I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/16

My trip to San Francisco: The Perennial, a restaurant promoting sustainability

Before going to San Francisco, I searched on the internet the best restaurants in the city and found The Perennial, a restaurant that prides itself in promoting progressive farming. I would call that responsible farm to table to make it simple. So, if you eat there, there are few things you should know:

They serve you a glass of water at the beginning and will refill only upon request.
Utensils will not be replaced between dishes unless you request it. So, they give you a utensil rest because of that.
If you order meat, there will be a $2 surcharge to support their carbon farming project, another sustainability initiative.

Menu at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Plates with utensil rest at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Utensils rest at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

This is a big place with high ceilings that gives even more space. Sticking to their theme, there is wood all over, from floor to ceiling, keeping a warm and naturalistic atmosphere. In the back of the dining room is the open kitchen that I always like to observe.

Bar area at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Dining room at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Open kitchen at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Food wise, you can either order dishes on the menu, served as a progression, from appetizer, to middle course, to main course, before, of course, dessert, or go directly for a 4 course meal that includes the choices mentioned before, for $59, that also comes with their bread. So, it is a good deal; you would be in NYC, it would probably be $100 if not more, especially considering the quality we got. In fact, when we saw the first dishes, it reminded me a bit of NOMA that we visited a couple of years ago: because of the presentation of the dishes, some very colorful, as well as the creativity. They have a nice wine list and so, to go with my meal, I went for a glass of Johan Pinot Noir, Estate Willamette Valley, 2013.

Glass of Johan Pinot Noir Estate Willamette Valley 2013 at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Then came the kernza bread, served with Perennial butter. It is only when I wrote this post that I understood what kernza is: it is a superwheat developed by The Land Institute, that can grow all year long, being able to adapt to any climate change (from humidity to temperature), as oppose to other wheat that are annual crops. Well, for sure it was a good bread.

Kernza bread with butter at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Then came the first dishes:

Jodi got the eggplant toast that was made with the kernza bread, geranium marinated squash, squash blossom and cucumber oil.

Eggplant toast at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

On my side, I went for the strawberries with pickled Douglas Fir tips, olive oil and borage.

Strawberries with pickled Douglas Fir tips at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

I admit that when I saw the first dishes, I was surprised how beautiful and colorful they were. Both were delicious, but I have to say that mine was very surprising. First, the strawberries tasted like...strawberries and are not bland like the ones we often buy. Second, the Douglas Fir tips tasted good, although at first I thought they would taste like pine trees and were probably for the plating, having no idea what they were.

The second dishes were, for Jodi: the pole beans and sweet onion panna cotta, served with basil, agretti (an Italian leafy green) and papalo (aka Bolivian coriander).

Pole beans and sweet onions panna cotta at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

On my side, it was the trout belly, served with ham hock consommé, charred cabbage and ogo (seaweed).

Trout belly at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

These dishes were great: the panna cotta was a refreshing dish with various textures, while the trout belly was delicate with its fantastic crispy skin.

Then came the main course. For Jodi, the cauliflower gnocchi with morels accompanied with fresh cheese, grilled apple and preserved meyer lemon. This was definitely a sublime vegetarian dish, that had so many different flavors that paired well together, especially the cauliflower and morel mushrooms.

Cauliflower gnocchi with morels at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

I went for the sirloin, although my first choice was for lamb, but they did not have it anymore. So, the sirloin, cooked medium-rare, was served with baby leeks, parsnip dumplings (that I did not like) and trumpet mushroom, with a shiitake jus. The meat was good, juicy, although a bit tough to cut. This was overall a good dish, even if not my favorite of the evening.

Stemple Creek Beef at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Last was dessert. We tried the nectarine sorbet served with chicory root toffee, vanilla and tarragon.

Nectarine sorbet at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

As well as the kernza ice cream, served with pecans, roasted yeast oil and chamomile.

Kerns ice cream at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Both desserts were good and a perfect way to finish the meal on a refreshing note. I should mention that, with the bill, they brought us some homemade chocolates, a good palate cleanser...

Homemade chocolates at The Perennial in San Francisco, CA

Our meal at The Perennial went beyond our expectations: the food was delicious, the plates looked beautiful and I liked the atmosphere of the place. If you live in or go to San Francisco, I definitely recommend The Perennial and suggest you go for the 4 course meal that is definitely a good deal.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Perennial

I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/16

My trip to San Francisco: La Cholita Linda in Oakland

Based in Oakland, La Cholita Linda was our second Latin food stop during our vacation. Located in what seems to be a quiet neighborhood, this bright place with a casual atmosphere was quite welcoming, with a decor making you feel you were outdoors.

Kitchen at La Cholita Linda in Oakland, CA

We ordered and got a buzzer that went off probably 5 minutes after, showing the efficiency of the kitchen staff considering the line that started to form behind us.

Buzzer at La Cholita Linda in Oakland, CA

We decided to try their tacos and both got their Baja fish tacos, made with salsa roja, cabbage slaw and crema. It was pretty good, although I would have liked a bit more crunchiness. But the fish was well cooked and I liked the fact that there was a nice amount of sauce and cream.

Fish taco at La Cholita Linda in Oakland, CA

The second taco I tried was the Pollo al pastor, a chicken taco also served with salsa roja, cabbage slaw and crema. I admit that I did not know what to expect as for me chicken tacos can be hit or miss, miss when the chicken is bland and the overall dish dry and boring. But at La Cholita Linda, the split-roasted chicken was delicious and moist. I think I even preferred it over the fish taco.

Pollo al pastor taco at La Cholita Linda in Oakland, CA

Last was plantains as a side, delightfully sweet, as well as a very good guacamole with chips.

Plantains at La Cholita Linda in Oakland, CA

That was a pretty good lunch and I probably could have had a third taco, but, as we ate, a line started to for outside La Cholita Linda and it would have taken too long to get my order. Next time...

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 Cholita Linda

I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/16

My trip to San Francisco: La Taqueria

If there was one thing I wanted to try in San Francisco, it was Mexican food and I was surely not disappointed. We ended up at La Taqueria, on Mission street, a casual joint where you need to fight to get a seat (or simply go eat outside, somewhere).

