I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/23

10th Street Pasta & Pizza in Hoboken, NJ

It’s been a while we wanted to try 10th Street Pasta & Pizza and we finally made it. Why did we want to try it? Many people say that it is the best pizza ever. So, on a Saturday evening, we decided to show up there, early because this place is always packed. It was crowded for sure, but we were able to be seated outside, even if the weather was still hot. This was not our best choice considering that the pizza itself was piping hot! Anyway, we decided to try their square classic….

It took a bit of time for the pizza to come, but I admit that, when it came, it looked very appetizing, having lots of cheese on top, and being caramelized all over the edges. As it was very hot, I proceeded to cut a slice with a knife, but, it was a bit difficult. So I switched to a classic eating with my hands but had to go slowly as it was burning my palate. I admit that the sauce was very good, so, for me, the whole top was great, but not the crust that was both hard and chewy. I was a bit disappointed and definitely prefer Johnny Pepperoni close by for a square pizza or even Uptown Pizza and their Sicilian. 10th street has a lot of diners there, so it could be that our pizza was a bit over cooked. Who knows. So, I’ll wait a bit and might go for a revisit.

Enjoy (…)!

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10th Street Pasta & Pizza - 1000 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/23

Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

It is always sad to see a restaurant closing, but also exciting when another is opening. So, yes, I was excited to visit Lemongrass, a Vietnamese restaurant that replaced City Lobster who was removed from these premises because of unpaid rent. At Lemongrass, you order at the counter and have a choice between summer rolls, rice plates, vermicelli plates, banh mi and Pho. I tried the first four, ditching the Pho for a cooler season!

The banh mi was for me the best of the dishes: the soft but slightly crispy baguette was hiding a delicious pickled carrot and radish mix that is also served in the rice and vermicelli plates giving a nice acidity, cucumber, jalapeño (just a few), lots of cilantro and some Vietnamese ham and a pork patty, topped with mayonnaise. Flavorful and comforting, the pork can be replaced by tofu, chicken or marinated flank steak. I am not sure i would try the marinated flank steak banh mi as I had it in the rice plate and thought that it was too tough.

Marinated flank steak at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

The vermicelli plate is good, coming with very similar items as the banh mi: cucumber, jalapeño, pickled carrot and radish mix, cilantro and lettuce, accompanied by Vietnamese dressing, with either tofu, chicken or marinated flank steak.

Vermicelli plate with tofu at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

A lighter option is their summer rolls: it is a serving of three and you can mix and match shrimp, pork or tofu that is great so you do not get just one protein. Served with a nice peanut sauce, they were good, although missing a bit of flavor and that crunch that Bon Banh, further downtown hoboken has.

Summer rolls at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Shrimp summer roll at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Tofu summer roll at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Last are the beverages. They propose bubble tea but, every time we went, they did not have any bubble (tapioca pearls). Not that I mind because my primary objective is to get a Thai tea, but they may want to just ditch the concept if they cannot offer it.

Thai iced tea at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, I am mixed. Lemongrass has good options and less good ones, with a menu that, except the banh mi, I will not crave. However, I am waiting for the colder days to try their Pho as, with Phonomenon now closed, they are the only one offering this Vietnamese soup in Hoboken.

Enjoy (…)!

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Lemongrass - 732 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/23

Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

Left Bank Burger Bar is, as its name indicates, a burger joint in Jersey City, few steps from the Grove Street path station that serves some incredible burgers. We were there few times and have never been disappointed, the burgers being delicious and creative. The only negative would be the fact that they do not serve milk shakes, that I love with a good burger, but that’s…

We only went for lunch so I do not know what the atmosphere would be in the evening, but, at noon, it is fairly quiet, with some good music playing in the background, not too loud fortunately!

They have appetizers, like fried pickles that were good, crispy and not soggy or greasy, but we mostly went straight to their burgers. Jodi built her own, made with black beans, that I admit was a pretty good patty, tasty and not mushy like some would serve. She had it with or without bun, with a bunch of toppings you can pick (cheese, pickles, etc).

Fried pickles at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

Veggie burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

On my side, I tried few of their creations. The first one was their M.A.C Daddy, their version of Mac and cheese burger with bacon. Decadent, it was very comforting. When you bit in it, you get the crunchiness of the fried Mac and cheese, the smokiness of the bacon and the delicious taste of their beef patty that was juicy and perfectly cooked medium.

Mac Daddy burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

The second one of their Meltdown, that is a grilled cheese burger. Made with challah bread, grilled onion and cheese, the beef patty was so juicy that I needed extra napkins…It was quite good, even if I thought that the grilled cheese portion would be two grilled cheeses with a patty in the middle, that would truly be a hangover cure.

Grilled cheese burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

I also wanted to try their fried chicken sandwich, the hot honey chicken as they call it, made with pickles, bacon, spicy slaw and hot honey. This was a very good fried chicken sandwich, sweet and savory, with some crunch from the pickles and bacon, the former giving a nice acidity, and the latter some smokiness to a good version of what is a must have on restaurant menus nowadays. However, I thought it would be spicier and it was not.

Fried chicken sandwich at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

For sides, I prefer their onion rings over their fries, that you can definitely tell are frozen.

