I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/22

Szechaun Mirchi (Indo-Chinese Cuisine) in Jersey City

I admit that my knowledge of Indo-Chinese cuisine has always been limited to very few dishes like Mandchurian cauliflower that is one of my favorites. So I was curious to see what Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City was proposing. According to Wikipedia:…

“Indian Chinese cuisine, Indo-Chinese cuisine, Sino-Indian cuisine, Chindian cuisine, Hakka Chinese, Desi-Chinese cuisine or Desi-Chindi cuisine is a distinct fusion culinary style which combines aspects of both Indian and Chinese foods and flavours. Though the cuisines have mixed throughout history through the Silk Road via Tibet, the most popular origin story of the fusion food resides with the Chinese of Calcutta, who immigrated to colonial India looking for better prospects and better lives around 250 years ago. Opening restaurant businesses in the area, these early Chinese immigrants adapted their culinary styles to suit the tastes of their Indian patrons.

Chinese Indian food is generally characterised by its ingredients: Indian vegetables and spices are used, along with a heavy amount of pungent Chinese sauces, thickening agents, and oil. Stir-fried in a wok, Indo-Chinese food takes Chinese culinary styles and adds spices and flavours familiar to the Indian palate. This idea of flavourful, saucy Chinese food cooked with Indian spices and vegetables has become integral to the mainstream culinary scenes of both India and Bangladesh, and its diffusion to nations like America, Great Britain, and Canada has shaped and altered the global view of Chinese, Indian, and Asian cuisine.”

We went few times and I got to try quite a few dishes, in a welcoming atmosphere. Their menu is quite large and I admit overwhelming. Here is what I tried:

For beverages, there is quite a wide choice, from the Indian mango lassi, to Thai iced tea, and of course, green tea.

Mango lassi at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Thai iced tea at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Green tea at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

If you like soups, they have so many! Some sweet and spicy, with lots of vegetarian choices. And these soups come, they are really hot, perfect for a cold day. My favorite was the chicken and sweet corn, and then the crab soup. For vegetarian their vegetable wonton soup is delicious, as is their miso soup.

Vegetable Manchow soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Crab soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable Lung Fung soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Chicken and sweet corn soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

For appetizers, we tried two vegetarian ones: the vegetarian Momo that are steamed dumpling that I thought were quite good, the shell not being too thick and the filling tasty, not the usual filling overpowered by spinach, and the vegetable wonton with a sweet chili sauce that was delightfully crispy.

Vegetable momo at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable wonton at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Entrees are so diverse, that I was not sure what to try and settled with their General Too chicken that was not the classic I knew as the chicken was not deep fried and so not crispy. But the sauce, a bit sweet, was delicious. A spicy dish was the garlic shrimp that is made with a spicy chili garlic sauce (lots of sauce). They also have noodles and I admit that I love the vegetable noodles as much as the chicken pan fried noodles: it has something very comforting about it. And of course, vegetable fried rice.

General Tso Chicken at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable noodles at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Hot garlic shrimp at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable fried rice at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Each time we went to Szechaun Mirti, we had a nice and comforting meal. The menu is a bit overwhelming and there are so many mouth watering dishes that it is very difficult to decide what to order. Still, I love this place!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Szechaun Mirchi - 850 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 5/18/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/18/22

Dinner at Gran Morsi in NYC

I had Gran Morsi on my list of places to try for quite some time and, as Jodi went to an open studio at The New York Academy of Art, we decided to meet for dinner there. The place was nice, although a bit dark, making it challenging to see the menu, and we got to sit at a table in a corner, the kind that I always love, allowing us to sit next to each other and watch the dining room (people…

We started our meal with some drinks. Non-alcoholic for Jodi, who chose their house made lemonade with mint and club soda (limonata Fresca), that I found a bit boring; on my side, I ordered the Vecchio Stille cocktail that was made with Four Roses Bourbon, Angelus orange liqueur, bitters and smoked cedar (?). My cocktail was good and quite strong.

Limonata fresca at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

Vecchio Stille cocktail at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, we decided to share the house made focaccia, but made the mistake of not reading the description: it was a flatbread, not a focaccia. A good flatbread, crispy, perfect for sharing, but we though we would get a classic Italian bread, leavened, delightfully oily. Yes, a flatbread that made Jodi regret having ordered a pizza, although her Forest mushroom pizza was quite delicious, with lots of mushrooms and cheese (too much scallion though), and a crust nicely charred.

House made focaccia at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

Forrest mushroom pizza at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

On my side, I could not resist not ordering the linguine Neri or squid ink linguine with shrimp and scallop. The seafood was well cooked, but, unfortunately, the pasta was a bit overcooked.

At least, dessert was delicious! We had their bread pudding made with pannetone and drizzled with caramel and grappa custard, the grappa being set on fire, giving a dramatic effect.

I was expecting more from Gran Morsi. The food and drinks took a very long time to come. Definitely, the large table that was setup outside probably overwhelmed them, especially the kitchen from where we saw so many orders coming out. So, I’ll wait a little bit and might give them another chance!

