I Just Want To Eat! 3/26/16 I Just Want To Eat! 3/26/16

Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

On a Saturday night, we were decided to go eat Ramen and our target was Tabata Ramen, close to Port Authority. But, on our way, we noticed this place called Boi Noodle House, a Vietnamese restaurant that had ramen on the menu. From the outside, it was a bit difficult to see that it was a restaurant, but the A on the door attracted my eyes that are always looking for restaurants while walking around (Yes, it drives Jodi crazy sometimes, but I cannot help it).

Entrance at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

The decor was a bit weird, the tables having a plastic on top of the colorful tableclothes, like going to your grandmother's place.

Dining room at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they have the classic Pho, as well as some signature noodle soups quite unusual such as the one with escargots (snails) that I did not dare to try...

We decided to start with the caramelized pork buns.

Caramelized pork buns at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

I thought that the bun was just ok, being a bit doughy and the pork belly was dry. Fortunately, there was a bottle of hoisin sauce on the table that I used to give a better taste...

Then, I chose to get the Xia Xiu pork and spare ribs ramen.

Xia Xiu pork ramen at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Boiled egg at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Spicy bamboo shoot at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Pork belly at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Cabbage at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

The presentation was spectacular: they do not just come with a bowl with all the ingredients. No, they come with a large plate with the bowl in the center, and all the ingredients on the side, such as the pork belly, the spicy bamboo shoots, the hard boiled eggs and some cabbage. You then just have to mix it. The chicken and pork broth was pretty good, but unfortunately, the meat was tough and overcooked.

Jodi went for the organic tofu pho, served with tofu, enoki mushrooms, boo choi, scallions, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts.

Tofu pho at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

I am not sure what the broth was made with, but thought it had a weird taste that I did not like at all...The noodles were flat rice noodles that were good, but a bit overpowered by the broth. However, the garlic noodles in my ramen were really good.

Noodles in tofu pho at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

Noodles in Xia Xiu ramen at Boi Noodle House in NYC, New York

I admit that I was disappointed by Boi Noodle House. The menu looked promising, but I did not like any of the dishes. That is definitely not a place where I would go back...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Boi Noodles

I Just Want To Eat! 12/30/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/30/15

Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Some of you might know Surya, an Indian restaurant located on Bleecker. It used to be in another location on the same street before closing in 2012 because of a rent increase as well as damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. Three years later, the Sharma family restarted the adventure, in November 2015. At Surya, Chef Lala Sharma crafted a menu inspired by Colonial India, with the basis that, during the colonial years, the Indian culinary scene has been influenced by waves of settlers from England, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands who arrived to the subcontinent and brought with them flavors unknown at the time. I met Chef Sharma who showed me how a nan bread is made in their tandoor, a sight that I always like watching as I never imagined before that it was done this way.

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

Tandoor oven at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Chef Lala Sharma at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Making nan in a tandoor oven at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Surya means Sun and also refers to the Sun God in Hinduism; no wonder why the main color for this place is yellow!

Bar at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Dining room at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Elephant at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Lord Ganesha at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

For beverages, Surya proposes a good selection of beers as well as some cocktails. I decided to go with a cocktail called The Cricket Club, composed of Goslings Black Seal rum, ginger beer, fresh squeezed lime and sugarcane. It was a quite refreshing drink, with not too much alcohol in it.

Cocktail set at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

The Cricket Club cocktail at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

We also tried their mango lassi that was quite good and perfect when there was some heat in the dishes.

Mango lassi at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Our meal was a culinary experience across India, going from North to South. We started off with some succulent appetizers. The first one was the Samosa Chaat, a traditional street food made with a samosa, chickpeas, tamarind sauce, yogurt and mint sauce.

Samosa chaat at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

The second appetizer was onion bhaija, or onion fritters, that were both crispy and delightfully greasy.

Onion bhaija or onion fritters at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Then was the crab cakes, served with mint chutney. I admit that I was disappointed by this dish, the crab cakes being made with lots of fillers, losing the taste of the crab.

Crab cakes at at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Crab cakes at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

But the best appetizer I got was definitely Surya's famous baby lamb chops. Often, when I get lamb chops in an Indian restaurant, they are overcooked and a bit dry, if not tough. These were fantastic, perfectly cooked medium and tender, bathed in a delicious house sauce.

Lamb chops at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Lamb chop at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Then, for the entrées, we tried the Malabar Papas that are shrimp cooked in a spicy coconut sauce (not so spicy). This dish is one of their best sellers and I admit that it was pretty good.

Malabar Papas at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Then we went for a classic: Chicken Tikka Massala. I know that it has nothing extraordinary because you can find it anywhere, but I love this dish and could not resist. It was so good: creamy, flavorful with lots of delicious pieces of chicken in it.