Onion rings at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

French fries at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

They have limited desserts, although, after a burger you may prefer a walk…However, the deep fried honey bun is a must have: crispy on the outside that tasted a bit like funnel cake, delightfully soft on the inside, the sweetness of the honey balanced by the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. This decadent dessert is proof that anything can be fried.

Deep fried honey bun at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

There is so much more to discover at Left Bank: the burgers there are really good and they have exciting creations. But for people more classic, or not, you can build your own, that can make each visit different.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Left Bank - 194 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/23

9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

We were walking in Hell’s Kitchen, looking for a place for brunch, when we stumbled upon this small restaurant, tucked between two busy places. The menu being enticing, we decided to try it. This is how we discovered 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery. Opened at the end of 2016, this place serves a wide array of Mediterranean dishes: pizza, pasta, seafood, etc. With the option to order from their brunch menu that had classics like waffles or eggs Benedict elevated with lobster, or regular menu.

I started by ordering a pear Bellini, this fruit being too often ignored but being delicious when ripe in drinks, salads or eaten as a snack. The Bellini was good but I could barely taste the pear.

Pear bellini at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

We then ordered a bunch of plates, some from their tapas section. Their pan seared halloumi was superb, topped with honeycomb and orange marmalade. That is a dish I would order each time I would be there.

Pan seared halloumi at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Then was their Mediterranean mussels, clams and merguez, a lamb sausage that can have a nice kick. Sautéed with fresh tomatoes and cilantro, this was delicious, a twist on surf and turf in a way that worked, the lamb sausage giving an even bolder taste to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and I could not stop dipping bread into that fantastic sauce.

Mussels, clams and merguez at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Next was mortadella with walnuts and bread. I love the sweet and buttery taste of this thin cured pork salami.

Mortadella at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Besides the halloumi, Jodi and I shared the tricolore salad that was made with arugula, endive, radicchio, toasted almond and lots of goat cheese.

Tricolore salad at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Of course we could not leave without dessert and opted for their tres leches flan that was made with whole, evaporated and condensed milk. Nicely made and not too sweet thanks to the whole and evaporated milk that lowered the sweetness of the condensed milk, it was a great way to end the meal.

Tres leches flan at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

I was quite pleased with our meal at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery. This place is a hidden gem in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen and I cannot wait to go back there for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery - 856 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/23

Khe-Yo in Tribeca

It’s been a while since we went to Khe-Yo, the restaurant of Chef Marc Forgione located in Tribeca. The first and last time we went there, we had great food, but the music was so loud that we just wanted to eat quickly and leave. So, we decided to go back for lunch, as I was off during a weekday and sat outside, enjoying the nice weather…and the quiet.

We started our meal with some drinks and both got their lychee soda that was house made with lychee puree and sparking water. I loved it: refreshing, I love lychee and wish it was more served in restaurants.

Then we shared several vegetarian dishes. The first one was their sticky rice and sauces. Think about it like it is bread with olive oil or butter. I love the taste and texture of this glutinous rice, dipped or smothered by sauces. The eggplant sauce was like a spread, delicious and reminding me of a Mediterranean spread in fact. The bang bang sauce was very spicy, but so good, I went back to it, even if my mouth was on fire.

Sticky rice and sauces at Khe-Yo in Tribeca

The second appetizer was their crispy Brussels sprouts, served with a chili caramel sauce that gave a nice sweetness and decadence to the crispy vegetables. Superb!

Crispy brussels sprouts at Khe-Yo in Tribeca

We then decided to share their mushroom banh mi. This was delicious: the bread was slighly crispy and the hen of the woods had that nice bite and earthiness, complemented well by the acidity of the pickled carrots and the slight spiciness of the sriracha mayo. A must have and I am sure that their non-vegetarian ones are as exquisite.

We did not have dessert as we had other plans and left satisfied after an exciting and flavorful meal. Dinner might not be my thing because of the noise level, but I would certainly go back to Khe-Yo for lunch.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Khe-Yo - 157 Duane St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/23

Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Dim Sum Palace is not unknown to me, having dined at this place multiple times, trying some of their small fried or steamed dishes. It is always exciting to go there, marking with a pen on their menu your selection, sometimes probably going overboard as you want to try plenty of things, similar to what would happen in a tapas restaurant.

Menu at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

We always order classics like the scallion pancakes that are crispy and slightly greasy, or the vegetable spring roll that are perfectly made and usually burn your mouth and fingers if you grab them right away. The one I am always looking forward to eat is the crystal shrimp dumplings that are superb: the sticky shell has the perfect thickness and the shrimp is the star of the dish. Another delicious dim sum is their shredded roasted duck that is the right dish if, like me you love duck. Jodi tried their soy bean dumplings that were a good vegetarian option, different from the classic veggie dumpling.

Scallion pancakes at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Vegetable spring rolls at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Soy beans dumplings at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Shredded roasted duck at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

I also tried their salt and pepper jumbo shrimp that were succulent, the large shrimp being perfectly cooked.

