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

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	* 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

Korean BBQ at Madangsui in NYC, New York

When I got invited by Sang Kim, the owner of Madangsui Korean BBQ to try his restaurant, I was really excited: each time I go to a Korean restaurant, it reminds me of my trip to South Korea many year ago, when I got to try my first BBQ.

Couple of blocks from the heart of Korea Town, Madangsui is located on 35th street. Next to the entrance is a display of their dishes that I admit makes you hungry and wonder what you should order, so many dishes looking yummy.

Then is the dining room, similar to lots of Korean restaurants, if not for the distinctive sign that is present on each pillar:

I was wondering what it was until I understood what Madangsui means in Korean: man. It implies a person with strong moral fiber who rises early, works hard and helps those around him according to the restaurant who does not hesitate to associate the definition to Sang Kim, the owner, who opened this place in 2007 and explains the concept of the restaurant in his press release:

“My mission is to introduce organic Korean food – especially our BBQ – to Americans throughout the country, as well as to travelers from abroad,” says Mr. Kim. “I started working in a Korean restaurant as a waiter in college, just loved the industry and was promoted to manager. Here at Madangsui I’m always delighted when people love our food – and even more so when they come back for more!”

“We use only USDA prime meat,” says Mr. Kim. “Our beef comes from pasture- raised and grain-finished cattle that are humanely treated by American cattlemen and we use wet- and dry-aging methods with the utmost care. So what we serve is the highest quality American beef, prepared Korean style.”

With an introduction like that, I was ready to check for myself especially after looking at the menu, crafted by Chef Hyun Kim: with plenty of vegetarian choices, it proposes a large selection of BBQ, Bibimbap, soups, noodles...

So we sat at one of the tables that had a grill in the center and few minutes later, they brought us the banchan, these little side dishes served at the beginning of the meal. 

A Korean restaurant without banchan is like a French restaurant with no bread! What they served us was: mashed potatoes.

Kimchi:

Bean sprouts:

Pickled radish:

Bok Choi:

Octopus:

As a drink, I opted for a Korean wheat wine (Saeng Mak Geol Li) rather than the usual soju.

It was served in a big bowl with a large spoon and looked milky.

It was very close to unfiltered sake.

Our first appetizer was the jap-chae, Korean glass noodles fried with vegetables and beef, seasoned with soy sauce.

These noodles were fantastic! Made with sweet potatoes, they have a nice sweetness that married very well with the vegetables and beef. This is definitely an appetizer I recommend.

The second appetizer was the mandoo or dumplings.

We had the choice between fried or steamed and we chose steamed. They were stuffed with beef, pork and vegetables.

These were also very good: the shell was not too thick, not doughy and the filling very flavorful. Needless to say that we ate them all...

For the entree, we first picked the bulgogi bibimbap.

Bibimbap is a rice dish that comes in a bowl that is extremely hot, so the ingredients continue to cook in it, creating a delicious crust with the rice. The photo above shows the rice bowl before being heated, and the photo below after, once all the ingredients have been mixed together.

Unfortunately, the bibimbap was a miss for me. I found it bland with not enough beef in it.

Next was the BBQ. We chose the Yang-Nyum Galbi that is marinated short rib. They started off by turning on the grill in the center of the table.

Then, then brought us the different ingredients. First was the lettuce:

Then, the onions:

The chili paste sauce (not spicy):

And the star of the show: galbi or short ribs.

That meat looked definitively of good quality, with a nice marbling and thick cut.

They put it on the grill with the slice of onion, mushroom and pepper it came with.

There, it cooked for few minutes.

Once ready, we picked a lettuce on which we put some onions, some meat and some chili paste.

We then closed the lettuce and ate it like a sandwich. The first bite was divine, all the ingredients working well together, but letting the incredible pieces of short rib shine. I could have just eaten the meat alone: tender and juicy, it had a rich flavor. To my surprise, Jodi who is usually not a big fan of Korean BBQ loved it (I thought I would have all of it for myself...). 

I really liked my dinner at Madangsui and may have found my new spot for Korean BBQ, my favorite one having closed a couple of years ago. The meat there is definitely of higher quality and I will probably go back as they offer other selections of BBQ such as the well known Bulgogi, tongue or seafood. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Madangsui
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Midtown West / Korean
	* Street Address
	35 West 35th St., New York, NY 10001
	* Phone
	(212) 564-9333

Lady M Upper East Side, NYC, New York

After having tried Lady M at Bryant Park several weeks ago, as well as the one in the Plaza Hotel, we decided to go on the Upper East Side, thinking that, as it is their original location, it would be bigger and would have more choices. 