Chicken Tikka Masala at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

If you are vegetarian or do not like chicken, I recommend Paneer Makhni that is the same sauce as chicken tikka massala. Know that at Surya's, they make their own paneer that is cottage cheese.

Paneer Makhni at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Our last entrée was the Dal Surya that is close to Dal Makhni, made with black lentils, but also few beans, cumin, ginger and some cream.

Dal Surya at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

With the dishes, we got some rice, as well as breads: nan (left) and roti (left). My favorite was definitely the nan that was fluffy and deliciously charred, with what I believe was a touch of butter on it.

Rice at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Nan and Roti at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Last was dessert. We went for some of our favorites: Kheer that is rice pudding.

Kheer at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

As well as Gulab Jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a syrup.

Gulab Jamun at Surya, Indian restaurant on Bleecker, NYC, New York

Both desserts were delicious. The gulab jamun was, as expected, on the sweet side, however, I truly appreciated the fact that the kheer was not and it was difficult not to eat all of it. But, with all the food we had before, I had to resist...

I like Surya: they have some very good dishes with amazing flavors. This is definitely a place to know, outside of the well known curry hill. Would I go back? Definitely, and I will for sure re-order the lamb...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Surya

I Just Want To Eat! 12/28/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/28/15

Off The Hook, seafood restaurant in Astoria, Queens

Off The Hook is a raw bar and seafood place in the heart of Astoria, a bit off the beaten path. When we went for brunch there, we met with one of the owners, Bes, who explained to us that they opened this place two and half years ago with the idea of doing something different from the other seafood places in the area that were mainly Greek, proposing many different dishes focused on fresh seafood, whether served raw, fried, baked, etc. Opened 7 days a week, they get their seafood from the Bronx fish market, as well as from other local merchants.

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

Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Rum menu at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

What makes them stand out besides a mouth watering menu is the deals they offer, such as the $1 Blue Point oysters for Happy Hour, as well as their extensive choice of rum from all over the US, but also the world (Jamaica, Martinique...). That is where I got my first oyster shooter, made with dark rum, lime and pickle juice. It was a bit sour, but I liked it and found it fun.

Oyster shooter at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

But before I talk about the food, let's talk about the place. Before entering, you can definitely guess the theme of the restaurant. Then, looking inside, I though originally that it was very small, but they have a dining room in the back, as well as a small courtyard that they were able to use on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as they were proposing a special menu and so were opened.

Bench at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Garden at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Dining room at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Buoy at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

The bar is fairly interesting because you can notice some details in the decor, such as the net hanging from the ceiling or the shelves that are made with a buoy.

Bar at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Rum bottles at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

There are also the swings where you can sit and eat some food at the counter.

Swings at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Now, let's talk about the food. At Off The Hook, As I mentioned before, you can get raw, fried, baked, etc. For the raw bar, they have an impressive selection of oysters from all over. So, if you do not like the Blue Point, you have others from West coast to East coast. You can also go for clams or shrimp, or if you are undecided, order the platter! Although I like raw shellfish, I wanted to see how they cook dishes, so passed on the raw bar. The first dish I tried was the New England Clam Chowder, an all time favorite (sorry Manhattan Clam Chowder: I do not like you).

New England clam chowder at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

It was good, but not the best I had as I prefer it creamier and with less vegetables in it (there was celery, carrots and potatoes). However, the Hook's baked oysters was fantastic!

Hook's baked oysters at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

Served in an escargot dish, it was made with gruyere cheese and some rum. I liked it, especially the sauce that, similar to escargots, I could not stop eating with bread (that was deliciously toasted) and in fact, Jodi who does not like oysters was also dipping bread in the sauce...This is definitely a dish I recommend.

The third appetizer was catfish corn fritters.

Catfish corn fritters at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

The fritters were sprinkled with confectioner's sugar and came with some agave syrup, making a perfect sweet and savory dish. I should mention that in this little basket, we got couple of corn fritters with no fish that were also very good. I definitely liked the crispiness of the fritters and the fish was perfectly cooked and moist. This is a perfect dish to share.

For her entrée, as Jodi does not like seafood, she went for the croque-monsieur. This is not your traditional croque-monsieur and is one of the dishes that they reinvent. It was made of a delicious brioche bread bought locally, Canadian bacon, cheddar, pickles and topped with citrus slaw. Quite an interesting take on a classic French dish. It is in fact one of the few dishes on the menu that do not have have seafood in it (They also serve French toast for instance).

Croque Monsieur at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

My only comment on this dish is that they probably should serve it with a side of homemade chips, because yes, they make their own chips and they are so good you cannot stop eating them.

