Check out our new bloggers Ashley Teal a

Check out our new bloggers Ashley Teal and Derek Parsons!

Paradise to me

A couples weeks ago I had the opportunity to stop by a a cool place to add to my arsenal of vegan-friendly standby establishments.  May Wah Vegetarian Market Inc. is a wholesale vehicle which ships all throughout the United States with a retail store conveniently located in Chinatown on Hester Street between Centre and Baxter.  Walking into May Wah, what first caught my eye was a giant hanging with a vegan food pyramid and a description of proper methods and benefits of good vegan nutrition.  In a world where every baffled meat eater likes to ask “but…where will you get your protein?”, I immediately liked that I was in a place that was well-suited to give me additional ammo next time I’m faced with the age old protein discussion.  My mother will be pleased.

A few minutes after I came in I was introduced to Lily Ng, May Wah’s managing director.  Never having been in a wholesale plus retail all vegetarian establishment, I first wanted to get a sense of what their business was about and a little history.  Opened in 1995, May Wah is a mecca of mock meats and other vegetarian goodies, offering around 120 items, 100 of which are also vegan.  They offer delivery service throughout the Northeast, and use UPS ground shipment to other areas in the US.  Orders come from restaurants, schools and churches all over the place, with one recent order even coming from Alaska!

The retail store has undergone a recent expansion and will be hosting a re-launch party at the store on May 1st (check it out!).  Although they have a collection of dedicated regular customers to the store, they are trying to grow their retail brand and get their name out in the city as a great local vegetarian resource.  A typical vegan struggle is that mock-meat products tend to be pricier than their meaty counterparts, but May Wah products are a definite bargain.  As a cheapskate college student who also likes to know where my next sandwich is coming from, the thought of a reasonably priced, close-by vegan-friendly grocery sounds like a frickin’ great idea to me.

After I got acquainted with the store, clearly it was time to get to know the fooooood.  I think most people who commit to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, no matter how well acclimated and dedicated, probably have to have a couple specific items or dishes they might miss.  Let’s just say your days of longing might be about through.  Spare ribs? Chicken nuggets? Eel sashimi?! Yep, they got it all.  Their selection is insane and May Wah is bound to have something that is a perfect replacement for your long lost craving sans guilt and animal cruelty.  Many items are pre-cooked and already come in tasty sauces, so just heat ’em up and you are going to be floored at just how perfect this non-meaty substitute is.  Think I’m just a veteran vegetarian who doesn’t know how these things should taste anymore? I’ve only been a vegetarian for about a year–total amateur! Still not convinced? Well my meat-eating roomie was.  She tried the citrus spare ribs with me, and she will testify that this stuff tastes amazingly like the real thing.

So what’s the deal with these tasty super meat-like things? My next inquiry was about ingredients and basically…How do they do that? Aside from magic potentially being at work here, Lily explained that most of the products are based from texturized soy protein, mushroom, or a chinese yam flower which lends the food a very meat-like chewy texture.  And it’s really all vegetarian and mostly vegan?  Lily told me if there was any hint of a doubt that any ingredients were not 100% they would not accept them.

Are these foods healthy?  The products tends to have a great deal of protein and fiber, both of which are obviously crucial for a balanced and well-rounded vegetarian diet.  Everything in moderation of course, and for ANY diet (not just veg) there should be a healthy balance of fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc.  Preparing some of these foods in with a stir fry could not be simpler, especially since they’re pre-cooked.  You just sauté your favorite veggies a bit and throw the “meat” in at the last minute, and you have a wholesome, tasty vegan dinner in minutes.

I also inquired about the status of wheat-sensitive and kosher products.  There are plenty of options for the wheat sensitive, so just ask.  So far only a couple items are certified Kosher (she mentioned tofu and vegetarian buns), but they are currently working on getting Kosher certified.  Since they are 100% vegetarian the certification should come through but it does take some time!

So do I recommend that any and all of my veg-happy compatriots come through the check out May-Wah? Absolutely! The products are great, affordable, and the staff is friendly and ready to help you out with any questions.  These items will help you kick any lingering culinary nostalgia from your meat-eating days, as well as satisfy any omnivorous dining companions who still think vegetarian diets are no fun.  Sounds good to me! So be sure to head over the May Wah, pick up some deliciousness and find out about demos which are held regularly at the store, and the re-launch party May 1st! See you there!

