I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/22

Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

I passed in front of Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina few times in the morning and was not sure what to expect from it and thought that going on a Friday before a major Holiday would be a good idea, expecting less people and so, less noise. I was wrong: as we entered the restaurant to inquire for a table, we ended up in a dark setting with a noise level that was definitely not for me…Fortunately, they had tables outside and the weather was still adequate for an outdoor dinner.

We started off our meal with guacamole and chips, that I accompanied with their classic margarita. This was a good start: the margarita was good, well balanced. The guac was nicely made: mild, as ordered, it had nice chunks of avocado and was well seasoned.

Margarita at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

Guacamole and chips at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

Guacamole at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina in NYC, NY

For her main, Jodi got the quesadilla de Hongo (mushrooms) that was good, with lots of cheese, the tortilla being slightly crispy, while I got the chicken chimichanga, a deep fried tortilla filled with grilled chicken and cheese, topped with crema fresca (sour cream), guacamole and pico de gallo over a red sauce (not spicy). When it came, I thought it was small, but it was quite filling. Tasty, the tortilla was golden and delightfully crispy. I definitely recommend it.

Quesadilla de hongo at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

Chicken chimichanga at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

For dessert, we could not not try their churros that were well made, crispy on the outside a slightly doughy inside. The only negative was the chocolate on top: I have never been a big fan of chocolate with churros, preferring dulce de leche or condensed milk, and sometimes, I enjoy just a plain churro.

Churros at 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

Overall, we had a good time and food at Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina. I would go back but maybe lunch would be a better time for us because of the noise level…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina - 5 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/22

The Hive in Hoboken: worth the wait?

I guess that after Chef Dominique Ansel created the buzz with his Cronut that he was selling with limited quantity, causing very long lines around the block of his bakery in Soho, this has proved to be a good recipe for success. Is it what The Hive in Hoboken tried to do with its cinnamon rolls? Maybe. What is sure is that they have been quite successful! These cinnamon rolls are only available on the weekend, with a limited number, selling within one hour apparently. So we had to try it to understand what the craze was about. I admit that the first time we did not realize it was only offered on the weekend and went on…

Chocolate croissant at The Hive in Hoboken

So we went back on a weekend, showing up at 7:30am (they open at 8am) and were glad to be there at that time as a long line was already formed. As they opened, the line moved, but not as fast as I was hoping for and we realized that it is because they are baked and frosted right there, each put in a container to transport. We got two of these massive rolls that came warm, with an appetizing cinnamon smell emanating from under the cream cheese frosting that was melted slowly. It was good, very filling and comforting, with the right amount of cinnamon and I liked the fact that the frosting was not too sweet, especially as they put a lot of it! $8 for a cinnamon roll is a bit of a stretch but ok as a treat.

Another specialty apparently is their Big Daddy cookie that is made with peanut butter, chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips and pecans. Decadent and heavy, it was good but I wish it was chewier.

The Hive is a nice place in Hoboken, where you can enjoy a coffee or tea and some treats. For me, it would be the cinnamon rolls as I did not really like what they had besides this, but I would get it as a treat as I would probably not wait in line every weekend for it…

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Hive - 1000 Park Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/22

Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Last Saturday, I was invited at Kings of Kobe in the Newport Mall, in Jersey City. Let’s first clarify one thing: there is no Kobe beef there, but rather American Wagyu, served in different forms: steaks, burgers, hot dogs or chili. Located across from the Cheesecake Factory, Kings of Kobe is fairly big with, on one side, a large bar, and the other, the dining room where upbeat music is played while you are waiting for your meal.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Picking a meal there is a bit challenging as they have lots of mouth watering choices. So, I decided to start with their chicken wings, choosing maple buffalo over chipotle BBQ. These beautifully glazed pieces of chicken were amazing: topped with sesame seeds for some nuttiness, they were delightfully crispy, with a slight sweetness, perfect to dip or not in a blue cheese sauce.

Chicken wings at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Then came the burgers: vegetarian (I’ll come back to this) or not vegetarian, I have to admit that they look spectacular, the presentation having a dramatic drip of sauce all over, and the quantity of meat (half pound or even a pound - aka a pounder) cannot be unnoticed. They do offer vegetarian options and the Beyond burger is used in the Veggie Republic (vegan in fact, made with marinated roasted tomatoes, pickles, baby arugula, herbed vegan mayo) that is in the sandwiches and other burgers section, but if you prefer you can opt for the grilled cheese or a salad. As far as beef is concerned, I went for the King’s Standard that they use as their cover photo. It is made with marinated roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, dill pickles and cherry pepper mayo. This was delicious: the patty was juicy and quite tasty, meaning not made with plenty of fillers and species that would overpower the taste of the beef. But it is big and I cannot imagine finishing a pounder! The only negative of these burgers are the buns: they are good (although the multigrain bun on the veggie one was a bit dry) but too thick.

