I Just Want To Eat! 3/16/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/16/22

The Tyger in NYC, NY

You may think when reading the title of this post that I made a typo in the name of the restaurant, especially when seeing a mural of a tiger in the back of the dining room, but it is not the case. The Y replaced the I, as nod to The Tyger, a poem by the English poet William Blake, published in 1794 as part of his Songs of Experience collection. At The Tyger, Chef Paul Donnelly, crafted a menu with dishes from Southeast Asia, but with his own modern interpretation. We liked it so much that we went twice, two weekends in a row…

Here is what we had:

They have cocktails, hot or cold, but we decided to try their non-alcoholic beverages as we went for lunch. I was looking forward to try their Thai tea but preferred the hot version over the cold, the latter being a bit watered down, with too much ice in it. For refreshing mocktails, they also offer two others that take their names from William Blake’s poems: Joy is my name, made with lychee, lime, sea salt and seltzer, and The Maiden Queen, composed of Thai basil, pink peppercorn, lemon and seltzer. Both were very good and I would not choose one over the other.

The Maiden Queen Mocktail at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Joy is my name mocktail at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Their menu is meant to share, and I should mention that they do have few vegetarian dishes to offer outside of the small plates section: there, they only offer the grilled Togarashi corn, that sit on top of Kewpie mayo (a mayo made solely with yolks, giving custardy and rich characteristics), and drizzled with grana padano cheese, to counter the heat that is slowly building up as you eat it.

Grilled togarashi corn at The Tyger in NYC, NY

They propose the classic Pad See Ew and you may wonder why one would order this classic rice noodle dish there. Well it is served with a crispy tofu that reminded me of the five spice tofu at Hao Noodle: silky, slightly crunchy, this is the type of place that make you realize that tofu is not that bland and rubbery protein you often get in restaurants. But my favorite vegetarian dish is their housemade egg noodles, served with oyster mushrooms and lemon (they ditched the bonito flakes to make it vegetarian). These noodles were succulent, smothered in a buttery sauce that was so addictive and in fact perfect to soothe my mouth that was a bit on fire from the dish I had…

Let me start with that dish before talking about non-vegetarian dishes. I could not not try the Ayutthaya style duck confit curry. Well, I love duck confit and was wondering how they would bring an ancient Thai cuisine with a classic French one. I was imagining the duck confit to be cut in pieces, but the duck leg was served whole, bathed in a curry made with lychee, peanuts (for a nice crunch) and fried scallion. I was surprised that it did not come with any side and so ordered some rolls that were perfect with it, not really wanting to have rice as the curry was thick. The duck was perfectly made, falling off the bone and not salty, and I loved the curry itself that was quite spicy, but the kind that makes you want to go back to it. That dish had many elements: saltiness, sweetness and spiciness. Simply delicious!

Duck confit curry at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Another main I tried was their Nasi Goreng, a fried rice dish I did not have for years now, that I enjoyed in Singapore and Indonesia years ago. At The Tyger, they make it with squid ink fried rice, calamari and a fried egg on top. It was good, but not as spectacular as the duck. I admit that I was expecting more, but there was too much rice and not enough calamari. Otherwise, I loved the crunch that was from what I think is tapioca, and the yolk helped reduce some of the heat that was building up in my mouth…

Let me finish with two fantastic appetizers I had there: the miso butter escargots that was a successful take on another French classic (I just wish they brought some bread to dip in that succulent miso butter) and the Phnom Penh fried chicken (crispy and perfectly cooked, the chicken being moist), served with a lime and white pepper dressing.

Miso butter escargots at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Phnom Penh fried chicken at The Tyger in NYC, NY

These meals were amazing and I cannot wait to go back to The Tyger and try their entire menu. It is a unique place that I surely recommend if you like Asian cuisine with a twist.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Tyger - 1 Howard St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/22

The Ashford in Jersey City

We are looking for a place to eat for brunch near Grove St in Jersey City, when I stumbled upon The Ashford, a sports bar. That’s usually not the type of places I would go to, my noise tolerance being a low, but, when I saw that they had a loaded croque madame on their website (it had fried chicken in it), I could not miss it.

The place is quite big, with multiple floors and a rooftop, and of course, large screens all over…

The place is quite big, with multiple floors and a rooftop, and of course, large screens all over.

