I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/16

Valentine's and Easter 2017 Collections from La Maison Du Chocolat

Being a blogger has its perks and one of them is that you get sometimes invited to previews of upcoming menus or collections such as the 2017 Valentine's and Easter Collections event organized last week at La Maison Du Chocolat on The Upper East Side. Well, I was not just excited about the chocolate, although I could easily imagine being locked inside this place all night...It was also because I got the opportunity to meet Geoffroy D' Anglejan-Chattilon, Managing Director of La Maison du Chocolat with whom I had a nice chat.

La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

Geoffroy D' Anglejan-Chattilon, managing Director at La Maison Du Chocolat

There, I got to sample some of the new creations of Chef Nicolas Cloiseau that I met at Petrossian for a Caviar and Chocolate event. Yes, caviar and chocolate, a surprising combination that works perfectly and showcases an amazing creativity.

Chef Nicolas Cloiseau from La Maison Du Chocolat

Here is what I tried:

Valentine's 2017 Collection:

This collection is very interesting as it evolves around four different Parisian moments. The first one is An espresso, s'il vous plait, with a Café gourmand chocolate, coffee and its aroma being a big part of French lifestyle (no problem if you only like tea though). First of all, I love coffee, but usually dislike anything with coffee in it such as chocolate or ice cream. There, I was surprised, because I loved it, probably because there was the right balance between the milk chocolate, almond praliné and the Hawaiian coffee that has a more subtle taste. I also loved the crunchiness of the crepe that also composed this delicious first chocolate.

Cafe gourmand at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

The second moment is A secret Paris Rendez-Vous, Hidden From View with the Caramel Apple chocolate, made of a caramel compote and milk chocolate. This was amazing, the taste of the apple compote coming through gradually.

Caramel Apple chocolate at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

The third moment, called A bouquet of flowers, to brighten your day, with a floral and fruit bouquet chocolate made with a dark chocolate ganache, violet and rose.

Floral and fruit bouquet chocolate at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

The last moment, A chic cocktail to end of day, was represented by the cocktail attire chocolate, made with a dark chocolate ganache, lemon, rosemary, lemon basil, topped with an apricot.

Cocktail attire chocolate at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

All these chocolate were delicious: not too sweet, delicate, I loved the subtle flavors of each ingredient that came through as I was tasting them. Chef Cloiseau talks about temps, that is like a timeline where each ingredient has its time to shine.

Easter 2017 Collection:

I did not get a chance to try the Easter 2017 Collection, but, based on what I have tried that day at La Maison Du Chocolat, I am sure it is delicious. For sure, it is different from the usual bunny, beautifully presented and, just hearing what each of the four figurines were made of, I was simply drooling. There was:

Miss Cow: almond praliné topped with milk chocolate.

Miss Cow 2017 Easter Collection at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

Mademoiselle Feather: almond/hazelnut praliné, caramelized biscuit, dark chocolate

Mademoiselle Feather 2017 Easter Collection at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

Mister sheep: Hazelnut praliné, crispy crepe, topped with dark chocolate.

Mister sheep 2017 Easter Collection at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

Monsieur Bunny: almond praliné, caramelized coconut, milk chocolate

Monsieur Bunny 2017 Easter Collection at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

Unrelated to these two collections were orangettes, candied orange peels enrobed in dark chocolate, result of the collaboration between La Maison Du Chocolat and The Webster in Miami. Not only these chocolates were succulent, the pairing of the orange peels with the dark chocolate being delicious, but the packaging was beautiful, celebrating each company as well as locations, palms, flamingoes and Webster building for The Webster (located in Florida), Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe for La Maison Du Chocolat.

Orangettes at La Maison du Chocolat, Upper East Side, NYC, New York

I have to say that I admire La Maison Du Chocolat and the creativity of Chef Cloiseau: they propose some amazing creations and so far, from all that I have tasted, it was spot on. They succeeded in being different from all the other chocolatier, modernizing their offering in a way that make them definitely unique.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

La Maison Du Chocolat

I Just Want To Eat! 10/30/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/30/16

Esperanto, Latin cuisine in Alphabet City, NYC

I love NY for the diversity of its food and was not disappointed after eating at Esperanto, a Latin restaurant located in Alphabet City that is celebrating its 17th Anniversary. This place has a neighborhood latin café feel that I always like to find, far from the famous places where there is no soul. It is not a big place, but it benefits from having space outside for a few tables, so patrons can enjoy the last bit of good weather before winter comes. Esperanto is not a big place; it is colorful and warm, with a rustic feel.

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

Doing room at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

We went yesterday and arrived earlier than planned, after seeing a horror movie close by for Halloween. At that point, live music was still playing in the bar area, filling the room with Brazilian rhythms (there is live music everyday from 4 to 6pm).

