Da Marcella Taverna in Greenwich Village, NYC, New York

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

Last Wednesday, I got invited to a press dinner at Da Marcella Taverna in Greewich Village. When I saw the name, it sounded familiar and when I saw it, I realized that I passed so many times in front of it. Why didn't I stop before? Simply because I mostly passed at lunch time and they only serve dinner. 

It is a small place, seating just 42 people between the bar or in the main dinning room that has either individual or communal tables. 

Know that this place is an outpost of Da Marcella located across from the Rockefeller center. 

I got to meet with the founder and owner of the restaurant, Manuel Moreno and had a quick chat with him at the end of the dinner. 

Manuel and his parents have an interesting past. His father was born in Spain and left for Italy to escape the infamous dictatorship of Franco. There, he opened a bakery, where Manuel's mother (Marcella) used to shop. And you can guess what happened next. They got married, had children, and, when Manuel was three years old, they moved back to Spain. Years passed. Manuel became a graphic artist, before doing a 180 and becoming a baker (The Bakery of NY in Long Island City) and a restaurateur. In fact, the bread and desserts we tried came from his bakery. 

When I told Manuel that his restaurant had a neighborhood feel, he explained to me that it is exactly what he wanted to create in his restaurant. As he explained, the term taverna is common in Spain, Greece and Italy, although now in Italy, the word Osteria or Trattoria are more used. So the taverna or tavern was a place where people could go and eat some food that would cost them just a little more than if they were cooking it themselves. Some sort of kitchen of the neighborhood. Keeping the same spirit at Da Marcella is important to Manuel and that is true that the prices are fairly reasonable ($10 pasta dishes: that is pretty good). 

The menu, crafted by Manuel and Executive Chef Francesco Mueses, offers dishes that are for the most part family recipes. 

So let see what we ate! The first appetizer was grilled marinated Spanish octopus, served with caper berries, sun dried tomatoes and rughetta. 

The octopus was very tender thanks to their cooking process: they marinate it for three days (in vinegar, peppers, salt...), then will cook it for an hour in the oven, with some marinate. Well it worked! Cooking octopus is not that easy, because if not cooked enough, it can be tough. 

The second appetizer was the Scottish wild salmon and avocado tartare with Lampedusa capers. 

I liked it: well balanced, enough acidity with the capers adding a nice salty and bitter taste. 

It was served with some bread soldiers. 

These two dishes were served with a light white wine: Vermentino di Sardegna 2012 "La Cala".

After that, we tried the meatballs: Chef Francesco's meatballs "al sugo di Pomodoro". 

They were made with veal, pork, Parmesan, milk and bread, as well as rosemary and sage that definitely enhanced the taste. They were very good, soft and not dried at all, serve with a nice tomato sauce. 

Then, came the wood fire eggplant "alla parmigiana":

Although I did not really taste the fact that it was cooked under a wood fire, I liked this dish for the simple reason that it was...simple...and let the eggplant shine. Often, eggplant parmesan tastes too much of the breading rather than the eggplant, but not at Da Marcella Taverna.

The meatballs and eggplant were served with a red wine: Cannonau di Sardegna 2011 "Filieri" - Cantina Dorgali, that was fresh, tasty, with a medium intensity.

Then we got to try a pasta dish. It was the tagliatelle artigianali "Setaro" Al ragu'Bolognese classico, Manuel's family recipe.

They import the pasta from Italy, Setaro being the brand. I have never seen such pasta: uncooked, instead of being smooth, they are rough, allowing the pasta sauce to stick to it when cooked. But no worries: it was not rough to my palate and was definitely my favorite of the dinner.

That ragu, that they cook for few hours, was succulent: rustic, not watery with a bold taste. Eating it with a piece of bread would even be fine for me: bring me the pot!!!

It was paired with a red wine: Langhe Nebbiolo 2011 "Elvio Pertinace" from the region of Piemonte.

The last entree was the braised beef short rib "Al Barolo" served with a creamy polenta.

These short ribs were fantastic: they literally fell of the bone. Apparently, they first pan sear it and then cook it for more than two hours in sofrito (garlic, onions, pepper...). Very tasty, I truly appreciated the fact that it was not too fatty. The creamy polenta (the brand used is Berreta) that was served with it was sublime: very creamy, it was not grainy at all and had a slight buttery taste, although, surprisingly, they only use milk.

The short ribs were served with my favorite wine of the evening: a Cabernet montepulciano 2011 "Integolo" -Sada from Toscany.

Of course we could not have left without trying some desserts. First was the panna cotta:

Perfectly set, it definitely had hints of anise and vanilla.

The tiramisu:

A classic: I always say that you can measure the quality of an Italian restaurant by trying its tiramisu. This one was perfect: creamy, with the right balance of coffee and mascarpone, and perfectly soaked lady fingers.

The ricotta cheesecake.

Another perfect dessert: not dry, not too dense and not too heavy.

So I would pick desserts in this order: tiramisu, cheesecake, panna cotta. They were deliciously paired with a Moscato d'Asti 2011 "Cascina dell Perliche" from Piemonte. I love muscat wine for its sweetness and this one was sparkling.

This was a wonderful evening and the food was delicious, comforting for the most part, definitely representing the concept of neighborhood kitchen that the owner wanted to create. This is clearly a place to know!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Da Marcella
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	West Village / Italian
	* Street Address
	142 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
	* Phone
	(646) 559-9192

Brunch at Distilled in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I noticed Distilled, located in the upscale Tribeca, when walking to the New York Academy of Art where Jodi is taking painting classes. Yes, I noticed it for one thing: the country fried duck and waffle in their brunch menu. I love fried chicken and waffles, so why not doing a pairing with any type of bird?

This is a fairly big place, the high ceilings contributing in giving this impression. On the right of the entrance is the bar.

On the left is the main dining room.

With a smaller section in the back, overlooking the kitchen.

So, we sat at out table and ordered our beverages.

Jodi ordered her tea and I wanted to have an espresso. Unfortunately, they do not have any espresso machine, that is surprising for a place like this. So, I ended up with some American coffee served in a mug:

At the same time they brought our beverages, they brought some delicious spicy popcorn that was made with various condiments such as pepper, chili flakes and cumin.

Jodi decided to order two sides as she could not find anything she wanted on the menu.

First was scrambled eggs that were very good: soft and moist like I love them.

And tater tots served with a Manhattan Island sauce, probably their interpretation of Thousand Island sauce.

I liked the tater tots, although some of them were a bit overcooked.

Then came the long awaited fried country duck and waffle:

It definitely looked good. So, I poured the smoked chili maple syrup over the French toast style waffle and had a first bite. 

Unfortunately, this was not good: the spices in the maple syrup were totally overpowering; I did not like the waffle that was very dense and did not taste at all like a waffle and the duck was not only very salty (even for a confit), but the crust tasted as if it sat there for hours, not being crispy at all.