Dining room at The Ashford in Jersey City

As we were ready to order, we were told that the menu we landed on with their QR code was the website menu (that I saw before) and was not up to date. We had to scan the football menu QR code. No problem, although I did not understand why restaurants do not update their websites. Anyway, I look at the “new” menu and cannot find the croque madame! So I ended up with their hangover burger. The name says it: perfect for hangover, it is made with an 8oz beef patty, American cheese, bacon, fried egg, Taylor ham, tater tots and maple syrup. Well, the latter made the whole thing a bit messy to eat, but it was really good. I loved the different texture and flavors I was getting at each bite. You have the crunchiness of the tater tots, the smokiness of the bacon, the sweetness of the maple syrup and the juiciness of the beef patty, all at once. The only regret was that the egg yolk was not runny to add some creaminess, but on the other hand, it was messy enough. It came with French fries that were crispy but just ok.

Hangover burger at The Ashford in Jersey City

Jodi on her side got the avocado toast that was made with smashed avocado and sourdough bread.

Avocado toast at The Ashford in Jersey City

I should mention that, after the menu thing, they also told us that they did not have any coffee or tea. This was not a one off: they never have it, that is odd, especially for brunch. I guess people prefer booze that they surely have. Interesting as we are not talking about anything extraordinary and to the contrary quite basic for brunch, especially with the cold air outside.

So, overall good, but probably not the kind of place I would go back to.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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The Ashford - 145 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/22

Dim Sum at Jing Fong on the Upper West Side

We were craving dim sum and planned to go to Jing Fong in Chinatown when we realized that this place closed, apparently temporarily, the only location still open being on the Upper West Side. Smaller than its sister restaurant, this place was packed and we could only have a seat at the bar, opposite to the counter that had a view on the kitchen. I wonder if it explains why it took them so long to come get our order…

They have a nice selection of dishes, from dim sum to classic Chinese ones perfect for vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners. Here are the dim sum we shared:

Har Gow or shrimp dumplings: my favorite! The shell was thin, slightly sticky and there was a good size piece of shrimp in it.

Shrimp rice noodle roll: another favorite, the rice noodles melting in my mouth.

Shrimp rice noodles rolls at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Peking duck and asparagus dumpling: quite good, I was afraid that the asparagus would overpower the duck, but it was not the case. I guess they make it with the meat of the Peking duck.

Peking duck and asparagus dumplings at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Scallion pancakes: our go to appetizer. It was good, slightly greasy, but the edges seemed a bit overcooked.

Scallion pancakes at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Vegetable Spring rolls: delicious! Crispy, slightly greasy, they came piping hot.

Vegetable Spring Rolls at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Vegetable dumplings: quite good, I wonder why they only bring 3 of them considering that most dumplings come with 4 pieces…

Vegetable dumplings at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Overall, the food at Jing Fong is good, with a nice selection of dim sum. This is definitely a place to go to if you do not mind the less than welcoming service. I guess it adds a certain charm to 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!

Jing Fong - 380 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/22

Domodomo in Jersey City

It’s been a while since we wanted to try Domodomo in Jersey City (although know that they do have a location in New York City). From the outside, the place looks amazing with its dark front and the dining room that can host close to 100 people is spacious with, interestingly, the sushi counter totally blocked from the kitchen view that is quite unusual as people like to sit at the counter to see the Chef preparing sushi and sashimi. They do serve an Omakase at specific hours and then, the eight seats reserved for this dining experience, can see the Chef preparing the sushi, otherwise, outside of this, they also cannot see anything. I admit that the menu is a bit confusing and not at all vegetarian friendly. For instance, unless you order a prix-fixe, they do not offer any vegetarian sushi and their hot dishes only have roasted cauliflower, roasted Brussels sprouts (we asked without Fujikake that is a dry condiment made with dried fish and they seem to have ditched the parmesan as well) or the classic edamame. No tofu? On top of that Jodi’s dishes came 20 minutes after all my dishes were served that showed a poor timing as dining together means together and they never mentioned that dishes were coming as soon as ready, without any particular order. At least the vegetables were good, although I found the broccoli a bit too sweet. But the charred cauliflower with green pea miso spread was delicious.

Roasted brussels sprouts at Domodomo in Jersey City

Roasted cauliflower at Domodomo in Jersey City

On my side, I got a clam miso soup that was made with clam, cuttlefish, shrimp and wakame that is a type of seaweed. Pretty good and a good change from a classic miso.

Clam miso soup at Domodomo in Jersey City

The hot dishes are small, so I decided to order two of them. The first one was the NY strip that was a 6oz dry aged strip on top of sweet soy onion (loved it) and seasonal vegetables. The steak was not as tender as I would have expected and I wish they cooked it medium rare. Still, it was good.

The second hot dish was the grilled octopus, served with Maitake mushroom, yuzu juice and cilantro. The octopus was a bit chewy but had a nice char. The sauce was too sweet and lacking the citrusy taste that I was expecting.

Grilled octopus at Domodomo in Jersey City

With my meal, I had a shot of Japanese whisky, a Kura from Hokkaido, while Jodi had a green tea.

