I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/18

Brunch at The Vanderbilt in Brooklyn

Last Sunday, we went with our friends Jen and Gary to see the David Bowie exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and Jodi was tasked to find a brunch place. Her pick: The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights, where Chef Saul Bolton of SAUL Restaurant in the Brooklyn Museum, Red Gravy in Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Bangers serves an interesting menu in a very relaxed atmosphere. And the food there was phenomenal! In fact, it has been a while I did not have such good brunch and I am talking about brunch in its literal sense, not a meal during brunch time that has nothing to do with what a brunch should be.

Dining room at The Vanderbilt in Brooklyn

I started by ordering one of their creative brunch cocktails: the Dew Drop made with Aperol, grapefruit juice and cava. I loved the bitterness of it.

Dew drop cocktail at The Vanderbilt in Brooklyn

Then, I got the beignets. Fried dough is always comforting and these pillowy beignets, smothered in confectioner's sugar that either end up on your clothes or the tip of your nose were superb.

Not sure it was a good idea before my next dish but I could not resist. Imagine: I then ate their fried chicken and French toast...It was a good twist on a Southern specialty and the French toast was one of the best I ever had! The bread, caramelized outside, was not dry at all inside, besides being quite thick. The chicken was also good, delightfully greasy, not the best I had, but perfect to counterbalance a bit the sugar coma that would unfold later...

Fried chicken and French toast at The Vanderbilt in Brooklyn

Jodi on her side got the breakfast platter, that is composed of eggs any style (she chose scrambled), bacon, a sausage (she or I should say I chose their kielbasa that was very good), hash browns and an English muffin.

Breakfast platter at The Vanderbilt in Brooklyn

We left glad we had a little walk to the Museum after such a meal. The Vanderbilt was a nice discovery and I would definitely go back there, maybe even for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Vanderbilt - 570 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/18

Danish dinner at Michelin Star Agern, in Grand Central Terminal

It might be easier to find somebody in Grand Central Terminal than finding Agern, a Michelin Star restaurant serving seasonal Danish cuisine. If I would not have found a directory in Vanderbilt Hall, I think I would have ended up calling them to ask for directions, Google Maps being useless once you enter in the beautiful train station that is Grand Central.

Dining room at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

Opened kitchen at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

There, Icelandic head chef Gunnar Gíslason crafted a pretty small menu, with only few vegetarian dishes, meat and seafood being the stars. But, definitely, the decor, where wood is omnipresent, matches the theme of the restaurant. We started our meal with some drinks. Jodi went for a non-alcoholic beverage, the Hudson Standard concord grape, that she did not like (it was ok for me).

Hudson standard Concord grape drink at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

On my side, I looked for a cocktail with whiskey and picked the Stockholm on Seneca, made with McKenzie Bourbon, aquavit and spruce bitters. I was thinking that aquavit and bourbon was an interesting mix, like bringing two cultures together and was not disappointed.

Stockholm on Seneca cocktail at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

As we were drinking our cocktails, they brought us some barley and sourdough bread with butter that was superb, the barley adding a bit of nuttiness to the sourdough. This homemade bread was so good, with or without butter, that they brought us a second one...

Barley and sourdough bread at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

At first, Jodi wanted to order their Celeriac Ravioli, served with smoked cream cheese, hazelnuts and hen of the woods. But it was not possible to have them without hazelnuts as they were already made. So, they gracefully proposed one of the dishes from their tasting menu, the green salad with puffed rice, fennel and ricotta. A good salad, the puffed rice adding a little something to what would have been otherwise just a salad...

Green salad at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

On my side, I went for the Grilled East Coast Squid, served with fingerling potatoes and powdered peppers. This was succulent: the squid was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all.

Grilled squid at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Grilled Broccoli with green almonds, crispy onions and miso, a good vegetarian dish, the only one in the entrées section.

Grilled broccoli at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

I decided to try their lamb shank, accompanied by buttermilk, rhubarb and spring onion. The lamb, that was removed from the bone was sublime! I loved the fact that it was not smothered with tons of sauce and spices, letting it shine.

Lamb shank at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

Last was dessert. There were two in fact. The first one was the Lighthouse Keeper Cheese (a Danish cheese made with cow's milk), sitting on coffee honey and crispy rye. I really liked it, the sweetness of the honey pairing well with the cheese that was delicious.

Lighthouse Keeper cheese at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

The second dessert was interesting...It was the Caramelized White Chocolate with strawberries, violets and fennel. The presentation was beautiful, but I admit that I did not like it very much, the flavors being a bit weird and not really what I thought when ordering.