This was such a disappointment for such a promising dish. Well, I guess I will have to find other spots to find some great bird and waffle dishes!

Enjoy (...)!



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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Distilled
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	TriBeCa / American New
	* Street Address
	211 West Broadway (Corner of Franklin St.), New York, NY 10013
	* Phone
	(212) 691-9514

Hot Dog Pizza at Ribalta in NYC, New York

Ok, I admit that the only reason I wanted to go to Ribalta, a restaurant located few steps from Union Square, was to try their hot dog pizza. Yes, you read right: a hot dog pizza. I do not see any problem about having such a pizza, having seen pizza made with cheeseburger, mac and cheese or vodka sauce. I guess it is a good way to show some creativity and have something on your menu that will make people want to try and, sometimes, talk about it...like me! 

There is one thing you need to know about Ribalta: it is owned by Rosario Procino, former founder of Keste pizzeria, and Chef Pasquale Cozzolino, former Executive Chef at Dellaroccos in Brooklyn Heights and Pizza Arte, who want to stay true to the Neapolitan pizza making. 

The place is pretty big, with high ceilings and a giant TV where people were watching the winter olympics in Sochi.

We decided to start with an appetizer and could not resist ordering the meatballs.

They were served in a Neapolitan ragu that was thick and had a very bold flavor, as well as some large slices of parmigiano cheese.

This was a delicious dish, the meatballs being perfectly moist. I admit that the star was the ragu though.

Then came the hot dog pizza:

Called the Americana, it was simply tomato sauce, mozzarella, French fries (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside) and a sliced hot dog sausage. 

Cooked in a brick oven, it had a nice char and the crust was crispy.

Overall, it was a very good pizza, all the components working very well together. Would I go back just to get this pizza? Maybe for fun with friends, as it sounds like a crazy dish. But I would probably go back to try other pizza such as the Nobile, made of mozzarella, gorgonzola, truffle sauce and truffle shaving, or to try pasta. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hogar Dulce Hogar, a Basque Bakery in Soho

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

Last Sunday, I got invited for a review of Hogar Dulce Hogar, a Basque Bakery that opened two and a half weeks ago. It is always exciting to go to a place that just opened, although you never know if you will have a good experience, the kitchen or staff needing sometimes some adjustments at the beginning.

Located in Soho, this place is the sister restaurant of Hogar Dulce Hogar in San Sebastian, Spain, an area thriving with fantastic food and a culinary culture that made it the city with the most Michelin stars per square meter in the world! 

So, we arrived at the restaurant a little after noon. Of course, we could not miss the sign outside, that did not get fully register to me, probably because I was too busy taking photos. I opened the door and the second thing I saw were...blankets!

And behind them, a little space with a couch that was like a living room, minus the TV.

Looking up was a screen where movies were playing and an incredible suspended garden all along the wall, going to the ceiling. At that point, you wonder in which world you just entered, but know that this is going to be different.

We met with the manager Gonzalo who introduced us to Miguel Blanco, who came with the concept and took care of us, explaining to us not only the food, but also the kind of experience he wanted to give to his customers. So, we were wondering about the couch area? They wanted to make it like an extension of a living room. The blankets? It is just in case you get cold. How thoughtful. The general idea is to make you feel cozy and at home. Normal, considering that Hogar Dulce Hogar means Home Sweet Home in Spanish. 

So you can just go there and, besides eating and drinking, read or surf the internet with the iPads they provide (they also have a free wifi). You can also go in the back in a little space covered with a chalk board and draw:

Or use some of the chalk and small chalk board signs located on each tables.

There are plenty of little details all over the restaurant that surely make this place unique, such as the mint plant on the coffee table:

or the plants on each table:

The screen is also interesting: in the morning, they project videos showing what is happening in the kitchen that is located upstairs. Later, the video will change based on various criteria. For instance, in the winter, you may see a video of beaches or dogs with their head outside the window of a car. In the Summer, when it is hot, mountains.

Every detail is there to make you think about happy things, why not vacations when seeing the surf boards hanged against one of the walls or reading some positive saying such as the one at the entrance (today is good day to smile).

Food wise, they make everything on site, but know that it is not a pure bakery: they also serve lunch, brunch or dinner. We got sweets, but definitely, their savory dishes look yummy, like the toast with Iberico ham or one of their best sellers: the apple and bacon burger. They also serve a 50-second fresh squeezed orange juice. The idea behind it is that the vitamins in the juice will start to fade after the first 50 seconds because of the contact with the oxygen, so they commit to bring it to you...in 50 seconds.

So, we started off with beverages. Being a coffee drinker, I was curious about their choices. Miguel explained that their coffee is a blend of 6 different beans from countries like Indonesia or Ethiopia that they roast for 12 minutes, instead of 14 minutes, in order to obtain a sweeter and less bitter taste. They then ship it from San Sebastian, close to 4,000 miles away. You can get an espresso or a latte, but they also propose some interesting creations, such as the bombon that is made with dulce de leche, or the café Magdalena aka Muff’nJoe, made with a muffin!

I decided to try the café donut or DoughJoe, that is coffee and a donut put in a blender. Don't worry: it does not taste like baby food, but like a very creamy coffee, not too sweet and with a slight coffee taste.

Jodi went for the hot chocolate. Ok, this is not your regular hot chocolate. Let's zoom a bit so you can understand:

A little more detail:

As you can see, it is a very thick hot chocolate, closer to a pot de crème rather than a regular hot chocolate. Miguel warned us and said that it was so thick that a spoon would stand on its own. So we did the test...

And it stood on its own, right like Miguel said. It was very chocolate-y and a bit sweet, but still addictive. 

Then, the first pastry we tried was torrija, a Spanish specialty close to a French toast (another best seller).

Instead of using some old bread, they use a brioche that they dip in milk and orange, then dip in eggs and fry. It is then put in powdered sugar and cinnamon, the sugar melting as the bread is hot. 

It was delicious and definitely reminded me of the pain perdu we use to make at home when I was a kid.

We then tried the amonna cake (grandma's cake):

Think about it as a sweet version of a quiche.

This was sublime and my favorite: I could not stop eating it! The inside, simply made with cream, eggs and sugar, was sweet, but not too much. The crust was crumbly, adding a bit of texture to a pastry that I surely recommend.

We then tried the Santiago Almond Cake:

I thought it was like the almond cakes you find in any other bakeries, but I was mistaken. 

There was no crust. It was pure almond, like a concentrated version of marzipan. Not too sweet and definitely a great pastry if you love marzipan.

After that, we tried their gelato that are also homemade and made with high quality ingredients.

We tried the following:

• Quark (dairy product) with honey and walnuts. It tasted like a frozen yogurt gelato.
• Dark chocolate (definitely for the chocolate lovers).
• Green apple.
• Hazelnut.
• Super lemon.