Salt and pepper shrimp at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Of course we could not leave without dessert and a must have is their sweet egg yolk bun. I was so excited that I completely forgot to take a photo, instead taking a video that shows the yummy center of these fluffy buns that is delightfully sweet and creamy. A must have, even if you might burn your fingers when eating them…

Dim Sum Palace is a great place that is expanding throughout New York. It is nice to have such delicious Dim Sum restaurant outside of Chinatown that serves a fairly large menu, including other types of dishes if you are not into dumplings.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Dim Sum Palace - 334 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/23

Il Gradino on the Upper East Side

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

Have you ever been to a restaurant and, after seeing their menu, wish that you could order all of it? Or if one single ingredient could be changed, you would order that dish? It happened to me multiple times. But that problem is resolved at Il Gradino, “the step” in English, an Italian restaurant located on the Upper East Side that opened in May 2022. There, owner Diego Argudo, a veteran of the restaurant industry, decided to implement the concept of piacere (pleasure, enjoyment in Italian) that is interpreted that as “preparing the dishes your way”. Diego explained to me that he want to people to feel welcome and at home, and the restaurant is ready to accommodate any request that would be prepared with products sourced daily, everything being made there, from the pasta to the dessert. There is no eggplant parmesan on the menu but you would love to eat that today? Not a problem. But he is pushing the concept even further: there are several appetizers or pasta you would like to try? Again, not a problem: they will serve you smaller portion of each, making it a sampler that I often regret is not on a menu. The menu on their website is small compared to what you can get at Il Gradino, because on top of that, they have many specials. Listening to the waiter was a bit overwhelming as they had so much to offer, each special being described precisely and made me thinking that I should have worn stretch pants for the occasion! Here is what we had:

For cocktails, Jodi had a virgin mojito, while I settled for an espresso martini. I admit that I would have liked a more Italian cocktail like an Aperol Spritz, but they apparently did not have any. We ate some bread that came with some antipasti, the star being the zucchini that was cooked with garlic (I wish I had the recipe and no, there was the right amount of garlic), as well as the pieces of parmesan cheese that is definitely a cheese that should not be ignored and is more than just something that goes on pasta.

Espresso martini at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Then, we decided to have a sampler of appetizers, but the owner, treated us with full size dishes! the first one was crispy artichokes, a special, that were not fried but cooked in their oven and served with a tomato and bean salad. This is the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why artichoke is not that popular (I used to eat lots of artichokes when I was a kid in France, cooked and raw, depending of the dish). Another special was the zucchini flower beignets that were also stuffed with prosciutto: I loved it! It has been so long since I had zucchini flower beignets, the last time being in Nice, South of France, a city known for it, to the point that people selling them on the farmers’market yell at tourists who cannot resist taking a photo of these blossoms. Next was calamari. So, this is where I had a choice on how it would be made and I decided to have them grilled. Calamari is difficult to prepare because if you do not do it well, it can be rubbery. Not at Il Gradino: there, it was superb, simple, with just a drizzle of garlic sauce. The last appetizer I tried was their mussels and clams in marinara sauce or “cozze e vongole Posillipo”, a must have if you like shellfish, with a marinara sauce that had a robust flavor that made me want to dip bread in it (I stopped because of what was coming).

Crispy artichokes at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Zucchini flower beignets at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Grilled calamari at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Mussels and clams at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

For the entrees, we decided to sample their pasta, not imagining the quantity of food we would get in quite large plates that seem more appropriate in a family style restaurant. Jodi went with two specials: linguine with mushrooms that were made with three kinds: porcini, shiitake and portobello and cooked with tomato and asparagus. Good and comforting, her favorite was her second choice: mushroom ravioli with cream. The ravioli were fantastic: with enough filling inside, the shell was thin, the cream not too heavy, with just the right amount of truffle, so the mushrooms remained the center of the dish.

Mushroom pasta and ravioli at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Mushroom ravioli at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for my classic linguine alle vongole with white sauce, but also wanted to try their bucatini all’Amatriciana where these thick pasta are smothered with a mix of pork and a robust tomato sauce. and finally one more dish, the third was their linguini fruit di mare that was made with mussels, calamari, shrimp, scallop, clams in a red sauce. In all the dishes, the house made pasta were perfectly cooked al dente. My favorite was the vongole with its delicious white wine sauce. The frutti di mare, with a generous portion of seafood was quite good, at the exception of the scallop that I did not like, maybe because of the way they cooked it. As far as the All’Amatriciana, I was close to digging further into that succulent dish, but I remembered that I wanted to try dessert.

Linguini alle vongole at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Linguini frutti di mare at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Bucatini all’amatriciana at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

And so, we did try dessert, although we started to get full. Their cannoli was quite good, but my favorite was the tiramisu that was well balanced between the coffee soaked lady fingers and the mascarpone cream. They also brought us some biscotti that I ate with my espresso, thinking about my aunt Claudine who is the queen of biscotti in my family.

Needless to say that we needed a walk after that feast at Il Gradino: this place is truly a hidden gem that I would definitely recommend to people who are looking for a true Italian experience and love Italian cuisine. The piacere concept is quite unique and a good way to discover dishes from all the regions of Italy.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Il Gradino - 808 Lexington Ave #2, New York, NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/23

L'Appart, a unique French experience in NYC, NY

Short for l’appartment, L’Appart is a hidden restaurant located in The District, a French marketplace located few steps from the World Trade Center. We discovered this place few years ago and could not wait to go back for our anniversary. With 28 seats and an open kitchen overlooking the spacious dining room, this place proposes a unique experience where the term hospitality meets its true meaning: from the moment you enter to the moment you dine, you not only feel welcome, you also feel special.

