Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/11/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/11/20

Fried chicken at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

As we were in Florida for Thanksgiving, we got to go to The Coop in Winter Park for lunch. This casual place serves Southern specialties with of course chicken, fried chicken in fact, in various ways: fried, roasted or even in dumplings. And if you do not like chicken, you can opt for shrimp and grits, fried catfish or meatloaf.

Outside seating at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

Dining room at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

The way it works is that you order at the counter and they will bring your food at the table, identifying you by the number handed over to you. I had to try their fried chicken and picked The Coop Chicken sandwich that was made of hand breaded chicken, lemon mayonnaise, pickles, romaine lettuce in a brioche bun. The sandwich looked fantastic: for sure there was lots of chicken in it and it was succulent, crispy without being dry.

Fried chicken sandwich at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

With it, I could pick a side and we chose Mac and cheese so Jodi could eat something. The Mac and cheese was good, quite creamy.

Mac and cheese at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

We also tried their biscuit that was delicious with butter, as well as fried green tomatoes that are always a great appetizer when going to a southern restaurant.

Biscuit at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

Fried green tomatoes at The Coop in Winter Park, Florida

This was a very comforting meal and I would definitely go back to The Coop when back to Florida.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

The Coop - 610 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/9/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/9/20

A visit to Disney Star Wars and food at Epcot

As we were going to Florida to visit our friends Pam and Pat for Thanksgiving, we decided to spend a couple of days at Disney, especially to visit their new Star Wars Park that opened last August and that is located in Magic Kingdom, as well as eat at some of the international restaurants in Epcot (reservation needed for sure). Before I talk about the food there, let me tell you few things about the park: it was very crowded with some of the attractions having long lines (2 hours for the Millenium Falcon ride that was less than 10 minutes and no fast pass) and the food being expensive (except the two restaurants mentioned below) and not that great (that overpriced churro we tried was like a cardboard). But, if you are a fan of Star Wars, it is fun to go there as they did a great job recreating the feel of it and you could sense some excitement from all the visitors, including us. For sure we did not prepare properly the trip because it seems that you could also load an app to make the visit more interactive, with functions to translate messages or activate things like lights. However, we unfortunately did not see that many characters walking around besides storm troupers or the emperor. I just wish we saw Chewbacca! Anyway, for the fans of the movies, this is definitely a delight.

Then Epcot: this is my favorite park and I love the international section that I guess they expanded a bit as I do not recall having seen Canada or Germany a decade ago, during our last visit. There are also more restaurants (there is even a steakhouse but Jodi being vegetarian, we passed). So we had two reservations: the Moroccan and the French restaurant. Here is a quick summary of our experience there, but before I start, let me explain that people working in each restaurant or shop are from the country they represent. So it will be French people for France and Moroccan people for Morocco. This is such a great way to interact with people, especially if you do not have the chance to travel.

Marrakech - Moroccan restaurant

If you have been to Morocco, you will be amazed how Marrakech looks like a place from there. Tucked at the end of a narrow street that mimics the souk, a popular market, the main dining room is very impressive with its very high ceiling and mosaic decor. To give even more authenticity, you even get to watch some belly dancing but I admit that I did not stand up to take a photo, scared that they would invite me to dance as it sometimes happens when dining in this kind of restaurants!

Shrimp chermoula tagging at Marrakech in Epcot

Menu wise, they have couscous and Tagine that are classic dishes, and I recommend the mint tea that, surprisingly, they kept refilling. Everything was good and we finished with some beignets filled with vanilla cream that were amazing.

Les Chefs de France - French restaurant

This large upscale brasserie is one of the most popular places to eat and without a reservation, you would need to wait 9pm to try your luck. With its authentic decor, it offers classic French dishes like the onion soup (nice amount of cheese), the escargots or the boeuf bourguignon that is rarely seen on menus: it is a dish made with beef braised in a wine sauce with onions and carrots. It was good, although not the best I had (Paname in New York serves a good one if you are there) and I just wished there was more sauce to mix it with the linguine. Still, if you’ve never tried this, I suggest you give it a shot. Desserts are classic too and their crème brûlée quite good. Overall a good meal.

Salad with croutons at Les Chefs de France in Epcot

French onion soup at Les Chefs de France in Epcot

Flatbread at Les Chefs de France in Epcot

Boeuf bourguignon at Les Chefs de France in Epcot

Creme brûlée at Les Chefs de France in Epcot

One thing I should mention is that there is a French bakery where you can buy croissants, chocolate croissants, brioche or pastries like eclairs and macarons. It is a very good and cheaper alternative to the breakfast at the Disney hotels...Just a suggestion...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/6/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/6/20

Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

Taking its name from a region in Italy, Apulia in Hoboken is a true find. I admit that I prefer lunch over dinner, the place being quieter, especially in the winter when you have no other choice than eating inside.

Menu wise, they offer pasta (not homemade) as well as succulent Neapolitan pizza that has a fantastic crust that is puffed up on the outside and very thin in the center, nicely…

Menu wise, they offer pasta (not homemade) as well as succulent Neapolitan pizza that has a fantastic crust that is puffed up on the outside and very thin in the center, nicely charred and crispy. The margherita (made with Apulia tomatoes, fior di latte and basil) is simple but so good, but one of my favorite is the biancaneve that is made with mozzarella, Stracciatella, Ricotta, Garlic (we asked without) and olive oil.

