House Of Que at The American Dream Mall

House Of Que at The American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

We ended up at The American Dream Mall to see AC/DC with the Foo Fighters as the special guest at the Metlife Stadium, looking for a place to eat. The choice was easy: as we arrived, we saw House of Que, a Texas BBQ joint that unfortunately closed its doors in Hoboken. So, I was really looking forward to our meal, although I was desesperatly looking for a meat platter I could enjoy: there was none. You could of course get a bunch of meat, but it was by the pound, with a minimum of half a pound, that would still have been too much and a waste as I would not have been able to take any food home. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed what we had. We started of with their Texas 3 cheese nachos ($16.95), where the tortilla chips were topped with cheese (three kinds, no idea what they were), sour cream, pico de Gallo, black beans and corn salad. Good, deliciously messy, but I wished there was more cheese. Still, we enjoyed it. Jodi got their HOQ salad ($14), that was composed of mixed greens, red onions, carrots, tomatoes, black beans, corn salad and cheddar. On my side, I decided to have two appetizers. Of course, I could not miss the Frito pie ($6.50),served in a bag of Fritos that were covered with a superb smoked brisket chili, and cheese. I also got a delicious pork belly (bring on the belly - $14.95), that was house cured, smoked then grilled with a honey bbq sauce and topped with pickled onions. Smokey and deliciously fatty, it is a must have. We did not have dessert there as we had other plans.

Texas 3 cheese nachos at House Of Que at The American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

HOQ salad at House Of Que at The American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

Pork Belly at House Of Que at The American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

Frito pie at House Of Que at The American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

Overall, it did not disappoint, besides the absence of a meat platter for one person (they have one for 4 people). I just wished this place was still in Hoboken!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

House of Que - American Dream Mall, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073‍ ‍

 

My Trip To France: La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris

La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

A couple of weeks ago, while enjoying a sunny day in Paris, we had lunch at La Terrasse Cent Huit with my nephews Valentin and Raphael. With its large outdoor terrace, elegant setting, and prime location (the name comes from the street number of its address in the 17th arrondissement), it seemed like the perfect place to take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a leisurely meal. The terrace was buzzing with locals and tourists, creating that quintessential Parisian atmosphere we always enjoy. The menu features a mix of French classics and contemporary dishes, making it easy to find something for everyone, including few vegetarian dishes for Jodi. Here is what we had:

For drinks, I went for the Green Ginger (7 Eur), a refreshing mocktail that felt like a good idea after several days of indulging in great food, with more delicious meals still ahead of us, and we decided to go straight to the entrees as we absolutely wanted dessert. Jodi went for their power bowl (17 Eur) that was made of quinoa, cucumber, avocado, edamame, cherry tomatoes, radicchio, pineapple and pomegranate. Colorful, it was perfectly named with so many healthy ingredients that marry well sweet and savory. On my side, I ordered the beef tenderloin or filet de boeuf (34 Eur) that was tender, juicy and perfectly cooked medium rare. It was served with crispy fries and a silky peppercorn sauce.

Green Ginger mocktail at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

Power bowl at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

Filet de boeuf or beef tenderloin at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

Filet de boeuf or beef tenderloin at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

For dessert, they brought in their dessert platter that I could have devoured, but, being reasonable, I only went for the baba au rhum, that was just ok unfortunately, the sponge cake being a bit too dense. I still enjoyed it.

Dessert selection at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

Baba au rhum at La Terrasse Cent Huit in Paris, France

Overall, this was a good meal: good food and great company. Was it the best meal in Paris? No, but if you are in the area, it is worth going there and enjoy a nice long lunch, sitting at the terrace.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

La Terasse Cent Huit - 108 Av. de Villiers, 75017 Paris, France

 

My Trip Tp France - Le Train Bleu: A Belle Époque Palace Inside a Train Station

Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Ask someone for the most beautiful restaurant in Paris and Le Train Bleu will often come up, even though it sits inside the Gare de Lyon. Yes, a train station. And no, we are not talking about a sad sandwich as you wait for your train. To give you a bit of history, the restaurant was designed by architect Marius Toudoire and opened in 1901, in time for the 1900 World's Fair, when Paris was busy building monuments. Toudoire also designed the station's clock tower and grand facade, and the railway company wanted a restaurant that symbolized travel, comfort and luxury. President Émile Loubet inaugurated it under the name Le Buffet de la Gare, which is a pretty modest name for what it is. The name came much later. In 1963, the restaurant was renamed after the famous train, the Blue Train. Like the Orient Express, it was a luxury overnight express leaving from Gare de Lyon, carrying wealthy passengers to the Riviera in search of sunshine. So the restaurant is named after the train that stopped by long before you had your coffee. In 1972 it was classified as a Historic Monument of France, and it was renovated in 2014. Jean Cocteau, Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and Coco Chanel have all been seen there, and Luc Besson used it as a film set in Nikita. When I think that it was almost demolished in 1966, and then fortunately saved by Andre Malraux who was minister of culture at the time. 

Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Just looking at the decor, you tend to forget that you also went for the food. Today, chef Michel Rostang serves an à la carte menu of modernized French classics so mouth-watering that you feel you will miss out anyway, everything looking so good and creative. Here is what we had:

Jodi got the morel mushrooms and vin jaune fricassée with sweet onion cream (29 Eur), that was earthy and savory, showcasing perfectly this delicious mushroom that, because of its shape, captured perfectly the richness of the yellow wine sauce. On my side, I ordered the broth-cooked duck foie gras (35 Eur), that was served with white radish chutney, jellied consommé and a small brioche. I was surprised by the portion that was big, perfect for sharing, and loved it: it was rich, buttery and silky. The only negative is that I would have liked more brioche, and I ate it with some of the bread they gave us, that was anyway good.

