I Just Want To Eat! 2/13/19 I Just Want To Eat! 2/13/19

Italian dinner at Tuscany Steakhouse

If you step in Tuscany Steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan, you would never guess that it is a Steakhouse and would more be inclined to think that it is an Italian restaurant, the masculine decor of classic steakhouses being totally absent. But it will stop there: as soon as you get the menu, you understand where you are but cannot not help but notice some Italian dishes here and there that set the tone. But then you are not sure what to do: Italian? Steak? Both? Well, you can if you come with somebody else as I did and share dishes or if you are alone and have a huge appetite. At least if not everybody in your party like steaks and is fed up with always ending up with a salad or sides, you have a bit more choices like pasta. So it is like your everyone’s restaurant and I have to say that they serve a pretty good food. Here is what I tried:

For a cocktail, I got an Aperol Spritz (they do not have a cocktail list but have a full bar):

Aperol Spritz at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

We did not go crazy on appetizers considering what was coming and just had some slices of Canadian Bacon that were superb, especially with their steak sauce.

Canadian bacon at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

For the entrees, we tried the lamb chops that were perfectly cooked medium (pink in the center):

Lamb chops at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

And the veal Milanese that was incredible: I did not have that dish for a very long time and the first bite was fantastic. It might be because of the amount of cheese they use and the delicious tomato sauce that did not make me regret not ordering a ribeye.

Veal Milanese at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I ate it with a glass of Chianti (Ruffino Chianti Classico Res. ) that was decent. Interestingly, they had only one Italian wine by the glass that was surprising for an Italian restaurant as you would think that they would promote more wines from Italy.

Glass of Chianti at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

As sides, a must have is their Mac and cheese that was creamy and loaded with cheese:

Mac and cheese at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

And the spinach a la creme that was ok for me, preferring a creamier version of it (translation: much more cream than spinach...).

Spinach a la creme at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: we had the tiramisu that was good: light and creamy.

Tiramisu at Tuscany Steakhouse in NYC, NY

They brought us a glass of Porto but it had the taste of the cork...Nice gesture otherwise although we were wondering if they were doing it to get rid of a bad bottle! So overall it was a delicious meal. Tuscany Steakhouse stands out from the other steakhouses by proposing an Italian fare that could attract more than the hardcore carnivores. I would definitely go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tuscany Steakhouse- 117 W 58th Street, New York, NY10019

I Just Want To Eat! 2/11/19 I Just Want To Eat! 2/11/19

Sociale in Brooklyn

As Jodi was part of an exhibit in Henry street in Brooklyn, I proposed to have dinner nearby and found Sociale, an Italian restaurant that has been opened since 2013 and serves a contemporary cuisine. The place is not big and has the kind of atmosphere that makes you think it is your typical neighborhood restaurant, an atmosphere that I love. Food wise, we were there for a treat; here is what we had:

I started the meal with a Negroni, a gin cocktail with a nice bitterness, instead of going with a classic Spritz:

For my appetizer, I went for the Spanish octopus that was very well cooked, not rubbery, sitting on a cannellini and garlic cream that added some smoothness to the dish.

For her main, Jodi got the eggplant pizza that was pretty decent: I would not go for pizza to Sociale because it has nothing extraordinary and it is not cooked in a wood fire oven so you do not have that sublime taste or char that these oven give, but still, if you do not want pasta or salad, it is a good option.

On my side, I got the farfalle al frutti di mare: these house made bow tie pasta were served with a white wine sauce and seafood like calamari or shrimp. There was not a lot of seafood, but it was delicious, especially that sauce that smothered the well made pasta. Definitely worth it.

Farfalle al frutti di mare at Sociale in Brooklyn

We finished our meal with a tiramisu that was good and creamy.

So we had a great meal at Sociale: the food was overall good and I loved the atmosphere. This is the kind of place I would love in my own neighborhood...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sociale - 72 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 2/8/19 I Just Want To Eat! 2/8/19

Saju Bistro in Times Square

We recently ate at Saju Bistro, a French restaurant located in Times Square. Nice decor, warm, I truly appreciated that some of the tables have space in between so you do not have the impression to dine with the neighboring table, even if I would not mind if they would pick up our check.

Dining room at Saju Bistro in Times Square

I was glad that they did not adopt the term Bistro for show and served classic Bistro dishes like escargots, duck confit or steak frites and noticed few Provençal dishes that made me think twice before I ordered the escargots like their baby octopus with eggplant provençale or the bouillabaisse, a fish soup from Marseille. With lots of vegetarian choices, I was however surprised to see pasta on the menu: not so French... Here is what we tried:

I wanted a cocktail and they did not have any cocktail list. But, as they have a full bar, it was not a problem. So I decided to order a sidecar, a cocktail traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice.

Sidecar cocktail at Saju Bistro in Times Square

The entree was the escargots de Bourgogne that are snails cooked in butter, parsley, garlic and shallots, a sauce so good that you cannot resist dipping bread into it. By the way, the bread came with olive oil and not the usual butter, more Italian maybe than French.