Live music at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

We started off with ordering some drinks. Caipirinha for me:

Caipirinha at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

Sunshine RX for Jodi, a cold-pressed juice made with pineapple, apple and orange. In fact, Esperante has a juice bar (Jugo juice bar as they call it), that prepares cold-pressed juice at prices very similar if not lower compared to the the Jamba Juice and like. Definitely a good deal.

Sunshine RX cold-pressed juice at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

We decided to order few appetizers, perfect for sharing. Here is what we had:

Guacamole, pico de gallo and chips:

Plantain crusted goat cheese. This was served with sautéed leeks and pico de gallo. Fantastic dish, especially if you like goat cheese. I loved the texture, from the crunchiness of the crust to the softness of the cheese and the flavors paired perfectly together.

Plantain crusted goat cheese at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

Beef empanadas: nice shell, delicious filling that was moist and tasty.

Beef empanadas at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

Mussels, roasted in garlic, paprika, butter and parmesan cheese. A succulent dish that I recommend.

Mussels at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

Last was dessert. The first one was churros, served with a chocolate sauce. These were big churros and I admit that I did not need at all the chocolate sauce as they were delicious by themselves, although missing a tiny bit of sugar.

Churros at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

The second dessert was the banana flambées, that are ripened bananas sautéed in dark rum (lots of it) and sugar, creating a delicious coating.

Banana flambées at Esperanto in Alphabet City, NYC

We had a nice time at Esperanto, a cute little spot in Alphabet City that is worth knowing. They have interesting small plates that are perfect for sharing in a casual and relax 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!

Esperanto

I Just Want To Eat! 10/28/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/28/16

Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

When temperatures start to go down, I am always looking forward for ramen. I was really looking forward to try Mentoku in Hell's Kitchen. I saw that place while walking down the street and noticed their spicy ramen with...whipped cream. Not that I was going to try it as it seems to be really spicy, but still, I was a bit curious. We went on a Saturday to this small cash only place that was not as crowded as Totto Ramen that we passed by few hours later.

Dining room at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Open kitchen at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Menu wise, they have a bunch of choices and Jodi decided to go for their lunch special that included a ramen and a green salad for $13. I have to admit that the salad was quite small and thought it was not that much of a great deal considering that the ramen she chose was $11 (so, do the math: the salad was $2 - at the end of a day, the ramen would have sufficed).

Green salad at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

But I admit that her ramen, vegetarian, was not only surprising, but also delicious. It was the matcha ramen, made with green tea soup noodles topped with konjak, menma, kikurage mushrooms, and soy milk. I thought that the presence of green tea and soy milk was quite original and the taste of it was scrumptious.

Matcha ramen at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, I went for a pork bun that was very good, with just the right amount of fat and enough mayo. The pork was perfect, not dry at all.

Pork bun at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Then came my ramen. I chose the chashu ramen that is the Hakata Genryu Ramen with extra pork. It is made with Tonkotsu pork soup, pork loin chashu, menma and scallions. I loved it: deliciously fatty and tasty, I literally inhaled it.

Chashu ramen at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

With it, we ordered each a soft boiled egg (ajitama) that was perfect, the yolk being runny.

Soft boiled eggs at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

I should mention the noodles that were thin flat egg noodles in both ramen.

Matcha ramen noodles at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Chashu ramen noodles at Mentoku Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

I loved my lunch at Mentoku: this is a great ramen place and I am sure I will go back to indulge on some more of this noodle soup I often crave.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mentoku

I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/16

Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

The last time I went to Fogo de Chao was few months after this upscale steakhouse opened, back in December 2013. I even went to one of their locations in Sao Paolo that I found of lesser quality than their sister restaurant in the big apple. Well, the location itself is amazing with its three floors and I cannot imagine the rent they pay a month.

Bar on the 1st floor at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Bar on the 2nd floor at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Dining room at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

To go there, you need a solid appetite as the prices are similar to a steakhouse, except that you cannot take home any leftovers (would be interesting to ask them to wrap up some meat to take home...). Fortunately, if you are vegetarian (pure or eating fish), you have options, like the salad bar or the sea bass.

For sure, I skipped the salad bar that was quite big with lots of options, from salads to salumi, and of course fruit that were nicely presented.

Salad bar at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Parmesan cheese at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Salumi and cheese at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Pineapple at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Asparagus at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Watermelon at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

What was surprising was the service: rude and inefficient. My friend Abe got his cocktail order wrong twice; the waiters seemed annoyed that I was taking photos (I try to go quick and never use the flash, asking courteously for permission to do it), and they would not follow up when we asked them for something. Weird, because the restaurant was not that busy for a Thursday evening, so it had nothing to do with understaffing from what I observed.

As a start, they served us some pao de quejo that are these small cheese breads that are so addictive.