Chef de cuisine Antoine Boulay and Chef Anthony Mateu at L’Appart in NYC, NY

There, Chef de cuisine Antoine Boulay crafted a seasonal menu with a 9 course tasting that changes on a regular basis. Jodi, being vegetarian, did not feel left out and I should mention that they charged a lower price for her meal as proteins like squab, salmon or caviar were not served. We went to many nice restaurants and it is not often that this happens unfortunately.

We started off our meal with a cocktail. Jodi got a virgin martini that was refreshing, while I had some chartreuse, having seen on the menu that they use this sublime liquor for their dessert. Well, I did not imagine that they would serve me a large quantity of the yellow nectar, that lasted my entire meal, sipping it slowly to enjoy its aroma and herbal flavor.

We then started with a snack that was an english pea soup served over a brunoise of smoked salmon and topped with Calvin pea tendrils and mint. Jodi got the same without the salmon.

English pea soup and smoked salmon at L’Appart in NYC, NY

The canapés was an interesting dish as one of the components was their interpretation of a classic that we used to eat in my house: radis-beurre, where you simply put butter on radishes (as much butter as you want). The presentation was outstanding as it looked like their put the radishes in dirt that was in fact burnt bread. It was accompanied, for me, by a rillette of confit tuna and their version of carbonara pasta composed of a paccheri pasta that has been fried and puffed, topped with pecorino Romano cream and chopped guanciale. Jodi got the same but meatless.

This was followed by the caviar course that was their take on a tartare, but with the egg replaced by caviar from Petrossian. The veal was imported from the Limousin region in France, finely diced and topped with Migmag olive oil, a Spanish oil with limited production, and topped with the caviar and some sourdough toast. Instead of veal, Jodi got cucumber and no caviar. This dish was prepared table side, the maître D giving us lots of information about the origin off the products among other things.

So, this was before the appetizer, believe it or not! The first appetizer was like a risotto, but where there would be rice, has been replaced by squid. Colorful, the squid was cooked in ink so it had this black color that constrasted with the red of the piquillo pepper coulis and the green of the parsley coulis. Jodi’s dish was made with cauliflower, decorated with the same coulis.

The next dish was just added on the menu and was one of our favorites: it was a porcini mushroom tart that had foie gras in its non-vegetarian version. This was like an explosion of flavors, nicely layered but working well together, the mushroom giving some earthiness to the dish and the foie gras, some luxurious richness.

Porcini mushroom tart at L’Appart in NYC, NY

At that point, they brought us some homemade bread (sourdough and olive) and butter that was so creamy that I could not stop eating it. The lavender butter was surprising, with the lavender not too overpowering, but my favorite was the piment d’espelette, a French pepper from the Basque region in France.

Piment d’espelette at L’Appart in NYC, NY

After that was a scallop from the bay of Hokkaido in Japan that was pan seared, and served with a grilled zucchini and an aioli that was not made with eggs, but with potatoes as, as per the chef, this was the way it was originally made. Interesting indeed, far from tasting like mayo but quite good. The scallop was perfectly seared and the zucchini delicious with or without the aioli. Jodi had a vegetarian version of it, where the scallop was replaced by eggplant.

Eggplant and zucchini at L’Appart in NYC, NY

Next was a squab, served with Swiss char and black truffle, lots of it. This was superb: the squab was perfectly roasted, not dry, with a slightly crispy skin. Even with all that truffle, this was the star of the dish, replaced for Jodi by English peas that added a nice color and bite.

Of course, you cannot have a French meal without cheese, so the country bread and the Kalamata olive bread was the perfect accompaniment for the goat cheese from Vermont that they served us with honey and black truffle.

To clean our palate, we had a pre-dessert made with apricot three ways: sorbet, mousse and poached. Refreshing and delicious.

Apricot pre-dessert at L’Appart in NYC, NY

Then was the dessert, a meringue with rhubarb and chartreuse. Fantastic as delicate and not too sweet, with a beautiful presentation.

As we thought we were done, they brought us some chocolate macarons in a nice setting for our anniversary: a card with the menu and a photo that they took earlier supposedly as a tradition. And then, with the bill presented in their guest book, where we left a message, came some chocolate covered corn flakes and coconut called « rose des sables » because of their shape. This was a nice touch, but I admit that I was full at that point!

I am still a fan of L’Appart: this is a true hidden gem that for me deserves more accolades from the industry and should get back its Michelin star if not have two. Everything there, from the staff, the atmosphere and the food, make it an incredible gastronomic voyage to France, even if the dishes are not classic but reinvented.