Escargots at Saju Bistro in Times Square

Then, I got the confit de canard salad or duck confit salad that was composed of frisée, roasted beets, grilled apple, marble potato and walnuts. It was good but definitely not the best duck confit I had. What was missing was the skin that was not crispy and fatty as you would expect. However, it was not as salty as you could get from time to time in restaurants.

Confit de canard salad at Saju Bistro in Times Square

Jodi opted for the goat cheese ravioli that were also decent.

Goat cheese ravioli at Saju Bistro in Times Square

Last was dessert. We decided to order the tarte tatin, an upside down apple tart that was phenomenal: buttery and well caramelized. Probably one of the best I had in a long time.

Tarte tatin at Saju Bistro in Times Square

With the bill, they also brought us some homemade cookies: langues de chats and madeleines that were not that great but still a nice touch.

Overall the food was ok at Saju Bistro. I could go back if I had to eat in the area and felt like eating French food, but it would not be my prime destination for French cuisine in this range of price. No, I prefer Le Tout Va Bien several block away or La Sirène.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Saju Bistro - Hotel Mela, 120 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 2/6/19 I Just Want To Eat! 2/6/19

Brunch at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

Hoboken has great places for brunch. The last one we discovered in December was Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar. It was the same day as Santa Con and we were glad to see that they barred people participating in this annual pub crawl event, making this place quiet and enjoyable. Serving Italian and American fare, Grand Vin has a very interesting menu for brunch that makes it interesting and the kind of place I would go back to for sure!

Bar area at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I tried their Coffee Old Fashioned made with Misunerstood Spiced Whiskey, coffee, maple syrup and bitters. Not only did it look beautiful, but it tasted very good, a perfect brunch cocktail that was balanced, the coffee and the whiskey working well together, but with still the coffee giving the preponderant notes.

Coffee old fashioned at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

We then started with avocado fries that are in fact slices of fried avocado served with chipotle aioli. This was delicious and crispy with a ripe avocado that gave a nice fattiness to counteract the fried batter that was not greasy.

Avocado fries at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

For her entree, Jodi ordered the pear and arugula salad that came with goat cheese and a white balsamic dressing. Normally there is prosciutto but she ask for it on the side, for me…

Pear and arugula salad at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

On my side, I chose the breakfast Mac and Cheese, composed of eggs, mushrooms, spicy chorizo, sitting on Mac and Cheese made with gruyere. This was a fantastic dish: rich, it was decadent as advertised. It was a big quantity where the star was definitely the Mac and cheese that could stand on its own: it was so creamy and not made with some processed cheese like what sometimes restaurants serve. But with all the other ingredients, I was in heaven, especially the chorizo that was not that spicy, but so good. And the sunny side egg that was perfectly cooked, the yolk being runny and adding a bit of richness. I loved it!

Breakfast Mac and cheese at Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar in Hoboken

So this was a great brunch and made me want to go back to Grand Vin, not just for brunch, but also for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Grand Vin - 500 Grand St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 2/4/19 I Just Want To Eat! 2/4/19

Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

Named after a popular shopping street in Singapore, Bugis Street serves pan-Asian cuisine as well as some classic American dishes. Located in the Millennium Hotel in Times Square, it was our destination as we were looking for a restaurant not to far from Port Authority.

Dining room at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

Big with a nice painting in the back of the dining room, it is the kind of place that is overlooked easily: we passed by this area many times without noticing it, and it had the feel that f the restaurant of a hotel that is not always enticing. The service was not that great, our waiter being more interested in talking to the hostess than attending to the patrons, and the food being just ok, not delivering what the concept made us expect. Here is what we had:

While Jodi had a ginger ale, I had a Singapore Sling, that is a fruit punch made with different kinds of citrus juice, gin and brandy. The dark pink color reflected well the sweetness of this drink, too sweet for my taste and quite strong. I never had a Singapore sling so I cannot tell you if it tastes authentic.

Singapore sling cocktail at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

For our appetizer, we shared vegetarian spring rolls that came with a sweet chili sauce. It started well: it was nice and crispy, soft in the center.

Vegetarian Spring rolls at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

For her entree, Jodi ordered the braised tofu casserole that was ok, the tofu being tasty, but not enough of it. They asked if she wanted rice with it and she did. Little we realized that this steamed rice would cost $5! A ridiculous price for rice or at least make it coconut or sticky.

Tofu casserole at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

On my side, I was excited to try their crispy duck that was served with buns and hoisin sauce. I made a little sandwich, struggling first to open the buns and then to keep the small pieces of duck in it. Yes, the duck was cut too small...It was good otherwise but did not have enough meat vs the crispy skin.

Crispy duck at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

Buns at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

Last was dessert. Ice cream, chocolate lava cake and Junior’s cheesecake. No Asian dessert? So we went for the cheesecake that was ridiculously small for the $12 they charge. We should have gone to Junior’s for a bigger slice at the same price.