Kura Japanese whisky at Domodomo in Jersey City

Dessert was quite good: we shared a black sesame panna cotta that had a nice nutty taste with nice crispy pearls on top. A must have.

Black sesame panna cotta at Domodomo in Jersey City

Overall our dinner at Domodomo was ok, the order of the dishes screwing up a bit the experience. The food we had was good but not amazing: the sushi are probably better…

Enjoy (…)!

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

Domodomo - 200 Greene St, Jersey City, NJ 07311

I Just Want To Eat! 2/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 2/7/22

Honest, vegetarian Indian in Jersey City

Newark Avenue in Jersey City has some great Indian restaurants and our lastest discovery was Honest, a vegetarian place that serves street food.

The dining room looks like a cafeteria and I admit that I was not sure if we should order at the counter, but, quickly, a waiter indicated to us that he would take our order at the table…

Newark Avenue in Jersey City has some great Indian restaurants and our lastest discovery was Honest, a vegetarian place that serves street food.

The dining room looks like a cafeteria and I admit that I was not sure if we should order at the counter, but, quickly, a waiter indicated to us that he would take our order at the table.

The menu was a bit overwhelming considering the number of dishes they propose. For instance, they have so many dosa that you hesitate a bit before making your choice. We finally decided to order a masala dosa, quite basic, where the rice and lentil crepe is filled with potato, onion and spices. It came with sambar that is like a lentil stew and a coconut chutney. That crepe was huge! And you may think that there is not much filling in it, but in fact it is enough: I started from the sides and dipped the deliciously crispy crepe in the sambar, and then, when I reached the potato filling, I used the crepe like I would do with bread, eating with my hand by the way, to grab some of it, and then again, dipped it in sambar. This was very good and comforting.

We also tried their samosa that had a flakey shell and were quite spicy. At that point, I was glad that I had a mango lassi or the yogurt from the dahi puri we tried as my mouth was a bit on fire…The dahi puri were superb: these crispy shells were filled with potato and yogurt, drizzled generously with tamarind sauce and topped with crispy noodles. It is a one bite appetizer that is always challenging to put in your mouth but, when you do, you get that explosion of flavors that is incredible.

Of course, we could not not leave without trying their gulab jamun, our favorite dessert. And we were not disappointed.

This was a great discovery. Not pricey, Honest has some great comforting food. I would certainly go back for not just the dosa that I admit was the star of the meal.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Honest -811 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 2/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 2/4/22

Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

I love Johnny Rockets! This burger joint with its 50’s vibe never gets old. As soon as you enter the restaurant, it is like going back in time, bringing memories of movies and TV Series I saw when I was a kid in France. Especially one of my favorites, the sitcom Happy Days, that I used to watch with my sisters and brother, not missing one episode. Good job for a place that only opened in 1986 in Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles: you would have thought that it started in the 50’s and was…

I love the dining room, the booths overlooking the metal counter with the kitchen behind, and the bar stools and banquettes covered with this thick dark red and white stripe that looks like seats you would find in an old muscle car. Of course, on each table, you cannot not miss the small juke boxes. In the past, you could pick a song that would play in the restaurant, but now, they just play songs, not just from the 50’s, their title and artist displayed on a flat TV screen that is the only sign of modern day you really notice.s

Jukebox at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

Food wise, they have burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheeses, but also salads. Jodi was quite happy that they had the impossible burger, the other vegetarian option for burgers being the Streamliner, a veggie burger made with a Boca burger patty. It was served with lettuce, tomato and pickles and she asked to ditch the chopped onions, relish, mustard and mayo. I admit that the Impossible burger is quite good for a plant based patty, better than the Beyond and easily mistaken for beef.

Impossible original burger at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I went for the Rocket Double, their signature burger composed of two beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and sliced onion with their special sauce. It is definitely big, but I wish they put more sauce and some more cheddar as there was no slice between the patties. It was great otherwise: the brioche bun that they use is good, and the beef was juicy, with a nice crust on the outside.

Rockets Double at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

With it, we got French fries that were so so, frozen for sure and not cooked enough, as well as onion rings made with sourdough breadcrumbs that were well cooked and deliciously crunchy. My only regret is that they did not have any ranch sauce with it (I dipped them in mayo).

French fries at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

Onion rings at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, I could not not have a milkshake and went for their cookies and cream milkshake with whipped cream (no cherry). Great milkshake, with some more on the side once I finished the glass.

Cookies and cream milkshake at Johnny Rockets in Hoboken, NJ

So it was great to be at Johnny Rockets: I love the atmosphere and the food there. I’ll definitely be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Johnny Rockets - 134 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

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

EAK Ramen in NYC

We were looking for a place to eat downtown when we stumbled upon EAK Ramen that we passed by multiple times and always wanted to try. I love ramen that has been a never ending trend in the city for many many years now: perfect on a cold day, comforting and delicious. So we decided to try the American outpost that started in Japan.

