Brings new meaning to “ugly duckling”.  Fowl, but not foul, fortunately.

This take-home roasted duck (13 euros) from the small Vietnamese grocer Xuan Minh can look a little unsettling, but when heated in the oven you will forget all that.  The meat has a great flavor with the right amount of saltiness and meatiness.  Being duck, it also has lots of fat that not only helped the duck float when alive but also helps the meat taste like poultry’s glorious version of bacon after some crisping in the oven.  Sticklers for health can scrape off all the skin, too, of course, but that’s no fun.

I tried to take a photo from the side that wasn’t cut into, so that it wouldn’t look so unappealing, but you can still see it.  Oops.  Anyway, whatever, it’s roasted duck on a plate, not the Mona Lisa.  What can you do, put glitter on it in the shape of a smiley face?  If you like duck or other Vietnamese produce, check this place out.

Xuan Minh
Avenue Georges Henri 31, Woluwe

Languages: French, Vietnamese

If you’re the kind of person that feels the need to feel productive at all times, this is the blog for you. Believe it or not, many of today’s home and real estate related reality shows can provide you with valuable tips and information that can be applied to bettering your own property portfolio. So from now on, you can do the ultimate in multi-tasking: Unwind in front of the TV while growing your professional skill set. Following is a round up of some of today’s most valuable home improvement and real estate shows and what they can teach you.

Extreme Home Makeover (ABC, Sunday, 8:00 C.T.)
Sure, you may not have a team of a few dozen volunteer workers to help you gut and rebuild an entire home in a single weekend, but Extreme Home Makeover still proves an invaluable point: No property is unsalvageable. Sure, we all know that while you may pay less to purchase a fixer-upper (as opposed to buying a property that’s ready to go “as-is”), you’re still looking at thousands of dollars in additional costs to transform the property. But even with repair and renovation costs in mind, you may still come out ahead by purchasing a fixer-upper and building it according to your vision.

Extreme Home Makeover proves time and time again that any home can be transformed. If you have the vision, inclination, and a team of reliable contractors on-hand, searching for a fixer-upper may be the perfect route to saving some money and creating your ideal property from the ground up.

Bang for Your Buck (HGTV, Friday, 9:30 C.T.)
Speaking of saving money, HGTV’s Bang for Your Buck is chock-full of ideas for making improvements in the most economical way possible. Check out this show for cost-cutting measures that will help you make quality improvements to your property for comparatively inexpensive prices. On this show, you’ll find tips for everything from renovating kitchens to taking down walls and creating completely new spaces. Not only this, but Bang for Your Buck also demonstrates just how valuable these upgrades and renovations can be. Each episode compares the cost of making repairs to the additional price they will add to a property’s market value, clearly demonstrating the economics of frugal upgrades.

Flipping Out (Bravo, see BravoTV.com for schedule)
Speaking of market value, although he may be a bit eccentric, a lot can be learned from Flipping Out’s “home flipper” and real estate guru Jeff Lewis. This show follows the Los Angeles-based Lewis as he identifies fixer-uppers and completely transforms them in a matter of a few months, sometimes adding up to a million dollars onto their selling price. This show not only provides a template for those who are looking to get into the business of home-flipping, but it also shows how far a little bit of vision and insight into buyers’ minds can go.

Curb Appeal (HGTV, see HGTV.com for schedule)
When it comes to appealing to potential buyers and renters, we’ve discussed the value of curb appeal on this blog before. For those of us without a green thumb, though, it can be hard to know where to start. HGTV’s Curb Appeal is here to show you how to beautify your outside, taking everything from aesthetics to logistics into account. Here you’ll find tips on everything from landscaping to creating outdoor spaces for entertaining and utilitarian purposes.

For Rent (HGTV, Mondays, 10:30 C.T.)
Finally, if you’re looking for a glimpse inside renters’ minds, you won’t want to miss HGTV’s For Rent. Although this program (which shows renters how to install temporary decorations and fixtures into rented spaces) is designed for tenants, it can be equally educational for landlords. For Rent can provide landlords with ideas for the type of quick-fix amenities renters would like to find in their units. Particularly in a tight economy or in a location where there are many competitive properties, this show can give you tips on how to really appeal to renters through economical, easy-to-install “extras.” As an added bonus, if a renter comes to you with a request to incorporate a more permanent fixture in their unit, you’ll be ready with alternative solutions that will keep your renter happy and prevent your unit from undergoing any permanent changes.

