I Just Want To Eat! 4/28/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/28/25

Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

With a location in the east village, Tipsy Shanghai is a true find. Serving Chinese food in a beautiful decor, the dining room being decorated with tons of ornaments to remind you where you are eating, this place has an extensive menu. But there are few things that are a must have. The Wuxi pork ribs ($18) is definitely one, with a recipe that was passed from generation to generation since 1905. These ribs literally fell off the bone. Then there is the crab xialong dumplings ($7.95 for 4), pork and crab soup dumplings that are now a popular item in so many places. Although the thin shell broke a bit when I took them from the bamboo basket, they were deliciously fatty, as expected. Of course we had to have scallion pancakes that were a bit crunchy and crystal shrimp dumplings ($6.95 for 4) that were also pretty good. Jodi got vegetable buns($7.95 for 3) and dumplings ($8.95 for 6) that had a nice filling, but were not my favorites.

Wuxi ribs at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Pork and crab dumplings at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Shrimp dumplings at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Scallion pancakes at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Fried vegetables dumplings at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Vegetables buns at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

We finished the meal with creamy custard buns ($5.59 for 3) that were good, quite hot, with a nice eggy custard in the middle. Good, but not the best I had for sure, loving the ones at Dim Sum Palace that are creamier.

Creamy egg buns at Tipsy Shanghai in the East Village

Overall it was a good meal and Tipsy Shanghai should be on your list if you are craving Chinese food and in the area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tipsy Shanghai - 104 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/25

Diner 24 in NYC, NY

Opened in May last year, Diner 24 is trying to differentiate itself from an unfortunately dying breed of diners in the city. How? By serving big portions and crazy milkshakes. So I had to check it out and left perplexed: not that I was surprised that the huevos rancheros would just be ok in a diner (yes, they were and interestingly, our neighboring table ordered the same and the presentation was a bit different, with avocado on top; probably forgotten by the kitchen on our side), but I found that the 12oz double smashed burger they were offering, although it looked dry at first, was really good. The meat was juicy and nicely caramelized, with crispy bits on the outside. However, the onion ring that was on top of the patty was a bit soggy, as were the fries that were the worst I had in a long time. Then came the milkshake. I settled for the Oreo s’mores one that was topped with an ice cream bar and cake pop (not a big fan), and decorated with fudge and sprinkles. When it came to the table, the toasted marshmallow just fell down immediately on the plate, so I cannot even say what it is supposed to look like. It either sat there before being served or they heated the ice cream while toasting it, causing this slide. The shake in itself was not as expected: the ice cream bar was tasteless and I could not find any pieces of Oreos. The $22 price tag was not worth it and I had better Oreo milkshakes for a lesser price.

Cakes and milkshake display at Diner 24 in NYC, NY

Oreo S’mores milkshake at Diner 24 in NYC, NY

So, I was a bit disappointed, even if the burger was good. Diner 24 is not a place I would love to go back to.

Enjoy (...)!

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Diner 24 - 283 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 4/21/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/21/25

Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Located in the posh Bryant Park Hotel, Koi serves an elevated Asian menu that is definitely worth a visit, even if a bit pricey. I should mention that they have a vegan menu that is not brought systematically to the table and you would need to ask for it. Of course, you can get a miso soup or some edamame, but I suggest the crispy rice that is in essence a sushi made with crispy rice that they propose with spicy tuna, yellow fin tartare or truffle avocado that is what we ordered. It is at this place that we tried crispy rice for the first time, many years ago, and we are never disappointed: you get the crispiness of the rice mixed with the creaminess of the avocado that has a subtle truffle taste that fills your nose as they bring the dish. Another vegan dish that is on that menu, in their signature section is their vegan dragon roll, made with shiitake, sweet potato, tofu, avocado and soy paper. This was quite good, and the kind of roll that I would see myself eating, even if I am not vegan. But I admit that my favorite is their creamy shrimp tempura that had a shell deliciously crispy, hiding a perfectly cooked shrimp. A must have.

Crispy rice avocado at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Vegan dragon roll at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Creamy shrimp tempura at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

For entrees, I tried their lobster that was perfectly made, topped with a sake truffle butter, as well as their duck that was delicious, the skin being nicely fatty and slightly crispy. My only regret is that I did not order a side with it as it was only served with roasted shishito peppers that were good, but could have been mixed with other vegetables.

Before talking about dessert, I should mention their cocktails that are quite creative. The Sun-toki one with Japanese Toki whisky, blood orange puree, spices and crushed pepper was superb, as was the Samurai with also Toki whisky, muddled ginger and yuzu sake for a nice acidity. But if you do not drink alcohol, they have several mocktails like the Oh! So Lychee! with lychee puree, cranberry and vanilla extract that was refreshing an as good as the others (you cannot go wrong with lychee!).