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’Appart - 225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/23

David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

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

Chef David Burke is not unknown to me as I ate in many of his restaurants in the city and saw him few times on TV in shows like Top Chef. So, when I was invited to try David Burke Tavern, I was really excited because I knew this would full of surprises. As we arrived, we went to the upstairs dining room and sat next to a penguin, not a real one of course: a stuffed animal. You might have heard that, during Covid, to ensure that patrons would respect social distancing, Chef Burke bought a bunch of stuffed animals that he sat at tables. The penguins were kept after that, sitting on each side of the cozy dining room. Then, we saw that plates were decorated with a strange logo that is both a nod to the New Yorker dressing up to go to town and one of the famous dishes from the Chef: lobster scrambled eggs with caviar served in an Ostrich egg.

David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

We started off our meal with cocktails: espresso martini for me and a Moroccan mojito for Jodi that was sans-alcohol, made with lemon verbena syrup, lime juice, club soda, mint and sage leaves. It was nice to see a nice selection of mocktails next to an interesting list of cocktails.

Moroccan mojito at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

There was no vegetarian appetizer that was a bit disappointing and the only option for Jodi would have been to get a salad, but it would have replaced her main dish selection. So, I was the only one with appetizers and decided to get the clothesline bacon, that is a popular dish that was all over social media few years ago where strips of bacon are hung on a clothesline, torched in the kitchen or at the table (ours was torched in the kitchen), so it releases fat onto the pickles that are underneath. You then cut the thick slices of bacon with a scissor, adding a bit of playfulness to the dish. It was good, although a bit chewy, making me think a bit about a jerky. This is definitely a dish perfect to share.

Clothesline bacon at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

The second appetizer was the crab cake pretzel raft. What a wonderful dish: the presentation is beautiful and it was delicious, the pretzel adding a bite to it as well as as a slight saltiness, with an amazing old bay tomato jam and chipotle aioli that still let the crab shine. A must have.

Crab cake pretzel raft at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Then came the entrees. Jodi went for their wild mushroom ravioli that was topped with parmesan, sage, walnuts, pomegranate and a chocolate balsamic. The ravioli was perfectly made, the shell having a perfect thickness, and the whole dish having this sweet and savory taste, each ingredient complementing each other rather than fighting against each other, the mushroom filling giving a nice earthiness to the dish and the pomegranate some bite.

Wild mushrooms ravioli at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Wild mushroom ravioli at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

On my side, I decided to try their rack of lamb. First of all, this was a large dish, with a generous portion of lamb that was perfectly cooked medium as ordered, juicy and deliciously fatty. When I saw the thickness of each piece, I understood the message they sent when bringing the knife that looked like a small meat cleaver! It was served with white beans and Swiss char, making it a very comforting dish. I did not regret my choice for sure, even if I am not a big fan of Swiss char. With it, I wanted to try their whipped potato with garlic confit that nice and light, but not as decadent as I thought, thinking that there would be some garlic confit that I adore on top of it.

Rack of lamb at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Whipped potato at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

The whimsical lollipop tree dessert is a delightful creation that brings back childhood memories. Topped with a cotton candy that is made a la minute, it is composed of various types of lollipop cakes that you can cover with the cotton candy or with the bubble gum whipped cream that was amazing.

Lollipop tree at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

This was a great way to finish a delicious meal. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed when dining at one of David Burke’s restaurant: the food there is creative and fun, without sacrificing the quality of the products.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

David Bruke Tavern - 135 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/23

Boulangerie Le Fournil in NYC, NY

This post is a bit overdue and describes our experience as we were walking around New York and noticed Le Fournil, a French bakery that I could not resist trying. The experience started well, with a wonderful and appetizing smell filling our nose as we entered the place. We decided to get three of their baked goods: a chocolate croissant (pain au chocolat), a raisin swirl (pain aux raisins) and a sugar tart (tarte au sucre) that always makes me think about my father who loves it. We took it home and, after a little photo shoot, tried all of them. The only one we liked was the tarte au sucre that was pretty good, but we could not finish the chocolate croissant (that looked tiny by the way) or the pain aux raisins as they both had a weird taste, as if the butter used was paste.

That was disappointing as I was really looking forward to it. So, Le Fournil would not be my go to place for good French bakes for sure.

Enjoy (…)!

Le Fournil - 115 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/23

Lokal in Jersey City

It’s been a while since I have been to Lokal in Jersey City. Not that the food is not good, but there is so much to explore in Hoboken, Jersey City and New York that time passed before going back there. So, when I got an invite to try their new menu, I was thinking that it would be a good opportunity for a revisit. I did not regret it: the food at Lokal is not just exciting, it is overall good in a relaxed atmosphere, not too noisy (well, it will also depend on the neighboring tables of course), with a breathtaking view of the city.

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

We started our meal by ordering some cocktails / mocktails. Jodi had a lychee mojito mocktail that was refreshing and quite original, lychee not being a fruit that is often used for cocktails, while I went for an espresso martini that was fortunately not served in a martini glass (I hate these glasses).

Lychee mojito mocktail at Lokal in Jersey City

Espresso martini at Lokal in Jersey City

The difficult part with their menu is that they have so many mouth watering plates to share that you would want to order all of them! We decided to share their charred cauliflower that were cooked with vadouvan spices that is an Indian blend typically made with onion, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and fenugreek. I liked the rustic presentation and it was quite good, prompting me to think about how I used to hate cooked cauliflower when I was a kid… The second appetizer was their goat cheese croquettes that were made with goat cheese of course, potato and chickpea, laid on purple mustard that also served as a way for these little balls to stay in place on the plate. The croquettes were superb: crispy, not greasy, with a generous amount of cheese in it. I could have eaten another serving for sure.