Pao de quejo at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

In terms of meat though, we were there for a treat: their meat is simply delicious: tender, juicy and well cooked (you can ask for the temperature of your choice and they try to accommodate), with very few cheap meats as I would call them, such as chicken or pork. Not only did they have great beef cuts, but they also had lamb, especially these lamb chops that were fantastic. Remember that they give you a chip with two sides: green, so the staff knows they can bring meat, red so they stop bringing more meat.

Chips for more/no more meat at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

And I can tell you that the meat comes fast!

I got the following meat:

Garlic steak:

Sirloin:

Pork ribs:

Bottom sirloin:

Leg of lamb:

Top sirloin:

Lamb chops:

With the meal comes some sides: mash potatoes, fried polenta sticks and caramelized bananas. The latter were definitely my favorite.

Mash potatoes at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Caramelized bananas and polenta at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. Smartly, they show you all the desserts they serve and I admit that it is a bit difficult to resist, even after eating so much food.

Desserts at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

So I tried: Chocolate cheesecake (just ok, not as dense and tasty as I expected):

Chocolate cheesecake at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Lemon tart (sublime, not too sweet):

Lemon tart at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

Tres leches (my favorite):

Tres leches at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

With my meal, I decided to keep the Brazilian theme and ordered a caipirinha that was perfect.

Caipirinha at Fogo de Chao in NYC, New York

This was a nice meal in an amazing decor: I for sure prefer Fogo de Chao to Churascaria Plataforma. Would I go back? Definitely! And if you go, skip the salad bar: it is just a way to make you eat less meat...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Fogo de Chao New York

I Just Want To Eat! 10/24/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/24/16

Lala Sahab, modern Indian on the Upper West Side, NYC - Closed

Meaning Sir Lala, Lala Sahab is the new venture of Executive Chef and owner Lala Sahab that I met few months ago at Surya, where he not only treated us with a sublime meal, but also made a demonstration of the use of the tandoor oven.

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

Executive Chef Lala Sharma at Surya in NYC, New York

So, needless to say that I was really excited to go to Lala Sahab. There, Chef Sharma crafted a modern menu influenced by Northern Indian food and organized in few categories of small plates perfect for sharing: Mumbai Bites, Bhatti Se (from the Tandoor) and Choolah Se (from the pan), served in a decor with warm colors, a nod to Indian spices and cultural history.

Dining room at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Back dining room at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

If you are a beer drinker, you can get some draft beers from local producers or the famous Indian beer, Kingfisher. I like beer, but, with Indian food, I prefer a mango lassi and the one I got was perfectly made: not too sweet and not watery at all, with a delicious mango taste.

Mango lassi at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

We then got some papadum with mint and tamarind sauces before our dishes came, like having an apéro (the name given in France of the time before a meal when beverages are drunk with few snacks such a peanuts, olives or crackers).

The first dish to come was a sampler of two: a vegetable samosa and a tikka-wale samosa. The former is fairly common, but I admit that it was the first time I tried a chicken tikka samosa, more accustomed to see lamb whenever a non-vegetable samosa was proposed. And I loved both of them: these turnovers were delightfully crispy and very tasty, not spicy, and delicious with either the tamarind or mint sauces served with the papadum, or with the makhni sauce that came with the plate, another twist I guess on a classic Indian dish.

Samosa with Makhni sauce at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Chicken samosa at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Vegetable samosa at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

The second appetizer was the Dahi Batata Poori, that is masala Chickpeas and crisps topped with yogurt, mint and tamarind. I love this kind of dish that has a sweet and savory taste, the yogurt adding a refreshing taste.

Dahi batata poori at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Then came Lala's Chaap, lamb chops marinated in Indian spices, red wine and herbs. I was definitely looking forward to try this dish as the lamb at Surya was sublime and I was not disappointed: it was tender, perfectly cooked medium and had a nice kick to it.

Lala's chaap at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Then came the entrées.

There was:

Saag paneer that is creamy spinach cooked with cottage cheese (paneer):

Saag paneer at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

Sahab Ji’s Dal, a dish made with black lentils simmered on slow fire overnight and tempered with cumin and ginger:

Butter Chicken made with roasted chicken in a tomato and fenugreek sauce:

Butter chicken at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

These dishes were really good, my favorite being the butter chicken. It was even better with the poori that is a whole-wheat puffed bread, that was nicely crispy and delightfully greasy, or with rice.

Last was dessert and we got to try two of our favorites! First was gulab jamun, these milk-balls that are fried and dipped in a sweet syrup.

Gulab jamun at Lala Sahab in NYC, New York

The second was kheer that is rice pudding.

Both desserts were fantastic and a perfect way to finish a delicious meal. I was definitely not disappointed with Lala Sahab: it is a great place to eat Indian food and it will not be the last time I would go 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!

Lala Sahab

I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/16

Fall into chocolate dipping party at Roni-Sue's Chocolates

Roni-Sue's Chocolates is not unknown to me as I got to a try few times their amazing chocolates, even recently at the Great Big Bacon Picnic in Williamsburg where they presented a delicious bacon butter crunch toffee.

Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Roni-Sue's bacon butter crunch toffee at The Great Big Bacon Picnic

But this time, I was at an event called The Fall into chocolate party, result of the collaboration of Jackie Gordon, aka The Singing Chef or The Fountain Lady who owns a chocolate event company Divalicious Chocolate Events, Fountains & Tastings, and Roni-Sue's Chocolates. This event was definitely an ode to chocolate with two different fountains. One was made with Roni-Sue’s own 60% MOHO semi-sweet chocolate, an organic, direct trade, single origin chocolate from Belize.

Roni-Sue’s own 60% MOHO semi-sweet chocolate fountain at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

The second one was MATCHA (green tea) infused white chocolate, that was my favorite definitely.

Matcha green tea chocolate fountain at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

To dip into the fountains, there were more than 25 different items, from the classic strawberries, pretzels, marshmallows, and graham crackers as well as special fall dippers like pumpkin spice cream puffs, caramel Lady apples, cranberry pepita popcorn balls or apple cider donut holes.

Matcha Chocolate fountain and dipping items at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Chocolate fountain at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

cranberry pepita popcorn balls or apple cider donut holes at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Marshmallows at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Oreo cookies at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Strawberries at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Rice crispy treats at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Pretzel sticks at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

And then the dipping madness started...Especially considering that a fair number of bloggers came before the event officially started to take some photos.

Food influencers fall into chocolate at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Dipping into the chocolate fountain at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

But this was not it! There is a hidden garden where they had some additional treats for us. There was first a hot apple cider that I could have drunk all afternoon.

Apple cider at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

What I would call chocolate dipped tuiles:

Chocolate dipped cinnamon sticks at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Lower East Side, NYC

Butter crunch toffee:

Beer caramel pretzels:

This was a wonderful event and our hosts were fantastic. Thanks to Roni-Sue's Chocolate staff and Jackie Gordon for having us there!

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!

Roni-Sue's Chocolate Shoppe

I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/16

Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

I heard about Haandi, a fast casual restaurant serving Pakistani and North Indian cuisine: it is apparently a favorite spot for taxi drivers and the line of taxis in front of this place when I arrived seemed to confirm this, although when I entered the joint, it was not that crowded and the customers who came later seem to be business people rather than cabbies.

Dining room at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

I wanted to go there for one reason: I wanted to try some dishes fairly unusual...The first one is Magaz Masala, a specialty made with lamb brain cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices. The second was Gurda Kaleji Masala or lamb kidneys and liver cooked in a special sauce. I told you that these are unusual dishes! Unfortunately, they did not have any of them. So, I ended up with a meat platter that, for $8.99 is a good deal: for that price you get two meats, rice, a vegetable, a salad, a naan and raita. For the meat, I chose the chicken tikka masala and chicken jalfrezi. I passed on the vegetable and got yellow rice.

Meat platter at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

Presented buffet style at the counter, the meat and rice was put on a plate and then warmed up...in a microwave, causing the sauces to break. The naan bread was good, and reminded me more the bread you would find in Persian restaurants, missing some of the char I love so much.

Chicken tikka masala at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

Chicken jalfrezi at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

Yellow rice at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

Salad at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

Naan at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

With my meal, I got a mango lassi that was a bit disappointing: too liquid, not as tasty, I could taste the crystals of sugar added to the drink.

Mango lassi at Haandi in Curry Hill, NYC, New York

So, needless to say that I was a bit disappointed with Haandi. I think Curry Hill has so many good options, that I would pass. Or maybe I would go back just for the two dishes I told you I wanted to try. Solely for these...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Haandi Restaurant

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

Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

I will not surprise anybody by saying that Empanadas Café serves mainly...empanadas. If you want to eat something else, you are going to be very, very, very, limited. I was excited to go there, not only because I love empanadas, those little pockets of deliciousness that are either baked or fried, but also because they offer a wide variety of them, away from the classic beef or cheese ones.

This place is small and casual. You order your empanadas at the counter, pay and, when it is ready, they will bring them to you on a wooden plank with some hot sauce and chimichurri sauce..

Dining room at Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

Counter at Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

Empanadas at Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

We tried:

Egg, bacon, cheese, peppers and onions:

Eggs, bacon, cheese, peppers and onions empanada at Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

Pepperoni and cheese:

Rice and beans:

Beef empanada:

Blue cheese mozzarella and walnuts:

Mushrooms:

Cheese:

Guava and cheese:

The last time we went they even had a deal: for $7, you get a fresh squeeze juice and an empanada. So I got myself a delicious fresh squeeze orange juice.