Morel mushroom and vin jaune fricassée, sweet onion cream at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Broth-cooked duck foie gras, white radish chutney, jellied consommé at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

For her main, Jodi had the plateau de fromage or cheese platter (19 Eur) that came on a cart with a few selection you could pick from. I do not remember all of them, but there was Brillat-Savarin that is a delicious triple-cream cheese, Saint Nectaire (semi-soft cow's milk cheese) and Fourme d’Ambert (blue cheese), two famous cheeses from the Puy-de-Dôme department. My choice was fairly easy: I went for Chef Rostang’s signature dish, the roast leg of local lamb (47 Eur), that was supposed to be served at the table from the carving trolley, but was not, and was accompanied by the Chef’s potato gratin dauphinois. The lamb was fantastic! Juicy, tender, with a crispy skin and a perfect use of sea salt that enhanced the mildly gamey taste. And that gratin dauphinois! If you never had it, know that it is made of thinly sliced potatoes baked in cream and butter, and topped with cheese, giving the top layer a slightly crunchiness while the inside is melting in your mouth. This dish is simply rich and decadent. A must have.

Cheese plate with Brillat-Savarin, Saint-Nectaire and Fourme d'Ambert at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Michel Rostang roasted leg of lamb at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Potato gratin dauphinois at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

For dessert, I would have normally gone for their baba au rhum that is their signature, where they even leave the bottle of rum on the table so you can add as much as you want, but settled for the fresh strawberries with vanilla cream and basil sorbet (19 Eur) that was beautifully plated and quite refreshing, the basil sorbet being surprisingly good.

Strawberries with vanilla cream and basil sorbet at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Strawberries with vanilla cream and basil sorbet at Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

Overall, we had a great meal at Le Train Bleu: this place never disappoints, from the decor to the food. If you are in Paris and are looking for nice meal, this is definitely a place to try. But know that it is better to have a reservation as it can be very crowded.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Train Bleu - Gare de Lyon, Place Louis Armand, 75012 Paris

 

My trip to France: King Falafel Palace / Le Roi du Falafel in Paris

Front of King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

One may wonder why we went to King Falafel Palace (Le Roi du Falafel in French) instead of a classic French brasserie or restaurant. Well, we wanted to go to Le Marais, a vibrant neighborhood shaped by large waves of Ashkenazi immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century, that changed mid-century as Sephardic Jews from North Africa and the Middle East settled in the area, bringing Mediterranean cooking traditions, one of them being falafel. And also, as Jodi was flexible with restaurants choices during our entire trip to France, and knowing that she loves falafel, I thought this would be a great place to go. As we arrived, and despite the rain and being on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, we saw lots of people outside this place, eating sandwiches standing or lining up to order. Fortunately, they had tables inside and we got seated fairly quickly. The menu was a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with only platters, sandwiches being only offered outside. We started our meal by ordering drinks that were a homemade lemonade for my nephew Valentin, and a mango juice for me. We then each ordered different plates that were served with red and white cabbage, tomato and cucumber salad, fried peppers, fried onions, grilled eggplant, hummus and thina (or tahini), and a fluffy pita. Jodi got the falafel platter (15.50 Eur), Valentin got the shawarma platter (slices of turkey, chicken and lamb roasted on a pit - 17.50 Eur) with a side of merguez that are spicy seasoned beef sausages (5.50 Eur), while I went for the Royale platter (20.50 Eur) that was composed of merguez, kofta and shawarma. We also got fries to share (2.50 Eur). The platters were quite big, with generous portions. And they were delicious! The meat for the shawarma was nicely caramelized, while the merguez were slightly spicy and the falafel crunchy and not dry. This was a delicious meal and I am glad we got a table there because this was worth it. I definitely recommend this place!

Lemonade at King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

Royale platter at King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

Falafel platter at King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

Pita at King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

French fries at King falafel palace / Le Roi du Falafel rue des rosiers Paris, France

Enjoy (we all did)!

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

King of Falafel Palace / Roi du falafel - 26 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris, France

 

My Trip to France: Forget the Eiffel Tower, Let's Talk About the Salmon at Café des Ternes

Café des Ternes in Paris, France

I know: the title of this blog post seems weird, but I have to admit that the salmon dish I had at Café des Ternes in Paris blew me away. We went there for dinner with my nephew Valentin who often goes there and this looked like most of the restaurants we dine in while in Paris: Parisian feel, with a mouth watering menu is how I would describe it. We started our meal with some drinks: Jodi got a mocktail called Le Frenchy (13 Eur), that was composed of litchi, pineapple, and strawberry juice mixed with coconut cream, while I got a glass of Muscat de chez “leccia” ($15). We skipped the appetizers and went straight to the entrees: Jodi got a tomato tart (tarte fine a la tomate - 17 Eur); Valentin the veal Milanese (34 Eur) and that salmon dish I mentioned before for me (29 Eur). You are probably wondering what made this dish so special: for sure, the salmon, served with Jasmin rice, was perfectly cooked, moist and flakey, with a crispy skin, but the best was that miso sauce that was rich and scrumptious, combining asian flavors with the miso with a beurre blanc sauce, a classic in French cuisine, that definitely elevated the dish. That sauce was simply fantastic and, because of it, I highly recommend this dish if you get the chance to dine there!

Le Frenchy mocktail at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Glass of muscat at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Veal milanese at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Tomato tart at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Salmon with miso-beurre blanc sauce at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Dessert was also superb: Jodi got their pavlova (17 Eur) that is the kind of dessert that makes you think that, because there are fruits, this is good, knowing that the best part is definitely the meringue in it. On my side, I settled for the roasted figs (14 Eur) that were delicious, and a quite original dessert. I admit that I forgot to take a photo of the ice cream Valentin ordered that was like making your own McFlurry (15 Eur), playful way to end a delicious meal.

Pavlova at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Roasted figs at Café des Ternes, Paris, France

Overall, we had a great time: great food, great company and good service. I would definitely go back to Café des Ternes and, hopefully, they will still serve that salmon!

Enjoy (we all did)!

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

Café des Ternes - 64 Av. des Ternes, 75017 Paris, France

 

Did Cowgirl NYC's Famous Frito Pie and Chicken Fried Steak Live Up to the Hype?

Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

I was really looking forward to trying Cowgirl’s Frito pie and chicken fried steak, two quite interesting dishes to try as a Frenchman, representing Southern comfort food in New York City. I discovered the Frito pie few years ago at House of Que, a Texas BBQ restaurant in Hoboken that unfortunately closed. I love chili, that I use to make while leaving in France, being influenced by the western movies I was watching, and so, this is the kind of dishes that work for me: besides the fun plating that is in a bag of Fritos, the first time I tried it, I loved the crunch that the Fritos gave. At Cowgirl, the Frito pie ($15), Fritos were layered with a delicious chili, and topped with sour cream, cheese and some jalapeño. That combination made every bite into a satisfying mix of salty, savory, and cheesy, with the heat of the jalapeños. Quite comforting.

