Restaurant review- The Pink Tea Cup (NYC) - CLOSED!!!

Update February 11th 2012:
Apparently this restaurant closed! Well, I am wondering if the high prices and so so service mentioned in my post caused their demised!


The Pink Tea Cup is a restaurant located in the village that serves soul food. The decor was very nice with a lot of pink (surprising!) and a large communal table in the middle of the main room. The ambiance was ok, although the live band they advertise was not there! There is a good choice of food from typical brunch (oatmeal, pancakes) to soul food (grits, chicken and waffles...).

At the beginning, they bring you biscuits: they were delicious! I then had a chicken and Waffle. The waffle was good but not outstanding and the chicken was cooked perfectly and not greasy. However, they give you only one piece of chicken and for $17, I was surprised. The service was so so. Was it a bad day? Maybe...

Tang Pavillion in New York, New York

Tang Pavillion is a chinese restaurant located outside of Chinatown, Midtown. The cuisine is supposed to be from Shanghai and Soo Chow provinces. But, normally, Shanghai cuisine is spicy and Tang Pavillion is not. So is it a true good Chinese restaurant? Well, each time I went, I saw a lot of Asian people eating there: this is a sign that the cuisine is authentic. They probably make it less or not spicy to satisfy a greater number of customers. 

The atmosphere in the restaurant differs if you go for lunch during the week, for dinner or during the week end. During the week, it is a madhouse! So, what people take as rudeness, is efficiency (note that all the staff says "Hello" when we enter the restaurant and get seated)! Think about it: the rent for a restaurant in Midtown must be high; the prices, although not cheap (I would lower them by 10%), are still low for the area, so they need a high turnover. Hence the food coming quickly and the fast service.

Concerning the decor, there is nothing that wow me. The main room is in the back and there are no windows, increasing the sense of busyness at lunch time! Not the best place for a romantic dinner.

When seated, you can get some tea (free) and they bring you some appetizers: peanuts and pickles.

I always ask for pickled turnips: crunchy and tasty.

Concerning the food, I tasted several dishes there:

I love the duck with black bean sauce: the meat is well cooked and the sauce delicious! They serve it with peppers and onions. A bit salty though. 

The chicken with cashew nuts is also very good and the meat is usually moist.

The shrimp with vegetables are for those who think it is a healthy dish. Not my favorite. I think it might need more seasoning.

I also tried their chicken pan fried noodles: awesome! At least they put some noodles if you see what I mean Ollies!!! The General Tso is also delicious with a choice of chicken or shrimp. It is not too spicy, but has enough kick! 

One time I went for their dim sum: I loved it. I do not like when the shell is too thick; theirs is perfectly made.

Last, for dessert, they always bring a fortune cookie and fruits. Nice attention that helps clean your palate!

Tang Pavillion is definitely one of my favorite Chinese restaurants (with the Peking Duck House) outside of Chinatown. Don't get fooled if you get rushed: the food is great!

Enjoy (I did)!

First Ethiopian restaurant at Meske in New York, New York!

The name of this restaurant was Meskerem and is now Meske, although even the menu mentions the old name....Meskerem is the first month of the Ethiopian calendar (so equivalent to January).

Ethiopian food was a first for me! My cousin Jessica loves it and talked few times about it so we decided to give it a try! I am not familiar at all with Ethiopian cuisine and just heard about it in different occasions:

• First was in When Harry met Sally (1989) with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Billy Crystal who plays Harry Burns says: We're talking dream date compared to my horror. It started out fine, she's a very nice person, and we're sitting and we're talking at this Ethiopian restaurant that she wanted to go to. And I was making jokes, you know like, "Hey I didn't know that they had food in Ethiopia? This will be a quick meal. I'll order two empty plates and we can leave." Yeah, nothing from her not even a smile. 
• Then in Along Came Polly (2004) with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. The scene at the Ethiopian restaurant with the spicy food is hysterical! I tried to find if it was a restaurant in NYC, but could not find any solid information about it. I have to say, I thought about that scene before going, not because I was scared it would happen to me, but because I love it!
• Chef Marcus Samuelson showcased traditional Ethiopian dishes in Top Chef Masters on Bravo TV. This was a bold move considering how different the flavors were compared to the other Chefs' dishes! For those who do not know, Marcus Samuelson is originally from Ethiopia and has been adopted by the Samuelsons, a couple from Sweden, when he was a child. He is today a very renowned Chef.

So we go to Meske for lunch: when you enter, you immediately notice the smell of incense. The decor is simple with bricks on and behind the bar and some traditional art on the walls. The service was courteous, attentive and efficient. 

