Hibachi at Ayame in Hoboken, New Jersey
Ayame ("Iris" in Japanese) is the only Hibachi place in Hoboken. If you do not know what Hibachi is, it is a grill where food will be cooked during a cooking show that surely requires some skills!
I sometimes wonder if people go to Hibachi places for the food or for the show! I go for both!!! First time I tried it was in Seoul, Korea. It was in the hotel I was staying in and I still remember the filet mignon and the grilled veggies, notably the mushrooms and onions that were fantastic. The Chef put a bit of a show, but it was not as much as what I saw later.
I sometimes wonder if people go to Hibachi places for the food or for the show! I go for both!!! First time I tried it was in Seoul, Korea. It was in the hotel I was staying in and I still remember the filet mignon and the grilled veggies, notably the mushrooms and onions that were fantastic. The Chef put a bit of a show, but it was not as much as what I saw later.
So, here we are at Ayame, excited at the idea of what is to come. Jodi orders the vegetable and tofu Hibachi and I ordered a combo of two where I picked shrimp and chicken (they also have scallops, filet mignon, lobster...). The Chef comes with his little cart full of ingredients and greets us. He then starts by whipping out the hot surface and the show can begin. The video below will speak more than any words I could write!
This was spectacular! What you do not see on the video is that he proposed me some sake. I thought that he would give me some in a shot glass, but instead, he squeezed a bottle to let the sake flow come to my mouth!
My shrimp and chicken combo like that:
There was definitely a lot if food and the fried rice was not necessary! The only negative is that they asked us if we wanted regular or fried rice, as if it was included!
Otherwise, the food was fantastic: tasty with generous portions. For instance, the shrimp were of a good size and I had a dozen.
For the second time at Ayame, trying the Hibachi, we had not only a good time, but also some delicious food! We definitely need to go back and try their other dishes!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Taboonette, pocket food in NYC, New York
The owners of Taboon, a Mediterranean restaurant located in Hell's Kitchen, decided to open another location in Greenwich Village; a sister location named Taboonette. The concept is pocket food: putting food into a pita or wrap, like a little pocket.
I was pretty excited as I love Mediterranean food and the simplicity of pita sandwiches. I was also looking for cheap eats in this area (the highest price on their menu is $12).
The place is nice with a simple decor; the light wood gives a zen atmosphere to it.
I also loved the lamps and the old fashion bulb where you can see the filament. For sure it is nicer than those energy efficient bulbs! If they could make them look like that, that would be awesome!
The hummus was good, but did not taste homemade; more like the one I buy at the supermarket. The pita chips were very hard and burnt.
Jodi ordered the Roasted eggplant Tabouleh:
It was made of bulgur, parsley, tomato, onion, mint and scallion. It is in fact the way tabouleh is done in countries like Lebanon: the grain is not couscous but bulgur and there is a lot of parsley. I liked it. although I would have preferred more eggplant.
I ordered the Kebab in a pita:
It was served with few homemade chips. The stuffing was made of ground lamb and beef, grilled eggplant, lettuce, tomato puree, tahini, mint and cilantro. The meat was good with the nice strong flavor of the lamb coming through. But, I do not know if it was due to the tahini, but the texture was off in the bottom of the sandwich.
I was a bit disappointed with Taboonette. I definitely prefer Mamoun's Falafel for kebab and Taim for a vegetarian option...
Enjoy (...)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Isaan Thai Food at Zabb City in NYC, New York
We really found this Thai place, Called Zabb City, by coincidence as it is located in a street, in the East Village, where the only attraction would be Momofuku Milk Bar! It does not look like your typical Thai restaurant: with such a decor, I would easily see a Wine Bar there (would a Thai Wine Bar make any sense? Could be a trend!). Their menu offers Isaan dishes. I know: me too, I have no idea what it means...Isaan is is the northeastern region of Thailand.Well, their menu proposes the usual dishes you would find in Thai cuisine, but I was desperately looking for the Chef's specials to see if they served frog legs...Yes, I mainly find these delicacies in Thai restaurants! Unfortunately they did not have it!
Of course, I got my usual Thai Iced Tea:
I love that drink: so refreshing with its kind of indescribable taste. When you think that you pay $3 for it, that is the price you would pay for a regular tea in a restaurant! $3 for hot water: no (except if the tea is not a basic one); for a Thai Iced Tea: definitely!
We started of the meal with spring rolls:
They were served with duck sauce and red chili flakes (it was not really spicy). The rolls were good, although I would have preferred less dough.
They we pretty good: the tofu was fried and was bit tasty and there were a lot of veggies (mushrooms, pepper, broccoli...).
I ordered my test dish for Thai restaurants: Chicken Massaman.
It was served with white rice. I liked it a lot: the sauce itself was divine and had a little kick that built up in the back of my mouth. The potatoes and onions were well cooked (soft) and cut in a way that it was not a nightmare to eat (no knife needed). No need to say that I finished my plate...
Zabb is a nice and quiet place that offers a good, traditional Thai with similar prices than most of the Thai restaurants in NYC. I surely prefer that place over Spice, located few blocks away...