-Christina, Student Maximus Blogger

NYU

P.S. Not to mention May Wah is a quick walk over to the Babycakes vegan bakery on Broome.  Sushi and a cupcake a la vegan = vegan paradise to me.

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Ice Cream with Nick Dee @ The Lite Choice

Follow video blogger Nick Dee as he checks out The Lite Choice a soft-serve ice cream company throughout New York City that serves only all-natural and organic ice creams that are low in calories and fat and have NO corn syrup or artificial additives! This ice cream is seriously delicious!

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Yoga, Not Just a Trend

Upon first arriving in the city as a freshman at NYU, the excitement of the city’s environment enchanted and drew me in as it had famously done for so many others. All the things that draw people to New York—its large crowds, the promise of meeting new people, the aromas and shouts that rise from the streets—convinced me I was at the heart of not just any city, but the epitome of a cosmopolitan utopia whose movement offered endless possibilities.

After a semester of pursuing the premed track, however, I began to find myself wearing of the commotion outside. Union Square, once an exciting intermingling of sights and sounds, was now a site of chaos to be avoided. The fellow passengers on the subway became overbearing, and the cars increasingly claustrophobic. Expounded by the stress of classes, internships, and jobs, my friends and I began to find the constant movement outside made living in the city a trying experience.

I had never attended a yoga class coming to school. Rather, I used to joke about and tease those friends of mine who religiously attended classes at the local center. I lumped it with trends such as the obsession with organic food—a middle class affirmation of their bohemian alternativeness.

After weeks of daily exposure to the urban environment, the monotony of my class schedule began to affect both my body and mentality. Along with returning to my dorm exhausted, I began to grow more anxious about my assignments. By the time a fellow classmate told me I could attend a $5 yoga class at Life In Motion, I was perturbed enough by my lack of energy to try the form of exercise I had long dismissed as a passing craze.
That yoga is an exercise of both mental and physical capabilities is key to understanding why participants profess leaving with a new sense of balance. By targeting specific muscles and areas of the body, instructors force people to focus on their bodies and let outside concerns fall away. As I followed the directions to stretch and reach, any thoughts not related to stabilizing my body “sunk into the floor’, as one instructor aptly put it.

To move about the city and face the affronts to personal space it often requires a certain degree of internal composition that can be especially difficult for students to attain. The greatest benefit of the class was forcing me to recognize how compromised this balance had become. To fully take advantage of the city, one must at times distance oneself from the flux of bodies and ideas that make it dynamic.

-Sabina, Student Maximus Blogger

NYU 2013

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Pudding Stones: More Than Just a Wine Bar

Upon entering Pudding Stone, favorably located in the crest of the West Village, not only did the weather beg for such a chic, open-air dining experience, but my coin purse was happily chiming to this wine bar’s student-friendly pricing.

The decor of the restaurant is trendy, yet not obnoxious: One interior wall is brick, cleverly pocked with hollows where candles flicker, and the opposing wall is adorned with four Marilyn Monroe prints by Warhol. The electro pop music in the background weaves both the ornamentation of the restaurant and the commotion of street together. Along with indoor tables and stools at the classy bar near the far end of the establishment, sidewalk seating is also available. I chose to sit by the open windows, which on an unusually warm April night, offered a gentle breeze, completing the relaxed dining scene.

For my appetizer, I ordered the crab cakes with lemon remoulade. A couple of years ago my mother and I attempted to make our own from scratch, but unlike Pudding Stone’s perfect combination of crispy outside and moistly flaky inside, our homemade creations were just a little burnt. Pudding Stone’s perfect crab cakes sat atop a crisp house salad embellished with sliced mango and partnered with a dollop of tangy tartar sauce. Although only one cake sat on my plate, I could have easily devoured three more.

Now even though Pudding Stone is known for their impressive wine list, I decided to save that for the entrée. Instead, I chose to have a bottle of Colomba to compliment my appetizer. A white ale brewed with spices, it was a nice alternative to the darker, more bitter stouts I typically have; it was a lighter, sweeter breed.

I have long come to the realization that I am, to the highest possible degree of the title, an utter salmon junkie. With this acknowledged, choosing my next plate was simple: wild Alaskan salmon with eggplant puree. When asked what temperature I wanted it, I went with medium so as to keep the fine balance of raw and overdone in check. My dish was presented with a healthy dose of freshly steamed asparagus, a splash of eggplant puree to cradled the fish, a side of hot sauce for extra flare, and a lemon wedge for that oh so necessary zing.

