I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19

Los Angeles: The Highlight Room

On Christmas Day, for lunch, we decided to go at The Highlight Room, the rooftop and poolside restaurant of the Dreams Hotel on Selma Avenue.

It was a beautiful day, but a bit windy and cold, so we were not surprised not to see anybody swimming. At least, we could enjoy some of the views of Los Angeles, with, on one side, the Hollywood sign that has a certain magic.

On Christmas Day, for lunch, we decided to go at The Highlight Room, the rooftop and poolside restaurant of the Dreams Hotel on Selma Avenue.

Swimming pool at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

View from The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

We started our brunch with some virgin cocktails: the 360 for Jodi, made with a cold pressed grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, lemon lime soda and basil. On my side, the Top Floor, made with cold pressed watermelon juice, fresh mint and cold pressed lime juice. Both were very good, quite refreshing.

360 cocktail at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

Top floor cocktail at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

We then shared the house salt’n vinegar chips that came with a caramelized onion dip. The chips were good, not too vinegary, but unfortunately a large part was crushed, making it difficult to eat with the delicious dip. Still, it was a nice appetizer.

Salt’n vinegar chips at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi went for the strawberry field salad, composed of spinach, strawberries, 7 grains croutons, almond, feta, and added a side of avocado.

Strawberry field salad at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

I ordered the lobster toast that was made of a poached Maine lobster, heirloom tomato, tarragon and avocado on a slice of sourdough bread. This was delicious, the kind of brunch dish I love to eat. The lobster was perfectly cooked and there was a lot of it. However, the sourdough bread was a bit hard to cut through...They should probably replace it with a brioche bread, making this dish like an open face lobster roll. Still this was pretty good.

Lobster toast at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

Last was dessert. We could not leave without trying their olive oil cake that was served with brûlée figs and a lemon chantilly. This was delicious: moist, the top was brûlée. This is a must have!

Olive oil cake at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

This was a nice brunch with beautiful views of the city. The Highlight Room is the kind of place to go to enjoy a quiet time, a good break from the craziness of Hollywood Boulevard...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

The Highlight Room -6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19

Los Angeles: République

Housed in a stunning place, République was our choice for Christmas Eve dinner. Awarded a coveted Michelin Star, this place is incredible. Built in 1929, this building was Charlie Chaplin’s office before he lost it to one of his wives during a divorce proceeding. With its very high ceiling and stone walls, it is like entering into a church where the angels of food would sing: yes, with its three kitchens, this place serves a fantastic food. The owners, Walter and Margarita Manzke, have succeeded in creating a unique experience, with dishes that change on a regular basis, based on what they find at the market.

Dining room at République in Los Angeles

Although they have a dining room in the back with individual tables, the concept is to eat at communal tables, a way of sharing an experience with your immediate neighbors who are hopefully not annoying...We got lucky as we sat next to a couple who loves food and in fact, the wife, Karis, is also a food blogger. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I decided to try their Eggnog, perfect for the season. It was made with rum, cognac, coconut cream and egg. I loved it but this is the kind of drink that is dangerous as you drink it like milk...

We then got their bread that was a succulent baguette that they make in their bakery, served with some salted butter from Normandy, France (Rodolphe Le Meunier). That bread was amazing and was like traveling to France: the thin crust was deliciously crispy. I definitely recommend it: it is worth paying $8.

Bread and butter at République in Los Angeles

The first appetizer was the potato and leek beignets, filled with gruyère and served with a dijonnaise sauce. That was a very good start: these little balls were slightly crispy on the outside and very cheesy inside.

Potato and leek beignets at République in Los Angeles

The second appetizer was the Hudson Valley foie gras, a sautéed foie gras served with a roasted pineapple that gave a nice sweetness that counterbalanced well the fattiness of the liver. It was a delicious dish, but I admit that it was pricey considering how small the foie gras was.

Hudson Valley foie gras at République in Los Angeles

Roasted pineapple at République in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi ordered the butternut squash agnolotti, some perfectly made ravioli filled with butternut squash, served with brown butter and Parmesan. This was a great dish: the ravioli had a nice sweetness from the squash that paired well with the brown butter and the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese.