Homemade potato chips at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

That's right, I got chips with my dish and guess what it was: the Maine lobster roll! Rested in a succulent top cut bun that has been toasted, it is made with butter, lemon mayonnaise and spices, with lots of Maine lobster that was perfectly cooked. I definitely appreciated the fact that there was just enough mayo so it did not overpower the whole thing, leaving the lobster being the star of the dish. I should mention that it was served with a delicious slaw.

Maine Lobster roll at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

The last food item I have to describe in this post is the homemade biscuit: served hot, it was crispy and flaky: a true delight.

Biscuit at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

To go with this sublime meal, I went for a glass of wine, a 2013 Cote Mas Sud de France.

Glass of Cote Mas Sud De France 2013 at Off The Hook, Raw Bar and Grill in Astoria, Queens

We had a nice time and a delicious meal at Off The Hook: the food there is delicious and seafood lovers will definitely appreciate. I definitely liked the atmosphere of this non pretentious restaurant that has a concept truly unique in that area. Would I go back? Probably, but this time to try their dinner!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 12/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/26/15

Taureau, Fondue extravaganza in the West Village

I met Chef Didier Pawlicki at his two other restaurants: Le Village, located in the East Village, and La Sirene that is next to Taureau. Each time, I could sense the true passion he has for food, but also the importance he gives to his patrons, ensuring they would have a good time in what I would qualify as neighborhood restaurants. Yes, this is the way I would qualify all of his restaurants. Maybe it is because of their size, but I truly believe it is because of the atmosphere.

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

Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

Chef Didier Pawlicki at Le Village in NYC, New York

Dining room at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

When I went to Taureau, I unfortunately missed Chef Pawlicki. Too bad because this place is all about fondue and God knows I ate lots of it when I lived in France. Cheese fondue? Yes, definitely a lot, especially when I was leaving in Annecy, a beautiful city with a lac, close to Switzerland, whose inhabitants challenge the fact that the cheese fondue came from the neighboring country. I found other places in New York with cheese fondue, but none of these proposed as many choices a Taureau. Fondue Bourguignonne? Aka meat fondue. I may not have looked enough, but I do not recall a place proposing it. And this one brings up lots of memories from my childhood as we often ate a good fondue bourguignonne with my family on Sundays. In fact, I remember that we could buy some meat, specially labeled for meat fondue (piece pour fondue), as well as sauces, my favorite being Americaine and Béarnaise, among the many we had. As a ritual, we always started with my brother and sisters to dip in the very hot oil, some piece of bread; it was a time when people were less health conscious as, as you could imagine, the bread, crunchy, was soaked in oil and bathed in some of the sauces we had on our plates. It was also a time where electric fondue sets or gels did not exist, replaced by alcohol to heat up the pot. Do not worry: at Taureau, there is a heating element on the table, but still, be careful with the hot oil!

Heating element at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

So, let me explain to you the menu there. There are two prix fixes: The full village that, for $52 per person will include a cheese fondue, a fondue Bourguignonne and a chocolate fondue, with more choices for each course than the cheaper Eco Village that is $43 per person. I guess now you understand the title of this post... Yes, three different kinds of fondue might seem a lot, but trust me: it is not only manageable, but it is so delicious that you can't stop eating (I suggest a little walk after though).

Menu at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

Typically, we say that, with a cheese fondue, you should not drink water but wine, otherwise the water and the cheese will form a block and it will hurt your stomach. That is for sure an urban legend to convince people to drink wine...So, I went for a glass of Pinot Grigio.

Glass of Pinot Grigio at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

For the first course, the cheese fondue, we decided to go with the traditional Old Swiss, but I admit that I hesitated between this one and the Perigord that has 18 months old parmesan , white American cheese, black truffle mushrooms and truffle oil. This seemed decadent and was probably very flavorful, but, as it was my first time at Taureau, I preferred going for a classic.

Old Swiss fondue at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

The fondue was very good, with not too much garlic or pepper that is what I always appreciate as it can easily overpower the cheese. It came with pieces of bread (they brought some more), as well as some salad to help the digestion, similar to the way lots of restaurants in France would serve it. We also went for some mushrooms that we ordered on the side and that we dipped in the cheese instead of bread.

Mushrooms at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

The second course was the fondue Bourguignonne. For this one, you have different choices to make:

Oil versus broth. We went for oil as it is the traditional one and picked Canola, again more traditional, over olive oil. If you prefer broth, you can have vegetables or red wine.
The meat: beef with filet mignon and hanger steak, chicken or pork tenderloin. We went with beef that is again more traditional for a fondue Bourguignonne.

Fondue Bourguignonne at at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

We dipped the meat in the hot oil for 15 seconds to get a medium rare temperature, moving the fork so it would not stick to the bottom of the pot. We then put a bit of sauce over it. The choices of sauces were: Dijon, peppercorn, truffle, Gorgonzola and bordelaise. My favorites being the last three for sure. Both kinds of meat were good, but my preference was definitely the filet mignon that was very tender.

