I Just Want To Eat! 4/30/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/30/15

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

There, Nicholas Morgenstern serves unique ice creams. Yes, unique is probably the right word, although innovative might be more appropriate. He is taking classic ice creams and put his own twist on it, using all natural products. For instance, he proposes the King Kong Banana Split made with bananas (of course!), five scoops of ice cream, sesame caramel and pineapple.

One of the TV shows that made us discover so many good places in New York is Unique Sweets and, again, thanks to them, we discovered Morgenstern's, an ice cream parlor located on Rivington street. It is a small place with great decor that has a bit of nostalgia in it, reminding me of the old ice cream parlors I used to see on TV when I was a kid in France.

There, Nicholas Morgenstern serves unique ice creams. Yes, unique is probably the right word, although innovative might be more appropriate. He is taking classic ice cream and putting his own twist on it, using all natural products. For instance, he proposes the King Kong Banana Split made with bananas (of course!), five scoops of ice cream, sesame caramel and pineapple.

But if we went to Morgenstern's, it was to try their New God Flow. I think the name was perfectly chosen as we could hear angels singing as we were eating. So, what is The New God Flow? First they take a thick slice of Japanese milk bread (very close to a brioche). They pour honey on it that they will torch, giving this dish a nice crust, similar in a way to a crème brûlée, but thinner. Then, they add on top two scoops of their delicious milk ice cream, topped with a bit more honey. The result is sublime, succulent, and fantastic. The ice cream not being sweet counterbalances the sweetness of the honey. And that bread...It is a great bread that you can find in bakeries such as Tous Les Jours or Fay Da. I guess you understand that I highly recommend The New God Flow!

Preparing The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — Preparing The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

We also tried one of their chocolate flavors: salted chocolate.

Salted chocolate at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — Salted chocolate at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

This was also a very good ice cream: creamy and chocolatey, but I admit that The New God Flow was probably enough for us to share...it's good that we did not also go for the banana split!!!

This is a great place and I cannot wait to go back to it and try some other flavors (burnt honey vanilla, café latte) or their salted caramel pretzel...

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/28/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/28/15

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Located in Chinatown, Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli, formerly Banh Mi So 1, has been serving banh mi to an hungry crowd since 1988. A Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich, taking its origin from the French during its colonial period. In fact, Banh Mi is the bread before being the sandwich.

Inside of Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Inside of Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Sandwiches at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Sandwiches at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

This is a very small place with only few seats, so either grab and go, or go early to sit on the few spots available. Menu wise, they have quite a large choice, for the carnivores, but also the vegetarians or vegans, and it is not only limited to sandwiches: you can get rolls (pork or vegetarian), as well as salads (green papaya or chicken). But we are there for the banh mi, especially after we tried Banh Mi Saigon several weeks ago. Jodi decided to go for their vegan sandwich called Bánh Mì Chay Đậu Hũ, Xả Ớt Rau or Vegan chicken (tofu) with lemongrass (choice 11).

Vegan chicken sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Vegan chicken sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

On my side, I got the Bánh mì pâté supreme (choice 5) made with Pork liver pate, vegan salami and vegan ham.

Pâté supreme sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Pâté supreme sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Each banh mi was stuffed with crisp strips of cucumber, cilantro and shredded pickled turnip (radish) and carrots, that gave a nice freshness to it. My favorite was the pâté one, especially because of the homemade pork pâté that was succulent.

I liked Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli: theses cheap sandwiches (less than $6.50 each) were delicious. Would I go back? Definitely: I would like to try their Grilled minced pork with sweet glazed or sardines one.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich on Urbanspoon

I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15

Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

I was really looking forward to the Bacon and Beer Classic event at Citi Field, after a first immersion last year. Again, I was more interested with the bacon part of it, but was glad to try some different beers too. At the same time, I got to be invited as Press (the perks of a food blogger: what a sacrifice!) and thus, had access to the field (you need a VIP pass for this), but this time, no visit of the secret inside of the stadium, the season not being over.

Please note that this event was complimentary. However, the opinion expressed in this post are my own.