Junior’s cheesecake at Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar in Times Square

So, no, Bugis street is not a place I would recommend. I know that this is Times Square but few feet away you have Café 123 or BXL Café that serves much better food.

Enjoy (...)!

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

Bugis Street - 145 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

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

Contemporary Japanese at Mifune

Named after the famous Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, Mifune is a Japanese restaurant located Midtown East that serves an interesting menu. Yes you can get sushi and sashimi there, but I encourage you to try their other dishes that show a certain creativity.

I like the feel of this two floor restaurant: calm and warm at the same time, like traveling miles away. The menu can be overwhelming with all the choices they propose, especially as they have a wagyu special with a large number of dishes. And if you are vegetarian, they do have few choices for you. Not many but still. According to their website, they take “traditional Japanese cooking that places supreme importance on the seasonal bounty of the land and sea—and reimagines it using French technique to create innovative, artistically composed dishes”. Well, let’s see:

To start the meal, I went for a cocktail called the Hidden Fortress, like one of the movies of Toshiro Mifune, that was made with bourbon, milk, honey shrub, orange cordial and bitters. I thought it would be whiter because of the milk, but no and it had a nice sweetness to it.

The Hidden Fortress cocktail at Mifune in NYC, NY

For the appetizer, I chose the King salmon tartare served with avocado, ikura and ponzu gelée. Very good, the acidity was well balanced and I loved the combination of the salmon and avocado that both have some fattiness.

King Salmon tartare at Mifune in NYC, NY

Jodi went for the Winter truffle and mushroom chawanmushi, a sort of flan made with mushroom that was smooth and quite tasty.

Winter truffle and mushroom chawanmushi at Mifune in NYC, NY

For her entree, she picked the vegetable tempura (crispy and not greasy), as well as the avocado and cucumber roll.

Avocado and cucumber roll at Mifune in NYC, NY

On my side, I had the foie gras and egg sabayon over rice, and added the Winter truffle for $15 more. I did not think they would have it as they mentioned on the menu that it is limited to 5 daily and we were at the end of the day, but I suspect that they do have more and it is just a way to entice people to order it, playing on its rarity. The rice and foie came in a separate dish from the sabayon and the idea is to put as much egg sabayon as you want over the foie and rice and mix everything. So mixed little by little as I ate and was quite happy that I did not put everything on the rice at the beginning: it was very good, but only when eaten with the foie or truffle, the former giving a nice fattiness to the dish; the sabayon and rice only was not being that tasty for my taste.

Foie gras and egg sabayon overrice at Mifune in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: we chose the soba tea blanc-manger with kibito caramel ice cream. Blanc-manger is a sweet dessert commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with gelatin or corn starch for instance, that has a texture similar to a panna cotta. This was an interesting dessert as it tasted a bit like a creme brûlée, with an underlying buckwheat flavor. Curious but good.

Soba tea blanc-manger at Mifune in NYC, NY

We had a great meal at Mifune: the food was delicious and the service Michelin star like. We really need to go back and try some other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mifune - 245 E 44th St, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/19

Bierocracy in Long Island City

We were walking on Jackson avenue in Long Island City, on our way to a restaurant when we noticed Bierocracy, a Central European beer hall. As it started to rain hard, we changed our plan and thought it could be nice to go there for lunch, dinner being probably packed and noisy. And we were half right: the place started empty but they had two parties: one on one side of the bar room and another one in the back, where they have a private room.

Beer wise, they have quite a large choice of beers from all over and I settled for the Omegang GOT: King in The North, a straight reference to the fantastic HBO show. This dark beer is a limited edition imperial stout that is aged in bourbon barrels for 6 months. With 11% ABV, it has a chocolate finish that is quite surprising and matches the color of the beer.

Omegang GOT beer at Bierocracy in Long Island City

Food wise, they have few vegetarian options but meat is the star. However, although Central European dishes are served like sausages or schnitzel, they do have some classic bar food like burgers and wings. We started our meal with their giant Bavarian pretzel that came very hot with a spicy mustard (not so spicy in fact) and a house made beer cheese sauce that was very good. Delicious, the only problem is that it is also filling...

Pretzel at Bierocracy in Long Island City

For her main, Jodi chose the winter kale salad that was served with avocado, Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato served with tahini dressing and sesame seeds. She added some Parmesan to it.

Kale salad at Bierocracy in Long Island City

On my side, I opted for the sausage platter composed of Bratwurst, chicken kielbasa, bockwurst and kielbasa. It was served with sauerkraut. I liked it: comforting, my favorite was the bratwurst and then the kielbasa, both being made with pork, that as a more flavorful taste than chicken.

Sausage platter at Bierocracy in Long Island City

We had a nice meal at Bierocracy: rustic and comforting. If you are in the area, you should check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bierocracy - 1223 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/19

San Diego: Salud! By San Diego Taco Company

Our last meal in San Diego was at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company, a popular Mexican restaurant located in Barrio Logan. Crowded inside with a long line outside, I was really excited to try it. And I was even more when inside, the decor being really beautiful with its murals that are tattoo inspired and the car hoods on the wall.

Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

It is a fast casual place: you order at the cashier, they give you a number and then you pray you can find a spot to sit…Few minutes later, your meals comes. Easy, but then I forgot the idea to have their churros with ice cream thinking that if ordered at the same time as the rest, the ice cream would melt and, if I wanted to order later, I would have to queue up again…Too bad they do not have a system where when you finish eating, you can claim your dessert.

Here is what we got:

As a drink, a Pineapple Mexican Soda from Jarritos:

Jarritos pineapple soda at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Fish taco made of beer battered catfish served on a fried handmade tortilla with mixed cabbage, cotija cheese, pico de Gallo and their special house sauce. This was really tasty and I got the tortilla fried that added a nice crunch to the taco, making it even more decadent.

Fish taco at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Then, Ciara, David and I got the Califas that are made with your choice of meat (we all picked carnitas that is fried tender pork) and french fries on a handmade flour tortilla. It is topped with guacamole, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and crema. It was good, except for the guacamole and I was also expecting much more fries…The pork however was delicious!

Califas tacos at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Yes, I mentioned the guacamole that was really not good: it seemed to have been made in a blender that gives a soupy texture and lacks taste. When going to a Mexican restaurant, you would expect the guac to be very good: It is like going to an Italian restaurant and getting a bad tiramisu! On top of that, the description was: “Our famous handmade chips with a large serving of our tableside guacamole topped with pico de Gallo”. The guac was definitely not made table side unless they bring that blender!!!

Guacamole at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Tortilla chips at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Jodi on her side got the cheese quesadilla that was good.

Cheese quesadilla at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Last was the Mexican street corn, their take on corn on the cob found in the streets of Mexico, made with fire roasted corn, lime, queso fresco, crema and Chile. It was ok, having a bit too much lime that overpowered the whole thing.

Mexican street corn at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

So overall it was just ok and I admit that I was a bit disappointed with Salud! Considering how crowded it was, my expectations were high and they did not deliver. If I had to pick I prefer Lucha Libre and the Taco Stand.

Enjoy (…)!

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

San Diego: Salud! By San Diego Taco Company - 2196 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113

I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19

San Diego: Ironside Fish & Oysters

For our last lunch in San Diego, we decided to go light as we planned an early dinner with our friends Ciara and David, before our flight home. So I found this seafood place that had a couple of vegetarian options for Jodi called Ironside Fish and Oysters. Located in Little Italy, this restaurant is quite big and has a beautiful sea themed decor, especially the wall full of piranhas…

Piranhas decor at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

The menu, printed on a daily basis, based on the catch of the day, offers a nice selection, from the raw bar to seafood a la plancha. I admit that we would not have had that early dinner, I would have probably tried their lobster (grilled or a la plancha), served with clarified butter and béarnaise sauce. Instead, I chose their octopus a la plancha, served with chorizo and olives, like a chorizo tapenade and a play on surf and turf. I loved it: the octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all, and paired well with the chorizo that added a nice saltiness to the dish.

Octopus a la plancha at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

At the same time, I was sipping a cucumber mint lemonade that was delicious and refreshing.

Cucumber mint lemonade at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

At that point came the 6 oysters I ordered : I asked for a mix rather than having 6 of the same. I do not remember which one was which, at the exception of the Ironside select from Washington State that was the largest one. There was also: Nautilus and Kumiai from Baja, Phantom Creek from British Columbia, and Mirada and Sapphire from Washington State. All tasted very fresh and satisfied my craving for oysters.

Oysters at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

On her side, Jodi got the persimmon and burrata salad that was pretty good.

Persimmon and burrata salad at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

Overall, we had a nice meal at Ironside Fish and Oysters in San Diego. When we left the place was packed, making me think it is a popular spot for seafood. I would definitely go back there and this time try their lobster...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ironside Fish and Oysters - 1654 India Street, San Diego, CA92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19

San Diego: Juniper & Ivy by Richard Blais

We were really excited to be able to get a reservation at Juniper and Ivy, the restaurant of Top Chef alum Richard Blais where Executive Chef Anthony Wells creates a very creative menu that would for sure excite the culinary curious...unless vegetarian. I wish restaurants were keeping their menu online up to date because Jodi was excited to try their pasta with truffle, but unfortunately it was not there, their menu changing on a regular basis and the waiter did not really come back with options besides what was there written. So I left glad I got to try that place; Jodi was less enthusiastic than I was...Here is what we had:

Apple juice at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

It was followed by an amuse that was their take on deviled eggs where the egg white was replaced by a meringue: simply delicious!