Hanger steak at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

Filet mignon at  at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Filet mignon at at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

After that was our last course: the chocolate fondue. We had the choice between milk and dark chocolate. We picked the latter.

Chocolate fondue  at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Chocolate fondue at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

To dip in the chocolate, they brought us: white chocolate cake, banana cake, banana, pear (one of my favorites), kiwi (not ripe enough), apple and marshmallow. I think dark chocolate was the perfect choice as milk might have been too sweet. This was delicious and, despite all the food we had before, I could not stop dipping in the almighty chocolate...

Marshmallow dipped in Chocolate fondue  at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Marshmallow dipped in Chocolate fondue at Taureau, French restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

This was a fantastic meal and I was glad I went to Taureau. This is the kind of places were I would definitely go with a group of friends or whenever I feel like traveling to France for the price of a subway ticket. Chapeau Chef Pawlicki: I will definitely come back and this time try the Perigord fondue!

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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

Taureau

I Just Want To Eat! 12/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/23/15

Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

I was thrilled to try Frankie and Ava's, a new Italian eatery from long term resident Frank DiGiacomo, that opened last Wednesday.

You're going to tell me: does Hoboken need another Italian place? Well, why not if the food differs from the others? At Frankie and Ava's, it might not be the choices that are different, the menu offering pizza, hot or cold sandwiches, antipasti...Lots of components, such as mozzarella being made on premises.

I was thrilled to try Frankie and Ava's, a new Italian eatery from long term resident Frank DiGiacomo, that opened last Wednesday.

Dining room at Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

The counter at Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

I like the decor that, although casual, has a zen feel, thanks to the wood and color chosen. We decided to try several dishes there. For the appetizer, I was tempted by the buffalo chicken balls, a take on an all American dish, more intriguing than rice balls that they also serve on the menu.

Buffalo chicken balls at Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

I liked it, the buffalo sauce having a nice kick that was counterbalanced by the blue cheese sauces that they serve with it. It was also a bit crunchy that added a slight texture to the dish that was missing a bit of it, the chicken being shredded a bit too thin. But at the end, it was fairly good and I recommend it if you like buffalo chicken.

Then, we got the meatball parmigiana sandwich, composed of homemade marinara, fresh homemade mozzarella and parmesan on a toasted Italian roll.

Meatball parmesan sandwich at Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

It was a decent one: the meatballs were good, not dry, but it was missing a bit of that delicious marinara sauce (they should add a bit on the side - I am sure they would have given me some if I asked) and the cheese seemed to be on only one side that happened to be mine...

Last was the pizza. And what a pizza! We went for the Wild Mushroom one, made with mixed wild mushrooms, fresh homemade mozzarella and finished with truffle oil.

Wild mushroom pizza at Frankie and Ava's in Hoboken, NJ

That was succulent: the crust was fantastic, thin and crunchy, it was difficult to resist. And at least there was enough mozzarella and mushrooms so we would not fight over a slice. What I appreciated is that they propose personal pizza (the size we chose), that had 6 slices for $10. A good price for good slice that seemed to be made with quality ingredients.

Even if I had few comments about the food, I liked Frankie and Ava's: they have a nice menu in a casual setting, offering dishes at reasonable prices. I think it is a good addition to the culinary world of Hoboken and I would certainly go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Frankie and Ava's

I Just Want To Eat! 12/21/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/21/15

The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

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

When I got invited to try donuts at The Doughnut Project, a place that opened mid-October this year in the West Village, I was thrilled: I love doughnuts, but really the ones that are different and bring this delightfully fried dough to another level. This is what The Doughnut Project is about. Of course, if you want a regular one, simply glazed, you can ask, but it would not showcase what this place brings compared to the other "doughnutteries". Because yes, you may think that it is another donut shop, surfing on the craze that saw many others open. Well, it is not: there, donuts are fun and delicious and trust me: I got to try many of them (isn't it great to be a blogger?).

Troy Neal, co-owner of The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

The Doughnut Project is the result of a friendship between owners Leslie Polizzotto and Troy Neal who met at Eataly few years ago, where Troy was a bartender. After trying many recipes in Troy's kitchen, they finally decided it was time to offer New Yorkers gourmet doughnuts made with fresh and seasonal ingredients, setting up The Doughnut Project in what used to be a medical dispensary.

First, the place is fun: artsy with some spay paint and art on the wall, giving an urban feel. Then, you end up in front of their display and cannot imagine that you went there for just one donut...

Display at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

They have six signature doughnuts, and a few experimental ones. For instance, when we went, they had an eggnog one for the winter, with booze in the icing, and, a peanut butter doughnut. All these are yeast doughnuts, using the same dough recipe, the icing being the component making the difference, except when they add some filling like in the beet one (yes, you read well: beets), that has ricotta inside, bought at Murray Cheese Bar close by.