I went with my friend Gary who is a huge Mets fan. We queued up, anxiously waiting for the doors to open, in the middle of a crowd excited at the idea to be in the stadium, but even more excited to get some food made with bacon (some very original), as well as different kinds of beers.

Dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY — Dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY

Phones in the dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY — Phones in the dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY

So, this event is about bacon and beer. For the later, there was ton of choices, with beers from all over the country.

Beer at the Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Beer at the Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Concerning the food, we got to try some amazing dishes; some of them were classic, others quite creative and surprising.

There were of course burgers! It started off with BareBurger and their bacon jam and blue cheese burger. It was heaven from the start: the meat was juicy and the pairing with the bacon jam and blue cheese was delicious.

Bareburger bacon and blue cheese at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bareburger bacon and blue cheese at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Then, the one from S.Ottomanelli and Sons that was a caramelized onion patty:

Caramelized onion burger with bacon from S.Ottomanelli and Sons at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Caramelized onion burger with bacon from S.Ottomanelli and Sons at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

And the peanut butter and bacon burger from Whitman's, surely an interesting combination that surprisingly works:

Whitman's bacon and peanut butter burger at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Whitman's bacon and peanut butter burger at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

There was also bacon on a stick. First was Landhaus from Brooklyn, with their maple bacon:

Maple bacon stick from Landhaus at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Maple bacon stick from Landhaus at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Steakhouses were well represented, first by Executive Chef Michael Vignola from Striphouse, with his Strip House cured Mangalista bacon with tomato chimichuri:

Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Cured bacon with tomato chimichuri at Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Cured bacon with tomato chimichuri at Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

As well as the bacon on a stick from Angus Club Steak House, a great restaurant located Midtown that I discovered last year.

Angus Club Steakhouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Angus Club Steakhouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

John's Pizza was also there, with a great cheese and bacon pizza that definitely pleased the crowd.

John's bacon and cheese pizza at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — John's bacon and cheese pizza at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Or the bacon rolls from Roll With It:

Bacon rolls from Roll With It at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon rolls from Roll With It at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

As well as the Applewood smoked bacon with magic sauce and BBQ confit Nueske from Bar Bacon (nice name!):

Applewood smoked bacon from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Applewood smoked bacon from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

BBQ confit from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — BBQ confit from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse:

Bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef.

Asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

For a healthy (right) snack, there is nothing better than broccoli dipped in some sort of bacon marinade from The East Pole.

Brussels sprout dipped in a bacon marinade from The East Pole at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Brussels sprout dipped in a bacon marinade from The East Pole at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Then, we got to try some sweets with bacon! First, the best was the pineapple bacon chocolate delice from Manila Social Club:

Pineapple bacon chocolate from Manilla Social Club at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Pineapple bacon chocolate from Manilla Social Club at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Donuts with bacon from Sweet Dreams:

Bacon donuts from Sweet Dreams at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon donuts from Sweet Dreams at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The nutella and bacon cheesecake from Bespoke:

Nutella and Bacon Cheesecake from Bespoke at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Nutella and Bacon Cheesecake from Bespoke at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

So we had a great time there: the food was delicious and the beer unlimited...This is definitely an event that is worth going to!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15

Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

We passed so many times in front of Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking district, whether we were going to the High Line, The Gansevoort Market or Chelsea Market. So, it was on our list and, after a day strolling in the city, we decided to go there to try their cheeseburger. We went early, at a time when it was not that crowded and so, we could hear each other...

Dining room at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Dining room at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

The place is fun: it has a dining room in the back, away from the bar, with colorful paintings on the wall.

I went for their signature burger, the Bill's Burger, served with American, lettuce, tomato and pickles.

Cheeseburger at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Cheeseburger at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

Jodi ordered the same, but added mushrooms.

The burgers were good, but did not provoke the OMG reaction we have when we go to Shake Shack, Burger Fi or Five Guys, that are even cheaper.

For sides, we ordered the onion rings that were also good, but a bit greasy.

Onion rings at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Onion rings at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

I was a bit disappointed, expecting more from this place. I may go back and see if their other location, located in the Rockfeller Center, with its 400 seats, is better...