Veggie Republic burger at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

King’s Standard burger at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Burgers are not coming with sides and they have several choices there that I am sure can satisfy anyone. My favorite was the red onion rings that was served with garlic mayo: the onion was cooked all the way through and the batter, that I would not be surprised is beer based was nice and crispy. Of course, you can also choose fries that were battered, crispy and cooked all the way through.

French fries at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Onion rings at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Last is dessert. I cannot not talk enough about the banana pudding that is homemade: first of all, the bowl is the size of a human head and for sure it is a bit difficult to finish it after such a meal…Then, it is superb and probably one of the best I had. It is made with a creamy vanilla pudding, vanilla wafers, perfectly ripened bananas and whipped cream. This is a must have!

Banana pudding at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

I was glad that I got the opportunity to try Kings of Kobe as we had a great meal there. I would definitely go back to try another burger combination or even build my own, or get their wagyu ribeye. Prices are on the high side, so you pay a premium for Wagyu beef.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Kings of Kobe - 30 Mall Dr W, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/22

Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Dim Sum Sam in Times Square. We went a couple of times and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. From outside, you would think that it is a small place, but it has a large dining room in the back as well as upstairs. This is more a casual spot where you will order at the counter and they will assign a number. You then go to the dining room, passing the kitchen with peking ducks hanging, where a TV will display the orders being currently prepared, and, below, a sign will show which number has been called. When your order is ready, it will display and you will hear a loud beep followed by a robotic voice saying “Please take the meal”. It it is yours, you then go to the counter to retrieve it.

Peking ducks at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Dining room at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

TV system for orders at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

They do have dim sum, but it seems that they are known for their Hong Kong style BBQ that they offer with duck, pork or chicken, in many ways. I tried their Roast duck noodle soup (it is a pork bone soup that you can also get spicy) with egg noodles (you have a choice of Hong Kong egg noodles, Mei-Fun, Ho-Fun or Udon. The duck was very good, but I admit that the bones are a bit annoying to get around, especially when eating with chopsticks, and the broth was tasty, deliciously fatty. The egg noodles were good, but I prefer thicker noodles, so next time I might choose the Udon.

Peking duck soup at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

I wish they were serving Peking duck, because I got their Peking duck bao and it was superb! The bun was not as fluffy as what I had elsewhere, but the duck was amazing: when you bite, you get an explosion from the glaze it has been cooked with, that oozes from the crispy skin, mixed with the sweetness of the hoisin sauce. This is a must have.

Peking duck bao at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

For dim sum, they have the classic vegetable spring rolls (that are piping hot when they come) or the delightfully greasy and crispy scallion pancakes. The shrimp dumplings are my favorite, but their buddha delight that are made with mixed vegetables are quite good too.

Scallion pancakes at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Spring rolls at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Shrimp dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Buddha Delight dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

I also love the fact that they have desserts: their Portuguese egg tarts are succulent, flakey and sweet, while an absolute must have is their sweet egg yolk buns.

Portuguese egg tarts at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Sweet egg yolk buns at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square

Overall, Dim Sum Sam is a good surprise in an area that can be challenging in terms of quality of food, some restaurants looking more at foot traffic from the tourists visiting New York, rather than focusing on returning customers. But this place is different: the food there is delicious, for good prices. I will definitely go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dim Sum Sam - 240 W 40th St New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 11/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/4/22

The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

Continuing to explore to Tin Building by Jean-George, we decided to try The Frenchman’s Dough, the chef’s French take on an Italian restaurant, serving pasta and pizza, the latter cooked in a wood fire oven that you can see in the back of their open kitchen.

We got their spaghetti cacio e Pepe, and the thick spaghetti that seem more like buccatini were perfectly cooked, al dente, while the sauce was creamy with a perfect amount of pepper.

Cacio e pepe at The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

The pizza was quite good: thick and crispy crust, better eaten with our hands than trying to cut it with a knife (or then you need a better knife), was nicely charred, made with black truffle (I wish there was a bit more), three cheese and a farm egg, making it the perfect brunch pizza.

Truffle shuffle pizza at The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

With it, we got their sodas: the cherry and yuzu soda that Jodi has been getting each time we went to a restaurant at the Tin Building, and a ginger and lime soda for me, preferring a non-alcoholic beverage from their long list of wine, beer and cocktails.