We decided to go with combination platters. I think they are very smart to propose that because if you only try one dish and do not like it, you may think that all the food is not good. 

Combination dishes were served on an Ethiopian bread, called Injera, that is like a spongy crepe. They gave us two more. In fact you eat with your hands, using the bread to take the food from the plate to your mouth. There is no fork, knife or spoon (you can ask for it as did the table next to us). The bread was good with the meal, but did not have that much flavor alone.

Meskerem Combo:

it is composed of three meats (from top left to top right on the photo):

• Yebeg Alecha: tender pieces of lamb marinated with butter then sauteed with ginger, garlic & curry.
• Tibs wat: prime beef cooked in a pan, then sauteed with berbere (red chili used in hot stews). 
• Gomen Besaega: a special cut of prime beef seasoned with garlic, onions and ginger, then finished with boiled collared green.

My favorite was the Tibs wat: very tasty and savory. Not hot at all. The lamb dish was kind of disappointing: it was a bad cut of lamb that was very tough. 

They also serve the meat combo with two veggie dishes (bottom left to right):

• Miser Alech: split lentils dipped with ginger, garlic, onions, olive, curry.
• Miser Wat: split lentils with ginger, garlic, onions, olive oil and finished with berbere sauce.

Both of them were really good and it was probably what I loved the most on the plate!

Vegetarian Combo:

This combination platter contained (top left to right then bottom left to right):

• Miser Alech: split lentils dipped with ginger, garlic, onions, olive, curry.
• Miser Wat: split lentils with ginger, garlic, onions, olive oil and finished with berbere sauce.
• Not sure!!!
• Broiled collar greens.
• Shro Wat: powdered and highly seasoned chickpeas in berbere sauce.
• fresh cabbage, potatoes & carrots sauteed with garlic, ginger and curry.
• fresh string beans, carrots and onions w/ tomato sauce.
• Not sure!!!

I have to say that the vegetarian combo was pretty good! 

The meal was delicious, whether I tried the meat or vegetarian combo. Each dish had its own flavor and it was a complete discovery. The lentils were supposed to be hot, but it was just a bit. When you see the plate first, you think that the quantities are small, but I can tell you that it is enough considering that you eat with the bread.

Definitely a great experience that I recommend! 

Enjoy (I did)!

Spot Dessert Bar in New York, New York - Bring me a shovel!

Just hearing the name, you want to go! A DESSERT BAR!!! I did not even need to show an id to be able to enter there.

This place is quite interesting: located on St Marks, it is easy to miss. But I can tell you that not that many people missed it: it was packed (quite noisy too)! The concept is interesting: Classic "American" desserts with an Asian twist. I put American between quotes because  a lot of desserts are from around the world such as the creme brulée or the tiramisu.

The restaurant is not that big, so be patient if you go on a week end! In term of decor, it is mainly made of wood and most of the furniture is made of repurposed material. I also noticed some kind of plastic grass here and there...

If your well placed, you will have the chance to see the staff preparing desserts (real beehive over there) and you can't keep looking at the desserts they are bringing to the tables. 

The service was efficient and courteous. Despite the fact that it was packed and they needed our table, the waiter, after we payed, proposed us some more water and started to talk to us.

Now, let's talk about the most important thing: the desserts!

Imagine that they call regular desserts Tapas. Trust me: these are no tapas but regular desserts size. They propose for a discounted price to a combination of dishes (2,3,4,5...). We went for three and picked:

The Thai Tea creme brulée, served with a flour less jasmine rice wafer and a hot thai tea. Great presentation: it was served on a slate and the orange color of both the tea and dessert were vibrant. They added a bit of playfulness by providing additional syrup and condensed milk in case people want more flavor for their tea. Although the presentation was great, I did not really like the creme brulée.

The Chocolate Green Tea Lava, served with a green tea ice cream. The cake was delicious and not as sweet as what I would have expected! I loved the first bite when you see this mixture of chocolate and green tea fall off the cake like...lava. Very nice color. However, I did not like the ice cream: it had a very bitter taste. This was, with the Tea-Ramisu, one of the items that I saw the most leaving the kitchen.

The Green Tea-Ramisu made of matcha green tea essence, green tea madeleine sponge, shaved white chocolate-green tea. Let me tell you that, like the other desserts, the presentation was outstanding! It was served in a wooden box and had an incredibly vibrant green color. The taste was to die for, not too sweet and not bitter at all despite the fact that everything was with green tea! I think I still remember the first bite! The addition of the white chocolate was a great idea as it added some flavor to the dish. This was definitely my favorite!

We also tried a Tahitian Coconut cupcake: the cake was very good and moist and the cream cheese frosting delicious. It had a perfect proportion cake / frosting. Next time, I have to try the red velvet!