I admit that I was a bit disappointed as it was the same size as the other one and the same menu, but my disappointment did not last too long at the sight of these spectacular cakes that they showcase.

I was there fixated on one and one only cake: the Mont Blanc!

It is made of cream and chestnut cream and topped with a fresh chestnut.

When you start digging in, you are wondering where the cream is.

But then you find it and you are happy about it, because it cuts on the sweetness of the chestnut cream; because yes, it is very sweet. But very addictive too, to the point that I finished it...

Jodi was set for the vanilla mille-crepe, but finally decided to order the banana mille feuilles:

It is made of big chunks of banana, puff pastry, whipped cream and layers of sponge cake. This was sublime! It reminded me of a banana cream pie in a way.

These desserts were perfect with my double espresso. Jodi ordered a tea that was good, but pricey ($8)!

The more I try Lady M, the more I like this place and I can tell you that it was not my last visit!

Enjoy (I did)!

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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

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

Little Pie Company in NYC, New York

The Little Pie Company was on my radar for a while and I confess that I lured Jodi to that place, making sure we would pass in front of it when going to the Gotham West Market. 

Little Pie Company is small, but don't be fooled by its name: the kitchen next to it is of a good size.

I was looking around to see what to get, not realizing that they had a banana and coconut cream pie. But trust me, Jodi immediately saw it and ordered it right away as it was the last one and she did not want to see it go to somebody else, leaving me with just couple of minutes to take a decision. 

I was surely not going for one of the cookies that looked a little sad compared to what you can get at City Bakery or Macchiato. I desperately looked for a cherry pie and then saw a cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. That was my choice.

It was pretty good, creamy with the same density as the cheesecake at Junior's. I loved the crust that added another layer of deliciousness and a slight sweetness.

Of course I could not let Jodi eat alone the banana and coconut cream pie. Originally, I thought it was only a coconut cream pie and Jodi kept telling me it was with banana, I was so desperate to find something that I did not hear. When she told me, I was so happy: I love banana cream pie! 

And this one is a little piece of heaven! I loved it, even with the toasted coconut on top, although I would have preferred without. Not only did I finish the cheesecake, but had a nice piece of pie.

So, do not be surprised to see me going back soon!

Enjoy (I did)!

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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

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

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

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	* 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

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

Restaurant Information

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	* 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)!

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Restaurant Information

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	* 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

Brunch at Maialino in NYC, New York

I had Maialino on my list of restaurants to visit for a while, the restaurant being suggested by one of my colleagues Dan. We decided to move it up the list when we saw their olive oil cake and chocolate croissant bread pudding on the show Unique Sweets. We chose to go to brunch, on a Saturday. The restaurant, located in the Grammercy Park Hotel is beautiful. 

It has three distinctive areas: the bar area with a few tables and communal tables, the cafe where you can order your espresso and some viennoiseries and then the dining room that had a very warm feel, casual but elegant at the same time. In the back, a wall full of Italian wines:

Because Maialino is an Italian restaurant, another creation from Danny Meyer who already spoiled us with Gramercy Tavern,  Eleven Madison Park and Shake Shack. 

Opened in 2009, this modern trattoria proposes Roman dishes. Maialino means piggy in Italian, so no wonder why this animal is drawn on the menu as well as well represented in the dining menu crafted by Executive Chef Nick Anderer. 

We had very good service there and the waitress asked us first if we wanted to start with a beverage, mentioning that they have a nice "coffee program". Being a coffee drinker, I got interested and ended up ordering a cortado that is between a cappuccino and a macchiato.

Not only did it look beautifully done with a leaf drawn in the cream, but it was also very good.

We decided to start our brunch with Suppli al Telefono, some tomato risotto and mozzarella croquettes:

The croquettes were dense with a slight crunch and lots of mozzarella cheese in the middle.

I could have eaten them with or without the tomato sauce served with it.

Then, Jodi ordered the Frittata Bianca:

At first, it found it deliciously herbaceous, but unfortunately, some parts of the frittata had too much herbs to the point that it completely overpowered the whole dish.

On my side, I ordered the Contadino:

These are poached eggs served with herb roasted fingerling potatoes and caramelized onions.

The dish looked fantastic and I understood fairly quickly why they brought me a spoon to eat it: the eggs were very soft and the yolks runny, playing the role of some kind of sauce when eaten with the delicious potatoes that were served skin on, adding some texture to the dish. This was so good that I wished there were more, despite the fact that there was not enough caramelized onions! This is a fantastic brunch dish that I definitely recommend.

Then came the moment of dessert! Yes, we went for that and were ready to eat that bread pudding!

