Every now and then, the angels listen. Tonight was one of those nights when luck was on my side.
After a long day of work and miserable weather, following a lovely three day weekend, all I could think about on the treadmill tonight was what I was making for dinner. I knew I wanted something healthy, but my stomach was already growling and I was only half way through my workout, including some grueling TABATA intervals.
As I ascended the stairs from the Equinox locker room to the lobby, the faint aroma of Asian food engulfed me. There, in front of me, like a mirage, stood two tables and four employees serving up heaping bowls of Asian fare, FREE for Equinox members.
Tonight, JK, the owner and employees of Sensebowl, a new restaurant in midtown New York City, treated members to a taste of their bowl meals. Sensebowl opened their first location on November 29th, hoping to bring affordable, fast, and fresh Asian cuisine to hurried New Yorkers. Their head chef, Beena Yu, studied at the Culinary Institute of America and has experience at Jean Georges and Bouley. The flavor combinations on the folded menu are reflective of her commitment to bold flavors which stand apart from other fast food Asian restaurants. 
Even tonight, on the two folding tables, the fresh flavors were overwhelming. It’s rare you see a setup like this, displaying multiple bins of fresh vegetables and a full rice and noodle setup.
Their bowls or meals, are built through five steps:
- Base: 1 included, (Choose between white and brown Asian rice or white or buckwheat noodles)
- Protein 1 included (Choose between slow cooked beef, baked chicken breast, slow cooked chicken thigh, spicy pork loin, herb shrimp, or steamed tofu)
- Toppings: 3 included (Choose from baby bok choy, baby corn, broccoli, carrots, and more)
- Sauce/Dressing/or Broth: 1 included (Choose from one of 4 sauces or 3 different broths)
- Seasoning: 1 included (Toasted Seaweed, Sesame Seeds, or Furikake)
Tonight, I chose the following for my bowl of delicious goodness: brown rice, baked chicken breast, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, Kim chi, and bean sprouts, sensebowl Signature Sauce, and furikake seasoning. 
This meal was incredible! It followed the perfect ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. The unique flavor combination and crunch left my senses satisfied and my stomach satiated. I will definitely be taking advantage of my free bowl coupon I received tonight.
Have you ever tried a restaurant like Sensebowl? Interested in finding out more? Head over to their website for the full menu and more information or follow them on Twitter!
