REAL Food for Dinner?: Easier Than You Think.

A Just A Sec Exclusive!



You work all day. You come home, you're hungry for dinner.

How many of us still have the energy to do anything more than pluck a cardboard box from the freezer and toss its contents into the microwave?

You made that new year's resolution to eat healthier. And sure, if you had a personal chef, you too could enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home every night. Maybe a nice filet of salmon and a compliment of fresh-from-the-farmstand veggies. But who has time to deal with "real" foods during the work week?

You do! Haven't you ever thought about steaming?

Kim hates to cook, especially after a busy day. And in an effort to eat "better", she found herself relying on low-fat frozen meals. The problem was, they left her dissatisfied. "They taste like the box they came in," she said. "And the portions leave me starving."

We challenged Kim to prepare a healthy dinner employing fresh, whole foods -- and with minimal effort. To help her out, we gave her a Nesco 5 Quart Steamer with Rice Bowl.

So what did Kim whip up for dinner?

"A swordfish steak, zuccini and rice," she told us. Sounds intimidating!



So what kind of work was involved? Here are Kim's steps to preparing her meal:

1. "I stuck the reservoir under the tap and filled it with water." (OK. So far, we can handle this. But surely it gets more complicated.)

2. "I unwrapped a filet of fish from the supermarket and put it inside the steamer tray with slices of zuccini." (Unwrapping and putting. Still with you, Kim.)

3. "I poured some water and rice into the rice bowl." (Poured...OK, still in the game...)

4. "I put the rice bowl into the second steamer tray, and then stacked the trays on top of each other and put on the lid."

5. "I plugged in the steamer, turned the timer dial. Later I took the food out of the steamer and ate it."

You're kidding. That's it?

Well, OK, but how was the food?

"Perfect!" Kim raved. "I wasn't sure how steamed swordfish was going to turn out. I don't know, I just had this prejudice in my head that if it was steamed, it was going to turn out soggy and gross. But it was delicious. It was flaky and tender. The rice was perfect. The vegetables were a little softer than I like them, but next time I'll know to set the timer for less time so they're a little crisp. Then if I'm cooking them with something else that needs more time, I can just re-set the timer to continue cooking the other thing. Or, add the zuccini in later."

We were impressed that the Nesco steamer was able to cook a complete meal all together.

So how was clean-up?

"Very easy. The product manual says the plastic trays are dishwasher-safe, but I don't have a dishwasher. So I tossed them in the sink with some warm soapy water while I ate, and half an hour later I was able to rinse them clean right under the tap. The food doesn't really stick to the plastic surface that much. The inside of the water reservoir wiped clean with a soapy sponge, then I just rinsed it out with a slosh of water."

Will Kim use the steamer on a regular basis?

"No doubt! I didn't know you could get something like this. I'm going to buy a lot more fresh food from now on. This is awesome!"

The Nesco steamer works with a wide variety of foods including grains, vegetables, fruits, eggs, seafood, meat and poultry. It comes with a 60 minute timer and is equipped with an automatic shut-off when it's out of water.

And this beautifully simple little appliance costs only $29.95.

For more information, visit www.nesco.com.

Thai Lunch @ POOKET: Skip it!!

A Just A Sec Exclusive!

We sent Kathy, one of our volunteer restaurant reviewers, out to find a Thai lunch special near her workplace. She landed at Pooket at 945 Second Avenue at 50th Street.

She thought the lunch menu looked promising: 30 different items to choose from for $7.95, which included complementary soup of the day or house salad.

It was a bad experience from the moment Kathy walked in.

"The service was completely chaotic," she said. "It looked like there were two kids running around the dining room trying to do everything."

"First, they sat me down and forgot to give me a menu," she went on. "Eventually the waitress came back. I gave her a blank look, she looked at the empty table and said, 'Oh, you didn't get a menu yet?' Bad sign! Especially when a lot of people are in a hurry to get back to work at lunchtime. How hard is it to remember to give someone a menu when they sit down? I mean, shouldn't that be second nature for the hostess?"

"I couldn't believe it when the guy came with my salad and soup," said Kathy. "He literally threw the bowls on the table as he whizzed by." She also added, "I noticed the menu said you have your choice of soup or salad, but they gave me both. Were they too overworked or careless to bother asking, so they just gave everyone both? Or was that a menu typo? I'll never know."

And how were the soup and salad?

"They were both completely disgusting. Let me just say that I am not a picky eater. I will eat a lot of mediocre food when I'm hungry and not complain. But I took one bite of that disgusting salad and pushed the bowl away. If you'd been sitting there watching me, you'd clearly see how disgusted I was. I'm sure I made a total face."