Enjoy (...)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/15

By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Finding a good crêpe place in New York is not that easy. My favorite so far was Bar Suzette, in Chelsea Market, but I was hoping to find another great spot, maybe a bit cheaper and far from the hype of the market. This time, I tried By Suzette, a tiny place in Tribeca.

The first crêpe we tried was La crémière, made with cheddar, swiss, mushroom, tomato and cream.

La crémière crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — La *crémière* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I liked it, although the crêpe itself, made with buckwheat was too soft and missing the crunchiness it usually has. There was for sure lots of cream and cheese in it.

The second crêpe was La complète, made with ham, cheese and egg.

La complète crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — *La complète* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This is a fairly classic one. It was good and tasty, but the egg was a bit overcooked.

Last was our dessert crêpe. We picked a classic: butter and sugar.

Butter and sugar crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — *Butter and sugar* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

If you compare the color of the crêpe between the savory and the sugary one, you will notice a difference. The sweet one is of a lighter color: it is because it is made with white flour rather than buckwheat. The crêpe itself was good, but there was this rancid taste that I guess came from the butter...So disappointing...

So it was just ok. Would I go back to By Suzette? I guess only if I am in Tribeca and really am craving crêpes...

Enjoy (...)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/22/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/22/15

Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

This was a spectacular dish: first, the presentation was really appetizing and the dish had such an aroma that I just wanted to dig in. The duck was served in two ways: first was a breast that was perfectly cooked (pink) and with the best part being the skin that was deliciously fatty and heavenly crispy. Then, the kebab sausage that had so much flavors, thanks to the spices they used in it. The dish was served with parsnip purée, quinoa and grapes.

Little Park was last year's new addition from Chef Andrew Carmellini who brought us Locanda Verde, The Dutch and Bar Primi. Little Park is a seasonal restaurant (we went there for their Winter menu), serving dishes prepared with ingredients from local farmers.

Flower at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Flower at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I like the place, that has a natural decor and lots of booths (I love that as it is cozy and, by the way, never see that in France except in certain supermarket restaurants when I was a kid). Service wise, it was very good, except their insistence in putting our coats to the coat check that was a bit annoying and unnecessary. I am not sure what type of instructions they get, but I do not need to be reminded that the coat check is free to persuade me to leave my coat there.

What was interesting is that bread was upon request. I guess to avoid wasting it. It was a spent grain bread served with cultured butter.

Bread and butter at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bread and butter at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

As an appetizer, Jodi decided to go for the crispy brussels sprouts, served with smoked parsnip and apple.

Brussels sprouts at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Brussels sprouts at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

It was a very good dish, hearty. I particularly liked the slight smokiness of the parsnips. On my side, I went for the bay scallops, served with watercress, coriander and garlic.

Bay scallops at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bay scallops at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

The presentation was spectacular and I loved the contrast of colors, especially the green from the sauce that made that dish pop up. Taste wise, it was divine: the scallops, that were raw, tasted fresh and were not overpowered by the sauce that had a slight kick.

For her entrée, Jodi went for the butternut squash ravioli. What persuaded her to go for that dish was the morel mushrooms that are in there; and there were quite a lot of them.

Butternut squash ravioli with morel mushrooms at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Butternut squash ravioli with morel mushrooms at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Quantity wise, I would call it a French serving, so do not expect a large portion, but, in all honesty, with an appetizer and a dessert, it is enough...

On my side, I went for the dry-aged duck and kebab.

Dry-aged duck and kebab at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Dry-aged duck and kebab at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Of course, we could not leave without trying a dessert and we picked the pear and milk chocolate tart, that came with a white wine sorbet.

Pear and milk chocolate tart at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Pear and milk chocolate tart at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

The presentation was again amazing. Unfortunately, I did not like it: there was something about the texture that made it mushy and the taste of the pear got lost between the red wine that they used to poach it (they should specify that the pear are poached in red wine on their menu, so people know better what they are ordering) and the liquid chocolate. I also did not like the white wine sorbet.

