Monday, October 25, 2010

Blogger's Gathering at 5 Napkin Burger




Last week, I was lucky to attend a fun blogger's get-together organized by the folks at 5 Napkin Burger.  I always look forward to coming here, as I'm a sucker for a good, juicy burger, but I was also thrilled to hang with some of my fellow Queens and Manhattan food bloggers, some of which I've never met.  As is usually the case, there was lots of picture taking and plenty of geeky blog talk, which was just dandy with me.  Here's who came to dinner:

Meg and Mackenzi - My colleagues from We Heart Astoria

Jon from Eatery Row
Caryn and Laura from 89th and Broke

5 Napkin provided a lovely setting with plenty of yummy treats, some of which I haven't yet tried.  I'll dig deeper into those mostly, as I've told you about 5 Napkin before and then I'll also highlight a fun event series they'll be featuring soon.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip - Never have I ever ignored hot, oozing, stringy artichoke spinach dip and I wasn't going to start now.  5 Napkin's version was sophisticated, accompanied by long endive spears to keep things healthier and at the same time, classier.  If you're looking for a crunchier bite, you can pile this deliciously warm concoction on the crunchy crostini that also comes as a side.

Pork Taquitos
- After reading a nice review from Brad, I had to try these. Mmmm...the pork was tender, with a thick tangy sauce and bursts of flavor from the fresh salsa.  The crunch from the hard taco shell provided more excitement - a proverbial party in your mouth.  Cheers!

Sushi Combo Platter - While I wouldn't normally get sushi at a burger joint, this looked (and tasted) incredibly fresh. I tried the spicy tuna and the shrimp avocado rolls - the flavors exploding in my mouth.  Delicious fresh seafood mixed with crunchy veggies, the whole thing was encased in perfectly cooked sticky rice and a delicate casing, that held everything together.  For a sushi enthusiast or an ambivalent like me, this is a great choice.

Burger Salad - My dining companion Danielle went for this 5 Napkin "Burger Salad," which had all the components of a burger, except the bun.  Although I didn't actually taste it, I marveled at this salad and Danielle complimented how rich in flavor it was.  Another perk was the 5 Napkin sauce, which served as the dressing. 

Tater Tots - What can I say...as a proud Eastern European, I love me some carbs and that's why I had to indulge in these little spirals of goodness.  As Dan would say (and I agree), they're more like croquettes than traditional tater tots since they have a crispy breadcrumb exterior and a soft, mashed potato interior.  I also loved that they were flavored with rosemary, one of my favorite fall/winter spices.

Espresso Brownie Sundae - The first thing I noticed right away when this landed in front of me were the peanuts.  For those of you who know me, it won't come as a surprise that that was almost a deal breaker, as I'm not a fan of peanuts or peanut butter.  But...despite the minor personal setback, I decided to dig in and in the end, was very glad I did.  Smooth, clean-flavored vanilla ice-cream lay comfortably in a clear drinking glass, topped with silky espresso caramel and dark chocolate brownie bits.  Fluffy whipped cream topped this festive dessert cup as well as salted peanuts, which as you know, I could've done without.

Besides trying this tasty food, I also wanted to inform you that 5 Napkin will be launching a special called the Beer & Bourbon Dinner series, starting on November 16th going through December 14th.  During this time, you'll be able to sample unique micro-brews and bourbons, paired with a special menu, concepted by Chef Andy D'Amico.  Sounds delish...so go get your eat and drink on!

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/W Train to 36th Avenue

5napkinburger.com

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