"The salad was a meager portion of wet lettuce and a cucumber slice in a bowl without dressing. It tasted like something you'd eat out of the dumpster at the end of the day."

"The soup was like dishwater. Water with a vague hint of onion flavor, filled with limp pieces of cabbage, exactly three julienne slices of carrots the size of blades of thin grass, and exactly three squares of tofu."

As for the entree, Kathy kept it uncomplicated and ordered her favorite thing: classic Pad Thai with chicken. She knew what to expect, and had plenty of Pad Thai experiences to compare it with.

"I ate it. It tasted OK. But it was not the best Pad Thai I've ever had. No way. First of all, it was incredibly watery. The whole thing was sitting in a pool of broth, which is NOT how Pad Thai should be served."

She went on, "One of the things I love about Pad Thai is the different textures in your mouth of the smooth noodles and the fresh crunchy peanut crumbles. Pooket did one thing right -- they served the peanut crumbles on the side so you could put them on the noodles yourself and they wouldn't soak up the moisture before getting to the table. The problem was, the peanuts they served didn't taste freshly-chopped anyway. They arrived in a clump. Like they'd been stored for a while and the bits got all stuck together. I had to put the clump on top of the noodles, and break it apart with my fork. Not first-class Pad Thai."

"They were too busy to check on me during the meal, it seemed they were so understaffed and just wanted to throw bad food at you and get you out the door." "While I was eating, I noticed one customer across the room had a problem with his check. It seemed he was charged too much. And a guy at the table next to me at one point was calling out, 'Excuse me! Excuse me!' Then he turned to his friends and said, 'Nobody's looking!' So I don't think I was the only one who was unhappy."

So Kathy, how was the decor?

"The place was really shabby. I was surprised. I haven't seen a place that bad in a while. (The upholstery in) almost every booth was ripped to pieces, and they repaired them with so much black tape it was ridiculous. One booth had black tape going all the way up the side."

"It seems like Pooket has been trying to cut costs for a long time with the bad condition of the dining room. Taping up their booths, please! I don't know how long they've been passing off the poor ingredients in the food, but I think Pooket is suffering the effects of the economy, and they're passing the suffering on to the customer. I will never go there again." A note from the editorial department: we went to the Pooket web site address as printed on their take-out menu and found the account had "been suspended". Does this lend muscle to Kathy's theory that Pooket is trying to cut expenses? Web site account suspended, restaurant understaffed, pathetic ingredients and meager portions? We couldn't help but wonder.

Just to play devil's advocate here: Kathy, it was $7.95, for an entree, soup and salad. What do you expect?

"I've been working in New York for a long time. I've been to a lot of places. There are plenty of places with that kind of lunch special, where the food is decent. I can't believe Pooket gets away with being so bad when they have so much competition."

Kathy added this excellent point: "...getting a free soup and salad isn't a great value if what you're getting is tasteless shit that won't stick to your ribs, makes you want to hurl, and you'll probably not eat it anyway. What are you getting for free? Garbage. You're getting water and a couple of water-logged vegetables as thin as paper. So you've just paid $7.95 for mediocre food, when you could've walked down the block and found five other places who will feed you something decent for that much, or less."

In midtown east, when you're craving Thai, skip Pooket. You work hard for the money -- get fed by people who care about your satisfaction and your business.

$1 Oatmeal at Jamba Juice!!!

Now through March 31st, get yourself a deee-lish oatmeal at Jamba Juice for only a DOLLAR. Just print and present the coupon below. To find the Jamba Juice near you, use the Jamba Locator.

Annie Chun Makes Brown Bag Lunches Exciting

Like most people, you're probably looking for ways to cut expenses. Eating lunch out five days a week is one thing you can reign in -- but really, how excited can you get about brown-bagging? Crusty leftovers from dinner two nights ago; boring lunchmeats slapped between two slices of bread. Not particularly inspiring, especially when you work in a city that's full of delicious food choices from around the globe.

Ah, but brown-bag lunches don't have to be so bleak! If you're a fan of dining out Asian-style, you'll really appreciate Annie Chun's yummy meals that you can pack and eat, and they don't require refrigeration! They're restaurant-quality dishes at brown-bag prices. Best of all, Annie Chun's products are 100% natural, free of all preservatives and MSG.

At JAS, our absolute favorite Annie Chun's meal is the Teriyaki Noodle Express. Annie Chun makes a whole series of Noodle Express meals, including Thai Peanut, Thai Curry and Chinese Chow Mein varieties. We've tried most of them, and we're addicted. These are outrageously good noodles.



