Cheesecake Factory Brunch

 1 Maple Avenue White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 683-5253

 

Some years back when we were in Honolulu, we had been a bit pressed for finding vegetarian food. Not knowing the local area that much and also since we were exploring the natural surroundings more and returning to our hotel always late at night, we only wanted to walk a few blocks to find a good meal. It was then that Cheesecake Factory had come to our rescue.

  

And this past weekend we decided to re-live those moments but at the nearby location in White Plains right next to the Westchester Mall. On Sunday morning, there was not much of a crowd for the brunch time and we were promptly at our table looking at the full menu.

The Sunday brunch menu options are not available on their website, but were with a lot of selections. We had in mind to try some of the 'diner' kind of preparations and not the cheesecakes however tempting they looked in displays. The French toast with strawberries arrived dusted with sugar and fresh cut fruit on top. It tasted nice and I would say a bit like an upscale diner fare.

The blueberry pancakes came three to a plate. With the maple syrup and blueberries, these were well tackled quickly by the kids. Given the restaraunt chain type of feel that Cheesecake Factory has, the pancakes tasted quite fresh. The serving sizes here are on the larger side. The portions are good enough for two people and for a couple out for lunch, it would be convenient to order two dishes and share.

 

The omlette stuffed with bell pepers, onions and mushrooms came with a side of toast and potatoes. The potatoes were partially crisp but without much seasoning except salt and pepper. I have had better at other places.

 

To see a latte being served in a glass mug was a bit different feeling, but it was ok enough to close out the meal. The double esspresso could have been a bit stronger to my taste. In all, for a brunch menu at this place, there are several other options that will beat any higway diner fare in quality, taste and presentation. I also think that given the streamlined business they run you would find the same brunch menu at all locations.

 

Kadai Paneer

Whenever, I go out to eat Indian food, Kadai Paneer is one dish, which I always order. It is paneer cooked with tomatoes and bell peppers and flavored with coriander and red chilli. And for cooking at home, I have a recipe that is my preferred homemade version with flavors of freshly pounded coriander seeds and red chillies. You can read the recipe on the Fox news website.
 

Kadai is a curved deep cooking potlike pan which is used to simmer curries and stews. Kadais are available in almost all Indian kitchens and are used for a variety of tasks like deep frying, sauteing or even roasting dry ingredients. You could almost think of them as being the Indian version of the omnipresent stockpot.

The ones that are made of iron give a dish cooked in it a distinct flavor and is also one reason that the word Kadai is pre-fixed to the dish's name.

The recipe is easy and simple to make and goes well with lentil and rice. You can also have it with paranthas or naan. And if you prefer or if you are unable to find Paneer, you can use extra firm tofu instead.

Water Moon

66 Purchase St, Rye, NY 10580
(914) 921-8880

The Water Moon Asian bistro in downtown Rye is an inviting option that serves both in-house and take out dining. It is open for lunch hours and is nicely situated in the middle of the busy Purchase Street. One weekday afternoon, I had cravings for Asian stir fry and thought of driving there for a lunch.

They have a full menu and I took my time to decide. One of the dishes I opted for was the vegetable fried rice that came nicely steaming in a mini steel serving wok. Carrots, broccoli and green beans make for a nice combination. It had a well rounded taste.

It reminded me of the Indian rice pulao that I make with peas and carrots. Indian chinese cuisine has a similar tasting dish that is made with Indian Basmati rice.

The next dish on my selection was the szechuan pepper corn tofu that came tossed and stir fried in a similar serving wok. I like the tofu to be well marinated and firm in texture. The mixture in this dish was with fresh vegetables and red chillies. It was as flavorful in taste as it looked. Crisp bamboo shoots with mushrooms and green beans. This is one dish that can either be overcooked and can get all mushy or it can be just right with the vegetable crispness maintained and the flavor balanced. I was glad that it turned out to be the latter.

The Lo mein was made with egg noodles and served mixed with fresh vegetables also. Sometimes I like to add more soy sauce to such servings but for this one the balance was correct. A bit of less salt is always nice to have in a dish since when eaten with other dishes on the table, the final taste comes out sharper. Altogether it was a good lunch outing. In case you happen to pass by for a weekday lunch you can surely find good value in the Lunch Special Bento Box options.