Corn - Cafe Habana

Can we talk about how amazing the corn is at Café Habana?

I always ask for suggestions on where I should go to eat and I think 90% of the time, I don’t take upon it. It’s never because I don’t value the suggestor’s opinion but it’s really just because I’m a) not in the mood for the specific cuisine; b) it’s out of the price range I was aiming at; c) it’s not inspiring enough at that moment. I’m sure you can all agree on this.

Café Habana has been one place that my foodie friend, Dekae, has suggested about five times in a row and I’ve just never gone. I also happened to read about it on my other foodie friend, Cat’s food blog so I had to give it a try. It’s one of those places I walk into, sit down, finally take a bite out of the ever-so-famous item on the menu, and think angrily to myself WHY THE HECK DID I NOT COME HERE ALREADY AND HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED OUT ON THIS FOR SO LONG?!?! So yes. That was my reaction to their infamous corn. Unfortunately, that’s about the only thing that’s worth the 30-45 minute wait from the menu. I’ve had similar Cuban-style corn at La Esquina (my first time trying the corn) and at Havana Central. Both places are excellent: La Esquina is more cheese-crusted and Havana Central more smothered with the cheesy sauce in a creamy way. What makes Café Habana’s corn even more excellent is the perfect combination of all the warmth, the light crust, the sauce, and the chili powder. It’s absolutely fantastic and I highly recommend for you to go give it a try. I’ve gone back again recently for the corn and it never fails. However, I did discover their to-go store adjacent to the restaurant where you don’t have to wait for 30+ minutes and just get the corn to go. It’s the best $3 you will ever spend, guaranteed!

Cafe Habana - 17 Prince St. NYC

Pizza

I love pizza. Do you? I don’t know many people who don't. While I especially love your everyday NY-style thinly crusted pizza with mozzarella oozing out with the magical first bite of the triangle, I do appreciate specialty and creative pizzas. I’ve been making it a point to explore my new office area and trying out different places every day. Yesterday, I discovered Waldy's Wood-Fired Pizza & Penne (800 Ave. of the Americas NYC) which happens to be just around the corner from my office. I’ve heard bits and pieces about this place from my coworkers and the moment I walked in, I noticed people eating their share of food that were all thin-crust pizza with various toppings. I asked about their most popular pizza (Margherita) and I was pleasantly surprised by the price ($8 for small) and size (a personal sized pizza portion; very filling; could not finish and I eat a lot).

The crust was definitely the key to their pizza: extremely crisp and thin, as if you’re eating pizza on crispy cracker. I loved that each order was freshly made and the wide array of available ingredients allows infinite amount of combinations. The Margherita was served with fresh basil and they also have on the side several herbs for you to garnish your pizza as well as different oil. I asked what it was for and they said it was for salads but I’d use it for bread to go with the pasta. Waldy’s is cheap, quick, and different. You also feel “healthier” eating the pizza because it’s not so greasy. The only comparison I can make are the pizzas from Whole Foods, which is decent but definitely too greasy for your own good. They also have pasta, which I am very excited about trying soon! From what I hear, they’re oven baked, similar to baked mac & cheese.

I am currently writing this as I’m waiting for my lunch delivery order from THAINY. Apparently, their pad thai is “to die for” by NYC Official City Guide and other excellent reviews from Time Out New York, NYT, Zagat, and alike. Quite frankly, I was sold by their $6.95 super lunch special deals, which comes with appetizer and entrée. To be continued.