My favorite was the hazelnut one as this is one of my favorite flavors with praline for ice cream, but I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the green apple and lemon one, fruity flavors being more associated for me to sherbet rather than gelato.

I really liked what we ate at Hogar Dulce Hogar and had a good time talking to Miguel who was definitely passionate about his business, placing quality and hospitality above everything, so people feel like home, in a place that has some character. I cannot wait to go back there to try their savory dishes and get some more pastries.

And do not feel bad leaving your dog outside while you enjoy your meal or treat inside: they have a spot created specifically for them, where they can enjoy some fresh water and dog treats. If these are as good as what we got, maybe I should bring some home for a snack!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Hogar Dulce Hogar
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	SoHo / Spanish
	* Street Address
	341 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
	* Phone
	(917) 510-7351

Brunch at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

I had Momofuku Ssam Bar on my wish list for a while, being a fan of other Momofuku's locations and of their creator, David Chang. Problem is that they do not have that many vegetarian dishes, catering more to meat lovers, especially pork or duck, the later being another reason I wanted to go there, my love for this bird being incommensurable. 

Chopsticks at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

We decided to go on a Saturday for lunch, early enough to get a table as they only take reservation for large group and specific menus served for three people or more, like the  bo ssäm pork shoulder (serves 6-10 people), the whole-rotisserie duck (serves 3-6 people), or the dry aged ribeye (serves 3-6 people).

Dining room at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

When we arrived, luckily, there were not that many people in this zen and modern restaurant. Twenty minutes after, it was full of people coming to try their menu made of small plates, perfect for sharing, as well as large ones.

Kitchen at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

They sat us in front of the kitchen that is located in the back of the restaurant. It was definitely busy over there, the dishes leaving the kitchen at an incredible pace. Surprisingly, our first plates came within few minutes. The first one was the steamed pork buns, one of the signature dishes of

Momofuku Noodle Bar

and this place.

Steamed Pork Buns at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

These buns, made with pork belly, hoisin, cucumbers, scallions were succulent, the cucumber giving a nice crunch, the pork belly being tasty and heavenly fatty and the hoisin sauce giving a fantastic sweetness. Definitely a dish I recommend.

The second dish was the kimchi deviled eggs.

Kimchi Deviled eggs at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

Kimchi is fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables (the most common being cabbage) with a variety of seasonings. Mixing it with the mayo and egg yolk is genius! It was not spicy as I expected and you could taste bits of kimchi that added a bit of texture to the dish. 

Then, we shared the edwards ham and egg sandwich:

Ham and egg sandwich at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

It was a nice take on a classic ham end egg sandwich, made with a delicious biscuit (I could eat these with just some butter and honey), a sunny side egg and a red-eye gravy (no idea how they made it, but it was very good). It was served with chicharron that is fried pork skin.

chicharron at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

This is another recommended dish.

The last dish was grilled duck hearts served with red cabbage, sunny side egg and toast.

grilled duck hearts at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

The presentation looked very appetizing and a bit surprising as I thought that they would just serve it on a piece of toast rather than breaking the bread into pieces. What I did was to pierce the yolk so it dripped in the bottom of the plate and soaked the bread.

grilled duck hearts at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

I really liked the dish, the duck hearts not being chewy and having a nice grilled taste and the cabbage adding some crunch and texture. I thought that this was a better dish than the duck hearts dish I had at

Craftbar

last year. 

We had a great brunch at Momofuku Ssam Bar. Not surprisingly, the food was original, elaborate and delicious. The only negative is the very limited vegetarian dishes, but I am sure that if you ask they can accommodate you.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brunch at Tartinery in Nolita, NYC, New York

We were looking for a place to get some brunch with our friends Jen and Gary and ended up at Tartinery in Nolita. I was expecting a small bistro, but when we arrived, we discovered a fairly modern place that seems to cater to a younger crowd rather than families.

Although, there is a bit of nostalgia as can attest the black and white photos on the walls (Jimi Hendrix, Serge Gainsbourg, a popular and scandalous French singer on top of his career between 1970 to 1991 when he passed away - check his interaction with Whitney Houston on Youtube...).

There are two main sections: upstairs, next to the bar, where couple of tables are lined up.

And downstairs, a more spectacular room with huge ceilings and wine bottles sitting in enclosures several feet from the floor, only accessible using the iron ladder.

The restaurant describes itself as a contemporary bistro: I would agree, although it can give the impression of dining in a dungeon!

Well, as you probably know, restaurants assign a number to their tables; at Tartinery, they paint the number on the tables themselves...so there is no confusion...

Let's talk about the menu: the main concept is a tartine, a French term for a slice of bread with a spread on top. At Tartinery, it is simply a whole meal served on a piece of rustic bread. Imagine a buschetta but with limitless choices on top of the bread. There, you can pick three different breads: country peasant and health multigrain from Eli's bakery or rustic sourdough from Poilane bakery in Paris.

Before we started our meal, we ordered some beverages. Gary went for a beer from Corsica called Pietra.

I went for a fresh squeezed juice, the Delicious Trio, made with apple, pineapple and orange:

This was very good, the taste of each fruit still standing on it's own.

But an espresso was also welcome.

Anyway, before we ordered our tartines, there was one dish that caught my eye: Ravioles De Royans. Ravioles are little ravioli filled with cheese that you find in the Dauphiné province. It is sold in supermarkets, usually in sheets of 48 ravioles (left), and are cooked like pasta (right).

They can be eaten simply with a cheese sauce (Crème fraîche and roquefort is succulent), in gratin or even on pizza (all photos from my last trip to France - and yes, I take photos of everything I eat)!

At Tartinery, they made the ravioles with some cream and truffle oil.

This was small and it is unfortunate because I would have eaten it on my own. It was so good, so creamy, with just a hint of truffle scent.

If you go to Tartinery, you cannot miss this dish!

Then, we had our tartines. Jodi ordered the Saint Marcellin:

 It was composed of Saint Marcellin cheese, prosciutto, arugula and olive oil.

It looked good, but was a total miss: not enough cheese and the prosciutto was very, very, very salty.

Jen and I each ordered the Croque Monsieur:

It was made of cooked ham chiffonade, gruyere cheese and béchamel sauce. 

This was another miss: dry probably because not enough béchamel sauce and very salty. 

Gary seemed to have a better chance with the Benedict tartine.

I was so disappointed when I left: not only I did not like the food, but I thought it was overpriced. This is unfortunate because this is a great concept. At least I got the delicious ravioles...

Enjoy (...)!

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Tabata Noodle in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

With the weather we had these days, ramen was definitely the perfect dish to warm us up. This time, we decided to try Tabata Noodle, located few steps from Port Authority. 

It is not a big place and we did not mind being seated at the counter, allowing us to watch what was happening in the kitchen.