Caramelized white chocolate at Agern, in Grand Central Terminal, NYC

Overall we had a good meal at Agern and the service was on point. However, I am not sure I would go back there, many other Michelin starred or not restaurants being a better choice. I would more recommend Agern if you want to try something different, but know that it is pricey for the quantity of food they serve. Fortunately, they have that delicious bread that fills you up...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Agern - Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/18

Brunch at Juniper Bar near Penn Station

I admit that our initial plan was not to go to Juniper Bar for brunch last Saturday, but, after I saw a photo of their burger on instagram, we switched plan. The photo showed a big piece of brie on top of a patty: so mouth watering that I could not wait. So, on our way, we looked at their website, to make sure there were vegetarian options for Jodi and, on their menu, saw "The burger", an 8 oz Pat LaFrieda short rib blend burger where you could add cheese like American, goat, cheddar, pepper jack, fontina or camembert, or an organic fried egg or even bacon. At that point, I thought that it was a mistake: camembert and brie are two different French cheeses, but brie has cream in it, giving it a higher fat content.

It is only while preparing the post that I realized that the photo I saw was a different burger: their Brunch burger, that was probably on the menu, but that I did not see as my mind was already made up. Too bad that their website is not up to date, but on the other hand, this was a good burger!

Anyway, you may wonder what Jodi ate. Well, we started our meal with their tater tot melt, a sort of grilled cheese sandwich where they put tater tots between a garlic thyme bread, topped with cheddar and munster cheese. This was, especially with the burger, like a heart attack on a plate: the bread was delightfully greasy and there was tons of cheese. It came with chipotle mayo and I thought to myself that they should propose to pair it with a tomato soup.

Tater tot melt at Juniper Bar in NYC, NY

A more healthy choice was the watermelon salad, served with feta, but I confess that I did not even consider it...

Watermelon salad at Juniper Bar in NYC, NY

Last were beverages. For brunch, they propose the traditional mimosa or Bloody Mary, but I was intrigued by their "In my white tea" cocktail, made with chamomile infused gin, chamomile tea, honey and lemon. When asked if I liked it, I said that it was...interesting. Yes, I would probably not reorder it, but found it...interesting, with a nice citrusy taste, like a grog when you are sick...

In my white tea cocktail at Juniper Bar in NYC, NY

Overall, it was good and between the burger and the tater tot melt, I have to say that I would go back for the later. Or maybe for that brunch burger that I missed...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Juniper Bar - 237 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/18

New restaurant in Hoboken: Tosti

The Uptown part of Hoboken can be challenging for restaurants and when Charrito's Uptown closed, we were wondering how long the space would be vacant and then what type of restaurant would open there. And then came Tosti, a breakfast and brunch place. Nice decor, much brighter than the very dimmer Charrito's, it has a relaxed atmosphere.

Unfortunately, at this point, I am not that convinced, our experience being so so, food and service wise. Here is what we tried:

Hot chocolate: decent but after you try the one at Zafra's, it ruins any other hot cocoa you try...

Smoked salmon toast: made with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, sourdough bread, capers and creme fraîche. First of all, the capers: I love capers but do not like caper berries and they should understand the difference as when the waiter asked me if I was ok with capers, I was thinking about the former. Then, their creme fraîche was really tart, definitely not the taste of a good creme fraîche that is always great with smoked salmon. Last was the salmon that was salty...So, not a good dish for me.

Smoked salmon toast at Tosti in Hoboken, NJ

Biscuits: a must have, although I wish they were a bit hot so the butter would have melted.

Scrambled eggs: good, not dry.

Green salad: just a bit overdressed.

So, I was not that thrilled after we left. I will probably wait few months before giving another shot...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Tosti - 1024 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/18

My trip to France - A day in Lyon, capital of French gastronomy

On one of the days, my sister proposed to go with my mom to Lyon, also known as the capitale of gastronomy in France, where many great chefs either started or made their own career, the most famous of all being Chef Paul Bocuse who unfortunately passed last year. So, not surprising, this icon of the French culinary world has a food hall named after him. This is where we started our visit. It was a week day so not all stalls were opened, but we got to salivate in front of lots of them: cheese, wine, cookies, pastries, chocolate, fish, foie gras and various animal pieces (some only French people would eat) were laid out in front of our hungry eyes.

Cuisine du Sud at Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France

Raw frog legs at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France — Raw frog legs at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France

Frog legs at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France — Frog legs at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France

Frog legs cooked in butter at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France — Frog legs cooked in butter at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France

They were served with a gratin de pommes de terre / potato au gratin that was so good, having lots of cheese in it, that I forgot to photograph...Jodi on her side got a vegetable tatin tart that was quite good, a great option if you are vegetarian.

Vegetable tatin at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France — Vegetable tatin at Cuisine du Sud, Les Halles Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France

Les Halles Paul Bocuse - 102 cours Lafayette 69003 Lyon, France

Then, we went to the old part of the city and settled at chez Marie, a restaurant with a small outdoor seating.

Dining room at Chez Marie in Lyon, France

Although I had frog legs before, I could not resist getting a second round of garlic with their escargots. I like this dish, not just because of the snails, but also because of the butter, garlic and parsley sauce that is so good you cannot not dip bread in it.

Jodi on her side got a goat cheese salad with honey.

