Chikalicious Dessert Club in the East Village

ChikaLicious Dessert Club is an offshoot of ChikaLicious Dessert Bar, located across the street from one another. I wanted to go there after people at work mentioned it to me. I also wanted to try the Dough'Ssant, their response to the Cronut from Chef Dominique Ansel. We decided to show up early on a Saturday afternoon, thinking that there would be a large crowd. I admit that our target was the dessert bar and not the club that we did not know exist. So when we arrived and saw the doors closed until 3pm, we were a bit disappointed. Then we turned our back and saw the dessert club, empty! 

We rushed inside of this tiny place that was empty. I like when there are not too many people, so we have enough time to make up our mind about the pastries. There are not that many in fact, but enough to make us think...

We decided to first try the chocolate chip cookie:

We immediately picked it because of the large quantity of chocolate that it seemed to have and we were not disappointed. Not the best chocolate chip cookie, but a decent one.

Then, we picked the TiMo or Tiramisu Mochi:

That was fantastic: inside the mochi shell was a delicious tiramisu. I am not sure how they are making it, but it is surely successful.

Jodi could not resist ordering the coconut lychee marshmallow:

If you like coconut, this is definitely for you!

Last, was the Dough'Ssant:

As I mentioned, it is the equivalent to the Cronut, but know that it is not fried, but baked, making it, suposedly healthier...Unlike the cronut, besides the demand, they offer different flavors: plain, nutella, Meyer lemon, caramel...We decided to go for crème brûlée.

It was sublime, light, it did not have all the layers of a croissant, but was still airy. Similar to the cronut, there is some custard inside (all Dough'Ssant have a vanilla creme inside) that adds to the decadence of this pastry. I liked it, but would not put it at the same level of the cronut. I just consider it different.

Price wise, it was reasonable as we ended up paying $20 for all of these plus a double espresso and a tea. I liked it and already have my sight on what I will order on my next visit...

Enjoy (I did)!



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Wasabi Sushi and Bento, Times Square, NYC, NY

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

I was recently invited to Wasabi Sushi and Bento, the outpost of a fast casual Japanese grab and go restaurant popular in London that opened in February in Times Square. It is always exciting to try a new place, trying to find what makes them different and stand out. For sure, Japanese cuisine is fairly popular here, between the Japanese restaurants, the non Japanese restaurants serving sushi like Rue 57 or 5 Napkin Burger, the supermarket or deli offering sushi boxes to grab. I admit that I would never order sushi in a burger joint or grab a box made who knows when from a supermarket or deli. 

So let's see what Wasabi Sushi and Bento is! Before talking about food, let's talk about the place. It all started in 2003 in London, when its owner, Mr Kim, a Korean born immigrant, got the idea to  offer high quality Japanese classics for takeout at reasonable prices. He now has opened 36 locations across the UK and is branching out to the US with this first location that is of a nice size, with impressive high ceilings, white walls and floors that are immaculate, the main color standing out being the green from the stools.

In the back is the open kitchen where you can observe the crew preparing some food cooked all day long, making sure that what you eat is fresh.

At Wasabi, you can pick either sushi, salads or hot food (photo below), including soups. 

It is grab and go, that is nothing extraordinary, except for sushi: you can grab individual pieces rather than a sushi set, allowing you to compose your meal at a reasonable price.

So I decided to compose my dinner with a bit of everything:

I grabbed different pieces of sushi:

• hosomaki (thin rolls),
• nigiri (thinly sliced fish over rice),
• Maki (large rolls made with two or more fillings wrapped in rice and nori).

Here is some of what I tried:

Tuna Nigiri:

Salmon Nigiri:

Tamago Nigiri (Japanese omelet):

Crabmeat and cucumber maki:

Inari Nigiri (deep fried tofu):

Tempura Veg maki:

Avocado Hosomaki:

Cucumber Hosomaki:

This was really good, each of the pieces I tried tasted fresh (they are made that day and never served the next day). Little I know that the owner, Mr Kim, is committed to serving sustainably-sourced yellowfin tuna and salmon. 

The last sushi I tried was a first for me: it was the Chicken teriyaki onigiri, a triangle of rice tied in nori and flavored with chicken teriyaki.

I had to follow the instructions to unwrap it:

Et voila!

It was served cold and had some nori inside. Very tasty, it had a slight kick that tickled my throat.

Of course, I also had to try some hot food. First was the grilled teriyaki chicken bento box:

Chicken in a teriyaki sauce on a bed of stir-fried cabbage mix, served with rice, garnished with pickled cucumber, red ginger & sesame seeds:

If you like chicken, this is definitely to try, the meat, although smothered by teriyaki sauce was quite moist.

