I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/16

Salam café in Greenwich Village

We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.

I like the place, its decor that seems authentic, as well as the layout of the restaurant: the entrance looks like a café, with its beautiful round tables decorated with mosaic, a private room that gives the impression you are in a tent, and its large dining room where we got seated.

We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.

Decor at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Dining room at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Food wise, they have tons of dishes that cater to vegetarians and non-vegetarians, with some classics like falafel, hummus, babaganoush or kebab. After we ordered, they brought us some grilled pita (a bit tough I have to say) as well as some olives that we call olives cassées in French or cracked olives, a truly mediterranean way of preparing olives. The olives, green, are first cracked, then marinated in a juice (saumure), prepared in a similar manner as an herbal tea, made of different herbs like fennel, coriander, etc. as well as pepper. It has been a while since I ate some and I could not stop...

Pita bread at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Olives cassées or cracked olives at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC — *Olives cassées* or cracked olives at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For our appetizer, we went for the Sfia, a Syrian flat bread topped with cheese, that was very good and would satisfy any cheese lover considering the amount of cheese there was.

Sfia or Syrian flatbread at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For her entrée, Jodi chose the vegetable ouzi, a fillo stuffed with spinach, eggplant, zucchini, carrots, peas, rice, raisins that has been baked golden brown. It definitely looked good and seemed to be a popular dish (the offer it also with chicken, lamb or shrimp), but it was just ok, having more rice than anything else.

Vegetable ouzi at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

On my side, I went for the combination kebab, composed of chicken, shrimp, lamb, merguez sausage, and kufta. Served with rice and cooked on charcoal, this was really good and a good price, although I wish they had more merguez sausage in it as it was so good! I love when restaurants propose a combination platter so you can try few things and this was is definitely recommended.

Combination kebab platter at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For dessert, we opted for the baklava that was just good, but a bit dry.

Baklava at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

We had our dessert with some delicious mint tea that cut the sweetness of the baklava.

Mint tea at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

The food at Salam café was good, but I admit that it is not as good as Byblos, a Lebanese restaurant I discovered last year and where I would rather go back to to get some delicious Middle Eastern food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Salam Cafe & Restaurant

I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/16

Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Taking its name from a Province of the Persian Empire with its main city being Persepolis, Pars Grill House was the choice of restaurant from Jodi for her birthday. She wanted to have Persian cuisine, and, thankfully, we realized that Persepolis, on the Upper East Side, was only offering a slimmed down menu for lunch. After a quick web search, we found Pars Grill House and, looking at their menu, we decided to change our reservation and try it.

Bar area at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Dining room at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Camel bell at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

It is a large place, bright, with a nice decor and I should mention that they really made us feel welcome, being very hospitable.

Food wise, we had some great dishes. At first, they brought us some bread that they bake in their oven (I believe it is called barbari bread). It came hot as I guess they just made it and was sublime with butter, a bit crispy.

Barbari bread at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Then, we got some maast o khiar that is made with yoghurt, cucumber and dry mint, a dish very similar to the Greek tzatziki, that was perfect with the bread, but also with our main course.

Maast o khiar at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

For her entrée, Jodi went with her favorite Persian dish: kubideh that is a skewer of ground beef and lamb, mixed with onions and spices, and served with saffron basmati rice and grilled vegetables.

Kubideh at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

On my side, I ordered a mixed grill that had kubideh, as well as lamb chops. It was for sure a lot of food, and it looked very appetizing, especially the lamb chops that looked fantastic and were succulent: tender, juicy, perfectly cooked, they were delightfully fatty. The kubideh was also fantastic: juicy and very tasty.

Mixed grill at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Lamb chops at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

With my dish, I opted for a different rice made with almonds, pistachios, orange zest and carrots: the shirin polo rice. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like the taste of orange zest.

Shirin polo at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

For dessert, we decided to try their homemade baklava that was fantastic and had lots of honey in it.

Homemade baklava at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Last was a Persian tea that was fairly good.

Persian tea at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

We left full and glad we found this place. If you've never had Persian cuisine before, I highly recommend Pars Grill House: it is a great restaurant.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pars Grill House & Bar

I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/16

The Brooklyn Tree in New York

What I love about Brooklyn is that there are plenty of restaurants that are true neighborhood gems, thinking more about giving back to the community than making huge profits. The Brooklyn Tree is one of them. Inspired by the book “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” written by Betty Smith, which is set in East Williamsburg, Chef Patrick Quinn crafted a menu with dishes that are a nod to the book, such as meatloaf, pickles or iced coffee.

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

Gilbert and Chef Patrick Quinn at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Chef Patrick Quinn in the kitchen at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

It is a small place, with a casual yet warm setting that is dominated by a painting of a tree with Brooklyn in the background.

Dining room at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

We tried quite a lot of dishes and I admit that there was none of them that I thought was not good. Here is what we got:

For drinks, we tried their ginger mint tea, honey lemonade (you really get the taste of honey) and iced coffee that is inspired from the book and made with coffee from Café du Monde in New Orleans (it is a mix between coffee and chicory - in the book, as they have no money, they drink chicory as it is cheap).

Ginger mint tea and honey lemonade at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Iced coffee at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

We started our meal with gazpacho, a perfect cold soup for the summer. It was made with heirloom tomatoes, english cucumber, toasted coriander.

Gazpacho at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Then, we tried their cheese puffs that were spectacular! They were ricotta fritters served with a sweet pepper and peach jam. Not greasy, they were really addictive.

Cheese puffs at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Then was the tomato and cucumber salad. I was surprised about the size of the bowl as, for $8, it was quite big and know that it is not just tomatoes and cucumber: it has seasonal greens and crispy chickpeas with a tahini dressing. These crispy chickpeas were great, giving a bit of originality, as well as a nice crunchiness, on top of the one given by the cucumber.

Tomato and cucumber salad at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

With salads, you can add a side of meat or veggie loaf, or chicken. I decided to try their meatloaf, a comfort food that I rarely tried. It was served with a red pepper glaze that elevated the dish. It was delicious, dense, with a nice crust.

Meatloaf with a red pepper glaze at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Next were two sandwiches. The first one was something Chef Quinn is working on: a buffalo chicken schnitzel with sugar snap slaw (that can also be ordered as a side). It was succulent: served on a muffin, the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist. And I love the crunchiness added by the slaw. I just wished it was spicier.