Unfortunately, they only serve it for dinner. Bummer! But don't worry, we found some replacements...First was the olive oil cake called Torta di Olio d’Oliva that we wanted anyway to try:

It was served with a cream made of vanilla beans and mascarpone. I admit that I did not really care about the cream: just having the cake was sufficient. You do not taste the olive oil, but it gives a nice constancy to the cake, probably replacing some, if not all, of the butter. Needless to say that we finished it.

We also shared a toffee glazed brioche bun:

It was small, too small unfortunately, because also very good!

The brioche was probably cooked on a bed of sugar that had a nice caramelization on the bottom and sides, and the toffee was sublime. I truly appreciated that it was not too sweet.

I really liked my meal at Maialino and it is definitely on my list of places to go for brunch. I will probably go back to try their dinner, but it will not just be for their bread pudding: their menu looks fantastic!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

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	* Restaurant Name
	Maialino
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Gramercy / Italian
	* Street Address
	2 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10010
	* Phone
	(212) 777-2410

Nipponista event at Maison O in Soho, NYC, New York

Last Wednesday, I was invited to Nipponista, an event organized by Tabélog US, the largest Japanese restaurant review website and hosted by Isetan, the largest department store in Japan at Maison O in Soho. The purpose is to showcase Japanese fashion, art, food, lifestyle and craftsmanship. 

The dinner, prepared for the occasion by Chef Tadashi Ono, the former executive chef of Matsuri (above) was paired with Mizubasho sake presented by Mr Shoichi Nagai (below), the chairman of Nagai Sake Inc. who made each sake presentation interesting.

He greeted us with a glass of Mizubasho Sparkling Sake:

I never had sparkling sake before and did not even know it existed! 

The evening continued with a presentation by Kanso groceries of dashi and an explanation about umami,  the fifth taste sensation after sweet, sour, bitter and salty. To show us how dashi enhances flavors, they made us taste some miso with water (left) and some miso with dashi (right).

We could definitely taste the difference, the first one being tasteless and the second one being flavorful. They proceeded to explain to us how to make it, using dried bonito:

and Hana-Kombu (kelp):

You let both elements infuse like you would make tea, et voila! 

Then, we had some amuse bouche. The first one was Dashikarikori-kan with black truffle:

And the second one Kumamoto Oysters:

They were served with ponzu ice:

Then, we go a black cod:

It was steamed with sake and served with a dash-kanten gravy. In the bottom was some daikon. This was a great dish: the fish was perfectly cooked, flaky with a delicate taste. 

It was paired with a Mizubashojunmaidai-ginjo premiere sake:

They served it in a silver cup that is suppose to give a smoother taste to the sake. 

In fact, we event tried in a regular sake glass and definitely tasted the difference.

They came a dish that I really wanted to try as soon as I read the menu: a ribeye steak with caramelized onions and a grilled rice ball:

The presentation was beautiful and this dish delicious. First of all, the ribeye was perfectly cooked medium. Then, there was this rice ball that was crunchy on the outside and not dry at all on the inside, pairing perfectly with the steak and even with the caramelized onions that added a nice sweetness to the dish.

With the steak, we had a glass of Mizubasho vintage 2004 sake:

I truly appreciated it with my steak and even ranked this sake my favorite of the evening. I admit that I never thought about drinking sake with a ribeye, going usually for a bold red wine like pinot noir.

Last was dessert. 

It was a dish composed of a coconut panna cotta with a melon compote.

This was very light and refreshing and we could definitely taste that it was made with coconut milk.

The second dessert was a Green Tea tiramisu:

This was also very good: light, it was interesting to see how green tea and coffee pair well together.

As it was a sake tasting, it was served with a dessert sake:

The packaging was beautiful and looked a bit like a perfume bottle in a way.

We had a wonderful time at Maison O, enjoying the evening with our friend Malini, The Restaurant Fairy, and talking with other bloggers, especially Chubby Chinese Girl Eats, Johnny Prime Steaks and The Cake Dealer as well as the organizers and hosts. It is always interesting to discover other cuisines, other flavors

Thanks to Tabélog, Isetan, Nagai Sake, Inc and Maison O for this great event that was covered by NHK TV:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20140213/k10015216531000.html

Enjoy (I did)!

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Quick lunch at Faces and Names in Midtown NYC

My colleagues and I were looking for a quick spot to get lunch and ended up at Faces and Names, a bar and lounge located Midtown West. This place gets its name from the multiple caricatures from Dan Springer of famous people like Miles Davis and Jeanette Lee, the Black Widow:

Or the Three Stooges:

The restaurant has several areas: the bar, the dining room and the lounge with its fireplace (you can see a painting of the Rolling Stones on the left).