Enjoy (…)!

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Gran Morsi - 22 Warren St, New York, NY 10007

I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/22

Handcraft Burgers and Brew near Bryant Park, NYC

I am not sure what is the star of the show at Handcraft Burgers and Brew, the sister restaurant of Croton Reservoir that is next door. The burgers are amazing, not made with frozen patties, juicy, with a nice char. Although, I would go with the double patty so there is a good proportion with their amazing brioche bread. But the brews are also quite interesting as they…

It is a small place, fast casual, where you can either order directly from your phone or on their point of sale. They will then bring you a brown bag with your order, where you are eating there or not.

For the burgers, you can either chose one of the ones they propose or build your own, with always the possibility, if you pick theirs, to add or remove ingredients. I tried their Truffle Shuffle burger, made with a single beef patty (I added another one), umami truffle spice, Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, truffle herb aioli, squeezed between a brioche bun. I was a bit apprehensive that the truffle spices and aioli would overpower the whole thing, but it was in fact perfect. I also made my own, with a double patty, American cheese, ketchup and mayo. By the way, they have an interesting way of wrapping their burgers, with like a small chimney on top to let the steam out, the shape of the wrapper allowing to hold the burger as you eat it, keeping your hands from getting any sauce or meat juice dripping on your hands.

Truffle shuffle burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Double cheeseburger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Fried chicken sandwich at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

If you do like beef, you can opt for their spicy fried chicken sandwich (quite spicy but delicious: crispy, not dry), or, if you are vegetarian, you can get one of their veggie burgers that I admit are quite good and not mushy at all.

Spicy chicken sandwich at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Veggie burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

For sides, they have crispy French fries as well as tater tots. I just wished they had onion rings and have to say that I did not like their truffle aioli that I ordered with the tater tots: it was too overpowering and some mayo and ketchup was better for me.

Tater tots at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

French fries at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

I have tried the following beers (that you can also transform as floats):

Drowned Lands, Gather House Unfiltered Wit Beer, Warwick, NY
Torch & Crown Brewing Co., Almost Famous IPA, Bronx & Manhattan, NY
Oxbow Brewing Co., Seaworthy India Pale Lager, Newcastle, ME

And then, if you do not like beer, you can order some sodas like the Boylan raspberry seltzer.

Drowned Lands, Gather House Unfiltered Wit Beer, Warwick, NY

Oxbow Brewing Co., Seaworthy India Pale Lager, Newcastle, ME

Torch & Crown Brewing Co., Almost Famous IPA, Bronx & Manhattan, NY

So I guess you now have figured out that I love this place: their burgers are superb, and the beers, that change from time to time, quite interesting. Marrying burgers and beer was a smart business idea and I would not be surprised to see them expand to other locations. This is definitely a great place!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Handcraft Burgers and Brew - 110 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/22

Korean BBQ at Don’s Bogam

I discovered Don’s Bogam few years ago, thanks to Jodi’s cousin, Jessica. This Korean BBQ place is great: good food, great drinks and courteous staff, a trifecta that makes for a perfect evening.

Eating at a Korean BBQ, there is always the excitement of getting the banchan, these small plates they bring at the beginning of the meal, with kimchi being usually the only sure thing you would get. And unless you ask, it is sometimes difficult to recognize what the dishes they are bringing are, or how…

I discovered Don’s Bogam few years ago, thanks to Jodi’s cousin, Jessica. This Korean BBQ place is great: good food, great drinks and courteous staff, a trifecta that makes for a perfect evening.

Banchan are what peanuts and olives would be in a French aperitif: they accompany perfectly a drink. And Don’s Bogam has for sure a good list, but soju, the Korean rice wine, is a must have to stay in the theme. Regular is quite fine, served in shot glasses, but I was pleasantly surprised by one flavored with lychee, the sweetness of the fruit balancing well the alcohol, but making it quite a dangerous drink as you would think it is just a juice…

And the meat! First, the staff will take care of cooking it for you on the gas grill that is at the center of the table, letting you know when it would be ready. Then, quality of the meat they serve is phenomenal: I thought that the marinated chicken breast (Dak-Gui) would be boring and overcooked, but in fact it was quite good and moist. The pork belly marinated in Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine Samgyeopsal) was delightfully fatty. And then, the beef platter that was composed of marinated ribeye, spicy marinated short rib, and marinated short ribs and mushrooms was exquisite. The meat, that I rolled into a piece of salad with a bit of gochujang was tender and juicy, with a nice char on the outside. Know that if you are vegetarian, they have couple of options so you can enjoy a somewhat similar experience.

Marinated short rib and mushrooms at Don’s Bogam

Marinated short ribs and mushrooms at Don’s Bogam

Last, I should mention the fluffy eggs. Coming in a piping hot pot, they were amazing, like a fusion between a soufflé and scrambled eggs. I definitely recommend it just to try.

