Ember Room - Photo Essay

I love having friends who work in food journalism because I get to go to restaurant menu tasting events. Love it! My friend Will who works with The Daily Meal as a recipe editor and invited me last night to a menu tasting at the Ember Room in Hell's Kitchen, NYC. Chef Pongtawat "Ian" Chalermkittichai invited a few publications to come taste their new menu items. Despite having just arrived back in New York after a visit to Thailand and waking up super early to do a morning show on CBS, Chef Ian was gracious, welcoming and nice enough to by our table a few times to talk about his food and travels. Ember Room is not his first restaurant in the city, his first restaurant, self-titled Kittichai, is actually one of my favorite places in the city so I had high hopes for the food. I certainly wasn't disappointed. 

 Crispy Rock Corn Shrimp - tempura battered shrimp, roasted melting eggplant, sweet tamarind dressing, shredded hard-boiled egg

 Thai Tacos - shredded chicken, bean sprouts, chives, peanut, tofu, coconut, sweet chili sauce

 “Yum Hoi” Pomelo Scallops - seared “diver” scallops, chili jam glaze, pomelo salad, roasted pepper-lime dressing

 Koi Tuna Tartare - fresh tuna, roasted ground rice, crispy tortillas, chili-lime dressing

 Had Yai Volcano Chicken - oven-roasted turmeric-coconut marinated chicken, green chili sauce (IT'S ON FIRE!)

 Korean BBQ-Beef Fried Rice - wok-fried rice, kimchee, bbq beef, topped with raw egg.

 Crispy Whole Striped Bass - whole fish, sweet/sour/spicy sauce, crispy basil 

 Red Curry Crispy Duck - lychee, pineapple, cherry tomato, eggplant

 Mango with Sticky Rice & Toasted Coconut Ice Cream

 Pandan Pot de Crème with Waffle and Pandan Ice Cream

Picnic Garden - Korean BBQ Buffet

 

Muk Eun Ji

As seen through my recipes, a love all my food with a little spice. I have to say that there aren't any cuisines that master the art of spiciness better than Asian cuisines and Korean food is among the best along with Thai, Vietnamese, Sichuan and others. Whenever I feel the least bit poorly I know that a hot bowl of spicy broth, chili noodles, or hot pepper fried rice will clear up all my issues. 

I was feeling a severe need for spicy food all of last week and finally on friday that need was satisfied. I got off early from work because of 'Good Friday' and headed to the Korea-Town neighborhood of New York on 32nd St between 5th and 6th Avenues.

“Muk Eun Ji,” one of over 400 different kinds of Korean kimchi, gets the title when kimchi is fermented over a year at the minimum. This Korean traditional aged kimchi, has fed since ancient generations till now with its unique and rich flavor which is almost addictive once tasted. At Muk Eun Ji restaurant in the K-town  neighborhood of NYC, one can experience the authentic Korean aged kimchi that the restaurant is named after. They directly and exclusively imported from Jinan Maisan in South Korea. We got there around 2pm so it was still their lunch special hour.

 Ban Chan - Korean Appetizers

Seafood Soondubu

 Kimchi Jjigae

Signature Kimchi Stews using Muk Eun Ji 

With plenty of options for under $10, I wanted to order everything on the menu. Will definitely have to come back for their JjamPong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and JajangMyeon (Noodles in Black Bean Pork Sauce) combo. Also after staring at what other tables were trying their kimchi stews using the Muk Eun Ji is very popular as well as Korean BBQ options. So many things to eat, so little time...