Butternut squash agnolotti at République in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for the duck breast that was cooked as ordered, medium rare, with a delightfully crispy skin that was slightly fatty. The duck breast was sitting on steel cut oats, accompanied by roasted baby beets and a sour cherry-peppercorn sauce. I never had roasted beets with duck, but I admit that all of these elements went well together. I definitely recommend this dish.

Duck breast at République in Los Angeles

Last was dessert. We ordered the almond brown butter cake and, because it took some time to be served, they graciously offered us some house made sorbets: pear (my favorite that is unfortunately not often proposed) and lemon. Both were fantastic, creamy and fruity.

The almond cake was worth the wait: served with berries and an earl grey ice cream, it was phenomenal. Buttery, the outside of the cake were slightly crunchy. This is a must have.

Almond cake at République in Los Angeles

Overall, we had a great time at République: no wonder why this place is one of the popular spots in Los Angeles: the food was delicious and the service on point. I should mention that they add 4% charge to the bill to pay for the staff medical coverage; a charge I do not mind paying.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

République- 624 South La Brea Avenue, La Brea, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19

Los Angeles: Dim sum brunch at 189 by Dominique Ansel

Located at The Grove, at the number 189, 189 by Dominique Ansel is an incredible place, that you can recognize with its yellow awning and umbrellas. The bakery is downstairs while the dining room is upstairs, with a terrace where we sat, the weather in LA being gorgeous. What we did not know is they they serve a special brunch, truly unique as it is served “dim sum” style: they pass around small dishes and, if you take some, they stamp your ticket; at the end of the meal, they calculate the bill based on what you ate. I think it is great because it has this excitement when you see these dishes coming and you can try a lot of different ones. The downside is that it can be pricey if you cannot resist...

Dining room at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Ticket at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Here is what we had:

Buttermilk biscuits:

Lox with dill and capers (it is their house cured lox):

Lox at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

DIY lobster rolls: tail and claw meat served with a confit lemon aioli, old bay, espelette and served with two potato rolls (mini):

DIY lobster roll at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Avocado and cucumber salad, served with burrata:

Avocado and cucumber salad at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Dutch baby pancake with a yuzu curd (made to order, it was one of my favorites):

Dutch baby pancake at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Ducth baby pancake at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

DKA or Dominique ‘s Kouign Amann, a croissant dough with much more butter that is usually a favorite when going to Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC. Unfortunately, I did not find it as good, as the bottom was not caramelized.

DKA at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

We also had the starter kit that was, for $10, some fantastic soft scrambled eggs (quite creamy), with a tea for Jodi and an orange juice for me.

Scrambled eggs at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Last we’re the cronut holes that were filled with cranberry jam and a chocolate ganache. Cronuts are what made Dominique Ansel known: these half croissant, half donuts pastries are superb and showcase the creativity of the Chef.

Cronut holes at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

We left amazed by the food and the concept of 189 by Dominique Ansel. Chef Ansel is so creative that we cannot resist visiting his bakeries or restaurant wherever we go (last time was in Tokyo). I definitely recommend the brunch there that I am sure will be copied...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

189 by Dominique Ansel - 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19

Los Angeles: Mexican food at El Coyote

On our first day in Los Angeles, we decided to go to El Coyote, an institution serving Mexican cuisine since 1931. This place is like a maze with multiple rooms and I was glad we did not have to wait for a table, arriving probably right before the rush.

The food looks like your classic Mexican restaurant, but it would definitely satisfy your tastebuds. Here is what we had:

I started off with a pear margarita:

Pear margarita at El Coyote in Los Angeles

And of course we tried their guacamole that is not made to order but freshly made as the day goes by, probably because of the frequency of diners. Very good, well seasoned, it had chunks of avocado, making it perfect.

Jodi had the cheese enchilada that was served with rice and beans. Delicious.

Cheese enchilada at El Coyote in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for the fish tacos (2), a white fish served with cabbage (too much of it), pico de Gallo and their Mexican cream sauce. Very good, it was a bit messy to eat by hand, but was not the best fish tacos I ever had (I miss The Taco Truck in Hoboken that had the best fish taco ever). I was expecting the fish to be a bit more breaded than that, adding some crunch to the whole thing. Nevertheless, it was good.