Thanks to reality home TV, gone are the days of feeling like a couch potato after a few hours of television. Now you can unwind and better your business at the same time!

Comments »

At least one cute girl was spotted peacefully reading books inside cozy Maxburg by Schuman, so the place clearly has more than great food.  The home-like establishment has delicious German comfort food in excellently sized portions, all served within friendly and familial surroundings.  The standard wiener schnitzel (~12 euros) is a savory slab of fried flattened pork, accompanied by a generous crunchy green salad and fried potatoes.  I also tried the beef stroganoff in a creamy red wine sauce (~13 euros) the last time I was there, and the well-cooked meat had a deep and bold flavor that was very tasty.  If you don’t feel like driving across the border for food like this, just head over to the European quarter.

Maxburg
108 Rue Steven, Brussels

Food: A
Price: A
Atmosphere: A-
Languages: German, English, French

Tabata Press-ups

I was going to go for my best time to do 150 press-ups (7 min’s 50 sec’s was my last best), but inspired by Traynharder23 who has a great blog, I decided to do these instead. She posted tabata push-up stats yesterday that kicked my ass!

So, my stats, for tabata press-ups – 8 sets of 20 sec’s work, 10 sec’s rest – are as follows:

24, 23, 18, 10, 8, 7, 8, 6

Now that is a ‘more bang for your buck’ workout – 104 press-ups in 3 min’s & 50 sec’s.

My arms were like jelly at the end!!

***This post starts out with a short discussion of Pay-Per-Click advertising market fluctuation and proceeds to efficient marketing (the two aren’t mutually exclusive).

According to Online Media Daily the highest-priced keyword on Google last month sold for $99.44 dollars a click. The word was Mesothelioma and lawyers are purchasing it in the hopes of attracting clients affected by the lung cancer caused by asbestos. It isn’t the only fluctuation in the market right now. Around 2 months ago we were assembling a Food/Beverage Advertising campaign with the estimated bid of $2.50 a click. Now the same campaign runs $7 a click. Getting in ahead of a trend can make a big difference in your PPC campaign both the size of your initial investment, and the level of return you receive from it. In the case of the Food ad, the clicks increased in price after a series of articles were released touting the growth of the companies being advertised to.

For example, if you purchase a keyword at a lower rate you will reduce the number of impressions (viewers of our ad that didn’t click on it) your ad gets. If you increase the amount you bid for a keyword, you get more impressions (free!), but you pay more for each individual click-through.

Over the next few years keywords will experience the same season-based fluctuations other industries do. It is fascinating to watch this market develop, grow, and adapt like the consumers it markets to.

People develop immunity to certain kinds of marketing over time. There was a time when a newspaper ad would make the phones ring off the hook. Now it seems to be a tool primarily for visibility as support for a larger marketing campaign. Other marketing adapts over time, direct mail is in the process of doing this through interaction with sophisticated online-based campaigns working together.

For a traditional direct mail piece the client might get a 2-5% response rate (closer to 5% with a targeted mailing list or if they offered a discount or special), with some of the new sophisticated campaigns that dovetail online advertising a client can get a 10-20% response rate. Now the campaign costs more than 1 direct mailing, but it would take around 8 direct mailings to get the same response level. The best thing about this campaign is after it’s initial setup the individual send-outs are around the same rate as a regular direct mail campaign.

It’s about cost-efficiency over time. We get it. Our clients get it.

The Importance of PR for a Small Business (Orca Communications National PR)

Listed below is an article that Dawn Peterson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Orca Communications National PR, “America’s PR Firm for Inventors and Entreprenuers” provided to me.  (They have one of the best websites I’ve ever seen!).

Too often, small businesses spend all their money on manufacturing, only to find their product sitting on a shelf, gathering dust because there is no way to take it to its intended market. Or, they create an amazing website, but no one knows it’s there!

Public Relations, more than any other form of marketing (such as advertising, direct mail, etc.) is critical to the success of small business in identifying and reaching the marketplace. There are five important reasons for this.