Frito pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Frito pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Then came the chicken fried steak ($23). Let me first clarify what this southern dish is as this is not chicken, but a tenderized beef steak coated in seasoned breading, fried until golden and crispy, then smothered in creamy pepper-flecked gravy. It reminded me the fried veal my mom used to make when we were kids, but without the gravy, that made it even more savory. With it, they asked what side I wanted and I decided to get their grits, that were delightfully cheesy (if you are wondering, I did not eat the broccoli). I did not regret my choice at all: the entire dish was very comforting, the golden and crunchy coating giving way to a tender beef underneath, while the creamy gravy added richness to every bite. It was like a trip to Texas without the price of the flight. This dish is a must have for sure.

Chicken fried steak and grits at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Chicken fried steak and grits at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Jodi being vegetarian, she got their chopped up salad ($15), and I should mention that I got their frozen espresso martini ($16) that was quite refreshing and an interesting way to serve this classic brunch cocktail. Of course, we could not leave without trying their homemade desserts, and settled for the key lime pie ($8), that was good, although not as tart as expected.

Frozen espresso martini at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Chopped up salad at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Key lime pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

For sure, I was not disappointed with my meal at Cowgirl. I would certainly go back there, maybe for these same dishes that I really loved, or to try some other Southern comfort dishes they have on their menu.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cowgirl - 519 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

 

Conveyor Belt Cheese at Pick & Cheese in Shaver Hall, NYC

Pick & Cheese in Shaver Hall, NYC

There is something exciting when you eat at a conveyor belt restaurant, as if the dish passing in front of you is the last one of its kind: you have to have it. And then the next one, and the next. It’s like a game, and then you realize that you ate more than what you would normally in a regular restaurant. At least, that is what I think. So, I was intrigued when I heard that a new food court called Shaver Hall would open midtown, with one of the places being a cheese conveyor belt restaurant called Pick & Cheese (a play on “Pick and choose”). Cheese? Yes, fromage. Being French, I ate my way through cheese and I am always surprised to discover, during each visit to my family, new cheeses. But Pick & Cheese is not serving cheese from all over the world: they serve only American cheese, proving that Uncle Sam produces more than just deli slices, that can compete with the best (remember few years ago, when the best in the world was a cheese from Vermont). So, we had to go to Pick & Cheese. We sat alongside the conveyor belt, looking at cheese passing around, identified by a number that was described on a menu, with a bit of information and explains what it is paired with (there is always something different, sweet or savory, accompanying it), so you could decide if you would pick it or not. Each plate has a color that defines the price (cream - $5.95, sage -$6.95, teal - $7.95 and honey - $8.95), but let’s be honest, as you go, you forget about the color and the price and focus more on the cheese. Natural pairing would be with wine, like the glass of Swick “bring it” Willamette 2022 from Oregon ($18), described as “electric mouthfeel with crisp acidity, layering blackberry, red currant, mushroom and leathery herbaciousness”. I was thinking that getting a bold wine would be perfect to balance the full spectrum of cheese I would get. And before I talk about the cheese, I should mention that they give you crackers that they will refill, but we really wanted to try some bread ($3.50), that was delicious with butter…and cheese. Here is what we tried, with their number for easy reference:

Menu, courtesy of Pick & Cheese

glass of Swick “bring it” Willamette 2022 from Oregon

Bread and Butter

at Pick & Cheese in Shaver Hall, NYC

4 - PORK SAUCISSON, Larchmont Charcuterie, New York,

Paired with: Cornichons

9 - Pickles

at Pick & Cheese in Shaver Hall, NYC

12 - Reverie, Parish Hill Creamery, Vermont, Westminster. Paired with: Roasted garlic cloves

14 - Street Ched, Urban Stead, Ohio, Cincinnati

Paired with: Apple Butter Crumble

18 - Oma, Von Trapp Farmstead, Vermont, Waitsfield

Paired with: Spiced Peanut

22 - Cayuga blue, Lively Run Goat Dairy, New York, Interlaken

Paired with: Brandied Cherries

24 - Truffled Peggy, Churchtown Dairy, New York, Hudson

Paired with: Potato Crisps

27 - Whipped goat cheese donut, Vermont Creamery, Vermont, Websterville

2 - Camembrie, Blue Ledge Farm, Vermont, Salisbury

Paired with: Caramelized Onion

6 - Coperthwaite, Churchtown Dairy, New York Hudson

Paired with: Pickled Fennel and Taralli

10 - Bayley Hazen Blue, Jasper Hill Farm, Vermont, Greensboro.

Paired with: Chocolate Brownie.

13 - Humboldt Fog, Cypress Grove, California, Arcata. Paired with: seed brittle

16 - Lady Edison Country Ham,

North Carolina, Chapel Hill

19 - St. Stephen, Four Fat Fowl, New York, Stephentown.

Paired with: Raspberry & Rose Conserve

23 - Pipe Dreams Buche, Pipe Dreams Fromage, Pennsylvania

Paired with: Shortbread and Rosemary Honey

26 - BIJOU, Vermont Creamery, Vermont, Websterville

Paired with: Turkish Delight

Blue cheese and port affogato

We did not get all this at once, but in fact went two Saturdays in a row, and I would not be surprised that we will go very soon again. Pick & Cheese is like heaven for cheese lovers (besides having to pay at the end), so, if you are one of them, this is THE place to go!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pick & Cheese in Shaver Hall - 424 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

 

There is more than just ramen at Mokbar

Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

I remember when we met Chef Esther Choi at Mokbar in Chelsea Market back in 2014: little I knew that she would have the career she had. Regardless, Mokbar is one of my favorite spots there and not just for ramen. The rest of the food is worth a trip and the annoyance from the people behind, who are queuing up at Los Tacos Numero 1, and who try to sit where Mokbar is. Here are some of the things I love there:

The Korean fried chicken with spicy gochuchang sauce ($11) are nice and crispy, a little spicy but so good that you go back to eat. They also propose them with sweet soy sauce for those who do not like spicy food. Another appetizer is their vegan dumplings ($10), also proposed with beef or pork. But the vegan ones are surely delicious, the tasty filling being encased in a delicious shell that is not too thick. Another vegetarian favorite is their Brussels sprouts ($7), that are crispy, covered with sweet soy sauce and topped with sour cream, charred scallions and sesame seeds. A more classic dish could be their bulgogi beef buns ($12). But no, it is not: the delicious marinated beef is complemented with caramelized kimchi jam, mozzarella cheese and aioli. Each bite is like an explosion of flavors with the tender and juicy beef still being the star of the dish. I should mention that chef Choi makes an incredible kimchi and even serves it on the K-Town fries ($8), that is her interpretation of disco fries, where crispy French fries are topped with kimchi, bulgogi aioli, gochujang sauce and furikake. A decadent version to try. With their ramen, what I love is their bowls that you can have with rice or noodles and the bulgogi bowl ($18) is amazing: it is composed of thinly sliced marinated ribeye, with carrots, scallions, onion, kimchi and a perfectly poached egg for added creaminess. Comforting, the noodles are chewy, and the beef is nicely caramelized, having a delicious sweet and savory flavor that complements well the tangy kimchi. A must have for sure.

Chicken wings at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

Vegan dumplings at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

Brussels sprouts at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

Known fries at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

Bulgogi buns at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

Bulgogi noodle bowl at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC

These are just some examples of what Mokbar has to offer and if you are looking for delicious food, this is a good place to know. My recommendation though: don't just stick to ramen.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mokbar Chelsea Market - 75 9th Ave,. New York, New York 10011

 

Why I did not like the Afternoon Tea at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

Afternoon Tea at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

I was really looking forward to our afternoon tea at The Mandarin Oriental. We arrived a bit early there as, because of the heavy rain, we took the subway, and we had to wait 10 minutes for a table. I am not sure why as the place was really not that crowded. Anyway, they sat us at a table close to the window and we could admire the incredible view of Columbus Circle and Central Park.

The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

At The Mandarin Oriental, the afternoon tea is $135, whether you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian (I admit that I am always surprised about that, especially when you’ll see what was on the non-vegetarian menu that could explain a price difference). They started off by asking us what tea we wanted. I chose peppermint, while Jodi went for the Vanilla Rooibos. They brought us the tea probably 10 minutes before the food that came in these three tier holders so typical of afternoon teas. Everything looked beautiful, colorful and appetizing, with, in the bottom, the sandwiches that were the only difference between the vegetarian and non-vegetarian version, scones in the center (butter and ginger), and small pastries on top.

Peppermint tea at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

Scones at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

The non-vegetarian sandwiches were:

Non-vegetarian sandwiches at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

• Coronation Chicken: a classic British sandwich made of boneless chicken, mixed with curry-spiced mayonnaise, raisins and pickled onion with a curry gel on top.

• Wild mushrooms and truffle: roasted wild mushrooms with a vegan coconut cream with truffles.

• Lobster roll: poached Maine lobster with gochujang mayonnaise, apple and pickled cucumber, topped with caviar. I was really looking forward to this, but it did not deliver: the mayonnaise was overpowering, not letting the lobster shine and the bread tasted stale.

• Roast beef and caramelized fennel: medium-well roasted beef with Gruyère, and pickled caramelized fennel. This was my favorite from all the sandwiches, the meat melting in my mouth.

For the vegetarian tea, they served the following:

Vegetarian sandwiches at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

• Wild mushrooms and truffle: roasted wild mushrooms with a vegan coconut cream with truffles.

• Kale with golden beets.

• Smoky eggplant.

• Cucumber and cream cheese.

The sweets for both were:

Macaron and chou at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

Hibiscus mousse cake at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

Elderflower Huckleberry tart at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

Lavender Chocolate Savarin at The Mandarin Oriental in NYC

• Elderflower and huckleberry tart: an elderflower-infused buttermilk custard nestled in a pastry shell, topped with a huckleberry jam.

• Hibiscus mousse cake: a hibiscus mousse cake layered with hibiscus gel.

• Rose, lychee and raspberry macaron: fresh raspberries layered with a lychee cream and a hint of rose.

• Chamomile chou: a small cream puff filled with chamomile cream.

• Lavender chocolate savarin: a 70% chocolate mousse savarin infused with lavender cream.

The desserts were good and looked beautiful, but I admit that they were a bit out there, far from classics. Still, I admired the creativity of the chef and really liked the last three.

The food looked amazing overall, but we unfortunately did not feel well after leaving, having a headache and feeling nauseous, probably from food poisoning. Even without that, I am not sure I would put this place on top of my list for afternoon tea, preferring Fauchon or Lady Mendl, that I realized I never posted about. For a similar price, The Plaza remains my all time favorite.

Enjoy (…)!

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

The Mandarin Oriental - 80 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023

 

Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

I discovered Ramerino Italian Prime several years ago, and, each time I dined there, the food, crafted by Chef Wilfrid Hodai, who used to work for a Michelin Star restaurant and is inspired by his Tuscan roots, was exquisite. Dinner is definitely busier than lunch and in fact, when I went for dinner, they started off by bringing a bread basket, and a plate with 36‑month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and sopressata sausage. I admit that, before eating at Osteria Franscescana and seeing Chef’s Table on Netflix with Chef Massimo Bottura, I always ate that cheese with pasta, never alone, like I would a comté. I was wrong, and I discovered the richness, nuttiness and deep flavor of that cheese that I now really enjoy. So imagine when it is 36 months aged! Even better. I had it with their Ramerino Spritz ($17) that was their signature cocktail, composed of a limoncello fusion with rosemary, prosecco and club soda. Refreshing for sure. For appetizer, I loved their grilled baby calamari ($28), that changed from the classic fried calamari, and inhaled the eggplant rollatini ($22), where the eggplant hid ricotta and was smothered with a robust tomato and basil sauce. A must have. A unique dish if you love artichokes is their Caciofi e Avocado ($20), a sort of artichoke and avocado terrine topped with 36-months aged parmiggiano reggiano. Rich, creamy, with more artichoke taste than avocado.