Both of our dishes were served with yellow rice and retried beans that were divine: the yellow rice was not like the dry rice you often get and could stand on its own. And the refried beans, smothered with cheese, were superb. This is a side that I definitely recommend.

Rice and beans at El Coyote in Los Angeles

For dessert, we got their flan that was quite good. Too bad they did not put real whipped cream. The presentation looked like we had the end of the can...

Anyway, we had a great dinner there and I am glad we got to try this old school Mexican place. If you go to LA, make sure you go to El Coyote: if not for the food, for its history.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

El Coyote - 7312 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/19

Los Angeles: a day trip and the Original Farmers Market

It has been a while since we wanted to go to LA and finally decided to go for the Holidays, taking advantage of a warmer weather. The first day there, we booked a tour, like we often do, allowing us to see parts of the city we might not have seen on our own. I admit that we were also looking to see if there were celebrities around, and ended up seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger on his bike in Venice, the first area we visited. We walked around the beach, with the skate park, graffiti walls and market.

We then walk few minutes on Rodeo Drive, followed by a quick drive by Beverly Hills before stopping at the Original LA Farmers Market that is a giant food court a bit overwhelming for me as I would eat in each and every stall...

We walked a little bit, not knowing what to get and finally settled for Nonna’s Empanadas, as they had few vegetarian choices for Jodi. Here is what we had:

Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The mushroom empanada made with portobello mushroom, mozzarella, feta and onions. This was full of cheese but without overpowering the mushrooms. This is the perfect dish for mushroom lovers.

Mushroom empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The Mac and cheese empanada, that was good but could have been creamier.

Mac and cheese empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The beef empanada that was delicious. Made with beef, olives, red pepper, egg and onion, it was quite juicy and flavorful. I did not even need the Chimichurri sauce they gave.

Beef empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Last was the Nutella empanada that was also made with Oreo cookies. I admit that I was expecting better. It was a bit dry on the outside and only started to be interesting in the center, where you could really taste the Nutella. I would pass next time...

Nutella empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Next stop in the market was Fritzi Coop, a place that is for chicken lovers, serving fried or rotisserie chicken. I went for the stinger, their classic fried chicken sandwich, smothered with a buffalo sauce, and sitting on blue cheese dressed greens. This was superb: the chicken (dark meat) was moist and crispy, and the buffalo sauce delightfully spicy (they have a hot version of this sandwich and I cannot imagine how spicy it must be). The sandwich was really good but a bit messy to eat, falling apart at some point.

Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The stinger from Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The last stop was donuts at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts.

Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Jodi went for the coconut one, a cake donut that we did not like, being dry and tasteless. However, mine, the Long John, that is...long with chocolate icing on top and a vanilla custard inside was very good: light (right), the vanilla custard was very well made and the doughnut itself soft. I definitely recommend it.

Coconut donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The Long John donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

We left the market full and drove to Griffith Park with its observatory that we saw in many movies getting an exclusive view of the Hollywood Sign.

The last stop was Hollywood Boulevard and its stars. Mine is not there yet, but who knows...Although it was very crowded, it was great to see stars from known artists. Same goes for the Chinese Theater and its hand and shoe prints in cement.

Jack Nicholson’s star on Holliwood Boulevard

Chinese Theater - Steve Mac Queen hands and shoes print in cement

That was a great day, but not the end as dinner was coming and we had a good plan...Stay tuned!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

The original Farmers Market - 6333 W.3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/19

Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

You are probably wondering what I was doing in Hackensack? Well, we did not go for food but to see the solo show of one of our friends, Amy. So, as we were there, we looked at restaurants nearby and, that day, I was more inclined to have Thai food as it has been a while since we did not have any.

That is how we found Bangkok Garden. Quite big, it filled up as we dined there, a good sign. Food wise, there was not much of a surprise besides the fact that they brought these chips that I believe have shrimp in it (translation: this was all for me). When I was a kid, my mom used to buy them and fry them for apéritif, under our eyes, mesmerized by the shape and color these chips took when dipped in hot oil.