Even if I did not like our dessert, I really liked Little Park and would certainly go back. This is another great spot in TriBeCa.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/20/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/20/15

Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Back in March, on a cold day, we went to Queens, in Sunnyside, to celebrate our friend Livia's birthday, at Bucharest, a Romanian restaurant. We went on a Saturday and I enjoyed the fact that the place was not crowded as we could hear each other talk, until they started string up the place for a party that night and the star of the event started singing. Don't get me wrong: it was...

Dining room at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Dining room at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

So, it is a big place, with 2 main dining areas. The first one is at the entrance, with its bar and the large painting on the wall that give a certain authenticity to the place I guess. The second, being the area where I believe they organize parties; long and wide, with a stage in the back for the entertainment and the disco lights.

I never had Romanian food before, so I let Livia and her husband George guide me in this culinary discovery. Livia told me that a typical meal starts with a soup, so I decided to go for it and went with apparently a classic, the Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup.

Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

The soup came with some sour cream and a green pepper that I totally ignored. It was very creamy and perfect for this cold day. The tripe was in the bottom. It has been so long since I have had a dish with tripe: I really enjoyed it.

Jodi went for a more classic dish: Salată românească or Romanian salad, that had tomato, olives, cheese, lettuce...

Salată românească or Romanian salad at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Salată românească or Romanian salad at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

For the entrées, we also followed Livia and George's advice. Jodi ordered a deliciously creamy polenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă):

olenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă) at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — olenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă) at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

On my side, I went for the Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries.

Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Both dishes were very good, but I have to say that the sausage was my favorite: they were moist and so tasty, but there was so much of it and I really wanted to have a dessert, especially as I had my eyes on the Papanasi that are donuts with sour cream and jam on it.

Romanian donuts at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian donuts at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

I loved the donut that was deliciously fried and not too sweet, but the sour cream was too much, hiding the delicious taste of the fried dough. I wished I knew there was all this sour cream on top of the donut, because I would have asked for it on the side.

I should mention that we accompanied our meal with some red Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012:

Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012 at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012 at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

This was a great lunch: good food and good company. I would definitely go back to Bucharest to try some other specialties.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/15

Lotus Blue, elegant Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

As we were exploring restaurants in Tribeca, we ended up at Lotus Blue, an elegant Chinese restaurant. I was intrigued by the name and wondering if it was named after one of the Tintin books, Le Lotus Bleu, but I guess I was mistaken, the lotus on the wall not being blue and nothing really in the decor could have indicated I was right. But it got me there!

Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Dining room at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I was thrilled to go try their menu, composed of small and large dishes. I love small dishes because you can share, but also because it gives you a chance to try several dishes, but I admit that there were so many mouth watering choices that it took me a bit of time to decide. I started off with a Thai Iced Tea that was presented like a cocktail and had some whipped cream on top (first time I got that with my tea).

Thai iced tea at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Thai iced tea at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Like me, you probably wonder how they could serve a Thai Iced Tea in a Chinese restaurant. Well, Lotus Blue serves Yunnan cuisine, a cuisine from the Southwest of China, that borrows dishes, herbs and spices from the neighboring Thailand and Burma.

So, we ordered few small dishes:

Roasted duck wraps, made with vegetables and served with plum sauce. I love duck and was definitely not disappointed. I loved the sweetness of the plum sauce as well as the freshness coming from the mint, both flavors not overpowering at all the duck that was delicious.

Roasted duck wraps at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Roasted duck wraps at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Then, we got crispy scallion pancakes, served with aloe honey sauce and a lime soy sauce. I liked it: it was crispy as advertised and a bit greasy as you would expect your scallion pancakes to be. I liked the honey sauce, but disliked the lime soy sauce that was too strong and bitter.

In fact, we dipped the pancake in the sauce of the pork pot stickers. The presentation was great, with the crispy crust covering the dumplings that were right under. They were very good, juicy and tasty and the shell was perfect, having a bit of crispiness on top.

The last small plate we ordered was the one I least liked: the grilled lemongrass spare ribs. They were a bit too dry for my taste, although flavorful.

We also decided to share a large dish and I let Jodi pick this time. She went for the pressed tofu stir-fried in basil mushroom sauce. In other words, it was a vegetarian dish and I have to say that I enjoyed it! The tofu was flavorful and, the mushrooms and the eggplant made it a very earthy dish.