Goat cheese salad at Chez Marie in Lyon, France

For my entree, I went for a specialty from that area: quenelle sauce nantua, that is a pike soufflé with a lobster sauce. This was fantastic: the quenelle was perfectly made, quite light and the sauce was the star definitely, being delicious and tasty, perfect with just the quenelle or with the rice that came with the dish.

Quenelle sauce Nantua at Chez Marie in Lyon, France

Last was dessert. I admit that I was looking forward to getting a praline tart, also a specialty from there, that I ate few hours before (just a small piece), but, unfortunately, it was not good, tasting like jello.

Praline tart at Chez Marie in Lyon, France

Despite that, the rest of the food was quite good, but I am sure the other restaurants in that area are similar. So, next time, I will continue to explore.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Chez Marie - 14 Rue Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/18

My trip to France: Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble

It is not the first time we dined at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile, a restaurant located in the old convent of Sainte-Cécile in Grenoble. This is a nice place that combines both the old from the convent with a modern feel.

Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

Dining room at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

Our meal there was pretty good: Jodi who is vegetarian had a dish made with seasonal vegetables that they prepared without any issue as there was barely any vegetarian choice on the menu.

Seasonal plate at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

On my side, I ordered the tartare de bœuf au couteau, their version of the classic beef tartare, where the meat is, a it should, cut with a knife in even pieces (a bad tartare is made with ground meat). I mixed everything together at the exception of the lettuce, and ate it with the crispy fried potatoes that came with it.

Steak tartare at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

Fried potatoes at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

We also got a dessert. Sorbet for Jodi (mango, lemon):

Sorbets at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

A sablé breton (very buttery cookie from Brittany) with pistachio mousse for me:

Sablé Breton at Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile in Grenoble, France

This was a pretty good meal. Les Jardins de Sainte Cécile offers a nice menu for lunch, in a nice atmosphere and with an impeccable service: definitely an address to know in Grenoble.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Les Jardins de Sainte-Cécile - 18 Rue de l'Alma, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/18

My trip to France: Hippopotamus, Steakhouse a la française in Grenoble

Although I love French food, not just because I grew up with it, I admit that there is one item that I rarely order when going to France and it is red meat. I find the meat in the US much better, tastier and tender, and I am not even talking about the meat from Japan or Argentina that is fantastic. So, as I was visiting my family in Grenoble, I remembered that last year, there was a Steakhouse under construction and was hoping to try it. Unfortunately, it was not there, replaced by something else. I was so disappointed. But I remembered Hippopotamus, a Steakhouse à la française as they brand themselves. Opened in 1968, it is not unknown to me: when I was living in Paris, I often had lunch with my cousin Sandrine there, in their Bastille location, for convenience, but also because they proposed a decent lunch. So we went there. Decor wise, it definitely looks more like a chain than a restaurant and, unfortunately, the service was so so. I originally wanted their cote de boeuf or ribeye, but they did not have it. So I ended up ordering their bone-in filet that was cooked medium-rare, as expected, was juicy, but not as tender or tasty as I thought.

Bone in filet at Hippopotamus in Grenoble, France

I also got some bone marrow, that, for 3 Euros was a good deal. Too bad that it came some time after my steak and they could have done a better presentation by serving both together.

Bone marrow at Hippopotamus in Grenoble, France

With the steak, you can get whatever sides you want, as much as you want. Same for sauces (I chose a béarnaise that was pretty good) . So I got their Mac and cheese, that was quite creamy, as well as the fries that were decent, slightly crunchy, but definitely not handmade.

French fries at Hippopotamus in Grenoble, France

Mac and cheese at Hippopotamus in Grenoble, France

Jodi on went for their chèvre Chaud salade or goat cheese salad, where the cheese was fried in a puff pastry, and served with cherry tomatoes and lettuce.

Goat cheese salad at Hippopotamus in Grenoble, France

We could have had dessert, but as the service was not that great and it started to be late, we gave up...So it was ok: not the best piece of meat I ever had, but decent. I'll have to find another steakhouse the next time I visit...

Enjoy (...)!

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Hippopotamus - 10 Place Grenette, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/18

My trip to France: La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble

When visiting my family in France, there is always something bothering me more than anything else: restaurants’ hours. A lot of them are closed on Sundays and/or Mondays and in fact, few where we wanted to go to were unfortunately closed. But thanks to the internet, we found few options and this is how we ended up at La Ferme a Dédé close to the train station. We knew this place as we tried one of their restaurants a couple of years ago and I was raving about their farm raised chicken with morel sauce.

Dining room at La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble, France

I love the decor there that is supposed to represent a farm, quite rustic, as is the presentation of the food. We were surprised to see the restaurant that full on a Sunday evening, but it was because they had a large group of tourists, probably 40 people and it definitely disrupted a bit the service as all their burners were used for them. However, they were quite upfront about it and we decided to stay. We started the meal with an apéritif, a tradition in France to start with a drink before a meal. Jodi got an orangina soda, while I got their walnut wine (vin de noix) that I can only find in that area and love as its taste is particular.