Fresh squeeze orange juice at Empanadas Café in Hoboken, NJ

I thought the empanadas are just ok, even the simple cheese (not melted) or beef (I for sure prefer the one from La Isla that is amazing) were so so. We went there twice and I have to say that I am not sold yet...Would I go back? Not sure...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Empanadas Café

I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/16

BonChon Chicken, Financial District, NYC, NY - Closed

As I was in the Financial District all day, I decided to check some fried chicken places (I admit: I craved it). It was a bit early and there were not that many people in the restaurant, besides couple of people at the bar.

Bar at BonChon Chicken, Financial District, NYC, NY

Dining room at BonChon Chicken, Financial District, NYC, NY

I decided to get a thigh and wing combo and chose the half/half option for the sauciness: half spicy and half mild. The spicy coating is made of red chili pepper and the mild one with a soy garlic mix that has a slight saltiness. The chicken was fantastic: very crispy thanks to the double frying, cooked all the way through and moist. The coatings were also sublime, with a preference for the spicy one that put my mouth on fire, but was so good that I could not resist it.

Chicken wings and thighs at BonChon Chicken, Financial District, NYC, NY

Fortunately, they give daikon with every order, that soothed my mouth thanks to its cooling effect.

I love the fried chicken at BonChon and was glad they have a spot close to where I was that day. It is definitely worth the trip anyway!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

BonChon Chicken

I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/16

Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, NY

People always talk about John's Pizza, Grimaldi's or XXX, but there is a little gem on Bleecker Street that I highly recommend: Kesté Pizza and Vino. Serving sublime Neapolitan pizza, one of their best credentials is that their owner, Roberto Capiruscio is the president of the US branch of the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli (APN - Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers), that ensures that Neapolitan pizza are made following strict guidelines (water temperature, specific flour, etc. ).

Dining room at Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, NY

This place, that is not so big, has this warm and rustic feel that highlights even more their authenticity. And if you are curious about how they prepare their pizza, you can watch them make them in the back, where sits their wood fire oven.

Wood fire oven at Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, NY

We went there on a Saturday with our friend Caleb. For the four of us, we decided to order two pies (each had six slices). The first one was the Quattro formaggi, made with mozzarella, gran cru, caciocavallo ragusano, parmigiano regiano, basil and olive oil.

Quattro formaggi pizza at Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, NY

The second one was a red pie: the Prosciutto di Parma, made with tomato sauce, homemade mozzarella, prosciutto and olive oil.

Prosciutto di parma pizza at Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, NY

Both pizza were delicious: the floppy crust was thin in the center and puffed up on the outside, with a nice char and crispness. The Quattro formaggi had lots of cheese in it, definitely satisfying the cheese lovers. However, I wished the other one had more prosciutto. But still: I was a delicious pizza.

Although my top one is still Luzzo's, I love Kesté Pizza and Vino. If you would like to try or eat a true Neapolitan pizza, this is your spot.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Keste Pizza & Vino

I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/16

EXKI, Healthy Casual Eatery in NYC, New York

That brownie was one of the best I ever had! Wait! Flashback: this is supposed to be a post about a healthy place: how did I end up talking about a brownie? Well, EXKI, from the French word "exquis" that means exquisite, is a healthy casual eatery with more than 75 locations in Europe, trying to appeal to the busy and health conscious New Yorker (no brownie so far). With two locations in New York, this one is not new, but they upgraded their space to make it brighter (thanks to the carrera marble, white walls and light colors) and simpler, letting the food shine.

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

Menu wise, there are plenty of options: from salads to sandwiches, made daily with ingredients locally sourced, with options served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And each time, you can get a dish (choices are limited to keep it simple) or create your own, with lots of possible combinations. As we were there for dinner, we ended up trying some bowls created especially for us. Vegetarian for Jodi, made with smoked cauliflower, quinoa, chickpeas, baby arugula, kale and raisins.

Vegetarian bowl at EXKI in NYC, New York

On my side, I got roasted chicken, quinoa, roasted peppers and watercress.

Bowl with roasted chicken at EXKI in NYC, New York

These bowls were delicious and earthy. My favorite was the roasted chicken one: that chicken was perfectly cooked and moist.

With our meal, we got some smoothies. You can go to the juice bar and ask for whatever you want, or you can just go and grab a cup with fruit in it and bring it to the juice bar so they can blend it. It is like a Mongolian bowl: you do not know what you would end up with!

Fruits for smoothies at EXKI in NYC, New York

So we ended up with an apple and a berry smoothie, my favorite being the former.

Berries smoothie at EXKI in NYC, New York

Last was dessert and it was a big surprise. First were the chocolate chip cookies, that were gluten-free, made with brown rice flour. Pretty good, although I prefer chewier cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies at EXKI in NYC, New York

But the best was the brownie, also gluten-free as incredible as it was, made with tapioca and rice flour. Well, in fact I should mention that it was a double chocolate brownie, the name explaining very well, the amount of chocolate in it. The first bite was heaven and I took advantage of Jodi being distracted to finish it...