A box of doughnuts at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

From all the doughnuts I tried there, the one that stood out was the Bacon Maple Bar, reminiscent from the West Coast origin of Trey who used to live in Seattle. I mean, the first bite was divine, the doughnut having a sweet and savory taste with a nice smokiness and fattiness from the bacon. I really liked the fact that, like for all the other doughnuts, the icing was not too sweet. The other doughnuts were good too, but I could not stop thinking about this one as I was trying the others and I made sure I finished it first. Even Jodi, who is not a big fan of bacon could not resist.

Bacon Maple Bar at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

But, if you do not want the Bacon Maple Bar, you can try the others. My second favorite was The Bronx, made with olive oil and black pepper. If I had to pick a third one, it would be Bulletproof Tiger, made with pineapple and habanero stripes. I thought it would be spicy, but it was not the case, but you definitely get a distinctive pineapple taste that could make you think that you are just eating fruit...

The Bronx: Olive oil and black pepper at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

The Bulletproof Tiger at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

The one I did not like was Those Beetz are Dope, the icing being made with beets that gave this incredible purple color, and the filling made of ricotta as I mentioned above. I like beets, but was not really a fan of it, although I found it interesting. Could it be the new way to force kids to eat their vegetables?

The Beetz are Dope at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

The last two I have tried were:

The Pumpkin King: cinnamon with candied pepitas (the delicious cinnamon flavor hits you in the face right away).

The Pumpkin King at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

The Costanza: salted chocolate with buttered pretzel (another sweet and savory creation, the pretzel adding a nice crunch to it).

The Costanza at The Doughnut Project in NYC, New York

These large doughnuts were delicious, airy and fluffy, with surprising icing. Would I go back? Oh yeah! But I am not sure I can resist another Bacon Maple Bar...

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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

The Doughnut Project

I Just Want To Eat! 12/19/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/19/15

H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

H & S Giovanni's is one of those multiple pizza joints in Hoboken that are worth knowing: cheap and good. Like others, they serve a large menu from pizza to pasta to sandwiches. I would say that the restaurant has two main areas: the one facing the counter for the curious and the dining room (they have two areas with a nicer set in fact), that is a bit more comfortable.

Counter at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

Dining room at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

Thankfully, they serve pizza by the slice, so, contrary to Grimaldi's few blocks away, you can just pick few slices (although I should mention that Grimaldi's proposes personal size pizza). But the comparison with Grimaldi's will stop there as the pizza is not as good and the setting is much more casual at H&S Giovanni's, but still worth to try.

Slices at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

We decided to go with three slices that were of a good size, especially the plain one, that was, as you would expect for a NY pizza...greasy.

Plain slice at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

I liked it and the generous amount of cheese was no stranger to it. I found it as good as Benny Tudino's.

The next slice was the white, that had a nice amount of ricotta and fortunately no garlic overpowering the whole slice. I definitely recommend that one.

White slice at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

Last was the baked ziti slice.

Baked ziti slice at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

You wonder how somebody could have thought about such pizza combining it with pasta! I liked it, although it was a bit dry.

Of course, with my meal, I got my favorite drink with pizza: root beer. Note: if you are not from this country, know that root beer is not a beer...

Root beer at H & S Giovanni's in Hoboken, NJ

This was a decent lunch and nothing less than what I expected. Does H&S Giovanni's stand out from the other pizza parlors in Hoboken? No, but still, it has good pizza and I heard their Sicilian is fantastic. Would I go back? Maybe, but this time to try their calzone or 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!

I Just Want To Eat! 12/17/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/17/15

Revisit: Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

I went to Mastro's steakhouse a year ago and had a good time, the only negative being the noise level that was quite high. So, when we went back with my colleagues, I was curious to see if the experience evolved one way or another. As I had meat that week, I made a point to focus more on seafood, not that I thought that it would be healthier, especially when you will see what I got...

The first dish was their seafood tower that was phenomenal! I guess they put some liquid nitrogen to create that beautiful smoke, enhanced with some light that catches the attention of dinners.

Seafood tower at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

We decided to have a mix of seafood: crab cocktail, shrimp (huge), oysters and lobster. This was delicious and fresh.

Then, I went for the Live Maine lobster: a 3.5 lb lobster that they removed from the shell for me.

Live Maine lobster at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

That was a nice animal: big, served with clarified butter, it was unfortunately slightly overcooked, but still good and I truly appreciated that they did the hard work for me. With the lobster, I got some gorgonzola mac and cheese that was delightfully creamy and cheesy.

Gorgonzola mac and cheese at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

With our meal, we got a bottle of Pinot Noir Etude 2013 from California.