I’ve had a lot of salmon in my 22 glutinous years of life, and I can sincerely say that Pudding Stone prepared my dish without flaw. Its tender, slightly-         salted meat made my mouth water before even my first taste. Its accompanying puree was light and tangy. I was afraid it would overpower the flavor of the salmon, but it was divinely complementary. To be honest, I could have foregone the dab of hot sauce on my plate. Its spice reduced the taste of the salmon, but it provided a variety, so I went along with it. That and c’mon, who doesn’t love hot sauce?

Not ordering a glass of wine at Pudding Stone is like going to Hawaii and skipping the beach — you’re missing the best part. At first the wine list was a bit intimidating, but my waiter was very helpful and gave me a few sound suggestions. I ended up choosing an Ella’s Blend grenache, a French red wine. The grenache, a widely-planted wine grape, gave it exceptional body and a sweet fruitiness, which, paired with the salmon, made for an all around delicious meal.

No dinner is complete without dessert, and I had been dreaming of crème brûlée throughout the entire meal. Crème brûlée, French for “burnt cream,” is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of caramelized sugar. While I waiting for my dish (which I should mention arrived in five minutes flat), I replayed a decadent scene from my all-time favorite French movie “Amelie,” in which the main character gains a little too much pleasure from cracking the surface of her homemade crème brûlées. I was hoping that my dessert would be just as ripe. Happily, it was. The surface was perfectly crisp. Breaking through the sweet shell,  reaching the creamy bottom of warm custard, and feeling the opposing textures in my mouth, was, in one word, heavenly.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Pudding Stone. With a relaxed ambiance and plenty of wine (nudge, nudge), it is ideal for a snug, romantic date that won’t leave you broke.

-Angela M, Student Maximus Blogger

Baruch ‘09

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Treat Yourself at Vada Spa

Tucked away on the corner of 6th avenue and Waverly Place is a hidden gem called Vada Spa. At first glance, it seems incomprehensible how such a tiny place could be a full-service spa, with everything on its treatment menu from facials and massages to teeth whitening and laser hair removal to makeup application and hair color. But, do not be fooled; Vada is actually quite spacious, with three fully stocked floors.
Instead of being known for having unique and little-known treatments, Vada uses time-tested methods for their salon services and is up-to-date with all their equipment. In fact, their laser hair removal technology is less than a year old. Vada’s motto is, “Vada makes it easy,” and they certainly do by maintaining extra-long hours; Vada is open from 10 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. They are also incredibly affordable and offer special monthly discounts and daily specials on the twitter page: http://twitter.com/vadaspa.

Although they do recommend making an appointment, Vada accommodates walk-ins regularly, something quite unheard of for a busy New York spa. They even offer booking online, which makes last-minute appointments even easier to make.

After perusing their treatment menu for quite a long time, I finally decided to treat myself to a facial. After checking in with the front desk, I was asked if I wanted to have a free consultation with a skin care specialist to see which facial would be best for my skin. Being a facial virgin, I quickly jumped on the offer. I was introduced to Samantha, who surveyed my skin and decided that the all-natural Vada Spa Earth and Sea Facial would be best for my dry and very sensitive skin.

After getting undressed—for this was more than a simple facial—and slipping into the super-soft bathrobe that they provide, Samantha began to remove my makeup. Next she used a gentle exfoliant on my face and neck while soothing music played in the background of my treatment room. After that she massaged my hands, arms, and scalp. After my face was squeaky clean, she began the extraction process by thoroughly steaming my face to open my pores. Unfortunately for me, I happened to get my treatment on the day that the pollen season decided to start and my allergies were acting up. Samantha noticed my itchy and water eyes from the start and made sure I was comfortable and breathing okay regularly during the steaming. (Actually, the steaming was quite a welcome blessing for my sinuses, as it cleared them right up!) After my pores were open, she began the extraction, focusing on the most sensitive part of the face first—the nose—to get it over with as soon as possible. Samantha was quick and efficient and made the extraction as painless as she could due to my overly sensitive skin.

When the extraction was done, she closed my pores with a small laser-like device, to prevent the re-infection that commonly occurs when pores are exposed after facials. Then she put on a masque to reduce the redness in my face from the extraction. After I had gotten dressed again, she gave me some advice about things I could do to take care of my skin, but did not pressure me into buying a whole line of skin-care products as most spas will have you do after a facial.