Double chocolate brownie at EXKI in NYC, New York

I was really amazed how good this brownie, although gluten-free, was: it shows, once again, that the image of tasteless gluten-free food is incorrect and there are more and more delicious gluten-free products such as this one.

EXKI is a good grab and go eatery offering healthy options. Well, the brownie was the less healthy part of the meal, but combined with what I ate before, I think I did pretty well, no?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

EXKi

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

Machiavelli, a trip to Italian Renaissance

Food wise, there is no duplicity, rather authenticity and Executive Chef Gian Pietro Ferro crafted a menu that would satisfy any palate eager to discover Italian food. There are of course the pizza with the thin crust, but their homemade pasta are also noticeable. I decided to start the meal with a cocktail and went for the Paolo Uccello, named after a Renaissance painter. It was made with tequila, blood orange liquor, fresh rosemary and lime.

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

Celebrating 5 years of existence, Machiavelli is the kind of Italian restaurant that one cannot forget. Located on the Upper West Side, its incredible decor is a nod to Northern Italian Renaissance, this place gets its name from Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, an Italian Renaissance historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer who is said to be the founder of modern political science. A quite nice resume, although the term machiavellianism is a fairly negative term, being "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct" per the Oxford dictionary.

Dining room at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

Bar at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

Paolo Uccello cocktail at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

They then brought us some homemade bread: first was the focaccia with white bean purée.

Focaccia with white bean puree at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

White bean puree at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

But the best was the one made with pizza dough and fresh rosemary and salt: crispy and simply delicious.

Bread made with pizza dough, rosemary and salt at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

The first appetizer was the Sformato di Spinaci, a creamy and flavorful spinach and ricotta flan nestled topped with a truffle-scented fonduta cheese sauce. I am not a huge fan of spinach, but have to admit that it was fantastic!

Sformato di spinaci at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

Then was the Cozze in Bianco, that are sautéed P.E.I. mussels with a sauce made of olive oil, garlic, white wine and parsley, topped with some bread. Definitely, the star of the show was that sauce that I could have just eaten with bread.

Cozze in Bianco mussels at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

The last appetizer was the beef carpaccio or Carpaccio di Manzo: thin slices of seared rare beef baby arugula, grana padano and truffle oil. Another delicious dish. First of all, the beef was thin but not to the point where you have difficulty picking it with your fork and end up with a mushy piece of it, if you see what I mean. Second, it had the perfect acidity.

Carpaccio di Manzo at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

For our entrées, we decided to try their pasta as well as pizza. For pasta, we went for the Strozzapreti alle Cime di Rapa e Salsiccia, that are eggless pasta with sautéed broccoli di rapa and Italian sweet sausage.

Strozzapreti alle Cime di Rapa e Salsiccia at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

Then was the Pizza Machiavelli made black truffle cream, mozzarella and wild mushrooms: this was a succulent pizza, so creamy, with a nice smell of black truffle (oil?). I am glad we ordered this one over the quattro formaggi that I am sure is sublime.

Pizza Machiavelli at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

Last was dessert that I ate with a shot of espresso cioccolato, or espresso with some Belgian chocolate that was very good.

Espresso cioccolato at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

There was the Bongo Bongo that is cream puffs stuffed with whipped cream and served with warm Belgian chocolate.

Bongo Bongo at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

And the tiramisu.

Tiramisu at Machiavelli, Upper West Side, NYC

We had a fantastic dinner at Machiavelli: I am glad I got the opportunity to try this place that not only stands out on the Upper West Side, but has the charm of authentic Italian restaurants. Like a trip to Italy for the subway fare.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Machiavelli

I Just Want To Eat! 10/9/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/9/16

Pasta Lensi: not your regular pasta...for sure!

I was recently invited to a dinner prepared by Italian Chef Walter Potenza for the launch of Pasta Lensi's line of legume pasta. Yes, you heard well: legume pasta. At first, I was not sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by this pasta, and not just because of the recipes cooked by Chef Potenza, his logic being to make the pasta the star of the dish (he only uses three ingredients to keep the recipe simple and the flavors clean) and not just a "carrier" for a sauce.

So, this kind of pasta is made with legumes, providing nutrients, fiber and protein, and are vegan and gluten free. There are made of chickpeas, black beans, yellow and red lentils. These legumes are then made into a flour that will be the base for pasta, in various shapes, from sedani (black beans), casarecce (chickpeas), fusilli (red lentils) and penne rigate (yellow lentils).

Chickpeas, black beans, yellow and red lentils

Yellow lentils penne rigate from Pasta Lensi

The dinner took place at Midtown Terrace, a magnificent place with an amazing view of the city.

To accompany the dishes, I went for some red wine, a Feudo Arancio Pinot Noir Stemmari 2013.

The first dish was the Pasta Lensi Chickpea Casarecce with beans and escarole minestra, a peasant soup very earthy.