Deviled eggs at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

We then got a bunch of bites:
- foie gras cookie with miso and a fig jam that was the kind of cookie that does not need milk. Very good, crumbly, the foie gras definitely went through.
- bison sausage with cocoa BBQ sauce: very good, I could have had more.
- Mushroom and Swiss Madeleine: a delicious twist on a classic. You could for sure taste the mushroom.

Small bites at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Mushroom madeleine at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Foie gras cookie at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Bison sausage at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Then, we ordered their house made biscuit that was topped with a big chunk of butter that slowly melted as the biscuit was hot. This was fantastic: from the rustic presentation to the taste that was fantastic.

For the appetizers, Jodi ordered their cheese board and I admit that I do not recall what was there...

Cheese board at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

On my side, I chose the foie gras tart, enjoying foie gras before the ban took effect few days after in California. I thought it was a great take on the classic foie gras and brioche or bread. Served with a caramelized apple jelly and roasted chestnut, it was like a Holiday dish for me, perfect for the Christmas /New Year period.

Foie gras tart at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

For her main, Jodi got the citrus salad with kumquat dressing and chicories. Colorful, it had unfortunately too much kumquat that overpowered the whole dish and was too sweet.

Citrus salad at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

On my side, I picked the raviolo, a big ravioli (I know I should say raviolo as there was only one) stuffed with braised lamb neck in a posole broth (a corn Mexican broth) with Manila clams. It was a sort of surf and turf, with all the components working very well together. The raviolo was perfectly made, and the braised lamb sublime. But what was even better was the broth that had a lot of depth. Superb!

Lamb ravioli at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

We did not have dessert as we were full and anyway did not see anything exciting on the menu. But, with the bill, they brought us some chocolates that were a nice touch to end the meal.

Chocolates at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Overall I liked the meal at Juniper and Ivy. As I mentioned before, the menu caters more to non-vegetarian with original dishes and so many choices that you kind of get overwhelmed. But still, I enjoyed.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Juniper & Ivy - 2228 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19

San Diego: Donut Bar

The Donut Bar was our first target for sweets in San Diego, but, at 4:15pm on the Thursday we arrived there, they were already closed. A quick check on the hours mentioned 8am to sold out. What? First time I saw that besides at food trucks. Is it a way to create some sort of demand? I do not know, but what was sure was that we would go back as their menu looked really good, made of classic and innovative donuts. So we went back on our last day, at 8:45am thinking that, being a Sunday, lots of people would still be asleep. Wrong: there was a line from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. In front of the store was a Ferrari with the name Donut Bar on it. At that point I was thinking that business is pretty good for this place that started in 2013 and is now expending (if you miss going there, know that they are apparently also located at The San Diego Airport. Just in case...). We even saw Chef Santiago Campa distributing Cookie Monster donuts to kids in line and encouraging them to go in his car. Very nice indeed.

The menu at Donut Bar can be a bit overwhelming as they have lots of choices and you feel pressured to order quickly. But the only thing you would regret is not wearing stretch pants as some of these donuts are big. Like the classic or Homer’s donut, a yeast donut topped with pink cake batter glazed and sprinkles. Big but good: you do not want a doughy donut or a heavy donut and this one was perfect, not dry and airy, with enough glaze on top.

The second was the Boston cream, a donut filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate fudge glaze. It was pretty good although I found the cream was not evenly filled in the donut. I should mention that it was not my first choice: I wanted to go for the maple bacon donut but was disappointed by the look of it (if you live in the NY area, check out the one from The DonutProject: it is sublime) and then switched to the one next to it. I finally regretted it a bit.

Boton cream donut at Donut Bar in San Diego

Boston cream donut at Donut Bar in San Diego

The last one was the unicorn donut, made with cake batter glaze, buttercream hair and chocolate ear and horns. Pretty good, but not as good as the classic. I think this one if more for the show...

Still, this is a fun place and I would go back if in San Diego, probably trying less classic donuts that time. However, they would be in NYC, I am not sure they would measure up with The Donut Plant or The Donut Project, but I found them better than Dough.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Donut Bar - 631 B Street, San Diego CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19

San Diego: Lucha Libre

Our next stop during our trip to San Diego was Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop simply called Lucha Libre by the locals. This restaurant that has 3 locations was opened in 2008 by the Rojanos brothers who celebrate Mexican wrestling in their colorful restaurants.

Serving classic tacos but also Cali burritos, a San Diego creation, where the rice and beans are replaced by French fries in their most decadent version. French fries in a burrito? It reminds me a bit when I was younger and used to have the American sandwich in France: a baguette stuffed with two beef patties and French fries, smothered by ketchup or the Tacos de Lyon that is a popular dish where my family lives: more a burrito than a taco, it also has French fries in it, but the Mexican flavors are replaced by Middle Eastern flavors. Still: very filling! So, at Lucha Libre, I went for the Ado-Haba Piña California burrito, stuffed with Adobada pork, grilled pineapple, French fries, sour cream, Jack cheese, pico de Gallo and pineapple habanero sauce. Heavy, the burrito was amazing: at each bite, you get the flavors of the meat, fries and cheese, literally smothered by the other ingredients, the habanero sauce being neutralized by the fries and sour cream and the pineapple adding some sweetness to the dish. I simply loved it!

