The Dude Abides Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Well, I don't like to toot my own horn, but today's my birthday. Don't worry, the point of this thread is not to brag about that, as I'd [i]much[/i] prefer to not get any older than I already am. The point, however, [i]is[/i] to brag about what I'm going to be doing tonight. Before going to work my gf, who isn't the biggest fan of hookah (I know, :cry: ), surprised me by telling me that since tonight was [b]my[/b] night, we'll be heading out to a special store where I will get to pick out a special thing that I want (not a hookah). The logical next step is to then head off to dinner: my favorite Greek restaraunt this side of Astoria Queens. Some of the best lamb I've ever tasted. Cool! But what does this all have to do with hookah? Well, there's a lot of hookah bars in NYC. A LOT. Some good, some okay, and some not okay. But there's this one hookah bar... this one little very traditional place... and the owner, this guy named Ayman, makes the ma'assel himself. Now, this is not just the best homemade ma'assel I've ever tried, it is [i]by far[/i] the very best ma'assel I have ever experienced. Ever. UNBELIEVABLY good. And the place is just perfect... traditional arabic music, decor, atmosphere, talk, service, tea, etc. Natural coals replaced religiously. This place is the best. Period. Unfortunately I don't get there often because everytime I go there I spend upwards of $100 bucks. I'm not fitting the bill tonight, though, and I'm going to get her money's worth if you know what I'm talkin about. And after all of the gratification is completed, she's letting me pick out a flavor to purchase and adopt and take home.--They don't advertise selling ma'assel but they will do so if you ask nicely. (Btw, it usually costs upwards of $30 - $40 for a 250gr tub). Needless to say tonight is going to be fun, no? By the by, they have a website: [url="http://www.ahookahcafe.com/"]http://www.ahookahcafe.com/[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanguineSolitude Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 happy birthday man. have a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalliwag Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 congrats ol man!!! Sounds like you are in for a grea night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skimo Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 happy birthday day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
web250 Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Wow. Your description of this place is awesome. I live 30 min west of NYC (when not at school in DE). I'll have to go check it out when I'm home for a break Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenWizard Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Happy B-day, hope you have a great time!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmexx Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Looks awesome! Have a good night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwyjibo Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 sounds like an interesting place, i'll have to give it a try (the food looks good too) a little off topic but, i have to ask. whats the greek restaraunt called? i'm always looking for good places to try out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeema Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Have a smashing time, wish you all the fun! Happy Birthday old man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyGuy Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Happy b-day, mang Have fun with your newly adopted flavor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvansLight Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 damn sounds alot better than the plans for my night XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skimo Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Thats because its not your B Day, DUH!!! lol but let us know what you pick up, the lounge looks nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumonshoe Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Happy birthday you old geezer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvansLight Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 lmao my bday sucked, well at least the night, hell i just got crap XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Happy BDay, Dude. I will be unable to attend. Thank you, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR Bubble Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Holy crap! Happy birthday! Dude, you need to do a review of this stuff. Even if we can't get any ourselves, it would be good fun watching us eat our liver MR Bubble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookah hippie Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Happy Birthday!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalliwag Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 So tell us how your bday went!