1-All PR campaigns require a spin or a “story” and to develop that story or message requires creative focus on the mission or goals of the Company. At one popular national newspaper, the mantra is “why now, who cares?!”  If your PR firm can address those two key questions in their media outreach, you’ve struck PR gold!   That said, look for a firm that employs some former media types – newspaper, TV, magazine.  They generally have a better sense for the lingo inside newsrooms.

2-Public relations takes advantage of what is called the, “Implied Endorsement” of the media. Right or wrong, true or false, the public believes that the media is impartial and objective.  When a journalist says that such and such product or service is the greatest thing since modern medicine, people believe just that.  When people read an ad or watch or listen to a commercial, they question the statements made because it is the message the Company wants them to believe.

3-Public Relations starts and fans the flames of the word-of -mouth process, which is also very powerful.   How often do we hear, “Did you see that story on TV last night about so and so?”   Or, “I just read about that in the newspaper!”   Public Relations and word-of-mouth
work hand-in-glove to get the word out usually much more quickly than if PR were not involved.

4-The power of public relations can “fast forward” the small business’ goals, thus saving the small business money it would spend while waiting for business to come to them.  PR primes the pump and gets cash flowing in (instead of just out), much faster.

5-Bang for your buck: the same amount spent on a one time ad or commercial in one publication or television/radio station is multiplied by hundreds if not thousands when spent on PR. For the same price – likely less, PR if done correctly, hits many, MANY more outlets
thus letting hundreds of thousands know instead of just the audience of one particular publication on any given day or month.

Founder Julia Hutton www.orcacommunications.com
For more information contact dawn@orcacommunications.com

Quick tip:  Those sweet and rich Chinese egg custards really can be found in Brussels!  Just visit the center.  Excellent stuff.  Stop by the small bakery across the street from Kam Yuen to catch your fill before they’re all gone.  Don’t expect a huge selection after lunchtime.

St. Anny
Rue Sainte Catherine 4, Brussels

Languages:  Mandarin, French

Over the last three years I have watched the evolution of one of my favorite eateries. The first time I went to El Vergel, I remember thinking the food was great and it was cheap relative to the quality and amount you received. Then about a year later I was a bit annoyed at the obvious and quite large prices increases (over 2 euros on some dishes) that appeared practically overnight. This was attributed to the price of meat going up (that vicious cycle of increasing grain costs due to fuel costs blah blah). Of course it didn’t have anything to do with the hordes of Eurocrats that flock there every lunch from the European Parliament and Commission and the ING and other bankers in the area, all of whom obviously have money to spend.

That said, the food is still delicious, and they still make a hell of a margarita if you happen to drop by on a Thursday night (the only night of the week that they stay open for dinner). Top of the list are the chicken and beef tacos (7.10 and 7.50 euros respectively) and the chicken salad (9.30 euros). The daily special is usually a meat and potato/rice/plantain type dish and almost always great (~10 euros). Sometimes it is packed for lunch and the service can be quite slow, but generally friendly. The best time to go is Thursday evening when there are less customers and you can enjoy your meal in some peace. The cheesecake (3.70 euros) is probably the best in town.

El Vergel, Rue du Trone 39, 1050 Elsene

Food: A
Atmosphere: A/B ~ depends if its for lunch or on a Thursday night
Service: A/B ~ depends if its for lunch or on a Thursday night
Price: B
Languages: French, English, Spanish

Belgium is famous for, among other things, its french fries and the overwhelming number of sauces that have been invented in the meantime to accompany them. Initially, I was the type to stick with what I knew and loved: ketchup. Until I started to be a bit more adventurous: samurai, garlic, and more recently, pepper.

At Chez Antoine, the fries are just salty enough, not over- or under-fried, and really just hit the spot. Try them with a side of pepper sauce and you may, like me, feel like you just died and went to junk food heaven.

Chez Antoine
Place Jourdan 1
1040 Brussels

Food: A for the fries, can’t rate the rest
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: A
Price: A (can’t get cheaper than fries!)
Languages: French, English

More bang for your buck lol lol lol Wal-Mart wtf:

Like most kids, Eliso Tovar loves video games. So his mom, Tamatha, bought him a PlayStation Portable for a late Christmas present at a Wal-Mart in Manatee County, Fla. What happened next would shock the entire family.

