-key quiet-mellow place, Mason Jar will be a good place for it -- think of the old Ghost Town bars in western movies -- that's what this place will be.

Mason Jar
43 E 30th St
(between Madison Ave & S Park Ave)
New York, NY 10016

p.s. if you're wondering why I came back to this place? A friend had a Groupon that was about to expire, so we had to use it. Its too bad we spent our groupon on food instead of alcohol!

$6 AMC Matinee Movie Tickets - Don't miss your opportunity to watch Oscar movies on the big screen!

If you haven't had a chance to watch some of the Oscar nominated movies, you can still watch a few of them in theaters - Black Swan, True Grit, 127 Hours, etc -- for the low price of $6.00.

The catch? You have to watch the movie before NOON and prices are only available at select AMC Theaters. Check my previous blog post for more info on this deal, theater locations and other movie theater ticket deals.

Photo taken at the AMC Lincoln Center Theater.

Homemade Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey Meatloaf with Asparagus

(sorry no mashed potatoes; photo taken w/ iphone)

Mmmm... meatloaf. Good meatloaf is very hard to find and since its one of my favorite comfort foods, I decided to make it myself. Normally, meatloaf is made with ground beef and ground pork (and sometimes with veal), but I thought I would make it with turkey - the healthier alternative. This will be my first time making turkey meatloaf, so this should be interesting.

I found a recipe on the foodnetwork and included it below.

A few comments about the turkey meatloaf recipe:

- I didn't want to make 5 pounds of turkey meatloaf, so I cut the recipe in half.

- I cooked the onions as noted below, but its a bit irritating to wait for it to reach room temperature to mix. I've seen Paula Deen cook meatloaf without pre-cooking the onions, so I wonder if this is a necessary step considering the onions will likely cook during the baking time.

- Since the ingredients were cut in half, you should still make sure the meat reaches 160 degrees. If you don't have a meat thermometer, like me (added to the shopping list), another way to check is cutting into it after 1.25 hours to see if the turkey meat is white and firm in the middle like it is around the edges. (Note: when I checked the meatloaf, there was this yellow-white liquid that formed on the top - yuck, right? Yes, but its the turkey fat - i just scooped that off the top and put it back in)

- Kethcup on top of meatloaf - when I saw this - I thought, really? That's it... I followed the meatloaf recipe this time; however, next time, I might mix the ketchup with some bbq sauce to make the crust "sweeter" or A-1 sauce to make it "tangier" (note: after tasting it, i was surprised that the ketchup alone wasn't bad)

- Recipe says to place the meatloaf in a rectangular shape on an ungreased sheet pan -- I opted to place it on a meatloaf/bread pan - but if you place it on an ungreased pan, it will be easier to coat the meatloaf with the ketchup and easier to cut into the middle to see if its cooked

Last Minute thoughts:

- this definitely needs a sauce on top of it -- I used more ketchup at the end, but you can make a simple concoction with ketchup, brown sugar, dried mustard, nutmeg and butter like in this video.
- You can add Turkey Bacon to the top of the meatloaf.

Recipe:

• 3 cups chopped yellow onions (2 large onions)
  
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
  
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
  
• 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup chicken stock
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
  
• 5 pounds ground turkey breast
  
• 1 1/2 cups plain dry bread crumbs
  
• 3 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup ketchup

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium saute pan, over medium-low heat, cook the onions, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme until translucent, but not browned, approximately 15 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste and mix well. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Combine the ground turkey, bread crumbs, eggs, and onion mixture in a large bowl. Mix well and shape into a rectangular loaf on an ungreased sheet pan. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 1/2 hours until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. and the meatloaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven under the meatloaf will keep the top from cracking.)

Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold in a sandwich.

A happy afternoon at the Apple Store in the Upper West Side

Unfortunate for me, my MacBook Pro's battery exploded and it was time to make a visit to one of the Apple stores for a replacement.

I made an online appointment to visit the UWS Genius Bar instead of the madhouse SoHo Apple store or the tourist infested 5th Avenue store to help me save time. I arrived at the store 5 minutes before my appointment, but since there was a waiting list, I still had to wait another 20 minutes before I saw an Apple Care - Genius guy. In my head, I thought - then why did I make an appointment? Oh wells.