Cherry and Yuzu soda at The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

Ginger and lime soda at The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

For dessert, we decided to try their almond cake that was topped with whipped cream and served with roasted figs. This was a very good cake, moist, not too sweet, going very well with the figs and whipped cream.

Almond cake at The Frenchman's Dough at the Tin Building by Jean-George

Overall, this was a delicious meal. After the Brasserie and vegetarian restaurants (Seeds & Weeds), this is the third place we try at the Tin Building and we have not been disappointed!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Frenchman’s Dough at Tin Building - 96 South St, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/22 I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/22

Shokudo in Hoboken

Shokudo opened in March 2020, right at the beginning of Covid 19, that is quite courageous, although I am sure that they wanted to open earlier, but getting permits from the city can be challenging and they not have had any other choice. So, why having another Japanese restaurant in Hoboken, Robongi, Yeung II, Sushi Lounge or Illuzion already feeding the Hobokenites hungry for sushi? Well, smartly, Shokudo created a menu that sets them apart, their location on the north part of the city being also ideal as the places I mentioned are more Downtown or Midtown, and, each time we went, they were quite busy.

For drinks, my preference goes for their large selection of Sake and when I pick one, I always look for an unfiltered. So the Ozeki Nigori (Nigori means “Cloudy”) was perfect for me, pairing well with yakitori per their menu, or, filters and hot, great for a cold day is the Ozaki Sakego Junmai. If you prefer whisky, they have a very good selection of Japanese whisky, like the Kujira Ryukyu. And then, of course, they have sodas and tea.

Ozaki Sakego Junmai sake at Shokudo in Hoboken

Kujira Ryukyu whisky at Shokudo in Hoboken

So, I mentioned the yakitori that are skewer cooked over ceramic briquettes gas grill. They have a nice selection, mainly non-vegetarian. They have different kind of chicken, pork, beef as well as scallops (hotate) that give you the opportunity to try a few, each costing between $5 and $7 a piece.

For appetizer, they have a bunch of fried (or pan fried) dishes: pan fried gyoza that they can make with vegetables or pork, Chicken Karaage or Japanese deep-fried chicken with garlic soy sauce (coming very hot, fresh from the fryer) or shrimp tempura. They also have spicy pork buns where the spicy BBQ pork comes with cucumber and lettuce in a perfectly made steamed bun.

For entrees, I only tried their unagi or eel that is served over rice: this was delicious! And of course their ramen: vegetable miso ramen for Jodi and Tonkotsu ramen for me. Both are quite good, the tonkotsu ramen being rich and milky, served with thick noodles as I like them.

Vegetable miso ramen at Shokudo in Hoboken

Shokudo is a great place in the North part of Hoboken: I like the variety of their food and, although I prefer Muteki Ramen for their ramen, the ones at Shokudo are quite good. This is definitely a place to try.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Shokudo - 61 14th St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/22

Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

I discovered Aux Merveilleux de Fred many years ago, thanks to my friends Caroline and Arnaud, at a time where this fantastic shop was not yet in New York. The merveilleux is a cake that originated in Belgium, that consist of two light meringues that sandwich some whipped cream and are also covered in whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. Chef Frédéric Vaucamps, Fred, decided to adapt the recipe and created its own version, hence the name of the store. For sure, these meringues that you can find in two sizes, minis or individuals, are light and not too sweet, very addictive. Looking though the window, you can even see the making process of these delicates cakes that comes with many flavors:

Le Magnifique that is made with praline and caramelized hazelnuts is my favorite.
But I also love L’Incroyable that is made with speculoos biscuit, whipped cream and coated with shaved white chocolate. The classic
Le Merveilleux (The Marvelous) is composed of chocolate, whipped cream and then coated with shavings of Belgium dark chocolate.
One that was surprisingly good was L’excentique, that is cherry whipped cream, coated with crystallized meringue.

Le Magnifique and Le Merveilleux at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

L’excentrique, L’incroyable and Le magnifique at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

If you prefer straight meringues, know that they sell very good ones there, small and larger.

Meringues at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

Aux Merveilleux de Fred proposes classic viennoiseries, but I admit that I was not that impressed: the raisin cramique that is a brioche with raisins was a bit dry; the chocolate croissant was overcooked; I only liked the brioche au sucre, although it was not the best I had in the city.

Viennoiseries at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

Brioche aux raisins at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

Pain au chocolate at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

Brioche au sucre at Aux Merveilleux de Fred in NYC

I might not have liked the viennoiseries (they might be better straight from the oven, but these meringues are insane! This is a must try!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Aux Merveilleux de Fred - 1001 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 10/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/28/22

South House in Jersey City

We like to explore the area near Grove Street in Jersey City as there are plenty of interesting places to try there. So, that time, we decided to go for a brunch to South House, a huge place that serves a Southern fare.