Dining room at La Taqueria in San Francisco, CA

Kitchen at La Taqueria in San Francisco, CA

It is a medium size restaurant, quite colorful, that can be very crowded, but they do not put any pressure on you when you order at the counter. It only took a matter of minutes before they called our number to get our food, showcasing the efficiency of the kitchen that was as busy as a beehive.

We started off with chips, guacamole and pico de gallo. A very good appetizer composed of a perfectly seasoned guacamole and crispy homemade tortilla chips.

Guacamole, pico de gallo and chips at La Taqueria in San Francisco, CA

Then, we both went for their quesadilla, wanting to try one made with also homemade tortilla. Mine was composed of beef tongue (it has been a while I ate some), sour cream, guacamole and cheese.

Beef tongue quesadilla at La Taqueria in San Francisco, CA

Jodi went with the vegetarian one.

The first bite was heaven: forget the tortilla that you usually get in restaurants that are usually store bought. It tasted totally different, was a bit thicker and very slightly greasy. I truly appreciated the fact that they put a lot of ingredients in it, especially that beef tongue that was delicious.

Eating at La Taqueria was like a revelation and I will not look at quesadillas the same way unfortunately as it is setting a standard hard to meet now. I would certainly go back there when I will visit again San Francisco, and this time, I will probably try their burrito (that does not contain rice, people!).

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 Taqueria

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/16

My Trip To San Francisco: Sightglass Coffee

Another place that Jodi's cousin Rebecca recommended for breakfast is Sightglass, a coffee shop that serves delicious treats. I like the place we went to: it looked like a processing plant rather than a coffee place, with its roasting and grinding machines, as well as the numerous bags of coffee beans laying there. It kind of gives a casual yet hipster atmosphere to the whole experience.

Roasting machine at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

Coffee beans bag at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

Sightglass is fairly big, with several seats downstairs and several tables upstairs where you can enjoy your treat surfing the web or working thanks to their free internet access. After placing our order, we waited at the bar to get it. It was ready in just few minutes, but I should mention two things: first, they do not have tea that is fairly odd these days. Second, they do not have any trays, so if you have a large order, it could be a problem. So, no tea. Not a problem for me as I am a coffee drinker, but definitely a problem for Jodi who finally opted for a hot chocolate that was not that great.

Hot chocolate at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

On my side, I got a double espresso that was a bit too bitter for my taste and came with a shot of water.

Espresso at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

So, a bit of a miss on the beverage side, but not on the food side where we got some delicious treats. The first one was the Kouign Aman that I mentioned in my previous post about B Patisserie: so funny to see that croissant on steroids (think about croissant dough with more butter and sugar) served in so many places. This Kouign Aman was fantastic: crispy, flakey, buttery with a center delightfully caramelized.

Kouign Aman at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

The second was a valrhona chocolate chocolate croissant. Simply delicious.

Valrhona chocolate croissant at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA

Last was a flourless almond cake. Imagine that Jodi does not like almonds, but ate some of it. I guess it says it all.

We left full from Sightglass and we're looking forward for a good walk before our next meal. It is a great place that I recommend, although I am still not clear why they would not propose any tea...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sightglass Coffee

I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/16

My Trip to San Francisco: The Franciscan Crab Restaurant

If there is a place I am always looking forward to eat at when we come to San Francisco, it is The Franciscan Crab Restaurant. This place, overlooking the bay is one of my favorite seafood places. It is definitely a tourist destination, but their seafood is fantastic, being very fresh.

And the view is great, especially if, like us, you get seated next to the Windows, with that fantastic view of Alcatraz.

The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

View from The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

As the time passed there, the restaurant started to be more and more crowded, but I admit that the service never suffered from it: it remained courteous and on point.

Dining room at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

Food wise, I knew already what I wanted to eat. I started off with the New England clam chowder, a must have in Fisherman's Warf, although my previous attempt to it was not so good, so I was hopping that this would be it. And it was: creamy, without big chunks of celery and a nice amount of clam.

New England clam chowder at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

Next was a seafood skillet that was composed of shrimp, mussels and Dungeness crab, that came sizzling. That skillet was definitely good for one person as, once you remove the shells, the quantity of food remains reasonable. This was very good, however I should mention that couple of mussels, opened, had an off taste, but no worries: I did not get sick from it. The shrimp were perfect and easy to peel. As far as the crab is concerned, I must say that I prefer Alaskan crab rather than Dungeness: meatier and tastier for my palate.

Seafood skillet at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

To accompany my meal, I opted for a glass of Schmitt Sohne Riesling from Germany.

Schmitt Sohne Riesling wine from Germany at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

Jodi went for their halibut, served with various veggies, also a good dish, the fish being perfectly cooked and moist.

Halibut at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

Last was dessert. They are smart to put photos of their desserts on their menu, as it may entice more people to order. Well, we did. We picked the limone torta della nonna or Grandma's lemon tart. Not only the tart was fantastic, but the vanilla ice cream (that they called custard) was amazing with or without it.

Grandma's Lemon tart at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant in San Francisco, California

We had a great meal at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant: the food was delicious, as expected. It will probably be a mandatory stop for us each time we go to San Francisco and our third visit did not disappoint.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Franciscan Crab Restaurant

I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/16

My trip to San Francisco: B Patisserie

Breakfast is an important meal (well, all meals are important...) and we were looking for some fantastic places in San Francisco. Jodi's cousin, Rebecca, gave us few spots in the city that were quite accessible from our hotel, either walking distance or using Uber. B Patisserie was one of them. And I have to say, I did to regret it! Result of the collaboration of Belinda Leong (the B of the name), a pastry Chef with an incredible resume and Michel Suas, another pastry Chef with also an impressive resume (he established the San Francisco Baking Institute in 1996), this is the kind of place where choices are difficult considering all the mouth watering food in front of you.

Inside B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

We went on a week day after 9am and the place was packed. Luckily, we found a seat outside, where they have few tables. After we ordered, they gave us a number that we put on our table and few minutes later, they brought our food and beverages.

Order number at B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

Breakfast at B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

We decided to get (from left to right): the banana chocolate almond croissant, the Kouign Aman and the Pain Suisse.