At the end of the day, even if I did not like all the desserts or part of it, I would go back: Chef Kittichai is very creative and the twist he is giving to these desserts makes this place unique. They are also serving brunch, so you may see me there one day, enjoying a crepe or a waffle!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you went to this restaurant or have a question or comment about this post, do not hesitate to leave a comment!

Suspenders in New York, New York - Just bar food...

We had to go to the Financial District over the week end and were looking for somewhere to grab a bite. I saw this place Suspenders, that is not that easy to find and with a weird entrance (you go one story down then open some white doors and then see the entrance)! Going there, do not expect anything than bar food, although with a Mediterranean flair. They serve dishes like grilled octopus, chicken souvlaki (that I tried) or more classic dishes like grilled cheese or sandwiches. The place was of course empty for a Saturday lunch time (do not forget it is a business area). The room is pretty big with first the bar and then the dining room. The service was courteous and efficient.

On the week end, they have a week end special that is a dish with a soda for less than $8. Of course, what they serve is smaller than the regular dish and fortunately we had an appetizer!

We chose the Mediterranean Platter: house made hummus, babaganoush, tzatziki, kalamata olives (3 of them!) and warm pita. Overall very good even if the babaganoush was lacking some eggplant.

I then tried the chicken slouvaki: a marinated chicken skewer served with tzatziki sauce and greek salad. The chicken was good, especially dipped in the tzatziki sauce. However, I could care less about the greek salad: the tomatoes were not of great quality and there was only one cube of feta!

I also tried the Grilled Cheese made with sharp cheddar cheese and fresh mozzarella grilled with crispy bacon and tomato. It was pretty decent despite the cheap processed cheese....It was also served with a greek salad, similar to the one with the chicken.

Suspenders is probably not the best restaurant in the area and seems to be more an after work gathering place. The food was ok for the price. It was this or Subway next door...

Enjoy (I barely did)!

The Old Homestead: home of the steaks and burgers!

The Old Homestead is definitely an institution: located in the famous meatpacking district in New York, it is one of the longest continually serving restaurant in the USA that opened in 1868! For me, it is one of the best Steakhouses in New York and trust me: I tried many! Their meat is of great quality, perfectly cooked and each time I went, I was never deceived! Their filet mignon is awesome, but my favorite is the ribeye: juicy with an incredible taste! I am drooling just thinking about it! However, one thing they removed from their menu is the truffled Mac & Cheese; they replaced it with a Lobster Mac & Cheese. I think it is a mistake: Mac & Cheese is a great side for a steak house, that changes from a regular mash potatoes, bland broccolis or fries. But not everybody likes seafood in it! I would have kept the truffled Mac & Cheese: it was incredibly delicious!

This restaurant otherwise is like many steakhouses: dark atmosphere with dimmed light, wood and leather for a warm and cozy feeling. They have a big cow on top of the entrance, outside, that clearly defines the place! The service is attentive and courteous.

These days, for lunch, they are serving the Burger Diamonds: a lunch menu that includes a beer or glass of wine, a caesar salad (nice portion), three sliders and tater totes. 

The three sliders were:

• Filet mignon with truffled mushrooms and an onion ring on top. 
• Kobe beef with caramelized onions and bacon. In fact, this restaurant was one of the first in America to serve Kobe beef.
• Sirloin with cheddar.

All the sliders were great: juicy, tasty and perfectly cooked (medium for me), that is difficult considering the size of the piece of meat they have to work with. They give you a very decent portion. My favorite was the sirloin: it was the juiciest of the three and the sharp cheddar was awesome! The burger bun was a brioche (not dry at all) and there was a nice proportion bread/meat. The tater totes were also delicious, not greasy and crispy. All of this served in a playful way, with on the bottom some reproduction of a newspaper and a cauldron to serve the tater totes. Last, they give you enough ketchup and mayonnaise, so you do not have to beg for more!

This restaurant remains one of my favorite steakhouses in New York!

Enjoy (I did)!

Delicious Banana Cream Pie from Billy's Bakery in NYC! Updated on 1/22/12

My wife has always been a big fan of Billy's Bakery in Manhattan for two things: cupcakes and coconut cream pie. I am not a coconut guy, but I have to say that their coconut cream pie is pretty good and they are pretty generous in portions, with very reasonable prices (we just bought two slices of banana cream pie - photo - for $9!).

Billy's bakery has several locations, but I only know the one in Chelsea. The bakery is kind of retro with an old red formica table set (one, so it is more a grab and go). You also get to see the kitchen where all the magic happens! On top of that, from the kitchen, emanates the fantastic smell of freshly made cakes. No way you can leave without buying something yummy!