Cali burrito at Lucha Libre in San Diego

Jodi, on her side, ordered a classic: a vegetable quesadilla.

Vegetarian quesadilla at Lucha Libre in San Diego

We also shared some guacamole that was pretty good compared to some we had during the trip, as well as the TJ corn that was some corn served in a cup with queso enchilado, mayo, chile, and lime (just ok for me, as I found it a bit watery and with too much lime).

Despite that, this was a great meal: not the best diet but so good. I really loved the Cali Burrito and hope I can find a place in NYC that will serve it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Lucha Libre - 3016 University Avenue, San Diego 92104

I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19

San Diego: Puesto at The Headquarters

We were looking for a Mexican restaurant on Opentable, when we stumbled upon Puesto at The Headquarters. Little did I know that the Headquarters referred to The San Diego Police Headquarters (some of the cells are still there), that has been transformed to a shopping and restaurant area.

The place was quite busy and I was glad that they sat us upstairs, more quiet and with a nice view of the bar and open kitchen where I could see the magic happen, especially the way they were making tortillas, endlessly.

Open kitchen at Puesto at The Headquarters

As a cocktail, I tried their avocado margarita that was quite unheard of, but I admit that I could not taste the avocado…

Avocado margarita at Puesto at The Headquarters

Then, of course, our appetizer was guacamole and I admit that theirs was quite good. We wanted it mild and the waiter explained to us that they do not make it a la minute and therefore it was already made, but assured us that it would not be spicy. He was right and the guacamole tasted fresh as I believe they make quantities as the evening goes considering that lots of people order it. No, for sure it was well seasoned and had nice chunks of avocado.

Guacamole at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Chips and salsa at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Then, we got tacos. They proposed on their menu a choice of 3 for $17; as Jodi wanted only 2 vegetarian tacos and knew that I wanted to try their fish tacos that was not available in that sampler, she Kindly proposed to pick 1 of their choices for me. So she ordered:

The grilled portobello taco made with Cilantro chimichurri, papas fritas and avocado. She ordered it naked, meaning that the tortilla was replaced by some lettuce.
The verduras that had crispy melted cheese, rajas, papas, tatume squash, corn & tomato, nopales, avocado, and zucchini blossom. She also ordered this one naked.
The grilled pulpo or octopus made with potato, cilantro chimichurri, avocado whip, pickled red onion.

They must have understood because they brought the octopus tacos in a separate place. Jodi’s tacos were good, although spicy for her. The octopus one was very good: well cooked, not rubbery, it was delicious and very flavorful.

Grilled portobello taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Octopus taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Verduras taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Then I got the Baja fish tacos that are made with beer battered wild cod, shredded cabbage, avocado, crema and salsa quemada. These 3 tacos were very good: crispy, not greasy with a perfectly cooked flakey fish. I just wished there was more crema and salsa on it.

Baja fish tacos at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

For dessert, we were really excited to get their tres leches but they told us that they did not have it anymore, weird considering that it was 7pm…So I ended up with the Rompope Paleta, a Mexican eggnog made with brandy that was served like an ice cream. This was quite good in fact and I loved the peanut dust it was sitting on.\

Rompope Paleta dessert at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

So it was a nice meal: I liked Puesto. This is a good place if you want a little more upscale place for Mexican cuisine. I would definitely go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Puesto at The Headquarters - 789 West. Harbor Drive., Suite 155, San Diego CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19

San Diego: In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out burger is not new to me as tried it few years ago in San Francisco. At the end of the post, I even wrote at the time: “If I went back to California, I would definitely go get a good burger there!”. So here we were with our friends David and Ciara. When we arrived, the place was packed, but, lucky for us, people right next to us left and so we got a table, granted that we could have sat outside.

Going there, we knew it would be a feast made of a burger, fries and a milkshake, not that crazy, unless you remember that we were eating out for the past few days quite “complete” meals…But this time, at In-N-Out, we wanted to hit the secret menu. Well, sure secret for Jodi as, being vegetarian, she wanted more than a side, so she ordered their grilled cheese that was simply a burger without any meat: yes, a sad piece of melted cheese with lettuce and tomato between a bun. Disappointing.

Grilled cheese at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

On my side, I asked for a mustard double-double. It is basically a cheeseburger with a double dose of everything, from the patty to the cheese, the meat being cooked with mustard. It was good, but a bit too salty and I ditched some of the lettuce…

Mustard double double at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

The best I think were the fries that I asked extra-crispy (they double fry them): crunchy and cooked all the way through like I love them. And the vanilla milkshake was also nice, quite thick.

Milkshake and fries at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

So, overall it was good, but I stand with what I thought the first time I tried In-N-Out: good but not as good as Shake Shack or Five Guys…

Enjoy (I did)!

