adventures of mascarah.

I've just begun a new decade. Sigh.

I have always wanted to be "a writer" but I'm lost somewhere in the prologue...whittling away at a story I may never tell.

Likes: pop culture. my chihuahua. architecture. modern art. elizabeth street. contemporary designer apparel. food. travel. foreign films. speakeasys. live music. politics. hot sauce. surprises. running in the rain. strangers. wednesdays. fearlessness...and 100s of other random things... maybe even you.

A southerner by birth, northerner by the grace of God, I'm simply a nyc gal who is lost somewhere on my constant exploration of the city and the life,love, and pursuit found within it.

If you are so inclined... sap {at} lifelovepursuit.com

Site Meter
[Life: List’d] Falafel in the City I went on a date recently where the guy didn’t know what a falafel was (the horror!) Since then, I’ve had falafel on the brain. I’m not enough of a falafel connoisseur to have a preference of Arabic versus Israeli nor to note the composition of the tahini. But I can tell if a pita is homemade or not and whether not my taste buds are loving the flavors.  So far my favorites are Taim (Israeli style, homemade pitas) and Malmoun’s (Arabic style, bought pitas) but here is a list I’m going to check out - hopefully all this year. Alfanoose 150 Fulton St Tasting notes: super thin pita, extra spicy, crunchy pickled veggies (and homemade pickles - cucumber and turnip based!) ($4-$6). Azuri Cafe 465 W. 51st St. Tasting notes: Seems to be a crowd favorite online. Must try! Supposedly the best hummus in the city, lots of zhug and amba, and soft pillowy pita ($4-$5.50). Cinderella Falafel 129 2nd Ave, off of St. MarksTasting notes: tons of “special” sandwiches and a yogurt-based tzatziki ($5-$7) Hoomoos Asli 100 Kenmare StreetTasting notes: local foodies seem to rave about their “hoomos” which you can get in a sandwich for the odd price of $4.61 or in a plate of 5 or 8 for $5 and $7 respectively. (Also, they deliver all the way deep into Tribeca!) Mamoun’s 119 Macdougal St Tasting notes: Super standard basic falafel - falafal, lettuce, tomato and tahini. ($3). Miriam’s Sixth Ave. at 46th St., Tasting notes: Loaded with hot sauce and tomatoes - super thick pita. ($4). Moshe’s Falafel Cart 94 West 46th StreetTasting notes: Overly stuffed with fresh veggies, a work lunch sidewalk steal at $4.75. Moustache265 East 10th StreetTasting notes: This Iraqui owned joint features all homemade ingredients, hummus that gets raves and a $6.50 falafel sandwich. Oasis 161 North 7th, WilliamsburgTasting notes: $3 a sandwich, $6 a solid plate. Mixed reviews (love/hate) but perhaps worth checking out? Olympic Pita 1419 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn and 58 W 38th st, Manhattan Tasting notes: Distinctly Israeli in style, kosher, and served inside sturdy lafah bread. Tons of toppings (order the fried eggplant!) ($4-$8). Pick a Pita 247 W 38th St.Tasting Notes: You can get a platter for $9.50 or a pita for $5.50. For a quick and super fresh work bite in this area, word is it can’t be beat. Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma 26 E. 17th St. Tasting notes: Super thin whole-wheat pita is healthy but frail, falafel has fantastic herbal taste, tons of fresh additions to pita ($4-$5) Taim222 Waverly Place Tasting notes: Critics always deem this amongst the best. Lots of falafal falvor varieties (love the harrissa!), super fresh ingredients, great teas & smoothies to go with. On the expensive side for falafal. ($5-$9) Waterfalls144 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn HeightsTasting notes: Go for the combo platter for two with the fried cauliflower. Prices range from $3.50 for a sandwich to $16.00 for a huge platter. So NYers, what do you think? Any I left off the list?

[Life: List’d] Falafel in the City

I went on a date recently where the guy didn’t know what a falafel was (the horror!) Since then, I’ve had falafel on the brain.

I’m not enough of a falafel connoisseur to have a preference of Arabic versus Israeli nor to note the composition of the tahini. But I can tell if a pita is homemade or not and whether not my taste buds are loving the flavors.  So far my favorites are Taim (Israeli style, homemade pitas) and Malmoun’s (Arabic style, bought pitas) but here is a list I’m going to check out - hopefully all this year.

Alfanoose
150 Fulton St
Tasting notes: super thin pita, extra spicy, crunchy pickled veggies (and homemade pickles - cucumber and turnip based!) ($4-$6).

Azuri Cafe
465 W. 51st St.
Tasting notes: Seems to be a crowd favorite online. Must try! Supposedly the best hummus in the city, lots of zhug and amba, and soft pillowy pita ($4-$5.50).

Cinderella Falafel
129 2nd Ave, off of St. Marks
Tasting notes: tons of “special” sandwiches and a yogurt-based tzatziki ($5-$7)

Hoomoos Asli
100 Kenmare Street
Tasting notes: local foodies seem to rave about their “hoomos” which you can get in a sandwich for the odd price of $4.61 or in a plate of 5 or 8 for $5 and $7 respectively. (Also, they deliver all the way deep into Tribeca!)

Mamoun’s
119 Macdougal St
Tasting notes: Super standard basic falafel - falafal, lettuce, tomato and tahini. ($3).

Miriam’s
Sixth Ave. at 46th St.,
Tasting notes: Loaded with hot sauce and tomatoes - super thick pita. ($4).

Moshe’s Falafel Cart
94 West 46th Street
Tasting notes: Overly stuffed with fresh veggies, a work lunch sidewalk steal at $4.75.

Moustache
265 East 10th Street
Tasting notes: This Iraqui owned joint features all homemade ingredients, hummus that gets raves and a $6.50 falafel sandwich.

Oasis
161 North 7th, Williamsburg
Tasting notes: $3 a sandwich, $6 a solid plate. Mixed reviews (love/hate) but perhaps worth checking out?

Olympic Pita
1419 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn and 58 W 38th st, Manhattan
Tasting notes: Distinctly Israeli in style, kosher, and served inside sturdy lafah bread. Tons of toppings (order the fried eggplant!) ($4-$8).

Pick a Pita
247 W 38th St.
Tasting Notes: You can get a platter for $9.50 or a pita for $5.50. For a quick and super fresh work bite in this area, word is it can’t be beat.

Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma
26 E. 17th St.
Tasting notes: Super thin whole-wheat pita is healthy but frail, falafel has fantastic herbal taste, tons of fresh additions to pita ($4-$5)

Taim
222 Waverly Place
Tasting notes: Critics always deem this amongst the best. Lots of falafal falvor varieties (love the harrissa!), super fresh ingredients, great teas & smoothies to go with. On the expensive side for falafal. ($5-$9)

Waterfalls
144 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights
Tasting notes: Go for the combo platter for two with the fried cauliflower. Prices range from $3.50 for a sandwich to $16.00 for a huge platter.

So NYers, what do you think? Any I left off the list?

Photo
  1. hellodana reblogged this from mascarah and added:
    NYC — falafel!
  2. domthewolf reblogged this from mascarah and added:
    Falafal. Always being down...made me really like...middle...
  3. boutofcontext answered: Falafel’s a third date meal.
  4. stoplookliz reblogged this from mascarah
  5. wastedehhs reblogged this from mascarah
  6. kevin answered: The side carrots at Oasis are awesome.
  7. mascarah posted this
Single A Theme :: Version 1.3 :: By Business Bullpen