Besides, the coconut cream pie, I have tried the cheesecake, that is good, but not as good as Junior's and the banana cream pie that is delicious. In fact the banana and coconut cream pies are identical in the way they are made (I guess it is creme patissiere - a rich, thick and creamy custard made from a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, flour and cornstarch), but one has bananas and the other one coconut (try to guess; you can do it). The banana cream pie is light and not too sweet. It is perfect with a coffee or tea.

Apparently, their pineapple upside down cake is awesome, but they did not have it this time. So I guess I found a good excuse to go back...

Update on 1/22/12:
well we went back today and I tried their pineapple upside down cake: good with a very moist cake, but I would have liked more pineapple juice and flavor in the cake! Fortunately, I also had some more of the banana cream pie! I am telling you: having a food blog gives you plenty of excuses to indulge!!!

Enjoy (I did)!

And remember: I just want to eat!


Reference: www.billysbakerynyc.com

La Piazza at Eataly: I wish I was living there!

As you probably know from reading my other posts on Eataly located in New York City, I love this place! The only negative is that it is crazy other there with all the people who, like me, want to enjoy some great Italian delicacies! This time, we tried La Piazza, with its delicious cheeses and salumi. The setting is awkward: you either eat at the bar or on the marble high standing tables (no chairs), in the middle of the marketplace, with people passing by. Not the best place for a quiet meal! The service was great and I loved sitting at the bar, watching the preparation of the orders. 

The menu is mainly centered around wine, cheese and meat, but you can get some specialties from restaurants nearby such as Il Pesce (for seafood). They also make fresh mozzarella daily. We went for the Grande Piatto Misto Di Salumi & Formaggi that is a selection of meat and cheeses. The cheeses that day were (from left to right): ricotta, parmigiano reggiano, pecorino toscano, taleggio and gorgonzola. For meats, they served us prosciutto di Parma, prosciutto San Daniele, Mortadella, prosciutto Cotto, speck and Salami.

They also gave us, with the bread, some almonds in honey, candied orange peel and figs, to eat with the cheese (good call for people who do not like strong cheeses). 

The presentation on a wooden cutting board was awesome, with the different colors and texture of the meats and shapes of the cheeses! It gave a rustic feel to the entire dish. Although the quantity was not enormous, I really enjoyed it, alternating cheese and meat. 

I also got a crudo from Il Pesce, composed of pink snapper, fluke and Halibut. I like raw fish so the texture was not a problem for me. It was served with some olive oil and salt. Simple and delicious.

Definitely a good lunch that day!

Enjoy (I did)!

Other posts for Eataly:
A taste of Eataly in New York City!
Great Dinner at Home ! Thank you Mario Batali!
Great Bread and Cheeses from Eataly!
Cheese night!
Fresh Pasta and tomato with porcini mushrooms sauce

And remember: I just want to eat!

BBQ at Hill Country in NYC!

I love BBQ. I kind of miss it sometimes: the smokiness, the smell and the delicious taste of the meat.  Yes, I wrote meat and not fish as for me BBQ is all about meat! Although fish on a BBQ is not bad...I remember one time going to a shack in France for Mother's Day where you first catch a trout that would be cleaned by the owner and then grilled on...a barbecue! That was very good.

What is interesting is that BBQ differs by country. What we call BBQ in France is in fact grilling in the US: grilling would refer to fast cooking over high heat, while barbecuing refers to slow cooking over indirect heat and / or hot smoke. From what I understand, especially after seeing the last Top Chef episode, Texas is the land of BBQ: you do not need to tell me more to think about going there...

In New York City, there are plenty of BBQ joints. This time, I went to Hill Country. I guess the decor is supposed to render the atmosphere of a typical texan BBQ restaurant with wood everywhere and a big Lone Star that you cannot miss when you enter. The way it works is unusual: they give you a meal ticket that will be stamped (stickered would not be better if ever this word existed) at the stations (one for the meat, one for the sides and one for the drinks and desserts). Once you finish eating, you go to the cashier, present your menu cards and pay accordingly.