Looking at their ramen menu, they offer the usual: shio, miso or shoyu ramen. But they also propose the Tabata ramen with coconut milk that sounds more Thai than Japanese. I admit that I hesitated between this one and the shio ramen. I went for the later one.

I ordered it with an egg that they forgot. No problem: they brought me one couple of minutes later, apologizing for having forgotten.

The soup looked good and appetizing, with its bean sprouts, bamboo shouts, scallions and noodles. Unfortunately, the pork was bland and with lots of cartilage in it. The egg was perfectly cooked, the white being soft and the gold a bit runny and I liked the noodles. However, the broth had nothing fantastic and I did not even finish it.

Jodi ordered the vegetable ramen:

It was composed of napa (cabbage), carrots, onions, bean sprouts, shiitake and shimeji mushrooms, scallions, snow peas and broccoli.

We did not like it, the entire dish being overpowered by a very strong taste of celery. This was so disappointing, the presentation being so promising.

So, definitely, Tabata noodle is a miss for me. I prefer Ivan ramen located few blocks away, even if a bit pricier.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Tabata Ramen
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Hell's Kitchen / Japanese / Asian Fusion / Ramen
	* Street Address
	540 9th Ave , New York, NY 10018
	* Phone
	(212) 290-7691

Bibimbap at Korea Spoon in KTown NYC, New York

If you follow this blog, you know that I love bibimbap, this Korean rice bowl that comes pipping hot! As we were out on a very cold day, we decided to look for a place in Korea Town. We noticed Korea Spoon.

It is a huge place with very high ceilings and another dining room on the second floor.

When you are inside, you immediately get a modern feeling.

So we got seated at one of the tables on the first floor and handed a menu that was full of appetizing photos of the dishes.

After we ordered, they brought us some barley tea:

And the banchan, these little side dishes:

There, we had:

Some greens:

Some pumpkin salad:

Some radish:

And again radish (different way, spicier):

Some anchovies:

Some soy:

Some kimchi:

My favorites were the radishes and kimchi. I truly appreciated the pumpkin salad as it counterbalanced the heat of some of the dishes.

For bibimbap, Jodi ordered the mushroom one:

On my side, I ordered the bulgogi one (with marinated slices of beef).

When the dishes arrived, we were a bit disappointed because there was no egg and, looking at the photo on the menu, we were expecting one. Otherwise, my bibimbap was pretty good, tasty and I definitely finished it. The one from Jodi was good too, but missing flavor, despite the abundance of mushrooms.

I liked Korea Spoon: they have a decent bibimbap, but I still prefer the one at Bann, Don Bogam or Korea Palace.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Korea Spoon
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Flatiron / Korean
	* Street Address
	39 West 32nd St. (Between Broadway & 5th Ave.), New York, NY 10016
	* Phone
	(212) 560-9696

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

It has been a while since I wanted to try Brick Lane Curry House, the restaurant being on my list after I saw an episode of Man vs Food where the challenge was to eat the Phaal, a very hot curry, so hot that you need to wear a gas mask to cook it, the fumes of the ten different chili used being too intense. But it was not for the Phaal that we went, and the disclaimer below did not change my mind, even if I can get a free beer...

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

Brick Lane Curry House takes its name from the neighborhood in London that is supposed to have the best curry houses outside of Asia. I have never been there, maybe one day.

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

It is also a subway stop, so no wonder why you can see some subway signs (underground as they say in the UK) or subway maps.

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

The place is like a labyrinth with three different dining rooms, the two main ones being separated by bottles of wine.

Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

As soon as we sat, they brought us some delicious papadum:

papadam at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

For appetizers, we decided to try some classic vegetarian dishes: pakora.

vegetarian pakora at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

These are vegetable fritters served with a tomato chutney that had a nice kick. The pakora were good, but missing a bit of crunch.

Then, we had aloo (potato) samosas:

aloo or potato samosa at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

Served with the same tomato chutney, it was just ok for me, as they mainly tasted the potato that was a bit bland.

aloo or potato samosa at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

The shell however was deliciously crispy.

Then, we shared the Chana Masala (Vegan):

chana masala at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

It is a dish made of chickpeas, tomatoes, onions and spices.

chana masala at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

I usually love chana masala, but did not like this one that was missing texture and flavor.

However, the lamb madras curry was perfect!

lamb madras curry at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

The waiter told us that it was spicy, but in fact, it just had a bit of a kick. The curry, made with a gravy prepared with mustard seeds, curry leaves and finished with coconut milk was very good and flavorful. I could have eaten that even without meat (the lamb was perfect), with just rice or better, with naan.

Both dishes were served with some rice:

pulao rice at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

And we also ordered some naan that was freshly made:

naan at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

As usual, I ordered a sweet lassi that was pretty good: thick but not too much and not too sweet, it was perfect to extinguish any heat coming from the dishes.

lassi at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York

The food at Brick Lane Curry House was just ok for me and I think that it is overpriced. I definitely prefer Baluchi's or The Masala Wala over this place.

Enjoy (...)!

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Restaurant Information:

* Restaurant Name

Brick Lane Curry House

* Overall

★★☆☆☆

* Neighborhood / Cuisine

East Village

/

Indian

* Street Address

306-308 East 6th St., New York, NY 10003

* Phone

(212) 979-2900

BXL Café in the Theater District, NYC, New York

BXL Café is a Belgian restaurant located in the Theater District. The last time I went to a Belgian restaurant besides Le Pain Quotidien was B Café on the Upper West Side: disappointing experience. Few years ago, I use to go to Café de Bruxelles that had these fantastic escargots au roquefort (snails with a blue cheese sauce), but unfortunately, it closed. So we decided to try BXL Café (BXL is short for Bruxelles). When we arrive, the place was not that crowded, but when we left, it was packed, with people not only eating in the dining room, but also at the bar.

It is a small place in fact with a rustic feel: wood everywhere, from the floor to the tables and chairs. 

In term of menu, they propose traditional Belgian dishes such as moules frites (mussels and fries), waffles, as well as American dishes like cheeseburger. Interestingly, they also propose a beer and cheese tasting!

We decided to try few dishes. First, we shared the Croquettes aux Truffes or Truffle mushroom and cheese croquettes:

It was very hot! But the first bite was divine: the croquette itself was crunchy, not greasy and light.

The inside was made with potatoes, cheese and a tiny bit of truffle mushroom that gave a very subtle taste. I really enjoyed it with the salad that came with it.

Jodi ordered a Salade Verte au Fromage de Chèvre Chaud or warm goat cheese salad:

There was some honey that gave a nice sweetness to counterbalance the sour taste of the goat cheese.