Pinot Noir Etude at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

For dessert, we shared the chocolate layer cake. When it came, I was not sure what to expect as, often, restaurants go for the spectacular rather then the taste. This one was really good and very chocolatey.

Seven layers chocolate cake at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

But my favorite was the Pecan Pie A La Mode! The caramel was so buttery that I could have eaten the entire pie myself (but with what I ate before...).

Pecan pie at Mastro's Steakhouse in NYC, New York

We had a good time at Mastro's: good company, excellent service and delicious food. What else to ask? Except another opportunity to go back. And this time, the noise level downstairs was perfect!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

House of 'Que in Hoboken, NJ

House of 'Que is a new BBQ restaurant that just opened two weeks ago in Hoboken, replacing 3 Thirty Grill that closed earlier this year. Overlooking the New York skyline, this place is fairly big and has a concept, BBQ, that is not that widespread in the mile square city, the only true competitor in that category being The Smoking' Barrel, located uptown.

Dining room at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

The area where it is located is full of bars, crowded whenever there is a game, and, you could see that they cater to sports fans considering the number of TVs all around the dining room. They smartly even put a large screen on one side. When entering, you cannot miss the roll of paper towels on each table: this is a good sign that it is going to get messy!

Root beer and lemonade at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Strangely, we were asked to order our drinks at the table (a root beer for me and a house made lemonade for Jodi), but order and pay for the food at the counter. The way it works is that they give you a card with the menu, you go at the counter, order what you want, with sides first and meat after, and then pay at the cashier.

Sides station at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Meat station at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

For the meat, you can order by the pound, whichever quantity you want, so I decided to have a tasting...

Meat selection at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

It was composed of:

Pork ribs (good, but not really falling of the bone. However, I loved the rub and the delightful fat):

Saint Louis ribs at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Pork shoulder (fantastic: moist with some charred skin):

Pork shoulder at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Sausage (another favorite: tasty with a nicely thick casing):

Brisket (deliciously fatty but a bit tough):

It was served with some slices of white bread that I mainly used with the pork shoulder, smothered in BBQ sauce.

White bread at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

For the sides, we decided to go with the corn pudding that was amazing and the mac and cheese that was...disappointing, being creamy but bland. We also got a pickle and some deviled eggs that were pretty good.

Corn pudding at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Mac and cheese at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

Deviled eggs at House of Que in Hoboken, NJ

I admit that I am a bit on the fence with House of 'Que: my ideal meal would be the pork shoulder, sausage and corn pudding. For ribs, I prefer The Smoking' Barrel mentioned before or even Hudson Tavern that has some incredible ones. As far as the brisket is concerned, lots of BBQ places in New York make a better one. Would I go back? Maybe, but this time to try the chicken and the pecan pie...

Enjoy (I did)!

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House of Que

I Just Want To Eat! 12/13/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/13/15

Square Diner in TriBeCa

TriBeCa has this reputation to be the place where the rich and celebrities live, with its high end restaurants and amazing lofts. In the last two years, I have been discovering this area and I definitely found places that you would probably not expect if you never went there and just been mesmerized by the sight of this neighborhood in TV shows or movies. Square Diner is one of them.

We went there on a Saturday, for lunch, and I was surprised to see this place become crowded after 1:30pm. Menu wise, like many diners, they have a large selection of dishes, quite varied. Jodi decided to go for pancakes.

Pancakes and egg at Square Diner in TriBeCa

You could add an egg (probably to balance out the sweet and savory) and she decided to have it scrambled. The egg was well done, not overcooked and thus dry. The pancake was as good as pancakes you would expect in a diner.

On my side, I went for the pastrami Reuben sandwich, that was in fact an open sandwich. I might have been disappointed about that, thinking that I would enjoy a messy sandwich, the grease from the pastrami dripping on my hands. But in fact, it was a decent sandwich, the only part missing being the Russian dressing replaced by mustard.

Pastrami reuben at Square Diner in TriBeCa

Of course, I had to try their milkshake and chose a vanilla one that made the cut.

Vanilla milkshake at Square Diner in TriBeCa

It was a decent meal and we were surprised how speedy the service was, the dishes arriving few minutes after we ordered. Would I go back to Square Diner? Probably: I love the atmosphere in this kind of place and found the food comforting and decent, as you would expect in a diner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 12/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/10/15

Edward's in Tribeca

We passed in front of Edward's so many times , seeing that place crowded as well as the poster from Time Out saying it is one of the 50 best brunch places in New York, that we decided to go for dinner on a Friday night. Not surprisingly, we got our table in this place that had a bistro feel. Yes it was crowded and noisy, especially around the bar area. Menu wise, it looked like a mix of cuisines, that is never an issue if executed well. I am not sure what happened that night, but it did not match our expectations...First, the service, although courteous was slow and waited a long time for our food to come. We ordered four appetizers that were served in large plates and, instead of asking us if they could bring them two by two, they brought everything together, trying to setup four large plates on a small table, making the experience uncomfortable.

