Proof positive! Rice to Riches, the completely improbable rice pudding shop in Soho, turned out to be a front for the owner's $21 million gambling ring! I never liked that place. Believe me, I love a good rice pudding as much as the next guy. And I gave Rice to Riches a chance. But the rice pudding was abysmal -- they served it ice cold, giving it a congealed quality with too firm rice grains. And it comes in horrifying flavors like mango, orange, and yellow lemon. Who wants to eat some artificially flavored rice pudding that looks and tastes like a neon slurpee? Rice pudding should be simple, creamy and comforting, maybe with a little cinnamon, maybe a couple of raisin studs. It doesn't need to be tarted up in orange and green with crushed cookies and gummy bears.
One of the best rice puddings I've ever had was in the form of an Atkins-antagonistic rice pudding empanada at Uncle Moe's on 7th Ave. in Brooklyn. The empanada dough was folded over a creamy measure of rice pudding, then deep fried and dusted with cinnamon sugar. Go check it out, Park Slopers.
*Via Gothamist
You've got a nose for gambling rings? I'm thinking maybe you can mix this food criticism with some private detective work on the side.
There's this shady new restaurant/bar in my hood called Uncle Sam (nod nod wink wink) serving $1 daquiris/margaritas/cuba libres for the ladies on Friday nights. I've decided that's a front too. They slapped it up in about two weeks to look like someone's 70s wet bar. It's got the ugliest black and gold paint job out front, but nobody's ever in there.