Sun-Toki cocktail at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Samurai cocktail at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Oh! So Lychee mocktail at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Now, let’s talk about dessert: I admit that I only tried their banana spring roll, that were magnificent: crispy on the outside, with a nice banana and chocolate filling inside, paired perfectly with the vanilla sauce that came with it. Another must have!

Banana spring rolls at Koi Bryant Park in NYC

Overall, Koi is a great spot, with great food, but it can be packed and the service can suffer a bit, the kitchen being backed up. It is also a bit loud, that is always something I do not like when dining. But the food is good, so I could make an exception.
Enjoy (I did)!

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Koi Bryant Park - 40 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/17/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/17/25

Angelo Seafood Market in Hoboken, NJ

I finally made it to Angelo Seafood Market! Jodi having a lunch plan, I was thinking it would be the best time to go there as they probably have nothing vegetarian to offer if we wanted to go together. Nice place, with a store in the front, proposing various products, from pasta filled with lobster to canned fish and fresh seafood in the back. But it is in the basement that you can get their lobster roll, with mayonnaise or butter. I went for the latter, wondering if they would put some celery, too much of it in fact, in it. As I waited, a delicious smell of butter came from the adjacent kitchen and maybe ten minutes later, I got my lobster roll with chips ($25). Prepared on a brioche bun that was toasted, I took a first bite. Buttery is what comes to mind first. The lobster was good, but slightly overcooked and I just wished there was a bit more of it. So, as you can guess, it was a good lobster roll, but nothing to rave about. I was a bit disappointed, as I was expecting more from a seafood place…

Lobster roll at Angelo Seafood Market in Hoboken, NJ

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Angelo Seafood Market - 626 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/25

Wenwen, Taiwanese Restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I never had Taiwanese food before, so I was excited to try Wenwen in Greenpoint, and learned that it a blend of Chinese cuisine and local cuisine with influence from Japanese cuisine as well. We arrived a little before 12pm on a Saturday and were the first to go in. Well, 15 minutes later, that place was packed, from the dining room to the bar. Their brunch menu is quite appetizing with a few vegetarian dishes like the fried tofu with garlic soy paste or the pea shoots with tofu skin. The former was my favorite: crispy on the outside, soft inside with a delicious sauce made with sichuan peppercorn. I also loved their Sacha hot honey popcorn chicken that was accompanied by a spicy sauce. It was so good that I did not care that my mouth was a bit on fire. But the best surprise was their Tater tot Dan Bin, a Chinese crepe filled with egg, cheddar and some tater tots for crunch. This is an interesting version of an egg sandwich that is a must have when going there. I should also mention their cocktails or more their mocktails, as I tried their Pining Passion that was made with pineapple, lemon, passion fruit, mint and seltzer. Refreshing, I was glad that it did have just a touch of passion fruit as this can overpower a drink.

Sacha hot honey chicken at Wenwen in Brooklyn

Peashoots with tofu skin at Wenwen in Brooklyn

Overall, we had a great brunch at Wenwen. We did not try their desserts as we were going somewhere else for it, so, this is another excuse to go back...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Wenwen - 1025 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 4/13/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/13/25

Product Review: Amzchef Double Induction Cooktop

Amzchef sent me a double induction cooktop for a product review. I really discovered induction after trying one of their products (post here) and love it because it allows you to control the temperature, similar to what you would experience with a gas stove. This double induction cooktop is portable, with dual burners that are paired with a cast iron griddle that can be used as an indoor grill, perfect to cook vegetables, meats, eggs or pancakes. Small (9.1"D x 18"W x 4.3"H), it is perfect for a small kitchen or a trailer, or anywhere on the go. Easy to use, you just need to get used to the display, that is quite similar anyway to lots of stoves (mine says high-9, down to medium-6 and low-1). When cooking on the two burners, know that you cannot go above 1800W, so, by bringing the temperature up on one side, it will go down on the other side. To use the griddle, you simply put it on top of the burners and set the appliance to the correct mode. The cast iron griddle is non-stick and goes into the dishwasher, making it the perfect appliance for your kitchen!