We sat in their front area that had this nostalgic atmosphere, with all these paintings on the wall and the wooden doors that gave me the impression I was going into a farmhouse, especially after seeing the milk cans that are used for tables.

We started off by ordering buttermilk biscuit and jam. We had to wait a bit because the biscuits were not ready, but, when they came, we liked them, although not as buttery as some we had in other places, but crispy.

For her main, Jodi ordered their vegan tacos made with Mexican seasoned cauliflower and home fried potatoes, topped with a fire roasted salsa. I admit that the color of the dish did not look good, brown not being the most appetizing color for food. It was quite disappointing vegan tacos, bland, and mushy.

Vegan tacos at South House in Jersey City

On my side, I ordered the farmer’s skillet with brisket that was composed of scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and the same fire roasted salsa that was on the tacos (so I have the same comment on the color of the dish…). This was another disappointing dish: the eggs were overcooked and the brisket was tough…

Farmer’s skillet at South House in Jersey City

We finished our meal with a banana pudding, served with nila wafers, that had an off taste…

Banana pudding at South House in Jersey City

I admit that I was a bit disappointed by South House: the food was not that great although the description was promising. I’ll pass..

Enjoy (…)!

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

South House - 149 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/22

Jollibee in Jersey City

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Jollibee, a Filipino chain with over 1,500 stores worldwide that opened its first location in the United States in Daly City, California on June 13th, 1998, and then opened a large spot in Times Square in August 2022. But it is not in Times Square that I tried it, but in Jersey City, a quieter location for sure!

Jollibee is known for its fried chicken, so I could not not try their fried chicken sandwich, that is simply served with mayo on a toasted brioche bun. I liked it: the chicken was perfectly cooked, moist, smothered by a delicious breading that was nicely crispy. I also tried the spicy version that has sriracha mayo and jalapeño. Both were good, and for sure the spicy version had some heat that made it stand out over Popeyes spicy fried chicken sandwich. If you do not want a sandwich, you can opt for the chicken tenders that were good but a bit dry, even when dipped in honey mustard.

Classic fried chicken sandwich at Jollibee in Jersey City

Spicy fried chicken sandwich at Jollibee in Jersey City

Chicken fingers at Jollibee in Jersey City

So, for those who do not like chicken, they propose other dishes (none of them vegetarian by the way). Their cheesy yumburger was a bit disappointing, the meat lacking a bit of flavor and char. Of course, Ihad to try their fries that were thin and crispy, but not as good as the McDonald’s ones.

Overall, I liked the fried chicken sandwiches at Jollibee: the original is not as good as Popeyes but ranks second for me before Shake Shack and Chick-Fil-A, but I thought that the spicy version is better than Popeyes, having more heat. This is for sure a must try if you like fried chicken sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Jollibee - 9 Path Plaza Level, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/22

Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

I am not sure how many BBQ places Hoboken needs, having already House of Que and Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque. But, I will not complain, to the contrary as I love Barbecue and Mighty Quinn’s is a great place to get some awesome slowed cooked meat.

The place is small with not that many seats and keeps a casual feel. Ordering is easy: you can either go to the point of sale and do it yourself or go to the counter where someone will take your oder. The first time I went to that location, I decided to get their 3 meat sampler (I love when restaurants propose samplers so you can try a bit of everything). My choices were: ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The pulled pork was good, but I admit that it was a bit of a default choice as they did not have any sausage. What blew me away was their ribs that were literally falling off the bone, not dry at all, as well as their amazing brisket that had a nice char and was nicely fatty, a pinch of salt on both meats enhancing further the flavor of the burnt part. This is probably one of the best briskets I ever had! And so, in a subsequent visit, I got their burnt ends sandwich that was a bit messy to eat and had fantastic thick pieces of brisket, with that superb burnt part. I should mention that the sampler came with a small portion of pickles and slaw.

3 meat sampler at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Ribs at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Brisket at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Burnt ends sandwich at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Pickles at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Cole slaw at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

With it, I also got some sides that I shared with Jodi: their Mac and cheese is really good, creamy and you can even get it as fritters, served with a smoked tomato aioli, the outside being crispy, hiding a creamy filling. If you like fritters but do not want Mac and cheese, you can try the corn fritters that are quite comforting. Another vegetarian option is their Brussels sprouts that were served with a soy vinaigrette, or the classic corn bread that goes well with BBQ.