The place was quite bright with all the holiday decorations and we decided to sit inside, not really enthusiastic about the idea of eating outside with my coat on (I already do not like to eat with my suit jacket on, so imagine a coat!).

I started the meal with a pork bun or Butakaku bao. Good start: the bao itself was fluffy and slightly sticky, filled with pork belly smothered by mayo and surprisingly topped with a boiled egg.

Then came the ramen. Jodi got their Umami mushroom shoyu that is a vegan ramen made with a dashi broth (kombu and shiitake mushrooms), spinach noodles, shoyu tare (soy sauce seasoning, shiitake, maitake, shimeji, baby corn and snap peas. She asked for tofu that came separately, in a small dish. The ramen was disappointing: there was a spinach smell and taste that overpowered the whole thing that is sad because the mushroom broth was quite good. I wish we knew and she could have asked for different noodles, mine being quite good. They were also cheap on the other ingredients: there were barely any corn or snap peas.

Umami mushroom shoyu at EAK Ramen in NYC

On my side, I ordered the zebra shio, a Yokohama style pork and chicken broth that simmers for 18 hours. It was composed of shio tare, spinach, chashu, butter, garlic oil, nori and I asked for an egg that was perfectly cooked, the yolk being runny. The broth was superb, creamy and milky, not too salty. The only thing I did not like was the spinach. There were also not that many toppings in it. The noodles were thick and well cooked, having a nice bite, better than the spinach ones in Jodi’s ramen.

So overall it was ok. For similar prices, I would rather go to Ippudo…

Enjoy (…)!

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

EAK Ramen -469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 1/31/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/31/22

Baar Baar in NYC, NY

When Baar Baar opened a couple of years ago, everybody wanted to try this Indian gastropub where Chef Sujan Sarkar proposed a menu composed of a modern interpretation of regional dishes. So it was time for me to try and we decided to try it on a Saturday evening, for an early dinner. Yes, I like early dinners: first, of course, I can roam around the place and take photos, but I also like the quiet. So I did my thing at Baar Baar and was quite happy to be able to because their decor is stunning, cozy with a beautiful mural next to the bar.

The menu is big and it was quite difficult to pick just few dishes as everything looked amazing. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, i went for their chai negroni instead of their old fashioned that is typically what I would have picked (or at least any whisky cocktail), intrigued by the combination of chai and this bitter drink that was made with gin, masala chai concoction, Campari and sweet vermouth. Nicely bitter, I was expecting more chai flavor but it had a nice hint of cardamom. It came with a homemade bread stick that had nothing special and seems to be more for presentation purpose .

We then share the dahi puri. The small shells were filled with tamarind, avocado, yogurt mousse and raspberry chaat masala. I love that dish: it is a one bite as the filling is quite liquid and I love the explosion of flavor you get when eating it, with a delicious sweetness to it.

Next was the cauliflower 65, made with chili peanut chutney, curd rice mousse and podi masala. This dish from Chennai was a bit spicy, with the outside of the cauliflower being slightly crispy.

The lamb chops with hempseed chutney were superb: well cooked and a bit spicy. I also tried their Goan prawn balchao, served head on, that was delicious but spicy too.

For her main, Jodi got the tandoori mushroom that was served with a upma polenta, topped with parmesan and accompanied by pav, a soft bread roll. We also shared the black dairy dal with some naan that had a nice char. Dal is often something we get in Indian restaurants (dal makhni to be more specific) and this one was very good, creamy as I like it.

Tandoori mushroom at Baar Baar in NYC, NY

Although I was excited by the dinner menu, I was less so by the dessert one and we finally decided to order ice cream, just because we need to end the meal on a sweet note. We tried their toasted coconut as well as the saffron-pistachio: well, we were not disappointed. The ice cream was superb: dense, creamy and tasty. This, with a chai, was the perfect way to end a great meal.