But, this is where Apple is very smart with their customer service.

To keep your mind off your watch and the inevitable long wait time, why don't you play with the MacBook Pros that we've left for you on the table? Yes, let time pass as you surf the net, play a game of solitaire or experience the power of the MacBook Pro and maybe you'll want to buy one after your wait.

It worked on me and the elderly lady sitting across from me (see photo)! The time flew by as I surfed the internet and caught up on news. And after 20 minutes, I wasn't annoyed or angry like I would be if I was waiting at the DMV. Very smart Apple!

And it gets better! I don't doubt the aptitude of the Apple Care guys and their ability to resolve issues, but wow, my Apple Care guy took one quick look at my battery and he gave his speedy judgment!

Apple Guy: "Do you leave your battery cord plugged in all the time?
Me: Um, yes.
AG: That's the reason why the battery exploded -- overuse. You're not supposed to leave the cord connected to the computer after you've reached 100% charge.
M: Oh, no one told me that! ... and I've been in here before about my battery problems.
AG: Its in the manual.
In my mind, I thought - who reads manuals? Eeks!
M: Dang it! Ummm, I have Apple Care ...
AG: Yes, since your computer is no longer under warranty and you have Apple Care, we'll exchange your battery for a new one. Only this one time.
Finally, an extended warranty comes in handy!
AG: With the new battery, do not continuously charge the battery, otherwise, the same thing will happen. You have to let the battery go up to 100%, disconnect the cord and then let the battery deplete itself and then recharge it.
M: Ok, good to know.

The transaction took about 10 minutes and I had a new battery. Whew, I saved myself $99 and for once, extended warranty came in handy (though, I do admit I haven't broken even on that extended care warranty yet! Oh wells, peace of mind). And then, as I was putting away my belongings, I forgot I had an issue with my iPhone too and as I tried to ask him, he politely said to me that since there is a waiting list, I won't be able to help you. Bummer. So I put my name back onto the list.

Fortunately, iPhone issues are even faster to resolve, so the waiting list was shorter than the computer issue. I sat down, took a look at the MacBook Pro, and then realized my name was just called. HOW COOL! That was uber fast.

So I explained my situation and the Apple Care Guy #2 ran a series of tests on my iPhone and realized the battery was "consumed" and the tests weren't working on my iPhone. So there was something definitely wrong with my iPhone. After a few more test checks, he realized it was time for a new iPhone. What?! But to my pleasant surprise, he looked up my account and said he could replace it for free. Phew. All of that also took about 10 minutes! Yes! this makes for a happy afternoon at the Apple Store!

Alright, are you bored yet? I am, and I am writing this. So lets just get to the gist of the reason why I am writing this.

1. If you live in New York City, make a visit to the Upper West Side location to get your issues resolved. I believe the lines are faster, the attendants are nicer (since there aren't as many people hassling them), and you will go home faster. The 14th Street location may also be a good location to try out.

2. I'm not sure how making an Apple appointment helps you (since I still had to wait 20 minutes in line without being bumped to the next available attendant), but I guess you can still do so.

3. Be nice to your Apple Care - Genius Guy - you just never know what they can do for you when your product is broken.

4. I didn't think of this until now, but for travelers, you can get free internet access at the Apple Store... Although, I would be careful inputting any passwords, but that's just me.

Have fun! and p.s. I think the new iPads are coming out next week! will FLASH programs work on it? we shall see!

To check the nearest Apple Store to you, click here.

New York Times: Doughnut Tour

Doughnuts ... is it the new New York food craze? Or are doughnuts a has been? Who knows, but we know the likes of Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme have found some creative competitors seeking to revitalize the old boring glaze doughnut.

For more, read the New York Times article on the Flowering of the Doughnut Arts, with mentions of The Doughnut Plant (located on Grand Street on LES and a new location at the Chelsea Hotel on 23rd Street), Wonder City Coffee & Doughnuts (10th Street and Ave A), Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop (Greenpoint, Brooklyn) and Dough (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn).