Mac and cheese at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Sweet corn fritters at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Mac and cheese fritters at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Brussels sprouts at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Corn bread at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

For drinks, they serve beers, lemonade, iced tea and soda like root beer, one of my favorite soda…

Root beer and ginger soda at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

Lemonade at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque in Hoboken, NJ

I love Mighty Quinn’s: their BBQ is awesome, but know that they do not cook the meat on premise but bring it there, that is fine anyway! If you decide to go, try their ribs and brisket for sure. They also have a gigantic rib called the Brontosaurus rib that I will have to try at some point…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mighty Quinn’s - 322 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/22

VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

What I love about this place is the variety of starters that are great for sharing or trying many dishes rather than settling for the usual curry or noodles. Here is what we had there:

Of course, I went for my usual Thai Iced Tea that I love!

I have known VIV for quite some time: this This restaurant located in Hell’s Kitchen sets itself apart from classic Thai places by serving am original menu in an upbeat atmosphere.

What I love about this place is the variety of starters that are great for sharing or trying many dishes rather than settling for the usual curry or noodles. Here is what we had there:

Of course, I went for my usual Thai Iced Tea that I love!

Thai iced tea at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

Then, I wanted to try their wings, that are tossed in a garlic caramel sauce, giving a sweet and savory taste to it.

Next was their blanketed shrimp that are shrimp wrapped in egg noodles that are deep fried and served with a Thai sweet chili sauce. Pretty good, the fried noodles gave a nice crunchiness to it.

Blanketed shrimp at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

After that, I had to try their Chiang Mai Sausage that is a traditional Northern style spicy pork sausage that came with rice vermicelli, carrots, cucumber and fresh greens. I admit that I did not know how to eat the sausage with the rest that I simply ditched. The sausage itself was quite good, flavorful and not that spicy.

Chiang Mai sausage at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

For vegetarian starters, we tried their crispy spring rolls that were interestingly presented and were quite good, crispy with a nice filling made with mixed vegetables and vermicelli.

Crispy Spring rolls at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

Or the Emerald dumplings that can be steamed or, like we chose, fried, filled with mixed vegetables and served with a sweet soy sauce.

Emerald dumplings at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

Last, we tried their chive pancakes that were served with a soy vinaigrette dip. Also fried, they have an interesting texture, the center being a bit pillowy.

Chive pancakes at VIV Thai restaurant in NYC

After all this, we could not even think about having dessert, being full from a delicious meal. Thai remains one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen, offering a not so classic menu with mouth watering dishes. 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!

Viv - 717 9th Avenue New York City, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/22

Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

We were going to South Street Seaport for an art show and were looking for a place to eat where I found Tajin, a Mexican restaurant located few blocks from the World Trade Center. This was the wrong choice unfortunately as we will discover it…

Dining room at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

The place is quite big, colorful and was empty probably because we were a bit early. We started by ordering a lemonade that was very sweet, as well as some guacamole and chips. Jodi does not like spicy food so she asked if it was possible to make one without jalapeño, but the waiter told us that it was already made. We could tell when it came as it was cold and lacked flavor.

Lemonade at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

Guacamole and chips at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

Then, Jodi got her cheese quesadilla that was decent, but we were surprised not to see a dollop of sour cream and some pico de Gallo on top, next to the guacamole. Still, it was ok.

Cheese quesadilla at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

On my side, I was not so lucky. I saw on their menu online and then on Instagram that they served a California burrito that is a dish I love (I do not really like rice in a burrito, but fries are welcome!). I did not see it on their menu and so I asked the waiter if they were still doing it as I came for it and he said that it would be ok. When the burrito came, it did not look well made and, when I cut it in half, it had rice and to be honest, the shredded chicken did not look appetizing. When I told the waiter, he said that they do not do anymore California burritos and so they brought this one. As I sent it back, the owner (I guess it was the owner) came and apologized, asking the kitchen to make a California burrito for me that was nice. Unfortunately, it was not great. First, they cut it in half, not sure why, and some juice, maybe from the chicken escaped, soaking the tortilla that was not well rolled, everything falling apart. Taste wise, it was lacking flavors and the fries were soggy. Disappointing.

California chicken burrito at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

So, after that, we did not even checked desserts…This was a disappointing experience.

Enjoy (…)!

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

Tajin Mexican Restaurant - 85 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10006

I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/22

Sophra Grill, Turkish and Mediterranean Cuisine

From what I understand, Sophra means in Turkish, a table set to eating a meal. And this was a nice meal that we had at Sophra Grill Midtown East. This casual place is a hidden gem that offers a wide range of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes.

I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.

I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.

Ayran yogurt drink at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

We then got their mixed appetizer sampler that is a great thing to share, allowing us to try few cold appetizers with a delicious homemade bread that I totally forgot to photograph! The sampler had hummus, babaganouj, tabouleh, cacik that is a yogurt dip similar to tzatziki, eggplant with sauce (made with tomato sauce, pepper and garlic, and ezme, a spicy salad.