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In-N-Out Burgers - 2005 Camino Del Este, San Diego, CA 92108

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19

San Diego: The Baked Bear

Ice cream sandwiches are not a novelty and places proposing them have been popping up all over the place, whether in trucks or brick and mortar places. The Baked Bear is one of them. Created in San Diego in 2013 by Shane Stanger and Rob Robbins, this place is a bit overwhelming. Yes, there are so many combinations between cookies, brownies or doughnuts to the variety of ice cream and topping that it is endless. And they make their own cookies.

My friend David went for it but I settled for the doughnut sandwich that I tried few years ago at Holey Cream in Hell’s Kitchen. My choice of ice cream was cookies and cream, and I asked for the doughnut to be warm. They then put some blue icing on top and powdered sugar that made the whole experience a bit messy. But worth it! The doughnut was quite good and chewy, and the ice cream delicious. The only negative is that they do not have a bathroom to wash your hands full of sticky sugar, nor do they offer wipes to their customers (they gave us a wet paper towel that did the job). But overall, it is very good and decadent. I definitely recommend it if you are in the area and want something sweet.

Cookies ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear in San Diego

Donut ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear in San Diego

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Baked Bear - 4516 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19

San Diego: The Taco Stand

Serving Tijuana style tacos and burritos, The Taco Stand in La Jolla is the sort of casual eatery you would want in your neighborhood. When we went on a Thursday evening, at around 7:15pm, it was as if people gathered at the same time, filling the entire place, until the time we were ready to leave: no, when we arrived it was so crowded. After eating their food, I understood why: it was simply delicious. And cheap.

Counter at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Here is what we tried:

I’ll start with my least favorite that was a bit of a surprise when it comes to disappointment: the guacamole. Made fresh, it was missing seasoning. What? A Mexican place that does not know how to make guacamole? That could have been a bad sign if the other dishes were not delicious.

Guacamole at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

The corn on the cob, served with mayonnaise, Parmesan and chili powder was very good, although Parmesan cheese did not seem that authentic...

Corn on the cob at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Corn on a cob at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

For Jodi, the cheese quesadilla that had quite a lot of cheese in it.

Cheese quesdaliia at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

For me, the al pastor taco: this was sublime! The pork is cooked rotisserie style, like you would cook meat for a kebab, giving to the meat a nice char but without drying it out. It was filled with pineapple that added a delightful sweetness, onion and cilantro, drizzled with a cilantro sauce.

Al pastor taco at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

The second taco I had was the baja taco, that is battered white fish with cabbage, tomato, cilantro, onion and chipotle sauce. This was delicious too: the fish was well cooked, crunchy on the outside and there was a nice balance between the quantity of fish and cabbage. The fact that there was a lot of sauce on it which helped make it not dry and very flavorful.

Baja taco at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Overall we had a great meal at The Taco Stand: the food there is unpretentious but very good, comforting and seems authentic. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Taco Stand - 621 Pearl Street, La Jolla, CA 92037

I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19

San Diego: Extraordinary Desserts

When you go to a place called Extraordinary Desserts, you have high expectations. With two locations in San Diego, this is where we landed as soon as we arrived there.

When you go to a place called Extraordinary Desserts, you have high expectations. With two locations in San Diego, this is where we landed as soon as we arrived there.

Pad to write down our choices at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

After being greeted, they gave us a pad so we would look around and write down our choices before being seated at a table or at the bar, depending on availability. Problem was that there were too many yummy choices there, not that classic at the exception maybe of the lemon bars or chocolate chip cookies that had lots of chocolate. We decided to try the following:

A shaken cold pressed coffee that is a café au lait served cold and prepared in a shaker.

Shaken cold pressed coffee at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

A crème brûlée bun that was my favorite. The brioche bun was airy and light, filled with a crème brûlée that had a nice vanilla flavor. I recommend it!

creme brûlée bun at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

A double chocolate chunk shortbread that we did not like at all, being quite dry and that might have been stale.

Double chocolate chunk shortbread at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

Jodi of course could not resist ordering their coconut coscada that is a coconut haystack dusted with confectioner sugar. Although I am not a huge fan of coconut, I liked it.

Coconut haystack at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

I admit that I would have tried other stuff if jodi did not stop me as there were so many mouth watering choices there. Extraordinary Dessert is truly...extraordinary and I hope they will open an outpost in NYC! If not, I’ll make sure I keep that as a must have visit when coming to San Diego!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Extraordinary Desserts - 1430 Union Street, San Diego, CA92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19

Los Angeles: Vegan dinner at Gracias Madre

What would vegan Mexican cuisine taste? No meat is easy to imagine as you can end up with cheese enchiladas or mushroom tacos, but how do you make an entire menu without cheese? Vegan versus vegetarian can be so different. With its vegan menu, crafted by Chef Chandra Gilbert, Gracias Madre succeeded to offer a delicious meal and when a carnivore like me is excited by the experience, it probably tells you something.