Noodle Express meals are like gourmet versions of the ramen noodles you're used to eating from a cup or a crinkly bag. The "gourmet" difference is in the noodles themselves. Annie Chun's noodles are not hard and dried. They're soft, ready-to-eat, vacuum-sealed noodles. There's no guesswork here. You don't have to think about how long to leave the noodles steeping in hot water to get the texture you like. Annie Chun's noodles are already done when you pull them out of the packet. Their texture is PERFECT -- not overly-done or soppy, and not underdone and crunchy. They honestly rival the best of restaurant-prepared Asian noodles. To finish the dish, just add the scrumptious Asian sauce and freeze-dried veggie flakes from the meal kit, heat, and eat!

Soup fans will also enjoy Annie Chun's Soup Bowls, in tasty varieties like Korean Kimchi, Thai Tom Yum, and Miso. Each one is like dining in your favorite funky Asian eatery, but for much less money.



We've also tried Annie Chun's Sushi Wraps, which are essentially "make your own sushi kits", including shelf-stable rice and seaweed wraps. These are a great idea for party hostesses with a creative culinary bent. You can create your own unique sushi rolls for guests -- the wraps and rice are already done for you -- just roll in your favorite ingredients.

However, if you're shopping strictly for easy at-work meals, we recommend that you pass on the Sushi Wraps, because seaweed wraps and rice are all you get. You'd need to spend time shopping for the extra ingredients, preparing and chopping them as necessary, and then rolling & wrapping the sushi to get a really satisfying meal.



You can find Annie Chun's goodies at your supermarket. Noodle Express meals and Soup Bowls go for about $3.49 each; Sushi Wraps run about $3.89. But hey, if you order 12-packs through Annie Chun's website, you can save a lot of dough! For example, you'll save $7.20 by buying a dozen Noodle Express kits. Hey, these are respectable savings! Go Annie Chun!

To shop online, go to www.anniechun.com.

Take Your Full Lunch Hour -- For Health's Sake

The Wall Street Journal online has published an article arguing against working through your lunch hour and rushing through a quick meal at your desk. Read all the reasons why you should take that full hour here.

The Easiest, Healthiest Home-Cooked Meals EVER.

Loyal readers of Just A Sec know we don't hand out our "SEC-Tacular Seal" to just any product. But this time, Birds Eye has earned it.

Just A Sec hereby certifies
Bird Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two
SEC-Tacular!





If you hate to cook, or just don't have the time (especially during the work week), but you want to eat healthy, and at the same time, you want dinners yummy enough to look forward to, Birds Eye totally has you covered.

God, how we love this product. Here's what happens.

1. Take a bag of Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two out of the freezer.

2. Throw the frozen bag into the microwave. No, you don't have to cut it open, poke holes in it or empty it into a bowl. Nothing. Just toss the bag in and shut the door.

3. Run your microwave for about 11 minutes.

4. Remove bag from microwave.

5. Tear bag open at the pre-cut notch.

6. Dump perfectly-cooked meal out of bag and into dishes.

Dinner for two is ready.

No kidding.

And are they tasty? Oh yeah. We've put them to the test. Our favorites were the exotic Sweet & Spicy Chicken (roasted chicken breast with tomatoes, olives, raisins, onions and rigatoni pasta in a sweet and spicy sauce) and Asian Style Chicken Vegetable Medley (marinated grilled chicken breast with lo mein noodles and premium vegetables in an Asian inspired sauce). But there are six varieties in all, including Shrimp Pasta Primavera, Grilled Chicken Marinara and Shrimp Alfredo.

We tried every variety, and in every case the meals turned out PERFECT. The pasta was cooked to an al dente ideal, the meat was tender and juicy, and the vegetables were flawlessly steamed. We were amazed, because often these combination frozen meals can turn out unevenly cooked. Not so here. The entire meal steams right inside the bag.

But there are two more reasons to love Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two. Ready? They're good for your body and your budget.

Each package has a suggested retail price of $7.49. That's dinner for two people at well under ten bucks!

These meals contain NO chemicals or artificial preservatives. And a quick look at the Nutrition Facts on the bag will make you smile. Most varieties contain between only 6-12 grams of fat per serving, and on average, they hover around the 50mg mark for cholesterol. Sweet!

Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two are in supermarkets now!

Thanks, Birds Eye, for providing us with a labor-free, healthy, delicious and inexpensive option for dinner! You're SEC-tacular!

Lunch Etiquette: Single or Multiple Checks?

