Fong On Can't Go Wrong Tofu Pudding with Red Beans, Grass Jelly, and Taro Balls: Fong On is a small family-run tofu shop on Division Street in Chinatown, right next to the Manhattan Bridge. I found out about it from a profile in the New York Times a few months ago, describing how the long-standing neighborhood tofu shop, which had been open for 80 years, had recently relocated and reopened after the son took over the family business. They sell freshly made soy milk, rice cakes, and doufu hua, all traditional Chinese favorites. Doufu hua is kind of like getting frozen ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended chinatown nyc tofu doufuhua doufu fongon can't go wrong pudding red beans grass jelly taro balls 3.5
Snowdays So Seoulful shaved ice: Snowdays is a shaved ice dessert chain in NYC. Over time, they've expanded their menu and also store concept; now, most also stock various Asian snacks in a convenience-store-like format alongside their shaved ice. I went to the shop in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, on the edge of Sunset Park and ordered their So Seoulful, a combination of black sesame shaved ice, a spoonful of red bean, segments of vanilla waffle cookie, and a drizzle of thick peanut syrup. The black sesame shaved ice was very light ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended icecream chinese redbean black sesame peanut butter brooklyn cookie snowdays so seoulful shaved ice 3.5 nyc
Tea Era Apple Seed Green Tea: Got to visit an old favorite with old friends on my last trip to the South Bay. Tea Era is a bubble tea shop on Castro in Mountain View that always has an expansive menu of uniquely-flavored beverages. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the apple seed green tea, which is why I decided to purchase it. The least amount of sugar they could do was 50%, and I purchased the tea hot on a brisk evening (though you could also get it cold). Half sugar was the right amount, as it had a somewha... (read more) 3.5/5.0
mountainview california recommended drinks chinese teaera apple seed green tea 3.5
Mu Mu Muesli Museli Cereal: While not literally crunchy, this muesli is textbook hippie, made with organic whole oats, dried cranberries, dates, coconuts, and raisins, along with almonds and flaxseed, all enclosed in a paper-based bag that feels like it's from a specialty market. On the back of the packaging is a map of the continental United States, listing exactly which state the various ingredients came from (e.g., the rolled oats and wheat flakes are from Iowa). It was pretty pricy, at a little over $6 from the C... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended cereal organic parkslopefoodcoop 3.5 muesli mumumuesli
Hakkaisan Amazake Sweet Rice Drink: I purchased this fermented rice drink (that's from Japan) at The Market in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. While Amazake is generally a sweet sake, this drink is alcohol-free. Koji rice, the basis of this drink, is rice that has been affected with a fungus named Aspergillus oryzae that's commonly used for making familiar ingredients like soy sauce and bean paste. The drink is kept frozen for freshness and needs to be defrosted before consuming. It has a thick milky consistency and a distinct whi... (read more) 3.5/5.0
japanese japan rice drinks koji hakkaisan amazake sweet drink 3.5
Vita Coco Pressed coconut water: This product had a massive ad campaign featuring harsh critics writing online reviews deeming the drink "pretty good," so I can't help but feel a sense of deja vu. The first time I had coconut water, I described it as drinking liquid cookie, and we have reached peak liquified macaroon with this new Vita Coco drink. It has, if you will, even *more* coconut flavor than regular coconut water, but still with all the usual benefits (potassium and vitamin C). I buy coconut water pretty regularl... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks coconutwater parkslopefoodcoop vitacoco pressed coconut water 3.5