Signature Spritz at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Bread basket at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

36 month aged parmigiana reggiano and sopressata at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Caciofi e avocado at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Eggplant rollatini at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Grilled calamari at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Moving on to the pasta, they are all homemade and when trying the linguine con gambieri e calamari ($45), I was in heaven: perfect for sharing, the calamari and shrimp accompanied perfectly cooked pasta and we smothered by a delicious white wine sauce, made with lemon, garlic, parsley and Calabrian chili. Another must have, their cheese ravioli al tartufo ($34) is one of those vegetarian dishes that make you forget you love seafood. These ricotta filled ravioli are covered with a parmigiano reggiano cream sauce with sprinkles of black truffle. Rich and decadent, you can smell the truffle as they bring the dish to the table, and I truly appreciated that it was not overpowering, letting the ravioli and cheese shine. But the dish I really want to try was their fagottini ($32), that look like purses filled with goat cheese and pear and smothered with a parmigiano reggiano, butter and sage sauce. Delicate, yet decadent, I thought it was good and elegant, even if I would have liked the pasta to be either thinner or slightly more cooked. Still, it was fantastic. 

Cheese ravioli e tartufo at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Fagottini at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Linguine con gambieri e calamari at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Chicken parmesan at at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Dessert did not disappoint. The cannoli Siciliani ($14) was a single large cannoli, with a crispy shell (don't you hate when it is not crispy), filled with a deliciously sweet ricotta filling mixed with candied fruits. But my favorite is their tiramisu ($15) that was heavenly creamy, the lady fingers being perfectly soaked in espresso, layered in a delicious mascarpone cream and topped with powdered chocolate that did not make me choke this time!

Cannoli at at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Tiramisu at at Ramerino Italian Prime in NYC, NY

Overall, the food at Ramerino Italian Prime did not disappoint. I would put this place in the category of elegant Italian cuisine, each dish being crafted with the attention that a Michelin star restaurant would give. I definitely recommend it. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ramerino Italian Prime - 16 East39thStreet , New York, NY 10016

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Looking for a place to have lunch on a Saturday with my mother in law, we ended up at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ, a roadside restaurant that hosts various car shows on its large parking lot. Operating since 1982, but under different management, this log cabin has a rustic fishing and hunting feel with its mounted deer and moose heads, or fish hanging on the walls.

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Known for its pizza, BBQ and wings, I had to try each of them, with one of my favorite sodas: a root beer ($3). We started off with the fried pickle chips ($11.99), that were delightfully crunchy, accompanied by a horseradish dipping sauce that was unfortunately too salty. Still, this was pretty good. But not as good as the BBQ burnt ends ($14.99), that were phenomenal:the brisket was soft, nicely charred, fatty, with a sticky and sweet BBQ sauce, and came in an elegant presentation that was unexpected. The Cabin wings ($13.99) were pretty good. I chose the traditional rather than boneless, and picked the buffalo sauce over hot sauce, barbecue or Thai chili. The plain pizza ($15.99) was a bit disappointing, not because of the thin crust that was good and slightly crispy, or the cheese that was in good amount, but because of the sauce that seem to be straight from a can. Dessert though was delicious. We settled for the molten cookie cake ($9.99), that was served with vanilla ice cream (a la mode) and whipped cream. Soft, with a nice amount of chocolate chips inside, not too sweet, it was a good way to end the meal.

Root beer at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Fried pickles chips at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Buffalo wings at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

BBQ Burnt Ends at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Plain pizza at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Molten cookie cake a la mode at The Cabin Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Overall, the food was fine, and even if not everything was great, I still want to go back to try their barbecue, as, if the other items they're make are like these burnt ends, they must be fantastic !

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Cabin Restaurant - 984 Route 33, Freehold, NJ 07728

 

Picanha at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

I was really looking forward to trying Colombian Steakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ, thinking about the meat being cooked on a vertical grill, coming sizzling to the table, everyone looking at the plate coming to the table as I always do in steakhouses. I was not expecting the place to be so big, with the main dining room on the right when you enter, and then another room on the left, probably used for private parties. I was there for lunch, but know that, if you go for dinner, there is valet parking and it seems that it can be a bit loud (explaining the “lounge” in the name).

Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

I was excited to try the picanha ($37.99 with 2 sides), or top sirloin, that is a famous cut in Brazilian barbecue and asked to have it medium rare. The dish came, as expected on a sizzling plate, with the two sides I chose: maduros (fried pantains) and frijoles (beans). The meat was juicy, but it was a bit tough and overcooked as, of course, it continues to cook on the sizzling plate and they should have probably cooked it rare, so I would get it close to the requested temperature. At least the sides were good, the fried plantains being nicely sweet and the frijoles comforting. Still, I was a bit disappointed and wondered if I should not have gone for a different piece of meat or if I would have ended up with the same result. With it, I had a coconut lemonade ($6) that was frozen, making it even more refreshing on a very hot day, and I finished the meal with a delicious tres leches ($9.99) that made me forget for a moment about the steak...

Picanha at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Picanha at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Maduros and frijoles at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Maduros and frijoles at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Coconut lemonade at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

Tres leches at Colombian Streakhouse and Lounge in Bound Brook, NJ

After eating there, I checked few reviews and some indeed mentioned the toughness of the meat. Still, I am glad I gave it a chance and tried this place as I was in the area. Not that I would go back though…

Enjoy (…)!

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Colombian Steakhouse and Lounge - 200 Talmage Ave, Bound Brook, NJ 08805

 

Have you ever had a croissant pizza?

Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

I am surprised that no one thought about a croissant pizza before, or maybe they did and it did not get as much buzz as mango sticky rice that you can now find everywhere or few years back, poké, to name just a few. So, when I heard about the croissant pizza at Viva La Dough, few steps from the World Trade Center, I had to try it. This kosher place, serving only vegetarian options, opened few weeks ago. As you arrive, you walk down the stairs and discover a fairly large place with a very floral decor. So, we decided to order some of these pizzas, three of them as they are small (it is $7.95 for one and $16.95 for three): the Margherita (tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and olive oil), the vodka (vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella, ricotta cheese and fresh basil), and the French onion (caramelized onion, cheddar and mozzarella). When you bite into it, you get the slight crispiness, flakiness and buttery taste of the croissant, giving a more decadent taste to what would have otherwise been just a pizza. I thought that the vodka one was a bit disappointing, being a little dry, but the Margherita was quite nice and I loved the French onion that was sweet and savory, like a deconstructed French onion soup where the bread has been replaced by a croissant. I also tried their mushroom panini ($14.95), where wild mushrooms were accompanied by ricotta cheese, mozzarella and arugula. We could have chose to have the sandwich made with a croissant or sourdough, and we picked the latter. This was comforting, earthy and cheesy, equally as good as the pizza. They do have milkshakes that I was tempted to get, but finally settled on a cookie butter latte ($8), that was good, smooth with an undertone of butter cookie.