Saffron-pistachio ice cream at Baar Baar in NYC, NY

Toasted coconut ice cream at Baar Baar in NYC, NY

Yes, overall it was delicious (the only negative is that all the plates came at once) and their menu having many small plates is a good way to try many things. Baar Baar delivered and it is not the last time I’ll be there.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Baar Baar - 13 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/22

White Mana Diner in Jersey City

We passed in front of White Mana Diner many times, but did not know the history being this tiny diner that sits in the corner of Manhattan Avenue and Tonnele Avenue in Jersey City. This place was built in 1939 by Paramount Diner, a company located in Oakland, NJ for the 1939 World Fair and is the sister restaurant of White Manna in Hackensack. Both diners take their name from the biblical food, manna, but lost an “n” because of a mistake when manufacturing the sign! It is said that this is in this place that the slider was invented. Surely, when you step in, you have the impression it is frozen in time: as soon as you enter, you see the horseshoe shaped counter (the small dining room is closed) that surrounds the front kitchen where burgers are made. They are not the best burger you would have but it is all about the experience: the meat, that they apparently hand roll, is thin compared to the potato bun. They precook it with few pieces of onion and will finish the cooking process as customer order. Still, tasty, but then noticed the big WEB 1/4 lb that might be their quarter pounder. Too late: I already ordered: would be for the next time.

Grill at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

Cheeseburger at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

White Mana burger at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

Jodi got a grilled cheese that was made in the back kitchen and we shared some fries.

Grilled cheese at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

French fries at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

To accompany my 2 cheeseburgers (I ordered a second one when I realized I would still be hungry), I decided to get a vanilla milkshake that was poured from the machine on the right side of the room. Interesting to see that, to make a chocolate milkshake, they simply add chocolate syrup and mix it with the vanilla milkshake.

Vanilla milkshake at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

Milkshake at White Mana Diner in Jersey City

Overall, it was good and cheap ($19.85 for all of this). Not the best burger but I would go back for the experience.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

White Mana Diner - 470 Tonnele Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/22

Afternoon tea at The Crosby Bar in NYC

Their afternoon tea is fairly classic: you get scones, sandwiches and sweets, but instead of just a choice of tea, you can opt for coffee or hot chocolate. Of course, you can also have champagne for an additional fee. Interestingly, as we were eating our way through, the waiter came to our table and asked if we wanted some more! Trust me: I had enough food there!

There is something that I really like about afternoon tea:

I like the elegance, most of the time, depending where you go,
the excitement when you see the three tier tray being placed on your table,
and the relaxing atmosphere, depending on where you go of course and how crowded and loud the place can be.

So, this time we decided to go to The Crosby Bar, located in The Crosby Street Hotel. The place is quite big, with a colorful decor and a noise level that was ideal for enjoying the experience.

We decided to stay with tea, English breakfast for Jodi and peppermint for me. They use loose tea that they steep directly in the boiled water, so the issue is that at some point, it will sit there for too long and become bitter.

English breakfast at The Crosby Bar in NYC

Their afternoon tea was composed of:

Top plate:

Caramelized apple tartelette

Chocolate whoopie pie, candy cane cream

Ricotta almond lemon cake

Eggnog panna cotta, amarena cherry, panettone crumbles

Chef’s selection macaron

Middle plate:

Turkey, cranberry chestnut stuffing, semolina raisin

Smoked salmon, horseradish, watercress, skyr

Cucumber, lemon labneh and za’atar

Truffled egg salad, parsley

Bottom plate:

Scones with clotted cream and preserves

As Jodi is vegetarian, she had her own three tier tray with only vegetarian sandwiches that I thought was a nice touch. The portions were quite generous (as I mentioned you could get seconds if you wanted). The sandwiches were good, but the best part was the scones that were served warm, nicely crunchy on the outside. However, I thought the sweets were less successful, including their whoopie pie that is what people seem to rave about. Still, I would go back there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Crosby Bar - 79 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/22

Vegan lunch at Beatnic in NYC

You may not know Beatnic, but if I tell you that it is the rebranded name of By Chloe, it probably rings a bell. Founded in 2015 by Chef Chloe Coscarelli, the rebranding is the result of a long legal battle between the Chef and the investors of the restaurant that truly put vegan dishes on the map in New York City, making it a bit trendy. Chef Coscarelli is not anymore part of the adventure and it could be why Beatnic does not have the same aura. This fast casual place offers interesting dishes that I was looking forward to try as a non-vegetarian who had great vegan food in the past and I was really disappointed. The air fried fries were horrible, totally undercooked and the chicky deluxe, the vegan version of the fried chicken sandwich, made with tempeh, although crunchy at first, became quickly mushy. At least the nachos were ok, mainly being tortilla chips, jalapeño and black beans (but still mainly tortilla chips) and they know how to make a salad (quinoa taco salad made with Romaine, Quinoa, Spicy Chorizo, Black Beans, Sweet Corn, Avocado, Tomato, Tortilla Strips, Tofu Crema, Agave-Lime Vinaigrette). I was definitely not convinced when I left and so was Jodi who is vegetarian.

Chicky deluxe sandwich at Beatnic in NYC

Well, I do not think I will be back soon!

Enjoy (…)!