I should mention that we both got a bowl of rice with the dish, emphasizing more the fact that the dishes are made for sharing.

Last was dessert, with its original dessert menu...

We went for the banana and jackfruit turon. Little I know that turon is a Filipino snack, a sweet version of a Spring roll. I liked it: it was deliciously sweet, crispy, with sesame seeds on top that added some nuttiness.

This was a great dinner and I can't wait to go back and try some other dishes like the banana blossom (never tried that) and mango salad or the stir-fried prawns with candied olives.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/16/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/16/15

Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I had Petrarca Cucina e Vino on my list for a while and we finally went there on a Thursday night, after booking the table on Open Table. I guess the name is an homage to Francesco Petrarca, the Italian scholar, but I admit that I was there less for the culture and more for the food...I probably should insist on the Vino part of the name: when you enter the restaurant, you cannot miss the amazing display of wine that goes all over the dining room; it is pretty impressive.

Dining room at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Preserved citrus at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Preserved citrus at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Food wise, they offer a menu that can satisfy the carnivore as well as the vegetarian, with classic dishes, and others that I do not think I ever saw on a menu, such as Spaghetti Integrali, whole wheat spaghetti with anchovies.

Bread at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Bread at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

We decided to start with couple of appetizers. First was the eggplant capponata bruschetta:

Eggplant capponata bruschetta at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Eggplant capponata bruschetta at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I did not expect such a big piece of bread, and I have to say that it was a bit challenging to eat it...But it was very good, very earthy, the eggplant being definitely the star of the show.

Then, came the Insalata di polpo or octopus salad.

Insalata di polpo at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Insalata di polpo at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was a sublime dish, the octopus being perfectly cooked, not rubbery and having a nice texture. I was also pleased by the nice quantity of it.

For her main dish, Jodi ordered the Ravioli di Zucca or butternut squash ravioli in a brown butter and sage sauce:

Butternut squash ravioli at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Butternut squash ravioli at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was very good, especially the sweetness coming from the butternut squash, but I wished there was more brown butter sauce...

But I guess my favorite was the Linguine Di Seppia or black linguine with a seafood and tomato sauce:

Black linguine with seafood at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Black linguine with seafood at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The linguine were fantastic and perfectly cooked al dente, bathed in a succulent tomato sauce. Then, I was surprised by the generous amount of seafood there; there were mussels, razor clams, clams, shrimp, calamari and octopus. The best proof it was good: I finished my plate!

Although we were full, we could not leave without having dessert...We went for the tiramisu:

Tiramisu at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Tiramisu at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was heavenly creamy and not too sweet. The only negative was that the lady fingers were too much imbibed by the coffee. But still, I liked it.

We had a great dinner at Petrarca Cucina e Vino: the food was good and the service on point. Would I go back? Definitely. This time, I will probably try their chicken parmesan or their homemade gnocchi...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/15

Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

I recently went to Havana Central for a quick lunch, trying to benefit from their $12.95 prix-fixe. For that price, you get a main dish with two sides (a choice of maduros, black or red beans, white or yellow rice). I love Cuban food that I find very comforting, so I was excited to see how this would be, especially as the place is close to Times Square and I was wondering if it would be a place where foot traffic is more important than the quality of the food.

Dining room at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

Bar at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Bar at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

It is a fairly big place, with a nice decor supposed to give patrons the impression they are miles away, in Cuba, rather than close to the busy area that is Times Square.

The dish I ordered was the arroz con pollo or saffron rice with chicken.

Arroz con pollo at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Arroz con pollo at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

With it, I chose black beans and maduros (that are plantains):

Black beans at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

Maduros at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Maduros at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

You may wonder where the chicken was: it was mixed with the rice. I liked it: the rice was flavorful and the chicken, boneless, was perfectly cooked, tasty and not dry at all. I was glad I picked the black beans that were perfect with the rice and loved the added sweetness of the maduros.

I had a nice introductory lunch at Havana Central and would certainly go back to try some other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/12/15

Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, our burgers came. At that point, we our noses got filled with the fantastic smell of the meat: this definitely opened even more my appetite.

