Posts Tagged ‘Cheap’

Caribbean Cuisine in the Bronx – Week 4

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

In the past two chapters I wrote about the two ethnic cuisines that remind me most of home while being a student here in the city. In this chapter I am talking about the best Caribbean cuisine located in the Bronx. Caribbean culture was all very new to me when I first moved to New York. Previously living in California, I did not find as much Caribbean influence there as there is here in the city, due to its proximity to the West Indies. Since the early 1900s, Caribbean immigration to New York City had an influx of people from Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

While all the countries have slightly different styles in cuisine, the majority of the dishes consist of rice, beans, plantains, jerk chicken and oxtail. I asked a fellow coworker of mine where she thought was the best place to get Caribbean cuisine in the Bronx. She was originally born in the Dominican Republic, but eventually gained citizenship and was raised in the Bronx. Jokingly she told me the best place for Dominican cuisine was in her mom’s kitchen, but then she told me about a restaurant called Feeding Tree.

Feeding Tree Menu photo credit: http://bit.ly/2caiNqL

Feeding Tree is located in the Bronx close to Yankee Stadium. Take the 4, B, or D train to the 161 St. Yankee Stadium stop and walk a short distance to the restaurant. It is a very simply decorated restaurant and the menu has two columns “meat dishes” and “seafood.” You choose a dish, and then which size you’d like. Most of the dishes remain under or around $10. Feeding Tree’s most popular dish is the oxtail meat platter, which comes with rice and another side. The service is great; the portions are filling, and, most importantly, you can adequately taste the flavors of Caribbean spices.

Oxtail Platter photo credit: http://bit.ly/2bA84BJ

If you have never eaten Caribbean food before, you should definitely give it a try, especially if you are into Indian and Eastern Asian cuisines. Similarly to those cuisines, Caribbean food is very flavorful and takes ingredients from those places it has been influenced. If you are also interested in immersing more into Caribbean culture, this Labor Day weekend the 49th annual New York Caribbean Carnival is kicking off on Thursday, September 1. This four-day extravagant event will include street vendors cooking up authentic Caribbean cuisine, music filled shows, vendors selling Caribbean jewelry/crafts and a carnival parade on Labor Day. The festival will take place in Crown Heights with the parade on Eastern Parkway. Next week, for my final chapter on ethnic cuisine outside Manhattan, I will be talking about the various food festivals that offer diverse options in cuisine all in one place!

 

Caribbean inspired costumes photo credit: http://bit.ly/2bw1D8D

By: Tricia Vuong
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Tricia Vuong is a publishing intern here at the Campus Clipper. She is currently studying Journalism + Design at Eugene Lang The New School for Liberal Arts with a minor in Global Studies. Check out more of her work on her portfolio.

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourage them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful ebooks, we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Stay tuned for more tips from Tricia on ethnic cuisine outside of Manhattan, check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during last year’s Welcome Week.

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Street Tacos for $1.50 in Bushwick, Brooklyn – Week 2

Tuesday, August 16th, 2016

I grew up in Orange County, California and Mexican food was available almost everywhere. From authentic taqueria spots that were open twenty-four seven to chain restaurants like “Rubio’s” that had specials like fish taco Tuesdays, you could find a great dish on any block. After I moved to New York, I was determined to find a great Mexican taco spot that was also cost-friendly. When I lived in the city during my first year, I noticed that although there were Mexican restaurants, many of them were overpriced for portions that were not very filling. Even the Mexican chain, “Chipotle,” was slightly more costly here in the city compared to back home. After I moved to Bushwick, Brooklyn, I finally found a taco spot that tastes as great as it costs.

Bushwick, Brooklyn is historically and predominantly Hispanic. Most residents are Latino: from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and immigrants from Mexico. Bushwick is the largest hub of Brooklyn’s Hispanic-American community with residents that have created businesses to support their own national and traditional cultures. Take the L or the M train to the Myrtle-Wycoff subway station and walk a short distance to Taqueria Izucar.

Exterior on Myrtle Avenue photo credit: http://nym.ag/2brmhTt

Located on the busy Myrtle Avenue between Menahan and Grove Street, this small business has a red awning that you can’t miss. When you walk in, there is just a small counter and a few open bar stools. Most people take their dishes for take out and they also do delivery if you’re in the neighborhood. Along with tacos, Taqueria Izucar offers other traditional dishes such as tortas, tostadas, enchiladas, and others. Their most popular taco is the “suadero,” which is a veal flank taco. Each taco comes with two corn tortillas, cilantro, onions, radish, lime, and salsa. Depending on the meat, prices vary but most of them are $1.50 per taco. If I am hungry, I typically get four tacos which costs only $6, an amazing deal! Even the taco truck outside the Myrtle-Wycoff subway station sells their tacos for $3+. All the dishes are made to order and they also accept both cash and card payments.