The menu offers all the items meat lovers would like: beef, pork, chicken, in the form of ribs / prime ribs, chops or sausages. The selection of sides is mouth watering: Cheddar Mac & Cheese, corn pudding, baked beans, chili, deviled eggs...
The meal ticket offers combos at reasonable prices that can fulfill any appetite. I went for the pitmaster: 1/4 lb Lean Brisket, One Pork Spare Rib, One Beef Rib, Quarter All Natural Chicken and two sides. For the sides, we chose: Cheddar Mac & Cheese, White Shoepeg corn pudding, green beans casserole with Durkee onions and smokey chipotle deviled eggs. Let's talk about these items:

The meat:

• The way it was presented was very rustic: they put 4 slices of white bread on brown paper and then disposed the meat on top of it. I guess this is a Texan way: Texas toast. The packaging was like a little gift that you have to unwrap slowly, to discover some amazing pieces of meat. 
• In term of taste, I loved the chicken: it was well cooked and moist. The brisket was good but a bit dry: I had to put some BBQ sauce that was on the table to eliminate the dryness. The beef rib was good but a bit tough: I was expecting the meat to fall off the bone. Then I got the pork rib: it was so salty!

The sides:

• My favorites were the Mac & Cheese and the corn pudding. The cheese in the Mac & Cheese did not taste like processed cheese and it was pretty good, not dry. Then the corn pudding was a nice addition where you could taste, but not too much, the sweetness of the corn.
• Then, I did not like the green bean casserole (bland) and the deviled eggs (off taste for me although I love mayonnaise). Bad choice on our part.

I was a bit disappointed by the experience, especially as I heard good things about it. Was it an off day? I do not know. Considering the number of BBQ places in New York City, I will try somewhere else next time...

Enjoy (I did not really)!

Fig & Olives in New York City

Olive oil has a fantastic reputation in Mediterranean countries: it is said that it contributes to the longevity of their inhabitants. In fact, the main type of fat found in the different kinds of olive oil is Monounsaturated Fatty Acids or MUFA, that is a monounsaturated fat, better than saturated or trans fat. These MUFA help lower the risk of heart disease, helping to lower, for instance, the level of cholesterol (the bad one!). It is also supposed to help blood clotting. Some research show that it may benefit blood sugar control and insulin levels, therefore benefiting people who have a type 2 diabetes (when did I get my PhD???). But, know that Olive oil is high in calories and all the beneficial nutrients it contains can be affected by heat, light and air. That is why it is better to keep it in a dark place and consume it between 6 months to a year maximum. Concerning the heat, that is true that I heard in the past that olive oil is not good for cooking: not sure what to think about it. A lot of chefs are using it instead of vegetable oil and it is true that the taste is better even in these circumstances.

So, now imagine a restaurant specialized in olive oil: it is what Fig & olives is about. They have several locations in New York and in each of them, they have an entire wall of bottles of olive oil that they sell. When they bring bread, they replace the butter by an olive oil tasting. I think this is interesting: who would pay attention to the different tastes of olive oil? There are so many different, that I find it clever to offer a tasting.

Their menu is definitely Mediterranean, with cuisines from France (the owner and chef are French), Italy and Spain. We discovered this restaurant during Restaurant Week and it was a great experience: everything was fresh and delicious. They did not degrade the quality of their menu like other restaurants do, probably understanding that a happy customer is a customer who would come back and recommend this restaurant. One of the things I appreciate is that they offer, all year long, a tasting entree for $30 (time of posting), called the Mediterranean tasting. It includes:

• Grilled chicken breast, grilled provence vegetable, marinated red bell pepper - Nocellara Olive Oil
• Grilled steak on rosemary skewer, bell pepper, Greek yogurt & honey, couscous - Koroneiki Olive Oil (photo 4). Note that the couscous is in fact a taboule salad.
• Grilled shrimp on rosemary skewer, cherry tomato, saffron rice - Pimenton & Oregano Hojiblanca Olive Oil

This tasting platter is a feast not only for your stomach, but also your eyes. The presentation is perfect. Of course, some may say that the quantities are not enough. Well, it is reasonable and considering the quality, I do not see any problem. On top of this, it gives you an opportunity to try their desserts!

Besides this tasting dish, I also tried:

• Yellow fin tuna carpaccio: Tuna, balsamic vinegar, cilantro, arugula, tomato marcona almond - Toasted Sesame Oil (photo 2): although the tuna was good, it was a bit bland and was missing some acidity. 
• Penne Funghi Tartufo: Cremini mushroom, black trumpet, parmesan, parsley, scallion - White Truffle Olive Oil (photo 3). This was delicious! If you are a fan of mushrooms, you will be happy. The penne were perfectly cooked (al dente) and you could taste all these delicate flavors of mushrooms. Yum!

I am definitely a fan of this restaurant. The only negative is the noise level that is pretty high....

Enjoy (I did)!

Koryodang: Korean pastries???