Find it at:

Amzchef website

Amazon

I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/25

Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Each time we passed in front of Miriam, an Israeli restaurant located on the Upper West Side, we noticed the crowd and so, thought that we had to try this place. We never tried the dinner, only going for brunch. Reservation required unless you are lucky enough to have a sit at the bar. For drinks, we had their mint tea that was nice and sweet, or their homemade mint lemonade that was well made, not too tart or too sweet. However, I thought that their Turkish coffee was not great, being a bit watery. Food wise, I am still thinking about their lamb shawarma that was served with a fluffy pita, delicious Persian rice that was buttery and a harissa and yogurt sauce that was not spicy. This dish is fantastic: I could have eaten the rice, that had dried fruits in it, on its own, but, mixed with the lamb, it was even better, an explosion of flavors. I highly recommend this dish if, like me, you love lamb. The shuk salad with campari tomatoes, parisian cucumbers, chickpeas, breakfast radishes, scallions, mint, eggplant, za'atar croutons, feta cheese and lemon vinaigrette was pretty good and refreshing, but I admit that I prefer their breakfast platters. My favorite is the Jerusalem breakfast that is composed of two eggs any style, avocado spread, tomatoes salad, homemade Jerusalem bagel and labeneh. Comforting, this was the first time I had a Jerusalem bagel and I could have eaten more of it. The middle eastern breakfast sambusak was also succulent. It was made with a sambusak that is a house-baked bread stuffed with cheese, served with avocado, tomatoes, two eggs any style, Israeli salad and tahini. The day we got these breakfast platters, we skipped dessert, but, when we went back, we tried their knafeh that was superb: the crispy kataifi was hiding a delicious layer of ricotta cheese that pairs well with the sugar syrup their poured on top and the pistachio ice cream that was sitting on top of the dish. A must have.

Lamb shawarma at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Shut salad at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Sambusak breakfast at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Jerusalem breakfast at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Knife at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Turkish coffee at Miriam on the Upper West Side, NYC

Miriam is a true gem, serving an exciting menu, made of dishes packed with flavors. Brunch was great and I am looking forward to go back for dinner!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Miriam - 300 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023

I Just Want To Eat! 4/7/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/7/25

Why we decided not to go back to Pariwaar Delights - The King of Biryani's & Mandi's in Hoboken, NJ

When Pariwaar Delights opened a couple of months ago in Hoboken, replacing Mikie Squared, I was really excited as I love Indian cuisine, that I discovered during so many trips to India in the past. Calling itself the King of Biryani, I was looking forward to try their specialty, a rice dish that I only had thanks to one of my colleagues who was bringing that chicken and rice dish from time to time at the office, as he knew I loved that cuisine. Although it was spicy, I simply loved it. Our first visit was quite interesting as we witnessed a little heated discussion between staff in the middle of the dining room, thinking that maybe they could have gone somewhere else instead of making a scene in front of diners. I cannot tell you what this was about, not being fluent in Hindi! We started the meal with samosas ($9.99) that were pretty good, crunchy on the outside, with a nice filling that had a little kick. I just wished they had tamarind sauce with it and not just mint sauce. The biryanis took a while to come, but, when they did, they look quite big, more for sharing for sure. Mine was the lamb dum biryani ($29.99), while Jodi got their veg dum biryani ($17.99) that had paneer on it. Made with basmati rice cooked in spices, it was very flavorful. The boneless lamb was good, but slightly overcooked and I kind of preferred the paneer because of that. The lamb biryani had a bit of a kick and I drank a mango lassi to help with the spiciness of the dish. For dessert, we had their gulab jamun ($5.99) that were pretty good, a nice way to end the meal.

The second time we went, we were thinking that maybe the service would be a bit faster, but it was not the case. The chaat delight samosa ($14.99) took forever to come, to the point that we wondered if they forgot us. We finally got our dish that was good, a bit spicy, even if we asked for mild. This was a delicious explosion of flavor, but I admit that here again, I missed tamarind sauce in it. The dish is supposed to be vegan, but it had yogurt in it and I am not sure how they made it. Still, a good option. It is only once we finished that dish that my drink, butter milk or chaas, made with yogurt, water and spices, and Jodi’s lime soda came. I also thought at some point that they forgot them and wonder how such drinks can take more than 30 minutes to be prepared! Next were our kati rolls. Since I tried the Kati Roll Company, I have been a big fan of these Indian wraps. The chicken tikka roll ($9.99) was just ok, and I thought the paratha it was wrapped in was lacking crispiness. Jodi got the paneer masala one ($9.99) and both had more onions than anything else. That time, we skipped dessert as the service was so slow, we did not want to stay longer.

Chaat delight samosa at Pariwaar Delights

But the third time was even worse! I got my mango lassi, butter chicken tikka ($27.99) and some naan that tasted like cardboard, after 30 minutes, but Jodi’s dish never came, despite us asking few times. After more than 50 minutes, observing countless of deliveries, we decided to leave. When I told the manager we were canceling Jodi’s dish and wanted the check, he got a bit nasty, not even apologizing. I have never seen this. Usually, they would apologize and even comp some of your meal. So, it is nice to be king of biryani, but maybe they should try to be king of hospitality, focusing on customer service and prioritizing diners over deliveries.

Enjoy (the post)!