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Italian Dinner at Casa Nonna in Hell's Kitchen NYC, New York
I recently went to Casa Nonna, literally Grandma's house, located in Hell's Kitchen, for a dinner with Erika and Kenta from Tabélog, a new online space for restaurant lovers that has more than 40 millions users in Japan and is launching a site in the US! For sure, I would have never found that place if not meeting people, as it is in the middle of a block, on 38th street. Not that many passersby!!!
I was surprised because the restaurant is big with different areas: the bar, two dining rooms of a good size and a counter next to the kitchen.
Interestingly, there is a small area on the right of the entrance that is a Go Burger! We sat in the dining room in the back; the first impression I had, besides the volume of the room, was that it looked more like a steakhouse than an Italian restaurant, thanks to the dark wood and leather banquettes.
The tables were heavy and made with the wood from wine boxes.
The menu was definitely Italian, but not your basic / classic dishes. No spaghetti with meatballs, but rather veal meatballs as an appetizer. No eggplant Parmesan or linguini a la Vongole as I am used to! But I am not going to complain, considering that I am a big fan of that type of cuisine and their menu had interesting dishes!
We started of with appetizers. Polipo - baby octopus, peanut potatoes, pearl onions drizzled with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette:
I was excited to have baby octopus because I love it! Unfortunately, it was not that great! I think after I had better octopus at Officina Laina or Thalassa,
I was expecting something fantastic...It was a bit chewy and the only thing you could taste was the fact that it was fried!
We also shared the fried calamari:
The last appetizer was the veal meatballs:
For the entree, I ordered the gnocchi with Berkshire pork ragu and crispy pig ears:
Gnocchi is definitely a good test for an Italian restaurant because you do not want the gnocchi to be dough-y or potato-y.
They did a good job at Casa Nonna: they were very, very light and perfect with a pork ragu that was delicious (yoou could taste a bit of wine). What elevated this dish a bit was the crispy pig ears: it added some crunch to the dish: wonderful! Before leaving, I asked the waiter if they make their own pasta and he mentioned that everything is homemade there.
Then was time for desserts! I could try two. The tiramisu:
And the mascarpone cheesecake, served with a blackberry citrus sauce:
Desserts were definitely not the highlight of the meal! So sad, because the presentation was spectacular. The tiramisu was overpowered by the chocolate on top and I could barely taste the espresso cream. The cheesecake might have been better, but had nothing exceptional and did not have enough blackberry sauce.
The food at Casa Nonna was average and forgettable (I still prefer Morandi or, for family style dinners, Tony Di Napoli). Fortunately, the conversation with Erika and Kenta and discovering Tabelog made the experience worth it!
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Looking for Pizza on Bleeker: Keste Pizza and Vino, John's Pizzeria and Pizza Roma in NYC, New York
I never really noticed how many pizza places there are on Bleeker, until I went to review John's Pizzeria (an institution here in New York!), Keste Pizza and Vino and Pizza Roma! This post is about our trip to these pizza joints (not the same day...)!
Keste Pizza and Vino:
The great thing with the blog is that now, when people eat in great places, they will send me some information or give me a business card from the place, suggesting me to go. That is how I heard about Keste Pizza & Vino: one of my co-workers, Richard, recommended it. As I went down to my long list of places to try and was in the mood for pizza, I proposed Jodi to go there.
It was a Saturday and the place was not that busy. I liked the decor and the atmosphere that gave a certain authenticity to the place. Their menu was mouth watering and, as we do most of the time, we already checked it before coming and knew exactly what we would order! In fact, each time we go to a pizza place we look for two items: the homemade burrata and the four cheese pizza! And Keste had both of them!!!
So we started off with the homemade burrata.
It was a big portion and was served with half a tomato, a slice of bread and some prosciutto. It was really good, although the mozzarella shell could have been a bit thinner. It also missed a bit of olive oil and the dish could have been elevated with some balsamic vinegar that would have enhanced the delicate taste of the cream.
Then came the four cheese pizza!
It looked very appetizing with its burnt edges. The cheeses were mozzarella, grand cru (I guess pecorino), caciocavallo and parmigiano reggiano. They also put on top some fresh basil leaves and some olive oil.
The crust was delicious with all these blobs at the edges and a bit of a burnt taste here and there. Unfortunately, it lost its crispiness because there was too much olive oil that made it a bit soggy.
But overall, it was a delicious pizza that would satisfy any cheese lover! They were really generous with the amount of cheese too! Fantastic!
It was definitely a great lunch at Keste that is, by the way, the official location for The APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) whose mission is to protect and preserve the Neapolitan pizza tradition and promote the art of pizza making. I will definitely have to go back to try some of the other pizzas they offer on their menu!
John's Pizza:
Walking around Bleeker while waiting for Keste Pizza and Vino to open, I eyed at John's pizza and decided to go there for my next Pizzeria review. This place has been around for quite some time: opened in 1929 by John Sasso, it looks as if it was suspended in time!
We went early because there is always a line and they sat us at one of these tight booths, overlooking the busy kitchen (the coal oven was not visible from there)!