Don’s Bogam remains one the best Korean BBQ places in Koreatown and seeing how busy they were was a testimony of it. Reservation recommended!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Don’s Bogam -17 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/22

Bryant Park Grill in NYC

It’s been a while since we have been to Bryant Park Grill and so, we decided to go for dinner on a Friday evening. The weather was nice but not enough for us to sit outside, so we ended up in the dining room, enjoying the noise level that I would love to see more often in restaurants.

I started the meal with a cocktail, The Wiseman, made with Kentucky Owl Wiseman bourbon, Campari and grapefruit juice. I admit that it tasted more like grapefruit than anything else…

The Wiseman cocktail at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

As an appetizer, we shared the basket of grilled bread and veggies with vegan spreads. The first spread was crushed vine ripened tomato with sea salt. This was my least favorite, the spread strangely having kind of a fishy taste. However, I loved the black bean hummus (my favorite from all the spreads), the fire roasted caviar and the baba ganoush. The veggies that accompanied all of this were grilled artichokes and long hot chili. I admit that I was surprised by the choice of veggies, not that it was bad, to the contrary, but these are not really the kind that are meant for dipping.

Basket of bread and veggies at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

For her main, Jodi got a salad made with chopped avocado, tomato, cucumber, tabbouleh, greek feta and pita.

Avocado salad at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

On my side, I tried their crab cake that was good but I was expecting jumbo lump crab meat and thought that it was not worth the $24 they charge for, as well as the Australian rack of lamb, marinated with lemon zest and herbs, served with whipped mashed potatoes and sitting on a faro and lentil ragout. The presentation was fantastic and very appetizing, although I thought that there was too much of the whipped smashed potatoes. In fact, they did not need it, the faro and lentils ragout that had pieces of lamb sausage was amazing. The lamb was superb: well cooked medium, with a nice crust on the outside and juicy. I was in heaven!

Australian rack of lamb at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

For dessert, we opted for their coconut angel food cake as Jodi loves coconut. It was served with a cheesecake ice cream and a passionfruit caramel coulis. Overall, it was quite good, even for me who is not a big fan of coconut.

Coconut angel food cake at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

This was a delicious meal, in a nice atmosphere, and I would go back to The Bryant Park Grill to try some other dishes, their menu being mouth watering.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Bryant Park Grill -25 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/22

Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

When going to Gallagher ‘s, I always remember the first few times I went there: disappointing. But then, after they changed ownership and renovated the restaurant that clearly needed a new decor, I went back and was blown away. Not only did the place get a fantastic makeover, the food there has always been outstanding. Here…

As a cocktail, I decided to go with the Gallagher’s Rob Roy, a cocktail made with Cutty Sark Prohibition whisky, dry vermouth and orange bitters that was created in 1894 by a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, in honor of an opera based on the life of a Scottish hero, Rob Roy McGregor. Similar to a Manhattan, a Rob Roy is exclusively made with scotch whisky (while a Manhattan is made with rye, bourbon or even Canadian whisky).

Rob Roy Cocktail at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

As an appetizer, I got the sweet medley of seafood that was composed of lobster, jumbo shrimp, oysters, jumbo lump crab and little neck clams. I love seafood and this platter tasted really fresh, with definitely a good quantity of each to share.

Seafood platter at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Then came the porterhouse. They propose it for two, three or four persons. Perfectly cooked medium rare, the meat has a nice char, was tender and deliciously juicy.

Porterhouse at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

For sides, the Mac and cheese (if I recall, made with four cheeses) was amazing and their fries nicely crispy.

Mac and cheese at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

French fries at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Dessert in steakhouses is also a treat. I often go for the key lime pie that was quite good there, delicately tart, or the pecan pie that was quite decadent. Both desserts were big and after a meal like this, you need a bit of a walk to digest!

Key lime pie at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Pecan pie at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Definitely Gallagher’s is on top of my list when it comes to steakhouses, and not just for the meat.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Gallagher’s Steakhouse - 228 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/22

Afternoon tea at Prince Tea House in the West Village

I heard about the afternoon tea at Prince Tea House, so we decided to try as we were on a quest to try all the afternoon teas in the city. Interesting place for sure with a chic decor that is perfectly suited to the theme of this place.

We decided to solely go for their afternoon tea for two, knowing that they offer other options if you are not up for it. The afternoon tea included small sandwiches (pastrami with Swiss cheese, smoked salmon with avocado, cucumber with tzatziki, crab meat with aioli, and wasabi deviled eggs), scones, assorted desserts (macarons, fruits tarts and flourless chocolate cake), as well as unlimited tea (I went with the usual, mint).
I admit that we were a bit surprised that they would not accommodate the fact that Jodi is vegetarian, not that I did not enjoy the smoked salmon and pastrami (my favorite), but they could have made an effort and double down on the vegetarian sandwiches. The scones were of a good size, slightly hot and delicious with clouted cream, and overall the sandwiches, although small, were good. However, we were disappointed with the desserts that were just ok. But hey, you get what you pay for, the overall experience costing $55 for two. Still, I am glad we tried but do not think I would go back as this is nothing to rave about.