Counter at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Dining room at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Vodka pizza croissant at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Margherita pizza at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

French onion pizza at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Mushroom panini at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Cookie butter latte at Viva La Dough in NYC, NY

Overall, I liked the food at Viva La Dough: the croissant pizza is an interesting creation that I would eat over and over. The fact that it is small allows for trying several of them in one shot. They have desserts like these trompe l’oeil cakes, but we had other plans. I guess I will have to go back to try them!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Viva La Dough - 160 Broadway, New York, NY 10038

 

Does Hoboken really need Springbone?

Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

When Springbone opened in Hoboken, replacing Bon Banh, I was a bit skeptical. Another healthy restaurant? Another one serving bone broth (Alfalfa does)? Still, we decided to give it a try. The place was nicely done, with lots of lights and kind of a zen feel. As you arrive, you have to go to the counter to order your meal and they will bring it to your table once ready.  

Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Their menu showcases several bowls, soups, bone broths of various kinds, with several vegan options, and smoothies. And, if you prefer, you can make your own bowl. That is what Jodi did, where, for $14.90, she mixed herbed quinoa, lemon garlic broccoli, corn salad, croutons, organic chilli tofu and hummus. On my side, the first time we went, I wanted to try their Honey Dijon Salmon bowl ($17.45), but, unfortunately, they did not have any salmon, so I chose the Mexican bowl ($13.95), that was composed of chicken thigh, bone broth rice, black beans, corn salad, guacamole and a spicy verde sauce (definitely spicy). Although my mouth a a bit on fire from the salsa verde, I really liked the dish that I found comforting, the guacamole and beans counterbalancing the heat and I thought that there was a nice amount of each of every components, including the chicken. But then, on our next visit, I finally got to try the salmon and I loved that dish: the salmon was perfectly cooked, drizzled with a romesco sauce and sitting on a bed of kale, served quinoa, lemon garlic broccoli and marinated cucumber. This dish was packed with flavor and I was really surprised I loved it because I am not a huge fan of kale, but the other ingredients won me over, especially the quinoa and broccoli. A must have for sure.

Make your own bowl at Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Mexican bowl at Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Honey Dijon Salmon bowl at Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, I could not not try their bone broth. I really liked their Immunity broth ($5.95) that is a classic chicken bone broth with ginger, garlic and vitamin C (not sure from what) and admit that I was a bit disappointed with the Liquid Gold Broth ($5.95), also made with their classic chicken broth, and apparently with coconut milk and turmeric. I thought there would be more coconut milk and turmeric in it and could not really taste any, to the point that I asked if it was the right one they gave me as they were carrying several cups when bringing my order to the table. But no, they confirmed it was the right one and said that I would have had more milk and turmeric if I ordered a larger one. Weird…

Immunity bone broth at Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Liquid Gold Bone Broth at Springbone in Hoboken, NJ

Despite that, I really liked Springbone. They have many more dishes on the menu that I really look forward to try. So, yes, it is a good addition to the Hoboken food scene.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Springbone - 506 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Viv & Jules is the last exciting place we tried recently. Hoboken: great food and service in a relaxed atmosphere is how I would describe it in few words. The first time we went for brunch, I was surprised to see the place mostly empty. And then, I realized it was the 4th of July and so, many people were away. That first brunch made us want to go back for another one and then dinner. They have a full bar, where people seem to be more dining than just drinking and I tried few of their cocktails. For brunch, the Irish coffee ($15) is a good choice, but I also liked the orange crush ($15), made with tequila and a fresh squeezed orange juice, giving you the vitamins you need for the day (good excuse, no?). For dinner, I went for the Champs-Elysees ($15), a cocktail made with cognac, Benedictine and lemon juice. If you prefer mocktails, the coconut kiss ($12), composed of coconut puree, pineapple juice, orange juice and lemon juice, is a very good option, close to a pina colada.

Champs-Elysees cocktail at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Coconut kiss mocktail at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Orange crush cocktail at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Irish coffee at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Although cocktails were great, it is the food that excites me the most. For brunch, you can go fairly classic with their mushroom omelet ($14), made with spinach, Gouda, and of course mushrooms, accompanied with sourdough bread and a salad, or the dry aged Gruyère burger ($25), that is served with tallow fries. Classic but delicious: the omelet had lots of mushrooms and cheese, and the burger, was perfectly cooked, juicy, with enough cheese (is there really such a thing as enough cheese?), and some caramelized onions that added a nice sweetness to the whole thing. Cheese seems to be a big thing there in fact. For instance, their endive and gem salad ($17) is topped with a nice amount of Gouda, but for sure I would not ignore the stuffed gougères ($16) that are phenomenal, stuffed with a cheddar sauce and chopped truffle (very subtle) and topped with shaved Parmesan. This is a rich and decadent appetizer perfect to share. Their avocado croissant ($15) looks also amazing: with a nice amount of shaved Parmesan on top, a buttery and slightly crispy croissant encased avocado and arugula, giving an elegant French twist to the now classic avocado toast. Talking about toast, their tiramisu French toast ($19) is amazing: taking inspiration from the classic Italian dessert, this indulgent brunch creation delivered all the flavors we love in tiramisu while bringing the comforting richness of French toast to the table. But, what I was looking forward to try though is their prime Delmonico steak ($85), a 16oz ribeye that was topped with beurre maitre d'hotel, a classic butter compound made with butter, parsley, lemon, salt and pepper. I was surprised that for the price it only came with a bit of salad and so, I ordered their aligot potatoes ($14), a French classic that is mashed potatoes made with lots of cheese and cream (that is the way we ate mashed potatoes when I was a kid). This was delicious: the steak was render and juicy, while the aligot was creamy and cheesy (although I should point out that aligo has even more cheese).