The second dish was the Pasta Lensi Yellow Lentils Penne Rigate with cauliflower and raisins:

The next dish was the Pasta Lensi Black Bean Sedani with green peas, mint and ricotta:

Last was my favorite: the Pasta Lensi Red Lentils Fusilli with bacon, butternut squash and spinach (as you can see, the pasta lost its vibrant red color during the cooking process):

We finished with some Italian cookies, but for sure, it was more to finish on a sweet note after a fantastic dinner.

This was an amazing dinner and I am now curious to try to cook this legume pasta myself. Interestingly, you cannot forget what they have made of and the chickpea and black bean ones have the most pronounced legume taste of all in my own opinion. As of the date of this post, the legume pasta from Pasta Lensi are only sold at Walmart, but they will soon extend to other supermarkets more known for their cutting edge as well as natural products such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. I am curious to know how people would react in a blind taste, or even if it could be a way to persuade kids to eat legumes...It is definitely worth the try, but know that each of these pastas has a distinct taste, so, if you do not like one, you may like another.

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! 10/8/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/8/16

El Centro, Mexican food in Hell's Kitchen

After our trip to San Francisco and our fantastic meal at La Taqueria, we were craving Mexican food. So, as we were going to see a movie in Times Square, I searched for a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. That is how we found El Centro, a very colorful place with an interesting decor, especially the figurines made of metal that cover one of the walls.

Dining room at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Colorful banquette at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Decor at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Tables at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We decided to order there a grapefruit and a strawberry soda from Jarritos ... I like that brand, especially the pineapple flavor that they unfortunately did not have and is for me much better than these. For sure, the strawberry soda was very sweet, as if they melted candies, but probably less than the Tutti Fruity flavor they also have.

Sodas at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

As we were waiting for our food, they served us salsa and chips, a gesture, although expected, that I always appreciate. This time, the chips had some spices on it that I really liked (I think I tasted cumin...).

Tortilla chips and salsa at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

I decided to order their chicken quesadilla after I saw that they make their own tortilla and I did not regret it. It was made with roasted chicken and three kinds of Mexican cheeses, mixed with chipotle chiles and cilantro. The homemade tortilla was very good, slightly crispy and just a bit greasy, far better than the store bought ones. Then, the filling was delightfully tasty. I definitely recommend that dish.

Chicken quesadilla at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Jodi wanted to order the mushrooms and peppers one but without the chiles. Unfortunately, the vegetables were already mixed so it was not possible. So, finally, she went for the mahi-mahi tacos, made with pico de gallo, guacamole, pickled cabbage, watercress and chipotle aioli. This was a very good taco, the fish being perfectly cooked and all the elements on the tacos giving an explosion of flavors that worked nicely together.

Mahi Mahi tacos at El Centro in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We also ordered a side of guacamole with our dishes, guacamole that was perfectly seasoned.

I loved our meal at El Centro and I am glad I found this place. Will I go back? Definitely and this time I might still stick to the quesadilla...or not...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

El Centro

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

Le Bateau Ivre, French restaurant in NYC, NY

We passed in front of Le Bateau Ivre so many times that I really wanted to try this place. If you wonder what the name of this restaurant means, it refers to a poem written on 1871 by Arthur Rimbaud, that describes the drifting of a boat lost at sea.

Dining room at Le Bateau Ivre in NYC, NY

We went there on a Friday evening and the place got packed fairly quickly, some people at the bar even dancing to the rhythm of the loud music (I should say unfortunately loud...).
It is a wine bar with an impressive selection of French wines, red, white or rosé. I decided to order a glass of Bordeaux, Graves Chateau Haut Selve 2014.

Bordeaux, Graves Chateau Haut Selve 2014 at Le Bateau Ivre in NYC, NY

For sure, I was looking forward to get escargots that were deliciously prepared in a butter and garlic sauce, so good that I could not resist dipping some of the bread they gave us...

Then, I went for duck and admit that I hesitated with duck confit and magret that is duck breast. I finally decided to go with the confit that was served with potatoes and mushrooms smothered in a thick gravy a bit overpowered by the large amount of herbs in the plate. But I admit that the duck itself was sublime: the skin was slightly crispy and deliciously fatty, and it was not too salty.

Duck confit at Le Bateau Ivre in NYC, NY

Jodi went for one of their tartines and picked the brie and honey one, made with poilane bread.

Tartine Brie Miel at Le Bateau Ivre in NYC, NY

For dessert, we decided to get their mousse au chocolat as we already had a tarte tatin that week. The mousse was pretty good, served with whipped cream on top. It was dense and very chocolatey.