Chips at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

I had them with my favorite Thai drink: a Thai iced tea that was perfectly made.

Thai iced tea at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

For our appetizer, we did not have much choices of vegetarian dishes so we settled for the vegetarian curry puff, a flaky puff pastry shaped like an empanada, filled with carrot, corn, onion, potato and curry, and served with a cucumber salad. This was a good start. The puff were delicious, slightly crispy and the filling very flavorful without an overpowering curry taste.

Vegetarian curry puffs at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

For her main dish, Jodi had more choices fortunately and picked the Pad tofu, a dish composed of sautéed tofu, carrot, scallion, bean sprouts and celery. Served with rice, it was quite good, especially the tofu that was tasty.

pad tofu at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

On my side, I chose the chicken curry massaman. Ordered mild, it had a slight kick that started to build up. I loved it!

Chicken massaman at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

Last was dessert. We could not resist their ripe mango over sweet rice. I was afraid that the mango was not ripe enough but this quickly faded after the first bite that was divine. This is a dessert I highly recommend.

Mango over sweet rice at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

We left glad we found Bangkok Garden. This is a great place if you are in the area and are looking for a good restaurant or, like me, craving Thai food!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Bangkok Garden - 221 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

I Just Want To Eat! 1/16/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/16/19

Natsumi in Times Square

I discovered Natsumi few years ago and we decided to go back to this Japanese-Italian fusion spot created by Barbara Mutsumura and Chef Haru Konagaya, formerly of Haru restaurants. The location is not ideal because very touristy and you could see lots of patrons were having dinner there before a show. We sat in their small dining room, adjacent to the bar and had a nice dinner there composed of the following dishes:

Well before I talk about food, I should mention the nice selection of sake. I tried their Otokomaya Junmai, a dry sake with a rich flavor.

Otokomaya Junmai sake at Natsumi in Times Square

The first appetizer was the nasu age tofu, that is lightly fried tofu with eggplant, ginger, bonito, sitting in a delicious and flavorful dashi broth.

Nasu age tofu at Natsumi in Times Square

The second appetizer is where the Japanese-Italian fusion appears: it was the tofu ravioli served with shiitake mushrooms and a Parmesan cream sauce. Rich, it was not boring at all and I could see this dish being served as an entree.

Then, Jodi got some shiitake avocado roll that was quite good, the avocado being ripe and therefore adding some fattiness to it, pairing perfectly with the mushrooms.

Shiitake avocado roll at Natsumi in Times Square

And on my side, the eel avocado that was superb. I love the taste of eel that is quite strong without being fishy.

Eel avocado roll at Natsumi in Times Square

Eel and avocado roll at Natsumi in Times Square

Last was dessert. We hesitated between their tempura cheesecake and the banana spring rolls and chose the latter. The deep fried rolls were served with a chocolate sauce. It was the perfect way to end the meal: the banana was sweet and the spring rolls nicely crispy without being greasy. Very comforting.

I was a great dinner. Natsumi is a nice restaurant with interesting dishes that I will for sure try next time and a nice selection of vegetarian dishes. I definitely recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Natsumi - 226 West 50th Street, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 1/14/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/14/19

Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Usually, when Jodi has dinner plans, I take this opportunity to try chicken places as, often, they do not have many options for vegetarians. So, last Thursday, as she was having dinner with her cousin Jessica at The Little Beet, I went to Crispy Chicken Kitchen with my friend David. In fact I was looking for a place called Unidentified Flying Chicken, a play on UFO, and later learned that they recently changed their name to Korean Crispy Chicken. Serving Korean fried chicken (double fried, yum!), it is an interesting place for sure, not that big, with the more striking element in the dining room being the self serve beer on tap. The way it works? A TV screen displays the 16 different beers they propose with their origin. Once you chose the beer you want, you press the name on the beer you want on the little screen that is above the tap, put the RFID card they gave you, choose a glass, incline it to 45 degrees and pour as much as you want as they will calculate the price based on how many ounces you get. Fun as you can create your own flight, but not so easy to pour without having too much beer head. Fortunately, they helped us, but it made me realize that I probably should not quit my job to be a bartender...I decided to go for a Korean beer, the Hitejinro Hite, the other beers being American.