Vin de noix at La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble, France

Then, Jodi ordered the Saint-Marcelin (cheese) salad that was quite big and had lots of cheese.

St Marcelin salad at La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble, France

On my side, I went for the chicken with morel sauce. It was fantastic: the farm raised chicken was perfectly cooked, a bit moist and that sauce, that had pieces of mushrooms, was succulent.

Chicken with Morel sauce at La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble, France

With it came a gratin Dauphinois that is potato au gratin, with lots of cream. Delicious!

Gratin Dauphinois at La Ferme a Dédé in Grenoble, France

We did not get dessert as it was extremely hot in the restaurant, because there was no A/C and lots of patrons ordered fondue...

Overall, I like La Ferme à Dédé: the food is good and rustic, with reasonable prices.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Ferme à Dédé- 55 Avenue Alsace Lorraine, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/18

My trip to France: La Factory Gangi in Grenoble

Located in a small street near the center of Grenoble, La Factory Gangi is an Italian restaurant where you would go for the atmosphere more than the food. Don’t get me wrong, the food, that also includes French dishes and is not what you would expect in a classic Italian place, is decent, with good prices, but it is more the sens of hospitality that stood out. And you could tell that regulars are going there to enjoy a good time.

Spritz at La Factory Gangi in Grenoble, France

Straight to the entrees, Jodi went for the ravioles, sort of small ravioli filled with cheese and herbs, smothered by a mushroom sauce. This was a very good dish, perfect if like Jodi you love mushrooms, these being porcini.

Ravioles at La Factory Gangi in Grenoble, France

On my side, I could not resist trying their magret de canard or duck breast with apples and a blueberry sauce. It was good, but I admit that the duck was slightly overcooked.

Duck breast at La Factory Gangi in Grenoble, France

For dessert, we opted for the fondant au chocolat or chocolate lava cake that was not great, being a bit rubbery unfortunately.

Fondant au chocolat at La Factory Gangi in Grenoble, France

We left the restaurant full and had a nice time there with my family. Although the kitchen was closed, they did not rush us and served us desserts, that was much appreciated. As I mentioned before, La Factory Gangi is not your typical Italian restaurant. I would more go there for the atmosphere rather than the 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!

Factory Gangi - 11, rue Guetal 38000 Grenoble

I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/18

My trip to France: Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble

When going to France, there are few things that i always want to eat and crepes are no exception. This specialty from Bretagne are so good! And you have an infinity of options for their fillings: the classic ham and cheese, smoked salmon with crème fraîche or less classic, a beef patty, like a variation on a burger.

Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

Dining room at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

At Cadet Rousselle, you have an extensive menu and I admit that it is a bit difficult to pick a dish as plenty of them look delicious. Mine was fairly classic: the special that is filled with ham, cheese and a sunny side egg. For the batter, I chose the one made with buckwheat (farine de Sarrazin) over regular wheat, the former being used in typical galettes. I liked it: the crepe itself was very good, a bit nutty, and there was a lot of cheese in it (gruyère).

egg, ham and cheese crepe at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

Jodi chose the 4 cheese crepe, with regular wheat, filled with blue, Comté, emmental and goat cheese. Again, lots of cheese. In fact, I preferred that one over mine that was not really a surprise considering that I love cheese, especially when blue is in the mix.

4 cheese crepe at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

With the crepes, we ordered a bottle of cider, a must have when eating this. And this time, we decided to try a rosé cider that seems to be a novelty, not that it did not exist before, but rather that it got more exposure since rosé became popular. And it was nice, very refreshing with a nice pink color from the red apples they use.

Cidre rosé at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

Last was dessert: we could not leave without a butter sugar crepe that is my favorite over a Nutella one.

Butter and sugar crepe at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

A caramel beurre salé or salted caramel crepe:

Salted caramel crepe at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

And a kouign Aman with salted caramel that was fantastic. Imagine: Kouign Aman is made with the same dough as croissant but with much more butter. That, topped with a very buttery caramel, we were in heaven!

Kouign Aman at Creperie Cadet Rousselle in Grenoble, France

We left full after such a meal and needed a good walk after that. Cadet Rousselle has been serving crepes for many years near the city center of Grenoble and I cannot believe it was the first time I ate there. Well, it will not be the last!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cadet Rousselle- 3 rue Millet 38000 Grenoble

I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/18

Brunch at Le Singe in Chelsea

We were recently at Le Singe, formerly known as Le Singe Vert in Chelsea, to meet Jodi's cousin Rebecca for brunch. It has been a while that I had that place on my radar and it was a good opportunity to try it. The dining room definitely had the feel of a French brasserie, as did the menu. We started our meal by sharing their French toast casserole, that is a crème brulée flavored baked French toast with caramelized apples, topped with crème fraîche. We added some maple sugar and that was perfect: delicious, it was caramelized on top, the best part in fact.