Jodi ordered the cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup. On my side, I ordered the double cheeseburger with ketchup and mayo. I admit that I did not expect the patties to be that thick and the cheddar was oozing from it, giving to the burger an even more appetizing look.

Burger Joint is one of my favorite burger places in New York. The original location, located in The Parker Meridien Hotel is real good, but always packed. So, I was really looking forward to trying their restaurant on West 8th Street.

Neon at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Neon at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

I found for sure some similarities in the decor between the two locations: the neon in form of burger of course, as well as the graffitis on the wall (yes, I Just Want To Eat was here!).

Graffitis at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Graffitis at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

But it stopped there. Well, the first interesting artifact was the big zebra at the entrance, as well as the piano in the back...

Zebra at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Zebra at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Piano at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Piano at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, surprisingly, the place is big and operates differently than the other one: you sit wherever you want and they will take your order at the table, the food being prepared in the back.

Bar at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Bar at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Pickles and figurines at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Pickles and figurines at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Kitchen at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Kitchen at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they propose a bit more choices and, because they have a liquor license, they have a boozy milkshake...

Menu at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Menu at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

But, this was not for me: I went for the Oreo cookie milkshake that was thick and deliciously tasty.

Oreo cookie milkshake at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Oreo cookie milkshake at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, our burgers came. At that point, we our noses got filled with the fantastic smell of the meat: this definitely opened even more my appetite.

Jodi ordered the cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup:

Cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

On my side, I ordered the double cheeseburger with ketchup and mayo. I admit that I did not expect the patties to be that thick and the cheddar was oozing from it, giving to the burger an even more appetizing look.

Double cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Double cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

This was a spectacular burger: the meat was perfectly cooked (I ordered medium), was juicy and had a nice char. And definitely, it had a nice amount of cheese.

With it, we ordered some French fries that were cooked all the way through and crispy outside. My only regret was that they did not have onion rings on the menu.

French fries at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — French fries at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

You would think that we were full after such a delightful meal. Well, it did not end there...We spoke with the manager, Monica, and she offered us a complimentary brownie topped with vanilla ice cream. I think at that point my pants were about to burst with all that food!

Brownie at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Brownie at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Burger Joint is without any doubt one of the best burger places in New York and I am glad that they opened this location in Greenwich Village that is much more pleasant than the flagship restaurant. At least, we did not have anybody breathing down our neck waiting for us to finish our meal and leave so they can takeover the table. If you are craving a good burger or Burger Joint burger, try their location on West 8th Street: it is awesome!

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/15

Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

My experience at Sombrero started well...I went there during the lunch break of a training I was attending in the area and it was conveniently located a block away from the training facility, allowing me and my fellow trainee to find quickly shelter as the temperature was freezing. When we arrived, it was very cold in the restaurant and we asked the staff if it was normal (they could have just started the heater); they said that it was normal to have such temperature inside. Well, if I was the manager of the restaurant, I would offer, on the house, some warm beverages to my customers, and I am not asking for tequila or a margarita, but rather coffee or tea. They did not. Then, I noticed that my fork was awfully dirty: I mean, there was no way somebody would have missed that when dressing the table! Last, they did not have any lunch menu, that is fairly unusual for this area and I found the prices to be on the expensive side. Anyway, as I said, we were in a rush and I thought that maybe the food would be worth it.

Bar at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Bar at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Dining room at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

The bar was nice with its orange light in the bottom of the counter, but otherwise, the dining room was lacking some charm. Menu wise, they have the classic Mexican dishes: tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas... They started off by bringing us some salsa and chips; the salsa was quite spicy and I was glad to have the tortilla chips as the food took forever to come.

Salsa and tortilla chips at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Salsa and tortilla chips at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

And when it came, it did not really look appetizing...

Fish tacos at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Fish tacos at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

I ordered the fish tacos, made with red snapper. The only positive was the fact that they had a taco holder, allowing the tacos to stand up. But, if you look closely at the photos, you will see that the extremities of the fish were burnt. I do not understand how one can let that out of the kitchen! I had I not been in a hurry, I would have sent it back. Taste wise, it was bland...

With it, were some rice and beans that were cold. Great...