Self serving beer at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Beer card at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Beer on tap menu at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Beer on tap at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Hitejinro Hite beer at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

We started otherwise our dinner with a fried chicken combo composed of 6 wings and 3 drumsticks aka the medium combo (you can get a smaller combo with 4 wings and 2 drumsticks up to the XL that is 16 and 8). We then had to pick one or two sauces that would smother the chicken: we ditched the hot sauce and went for the soy and garlic, as well as the sweet and spicy that was not really medium spicy as advertised. The double fried chicken was delicious: very crunchy on the outside and perfectly cooked inside, the chicken being moist. Both sauces were good but my favorite was the soy and garlic.

Fried chicken at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Next was the Crispy Chicken burger, made with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and aioli. The rustic presentation made it very appetizing and I have to admit that it is one of the best I had: when you bite, you get the slight sweetness of the soft bun, then the veggies and sauce until you feel the crunchy chicken that was succulent. Yes, it was very crispy and not soggy and there was a nice portion of chicken. I definitely recommend it.

Crispy chicken burger at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

We had a good time and great food at Crispy Chicken Kitchen. The fried chicken is very good and the chicken burger fantastic. If i had to compare it to others, i put on top Turntable Chicken Jazz or Hell’s Chicken, a gluten free Korean fried chicken restaurant and, for the crispy chicken burger, OPPA. But definitely I would go back to Crispy Chicken Kitchen and recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Crispy Chicken Kitchen- 528 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 1/11/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/11/19

Dinner at Green Fig in the Yotel Hotel

Located inside the Yotel Hotel, few blogs from Times Square, Green Fig serves, since 2016, modern Israeli cuisine with influences from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, with a menu crafted by Chef de cuisine Yuval Litmanovich that had nice options for vegetarians. For sure the decor looks like an hotel restaurant that is surprising considering how Yotel is and we had the misfortune to go there while part of the dining room seemed to have been reserved for an office Holiday party (nice ugly sweaters though...): it was noisy and the poor staff seemed to be overwhelmed, sometimes asking help from the front of the house that did not seem to care much. Result: wait time to get our order (although we had a reservation, our table was not ready until after 10 minutes), have to ask again for water, and wait time between dishes, to the point that I asked for the check while getting our dessert. Too bad because I enjoyed the food, even if I think that it is overpriced. Here is what we had:

Dining room at Green Fig in the Yotl Hotel

I started with a cocktail that I thought would have more flavor. It was their Big Apple, made with bourbon, apple brandy and maple cinnamon syrup. For $15 they could probably use something better than Old Crow whiskey!!!

Big apple cocktail at Green Fig in the Yotl Hotel

At least the appetizers made me forget the wait and the tepid drink. The first one was the fried cauliflower, served with tahini, preserved lemon, almond and fresh mint aioli. When I read the word “fried”, I was imagining something crispy like the fried broccoli at Dirt Candy, but it was not the case. Not a problem because it was delicious, full of flavor for a vegetable that I hated when cooked as a kid.

Fried cauliflower at Green Fig in the Yotl Hotel

The second appetizer was the mezze, composed of hummus, tahini, charred eggplant and labneh (yogurt). Served with a very good pita, I enjoyed every single bite at the exception of the tahini that was too liquid and impossible to eat as a dip. The others were superb, especially the eggplant that had a nice smokey taste.

For her entree, Jodi had the bucatini melanzane. The thick pasta, homemade, was accompanied by eggplant and a tomato sauce. But too little of both and I found it a bit dry. I would pass on that one...

Bucatini Melanzane at Green Fig in the Yotl Hotel

For me, not surprisingly, I went for the “Ha’Carmel” market kebab, that is three lamb and beef kebab served with hummus, tahini and a salad. This was superb, the meat being perfectly cooked, not dry , with the bold taste of lamb coming through. I loved the fact that they served it with hummus and tahini that were very good mixed with the meat.

Last was dessert and we could not resist their Moroccan donuts that were seated on top of salted toffee (there could have been more). These donuts were delightfully chewy and I loved the presentation that was kind of rustic. This is definitely a crowd pleaser.