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

Beatnic- 60 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 1/17/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/17/22

Boucherie in NYC

On Christmas Eve, we were looking for a place to eat when we finally decided to go to Boucherie near Union Square. We went there a while back, on Valentine’s Day that is a day where we rarely go to restaurants, menus being generally overpriced; so I thought it would be a good idea to do a revisit, checking first with Jodi that there would be some vegetarian dishes appealing to her.

I love this place: huge with definitely the feel of being in a Parisian brasserie. The restaurant was decorated for the occasion, with a big tree at the entrance.

We started off our meal with some mocktails: PJ Breeze for Jodi, a drink made with pineapple, lime, lavender and mint (refreshing with the lavender being subtle) and the Berrymania for me, made with raspberries, cranberries purée, lemon and Sprite. I loved the fact that they offer drinks like this so you get excited to get one and are not just getting soda, coffee or tea if you do not want alcohol. My drink was so good: also refreshing, it had a pieces of raspberries in it that added a nice texture.

For the Holidays, they had a Pate de foie, a duck liver and foie gras mousse served with toasted bread and a cherry compote that was perfect with the pate.

Jodi just got an entree; her favorite when we go to France: the salade mesclun au chèvre chaud or warm goat cheese salad. This is a nice dish that we often make at home as easy to make.

Salade de chevre chaud at Boucherie in NYC

On my side, I ordered the entrecôte grillée, an Australian grass fed ribeye that was served with new potatoes, a salad and I also asked for béarnaise sauce. The steak was more medium than medium-rare and a little bit hard to slice Still, it was good. I loved the potatoes that were crispy with nice hints of salt, that I liked to eat with the salad.

We finished with their chocolate and caramel tart that was truly a decadent and elegant dessert with its gold leaf on top. The chocolate was dense, the bits of salt on top balancing well the sweetness of the chocolate and caramel.

Chocolate and caramel tart at Boucherie in NYC

This was a nice meal, although I find La Grande Boucherie, their sister restaurant located Midtown, better. Still, if in the area, I would stop by to get some other French dishes, their menu being quite mouth watering.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Boucherie -225 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 1/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/14/22

Dinner at Frankie in Jersey City

We decided to explore the food scene near Grove Street in Jersey City, when we stumbled upon Frankie, an Australian restaurant. When we arrived, the place was not that packed but, as the evening went, it got totally crowded, inside and outside with what seemed to be mostly regulars.

I admit that I know little of Australian cuisine and was a bit lost in the menu that was international with things like green curry or fish and chips. At least the pea and chive dumplings we shared were quite good. The peas were pea shoots and it was made with a tofu bechamel. Reading the description, it was definitely intriguing but then, after the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised. This was not an after thought and the shell was well made, not doughy or too thick, and the filling tasty.

Pea and chives dumplings at Frankie in Jersey City

Pea and chives at Frankie in Jersey City

As her main, Jodi got a veggie burger with a side of salad. This was a good veggie burger, not mushy, the slaw having a very slight kick.

On my side, I got their meat pie that was made with beef shank and bone marrow. It was accompanied by herbed butterball potatoes. The presentation was quite nice and it was a big portion, but I did not really like the dish, the crust being dry and did not like the meat part.

I also had a drink: The girl in Amber, made with Misunderstood ginger whisky, fresh ginger, lemon and cinnamon. Nice drink, very gingery with a delicious undertone of cinnamon.

The girl in Amber cocktail at Frankie in Jersey City

Last was dessert. I was really looking forward to trying their house made cinnamon donuts. They were supposed to be filled with chocolate ganache but in fact there was just a bit of ganache on top. The ganache was good, but the donut itself lacked sweetness. I guess it would have been better if done as intended, with the ganache inside…

So I was a bit disappointed with Frankie. Surprising considering that this place was packed. If I lived in the neighborhood, I might give it another try to see if it is because I did not order the right dishes, but it is not the case, so I’ll pass.

Enjoy (…)!

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

Frankie -264 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 1/12/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/12/22

Brunch at Atla in NYC, NY

We were looking for a Mexican restaurant in the City for brunch when I stumbled upon an article from The Infatuation recommending Atla, a place located in Noho. As we arrived, we realized that we passed many times in front of this bright restaurant from the same team behind Cosme.

We started off with some juices. I appreciate when a restaurant proposes exciting juices next to cocktails (if I drink a cocktail for lunch, I need a nap) and other than the classic orange or grapefruit juices. Jodi got the coconut and pineapple one, while I had a mix of Asian pear, lime and Jasmine. My juice was ok, preferring what Jodi ordered.

Coconut and pineapple juice at Atla in NYC, NY

Asian pear, lime and jasmine juice at Atla in NYC, NY

We then shared a guacamole that came with large homemade tortilla. We always order guacamole when eating in a Mexican restaurant and were really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it was not good: soupy and too salty.