Tea at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Sandwiches at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Scones at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Desserts at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Enjoy (…)!

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Prince Tea House - 204 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/22

Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

We discovered Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen few years ago and have been raving about their cotton candy dessert for some time. So, it was time to go back. Ok, the name is not that original, but at least you know what that this is a Turkish restaurant! We went on a Friday evening and the place was packed! I admit that I did not recall the decor that was full of little dolls and black and white photos, nor did I recall the desk in the back where a person, who was either the owner or a manager, was watching the operations, telling the wait staff what to do. It was a weird setup for sure.

Their drink menu is limited so I decided to try a Turkish wine. So I opted for a glass of Kavaklidere that was described as having flavors of fig and red current, with a velvety finish. Well, the wine was ok, and the finish certainly not velvety! Jodi got a non-alcoholic beverage but admit that I do not recall what it was…

Non-alcoholic beverage at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Kavakledere wine at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

As appetizers, we shared the babaganouj that was deliciously smokey, and I got myself some sautéed liver (arnavut ciger) that was delicious.

Babaganouj at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Sautéed liver at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

For her main, Jodi chose the falafel platter that came with hummus (a nice portion of it) and a salad. The falafel was nice, not dry at all, perfect with or without hummus. On my side, I was not sure at first what to get as they had many dishes with lamb and I love lamb! I finally settled for the lamb and eggplant kebab. The chunks of lamb were sitting on a mix of eggplant and tomato, accompanied with rice. I loved it: the lamb was perfectly cooked, as was the eggplant. Definitely a dish I would recommend.

Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Lamn and eggplant kebab at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

For dessert, there was no cotton candy, so we got their baklava that was superb: flakey, buttery and honey soaked. I accompanied it with Turkish coffee, medium sweet.

Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

So, overall we had a good meal at Turkish Cuisine, even if we did not get the dessert we hoped they had. Maybe another time!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Turkish Cuisine - 631 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/22

Ippudo in NYC

When people ask me what the best ramen place in NYC is, my answer is simple: Ippudo. I have been to this place for so many years and not once have I been disappointed.

It is a great experience. First, as you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed in Japanese (that always makes me think about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm), and you are…

When people ask me what the best ramen place in NYC is, my answer is simple: Ippudo. I have been to this place for so many years and not once have I been disappointed.

It is a great experience. First, as you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed in Japanese (that always makes me think about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm), and you are given the choice to sit in the dining room or at the large U shape table, that give you a communal experience while watching the magic happen in the kitchen.

We always start our meal with buns. Vegetable for Jodi (this one was made with eggplant) and chicken or pork for me. These steamed buns are nice: slightly sticky, fluffy and pillowy, the inside always smothered by sauce or mayo.

For the ramen, there have a couple of vegetarian options like the nirvana Akamaru that is made with a sesame mushroom broth, and served with thin noodles, tofu chashu, scallion, bamboo shoots, garlic oil and topped with their secret « Umami dama » paste. I have to admit that their vegetarian ramen is pretty good: earthy, the only negative for me was the thin noodles that I never found as good as the thick ones that usually have a nice bite. In fact, the ramen I chose (Potara miso ramen) had Tokyo wavy thick noodles. It was composed of pork tonkotsu broth with various kinds of miso and seasonings, a spiced ball, slow fried onion chips that has a nice crunch at first, boiled spinach (fortunately not too much as I am not a big fan), corn, bamboo shoots and pork chashu. I asked for an egg also, an add on I always get with ramen. This was so good! The broth was rich and tasty, a bit silky, and the entire thing was quite comforting.

But if you do not want ramen, they have other alternatives like the Mori-Mori salad that has green salad with 11 kinds of vegetables tossed in a house made citrus matcha dressing. To keep it vegetarian, you can add an avocado or tofu; if not, chicken chashu.

So, after all there years, Ippudo remains on top of my list. I love this place and will certainly go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ippudo - 321 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/22

Battello in Jersey City

I really do not remember how many times we tried to go to Battello, an Italian restaurant located in Jersey City, with breathtaking views of the New York skyline. Well, weekends are more for private parties so we decided to go on a Monday a couple of months ago. Definitely ideal as there were not that many people, they sat us in the covered patio where we could admire the view while enjoying a delicious meal.

We started off by ordering some drinks. Jodi got a mocktail, the Portside pear, made with pear, yuzu, fever tree sparkling lemon, while I simply got an old fashioned.

Portside pear mocktail at Battello in Jersey City

Old fashioned at Battello in Jersey City

As we were waiting for our dishes, they brought us some delicious focaccia bread that was drizzled with olive oil and surely did not need any of the butter that came with. The problem was that I could not stop eating it…

One of the things I like at Battello is that you can order pasta in appetizer size so you can try few of their homemade delicacies. That is what we did in fact, starting with the malfade cacio e pepe that was perfect, the amount of pepper being exactly what it should be and not overpowering at all the entire dish. The second one was the lacinato kale and taleggio tortellini with mushroom burro, topped with shaved black truffle. Decadent and elegant, this was my favorite pasta dish. The third pasta dish was the squid ink torchio that was made with a spicy tomato sauce, octopus and crab. Good, the pasta was deliciously al dente and the breadcrumbs added a nice crunch.

