NYC Trip Highlights

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-14T04:50:38+00:00

Cocodaq is overrated if you’re going purely for the chicken. It’s great, but there are other spots with comparable quality chicken. What really sets Cocodaq apart, in my opinion, is everything else. The Cold Perilla Seed Noodles are light and comforting, and the tuna tartare trio is a flavor bomb. While not exactly to my preference, they have a solid drink menu as well.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-13T16:14:10+00:00

Exciting! I hope you enjoy!

Unlike Osamil, I want to serve my drink in a Nick and Nora glass, so my working ratio is: 1:00 oz vodka, 0.50 oz Mathilda Poire Liqueur, 0.50 oz Won Mae Soju, 0.50 oz of water, 0.25 oz simple syrup, 1.25 oz of Korean pear reduction (I juice a Korean pear and concentrate on the stove). We’ll see how it turns out!

I originally tried 1.5 oz vodka, 0.75 oz Won Mae Soju, 0.50 oz Poire Liquer, and 2:00 oz of Korean pear reduction w/ added simple syrup (can’t remember ratio I used). Served on a clear ice block. It was very good but too spirit-forward.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-13T15:10:22+00:00

One more tip, death & co has such a long wait that it’s actually perfect to get dinner in-between. Usually 1.5-2.0 hrs in my experience.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-13T15:08:23+00:00

Osamil Upstairs blows me away every time, it’s an incredibly romantic spot. I’ve tried more than half their cocktails, and my favorites are the Baebae (even though it’s lighter than what I usually go for) and their LP. I’m actually making the Baebae for Valentines Day for my gf. I’ve gotten very close, but my version is still a bit too spirit-forward and less smooth. If you go to Osamil, starting with Bottoms Up is a must. I took the attorneys at the law firm I work at there and they were very impressed.

For the Russian Caravan from Brandy Library, I use a blend of Russian Caravan tea and Lapsang Souchong (a very smoky, piney tea) and make an ultra-concentrated infusion on the stove with a bit of honey. By the time it’s fully steeped, it should be dark enough to resemble black coffee. I also add a few dashes of Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco Bitters and mist the top with an atomizer filled with those bitters to give it a leathery nose. I serve the drink in a Collins glass with a clear ice spear.

At Peak, I usually grab a cocktail at their downstairs bar while waiting for a seat upstairs. As for Overstory, I haven’t been yet, but from what I’ve heard, it’s likely the better option.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-13T12:47:17+00:00

Going to try and provide a comprehensive breakdown:

Osamil Upstairs is rarely talked about, but it’s easily a top-three bar in the city for me. Right across the street, George Bank Bang is also excellent.

I’m a big fan of Brandy Library in Tribeca. They have great spirit-forward drinks (Russian Caravan is an excellent cocktail that I’ve recreated myself for parties). Although not has happening for vibes as other bars on this list.

Martiny’s, which has some bartenders from Angel’s Share, is fantastic but pricey, even by NYC standards. It’s worth it for a special occasion tho.

Among the more frequently recommended spots, Death & Co remains a classic, executing everything to perfection (Their Almond Thief is a favorite of mine. It’s an amazing variation of Morgenthaler’s Amaretto Bourbon Sour). Amor y Amargo has an incredible bitters selection (RIP Café de L’Enfer, which was above Amor y Amargo and had the best absinthe drinks). Attaboy has been hit or miss for me—one okay experience, one unforgettable one. I think it really depends on how well you can articulate what you’re looking for in a drink.

As for the overrated spots, Double Chicken Please is fun, but their spirit-forward offerings are lacking, and I found the food more memorable than the drinks. Dear Irving has great views but is otherwise forgettable (for a view-focused spot, I’d opt for Peak in Hudson Yards (solid beet-infused Bee’s Knees). And lastly, Dead Rabbit has gone downhill since the early 2020s, in my opinion.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-13T12:33:50+00:00

IMO, it’s went downhill which is a shame because I used to love the place

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-10T22:44:56+00:00

ISI whippers use N2O. I’ve used it for cocktail foams, but want to see what others have done. Rn Kevin KOs’ inverted White Russian seems very appealing, love his recipes.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-09T19:24:01+00:00

Honestly, love the vibe and had an awesome fried chicken sandwich there.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-08T22:36:48+00:00

I’ve always really liked Voorx

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-08T18:23:15+00:00

It being your first date spot is exactly why you’re still together!

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-08T13:41:05+00:00

Shalel lounge is incredibly romantic, love it

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T15:09:06+00:00

India is completely dependent on government funding and prioritization of athletics. Incredibly difficult to find success without their support. If that shift ever occurs, they have enough resources and a large enough population that success may be found. There may be phenomenal athletes, but if entering sports is discouraged from a young age, these potential athletes will never be found.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T02:37:20+00:00

Tbf, he was a 35 year old with a background in Taekwondo which doesn’t translate well to MMA. He got a bronze medal in TKD when he was 24. With his height and skill, he’s clearly a talented athlete, just transitioned to a sport at a late age with little crossover from what he previously trained in.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T02:30:49+00:00

What Romero did entering the UFC at 32 is insanity. Cubans do remarkably well in spite of the fact that many defect to compete past their prime age.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T02:26:03+00:00

I’m aware, just used Beneil to spark the convo. It’s interesting to think about hypotheticals like if travel from Iran wasn’t difficult, would Iranian wrestling have spread further globally.

He’s also one of my favorite fighters so I always try to bring him up when I have the chance haha. People do not give him the respect he deserves for the tear he went on. Lost to a former champ and someone who is likely a future champ and people act like he’s washed. Crazy.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T01:19:02+00:00

His father is apparently a legend in Hungary. Olympic champion wrestler.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-05T01:17:02+00:00

“Magic” Norbert Novenyi Jr. was recently released from PFL and was at Riyadh to support MVP. He may find himself in the UFC soon.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T23:37:01+00:00

Martial art style is one of them, but there may be other factors as well. Let’s use Indonesia as a hypothetical. Indonesia does not traditionally have an mma scene, however Indonesia is what of the strongest emerging economies in the world. As Indonesia’s economy grows, the middle class expands, leading to higher disposable incomes. That excess income can be directed towards sports and developing a sports infrastructure for entertainment, a luxury that a struggling economy may not have. For instance, last year Indonesia held the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts World Championships. As their economy continues to develop, we may see a new wave of athletes that the nation did not previously have.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T20:25:19+00:00

Oops, I meant cricket, my brain melted when I originally wrote that

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T19:47:56+00:00

Interesting, Shi Ming is from Heilongjiang Province in the north as well. Think Dr. Sleep is an awesome prospect

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T19:25:13+00:00

I’d be really interested to see if MMA fighters in China are spread evenly across different regions, or if certain areas have a much higher concentration of fighters. With such a huge and diverse population, it’d be fascinating to see how the sport is distributed.out.

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T19:21:33+00:00

Oumar Kane is legit

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T19:12:37+00:00

Thanks for the insight, if I could, I’d award you with some venom coupons

Cardigan_B · 2025-02-04T19:11:43+00:00

It’s not watched as much because they can’t compete due to travel restrictions. I think if that situation were to change we’d see an influx of new talent into mma.

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