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Pariwaar Delights - The King of Biryani's & Mandi's - 616 Washington St. Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 4/3/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/3/25

Curry On in Jersey City

Newark avenue in Jersey City has many Indian restaurants and so, we like sometimes to try new ones, although I admit that I have my favorite: Rasoi. So, this time, we decided to go to Curry On as someone at work recommended it. As you enter, you feel like you are in a different place with the decor and lighting that makes you wonder if they throw parties at night. Menu wise, they have the classics, with nothing really standing out. We started with samosa chaat that is made with samosa, potato and crispy puffs, smothered in yogurt and tamarind sauce. Packed with flavor, crispy bits from the samosa, I love the sweet and savory taste of that dish. For our main, Jodi went for the paneer tikka masala while I went for the lamb korma. Both dishes were good, but not exceptional and the oil breaking from the sauce made it a bit greasy. They served it with a generous amount of rice and we ordered a delicious butter naan that was nicely charred and fluffy. As usual, I had a mango lassi to go with my meal and we finished with gulab jamun that were well made.

Paneer tikka masala at Curry On in Jersey City

Overall, Curry On was good, but definitely not at the level of Rasoi, that so far, remains my all time favorite.

Enjoy (I still did)!

Curry On - 765 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 3/31/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/31/25

Le Pavillion in NYC

I finally made it to Le Pavillon, the restaurant from Chef Daniel Boulud that is located across from Grand Central. Well, finding the entrance the first time was a bit challenging, like keeping a secret, but once you know and you try it, you just want to go back. This beautiful space with its wall of plants seems more modern and certainly less stuffy than the chef’s eponymous restaurant that, the last time I went, had jacket required, a requirement from the past. At Le Pavillion, jeans and tshirts sit next to suits and gowns. The food there is remarkable: modern French with surprising combinations, like the onion tart with époisses that is sublime. Rich, sweet and savory, it lets the pungent cheese that is often disregarded, be the star of the show. Or the duck with pear tatin that would make duck aficionados drool for days just remembering the taste of this dish, especially the perfectly cooked duck with its slightly crispy and fatty skin. The dinner menu is for sure an invitation to indulge and for $125 per person, you sure do, with lots of vegetarian dishes not to be disregarded. Like their duo of morel mushrooms and pea soup that had a very appetizing presentation and was packed in flavor, or the mushroom and Comte cheese that I hesitated to order. The sea is also well represented: their fettuccine pétoncle (seared bay scallops) was sublime. The perfectly made fettuccine was bathed in a butter sauce and topped with black winter truffle shavings for a decadent touch. Definitely a must have. Or the wild Dover sole with morel (they must have had a discount on this delicious mushroom that is not often proposed on restaurants'menus), that was perfectly cooked and with subtle and delicate flavors. With your meal, you can add a side and the pommes mont d'or are a must have. Don't think it is mashed potatoes! It is often referred as a soufflé, but I would say that it is in between: the crust is slightly crispy and the inside light and creamy.

Onion and epoisse tart at Le Pavillion in NYC

Mushroom and pea soup at Le Pavillion in NYC

Mushrooms and Comte cheese at Le Pavillion in NYC

Fettuccine and scallops at Le Pavillion in NYC

Truffled pommes Mont D’or at Le Pavillion in NYC

Desserts are not to be ignored. The hazelnut and chocolate cake was my favorite: rich, decadent, with a nice little crunch from the praline croustillant in the bottom. This will satisfy any diner who loves hazelnut. Their châtaigne and poire was also interesting, marrying chestnut cream (châtaigne) and a pear composte (poire), and so was the coconut flan that was perfectly executed.

Chestnut and pear cake at Le Pavillion in NYC

There are two things I should also mention: their absinthe, with two different choices, one from France (Jade) and one from Switzerland (Larusee). And also their bread that is fantastic and seems to be a signature for Chef Boulud, a good bread being the perfect way to start, with butter, or even end a meal with cheese, being a course on its own.

Overall, this place serves great dishes, in a more relaxed atmosphere than Daniel, and with an impeccable service. This is to be on the map of anyone looking for a fine dining destination in New York.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Le Pavillion - 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/25

Vive La Crepe on the Upper East Side

We were walking on the Upper East Side and decided to have a quick bite when we stumbled upon Vive La Crepe on Lexington Avenue. I love crepes, so I was thinking, why not? They had an interesting menu, so we decided to try their ham and cheese crepe that I thought was decent, the crepe itself not being at the level of a good savory crepe to be honest (savory crepes are called galettes and are made with buckwheat, while sweet ones are made with flour). Jodi got their Amelie, made with goat cheese, mushrooms, spinach and pesto. This was ok, not having much filling in it. For dessert, I got a butter sugar crepe with halva that however was pretty good, the halva giving a bit of texture to it, and I think I would only stop by there for it. Not for the savory ones for sure…

Ham and cheese at Vive La Crepe on the Upper East Side

Amelie at Vive La Crepe on the Upper East Side

Butter nd sugar at Vive La Crepe on the Upper East Side

Enjoy (…)!