Banana chocolate almond croissant at B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

Kouign Aman at B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

Pain Suisse at B Patisserie in San Francisco, CA

First, the banana chocolate almond croissant: there is no doubt that chocolate and banana pair well together and I admit that I was a bit worry that it would be too sweet as it is often the case with chocolate almond croissants. Well, that was not the case at all and it was sublime. I also liked the crunchiness of the croissant that gave a nice texture to the whole thing. However, I admit that the Kouign Aman was my favorite: crispy, buttery and delightfully sweet, I was glad they were proposing it (in New York, you can have a Kouign Aman at Dominique Ansel Bakery or at Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Building). Last was the Pain Suisse, a viennoiserie that I rarely see in bakeries, made with a vanilla cream and chocolate. This was delicious, flakey and a bit crunchy.

We definitely had a great breakfast at B Patisserie and I am glad in a way that they were not located next to our hotel, because then, I would have been there every single day (that does not sound that bad though...).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

B Patisserie

I Just Want To Eat! 8/25/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/25/16

My trip to San Francisco: In-N-Out Burger

Well, I heard so many times about In-N-Out Burger in a very positive way that it was not possible not to try it when we went on vacation in San Francisco. Maybe one mistake I made was not to take a photo of the outside after we left: you should have seen the line in front of their location on Fisherman's Wharf. Yes, this place is a madhouse and I praise their staff who is doing a good job expediting the orders as fast as they can. Of course, it was impossible to try to get a table inside the restaurant and, fortunately, we realized that behind it, there was a patio with several tables available.

Patio at In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

We were there for burgers and did not even think twice about what to order. Jodi went for a cheeseburger and I went for a double cheeseburger (called a double-double), fries and a vanilla milkshake. Know that they also have off menu items such as the 3x3 that is 3 meat patties and 3 slices of cheese, or the 4x4 that is 4 patties and 4 slices of meat. But, being a reasonable guy, I stopped at two.

Burgers, fries and milkshake at In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

So, how were the burgers? I should say that I thought they made a mistake with my order as I did not see the two patties at first. No, I saw two slices of tomatoes and thought they screwed up my order compared to the cheeseburger Jodi got. At that point, considering the crowd, there was no way I would have gone back inside the restaurant. Then, I saw the two patties.

Double-Double at In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

Cheeseburger at In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

The first bite was divine: the meat tastes like meat and does to have tons of seasoning on it, there is lots of cheese and that proprietary sauce that is apparently a variation of thousand island dressing was fantastic.

French fries at In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

The fries were also good, although I would have liked them crispier. Last was the milkshake that was perfectly made: thick, but not to the point where you can't get anything through the straw, with a nice vanilla flavor.

I should mention that the packaging has some bible references, concept that came out in 1980 to represent the Christian belief of the In-N-Out Burger owners.

Bible verses on packaging of In-N-Out Burger in San Francisco, CA

The burgers at In-N-Out Burger were very good, reasonably priced, and I wish they were on the East Coast, although places like Shake Shack or Five Guys definitely measure up and might even be slightly better. If I went back to California, I would definitely go get a good burger 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!

IN-N-OUT Burger

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/16

Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Avlee is a small Greek restaurant that has its charm. Opened in February 2012, this place is the pride of the owner, Andrew Poulos that I had the chance to meet. Yes, it is a small size restaurant, but with a secret garden in the back (Avlee means garden in fact). I like the decor with its open kitchen, but mainly because, like many Greek restaurants, the decor gives the impression your are outside with its shutters.

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

Dining room at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Kitchen at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Market at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Food wise, they serve classic dishes, using natural products. We started off our meal with a spread sampler made of (from left to right on the photo below) Tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill), Fava Mani (made with chickpeas, lemon, tahini and cumin - equivalent to hummus), and Melitzanosalata (eggplant, bell peppers, jalapeño, parsley and garlic).

Spread sampler at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Tzatziki at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Fava mani at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Melitzanosalata at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

My favorite was the taztziki that was refreshing, and then the Fava Mani. I admit that I did not really like the Melitzanosalata that much, the eggplant flavor not being that pronounced. It was served with some pita that was slightly grilled.

Pita at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Then came the saganaki, my favorite appetizer when I have a Greek meal. I simply like this cheese (called Kefalograviera), from its taste with its slight saltiness to its texture that is slightly chewy. At Avlee, they do not flambé it, but rather pan fry it and it was sublime.

Saganaki at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

We also tried the Sika or fig rolls that are figs stuffed with feta, wrapped in prosciutto and pan fried. It was good, but I wish there was more feta in it.

Sika or fig rolls at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

The last appetizer was the Spanakopita, a mix of spinach, cheeses and mushrooms wrapped in phyllo. It was ok for me, simply because I am not a huge fan of spinach and dishes with it are either hit or miss. Jodi loved it though...

Spanakopita at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

But then came the entrée: Arni Youvetsi Kokkinisto. This was an amazing dish made with slow braised lamb shank cooked in a tomato sauce and served with orzo. The lamb was very tender, falling off the bone and the sauce very flavorful.

Arni Youvetsi Kokkinisto at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

That dish came with a Greek salad that had a bit of a kick because of the pepper in it.

Greek salad at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

The second entrée we tried was the grilled Haloumi that is a grilled Cypriot goat milk (know that I asked for smaller portions for the dishes as we wanted to try several of their specialties). It was delicious, especially with the nice char from the grill.

Grilled Haloumi at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

We also tried three sides:

Gigantes or large white beans baked in a tomato, onion and dill sauce.

Gigantes at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Horta Revithia or sautéed kale, roasted chickpeas, shallots in chicken broth.

Horta Revithia at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Sautéed spinach with orzo.

I liked all of them (even the one with spinach!), but my favorite was definitely the Gigantes.

Last was dessert, with first the Galaktoboureko, a vanilla custard layered with phyllo that was very good and not too sweet, with nice hints of cinnamon.

Galaktoboureko at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

Their homemade baklava that was quite good.

Homemade baklava at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

With the desserts, I got a coffee made in a briki, a small pot to make a traditional Greek Coffee. Quite good and flavorful.

Coffee made in a briki at Avlee Greek Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY

We had a very good lunch at Avlee Greek Kitchen. My perfect meal would be: saganaki, the lamb youvetsi and the baklava. In fact, this is what I recommend if you go there. Anyway, they have plenty of dishes to satisfy any palate, with non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Avlee Greek Kitchen

I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/16

Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Open face sandwiches are nothing new: there are few in American cuisine, like the Kentucky Hot Brown (that you can have at Bar Americain, the Midtown joint of Chef Bobby Flay - I recommend a nap after that), or the tartines served at Le Pain Quotidien or Maison Kayser. But I have never see anything like what Duran Sandwiches proposes: small open face sandwiches with a wide variety of combination, probably 30 different kinds, made daily.