Tiramisu French toast at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Mushroom omelet at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Dry aged gruyere burger at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Endive and gem salad at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Avocado croissant at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Stuffed gougeres at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Prime Delmonico steak at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Potatoes alight at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, we got their sticky toffee pudding that was served with a caramel sauce, but I admit that I was full at that point. Still, it was delightfully sweet, rich with a deep caramel flavor.

Sticky toffee pudding at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

Sticky toffee pudding at Viv & Jules in Hoboken, NJ

So, we did not have one bad dish at Viv & Jules: everything we had was good, some dishes were exciting and the service there was always on point. This is definitely on my list of favorite places to eat in Hoboken.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Viv & Jules - 400 Adams Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

South Indian food at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Jersey City has some great Indian restaurants and Honest is one of them. What started as a street cart in 1975 in Ahmedabad has now expanded to Thailand, Australia, Canada and the USA, proposing a vegetarian menu. I admit that the main reason I like this place is their dosa, a South Indian dish that I would describe as an Indian crepe, made of fermented black gram that some call black lentils and rice. So, we went for their masala dosa ($11.99) at each of our visits and did not regret it: the crepe was huge, served with some chutney and sambal, a lentil stew, and it was deliciously crispy, spongy inside and slightly greasy, in a good way. The potato and onion filling, that was not spicy, was at the center of the dosa. With or without, I did not care, because the dosa itself was fantastic. I decided to try a different dosa as well and settled for the ghee podi Masala dosa ($14.99), an open faced dosa that is like a pizza with tomato, peppers and onions, with cheese on top, and a big blob of the same potato and onion mixture. Apparently, it is made like a regular dosa, on which you pour a generous amount of ghee (clarified butter) and some podi that is an aromatic chili-lentil spice blend. Crispy, it had a very slight kick and was packed in flavor, a little messier to eat than the regular dosa. If you are not into dosas, you can try their Punjabi thali ($14.99) that consisted of two curries (one with eggplant and one with paneer), a large amount of basmati rice, dal, raita, a gulab jamun for dessert and some bread. This was delicious! The dal was a bit spicy, but the rest was mild, my favorite being the eggplant curry that was very comforting.

Masala dosa at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Ghee podi masala dosa at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Vegetarian Thali at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Breads at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

With our meals, we tried their sweet lime soda ($4.99) that I did not like, having a weird taste, but loved the mango ($5.99) and sweet lassis ($4.99 - it was a bit thick).

Sweet lassi at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Mango lassi at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Sweet lime soda at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

And of course dessert: I mentioned before the gulab jamun ($3.99) that we ordered at some point, and love the rasmalai ($4.99), a North Indian dessert that consists of a spongy cottage cheese patty soaked in a sweet milk syrup flavored with cardamom and saffron. Perfect to cut the sweetness of the gulab jamun.

Rasmalai at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

Gulab jamun at Honest in Jersey City, NJ

So, Honest is definitely a great place if in Jersey City (or check out the NYC location). The food there is really good and comes fairly fast. I highly recommend it!

Enjoy (Idid)!

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Honest - 811 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

 

The thing about Corto in Jersey City Heights

I hate places like Corto: once you eat there, you do not see other restaurants the same way and keep comparing them to it. Because, yes, this is the way I felt after going for brunch at Corto in Jersey City Heights and I am still thinking about the experience and the meal. As you enter, you definitely feel that this place is not your average Italian restaurant: rustic, cozy, welcoming, with the open kitchen in the back where you can see the magic happen, and a patio, that contributes to a very relaxing time. The menu represents well the name of the restaurant, Corto meaning short in Italian. There are three main sections and they recommend to order a dish from each: appetizers, pasta and main. They do not have a brunch menu, so do not expect a classic brunch: it is one menu for brunch and dinner with seasonal dishes that were presented to us in a way that made us want to try everything, highlighting the creativity of the chef, like the creste di gallo ($26), a short pasta with ruffled edges that literally translates to “rooster’s crest”. Made with Jersey corn, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, Urfa (a smoky and mildly spicy Turkish pepper), brown butter and grana padano, it was their rendering of a summer in New Jersey on a plate. I admit that I am always wary about pasta with vegetables, besides eggplant, preferring seafood or meat ragout, but this blew me away. The homemade pasta was superb, perfectly cooked al dente, and each ingredient complemented each other, without being dominant, and it had the perfect amount of brown butter and grana padano to elevate the dish. A must have! I should mention that they make all their pasta. We also got their cheese and salumi plate ($34), that was not your average plate, where sometimes you get basic deli cheeses. First of all, the plate looked very appetizing, with honeycomb, chickpeas, olives and crackers, accompanying the meat and cheeses. The latter were: Birchrun blue from Birchrun Hills Farm, Lanchego that is a manchego from Lancaster, PA, and a smoked gouda. The meats were from Salumeria Biellese in Hackensack. There was: Finocchiona, a type of salami from Florence, Italy, porcini sopressata and napolitana, another type of salami. There was lots of both for sure. We also got their ricotta & honey toast ($15) that seems to be popular there and was quite good, the filone bread being soft with a nice crust, topped with ricotta that was covered with wildflower honey, sea salt, pink peppercorn and olive oil. This was delicious and our waitress told us that we could use the leftovers for breakfast and eat it with an egg on top. We finished with their citrus olive oil cake ($12), that was superb, being moist with hints if citrus that are not overpowering. As it is a BYOB restaurant, they have coffee and sodas, so we went for an Italian lemonade ($4).

Creste di gallo pasta at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Ricotta and honey toast at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Meat and cheese plate at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Meat and cheese plate at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Italian lemon soda at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Citrus olive oil soda at Corto in Jersey City Heights

Overall, this was a fantastic meal, the kind that makes you want a place like that around the corner, but that is also going to be in your mind every time you eat Italian food. I high recommend Corto!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Corto - 507 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

 

What went wrong with Happy Tuna

Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

We were walking on Lexington avenue when we saw a Japanese restaurant called Happy Tuna and decided to give it a try. The plcae was nice, bright and quite zen, with few large chairs that were like half booths that are easy to sit in but challenging to get out without moving the table and risking spilling drinks. We decided to order some appetizers and drinks as we were there during their happy hour (remember this). If you ordered a dish from their happy hour menu, you would get a free cocktail, that was quite a nice deal. So, I decided to get their lychee martini ($9 for happy hour), while Jodi got the same but without alcohol ($7 for the happy hour). The dish that got me the cocktail for free was the vegetable dumplings ($9) that we ordered crispy instead of steamed. The drinks were good, well made and the mocktail was not too sweet, and the dumplings delicious: crispy on the outside, with a nice filling. It started well. We then tried to get the attention of our waitress because we specifically told her that we wanted other food. After a while, Jodi ordered avocado rolls ($9.50), while I got the unagi tamago roll ($16), that apparently, per the waitress, is not often ordered. It was composed of eel (unagi), tamago (Japanese omelette), cucumber and eel sauce. It was a bit disappointing: there was barely any eel or egg, and most of the rolls fell apart. We also wanted to try their avocado crispy rice ($15), that was more chewy than crispy.