French toast casserole at Le Singe in NYC, NY

For our entrees, Jodi ordered an omelet with tomato, cheddar and spinach, that was just ok.

She also got a French lemonade from Effervé:

And Rebecca the Croque Monsieur, that was, with the tartare, recommended on Yelp! and that looked delicious with its Swiss cheese gratiné on top.

But on my side, I decided to order the second Yelp! recommendation (although I should mention that my choice was made well before): I ordered the steak tartare. Made with filet mignon cut with a knife, it was made with a spicy cocktail sauce and topped with a quail yolk. When they asked me if I wanted the large portion I thought they were proposing an appetizer and an entree size and, after picking the latter, I was surprised to see such a big portion...It was really good, with a very slight kick, but too large for me. It was served with delicious fries that were crispy and a salad for a healthy note.

It was very good and I wish I had some space to order dessert. I definitely want to go back to Le Singe to try their escargots, as well as their steak frites or duck breast (maybe both?).

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 Singe - 160 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/18

Lunch at Cookshop

Located few steps from the High Line, Cookshop is a trendy place for sure and it is not that easy to get a table there. So, the best time, if you can is during the week, for lunch: much quieter, although people start showing up at 12:30pm.

We were there at 11:20am and realized that they would serve the lunch at 11:45am, switching from the breakfast menu. Breakfast wise, I was interested by their french toast, but really wanted a burger that was not proposed except for lunch. It was a 100% grass fed beef patty (they also propose a lamb burger by the way), served with white cheddar and pickled red onions, on a brioche bun. It was good but not exceptional : the meat was cooked medium-rare, as ordered and it was a slightly juicy, but I admit that taste wise, it was nothing to stay up at night as you would with the 5 Napkin Burger or The Brindle Room. The fries were good though: skin on, they were slightly crispy.

Jodi opted for the greens

As well as the burrata that was served with melted leeks and chives. It was delicious, a bit small though...

With the meal, she ordered a house made lemonade that was unfortunately too tart.

Overall, the meal was good, but I was expecting a bit more. I will have to try their brunch or dinner to make up my mind...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cookshop - 156 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

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

New restaurant in Hoboken: Zero Otto Uno

There is a new Italian restaurant in Hoboken: Zero Otto Uno, located where Mamoun's Falafel used to be before moving a few blocks away. And I admit that it is a very nice addition to the city. We went there for lunch and dinner and each time had great meals with a nice service.

Dining room at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

This BYOB place is service pasta and pizza, although, I do not think they make their own pasta, probably using the ones from Cecco as the packages displayed on shelves seem to indicate. I admit that I do not recall the previous decor, but I believe they totally redid the restaurant, with exposed brick and darker colors that give some warmth to the place. Food wise, they really have a good choice of dishes and it can be hard to pick. Here are the dishes we tried:

As an appetizer, we chose the parmigiana de melanzane that is fried eggplant with tomato sauce, parmesan and homemade mozzarella cheese. Very good, I loved the rustic presentation. The tomato sauce was so good that I could not resist dipping some bread in it...

Parmigiana de melanzane at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

They make Neapolitan pizza in their wood fire oven. We tried their Margherita that is made with their house made mozzarella.

Margherita pizza at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

The second pizza was the 4 formaggi, or 4 cheese, made with mozzarella di bufala, ricotta, gorgonzola, taleggio (one of my favorite Italian cheeses), basil and olive oil.

4 formaggio pizza at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

4 formaggi at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

Both pizzas were delicious, the crust being crispy and nicely charred. My favorite was the 4 formaggi that had lots of cheese on it and good ones.

For pasta, we tried their bucatini all'amatriciana that is made with guanciale (pork cheeks), red onion, tomato sauce, chili and pecorino. This was delicious and quite comforting.

Bucatini al'amatriciana at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

Last dish, less exciting is their insulate della Nonna or Grandma salad, made with mixed greens, gorgonzola, walnuts and pear.

Insalate della Nonna at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

Of course we could not not try their desserts, but only ordered their Grandmother cake made with a pastry cream with a hint of lemon, covered in pine nuts, almonds and confectioner's sugar. This was a nice way to end a meal, the cake not being too sweet.

Grandmother cake at Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken, NJ

Zero Otto Uno in Hoboken is a great place for Italian food. They have so many dishes on their menu that I would like to try that I am sure I'll be back soon!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Zero Otto Uno - 502 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/18

Couscous at Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Ali Baba is a Middle Eastern restaurant located on Washington street in Hoboken. This place has been there for so many years. We often ordered but it has been a while since we had dinner there and, one day, we went as I really wanted to try their couscous. This is where we heard about Barbes, a Moroccan and French place that opened several weeks ago few blocks from there, that has an amazing food, especially the tagines and couscous. And I admit that the couscous at Ali Baba does not measure up to it: I tried their lamb couscous that was just ok. The lamb was very good, perfectly cooked, but it is the semolina itself that I did not like.