Suadero Tacos photo credit: http://bit.ly/2bipzHn

Currently Taqueria Izucar only has 33 reviews on Yelp, but a four star rating. New York Magazine says, “They know their way around a taco at this unexceptional-looking counter-service spot under the rumbling M train.” and the Village Voice has named it their “Best of NYC’s” taco in 2013. Be sure to visit Taqueria Izucar for some authentic tacos that won’t kill your budget. Next week, I will be writing about the best dim sum in Flushing, Queens!

Taqueria Izucar is located at:

1503 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11237 | 718-456-0569  | Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sun 11am-11pm

By: Tricia Vuong

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Tricia Vuong is a publishing intern here at the Campus Clipper. She is currently studying Journalism + Design at Eugene Lang The New School for Liberal Arts with a minor in Global Studies. Check out more of her work on her portfolio.

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourage them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful ebooks, we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Stay tuned for more tips from Tricia on ethnic cuisine outside of Manhattan, check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during last year’s Welcome Week.

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

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College Savings: How to Haggle Your Way to the Best Souvenirs

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

I have a confession to make. . . . Are you listening? Good. Well, here goes…

I’m a packrat.

I can’t help it. Wherever I go I like to take mementoes with me. My best friend calls me the Souvenir Kleptomaniac. If there’s a free gift or college discounts to be had, I’m there. At restaurants I save the little business cards and menus and circle what I ate. I keep receipts from purchases in other countries just because there’s a different language on them.  I’m a sucker for nostalgia and remembering my trip in every detail possible is important to me. Although people aren’t generally this extreme, the act of bringing home a keepsake is usually one that people follow. The most important thing about souvenir shopping is getting the most for your money without going bankrupt.

As discussed earlier, sometimes it’s hard to pack everything you need in one suitcase. However, make sure you leave some extra space in it so you have room to bring things back.  You don’t want to have to buy an extra piece of luggage to fit everything you want to bring home. Extra luggage means more plane space, means more money out of your pocket.

Be wary of scams.
If you’re going to a country that makes a lot of money off of tourism chances are the people there are waiting for you: and they’re prepared. They want your business and they want you to spend your money on keychains and postcards and bottle openers with funny sayings on them. Don’t feel the need to do your entire souvenir shopping in one day at the same place.

My friend bought a hat from a vendor in China for 25¥ ($5!) that ripped only seconds after purchasing it.

My friend bought a hat from a vendor in China for 25¥ ($5!) that ripped only seconds after purchasing it.

Do not buy souvenirs at the airport.
Those T-shirts that say I HEART [insert country’s name here] aren’t going anywhere. You will see them wherever you go throughout the country, and will probably get a better deal on them in other stores than in the first one you see.

Learn to haggle.
And don’t be ashamed of doing it! The locals want your money, and chances are the initial price they are asking for that miniature sculpture of that famous landmark is a lot higher than they expect you to pay. Haggle with vendors for a better deal. If you are uncomfortable with the asking price—walk away! You’re not obligated to buy anything, and many times walking away will encourage vendors to immediately drop their asking price.

We bought cute panda hats in China that we found a week later for half the price.

We bought cute panda hats in China that we found a week later for half the price.

Save your money for one priceless gift for yourself.
That’s not to say don’t buy yourself anything else the whole trip. However, study abroad trips leave lasting impressions. Having one precious item to take home from your adventure will mean a lot to you in years to come.

 

My favorite purchase of the trip: a Jade necklace. It's very special and something I will treasure forever.

My favorite purchase of the trip: a Jade necklace. It’s very special and something I will treasure forever.

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Sam Levitz is a graduate of Brooklyn College and went on the CUNY Study Abroad trip to China the summer of 2013. Follow her on Instagram: slevitz

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Who’s Got the Exercise Blues?

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

With winter still in full tow, I find it more difficult than usual to peel myself from the comfort of my cushiony couch and leave the confines of my toasty apartment.  Admittedly, since moving to New York City, I have become a big homebody and prefer staying home and doing one of five things: cooking, eating, watching my TV shows, reading, and writing.  I rarely ever take the initiative to go for a jog just because.