About half an hour after, all the redness from the extraction was gone. Even better, it has been three days and I have had no allergic reaction to anything that was used on my face, which is quite a surprise because I am literally allergic to everything.

So, as finals approach and stress reaches an all-time high, I recommend taking a break and putting your faith (and skin) in the hands of Vada Spa for some much needed pampering.

– Emily Stern, Student Maximus Editor

NYU ’10

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Restaurant Review: Eight Mile Creek, Delicious Aussie Eats

The other night, I had the sincere pleasure of dining at Eight Mile
Creek on Mulberry Street in SoHo, an Australian grill. I accidentally
walked downstairs into the bar located below the restaurant, which was
nicely lit, and had a friendly bartender who pointed me in the right
direction back upstairs.

When I finally went upstairs, I was greeted by my server, Sarah, who
asked me if I wanted to sit outside in the garden or inside the
restaurant. I figured that since this was one of the first nice days of
the season, I would sit outside. It was a little chilly, but the garden
was heated, and had a retractable roof; it felt like a mini Australian
Superdome Café, but much quieter. It was decorated with red brick,
wooden tables, and a few plants, not overly crowded, but not sparse.
Sarah came up to me, asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I asked
for water, which she brought out in a carafe; a nice touch for someone
who was thirsty instead of having to wait to have water refilled. I then
ordered Coopers Sparkling Ale, which was nice and light, a bit hoppy but
had a hint of sweetness. Basically, this was no Bud Light, and thank
goodness for that.

When she came back, she told me about a few of her favorite dishes. I
decided to try two appetizers and a side of sweet potato fries, one
small dish for my appetizer, one for the meal, saving room for dessert. I knew I loved sweet potato fries, so I ordered them, they came out piled high with sweet chili and crème fraiche, which added a bit of tang and freshness.

For the other two dishes, I had a hard time deciding between what I
should order, as everything looked good. Sarah suggested that I try the
mini-meat pies appetizer, which had two mini-meat pies, two sausage
rolls, and two vegetable dumplings. The first thing I noticed was how
perfectly baked these pastry crusts were. Soft, warm, flaky, it made
most other pastry crusts I’ve had, even in France, look like Dunkin’
Donuts. Not to mention, they were washed down with that Coopers Ale I asked for earlier. Meat pies were filled with ground beef and spices, sausage roll with mild sausage and onions, and the vegetable dumplings,
which really surprised me. Filled with parsnips, potato, peas, carrots,
and a bit of cheese, there were something I was not expecting, but glad
they happened.

For my main dish, I ordered Poached New Zealand Green Lip Mussels with
garlic & herbed white wine, and tomato sauce. I’ve always enjoyed
mussels, but they were never my go to seafood. They came out warm,
presented in a fanned circle with an orange wheel and quartered cherry
tomatoes that were as red as the Republicans. I tried one of the mussels, and it was ok, but when I paired it with the sauce, it was
fantastic. I ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc, from New Zealand,
called Otto’s Constant Dream. Nice amount of sweetness, definite fruity
notes, and a bit dry. The sauce wasn’t thin, but rather chunky, and the wine and mussels paired very well together.

And then I asked for the dessert menu, but instead Sarah asked me if I
would be interested in her favorite. Not really knowing what that would
entail, I decided to trust her, and she did not let me down. She brought
me the sticky date pudding with homemade ginger ice cream and caramel
sauce. Wow, a perfect balance of flavors and sweetness. The date
pudding, which is not like Jello, but more like cake, was not too sweet,
but mixed very well with the caramel sauce. Then there was the ginger
ice cream, which was creamy with little bits of crystallized ginger. I
was very full, but wished I could continue to eat more.

A few things I need to try when I go back are: the red pear, walnut, and
prosciutto with citrus vinaigrette, Emu Carpaccio, the Aussie Burger
(which comes with the lot, or cheese, fried egg, beet, pineapple, and
bacon), and a rack of lamb.

I asked Sarah about the story of Eight Mile Creek. She told me it was started by two brothers, and was one of the first Australian restaurants in NYC. A thing I found really interesting about the cuisine is that it has many influences, from British, to Asian, to the indigenous food of Australia.