The appetizers were:

Guacamole and chips: I found it watery and some of the chips were old. I mentioned it to the manager who graciously removed it from the bill, that is a gesture I truly appreciated.

Guacamole and chips at Edward's in Tribeca

Crab cake with lemon butter sauce: not the best crab cake for sure, but decent (I was not expecting much in this king of place though but know that this is not made with jumbo lump crab).

Fish tacos: simply mushy and definitely not a dish I would recommend.

Mushroom quesadilla: served with pico de gallo and sour cream, it was just ok.

Mushroom quesadilla at Edward's in Tribeca

We passed on desserts at that point...That was definitely disappointing. Would I go back to Edward's? Maybe for brunch, but probably not for dinner.

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 12/7/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/7/15

Banh Mi at Pho Nomenon in Hoboken, NJ

When I went to Pho Nomenon in January 2014, I was not that thrilled and even said:

I have mixed feelings about that place: it was cheap and decent, but the food was not to the point where I would want to go back quickly.

When I went to Pho Nomenon in January 2014, I was not that thrilled and even said:

I have mixed feelings about that place: it was cheap and decent, but the food was not to the point where I would want to go back quickly.

Tofu Banh Mi at Pho Nomenon in Hoboken, NJ

What convinced me to go back was their Banh Mi sandwich. I love a good banh mi that I discovered at Banh Mi Saigon in Little Italy few years back. Cheap and tasty, I love the sweet and savory taste of this sandwich, that is even better when the baguette has a slight crispiness. So, the fact that Pho Nomenon was serving one and, in fact, the only place in Hoboken serving it, made us decide to go back there.

Jodi ordered the tofu sandwich that was made with fried tofu:

On my side, I got the traditional, made with cold cuts and some sort of mayonnaise.

Traditional Banh Mi at Pho Nomenon in Hoboken, NJ

Both sandwiches had cucumber, carrot, daikon and fresh cilantro, on a bread that was slightly toasted. These sandwiches were pretty good and I definitely recommend them, but know that they have limited quantity there.

With my sandwich, I got a Thai iced tea, not surprising if you follow this blog as it is one of my favorite beverage.

Thai iced tea at Pho Nomenon in Hoboken, NJ

This time at Pho Nomenon, I was definitely not disappointed! The Banh Mi were awesome and I would definitely go back there to try their other choices!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 12/5/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/5/15

STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

STK is definitely not your usual steakhouse, getting away from the manly atmosphere classic steak joints sometimes have. No, it is modern and combines not only a restaurant, but also a lounge, like Mastro's does. So, there, the noise level is quadruple, the music from the DJ forcing people to scream to get heard.

Dining room at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Dining room at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Their menu is also unusual, definitely elegant and unique. You find of course the classic pieces of meat, such as ribeye, filet mignon or porter house, but for instance with interesting toppings like foie gras butter or bone marrow.

They started off by bringing a sourdough bread with blue cheese butter on top and a chive butter on the side.

Sourdough bread at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Sourdough bread at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

I admit that I would have never thought it was a sourdough bread as it tasted more like a brioche. Bringing this was a mistake, as it was so good, it was difficult to resist it...

For the appetizers, I tried the crispy lobster tails, served with green chili aioli, pickled chilies and a papaya slaw.

Crispy lobster tails at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Crispy lobster tails at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

It was kind of refreshing, thanks to the papaya slaw and I loved the texture of the lobster that was slightly undercooked but had the crunch from the crust on top.

But my favorite appetizer was the seared scallops, accompanied by short rib marmalade, squash puree and pomegranate.

Seared scallops at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Seared scallops at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The presentation was outstanding, one of the scallops having the short rib marmalade (that was fantastic by the way) on top and the other one under. This was a spectacular dish: the scallops were perfectly seared and paired perfectly with the squash and marmalade, as well as the pomegranate that added some nice acidity.

To go with the meat, I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Cutrer 2013 from California. I noticed preparing this post that the alignment of the glass with one of the tables gives the impression I had somebody in my glass!

For the steak, I did not go for the filet mignon

Filet mignon at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Filet mignon at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

But for the ribeye that is my favorite cut. I asked for it medium rare.

Ribeye at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Ribeye at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The ribeye was perfectly cooked, but a bit too fatty. Know that they apparently do not dry-age their meat, that is fairly rare nowadays. It was a very good piece of meat: tender, juicy, with a great bold taste, especially close to the bone. I ordered a delicious béarnaise sauce with it, as well as a bone marrow that I inhaled...

Bone marrow at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Bone marrow at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

For the sides, I tried the mac and cheese, as well as the truffles and parmesan fries.