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvansLight Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 [quote name='Scalliwag']So tell us how your bday went!!![/quote]yea really, and lets get some pics, maybe a vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 First of all, thanks for all of the birthday cheer. I feel bad though because I really wasn't trying to fish for personal homage... just jealousy. : D So... how was my night of American-style excess and gluttony? It was better than I could have even hoped for. I'll not spend much time on the dinner because it may not spark as much interest as the, say, homemade ma'assel, but I will just say that it involved lamb, baklava, and lots of ouzo. Impossible to go wrong there, I think. So we left the restaurant, stumbled into a cab, and told the driver to take us to the almighty Hookah Cafe on the other side of town. My stomach was full, I was in a great mood, and I had one thing on my mind. Well, two things, but the other is between the woman and I, and is nunya business. I was ready to sink back into a nice comfy seat and partake in the best shisha experience I have yet to discover. We got there at about 10:00, which is kind of early in Manhattan, even on a tuesday night. There were a few people here and there inside the narrow den, but I then discover that they have just built a great covered outside patio area in the rear, so the night being as warm as it was I couldn't pass this up. The area was about 50ft x 50ft, with dim lighting and small chairs & tables and padded benches. There were two other couples there, so we chose an intimate corner area and stretched back on a little couch overflowing with soft pillows. This is what I'm talkin' about. We got the hookah menu, but after quick perusal I chose the better option: ask the nice waitress which flavors were made most recently. Cantaloupe, my usual preference, was not on my mind. I wanted to try something different. She told us that the owner had just made three fresh batches that day: peach, apple, and "berry." She then requested that I follow her to the prep room to smell the tubs of ma'assel myself. I didn't object. Looks like any other prep room, with about 200 large Syrian hookahs, except each of the 12 or so flavors has it's each section of pre-assigned pipes. That means every flavor has it's very own hoses, vases, and pipes that are solely dedicated to being used with that flavor. We're talking ZERO flavor clash, which is usually one of my biggest qualms with other hookah bars. Each vase has a label with it's respective flavor, just to be sure. Anyways, I take a wiff of a few of the giant tubs, and partly because I've never tried it, and also thinking of the gf who isn't a big shisha fan in the first place, I pick peach, which smells precisely like a ultra-ripe, you guessed it, peach. I return to the table and order mint tea and giant medjool dates. The refreshments arrive first, and then the owner, Ayman, delivers the hookah. A monstrous "35 or bigger brass contraption with an extra-large Egyptian bowl covered with foil, and topped with 4 nice chunks of glowing nattys. We pass a few words with the owner, he guarantees satisfaction, and we wish him a happy Ramadan. Okay okay, time to try this peach. The pipe hits with a biiiiig heavy draw, and I'm looking at incredibly thick smoke bubbling in the clear vase. Here it comes. I take a deep smooth draw and immediately taste pure peach, especially as I exhale. I find difficulty in describing an experience like taste with words, but I'll tell you I was blown away by the flavor. Ultra-clean peach flavor, with no spice to it but some citrus after notes. Superb. This is exactly what I came for. Giant thick clouds without any harshness, and tons and tons of great flavor. She loved it too, and we passed it back and forth over conversation and tea for about two hours. It was strange to me but at the one hour mark the ma'assel hit it's stride. Basically the perfect smoke, which then lasted until we had to put it down. Throughout this time we received 4 batches of new coals, along with a bowl-blowing by the owner. Time to pick my new flavor, and I was in a pinch. I could easily have gone with the peach, but the apple smelled so fucking good I couldn't pass it up. I love most good apples and dislike 2xApple, so this ma'assel was for me. Smells like fresh cider made with granny smith apples, so with a higher pitch to it. We got somewhere around 200-230 grams for $30, which is WELL worth it. I was fully sated, tea'd, shisha'd, and happy. Time to call it a night. This place is my Mecca. What a birthday. Unfortunately my camera batteries died immediately, though we did get one gimpy picture of me: [img]http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/267/1001181si8.jpg[/img] The homemade apple: [img]http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6734/1001195se2.jpg[/img] I think I'll try the apple tonight. I can't wait. If any of you regs are in the NYC area, you MUST go to the Hookah Cafe, or maybe even drop me a PM and I'll pack a bowl of my new apple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Abides Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 [quote name='kwyjibo']a little off topic but, i have to ask. whats the greek restaraunt called? i'm always looking for good places to try out...[/quote] Greek Kitchen, on 10th and 58th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skimo Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 You lucky lucky man. Ok so that was a great story and all but im curious to what happened after the hookah bar XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalliwag Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Sounded like you had a great time bro. I would love to go to NYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpimpitox Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 damn man sounds like u had a blast! i hella wanna try some of that shisha!!! sendin out any samples Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanguineSolitude Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 that sounds like an amazing evening. wish i had a place like that near me. free samples???? thats $1.50 for 10 grams. no way hes gonna send them. BUT if he does i want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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