Malfade cacio e pepe at Battello in Jersey City

Lacinato kale and taleggio tortellini at Battello in Jersey City

Squid ink torchio at Battello in Jersey City

For dessert, we decided to try their apple bread pudding, thinking that we should go with something different than the classic dessert you usually get in Italian restaurant. It was unfortunately just ok, being a little dry and would have been great with a creme anglaise.

Apple pudding at Battello in Jersey City

apple bread pudding at Battello in Jersey City

Overall, we had a good meal at Batello: the menu is great and I love the fact that you can try several pasta dishes. Between the food and the view, it is worth the ride to Jersey City.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Battello - 502 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/22

Basta Pasta, Italian food by a Japanese Chef

I cannot believe that it has been 2 years since we went to Basta Pasta, the US outpost of an Italian restaurant that opened in Japan in 1985, that I discovered few years ago and remains one of my preferred Italian restaurants in the city. Always packed, the menu there is amazing with so many mouth watering dishes that you are not sure what to get and just want to order the entire menu.

We went there on a Thursday evening, arriving a it earlier, so we sat at the bar to enjoy some drinks while waiting for our table. Jodi had a mocktail called the Pompelmo, made with grapefruit juice, fresh mint, soda and tonic, while I had the No BS cocktail, made with Bird Dog Bourbon, hibiscus syrup, lime juice, serrano salsa and fresh mint (I asked for not too much salsa so it would not be too spicy).

Pompelmo mocktail at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

No BS cocktail at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

We started the meal with the burrata that was served with a Winter citrus salad (I loved the combination of the oranges with the creaminess of the cheese), walnuts, onion and olives. Refreshing, this is a perfect dish to share and one of the few vegetarian appetizers.

For her main, Jodi went for the Cavatelli mozzarella, pomodori e fungi, that is homemade cavatelli pasta with mozzarella, fresh tomato sauce, shiitake mushrooms and grana padano cheese. Quite good and comforting, with a nice amount of cheese, this is the perfect dish if you love mushrooms.

Cavatelli mozzarella, pomodoro e funghi at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

On my side, I could not resist ordering the spaghetti Nero ai frutti di mare or squid ink spaghetti with clams, squid, sea scallop and shrimp. The pasta was amazing, perfectly cooked al dente and every piece of seafood was perfectly cooked too. It was served with a discrete tomato sauce that definitely enhanced the entire dish. I loved it!

Spaghetti nero ai frutti di mare at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

For dessert, we decided to try their chocolate lava cake. Served warm, gooey in the center, it was served with a creamy vanilla Ice cream that paired perfectly with the chocolate and balanced the sweetness of the cake.

Chocolate lava cake at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

We left satisfied after a delicious meal at Basta Pasta. This place is quite unique: the food is exquisite and the service on point. I definitely 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!

Basta Pasta - 37 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/22

Maiella in Long Island City

It’s been a while since we wanted to go back to Maiella, an Italian restaurant we discovered few years ago. So, as we were in Long Island City to see the opening of Peter Drake, the Provost of the New York Academy of Art and an amazing painter, we decided to make a reservation there, on a Saturday evening. Well, we went around 6pm and the place was not that busy and I enjoyed the fact that we could have a quiet dinner, until they started to increase the volume of the music and people started to come, large tables filling up with people ready to celebrate birthdays and other kinds of events.

I started the meal by ordering a cocktail, Il Padrone, made with Bourbon, Amaro, lemon and ginger. This was good, like a palate cleanser with the ginger giving a nice heat in the back of my throat. With it, they brought us some homemade focaccia that was good, brushed with olive oil.

Il Padrone cocktail at Maiella in Long Island City

As an appetizer, we shared the Polpete Melanzane, or eggplant croquettes that were sitting on caponata and drizzled with smoked ricotta. If you like eggplant, this dish is for you. The fried croquette was deliciously crispy, not oily, letting this delightful vegetable be the star of the show.

Polpette Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

For her main, Jodi got the Cappelletti ai Funghi that is cappelletti stuffed with mushrooms, served with a sauce made with mushroom and truffle, and grana padano. This dish was amazing: decadent as well as elegant thanks to small bits of truffle, each bite was an explosion of flavor.

Cappelletti ai funghi at Maiella in Long Island City

On my side, I hesitated a bit between few dishes but finally decided to get the Strozzapretti ai Ricci di Mare. This homemade pasta was smothered with sea urchin butter, mixed with Red Busan crab (jumbo lump crab), Calabrese chili and squid ink breadcrumbs. Just reading the description made my mouth water and showcased the creativity of the Chef. The pasta was deliciously cooked al dente, and the chili gave a nice heat to the dish while the breadcrumbs added some crunchiness. Superb!

