15 Wild Dishes To Try Out Now — If You Dare!
New Yorkers are fearless. Between dodging tourists on the subway and elbows at sample sales, we've got to be brave to make it through the day here. Should that stop at our plates? We think not. With the boundless culinary riches our boroughs have to offer — from face-meltingly hot curries to fried balls of duck tongue — metro-dwellers have no reason to shy away from adventurous eats. So, we're taking your taste buds on a trek around the world with our roundup of 15 exotic dishes we dare you to try. But be warned: Some of them are so spicy, your eyes will water just looking at them. Meaning, we suggest saving these daring dishes for date four…or five…or marriage.
Go South
Besides your standard burrito, there’s a lot going food-wise below the border — like, say, an entire hemisphere and a half of culinary riches. Get exploring!
Maduro Relleno de Bacalao at Mamajuana Cafe ($10)
The Dominican-infused cuisine here is fully on display with this fried plantain stuffed with bacalao — a creamy, salty fricassee of cod.
Mamajuana Cafe, 134 East 48th Street (between Lexington and 3rd avenues); 212-421-1116.
Huancaína at La Mar Cebicheria Peruana ($13)
While the ingredients in this gorgeous Peruvian classic aren’t all that unfamiliar, their combination is: organic market potatoes with Botija olives and a quail egg, dotted with cheesy huancaína sauce.
La Mar Cebicheria, 11 Madison Avenue (between 25th and 26th streets); 212-612-3388.
Beer-Braised Tongue Tacos at Empellon Taqueria ($12-18)
“Tongue?!” you say? Don’t worry, you’re in good hands with Alex Stupak, the wd~50 vet in the kitchen, who pairs it with potatoes and a fiery arbol chile salsa.
Empellón Taqueria, 230 West 4th Street (between West 10th Street and 7th Avenue South); 212-367-0999.
Ackee Dip with Plantain Chips at Miss Lily’s ($10)
The West African fruit ackee is found all over Jamaica. The awesomely retro Miss Lily’s transforms the eggy stuff into a dip with sweet chips. Wild eats bonus: Ackee can kill you if improperly prepared.
Miss Lily’s, 132 West Houston Street (between Sullivan and Thompson streets); 646-588-5375.
Photos: Courtesy of Miss Lily's, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, Empellion
Go South
Besides your standard burrito, there’s a lot going food-wise below the border — like, say, an entire hemisphere and a half of culinary riches. Get exploring!
Maduro Relleno de Bacalao at Mamajuana Cafe ($10)
The Dominican-infused cuisine here is fully on display with this fried plantain stuffed with bacalao — a creamy, salty fricassee of cod.
Mamajuana Cafe, 134 East 48th Street (between Lexington and 3rd avenues); 212-421-1116.
Huancaína at La Mar Cebicheria Peruana ($13)
While the ingredients in this gorgeous Peruvian classic aren’t all that unfamiliar, their combination is: organic market potatoes with Botija olives and a quail egg, dotted with cheesy huancaína sauce.
La Mar Cebicheria, 11 Madison Avenue (between 25th and 26th streets); 212-612-3388.
Beer-Braised Tongue Tacos at Empellon Taqueria ($12-18)
“Tongue?!” you say? Don’t worry, you’re in good hands with Alex Stupak, the wd~50 vet in the kitchen, who pairs it with potatoes and a fiery arbol chile salsa.
Empellón Taqueria, 230 West 4th Street (between West 10th Street and 7th Avenue South); 212-367-0999.
Ackee Dip with Plantain Chips at Miss Lily’s ($10)
The West African fruit ackee is found all over Jamaica. The awesomely retro Miss Lily’s transforms the eggy stuff into a dip with sweet chips. Wild eats bonus: Ackee can kill you if improperly prepared.
Miss Lily’s, 132 West Houston Street (between Sullivan and Thompson streets); 646-588-5375.
Photos: Courtesy of Miss Lily's, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, Empellion
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