General Tso's chicken from Hunan Cottage in Fairfield, NJ
Over the spring Bank Holiday, Jon and I made a last-minute trip to New Jersey and New York for a family obligation. While these trips back to the New York area are always too short and too busy, we still managed to hit up some hometown favorites. For those of you who end up in north Jersey or are rushing around the tri-State area via Penn Station, here are some of my most-loved places to eat:
scallion pancake at Hunan Cottage
Crispy duck with mantou at Hunan Cottage
For Chinese, I love going to the Hunan Cottage in Fairfield, NJ. Although it was a relatively-long, 30-minute drive from our home, Hunan Cottage was the place we went to celebrate and/or treat ourselves when I was growing up. The exterior is hideous (like many highway-side businesses in the Jerz), and the interior isn’t much better. But the food’s freshness and tastiness are the star attraction. I know this next sentence sounds ridiculous because I’m describing a dish that is the chicken tikka masala of American Chinese food, but if you’ve never had General Tso’s chicken and want to have a positive first experience, you should try Hunan Cottage’s version. Theirs is made with chicken that’s always crisp and flavored with a well-balanced spicy-sweet-tangy sauce. Scallion pancake and crispy duck served with fluffy, hot mantou round out the items I miss most from Hunan Cottage.
Despite its name, Hunan Cottage serves dishes from lots of other regions of China (as almost all Chinese places have to do to survive in the ‘burbs), so you’ll have to set aside your desire for regional specificity here: xiao long bao fillings are juicy and dense with flavor; sauteed snow pea leaves are melt-in-your-mouth; and crispy fish is served whole and to a chorus of oohs and ahhs. Definitely a place I love to visit when I’m back in the Jerz. Most dishes cost less than $15, but a few of the specials-of-the-day cost $25.
Hunan Cottage, 14 Route 46 East, Fairfield, NJ 07004; (973) 808-8328.
Everything bagel from Bagels 4 U
For breakfast, nothing beats a quick drive to Bagels 4 U (there are multiple locations in North Jersey, but we usually end up at the locations in Livingston or Short Hills (their original shop). I know the name is hardly confidence inspiring (4? U? Really?), but the bagels are crisp and shiny on the outside, chewy on the inside, and with a hint of the sweet yeastiness that smells like warm comfort. The key, as in any bagel place, is to order whatever’s the freshest from the oven, and while Bagels 4 U seems to have crossed over to the Dark Side and now offers “specialty flavors” (raspberry? grrr), the classics are all represented and going strong. Ceteris paribus, a sesame for me, please.
Bagels are about $11 for a dozen, and slightly more per bagel if you don’t go for the dozen.
Bagels 4 U, 69 E Northfield Rd, Livingston, NJ 07039; 973-761-0556
large pizza margherita ($17) and small white pizza ($15) at Patsy's
Jon and I had exactly 1.5 hours free from family “stuff” and wanted to see some friends in Manhattan. We’d taken a train from NJ into Penn Station and had to catch another train out to Long Island (ahh, the Tri-State area), so where to meet that would be relaxing, tasty and quick? Patsy’s, of course. Is it the best pizza in New York? I’m not going anywhere near that. But it’s pretty darn good. Thin crust, fresh mozzarella, good sauce. The crust edges were a bit too thick, but after almost five years of living in London, I’d say Patsy’s pies tasted like manna.
Large pies start at $17 and small ones at $15. Toppings are $2.50 each, and there’s lots of salads and pastas available, too, in case you’re crazy and don’t want pizza.
Patsy’s, multiple locations in Manhattan, but the Chelsea one is convenient for those rushing around Penn Station. 318 W. 23d Street (between 8th and 9th Avenue), New York 1011; 646-867-7400. Closest subway stop: 23d street on the C, E, but just a 10-minute walk from Penn Station.
Never had General Tso’s chicken but am fascinated by it. I still recall a business trip with my then boss (from the US) in Hong Kong when he exclaimed, “Where the hell is the General Tso’s chicken?” in an upscale Cantonese restaurant.
BTW – would it fair to say that suburban US Chinese joints have less ‘westernised’ dishes than their UK counterparts ?
Ha! Well, in fairness to your boss, the dish is sold in upscale Chinese restaurants in the US (as well as a few I recall in Taipei), but you’re right that you get mocked a bit for ordering it.
Having not eaten Chinese in the UK ‘burbs, I can’t make the comparison, but I’d say most Chinese restaurants in my suburban neighborhood weren’t especially good (i.e., there was a whole lot of pu pu platter on those menus).
I shouldn’t be so dismissive about westernised Chinese food as that was what my Dad cooked for a living! That said when we ate out, we travelled an hour or so to the Chinatowns of Liverpool and Manchester for ‘real’ Chinese food. I have fond memories of dim sum during school holidays.
Well, I’m guessing your Dad cooked Westernized dishes because he was running a business, not a temple to the preservation of Chinese culture. In other words, I get why most of the restaurants in my nbhd served stuff that barely resembled “real” Chinese food (and was often just cheap and doused in soy sauce), but Hunan Cottage was the beacon of hope that one day, everyone would start demanding better Chinese food.
Anyway, General Tso’s is a uniquely American dish that, made well, is really darn good. : ) I swear I’ve seen it on lots of menus in Taipei, and I have also had it in mainland China, so the dish really has an interesting story to tell, I reckon.
Fascinated by the General Tso’s chicken as well – where do you get it in London?
Also love the look of Patsy’s pizza
Good question – I’ve never seen it on menus here, though after you posed your question, I wondered if perhaps next time I’ll just ask for the dish in Chinese and see what happens. I do crave it sometimes (guilty pleasure?) and wish I could find it in London. However, it is a very “American Chinese” dish so I’m not surprised it’s not on menus here.
you are making me want to go to nj to get my chinese food!!! and on the pizza front, another place, just as close as patsy’s is co, at 23rd and 9th avenue — by jim lahey. definitely very very good and if you’re there at an odd time it’s not that busy. i think it is definitely a step up from patsy’s though patsy’s can do the trick when you need it to.
laura – excellent tip, as always. I recognized Jim Lahey’s name immediately – he’s the “No Knead Bread” guy! So will def have to try out Co. next time!
Not sure if our 1 pm lunch on Memorial Day would have counted as an “odd time,” but I will say that Patsy’s was more than we hoped for when we learned we had exactly 1.5 hours between trains at Penn Station.
I made and blogged General Tso’s Chicken; I loved it, and I’m not sure why I haven’t made it since. Maybe it’s the decadence of deep frying chicken thighs (skin on…)
You know, I remember that recipe, though I must admit I haven’t tried it out yet. I don’t mind the decadence of deep frying, but I hate the mess and having to figure out the best (most environmental and cleanest) way of getting rid of the frying oil.
Love Patsy’s! But I have to say my new faves are Motorino in the East Village and Co. in far west Chelsea. Put them on your list for next time.
[...] family emergency, but every cloud has a silver lining, and we loved seeing family and friends while chowing on some great bagels, pizza and excellent General Tso’s chicken. Bar Boulud and Viajante made their splashy openings, but I’d say the bloom is off the rose [...]
[...] Click here to see what the General is supposed to look and taste like. [...]
Looks like what we in the uk would call ‘sweet and sour chicken’ to me!