Moroccan donuts at Green Fig in the Yotl Hotel

So, overall we had a good meal at Green Fig, despite the issues with the service. The food is quite good there but a bit overpriced. Would I go back? Maybe. I admit that for Middle Eastern cuisine, Byblos remains my favorite.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Green Fig - 570 10th Avenue, New York City, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/9/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/9/19

Neapolitan pizza at Levante in LIC

Did Luzzo’s meet its match ? Well maybe: I always considered Luzzo’s as the best pizza in the city, Neapolitan I mean. And the Luzzo’s family of restaurants growing is always exciting. I discovered their new venture in Long Island City few weeks ago, not realizing that few blocks from there sits another Neapolitan pizzeria, Levante. We found it as our first dining plan fell through and this is the kind of find that is very fortunate, the food being delicious there.

It was a Thursday evening and we did not have a reservation. Fortunately we got a table, because few minutes later, the restaurant is was packed. And we were right next to the back, where their wood fire oven is, a sight that is always mesmerizing for me: looking at the pizza cooking there, being turned so it would cook evenly and seeing the charred bubbles on the dough form. If I remember, for the dough, they make a special blend of flour that they let rise for more than 3 days. Pizza is a must have at Levante; we tried their 4 cheese or Quattro Formaggio, made with mozzarella, parmigiano, ricotta and Gorgonzola. When it came to the table, it looked beautiful and the first bite was divine: the crust was slightly crunchy, with a nice char, and there was lots of cheese.

We also tried their arancini that were made with 4 cheeses. I also recommend this if you love cheese: these little crispy cheesy balls are fantastic and very addictive.

Then, I could not not order their octopus (polio), that was served with a polenta cake. That octopus was superb, perfectly cooked.

With that, I got a classic Italian cocktail, an Aperol Spritz.

Of course, we did not leave without trying their dessert and chose the Nutella zeppole. As jodi does not like Nutella, they graciously agreed to make 2 with Nutella and 2 without, adding 1 zeppole to their usual serving of 3. Shaped like hearts and thinner than the version you usually get, they were delicious and had lots of Nutella in it. I mean, a lot!

So, overall, the meal at Levante was very, very good and I would put it second to Luzzo’s on my list of best Neapolitan pizza places. I definitely recommend it and would for sure go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Levante - 26-21 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/7/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/7/19

Burgers at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

When people visit from France, there are few things I tell them they must get: steak, burger and BBQ among others. So, after a fantastic steak at Chimichurri Grill West on the Tuesday, burger it was on Wednesday with my colleague Cyrille. And what a burger! The place of choice was Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea, located next to the Hilton. It has definitely the feel of a hotel restaurant but the food sets it apart.

Dining room at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

Strangely and although we had a reservation, they told us they were quite busy and had no tables yet in their dining room so they proposed to sit in the bar area, on the high tables. The area was fine and in fact quieter, overlooking the dining room where we could distinctly see empty tables. It was probably a way to get that area filled. Anyway, besides that, the service was courteous and efficient, so I did not mind.

Food wise, Rare Bar and Grill is known for their burgers, from classic to original. The most uncommon being the ones with whisky that we tried, accompanied with a glass from their large selection of whisky (scotch, bourbon, rye, you name it). Cyrille went with a Balvenie 12 yr and I picked an Orban 14yr over a MacCallan.

Orban 14 y/o whiskey at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

Then came the burgers. Cyrille chose the Jameson Black Barrel burger, an 8 ounces patty made of ribeye flambéed in Jameson Black Barrel select reserve atop an aged whiskey slaw and smothered with Irish cheddar.

Jameson black barrel burger at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

On my side, the M&M burger, that had nothing to do with the candy, was a their classic patty (house blend) flambéed in whiskey, topped with caramelized shallots, cheddar cheese and apple smoked bacon.

M&M burger at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

Both burgers looks fantastic and very appetizing, mine looking like a heart attack on a plate with all the bacon on top. And the first bite was divine: the burger was very juicy and tasted like meat, not like some burgers where the taste is overpowered by seasoning. Each bite was like being in heaven: I asked for the patty to be cooked medium rare and they surely know how to do it.