Mixed appetizers at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

I also tried their grilled octopus that unfortunately was over cooked and quite chewy. A bit disappointing.

Grilled octopus at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

We also shared their cheese pide, a long shaped flatbread topped with mozzarella, slices of tomato and butter. This looked very appetizing and was delicious: the crust was nicely charred and slightly crispy and they were quite generous with the cheese. This is a must try.

We finished with a kunefe and a Turkish coffee, medium sweet. I was so excited to try their kunefe, a dessert made with kataifi that is soaked in a sugar based syrup and layered with cheese. Crispy, gooey, sweet, this is heaven!

So, overall, this was a good meal that made me want to go back to Sophra to try other dishes. Yes, I’ll be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sophra Grill - 535 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/22

Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Chili vs Cafe China seems to have been a story for some time, people confusing sometimes the two places. In fact, Chili is located where Cafe China used to be before deciding in 2021 to move two blocks away to a bigger location. Soon after, several former employees opened Chili and there has been a bit of a dispute as Cafe China accused Chili to copy their menu. I admit that when I saw the menu at Chili, I saw few similar items like the tea smoked duck, that made me think that it was owned by the same people.

We started our meal at Chili with drinks: sparkling peach water for Jodi and a cocktail for me called “Drinking Alone by Moonlight”, made with Mint River baijiu, freshly squeezed lemon juice, coconut syrup, dry tangerine peel. Baiju is a Chinese liquor with a taste that some describe as “funky, with a rotting, sweet fruit flavor and a touch of nuttiness”. It definitely has a weird fermented taste but I would not go as far as saying it is rotten!

Sparkling white peach water at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Drinking Alone by Moonlight cocktail at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

We then got small plates. Vegetarian ones like the savory tofu and celery shoots that was a bit bland or the vegetable pot stickers that were pretty good. Of course, we had to get scallion pancakes and they were deliciously crispy and slightly greasy as expected.

Savory tofu with celery shoots at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Vegetable pot stickers at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Scallion pancakes at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

For non-vegetarian dishes, I admit that their menu was a bit overwhelming. So I went for their dan dan noodles that were good, and not that spicy, as well as their mouth watering chicken that is made with poached chicken with house special sauce, sesame, and peanuts. The poached chicken is a bit bland by itself, but covered with that sauce that had some heat was amazing and I loved the fact that there was peanuts so it would give a bit of texture to the entire dish. And for sure, I had to get their crystal shrimp dumplings that were perfectly made.

Dan dan noodles at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Mouth watering chicken at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

We were too full for dessert and left glad that we tried this place. Chili is a very good place and I would definitely go back there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Chili - 13 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/10/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/10/22

Laree Adda in Jersey City

Laree Adda in Jersey City was not really our first choice when going to Grove street, our first target being closed when we arrived. So, as we love Indian cuisine, we decided to give a try to their Pakistani / Indian casual eatery. This is not a table service restaurant: you order at the counter and they will bring the food once ready. So we decided to try few things there, especially their curries. For me, it was their chicken tikka masala that was good, but did not have enough chicken. Jodi went for the palak paneer that had even less paneer in it unfortunately! At least, the paratha bread, gunpowder chai and gulab jamun were delicious. Still, this is not the kind of place I would rave about…

Gulab jamun at Laree Adda in Jersey City

Enjoy (…)!

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Laree Adda - 287 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/22

Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

It’s been a while since we went to Momosan, the ramen and sake joint from Chef Morimoto. So we decided to go there on a Friday evening and sat at the bar, preferring these seats from the communal tables that are in the back. And when sitting at the bar, you cannot miss all these bottles with Chef Morimoto on the label.

Looking at their drink menu, I realized that Chef Morimoto is collaborating with many spirit and wine makers, like the Fukumitsuya Brewery for sake or Grgich Hills Estates from Napa Valley, California for Cabernet. But what caught my eyes was the Morimoto Single Malt made by Rogue Ales and Spirits that was smooth with smoky hints of cocoa, citrus, and cherry.

Morimoto Single Malt made by Rouge Ales and Spirits at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

They had few vegetarian options on their menu, like the spicy vegan miso ramen that they could have made less spicy by removing chili oil or paste, but the broth would still have been spicy. So Jodi went for their Brussels sprouts that were made with a balsamic soy reduction and fried onions, asking them to ditch the bonito flakes, as well as their vegetable rolls that were composed of cucumber, lettuce and avocado.