In term of menu, they offer the classics: mini-burgers (apparently they are known for), wings, mini chicken tacos, shrimp cocktails...A bunch of choices perfect to eat in this kind of setting.

We sat in the bar area and picked some dishes from the bar menu. As I was going for a press dinner in the evening, I chose something light...I picked the tomato and mozzarella salad:

I could not resist and added some fried prosciutto! It definitely added some crunch to the salad that was very good, but a bit overdressed.

For dessert, they gave us what looked like a clafoutis: it was deliciously buttery and not too sweet.

This was a nice and quick lunch in a place with an interesting decor. I would definitely go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

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	* Restaurant Name
	Faces and Names
	* Overall
	☆☆☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Midtown West / American New / Burgers
	* Street Address
	159 West 54th St., New York, NY 10019
	* Phone
	212-586-9311

Crumbs Gluten Free in Greenwich Village, NYC, New York

After hearing my cousin's Jessica friend Andrew talk about how he started to eat gluten free only and the health benefits that ensue, we thought it would be a good idea to try some gluten free (GF) places. The first strike was Tu-Lu's bakery that I posted two days ago, this one being also out of curiosity considering that they opened next to Veniero's Pasticceria, one of the oldest if not the oldest Italian bakery in town, as if they wanted to challenge them. Then, Jodi remembered that we passed by Crumbs Gluten Free, a store that got converted to a full GF bakery last year. Their goodies are baked at a completely gluten and peanut-free bakery and delivered fresh daily to the store and on top of the regular cupcakes and cookies, they propose breads and quiches.

I would have gone blindfolded, I would not have known it was a GF Crumbs as the cupcakes and other brownies looked the same (meaning giant cupcakes!). 

We decided to try their milkshake cupcake:

Just reading the selection made me salivate:

Marble cake filled with vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting swirled with chocolate cream cheese frosting and edged with chocolate crunches. 

It was good, but a bit on the dry side.

We also tried the chocolate hazelnut tart:

It was delicious! The chocolate taste was fantastic with a nice hint of hazelnut and the crust was crumbly. Definitely recommended for the chocolate lovers.

Crumbs Gluten Free was surprising: not only everything looked appetizing, but it tasted good too. I would not have known it was GF, I would have never guessed!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tu-Lu's gluten free bakery in the East Village - NYC, New York

Tu-Lu's is the first Gluten free bakery I set foot in, finding it unexpectedly next to Veniero's, one of the oldest pastry shops in America. Yes, next to Veniero's, as if it was done as a sign of defiance! Gluten free, vegan...To the regular foodie, it does not sound good and probably does not taste good. But I heard so many people with gluten-intolerance, Celiac disease or just willing to cut on gluten saying that there are great places throughout the city where eating gluten free is not synonymous with eating cardboard. That is how we decided to go back to Tu-Lu's. 

This place opened in 2010 by Tully Phillips, after she was diagnosed with gluten intolerance, joined by Jennifer Goodhue in 2011, who was diagnosed in 2009 with Celiac disease. Since then they opened locations in Dallas Texas, catering to the gluten free (GF) and vegan fans. 

It is a tiny place with only few seats inside. They offer desserts and cookies such as cupcakes, brownies, donuts..., where the wheat flour has been replaced with rice or tapioca flour.

For the cupcakes, they propose regular and small size, so we decided to try few of their specialties.

First was the cinnamon sugar donut:

It was a pretty good donut, even if not the best I ever tried, with a consistency cake like rather than yeast like if I were to compare with the two kinds the Doughnut Plant proposes. I would not have known it was GF, I would not have noticed. 

A vanilla cupcake:

I liked it: the cake itself was moist and the frosting light, well proportioned with the amount of cake.

The red velvet cupcake:

I did not like it, whether it was the cake or the frosting. 

A chocolate and hazelnut cake bite:

I liked it: it was very chocolaty, moist, but did not really taste the hazelnut. Despite that, I would re-order it!

Last was the vegan chocolate chip cookie:

They propose it vegan or simply GF. In a bold move, we decided to go for vegan. I liked it: it is not at the same level than City Bakery, but let me tell you that it is a pretty decent one!

As you can imagine, I was quite surprised by what we got at Tu-Lu's: it definitely changed my mind about GF desserts and I am really amused that such bakery is right next to one of the most popular bakeries in New York. Tu-Lu's is the living proof that eating GF does not mean that you cannot satisfy these cravings that we all have! This is a good address whether you or your friends are vegan, need or want to eat GF...or not!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Tu-Lu's Gluten Free Bakery
	* Overall
	☆☆☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	East Village / American New
	* Street Address
	338 East 11th St., New York, NY 10003
	* Phone
	(212) 777-2227