Strozzapretti ai frutti di mare at Maiella in Long Island City

For dessert, we chose the chocolate budino. They did not have this amazing meringue cake we had the last time that Jodi raved about, but I admit that the budino was amazing! The chocolate custard that was dense and not too sweet was sitting on a sable, topped with chantilly that balanced the robustness of the chocolate, and accompanied by an orange marmalade. Orange and chocolate go very well together and I just wished there was more marmalade on the plate. Still, this was a great dessert.

Chocolate budding at Maiella in Long Island City

So, yes, we were not disappointed by Maiella: this is a great place in Long Island City that I absolutely recommend. And it is not that far if you take the subway: it is worth the trip!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Maiella - 4610 Center Blvd, Queens, NY 11109

I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/22

La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We were looking for a place to eat near Bryant Park when we decided to try the new location of La Pecora Bianca. Although it was a Tuesday, we decided to still reserve a table: I am glad we did as the place was quite packed…and loud! The noise level in restaurants is definitely something I will never get used to, but we really wanted to try their menu.

I started off by ordering a negroni from…

I started off by ordering a negroni from their negroni bar and picked the Winter as made with bourbon.

Whisky Negroni at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We then shared the crispy provolone that is fried provolone as you would have mozzarella sticks. Crispy, with lots of cheese, it was not greasy and delicious dipped in a vodka sauce that was a nice substitute for the classic marinara.

Fried provolone at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

For the entrees, we both tried their homemade pasta that are definitely a must have. Jodi got their bucatini cacio e pepe (nice amount of cheese but a bit too much pepper), while I had their linguine with clams that were succulent.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

Linguine with clams at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We finished the meal with an olive oil cake that was superb, and ditched the quince that came with it as it was a bit too syrupey.

Olive oil cake at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

Overall, the meal at La Pecora Bianca was great. The only negative was the noise level that made us want to get our dishes quickly and leave…Still, this place never disappoints.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Pecora Bianca -20 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/22

L’Adresse in Times Square

We discovered L’Adresse a while back and decided to go back for dinner on a Friday as we were looking for a place close to Bryant Park. I remembered that I had a good meal there and was curious to know if they were still good considering that they opened a second location in the City, a sign that I took as a success for their venture.

The place was not that crowded and I really…

The place was not that crowded and I really appreciated the fact that, besides for a table for 10, it was quiet.

Food wise, they have an interesting menu that takes specialties from various countries and cannot be associated to just one. Here is what we had:

To start, we ordered drinks. Jodi got a strawberry lemonade, while I had a Sea Buckhorn whisky sour, made with bourbon, egg white and house made Sea Buckhorn syrup. Good, strong and refreshing.

Strawberry lemonade at L’adresse in Times Square

Sea buckhorn whisky sour at L’adresse in Times Square

For the appetizer, we decided to share the mezze that was a platter composed of beet hummus (I like beet but surely prefers the classic hummus made with chickpeas), tzatziki and spicy feta. It was served with a delicious grilled naan that was topped with za’atar, as well as Fire roasted tomatoes. It was overall delicious, the naan being the star of the show, but I found the quantities quite small for $25!

Mezze platter at L’adresse in Times Square

Continuing on the naan adventure, Jodi got a mushroom naan flatbread that was made with truffle mushroom pate, mushrooms and Asiago. It looked great and tasted delicious, topped generously with cheese.

Mushroom naan flatbread at L’adresse in Times Square

On my side, I settled for the steak frites. Served with truffle fries that were slightly crispy but did not taste truffle at all, the cut was a NY strip that was unfortunately overcooked and that I sent back. The second time was better (I asked for medium rare and it was close), but the steak was not tender. It was juicy and for sure, they put a lot of butter (beurre Maître D) on top compared to the size of the meat!

Steak frites at L’adresse in Times Square

Last was dessert: we got their chocolate envy. It was a chocolate and almond cake filled with layers of gianduja, caramel dark chocolate mousse and feuillantine of a little crunch. This cake was the star of the meal: very chocolatey with nice hints of hazelnut. I loved it.

Chocolate envy at L’adresse in Times Square

So dessert was good, but overall the meal was a bit disappointing and pricey for what it was. Too bad.

Enjoy (…)!

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L’Adresse -1065 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/22

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We were exploring the Financial District when we stumbled upon Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill at The Lowell, a luxurious apart-hotel. I knew Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken and was always curious to try this venture, having seen plenty of photos on Instagram that seem to showcase delicious food. We went on a Friday evening and, although the place was not that packed when we arrived, it changed as the evening went, the dining room filing up very quickly…

I could not resist ordering a glass of Japanese whisky from their small selection and got a Ichiro Malt that had a beautiful golden color and a subtle fruity taste.

Ichiro Malt Japanese Whisky at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We them shared the cauliflower tempura that was superb: light, crispy, with the cauliflower cooked all the way through, it was served with a sweet miso sauce. I also wanted to try their salmon tartare that was topped with a quail egg and scallion, with a nice quantity of wasabi that enhanced the taste of the soft salmon.