Brussels sprouts at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Vegetable rolls at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

On my side, I chose their dinner set where you get a ramen and an appetizer for $25. For the appetizer, I was not sure what to get because they have so many mouth watering options and finally ordered their duck tacos that were delicious, served in a crispy gyoza shell, with the roasted duck topped with hoisin sauce and apricot sweet chili, giving a nice sweet and savory taste to it, with no heat. As they made a mistake with my order, they offered, complimentary, some pork buns or kakuni bao, made with braised pork, lettuce, mayo and hoisin sauce. Classic for this type of restaurant, and quite good.

Duck tacos at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Pork buns at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Then came the tonkotsu ramen that was superb! Made with a silky pork broth, it had a generous amount of chashu pork, some mushrooms, takana (pickled spicy mustard greens) and ajitama (soy marinated soft boiled egg). Less is more in the sense that many times, ramen have too many ingredients like lettuce, bean sprouts, etc. that is not something I look forward too. Not at Momosan: they put the right amount of ingredients and I was glad that they had thick curly noodles instead of the thin ones you sometimes get, the thicker one having a good bite usually. I simply loved it.

Tonkotsu ramen at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

The only negative is the fact that they do not have dessert: I like to finish my meal with something sweet. Still, Momosan is a great spot for comforting food and delicious ramen. I’ll definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Momosam Ramen and Sake - 342 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/22

Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Jersey City Heights has some great finds and Los Tres Chilitos (the three chilis) is one of them. Serving Mexican cuisine, it has a quite extensive menu that can be a bit overwhelming, with some many dishes and options that it is endless. For instance, I got their enchiladas that could be with pollo (chicken), carne asada (grilled steak), quesillo (Oaxaca cheese) or vegetales (vegetables), and then with three types of choices: verde, roja, mole. So I ended up with chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. Served with refried beans and yellow rice, it was very good, not that I am an expert in mole. Still, that sauce, made with chocolate was delicious, not too rich and comforting.

Chicken enchilada at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Jodi got their vegetarian quesadilla that had corn, zucchini, mushrooms and cheese,served with guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo, a tasty dish that was not boring at all.

Vegetarian quesadilla at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Talking about their guacamole, it is pretty good, with chunks of avocado as I like it, the only negative was the rings of onions in it that were not great to have or bite into.

Guacamole and chips at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

They have lots of dessert and I admit that we probably made the wrong choice when ordering their empanada de arroz con lèche that is empanada filled with rice pudding. Very hot, the rice pudding lost its creaminess and the rice became over cooked in the frying process. Too bad! I regretted not ordering their churros.

Empanada de arroz con leche at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Still, it was a good lunch and I will certainly try something else another time. But then I will get the churros!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Los Tres Chilitos- 456 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/22

Southern Food at Emma's in Jersey City - CLOSED

Emma’s in Jersey City, right outside the Journal Square Path station, is truly an incredible find. We passed few times in front of it, but never imagined that their food would be so delicious, if it was not from someone Jodi knows who mentioned it casually. They opened right at the beginning of Covid that has been a bit of a challenge and is very courageous and we went there few times, seeing their menu evolve. They serve Southern cuisine and even smoke meat. Regrettably, at the time of the post, they do not have anymore their slow smoked BBQ St Louis Spare ribs that…

Slow smoked BBQ St Louis spare ribs at Emma's in Jersey City

They also had at some point an incredible brisket grilled cheese that was made with lots of a deliciously juicy brisket and lots of cheese squeezed between two slices of thick challah bread. Decadent and very filling, it was served with large French fries that I admit did not care much for as I prefer thin and crispy ones.

Brisket grilled cheese at Emma's in Jersey City

At least they. kept their Southern fried chicken dinner that is superb, served with mash and gravy, a biscuit and some slaw. The chicken is crispy, moist and cooked all the way through, definitely something to try.

Southern fried chicken dinner at Emma's in Jersey City

For vegetarian options, they used to have an impressive falafel salad that is not anymore on the menu, but serve a veggie burger that is made with black beans, oats, chickpeas, vegetables and quinoa topped with gruyere, on a brioche bun. For $3 additional, you get fries. Also, for appetizer, they have surprising crispy buffalo cauliflower that have a nice crispiness and a bit of heat.

Crispy buffalo cauliflower at Emma's in Jersey City

Desserts are not to be missed and it is homemade. My favorite is Miss Tami’s Southern Pecan pie and then then their key lime pie that has a delicious graham cracker crust, both served with fresh whipped cream. I have also tried their chocolate chip bread pudding that is served with a dulce de leche ice cream and topped with a salted caramel sauce, but I admit that I found it too dense.