Buffalo chicken schnitzel sandwich at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

The second one was their signature burger, made with grass-fed beef with aged white cheddar, smoked tomato aioli, seasonal greens and house pickles. The bread was also an English muffin. When you order a sandwich, you get a side and we got the sweet potato fries, served with an avocado ranch sauce that was a perfect pairing.

Burger and sweet potato fries at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

That burger was sublime: the thick patty was perfectly cooked medium, juicy and tasty. There was also lots of cheese and also some crispiness from the pickled vegetables.

Sweet potato fries at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Sweet potato fries with avocado ranch at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

In fact, we also tried their pickled vegetables separately from the burger and they are a nice addition to a meal.

Pickled vegetables at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

I loved the food and atmosphere at The Brooklyn Tree: I wish I had such a restaurant in my neighborhood. Chef Patrick Quinn is doing a great job creating dishes that make you want to come back. I should mention that the products used at The Brooklyn Tree are sustainable, from local purveyor, surprising considering their reasonable prices. So, it shows that you do not need to over-pay to get sustainable quality food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Brooklyn Tree

I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/16

Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Located on Bleecker in the heart of Greenwich Village, Romagna Ready 2 Go is an amazing restaurant where Chef and owner Lorenzo Lorenzi serves authentic Italian food straight from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. Chef Lorenzi designed the restaurant, that is divided in two main areas: the dining room, with its brick walls and various tools hanging there, as well as the covered garden interestingly decorated with things like his grandfather’s original racing bicycle painted with the colors of the Italian flag, an every day reminder of his home country and his family.

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

Dining room at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Table at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Tools hanging from the walls of the dining room at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Covered garden at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Bicycle at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Food wise, we were there for a treat, with specialties that transported us, for a moment, to Italy. We started off with the rimini piadine, a traditional flatbread from the Emilia-Romagna region, simply made with white flour, olive oil, salt and water. This was like a sandwich made with prosciutto, arugula and stracchino cheese. It not only looked fantastic, but was succulent: the ingredients tasted fresh, there was a nice amount of prosciutto and that bread was spectacular, slightly crispy. I could definitely eat this every day (they have 22 different choices of piadina)!

Rimini piadina at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The second appetizer was the bruschetta al pomodoro, that is tomato, garlic, oregano and olive oil on a toasted slice of bread. A classic perfectly executed.

Bruschetta al pomodoro at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Then came the pasta course, all homemade. First was the Lasagna della Nonna or Grandma's lasagna, probably one of the best lasagna I had in a while. The pasta itself was delicious, with no need for a knife to cut through. And then, there was a generous amount of meat and sauce.

Lasagna della Nonna at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The next pasta course was the panzerotti al porcini, a sort of ravioli that looks like a calzone, stuffed with mushrooms and served with a cream that has a hint of truffle (I guess oil). It was another hit: first, when the dish came, we could smell the truffle. And then, the first bite was divine, giving a rush of mushroom flavors. The panzerotti itself was sublime, perfectly cooked and soft, even on the edges that I find sometimes a bit hard.

Panzerotti al porcini at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The last dish was the octopus alla griglia spruzzato all'aceto balsamico di Modena or octopus broiled and grilled with a secret balsamic vinegar sauce. The octopus looked fantastic and was well cooked, being not rubbery at all. It was good, but I thought that the vinegar overpowered a bit the dish.

Octopus at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

To accompany the meal, I got a glass of Sangiovese Doc Le More 2014:

Sangiovese Doc Le More 2014 at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

We left full and satisfied after a fantastic meal. Chef Lorenzi is truly talented and serves and amazing food in a setting that will make you forget that you are in the heart of Manhattan.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Romagna Ready 2 Go

I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/16

Caviar and Chocolate, an association from Petrossian and La Maison Du Chocolat

Caviar, chocolate and champagne: aren't these three names synonymous of a luxurious meal? That is what was on the menu of an event hosted by Petrossian, in association with La Maison Du Chocolat, in the presence of Alexandre Petrossian, from the famous caviar purveyor family, and Nicolas Cloiseau, the Chef behind the incredible creations of the chocolatier.

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

Caviar from Petrossian and Chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat

Chef Nicolas Cloiseau from La Maison du Chocolat

Alexandre Petrossian and Chef Nicolas Cloiseau

In this stunning setting, I have not only enjoyed some delicious amuse bouche from Petrossian's Executive Chef Richard Farnabe, but also the result of the collaboration of these two famous establishments.

Here is what I tried:

Vodka caviar marshmallow (Petrossian):

Vodka caviar marshmallow from Chef Farnabe of Petrossian

Salmon and cream cheese lollipop with a beet mousse (Petrossian):

Salmon and cream cheese lollipop with a beet mousse from Petrossian

Chocolate ganache tart (La Maison Du Chocolat):

Chocolate ganache tart from La Maison Du Chocolat

Macarons from La Maison Du Chocolat (the white one was made with praline that is one of my favorite flavors):

And then, I could try their extravagant trio: caviar, vodka and chocolate, that you can also taste in a limited edition called Chocolate Vodka & Caviar, featuring two different kinds of chocolates:

The Vodka and dark ganache chocolate: for this, Chef Cloiseau used Petrossian 's premium vodka and made a ganache with it. When eating it, you get first a crisp flavor, and then feel the warmth of the vodka.

Petrossian Vodka Dark Ganache chocolate from La Maison Du Chocolat

The second chocolate was a dark ganache caviar. For this one, Chef Cloiseau used Ossetra caviar for its nutty and buttery flavor. He paired it with the nuttiness of the praline and, on top, put a caviar ganache that gave a taste of the sea.

Petrossian caviar dark ganache chocolate from La Maison Du Chocolat

Then, Chef Cloiseau made an exclusive treat for the evening: a macaron with caviar ganache topped with a green apple whipped cream and caviar.