When you go out to lunch with co-workers, do you ask for separate checks, or do you make an attempt at dividing up a single bill? Ever wonder which approach is the "better" one, the more considerate? Blogger OzTech explored the issue of restaurant check etiquette for the rest of us -- and you can read his take here.

The Bigger Place: Mexican Lunch We Like (Downtown)

For those of you who work in the Financial District or TriBeCa, we've got a great recommendation for a tasty and inexpensive sit-down lunch:

The Bigger Place
61 Warren Street, corner of West Broadway
(212) 528-3175

This Mexican American gem is cheerful and casual, and there's enough space for small groups. We at Just-a-Sec have given it two tries and had a consistent experience. On both visits, our waitresses were friendly and eager to please. We enjoyed the food, which was pretty straightforward Mexican fare with a couple of surprises thrown in (like blintzes stuffed with tomato, mozzarella and pesto) which is good if there's that one person in your office who hates Mexican and ruins it when everyone else is hankerin' for fajitas. You can bring them along to The Bigger Place.

The lunch here is a good value. You get a nice meal with decent portions, yet without feeling overstuffed. Examples include "The Little Special" for $7.75 (choice of soup, special blintz, roll and dessert); Quesadillas served with Mexican rice and salad for $7.75 - $9.50 a platter, and Enchiladas served up with Mexican rice, sour cream and parmesan chese for $8.25 - $9.50.

The Bigger Place serves nine beer varieties, and jarritos (traditional Mexican sodas) in twelve exotic varities, including non-alcoholic sangria.

The cozy, laid-back vibe at The Bigger Place combined with good food at good prices will make it one of those favorite places you'll go back to again and again.

Donald Sacks Lunch @ WFC: Save Your Money

At Just-a-Sec, we love being able to recommend a great lunch spot. And when we walk into a restaurant we've never been to before, we genuinely want to love it.

Unfortunately, that did NOT happen at Donald Sacks in the World Financial Center.

I went with a small group of people from my office, as a farewell lunch for a departing co-worker.

We ordered an assortment of appetizers for the table that included mozzarella sticks ($12.00) and chicken quesadillas ($11.00). Nothing unique or earth-shattering; your ordinary TGIFridays kind of fare. But they weren't even tasty ordinary fare. The mozzarella sticks tasted like something out of a cardboard box in the frozen foods section of the local supermarket; the quesadillas were bland and slapped together with obvious apathy.

For my main course I had the Chicken Marsala. The co-worker sitting next to me had the same. As I ate the first few bites, I noticed the chicken was actually difficult to cut because it was so rubbery. Rubbery and slimy and slippery with marsala sauce. Then my neighbor leaned in and asked me,

"Is it just me, or is your chicken like rubber?"

The Chicken Marsala entree -- alone -- was $24.50. For lunch.

Maybe that's pocket change for some, but on the average secretary's salary, it's way too much for rubbery chicken.

And if you're a suit with money to burn, may I point out that spending any amount of money on garbage like this doesn't make you impressively wealthy; it just makes you unintelligent.

And the desserts -- well, let me just say this. We're a dessert-loving group. We always order them and we practically lick the plates clean. When our waitress at Donald Sacks brought around a tray of dessert samples to tempt us, we ordered one of everything to try.

It says a lot that we left more than half of each cake and pie wedge behind. In particular, we joked that the carrot cake tasted like a sample that had been used three days running. It was disgustingly dry and stale.

And the service wasn't so hot either. We weren't visited between the delivery of our courses. We were essentially forgotten about.

Don't waste your hard-earned money at Donald Sacks. Trust me, you won't be "treating yourself" there. If you're going to dine in the World Financial Center, there are far less disappointing places, like Au Mandarin and P.J. Clarke's. Skip Donald Sacks. It's overpriced and underwhelming in every regard.

Italian Prix-Fixe Lunch We Like: GIGINO (Lower Manhattan)

For a satisfying, civilized lunch in Lower Manhattan that won't make you feel ripped off, we recommend the prix-fixe menu at Gigino Trattoria (323 Greenwich Street near Duane).

For $23, treat yourself to three decently-sized, delicious courses in an airy, faux-Mediterranean setting.

First course choices include a tri-color salad, polenta, soup or a duck liver pate crostino. Main course choices include something for every taste, from risotto to pasta, salmon and a delightful lemon chicken. For dessert, take your pick of cheesecake, tiramisu or an Amalfi Coast style apple tart.

The quality cuisine attracts discerning suits, but the prix-fixe deal makes this an accessible destination for the support staff, too.

Service is attentive but friendly and relaxed. No 'tude!

Reservations are accepted, and groups can be accomodated -- great for special occasions.