Dinner And A Movie: Veselka & Nosferatu

Veselka
144 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-9682
veselka.com

HALLOWEEN IS AN excuse for New York City, as it is everywhere else, to revel in absurdity, which is a welcome departure, especially around these parts, from daily obsessions with excess. Somehow, dressed up as Santas and slutty nuns, the people of this city come alive with a warmth that emanates from someplace deeper than the flask tucked in its collective pocket. It's a bemused sort of goodwill, dare I say the Christmas spirit in costume, alive in October, only without all the secular bickering.

At Veselka, warmth emanates from steamed pirogis, and tastes like pumpkin, goat cheese and arugala, mushroom and sauerkraut, and meat. Warmth is delicious (and you can wash it down with 21 oz. of cool Obolon beer for $5.25). Warmth is also cheesy. Ukrainian fare might be Veselka's specialty, but this is, after all, a 24-hour diner set-up--the mac n' cheese is commendable.

We were joined by Brian (of Plataforma fame) who had suggested for afterwards a Halloween showing of Nosferatu, F. W. Murnau's classic 1922 vampire flick, its soundtrack performed live by the Devil Music Ensemble. All this, in the grand theater of Village East Cinemas, a towering hall of gothic-meets-arabic design, a terribly appropriate venue for the godfather of all monster movies. It was almost as frightening as taking the L-train back to Brooklyn.

MIKE EATS NEXT TIME: And probably drinks again, too.

24-Hour Pirogi People

Veselka
144 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
212-228-9682
www.veselka.com

FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH is a great day for Ukrainian food, that's what I always say. And if you don't like being out and about on such a day, you're in luck--Veselka is open 24 hours, so if you're craving pirogies stop by as late as you like, as close to Saturday the Fourteenth as you can get.

Since Mint was cat-sitting in the East Village after work, we decided to meet up late and satisfy our own pirogi cravings. The selection at Veleska is always amazing: potato, cheese, sauerkraut, sweet potato, spinach, and mushroom--in some combination or the other--are always available; for summer, blueberry and arugula with goat cheese are also options. Mint ordered sweet potato; I couldn't resist a combination of the summer specials.

Pirogies are the perfect late night snack. The sweet potato filling practically tastes like pie, best with applesauce. The goat cheese is tangy and warm, complimented by cool sour cream. Don't dip the blueberry ones in anything--the pockets of warm, whole berries are subtly sweet.

Veselka's baked chocolate custard, however, is anything but subtle. Firm on top, soft and creamy as you dig into the bottom, the cool chocolate is powerfully rich. Mint's warmed brownie was softer, but just as rich. Both paired with huge 22 oz. glasses of Brooklyn Lager on draught (on special for $5) really couldn't have been more perfect for a summer night, at any hour. Cue the pics:

Spring Break, Part I: Birthday Basketball & Burritos

Veselka
144 Second Avenue
(at 9th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-9682

Alto Cinco
526 Wescott Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 472-3633
www.alto-cinco.com

THIS CRAZY IDEA was dreamed up two days ago. For whatever reason, I decided that it would be a good idea, since I was trying to figure out how to get back to Ohio anyway, to just meet my mother in Syracuse. Since Georgetown was playing at the Carrier Dome tonight, we could both drive out for the game and head back for Ohio together the next day. Pure brilliance.

Sort of. After four years spent there, you'd think I would remember the one thing everyone knows about Syracuse: snow. Lots of it. The drive might have been the five hours I expected had I remembered to expect a blizzard upon arriving upstate.

But this is getting ahead of the story. It starts in the East Village earlier this morning at one of my all-time favorite spots in the City--Veselka. Mint, who was working in Manhattan today, wanted to take me out for my actual birthday. A reasonable request. One I am not likely to turn down.

Veselka is Ukrainian food. That's a lot like Polish food, which is mostly similar to Russian food, which is very much like Czech food. You get the idea. But I like to think of all as Ukrainian food. I don't know why, but I have a soft spot for the Ukrainians. It might be because their shining political star Yulia Timoshenko is both presidential material and a total babe, but mostly its a mystery.

Part of Veselka's charm is the simple fact that it is open 24-hours a day. It serves a rather traditional American diner menu in addition to its stunningly awesome traditional Ukrainian menu. We can delve into the finer points of this another time, but for this morning it will suffice to say that the challah bread French toast and potato pancakes were awesome. Thank you, Mint.

After this, I packed up and climbed into my rental car (no thanks to Hertz for screwing up my reservation, but many thanks to National for bailing me out) and headed west out I-80, north up I-81, and promptly hit a wall of snow somewhere about Scranton. I made it in time for the second half of the game, and my ma made it in time for the final three minutes. Syracuse won, the court was stormed, all was right with the world.

Alto Cinco was always a favorite of mine back in the day, though it's been several years now since I've been back. Thankfully, everything was as I remembered it. My mother enjoyed a big bowl of veggie chili, while I would not have had anything but the Chile Relleno Burrito ($6.75)--an entire cheese-stuffed chile wrapped up in a mammoth tortilla with rice, beans and red salsa. Absolutely a must-have if you're in Syracuse.

From there, we hit the road with two cups of extremely spicy Mexican hot chocolate. Necessary for the snow, the cold, and not least of all a two-hour drive east.

MIKE EATS NEXT TIME: On both counts, yes. And you should too. Also, check out Alto Cinco's website before you go, or call ahead. Hours for dining and delivery can be tricky.