NYC: Part Two
When we left off, we’d just been to Hangawi for dinner… and a cheesecake breakfast.
Our story picks up on another balmy night in NYC. After shopping in Union Square, Dinner Date and CCK needed some may-juh refueling. Luckily, the dynamic duo came across Souen Organic Macrobiotic Restaurant. From the outside, Souen is quite unassuming—nothing like the posh Hangawi, nor the trendy Candle Café. However, if you judged this book by its cover, you’d be missing out—big time.
So many items on the menu screamed: “Pick me!” Did I want comfort food in the form of soba-noodle soup? Was I feeling adventurous enough to try Burdock with miso sauce? Should I gross out my daddy by ordering Natto? And what of the Goma Tofu dish that actually contained no tofu? How to choose, how to choose? I felt like I needed at least another week in New York just to sample everything that looked good! Sadly, we only had the one night. But sneaky CCK found a way around this dilemma: I ordered meals to go!
For my actual meal at the restaurant, I settled upon the Vegetable Kuzu Stew. Good decision, Katie! The broth was thick, the veggies were plentiful, and the stew was warm and comforting. With plentiful vegetables in a rich, thick broth, it was just as “cozy” as the menu claimed. Although the bowl was like twice the size of my head (no joke!), I managed to eat every last bit.
(Well okay, there were a *few* pieces left. Picky picky picky.)
Mr. Dashing Dinner Date ordered a Broccoli and Tofu stir fry, which came over soba noodles. He also tried the soup of the day, pureed Carrot-Celery, which was perfectly sweet and creamy (I can attest to this, as I stole quite a few spoonfuls).
Look Ma, he’s eating kale!
To-Go Meal Goodness:
1. Curried Vegetables (They made for a tasty lunch the next day.)
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2. Noodle Planet Platter: I loved this. With so many delicious components vying for their attention, my busy tastebuds never got bored!
3. (Not pictured) Marinated burdock in Miso Paste (This was so gross, I threw it out before I even snapped a photo!)
4. (Not pictured) a large side order of kabocha
5. And oh yeah, another Kuzu stew. It was that good. 
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Add Souen to the list of favorite NYC eateries.
And after eating the Kuzu Stew, I discovered another must-try ingredient—kuzu! Upon returning home from my vacation, I promptly went out and bought some kuzu of my very own with which to experiment. Hey, it’s another K food!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
so many pretty meals!
I’m glad you guys had a good trip!
Yummy! I’ve heard NY has the best Asian food ever. And that stuff all looks delicious. I wish I could get my daddy to eat tofu…he’ll try bites of mine, but I doubt he’d ever order a whole tofu dish for himself.
I can’t wait to check out those restaurants!! The foods look great, though I think I might have to do some serious negotiating to convince my husband to try them
Glad you’re getting great feedback from companies who want to have giveaways on your site – you deserve the press!!
I love NYC and all the fab places it has to offer
I wish I was going back sometime soon! Your meals look awesome!
Your eats look fun!! I want to win something!! I am excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Justine
I want to go to NYC so bad!! That would be a dream!! Sounds like it was a blasty! Yummy looking eats too! I doubt you ever miss your daily veggie intake:)
The stew looks amazing! And the bowl is cute. lol.
I have been to Souen Organic Macrobiotic Restaurant a few times and you are right, unassuming but amazing!
Those meals all look awesome! Especially the curried vegetables.
Good idea to get so many meals to go! Looks delicious.
The noodle planet platter looks delicious – Good thinking in ordering more to go!
Your dad’s meal looks awesome – check out all that soba noodle goodness! Must cook up some of the soba in my cupboard, asap! Mmmm.
Looking forward to your kuzu experiments, since I have pretty much no idea what it even is. I guess I should just hit the Google to find out, eh? HA!
Holy rusted sprializer Batman! Ha ha. I love your giveaways…they’re always so creative. Can’t wait!
Sounds like an awesome trip! Glad to hear you had fun
Love New York recaps! I want more. I want to eat those dishes. Umm especially the one that involves KABOCHA please!
Just came back from New York too. Last week. I did a post in my blog as well. Like you I had to do it in parts as it was so big
Amazing eats girl, I wish I could go to NYC!!!
i just googled kuzu to see exactly what it was and read that it’s a thickening agent? sounds a lot like agar agar. i can’t wait to see what you do with it! i bet it would make a mean gravy (mean being synonymous with good, not an evil gravy). i honestly don’t even know what grocery store i’d go to to find it…
Wow that stew looks amazing! I totally would have licked the bowl.
I’m getting excited! Give aways make me giddy, even though I never win anything. xD
And how long are you staying in New York for?
good call on ordering extra stuff to go! the curry stir fry looks delish.
Oh, AWESOME. This restaurant has recently popped up on my radar of must-tries, and as a New Yorker, I have no excuse! The stew and the platter look perrrfect. Looking forward to more NYC posts!
first off, thanks for doing all this giveaways! it’s fun to enter! second off, your nyc trip sounds so fun! it is a fab idea to get all that stuff to go. while i think roasted butternut beats roasted kabocha (tee hee), i would’ve gone for that lovely squash as well!
Hi Katie,
I came over to visit because Kati (The Veggie Voice) told me you had also done a post on Souen! Wasn’t it marvelous? I will try the kuzu stew next time. My husband works in NYC during the week and eats lunch there everyday! Funny because the night before (Tues), we were at Hangawi.
Ha ha – no fear of the agar agar anymore in my house! That stuff is amazing, and I have you to thank for introducing it to me.
OK, 2 things regarding Souen:
1. I don’t even know what kuzu is – off to Google that right now.
2. A restaurant that serves sides of kabocha?!? I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Have a good weekend Katie.
I’ve only been to Souen once, but I loved their macro plate. It’s a bit expensive, but I love the fact that it’s wholesome food.
I am originally from Union Square and Souen is one my favorite restaurants! I thought this was kind of funny though b/c the kuzu stew is the only thing I’ve tried that I didn’t like…to each their own…haha. Glad you had a fabulous time in NYC!
Gosh Katie, you went to SOUEN! I used to go there every single day for two and a half years, can you believe it! I’ve tried everythin on the menu. it’s my favorite spot in nyc. I hope you tried their dressings which are to die for! THe carrot dressing (which is sublime on the steamed kale) and the miso tahini, which on top of their grain of the day is just…. mmm… makes me salivate to think of it.
Much love to you girl, and btw, i love how open you’re becoming about yourself! you’re flourishing. and it’s so joyous to watch. you’ll go far girl, i sense it.
xoxox
ChrisB
Thanks so much, Chris! I’m so sad that my favorite Souen location is closed til October for renovations this year, so I’m probably not going to be able to get there this year. But next time I go, I’ll be SURE to try the dressings! I love carrot-ginger. (In fact, I just bought one at Whole Foods that’s pretty good!)
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