I heartily recommend going to Eight Mile Creek, the meal I had
altogether with 20% tip (which the restaurant, and my server definitely
deserved), would have cost me 60 bucks. Not cheap, but nowhere near as
expensive as I would have expected to pay for food of that quality. This
place is perfect for friends, dates, or even by yourself, but you really
should take someone here. It has great food, an awesome atmosphere,
great service, and a great garden to eat in, perfect or this newly nice
weather.

– Chris, Student Maximus Blogger

NYU ’10

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Sura in the City

No longer are they only useful in the supermarket checkout line.  Thanks to Campus Clipper coupons, there’s no reason why you have to do a double take when you get the check.

When I first moved to the city, I knew I had to do a better job of budgeting when my uncle upbraided me for admitting that I’d been to restaurants that charge $3 for Cokes.

On more than one occasion I’ve used fuzzy math to estimate my tab before requesting the bill, omitting from consideration the price of an extra drink or dessert.  When I realize with a jolt that the one-two combination of the 8.875% tax and 15% tip cause some serious inflation, not only are my fifth grade math skills called into question, but I’m left with a bill that throws my weekly budget out of whack.   Here’s where the beauty of coupons comes in.

Let’s take an example: there’s this excellent Thai restaurant in my neighborhood, Sura, and thanks to a coupon, a cash-strapped student can get a $6 Pad Thai or red curry.  The restaurant boasts dark, moody lighting, and plenty of Southeast Asian trademarks, including elephant and Buddha figurines.  Soon after the hostess showed me to my seat, a full bottle of tap water appeared on the table.   As I was in the mood to drink something a little more sophisticated than my usual fare, I opted for a Coke, which came in a tall, slender glass.  And my shrimp Pad Thai, much to my surprise, arrived in a classy black bowl.  The noodles were full of flavor, and the shrimp impressed me with their size and taste.

One note of caution: discretion is key.   Though it may be tempting to shout it from the rooftops—that is, the joy of the discount—I wouldn’t recommend telling it to someone who you’re trying to impress.  My sister once described how she was turned off by a guy who decided to take her to an upscale Chicago restaurant because he had a coupon for it. But even if I’m with a date, and have to clandestinely hide the coupon behind my credit card (classy New York women tend not to gravitate to guys who like to save money), it’s well worth it.   Though “budget” is not one of the sexier words in the English language, a dinner bill under $10 for one, or under $20 for two, leaves one feeling satiated and remorseless.

-Adam, Student Maximus Blogger

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Nick Dee Does Power Pilates!

Follow musician/video blogger Nick Dee to his first ever pilates class at Power Pilates (www.powerpilates.com) and his interview with co-founder Susan Moran!

Power Pilates
49 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010-4224
(212) 627-5852
http://www.powerpilates.com

Follow the Campus Clipper on twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/campusclipper and check out more video blogs from Nick Dee at http://www.nickdeeofficial.com!

Regional

Just passing by Regional, you might be first surprised at its popularity on a Sunday morning. While my friend and I were glad to have such a great, free brunch at Regional, I could not help thinking what a good choice it would be for my friends and I to have a Columbia graduates party at this Italian cuisine restaurant.

Regional is located at 2607 Broadway, twenty minutes walk away from Columbia Morningside Campus. It is decorated in bright colors, simple but charming post-mordenism style, with an absolutely cozy atmosphere. You will need to wait for a little while if you want to try a gourmet, fancy brunch including everything from sandwiches to omelets and burgers to pancakes with unlimited refills of mimosas and margaritas. What’s most important is that at Regional, the price is quite acceptable and you will have a special Italian food experience that you will seldom find other places in New York.

Since I already tasted the mimosa at Regional, I have to tell you how much I love it. Just buy one mimosa or bloody mary and you will find yourself drinking the alcohol with orange juice nonstop. Nothing can be more attractive than having a fresh and soft mimosa with a blueberry pancake, a spinach salad with goat cheese. and a Scottish salmon omelet. The goat cheese in the spinach salad was especially tasty to eat with the mushrooms and eggs in the dish. The inside blueberry of pancakes provide much food for thought. And you will definitely fall in love with the rich and thick flavor of Scottish salmon, ham and fried eggs in the omelet.

While enjoying humming jazz music at Regional, you can have both considerate service and many other special treats. You can either choose to have $25 three-courses on Tuesday or have an $9-for-all-pastas on Monday nights. And as for me, I love this restaurant’s appetizers more than I can express.

Come over to Regional and have a party!

-Xixi Fu, Student Maximus Blogger

Columbia University

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