Lula's Sweet Apothecary - 516 E. 6th Street (Avenue A/B) (Vegan ice cream)
Topic: Vegetarian/Vegan

All I can say is...it's about freakin' time!  Yes, now the East Village boasts a fun and tasty (albeit small) vegan ice creamery...offering all of your childhood favorites, from hot chocolate sundaes, to banana splits...complete with a bunch of "Cold Stone" type toppings...including coconut, sprinkles and even vegan gummy bears (YUM!).  Made in-house, the ice cream's good, and reasonably priced for the Manhattan crowd (around $6 for a sundae.)  The size is slightly small (at least compared to my memories of Friendly's), but it definitely satisfies an ice cream craving.  A quick conversation with the proprietor revealed that there'll be even more options in the future...including raw ice cream and lots of other sweet stuff.  So give Lula's a shot...especially if you're in a treat-yourself mood.

Zen Burger - 465 Lexington Avenue (between 45th and 46th) (Veggie)
Topic: Vegetarian/Vegan

While *some* people have knocked this place as just another fast food joint, I have to say that I really like it for what it is - a decent spot in midtown that offers good ole junk food - vegan/veggie style.   Yup, at Zen Burger you can get veggie burgers (of course), as well as "chicken fingers", fries, and soft serve vegan ice cream.  If you feeling like going just a little more healthy, there are wraps too...with fillings such as thai veggie and faux tuna.  Call me low brow, but I like the place.  It's a fun change of pace, the idea is great...and it's a hell of alot closer during the week than Brooklyn or any of the usual veggie joints in the village.  If there's any negative to the place, it's that there really aren't many vegan options...just the Thai Wrap, the ice cream, and one or two other items.  But at least they're identified (with a little V on the menu), and that's a decent start right there...

 
Zen Burger, I like your style - even if I ending up indulging only occasionally!

African Market - 2649 Jerome Avenue (African)
Topic: African

A small store, the African Market sells only a few basic items...a handful of DVDs, and some African staples.  There's not much to see, butat least the essentials are available...such as homemade kenkey, and peppery Shintor sauce.

Kingsbridge Comparison
Topic: Asian (General)

For those of us on the northern edge of NYC , Canal Street can be a bit of a trek - costing over an hour by subway (and that's if you're close to a main artery.)  A substantial distance - especially for exotic food fans, seeking only to score one or two basic ingredients (such as dried thai pepper, canned jackfruit, or African fufu.)  Fortunately, closer venues exist -  including the following stops unearthed during a recent visit to the Kingsbridge area:

African Market - 2649 Jerome Avenue (African)
A small store, the African Market sells only a few basic items...a handful of DVDs, and some African staples.  There's not much to see, butat least the essentials are available...such as homemade kenkey, and peppery Shintor sauce.

Battambang Market II  - 229 E. Kingsbridge/194th Street
Another "essentials" store, Battambang offers a good selection of veggies, grains and rice paper wrappers.  Located next to historical Poe cottage, it's a decent stop for your shopping needs...at least for Bronx-based Asian cuisine afficiandos.

Phnom Penh-Nha Trang - 2639 Jerome Avenue (193rd Street) (Cambodian/Pan-Asian)
Although owned by Cambodians, the focus of the store is pan-asian - with a decent selection of veggies, asian canned food and even basic thai desserts, available for impulse-buy near the counter.  Nice people...and certainly worth a visit.

World of Taste - 2614 Jerome Avenue (Jerome Avenue/193rd) (Vietnamese)
A  notable restaurant...if only because I've seen no other Vietnamese offerings anywhere near my neighborhood.    Haven't been here myself, but according to the menu, alot of basic Viet staples are available - from Pho, to Banh Mi.  So give it a try, and let me know!

Sankofa African Restaurant - 2254 Webster Avenue - West African (Nigerian/Ghana)
Topic: African

One of several such restaurants on the Webster avenue strip, Sankofa specializes in west african fare - serving up staples such as fish flavored with palm oil, fermented kenkey, and the cassava mash known as gari.  As a practicing vegetarian, I gravitated towards the sides - ordering spinach, beans and two types of mash (a gut busting amount for only $10.)    Though not spectacular, all proved to be servicably tasty.  Not good enough to warrant a trip from other boroughs...but worth a try...at least if you're in the neighborhood.

B. B African and American Restaurant - 1715 Webster Avenue (West African)
Topic: African

Recently, I've found myself craving african food.  No, not Ethiopean, but harder-to-find fare - such as Nigerian and Seneglese.  Fortunately, I live in the Bronx - home to several unofficial african communities...all within reach from my home base of Moshulu/Norwood.

One such area is Webster Avenue - an elongated strip of road clustered with several west african spots - including a long established joint known as B.B. African and American Restaurant.  Saturday night, I took the plunge - jumping on the D train at 7:30PM.  Armed with knowledge from Hop Stop, it was a quick ride to 176th street - augmented by 10 extra minutes on foot.  It was still light out when I arrived....not bad, considering that B.B. African is open 24 hours.

Unfortunately, the food was almost gone.  Some spinach remained - as did a sampling of their American fare.  But as for west african?  Not much.  Hoping to take home at least some information, I asked for a menu - also unavailable.  Yes, the service seemed fine...there was just no food.  Disappointed, I turned sadly away...only to find myself greeted by a cockroach crawling slowly up the wall.  As the only other customer, he at least seemed happy...pausing briefly to wiggle his attenae and stop for a moment's rest. 

For some reason, it made my day.  Not unexpected company, at least in the heart of the Bronx.  Honestly, I'd seen bigger in my own apartment (and I do keep things as clean as possible.)  So the food still might have been good, tasty, and perfectly healthy.  But the sight of the guy just summed up the experience, wiping out any interest I had accumulated in B.B. African's offerings.  So I left  BB on an empty stomach - perfectly content to do without.