One time, we were walking in Koreatown in New York City, looking for Red Mango and noticed this big (very high ceiling), modern and bright pastry shop with a calm atmosphere (probably the water fountain and stones). We right away saw the different pastries and decided to go for a lemon tart and a chocolate tart: this was delicious and reminded me the tarts I used to have in France. Who would have thought that I would find some delicious pastries in a Korean patisserie? We went back another time and tried their hot cocoa, that is pretty decent: they, at least, use milk and not water, and you can ask for some whipped cream.

So, after we got this memorable dinner at Il Bastardo few weeks ago, we kind of needed to end the evening with something sweet. And guess what: we ended up at Koryodang, again. They had a whole bunch of cakes, but, unfortunately, they did not indicate what was what. So we asked the waiter what it was and his answer was quite amusing: "it is cakes" he said, slightly annoyed! You know what? I would not have guessed!!! Of course it is cake! So we gently asked him to describe them; this would not happen if they put a description for each pastry (duh!). Finally, we came home with two cakes: a white tiramisu and a chocolate truffle cake. Both cakes were delicious, not too sweet and very light.

Koryodang is definitely a good address to know if you need a dessert! By the way, Koryodang is apparently a term used by a group of friends to call upon the only korean friend that they have.

Enjoy (I did)!

Awful food at Ollie's (New York City)!

I love chinese food and was excited to go to Ollie's near Time Square. I ordered from them once, a day I was working late at the office and I remember that it was ok, although I always consider that food delivered loses its prime taste during the time of transportation.

In the restaurant, I noticed two things:

• First, that most of the customers were asian. This is a good sign, because it means that they were probably looking for some authentic chinese cuisine, and it was a good place for that.
• Second, the menu is quite big. Not sure this one is a good thing because the kitchen might be all over the place and I always favor quality over quantity! It is better to have fewer dishes that are amazing than plenty of average dishes.

So we picked few specialties:

• The shrimp dumplings: I barely tasted the shrimp. Did they use one shrimp to make 6 dumplings?
• The vegetables dumplings: this one was good. I usually find the dough too thick, but this one was perfect.
• The chicken pan fried noodles: I am used to the crispy noodles that get soft because of the sauce. The noodles were good, but they barely put any! Did I make a mistake and ordered off the kid's menu? The sauce was too ginger-y and the chicken bland. Not the best choice and pricey.

I guess the only things I liked there were the hot tea and the veggie dumplings! It was a good excuse to get cookies from Zaro's after that!

You can pass on that one: there are plenty of other delicious chinese restaurants in New York City!

Del Frisco's steakhouse, land of the best crab cakes

I love a good steak! But once you have tried one, it kind of spoils your experience in other Steakhouses! So, the first time I went to Del Frisco's, I was skeptical. Especially after they pointed out that they are best known for their crab cakes. As far as I know, crab cakes are no red meat! I had the filet mignon. The meat was perfectly cooked, medium as I wanted it. It was presented pink in the center as the meat continued to cook in butter on the hot plate (I start to love this one!). To make sure it was cooked to perfection, the waiter asked me to cut the filet and he checked it was what I ordered. First time it happened to me.

The filet was very tender and my knife went through it without any effort. Then came the first bite: so good! This piece of meat was definitely of a high quality. 

Another time, I tried their lamb chops: perfectly cooked (if overcooked, it will be dry) and very tasty with a clean frenched bone.

Then I had to try their famous crab cakes! I was not disappointed! It was made with jumbo lump crab. Not sure how they made the crab cakes stay together, but it was clearly not by preparing them with lots of different ingredients that would have overshadowed the taste of the crab. I wanted crab and I got crab! 

Besides that, their sides are original and appetizing: lobster Mac & Cheese, King crab gnocchi or cauliflower and brie au gratin. All pretty good!

The only complaint would be their tendency to put too much pepper in their dishes! But even with that, it is one of my top choices for steak!

Enjoy (I did)!

The Doughnut Plant: the doughnut reinvented!

Doughnuts are in this country what croissants are for France. I am not going to get excited by the regular doughnuts that one can find in the karts in the street, but if you bring me to the Doughnut Plant in New York, then I am going to start drooling! I think it goes far beyond the doughnuts at Dunkin Donuts or at Krispy Cream! 

The first time I heard about the Doughnut Plant was on "Throwdown With Bobby Flay", a great TV show to discover some hidden gems in New York. At first, the story of the owner, Mark Isreal, was touching: he spoke about his grandfather's recipe and how he decided to made doughnuts; how he made doughnuts out of a basement all night for 5 years before opening his first store. I started to feel some sympathy for the guy. Then came Bobby Flay who proposed a throw down. Mark Isreal did not want to compete and, once convinced by his friends that he should, had a poor attitude. He won with his signature doughnut: the tres leche doughnut (photo 1). We decided to try it with my wife and went to his location on Grand street. After trying the tres leche one, I understood why he won: the doughnut was de-li-cious: it was a cake type with a tres leche cream inside, all around the doughnut. I probably inhaled all the doughnuts we bought in a matter of minutes. Now, this was few years ago; I noticed that there is today less cream than before. They may have changed the recipe or lower the quantity to lower their cost. They are still good though!