Next was the Chicken gyoza tanmen, a soup made with super thin rice noodles with lots of fresh vegetables in a delicious house-made broth:

It was a very good soup, made with plenty of veggies like Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, pak choi, carrot, onion or snow pea. But the star of the dish was the gyoza itself that was fantastic!

At the time we went, they did not have any more ramen, that they also serve, because they prepare their broth in advance, cooked for 8 hours, and serve it until there is no more.

Last was something sweet. I chose a Daifuku that is mochi filled with Azuki (sweetened red bean paste):

It was a delicious way to end a great discovery. Wasabi is a great way to get high quality Japanese food in the busy area that is Times Square, allowing its customers to create their own menu at very reasonable prices. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Gotham West Market - part 5/5: Court Street Grocers

The last restaurant we visited at The Gotham West Market was Court Street Grocers, an outpost of the Brooklyn food shop. Smaller than the other places there, they offer a menu composed of mouth watering sandwiches, mainly for carnivores, the vegetarian options being limited, although I have no doubt that they would accommodate. 

So we sat at the counter, overlooking the small kitchen. 

Jodi decided to order their grilled cheese sandwich. 

It was made of four different cheeses (Swiss, Pecorino, mozzarella and cheddar) and tomato mayo, squeezed between two slices of brioche bread. So, if you are a cheese lover, this is definitely good stuff! I was scared at first that it was too burnt on the outside, but in fact, it was fine. As they were generous with the quantity of cheese, it was deliciously gooey, oozing from the sandwich, like a call to be eaten. 

With the grilled cheese came a side of pickles:

On my side, I ordered the Italian combo:

It was prepared with mortadella, salami, hot copa, mozzarella, Swiss, Pecorino, arugula, red mayo, a hoagie sauce and vinaigrette. As they were out of hero bread, we went for a ciabatta. 

Not only it looked appetizing, but it was scrumptious, packed in flavors, each layer contributing to a great taste that made us regret it was not bigger. 

With our sandwiches, we simply ordered a coke and chips. 

This was very good: my favorite was the Italian combo that is definitely recommended. On top of that, the service was courteous and efficient. Definitely a good sandwich place to know. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Gotham West Market - part 4/5: The Cannibal

When I saw that Le Cannibal was at The Gotham West Market, I was definitely intrigued. I heard few times the name of the restaurant, but never went. I was wondering how this name was found, what type of food they serve, and if I had to eat my dishes Walking Dead style. So, this is an offshoot of the main restaurant located on the East side, that defines itself as meat, beer...and cycling, the name coming from a famous Belgian cyclist, Eddie Merckx, who had a prestigious career in the 60's and 70's and was nicknamed "Le Cannibal", because of his insatiable appetite for victories.

I felt reassured that I could follow the good manners my parents taught me and that we would not eat out of a large pot, simmering on an open fire. 

Similar to the different restaurants I have tried at the GWM, you can either sit at the counter or in the common area. We decided to sit at the bar, in front of the kitchen, to see how dishes were prepared. I admit that it was a good place for this, but not for the smoke coming out from their oven, sometimes profusely...

The menu is all about meat, with very few options for the vegetarians or for people who cannot find anything to order. I mention the later because it is not your regular meat there: no steaks or roasted chicken.

At best you can have some salumi, but otherwise, it is more on the creepy side or let's say unusual. They have few seafood options like the octopus terrine or the rock shrimp. Otherwise, it is pates, sausages, tartares, as well as more elaborated dishes. The most popular that we saw going out of the kitchen was the bone marrow.

It looked amazing to the point that I regretted not having ordered it. They first bake it in the oven (probably using the broiler), then put scrambled eggs and then mushrooms.

So, here is what we had:



First we ordered the pretzel (homemade):

It came with a sauce made with beer and cheddar.

The pretzel was delicious, served warm, perfect with the sauce that definitely had beer in it, from the hint of it that came through.

Then, I ordered the pig's head terrine or fromage de tête:

Yes, as its name indicates, it is made with the head of a pig, the flesh after removing the brain, eyes and ears to be precise. Eating this definitely matches the name of the place...

It you wonder what it taste like, I would say that it had a gelatinuous texture with a lighter taste than ham, a bit salty, especially with the capers that were added. It was served with a lemon butter that I did not like at all.