Charred cauliflower at Lokal in Jersey City

Goat cheese croquettes at Lokal in Jersey City

For her main, Jodi got their margarita flatbread that was made with blistered cherry tomatoes, burrata and basil. I admit that it was ok for me, finding the crust to be a bit bland. Bland is not how I would describe my dish though! I got their rack of lamb that was crusted with goat cheese (again! Goat cheese must be on sale!), giving a mediterranean feel to the dish. This dish was delicious: the perfectly cooked lamb was served with haricots verts and harisa roasted potatoes that were not spicy despite being cooked with harisa. I definitely recommend this dish if you like lamb.

Margarita flatbread at Lokal in Jersey City

Of course, we could not miss dessert. Their tiramisu was a bit of a let down, being a bit watery, that is a shame because I can still remember the tiramisu they used to serve that was very good. But the molten chocolate cake was superb: gooey in the center, it was very chocolatey, the vanilla ice cream complementing perfectly the richness of the chocolate. Another must have.

Chocolate molten cake at Lokal in Jersey City

Overall the food at Lokal was very good and exciting. It is worth the trip to Newport, knowing that it is 10 to 15 min walk along the river from the Newport path train stop.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Lokal - 2nd St Unit 101, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/23

Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

We ended up at Auntie Guan’s Kitchen as we were looking for a place close to the Path train, and passed in front of this place that makes dumplings, quite a few times. Classic menu with spring rolls that were good, crispy, although the ratio shell to filling was in favor of the former, and the Dan Dan noodles not as good as what I had at Hao Noodle or even Cafe China that you could argue serve a bit more elevated Chinese cuisine. Still, it was just ok for me, lacking that spicy flavor that is so delicious that, although your mouth is on fire, makes you go back to it. We also tried their veggie dumplings that were too thick and bland, as well as their bean sprout, scrambled eggs and wood ear mushrooms that you wrap in a thin pancake. That was just ok, also a bit bland.

Vegetable spring rolls at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Dan dan noodles at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms and scrambled eggs at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Pancake at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Veggie dumplings at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

So, overall, the meal at Auntie Guan’s was very disappointing. At least we tried…

Enjoy (…)!

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Auntie Guan’s Kitchen -108 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/23

Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

A few months ago, Charritos decided to redefined themselves as a Taqueria, changing totally their menu, keeping only their guacamole that used to be one of the best. Used to because the one they serve today, with a generous amount of salsa and tortilla chips is not as good, a bit soupy, as if their used a blender to make it, with not enough chunks of avocado in it.

Guacamole and salsa at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

I love their tacos though and truly appreciate that they serve them by the unit, so you can make your own combination. The pescado Ensenada that is their Baja style crispy fish is one of my favorite, even if they put too much cabbage on top, the fish being flakey and nicely crispy. Or their Achiote marinated shrimp that are also delicious, quite tasty. On the meat side, I love their carne asada that is made with grilled marinated strip steak, or their birria that is made with brisket, beef rib and cheese, that you will dip is a delicious meat juice, before bitting in a crunchy tortilla. Their brisket is quite good and if you do not want it like that, you can also opt for the taco Suadero that is solely made with slow cooked brisket.

Pescado ensenada at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

Achiote marinated shrimp at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

Birria taco at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

Taco shader at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

Carne asada taco at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

If you are vegetarian, you can try their butternut squash and beans, but it is just ok, missing beans in fact, or the cheese enchilada that could be made a bit more exciting…The enchilada vegetariana is however quite tasty.

Enchilada vegetariana at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

Butternut squash taco at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

A good idea they had is to serve some with an egg, like a Kati roll or breakfast burrito, but in a smaller package, the Los de Huevo, the one with chorizo being packed in flavor.

Taco de huevo con chorizo at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

More classic is their mole that is made with chocolate: also served in small size (a taco with it is perfect), their chicken enchilada is superb, the sauce being rich and bold.

Chicken enchilada with mole at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

The only time we made it to dessert, we were hoping to have a tres leches cake or some churros, but, unfortunately, they only had a flan that was still a good way to end the meal.

Flan at Charritos Taqueria in Hoboken, NJ

So, I do not regret that Charritos reinvented itself: I like the food there and the fact that every time you can mix and match the tacos you want to eat without having to eat three or four of the same. This is a great place that I recommend, even if my favorite remains Tacoria that is located several blocks from there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Charritos Taqueria - 518 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/23 I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/23

Rubirosa in NYC,NY

I discovered Rubirosa many years ago but never posted about it. I cannot remember why. I also do not know why it took us that long to go back, this place being fantastic. Most of the people go for their pizza that is superb, with its crispy thin crust. What is great is that, if you hesitate a bit, you can pick two different pizza flavors, each going in half a pie. The classic, that is simply made with tomato and mozzarella is good, but the best for me is the Tie Dye that is made with vodka sauce, tomato, pesto and mozzarella. The first bite is divine: you get the crispness of the thin crust, followed by and explosion of flavor from the sauces that dance in your mouth in harmony, the pesto not being overpowering, finished with hints of cheese. It is very hard to stop.