For her main, Jodi got the cheese quesadilla with mushrooms. Bland is how I would describe this dish. It is as if they assembled everything right before serving, the tortilla missing that slight greasiness and char that you would expect, and the mushrooms had not taste.

Cheese quesadilla with mushrooms at Atla in NYC, NY

Cheese quesadilla and mushrooms at Atla in NYC, NY

On my side, I got the lobster burrito. I thought that it was a great idea to replace the rice with cabbage, making a lighter version of this dish and elevating it with lobster. Problem was that there was too much cabbage, not enough lobster (well cooked though) and the corn tempura, that added a nice crunch, was too salty.

Last was dessert. We could not not try their churros. They were not great, missing that crunchiness and slightly doughy texture we love so much in this classic treat. It was accompanied with a spiced chocolate that I did not like either.

So, overall, this was a disappointing meal. We had high expectations considering the team who owns it and the article I read. I’ll pass.

Enjoy (…)!

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

Atla -372 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 1/10/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/10/22

Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

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

Madam Ji is not unknown to me as I went there a couple of weeks ago for lunch and I was really excited to go back as a guest for dinner. It used to be Surya, that I first visited in 2015, meeting with Chef Lala Sharma, the father of Chef Abhishek Sharma who now runs the place among other acclaimed restaurants (Badshah, Swagat). Chef Abhishek Sharma explained to me that he wanted to create a sister restaurant to Badshah, a popular joint located in Hell’s Kitchen, Badshah being casual and Madam Ji more elegant. The dining room is indeed quite elegant with its beautiful decor, the dining room being dominated the name in neon of the restaurant, surrounded by nature, and by the beautiful painting by Kavi, a Florida based artist who was born in Mumbai and raised in LA, representing a king (badshah) and a queen (Madam Ji), that is the concept sought by the Chef.

Chef Abhishek Sharma at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Dining room at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Bar at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Art from Kavi at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

For lunch, they offer only a prix fixe menu that is an incredible deal: for $14.95, you get the soup of the day or salad, an entree, a rice, a naan and the dessert of the day. You cannot beat that! The soup of the day was a tomato soup. Well, not just any tomato soup: it was a smoked tomato soup made with tomatoes roasted in their tandoor, and cooked with various spices like cinnamon. Creamy, with a fantastic smell, it had so much flavor that I just wish I knew what spices they are using to do make it at home (although I do not have a tandoor…). This soup is in fact on their dinner menu.

Smoked tomato soup at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

We then decided to both get vegetarian dishes so we could share. We chose the chana masala (chickpeas cooked in a fire roasted tomato curry) and the paneer makhani (cottage cheese served in a buttery tomato sauce spiked with fenugreek). Both were good, but I admit that my favorite was the paneer Makhani that was delightfully creamy, the paneer being homemade. I ditched the rice and just ate it with their fluffy naan, using it to grab pieces of cheese or chickpeas while at the same time dipping it in the sauce.

Chana masala at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Paneer Makhani at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Naan at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Rice at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

The dessert of the day was kheer or rice pudding, made with coconut milk, pistachio, cardamon, almonds and rose water. Comforting, it was a great way to finish the lunch. Quantities seem small but I can tell you that I was full when I left!

Dinner was a different, still amazing experience. We started by having some drinks: the mango lassi of course that is a drink we always get when eating Indian, a good way to counter the heat of some dishes, although I admit that the food there was not spicy. And then, a 1947 beer that goes really well with Indian food and that I discovered last year (check out my podcast episode with Nirav Vyas, founder of 1947 Beer on Apple Podcast and Google Podcast).

1947 beer at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Mango lassi at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

For appetizers, we tried their samosa that was crispy and comforting, but I admit that their Malabar Aubergine was the star: It consists of crispy slices of eggplant served over a coconut malabar sauce with spinach and goat cheese crumble. This beautiful dish was delicious: crispy and creamy, you get several flavors when you bite into it that blend harmoniously together.

Samosa at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Malabar aubergine at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

For her entree, Jodi got their P&B skewers cooked in their tandoor that is Paneer and Broccoli (not Peanut Butter!). I admit that we did not know it would be a small dish. Still, it was quite good and their homemade paneer had a nice bite, without being rubbery. It was smothered in delicious spices that gave a very subtle heat. On my side, I went for the truffle lamb korma as it was recommended over other dishes. I did not regret it: the creamy sauce was superb and I could not stop dipping naan or paratha in it! I did not taste any truffle, but it was so good that I did not care. By the way, the paratha was awesome: slightly crispy and delightfully greasy.

P&B Skewer at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Naan and paratha at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Truffle lamb korma at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

Last was dessert: we got their gulab jamun (my favorite Indian dessert) and their kheer that we loved when we went for lunch.