Then, I got the lamb and gruyere sausage:

It was served with an arugula pistou, an hibiscus-date puree, and a bulgur salad. I really liked it: the sausage was similar to a merguez sausage that I love and it had a sort of Mediterranean flair, although a bit elevated with the sweet hibiscus and date puree.

I guess you are wondering what Jodi ate there. Well, she first ordered the brussels sprouts:

They were served with some mint and ham gremolata (mix of herbs with a bit of ham). It was good, although I prefer brussels sprout a bit more cooked.

We also shared a cheese plate:

The cheeses were:

A cheddar from Indiana (Milton creamery):

A blue di buffala from Italy:

And a goat cheese from Vermont:

Fortunately, this cheese plate was on the menu so Jodi could eat! It was a nice selection that was served with bread and I admit that I used the pretzel bread also.

It was overall a nice discovery, but they definitely have a challenging menu if, as mentioned before, you prefer more common dishes. Anyway, if you really want to try with people, do not forget that it is a food court and that, while you satisfy your palate with such dishes, they can order some other delicious food in the other restaurants.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	The Cannibal
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Flatiron / American New
	* Street Address
	113 East 29th St. (bet. Park & Lexington Ave.), New York, NY 10016
	* Phone
	(212) 686-5480

The Gotham West Market - part 3/5: Genuine Roadside

At Gotham West Market, away from the hustle and bustle of the main food court is Genuine Roadside, a casual sandwich shop with its own dining area, from AvroKo Hospitality Group, who also owns Saxon+Parole and Public. Well I guess it is it's own dining area, though I witnessed a group of people sitting at one of their tables and getting some food from another restaurant (I have names!). 

The seating area is definitely comfortable, especially if you want to avoid sitting at a counter of a restaurant or hate communal tables. 

Decor wise, it is suppose to reflect a certain nostalgia, from the old photos on the walls, to the old radio and cassettes. 

They also provide games, so you can play while waiting for your order. 

Food wise, it is more for the carnivore than vegetarian, the later having very limited choices. But if you like burgers, pork, chicken or seafood, this might be your spot. 

The way it works is that you order at the counter, and they will give you a buzzer that will vibrate and light up when your food is ready. 

Our food came after a reasonable wait. 

Jodi ordered the sole vegetarian sandwich from the menu: The High Five Mushroom burger.

It is made of a marinated portobello mushroom that is grilled, topped with dill, tomato, Swiss cheese and their house sauce. It is a very good sandwich, flavorful, and you do not need to be vegetarian to appreciate it.

On my side, I ordered the buttermilk battered chicken sandwich:

I think I inhaled it: it was delicious! The chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and moist inside, it was paired with sambal mayo (sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian condiment made with chili pepper and salt) and a celery and apple slaw, giving a sweet and spicy taste. This is definitely recommended.

To counteract the spices and stay hydrated (???), I ordered a vanilla milk shake.

It was quite a good one, thick, but not to the point that when you will try to get it through the straw  it will be too hard, and not too milky, having a nice vanilla taste (they probably use vanilla syrup).

We enjoyed the food at Genuine Roadside. It is a bit on the pricy side considering the food they serve (for instance, the fries are extra, that is crazy: they could throw few fries with the sandwiches), but it might be justified by the quality if the ingredients. I would definitely go back to try some other sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Gotham West Market - Part 2/5: Tapas at El Colmado

Next stop at the Gotham West Market: El Colmado, a Spanish tapas bar. I was pretty excited to try it, because I love the opportunity to try plenty of dishes as tapas (small plates) allow you to do. 

When dining at El Colmado (spanish for "The grocer", "to celebrate the artisanal olive oils, vinegars, and preserved seafoods for which the country is famous" as they say), you can either order and sit in the common area, or sit at the bar.

We went for the latter and picked a spot in front of the kitchen, allowing us to watch them prepare dishes crafted by Chef Seamus Mullen and his team. Just looking at this and the minutiae put into the presentation, we knew we would be there for a treat. 

So we had a look at the menu that proposes a large number of plates, some small, some even smaller as you order the number of pieces you want (it is the case for deviled eggs, ham croquettes or langoustines). If you are vegetarian, there are few options. 

We decided to start with the Huevo Al Diablo or deviled eggs. 

They were not your regular deviled eggs: they contained some smoked bacalao and roasted peppers. They were really good, the taste of the mayonnaise not too pronounced, and with a nice smokiness coming through. 

The second dish was the croquetas de jamon or ham croquettes.

Ordered by piece, it was very soft and creamy inside with a crispy shell that was not greasy at all. 

After that, we got a classic: tortilla or Spanish omelet. 