With the burgers we shared fries that were enough to share as the burgers were quite filling and we wanted dessert...

French fries at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

For dessert, we tried their fried Oreo Sunday and their cheesecake, both homemade and good, but I admit that I preferred the former. Not that the cheesecake was not good, but after you have tried Junior’s cheesecake, it is hard to beat.

Oreo Sundae at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

Cheesecake at Rare Bar and Grill in Chelsea

We left happy to have a bit of a walk after such a feast. Rare Bar and Grill just moved on my list of favorite burgers…

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment! Merci!

Rare Bar and Grill - 152 W 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 1/4/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/4/19

Surprising burger at Creamline in Chelsea Market

The first time Jodi went to Creamline in Chelsea Market, she came back amazed by the veggie burger she had, thinking after the first bite that they made a mistake with her order and not knowing that they were serving the Impossible Burger from Impossible Food, one of the few all vegetarian patty that tastes very close to meat. As they served other types of burgers as well as sandwiches (like fried chicken), I proposed to go back to check it out.

Order number at Creamline in Chelsea Market

Creamline is a fast casual place; you order at the counter and they will bring your food at your table, thanks to the number assigned to you. Here is what we tried:

The Impossible burger, a 100% plant based that we subsequently tried at Saxon+Parole, a restaurant downtown that has a spectacular version of it. It was good, with a taste very close to meat.

The Impossible Burger a Creamline in Chelsea Market

The Impossible Burger at Creamline in Chelsea Market

On my side, I opted for their double cheeseburger that had a lot of cheese but was unfortunately slightly overcooked for my taste. I definitely prefer places like Shake Shack for a casual burger place…

Cheeseburger at Creamline in Chelsea Market

With the burgers, we also ordered some French fries that were good, but I prefer them crunchier. I just wished they were proposing onion rings…

French fries at Creamline in Chelsea Market

So, it was ok: I for sure prefer Shake Shack but they are not yet serving the Impossible Burger there. So, if Jodi wants to go back to Creamline, I will not decline, but would either ask to have the patties cooked medium-rare or try their fried chicken sandwich…

Enjoy (she did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Creamline - 75 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 1/2/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/2/19

Tapas at Boqueria in Times Square

Times Square is changing: you see more and more interesting restaurants opening close to Port Authority, in an area where many restaurants care more about foot traffic than returning customers. So I was curious when I saw that Boqueria opened few steps from the busy bus station. We went on a Friday night and the place was packed, with the staff being a bit overwhelmed. We shared several dishes from the menu and I admit that it was tough to pick as there were plenty of delicious choices. Here is what we had:

I started with a glass of rosé, Frisach “L’Abrunet” Rosa 2017:

Frisach “L’Abrunet” Rosa 2017 rosé wine at Boqueria in Times Square

They then made a mix of croquettes, some with ham and the others with mushroom. They are succulent: crispy and gooey.

Tortilla española: a must have! It was soft and moist, literally melting in my mouth.

Tortilla española at Boqueria in Times Square

Pulpo a la plancha or grilled octopus, fennel, smoked pimentón, Picual olive oil mashed potatoes. The octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all. I just wish there was more…

Pulpo a la plancha at Boqueria in Times Square

Cheese plate composed of:

Cheese plate at Boqueria in Times Square

Old Manchego (hard sheep’s milk cheese from Castilla La Mancha),
Caña de Cabra (soft goat’s milk cheese from Murcia),
Aged Mahon (hard cow’s milk cheese from Illes Balears),
Pan con tomate.

Aged Mahon cheese at Boqueria in Times Square

Manchego cheese at Boqueria in Times Square

Caña de cobra cheese at Boqueria in Times Square

Pan con tomate at Boqueria in Times Square

We finished with churros, a must have in a Spanish restaurant. At Boqueria, they serve them in many ways and we opened for S’mores as Jodi loves it. It was two churro cookies, chocolate, cinnamon sugar and toasted marshmallow. A bit difficult to eat but so decadent!

S’mores churros at Boqueria in Times Square

This was a great meal: Boqueria is the perfect place for Spanish tapas. Their menu, quite extensive is mouth watering. I will definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Boqueria - 260 West 40th Street, NYC 10018