Cauliflower tempura at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

Salmon tartare at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

For her entree, Jodi had a bit of choice for vegetarian options and opted for their shiitake mushroom roll, their avocado roll and we shared tamago (aka Japanese omelet). On my side, I tried their Kyuri special that is a roll made with eel, crab stick, cucumber and avocado. The rolls were delicious, my favorite being the one with eel as well as the tamago.

Tamago, shiitake roll and avocado roll at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

Kyuri special roll at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

For dessert, they did not have a menu and just two specials. We decided to try their flourless chocolate dessert that was made with white chocolate in the bottom, topped with a fudge-y milk chocolate, that had the consistency of a thick custard and was quite decadent, served with a green tea ice cream that complemented quite well the sweetness of the chocolate.

Flourless chocolate cake at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We left full and satisfied by this delicious meal, certain we would come back there as their menu is mouth watering and there were many other dishes that we wish we could try. This is definitely a place I would recommend.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill - 84 William St, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/22

Mezcali in the Financial District

We decided to explore the Financial District when we stumbled upon Mezcali, a Mexican restaurant that opened few months ago. So we decided to book a table for the following Friday. Well, a Friday is always busy and this place was no exception: our table on the ground floor was located close to a table of screaming diners (the four of them sounded like there were hundred people, the alcohol not really helping), as well as a large table of corporate folks going there for a drink before the week end. We were there so there was no turning back, especially as I wanted a particular dish that I will mention later.
I started off by ordering their ancestral old fashioned, made with Abosolo Mexican whisky. I admit that I nether heard of Mexican whisky, so it was interesting to try, but let’s face it: they would put a Maker’s Mark, I would probably not see the difference.

We then went for our go to appetizer: guacamole, that they made mild. Good, with chunks of avocado, they brought it split into two different bowls. I was wondering if it had something to do with people not wanting to dip their chips in the same bowl (or even Covid) that made them do that.

For her main, Jodi got the veggie taco that was made with cauliflower. Good and tasty.

And then on my side was the long awaited dish: a California burrito. I have been looking for this since a trip a few years ago in San Diego. If you never had it, think about a classic burrito where the rice has been replaced by fries. I do not particularly like rice in a burrito. But fries! This burrito was made with Oaxacan marinated steak (tender and juicy), avocado, black beans and cascabel queso. I loved it! It was like having a compressed steak frites where you get the taste of the meat and fries at the same time, the fries being sometimes crunchy, sometimes soft. I highly recommend it.

California burrito at Mezcali in NYC, NY

Dessert was a bit disappointing as I was expecting they would have churros. So we ended up with a taco ice cream that was quite messy and just ok.

Overall, the food was good at Mezcali, but I admit that the noise level made the dinner a bit painful…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mezcali - 83 Maiden Ln, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 3/30/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/30/22

Porterhouse in Columbus Circle

For a celebratory dinner, we decided to go to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle. We had a deal with Jodi: I would get my steak and she would get the dessert that she has been eyeing for some time…

To celebrate, we got two cocktails: the penicillin (Japanese whisky, honey, lemon, ginger and laphroaig 10 years myst) and a margarita…that was not what we originally ordered.

For a celebratory dinner, we decided to go to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle. We had a deal with Jodi: I would get my steak and she would get the dessert that she has been eyeing for some time…

To celebrate, we got two cocktails: the penicillin (Japanese whisky, honey, lemon, ginger and laphroaig 10 years myst) and a margarita…that was not what we originally ordered.

Penicillin cocktail at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

I started off with their jumbo lump crab cake that was served with a horseradish-mustard sauce. Quite good, although not the best, I was expecting bigger pieces of crab in it (well it says jumbo, so…). Still, good.

For her main, Jodi got the burrata salad composed of tomato and basil. Classic and refreshing.

It was small though but we were planning on sharing sides. The first one was the pan roasted mushrooms that was delicious. I often find roasted mushrooms to be a bit boring, but not this one. The second side was their crispy hash brown. Wow, this was fantastic! Definitely crispy, and cooked all the way through.

Pan roasted mushrooms at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

For the steak, after a bit of hesitation, I chose their chili rubbed ribeye. Perfectly cooked medium rare, with a nice crust on the outside, it was tender and juicy, nicely fatty and not at all overpowered by the chili rub that gave a very slight kick and to the contrary enhanced the taste of the meat. Superb!

Chili rubbed ribeye at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

I should mention that I ate it with béarnaise sauce that is my go to sauce with steak. And they made it well.

Bearnaise sauce at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Last was the long awaited dessert. We shared their coconut cake that is probably the best I ever had. That says a lot because I am not always a fan of coconut cake but this one was fantastic: light, with a delicious cream, it was not too sweet.

So, after reading this, you probably understand that we had an amazing meal. Porterhouse is for sure a place to know for steak.

Enjoy (I really did)!