I really liked it. At first, I asked for mayonnaise, but there was really no need for it, the omelet being so moist and tasty.

Then, we had to try some cheese and chose to order the Queso Fresco ahumado (means smoked) served with delicious slices of bread toasted and brushed with olive oil.

It also had guindilla and rosemary. This homemade cheese was basically ricotta, this is the kind of cheese that has a very subtle taste. It therefore needs either something herbaceous, nutty or sweet to enhance the taste, hence the perfect pairing with the toasted bread and olive oil, as well as the pieces of roasted pepper that were put on top of it. However, I did not notice any smokiness...But still, delicious.

Next was the pulpo a la plancha that is octopus served with marinated potatoes and a spicy olivada (olive spread made of olives, olive oil, spices and herbs).

I like the dish that had not only a great presentation, but also a great taste. The octopus was quite tasty and very tender. I would have just liked some more char to it. Complementing them with the soft marinated potatoes was a good idea.

The last entree was the special of the day: mustarda verde that was, in a nutshell, a salad served with fried chickpeas, raisins and some cheese similar to parmesan.

Jodi loved it. On my side, I found it good, but was not wowed by it to the point that I would order it again like the rest.

Of course, we could not leave without trying a dessert. We decided to try their torrija or French toast.

I am not sure what all the ingredients were, but it was one of the best French toast I ever had! I know: it is a bold statement, but you would try it, you would agree! The brioche bread was perfectly soaked in the custard that I believe was vanilla. They used a torch to create a fantastic sugar/caramel crust that added a nice crispiness to the dish and topped it with orange peel.

We finished our meal full and glad that we tried this place, with already plans to come back (I saw them prepare these amazing lamb meatballs...). So, definitely, El Colmado is a tapas place on top of my list.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	El Colmado
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Hell's Kitchen / Spanish
	* Street Address
	600 11th Ave., New York, NY 10036
	* Phone
	(212) 582-7948

The Gotham West Market - Part 1/5: Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop

The part of Hell's Kitchen that is on 11th avenue is clearly not the best to satisfy an appetite. Or should I say was not, since the Gotham West Market is definitely changing everything! Some say that this place was created to lure renters to the Gotham West building, but they definitely did not stop there, as people start to know this place. We went on few occasions and, on the week end, it gets crazy crowded and it is difficult to find a spot to sit. 

It is like a food court where you can either sit at the counter of the restaurant or take your food and eat it on one of the tables in the common area(s).

There, you have plenty of choices: Ivan ramen for some delicious Japanese dishes (ramen or donburi), The Cannibal for the carnivores or The Sandwich Shop for...sandwiches.

So, when we went there, we tried quite few restaurants that will be featured in the coming days posts:

Ivan Ramen:

We went to Ivan Ramen couple of time after Jodi's cousin, Jessica, recommended it. The stakes for ramen restaurants are high considering the number of places that are present in the City, some successful, others just average. Adding to that that the owner, Ivan Orkin, is not Japanese, I was definitely curious. His story is fairly interesting: originally from Long Island, he discovered Japanese culture and cuisine at age 15, when working as a dishwasher in...a Japanese restaurant. After majoring in Japanese culture and literature, he lived in Japan and opened a restaurant there, before opening the location at The Gotham West Market, perfecting his soup recipe and testing it on his Japanese wife!

The menu is fairly straight forward, with three non vegetarian ramen and two vegetarian. If soups are not your thing, they also propose rice balls calls donburi with either fish or pork, as well as curry rice with rib-eye. We decided to try their ramen.

Shio Ramen (left) - Vegetarian Shoyu (right)

You first order at the counter, give your name, and, shortly after, they will call back your name giving you your order.

Each time, Jodi went for the Vegetarian Shoyu:

It is composed of enoki mushrooms, arugula, bathed in a soy sauce and vegetable soup. 

The eggs, perfectly cooked, are add-on ($2). 

And the noodles are rye noodles. I admit that I liked it a lot, the broth being very flavorful and the noodles slightly al dente. What I also liked is that it is a pretty simple soup, combining not too many ingredients, but still tasty. 

On my side, I tried the Shio ramen:

The broth is made with sea salt, chicken and dashi broth. It has pork chashu and I added an egg also.

It was so good that I finished it, although I found that the amount of pork was very small and I should have asked for extra pork. The noodles were also rye noodles.

The last ramen I tried was the Roasted Garlic Mazemen :

It is made of chicken and dashi broth, roasted garlic, nori. I ordered it "fully loaded", meaning with extra pork chashu, an egg and roasted tomatoes ($17). 