Biancaneve pizza at Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

Margherita pizza at Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

For pasta, they have the classic cacio e pepe or amatriciana, but, for an elevated dish, they have tagliolini al tartuffo that is fresh tagliolini with lack summer truffle and olive oil. Superb!

Tagliolini al tartufo at Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

If you feel like having an appetizer, you can go for a salad like the arugula that had a nice amount of Parmesan (aged 24 months) or the octopus that is served with a potato salad (pulpo e patate). Comforting, they surely know how to cook the octopus that was steamed, not grilled.

Should mention the Italian sodas we had with our lunches there: aranciata (orange) and lemonata (lemon - too tart).

And the desserts that are homemade. My favorite is the tiramisu that is very creamy, but I also like the panna cotta that has a nice texture. I should mention the nutella calzone that I must try at some point!

So overall, Apulia is a great place: good food and service, perfect for a trip to Italy without a plane ticket. I highly recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Apulia - 1319 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 3/4/20 I Just Want To Eat! 3/4/20

Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

We spotted Ammos Estiatorio while dining at Urbanspace Vanderbilt, next to Grand Central Terminal and decided to go there for Valentine’s Day. Surprisingly, the place was not that crowded and they sat us at one of the tables upstairs, an area fairly quiet.

We ditched the Valentine’s Day menu that seemed pricey ($95 per person) and preferred ordering from the menu, sharing few appetizers. Here is what we had:

We started with the pikilia or dips. We could either order a few for $9 each or 5 for $24. We decided to go for the latter as it seemed to be a good deal and a great opportunity to try the following dips:

- tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber),

- melitzanosalata (eggplant),

- hitpiti (red peppers and feta),

-skordalia (potato and garlic),

- taramasalata (spread made with salted and cured fish roe).

Taramasalata at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Melitzanosalata at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Skordalia at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

The latter not being vegetarian, I asked the waiter if they could switch it with another spread but he refused. I admit that I was surprised and found it disappointing as usually, restaurants accept graciously.

The spreads were served with pita, my favorite being the tzatziki, eggplant and then red pepper and feta one. The taramasalata did not have much taste...

Next was the Kolokhito-Keftedes or zucchini fritters that were sitting on tzatziki. Stuffed with cheese, they were deliciously soft and gooey in the inside and slightly crispy on the outside.

Zucchini fritters at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

It was followed by the saganaki, graviera cheese flambé with brandy and topped with figs. It was delicious! Much better than the one we had a couple of weeks before at Kellari Taverna.

I always go for a non-vegetarian dish and typically, when ina Greek restaurant, I order an appetizer with octopus. But not this time as they had grilled sardines (psites sardeles). They were three of them, served with the head. It was pretty good, but I admit that I would have preferred them deboned.

I should mention that with my meal I got a glass of ouzo.

Last was dessert. We hesitated between the baklava and the karidopita that is a walnut cake dipped in honey cinnamon syrup. We finally went for the latter. It was good but I regretted a bit not going for the baklava. With the description, I was expecting something a bit more decadent and I admit that the fact the the ice cream was frozen burned did not help.

Walnut cake at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

At least the Greek coffee I had with it was great.

Greek coffee at Ammos Estiatorio in NYC, NY

So overall it was ok. The food there is good but a bit pricey for what it is. I still prefer Molyvos for a great Greek meal or some of the places in Astoria.

Enjoy (I still did)!

Ammos Estiatorio - 52 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 3/2/20 I Just Want To Eat! 3/2/20

Hot chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates

Alright: I admit that I thought that L.A. Burdick was the outpost of a chocolate store from Los Angeles. It is in fact the project of pastry Chef Larry A Burdick who decided to open his own venture back in 1987 after successfully working at Bouley for few years. And we only found recently his chocolate store located on Prince street, a day we were looking for a hot chocolate, the weather being perfect for it. The first time was a grab and go, but we came back a couple of weeks after to sit at one of the few tables.

It is a small place for sure, that serves more than hot chocolate: they have chocolate bars, coffee and tea, cookies, as well as an impressive selection of chocolates.

The hot chocolate is quite good and they have a good variety of it. My favorite is the Burdick blend milk chocolate that is rich, intense and not too sweet, with a nice thickness.

Burdick blend milk chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

The white chocolate one is a bit different: less thick and sweeter. For sure you need to like white chocolate as it is not mix with dark or milk chocolate at all. I like white chocolate and admit that the taste was interesting and, although I prefer the milk one, I kept going at it.

White chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

So it was good and for me, L.A. Burdick is one of my top 5 favorites in the city.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates - 156 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/28/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/28/20

Sweet Chick in Long Island City

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Sweet Chick, a popular restaurant that started years ago in Williamsburg and has now expanded with several locations in New York, one of them being in Long Island City. It is the one we visited on a Saturday morning, going early as, each time we passed in front of it, it was packed. We got lucky as there were only few tables available at 11:30am and got sit between to groups who unfortunately were a bit loud.

Sweet Chick serves southern comfort food like shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, and of course fried chicken that interestingly they also propose vegetarian. I was expecting to see a fried chicken sandwich for brunch as you see that more and more on restaurants menu, probably trying to compete with the Popeye’s and likes out there. So I went for he fried chicken and waffle that looked very appetizing. And was superb: they surely know how to cook the chicken that was delightfully crispy and moist. The waffle was also very good, chewy and not soggy.