Porterhouse - 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 3/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/28/22

Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Cha kee, a Chinese restaurant that opened in September 2021 in the heart of Chinatown. there, Executive chef Akiko Thurnauer (formerly of Mission Chinese, En Japanese Brasserie, Nobu Tribeca), crafted an interesting menu, far from the classic Chinese cuisine you usually find: no vegetarian dumplings or scallion pancakes. In fact, the menu is quite limited if you are vegetarian, so it was a bit of a challenge for Jodi. Not for me.

Dining room at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

I was looking forward to try their Dan Dan noodles that I saw on Instagram one day and was the reason I wanted to go to Cha Kee. I tried these noodles for the first time at Hao Noodle and I am sort of obsessed with them. Made with ground pork and a sesame sauce, it is topped with a poached egg that literally dissolved as you mix everything together, giving a nice coating to the noodles that were perfectly cooked, and added some creaminess to the dish, while the radicchio added a bit of crunch. It was good. However, I was expecting it to be spicy like at Hao Noodle, but it was not at all.

Dan Dan noodles at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

We did share few vegetarian dishes. For appetizers, we had the smashed cucumber with Shio kombu, mama oil and lemon juice, a vegan dish that was just of for me. The best was the Honey walnut cauliflower, that was phenomenal: crispy, creamy, sweet and savory. I definitely recommend this dish!

Smashed cucumber at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

Honey walnut cauliflower at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

For her main, Jodi got the Ume and wood ear mushroom fried rice, made with oyster mushroom, egg and Shiso. Classic, in a way, but a bit elevated, it was quite comforting.

Ume and wood ear mushroom fried rice at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

I should mention that I had a mocktail with my meal (they do not have a liquor license). It was the Garden Spice, composed of seedlip spice, ginger, ginger ale and rosemary. Refreshing, it is a perfect mix if you like ginger.

Garden Spice mocktail at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

We did not have dessert as we were full (and had an ice cream earlier…), but I would definitely go back to check out what they propose as I am sure it is as unique as the other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Cha Kee - 43 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/22

Pepolino in TriBeCa

I discovered Pepolino in TriBeCa many years ago. This Italian restaurant has been there for some time, that is no wonder when you tried their food. Comfy, it reminded me some of the delicious dishes we had in Italy, like their pappa Al pomodoro, a soup made with tomato, garlic and bread. A peasant soup that is very comforting.
Another classic is their melanzane e scarmoza that is made with thin slices of eggplant topped with smokey mozzarella. Good, with a nice smokiness, I just wished that the eggplant would have been more cooked since it was bit…

Pappa al pomodoro at Pepolino in TriBeCa

Melanzane e scarrozza at Pepolino in TriBeCa

For an elegant experience, they propose a polenta mousse topped with cheese fondue and black truffle. Decadent, creamy and addictive.

Polenta con fondue at Pepolino in TriBeCa

Of course, going there, you cannot miss the pasta. And I could not resist ordering the linguine nere di mare or homemade squid ink linguine with seafood (shrimp, calamari and mussels) in a spicy tomato sauce. This dish is superb, the pasta and seafood (lots of it) being perfectly cooked, and the sauce, that was not spicy, had a robust flavor.

Linguine nere di mare at Pepolino in TriBeCa

I should mention that, with bread, they served us a tomato mousse that was very good, light and tasty. Different from the classic olive oil and bread.

We did not have dessert there because we had other plans, but I admit that I would have liked to try some of their options. Well, it will be for another time as we will go back for sure since this place truly reminds us some of the restaurants we ate at in Italy.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Pepolino -281 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/22

Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

I recently discovered Osteria La Baia, an Italian restaurant that opened a couple of months ago in Midtown Manhattan. I was not sure what to expect, but the few times I went there, I was blown away: great service and delicious food are the two impressions that remain…

It is the kind of place where I see myself going for either a meal or a drink, their cocktail menu being quite large with specialty cocktails like the Il Padrino (The Godfather, made with rye and amaretto), classic cocktails, spritzes and house Negronis (I had the Scrittore that was not made with gin but whisky).

The Godfather cocktail at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Whisky Negroni at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Their menu has classics, but they surely execute them well. The octopus for instance was perfectly cooked, and their burrata creamy, as expected.

They have several pasta dishes and their lobster garganelli « Calabrese », made with Calabrian chili and spicy lobster sauce (not so spicy) was such a treat, but I admit that my favorite was the spaghetti alle vongole, served with Manila clams in a white wine sauce. I simply loved it: the sauce was delicious, not too garlicky, the pasta Al dente and breadcrumbs added a nice crunch.

Lobster Garganelli “Calabrese” at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Spaghetti alle Vongole at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Jodi settled for their wood smoked mushrooms with wood roasted artichoke, eggplant ragu and salsa verde. Interesting vegetarian dish, quite comforting where fortunately the artichoke did not overpower the whole thing.

Smoked mushrooms at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Dessert was also amazing. I am not sure if I prefer the olive oil cake that was a special over the zeppoles (that came with a lemon curd). Both were a great way to end fantastic meals. No, definitely, Osteria La Baia is a great addition to the Midtown restaurant scene. Even better than the closed Remi that was a block away.

Olive oil cake at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I did)!

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Osteria La Baia -129 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019