When The Paratha Craving Hits...

Sunday, 9am. Breakfast with Shann, Steph, Nick, and Steph's brother at Cafe Orlin. My order: the "Malawach." The dish is described on the menu as fried Turkish bread topped with two eggs, fresh tomato sauce on the side, pickles, olives and green salad.

Shann remarked that the "fried Turkish bread," looked like a smashed croissant. And indeed it did, like a smashed croissant, pan fried extra crisp. It also tasted exactly like an Indian paratha.

Thumbs up, though a touch greasy for the early morning.

I washed it down with 9th St Espresso at the Chelsea Mart.

Not as good as Abraço, but then again, is anything? ;)

Later this afternoon I was at Zubair's, reaccounting my affair with the Malawach. He grew up with parathas for breakfast, and would surely appreciate the dish. Indeed, it quickly induced a craving, "that makes me want...oh man, lets eat at..." and before I knew it, we were at the front steps of Noodle Bar on Carmine Street.

Minutes later, two dishes of roti canai with chicken curry arrived at the table and we dove in. Hot and oily with a bazillion flaky layers. The curry was lukewarm, the only downside.

But aside from that, there's little to frown about. Paratha/roti/fried Turkish bread twice in four hours AND meals with very sweet company? Life is good :)

Cafe Orlin
41 St. Marks Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7130

9th Street Espresso
75 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 228-2930

Noodle Bar
26 Carmine Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 524-6800