Chicken and waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

There were few vegetarian options and Jodi decided to go for the eggs (scrambled) that were served with house potatoes. Good overall but nothing special.

Scrambled eggs at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

We also ordered a biscuit, thinking that they probably make some amazing ones, but I admit that I was disappointed: it was a bit dry and had spices on top (I guess paprika) that threw off the taste a bit.

Biscuit at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Despite that, I liked my meal at Sweet Chick and I am curious to try their dinner. I will have to check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Sweet Chick -46-42 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/26/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/26/20

Wine infused pasta at Maiella in Long Island City

Long Island City will never cease to amaze me. Often mistaken for Long Island, this small city in Queens, right next to Astoria has great restaurants, but many New Yorkers who would be ok to go to Brooklyn for a meal, think that it is too far. Well between the 7 or E lines to name the main ones, it takes as much time to go there than going fron the UWS to Chelsea once at Port Authority. I mentioned M Wells Steakhouse that is one of the best, but now, I am totally excited about Maiella, an Italian restaurant located right behind the iconic Pepsi Cola sign on the waterfront.

We went there on a Saturday evening. The place was packed and kept getting filled by hungry diners. Little I knew that this place was opened back in 2015, by Chef Rocco Sacramone from Trattoria Lincontro in Astoria, considered the best Italian restaurant there. At Maiella, Chef Sacromone crafted a delicious menu with both classic and elevetes Italian dishes. Here is what we had:

I started by ordering a cocktail: the Saronno sour, made with amaretto, Knob Creek rye, dry vermouth, lemon and egg white. Not too strong and smooth.

Saronno sour at Maiella in Long Island City

At the same time, they brought us their bread basket (I believe they make it in their wood fire oven), and. Sun dried tomato paste that I ditched.

Bread basket at Maiella in Long Island City

Sun-dried tomato at Maiella in Long Island City

We decided to share the appetizer and went for the melanzane or eggplant stuffed with mozzarella and spinach. It was one of the best I had: smothered by a robust tomato sauce, the eggplant was perfectly cooked and had more cheese than spinach inside.

Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

Next, we decided to share two pasta dishes prepared table side and our waiter, Daniel, who did a phenomenal job, proposed to split the portions and serve one after the other. So we first had the homemade bucatini cacio e pepe. Prepared in a pecorino Romano wheel, it had lots of cheese and the right amount of pepper.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at Maiella in Long Island City

Just looking at them preparing it next to us made me salivate but not as much as the fettuccine Maiella that are made with Sangiovese wine infused pasta! The table side preparation was even more spectacular with the Parmesan wheel being flambéed so the cheese would melt. Then, at some point, I could not believe seeing the guy scoop even more cheese, before adding to the plates some truffle oil and then shaving a generous amount of truffle. Creamy, I would have thought that the truffle oil would overpower the dish but is was not the case. This is the kind of dish that I highly recommend.

Fettuccine Maiella at Maiella in Long Island City

Last was dessert. For me a great meal must end with great dessert, otherwise I feel that something is missing. And we were not disappointed. The first dessert (yes, we had two) was their torta di meringua that we saw as we entered the restaurant. This cake is amazing: made with venitian meringue, chantilly cream (whipped cream) and a vanilla cake, it was light and not too sweet, the best part being of course the meringue.

Torta di Meringua at Maiella in Long Island City

The second dessert, the Nutella panna cotta was also superb: with a texture closer to a pudding than to a panna cotta, it was very chocolatey with hints of Nutella, topped with a delicious milk chocolate ice cream.

Nutella panna cotta at Maiella in Long Island City

Overall, we had a fantastic dinner at Maiella and it has been a while I got so excited by a meal. It might not be your mom and pop Italian restaurant, but they surely know how to make Italian food. I highly recommend it!
Enjoy (I really did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Maiella - 4610 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/24/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/24/20

Dinner at Chola, Midtown East

We were craving Indian food on a Saturday for dinner and looked up for places Midtown when we stumbled upon Chola, a place that was on my list of restaurants to try. We were there at the time they opened, our brunch that day being quite early as I wanted to try another spot downtown. Taking its name from a Tamil dynasty in southern India, Chola is not new: it opened in 1998. Elegant, with a very courteous staff, it was for sure not crowded at that time and I liked it: less people equal less noise and they gracefully gave us a corner table that is normally for four people, allowing me to side sit as Larry David would say.

Menu wise, they offer a large choice of small dishes that is great for sharing and perfect if people want to try many different dishes. And it has a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes all mouth watering. Here is what we had:

As a drink, I got my usual: a mango lassi. I should mention that often, I drink it if the food is spicy, but it was not the case with the dishes we picked.

They brought us some papadam with tamarind sauce, mint sauce and onion chutney.

Then, our first appetizer was the samosa: classic but always good. These were well made, the outside being crispy and flakey.

Next was the onion bhaji or onion fritters that I loved: crispy and not greasy at all.

It was followed by the batata sev puri that is little crispy pockets (puris), stuffed with potato and chickpeas and covered with yogurt and chutney. If you never had this, know that you have to put all of it in your mouth to eat it because if you only get a bite, you will end up with some yogurt on your shirt. A one bite, like an amuse bouche, gives the sensation of a explosion of flavors in your mouth.