Saturday, when the 6-year-old boy turned on the PSP for the first time, he said a naked woman appeared on the screen saver. Afraid he would be grounded, Eliso ran to his mom crying.

Tamatha said she found a memory card inside the PSP containing hundreds of pornographic pictures. She claimed it’s not hers and it was in the PSP before she opened the box.

She then called the store wanting to speak with a manager about the problem. “I explained the situation and his response was, ‘well, bring the machine down and we’ll let your son pick out a new game,’” she said. “And I was like, no I don’t think you heard what I said.”

A spokesperson for Wal-Mart said they’re concerned about the situation and are looking into what happened. Tamatha says she wants a new PSP and an apology.

Brilliant marketing scheme though. Think about it, Wal-Mart gets attention and an influx of customers. And that kid is so gonna be into porn when he grows up. The seed has been planted.

A nice glass of freshly squeezed kiwi and orange juice can be found right down Anspach at El Metteko.  Visit it on a weekend afternoon when the place is empty and quieter, so you can either relax or get some work done.

The smoothie was better than this whitefish dish (~10 euros).  The fish itself was flaky and tender, with a great taste, but that sauce was much too salty.

Go for the smoothie and peaceful view of the street.  At night the place is a bar and must be reviewed in another entry…

El Metteko
Anspachlaan 88

Food: C+
Atmosphere: A (in the day)
Service: A (in the day)
Price: A-
Languages: French, English

Its a Brussels classic. And if you have been here longer than a few months and don’t know it, you’re either a hermit or don’t like pizza (the latter not being possible so must be the former)! Mamma Roma’s was originally only off of Place Flagey but they have been successful enough to have expanded to Place Chatelain and Place Jourdan as well. They have by-far the best Roman pizza in all of Brussels, and for cheap too. I eat a lot, and I never end up spending more than 7-10 euros. They have variety too and you order by the square (not the slice) so its easy to try different pizzas. Some of my favorites include the white pizza with potato and truffle sauce, the tomato and basil without cheese but oh-so much flavor, and the fresh mozzarella and cherry tomato which is juicy and delicious.

Food: A
Price: A
Service: Varies quite a bit but never bad – A
Atmosphere: A
Languages: French, English

Mamma Roma, Chaussée de Vleurgat 5
Ixelles 1050

Sometimes we just want a one-stop shop for all our East Asian grocery needs in Brussels.  Fortunately for us, Kam Yuen off the Brouckere is on its way to becoming that all-purpose supermarket.  The products that it lacks can be found at other, smaller specialty shops elsewhere, while the selection of products it does carry among its expansive property is pretty impressive for Brussels standards.

Beyond the basic rice, sauces, and spices, this place (lovingly abbreviated as KY) has a fresh produce section filled with items that may be more difficult to find elsewhere, particularly all in one place.  The bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, nappa cabbage, taro root, lotus root, Thai chilies, and other produce are available at the front, changing with the seasons.  Teas, curries, star anise, canned lychees,  and various condiments also line the shelves.  A variety of dried Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean noodles lie in the back, while my personal favorite of fresh Cantonese wide rice noodles sometimes is available in the refrigerator.  The frozen dim sum section is decent, though lacking, while the Japanese munchies in the back are a real pleasure (YanYans, roasted nori, and wasabi peas, anyone?).  Finally, if we want a steamer, wok, or chopsticks, we conveniently can find them here, too.

They’re even open on Sundays before 18h/6pm, competing with the nearby Delhaize.  Sometimes I don’t like shopping, but KY always makes doing it easier.  Be warned that the place gets packed on Saturday afternoons.

Kam Yuen Supermarket
Rue de la Vierge Noire 2

Products: A
Price: A
Atmosphere: C
Languages: French, Mandarin, Cantonese, English

There’s nothing that I love more than good food. Throw in a cozy place and a good price and I’m in heaven. I used to walk by this place, around the corner of my house, on the way to the DelHaize down the street, all the time. I would always smell the grilling meat and it would make my mouth water. The place seemed a bit small and dark so I would I pass by and wonder. Finally, I gathered the courage to venture into the dark interior, taking some intrepid friends with me.