On my side, I ordered the mitraillette sandwich:

A mitraillette is a traditional Belgian sandwich that can be found in the North of France, made of steak, fries on a French baguette with a tangy sauce. I am sure you are wondering what this sandwich has to be special as looking at the photo and description it would be just another steak sandwich. Well, normally, the fries are with the steak, in the sandwich itself! 

So here I am, disappointed at the sight of my dish that is not really what I ordered. So I proceeded to put some fries in it, but I admit that it was a bit fought to eat, because the meat was cut into two and fell all over...

Too bad, because I really like the nice char on the burger meat, the sauce, as well as the crispy fresh bread. 

I liked my brunch at BXL Café, even if my dish was not exactly what I was expecting. The service was courteous, but the kitchen quite slow. We also noticed that the prices on the menu were not the one billed ($1 to $2 difference), that is something I do not like as it is a bit deceptive; if they change the prices, they should reprint the menus.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	BXL Cafe
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Times Square / Belgian
	* Street Address
	125 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036
	* Phone
	212-768-0200

Rosticeria Da Gigi in Hoboken, NJ

Rosticeria Da Gigi, located uptown Hoboken, is the kind of small joint where you would go to grab a quick bite: nothing fancy, but comforting.

It is a small place that probably sits 16 people.

So we sat at one of the tables and went through the menu. It consists of standard breakfast dishes like eggs, pancakes...as well as panini, sandwiches or items from their rotisserie.

Jodi decided to try their croque-monsieur:

When the plate arrived, we were a bit surprised as it did not look like a croque-monsieur, but more like a panini.

There was for sure a decent amount of ham and cheese, but the brioche bread was too thick and unbalanced the proportion of bread / ham / cheese. It was also a bit dry.

On my side, I went for half roasted chicken:

It was definitely a nice piece of chicken and I really liked it: the chicken was moist and the skin crispy.

With it, I could pick two sides and decided to go for the meatballs with tomato sauce and the rice balls with tomato sauce.

It came in one plate as the tomato sauce was the same for both sides. The meatballs were good, but I really did not like the rice balls that were missing flavors. Even with the tomato sauce, the only thing I could taste was some overcooked rice.

Besides the chicken, the meal was ok. I would probably go back to try some other dishes, their menu being so diverse. Although maybe it is the issue: too many things on the menu. I am still unsure about that place...

Enjoy (...)!



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Lazzara's Pizza and Café in the Garment District, NYC, New York

I love pizza and with a city like New York, you can find so many different ones, each restaurant having its own way to make the crust, the sauce, to cook it...This time, we went to Lazzara's in the Garment District. You really need to know that it is there, as it is located off the beaten path and you may miss it walking on 38th street.

Opened in 1985 by the Lazzara's brother, Sebastian and Tony, the restaurant is located on the second floor of a townhouse.

The dining room has a warmth and reminded me some restaurants we ate at in Italy, especially in Venice that is in fact representing in a painting hanged on the wall.

When we sat, they brought us the menu as well as the special of the day written on a little chalk board.

There, they serve an all Italian cuisine: pizza, pasta, heroes...We decided to go for the pizza. What I like about Lazzara's is that they propose their specialty pizza in half portions. Of course, you can always add toppings on half a pie in most of the restaurants, but here, I am not talking about toppings, but the pizza itself.

As you can see on the photo above, the pizza is square; but it is not like a Sicilian pizza: the crust is thin. So, the top half of the pizza was the lasagna pizza:

It was made of ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella and some seasoning.

The second half was the margherita pizza:

It was composed of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil.

I have to say that I love both: the tomato sauce was delicious and seemed to be made with fresh ingredients. There were in fact some slices of tomatoes and fortunately, it did not make the pizza soggy as it is sometimes the case. 

The lasagna pie was also very good, rendering perfectly what lasagna would be, replacing the pasta with the crust: it was very flavorful and they were generous in the quantity of meat and ricotta. I definitely recommend it.

The thin crust was on the chewy side, being crispy on the outside.

I was ready to get some dessert, but they brought us the check, making me feel dirty...I then asked if they had some homemade desserts, being interested by a tiramisu, but they do not and the waitress did not seem to be interested to tell me where they buy them. So I decided to pass...

The pizza at Lazzara's was good. It is a good spot if you want more than just a slice, although I prefer Capizzi located few block away.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Lazzara's Pizza
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Garment District / Italian / Pizza
	* Street Address
	221 West 38th St. (Between 7th Ave. & 8th Ave.), New York, NY 10018
	* Phone
	(212) 944-7792

Murray's Cheese Bar in the West Village, NYC, New York

Being French, I was raised eating cheese, any kind of cheese, although, as a kid, I hated the stinky ones. I have no favorite and in fact, with close to 400 different cheeses in France, it is tough to choose. I remember that the first time we went to France Jodi and I to visit my family, I brought her to a supermarket to see the different cheeses proposed, but also how cheap it is compared to the US. I would say that it is 2 to 3 times the price. So sad, as cheese is so good! The best places to buy cheese in New York City are for me Fairway, Zabar's and Whole Food, where they offer a wide variety of cheeses from all over the world. But there is also Murray's on Bleecker.

So, as were were walking down the street on a Saturday, we decided to see if their restaurant, located few steps from it had seats available.

When we arrived, the place was not that crowded, but when we left, it was packed!  They sat us at the bar that was very comfortable considering that it is fairly large and we were not too close from our neighbors.

They menu offers well known specialties with cheese such as Mac & Cheese, grilled cheese or cheese fondue. But we decided to go directly for cheese a la carte and picked few of them.

The cheese took a while to come: this was surprising as you would figure that they just need to cut few pieces and put that on a plate. But when it came, it looked spectacular, the cheeses arranged on a slate and paired with a something sweet.

This is what we picked:

Vendéen Bichonné from France:

This is a creamy cow’s milk cheese that is salty and nutty with a hint sweet cinnamon-clove spice. It was paired with pickled raisins.

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar from Vermont:

Made with cow's milk, it is sweet, savory, nutty and tangy. It was paired with an apple butter.

Vacherin Fribourgeois from Switzerland:

Made with raw cow milk, it has a slightly acidic and resiny flavor. I admit that I forgot what the chutney was...

Époisses from France:

Produced in the village of Époisses in Bourgogne, this cheese an unpasteurized cow's milk cheese with a pungent taste. It was paired with a carrot chipotle that had cumin in it.

Blu di Bufala from Italy:

This blue cheese made with buffalo milk had a nice buttery texture and was both sweet and tangy. It was served with a salted caramel.

This was a perfect dinner and it will for sure not be the last time I will be there! Definitely the place for cheese lovers!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Murray's Cheese Bar
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	West Village / American New
	* Street Address
	264 Bleecker St. (Between Cornelia St. & Morton St.), New York, NY 10014
	* Phone
	(646) 476-8882

Restaurant Week: Spice Market

For my last Restaurant Week review, we decided to go to Spice Market for lunch. Located in the trendy Meatpacking District, this place is amazing! Well, its owner, Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Jean-Georges, Jojo, The Mercer Kitchen...), is no stranger to creating unique experiences and this time we were there for a treat. Inspired by Jean-Georges Vongerichten's travel in South East Asia, Spice Market has an impressive decor and as soon as you enter, you are transported miles away.

