A Decent Human Being

I always walk by Monofuko Milk Bar, since it is on a populated street in the East Village. I had been once before (as I had documented in a previous post) and walked away muy disappointed. I feel like I should give it a second chance. I peeked in today, as usual, checked out their crazy soft serve flavors and then walked on, partially daunted by the crowd.

Well, one of the flavor names stuck in my head and I began craving a taste. I had walked about four or five blocks when I realized I had to go back. The flavor? Sweet and salty cucumber. Weird, right? But it sounds like it could be refreshing and delicious. I once made a very successful cucumber gin and tonic sorbet.

It wasn't too crowded when I got back and stepped up to the front. I read the sign that each customer is only entitled to one sample. That throws my usual routine into turmoil! Well, they only had four flavors (the aforementioned cucumber, watermelon, horchata, and cereal milk). The cereal milk is sort of their famous standard, which I have never tried but figured I'd have other opportunities. Horchata is a Mexican rice drink sweetened with cinnamon. I enjoy it, but I figured what it would taste like. So that left the watermelon and cucumber.

I asked for a sample of the watermelon and immediately realized why customers were only allowed one sample each. It was like a mini-serving. It came in a small plastic cup and with a little wooden spoon. It was delicious - not too creamy, not too icy - and really had the watermelon flavor. Great, so now on to what I came for. I ordered the cucumber and the girl looked at me with a bit of doubt. She asked if I had ever tried it and when I said no, she added a little bit to my watermelon sample.

I was surprised at how green it was. But the flavor was subtle, with a lot of salt. I liked it and thought I could eat more, but all of a sudden I began to feel full. I basically got two tastes here and they really were not small. The thought of eating a serving of this sweet and salty ice cream after already downing a mini-helping, didn't sound so great.

I didn't know what to do. I'm not the person who comes in and asks for a free sample and then leaves. But I didn't want to force myself to eat more than I wanted. She suggested I buy a cookie, but I didn't really want that. So I offered, "Why don't I just leave you a tip and we'll call it a night?" She certainly didn't object and thanked me for being a decent human being. I guess many people come in for free samples and leave it at that.

I walked away feeling a little strange. I felt bad about only getting a sample, but proud that I had the proper instinct, and impressed that I didn't gorge myself. Soft serve made me feel good about myself - and it had nothing to do with the taste.

In a way, I was back where I started. I still haven't given Momofuko Milk Bar a full second chance. But my interest has been re-ignited and this decent human being will return soon enough.

Donut Ice Creams

I took a break from going to chick-a-licious this week and decided to finally try out the new Momofuko Milk Bar.  Momofuko (for those of you who don't live in NY) is the newest restaurant empire in Gotham.  David Chang owns four establishments with different concepts: Momofuko Noodle Bar (um, noodles), Momofuko Ssam Bar (sort of like Asian sandwiches), Momofuko Ko (that's the fancy, expensive one with online reservations that are almost impossible to score), and now the Bakery and Milk Bar.  Chang has been embraced by critics and the public alike.  So I was eager to try his newest concept.

One of the draws of the Milk Bar, besides the interesting and kitschy pies (like crack pie), is their soft serve ice cream.  Since they opened, they had been touting the unusual flavors of cereal milk ice cream (you know that flavor after the cereal has been soaking in milk for a while?).  As of a few weeks ago, the theme has changed and now all the ice creams are modeled after donuts - old fashioned, jelly, bavarian cream, chocolate donut, etc.  Interesting idea.

I decided on the jelly and my friend got the old fashioned donut.  And we added some interesting toppings - I got the coffee crumbles (coffee grounds and sugar).  My jelly ice cream was surprisingly pretty cloying and almost inedible.  I was expecting the whole experience of a jelly donut and I basically just got the filling.  And I didn't find it to be exactly that either - it reminded me more of a very strong thick raspberry sorbet.  It wasn't at all what I wanted.  So I actually brought it back and asked for a different flavor.  That's something I never do, but I was not going to be able to get through the cup.

I ended up with bavarian cream, which was easier to eat.  But to be honest, it was nothing special.  It tasted creamy and it was very rich, but I had a hard time signifying the donut flavor. I almost didn't finish this one either because it was so rich.  I like my soft serve a little less heavy I guess.  And if the flavor is going to be so unique and specific as a donut, I want to feel like I am eating a donut.  

I guess the Milk Bar is primarily a take-out spot or a place to hang out while you're waiting to get in to the Ssam Bar (they two spaces are connected).  The big flaw here is that there is no seating.  There are just long bar areas where you are supposed to stand.  I guess this conserved space and gave the place a hip setting, but I don't want to stand after a long day of working.  I'd like to relax and take a load off, you know?

Overall, I was pretty disappointed.  I would try another one of their kitschy, gimmicky ice cream ideas down the line - hoping that I'll be able to at least taste the gimmick. But for now, I will definitely be going back to chick-a-licious when I am in the East Village.