I recall a time when jogging was actually fun and not a chore.  I lived with my family in a friendly, tight-knit suburban community in Orange County, California, and I loved taking my dogs on walks around the neighborhood.  Going for a walk or brisk jog was something I never enjoyed, but the smiles on my dogs’ faces were well worth the effort.  From there, it progressed to going to the gym with my two best friends, then hiking beautiful trails with views of the ocean and a quiet coastal breeze that cooled you down after an hours-long trip through the canyons.   I became a nature fanatic, and the feeling of accomplishment far outweighed my innate laziness.  I was excited to get back in my exercise groove, but then it hit me: New York City is way freakin’ colder than Orange County is.  The cold weather was the biggest deterrent keeping me from exercising outdoors.  I even bought the 5-toe shoes with hopes of changing my anti-jogging attitude.  Unfortunately, they didn’t work out (mostly because they were extremely funny looking and were way too tight on my toes).  I was convinced this was sign that I needed to find a better alternative to exercise than jogging outdoors.  I began researching gyms that were reasonably priced and had a large selection of machines and programs.  I looked specifically for yoga, pilates and spin classes, and Synergy Fitness Club fit the bill.

If you, like me, are looking for something to fulfill your exercise needs that doesn’t include running in 20 degrees and below temperature, check out Synergy Fitness Clubs.  They’ve got a great selection of classes and programs built to fit your specific needs, be it Butt, Gut & Legs, Kickboxing, or Yoga Pilates.  Or, if you’re the type who just likes to exercise on the machines, they’ve got those as well.  They’ve got an awesome promotion for four free days for both you and a friend.  If you’re hooked by then (which you probably will be), then they’ll also set you up with a student special worth investing in.

Angie, Pepperdine University

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Cheap Eats Vegan

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Christina Roylance

Think being a vegetarian means expensive specialty restaurants, and lots of drama when you go out to dinner with friends? Do you feel that you’ll have to be the most finicky customer of all time and waiters will hate you? This could not be further from the truth.  Living in NYC is getting easier and more enjoyable every day to be a vegetarian or vegan.  There’s tons of options, and you don’t need to drag everyone to your all-veg restaurants; there are simple ways to get cheap awesome vegetarian food by being knowledgeable about good places and keeping a few things in mind.
NYC is a mecca of different cultures and backgrounds. Ethnic foods abound in the city, and there’s often cheap, local places for whatever foreign flavor you want–Indian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, whatever.  Many of these cuisines are sensitive to vegetarians, and can easily be requested vegan, as long as you know what to ask for.

Middle Eastern food is a great resource for vegetarians.  Falafels are cheap, vegetarian fast food sandwiches: deep fried tahini balls with hummus and veggies!  It’s a great, simple, yet filling option.  Aldiwan Lebanese restaurant is located on A if you want a sit-down Middle Eastern dinner.  It also has a great selection of vegetarian appetizers, as well as a tasty vegetarian Mousaka entrée that’s big enough for two.

At lunchtime, there’s always Indian food all-you-can-eat buffets for cheap.  Indian Taj on Bleeker has a $10 deal that’s even cheaper with a Campus Clipper Coupon.  Indian food is hearty and flavorful, and you can just ask the servers which dishes do not have any meat or cheese.  These buffets are usually huge, so there’s bound to be a selection of vegetarian things to eat.

Thai food is a personal favorite of mine.  Entrées tend to be large so you can cut the cost by splitting dishes.  There are always a great deal of vegetarian options, but just ask if there are any eggs in the dish and it’s easy enough for you to be accommodated.  Boyd Thai on Thompson has great vegetarian options, and vegan treats and desserts available as well!

Mexican cuisine is great because if that’s what you’re craving, you can either get fast and cheap take-out style places or sit down to dinner.  Vegetarian and vegan burritos are easy since you often custom order them.  With rice, beans, veggies, and guacamole, (and cheese and sour cream if you’re not a vegan) a vegetarian burrito is filling and quick.  Try grabbing one from Burritoville, and use your Campus Clipper Coupon to save $1.

Surprisingly, lots of sushi restaurants can accommodate vegetarians as well, with veggie filled sushi rolls. It is important to make sure the restaurant doesn’t use fish sauces or oils in the preparation though if you’re a strict vegetarian.  Sushi Yawa on 8th street has tons of vegetable rolls (cucumber, avocado, sweet potato, spinach, and more!), and a bunch of vegetarian appetizers as well.  Plus, everyone I know loves sushi, so non-veg friends will be happy to accompany you.

Italian food is everyone’s favorite–who doesn’t love pasta?  It just takes a few easy questions when ordering your pasta dish to know if it’s vegetarian or vegan.  Just ask if there’s meat in the sauce, request no parmesan, and ask for your food cooked with olive oil instead of butter.  Most dishes are prepared that way already, but if you just check it should be easy to make any changes.  Grotta Azzurra in Little Italy has an affordable $10 prix fixe for lunch, as well as a Thursday night ladies night, with free appetizers and half-off on drinks!

So just because you’re vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean eating out has to be boring or expensive!  You can still eat your favorite things; just be a little conscientious and ask the right questions.  You don’t have to miss out on any great deals or fun nights out just because you have different dietary needs.  So remember to use Campus Clipper coupons to get the best deals, and be sure to experiment and have fun.

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