With the same principle he uses for the tres leche doughnut (e.g. cream filled), he proposes some amazing banana or coconut doughnut (photo 2), but these are yeast doughnut (as opposed to cake, the yeast doughnut is more traditional). For the Holidays, he is proposing marzipan doughnuts. I tried both the yeast and the cake (photo 3) one: I prefer the cake one, although it was a bit dry.

Now, be aware that the cake doughnuts are heavier than the yeast one...Just in case you want to eat 5 of them!

Last, you can find these doughnuts at Dean & Deluca or Balducci's but I found that people working there do not always know what is what.

Enjoy (I did)!

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Ruth's Chris is one of my favorite Steakhouses. This franchise, more than 45 years old and more than 100 restaurants, never disappointed me! I always had good pieces of meat (most of them are USDA prime that is the highest grade), tender and cooked to perfection. They cook their steaks in butter (how can you go wrong with that) and bring them to the table in 500 degree Fahrenheit plates, causing the meat to sizzle in the butter. What is great is that you can hear this distinctive noise while the waiters walk across the room, and I can only lookup to see what other patrons ordered. At the same time, your nose will catch this amazing smell of butter and meat. The plate is so hot that it will continue cooking your steak once on your table. That is why they will always bring it to your table slightly undercooked.

My favorite is the filet mignon: you can cut it like butter; it is juicy and has a delicious taste enhanced by a bit of salt. If you like strip steak as well, I suggest the Porterhouse (strip steak and filet), but be ready for a feast!

Their crab cakes are awesome: you can see the lump crab and eating them in the sizzling butter is amazing.

The only thing they are lacking for me is some originality for the sides: what they are proposing is pretty basic and none of them make you think: "I have to try that one". They do not even have a nice Mac & Cheese!

So, forget the sides and go for the meat!

Enjoy (I did)!

And remember: I just want to eat!

Il Bastardo!

No, I am not insulting anybody in Italian! It is just the name of an Italian restaurant in New York City!

We went there on a Saturday night, early enough so there was not that many people at the bar or in their lounge. The restaurant was quite dark and noisy: I thought I was in a Steakhouse, and in fact...it is an Italian steakhouse! The decor is a mix between modern and rustic with its mahogany floor and brick walls. I like that feel: warm and cozy.

In term of food, you can't really tell that it is a steakhouse: looks more like a traditional Italian restaurant to me, with its antipasti (literally "before pasta"), salads, pasta and main dishes that include items from the grill. There, no filet mignon or porterhouse!

We tried:

• Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with citrus - mustard aioli: it was pretty decent! The mustard aioli had a nice kick.
• Salad with Anjou Pears, arugula, tallegio cheese and walnuts. The presentation was awesome: they sliced the pear thinly and laid out the slices at the bottom of the plate. Unfortunately, the pear was not ripe enough and they were cheap on the cheese...
• Linguine with manila clams, fresh parsley and white wine: the dish was ok. The clams were not tasty and the broth was too liquidy to give some taste to the dish. Too bad, because it is usually the dish I pick when trying an Italian restaurant for the first time!
• Rigatoni with tomato, eggplant, basil and ricotta salata. This was pretty good. 

So, overall, the food was just ok. For the same price, I would go to Morandi and have a fantastic Italian experience!

Enjoy (I did)!

Horrible Crepe at Max Brenner in New York!

Yes: I said in the past that I was a fan of Max Brenner's hot cocoa. But I guess it is stopping there! Between the savory food that was not good at all and now the crepe I tried there, I think he should definitely stick with the hot cocoa and forget the rest! The crepe was not good at all and finished in the trash! My wife was even surprised to see me throw food! The crepe had an off taste; the chocolate in it was not good. I only liked the bananas...For close to $10, I am sure I can get bananas at Whole Food around the corner of Max Brenner! If you want crepes, avoid it and go to Bar Suzette at Chelsea Market: It is much much better!!!!

Beware!

Mexican sushi and Japanese tacos at Taka Taka in New York City

There are more and more restaurants proposing fusion cuisine, but it was the first time that I heard about Mexican - Japanese cuisine. That is what Taka Taka in New York City is proposing, highlighted by the sign "Japanese Cantina" above the kitchen. At first the restaurant looks like a Japanese restaurant with a conveyor belt sushi (aka Kaiten sushi). But if you pay attention, you will start noticing some Mexican touch such as the granite mortar to make guacamole!

