Free Korilla Food Truck lunch giveaway This Friday, August 19

According to Grub Street...

Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race and Korilla Korean BBQ Truck will be giving away free lunches on Friday. The mystery location will be revealed at 11 a.m. that day, following a series of clues to be published on Food Network's Facebook and Twitter pages. [Grub Street]

I've had mine, paid, unfortunately, now go get yours!

My Korilla Food Truck Experience

Korilla Food Truck

After work today, I went to Union Square to try out the Korilla food truck.  You may remember Korilla if you watched last night's "Great American Food Truck Race" on the Food Network because they are the contestants from New York City.  The truck serves fusion selections combining Mexican staples with Korean barbecue.  They also serve rice bowls of Bulgogi, grilled pork, chicken and vegetables.

Korilla stands for Korean grill.  It was the brain child of Edward Song, a Columbia University graduate who started this food truck after struggling to find work during the economic downturn.  He enlisted his high school friends with the goal of introducing Korean food to the masses. 

Beef Chosun Bowl

I decided to treat me and my husband to Korilla today and we bought 2 Chosun bowls and a Burritto.  When ordering your meal at Korilla's, you can choose your format--taco, burrito, or Chosun bowl which is a rice bowl.  The next step calls for your choice of rice--their  special BKFR (bacon, kimchi, fried rice) followed by the protein (beef, pork, chicken or tofu). Following the protein, you can add your choice of veggies, and kim chi.  You will also have the option of adding some special sauces, mainly spicy, spicy, and lots more spicy.

A meal at Korilla is a hearty and spicy one bursting.  I recommend that you try it at least once for the experience. Next time, I'm trying the pork Chosun bowl.

Visit: http://www.korillabbq.com/ to find them. Many of the ingredients that they use are fresh.  The pork is hormone and antibiotic free.

Also, if you like them, watch them at the Food Network's "Great American Food Truck Race."
Tune in: Sundays at 10pm/9c and Wednesdays at 8pm/7c.

Back By Popular Demand: Free Korean Food in Central Park , Tuesday, 8/16

Photo Credit:  Taste of Korea:  http://yfrog.com/z/kgf1latj

Are you hungry for more free Korean Food?  Go to the Central Park Naumberg Bandshell on Tuesday, 8/16 from 11AM-7PM to sample free dishes. As a bonus, there will be performances, including a K-POP Contest.  Check out:  http://www.facebook.com/TasteofKoreaNYC?sk=wall for more information.  Happy eating!

Market Crash Got You Down? Have A Free Drink on Bierkraft

Photo credit: www.bierkraft.com 

Bierkraft, located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn holds free tastings with nibbles every Tuesday at 7PM.  This evening, Bierkraft will feature strong golden Belgian ales containing somewhere around 9% alcohol.   Check them out if you're in the area.

Bierkraft is located 191 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217, (718) 230-7600.  Closest subway is the R train to Union Street.

Zang Toi Fashion Show Featuring His Greatest Hits

So, it's kind of been awhile.  While I have not been truly on hiatus--I've sampled a few restaurants; visited a few places; tried on some products; and attended events, finding the time to write about them was a bit of a challenges.  The workload picked up and I am just beginning to find some time to write again, even if it's a brief blurb.

Anyways, last night, a few friends and I attended a special fashion show entitled "Haute Couture."  The show featured highlights of Zang Toi's designs set in the New York Surrogate Court downtown.  "Haute Couture" was a special event held during the annual OCA National Convention in New York City.   OCA stands for the Organization of Chinese Americans, a nationwide advocacy  group that focuses on preserving the rights of Asian Americans in the United States.   Coupled with Toi's fashion show was a food tasting of different Asian purveyors in the New York City area.  Among my favorite purveyors were the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory which presented samples of black sesame and pandan ice cream, to name just two; "Fresh Ginger" ginger ale, an unfiltered drink so pure, there are ginger bits in the bottom.  For women who are in their first trimester battling morning sickness, this is a great product! There were also mini cupcakes and delicious dumplings.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory goodies

"Fresh Ginger" ginger ale

Now, for the fashion show itself.  The words elegant drama characterizes the event.  The venue, with its architectural features coupled with the fashion transformed into a scene where the models are socialites, counts, and countesses entering a ballroom to be presented to the audiences in the style of movies like the ball in "My Fair Lady."   One of my favorite dresses was the green gown which inspires ladies at the opera and even Czarist Russia, just to name two thoughts that came to my mind when I was watching the model descend the staircase.  The fashion show's finale showcased a cape of the New York City skyline all hand-made.   Following the finale, the designer, Zang Toi who donned a kilt which is one of his trademarks.

Interior of the NY surrogate court lobby

 

The Green Gown

 

 

 

 

 

Model with dress and coat set

The NYC skyline cape

Detail of the cape as seen on the projection screen

Zang Toi with the models at the finale

Week 5: Free Korean Food in Manhattan

The "Taste of Korea" promo has come to a full circle.  For those of you who had the pleasure of attending these events over the past few weeks, please feel free to leave comments on your experiences so far.  Below, please find the Week 5 Calendar:

5/16: LA Galbi - 40th St. between 5th & 6th Ave.
5/17: Samgyeopsal (Pork Belly BBQ) - Columbus Circle
5/18: Spicy Pork Bulgogi - Park Ave. between 26th & 27th
5/19: LA Galbi - 6th Avenue on 52nd St.
5/20: Spicy Pork Bulgogi - Union Square (Union Square West at 15th St.)

Robots are Taking Over Manhattan One Hotel at a Time

Yotel, which is opening this summer, conjures up shades of the Jetsons' with its robotic operated hotel.  Guests check in at terminals and baggages will then be transported to your room with the help of a robotic arm.

Check-in desk.  Photo credit www.yotel.com

The rooms, also called "cabins" are of a futuristic style complete with wi-fi, a galley with complimentary breakfast on each floor.  There are lounges for cocktails and a Japanese restaurant that will open along with the hotel.

Premium Cabin.  Photo credit:  www.yotel.com

Yotel operates other hotels in London Heathrow Airport and in Amsterdam.  The branch in New York is the first in the United States to open and in addition to the "space age" technology, it is offering rooms at an introductory price of $149.  I did a practice booking for July 4th weekend, and this rate is applicable.  Where in New York City are you going to find a posh room at this price??  If you do, let me know.