For a more visual look, check out their New York Times Doughnut Tour Slideshow.

Free Popcorn every Wednesday at AMC Theaters with MovieWatcher Card

Every Wednesday, show your MovieWatcher® card at the concession stand and enjoy a complimentary helping of our hot, buttery best. It's just another way to make a great experience even better — courtesy of MovieWatcher.

And don't forget, you can get movie discounts in New York (i.e. $6 dollar movie matinees?!) - read my previous blog post for more.

Village Voice 2011 Choice Eats Event (i.e. Food tasting) at the Armory

The Village Voice’s Fourth Annual Choice Eats

Tuesday March 29, 2011 6:30 - 9:30pm

The 69th Armory at Lexington Avenue
68 Lexington Ave @ 26th Street, NYC

Set amid the backdrop of the historic 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue, also where Victoria Secrets' held their Fashion Show last year, guests will be invited to sample delicious cuisines that would otherwise require days of travel.

Featuring 50+ restaurants and food from over 35 nations, including Vietnamese, Italian, Uzbekistani, Brazilian, Cambodian, Russian, Tunisian, and Cajun/Creole among many others, Choice Eats stands out as a food event that highlights the hidden gems of New York City’s diverse culinary landscape.

Only guests ages 21 and over admitted.

Early bird ticket prices start at $35 for regular or $75 V.I.P tickets - or pay an extra $5 for tickets purchased after the early-bird special.

To learn more about tickets, click here!

Food Gallery 32 on a Friday Night - Hanok Food Court Revisited

I decided to revisit the Food Gallery on a Friday night to see if the lines were outrageous. If you recall from my prior posting, my biggest complaint was the ordering system at the front could prove to be difficult when there are large lines. Food Gallery 32 was busy at 8:15 p.m. -- with some crowds still confused on the ordering system, however, the lines at the ordering system didn't prove to be "too" unmanageable. Having been here before and knowing how the system works, the frustration level was at a minimal level.

Unfortunately, I had a hankering for traditional Korean food, so I went back to the same Korean restaurant Hanok, instead of visiting another food stall. I tried their BiBimBop (not dolsit) and thought the vegetables were fresh (includes carrots, shitake mushrooms, lettuce amongst other things), but the meat was a bit scarce. For the price of $7.95, it was pretty good, not as good as Gahm Mi Oak ($13.95 or potentially more now), but also not as expensive.

My friend ordered the Dduk Mandoo Guk (boiled dumplings with rice cakes in a broth) for $7.95 at Hanok and it was quite good as well. I thought it was very similar to Wonjo's dduk mandoo guk, which is priced above Hanok's price of $7.95. The only complaint my friend had regarding the entree was that it must have been loaded with MSG because she was very thirsty afterwards.

Overall, my visit to the food court at Food Gallery 32 was another success! I would highly recommend this place to anyone craving Korean food and not wanting to put a big dent in their wallets.

For more info on what food stalls they have and a sense of what they serve, view my prior posting.

City Bakery Hot Chocolate, Pretzel Croissant and Chocolate Chip Cookie was disappointing!

Sad to say, but my recent visit to City Bakery for hot chocolate during their Hot Chocolate Festival was disappointing. Maybe all the hype I heard raised my expectations? Possibly, but as I was sitting there tasting my Bourbon hot chocolate and sharing my pretzel croissant and chocolate chip cookie, I realized -- there is a reason why I rarely come here and why this place hardly comes to mind -- its not good. But I figured I would give you, the reader, the fair shake of the place.

Before I ordered anything, I asked a few regulars what they liked to have there. The consensus was the Pretzel Croissant (and to a less astounding response was the Chocolate Chip Cookies). I had asked about the Bourbon Hot chocolate, but a few didn't try it yet, and others said it was extremely rich. So before ordering anything, I went and had a sample of the Bourbon Hot Chocolate -- the patrons were right, way too rich to have a shot ($3.50) or an entire cup of it ($5.50) (Regular flavored hot chocolate is $0.50 less). So, I passed on the Bourbon Hot Chocolate and proceeded to order the Pretzel Croissant for $3.75 and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for $2.50.