We went there for our last night in LA, to meet Jodi’s high school friend...Jodi. At least I had no problem remembering her name...The place, located on Melrose Avenue was huge with an outdoor area that was as big as the dining room, and packed. It is definitely a trendy restaurant that fits the Californian way of eating.

I started my meal with a margarita that was pretty good, perfectly made.

Margarita at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

Jodi got a vanilla lime soda that was refreshing.

Lime soda at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We then shared the guacamole, served with homemade corn tortilla. The guacamole was very good, well seasoned and mild, with chunks of avocado.

Guacamole at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

Tortilla chips at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi ordered the grilled tofu accompanied with coconut rice, chermoula, eggplant and red pepper.

Grilled tofu at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

It was good, but I admit that it was not as good as my dish that was succulent. It was the sopes con mango, potato-masa cakes topped with mango, habanero salsa, black beans, cashew cream and escabeche. I simply loved it: comforting, the potato-masa cakes were slightly crispy and tasted like potato pancakes. It was superb with the various ingredients on top of it, especially the mango that was ripe and added a nice sweetness to the dish.

Sopes con mango at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We were so full (we also had a late lunch) that we skipped dessert and settled for a Mexican hot chocolate that was good, with nice spices in it.

Mexican hot chocolate at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We had a great meal at Garcias Madre: the food was very good and I did not feel like I was missing meat and even forgot I was in a vegan restaurant. I would not only go back, but also recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Gracias Madre - 8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19

Los Angeles: Hard Rock Café

Hard Rock Café is the quintessence of Americana: Rock, burgers and shakes are what comes to my mind when I think about this place. It is a fun place for sure that mesmerize amateurs of music, going around the dining room to look at some of the artifacts being a must do before or after a meal there. We went there with our friend Amy and her two kids, Bodie and Jaxon as we met in LA. It was that or Umami Burger that unfortunately closed in NY, but was further away and it was already late.

Dining rom at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

The restaurant was crowded, with music in the background and video clips on the small screens that were on the wall next to the booths where we got seated.

Food wise there, there is no surprise as the menu is identical everywhere (unless you go abroad, like I did in India, where beef is replaced by buffalo). Jodi was really happy to see that they added the Impossible Burger as a vegetarian option but I admit that no one has been able to make it look as good as Saxon+Parole: it was a bit dry and these cheese was not melted enough.

The Impossible burger at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for their original legendary burger, a cheeseburger topped with bacon and a crispy onion ring for a little crunch and greasiness that was juicy and tasty (I hate when the meat is so seasoned that you do not taste it).

The original legendary cheeseburger at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

With that, I got Guinness beer cheese fries that were quite good and a bit addictive, as the cheese did not taste like the process products lots of restaurants use.

Guiness beer cheese fries at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

Hard Rock Café is a classic, a safe choice and a crowd pleaser. So if you are not sure where to go, do not hesitate!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Hard Rock Café- 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19

Los Angeles: Delphine in the W Hotel

Located inside the W on Hollywood Boulevard, Delphine Eatery and Bar offers a contemporary American menu. This was our choice for dinner on Christmas Day as we were looking for a place to go not to far from our hotel that would be open that day. Big, I admit that the entrance of the restaurant made it look like a casual eatery, surprising for the W hotel, but then, inside, it has a bit more cachet. Not that it is an elegant place, but the space has some warmth with decor that is supposed to be reminiscent of Provinçal cafés. Not sure how, but it is apparently what they went for.

Menu wise, they had quite interesting dishes but limited options for vegetarians. Here is what we had:

I started with a cocktail, 14th on Main, that was made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, maple syrup, grapefruit juice and lemon juice. Well balanced and citrusy, it was quite good.

14th on Main cocktail at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Then we shared the white bean hummus that was served with pita, arugula pesto, cucumber and tomato salad, and feta. This was quite good, but a bit filling.

White beans hummus at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Especially with the ahi Crudo that was four pieces of ahi tuna that was dusted with spices, accompanied by a yuzu avocado purée and watermelon radish. I liked it but would have probably preferred thin pieces of tuna and more avocado purée.

Ahi tuna crudo at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

As there were no vegetarian entrees, Jodi ordered the mushrooms that were prepared with garlic, thyme, shallots and Parmesan; as well as some roasted cauliflower and faro.

Mushrooms at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Roasted cauliflower and farro at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

While I had the Diver scallops and shredded pork belly, a sort of surf and turf. It came with truffled sweet corn nage and roasted corn, as well as oyster mushrooms. This was delicious and everything worked perfectly together. The scallops were perfectly cooked and I loved the sweetness that the corn added.

Diver scallops at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Dessert was however just ok: it was a cinnamon bread French toast that I found a bit dry.

French toast at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Overall it was good. Not sure I would put Delphine as a must have though...No, not at all. I should mention that they add 17% tip automatically and the waiter told us that this was what the hotel was doing and that any additional tip would be for him...17% is already a decent tip, no?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delphine - 6250 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028