The interior is small but made almost romantic due to the candlelight. When the place is packed, as it almost always is, its hard to hear over the din though, so I would hardly recommend it for a romantic dinner for two in spite of its initial appearance (unless you are up for an early dinner as it seems to pick up after 20.00). All of us tried meat dishes (10-20 euros), as Mi Tango is an Argentinian restaurant. Served with a side of salad and oven fresh grilled potatoes and a delicious Argentinian “specialty” sauce, I would definitely go back.

Mi Tango, Rue de Spa 31, 1000 Brussels

Food: A
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A
Languges: French, Spanish I would guess

Have you been looking for that little, cozy cafe where you can take your laptop/newspaper/book to relax with a hot cuppa or a light snack such as a yummy bagel?  I haven’t been paid to write this, I just enjoyed Cafe Modele, close to the Compte de Flandre metro stop, immensely.  There is a pleasant view of the canal and not only were there others with their laptops/newspapers/books relaxing (free wifi by the way) but the place is 100% non-smoking and their prices are great. Salad bowls piled high (4.10-8.50 euros) and sandwiches and bagels (3.50-5.50 euros) are serviced until 17.00 and warm dishes such as couscous and lasagne until 22.00.  Good coffee (1.70-2.70 euros) and freshly squeezed juices (2.30-3.30 euros) makes this place great for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The cafe is across the street from the bar Walvis, and apparently owned by the same person as well.

Croque monsieur with side salad

Cafe Modele, Rue Dansaertstraat 208, 1000 Brussels

Main dishes: A
Prices: A
Service: B
Atmosphere: A
Languages: Dutch, French

About the item:

Humango Bath Bomb
24.59 oz / 700 grams
$14.00 (now discontinued and not for sale)

The official Lush website no longer makes mention of Humango anywhere on their site (in fact, if you search Humango, there will be no results found!). However, I found a description of the item that was originally on the Lush website stored away on Amazon. So, the description says that “Humango bath bomb is four times the weight” of a usual bath bomb, and it is “scented with reviving, You’ve Been Mangoed fragrance of lemongrass, lime and lemon essential oils. It blasts you into wakefulness with a humongous helping of refreshing scents. Inside, you’ve got tiny pieces of You’ve Been Mangoed bath melt to moisturise your skin with nutritious mango butter.” Yum.

As the website no longer makes mention of Humango, I can’t seem to find a complete ingredient list anywhere. I emailed Lush for information on the item, but until I get it, I can only go off of the above listed description for clues as to what is in it.

My Review:

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I had never thought twice about taking a bath until I met Lush one fateful afternoon in Harvard Square, Boston. Frankly, it seemed like a grand old waste of time (and water– because I insisted on the water being piping hot). Seriously, what a pain in the ass! Walking into the bathroom, assessing the condition of the tub… peeling the long hairs or dog hairs from the sides, and then wondering how the dog hairs even got there… either bleaching or spraying mildew remover accordingly, depending on how scuzzy the tub really is…

Yeah, so my pre-bath routine might be a little different from YOUR pre-bath routine, but whatever. I’m a college student living with four other people who don’t always share the same hygiene standards that I hold myself to. Showering is easy on my OCD; only my feet touch the tub. But a bath? Too much work for not a lot of fun. Well, Humango changed all that. Actually, to be honest with you, Supernova ballistic changed all that, but Humango made me want to stay in my dog-hairy-soap-scummy tub forever.

I received this bath bomb in a group order from the UK a looong time ago, but it came all smashed up. Bummer. I told Lush customer service about it and, peaches that they are, they sent me TWO brand spankin’ new ones. I put them on my shelf on top of all my other bath bombs, perched like the kings of the mountain that they are, and let their aroma fill my room for a few weeks. I couldn’t work up the motivation to actually use one… they’re huge! About four-five times the size of normal bath bombs and weighing in at roughly 1.5 pounds, I didn’t have the heart to break them up but also couldn’t fathom using the entire thing on something as inferior as my college kid, suave infested tub. After all, how could I let something so beautiful witness the treachary of a tub filled with common bath goods from the local CVS? No, no, it just didn’t seem right. So I let it sit in my room, nice and warm, squishing all my other Lush.