The Tie Dye and classic pizza at Rubirosa in NYC,NY

But they do not just have pizza: for appetizer, I tried their meatballs that are huge, made with beef, pork and veal, smothered by a robust tomato sauce that seems to be the same as the one used in the Grandma’s braciole that was amazing. In fact, I never had braciole before and did not know what it was until I watched The Sopranos.

Grandma’s braciole at Rubirosa in NYC,NY

They also have eggplant parmigiano that you can have as an antipasti or a main, my favorite being the latter that is served with delicious pasta.

Eggplant parmigiana at Rubirosa in NYC,NY

Rubirosa is a great place that I guess I truly rediscovered. The food there is succulent, and know that the appetizers as large portions, perfect to share. We never got dessert there because too full after such feasts and with all this exquisite food, I am not sure I will ever be able to!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Rubirosa-235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/23 I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/23

Whipped Urban Dessert Lab on the Lower East Side

We wanted to try Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, a vegan ice cream shop located on the Lower East Side and did not expect to see a long line in front of it. We waited a bit and then weere able to enter the shop that was not that big, making our way to the front where we could order on a screen, a system I always prefer when not sure what to get…

At Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, you have to pick:

The base ice cream that can be Sweet Creme with a touch of vanilla, Chocolate or The Whipped Twist (chocolate & sweet creme);
The sauces: chocolate, peanut butter, coffee, strawberry, mint chocolate and apple;
Toppings: pretzels, waffle cone pieces, chocolate cookie crumble, strawberry crumble, cinnamon spice crumble, salted pecan, rainbow sprinkles, or sugar cone pieces.

When you get sauces and toppings, they first put some of the toppings in the bottom of the cup and then top it with the soft serve ice cream that they push down, giving it a dome shape. They then add some toppings all over and make a well with their finger where they will put some sauce. If you chose a second sauce, they will add it on top, creating a nice pattern.

On my side, I went for the whipped twist with salted pecan, chocolate sauce and peanut sauce. Jodi got the sweet cream with rainbow sprinkles , waffle cone pieces and chocolate sauce. Overall it was ok: you can tell that this is not regular ice cream as it is a bit watery, and, the toppings in the bottom are not that great as you get a mouthful that does not mix too much with the ice cream.

Overall, I thought that it was nice to try, with the mix and match being fun, but it would not be my go to place for ice cream unless I was going with someone vegan.

Enjoy (…)!

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Whipped Urban Dessert Lab - 95 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/23 I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/23

Porterhouse in NYC, NY

For few years now, for my birthday, we have been going to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle for dinner. I have never been disappointed by this place, always going for the same steak: the chili rubbed boneless ribeye. Always perfectly cooked medium rare, very tender, juicy, the chili rub enhancing the flavor of my favorite cut.

Chili rubbed ribeye at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Their best side is their crispy hash browns that are out of this world, but one should also not miss their onion rings that are delightfully crispy on the outside, the onion being cooked all the way through.

Crispy hash brown at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

But do not think that I forgot the appetizer: I hesitated between their crab cake and their bone marrow and settled for the latter that I love to get in a steakhouse, always regretting not to see it more often on a menu. Their roasted bone marrow is served with a peppercorn sauce, an herb salad and some country bread that is toasted, perfect for dipping into the fatty juices of this delicious dish.

Roasted bone marrow at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

If you are vegetarian, they have a few dishes that Jodi ordered like the field greens salad or the burrata and tomato salad.

Field green salad at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Porterhouse NYC is not just all about the great steak dining experience. They also offer a diverse list of classic and contemporary cocktails , that complement their impressive dishes, and I was pleased to see one with yellow Chartreuse, a French liquor made by monks for centuries that contains 130 different herbs. This cocktail was The New Yorker, made also with Whistle Pig whiskey and Campari. If you do not drink any alcohol, they have few zero proof cocktails like the pineapple cobbler, made with fresh pineapple, strawberry, citrus and soda.

The New Yorker cocktail at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Pineapple cobbler at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Of course we could not leave without trying their dessert and we decided to order their coconut cake that Jodi loves. I am not a huge fan of coconut cake, but I admit that this one is incredible. The cake was a beautiful shade of pale white, topped with sweet, creamy frosting and a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes. Not too sweet, the sponge is very moist, with every bite being a treat.

Porterhouse remains one of my favorite steakhouses in New York, Chef Michael Lomonaco proposing succulent dishes that I definitely crave. So, yes, I’ll be back, for sure for my birthday that is now like a tradition!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Porterhouse - 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/23 I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/23

Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Located where Talde the eponymous restaurant of the Top Chef alum used to be, Hudson Hound opened in 2021 near the Grove street stop of the Path train. This outpost of this NYC Irish-American restaurant serves delicious comfort food with classics like the fish and chips or the full Irish breakfast that is composed of two eggs (you make them your way, so I chose sunny side up), Irish bacon (rashers), Irish sausage (bangers), roasted half tomato with herbed breadcrumbs, sautéed mushrooms, black & white pudding, boxty potato cake, baked beans, and a slice of house made Irish soda bread. This complete breakfast is a great deal for $22 and you can even get its vegetarian version if you do not eat or do not want to eat meat, that is replaced by a veggie burger that you can also get as a main dish. They also have an avocado toast, but I admit that it was a bit disappointing, the avocado being as if put in a blender, missing a bit of texture.

