FOOD SKETCH #60: Carbone Carrot Cake

Semi-circle segment of carrot cake served with a scoop of ginger ice cream and candied carrot peel on top, at Carbone.
See the whole cake here. It's a thing of beauty.

FOOD SKETCH #56: Sulungtang

Sulungtang from Gahm Mi Oak in Koreatown, NYC.

Humble, hearty bowl of ox-bone soup -- a perfect winter dish. The broth is milky white from bones simmering for a long period of time; white rice and noodles are at the bottom of the bowl and slices of brisket are in the soup. It comes with a plate of kimchi (which I think is the best in the city), and on the table there are bowls of chopped scallions and coarse salt, covered in Saran Wrap. You add both and season the soup yourself.

FOOD SKETCH #55: Motorino Pizza

Margherita pizza pie from Motorino.

Motorino was one of the few places open in the East Village, right after Hurricane Sandy. With no power, pizza dough was mixed by hand and pies were served by candlelight. Tonight, only margherita pizzas were being served (with an option of a soppressata topping). All proceeds today went to the Red Cross.

More restaurants helping out with the hurricane relief effort here.

FOOD SKETCH #54: IKEA Swedish Meatballs

It's been an insanely busy summer**, and I've taken a small break from posting here this past month.

But I'm back! I have a bunch of sketches lined up, and am starting off with your typical IKEA fare: swedish meatballs, cream sauce, mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce. From the Red Hook, Brooklyn IKEA.

**I've been training for the NYC marathon. Please visit my donor page here and consider joining me in giving to cancer research. (Also, donors who give $100 or more will receive a limited edition 8x10" screenprint I am designing; more details will be announced on my blog in the coming week).

FOOD SKETCH #53: Momofuku Milk Bar Grasshopper Pie

Grasshopper pie from Momofuku Milk Bar. With a graham cracker crust, mint cheesecake and brownie filling, toasted marshmallows, drizzle of mint glaze and mini chocolate chips on top.

Click here to see a photo of this pie and read an interview with Milk Bar's pastry chef, Christina Tosi.

FOOD SKETCH #52: Levain Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

The legendary chocolate chip walnut cookie from Levain Bakery, Upper West Side, NYC. It's $4 and feels like it weighs a pound, but it's worth it. Not sure why it took me six years in the city to finally try it.

FOOD SKETCH #51: Kung Pao Pastrami at Mission Chinese Food

Kung Pao Pastrami with peanuts, celery, red peppers and Tianjin chiles.

From Daniel Bowien's Mission Chinese Food on the Lower East Side, NYC.

FOOD SKETCH #50: Egg Custard at Mission Chinese Food

Savory egg custard with scallop, roe, green apple and basil seeds.

From chef Daniel Bowien's Mission Chinese Food on the Lower East Side, NYC.

Pete Wells just reviewed the restaurant in the New York Times yesterday. Read his piece and see a photo of this dish here.

FOOD SKETCH #49: Sullivan Street Bakery Strecci

Tomato strecci from the Sullivan Street Bakery stand at New Amsterdam Market, NYC.

Their pizza bianca dough is shaped into these chewy sticks, studded with tomatoes, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt.

FOOD SKETCH #46: Taiwanese Shaved Ice

Taiwanese shaved ice (tsua-bing). A mound of finely shaved ice topped with condensed milk, azuki red beans, mung beans, tapioca balls, mochi and a scoop of green tea ice cream. You can order it with any number of toppings, including fresh fruit, taro, lychee and coffee jelly, grass jelly, sweetened peanuts or fruit syrup. This one is from a little cafe in the East Village, around St. Marks.

FOOD SKETCH #38: Olive Oil Gelato

One scoop of olive oil gelato from the Otto gelato cart in Washington Square Park. Served with droplets of olive oil on top.

FOOD SKETCH #36: WD-50 Cold Fried Chicken

Cold fried chicken, buttermilk ricotta, tabasco, and caviar from WD-50, NYC. This was on their old menu; the chef, Wylie Dufresne, recently came out with a completely new menu. Read more here.

FOOD SKETCH #35: WD-50 Peekytoe Crab Roll

Peekytoe crab roll, celery mayonnaise, mini salt and vinegar chips, and celery root noodles from WD-50, NYC. A dish from their old menu; the chef, Wylie Dufresne, recently came out with a completely new set of dishes. Read more here.

FOOD SKETCH #34: Black Sesame & Green Tea Gelato

Scoops of black sesame & green tea gelato from Il Laboratorio del Gelato in the Lower East Side, NYC.

FOOD SKETCH #33: Veselka Pierogi

Boiled potato and cheese pierogi with sour cream, applesauce, and fried onions from Veselka, in the East Village, NYC.

FOOD SKETCH #29: Grandma-style pizza

Grandma slice at Mariella's Pizza on 60th Street on the Upper East Side.

FOOD SKETCH #28: Sockerbit Licorice Mix

Licorice mix from Sockerbit, a unique little candy shop in the West Village. It's like the better-quality Scandinavian cousin to Sweet Factory. The wrapped candies have beautiful packaging, and they carry sour gummies that are mostly made with natural colors (which makes me feel less bad about eating a big bag of them).

FOOD SKETCH #24: Strawberry Kiwi Nougat

Strawberry kiwi nougat with pistachios, from Economy Candy. Lower East Side, NYC.

FOOD SKETCH #23: Gumballs

Gumballs by the bag from Economy Candy, my favorite candy shop on the Lower East Side. I really like this drawing -- I wish someone would commission me to turn this into a HUGE print.

FOOD SKETCH #22: Beer and Pretzel Caramels

Beer and Pretzel Caramels from Liddabit Sweets. Brooklyn Brewery beer is mixed into the caramel along with organic barley malt syrup and chunks of Martin's pretzels (sold at the NYC Greenmarket).

Check out this lovely photo essay about the ladies behind Liddabit Sweets on the Makers Project site (by Jen Causey).