Melting Pot Month-Week #3: Sogo

Sogo Fusion Lounge
237 Northampton St.
Easton, PA  18042
610-250-0198
Spoon Rate: 

We rarely take advantage of up-and-coming downtown Easton and its selection of restaurants.  A free pair of tickets to a concert at State Theatre provided the opportunity.  We settled on Sogo for this venture--I was skeptical of it comparing to our favorite Lehigh Valley sushi spot, The Other Fish.  Admittedly, Sogo held its own.

shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings)

A spacious dining room provides an open atmosphere with plenty of seating to allow for privacy.  The sushi chefs efficiently rolled up our selections which included some classics: spicy tuna ($5.50) & rainbow roll ($10), and house special rolls:  monkey roll ($11-shrimp tempura topped with avocado and spicy sauce) & valentine roll ($9, salmon, crabmeat & avocado roll topped with tuna.)  Of course, not everyone loves sushi as they should--and there are plenty of other options on the menu including soups ($3-6), salads ($3.50-8), entrees ($10-24), noodles & rice ($10-12).  I can only attest that the sushi is excellent & recommended for downtown Easton!



 

Melting Pot Month- Week #2: Damascus

Damascus

449 N. 2^nd St

Allentown, PA

610-432-2036

Hours: T-Sat 10a-8p

Spoon Rate: 

Damascus:  one of those restaurants that has left its memorable impression since our visit on a snowy night this winter.  We were curious after the recommendation of a few different friends.  Family-owned and operated by Syrian natives, authentic cuisine & friendly service are part of the experience. (Their slogan on their t-shirts and menu says it all:  "Food so good you'll think we stole your mother!")  In an unassuming house in this Allentown neighborhood, it has modest yet hospitable decor.  Its large tables promote communal eating with a vast

grape leaves & babaghannouj

menu of Middle Eastern dishes.  


We sampled 3 of their appetizers:  stuffed grape leaves (vegetarian & meat, 12 for $6),hummus ($4.50) and babaghannouj (smoked eggplant dip with lemon, garlic & sesame paste $4.50) with pitas.  Wow. 

fatoush

The smoky taste of the "baba" made it superior to others we've tasted.  The expansive appetizer menu left many more to be explored upon another visit--including some unfamiliar to me (ie. spiced labnie; shankleesh, foul moudammas are sure to give me an educational adventure!)

falafel

The dinner specialties include a salad (which can be upgraded to $1.50 for greek, fatoush or tabouli).  I chose my favorite, falafel ,with a fatoush salad (includes toasted pita and their "secret" dressing.)  The falafel was delectable.  The lamb gyro is always a classic--and compared well to others we have had.

A definite highlight was the dessert.  Not only was it the best baklava I've experienced, they have a "choclava", otherwise known as chocolate-infiltrated baklava.  Wow.  Totally memorable and I wouldn't put it past us to drive there just for dessert sometime.

An overall charming experience and a definite recommend to the Lehigh Valley.

"Melting Pot" Month-Week #1: Jenny's Kuali Authentic Malaysian Cuisine

Jenny's Kuali
Authentic Malaysian Cuisine
102 E. 4th St.
Bethlehem, PA  18015
710-758-8858 
Hours:  Mon.-Fri. 11a-8p   Sat. 11a-9p    Sun. Closed 

Evans' Eats Spoon Rates:   

Last post, I featured a true "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant on a Malaysian river.  Thanks to our ever-increasing international cuisine right here in the Lehigh Valley, we have our own Malaysian hotspot.  Ideal for Lehigh University students or those who are in this southside neighborhood, Jenny's has been open since Summer, 2012.   I don't know a lot about Malaysian food other than their popular noodle-based dishes often accompanied with spices like curry & turmeric.  This seems to be a solid selection and would be a recommended Asian alternative for those wanting a break from their local chinese take-out. 

Jenny's is cozy, clean and modern in its aesthetics (I especially loved the red chair cushions!) and has a 
 reasonably-priced menu (average dish $8-$10).   

A highlight was the appetizer menu.  We settled on vegetable steamed dumplings ($5) and curry puffs ($2) filled with chicken, curry & potatoes.  These were enjoyed with their complimentary sauces  If we return, we may just choose a sampler of appetizers and take the opportunity to try one of their soups ($1.50-2.50).  

 Jenny's provides a variety of  vegetarian, beef, chicken or shrimp dishes that come with white or brown rices.   The noodle dishes come with your choice of lo mein (egg noodles), mai fun (rice noodles) or chow fun (flat rice noodles).  Our orders of vegetable mai fun and shrimp noodles with chow fun almost came too quickly (recommended if you are on time constraints!) & were OK. (Again, the highlight was the appetizers.)  

Evans' Eats has also started a long overdue rating system.  Here are the standards that will be used & listed at the beginning of each post.:

 5 Spoons: I loved it. Can't wait to go back & take a friend.

4 Spoons: I really liked it & will return.
3 Spoons: I liked it. Worth a visit & might return. 

2 Spoons: OK, but probably won't return.
1 Spoon: Don't bother.

Evans' Eats: Lehigh Valley and BEYOND....

Hole in the Wall

Langkawi, Malaysia. 

Wishing I could have joined one of my readers in Langkawi, Malaysia.  So thankful she passed on this great picture-and her review of a recent dinner at this floating restaurant on the Kilim River.  Its creative name "Hole in the Wall" certainly fits the theme of Evans' Eats.    She enjoyed Tom Yam soup and curried chicken or prawns.  She wishes to inform any readers willing to make the trip that this restaurant is BYOB--bring your own boat!  I stumbled across this video which gives us a greater peak into this intriguing dining experience.  Thanks, Pat!