Just in case there are some of you who didn’t notice the top right of the screen. The Hungry Lion is pleased to announce a new update to our database. The restaurant locator now features over 60 restaurants and we’ve found some real gems from the Morningside Heights area. Check out the update then head over the locator and order up some yummies!

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Most of us dorm cooks don’t have huge budgets for pots and pans. Typically speaking, we just bring hand me downs from mom and dad or buy cheap sets from Ikea or Target. There is, however, one kind of pan that everyone needs to have and it just so happens to be quite affordable. It’s the trusty cast iron pan.

Nothing heats up hotter or holds heat better than cast iron. Looking for the perfect sear? You don’t need some fancy anodized aluminum contraption. Just pick up old iron sides and you’re ready to go. Cast iron, when taken care of right, is a cooks dream. You can toast sandwiches on it. If you have two, you might even think about creating a homemade sandwich press. Get a cover and you’ve got the perfect mini dutch oven for braising. Oh, and let’s not forget flap jacks. It creates the perfect evenly heated surface for golden delicious flap jacks.

So how much will such cookware run you? A 12-inch cast iron pan will cost you less than $20. You might be so excited that you get more than one. Try a griddle pan and you’ll be cooking up perfect steaks in no time.

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The Hungry Lion representatives trekked to 73rd and Broadway in Queens yesterday in hopes of getting to talk to Sammy himself. While Sammy wasn’t there, we did get to meet with Sawd, Sammy’s #2 in command, and we have some terrific news to report. The 111th and Broadway cart went on hiatus due to Ramadan and will be returning shortly thereafter. That gives us a target return date of October 14, or the 15th if they decide to take the whole weekend off. When the cart does return, it seems that Sammy is considering bringing the cart closer to Columbia’s main campus with a possible site at 113th and Broadway, though that’s not set in stone.

So, start the countdown! 21 days-ish until New York’s best C&R returns.

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After canvasing the neighborhood in search of Sammy this week, I’ve come across what seems to be an explosion of Chicken and Rice in the Columbia area. Unfortunately, Sammy was not included. As we wait for Sammy to return, The Hungry Lion would like to present to you a list of potential alternatives in the Columbia area.

110th and Broadway
New to the area this year, this cart serves up 53rd and 6th style Chicken and Rice. For $5, you get a styrofoam box not quite filled with a savory yellow “basmati” (says the sign) with grilled chicken and some salad. The chicken is actually quite good. Not overly chopped and maintaining good tenderness. The rice seasoning is strong, but lacking as far as comparison to 53rd and 6th. Salads was crisp and fresh albeit a bit questionable as far as how well rinsed they were. This cart also makes it a point to include a few chunks of tomato for you health nuts out there. The white sauce is decent at best and the hot sauce is of a weak dribbling variety. The cart also serves up lamb and gyros if you’re into other options. Taste-wise this may be the best Chicken and Rice cart in the area until Sammy’s returns. It’s also one of the more expensive and serves up the smallest portions though the chicken-to-rice ratio is quite good..

120th and Broadway
The 120th and Broadway cart was the former champ in the Columbia area. Haven’t been this year, but last year platters were just $4.00 coming with a heaping portion of rice, generous amounts of chicken. The side salad is a token smattering of lettuce and the cart is unfortunately more fragrant than its food. The white sauce and hot sauce are both weak and the rice is hit or miss usually falling on the blander side.

114th and Amsterdam
You’ve probably walked by this cart during lunch time and inhaled what might lead you to believe is the most delicious chicken you’ve ever seen. They cook it up in heaping mounds and its a wonder just to watch as they prepare platters for the lunchtime rush. The boxes go for $5 and come with your standard salad and rice. Again, unfortunately, it all smells better than it tastes. Everything in this box is bland and the sauces weak and runny. It’s an acceptable meal for those who are hungry and on the go, but doesn’t hit the spot for true Chicken and Rice enthusiasts.

JJs Food Cart
This cart migrates between 113th and 114th between lunch and dinner hours respectively. It’s open 24/7 though the availability of menu items will vary. The chicken and rice here come in serious portions and all for just $4.50. Unfortunately, the chicken is typically both dry and bland as is the rice. White sauce here is actually quite palatable though the hot sauce is disappointing. If you ask nicely, there’s the potential of getting a tangy sort of off-barbecue sauce that works decently.

116th and Amsterdam
This do-it-all cart across the street from Columbia’s Amsterdam gates serves up gyros, cheese steaks, hot dogs, and just about everything else in between. Chicken and rice falls rather far down the ladder as far as priorities go. Service is slow and the Chicken and Rice just bearable. Go with another option if your here.