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

Sandwiches at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Duran Sandwiches was established in 1969 in Austria, by two brothers, Vladimir and Tomas Duran who came from Hungary after the World War II. The location in New York being their first outpost in the US, opened two years ago and offering the same kind of sandwiches offered elsewhere. Each sandwich is priced $2.50 to $3.50 and can be on white, whole wheat, pumpernickel or gluten free bread. And if you are vegetarian or vegan, they have several options on their menu that would satisfy your appetite. Size wise, Jodi was fine with 2 sandwiches; for me, 5 would be enough. They package the sandwiches well in boxes that allow for their easy transport.

Box of Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Here is what we tried:

Egg salad:

Sundried tomato: vegan, it had a bit of sweetness coming from dates.

Sundried Tomatoes Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Maine Lobter salad (one of my favorites and their best sellers):

Maine Lobster salad at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Jalapeno salad (my least favorite):

Jalapeno Salad Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Tuna salad:

Smoked Salmon:

Farmer cheese:

Shrimp:

Salmon caviar:

Spicy Hungarian salami (my number one: that salami is fantastic):

Salami:

Traditional Hungarian sausage sandwich:

Sheep cheese:

Roast beef:

Turkey:

Tomato and mozzarella:

Vegetable chutney (made with pumpkin and carrots as well as other ingredients I cannot remember):

Vegetable Chutney Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Camembert (for a French touch):

Camembert Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Goat cheese:

Paprika Farmer's Cheese:

These sandwiches were good, my favorite being the spicy Hungarian salami, Hungarian sausage and Maine lobster salad. I should also add the sun dried tomato one that was really surprising. What is great with Duran Sandwiches is the variety their offer, allowing to change every single day your order and not having to stick to the same sandwich again and again. It is an interesting concept that also extends to catering with even smaller sandwiches, the size of an amuse-bouche, all looking exactly the same, showcasing the precision of these handmade sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Duran Sandwiches

I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/16

Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

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

Meaning beautiful summer in Japanese, Natsumi Tapas, located in Gramercy, is a true find. No, it is not a Japanese/Spanish fusion, but rather a Japanese/Italian fusion restaurant. It is just that people understand what tapas means better: small plates. Great concept in this modern Japanese kitchen, result of the collaboration between Barbara Matsumura and Chef Haru Konagaya, formerly from Haru.

The place is fairly big with two main areas: the bar area that is quite spacious, as well as the dining room that has different sections, including large tables for large parties or communal dining, as well as small booths where in fact we got seated. I appreciated there the noise level that was definitely reasonable despite some music in the background.

Food wise, we had an amazing dinner. I admit that I was more interested by the tapas side of the menu than by the fusion dishes. So, no pasta, tacos or flatbread, but rather small plates elegantly presented. We went for six tapas that seems to be the number for two people, although, depending on the choice made, it may vary. But six is a good benchmark. What I appreciated with the service is that they did not bring all of the dishes at the same time like a lot of restaurants do, making sometimes the experience uncomfortable, plates being all over the table and not leaving us any space. No, at Natsumi Tapas, they bring the dishes gradually, allowing the diners to enjoy their meal, comfortably, without any pressure to eat their meal quickly. For sure, when seeing the size of the servings, there is always the fear that not enough was ordered, but I recommend that you finish eating your order and decide at the end if you need more, knowing that you absolutely need to keep some space in your stomach for dessert (one of the desserts we tried was amazing). To go with my meal, I decided to try one of their cocktails. I chose the Whiskey Hunny, made with Redemption rye, yuzu honey and yuzu.

Whiskey Hunny at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

I liked the mix of whiskey with the sweetness of the honey that kind of counteracts the acidity of the yuzu. Quite refreshing for sure.

Then, our first dish arrived. It was a fairly classic Japanese dish: miso black cod. It came with bonito flakes on top that were dancing on the plate, as if they were alive. Writing this post, I wish I had taken a video so you could see. This was a great dish: the fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, dipped in a delicious sauce with sesame seeds for added nuttiness.

Miso black cod at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Then, our nose got filled with a nice truffle scent: it is because they were bringing to the table a filet mignon tataki, thin slices of meat in a ponzu truffle sauce. The meat was too rare for Jodi, so I ate most of it: I am not going to complain considering that it was a sublime dish. The meat was tender and, with the ponzu sauce looked like an interpretation of a carpaccio, although the slices of meat were thicker than they would if indeed it was a carpaccio.

Filet mignon tataki at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Next was a request from Jodi: edamame dumplings.

Edamame dumplings at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

I admit that I was not sure if I would like it as I had bad veggie dumplings in the past, from a filling that I did not like to a doughey thick shell. But this was not the case at Natsumi Tapas: the shell was not thick and the filling delicious, with pieces of edamame to give some texture.

Edamame dumpling at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

After that was another kind of dumplings: the king crab tom yum. Now, this sauce was hot, but strangely, although my mouth was on fire, I kept going back to it (I loved the taste of the lemongrass in it). The dumpling was also very good and I think that the combination of these dumplings with this fantastic spicy sauce was on point.

King crab Tom Yum at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Another classic dish we got at Natsumi Tapas was the vegetable tempura. There were various veggies such as eggplant or sweet potato, but the best one was the onion. The tempura were delicious: crisp and not greasy.

Vegetable tempura at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

The last dish, probably my least favorite, was the Japanese fried chicken. Don't get me wrong: it was good, but I guess that with all the different fried chicken I have tried, I was expecting more.

Japanese fried chicken at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

We finished our meal with two desserts, both fried. The first one was fairly common: banana Spring roll. It as very good: crispy and not greasy, with a well ripe banana. I should mention that it came with a chocolate sauce that was great with it.

Banana Spring rolls at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

But it was the second dessert was the most amazing and surprising one: tempura cheesecake with a raspberry coulis. What? tempura cheesecake? Well, it was probably the first time I saw such item on a menu and did not regret ordering it. To even emphasize more how good it was, know that Jodi does not like cheesecake; but it was her favorite dessert! We always say that anything fried is good and this is no exception: the batter was good, slightly crispy, but the inside was even better, sort of melted a bit. A great dessert that is worth trying.