I also wanted to try one of their crab dishes as I do not see often crab on the menu of Indian restaurants, and I went for the Khekda Narital, that is sautéed crab cooked with coconut and mustard seeds. It was good and flavorful, the crab not being overpowered by any spices.

For sure I would have liked some sort of sauce on it, especially as they served it with a parotta, a layered bread from Kerala that we also ordered on the side with some dal malai marke, a Dish that was very creamy (I believe it is dal makhni in fact).

Dessert was easy to choose: we systematically order gulab jamun, these milk balls that are fried and then sitting in a sugar syrup.

So overall our dinner at Chola was great and they have so many mouth watering dishes on their menu that I cannot wait to go back to try more dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Chola - 232 East 58th Street, New York, New York 10022

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/21/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/21/20

Tsurutontan Union Square

We were near Union Square for some errands one Saturday morning when I remembered that Tsurutontan, the Japanese noodle place was around and thought it would be a good idea to go when they open as we passed few times in front of it and there were always people waiting. After checking on Google Maps, we showed up before the published opening time of 11:30am, feeling victorious that we were the first ones there. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that the opening time was in fact 12pm and decided to wait in a nearby Starbucks and come back 5 minutes before opening time, the rainy and cold weather not that ideal for a 30 minutes wait outside. As we went back, a small line in front of the door was already formed, with people excited when the doors opened. After giving our name, we probably waited 10 minutes for a small booth in the main dining room, not because there were that many patrons in front of us but because they were getting ready for service.

I was a bit impressed by this location as I only tried their Midtown one that is different. The main dining room (watch out for the steps and your head - fine for me as I am not as tall to worry about it), has a zen feel and I love the way they organized it with counter like seating and dining tables.

Our waiter was great: courteous, dilligent, helping for the many kinks in the service (my ramen came too fast, I did not get a spoon for instance) and he explained to us the overwhelming menu: for sure they have a lot of choices but few for vegetarians as they often use non-vegetarian stock or dashi. So, he pointed out few dishes for Jodi that I admit were beyond my expectations. The first one was the silken tofu that looks like burrata with an off-white color on the outside and is soft but not as creamy inside. This was superb though and I often tell people that this is the kind of place where they have to try tofu as the taste has nothing to do with store bought tofu that lots of restaurants serve.

Then, we shared the crispy eggplant tempura with Dengaku miso sauce that was superb: the batter was crispy and slightly greasy, with the eggplant cooked all the way through.

Eggplant tempura at Tsurutontan Union Square

For her main, Jodi chose another appetizer: the grilled maitake mushroom that had truffle oil in it, elevating a bit the dish.

Maitake mushroom at Tsurutontan Union Square

On my side, I went for one of their specialty ramen: the duck udon. It is made with duck breast, meatballs and Tokyo negi, a kind of leek also known as Speing onion. When I ordered, they asked me first how I wanted the noodles: thin or thick. And then the size of the dish, knowing that for the same price you can get a larger size. So I went for a large bowl with thick noodles. And for sure it was a large bowl! It was good with the broth having a nice taste and the noodles being very good, perfectly cooked. But I admit that the duck was slightly overcooked and definitely did not look like the photo as I found it tiny. Still, it was a good dish.

Udon noodles at Tsurutontan Union Square

So overall we had a good meal at Tsurutontan and they have so many dishes that it would probably take me years before trying everything!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Tsurutontan- 21 E 16th Street, New York 10003

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/19/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/19/20

Dinner at Narcissa

So we are back at Narcissa! After trying their brunch few weeks ago, we were curious to see how the dinner would be. And we were not disappointed except with the desserts that are too fussy unfortunately.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see that this place was not crowded for a Friday evening, thinking that maybe people focused on places that proposed a Restaurant Week menu, Narcissa not being one of them. I am not going to complain though as the lesser the diners, the lower the noise level.

Dining room at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

The menu was full of interesting dishes with sev mushroom being everywhere, prompting me to think that there was a promotion that day, and with lots of vegetarian dishes for Jodi to choose. The first one was the tofu spinach dip that does not sound great and that we finally changed for the fava dip, after it was recommended by the waitress. It was topped with smoked pistachio and served with grilled poolish baguette. Nice dish, perfect for sharing. It is not that often that you see fava beans on a menu, or at list being the star of a dish.

Fava dip at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Grilled bread at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Next, we tried the smoky Japanese sweet potato, served with preserved chilies and smothered with a Peruvian pesto. I should start by saying that Jodi does not like sweet potatoes but liked this dish that was so good, I kept going at it although it was spicy.

Smokey Japanese sweet potato at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

For her main, she picked the grilled eggplant that was accompanied by smoked goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes and baby arugula. Simple in a way, I loved the combination of eggplant and goat cheese that worked well together.

Grilled eggplant at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

The second dish she picked, still for her main, was the sev mushrooms with tahini, preserved lemon and sesame oil. Good, it was quite earthy.

Sev mushrooms at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

On my side, after lots of hesitation, I finally went for the whole branzino that was deboned (one side had few bones but overall they did a good job) and came with a pepper beurre blanc that fortunately was on the side because it was very spicy (but very good, even if my mouth was on fire). The fish, that was sitting on grilled scallion, was perfectly cooked.