Chef Clouseau adding green apple whipped cream to a chocolate macaron

Last step: Chef Clouseau adding an edible gold leaf to the chocolate macaron — Last step: Chef Clouseau adding an edible gold leaf to the chocolate macaron

Next step: Chef Clouseau adding Petrossian  caviar to the chocolate macaron — Next step: Chef Clouseau adding Petrossian caviar to the chocolate macaron

Chef Clouseau presenting his chocolate macaron with green apple whipped cream and caviar

Et Voila:

Chocolate macaron with green apple whipped cream and caviar

And as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, there was champagne...And not just one bottle, trust me!

This was a great event and I was really please to meet Chef Cloiseau and hear Alexandre Petrossian talk about the collaboration between Petrossian and La Maison du chocolat. Pairing chocolate and caviar is a very creative idea and it works! Bien joué, Messieurs!

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! 6/24/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/16

Brunch at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Beauty and Essex is for sure an interesting place. You would think, looking from outside, that it is a pawn shop, but the door in the back opens up to an incredible space were multi ethnic food crafted by Chef Chris Santos. Yes, the dining room is spacious and elegant.

Pawn shop at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Door to the restaurant at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Dining room at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Cash register at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Bar at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

They also have multiple private dining rooms like the one I saw in the back of the first floor.

Private dining room at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Food wise, the brunch menu had so many dishes that looked fantastic, showcasing the inspiration of the Chef, that choosing was difficult.The menu is organized in such a way that it is a progression, especially if you share (most of the dishes come in quantity of three and, if you share, they can make it four), keeping the theme of the pawn shop: first are the "sweet thing and starters", then "jewels on toast", "featured items", "accessories " and desserts.

So we opted for an appetizer: their vanilla beignets with raspberry jam. These small beignets were fantastic: not doughy, they were cooked all the way through, delicately smothered with powdered sugar and filled with a delicious raspberry jam that was not too sweet.

Vanilla beignets with raspberry jam at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Then, Jodi ordered their scrambled eggs toast that was served with zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes. It is supposed to have burrata in it, but I admit that it was unnoticeable...

Scrambled eggs toast at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

It was good, but not as good as my lobster tacos that were definitely worth it. The beer batter Maine lobster was very good: the lobster itself was perfectly cooked and the fried batter crispy. I thought it was a perfect take on fish tacos. I should mention that it was served with a red cabbage slaw and a poblano crema.

Lobster tacos at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

That was a great brunch! The food was delicious, well presented on the plate and the place fun. Service wise, it was also on point, making the whole experience enjoyable. Would I go back to Beauty & Essex? Certainly and this time, I would try their burger, chicken biscuit bites or huevos rancheros with short ribs. Well, I told you choosing a dish was difficult there...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Beauty & Essex

I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/16

Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Last Friday, I was walking on 44th street toward 8th Avenue when I noticed Sammy's House of BBQ, a new restaurant in the heart of Times Square. I love BBQ so I could not resist and convinced Jodi that we needed to go there for lunch the next day. I thought the place would be busy, even if we went at around 1:30pm, as Times Square is always packed with tourists, but was surprised to see that place fairly empty. It is a big place with three main dining rooms: one in the front, one in the back and one upstairs. The bar was not yet busy as they did not have yet their liquor license that should, apparently, be granted soon.

Dining room at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

I love the decor there: simply rustic, with burlap used for the banquettes, making you think you are away from the city, in Texas. And also, when you go to a BBQ place and they have rolls of paper towel on the table, you know it is going to be messy and messy for a BBQ means good! Ever better are the various sauces, my favorite being the Saint Louis style BBQ sauce.

Sauces and paper towel at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

To start, we decided to go with fried green tomatoes, a dish that is not that often proposed in New York, except at Southern Hospitality not too far from there. Unfortunately, they came back few minutes after our order to let us know that they did not have any and we decided to go with the fried pickles that were quite good, especially dipped in a hot chipotle sauce.

Fried pickles at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

For her main dish, Jodi went for the mahi mahi tacos that were delicious: three tacos that were made perfectly, especially the fish that was well cooked and moist. It could have had a bit of crunch, but even without, it was worth trying it.

Mahi Mahi tacos at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

On my side, I decided to go with one of their samplers that comes with corn bread and two sides: you can choose between a choice of 2, 3, 4 or 5 meats that comprised of brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs, smoked chicken and sausage. As I am a reasonable guy, I went for only 3... There, I chose the brisket (melting in my mouth and deliciously fatty), the pulled pork (fantastic, moist and with burnt ends that gave an even better taste) and the ribs (disappointing as they were dry). For the sides, I chose the tater tots (just ok) and the mac and cheese that was pretty good and very cheesy.

Sampler at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Brisket at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Ribs at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Mac and cheese at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Pulled pork at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Corn bread and tater tots at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

We left the restaurant full, with no space for dessert (although I do not know if they have any). Sammy's House of BBQ is a good place, not as good as Brother Jimmy's or Southern Hospitality, but much better than Virgil's, located a couple of block away. Their brisket is fantastic as is their pulled pork. I will probably go back there to try some other specialties such as the wings that I was close to order...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sammy's House of BBQ

I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/16

Bayou Bash with Top Chef Contestant Isaac Toups and Heluva Good!

Tonight, I got invited to a Bayou Bash with Top Chef contestant Isaac Toups and Heluva Good! This event that took place at Bourbon Street Bar & Grille was the perfect occasion to meet Chef Isaac Toups who was a contestant in the last season of Top Chef on Bravo TV. We not only talked about his experience on that show, but also about the food in Louisiana as well as New York, where he went to places like Gramercy Tavern or Roberta's for pizza, but also to some Indian places. I always appreciate successful Chef’s that are still modest and passionate about what they are doing. I could also see his love for Louisiana that translates into his food.

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

Bayou Bash with Top Chef Isaac Toups and Heluva Good!

This event was hosted by Heluva Good, to celebrate their new dip flavored with Tabasco brand that was just a bit spicy and delicious with the creations from Chef Toups that, looking at the recipes, were fairly simple to make and could, accompanied with one of the dips, stun your friends. There was:

Fennel grilled shrimp:

Fennel grilled shrimp with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

Smokey cauliflower:

Smokey cauliflower with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

Beef satay:

Beef satay with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

French onion dip with chips and veggies with the hot and spicy dip:

Heluva Good French onion dip with potato chips

with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand with veggies

The food from Chef Toups was very good and had this surprising simplicity in terms of execution. I admit that the cauliflower was one of my favorites, that is a lot to say for me, being more a carnivore than a vegetarian...