Polskie Delikatesy - 4703 8th Avenue, Brooklyn (off 47th Street)
Topic: Polish
A cute little bakery, located in the heart of Brooklyn Chinatown.  There's not alot to be found here, but the small selection of cakes and pastries are really tempting.  Worth a look if you're in the area...and looking for a new cuisine to sink your teeth into.

Hangawai - 12 E. 32nd Street (5th and Madison)
Topic: Korean
Located on the edge of K-town, Hangawai has indisputable class.  Hidden behind heavy wooden doors, the restaurant is traditionally decorated - complete with low slung tables, floor cushions, caligraphy covered candles and even a strict no-shoes policy.  Even stricter is the no-meat policy - for Hangawai is purely vegetarian (and almost vegan, with the exception of an occasional egg.)  So Korean BBQ fans beware...there's no Galbi here.  Don't even try.  Fortunately, I'm vegan...so Hangawi seemed custom-made for my tastes, which skew towards a love of spicy Tteok Bokki, Veggie Mandoo, Injulmi and bowls of Bibimbop (with egg and beef removed.)

You'd think it was a match made in culinary heaven.  And it would have been - if Hangawi had any flavor whatsoever.

The troubles started with the selection.  Though painfully expensive, Hangawi does offer price-fixed lunches ($19.99) and dinners ($39.95) - a refreshing option, given the average price of $20 per main dish.  Interested in a dash and run, I asked for the Mini Emperor's Lunch - complete with porridge, dumplings, stone bowl rice and the dessert of the day.  A good value - if it had been available.  Unfortunately, it couldn't be served to go.  Though sad, I gamely took the takeout menu, finding several of the same items available (though at a more expensive price, of course.) They, too, turned out to be unavailable - offered only during weekdays.  After a few go arounds--for there was no sesame porridge, either-- the meal was chosen: consisting of dumplings, spicy jeon pancakes, and a cinnamon broth for dessert, accompanied by fresh fruit. 

Lightly steamed--and somewhat large--the dumplings proved the best of the lot...fluffy and tasty (with thankfully no need for the plain, salty soy sauce served on the side.)  The rest of the meal fared...well, significantly worse.  Despite the pepper symbol on the menu, the jeon pancakes proved greasy, undistinguished...and just plain bland.  And despite an enticing description, dessert proved to be a quarter of an apple, and a handful of pine nuts, floating in cinnamon colored water.  (One look, and I found myself wishing I'd ordered the tofu pudding.)  Given the Korean pedigree, I'd expected some spice and some flavor...but there was none to be had.  Adding insult to injury, I was even billed for a second plate of dumplings (though they quickly and graciously removed the charge when notified.)  The cost for the meal?  $25.00.  Without even a snippet of gochunjang on the plate.

Don't get me wrong - there were a *few* highlights.  Hangawi has atmosphere galore, the service is good, and the staff is sweet.  But the food?  Ah, there's the rub.  Hahn Ah Reum grocery would have been a better experience.

Chiyoda - 16 E. 41st Street (Madison/5th Avenue) (Japanese)
Topic: Japanese

A nice little space, located next to Book-off and Yagura Grocery.  Serving both as deli and restaurant, Chiyoda is separated into two sections - the front decorated by a counter offering various takeaway sushi options in the obligatory plastic bentos.  Those who venture towards the back--beyond a strategically placed curtain--will find Chiyoda's more formal dining area...a small, elegant space serving  primarily Japanese clientelle (always a good sign.)  During the Gaijin Girl visit, the sampling was limited...consisting of two sushi rolls and three separate orders of the Yuzu-Pepper Pasted Chicken.  (What can I say?  My coworkers have the same culinary tastes.)  Marked by a relaxed, leisurely atmosphere, the service proved slow...taking over 20 minutes for the food to arrive.  Somewhat bland, my chosen entree (the sushi) failed to shine...a real dealer breaker in my book, given my love of a good handroll.

The chicken, however, earned several rave reviews - so that's three in favor, and only one against (hey, maybe I was just grumpy).  Given the other classic options on the menu--such as Chawanmushi and Agedashi--there's plenty more worth sampling.  So visit Chiyoda yourself - because it just might be worth a second try.

Sunflower (Falls Church, VA)
Topic: Vegetarian/Vegan

I've been wanting to going to Sunflower for some time.  A friend in VA had recently become interested in vegetarianism...and I was looking forward to taking her for her first veg restaurant experience.  I'd done the foodie research - and Sunflower came highly recommended by previous patrons.  So I had extremely high hopes...all of which were sadly dashed.

Okay, so the service at Sunflower is pleasant and gracious...but that's the best possible thing that could be said about it.  The atmosphere?  Not so great, with basic kitchen seating and cartoony tshirts worn by staff and sundry. 

Then there's the food...a travesty of blandness, from the tasteless gogi berries in my salad to a curry that had so little spice, my husband automatically named it "baby's first curry"  (subtitled, curry Chef Boyardee.).  And no, that wasn't being harsh...just factual.  Okay, perhaps I'm used to mainlining kimchee, and sucking down the occasional gob of wasabi.  But darn it, there's only so many times a gal can read about a tasty, tantalizing Asian fusion dish on the menu....only to find that it has all the style of canned Chop Suey.  Darn it, Asian food deserves better.  And so does vegetarian/vegan cuisine!

 All in all, a very disappointing meal.  At least the tab wasn't too steep -  only $58 for three meals.   But now I have to take my friend to a decent veg restaurant in Manhattan - if only to show that all veg food isn't as disappointing as Sunflower.  Blossom and Curly's, here we come!