Sitting there, you cannot miss the walls, full of carved graffiti:
Their menu is simple: pizza, a few pasta dishes and meatballs: no way you can get overwhelmed by a large choice, but for sure, you would want to order a bit of everything! Yes, this is the type of restaurant that smells authentic and where you wish there was a tasting menu!
We decided to go simple and order a 14 inch pizza (6 slices) with mushrooms:
The pizza was delicious: the crust, a bit burnt on the edges, was perfectly crispy!
The pizza sauce was very good with just enough cheese, but not enough mushrooms (at $3 a topping, they could have put more!).
It was a good pizza, but I remain convinced that San Matteo Pizza on the Upper East Side is the best!!!
Pizza Roma:
The last pizza place we tried on Bleeker (last but not least for sure!) was Pizza Roma, a small joint, steps away from Keste and John's pizzeria! We passed by few times and could not miss the delicious slices of pizza at the window! So here we are! We can either order pizza or some other food, but the choice for us was fairly quick!
The way it works is that you pick what pizza you want and they will slice it for you, eat it and serve at one of the few tables near the entrance.
We decided to go for the mushroom pizza and the Cipola Y Gorgonzola (onions and gorgonzola) pizza:
as well as the plain pizza and Tricolore (Basil pesto and mozzarella di buffala):
The mushroom pizza was good except that the mushrooms were mushy. The best of all was the onion and gorgonzola one, but unfortunately there was not enough cheese! The plain was good but the pizza sauce tasted like any can you can buy...
The slice with the basil pesto and mozzarella di Buffala looked very appetizing, but the pesto was so overpowering...
So, the slices were not that great and it was expensive: more than $26 for all of this with a coke...Definitely, they cannot measure up to Keste or John's Pizza!
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Lunch at Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem NYC, New York
For my birthday, Jodi and I went to Dinosaur BBQ IN Harlem. It has been a while I wanted to go back. The last time was 6 years ago for our friend Gary's Birthday. The place opened few months before and, as a Syracuse University Alumni, he was thrilled to bring a bunch of friends to celebrate. I remember that I had a fantastic ribeye!
Another time, visiting Syracuse University, we went to their first location. This time , no ribeye, but BBQ chicken.
So, here we are on our way there. Before arriving at the restaurant, we passed the famous Cotton Club! I confess that I did not think it was still there!
We got our table fairly quickly, thanks to the reservation we made. No reservation was definitely synonym of a long wait. Interestingly, the crowd was a mix of families, couples, friends and bikers.
Entering the restaurant, our noses immediately smelled BBQ! For sure, that makes you hungry!
We started off with the appetizer sampler for two.
It was composed of chicken wings, shrimp, fried green tomatoes and eggs mayonnaise.
I truly appreciated the fact that they offered a sampler so we could try several appetizers. The chicken wings were my favorite: the skin was smothered with an heavenly delicious BBQ sauce. Know that they were not spicy.
The shrimp were good but had nothing special. They were served shelled, but it was not an issue as BBQ means dirty hands!!!
The green tomatoes were not bad, but they were missing that crunch that I am so used to since I tried them at Southern Hospitality!
The green tomatoes were not bad, but they were missing that crunch that I am so used to since I tried them at Southern Hospitality!
Last were the eggs mayonnaise that I really liked: tasty and not too mayonnaise-y.
Then, Jodi ordered the wedge salad, but with no walnuts:
The salad was good...for a salad! What was great is that they put the blue cheese dressing on the side (they offer different choices such as BQ Blues House, Creole Honey Mustard Vinaigrette...).
She also ordered a side of Mac & Cheese:
It could have been a decent Mac & Cheese, unfortunately, the seasoning they put on top was overpowering.
I decided to order a BBQ sampler plate. I think it is great that BBQ joints offer samplers: that way, I can try different meats! Luckily, they have a small sampler, called the Nuevo Sampler.
It came with chicken, ribs and brisket. The brisket was definitely the star of the plate! It was tender and not dry with a nice amount of fat. The chicken was ok with a crispy skin, but a bit bland. The ribs were dry.
With the platter, they give you a corn bread (very good) and you pick 2 sides. We went for the fries and the brussels sprouts that were the side of the day. It was good, but nothing extraordinary!
I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the experience: the food was just ok at the end and I remain a fan of Southern Hospitality and Brothers' Jimmy!
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A visit to the Brooklyn Museum: Brunch at Sunshine Co and treats at Joyce Bakeshop!
Jodi wanted to see the exhibit of John Singer Sargent at the Brooklyn Museum and we planned for few weeks to go with our friends Gary and Jen. So the rain did not stop us and we were certain to add to this artistic experience a culinary one, especially considering that more and more delicious restaurants are opening in Brooklyn! We did not pick in advance a place and just used our mobile phones to find out where to go. Unfortunately, the first two choices we had were not possible, because of the waiting time. Usually, we do not mind, but with the rain, waiting was a big no-no! That is how we found Sunshine Company!
We immediately got a table! The place was nice with a rustic although modern feel, very bright thanks to the large windows going up to the high ceilings.
Most of the items on the menu looked fantastic and it was a tough choice! I started anyway with a double espresso, my drink of choice for brunch...