So, for food, you have two choices: the kaiten sushi or the menu. For those who never tried Kaiten sushi, this is how it works: the kitchen prepares different sushi (no fusion at this time, the sushi were quite standard) identified by a number (Photo 1 - the description of the dish is on the table set) and put them on a conveyor belt. The color of the plate determines the price (photo 2) and once you ask for the bill, the waiter will simply add up the cost of each plate you took based on the color. It is an interesting concept and intriguing: I was constantly looking at what was passing by!

For the Mexican - Japanese fusion, you then have to check the menu: each dish will have a bit of each cuisine. On the Mexican side, you will find for instance guacamole or jalapeno and on the Japanese side, yuzu sauce or wasabi mayonnaise. Here is what we had:

• Guacamole-Tuna Tataki: diced tuna tartar with avocado, onion, cilantro, tomato and serrano chile. This was very good. I love the combination of tuna and avocado! The first time I tried was in a cafe next to the Louvre Museum in Paris. I then had it at Remi, an Italian restaurant in New York. So, nothing very particular to the Mexican-Japanese fusion for that one, although I really enjoyed this very refreshing and light dish!
• Miss Carnitas: fried tuna carnitas in a yuzu-soy marinate with guacamole and pico de gallo in corn tortillas. Good but overpriced. The tuna was slightly overcooked.
• Inclan: fried rice roll with hamachi, tuna, avocado and jicama with spicy sriracha mayonnaise. I liked it.The crunchiness of the rice added another dimension to the dish.
• Tempura Helado: tempura ice cream with strawberry sauce or melted dark chocolate. We picked the chocolate. It was very good but they were kind of cheap on the chocolate!

Concerning the service, it was weird: plates arrived one by one. It started with the tacos, then the tuna tartar, then the rolls. It was not that fast and I am wondering if it was not done this way so we would try some of the Kaiten sushi...

Although the food was not as expected (I was expecting an explosion of flavors), I would probably go back to check some other dishes. They definitely have some creativity there and some of the dishes on the menu that we did not try look appetizing. 

Last, I liked their take out menu: not the traditional piece of paper as you can see below!

Enjoy (I did)!

Le Pain Quotidien...au Quotidien!

A lot of people think that Le Pain Quotidien (The Daily Bread in English) is French: it is in fact Belgian.  I am not that chauvinistic so I would not go there to eat some great bread, croissants or pastries! 

Le Pain Quotidien is a franchise; they have restaurants all over the world: France (I had to say it!), Australia, Bahrein, India, Mexico, Russia...And of course in the US, in several locations: NYC, Philadelphia, Pasadena, Washington DC, etc...Normally, whatever you find in one location can be found in another, the same way. As if it was the Mac Donald's of bakeries! 

Le Pain Quotidien uses organic ingredients as much as possible and bakes bread and pastries every day.  Their bread is delicious: they serve different kinds, from the baguette to the rustic loaf. They also have buttery and flaky croissants that are to die for! Their restaurants have a rustic and homy feel with bricks on the walls, wooden floors and wooden tables that have an unfinished look (they are made of reclaimed wood). They all have a large communal table for those who like to listen to people's conversation...

Le Pain Quotidien is one of my favorite place for a casual brunch or lunch. Besides the bread and pastries, they have great tartines (open face sandwiches). My favorite is the one with ricotta, figs and honey! It tastes so fresh and all these ingredients pair very well together. It is also very light and the figs add a nice texture to the tartine. It is the perfect meal for a picnic in a park (you can have it to go). They also have a great cheese plate and good salads. Then, you find the traditional brunch dishes: french toasts, omelets or soups. I like the way they serve their food: tartines and plates are served on a breadboard that give a plus to the presentation. If you really like the plates, breadboards and bowls, you can buy them. On top of that, they sell jams, coffee or chocolate. 

Last, they apparently give some cooking classes! I may check this out one day!

Enjoy (I did)!

And remember: I just want to eat!

Japanese food in Korea Town, New York City

We went back to the Food Gallery 32 in New York City. I love this place! Some people may think its white walls and furniture remind of a hospital; I just think it has a modern look and offers any foodie who enjoys asian food a good alternative at a very reasonable price. 

This time, we decided to go for Japanese and went to O-De-Ppang. Bad choice! I got shrimp fried rice (not bad and not greasy), spicy tuna rice balls called Onigiri (bland canned tuna...) and veggie teppan-yaki (better forget it). The only thing I truly appreciated was the miso soup! It was cheap but not enough of an excuse!