Rice and beans at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Rice and beans at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

When I think that this cost me close to $30...I should have gone to Chipotle for a better and cheaper meal! So I guess you know that I would not go back to that place, even if it is freezing out...

Enjoy (the post only)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/15

Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Saigon 48 is categorized as a Vietnamese restaurant, but it serves Asian food, from, of course, Vietnamese to Thai or Chinese. Located few block from the heart of Times Square, the interior of the restaurant is not what you would expect. Looking at the menu and their lunch special, I thought it would be the kind of place where you go more for the food than the atmosphere, and was definitely surprised to see the nice decor of the dining rooms (they have a small dining room in the back that would be perfect for a private gathering). But know that it is noisy and not primarily because of their customers, but because of the music that causes patrons to talk louder. Service wise, it is quick, efficient and cordial and, if you are in a hurry, they will definitely accommodate you.

Dining room at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Both times I went there, I decided to go with their specials, where you get a dish for less than $10. But there, similar to Pongsri, the Thai restaurant next door, there is no appetizer, only the main dish. So I tried one of their appetizers: scallion pancakes.

Scallion pancakes at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Scallion pancakes at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

It was served with a peanut sauce. I liked it: it was slightly greasy and crispy, like scallion pancakes should be.

Then, I tried the chicken and eggplant in brown sauce.

Chicken and eggplant with brown sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Chicken and eggplant with brown sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

This is the kind of dish I would get in a chinese restaurant, as I love eggplant and love this thick brown sauce that I also ate with brown rice.

Brown rice at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Brown rice at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Last was the crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce.

Crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

This was a big portion and definitely a good deal. There was a lot of fish, that was deliciously crispy, and lots of veggies, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste.

I think Saigon 48 is the kind of places where I would go for a quick and cheap lunch. For the price I paid, I was not expecting a gourmet lunch for sure and it was pretty decent. Question is: can I find better deals on 9th avenue, just few blocks away? I bet I can...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/15

Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

Pongsri is what we could call a chain restaurant whose first location was opened in 1972, in Chinatown, makes it the oldest Thai restaurant in that area. I did not go there, but to the one near Times Square, that I saw many times when walking near the multiple theaters.

Dining room at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Dining room at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

You would not go there for their decor and the ambiance, but certainly for the cheap prices they offer, especially with their lunch menu that propose a large selection of dishes, for the vegetarians and non-vegetarians; it goes from noodles to curry and fried rice, as well as salads. Contrary to the majority of the restaurants that offer a lunch prix-fixe, you just get your main dish: no salad or spring roll. So, as we were a group, we decided to get spring rolls, called Siam roll.

Siam or Spring rolls at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Siam or Spring rolls at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

There were six of them. I admit that they were really average: greasy and the only thing you could taste was the greasy crispy (at least that) shell; the inside, made with bean threads and vegetables was tasteless.

For my main dish, I got the chicken massaman curry that I asked not spicy. I do not know if it was because I ask for no heat, but it was a bit bland. So disappointing.

Chicken Massaman curry at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Chicken Massaman curry at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

I guess the only order I liked at Pongsri was my Thai iced tea, a must have when I eat in a Thai restaurant, even if the temperatures are freezing.

Thai Iced Tea at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Thai Iced Tea at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

So, it was a disappointing experience, the food being really average, even considering the price. There are plenty of cheap options midtown Manhattan, like Thai Grill, or Viv, that I will pass next time...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/15

Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

The dish took a bit of time to come, but, when it was at the table, my nose was invaded by the delightful smell of the lamb. It was a good dish: the meat being perfectly seasoned and moist, but I would have liked some sauce with it, maybe yogurt. I also liked the grilled vegetables that had a nice char.

Branding is an interesting industry: people can pay millions to get the perfect name for their business. Others use their imagination or maybe not. I mean, calling your restaurant Turkish Cuisine might be genius: instead of using a word that people who not speak Turkish would understand, possibly making people confused about the type of restaurant it is, just naming the type of cuisines straight forward and simple. Although I cannot imagine a place called French cuisine: it would lack the authenticity people are looking for.