Then, Jodi got the baked eggs:
The baked eggs were served with grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant, tomatoes and feta cheese, topped with some salad. It came with two slices of buttered bread.
The eggs were perfect: the yolk was slightly runny like I love it! I was even surprised to see Jodi eat them as she usually do not like runny yolks! Also, having all these vegetables made this dish very earthy.
I decided to order the Tres Leches French Toast:
It looked fantastic and the French toast itself was good with the bread perfectly soaked. I just wished it has more tres leches taste, similar to the one at The cuban in Hoboken!
We definitely had good food and a good time at Sunshine Co and it was great that we found this little gem just walking desperately around!
Then, after the museum, we wanted to see if there was a bakery around. Same modus operandi to find a place: cell phones...And we ended up at Joyce Bakeshop!
It is a nice little place, perfect for a coffee in the afternoon to catch up with your long time friends. Their pastries looked delicious and very tempting and what I liked was the fact that they propose a large and a regular version of most of their cakes!
Gary and Jen had a Woopie pie and a black and white.
Then, after the museum, we wanted to see if there was a bakery around. Same modus operandi to find a place: cell phones...And we ended up at Joyce Bakeshop!
It is a nice little place, perfect for a coffee in the afternoon to catch up with your long time friends. Their pastries looked delicious and very tempting and what I liked was the fact that they propose a large and a regular version of most of their cakes!
Gary and Jen had a Woopie pie and a black and white.
We ordered a chocolate chip cookie
and an almond and pear tart:
It looked better than it tasted! The almond and pear tart was dry as was the cookie, despite all the chocolate in it. The crust in the tart was a bit salty too: it definitely needed butter!
Look, we tried and you never know: sometimes you find great places just walking around, like the Sunshine Co!
Enjoy (I did)!
and an almond and pear tart:
It looked better than it tasted! The almond and pear tart was dry as was the cookie, despite all the chocolate in it. The crust in the tart was a bit salty too: it definitely needed butter!
Look, we tried and you never know: sometimes you find great places just walking around, like the Sunshine Co!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Burger or pizza at Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ
It is no secret that I am a fan of Bin 14, the Hoboken Wine Bar of Chef Anthony Pino. I like the atmosphere as much as the food. We often go there for brunch as they have a fantastic brunch menu. I think I tried most of their menu, but there is one item that I never ate there: the burger. So, Jodi and I decided to go to remediate to this!
Once there, I ordered my Bin 14 burger:
The beef patty was delicately put on a piece of brioche bun (the menu said toasted, but it was not), with a roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella, arugula and pancetta. It was served with French fries, skin on, drizzled with pecorino cheese.
First of all, the presentation was very appetizing and I just wanted to have this first bite that can be so comforting when eating a burger. The meat was perfectly cooked, juicy (I asked for medium) and did not seem to be full of fillers. It was a good burger, although not the best I had: the cheese had a too subtle taste to be really noticed, the pancetta was barely noticeable too and the arugula has a too strong flavor to go well with the meat as it has a tendency to overpower it.
The French fries were very disappointing: limp, not crunchy and not cooked all the way through. So sad...
Jodi had the truffle and creamy taleggio pizza.
This pizza is definitely a hit for us: they are generous with the cheese and the truffle and the crust is thin and crunchy, cooked divinely in their brick oven.
I definitely recommend the pizza over the burger!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Pie By The Pound in NYC, New York
Pizza is definitely one of my favorite meals, although I probably say this about everything I eat!!! I love pizza: it is comforting and often cheap. This is the type of food where you would say that less is more: a plain slice can be so good. No need to add tons of toppings on top!
A big difference between the US and France is that, in France, except in boulangeries (bakeries) and sandwicheries (for sandwiches), you cannot find pizza by the slice. So usually, in a pizzeria, people would order their own pie. I prefer by the slice because you can try few. So you can imagine how excited I was to go to Pie by the pound, where they sell slices...by the pound!!!
I tried the location near Union Square. I guess they cater to students as the place has an area with a copier, or people who want to hang out with books (mainly about food, gluten free food) and even games (not that they are only for them).
They have a large selection of pies and what you do is choose your pie, tell them how much you want of it; they will weight it to determine the price et voila!
We selected the following slices:
The snow white (mozzarella, ricotta, oregano and garlic)
Fresh Mozzarella (fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil)
It was really good! The crust was thin and crispy. The tomato sauce was delicious (well, what makes the difference between one pizzeria and another is the tomato sauce for the most part!). My favorite was the mushroom one as it was made with fresh mushrooms that did not seem out of a can! I also appreciated that there was not too much garlic on the white pie!
Pie By The Pound is definitely a place to know for a nice, cheap bite! And if you prefer whole wheat or gluten free, they have something for you!
Enjoy (I did)!
Hotel Tortuga Mexican Restaurant in NYC, New York
Walking around NYU in search for cheap eats, we found this place called Hotel Tortuga. It is a Mexican restaurant that offers a large selection of vegetarian dishes for reasonable prices. Yes, it is called Hotel Tortuga, but it is not a hotel! In fact, they want you to imagine that you are in a hotel near Acapulco. The decor definitely feels like South America and is very cozy with its red booths and relaxed atmosphere.