And squish it did. Let me reiterate: 1.5 pounds of bath bomb. Lifting this thing to smell it was simultaneously working out my biceps. But I didn’t care, because I couldn’t stop smelling it! It carried a 10 foot aura of lemongrass and citrus everywhere it went, and although the picture correctly depicts the fact that it was colorless, it does NOT accurately demonstrate the speckles of bath bombs contained within it.

Now, if you’ve ever owned a Humango or seen a video of it, I’m curious to know: how many You’ve Been Mango’d bath melt chunks (roughly) were in your bath bomb? Even this video of Humango does NOT do it justice. If I had taken all of the chunks of you’ve been mango’d that were in my Humango and combined them, I likely would have had eight full bath melts. Was I just lucky? Did I get a Humango with an unusual amount of bath melt in it? Now, those bath melts sell for $5-6 a pop– you do the math. When I finally decided to use this, I put the entire thing in because I couldn’t bear to break it and it fizzed for over ten minutes! Huge chunks of bath melt were floating in the tub with me, so I snatched them up to rub on my skin for extra softener. This bath bomb was worth way more than $14.

The cons? Well, it was expensive, like I said. But it was so worth it. I mean, if you’re into bath goods and taking baths, this is the king of all bath bombs. It was incredible. If I lucked out and got a super charged Humango, then I’m not sure you’ll have the same experience as I did. The bath melts REALLY added to this bath bomb and made it ten times more enjoyable than I predict it would have been otherwise. The other big con for me is that it was colorless! So lame! The tub stayed a murky clear-brown weirdness that develops after taking a bath when you’re filthy from a long day of work and general wear-and-tear. I love the colors that bath bombs change the water (it is a big part of the experience for me, in fact), so not seeing beautiful bright colors really saddened me.

To anyone who loves citrus smells, I highly recommend you try to pick one of these up on ebay. I’ve seen a few auctions for them at around $15, which may be well worth it if your little heart is set on trying this. Otherwise, feel free to take a stab at our latest promotion.

Advertise this blog somewhere (on a forum, in a comment on another blog, in your blog… anywhere!) and post a comment with the link to where you advertised, as well as your email so I can contact you, and I’ll enter you in a raffle to get a piece of my shattered Humango. Alex will choose three winners at random. The drawing will occur February 19th, so get your comments posted by February 18th.

Bang-for-your-Buck Rating: $$
Overall Rating: 5

Barbecue in Brussels?  Apparently, yes!  And an all-you-can-eat option for ribs, no less, (~20 euros) which really can hit the spot after a long week slaving away at work.  Sure, quantity may be the larger draw here than quality — Memphis barbecue this is not — but don’t get me wrong.  The meat was tasty and crisped on the outside enough to earn my acclaim, particularly in this city.  The pork flavor was pure, slightly smoky and slightly sweet, though not as bold as it could have been.  Don’t go here for spicy kick or richly marinated tender perfection.  Just come in with an appetite for lots of simply good meat, and then get your hands dirty.

The potato and salad were not as exciting, of course.  In fact an unusual wad of semisolid flavoring was pasted onto my baked potato that I didn’t care for.  It reminded me of warm bouillon cubes mashed up with butter and grits, and I made the awful mistake of tasting a chunk of it as the first bite of my meal, thinking it was potato.  Please do not do the same.  Other than that little mishap, I liked the meal, my two plates of ribs on cutting boards, the 1930s background music and decor, and the very friendly and earnest service.  Be warned that the place fills up.  Definitely reserve a table for large groups.  And don’t bring vegetarians.

Amadeo
Sint-Katelijnestraat 26-28

Food:  B if you like Memphis ribs, A in the context of Brussels and quantity
Service: A
Ambiance: A-
Languages: French, English

I just had a quick lunch at the Chinese-owned Anata restaurant down Anspachlaan for the first time today after wanting to try it for some time, and it did not disappoint.  If you aren’t looking for perfect food, but just want a reliably good, fast, and substantial meal for not too many euros, this is the place.