Gulab jamun and kheer at Madam Ji in Greenwich Village, NYC

These meals were great: Chef Abhishek Sharma proposes a modern menu with a wide range of dishes that make you want to try everything. I truly appreciate the fact it has the right amount of spiciness so you can enjoy your meal. The menus at Madam Ji and Badshah are quite similar with few difference, so if you are not in Greenwich Village but Hell’s Kitchen, check Badshah 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!

Madam Ji - 154 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 1/3/22 I Just Want To Eat! 1/3/22

Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

I have known Badshah for quite some time, the first time I discovered this Hell’s Kitchen place being mid-2017 that seems to be an eternity. We went there a month ago for a light dinner, having indulged all day in the city and then were invited to try some of the dishes. You don’t need to ask me twice: I love this place! The decor is colorful, showcasing not just the mustache that that is a characteristic of the logo of the restaurant, but also a big drawing of Chef Sharma in the back wall.

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

Each time we went, there were people who just stopped by for a cocktail, chilling out while the listening to the Indian music in the background. I of course got my go to drink, a mango lassi that you can also get with rum (the sassy lassi), as well as the “I am Badshah” that is their take on an old fashioned, made with Bulleit bourbon, cardamon syrup and bitters. Good, but I admit that I would have liked an Indian whisky considering where we were.

Mango lassi at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

I am Badshah cocktail at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

The menu has classic as well as interesting dishes, some spicy, others not. Here is what we tried the few times we went there:

For appetizers, one of the dishes I discovered few years ago is the Manchurian cauliflower, an Indo-Chinese dish where the cauliflower is deep fried and then sautéed in a sweet sauce made with soy. At Badshah, it would be their King of Cauliflower, that is made with cauliflower florets fried and tossed in an aromatic chili and garlic sauce. Sweet and spicy, this is the king of the dish where, although your mouth is on fire, you continue to go for it.

King of Cauliflower at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

Another one with the same effect is their chicken Momo dumplings called “Chelsea to Katmandu”. These crispy dumplings were smothered with a spicy tomato glaze and topped with bell peppers, onions and scallions. Boy was it spicy. But good. But spicy. Remember: I had my mango lassi to try to extinguish the fire in my mouth.

Chicken Momo at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

Still in the appetizer section, a dish that was superb is their corn and okra masala chaat. I love the texture of this dish with the crispy okra mixed with fresh corn kernels and chopped onions, tossed in a zesty base of ghee and tajin, an Indian seasoning made with mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt, and topped with yogurt to counteract the spices.

Corn and Okra Masala chaat at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

The classic chana masala and dal makhni are not to be missed and delicious with their charred and puffed up naan. I truly appreciated that they were not spicy. The dal was my favorite, being creamy like I like it.

Chana Masala at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

Before I talk about the meat dishes, let me get to the last vegetarian dish we had: the paneer tikka masala. Served in a buttery tomato sauce made with fenugreek, this dish is very creamy and comforting. It came with rice, but I admit that I prefer eating it with some naan.

Paneer tikka masala at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

So, now, the plat de resistance: their tandoor. There are few things that are definitely must have at Badshah: the first one is their Chettinad chops that is one of their specialties. It is lamb chops marinated in ginger, garlic and their signature blend of spices that are served with a smooth black pepper and coconut dip. Spicy and with a nice char, these lamb chops were succulent.

A decadent option is their Shahi tasting board that is composed of salmon, shrimp, lamb kebab, chicken malai kebab, chicken tikka and served with fruit and a goat cheese, spinach and truffle naan, as well as mint chutney, tamarind sauce, raita and mango chutney. What a dish! Beautifully presented, it reminds me of the meat boards you get in Italian restaurants. It is definitely a complete meal and all the meats were delicious, with or without the chutney that came with. The only one I did not like was the salmon that was a bit fishy. But the rest, starting with the lamb, then the chicken, was perfectly cooked, not dry and quite flavorful, with sometimes a nice char. A must have!

Shahi tandoori board at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

Last is dessert. The gulab jamun there is always good, served warm with lots of syrup. We tried the paan kulfi that is betel leaf ice cream flavoured with gulkand and fennel seed: interesting but not really something I would get again.

Gulab Jamun at Badshah in Hell's Kitchen

Overall, we had great meals at Badshah. Well, if we did not, I would not have gone back there all these years, invitation or not. Know that this post spans over 2 months, so the menu may change. Still, it is a great place with a mouth watering menu that can satisfy the vegetarian and the non vegetarian diners. And if you are not up for a meal, you can always stop there for a drink. Who knows: maybe you will be tempted to order something to eat!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Badshah - 788 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019