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

Vive La Crepe - 958 Lexington Ave #958B, New York, NY 10021

I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/25

Julietta in Hoboken, NJ

When we heard that Julietta, a popular gelato spot located in the West Village was opening in Hoboken, we were a bit surprised as Il Laboratorio Del Gelato is close by, although less classic, and there are plenty of ice cream shops in the mile square city. But we decided to give it a try. For both gelato and Italian sandwiches in fact. Let’s start with the first one: gelato. Jodi got their coconut one that was good. On my side, I was excited because they had hazelnut and got a sample of it. I did not like it: it had lots of crystals in it that took over the taste of the beloved flavor. So I went for their Oreo cookie and pistachio. I did not finish my ice cream. The Oreo cookie lacked chunks of cookies and was boring, and the pistachio had a bitter taste that coated my mouth.

Oreo cookie and pistachio gelato at Julietta in Hoboken, NJ

Coconut gelato at Julietta in Hoboken, NJ

Next were the sandwiches. I went for the one with mortadella and pistachio, while Jodi ordered the caprese with tomato and mozzarella. For both of them, there was more focaccia than ingredients inside and, unfortunately, the focaccia was average, a bit dry. My sandwich was very disappointing as there were only a couple of slices of paper thin mortadella that I could barely taste. I would pass on the sandwiches as well.

Mortadella sandwich at Julietta in Hoboken, NJ

Caprese sandwich at Julietta in Hoboken, NJ

Now, let’s talk about their bomboloni with chocolate as they call it. It is in fact Nutella, and I admit that it is very good, with plenty of Nutella inside. A must have. I would only recommend Julietta for this, going to Il Laboratorio del Gelato for gelato or Kikilu Gelato, and to Prato for a great Italian sandwich with a fantastic focaccia made daily.

Enjoy (the bomboloni)!

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

Julietta - 423 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 3/20/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/20/25

Shalom Japan in Brooklyn, NY

Fusion food is always interesting and chefs Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi succeeded in proposing a creative menu inspired by Jewish and Japanese cuisine at Shalom Japan. The epitome of this is their matzo ball ramen that is when a matzo ball soup meets Japanese ramen (by the way, they even offer a kit to make it yourself). Made with chicken broth and bits of chicken, scallion, wood ear mushrooms and nori, it has mandels, that are crunchy croutons that you can add to any soup. And like ramen, you can add a soy marinated egg that they forgot at first and brought me afterwards. I also asked for an additional matzo ball from the get go and did not regret it. They were nicely made, being dense but not too much. The broth was also very good, tasty, comforting and not too salty, marrying perfectly with the other ingredients, with still that feeling that you were eating matzo ball soup and at the same time a ramen.

Matzo ball ramen at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn, NY

But if you prefer something else, they have plenty of alternatives like the Chilled sesame temomi mazemen, that is a cold noodle dish made with shiitake mushrooms, shishito peppers, cucumber and Shiso. This vegetarian dish was quite refreshing and packed with flavors.

Chilled sesame tempi mazemen at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn, NY

Chilled sesame temomi mazemen at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn, NY

I should mention their non-alcoholic beverages: they have a bunch of Japanese soda like the Moshi sparkling Uju matcha with white strawberry or the Moshi sparkling red Shiso and apple that was my favorite.

We finished our meal with their chocolate banana challah bread pudding that was good, but could have had more chocolate in it…

So, definitely, Shalom Japan is original and the creativity of the Chefs just make you want to go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Shalom Japan - 310 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

I Just Want To Eat! 3/18/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/18/25

L'Adresse Bryant Park

Proposing modern American cuisine, L’Adresse is definitely a restaurant to keep in mind. This post is about several visits over time so know that the menu changes often and you may not find some of the dishes we had when we went, but at least you can get a feel of the place. The only two dishes that are always on the menu are their truffle burger ($42) and their “burger with cheese” ($29) or cheeseburger. Both are good, but I definitely prefer the cheeseburger that is anyway their signature burger; I thought at the beginning that they called it “burger with cheese” to make it sound fancier, but it might more be because they are putting lots of cheese on top of their tasteful patty. Not that the truffle burger was not good: the patty is very good, but the sriracha aioli they served at the time (it is now truffle aioli) overpowered the truffle a bit. Talking about truffle, each time we went, Jodi was looking forward their truffle and mushroom flatbread ($45) that was offered as a special and that I admit was really good, topped with a generous amount of truffle. For vegetarian dishes, they also have a wild mushroom risotto, made with king trumpet, oyster mushroom, shimeji, Parmigiano Reggiano, and chives, but, although good, it was a bit soupy. I also just saw that they dropped their seafood pasta near that were squid ink linguine with little neck clams, shrimp and mussels that was amazing, and their house made focaccia that we had we gochujang butter. Too bad.