Lamb couscous at Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Jodi, that time, got the falafel platter that is so good: their hummus and babaganoush (that we got for appetizer also) are the best in town, and the falafel are delicious.

Falafel platter at Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Babaganoush at Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

We finished our meal with a baklava that was perfect, not dry, slightly crispy with enough honey, as well as a mint tea that paired well with this dessert.

Baklava at Ali Baba Middle Eastern Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

We had a good time at Ali Baba: the staff was very friendly and we had a decent dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. However, I would not go there for the couscous and would more go for their vegetarian dishes or grilled meat.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ali Baba - 912 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/18

Rouge Tomate Chelsea

When we went to Rouge Tomate Chelsea, I did not know what to expect. On one hand, I remembered a dinner that I found ok and quite pricey at the time they were Uptown (they closed in 2014); on the other hand, I was intrigued by their Michelin Star. So we decided to give it a try on a Friday night. The place was nice, with its open kitchen in the main dining room, exposed brick and reclaimed wood, as a testimony to the commitment of sustainability of the owners.

Bar area at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

Open kitchen at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

There, Chef Andy Bennett crafted a seasonal menu that is served seven days a week. Interesting menu, but know that portions are small...However, what is big is their beverage list that has few non-alcoholic drinks, but lots of wines and spirits, ranging from whiskey from all over the world (France and Japan for instance), wines, tequila, gin, etc. And some interesting cocktails, some classic and some quite creative like their Black Manhattan, made with rye, vermouth amaro, chinato, amaro sibilla and juniper maraschino. I was glad that it did not come in a martini glass by the way! It was delicious, nicely bitter and slightly sweet.

Black Manhattan at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

Jodi went for their lemonade, a less risky choice.

Lemonade at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, I chose the Marinated Scallops and Hokkaido Uni. It was like a succession: first a scallop topped by uni (sea urchin), then some fennel, then a scallop topped with grapefruit and so on and so forth. It was good, but I admit that the texture was a bit too soft for me. But I liked the succession of flavors and the acidity the grapefruit added, as well as the way the fennel cleansed my palate between each bite.

Marinated scallops with uni at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

Jodi opted for the mushroom tartare that was a great vegetarian interpretation of a classic.

Mushroom tartare at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

And also the Spring greens and herbs that were topped with ricotta salata (I only ate the radish that she does not like).

Spring greens at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

My main course was the part surprisingly small. Unfortunately, I should say because it was sublime! It was the roasted squab, served with chanterelle mushrooms, spigarello aka Broccoli spigarello and cherry. The squab itself was delicious, with its bold and gamey taste. I loved to combine it with the cherries and the sauce that was very good. The broccoli spigarello was a nice touch that went well with it and I think it was the first time I tried this leafy green that is not really like broccoli rabe or even broccoli taste wise.

Squab at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. As we were a bit hungry, we decided to order two that is fairly unusual, as we typically share one dessert, trying to be reasonable...The first one was the chocolate mousse, served with dark cherry, dark chocolate feuilletine and pistachio. I loved the feuilletine, but did not really like the dessert itself that was way too far from a chocolate mousse and so not what I really wanted...

Chocolate mousse at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

However, the second dessert was fantastic: it was a grapefruit curd with a ginger Chantilly, a basil meringue and a pink peppercorn tulip. The plate looked beautiful and it was very creative. It made me think about what would a deconstructed lemon pie where the lemon would be replaced by the grapefruit would taste like. With a nice acidity, it was not too sweet and very addictive. I simply loved it and would recommend it!

Grapefruit curd at Rouge Tomate Chelsea in NYC, NY

Overall we had a very good dinner at Rouge Tomate Chelsea: the food was original and for the most part delicious, but I found the portions small considering the price of a meal there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Rouge Tomate Chelsea - 126 W 18th St, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/18

Nix, vegetarian restaurant by John Fraser

When we booked our table at Nix for Memorial Day, I not only did not know what to expect, but also did not know where the name of the restaurant came from, until they gave us the check and a post card with Nix vs. Hedden was attached to it. This is an interesting case that made its way to the Supreme Court: Nix v. Hedden, was a decision by the Supreme Court in 1893 that, under U.S. customs regulations, tomatoes should be classified as a vegetable and not as a fruit. The Washington Post gave last year an interesting insight on this case:

"At the time of the court case in question, Nix v. Hedden, fruits and vegetables differed in another big way, as well: Imported vegetables were slapped with a 10-percent tariff upon their arrival in the United States, and imported fruits were not. When one Manhattan wholesaler — John Nix & Co., owned by John Nix and his four sons — got hit with the tariff on a shipment of Caribbean tomatoes, he disputed the tax on the grounds that tomatoes were not technically vegetables".

I do not know if it is an homage to John Nix that means that Chef John Fraser (Dovetail, Narcissa), the co-owner of the restaurant, agrees with the fact that a tomato is a fruit or not...