Fish and chips at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Full Irish breakfast at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Veggie urger at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Veggie burger at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Avocado toast at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Dessert is not to be missed, all of them being made in house. Their sticky toffee pudding, served warm with vanilla ice cream is superb, so is the warm apple crisp.

Sticky toffee pudding at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

Warm apple crisp at Hudson Hound in Jersey City

I like Hudson Hound for bunch: probably quieter than dinner, the food is quite good and very comforting, in a relaxed atmosphere. Great spot for a simple, casual meal.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hudson Hound - 8 Erie St A, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/23 I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/23

Chicken Factory - Mochi Tori in Hoboken, NJ

It seems that mochi donuts are a thing, with plenty of spots opening, serving this delicious combination between an American doughnut and Japanese mochi that originated in Hawaii in 1992. The Chicken Factory that serves fantastic Korean fried chicken is now serving mochi donuts. Shaped with eight balls, these deep fried donuts have a slightly crispy outside and are chewy on the inside. Like classic doughnuts, they can be proposed in many ways: the classic with confectioner’s sugar on top, churros, coffee, cookies and cream, chocolate with coconut, etc.

Classic, cookies and cream, chocolate and coconut at Chicken Factory - Mochi Tori in Hoboken, NJ

Coffee, birthday cake and cookies and cream at Chicken Factory - Mochi Tori in Hoboken, NJ

These mochi donuts are very addictive and, like for traditional doughnuts, the variations are endless, except maybe that you cannot fill them with any cream as they are not that big, although I would not be surprised that someone will come up with a Boston cream mochi donut one day!

Enjoy (I did)!

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chicken Factory - Mochi Tori - 529 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/23 I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/23

Lexington Candy Shop in NYC, NY

We passed in front of Lexington Candy Shop few times, noticing their windows full of Coca Cola bottles from all over the world. So, it was time to try this close to a century old luncheonette located on the Upper East Side. Small, packed, with still this nostalgic feel, and the rudeness of the service that seems to be a signature, unless you are a regular…

As you sit, you very quickly are asked what you want to order, as if you chose before coming or had the capacity, in one minute, to grasp the menu. Well, at least I ordered my Coca Cola float that is their specialty, the soda being made there with some extract, on which they added a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. That float was delicious! I only had a root beer float in the past, but I admit that I prefer with coke, even as the ice cream melts, mixing perfectly with the soda, much better than a Vanilla Coke in my opinion.

Coca Cola float at Lexington Candy Shop in NYC, NY

The menu has many classic luncheonette items like eggs or pancakes, but we settled for sandwiches. Jodi had a Swiss, lettuce and tomato sandwich on whole wheat bread (around $15 that is pricey for what it was), while I ordered the Lexington Special, a double decker composed of roast beef, bacon, melted American cheese, fried egg, with butter and Russian dressing ($21.95). I could pick the bread and decided to go with rye. Decadent, this was like a heart attack on a plate. Packed in flavor, I just wish they put more Russian dressing as the roast beef was a bit dry, but, fortunately, the slighly runny egg helped a bit. With it, we decided to get some onion rings that were decent, slightly crispy with the onion being cooked all the way through.

The Lexington Special sandwich at Lexington Candy Shop in NYC, NY

Swiss and tomato sandwich at Lexington Candy Shop in NYC, NY

Onion rings at Lexington Candy Shop in NYC, NY

I liked my lunch that was very comforting and, although a bit pricey and despite the rudeness of the staff, I would go back just to get the float that was delicious.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Lexington Candy Shop - 1226 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028

I Just Want To Eat! 5/24/23 I Just Want To Eat! 5/24/23

Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I was really looking forward to trying the new location on broadway of Wolfgang Steakhouse, but, our dinner did not go as expected. It started well though. Entering the place, I saw some bottles of whisky against the wall, not knowing at that point that they have a very large selection of this delicious liquor, my choice that day being a glass of Kentucky Owl Confiscated.

Kentucky Owl Confiscated at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The crab cake was quite good, and so was the tomato and mozzarella that Jodi got as her main, two classic appetizers.

Crab cake at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Tomato and mozzarella at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

What was a bit disappointing was the steak. I went for a ribeye, ordered medium-rare, but I had to send it twice. The first time, it came well done and the second time rare. The third time was perfect, the steak being tender and juicy with a nice char. But the wait screwed up a bit the meal as the Jodi got the tomato and mozzarella but waited probably 20 minutes for my steak, a long wait even if that dish would not get cold. That was not the case for the onion rings that I ate with a thick slice of bacon while waiting.

Ribeye at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Onion rings at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Slab of bacon at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The manager was really apologetic and offered us the dessert, the chocolate mousse cake that was superb, very chocolatey.

Chocolate mousse cake at Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I admit that, although the food was good, the meal was a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, I would give them another shot.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Wolfgang Steakhouse -1359 Broadway, New York, NY 10018