With the food, I went for a Stella Artois beer.

And we also enjoyed a band that gave a nice Louisiana atmosphere to the party.

Band at the Heluva Good Party with Chef Isaac Toups

This was a great event thrown by Heluva Good, giving us the opportunity to think we were in Louisiana and not in the heart of Manhattan. Hosting this party with such a talented Chef as Isaac Toups was for sure a great move and an opportunity for food lovers like me to meet with him. And I can tell you: he is like on the show!

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! 6/20/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/16

Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

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

Caviar is an interesting product: reserved to only a few years ago and symbol of luxury and gourmet; it is now more and more popular and often present in restaurants dishes, more often used as a topping than standing on its own. Well, this may change and if you want to discover the many variety of caviars that are available, Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge is for you as they offer various ways of tasting these luxurious eggs at good prices. Of course, the higher the quality, the pricier it will be, but imagine that, unless you go for caviar tasting platter shown below, priced at $55, you can try caviar on egg for as little as $5 a piece, up to $32 for a Beluga. I should mention that the latter is from South Korea, farm raised and Olma is the only company in the New York Metropolitan area to import farmed Beluga caviar. Owned by Edward Eliachov and partner Igor Eliachov, President of Olma Food, a company established in 2001 in Brooklyn, they not only sell, but also manufacture caviar. And if you do not like caviar, there are many other options as you will see in this post.

Olma Caviar Boutique and Bar at The Plaza Food Court

The place on the Upper East Side is an outpost of the one located in the Plaza Food Court. But, in this recently opened location, you can appreciate even more an elegant decor that is dominated by an amazing display: not only the display is amazing, but also what is inside...

Dining room at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Display at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

We started with a glass of champagne, a generous amount for sure .

Champagne at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Then came the long awaited caviar tasting. It was composed of eight different kinds, sitting on a mini-blini with a touch of creme fraiche, in a progression from left to right, from the lower to the higher grade, progression that they suggested to follow. The four on the left side were from the US, while the four on the right side where from abroad. I truly appreciated that the plate came with a band where the names of each beautiful pearls were written, although I would have liked having also a description of each of them, so I could better compare.

Caviar tasting at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Caviar names at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

There was (from left to right - description provided by Olma):

Salmon red: red to orange role, firm, glistening eggs with fresh, juicy crunch

Salmon caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Bowfin caviar: distinctive mildly tangy flavor.

Bowfin caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Paddlefish black: similar to Sevruga, from the Spoonbill fish, dark gray to black roe, with nice salinity.

Paddlefish caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC — Paddlefish caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Hackleback: from Hackleback Sturgeon, black or dark gray glistening eggs, firm with a nutty taste.

Hackle back caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

White Sturgeon: slightly firm but delicate texture.

White sturgeon caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Russian Siberian Aurora: similar to Beluga, high quality, from Siberian sturgeon.

Siberian caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Russian Osetra Karat: delectably fresh and fruity, warm brown to dark gray color, firm and juicy, distinctive flavor.

Osetra Karat caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Beluga: extremely mild, buttery and unique full-flavored aftertaste, large pearly light gray grains, firm, clear and glossy.

Beluga caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

That was really good and I liked the fact that I was able to try one after the other, the texture and taste differing from one another. If you do like caviar, as I mentioned before, they have multiple options, such as foie gras, duck, crab, as well as salmon that I tried in a sandwich: the salmon lox sandwich composed of a generous portion of lox, cream cheese, arugula and tomato in a deliciously soft and crispy French baguette.

Salmon sandwich at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

As well as a cheese platter composed of goat cheese, provolone, cheddar, manchego, grapes and nuts.

Cheese platter at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

This was definitely a good meal and a nice discovery. I love the fact that I got to try all this delicious caviar this way. Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side is a good place to know whether you are a gourmet or a curious. And if you are none of those, you can still enjoy some delicious food in an elegant setting.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Olma Caviar

I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/16

Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

I am sure you are wondering why I would eat in a diner considering all the options New York City offers in term of food. It is definitely not because of the prices, this place not being as cheap as one thinks, but rather the folklore that, as a Frenchman, I attach to a diner. Understand that this type of restaurant does not exist in France, but, during my childhood, I kept seeing TV series and movies where the characters would end up in diners, having some eggs, pie or coffee.

Old ads at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Dining room at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Additionally, we were to take a train at Penn Station and this place is conveniently located few minutes from it. I love the colorful decor, as well as the back wall completely covered with posters from old ads and did not miss glancing at the desserts that looked yummy. Service was quick, efficient and friendly and the food as expected: simple and comforting. We were going to a barbecue, so we did not indulge...Jodi got herself a spinach salad that was composed of spinach, cucumber, blue cheese, boiled egg, tomato and avocado.

Spinach salad at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

A fairly straight forward dish for sure with veggies grossly cut.

Ham, Swiss and eggs crepes at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

On my side, I got the ham, Swiss and egg crepe.

Maple syrup and butter at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Crepes at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

There were two crepes: that was a nice portion, and I was surprised that they would serve it with maple syrup. However, when I tried without, I found the crepe a bit bland; so here went the maple syrup that made that sweet and savory mix delicious (I should add that the generous amount of cheese was no stranger to my appreciation). I should also mention the fresh squeeze juices they offer: we picked orange and grapefruit. They are at a good price, but know that they will not ask if you want a small or large and will immediately go for the later.

Fresh squeeze orange and grapefruit juices at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

So, overall it was a decent meal. Tick Tock dinner can be a good place if you are curious about dining in a diner or if you have to catch a train and want American food only.

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! 6/16/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/16/16

Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

So we made it to Delmonico's Steakhouse, the famous restaurant in the Financial District that gave us the Delmonico steak as well as the Delmonico potatoes that I saw few times on restaurants' menus. This old school steakhouse is an institution and steak lovers cannot miss trying it, similarly to going to Peter Luger. Delmonico's is located in an amazing building on Baxter St, and when you enter inside, you are mesmerized by the decor that can seem heavy, and gives the impression the atmosphere will be stuffy. It was not the case and the patrons were from various backgrounds and dressed in many ways: elegant to casual. One thing I truly appreciated was the noise level that was perfect, allowing us to have a nice conversation while enjoying our food.