The Pretzel Croissant - $3.75

In addition to positive patron reviews, someone noted that the pretzel croissant is listed in Japanese guidebooks (haven't validated that) as a "must-order"!

As you can see in the photo, the pretzel croissant is covered with sesame seeds as opposed to salt crystals that you would normally see on pretzels. I peeled away a piece of the croissant, the exterior was not as brittle as a plain croissant, but tougher; while the interior part of the croissant had the buttery, flaky consistency of a croissant, with a little bit of a cake-like texture. The taste of it? Butter and it tasted more like a sesame seed croissant versus the pretzel croissant it was named for. So why is this called a pretzel croissant? Perhaps the hard exterior reflects a pretzel? It remains a mystery to me. But the big question is -- was it worth the $3.75 ? Not for me. Why is this in the guidebooks? In all honesty, I'd rather buy a pretzel at the Farmers Market (>$2.00) and a croissant at Starbucks ($1.75).

Chocolate Chip Cookie -- $2.50

Do you want a gooey, soft chocolate chip cookie, with a bit of a crunch? Yes! and I want that too, but here comes the bait and switch -- it doesn't taste good! I was honestly surprised ... It looked great, but didn't taste great. What are people on Yelp raving about here? Perhaps the peanut butter cookie tastes better?

I feel like I need to make a note or a comment to redeem this place, but I'm not sure what I could write other than ... City Bakery is a convenient location to stop by for a coffee/tea and to rest your feet after shopping on the Avenue of the Americas, but just watch your wallets and your tastebuds cause both of them will be disappointed if you choose to eat anything here.

p.s. Note: Eataly has a shop called Venchi that sells shots of Hot Chocolate for $2 (but currently $1 for their Chocolate Month) and I would recommend Venchi's Hot Chocolate for $2 vs. the $3.00 at City Bakery!

City Bakery
3 W 18th St
(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 7 pm
Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 6 pm

Agent Anything? Only in New York can you hire a random college student to do your bidding!

AGENT ANYTHING! This is awesome - I can hire a college student at any given hour to run my errands or do "whatever" it is that I want - yes, ANYerrand, ANYtime, and ANYwhere. This is better than Netflix and Fresh Direct, but is it better than asking your minions at work to do your bidding for free? Well, at least we know Agent Anything will be guilt free (assuming you are a decent human being). So how much are you willing to pay someone to do your bidding?

Urban Daddy recently tested out a few agents and their results were hilarious. You have to go to their site and read it. If you're lazy, here is a quick summary.

• Mission: Stand-in line at Shack Shack to order burgers and concretes and have them delivered ; Cost: $15, 11:32 a.m. - Burgers were still warm and Concretes were not melted.
  
• Mission: Personal Masseuse. Cost: Initial bid was at $60 and was negotiated down to $45 (not sure if negotiating is normal or not since you're supposed to name your own price -- but apparently so)
  
• Mission: Blind Date Escape; Cost: $24.99 - person came in scrubs!

After taking a look at Agent Anything's Website, they claim their agents can do ANYerrand, at ANYtime, and at ANYwhere. Need someone to hand out fliers for your new business? or someone to walk your dog? or someone to help you paint your room? or how about stand in line at Ippudo or Clinton Street Baking Company to grab you a seat? Sound tempting? Well, it can be easy -- visit the Agent Anything website and POST your mission!

When posting your mission, you have the opportunity to say how much you are willing to pay an Agent to do it. And if someone selects the mission, your credit card won't be charged until after you say the mission is accomplished (or after 48 hours if you don't respond). Not a bad deal. This is like a mixture of eBay and Craigslist combined -- its the new future of legit/legal personalized customer service!

If you don't have a mission to post, but want to "run" a mission and be a 007 agent for the day, then you can elect to do that too! Oh wait, sorry, this is only available to students! Very clever Mr. Agent Anything business developer because it will keep costs low for your clients. :D But, also a good way to encourage the youth group to work in a time when employment is low (and the agent anything website even provides a usatoday article talking about low youth employment rates! touching, very touching) So, if you're a student, check the existing Agent Mission postings to see if anything is suitable for you!