Lychee martini at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

Lychee mocktail at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

Vegetable dumplings at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

Avocado crispy rice at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

Unagi Tamago roll at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

Avocado roll at Happy Tuna, Japanese restaurant in NYC, NY

As we paid, I noticed that the mocktail was charged full price ($14 instead of $7) and I had to even prove to them that it was what was written on their menu. So, needless to say that it was not the best experiment and this is definitely not the kind of place I would recommend.

Enjoy (the post)!

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Happy Tuna - 380 Lexington avenue

 

The Pancakes Everyone in Jersey City Is Talking About

Luna in Jersey City, NJ

We were going for lunch in Jersey City on a sunny Sunday, when we passed by Luna, an Italian restaurant located few steps from the path train. I remembered few videos of their square pancakes coming into my feed, with one guy saying that he waited two hours to get to try it. The restaurant having quite a lot of empty tables outside, we decided to give it a try and change plans. We started off with some mocktails: the Femina ($11), made with blood orange seltzer, pineapple juice, and a splash of club soda and lime, as well as the You’ve got red ($11), a strawberry lemonade spritzer with fresh strawberries on top. The femina was nicely sweet and refreshing, while I found the other one too tart.

You’ve got red mocktail at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

Femina mocktail at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

With the pancakes, we decided to try their “Detroit style” personal Pizza ($18) on which we added more cheese. I should point out that they offer their dinner menu for brunch, giving you even more options, like this one. The pizza looked fantastic: the edges were caramelized and crispy and yes: it was cheesey!

Detroit pizza at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

Detroit pizza at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

Then we got their full moon pancakes ($18), the ones that seem to have gone viral. What is special about these buttermilk pancakes is the fact that they are made Detroit style, like the pizza, giving them not only that square shape, but creating a thin crust on the outside that is delightfully crispy, covering a fluffy inside with hints of vanilla at each bite. Topped with berries and a house made strawberry butter, they were simply divine. 

Moon pancakes at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

Detroit Moon pancakes at Luna in Jersey City, NJ

So, the verdict is yes: these pancakes are amazing and a must have, but the Detroit pizza is not to be ignored, and it made me want to go back for other dishes (I heard that they make their own pasta).

Enjoy (I did)!

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Luna - 279 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

 

Are these the best dishes at Ci Siamo in NYC?

Ci Siamo in NYC

Meaning “here we are” in English, Ci Siamo is one of these discoveries that make you wonder why you did not hear about this place before. I was looking for an Italian place to go on our anniversary and simply searched for the best Italian restaurant in New York, when this name appeared. There, Chef Hilary Sterling serves fresh pasta and dishes cooked in a wood fire oven. In fact they have two of those: one when you enter and one in the back of the dining room. I admit that, looking at the front, I thought this was a small place. Located on the second floor, we decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator, not knowing that, inside the elevator were some glasses and a bottle of Chianti so you could get a sip on the ride up. As we arrived and passed the bar, I was surprised to see how big this was. Empty when we arrived for lunch, it filled up very quickly.

Open kitchen at Ci Siamo in NYC

Main dining room at Ci Siamo in NYC

Wine in Elevator at Ci Siamo in NYC

There are two dishes we kept seeing going around and that they are known for: the gnocco fritto ($16) and the caramelized onion torta ($27). Gnocco frito has nothing to do with gnocchi and is in fact a traditional puff-styled fried bread from the Emilia-Romana region in northern Italy. They look large like puffed up ravioli. The exterior was thin, deliciously crispy, with some goat Gouda in the bottom that added a slightly creamy texture. It is the kind of dish you would order again and again. The caramelized onion torta was amazing as well: rich, creamy, sweet and savory, the crust was made with pecorino cheese, and topped with caramelized onions that had a balsamic finish for some slight acidity, and then some pecorino toscano, a sheep's milk cheese from the Tuscany region. This was already filling and I wondered at that point if we made a mistake ordering the cast iron focaccia ($18). But no, it was worth trying, although I wished it had some char from being cooked in the oven. Still, this was a delicious focaccia, a bit greasy on the outside, and soft and chewy inside, served with a fantastic tomato conserva, a tomato paste served with olive oil and chili. These were just the appetizers and we decided to share one pasta as it is homemade. We went for the tagliatelle with tomato and buffalo butter ($25). The pasta was delicious, perfectly cooked, smothered in a nice tomato sauce with bits of tomato skin. I just wished we had parmesan or any other Italian cheese with it (I love grana padano with pasta). For drinks, I got a negroni ($20) that was well made.

Gnocco fritto at Ci Siamo in NYC

Caramelized onion torta at Ci Siamo in NYC

Cast iron focaccia at Ci Siamo in NYC

Tomato conserva at Ci Siamo in NYC

Tagliatelle with tomato and buffalo butter at Ci Siamo in NYC

Negroni at Ci Siamo in NYC

Of course we could not miss dessert and decided to order their lemon torta ($18) that was like a deconstructed lemon tart, the meringue being served as a toasted blob with olive oil in the center, on the side and not on top of the tart. The tart itself was really good: creamy and with a sharp citrusy flavor that was well balanced by the meringue and, surprisingly, the olive oil.

Lemon torta at Ci Siamo in NYC

Lemon torta at Ci Siamo in NYC

Overall, we had a memorable lunch at Ci Siamo and that made us want to go back to try some more food there. As I mentioned previously, I never heard of this place before, as if people wanted to keep it a secret…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ci Siamo - 440 W 33rd St Ste 100, New York, NY 10001