The broth was a bit thicker and definitely saltier and very garlicky (we probably were protected from vampires for few days). I was so thirsty after eating it! Not sure I would take it again. However, the "fully loaded" formula was great: their pork chashu is delicious and the roasted tomatoes superb.

I really liked Ivan Ramen: it might not be the cheapest, but it is definitely very good.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Ivan Ramen
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Hell's Kitchen / Japanese
	* Street Address
	600 11th Avenue (Bet. 44th & 45th St), New York, NY 10036
	* Phone
	(212) 582-7942

Dinner at Left Bank in the West Village, NYC, New York

Last week, I had a fantastic dinner with my friends from Tabélog, Sachiko, Kenta and Shouhei. If you read this blog, you probably remember my encounter with Tabélog, a year ago. Tabélog is a restaurant review site with over 40 million users in Japan, expanding now in the US. Their reviews are not anonymous, leveraging bloggers and putting an emphasis on photos, that is great considering that a photo is worth a thousand words. But, what I like also is that the team loves food as much as the bloggers they meet and it is always fun to exchange experiences and good addresses.

This time, we had dinner at Left Bank, a restaurant that defined itself as "an American tavern, inspired by Greenwich Village itself, and influenced by European sensibilities". At first, I thought it referred to the rive gauche (literally left bank) in Paris, that is, beyond a location, a movement of writers, artists and philosophers like Pablo Picasso, Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine, Henri Matisse, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many others. You many not know the term rive gauche, but, if you went to Paris, you probably heard about Boulevard Saint-Germain or the Boulevard Saint-Michel.

I arrived a bit early (I hate to be late) and toured the restaurant to take some photos. What I like is that there is a bit of space between tables and they did not try to maximize the space.

When I looked around, I could definitely sense a European feel, reminding me a bit restaurants in Paris, especially La Butte Aux Cailles, where I use to live.

The menu, crafted by Chef and owner Laurence Edelman, is of a good size, offering small plates as well as just few choices per section (raw bar, appetizers, pasta, meat / poultry /fish, vegetables), made with ingredients provided by local farmers.

We decided to start with drinks. On my side, I ordered a thyme and ginger cocktail:

We then shared few appetizers / small plates. First was the chicken liver pate:

The presentation was appetizing and rustic. You may wonder what the layer around the chicken liver pate was. Well, it was butter! And I admit that it went well together. This is definitely a dish I recommend.

Then, we had the Mongolian fish dumplings:

It had a nice acidity from the lemon and were perfect for me as I do not like when the shell is too thick.

Then, we shared the lobster puffs with champagne cream:

This is definitely an elegant dish, the champagne cream pairing perfectly with the fresh cream puff, but keeping the lobster the star of the dish.

For the entrees, we started first with the homemade parpadelle, served with sunchokes and fava beans:

That was one of my favorite entrees, the pasta being succulent and the dish being hearty.

Next was the suckling pig porchetta:

It was served with English peas, thumbelina carrots, ramps. This was a very good dish: the pork was very good, with a nice amount of fat, paired with a bold sauce that did not overpower the meat.

Last entree was the iron roasted split chicken:

It was prepared with roasted shitakes, escarole and puffed wild rice. I was not a big fan of the escarole, but certainly was of the chicken that had a crispy skin, heavenly salty, and moist inside.

To stay healthy (of course), we also ordered roasted cauliflower:

I admit that I just had a bite to try, preferring to focus on the meat...

Last was dessert. We went for the olive oil cake with candied hazelnuts:

This was sublime: not the lighter dessert, but a perfect one to end a wonderful and fun evening.

Thank you to the Tabélog's team for the invite and great evening at Left Bank, a place that is now on my list of restaurants to go back to! 

Enjoy (I did)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Left Bank
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	West Village / American New
	* Street Address
	117 Perry St. (corner of Greenwich St.), New York, NY 10014
	* Phone
	212-727-1170

Parm in Nolita, NYC, New York

On a Sunday afternoon, we were walking in Nolita, looking for a place to eat when we passed in front of Parm, on Mulberry St. We were so pleased to see it that we both shouted "Paaarm!" at the same time. Yes, this place was on our wish list for a while, since we saw their baked ziti featured on the TV show Unique Eats. So, I guess at this point you know what we would order...

This place, opened in 2011, is an offshoot of Torrisi, located few steps away. It is a small place:

Bar and delivery takeout at the entrance:

Small dining room in the back:

With an open kitchen where you can see the Chef and crew prepare the dishes.

We decided to sit at the bar, overlooking a part of the kitchen, watching the magic happen.