Whole branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Sauce at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

I should mention that with my meal, I got a cocktail called Gotham nights, that was made with rye (it was the only cocktail with whisky), banana (did not really tasted it), sweet vermouth, walnut, amontillado that is a variety of sherry wine, and bitters. With all these ingredients, you would think that it tasted weird, but in fact it worked, the vermouth and rye being predominant.

Gotham nights cocktail at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Dessert was, as I mentioned above, a bit of a let down. The olive oil cake was not bad, but it was served with shavings of preserved lemon that I thought at first was Parmesan (sorry but the light was low), that I did not really enjoy as it overpowered the dish.

Olive oil cake at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Then the buttermilk panna cotta tasted more like a yogurt! It was accompanied with a grapefruit granita and oatmeal crumble.

Buttermilk panna cotta at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

And I am not talking about the Napoleon that had nothing to do with the classic cake: it was a sandwich made with sourdough bread, with a cardamom cream in the middle and served with marinated strawberries. For $14, I thought it was not worth the price.

Napoleon at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Despite that, the rest was good and the service on point. I think after trying both that I prefer the brunch at Narcissa. Dinner is good but it means I would forget about dessert. But a meal without dessert is not a complete meal. No?

Enjoy (I mostly did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Narcissa - 25 Cooper Square, New York 10003

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/17/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/17/20

Basta Pasta: When a Japanese Chef makes Italian food

It’s been a while since we went to Basta Pasta, a couple of blocks from Union Square and, as we had to be in that area, we decided to go back there for dinner. I could not believe how packed this place was, from the beginning to the moment when we left, several people waiting near the entrance for a table at 9pm. For sure, the kitchen was a bit backed up, a large table not helping, but our waiter did a good job keeping us posted as to when our dishes would come.

The menu is phenomenal but know that the Chef is not Italian but Japanese: Chef Satoru Takada who shows a certain creativity in some of the dishes.

After we ordered some drinks, they brought us some Gorgonzola and mascarpone on a small toast as an amuse, as well as a bread basket where my favorite was the Italian sticks.

As a cocktail, I went for the Babbo Natale, made with whisky, apple cider, apple purée, cinnamon, lime juice and simple syrup. Not too strong, you definitely get the taste of the apple and cinnamon. Like an apple pie cocktail! They also have non alcoholic beverages and so Jodi got the Pompelmo, made with grapefruit juice, fresh mint, soda and tonic. Refreshing.

Babbo natale cocktail at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Pompelmo drink at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

I started the meal with an appetizer: the calamari alla griglia or grilled squid with homemade sausage stuffed with curry risotto. The calamari was well made, not rubbery, but I admit that the most surprising part of the dish was the sausage that looked at a potato...Once cut in half, it revealed a delicious risotto.

Calamari all griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Calamari alla griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Then, for her main, Jodi ordered the spaghetti con mozzarella, pomodori e funghi, that are spaghetti with shiitake mushrooms, mozzarella, Parmesan, tomato sauce and basil. Classic and good, quite comforting.

Spaghetti con mozzarella at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

I do not think the pasta was homemade as they typically would mention it on the menu item, as they did for my dish, the tagliolini Nero con gamberetto e granchio. It was homemade squid ink tagliolini, shrimp, crab meat and shredded zucchini in a spicy tomato sauce. Usually, when I go to an Italian restaurant and they have squid ink pasta, I cannot resist ordering it and for sure I was not disappointed by this dish, although my white shirt had collateral damage...Yes, the pasta was delicious, perfectly cooked, smothered by a robust sauce that had a very slight kick.

Squid ink tagliolini at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We decided to try their torta caprese instead of the classic tiramisu, curious to see what this chocolate almond cake would taste like. I admit that when they brought the place, the cake, that was sitting next to vanilla gelato looked dry. It was not. Chocolatey, slightly chewy, it was very good with or without the ice cream and we (I should say I) did not have any problem to finish it.

We left glad that we got to eat at Basta Pasta. It might not be your classic Italian but it has solid dishes that do not disappoint. I really recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Basta Pasta - 37 W 17th Street, New York 10011

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/14/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/14/20

Kellari Taverna in NYC

After a first visit at Kellari Taverna, a Greek restaurant located two blocks from Bryant Park, I decided to have dinner there again with Jodi on a Friday evening. The first time I went (no photo, sorry), I was really excited as their fish (they serve fresh sustainable fish that is on a beautiful display) was very good: I first was going for the barbounia aka rouget aka red mullet, but that day they did not have any. So I had the filet of sole that they deboned for me perfectly and was the star, not smothered with any sauce So you could really get its delicious taste.

Seafood display at Kellari Taverna in NYC

But with Jodi, we decided to share a bunch of vegetarian appetizers: the selection of spread is always one we choose and we went for all their spreads that are in fact 4 of them: Tzatziki (Yogurt), Melitzanosalata (Eggplant), Htipiti (Whipped Feta - supposedly spicy but personally I did not think so), Tarama (Caviar).

Well yes, the caviar was not vegetarian and we did not even check the description; otherwise I would have ask to replace it by another one like the hummus that they give with olives and radishes at the beginning.

Olives, radishes and hummus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Nevertheless, these spreads, served with pita were very good, and we in fact ate them with the Kellari chips that was our second appetizer. These chips made with fried eggplant and fried zucchini are also a favorite appetizer: crispy and not greasy, it is a good way to get some vegetables in your diet...