When we got there, the hostess, though brusque, was nice and seated us away from the door of the small place when we asked, even if we were two people sitting at a table for four.  Service was quicker than expected, they spoke our language, and they even gave us a new drinking glass when we asked for one, without any of the guff that you might expect in other places.  Granted, we had to get a new glass because the old one had an odorous quality reminiscent of fish, but keep everything in perspective here.  All things considered:  not bad.

I had the Katsudon hot bowl of rice with fried pork and egg, with vegetables (~€10).  In the cold of the day, when I was hungry after the gym, it really was pretty good.  I got it fast and was satisfied, though I would have liked more meat.  I would go again, and next time I’ll have the courage to try the sushi in the bento boxes.

Anata, Boulvard Anspach 74
Food: B
Drink: B
Service: A-
Value for money For food: A-
Interior: B-
Other factors: They speak French, English, and Mandarin

-Pie Guy

NYC Food Guy’s M.O. is delicious and affordable. My cheap eats repertoire is strong. And in the current economic state, bang for your buck carries added importance. Chicken parmesan heroes and Afghani kebabs don’t exactly go hand in hand, but two Midtown West establishments, Luigi’s and Afghan Kebab House #1 both offer what seem to be great deals. Unfortunately, only one lives up to the stringent NYC Food Guy standard of delicious AND affordable.

A Chicken Parm Hero That’s Twice The Size of a $10 Bill But Almost Half the Price

Luigi’s $7 Chicken Parmesan Hero Proves Size Does Matter, But It Comes Cheap

Afghan Kebab House #1’s $13.95 Combo Kebab Is Plentiful, But Is It Worth Nearly $16 With Tip?

$7 for a two-meal sandwich? I’m Sold!

Luigi’s is not my new favorite Chicken Parmesan hero, that honor still belongs to Tuscany’s Chicken Parm on Baguette, but it’s going to be hard not choosing Luigi’s because they deliver a hero that can span two meals for just $7. It’s loaded up with hearty, white meat breaded chicken breasts and a good amount of mozzarella cheese. Unfortunately, the generic tomato sauce left a little to be desired, but the sandwich isn’t swimming in it so us bang for your buck-o’s can still feel good about the purchase.

The standard Italian hero roll came toasted crispy, the better to prevent sogginess during the speedy delivery, but it turned messy as eating progressed, requiring some sandwich rearranging to prevent the chicken and cheese from sliding out of the bread.

If you’re stuck in Midtown West and seeking a meal that will fill your belly while leaving your wallet full too, Luigi’s Chicken Parmesan hero is the answer. The actual Luigi’s establishment is nothing to look at, but you’re stomach won’t mind.

Combo Kebab Is Great In Concept, Poor in Execution

Three kebabs (lamb tikka, beef kafta and chicken breast) with basmati rice, salad and Afghan bread for $13.95 sounds like it fits right in the delicious and affordable category. And it would if it was actually delicious. Unfortunately, it was mainly mediocre. The meats were portioned unequally and there wasn’t enough charred vegetables, just a few slices of onion and one piece of red pepper.

The 3 little chunks of lamb were dry and tough, tasting mainly of the fire they were cooked over. The chicken was tender and in the greatest abundance (5 chunks), but lacked any real flavor. The beef kafta (above top left), ground beef studded with scallions, was by far the tastiest, but there were only two.

None of the three sauces provided (minted yogurt sauce, a thin and vinegary tomato based sauce and another minty concoction) added anything to the meal. I tried each sauce with each meat to make sure I wasn’t missing something.

I left the salad for last, thinking they couldn’t go wrong there, but an iceberg salad is only as good as its dressing and with the meats and rice sitting like a rock in my stomach, the minted yogurt sauce was too thick and bland to waste stomach space on.

Sadly, the bread was the best part of the meal. It arrived cool but fresh, airy and light on the inside, slightly tougher on the outside.

When all was said and done, I spent close to $16 on this meal including tip for delivery (which took longer than expected). In the end, I’m glad I tried it just to know for sure that it is definitely not a bang for your buck meal.