Chocolate mousse at Le Bateau Ivre in NYC, NY

We had a good dinner at Le Bateau Ivre and I would not mind going back there. My only complaint is the noise level that was a bit high...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Bateau Ivre

I Just Want To Eat! 10/4/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/4/16

$15 steak at Chez Jacqueline, French restaurant in Soho, NYC

I was looking for a French restaurant when I stumbled upon Chez Jacqueline, a bistro in Soho. Besides an interesting menu, what convinced me further to try it was their Wednesday deal: $15 for steak. And not just a couple of cuts: you can choose sirloin, filet mignon, skirt, etc. Of course, for that price, do not expect a ribeye or porterhouse!

Dining room at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

So, we arrive in this MacDougal's restaurant and got seated right away, the restaurant not being that crowded considering such a good deal should not be missed. Few people at the bar, as well as few tables taken. Decor wise, it got its charm, definitely looking like a French bistro you would find in France, and with a touch of Provence.

The first thing I was looking forward to trying was the bread as in France, you cannot imagine a meal without it and as it is the first thing you start with, it can tell you if the meal will be good or not. I was not disappointed as they served us an épi, a sort of baguette with pointy sides, looking like wheat. A quite classic bread in France that I have very rarely seen in New York. The bread came hot and was deliciously crispy. Ok, so, usually the bread is hot to enhance the crispness because it was bought earlier in the day and lost some of this. It is also a trick for a day old bread that is not too hard (this one was probably bought in the morning).

Epi bread at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

I could not resist ordering escargots (snails) for my appetizer. But, unfortunately, the menu did not provide any description for the dish and I was expecting the usual butter, parsley and garlic sauce I love so much. When the dish came, I was a bit disappointed: it was made with tomatoes and asparagus, probably giving a south of France flair. It was good, but definitely not as good as what I was expecting. I think that, if you serve a different recipe, you should specify it on the menu. So it started well...

Escargots at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

Then came the steaks. Filet mignon ordered medium but served medium rare for Jodi:

Filet mignon at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

Entrecôte or sirloin ordered medium rare and served medium for me.

Sirloin at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

I mentioned it to the waiter who acknowledged a mistake in the kitchen and proposed to re-fire it, but it was late and we did not have time for it. So we switched. The steaks were pretty good, juicy and tender, not steakhouse grade for sure for that price, but worth it. I even found them better than the steaks served for restaurant week in some steakhouses!
The steaks are not coming with sides, so we both ordered one for $6 each. Jodi went for the fries, while I went for the potato galette. Both were good, but for sure, you need to order one per person. I should also mention my glass of Bordeaux Chateau de Bel Ami 2012:

Glass of Bordeaux Chateau de Bel Ami 2012 at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We went for the tarte tatin, a classic French dessert that I thought was pretty good, the apples being perfectly cooked and overall not too sweet.

Tarte tatin at Chez Jacqueline in Soho, NYC, NY

Even if there were issues with our meal, I liked Chez Jacqueline. Their $15 steak dinner is for sure one of the best deals in the city. Would I go back? Definitely, hoping that this time, they will not reverse the temperature of the meat...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Chez Jacqueline

I Just Want To Eat! 10/2/16 I Just Want To Eat! 10/2/16

Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

Located in Hell's Kitchen, Esanation is a Thai restaurant with a lounge vibe. Serving northeastern cuisine (Isan province = Isan nation for the name of the place?), they serve patrons in a modern decor with couple of neons (Love neon in the back or the disco ball in the dining room) playing an upbeat music, setting itself apart from many restaurants that will play Thai music. In fact, it reminded me a bit Viv, another Thai place close by.

Dining room at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Food wise, I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the menu, as they advertise street food and I was expecting small bites that we would be able to share. Ok, I never went to Thailand and maybe there, street food is different. What they propose for street food are soups, noodles and rice dishes. So, I skipped that section and went for other items that were more appealing to me.

But, before I talk about the food, if you are familiar with the blog, you will not be surprised to read that I got a Thai Iced Tea...

Thai Iced Tea at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We first ordered an appetizer: the crispy spring rolls, stuffed with bean thread vermicelli, carrot, cabbage, taro and served with a sweet chili sauce. The rolls came very hot and were delightfully greasy, as well as very crispy. They were thinner than the usual ones we get, so, with a bit less filling; as a consequence, you did not really taste as much vegetables and vermicelli as usual, but it was fine, the crispness making these delicious.

Crispy spring rolls at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

For her entrée, Jodi went for the pad see ew, these flat noodles served with tofu and egg. I thought it was ok, the tofu being quite bland.

Pad see ew at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

On my side, I decided to order frog legs instead of my usual chicken massaman. I chose the Ka Gob Gratiam or garlic frog legs.

Ka Gob Gratiam at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

These fried legs were served with rice, as well as a bunch of veggies such as steamed broccoli (that I gave to Jodi...). The frog legs were delicious, crispy and not greasy. I just wished that there was more sauce for the rice as steamed rice is not my favorite side...So, I dug into Jodi's plate of noodles!

White rice at Esanation, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We did not have dessert at Esanation, as we had other plans. The food was overall good and I am ready to give it another try.

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

Esanation