Dining room at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Decor at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

The only small inconvenience was that we were seated next to the wine cellar and we kept having the staff going back and forth in it. Otherwise, everything was on point: good service for sure and food to our liking. As I was going to have a steak, I paired my meal with a glass of Pinot Noir from California La fenetre "a cote" 2013.

Glass of Pinot Noir La Fenetre "A cote" 2013 California at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

So, after we ordered, they brought us a bread basket with some whipped butter, fairly standard for a steakhouse.

Bread basket at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

For appetizer, I went for the blue crab cake and bacon. I thought it was a good idea to combine two popular steakhouse items in one single dish: it makes the choice for appetizer easier as I love both. And these were perfect: the bacon was deliciously smokey, fatty, with a crispy outside and the crab cake was really letting the lump crab shine, avoiding stuffing the whole thing with fillers.

Blue crab cake and Billy's bacon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Blue crab cake at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Bacon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

We were then ready for steaks. They have two sections: staples with their signature Delmonico steak, as well as on the bone.

Steak knife at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Jodi decided to go for the filet mignon:

Filet mignon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

On my side, I really hesitated between their Delmonico steak that is a boneless ribeye and their bone-in ribeye. In all cases I wanted the ribeye and finally decided to try their signature dish.

Delmonico's steak at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Both steaks looked fantastic and had a nice char. The ribeye was topped with fried onions. In term of temperature, mine was perfect, medium rare, but Jodi who ordered her filet medium got a cut cooked more medium rare.

Both cuts were delicious, tasty and juicy, as well as very tender. We accompanied our steaks with a succulent bearnaise sauce. You can add toppings to your steaks, like foie gras, lobster, etc. and my only regret was that there was not any bone marrow...

Bearnaise sauce at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

As a side, we went for the onion rings with buttermilk blue cheese sauce, lots of blue cheese sauce with delicious chunks, definitely a side I recommend.

Onion rings at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Last was dessert. We decided to go with their signature: the baked Alaska. Created by Charles Ranhofer 1867, it is made of walnut cake, banana gelato and meringue, and served with apricot jam.

Baked Alaska at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

The presentation was fantastic with the meringue nicely flambéed. It was sublime, at the exception of the walnut cake that I thought did not go well with the rest. So guess what? I ate everything except the cake...

It was overall a good dinner, a bit pricey, but good. I was glad to try such institution, but was not as enthiusastic when I left as it was the case with similar old school establishments like Peter Luger or The Old Homestead. Would I go back? Not sure: there are so many steakhouses out there that have much better steaks at lower prices. I prefer continuing my exploration of New York steakhouses.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delmonico's

I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/16

Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Bruno Pizza is quite an interesting place in many ways: first of all, they mill their flour that had a whole grain color and taste, and then, their pizzas are not your classic pies. They may look like it, but they have a twist, like the standard margherita made with fermented tomatoes. Another particularity of this place is that prices include tip, providing I guess a fair compensation to all staff, following the path of Chefs like Danny Meyer.

I was there with my friends from Tabelog, the largest community of foodies in Japan that is already making its mark in the US, as well as Jean, a food connoisseur who has an amazing Instagram account. We ended up in this rustic decor that was brightened by enough light so we could see what we were eating, a rarity these days. And I should mention the noise level that was perfect, so we could entertain a nice conversation mainly focused on food...

Counter at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Dining room at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

We had a feast that was definitely dominated by the pizza made in their wood fire oven, giving them a nice char and a bit of crispness.

Wood fire oven at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The pizzas were thin crust with inflated sides, similar to a Neapolitan one. We tried:

The Early spring greens (my least favorite, missing some sauce and thus dry), made with Dorset, onion soubise, arugula and pecorino cheese. It looked like a pizza perfect for people who want to have the impression they are eating healthy, although they are still eating a pizza!

Early Spring Greens pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The meatball (my favorite), made with amatriciana, cacciocavalo, cipollini, Calabrian chili. This was delicious, especially the sauce that was very good and is what often makes the difference between pizzas.

Meatball pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The Finocchiona, made with fennel sausage, almond romesco sauce, shisito peppers, bernie (cheese with a texture close to cheddar).

Finocchiona pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

After the pizza, we tried couple of appetizers:

Fluke crudo with aguachile, red onion, avocado spuma and radish. Light and refreshing dish with a nice acidity.

Fluke crudo at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Razor clam casino, served with smokey mountain bacon, breadcrumbs and an "ocean herbal" broth. That was very good and I loved that they proposed razor clams rather than clams, mussels or oysters for this, making it a bit unique. It was also beautifully presented, with amazing colors.

Razor clams casino at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The last appetizer was the Long Island squid that was made with black garlic, treviso, olives and pine nuts. Another beautiful presentation. The squid was perfectly cooked and not rubbery at all.

Long Island squid at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The last dishes we tried were pasta. The first pasta dish was the bucatini cache e pepe, that was just ok, being a bit dry.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

And the second dish was the squid ink tonnarelli, served in a spicy tomato sauce that I did not like...

Squid Ink Tonnarelli at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

To accompany our meal, we went for a bottle (or two) of Foradori, Teroldego 2013 from Italy. They have a nice selection of wine there, with lots from Italy, as well as an impressive beer list.

Foradori, Teroldego 2013 Italian wine at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

I had a nice time at Bruno Pizza: good company and the food was for the most part good. I would pass on the pasta for sure. But know that Bruno Pizza offers a very creative menu and could be the place for you if you are looking for that. On my side, I would stick with classic Neapolitan pizza places like Luzzo's or Motorino that are not too far from there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bruno Pizza

I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/16

BLT Prime in NYC, New York

For my birthday, I had to pick the restaurant where Jodi and me would celebrate. I decided to go to BLT Prime that has been on my list for a while. Few years ago, I went to BLT Steaks, their sister restaurant, and I was disappointed: the steaks were overcooked, an issue that was not isolated to just us, but also to the patrons seating close to our table. But, it could have been an off night and it was a different location.

We went there on a Thursday and the place was quite busy. Right away, I saw that it was not the classic steakhouse, but more a contemporary version of it: modern by its decor, its light that allowed us to see our food, as well as the overall feel, although there were lots of businessmen there.