The next dish was the saganaki. The kefalograviera cheese came flambé (they use Metaxa brandy): it was good but not the best I ever had for sure and I found that the brandied apricots and hazelnuts on top were not necessary.

I got a non-vegetarian dish all for myself though: the octopodi or grilled octopus that was sitting on hummus, and served with onions, peppers and capers. This is a great dish, with a large portion perfect to share. The octopus was superb: well cooked and not tough at all.

Grilled octopus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With my meal, I got a glass of ouzo that I did not see on the menu surprisingly but was sure they would have (they do not even try to make a cocktail with it that would be a good idea).

For dessert, I let Jodi picked, knowing that the last time I went I tried their baklava that is superb. She decided to go for the galaktoboureko, a Greek dessert of semolina custard in filo. This was very good: buttery, not too sweet, with the custard having a nice vanilla flavor.

Galaktoboureko at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With it, I decided to go for a Greek coffee that they made medium sweet. Good, but the previous time, I thought it was less watery.

So overall it was good, but the service is a bit inconsistent and I found some of the items overpriced. Not sure I would go back considering the other options in the city like Molyvos.

Enjoy (I still did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Kellari Taverna - 19 W 44th Street, New York 10036

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/12/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/12/20

Brunch at La Bonbonniere

We passed so many times in front of La Bonbonniere in the West Village that we were curious to know what this place was, the restaurant having a French name meaning the candy box. So we decided to go for an early brunch on a Saturday as each time we saw that place, there were people waiting outside.

We probably arrived around 11am and this tiny place was packed! Yes, La Bonbonniere is tiny and when near the bar and even the entrance, you can feel the heat of the grill that is sitting right there.

Opened since the early 80’s by Marina Cortez Arrieta and her business partner Gus Maroulletis, La Bonbonniere is not a French restaurant but more an old school diner where classic dishes such as sandwiches, pancakes and eggs are expected, including their famous French toast as they call them that we decided to try. Made with challah bread, they looked impressive but could have been soaked a bit longer.

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

We also tried their grilled cheese with cheddar that was good and comforting like at home.

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

As beverages, Jodi got a tea while I could not not have an egg cream that is a drink I adore.

Egg cream at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Quick, comforting and not pricey is how I would describe La Bonbonniere. This cash only place has a neighborhood atmosphere that is even more noticeable than its food. If I had people visit who never went to a diner in their life, I may bring them there.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

La Bonbonniere - 28 8th Avenue, New York 10014

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/10/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/10/20

New Bakery in Hoboken: SunMerry

There is a new bakery in Hoboken, but this time, a Taiwanese bakery with European influences: SunMerry. Not their first location is the US though as they have few in California as well as New Jersey, and I even passed by a store under renovation in New York that should be opening soon. So we decided to check it out for breakfast. I admit that I was a bit disappointed to see that they do not have anywhere to sit, and so it is a grab and go kind of place. Hopefully they will have outside seating when the weather is nice so you can relax with a coffee (no espresso though) or tea and some treats.

We tried few things there and I would have been more adventurous if we would have eaten there as, if you do not like something, you can get something else right away. Here is what we tried:

Chocolate croissant: well it is literally a croissant with chocolate inside that is truly what it should be as croissant refers to the shape (in French, we do not call it « un croissant au chocolat » although the dough is identical, but rather a « pain au chocolat »). Anyway, it was good, flakey and buttery.

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

The cinnamon bun looked spectacular but it was a bit dry...

My favorite was the Portuguese egg custard that is like a small tart made with a flan. Delicious, not too sweet, I could have eaten a bunch.

Portuguese egg custard at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

SunMerry is a nice addition in Hoboken, but I still prefer Chocopain (that should not surprise you by now if you follow me on Instagram). I’ll wait for the nice days to visit this place again and try some of their savory items.

Enjoy (I still did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

SunMerry - 519 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/7/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/7/20

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It’s been a while since we had Prato Bakery on Washington street in Hoboken in our sights and we finally decided to try this place two weekends in a row. Prato Bakery is small with only few seats inside, but fortunately outside seating during the warmer days.

They propose many mouth watering dishes, with few vegetarian choices, such as pizza, pizette (ie mini pizza) and sandwiches. The pizza is good (we tried their margarita one), having a thick crust that reminded me a bit what my grandmother, who was not Italian, used to make. The eggplant caprese on focaccia is also a great option.

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

But what I loved the most were the sandwiches, especially the ones made with focaccia over their brioche that I find better for the sweet options as you will see later. No, the focaccia sandwiches are delicious and not just because of the ingredients inside: the bread, made daily in another location is incredibly good, even more when they toast for few minutes your sandwich. The one I tried is the Bronte, made with mortadella, pistachio cream and mozzarella. The first bite of it is like heaven with angels singing over your shoulder: you first get the crunchiness of the focaccia that is followed by the creaminess of the mozzarella, topped with the nuttiness of the pistachio, all of this not overpowering at all the mortadella that definitely comes through.

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

The brioche is a smaller size sandwich because I admit that the ones with focaccia are quite filling, but, although good, they do not have the same effect, the one with prosciutto crudo (pan brioche ripiena) being good but with more bread than filling. With Nutella however, the brioche is awesome! It kind of complements perfectly the sweetness of the Nutella and as you can see they put a lot in it!