Luigi’s

Afghan Kebab House #1

About the Item

Seanik Solid Shampoo

1.9 Oz. for $9.95

One size only

The Official Lush Website says that “this little puck of joy buffs and shines like no liquid can. A couple of swipes worked up into a lather to moisturize the scalp, breathe life into the lifeless and shine your hair like a champ. Economical and easy to use, Seanik’s citrus and seaweed combo enriches and enlivens while its fragrance entices all who cross your path. Now proudly SLS-free.”

Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Irish Moss Gel (Chondrus crispus), Perfume, Nori Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus), Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Mimosa Absolute (Mimosa tenuiflora), Orange Blossom Absolute (Citrus dulcis), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum officinale), Cocamide DEA, *Limonene, FD&C Blue No.1

My Review:

Like many of my generation, I’ve oft romanticized the bourgeois vagrant lifestyle. Sleeping on couches, getting by on the kindness of others, making friends on the road and carrying everything you’ve got on your back. It’s a very early-American (in a good way) kind of yearning for simple comforts and joyous freedom. Freedom from oppressive institutions that try and keep you in the suburbs, working for the man, squeezing chemical shampoo out of gigantic bottles, happy to be chained to synthetic ultra-shine haircare products. And that’s really what Seanik Solid Shampoo bar is all about. Mobility, sustainability and limited liability (and the award for Best Segue of the Year goes to…)

First and foremost, why should you use a solid shampoo when there are plenty of excellent (debatable) bottled shampoos out there? For one thing, each little cake of this soap is equal to 3 regular sized bottles of shampoo. I’ll say that again, because honestly, it’s amazing. 3 regular bottles worth. I mean, cost effectiveness alone should make this product an instant 5 out of 5. But the hits don’t stop there. Let’s take a walk, shall we?

As I eluded to in the opening paragraph, solid shampoos are incredibly convenient for the traveler, student or anyone who sees portability as a priority. I don’t know how many of you have ever though about this, but liquid shampoos are a huge hassle when you’re trying to pack light. Most come in huge bottles, spill easily and can’t be taken in any sufficient quantity on airplanes. I’ve always just circumvented this problem by leaving shampoo out of my toiletry kit, which means I usually just make do with my regular bar of soap. Of course, this usually leads to tangled, dry, damaged hair and dandruff. I mean, it works in a pinch, but knowing I can just pop this compact little puck into a tin and not have to worry about it is pretty effing sweet.

Okay, so the ‘medium,’ so to speak, is awesome. Let me get down to why this particular solid shampoo kicks ass. The first thing I always notice on a product like this is the smell. Seanik has a rich, mossy scent, a bit floral, a little citrusy with slight smoky undertones. Definitely inspired by the ocean breeze. One of my big qualms with most shampoos is that they smell too synthetic and perfumey and after a few hours your hair just smells like, well, hair. Or at worst, wet marmot. Seanik smells fresh and organic (because it is fresh and organic) and the fragrance stays in your hair all day. Siq.

Seanik definitely makes a good lather, which is impressive because it is SLS-free. For those who don’t know, SLS is a compound normally added to soaps and shampoos to make them lather more and feel thicker and more concentrated. It’s also normally used as a de-greaser and industrial cleaning solution. In other words, not something you want in your hair. A lot of people don’t like Lush shampoos because they don’t leave your hair feeling sleek and smooth afterward, which is essentially because other shampoos leave nasty chemicals in your hair to make them feel artificially smooth. Personally I like knowing and feeling that my hair is clean when I finish washing it. Some people don’t, but they’re dorks and I don’t like them. Just saying.

As for the beauty benefits of the soap, I can’t really say I’ve noticed a huge difference. I have relatively short hair and, well, I’m a boy, so I don’t pay very close attention to the level of shine or volume. Not that gender has much to do with it, but I’m more worried about whether my hair looks stupid than whether it looks good. Nah mean? I’m not saying one way or another whether the seaweed and orange blossoms help with these things, but they definitely don’t hurt the composition of the soap. Bottom line is, it cleans well, it smells amazing and it’s incredibly long lasting. Enough said.

TIP: To make this shampoo last longer, keep it dry! Don’t leave it soaking in your shower. Take it out of your shower after every use, pat it dry with a towel and leave it to dry in a tin or a soap dish.

Bang-for-Your-Buck Rating: $$$

Overall Rating: 4.5