Tempura cheesecake at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

We left full from Natsumi Tapas and glad we got a chance to try this place. It is definitely not your typical Japanese restaurant and I love their small plate concept. Next time I go back, it will probably to try their Japanese-Italian fusion dishes...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Natsumi Tapas

I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/16

Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

One of my friends, Abe, who was born in India kept talking about a South Indian restaurant in Curry Hill called Kokum, taking its name from a plant whose fruit can be used in the kitchen. Little did I know that it was one of the ventures of Michelin Star Chef Hemant Mathur who already satisfies hungry crowds in places like Haldi or Dosai; Chef that I met a couple of times and, again this time at Kokum. So I was really excited to see what this place was about.

Interestingly, the restaurant is close to Haldi and next to Dosai, the places I mentioned earlier, but with a different decor, different feel and completely different menu, serving veg and non-veg dishes. The restaurant is long and decorated with paintings of boats, that refer to the Aranmula Boat Race, also known as Kerala Boat Festival. Very colorful indeed.

Food wise, we were in for a treat: the extensive menu has dishes that are fairly known such as chicken tikka masala or dal, but also lots of them totally unknown to me that my friend referred as "similar to what my mom cooks and typical of Kerala cuisine", the first statement being quite a big one! We started off with papadum that I am always looking forward to, that I accompany with a mango lassi.

We then shared some dishes that my friend Abe suggested. There was:

Kerala parotta, a multi layer bread grilled on a pan:

Kerala Parotta at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Savitri Amma's Idli that are steamed rice cakes (idli) with a lentil based soup (sambhar) and chutneys (some of them spicy):

Savitri Amma's idli at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kumily chicken fried that is spiced chicken tossed with curry leaves and fried, one of my favorites of the evening.

Kumily chicken fried at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kochi goat curry (curried goat on the bone with curry leaves):

Kochi goat curry at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Fish moilee (fish cooked in a numeric infused coconut milk sauce):

Fish moilee at at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kundapur chicken (chicken and potatoes cooked in coconut cream with curry leaves):

Kundapur chicken at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Last was dessert. My all time favorite: gulab jamun that are deep fried milk balls.

And rasmalai, that are soft cheese patties dipped in a milk reduction.

I loved the food at Kokum: not the classic dishes I am used to like chicken tikka masala or chana masala. This place has a very original menu for non-Indian patrons and I definitely recommend it. For sure, when knowing that Chef Mathur was involved in this restaurant, I was sure I would not be disappointed. And I was not for sure, looking forward for my next visit 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!

Kokum - South Indian Cuisine

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

KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Times Square is not really a reference when it comes to dining places and I am not talking about 9th Avenue that has great places, but more the heart of Times Square that starts on 8th avenue (Port Authority) and 6th avenue. There used to be Urbo, a quite good restaurant that opened end of 2014 and closed recently (so sad). So, luckily, few weeks ago, KungFu Kitchen opened a Chinese restaurant that serves some pretty good food. We went a couple of times and I was never disappointed.

Dining room at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

This cash only restaurant is of a nice size, with the kitchen at the entrance, where you can see them make dumplings. Menu wise, they offer plenty of dishes, offering even ramen soup. Our first choice went for the pork soup dumplings or xiao long bao. They came very hot and were delicious: the shell was perfect and did not break, and the inside was nicely fatty.

Soup dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Soup dumpling at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Next was the scallion pancakes, a classic dish that rarely disappoints. And we were not disappointed: it was crispy and delightfully greasy.

Scallion pancakes at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Now, what was disappointing was the vegetarian spring rolls: these huge rolls had a weird taste that I did not like and were very greasy.

Vegetable spring rolls at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

One appetizer I recommend is the roasted duck buns with hoisin sauce. I love duck and especially Peking duck and that was a fantastic dish: the bun was delicious and not too thick, enveloping a sublime duck that was quite tasty. I definitely recommend this dish.

Roasted duck buns at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

The last appetizer we tried was the fried pork dumplings. I do not know if it is because I am used to the pork gyoza that are smaller, I did to expect the size of these dumplings that were delicious: the shell was perfect, a bit crispy on the side that hit the pan and the filling was a bit juicy and very tasty.

Fried pork dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Fried dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

The last dish we tried was their noodles with chicken. Good, I admit that I would have liked the noodles to be fried so they could be slightly crispy.

Noodles with chicken at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Know that if you order few appetizers to share, you may end up with a surcharge that is between $3 and $4, but I would say that it is worth it considering that their food is reasonably priced for that area. KungFu Kitchen is a very good addition to the restaurant landscape of Times Square and I will surely go back there. In fact, I am curious to taste their soups that couple of people around us ordered and looked delicious (the soups, not the people!).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Kungfu Kitchen

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/16

Mother Burger in NYC

With a name like this, you would wonder if Mother Burger is the mother of all burgers. This is an interesting place, that I knew for its frozen margherita that I enjoyed few times in the outside seating area. But this time, I did not go for a drink but for their burger.

We went on a Sunday, couple of minutes after they opened and decided to sit outside. There were not too many people at that time and we enjoyed some quiet time, until a group of girls sat in the table next to us and made me think that, no, they were not four, but probably twenty of them, the noise level being a bit annoying. But we did not really care as we were finished and waiting for the bill, so we could escape! I wanted to try their signature burger, the Mother Burger, that had no description on the menu. So, when I asked the waitress what it was, she told me it was...a burger. Well, thanks for the information! I was able to know that it had I cheese and ordered a double with American cheese and sautéed onions.

Signature burger at Mother Burger in NYC

It was a quite big burger, with two juicy patties that were delicious and tasty, or should I say tasting like meat. It also had a piece of lettuce that I discarded as well as a slice of tomato, all of this sitting on a potato bun. That was a succulent burger that I literally inhaled.

Jodi went for the veggie patty that she ordered without a bun. Quite good for a veggie option, but not as good as my burger.

The two dishes came with fries that were just ok for me, preferring thinner and crispier one, like the ones at MacDonald's or even better, Minetta Tavern. I just wished that they have sides like onion rings that are perfect with a burger.