At the entrance is the bar with its wood carving and white leather stools. 

Then the dining room with its custom-made colonial style furniture, mixed with artifacts brought from all Asia, the antique copper lamps and the fans. But it is only the first floor. Downstairs, an  even more impressive dining room is available.

Interestingly, they have a whole section kind of separated from the rest that can cater to large parties and provide some privacy.

So we sat at our table on the first floor and got greeted by our waiter Lionel. He explained to us that the food was served family style, each dish being brought to the table as soon as ready. We looked at the menu, inspired by South Asian street food and made our choice from the Restaurant Week deal ($25 for an appetizer, an entree and a dessert).

They brought us some papadam that is a lentil bread. It was served with a spicy tomato sauce.

I then had a house made soda called Calamansi that takes its name from a widely cultivated fruit in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

It had a fantastic color and was very citrusy.

Then, the first appetizer came. Jodi ordered the soy cured salmon served with Cilantro, crème fraiche and some Asian pear.

This was fantastic: refreshing with the crème fraiche and Asian pear, the salmon was delicious and delicate.

My pick for appetizer was the Thai beef noodle soup made with crispy garlic and herbs:

This was very good, especially the broth that was light and milky, flavorful. The beef was sort of giving some flavor to the dish and clearly not the star of the dish. Yes, again, that broth...

For the entree, Jodi chose the Wok charred pearl noodles served with smoked tofu in a black bean sauce.

If you are still doubtful that tofu or vegetarian food can be good, you have to try this dish: the noodles were fantastic and the smoked tofu was incredible, showing that tofu does not need to be bland. Last, the sauce, which had peanuts in it, was perfect and I truly appreciated that it was not too salty.

On my side, I ordered the Tempura catfish Bahn Mi prepared with pickled carrots and mint:

Bahn Mi is a Vietnamese term for bread that refers in the culinary world to a sandwich, the bread being usually a baguette.

This was an amazing sandwich: the tempura was crunchy and not oily, the fish was perfectly cooked, the toasted baguette soft but a bit crispy and the entire sandwich was bursting in flavors, between sweet and savory, with peanuts in the bottom for an extra texture. This is definitely a sandwich to try.

Last was dessert. We tried first the banana cream pie made with caramelia chocolate sauce.

It was not your usual banana cream pie: it was a cream puff. The shell was quite good and the filling delicious, not too sweet, with some pieces of banana in it.

The second dessert was the Japanese cheese cake served with Kumquat marmalade.

This was a very good dessert, the cheese cake not being too dense, but I think the star was the kumquat marmalade that was superb.

I loved my lunch at Spice Market: again another restaurant that embraces the principle of Restaurant Week by serving spectacular dishes that make want you to go back. Not only was the decor amazing,  the food was uncommon and out of this world. Bravo Jean-Georges Vongerichten!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Spice Market
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	West Village / Asian Fusion
	* Street Address
	403 West 13th St., New York, NY 10014
	* Phone
	(212) 675-2322

Restaurant Week: Abboccato

Taking advantage of Restaurant Week, I went for lunch at Abboccato, an all Italian restaurant located Midtown West, behind the Ziegfeld Theater. Abboccato meaning palatable in Italian, my expectations were high.

The place is fairly big with three distinctive areas. The bar:

The main dining room and a smaller dining room next to the entrance. 

For restaurant week, they proposed a menu for $25 comprising an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. 

As we were choosing our dishes, they brought us some Italian breads: focaccia and sticks. 

They then poured some olive oil that I really like as a replacement to butter. The bread was decent. 

For the appetizer, I picked the fried polenta crusted calamari. It was served with a San Marzano tomato sauce that was supposed to be spicy (it was definitely not).

I really liked it: it was crispy and the calamari not chewy. You could sometimes feel some polenta grains when biting into it. 

Then I got the sweet potato ravioli. 

The ravioli was perfectly made, thin and delicate, filled with a mix of sweet potato and ricotta, served with a brown butter sauce and hazelnuts. The filling was a bit too sweet and I would have liked a little less as it was overpowering the ravioli. However, the combination with brown butter was fantastic and I just wished at that point that they put more sauce. 

One thing I should mention is that the lunch menu had tagliatelle instead of the ravioli printed on it as a choice for entrees, the ravioli being proposed in the price-fixe dinner. They apparently made a change that they communicated to me, but did not update their lunch prix-fixe or their computer. So, when my dish came, it was...the tagliatelle. As I was set for the ravioli, I sent it back and they were really apologetic about it, bringing my dish not too long after. 

For dessert, I chose a tiramisu. 

The serving in a glass hinted for a creamy one. And it was. The lady fingers were heavenly soaked in coffee and the cream quite light, but a bit bland. It was an ok tiramisu. 

My lunch at Abboccato was decent; it did not wow me to the point that I would like to go back on another occasion, like I would for Tamarind or Remi. If I really wanted to eat Italian in this area, I would probably go to Circo that is located on the same block. 

Enjoy (...)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Abboccato
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Midtown West / Italian
	* Street Address
	136 West 55th St., New York, NY 10019
	* Phone
	(212) 265-4000

Johnny Pepperoni in Hoboken, NJ

The night of the Super Bowl, we decided to go to Johnny Pepperoni to try their pizza as a friend of Jodi recommended that place. Needless to say that this was the perfect night as the place was empty!

I discovered there that the owner, local restaurateur John Avoletta, also owns City Bistro, a popular bar Uptown Hoboken; so I figured at that point that it was not just some random pizza joint. It is a place of a good size that serves Italian food only, from pasta to pizza, and even more. Too bad as I was craving wings...

The restaurant had a nice feel, with its red and white checkered tablecloth and the black and white photos of Italy on the walls. 

On the right of the entrance is the open kitchen and on the left the dining room. 

We decided to start our dinner with Arancini Di Riso, that are fried rice balls with cheese and prosciutto. 

They were served in a thick tomato sauce that had a bold taste. The balls themselves were delicious: crunchy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. I simply loved it and they were probably some of the best I ever tried.

Then, we shared the square pie: 

Made with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, it was cooked in a pan with extra virgin olive oil.

It was a slightly thinner version of a Sicilian. The crust was crispy and the sauce deliciously thick. There was also a lot of cheese. The pizza was quite big and I am glad Jodi stopped me when I proposed to order a second one!

For dessert, we ordered the homemade tiramisu. 

It was good and light, but I would have preferred more cream, i.e a better proportion cream vs lady fingers. 