Anyway, Turkish Cuisine is a...Turkish restaurant located in The Theater District, few blocks from Port Authority. I think we passed many times in front of it, but never noticed it (hence my surprised face when they told us they have been opened close to twenty years ago).

Dining room at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dining room at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Decor wise, it was like being a in a garden, thanks to the shutters on the wall.

Menu wise, I was already set with the combo grill that had all the selection of kebab, whether lamb or chicken. I chose the bulgur pilaf over the rice.

Combo grill at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Combo grill at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Bulgur pilaf at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Bulgur pilaf at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Jodi went for the falafel platter. It was composed of three large falafel, hummus and a green salad.

Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Falafel at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Falafel at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

The falafel were good, a bit crunchy, but I would not put they at the same level as Taim for example. To go with the hummus, they brought us more warm pita that came at the beginning of the meal.

Pita at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Pita at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Of course, we could not miss dessert, especially after we saw their dessert platter.

Dessert platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dessert platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

We decided to order the baklava (good and not too sweet):

Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

And the Turkish cotton candy that was a definite surprise: I do not know how they make it, but it was spectacular! I could have had more as it was not too sweet and light...like cotton candy.

Turkish cotton candy at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Turkish cotton candy at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

It was a good meal, but a bit overpriced and not the same quality as Roka in Queens, a restaurant that would make you rave about Turkish food. Service was good, although we could sense their disappointment when we did not order appetizers or drinks. Would I go back? I am not sure: I think New York offers plenty of other options...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/2/15

Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

I have never seen a presentation like this and was mesmerized by it! Taste wise, it was delicious, the octopus being perfectly cooked and the dish having the correct acidity. I admit however that I prefer when the octopus has a bit of char that enhances a bit the taste. But still, it was very good.

Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, Rosemary's gets its name from the mother of its owner, Carlos Suarez, who also owns Bobo and Claudette. The restaurant has a rooftop farm which produces and herbs are showcased in the all Italian menu crafted by Executive Chef Wade Moises. Decor wise, this place has a rustic charm that makes you forget that you are in Manhattan.

Dining room at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Dining room at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

But, back to the menu: it is also rustic, in the taste and its presentation and I admit that picking dishes was rather difficult, so many of them being mouth watering. Most, if not all, of the plates are small dishes perfect to share and the pasta and focaccia are homemade, adding a bit more authenticity to the place. We started off with the focaccia taleggio tartufi or focaccia with taleggio cheese and truffle (real bits of it).

Taleggio and Truffle focaccia at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Taleggio and Truffle focaccia at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

It came on a wooden board and the first thing we noticed was the smell of truffle. It was warm, with the cheese deliciously melted: I was in heaven. This is a very addictive dish and I could not stop eating it...

Then, came the braised octopus presented like...salami!

Octopus salume at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Octopus salume at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

For our main dishes, we decided to share some pasta. We ordered the cavatelli, served with butternut squash and sage brown butter (no walnuts for us):

Cavatelli at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Cavatelli at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

The second one was the fusilli all Napoletana or fusilli with tomato, homemade burrata, basil purée, pine nuts and parmigiano.

Fusilli alla Napoletana at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Fusilli alla Napoletana at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

Both dishes were delicious, but my favorite was the cavatelli: I love the texture of the pasta that was soft and perfectly cooked al dente, as well as the sweetness coming from the butternut squash that complemented well the brown butter. But don't get me wrong, the fussili was also very good, but I wished there was more sauce on it.

We first ordered the lemon ricotta bombolini (Italian donuts) with Nutella:

Lemon ricotta bomboloni at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Lemon ricotta bomboloni at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

The Nutella sauce was divine, as if Nutella was mixed with whipped cream, making it light, but the hazelnut spread taste not being lost. The donuts were also fantastic: soft, well fried and definitely addictive.

The second dessert was the olive oil cake.

Olive oil cake at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Olive oil cake at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

It was served with a blueberry compote and some whipped cream. It was succulent and I wished there was more, although I started to be full at this point...

Our dinner at Rosemary's was spectacular and I highly recommend this place: they food is great and the service was more than perfect. I would certainly go back, maybe for brunch, to see what amazing egg dishes they serve.

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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