Mac and cheese at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Mac and cheese at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Truffle and parmesan fries at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Truffle and parmesan fries at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

I did not like the fries: undercooked and bland, it was very disappointing. However, the mac and cheese was sublime: the pasta were perfectly cooked, there was a lot of cheese and it was really creamy.

I had to pace myself as I really wanted to try their desserts, having couple of options in mind. The first one was the churro milkshake.

Churro milkshake at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Churro milkshake at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The milkshake was made with dulce de leche and I used it to dip the perfectly made churro bites that were crunchy with a delightful gooeyness in the center. But my favorite dessert was definitely the banana cream pie in a jar.

Banana cream pie in a jar at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Banana cream pie in a jar at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Made with banana, house made vanilla wafer, vanilla custard and butterscotch, it was topped with a meringue that was not too sweet. In fact the entire dessert was not too sweet and was comforting. I think I could have eaten the entire jar if I was not already full from all this good food I had...

STK is for sure a great place: fantastic food and good service. I wonder if it is quieter for lunch as, if like me, you do not like noisy places, this is not for you. Although I have to say that, after what I ate, I would not mind going back, bringing a pair of ear plugs with me...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 12/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/2/15

Mac and Cheese burger at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

We were looking forward to having brunch with our friends Jen and Gary and I was in charge of finding a place in the city. Knowing that Gary was, like me, a fan of burgers, I looked for a restaurant with an extensive menu. That is how we ended up at The Ainsworth. I mean, just seeing their mac and cheese burger made me drool and I could not wait to try it. Interestingly, while we waited for Jen and Gary, we saw Alma, one of Jodi's friends who lives in the neighborhood. She could not believe we were going there, even for food: it is a bar and it comes with all the disturbances you can be imagine, from the loud music to the drunk people, without forgetting the fights. Well, Alma, the brunch might be your best bet, but not on a game day: The Ainsworth being a sports bar (it has 40 TV over 6,000 sqf), I am sure it gets crazy there.

Dining room at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

It did not take too long to decide what to eat, but I admit that the food took forever to come; it was odd considering there were maybe three tables occupied. I guess they had the minimum staff that day, but they could at least check on the patrons.

So I ordered the mac and cheese burger. It was one choice in many unusual combinations, such as the French onion or breakfast burgers.

The Mac and Cheese burger at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

When it came, it looked big and yummy, but big, but yummy, but big...it was composed of a bun with, in the bottom, a panko crusted mac and cheese, topped with a patty (between 6 to 8 ounces) and a scoop of mac and cheese.

It was a bit messy to eat, but the first bite was divine: first you get the soft brioche bun, then, at the same time, creaminess of the mac and cheese on top and the crunchiness of the crusted one in the bottom, before tasting the meat that was not as juicy as I would have liked. It was delicious, but I admit that it was a bit challenging to eat it, especially as the cheese got colder. I mean, you will definitely forget about the fries and I have to say that not only it was challenging to finish, but it was also a bit heavy after...

Jodi, more reasonable than me, got the traditional breakfast, two eggs (she asked for sunny side), buttermilk biscuit, potato hash, and bacon. Good, but nothing unusual.

Traditional breakfast at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

We had a good time at The Ainsworth and I appreciated the fact that they let us hang out there for a while. Besides the company, the highlight of the meal was definitely that fantastic burger that I highly recommend. And yes, I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/27/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/27/15

Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

It has been a while since we ate at The Vegetarian Dim Sum House in Chinatown, and so, after our last trip to Joe's Ginger, we decided to go back and see if the food was as good as we remember.

Dining room at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

This cash only place is like lots of restaurants in Chinatown: a destination for food (authentic, comforting, good and cheap), not a place you would go for the decor, the ambiance or to get an outstanding service. So, it is not the best place for a date...I personally think that their dishes are better than their dim sum, the later being a bit greasy and not as good.

Dim sum menu at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

They have a large dim sum menu and you will check the one you want with the pencil that is on each table. We decided to go with:

Vegetable pork roast mock buns (doughy and tasteless):

Vegetable pork roast mock buns at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

Mini vegetarian spring rolls (not so mini, pipping hot and very greasy):

Vegetarian spring rolls at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

Pan fried dumplings (greasy and not that tasty):

Pan fried dumplings at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

However, their three mushrooms pan fried noodles was delicious!

Three mushrooms pan fried noodles at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

The noodles were smothered in a delicious sauce, some of them not and therefore being delightfully crispy. There was also lots of mushrooms on it, perfect if you love them.

I am a bit on the fence as far as The Vegetarian Dim Sum House is concerned. It is for sure cheap and I am not expecting gourmet food, but I think that places like Joe's Ginger (across the street), The Great NY Noodle Town or The Golden Unicorn are far better. Would I go back? Maybe, but not for dim sum.

Enjoy (...)!

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