Seafood pasta nera at L'Adresse Bryant Park

Housemade focaccia at L'Adresse Bryant Park

Truffle flatbread at L'Adresse Bryant Park

Desserts are not to be ignored there. Their Syrniki ($25) that are cottage cheese pancakes are out of this world. The first bite, you do not know if you like them or not, but then you become addicted. They also have the chocolate envy, a chocolate and almond cake, made with caramel, a dark chocolate mousse, gianduja, and feuillatine. If you love hazelnut and chocolate, this is for you.

I should mention the drinks. I love their chocolate espresso martini or their paper plane.

Chocolate espresso martini at L'Adresse Bryant Park

Although they changed their menu, I always get a good meal at L’Adresse. I just saw that they offer a beef Wellington right now, so, I might go back very soon…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

L’Adresse - 1065 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/25

La Maison Tachon, French pastries

I recently received an email from Sarah Tachon, the proud owner of La Maison Tachon, an online pastry shop that has a pop up in Greenpoint, at Oak and Iron on Franklin street, every Saturday, from 10am until sold out. So, we decided to check it out and spend some time in Brooklyn, our first stop being a tasting of freshly made goods. Classicaly trained as a pastry chef, Sarah Tachon worked for Dominique Ansel and at Maman, two references that are not to ignore. She started her own business last April, with a couple of coffee shops in Brooklyn serving her products that are made daily in a communal kitchen with natural ingredients, some surprising like her use of date sugar for some of her baked goods. Sarah gets her inspiration from classic French pastries, but will sometimes give a modern twist, like the chocolate and vanilla financier that was my favorite that day, but still branching out to American classics like the hazelnut chocolate brownie that was made with sorghum flour, making it gluten free, but, she would not recommend it as such as it is baked in the same facility as items with baked with gluten. The brownie was fudgy, slightly crispy on the outside. Delicious! Another favorite is their sables bretons that are butter cookies with a hint of salt that make them perfect with a cup of coffee, the salt enhancing the flavor of the coffee. Crumbly and buttery, they are a must have and the only items not sold by unit. Overall, everything was good and all the items on display were mouth watering. I hope Sarah will continue to expand so it will not just be a pop up, her baked good being worth trying. Know that she also makes cakes and tarts that can be ordered on her website.

Chocolate and vanilla financier at La Maison Tachon

Hazelnut chocolate brownie at La Maison Tachon

Enjoy (I did)!!

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La Maison Tachon - www.lamaisontachon.com

I Just Want To Eat! 3/10/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/10/25

Does Funny Face Bakery make the best chocolate chip cookie in the City?

When I received an email from Sarah Silverman asking me to try what she believes is the best chocolate chip cookie in the city, I was curious because I heard about Funny Face Bakery, the business she started in April 2016, famous for its cookies that display famous faces that are hand made, admiring for sure the craft that is quite impressive as you can easily recognize who is portrayed. But I never heard about their cookies and I admit that since City Bakery disappeared few years ago, I feel like a chocolate chip cookie orphan…So, we met Sarah at her location on Lafayette street. As we entered, my nose got filled with the appetizing smell of freshly baked cookies. The place looks fun, with a bunch of cookies with faces displayed in frames as you would display your family, showcasing an incredible craft. Sarah explained that she had the idea to make these cookies two weeks before opening her first location in the west village, her first face cookies representing the four 2016 presidential candidates and got the idea to expand to artists and other famous people, hiring a team to keep up with the increasing demand. You can even commission your own custom cookie for $22 a piece and a minimum order of 12 per design. But that is not why we were there! We were there for their chocolate chip cookie. Remember: are these the best in the city? So, Sarah came back with a box of 4 cookies that smelled amazing: a chocolate chip, a s’mores, a funfetti and a double chocolate. That is the way I would order them in order of preference, the chocolate chip one being superb: crunchy on the outside, chewy, delightfully buttery, with lots of chocolate chips, without being too sweet. This is not the kind of cookie where you end up in a sugar coma after a couple of bites and they are definitely using good quality chocolate. The cookie dough is fantastic and the base to their other cookies, the s’mores one being my second favorite: also not too sweet, I love the crunchiness of the graham crackers and gooeyness of the marshmallow that sit on top. This is the first s’mores cookie that I have tried that is not overly sweet. I liked the funfetti one, but admit that I was less impressed by the double chocolate one that was my least favorite of all.

Sarah Silverman at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Billy Eilish cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Timothee Chalamet cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Kris Jenner cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Chocolate chip cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Funfetti cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

Double chocolate cookie at Funny Face Bakery NYC

So, to answer this post question: Does Funny Face Bakery make the best chocolate chip cookie in the City? I would say yes! Great cookie dough, lots of good quality chocolate and for once, a cookie that is not too sweet so you can enjoy it without falling asleep, make this cookie the best I had since City Bakery closed! And I bet it is even better when warm, fresh from the oven. I highly 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!