This restaurant serves traditional stuffing for tacos such as beef, chicken or fish, as well as a large selection of vegetarian ones: tempeh (soy protein), vegetable chorizo, grilled vegetables...
This is what we ate for less than $30:
A large side of guacamole with corn chips:
The guacamole was decent, but I do not think it was fresh. We could get as many chips as we wanted, as they offered chips and salsa.
Two vegetarian chorizo tacos:
One fish taco (tilapia):
The tacos were made of two soft corn tortilla (you can pick flour instead of corn): they were good and there was a lot of stuffing in it.
The chicken taco was pretty good and the chicken had a nice grilled taste. The fish taco was perfect too: the fish was moist and did not taste fishy. However, the vegetable chorizo was not good: the first bite was ok and interesting as it was the first time we tried vegetable chorizo, but it was very salty and after a couple of bites, the saltiness was too much.
We finished with a Mexican hot chocolate:
It was hot chocolate with some cinnamon that was a fantastic combination as the cinnamon enhanced the taste of the chocolate. As you can see on the photo, they put a lot of whipped cream on it! This is definitely a must have, even for dinner...
I think that Hotel Tortuga offers a nice Mexican menu for good prices. My main disappointment is that they do not have homemade desserts, just cakes that they buy in a bakery in Vermont, cakes that are more American than Mexican. Despite that, this is definitely a good place to gather with friends and chill out.
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Pho at Pho 66 in Hell's Kitchen - NYC, New York
There are days where you are fixated on a particular dish. This time (shall I say again?), it was ramen! We were planning on going to Sapporo ramen, but it was packed. So Jodi and I decided to walk on 9th avenue, aka Hell's Kitchen, and see if any restaurant would erase our disappointment. We noticed Pho 66. The location looked familiar and it is only after we entered the restaurant that we realized that we went there several months ago, at the time it was a Colombian place called Farmers Rotisseria A La Brasa. I could not believe it!
If you do not know what Pho is, it is Vietnamese dish consisting of broth, noodles usually made from rice, herbs, vegetables and meat. Well, it was as close to the ramen craving as it could be...
What I really liked is the fact that they offer different sizes of bowl: large, medium and small, to accommodate any appetite.
Jodi ordered the Pho Verte:
Pho verte at Pho 66 in NYC, New York
Verte means green in France and here, it relates to the fact that it is a vegetarian dish.
On my side, I ordered the Pho Bun Bo Hue:
Pho Bun Bo Hue at Pho 66 in NYC, New York
It consisted of pork shoulder and beef shank and came with some lime, soy and lemongrass to mix with.
Pho Bun Bo Hue at Pho 66 in NYC, New York
Both broths were tasty with for sure bolder flavors thanks to the meat in the Bun Bo Hue. The noodles were good, but I preferred the one in the Pho Verte as the one in the Bun Bo Hue were a bit too al dente for my taste and as they were thicker, it was less enjoyable. I liked both dishes, with a preference for the vegetarian one in fact! Incroyable!
For dessert, we decided to share a black rice pudding:
Rice pudding at Pho 66 in NYC, New York
It was made with coconut milk and served with slices of mango. I did not like it to be honest: the texture was off, I could barely taste the coconut milk and the mango was not ripe enough.
I really liked Pho 66 (except the dessert): the Pho are pretty good (they have a nice selection), they look beautiful and taste good, all of that for a reasonable price! I did not regret not having ramen that night!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A Trip to Dominique Ansel Bakery and Pulino's Bar and Pizza in NYC, New York!
Despite the rain today, we tried to make the most of the week end and decided to go to the City to get some good food! I enjoy walking in the city, even with this type of weather to either photograph the street or nature, especially flowers with rain drops on them.
Our first target was Dominique Ansel Bakery: it is not the first time we went there and, if I could, I would go every day for their Kouign Amman!
It was not even 12pm and the place was packed! I admit that we went there for the cronut, a new creation from Dominique Ansel that is a CROissant-doNUT! Such a good idea: we could not wait to try it! Unfortunately, they were sold out!!! Of course, we could not leave like that and so, we decided to order a Kouign Amman:
This is a must have at Dominique Ansel Bakery! Imagine a croissant packed in butter and covered with a bit of sugar. Trust me: if you try one, you will dream about it and go back there just for it! But, what is great about this bakery is that they take classic French pastries and put a twist to it! Like the Paris New York that I also tried today:
The Paris-New York is inspired by the Paris-Brest, a French pastry, made of choux pastry and a praline flavored cream. In this one, the cream is made with peanut butter! It was very good, not too sweet and not heavy, with a nice balance between the peanut butter and the chocolate.
Then, we decided to walk uptown, under the rain, thinking that a bibimbap in Korea Town would be perfect for this weather. While walking, I started to have my mind thinking about all the places we could go to , maybe closer, such as ramen or Italian, but Jodi really wanted bibimbap, until I mentioned Pulino's Pizza! We were just passing by W Houston and she pushed me on my right to go towards that restaurant! Then, there was no possibility of changing her mind...and mine at the same time...