Dining room at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Private dining room at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Foodwise, we were there for a treat. At first, they brought us some chicken liver and some toast. I love chicken liver so I dove right in, but thought it was odd to offer it in replacement of the bread basket, because lots of people do not like it.

Chicken liver and toasts at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

In fact, it was not at all replacing the bread basket: they brought us some amazing popovers with some butter and salt that were difficult not to resist to.

Popover and butter at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

To start our meal, I decided to order an appetizer. I admit that I hesitated between the crab cake and the grilled double cut smoked bacon; I even thought at some point ordering both, but remembered that it would only be the start of a heavy meal...So, I went for the crab cake that was served with a radish salad and a meyer lemon sauce. It was good, but a bit small for the price ($20) and the ratio crab cake / radish salad was a bit unbalanced in favor of the radish that could have overpowered the entire dish (it was a close call).

Then came our steaks. Jodi decided to go for the 10oz filet mignon that was served with a tiny salad and a bit of steak sauce.

Filet mignon at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the cowboy ribeye, a bone-in ribeye that was served in a hot skillet with roasted garlic and some bone marrow. When I saw the bone marrow, I was so happy: I was in fact desperately looking to see if they offered it as an add-on to the steak and did not see any.

Bone-in ribeye at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Bone marrow at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Bone marrow and ribeye at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Both steaks were delicious and perfectly cooked (medium for Jodi and medium rare for me). For sure, the ribeye was the best: tender, juicy and delightfully fatty, it was even better with the bone marrow that added some fattiness to it. With it, we tried their béarnaise sauce that was quite good.

Bearnaise sauce at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

I should mentioned that I paired my steak with a glass of Pinot Noir L' Umami, 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Pinot Noir L' Umami, 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

For sides, we went for the mac and cheese that was ok, missing a bit of creaminess.

Mac and cheese at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

As well as onion rings that were delicious: crispy, not greasy and cooked all the way through.

Onion rings at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. The choice was difficult as they have so many mouth watering options. We finally went for the "banana cream" cream puffs that were served with a caramel praline sauce that was succulent. I simply loved it, but have to admit that I could only eat two of the cream puffs, being full after such a feast.

"Banana cream" cream puffs at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Well, they also brought us some small brownies that I could not not taste...and I did not regret it!

We had an excellent evening at BLT Prime: the food was delicious and the service on point. This place is definitely an elegant version of a steakhouse. It is a bit pricey, but is worth the trip if you want to celebrate an event or...if money is not an issue...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

BLT Prime

I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/16

Turntable Chicken Jazz near K-Town in NYC, New York

Turntable Chicken Jazz is a very interesting place. First, it is hard to be found, like a hidden gem that people keep secret. It is on the second floor of a building, in Koreatown, with a very discrete sign outside, to the point that my friend Benny was waiting for me in the wrong restaurant...

Dining room at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Bar at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

The second thing that makes this place unique is the decor: it is all about music and there are turntables on every wall, as well as microphones and photos of singers and bands. I like the vibe that makes it more than just a Korean chicken place.

Turntable at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Turntable and photos at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Turntable for DJ at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Microphone at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Food wise, it is not just chicken there: they have ramen, bulgogi and all sort of dishes that will mainly satisfy the carnivores. Yes, there are few vegetarian dishes, but do not expect a phenomenal experience on that front.

We started our meal with some drinks. A shot of vodka for Benny and a soju bomb for me.

Soju bomb at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Then, the food came. The first dish was an appetizer: fried pork dumplings. We had the choice for the sauce between soy & garlic and hot & spicy. We chose the later and trust me: that was spicy! To the point that my mouth was on fire. But you know what? These dumplings were so good that I could not resist going back to it: the shell was deliciously crispy and the filling very tasty.

Hot and spicy dumplings at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Then, we hot different kinds of chicken: wings, thigh and tenders, with either hot & spicy or soy garlic sauce (you can ask for half and half).

Chicken tenders at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Chicken thigh at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Chicken wings at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

This was fantastic: the chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy and moist. However, I noticed that the hot & spicy sauce was not that spicy this time, but some white rice was anyway welcome as the dumplings put my mouth on fire for a while.

I loved the fried chicken at Turntable Chicken Jazz: the food there was fantastic and the atmosphere of the place was awesome. It is definitely a place where I would go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Turntable Chicken Jazz

I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/16

Utsav, Indian restaurant near Times Square

I have heard about Utsav so many times, my Indian colleagues liking this place and mentioning it very often when discussing the various Indian restaurants Midtown. So, I finally went there for lunch, benefiting from their buffet that, although pricey ($22) is still a good deal for the quality of food, especially since Balucci's and its 50% discount for lunch closed. Their dining room is quite big and I liked the fact that it was bright, but it definitely misses some charm, looking more like a restaurant you would find in a hotel.

Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Dining room at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Waiting area at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Food wise, the buffet offers quite a nice selection of dishes, ensuring the heat level is bearable. My favorite there was the dal makhani, this black lentils dish that you can find on most of Indian restaurants menu. This one was thick as oppose to the watery ones I had in the past. Then, I loved the Murgh Shahi Korma, that is pieces of chicken smothered by a delicious cash nut and almond sauce. So creamy.

Dal Makhani at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Murgh Shahi Korma at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

As far as vegetarian dishes are concerned, their veggie makhanwalla, made of assorted vegetables and cottage cheese, bathed in a creamy tomato sauce was also a winner. But I have to admit that the bhindi masala, made with okra was a option; I discovered okra in an Indian restaurant and, being mainly a non-vegetarian, I enjoy it very much.

Veggie Makhanwalla at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Bhindi Masala at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Dessert was also good, with Gajar Ka Halwa, a sweet carrot pudding, or a mixed fruit mango mousse that was not too sweet, maybe counterbalancing each other. I was glad that they propose two options as I am always frustrated that in buffet desserts are sacrificed.

Gajar ka halwa at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Mixed fruits mango mousse at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Here are other dishes I tried:

Rice pulao and vegetable biryani:

Chana Palak (chickpeas and spinach cooked in mild spices):

Chana Palak at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Delicious tandoori chicken:

Tandoori chicken at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Fish vindaloo (spicy):

Fish vindaloo at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Spinach fritters (my least favorite):

Spinach fritters at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

And of course, all the fixings: raita, tamarind sauce, chutney, onions, etc.