The menu is not that large, that is understandable for such a small restaurant. Anyway, I prefer a small menu well executed rather than a large one poorly delivered. At Parm, they propose few vegetables, salads, sandwiches or this mouth watering baked ziti.

You are probably wondering what the big deal is. Well, first of all, after baking the ziti, they fry them in a pan, giving to the sides a nice crunch.

Second, there is a lot of cheese: mozzarella and ricotta.

Last there is a lot of tomato sauce, so it is not dry like baked ziti can be in some restaurants.

So, definitely, this dish is worth the trip and no wonder why our plate was empty in a matter of seconds.

We also decided to try one of their sandwiches and hesitated between the eggplant Parmesan and the meatball one. We picked the later.

We chose to go with the hero bread over the roll or plate (served with a salad or ziti).

I liked it: they used the same tomato sauce as for the ziti and put lots of mozzarella cheese, in a hero bread that was perfectly soft. The meatball itself was good and flavorful, however, I wish it was slightly burnt on the outside to give a nice crunchiness and add texture to the dish. But still, it is a good dish.

We were glad to find Parm on our way and I can't wait to go back to try their other sandwiches. Well, I can't wait to go back to eat this ziti!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Parm
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Lower East Side / Italian
	* Street Address
	248 Mulberry St. (bet. Prince & Spring St.), New York, NY 10012
	* Phone
	(212) 993-7189

Celebrating Easter with La Maison du Chocolat

Please note that the chocolate was complimentary. However, I was not obliged to post and the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

La Maison Du Chocolat proposed to send me some samples of their Easter collection, crafted by Chef Nicolas Cloiseau. I, of course, accepted, being a big fan of this establishment (great hot cocoa, pastries and chocolates). 

They sent me some chocolate eggs with the following flavors:

• Praline with crispy crepe,
• Almond praline,
• Praline hazelnut (my favorite),
• crispy praline.

There was also a milk chocolate bunny with a surprise inside: yes, some of these chocolate eggs. 

Needless to say that these chocolates did not last long...

While preparing this post, I checked the Easter collection of La Maison du Chocolat, and was amazed by the creations of Chef Nicolas Cloiseau, such as the atelier:

Courtesy La Maison Du chocolat

It looks incredible and I do not see how one could eat that! Well, ok, it is good chocolate: I would eat that! I just wish it was always Easter...Although I do not need any reason to go to there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Fortunato Brothers, Italian Bakery in Williamburg, Brooklyn, NY

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

 

Continuing my discovery of Brooklyn, I gladly accepted the invite I received from Fortunato Brothers Bakery in Williamsbug, an all Italian bakery that opened in 1976. Family business for sure, the establishment's name reflecting the association of three brothers from Naples, Michele, Mario and Sal. Today, they transmitted their passion to their sons, Biagio and Biagio, as well as Frank, another member of the family, and another Biagio! I admit that I met with Biagio, but I have no clue which one!!!

So, as we approached the bakery, we could not miss the delicious smell coming from it, as well as the small Fiat cars in front if it. 

The shop is fairly big, with a seating area on the side that is perfect to enjoy an Italian espresso, a homemade gelato (they have twenty different flavors, my favorite being nocciola or hazelnut), or a cake. 

But of course, the best part was the display, where we could salivate in front of the large choice of cakes and cookies:

As we were close to Easter, they had plenty of items prepared especially for the occasion, some sweet:

and some savory, such as the meat pie that we tasted. 

It was a delicious combination of ham and ricotta wrapped in a crumbly dough. 

So we sat in the seating area, waiting for our tasting, when we noticed a cat sitting (or shall I say sleeping) next to our table.

His name is Rocco: he is the bakery's owners cat and you might see him either sleeping, walking around, or coming to you to get pet or to play. 

Biagio served us a combination of pastries that were mouth watering. Small size though, when possible. I have to say that I love when bakeries offer pastries in a smaller size, as it allows us to try several.

The first I tried was the baba au rum.

It was fantastic: soaked in rum and light. 

There was also a Napoleon:

Similar to the French mille-feuilles, I was glad to see that it had icing and not sugar on top (the best part) and crème pâtissière inside.

The only problem: too small: it was so good that I would have eaten several of them!

Next was the Sfogliatelle (Italian for small, thin leaves/layers):

What is interesting about this pastry is the multiple layers that wrap around a filling made of ricotta, almond flour and candied fruits.

I liked it, but admit that, with a similar dough, I preferred the lobster tail:

It is bigger, but lighter.