It was heaven! The cream was perfect and refreshing! Combined with the crispy bread, the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, it was an harmony of flavors dancing in my mouth!
We then decided to try the simpler pizza you can find: the margherita.
After this second visit at Pulino's, I think that it is a great restaurant. The only negatives today are the table placing (they squeeze their customers so much that it was difficult for the table next to us to get their food without us being on the way) and the waiter was rude!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 9: Houston Steaks Côtes Levées Trudeau Airport
After a fantastic time in Montreal, it was time to go back. We showed up early at the airport to make sure we had enough time for customs and...lunch! Of course, we were not expecting the same level of food like the one we got used to in the past few days in Canada, but wanted to avoid fast food for sure! That is how we ended up at Houston Steaks Côtes Levées.
Yes, this is a steakhouse and Côtes Levées means spare ribs (in Canada - in France it is travers de porc). I was not really motivated to have a steak there though and decided to order a burger:
It was the Houston burger, composed of a beef patty, BBQ sauce, herbed cream cheese, caramelised onions, capicollo and arugula. The bread that was a brioche bread was a bit dry and the arugula was so overpowering that I removed it. It was then just ok: not the best patty for sure! The onion rings however were real good, but there were only a few on the plate!
Jodi ordered the House salad:
It was composed of mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, endives, onions and croutons, drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette. Let say that it was just a salad! Nothing extraordinary...
Well, what can I say: we were not expecting fantastic food at the airport and it was an ok alternative to the fast food. If you are in a hurry, this is not for you: the service was slow and not that friendly!
Enjoy (...)!
It was composed of mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, endives, onions and croutons, drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette. Let say that it was just a salad! Nothing extraordinary...
Well, what can I say: we were not expecting fantastic food at the airport and it was an ok alternative to the fast food. If you are in a hurry, this is not for you: the service was slow and not that friendly!
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 8: French Bistro L'Express
On Sunday night, we went rue Saint-Denis to eat in a popular Parisian style bistro called L'Express. It was definitely a trendy place with an elegant decor and a typically French menu, from the appetizers to the desserts. The menu, elaborated by Chef Joel Chapouile, offers classic French dishes such as the rillette, oeufs mayonnaise (deviled eggs), foie gras or steak frites.
When we arrived, there were not that many people. Normal I thought as it was Sunday night. But, as the evening went, more and more people arrived. When we left, the place was packed!
As well as some crunchy cornichons in a jar that gave a relaxed and rustic feel to the experience:
Jodi decided to order only a salad as she really wanted a dessert. She picked the goat cheese salad:
Goat cheese salad is pretty standard on a French menu. Sometimes the cheese is toasted, sometimes it is not. At L'express, it was not. The goat cheese can also vary, from buche to crotin de Chavignoles. It was a good salad: simple, refreshing and not overdressed.
It was served on a bed of micro greens. I liked it but would have liked more texture to it, maybe by cutting the salmon thicker.
Then, for the main dish, I ordered the veal kidneys in mustard sauce:
This is a very classic French dish and I was looking forward to it! I was not disappointed! The kidneys were cooked as ordered, medium, and were tender with a delicate but particular flavor that I am not sure how to describe! They were mixed with delicious mushrooms and the sauce was phenomenal. I do not know how they make it but it was so good! And then there were sauteed potatoes that were awesome! Cooked all the way through, they were a bit crunchy. This was the best dish we had on that trip!!!
They it was time for dessert! Jodi got her long awaited Ile Flottante!
Ile flottante is made egg whites topped with caramel (sauce or harden) served on a vanilla custard sauce. It was delicious: light, not too sweet, the egg whites were perfectly firm and melted in my mouth immediately. The vanilla custard was creamy and tasty, a perfect complement to the eggs.
I could not resist and ordered the Baba au Rhum!
The portion was big too. It was just ok: the cake was not as light and airy as it should and the rum was watered down a little. Between the two desserts, I clearly preferred the Ile flottante!
The walk back to the hotel was really necessary after this excellent feast we had at L'Express! It was a great dinner and if you go, I recommend the veal kidneys!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 5: Kitchenette
On Saturday night, we went to Kitchenette, a restaurant located in the Gay Village, close to Radio Canada. We found this place after watching Unique Eats that is one of our favorite shows!
This place is located in a residential area and if you do not have the address, you can easily miss it!
The interior is modern but has an old feel to it thanks to its leather banquettes. The dining room overlooks the kitchen that is right behind the bar, where you can see the Chef, Nick Hodge, who is from Texas, prepare some comforting dishes upgraded for fine dining.
They started by bringing us bread and butter.
It was funny to see that the bowl in which the bread was looked as if it has been bought in a garage sale. In fact it gave the impression we were at a friend for a casual dinner.
For starters, Jodi ordered the albacore (tuna) tartare "beach style" nachos:
I ordered the crab cakes, served with Ranch dressing:
They were good: not the best I ever had but good. The crust was a bit too thick though and the crab was probably from the claw, as I noticed some sweetness so particular to it.