The food at Johnny Pepperoni was very good and I definitely recommend the Arancini. I am sure it is not the last time I will be there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Lunch at Tamarind, Indian cuisine, in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Continuing our discovery of restaurant through Restaurant Week offers, I picked Tamarind, an Indian restaurant located in Tribeca. I saw that they offer an Executive Lunch for $25, so there was little risk for us to go there for Restaurant Week.

Sadly, the scaffoldings on the art deco building this place is located in are masking the restaurant, but, as soon as you enter, you cannot miss the fantastic decor and the space. 

Seating 175 people and setup on two levels bathed in natural sunlight, it has a classy and modern feel.

So we sat at a table close to the kitchen that opened into the dining room.

Before we ordered our food, they brought us some rice with mint sauce as an amuse-bouche.

This was a nice way to start, the dish being flavorful, with a bit of spiciness.

As a beverage, I ordered a mango lassi that was not too sweet and perfect to fight any heat that the dishes had:

Then, we ordered our appetizers. Jodi went for the spinach and watermelon salad:

It was composed, besides the watermelon and spinach, of grilled paneer (cheese), and drizzled with a tamarind-balsamic dressing. I really liked it as it was refreshing and the cheese and watermelon paired very well together, the cheese being chewy and the watermelon crunchy, giving a nice texture to each bite.

On my side, I ordered the crab nazakat:

It was made of lump crab meat, mustard seeds, curry leaves, lemon zest, honey and coconut, and was served with a papadum. I liked it although a bit watery: it was refreshing and had a nice balance of flavor, the sweetness of the honey balancing the acidity of the lemon zest. However, if it was not for the place and the papadum, I would not have associated this dish with Indian cuisine. 

Then, we had to pick two entrees. Jodi ordered the Potli Baingan:

It was eggplant smothered in a sauce made with potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, cumin and coriander seeds. That was very good! I truly appreciated the fact that the eggplant was not overpowered by the sauce that was creamy and mild.

Her second choice was mehti paneer:

It was paneer (cheese) bathed in a thick sauce made with fenugreek leaves, coriander, yogurt, onion and garam masala. This was delicious too, the sauce being smooth and very tasty.

On my side, I ordered Murg Kali Mirch and Taar Korma.

Murg Kali Mirch were some pieces of chicken that were seasoned and grilled with a sauce that had white and black pepper.

This was delicious: the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, with a nice char and the sauce thick and a bit spicy. Definitely a dish I recommend.

The second dish, Taar Korma, was lamb smothered in a tomato and yogurt sauce that had ginger juice and saffron.

That was another fantastic dish: the lamb was very good, and the sauce delicious. In fact, I could have eaten it with or without the lamb, simply with some naan bread, or with the five spice rice that was served with our dishes.

They also brought us the vegetable side of the day that was made with spinach and potatoes:

That was a nice addition to our meal, although I wish there was more potato (we got only one small piece).

They also brought us some naan that was fluffy, with some nice char.

Last was dessert. Jodi ordered the Mango Shrikand that was like a mango yogurt with pieces of mango on top.

On my side, I ordered Khubani Halwa:

It was made with apricot, almond and honey.

I really liked the texture and taste of it and it was not too sweet. It was perfect with the double espresso I drank with it.

I really liked my lunch at Tamarind: I think this restaurant is really embracing the concept of restaurant week by making people discover their cuisine, proposing them not one but two entrees as well as an amuse-bouche and an additional side. Needless to say that at the end of the meal I was full, content to have a good deal, and looking forward to going back for dinner to discover other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Tamarind Tribeca
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	TriBeCa / Indian
	* Street Address
	99 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013
	* Phone
	(212) 775-9000

Celebrating Restaurant Week at Remi, in Midtown West, NYC, New York

It is no secret that I am not a big fan of Restaurant Week, because a lot of restaurants are using this event more to make money than making people discover their cuisine. In the past, I had bad experiences at steakhouses (check out my try out at Dino & Harry in Hoboken), as well as all american restaurants like Beacon (closed since) where we ended up with a hefty bill because of all the supplements they were asking for dishes whether it was appetizers or entrees. So it has been a while since I took the opportunity to go to a restaurant offering a menu for Restaurant Week, but this time, I had a strategy: I picked restaurants that usually have a lunch prix-fixe. 

That is how I ended up at Remi, an Italian restaurant located Midtown Manhattan that was not unknown to me.

Remi is an upscale Italian restaurant with a clientele that is more business than tourists. In terms of decor, it has this impressive mural representing Venice and its canals.

The $25 menu for restaurant week includes an appetizer, an entree and a dessert with a choice for vegetarians. After we ordered, they bought us some bread (there was focaccia) that was delicious dipped in olive oil.

For the appetizer, I ordered the Melanzane e Mozzarella alla Parmigiana similar to an eggplant parmesan:

It was in fact a baked eggplant and mozzarella gratinee with a tomato sauce. If you look at the photo, you can see that there was a lot of cheese, and I mean a lot! I loved that dish: this is a more decadent version of an eggplant parmesan. The sauce was not as light as they advertise and had a bold flavor and the eggplant was perfectly cooked. This was a fantastic dish and I am surprised that they are proposing it as an appetizer only.

For the entree, I picked the Fegato alla Veneziana or “Venetian Style” Calf Liver:

The liver was sautéed with onions and served with a creamy polenta. Although the liver was gamey, I really enjoyed the dish, the sauce having a bit of acidity to offset the sweetness of the onions. The polenta was also perfect, creamy and not dry, it was an excellent choice of garnish.

Last was dessert. I went for the Crema Catalana or crème brûlée:

That was very good: not too sweet, the custard was well set, with a nice torched sugar crust on top. This dessert was perfect with a double espresso.

This was a delicious meal at Remi and I am glad I picked this place for Restaurant Week. So in case you are not sure where to go, I suggest you check out this place! And do not forget that they have a prix-fixe all year long.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Remi Restaurant
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Times Square / Italian
	* Street Address
	145 West 53rd St., New York, NY 10019
	* Phone
	(212) 581-4242

French dinner at Sel et Poivre on the Upper East Side, NYC, New York

When I received an invite for a press dinner at Sel et Poivre, a French bistro on the Upper East Side, I was very excited...and curious. Yes, curious because there are so many restaurants claiming to serve French cuisine in the City, when in fact their menu is at most inspired. Not that it is bad, but there are not that many places that serve classic French dishes besides the usual steak frites or the quiche Lorraine. 

Sel et Poivre (salt and pepper in English) has been opened since 1989 and is currently owned by husband and wife, Pamela and Christian Schienle. I got to meet with Christian and really enjoyed talking to him. I did not get a chance to meet Pamela as they try to work separately, a good way to keep the peace in their marriage! 

Know that Christian, who is the Executive Chef and wine director is not French. So was I again in a bad copycat restaurant? I would know soon enough! 