Brioche with prosciutto crude at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Brioche with Nutella at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

So overall, Prato Bakery is a great find: you get great sandwiches there without breaking the bank. It reminds me a bit All’Antico Vinaio in Florence that we discovered last Summer with its fantastic focaccia sandwiches. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Prato Bakery - 201 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/5/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/5/20

TKK Fried Chicken

When Taiwanese fried chicken meets bubble tea, it gives you an interesting fast food mix: this is what TKK Fried Chicken and Kung Fu’s Tea did this year in a location few steps from Madison Square Park. I love fried chicken, discovering it while living in Paris, at KFC! Yes, I know, it might not have been the best fried chicken but still, it is a good memory, similar to when I first tried chicken wings at...Pizza Hut! But, when I moved to New York many years back, I not only got introduced to its Southern roots, especially accompanied with a waffle, but also got my first Korean fried chicken that I adore even more. But Taiwanese? Never until now. Not that it is a novelty as TKK opened in 1974 in Taiwan and has now more than 60 locations, mainly in Taiwan. So the New York experience is a good challenge considering the number of places that serve the crispy bird, but, after visiting TKK, I would not be surprised to see other locations opening in the coming months. The feel of the place is definitely one of a fast casual restaurant and, although the chicken is not fried to order, TKK surely knows how to cook it: the thick crust is delicious, very crispy, and the chicken, wether dark or white meat, perfectly cooked all the way through and moist. They propose it in three level of spiciness: original, crispy mild or crispy spicy, the latter not being to the level of the spicy fried chicken you get in Korean restaurants that can set your mouth on fire, but you can dip the pieces in Tabasco or a mango habanero sauce that would wake you up. Personally, I loved the honey garlic sauce that had a nice sweetness.

Dining room at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Mashed potatoes at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken combo at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

Shishito peppers at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Sweet potatoes fries at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

The crispy chicken sandwich was equally good: the delicious crispy chicken is accompanied by cheese, lettuce and tomato and squeezed between two pieces of soft bun. This is definitely a must have if you prefer having a sandwich instead of pieces of chicken.

Crispy chicken sandwich at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

And of course, for drinks, you benefit from the menu of Kung Fu Tea (and I am not talking about the draught beer they propose…). So, bubble tea like the chai I got was was a natural choice for me.

Chai bubble tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Oolong tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

So, overall it was quite good but I thought Thai fried chicken would stand out like Korean Fried Chicken is. Still, If I were in the area and was craving fried chicken, that would be the place to go to.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

TKK Fried Chicken - 115 E 23rd Street, New York, NY

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/3/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/3/20

Brunch at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

I had Narcissa on my long list of restaurants to visit for a while now and it is finally when Jodi’s cousin Rebecca proposed to go there for brunch that we ended up at the New American restaurant of Chef John Fraser (Nix, The Terrace and The Outdoor Gardens) at the Standard Hotel in the East Village. Of course, as usual, we had an early meal that is often my favorite way of enjoying restaurants, the crowd not only increasing drastically the noise level but also often slowing down the kitchen.

Menu wise, they have your classic brunch dishes, from eggs to burger, but not prepared in a usual way for the most part. For instance, the burger, called steakhouse burger for no apparent reason, is not just a cheese burger. It has bacon, blue, spinach, jalapeño and garlic mayo (aka aioli) on a toasted bun. I admit that at first I was not that thrilled to see spinach in it, but was thinking that if I did not like it, I could remove it. No need: there was just the right amount. And that burger was superb, even if a bit spicy because of the jalapeño: the meat was perfectly cooked and juicy, and I loved the pairing with the blue and bacon, the latter adding some smokiness and decadence to it.

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

The burger was served with fries (I had to pick between this and a salad), that were like I love them: thin, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through.

Jodi settled for their egg white omelette, composed of spinach, caramelized onions and goat cheese. I am not a huge fan of egg white omelets, but admit that this one was pretty tasty.

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

We also shared the French toast bites that is the perfect dish to share with people. They were served with maple syrup and a lemon sauce that was so tart that I dished it. Anyway, the French toast bites were so moist that did not need any sauce.

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

At the start of my meal, I also got a non-alcoholic drink: the wellness shot, that has turmeric, ginger, lemon, honey and cayenne pepper. That was spicy! But good. But spicy. For sure you need to like ginger...

So overall, the brunch at Narcissa was very good and the service on point. I definitely need to check out this place for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Narcissa - 25 Cooper Square, New York 10003

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/31/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/31/20

L'Amico: another service going wrong

It has been so long that we wanted to go for dinner at L’Amico, the restaurant from Chef Laurent Tourondel where we had a great brunch last year. So, we finally decided to go there on a Friday evening. I am not sure it was a good move: it was packed, extremely loud and the service was disappointing, to the point that we asked one of the managers if somebody would take our order! Well, he could have been more gracious about it and at least apologize instead of giving us the feeling he was annoyed by our request. It was thanks to him in fact that my cocktail, ordered 25 minutes before, came to the table. It was the Brooklyn Bound, made with Smooth Ambler Contradiction whiskey, …

Brooklyn bound cocktail at L'Amico in NYC, NY

After a while, I was able to grab the waiter and reminded him that we were still waiting for bread…

At that point, I was not sure we would ever get our appetizer that came few minutes later. It was the mushroom arancini. Pretty good, slightly crunchy on the outside and creamy inside, it was sitting on a delicious truffle aioli.