For the main dish, Jodi ordered the Brussels sprouts, parmesan grits and soft egg:
It was a great dish, proposed as an appetizer rather than a main dish, but with a nice portion. The egg was perfectly cooked and having the yolk oozing from it and getting mixed with the grits was divine. The Brussels sprouts were very good, proving once again that this little known vegetable is not as bad as its reputation.
On my side, I ordered the dish I saw on TV: blackened halibut with sweet potato mash, toasted marshmallows, Hoppin' John and fried brussels sprouts.
When the dish came, I was a bit disappointed because there was not as many toasted marshmallows as on TV! But this dish not only looked beautiful, but was phenomenal! The fish was perfect: a bit flaky and moist with a nice blackened skin. The Brussels sprouts gave a bit of crunchiness and the sweetness of the mash and marshmallows was a bit addictive! As if I was eating the main course and dessert at the same time, but with a combination that works!
I admit that I did not know what Hoppin'John were: rice and black eyed peas, this is a recipe from Texas, the origin of the Chef! It was good, but I would not have minded if it was not present on the plate that was already busy.
We skipped dessert as we were too full after our first day in Montreal. I regret it because this dinner was memorable.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 2: dinner at Leméac, a French Bistro!
For our first dinner in Montreal, we went to Leméac, a French Bistro.
The place was gorgeous with four sections: the bar that was very busy with not only people drinking but also diners, the main dining room, the patio with its large windows and the garden.
We decided to walk to the restaurant from the hotel and it probably took us close to an hour, discovering leisurely part of the Old Montreal. So no wonder we arrived hungry! For sure the bread and butter were welcome!
For appetizer, I ordered the escargots (snails):
They were served with some pasta, with portobello mushrooms, a tomato coulis and a basil butter sauce. This was fantastic with plenty of different flavors coming from the different main ingredients. Even without the snails, I would have had appreciated that dish as an appetizers. The basil butter sauce was fantastic: smooth and tasty, it brought the dish to an entire level!
For the entrees, Jodi ordered the hanger steak with French fries and "Maitre d'Hotel" butter (called a "compound butter," which simply means that there is some sort of flavoring or seasoning ingredient added to the butter, usually parsley).
The steak, ordered medium, was perfectly cooked and tender, and had some kosher salt on it. I just wished it was a bit warmer so the butter could melt a bit more. The fries, served with mayonnaise, were like I like them: crispy outside and soft inside.
I ordered the Duck leg confit, roasted fingerling potatoes and salad:
This was a fantastic fish: the duck confit was not too salty that is the issue sometimes with this dish. The potatoes, served skin on, were delicious, tasty and tender. I ate them with the salad that accompanied the duck. Overall a very good dish!
For dessert, we went for the French toast, milk jam ice cream & maple caramel:
I have to say that it was a big portion!!! I could not resist though! The bread was a buttery brioche bread that, although thick, was saturated with the batter. Adding to it the maple caramel that was not too sweet and the delicious ice cream, it was the perfect dessert to end the meal.
We definitely had a great dinner at Lemeac and the service was courteous and efficient. This is definitely a great place for fine dining without being pretentious.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Vanessa's Dumpling House in NYC, New York
We recently went to Vanessa's Dumpling House, located near Union Square, for dinner. This place, located near NYU, is supposed to propose cheap Chinese food, outside of Chinatown, although a lot of restaurants there are not so cheap, enjoying the flow of tourists.
Vanessa's Dumpling House is small and you definitely can tell, looking at the customers, that it caters to students. It was packed and we were lucky to find a table after we ordered at the counter.
I wanted to try several dishes and for sure the prices drove my frenzy when ordering. What you will see below costed us $22!!!
Here is what we ate:
Fried pork dumplings (4 pieces):
They were a little burnt in the bottom, but on fact it was great! It gave some crunch!
The boiled vegetarian dumplings (8 pieces):
The boiled shrimp dumplings (8 pieces):
The boiled dumplings were very disappointing. In fact, when we sat, I noticed a doughy smell: it was these dumplings. Not only did they smell doughy, but they also tasted doughy!!!
The veggie bun (1piece):
I did not like the stuffing of the veggie bun; however, I liked the pork one. The only problem is that there was too much bun and not enough stuffing. Very filling for sure!
Last was the sesame pancake with a fried egg:
I imagined something like a scallion pancake, but it was in fact like a bread. It was very good: homey, it also contained veggies that added some flavor and juiciness to it. It was my favorite with the pork dumplings.
Although I did not like everything, I think Vanessa's Dumpling House is a good place for people on a budget. You just need to know what to order and...enjoy!
Enjoy!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Lunch at Trattoria Saporito in Hoboken, NJ
One of my colleagues suggested Trattoria Saporito few weeks ago, so Jodi and I decided to try it. I admit that we passed in front of it few times, but never thought about going in. When we entered the restaurant, we could not miss the decor. Let's summarize by this: if Gordon Ramsay was to help them in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares, he would for sure change the decor and furniture...
When we went there, we wanted to try their business lunch that offers, for $10.95 (at the time of this post) a prix-fixe where you can choose an appetizer, an entree and a soda. Pretty good deal! On top of that, they offer a wide choice of dishes, not like most of the place where choice is limited.