I left with my burger craving totally satisfied. If you cannot get a spot at Shake Shack, few blocks from there, you may want to try Mother Burger. And hopefully now you know that their signature burger is...a burger!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mother Burger

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/16

North Square in NYC, New York

North Square is probably the kind of restaurant you have no idea exists. Located on the North square of Washington Square Park, this medium size restaurant is really a true find, although my first impression of the place was negative, the patrons being of a certain age, not that I have anything against it, but it definitely gave a certain vibe. Well, eating there changed my mind and I have to admit that I am looking forward to going back. The service was also on point and they addressed an issue with one of my dishes with great professionalism.

Wine selection at at North Square in NYC, New York

As we were looking at the menu, they brought us some bread, with olives, cornichons and pickled onions, as well as some olive oil. At least, it was not a boring bread basket: it had different kinds of bread such as one with nuts and cranberries.

Bread basket, olives, cornichons and olive oil at North Square in NYC, New York

Olives and pickles at North Square in NYC, New York

The menu at North Square is pretty interesting for an American bistro as it offers Mediterranean dishes or flavors. For instance, I tried their sausage plate that was composed of
merguez (a lamb sausage from North Africa), Linginuica (Portuguese smoked pork sausage), jalapeno chicken, roasted grape tomatoes, garlic, cipollini onions, pita, as well as two sauces: hot mustard and a chive aïoli, This was a great sampler dish that is perfect for sharing. These sausages were succulent, my favorite being the merguez that was so flavorful. I should mention that the jalapeno chicken was very spicy, but so good, I could not resist going back to it.

Sausage plate at North Square in NYC, New York

Jodi chose the vegetable tagine, also a North African dish, made with eggplant, zucchini, fennel, Brussels sprouts, chick peas, quinoa and a crispy corn tortilla. Know that this dish is vegan and gluten free, the only one of that sort for entrees. For sure, it is an adaptation of a traditional dish as, normally, it is couscous, not quinoa that would be used. It was a pretty good dish, healthy and very flavorful, a good alternative if you do not want to eat meat.

Vegetable tagine at North Square in NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the lamb sliders.

Lamb sliders at North Square in NYC, New York

Well, first of all, when I read sliders, I was expecting something smaller, especially after having an appetizer to share all by myself. I never resist a lamb burger, a dish that should be more often offered. It was delicious, the lamb being juicy and having this bold flavor that make this meat so particular, topped by pickles that added some crunch. It was served with some onion Rings that were nicely crunchy and not greasy, cooked all the way through, jalapeño pickled vegetables, and a lemon Aïoli.

Lamb slider at North Square in NYC, New York

Onion rings at North Square in NYC, New York

For dessert, we went for:

The chocolate mousse cake:

Chocolate mousse cake at North Square in NYC, New York

And the key lime pie:

Key lime pie at North Square in NYC, New York

Both desserts were fantastic and, although we were full, we could not resist finishing them. If you are a chocolate lover, then the chocolate mousse cake if for you: it was dense and decadent. The key lime pie was also a hit, and I truly appreciated that it was not too sweet. This was the perfect way to end a delicious meal.

I admit that I did not expect such a fantastic meal at North Square and there is no question that I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

North Square

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

Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Ootoya is not your typical Japanese restaurant. There, it is not for sushi or sashimi that you would go, but for their full meals that are beautifully presented and are in fact a pretty good deal, especially considering that prices include taxes and tip.

Bar area at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soy sauce at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chilies at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Dining room at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soy sauce and chilies at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chop sticks at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

We went there on a Saturday, at opening time and were surprised to see that there was a line in front of the restaurant. And, sure enough, when we left, the place was packed. This is a nice place, with a zen decor, and you cannot miss the wish tree at the entrance, as well as in the first dining room that is right after the bar area. Yes, this is a big place.

Decor at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Food wise, one of their specialty is the teishoku that is a traditional home cooking in a set-meal, a menu rarely offered in New York. We decided to try it, but before, we wanted to try their house made tofu: I am more a carnivore than a vegetarian, but I admit that, after trying home made tofu, I was sold. It love the silkiness of it and the texture that is different from what most restaurants serve or what you can buy. It was served with their special sauce, as well as some bonito flakes that I personally did not care about.

House made tofu at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

For the main dish, We both picked soba noodles that are also house made. Jodi went for the tororo soba, that are warm soba noodles in Ootoya original soup, served with grated yam (really weird taste). It was accompanied by bonito flakes, pickled vegetables and an egg custard.

Tororo soba at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Pickles at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Bonito flakes at Oootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Egg custard at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Grated yam at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Onions at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the mini-oyako don that is grilled free range chicken and onion simmered in a dashi broth and wrapped in an egg custard on top of rice. It was also accompanied by pickled vegetables and an egg custard, as well as cold soba noodles and a miso soup.

Mini-oyako don at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soba noodles at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Pickled vegetables at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chicken and rice at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Miso soup at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Wasabi at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

I admit that I preferred my dish that was delicious, especially the chicken and rice dish that was fantastic. The noodles were also very good, but I have to say that it was too much food and I left full for sure. This was really a complete meal and most of the dishes served around us looked very appetizing, making me want to come back again. And for sure, I will come back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ootoya

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

Greek cuisine at Souvlaki GR in Midtown

On a Friday night, we were looking for a restaurant Midtown on Opentable, when we stumbled upon Souvlaki GR, a new Greek restaurant in the area. Nice decor, transporting you in a street in Greece, but a bit narrow, prompting the wait staff to pass very close to tables...

Dining room at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

Food wise, they have some classics such as the spreads you would find in most places: tzatziki, hummus or the delicious melitzanosalata that is made with eggplant, a dish served with some very good pita that I think was house made.

Melitzanosalata or eggplant spread at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

We also tried their kolokithokeftedes or zucchini croquettes that were a change from the usual fried zucchini and was both crunchy and tasty, without being greasy.

kolokithokeftedes or zucchini croquettes at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

We also tried the Greek meatballs, or keftedes, made with beef, onion, garlic and parsley. Served, again, with tzatziki, they were just ok, a bit dry. I think they would have been better with a tomato sauce.

