It's been a while since I enjoyed a full on chank evening. For those of you who will recall, "chank" is a term I coined a while back. A term that encompasses "cheap" and "swank" in one fell swoop - not unlike New York itself.
Let's be honest, most of us can't really afford the whole "Sex and the City" lifestyle. And if Carrie had been a real woman instead of Sarah Jessica Parker on a hit HBO series, she wouldn't have been able to afford it either.
So, $500 sushi dinners at Masa be damned. Sometimes the best way to experience this city is to embrace it at both ends of the spectrum -- within reason.
With reason at my side and my pocketbook - a bit light - but at my side as well, a Saturday night chank event was planned. My gal pal Lo joined me for the festivities, tickled by the concept of high and lowbrow encapsulated in one evening romp.
Said romp began on the high with cocktails at Pegu Club, where waitresses wrapped in silk kimono minis quenched our thirst with Pinot Noir and an enticing, jade green Cucumber-Mint Creole (pictured above). Soothed by the combination of well-crafted libations and the lounge's sumptious Burmese-inspired surroundings, it was difficult for Lo and I to make a move downtown for the downscale dinner that awaited.
But once we determined that downtown meant a trip to Chinatown, our spirits were lifted.
Besides, what better slurpy and savory cheap eats option is there, than an order of authentic Shanghai-style Crab-Pork Soup Dumplings? (Pictured below.)
We hit Pell Street and bypassed the suckers waiting on line at Joe's Shanghai and headed for Joe's less popular sibling Joe's Ginger, where we were treated to state-of-the-art dumplings and more.
The delicate, chewy wrappers encased rich squirts of soup and lip-smacking meaty filling. Drizzled with ginger spiked vinegar, they were heavenly. The Shrimp with Garlic Sauce and Sauteed Bok Choy were good, but simply tasted like La Choy in comparison.
Lo and I quickly recognized that we should have followed the lead of the Chinatown regulars at our table: Dump the rest of menu and order three bamboo steamers filled with Soup Dumplings.
Unsurprisingly, Lo is on board for another "chank" evening. This time around, we plan on overdosing on Soup Dumplings.
Carrie Bradshaw should do so well. Then again, maybe she will in that new "Sex and the City" movie.
Mr. Big and Soup Dumplings.
Now, that's taking chank to a whole new level!
Comments