We started of with the appetizers. Jodi ordered the Caesar salad:
The salad was good, but a bit overdressed.
It was pretty good: crispy, not rubbery and not greasy. It was served with a nice amount of marinara sauce.
Then, Jodi ordered the bucatini with eggplant and ricotta salata.
There was a lot of sauce and the sauce was a bit watery in some part, but still good. The bucatini, that are a thicker version of spaghetti, were perfectly cooked.
I ordered my favorite dish: the linguine a la Vongole with white sauce.
I was suprised when the plate arrived as there were quite a lot of clams (a dozen). There again, there was a bit too much sauce, but I have to say that I enjoyed it! Again, the pasta were perfectly cooked.
We finished the meal with a homemade tiramisu (additional to the prix fixe):
It was delicious, light and delightfully creamy. A great dessert!
Clearly the business lunch at Trattoria Saporito was a good deal. Imagine that with two prix-fixe lunches, a dessert and a tea, the total bill with tip was less than $41. Definitely a place to know!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Crepes at Cafe Jolie in Hell's kitchen, NYC, New York
Coming from France, where crepes are pretty popular, I was thrilled to try Cafe Jolie in Hell's Kitchen. Not that I crave crepes as Jodi makes them regularly, but still: thrilled!
So, here we are at Cafe Jolie. The place is more like a casual restaurant where you order and pick your crepe at the counter and go sit somewhere. Similar to a pizza place in fact. While you wait, you can learn some French...
They make their crepes on crepe makers, instead of a pan, as any creperie would.
The restaurant was not that crowded, but apparently it is because they deliver a lot. They told me that, in average, they make 120 Crepes in the evening.
I ordered the traditional ham and cheese, called The Amsterdam.
The crepe looked very nice and had a lot of ham and cheese in it. Unfortunately, it was not fully cooked, probably because the crepe was not flipped to cook on both sides.
It was filled with Brie cheese, avocado and black olives. The avocado was ripe and the olives have a nice salty taste to the crepe. But again, the crepe was undercooked. Well, when you know that La Petite Mort ("The little death") is an euphemism for orgasm, I can tell you that with this crepe, there was no Sally moment...
For dessert, Jodi ordered the butter and sugar:
It was just ok: greasy and again undercooked, it had however a nice nuttiness to it thanks to the brown sugar.
I decided to order the S'mores crepe:
The crepe was filled with marshmallow fluff, dark chocolate chips and Graham crackers. The filling was good, although I barely tasted the Graham cracker and it was undercooked.
I have to say that I was disappointed: it was expensive for crepes (we paid close to $38 for 4 crepes) and was not that great. I definitely prefer Bar Suzette located in Chelsea Market!
Enjoy (...)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Dinner at Zuni in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York
Each time we passed in front of Zuni, located in the lower part of Hell's Kitchen, it was packed. So we thought that there must have been a reason for that! So, as it was cold outside, we decided to try it as we did not have enough courage to look around for a new place to try for this blog that would have tables available.
That time too, it was packed. They told us that the wait would be 10 minutes: not bad; so we stayed. The host was trying to persuade us to sit at a table near the window, where even a waiter told him that it was difficult to reach. We refused and said that we were ok to wait a little longer.
Don't be fooled like me: Zuni serves New American cuisine, not Italian...Yes, I should have checked the menu before entering!
The place has a decent size and an interesting decor, full of colorful paintings. They have few booths that I love; understand that in France we do not have booths and we only saw them in movies and TV series (you would be surprised how many American TV series I know!).
When we got the menu, I have to say that I had a bit of a hard time to pick, that is fairly exceptional for me...I do not know: nothing was very inspiring or appetizing. So I made a choice out of despair.
Before the food came, they brought us some olive bread and some muffins:
The olive bread was a bit too chewy, the blueberry muffins had a weird taste and the corn muffins were a bit too spicy...Started well!
Then came the appetizer: the corn fritters.
They were served with honey and a spicy chipotle mayonnaise. The fritters were fantastic: not greasy, they were not too heavy and very tasty, with some corn in it. I loved the idea of putting honey with it: it gave a delicious sweetness to it and, if mixed with the chipotle mayonnaise, it balanced the spiciness of it (although it was subtle).
Jodi ordered the Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Watercress, Belgium Endive and Radicchio, with Pear, Apple and Sun Dried Cranberries:
The goat cheese looked weird! It had a crust that did not look appetizing and tasted weird. The salad itself was ok.
On my side, I ordered the Pan-Roasted Mussels with Belgium Beer, Pommery Mustard, Potatoes and Scallions:
It was horrible! The mussels did not taste fresh and the potatoes were not cooked enough. The sauce was not good either, too diluted and salty (probably due to the mustard). I wanted some bread to dip in the sauce and they gave me some bread that tasted like frozen bread. It was definitely a miss! For me, if you want to make mussels, serve them with fries and bread and make a killer sauce!!!
So, it was definitely not a good experience there and on top of that, it was expensive for what we got. What is crazy is that it was packed, although it is Times Square and a lot of people only come to restaurants once. No need to mention that we skipped dessert....
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!