Funny Face Bakery - 319 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 3/6/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/6/25

City Diner in Jersey City, NJ

Located few blocks from the Exchange Place Path Station, City Diner is a modern version of an American diner: vibrant vibe, cocktails and elevated diner menu make this place stand out. It’s not a cocktail I wanted to try there, but their milkshake, especially their Nutella one ($9), being a huge fan of the famous hazelnut spread. Unfortunately, it was a bit light on it if it was not for the blob that they put on the whipped cream. We both got a sandwich. Me, the Nashville chicken sandwich ($17) that was a crispy fried chicken in Nashville spices, with cheddar, coleslaw, and a roasted garlic aioli, squeezed between a brioche bread. It was pretty good, but I thought the chicken would be crispier and spicier. Jodi opted for their Boursin grilled cheese ($15) . Boursin is a French cheese spread made of garlic and herbs that seems to be popular these days. Also made with cheddar and sourdough, it could have had more cheese in it. Both came with fries that were just ok.
Fortunately, their chocolate pot de creme ($8) made it worth the meal: it was creamy and chocolatey.
Overall, the food was good, but not exceptional, like what you would get in a diner, and with prices that were reasonable. So, if I was in the area and was looking for a spot for a bite, I would go there.

Nutella milkshake at City Diner in Jersey City, NJ

chocolate pot de creme at City Diner in Jersey City, NJ

Boursin grilled cheese at City Diner in Jersey City, NJ

Nashville fried chicken sandwich at City Diner in Jersey City, NJ

Enjoy (I did)!

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

City Diner - 31 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/25 I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/25

DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

A few weeks ago, DoneRight Döner Kebab opened in Hoboken’s busy Washington street, replacing Brooklyn Dumpling Shop that was short lived. There, you can get your sandwich in a delicious bread that they cook every two days in their central kitchen, called Gobit, a Turkish version of pita, that is amazing. You can get sandwiches, wraps or a rice box with lamb, chicken (you can get a mix of lamb and chicken) and falafel, the meat slowly cooked on a rotating rotisserie. Their mix DoneRight with lamb, chicken, pickles, mixed green salad, hot pepper, parsley, white sauce and hot sauce is pretty good, but I admit that I prefer the Gold Standard that has fries in it (I love sandwiches with fries or Cali burrito). They are fairly generous with meat, and each bite is an explosion of flavors. Falafel are a good vegetarian option. They make them fresh (they did not have any last Saturday, still working through the kinks of their central kitchen, as they just opened a couple of weeks ago). These falafel are superb: crispy on the outside and not dry, we tried them in their Falafel DoneRight sandwich and as hot appetizer, served with hummus. They also have a small side salad that is a good complement if you want to get a bunch of appetizers. With my sandwich, I got their yogurt drink that is always good to tame the spiciness of the hot pepper in the sandwich or the hot sauce that is not as spicy as I thought.

Chicken at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

Yogurt drink at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

Gold standard sandwich at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

Mix sandwich at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

Falafel at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

Falafel sanwich at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

One thing I should mention is their desserts: they have a quite large selection of Mediterranean desserts, like baklava, kadayif rolls, pistachio kadayif, pistachio pudding, or even Dubai chocolate and, surprisingly in a way, the very popular tres leches. One dessert I really liked was their chocolate baklava that I never had before: not overly sweet, decadent, it would have been perfect with a Turkish coffee (they do not have any).

Baklava at DoneRight Döner Kebab in Hoboken, NJ

DoneRight Döner Kebab is. a great addition to the Hoboken food scene, competing a bit with Mamoun Falafel, and with a bar crowd that will definitely find its way there late at night as they are open until 3am Fridays and Saturdays and, let’s be honest, they offer the perfect food to fill a stomach after few drinks. I love the sandwiches, my favorite being the Gold Standard, that is something I would definitely crave. And the fact that they have all these desserts is like a cherry on the cake, as I always like a good dessert after a good meal.

Enjoy (I really did)!

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

DoneRight Döner Kebab - 514 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 2/27/25 I Just Want To Eat! 2/27/25

Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Buddy’s in Jersey City is a place to know. Located near Exchange Place, we discovered this busy restaurant in the summer and came back for brunch. Their brunch menu is simply exciting. The first time we went there, they had buffalo cauliflower that was a great vegetarian option, being crispy and spicy, the combination of the hot sauce pairing well with the blue cheese. More classic is their Buddy’s breakfast that consists of three eggs and your choice of pancakes, French toast, and bacon. We opted for the French toast that were really good, custardy with a slight crunch on the outside. The eggs were also perfectly made, not dry at all. But my favorite is their chicken and waffles. First of all, it is big with its four pieces of chicken. The chicken was crispy on the outside and still moist, while the waffle was nicely chewy, with hints of vanilla coming through. If you are more on the lighter side, they offer salads, my favorite being the Summer time one with watermelon and feta that they proposed at the time, better than their couscous salad that lacked flavor (the falafel were good but they could have served a side of tahini or tzatziki with them).