Keftedes or beef meatballs at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

But the best was the saganaki cheese croquettes called tyrocroquettes: that cheese is fantastic whatever shape it is served. This was in fact my favorite dish and it did not even need the tzatziki it came with.

saganaki cheese croquettes called tyrocroquettes at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

The second best dish of the evening was the grilled lamb chops that were perfectly cooked medium on charcoal. My only regret was that they were frenched, so the best part, the fat on the bone, was missing. But still, it was delicious. However, I found it weird that they would serve lamb with pita. It was probably because of the tzatziki that was, again, present...

Grilled lamb chops at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. Instead of going for the baklava, we decided to go for their Greek donuts, the loukoumades, that are fried balls of dough, honey, walnut and cinnamon. What a disappointment! It was simply rubbery and not good for me.

The food at Souvlaki GR was overall good. It is clearly not the best Greek restaurant in New York, but has some decent food at decent prices. Would I go back? Not sure: for the same prices, Uncle Nick's in Hell's Kitchen is much better. For a little more, Molyvos close but is my top choice.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Souvlaki GR

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

Burger at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

So I was craving a burger and as we were near Grand Central Terminal, I proposed to go to Smith and Wollensky, the famous steakhouse located Midtown East. Alright, this was not our first time: we went there few years ago and still remember the rude waiter who served us as well as the average steaks we got: definitely not on top of my list, but I was thinking that perhaps, being a steakhouse, they would have a killer burger.

Steak knife at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

We went for lunch during a weekday and the place was empty, with very few tourists and a majority of business people. The service was really pushy there, trying to convince us to order drinks, then appetizers, then sides, then desserts. They did it in such a way that it was a bit annoying to say the least.

Dining room at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

Of course, our meal started with the classic bread basket that was quite nice and I could not resist eating bread with butter, although the burger would come soon...

Bread basket at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

And when it came, it looked quite good: thick patty on a toasted sesame bun with some cheddar cheese on top. Unfortunately, the first bite was disappointing: it was a bit dry and not as tasty as I would expect. Well, for steakhouse grade meat, my reference is The Brindle Room and if you try both, you will understand. I did not even finish it to tell you the truth. The fries were good, crispy and cooked all the way through.

Burger at Burger at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

Jodi decided to go with the burrata and tomato salad. I should mention the tomatoes: delicious in both the salad and on top of the burger. This was a good dish, but pricey for $18.

Burrata and tomato salad at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

I was a bit disappointed when I left, hoping really that this steakhouse would have a great burger. I should have gone to Five Guys or tried the burger at The Capital Grille close by...Definitely Smith and Wollensky is not on my top list of steakhouses...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Smith & Wollensky

I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/16

Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

If you want to experience what a brasserie in Paris can offer you, Cafe 123 is your spot: classic dishes and rude service characterize this French restaurant located in the heart of Times Square, where theater goers can enjoy a good meal. Yes, you can feel that this reasonably priced joint attracts lots of tourists and pre/post theater people, especially when you arrive in a packed restaurant that becomes empty after 8pm...

Decor wise, it had definitely the feel of a brasserie and I would say also the atmosphere. But it is the food that interests me the most: they have quite few classics, like the escargots de Bourgogne (snails), the pâté de campagne (country pâté) or the foie de veau (calf liver). However, they also have a bunch of dishes that are surprising to see on a French menu. Of course, there is the burger, but I was surprised to see the Peking duck sandwich that I did not try, although I got a delicious crepe des Pyrenees that was made with duck confit and hoisin sauce (a bit salty though). In fact that have a nice selection of crepes and they are making them pretty well. Dessert wise, I admit that I was a bit disappointed: I do not know if they are trying to be original, but their dessert falls a bit short. The only exception might be the profiteroles that were good, although the choux were a bit tough to cut through. I would still order that one.

Dining room at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Overall, it is a decent French restaurant. Not the best for sure, but decent and conveniently located, with again, reasonable prices. Would I go back? Probably.

Here is what I tried at Cafe 123:

Bread basket: It is a French restaurant so you would expect some good baguette. Well, not there and when the bread comes hot, it usually means it is old or not good...

Bread basket at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Escargots de Bourgogne: good, but missed a bit of butter and had a bit too much breadcrumbs.

Escargots de Bourgogne at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Salade de chevre chaud (goat cheese salad): good, but could have had more cheese.

Salade de chevre chaud at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Moules frites, a classic, that are steamed mussels in a white wine shallot broth with a touch of cream served with French Fries: great dish with the best part being the dipping of the fries in the sauce...

Moules frites at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Then they have crepes. We tried: crepe classique, a very good ham and cheese topped with a fried egg crepe.

Crepe classique at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

And the crepe des Pyrenees, stuffed with duck confit, black olives and scallions, but not so French as it had Peking duck sauce.

Crepe Pyrenees at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

I have to say that I really enjoyed the crepes, even if the duck one was a bit too salty for my taste, probably because of the olives. The crepe itself was nicely done and thin, not like these weird ones you sometimes see at street fairs.

Then, for desserts, we tried:

The tarte tatin (why did they put some apricot sauce there?):

Tarte tatin at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

The profiteroles (again, the best): these are puff pastry filled with vanilla ice cream smothered in a warm chocolate sauce topped with sliced almonds.

Profiteroles at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Crêpe au Chocolat: made of chocolate, Banana, shaved coconut, and coconut sorbet.

Crêpe au Chocolat at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Crêpes Suzette, flambéed with Grand Marnier and Cognac.

Crêpe suzette at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cafe Un Deux Trois

I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/16

Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Flaming Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown. I guess the name Flaming Kitchen, especially the first word, could also refer to the heat typically found in Szechuan cuisine; but don't be afraid: if you do not like spicy food, they can tame down the heat or you can pick some dishes that will satisfy your palate. This place is big, with the top floor having the perfect private room for parties.

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

Main dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Bar area at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Private dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

In addition to serving Szechuan cuisine, Flaming Kitchen proposes a nice choice of dim sum. I should mention that we asked for smaller portions of dishes, when possible, so we could try several of them. So they created a sampler of vegetable dim sum and shrimp dumplings, my all time favorite.

Dim sum sampler at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

You may wonder how they got the shrimp dumpling to be orange, well, they simply added carrots to the dough. These were delicious: the shell for all of them was thin. The shrimp ones were so good, I would have a full meal of it, but I admit that the vegetarian ones were also delicious, very tasty.