Fixings at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

Fixing at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

As well as naan:

Naan at Utsav, Indian restaurant Midtown Manhattan

It was quite good and I will definitely go back to Utsav. Maybe for their week end lunch special as they serve dishes like Dosa or Uttapam at that time in their buffet.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Utsav

I Just Want To Eat! 6/6/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/6/16

Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Hoboken has a new restaurant in the W Hotel that is worth knowing. Replacing Zylo, a pretty good Italian steakhouse, this new restaurant called Halifax (it opened two weeks ago) will surely make its marks in the mile square city. First, the location is perfect: few minutes from the path train, it is on the river front with its stunning views of the New York City skyline.

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

Second, you do not really have such a restaurant in Hoboken, serving an elegant menu that is not overcomplicated. For sure, it is the restaurant of a hotel, but it does not feel like it. The decor has a coastal feel, matching the menu and I loved the light in the space, thanks to the large windows, allowing diners to eat with their eyes the succulent dishes. We arrived early, around 6pm, and the place was not that crowded until approximately 7pm when it started to fill up. By the time we left, it was packed, including a back room where a Bat Mitzvah was taking place.

Bar area at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Dining room at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Belted Kingfisher at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

So, Halifax gets its name from the capital of Nova Scotia, a region in Canada from where Chef, Seadon Shouse is (the bird you see on the logo of the restaurant is a belted kingfisher that is the emblem of that city and can be found on its official blazon). The restaurant fully adopts that name by proposing a seasonal and coastal menu, adapting even some classics to that theme, such as the deviled eggs topped with house-smoked herring. But Chef Shouse goes even further by making in house some amazing products such as smoked meats, smoked seafood, as well as some authentic Vermouth that I was able to try, some of them being really surprising and spectacular as you will see later on. We let Chef Shouse picked the dishes for our tasting and I can tell you that I did not regret it.

Chef Seadon Shouse from Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Our feast started with some popcorn made with smoked seaweed and horseradish, a fairly interesting start.

Smoked seaweed and horseradish popcorn at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

As well as a homemade Parker bread with homemade sea salt butter that was so good, we refused to have more as I could not resist it and would have not been able to eat the rest.

Homemade Parker bread and sea salt butter at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Homemade Parker bread at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

With this, I decided to try one of their signature cocktails and picked the Yankee Julep, made with mint-infused belvedere vodka, rum and mint syrup, a very refreshing drink.

Yankee Julep cocktail at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Yankee Julep cocktail and appetizers at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Then came the Chef's selection of appetizers. What is great about the menu is that it offers items to share, with a wide variety, from smoked or cured meats, to smoked seafood or local cheeses. Served in a rustic manner, it was split between a dip sampler and a smoked or cured meats and seafood sampler, both served on a wooden plank and with some grilled Tuscan bread.

Vegetarian sampler at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The dip sampler had a pea purée with bacon, an eggplant-tomato and goat cheese dip that had Mediterranean flavors, a warm ricotta and horseradish (interesting combination) and a Kunik goat cheese from a local purveyor.

Pea purée at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Warm ricotta and horseradish at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Eggplant-tomato and goat cheese at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Kunik goat cheese (NY) at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The other dish had: smoked mussels, pork lomo, country terrine, maple smoked salmon and a duck liver paté.

Smoked and cured sampler at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Smoked mussels at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Maple smoked salmon at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Duck paté at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Pork lomo and country terrine at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Smoked mussel at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Everything was really good, but I admit that the two items that really surprised me were the smoked mussels and the maple smoked salmon. The later was amazing, similar to a candied salmon, and I have to admit that they would not have told me it was salmon, I would have never guessed.

Continuing with our discovery of the menu, we got some starters. The first one was the house smoked salmon (no maple this time), served with red wine onions, dill, brioche and a horseradish cream.

House smoked salmon at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The second one was an interesting creation: roasted asparagus with spring onion vinaigrette, poached egg and parmesan.

Roasted asparagus with a poached egg and parmesan at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The last one was a clam chowder, one of my favorite soups. It was made with a generous amount of clams, house made smoked bacon and house made oysters crackers. It was delicious, although there was bit too much dill for me.

Clam chowder at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Then the entrées came (smaller portion fortunately as I started to be full!)...First was the Long Island back sea bass, served with sunchokes, tomato confit, sea beans and honey-lemon puree. This was succulent, the fish being perfectly cooked and moist, with a skin nicely torched.

Black sea bass at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The second entrée was a smoked Amish chicken, served with toasted bread, currants, pine nuts, scallions and local greens. The smokiness of the chicken was great and the chicken itself was perfectly cooked. This dish was like a chicken salad, but elevated.

Smoked Amish chicken at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

The last entrée was the main lobster rigatoni (know that it comes in two sizes: as an appetizer like for us or as an entrée). It was served with lobster coral butter, trumpet mushrooms and lemon. I liked the dish and truly appreciated the fact that there was a generous amount of lobster and trumpet mushrooms. I also liked the way the pasta was cooked, slightly more than al dente.

Lobster rigatoni at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

With the dinner, I got a glass of Pinot Noir, Cycles Gladiator 2014 from California.

Pinot Noir, Cycles Gladiator 2014 from California at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert. We got to try the blueberry sundae, made with a fantastic homemade buttermilk gelato, blueberries and cornmeal cookies (this was my favorite dessert).

Blueberry sundae at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

And the strawberry rhubarb parfait, made with a white chocolate mousse and streusel (those little crumbs you see on top).

Strawberry rhubarb parfait at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

But when we thought we were done, they served us their homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, as well as their homemade Vermouth, a nice gesture to all their patrons.

Oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

Homemade Vermouth at Halifax in the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ

This dinner was a feast and every single dish was delicious. I discovered Halifax and it will probably not be the last time I will go there: their menu is fantastic and unique in the city. Chef Seadon Shouse is definitely a talented Chef who showcases some creativity, but without over complicating dishes. Good luck to Halifax and the team behind it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Halifax

I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/16

The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

Going to Philadelphia and not going to the Reading Market is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. I mean, it might be touristy, but it is worth it.