In fact, this pastry was invented by Italian-Americans in the 1900s. So, the same dough, but, inside, the filling is made of a cream similar to whipped cream.

Then we got a cream puff that was glazed with a thick layer of dark chocolate.

Inside was a vanilla custard that was delicious and had a perfect consistency.

Following was a classic: cannoli.

It was very good: the ricotta filling was fantastic, not too sweet, and the shell tasted fresh and was crispy. It was my second favorite after the baba.

Last was a cookie called Deliciosa.

It was made with a moca cream. I admit that, although I love coffee, I did not like it.

These pastries could not be eaten without a shot of Italian espresso.

You may think that it was it, but it was not: Biagio proposed to bring home whatever we wanted to try. As Jodi put it, it was like bringing a vampire to a blood bank...

So I went in front of the display and simply (?) asked for some Italian cookies.

So our visit was followed by a cookie tasting.

Here is what we tried:

Rainbow cookies:

Pignoli:

With the equivalent made with pistachio:

Biscotti:

And various cookies.

My favorite were the rainbow cookies and pignoli, maybe because I love any cookie or pastry made with almonds.

So, Fortunato Brothers was definitely a nice discovery of an Italian bakery that seems to stay true to itself, serving customers with traditional Italian specialties, all homemade. Not to mention not too sweet, allowing me to try all of these without falling into a sugar coma!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Fortunato Brothers Cafe
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Williamsburg / Italian
	* Street Address
	289 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
	* Phone
	(718) 387-2281

Tapas at Tia Pol in Chelsea, NYC, NY

What I love about tapas is the concept: small plates perfect to have with a drink (or two) or to share with others, as well as how comforting some of these dishes can be. So, we went to open table to try to find a tapas place and noticed Tia Pol, conveniently located next to the High Line, where we took a walk to digest...

Tia Pol was opened by Heather Belz and Mani Dawes in July 2004, to celebrate the Spanish cuisine that the owners experienced few years before, when living or traveling to Spain. The name itself comes from a cat Mani Dawes befriended back then. 

This is an exiguous place, a hole in the wall, that feels warm and unpretentious, more like your neighborhood joint.

In the back is a larger room that is either used when there is an overflow of customers in the main part of the restaurant or for private parties.

Besides tapas, the menu offers different large plates for lunch, brunch and dinner. But we were there for tapas. They have a nice choice, mainly with either meat or fish. So if you do not eat any, your choice will be limited, a pattern pretty common in such place.

We started off with a cheese platter:

It was composed of manchego cheese:

A goat cheese:

The last one, I missed the name...

They were served with some walnut and raisin bread.

Then we got the croquetas de jamón or ham croquettes:

We had the choice to order the small or larger serving. We chose the smaller one.

This was delicious: the outside was crispy and not greasy and the inside soft with a nice smokiness and saltiness from the ham.

Then, we ordered the tortilla española or Spanish omelet.

It was very good and I did not even need the mayonnaise with it as it was tasty and moist. 

The next dish was huevos rellenos al pimentón de la vera or deviled eggs with smoked paprika.

Slightly spicy, I truly appreciated the fact that the taste of mayonnaise was not too pronounced.

After that was the crema de hígado de pollo or chicken liver mousse:

As Jodi does not like chicken liver, I ordered the smaller portion. Served on a toasted bread, it was drizzled with some sort of sauce made with Pedro Ximénez, a white Spanish wine grape, that added a nice sweetness to the dish. I really liked this dish. 

The last tapas was the pinchos mourns or lamb skewers:

The smaller portion included two skewers made of cubed lamb cooked with moorish spices (mix of several spices such as cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne pepper...). That was a succulent dish, the lamb being perfectly cooked and the spices giving a very flavorful taste to it. I regretted at this point not having ordered the larger portion!

Of course, we could not leave without dessert to accompany my espresso and Jodi's tea...

And we picked the churros:

Churros are Spanish fried-dough pastries, sometimes referred as Spanish doughnuts. This is a very addictive dessert or snack (like any fried stuff, no?). They were served with some melted chocolate. I think that they disappeared from the table in couple of minutes...I definitely recommend them.

We had a fantastic lunch at Tia Pol: the food was very good and prices reasonable. I really like the fact that, for some dishes, they propose smaller portions, allowing us to try multiple dishes. If you are looking for a tapas place, I highly recommend this one.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Tia Pol
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Chelsea / Spanish
	* Street Address
	205 10th Ave., New York, NY 10011
	* Phone
	(212) 675-8805

Ben's Kosher Delicatessen in NYC, New York

I love delicatessen food and New York has quite few good places like Junior's or Second Avenue Deli, without forgetting the world renown Katz's (world renown for the movie When Harry Met Sally rather than for the food). So, I noticed Ben's deli on my way back from Bonchon Chicken and we decided to try that place. 