Vegetable dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Shrimp dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

We also tried their soup dumplings that were really good, the soup having a nice amount of fat, as good as the (touristy) famous Joe's Shanghai couple of blocks away: no need to wait online for delicious soup dumplings, Flaming Kitchen will definitely do it! You have the choice between pork or pork and crab. We went for the former.

Pork soup dumplings at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Pork soup dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Next was scallion pancakes, but prepared two ways: regular and also with shredded beef and hot green peppers (not hot fortunately).

Scallion pancakes at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Scallion pancakes with beef and peppers at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Then, we tried the braised tofu, a vegetarian dish that was fantastic, a big statement from the non-veg that I am! The tofu was soaked in a delicious sauce that gave a lot flavor to an ingredient that many, including myself, can find boring and tasteless. The dish had mushrooms as well as sugar snap peas in it.

Braised tofu at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

The next dish was braised jumbo shrimp that was supposed to be spicy and they graciously made it mild, although I was careful not to eat the chili that were on the plate. On top was some ground pork. The shrimp were superb, big and perfectly cooked. I should mention that the shrimp had their head on.

Braised shrimp at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

The last dish was braised frog in spicy chili sauce. I admit that I was excited to try it as I love frog legs and it is not that present on restaurant menus in the US besides few French or Asian restaurants. This dish was a bit spicy for my taste and I did not really liked the fact that they chopped the legs because of the small pieces of bones.

Braised frog legs with spicy chili sauce at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Of course, with our dishes, we got some rice, white and brown.

Brown and white rice at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Last, I should mention the drink I had with my meal. Tea of course, but no Tsing Tao beer this time. Instead I got a peanut and black sesame multi grain shake, a pretty interesting drink that had a nice nuttiness to it.

Peanut and black sesame multi grain shake at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

We had a good meal at Flaming Kitchen: their menu is fairly large, with so many different dishes, I admit that I had trouble picking dishes. Well, it gives me an incentive to go back 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!

Flaming Kitchen

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/16

Padoca, creative bakery on the Upper East Side, NYC

There are places I go to where I am thinking: Damn, I wish I had such place in my neighborhood! Padoca is one of them. Meaning “neighborhood bakery” in São Paulo, this bakery opened a little over a year ago, pure product of Marina Halpern and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder, offering specialties inspired from Marina's Brazilian roots and Rachel's Israeli experience gained when living in Israel. I should mention that both of them had already an impressive exposure to the culinary world, Marina Halpern at The Dutch and The Mark, and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder at Maialino, Savoy and Tabla, credentials that surely helped them in this adventure.

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

Marina Halpern from Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

I like the atmosphere of the place that felt both rustic and zen with wood being present all over, from the tables, to the counter, walls and ceiling. Also a bit playful with the swing instead of a stool at one of the tables, as well as the line of tea pots transformed to lamps.

Counter at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Dining room at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Tea pots lamps at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Swing at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Flowers at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Foodwise, we were there for brunch and I admit that I was not sure what to pick considering that everything in front of us looked very good. For drinks, we started with a fresh orange juice.

Orange juice at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, we tried Grandma's milk, a steamed milk with dulce de leche and a shot of espresso (optional) that was very close to a light cafe au lait, the dulce de leche adding a nice sweetness to it.

Grand Ma's milk at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, the hot chocolate that was pretty good and not some diluted hot cocoa that we sometimes end up with...

Hot cocoa at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Last was the espresso that I had to try, being addicted to coffee. It was made with the Brazilian Dromedaire Cuveé medium roast from Nobletree Coffee, a Brooklyn-based company. Nobletree has implemented its Modbar Espresso System, an advanced system that is available at only one other NYC location that allows the barista to exert more control over the pressure used in the espresso extraction process. It was quite good and not bitter at all.

Espresso at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

For our meal, we first had some savory specialties. First I should mention their pao de queijo or cheese bread that they ingeniously use to make sandwiches (they call them PDQ - Pao De Queijo sandwiches). We were lucky to try some fresh from the oven and it was so addictive.

Pao de queijo at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We tried two of their sandwiches made with this bread. The first one was the ham with an egg (optional). Well, in fact it is their take on a ham and cheese sandwich, except that the cheese is already in the bread! This was so good, between this fantastic bread, the generous portion of ham and the perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk making this sandwich more delicious.

PDQ ham and egg at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

The second one was a new addition in their menu: the BLT where we added some avocado and an egg for more decadence.

PDQ BLT at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Both sandwiches were fantastic and would satisfy cheese lovers thanks to the bread, as well as people who only eat gluten free, the bread being totally gluten free, a fact that few people know. Who said that gluten free is not good? Well if you did, try this and let me know!

Savory treats at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

The next dishes were Empadinhas, flaky pastries similar to a pot pies. We tried the chicken one and the mushroom one that was Israeli inspired. Both were very good but I admit that I preferred the mushroom one, the filling being so good, but also showcasing more the flakiness of the dough. The chicken, finely shredded was also quite delicious and very flavorful.

Chicken empadinhas at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Mushroom empadinhas at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We also tried their egg and cheese brioche with bacon, another delicious dish made with a fully cooked egg in the center, sprinkled with parmesan and accompanied with bacon for some additional smokiness.

Egg and bacon brioche at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then was dessert. The first one was the coconut cake that Jodi wanted absolutely to try. I was curious too as I knew that this cake is a Marina Halpern's family recipe reimagined by Chef Binder using a Moroccan basbousa recipe as inspiration. Understand that I am not the biggest fan of coconut cake, but this one is an exception: it was spectacular: with the right balance between the coconut and the orange flavor, it was incredibly moist.

Coconut cake at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, we tried two versions of their babka. The Romeo and Juliette made with guava and cheese (in Brazil, when guava and cheese are mixed, you would refer to as these Shakespearian characters) and the chocolate and dulce de leche babka. These might not have been the best babka I ever tried, but they were very good, the chocolate and dulce de leche one being my favorite, Jodi preferring the other one.

Chocolate and dulce de leche babka at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Romeo and Juliette babka at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We left full and definitely needed a walk after such a feast. Padoca is a real neighborhood gem that features a unique and innovative menu: this is definitely a place that I recommend. And yes, I would go back anytime! or everyday?

Enjoy (I did)!

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Padoca Bakery