Still set with mushrooms, Jodi then ordered the white mushroom pizza that is made with truffle paste, taleggio and fontina cheese, and sage. Cooked in their wood fire oven, this pizza was superb: the crust had this wonderful char and the pizza was packed with mushrooms and cheese.

On my side, I went for the seafood agnolotti that were made with lobster, scallop, crab and rock shrimp, in a creamy sauce. Decadent and elegant, I simply loved it. The agnolotti were perfectly made and cooked, filled with a delicious mix of seafood. I just wished they had some rock shrimp on top of the pasta for an added texture. Still, it was a very good dish.

Last was dessert. I admit that at first we wanted to leave before dessert as we thought that it would take forever to get served. But, as the evening went, service improved and we decided to try their baba with rum that was a nice take on a classic dessert.

So, although the service could have been way better, we liked our dinner at L’Amico. It shows how bad service can spoil a meal. I still would go back but probably on a week day...

Enjoy (I still did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

L’Amico -849 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/20

Le Jardinier, Midtown East

I noticed Le Jardinier, a restaurant located Midtown East, when it got a Michelin Star in the 2020 New York Michelin Guide. Meaning The Gardener in French, Le Jardinier translates perfectly the concept from Chef Alain Verzeroli with a menu centered on vegetables complemented by sustainable fish and meat. And what a decor! Design by renowned French architect Joseph Dirand, it is as if you were dining in an elegant greenhouse.

Here is what we had:

Here is what we had:

To start, we got their house made lemonade that was fizzy and refreshing.

House made lemonade at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

They then brought their gluten free bread basket. I was surprised how good it was: I love bread and you would have told me it was gluten free, I would not have believed you.

Gluten free bread basket at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

For her appetizer, Jodi ordered their mushroom veloute with crispy polenta. This was an elevated version of a mushroom soup that was succulent and I loved the fact that they used crispy polenta to replace classic croutons.

Mushroom veloute at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

On my side, I settled for the grilled yellowfin tuna: the dish looked beautiful with all the color, from the red of the fish to the green of the mache. The fish was delicious, slightly seared, and I noticed some crispy black rice that gave a nice crunch to the dish.

Then came the entrees. Pearled barley risotto for Jodi and duck confit for me. The risotto was pretty good, made with winter squash and mushrooms, and the color came from the use of mimolette cheese. Between this and the use of barley instead of rice, I thought it was a great interpretation of a classic Italian dish. The only negative is that it could have had more squash and mushroom in it.

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

The confit however was perfect: the meat, falling off the bone, was not too salty and the skin was delightfully fatty and crispy. The duck sat on top of black lentils that had a nice bite and there were few pieces of kumquat that gave a bit of acidity.

Last was dessert. After a slight hesitation between the Forêt Noire (black Forrest cake) and their fruit tart made with yuzu and topped with a meringue, we opened for the former that was decadent and not light, with delicious brandy cherries.

Overall it was a superb meal in a relaxed atmosphere not stuffy at all, with a very courteous and dilligent service. No wonder they got that star that is well deserved after few months operating, the restaurant having opened in May 2019.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Le Jardinier -610 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/20

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new deli in Hoboken, but not the classic ones the city already has. No, this time it is a Jewish style deli: Pastrami House Delicatessen. Located where Boardwalk Burgers and Fries used to be on Washington street, it opened on January 4th. Finally, as this spot has been unoccupied for a while since the burger joint closed, at some point being replaced by The Brooklyn Bagelry, before that company went bankrupt. So, we decided to check out Pastrami House on a Saturday and I admit that it was a bit hectic, mainly because of the customers who were literally blocking passage with their strollers or not going where they were supposed to go to order. So you could definitely see that the high flow of …

So, at first, I went around the place, looking for the seating area: there is none. Pastrami House is solely take out and will soon start delivery. This was a bit of a bummer because by the time you go home, the food is cold. Anyway, we decided to try few dishes there from their mostly classic Jewish deli menu (understand matzo ball soup, potato latkes, reuben, hot dogs or knishes to name a few). Here is what we had:

Pastrami reuben: made with rye bread, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, it was pretty good. I just wished that it was toasted a bit more so the bread would be slightly crunchier and the cheese melted. Still, it was good. I should mention that they offer a junior size for most of their sandwiches that is great if you have a small appetite or want to try something else...

Pastrami reuben at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Reuben dog: I am not sure if it was intended and I misunderstood what it was or they forgot something, but it was like a hot dog except that the sausage was replaced by pastrami and it had mustard. It was good but after the pastrami reuben, a bit of a repeat. It was served with steak fries that needed to be reheated in the oven as mushy.

Reuben dog at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Knish: quite good and comforting.

Knish at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, they also have classics like black and white cookies, rugelach or the sprinkle cookie Jodi ordered. But on my side, I was more interested by the mini cheesecakes from Junior’s...

Sprinkle cookie at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Junio’s cheesecake at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Last, they have drinks you would expect in delis, especially from Stewart’s. So, I could not resist ordering a root beer with my meal.

Overall, although a bit hectic, there is no doubt that Pastrami House Delicatessen will be successful in Hoboken. I admit that I was expecting a sit down restaurant considering the space Boardwalk Burger and Fries had, allowing to enjoy the food right after being made. I will probably wait for their delivery service to be operational to try other menu items.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Pastrami House Delicatessen -832 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030