Interesting decor to say the least, resembling more to a place coming straight out of a comic book rather than a traditional deli with all these flashy colors. 

It started well: when the hostess sat us at a booth, she got yelled at by the waiter who told her in a nasty way that he had enough work. Not very professional for sure. So she apologized and sat us in a different section where at least the waiter was nice, but I hadn't that the service was overall slow. 

As we were looking at the menu, they brought us some pickles:

And some coleslaw. 

I love that and it was good that we got it because it took a while for our order to be taken. The good also took some time to come. Then, finally! 

Jodi ordered two dishes: the matzoh ball soup.

And the knish. 

Both were subpar compared to what you can eat in other restaurants. The soup lacked flavor and the outside of the knish was a bit tough. The inside however was delicious. 

On my side, I could not resist ordering the pastrami burger. 

It was a beef patty with some pastrami on top between a toasted challah bread. 

It was served with homemade fries that were skin on. The fries were unevenly cooked. However, the burger was pretty decent, the meat being cooked as ordered (medium) and it was juicy. The pastrami however was a bit tough because thin and overcooked. Not sure it was of the best quality anyway, but for sure a heart attack on a plate that I ate with Russian dressing...

This was definitely a disappointing dinner and clearly Ben's Kosher Delicatessen does not measure up with Junior's, Second Avenue Deli or Katz's.

Enjoy (...)!

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Doughnuts from Dough in Brooklyn

One of my colleagues, Jason, brought some doughnuts one day for breakfast. They were from Dough, a doughnuttery located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. With all the doughnut places in New York, I was curious to see what would set Dough apart. On top of that, I am a huge fan of the Doughnut Plant, so my expectation was very high. 

At first, you cannot miss the size of these doughnut that are fairly big, the size of a bagel. They are yeast doughnuts, as opposed to cake doughnuts. 

Although large, they were soft, chewy, airy and fluffy, not too heavy. And yes, I tried all of them...

Here is what we had:

Hibiscus doughnut:

Coconut doughnuts:

Glazed doughnuts:

Chocolate doughnuts:

Cafe au lait doughnuts:

I was curious what the hibiscus doughnut would taste like, not that I never tried hibiscus before (I had a hibiscus lemonade once at Angelica Kitchen). Do not imagine a flowery taste: it had a nice sweetness and I would not have known it was hibiscus, I would probably think it was food coloring...

The chocolate doughnut was delicious too and would satisfy any chocolate lover, the icing being very chocolate-y. But my favorite was the cafe au lair one that had some crumble as well as nuts, adding some nice texture to it.

I liked the doughnuts at Dough, not only because they taste good, but also because of their originality. However, they would had some filling, it would make them seriously compete with the doughnut plant.

Enjoy (I did)!



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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Dough
	* Overall
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Bedford-Stuyvesant / American Traditional / Desserts
	* Street Address
	305 Franklin Ave. (At Lafayette Ave.), Brooklyn, NY 11205
	* Phone
	(347) 533-7544

Da Marcella Taverna in Greenwich Village, NYC, New York

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was served with some bread soldiers. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The tiramisu:

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

The ricotta cheesecake.

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

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

Brunch at Distilled in Tribeca, NYC, New York

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

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

On the left is the main dining room.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then came the long awaited fried country duck and waffle:

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

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

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

Enjoy (...)!



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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

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

Hot Dog Pizza at Ribalta in NYC, New York

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then came the hot dog pizza:

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hogar Dulce Hogar, a Basque Bakery in Soho

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

or the plants on each table:

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

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

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

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

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

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

A little more detail:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Think about it as a sweet version of a quiche.

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

We then tried the Santiago Almond Cake:

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

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

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

We tried the following:

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

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

Brunch at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Chopsticks at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Dining room at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Kitchen at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Momofuku Noodle Bar

and this place.

Steamed Pork Buns at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

The second dish was the kimchi deviled eggs.

Kimchi Deviled eggs at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Then, we shared the edwards ham and egg sandwich:

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

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

chicharron at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

This is another recommended dish.

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

grilled duck hearts at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

grilled duck hearts at Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village

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

Craftbar

last year. 

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

Brunch at Tartinery in Nolita, NYC, New York

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But an espresso was also welcome.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jen and I each ordered the Croque Monsieur:

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (...)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!