Anyway, we had lunch at Nix and had a great experience: I am not vegetarian, but Jodi is, so she was glad that I found this place. And for a carnivore like me, I admit that I was not put off by the menu that I found very interesting, with lots of mouth watering dishes. Chef Fraser did not just create a menu that would make you think that you are eating a bunch of sides: he crafted a very creative menu where vegetables are the stars, so tasty that even carnivores like me would not know what to pick from all the mouth watering dishes they offer. We started off by ordering some of their non-alcoholic drinks. Meyer lemon and anise soda for me, Pear and cardamon soda for Jodi. Both were very good and refreshing, my preference being the former one, the anise enhancing further the taste of the lemon.

Meyer lemon and anise soda at NIX in NYC, NY

Pear and cardamon soda at NIX in NYC, NY

We decided to share a few dishes. The first one was their tandoori bread with three dips: hummus, avocado with mint & ginger and smoky eggplant. The bread alone was superb, crispy and nicely charred. I just wish they gave more of it. All the dips were delicious, especially the hummus and the eggplant.

Next was the Half naked avocado, smoked crème fraîche and chili oil. The presentation was beautiful and it was good, the avocado being perfectly ripened.

It was followed by the Shiitake mushroom lettuce wraps with hoisin sauce and thai chili. This was my least favorite dish, the texture of the mushrooms and their taste not being to my liking.

My favorite was the cauliflower tempura that, like the mushrooms mentioned previously, required a bit of assembly, putting the cauliflower, pickles, pickled carrot and mayo in a homemade steamed bun. It was nice, not too spicy, and the cauliflower had a slight crunch that added some texture. I definitely recommend this dish.

Last was dessert. We decided to go for the nun's puffs, called in French "pets de nonne" or "nun's farts" (don't ask me why!), that are little puffs quite eggy, dipped in sugar after being deep fried. They were accompanied by some Mexican chocolate and an apple cider dip that I ditched, these puffs standing on their own and being quite addictive.

This was a great lunch and we definitely needed a walk after that. Nix is the kind of vegetarian restaurant that would not scare carnivores and brings vegetarian dishes to a higher level. I just wish there were more restaurants like this...

Enjoy (I did)!

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NIX - 72 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/18

Surf Taco in Hoboken, NJ

Two weeks ago, we decided to try Surf Tacos in Hoboken, NJ. This place replaced the fantastic Taco Truck that unfortunately closed last year, the brick and mortar restaurant not being as successful as the trucks. So the stakes were high, any place serving tacos in that location being for sure compared to its predecessor.

There, you could retrieve the feel of The Taco Truck as they kept most of the decor. And, similar to it, the service gave you the impression that you were bothering them! Well at least, The Taco Truck offered delicious tacos, especially their fish taco that is one of the best I ever had: crunchy on the outside, flakey inside, with a delicious slaw and a nice kick that ruined for good any other taco of that sort that were not as good. And Surf Taco was different: I tried their fish taco made with tempura battered cod, shredded cabbage, pico de Gallo, white cilantro sauce and lime. It was bland, having too much cabbage, and the fish was soggy, missing salt.

The second taco was the buffalo style, composed of breaded chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, pico de Gallo, lettuce and blue cheese dressing. Bland and very salty unfortunately.

Buffalo chicken taco at Surf Taco in Hoboken, NJ

The only thing I liked was the cheese quesadilla, a fairly simple thing to do.

Cheese quesadilla at Surf Taco in Hoboken, NJ

As far as the guacamole was concerned, it was just ok, Trader Joe's or Freshdirect having a far better one...Understand: I can get better at the supermarket.

Yes, I was really disappointed and needed something to make me forget this meal. So I ended up at Cold Stone...

Enjoy (...)!

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Surf Taco - 62 NEWARK, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030

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

Il Falco in Long Island City

We spotted Il Falco few months ago, while going to LIC Market in Long Island City. And, as we were planning to have dinner in that same area, we decided to try it. Interesting place: quite dark, you will hear the waiters speak Italian, in a setting that makes you think you are in an old school Italian restaurant.

I started the meal with their New Fashion, made with Grand Mariner, Bourbon and an orange slice, definitely not close to an old fashioned, but still good, a bit strong and served unfortunately in a martini glass: I hate these glasses as I always end up with some of the cocktail on my fingers...

The New Fashion cocktail at Il Falco in Long Island City

They then brought us some very good zucchini caponata that were slightly spicy, as well as some bruschetta, both as amuse-bouche, perfect to open my appetite.

Zucchini at Il Falco in Long Island City

Bruschetta at Il Falco in Long Island City

For the appetizer, we decided to order their homemade burrata tartufata. The burrata itself was very good, very creamy, but I did not really taste the truffle (probably oil anyway).

For her main, Jodi went for a special of the day: homemade mushroom ravioli, smothered in a creamy sauce that had champagne and truffles in it. It was delicious, not too heavy, and that time, you could taste a bit some truffle.