As of today, Agent Anything is offering a free agent to pick up Ben & Jerry's ice cream for you (so long as you pick up the ice cream bill). Why? Because they were inspired recently by Jerry Greenfield who gave an "incredible, hilarious, and inspiring talk to small business owners" that they started loving Ben & Jerry's for their strong values and their commitment to giving back to the community. So this is Agent Anything's way of giving back and showing their support of the Ben & Jerry's values!

As an aside, the background story to Ben & Jerry's is quite amazing -- if you get a chance, there is a one hour Biography show on the development of Ben & Jerry's that is inspiring to anyone who wants to start a business from scratch and with little to no money.

By the looks of it, Agent Anything has had a little over 900 clients (I am sure most of these are friends that signed up, but haven't had any mission postings yet since most have 0 pending missions, 0 running missions and 0 accomplished missions) and over 1,200 agents willing to do your bidding (and it seems that most of these agents are new too!)... With that said, this is a new and ramping up business -- and I have to admit, very creative. I wish the founders much success as it is a mutually beneficial tool for the community at a reasonable price (yes, your price!)!

Good luck!

p.s. Agent Anything is currently available in New York and New Jersey, only.

p.s.2 For some reason, I think I've heard of a similar company like this that started a year ago -- however, after a google search, I am unable to find them. So, I just hope Agent Anything builds up their SEO to capitalize on their catchy "agent anything" name and quality service.

Vending Machines go to a "hole" new level by selling ART in SoHo

Yup, forget the bubblegum, pretzel M&Ms, bag of chips -- you can now buy art through a Vending Machine. Meet the ART MACHINE by The Hole and ALIFE.

The ART MACHINE is a special project available for viewing and you have to make all your purchases by February 22, 2011. The artist vending machine will be filled with special products and artworks from $5 and up, all the way to the thousands ($1500 according to UrbanDaddy).

Special products? Yes, it includes special personal artist memorabilia (“artist’s panties”) to customized products (“artist bicycle”), to actual artworks (mini painting and mini sculpture!), to limited edition products (T-shirts of G-Shock watches) this machine will vend out items by over fifty artists. Catch a glimpse of the items being offered on the website: http://shop.theholenyc.com

First come first serve, bring your credit card, and take home a cool art object before they are all snapped up.

But seriously, I wonder how a mini-art painting will come out of this machine!

Check it out at: THE HOLE, 104 Greene St from 6-9 pm, 212-226-3000

Flamenco Hoy Performance at the New York City Media Center

Why travel more than 3,000 miles to Seville, Spain to see a Flamenco performance when you can see one in New York City? Save yourself the $700 airplane ticket and spend anywhere from $35 to $85 to watch it at the New York City Media Center.

A friend saw Flamenco Hoy this past week and highly recommends it for people who want to change up their routine and do something different. However, you only have until this Sunday to watch it before it moves on to another city!

Not sure what Flamenco is? Flamenco is a style of music and dance which is native to several regions of southern Spain. Flamenco is popularly depicted as being the music of Andulusian gitanos (gypsies) but historically its roots are in mainstream Andalusian society. Below is a youtube video of the Flamenco Hoy performance.

Source: New York City Media Center website.

Flamenco Hoy, directed by celebrated film director Carlos Saura, is a spectacular showcase of flamenco with breathtaking dance, dynamic music, and soul-searing cante (song). Featuring twenty of Spain's most exciting artists from the new generation of flamenco, dramatic choreography by Rafael Estévez and Nani Paños, and musical direction by the electrifying pianist Chano Domínguez, this dazzling show takes the audience into the heart of Andalusian flamenco today.

The show runs for 2 hours and 10 minutes, with one 15 minute intermission.

Remaining Showtimes: Friday @ 8 pm ; Saturday @ 2 pm or 8 pm or Sunday @ 2 pm or 7 pm!

To buy your tickets, visit the Flamenco Hoy website here.

New York City Media Center
55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues
212.581.1212