I love that place with all these merchants, a sort of paradise for foodies, with a majority of unhealthy choices, such as the cheesesteak that I could not miss. I decided to try Carmen's Famous Italian Hoagie, convinced, maybe wrongfully, that the huge line wrapped around the booth was a good sign. I went for the classic cheesesteak, with cheese whiz, onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers. It was already a heart attack on a plate, but I was thinking that, if it had to be, I should make it even more spectacular by adding American cheese, as the guy in front of me did. After I ordered, they gave me a game card that represented my order and I probably waited 5 minutes until it was ready.

Game card for order at Carmen's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

It was a good cheesesteak, having for sure lots of cheese and a tender and juicy piece of beef. But I admit that it was not as good as Tony Luke's or Pat's.

Carmen's Classic Cheesesteak at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

Below is a short video on how they prepare the cheesesteaks, from rectangular pieces of meat...

Jodi went for something more healthy and picked Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties, a place that proposes many Middle Eastern dishes (as its name indicates!), such as tabouleh, hummus, babaganoush or falafel.

Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

She got falafel in a pita that reminded me of Toum NYC, a food truck I tried few weeks ago. It was good and definitely healthier than my choice.

Falafel in pita at Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

But I think the best of all was the donuts from Beller's. We heard about this place when waiting on line at Carmen's. The person behind us had a big box of doughnuts that looked good. She said that she came from Connecticut and never misses a chance to get hand rolled doughnuts from Beller's.

Beller's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

The line there was crazy, even longer than the one at Carmen's and we had time to look at the kitchen section where those donuts were made, as well as make up our mind as to what we wanted as they have a large number of flavors (close to 50), from classic glazed, Boston cream or French cruller, to more unique, like banana cream, key lime and oreo cream.

Making donuts at Beller's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

It would not have been the cheesesteak before, I would have probably tried 5 or 6 of them...But I tried to be reasonable, as usual! I decided to try:

The glazed donut:

Glazed donut at Beller's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

The Boston Cream donut (this one does not look good, because it was squished in the bag):

Boston cream donut at Beller's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

Jodi went for her favorite flavor: coconut.

Coconut donut at Beller's at The Reading Market in Philadelphia, PA

These doughnuts were simply spectacular. I am not sure how they are making them, but they were slightly crispy from being fried and melting in my mouth. They were so addictive! I wish they would open a store in New York as they are some of the best I tried. And they are cheap too, as we paid $2.89 for the 3 doughnuts. Please come to New York, please!

This was a great visit. Each time we go to Philadelphia, we end up at The Reading Terminal Market and enjoy it. This is a place not to miss for sure.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/2/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/2/16

The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

I do not think there was ever one time or one dish that was disappointing whenever we went to Morimoto, the eponymous restaurant of Acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. We went few times to his New York location and I was excited to try the one in Philadelphia as it is his first location. And I was again not disappointed, the whole experience being fantastic, from the vibrant decor to the service that was on point, without forgetting the amazing food.

Dining room at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Sushi bar at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

The decor was modern, a bit futuristic, with lights changing from time to time. I loved the area that was for couples, on each side of the restaurant, not to close to the other tables, giving a sense of intimacy, if it was not for the noise level. The only thing I would have removed was this phallic lamp right in the middle of the table that could not be moved and so made sharing dishes not that convenient.

Lamp at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

As it was our last night of celebration of Jodi's degree, I decided to get myself some sake and picked the Dassai, Otto fest 50 from Yamaguchi, Japan, a well rounded sake with hints of honey and orange blossom.

Sake Dassai, Otto Fest 50 from Yamaguchi, Japan at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

We decided to try new dishes this time and first was a pretty interesting appetizer: the yosedofu, that is table side made tofu served with crab ankake (made with starch, giving like a gelée texture), wasabi, soy sauce and puffed rice for an extra crunch. What was interesting was to see them making the tofu. It comes in the form of soy milk, in a quite hot pot, that they leave covered for ten minutes, until the tofu is formed. It seems easy, but apparently it is not, the soy milk needing to have the right fat content and be at the right temperature. If it was easy, I would probably make it myself, because it does not taste at all like tofu you buy at the supermarket or you find in restaurants: no, this one was silkier and melted in my mouth.

The other thing I liked about this dish is that it is a bit build your own, that makes it playful and you can play with the flavors adding a bit of this or that. It also makes it the perfect dish to share, even if the person you are sharing with does not like crab or is vegetarian.

Pot to make fresh tofu at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Crab ankake at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Freshly made tofu at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Freshly made tofu with crab ankake at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Then came the entrées: Jodi went for the black cod miso that was sublime, the fish being perfectly cooked and having a delicious crispy skin that retained the miso flavor. There were also black beans in the dish that were surprisingly sweet.

Black cod miso at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

She also ordered a side of mushrooms (sake butter Japanese mushrooms) that were delicious.

Sake butter Japanese mushrooms at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

On my side, I got the duck duck duck, a dish that would satisfy duck connoisseurs. It was duck three ways: roasted duck breast, duck confit fried rice and a duck egg that was sunny side up, with a runny yolk to mix with the rice. The duck breast was perfectly cooked, juicy, with a nice fat.

Duck Duck Duck at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Duck breast at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

And the fried rice was succulent, with bits of confit in it, giving a nice saltiness to the dish.

Duck egg and duck confit fried rice at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

Last was dessert. There were many that looked amazing and we opted for the chocolate key lime pie, a twist on a classic dessert that was delicious. From the outside, it looked like a chocolate tart, with caramel and chocolate nibs on top, as well as some meringue on the sides of the plate, next to fresh raspberries.

Chocolate key lime tart at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

But, in the center, was the key like me piece of it, pairing very well with the chocolate. I should also mention, on top of the tart, the raspberry-wasabi sorbet that was surprising: when eating it, you first get the taste of the wasabi and then the raspberry. This was an interesting combination and highlighted, again, the creativity of Chef Morimoto.

Raspberry and meringue at The original Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA

We had a great time at Morimoto: this place is my favorite when it comes to elegant Japanese cuisine. I highly recommend it if you want to try other things than sushi and sashimi: the creative dishes there will blow your mind. And there is no question that I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Morimoto