Chocolate chip bread pudding at Emma's in Jersey City

So, on one hand I am sad to see some of the dishes I loved not anymore on the menu, but on the other hand, it forced me to try others. And Emma’s blew me away. This unfussy spot is a true gem that I absolutely recommend!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Emma’s - 4 Path Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 9/30/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/30/22

Parker & Quinn in NYC

We were looking for a place Midtown for a dinner on a Friday evening when we stumbled upon Parker & Quinn, a restaurant located in the Refinery Hotel. Big, bright and not too loud, the kind of places I like.

This place that serves an American fare proposes some interesting cocktails, not just the classic ones. So I got tempted by The City is Mine, an original cocktail made with Great Jones bourbon,…

This place that serves an American fare proposes some interesting cocktails, not just the classic ones. So I got tempted by The City is Mine, an original cocktail made with Great Jones bourbon, angostura bitters, lime and mint. For sure, they were generous with the quantity of bourbon, and this was quite refreshing with the touch of mint and lemon. Jodi settled for their pomegranate lemonade that was not too sweet and also quite refreshing, going for a non-alcoholic beverage.

Pomegranate lemonade at Parker & Quinn in NYC

The City is Mine cocktail at Parker & Quinn in NYC

As an appetizer, we decided to try their homemade focaccia that came with olives. Although good, this was a bit disappointing because it did not look or taste like a focaccia bread…

Focaccia bread and olives at Parker & Quinn in NYC

Focaccia and olives at Parker & Quinn in NYC

For her main, Jodi ordered one of their flatbreads: the funghi Bianca that had, besides mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, taleggio, Gruyère and arugula. The thin crust was pretty good, nicely charred with some bubbles, and a generous amount of toppings, especially with all these different kinds of cheeses.

Flatbread funghi bianca at Parker & Quinn in NYC

On my side, I picked one of their fall dishes: the pan roasted duck breast that was served with a butternut squash puree, braised Swiss chard, roasted parsnips, pickled pearl onion with a pomegranate-apple emulsion that gave a nice sweetness to the dish. Although the portion was not that big, it was enough and, most importantly tasted delicious. They surely know how to cook the duck that had a slightly crispy skin that was deliciously fatty: the best part in fact!

Pan roasted duck breast at Parker & Quinn in NYC

Last was dessert: we chose their cookie skillet that was topped with a salted caramel gelato and a drizzle of chocolate ganache. This was pretty good, decadent, the cookie having plenty of melted chocolate inside and being a bit chewy.

This was a nice way to finish a pretty good meal. I would definitely go back to Parker & Quinn to try some other dishes, and of course, cocktails!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Parket & Quinn - 64 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/22

Black Barn in NYC

I discovered Black Barn few years ago and I have to say: this is one of my favorite places in the city for brunch or dinner. Their menu is mouth watering with so many interesting options that you would want to order every single dish. On top of that, you sit in a place with a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful decor that matches the name of the place, i.e. a barn, but without the smell!

So, the last time we went, we tried the following:

As a cocktail, I drank the American Pharaoh, a whiskey drink (Glenmoramgie X) mixed with espresso, coffee in cocktails, especially Martini being a bit of a trend in the past year, reinventing a bit the classic Irish coffee.

American Pharaoh cocktail at Black Barn in NYC

As an appetizer, I could not resist ordering their olive oil braised octopus that was served with a delicious roasted pepper hummus, fresno chili fennel, and a preserved lemon and olive gremolata. This was superb: the octopus was tender, with a nice char and I loved eating it with the gremolata that gave a nice acidity to the dish.

Olive oil braised octopus at Black Barn in NYC

Jodi got their wild mushroom toast with robiola, taleggio and Parmesan, on a sourdough that was a delicious appetizer, with a nice amount of toppings.

Wild mushroom toast at Black Barn in NYC

For her main, she got the grilled corn and kale salad, without bacon, that had tomato, avocado (a nice portion), radicchio, baked ricotta, smothered by a an herb buttermilk dressing (smothered but not overdressed).

Grilled corn and kale salad at Black Barn in NYC

On my side, I had their BBQ beef ribs. It was made with a chipotle-orange rub and served with shoestring fries that were nicely crispy but definitely the kind where your hand rather than a fork is to be used to eat them…The ribs were fantastic, literally falling off the bone, slightly spicy, with the cucumber salad that came with it giving a cooling effect. This is a must have for sure!

For dessert, we shared their apple cider donuts that came with a caramel sauce. These donuts were superb: perfectly made, I could have eaten more than what they served and it did not even need the caramel sauce.

So, this was an amazing dinner. Black Barn is a great place and I will go back for sure. You should too!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Black Barn - 19 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010