Mushroom ravioli at Il Falco in Long Island City

On my side, I ordered a classic I love: linguine alle vongole. There was for sure an awkward moment when I asked for some parmesan cheese on top, lots of restaurants are not used to putting cheese on seafood, but the waiter concluded with "I am asked a lot to do it". The pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and there were lots of clams (with and without shell) in the plate.

Linguine alle vongole at Il Falco in Long Island City

Last was dessert and we ordered a classic: the tiramisu that was superb: creamy with a nice coffee taste.

Tiramisu at Il Falco in Long Island City

With it, they offered us some homemade limoncello that was a nice touch.

Limoncello at Il Falco in Long Island City

This was a very good meal and I would again go back to Il Falco. Know that it is conveniently located few blocks from the subway, so, going there is not such a big deal!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Il Falco - 21-50 44th Drive, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/18

Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Continuing my quest to try all the Michelin Star restaurants in New York City, I was intrigued by Casa Enrique, a Mexican place located in Long Island City. Some may ask how come Long Island City, also called LIC, can be considered part of NYC: know that some of its neighborhoods are located in Brooklyn, a borough of NYC. At least, besides stuffing my face with a Mexican meal, I learned something...Anyway, Casa Enrique, the restaurant of Executive Chef Cosme Aguilar can show off one star, already a good accomplishment. What is interesting, is that there seems to be a gap between a one and two stars: you will find lots of casual restaurants like Casa Enrique in the one star category, but certainly not in the two stars section where Daniel, The Modern or Marea share the fame.

Dining room at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Yes, Casa Enrique is a popular casual place and I was glad we had a reservation because it was packed. When we arrived, they proposed to sit us in the garden, as long as we would be out at 8pm. No problem! Sitting in the garden was slightly less noisy than in the dining room and, although covered, it was nice to be outside on a beautiful day.

I started the meal by ordering the Casa Enrique Margarita, made with Jimador Blanco, Patron Citronge liqueur, fresh lime juice and brown simple syrup. I decided not to add any flavor. Quite good, it was quite strong...

Margarita at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Jodi simply went for their lemonade.

Lemonade at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

To complement it, they served some snacks made with corn, accompanied by various sauces that I barely tried,

Snacks at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Then, we shared the guacamole, our must have dish when eating Mexican cuisine. The delicious freshly made guacamole was served with homemade totopos that are similar to tortilla chips.

Guacamole at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

For her entree, Jodi opted for the enchilada Doña Blanca that was composed of roasted chilies poblanos and onion, rolled in corn tortilla, tomatillo sauce, lettuce, black beans, crema fresca, queso fresco, and avocado. It was one of the few vegetarian dishes on the menu, choices being limited.

Enchilada Doña Blanca at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

On my side, I originally wanted tacos, but, when I saw the Chamorro de Borrego al Huaxamole or lamb shank braised in chile pulla peppers, huajes (aka river tamarind) and epazote (herb also called Mexican tea), I could not resist. The dish was beautiful, the sauce having a nice red color thanks to the peppers that were not that spicy, but you could feel the heat building up slowly. The lamb was superb, literally falling of the bone.

Lamb shank at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

It was served with rice and beans as well as tortilla.

Rice and beans at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Tortilla at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

Last was dessert and we did not hesitate: we ordered their tres leches that was one of the best we ever had! The sponge cake was totally soaked and there was a nice amount of goat's milk caramel.

Tres leches at Casa Enrique in Long Island City

This was a very good meal and I would definitely go back to try their tacos. Casa Enrique is worth a trip to Long Island City!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Casa Enrique - 5-48 49th Avenue, Queens, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/18 I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/18

Digital experience at Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda in LaGuardia Airport

I recently went to Canada and flew for the first time out of LaGuardia airport. Not such a good idea considering how messy this airport is with all that construction, but I admit that I was impressed by the digital experience they offer to the passenger, especially in their food court. Each table was equipped with an iPad where you could select your order and then check out, so it would be taken into account by the kitchen. Of course, you had to be careful to close the tab because otherwise the next person sitting at your spot could enjoy a nice meal thanks to you.

Menu on iPad at Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda in LaGuardia Airport

I ended up at Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda, a restaurant serving...burgers and hotdogs. Instead of going for one of their burgers, I decided to build my own: I chose a double patty with cheddar and American cheese. The system did not allow me to chose the temperature and I ended with a meat cooked medium. It looked a bit sad surprising considering Pat LaFrieda's name is associated to it: I admit that I was expecting something that would look more like a Shake Shack burger, ie cheese on top and middle with a nicely grilled patty, but it was more like what you would get in an average diner, the PatLafrieda short rib blend not being that great and the meat being a bit dry. With it, I went for some fries that were not crispy at all...

Double patty burger at Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda in LaGuardia Airport

Result: $29 for a burger, fries and a coke. Expensive for what it is, but not surprising for an airport in a way. I regretted there was not a MacDonald’s there or even better: a Shake Shack!

Enjoy (I did not)!

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Custom Burgers by Pat LaFrieda - LaGuardia Airport, Terminal D, Flushing, NY 11371