As far as I can tell these are the options, in general order, for Chicken and Rice in the Columbia area as of now. Hungry Lion representatives will  be traveling to Queens tonight to ask Sammy why his cart has disappeared. Leave a message in the forum if you’d like to join in. Otherwise, enjoy what you can or go out on a food adventure. Critically acclaimed Chicken and Rice exists throughout the city - 53rd and 6th, The Original Sammy’s Halal (73rd and Broadway, Queens), Khan’s (across from Sammy’s in Queens), Tony The Dragon’s (62nd and Madison, lunch only), and Carnegie John’s (56th and 7th, lunch only, also serves the best burger from a street vendor anywhere in the city). You might also want to try Kwik Meal (45th and 6th) which only serves lamb over rice.

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Picnic Garden
Location: 147-42 Northern Boulevard Flushing, NY
Hours: 11am - Midnight, 7 days a week
Prices: All-You-Can-Eat, $19.95 on weekdays/$22.95 on weekends

Looking for an adventure? Wanna stuff yourself silly? Next time you have time for a dinner excursion (like this weekend), why not head out to Flushing? There’s tons of Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese food to be had all for hobo cheap prices. One particular standout is Picnic Garden. It’s not super cheap, but you can eat yourself silly and all on Korean BBQ which would typically cost you nearly the same amount ($22.95) just to have a few bites.

The restaurant isn’t overly large and doesn’t handle groups larger than 6 particularly well. Makes sense given that everyone has to huddle around a grill to be able to eat. If you are going to bring a group, make sure to call ahead because they get packed out around dinner time.  For those that haven’t eat communally around a grill, it’s a must try. Head over to their buffet where you’ll find mounds of raw meat - some marinated, some not - as well as a smattering of seafood like squid and shrimp. For those less adventurous, you can just gorge yourself on kalbi. Also, there are options of prepared foods like the requisite kimchee, pajon, and chapchae.

It’s a fun experience. The grills could be insulated better as they emanate a bit too much heat towards your under-the-table regions. And, those who prefer the utmost cleanliness may want to steer clear. There might have been an insect sighting while at we were at dinner. There might have also been some questions about cross contamination between raw meats and cooked dishes. But, for the selection and the price, this is one mighty fine experience as long as your bring your appetite and a little adventurousness.

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I apologize to readers who went in search of Sammy’s today. It seems that his cart is not in its rightful spot today. I asked the other vendors and they did not seem to know where Sammy’s cart had gone either. The Hungry Lion is hard at work getting to the bottom of this and we’ll let you know as soon as Sammy’s is back.

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For too long have Columbia students had to trek to the far reaches of the world for good Chicken and Rice. Well, at least as far as 53rd and 6th. The halal copycats who have staked claim on Columbia’s fertile soils have all submitted subpar attempts at wooing our taste buds with the cart on 120th being the closest to tolerable.

But, amid the high profile new restaurant openings in the Columbia area - Chipotle, Pinkberry, and the rumored Jamba Juice, there’s one little opening that has gone without fanfare. Sammy’s Halal is now up and running on 111th and Broadway (behind a fruit cart and another breakfast cart)! Yup, you heard right. Sammy! A Chicken and Rice guru who’s accolades include being named to New York Magazine’s Concrete Elite as well as winning the 2006 Vendy Awards has chosen Columbia as the newest stomping ground for his burgeoning Chicken and Rice empire.

After talking to the man running Sammy’s new cart, The Hungry Lion has received assurances that the cart is not just a figment of our imagination or a passing oasis like that of the 53rd and 6th cart which trekked to our campus on varying occasions last year. No, Sammy is here to stay and will be open from 10am till midnight to satisfy Chicken and Rice cravings at all hours. And, satisfy he does.

For those who haven’t made the trek to the original Sammy’s Halal located on 73rd and Broadway in Queens, his Chicken and Rice is slightly different from the oft-praised 53rd and 6th Halal. Many critics claim it to be better. But, it really comes down to a matter of taste. The Chicken and Rice at 53rd and 6th is the epitome of street food. Greasy, rich and flavorful rice, hastily prepared chicken (or lamb) and heavy in what can only be described as savory (umami) flavors. Sammy’s exhibits a bit more nuance. Fragrant Afghan rice with hints of cardamom and cinnamon and chicken which is meticulously prepared in a three step process - seared, grilled, then chopped and mixed with cilantro. Sammy also features a third sauce of his own creation known only as - the Green Sauce. Make sure you get it.

Oh, did I mention his Chicken and Rice platters go for only $3.99?

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