The place first: I was curious to know if there was any story behind the name of the restaurant. 

Christian said that there was no particular meaning, but it was a way to pair the white and the black of the salt and pepper with the back and white photos that are all over the walls. I liked these photos, the lack of color giving a nice atmosphere to the place. They represent different places in the world, Paris of course, as well as personal photos such as Pamela and Christian's wedding. 

As soon as you enter, you feel like you are transported in a French restaurant in France. Normally, they have couple of tables outside, but, with this weather, needless to say that it was not setup! Near the entrance, are few tables, surrounding the bar; further, is the main dining room with its leather and fabric-upholstered banquettes, antique sconces, wood floors and classic mirrors that give a dimension to the room.

As we were waiting for other guests to arrive, they offered me a glass of wine. Looking at the extensive wine list, I noticed that they serve wines from many countries, not only France. But hey, I had to stay true to what I was looking to experience and ordered a fantastic glass of Brouilly 2005 - Domaine Du Moulin-Favre (Beaujolais).

If you like red wine, this is definitely a good choice.

Then, as guests arrived, we sat at our table where the tasting menu was printed. Not that their menu was completely unknown to me: before going to any restaurant, I check the menu. So did I for Sel et Poivre, the day before, drooling over the escargots, frog legs, liver and kidneys. And I smiled when reading what would be served to us...Let's see why. 

The first dish was a celery remoulade with red beets. 

This was, as for the other dishes, a tasting portion. 

It was perfect with a piece of baguette, that is an essential element of a French meal: you cannot serve a meal in France without some bread.

The second dish was not a dish I would have associated to French cuisine: red pepper bisque. 

It had a bright red color and a nice smell that definitely made me want to try it. It was not a thick bisque as not made with cream, but with a potato broth, making it a lighter and healthier version. I loved the taste of red pepper it had, keeping it the star of the dish as not being diluted in the broth.

Then came a wild striped sea bass with artichoke hearts, fennel and black olive, drizzled in some lemon oil.

This was a very nice dish, presentation wise and taste wise. The fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, with a slightly crispy skin on top. I liked that they served it with tomatoes, olives, arugula, fennel and artichokes, the last two bringing their own particular flavors, allowing each bite to be unique.

Then, we got a canard a l'orange or duck a l'orange.

It was served with wild rice and spinach. This is also a classic French dish. However, whenever I had it, it was with a magret de canard rather than the way it was served that was close to a confit, although less (over) cooked and less salty. It was good though, but I wish there was more sauce.

After that was the steak (sirloin) with sauce au Roquefort and sauce au Poivre.

Served with fries, this is definitely a classic, although not that many people tried steak with a Roquefort sauce.

Whenever I have some steak leftover, I cook it in sour cream and blue cheese. It is rich...but delicious.

The pepper sauce was also very good, not being too peppery, although I admit that the cracked pepper on top tickled my throat at some point!

I really liked the steak (cooked medium and tender with a nice char) and the sauces that were also perfect with the fries, or a piece of bread. 

Then was the long awaited veal kidneys!

I was so happy to see it coming. I know that some people consider this a creepy meat, but for me it is a delicacy. I admit that I could not resist going for a second....It was served with a fantastic mustard sauce, boiled potatoes and spinach.

The main difficulty with kidneys is to clean them and these were perfect.

But it did not stop there! When Christian realized that the table was ready for this type of dish, he decided to add to the tasting the calf liver. It was served with a traditional Lyonnaise sauce that was scrumptious. 

The dish was composed of onions, mashed potatoes and broccoli. Although the liver was a bit gamey, it was delicious, the dish not being too heavy and the onions adding a nice sweetness. 

After this feast, believe it or not but we still had some space for dessert. The first one was the chocolate lava cake, served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. 

Homemade, it was perfectly cooked, the center being runny. I also appreciated the fact that it was not too sweet, although the cream and ice cream were perfect to neutralize any sweetness that persisted. 

The second dessert was a vanilla creme brûlée. 

Pretty classic, it was well set, with a nice torched sugar layer on top. 

I really liked my dinner at Sel et Poivre: the food was delicious and, although a bit elevated, stayed true to traditional French cuisine, bringing me back to France for the evening. Whether or not you are adventurous, this is definitely the place to go to! Chapeau!

Enjoy (I did)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

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

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Sel & Poivre
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Upper East Side / Mediterranean / French
	* Street Address
	853 Lexington Ave. (Between 64th St. & 65th St.), New York, NY 10065
	* Phone
	(212) 517-5780

Ramen Setagaya in the East Village, NYC, New York

It has been a while since I wanted to try Ramen Setagaya, not just because I love ramen and hope to try all the ramen places in the City, but also because it is always packed and I was thinking that there is probably a reason for it.

So we decided to go on a Sunday at the opening time, to make sure we would be the first there. We showed up at 12pm and, as planned, were there first. I should mention that it was the day of the Superbowl and so there were not that many people roaming in the street of New York.

Chef Maejima opened Ramen Setagaya in 2000 in Tokyo and few years ago in New York and Fort Lee (NJ). The restaurant in NYC is not a big place, probably sitting 25 people. with a communal table in the middle. According to them, they serve 300 ramen daily.

Their menu offers ramen with meat or vegetarian, as well as cold noodles called Tsukemen. If you are hungry, they also propose appetizers and side dishes. But if you are a fan of pork buns like me, you will be disappointed because they do not have them on the menu. Not that it is a deal breaker though!

Jodi ordered the vegetarian miso ramen:

It was made with soft tofu, a half salt tasted egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, cabbage, scallion and onion. When it came, it had this incredible smell that was very appetizing. The broth was good, but had a tad too much garlic.

Also, the tofu was just pieces put on top: fried, it would have given more flavor and some texture.

I went for the Shio Chasumen that is Shio ramen with extra pork:

It was composed of BBQ pork, salt tasted egg, bamboo shoot, seaweed, scallion and scallop powder. The broth is made of chicken, pork and vegetables, as well as Khanh Hoa Salt, which is a natural mineral-rich sea salt from Vietnam. I really liked it: not too salty, light and tasty. The photo below shows you how much I liked it...

The noodles between the two ramen were different (they have three different kinds). The one on the left was in the vegetarian ramen and the one on the right the Shio ramen. In the latter, the noodles were of a lighter color, thinner and a bit more al dente.

I enjoyed the ramen at Ramen Setagaya, especially the Shio Ramen: it was flavorful and comforting. I am definitely a fan of ramen and I believe this place is another good alternative to Ippudo: good and cheaper! At the time of this post, know that they only took Amex.

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!

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Ramen Setagaya
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	East Village / Japanese / Ramen
	* Street Address
	34 1/2 Saint Marks Pl., New York, NY 10003
	* Phone
	212-387-7959