Char Sue Asian Fusion and Essex Street Market
119 Essex Street (2 blocks south of Ave A)  M or F train stops a block away
Wednesday, September 6^th
5:15pm @ the market, 5:45 @ the bar, dinner 6:15pm
$55 3-course Asian meal, no wine, tax and tip.   
This restaurant is extremely casual, but after eating here recently, Juliane and I decided the flavors we tasted were like none ever experienced before. We will meet at the Essex Street Market directly across the street at 5:15pm giving us 30 minutes to walk around the Market as a group (not a tour). The name, Char Sue, is inspired by the Cantonese technique of roasting meats over fire (char siu) and the menu is influenced by the flavors of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine. Zagat says, “From Eleven Madison Park alum Matt Rojas, this casual Lower East Sider runs the Asian gamut from roasted meats to Japanese curry to steamed-bun sandwiches. Beer and wine are also offered in the brick-walled space with turquoise accents.” Chef and restaurant co-owner Matt Rojas is a veteran of Eleven Madison, Degustation, Nobuo at Teeter House and was formerly the Executive Chef of Rouge et Blanc.  Matt trained under Nobuo Fukuda, Daniel Humm, Wesley Genovart and Susur Lee.  4.5 on YELP, this is a casual, relaxed and informal restaurant with the emphasis on delicious Asian fusion. Our menu will have starters such as mapo pork belly, green papaya salad, roast duck mantou sandwich, shrimp summer roll, entrees such as roast duck with Sichuan spice, five spice short ribs, curried lamb, and braised pork in black bean sauce, sides of broccolini and crisp Brussel sprouts, with desserts of pandan almond seed pudding or ice cream.