French toast at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Buffalo cauliflower at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Eggs and bacon at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Couscous salad at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Chicken and waffle salad at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Of course they have drinks, like their espresso martini that was well balanced or their Magic Apple, a mocktail made with Ritual whisky, apple juice and cinnamon, a good alternative to a spirited drink. However, they have a hot chocolate that is a bit light on the cocoa...

Espresso martini at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Magic apple at Buddy's in Jersey City, NJ

Overall, Buddy's offers an interesting brunch menu that is worth a trip to Jersey City. Especially their chicken and waffles that is sublime.

enjoy (I did)!

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

Buddy's - 247 Washington St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 2/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 2/24/25

Le Rivage, French restaurant in NYC, NY

My last visit at Le Rivage was more than 10 years ago. I never went back because of our experience there was not great. So, when I received an invite, I was a bit surprised, but excited to try the menu from Chef David Cámara, who took over the kitchen in May last year. Chef Cámara with his impressive culinary experience, succeeded Chef and owner Paul Denamiel and decided to put his own touches to the family recipes from Chef Denamiel. The menu for sure is classic with dishes like escargots, soupe a l’oignon or seared foie gras that was a special that evening. I did not hesitate to try their frog legs that were prepared with garlic, parsley and butter (aka persillade), the same way escargots are. Frog legs are not that common on French restaurant menus, so, whenever I can order them, I do. And I was not disappointed: the frog legs had a good size and perfectly cooked, smothered by that persillade, that I also enjoyed with bread. Another classic entree well executed is their paté de campagne that had a perfect texture, and a robust flavor. It was accompanied by cornichons and moutarde a l’ancienne, as any paté should.

Chef David Camara at Le Rivage in NYC, NY

Pate de campagne at Le Rivage in NYC, NY

Where I was really excited is when they told me that the Chef made a cassoulet for the occasion. Cassoulet is a peasant dish that is made with beans, duck confit, sausage and pork belly. Slow cooked, they often have it as a special, better served the next day. I love this dish and was really looking forward to it, knowing that Chef Cámara participated in the famous D’Artagnan Cassoulet War three weeks ago. He did not win but apparently had fun participating. The cassoulet came pretty hot, still bubbling from the high temperature of the oven. Savory, meaty and very comforting, it was simply delicious, a perfect entree for a cold day. A must have if they propose it!

They also have an amazing gnocchi a la Parisienne that is made with Black Truffle and Comté Cheese. Rich, decadent, these gnocchi were soft and pillowy. Delicious.

Gnocchi a la Parisienne at Le Rivage in NYC, NY

Of course, I could not leave without trying their desserts. I guess it was my lucky day because the special was baba au rhum, a yeast cake soaked with rum, topped with whipped cream and fruits. The secret for a good baba is the density of the cake that needs to be airy, and of course, well imbibed in alcohol. And I guess they knew that secret as it was perfectly made. The baba reminded me when I was a kid in France and had it for snack, when it was sold in individual packets at the supermarket. Another great dessert was the ile flottante, a dessert that seems to make its way in French restaurants this days as it was my third in less than two months, but the best. Why? First, the egg whites were light and firm, laid on top of a succulent creme anglaise (vanilla custard) that I could have eaten on its own, being rich, velvety and not too sweet. Another must have.

I should mention their drinks: they have absinthe (I chose the Grande Absente that is 69 degrees proof), an anise-derived spirit made with plants that is served at Le Rivage the traditional French way, by dripping water on a sugar cube that is placed on a slotted spoon, so the water would mix with the alcohol (I was so excited by the way that I forgot to press record when I thought I was taking a video!!!). They also have mocktails like the French martini with citrus botanicals spirit, casis, pineapple and vamilla syrup, that was just ok for me. And of course, they offer digestives, like the poor Prisonniere, an eau de vie or clear, colourless pear brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation, perfect for digestion, especially after such a feast (they have an apple one as well).

Water for absinthe at Le Rivage in NYC, NY

Poire prisonnière at Le Rivage in NYC, NY

So, this visit changed my mind and I am now considering Le Rivage on top of my list of French restaurants in New York. Not because the meal was complimentary, but truly because it was amazing. Chef Cámara succeeded in crafting a classic French menu, with personal touches that did not betray the spirit of the French tradition.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Rivage - 340 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036