I Just Want To Eat! 5/22/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/22/25

Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

We discovered Court Street many years ago but never went back until recently, for restaurant week, where I thought that they did an excellent job serving dishes that make you want to go back, capturing the spirit of the event. And we did go back. Serving hungry diners for more than 40 years, its bar is always full of people having drinks or eating on the high top tables, but I prefer their dining room, located in the back, that is quieter. The food there is very good, with a long list of daily specials. I mean long. Issue is: everything sounds good and you are a bit overwhelmed by all these choices, knowing that you cannot order the entire menu. Right? So, for restaurant week, I tried their French onion soup ($10) that had lots of cheese in it, definitely opening my appetite. I then got their coq au vin ($26) that is chicken braised in a red wine sauce. with mushrooms and onions, another French classic. It was served with vegetables and potato au gratin. I am going to stop there because this is worth mentioning. When you order some of the entrees, they propose several sides with the vegetables of the day. So, coming from an area in France known for its potato au gratin called « gratin dauphinois », I could not resist trying this. It was fantastic, to the point that, when I went back and got their rack of lamb ($40), I asked them to skip the veggies and only serve me that side. There was a bit of a mix up with my order, so I ended up with both the veggies and, to my satisfaction, a double portion of potato au gratin. The lamb was good though! Prepared with rosemary and garlic, there was a lot of it and it was perfecty cooked medium. Jodi got their eggplant parmigiana that was just ok and their arugula and goat cheese salad. Before I move to desserts and cocktails, I should mention their baked brie ($13) that is served over baby greens with apples, pears and had a honey dijon dressing: it is a must have if you love cheese.

French onion soup at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Baked brie at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Rack of lamb at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Potato au gratin at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Coq au vin at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Arugula and goat cheese salad at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Eggplant parm at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

With our meals, I got cocktails: the first one was the Catcher in the Rye that is made with Bulleit Rye, Red Dubonnet, cointreau and bitters ($15) and their Negroni made with gin, Campari and Vermouth ($14).

Catcher in the rye cocktail at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Desserts are homemade and I loved their flourless chocolate truffle cake over their coconut custard pie, the chocolate cake being fudgey and decadent, while the coconut custard pie was a bit dry. I should mention that all desserts are homemade.

Flourless chocolate truffle cake at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Coconut custard pie at Court Street in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, our meals at Court Street were pretty good. This is definitely a great place to know and, if you go, get that potato au gratin!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Court Street - 61 6th St. Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/19/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/19/25

The Biscuit Babe in Hoboken, NJ

The biscuit Babe in Hoboken is a recent addition to the food scene in the mile square city, opening March 2025 and shy of two months in operation when I visited them. Replacing D’s Soul Food Cafe, the space is quite nice, bright and beautifully decorated, with inspiring quotes on the wall that you can read as your mind wanders. Biscuits is their specialty and, of course, I had to try their BBL Drizzly fried chicken with honey butter, even if it was only 8am…The sandwich looked amazing, the reddish, shiny fried chicken pieces dripping in honey butter, being squeezed between a nicely made biscuit. It was a bit messy to eat because the fried chicken pieces fell off as the biscuit broke from the pressure of my fingers, trying to keep everything together and, most importantly, trying to get a good bite if it. But it is definitely worth the mess and sticky fingers. We also had their biscuit with butter and jam, as well as their cinnamon biscuit that was quite good, even if the frosting was not fully done, having lumps of confectioner’s sugar here and there.

Biscuit and jam at The Biscuit Babe in Hoboken, NJ

Fried chicken sandwich at The Biscuit Babe in Hoboken, NJ

Cinnamon biscuit at The Biscuit Babe in Hoboken, NJ

The Biscuit Babe is a nice addition to the Hoboken food scene, with interesting offering on their menu, that I will definitely try in the future.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Biscuit Babe - 918 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/15/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/15/25

Hani's Bakery in New York, NY

Hani’s Bakery is one of these spots that get a crazy amount of attention on social media, whether it is Tik Tok or Instagram, with people raving about one of two things that are absolutely to try. So, on a day I was off, we decided to see for ourselves. As it was a weekday, there was no line and the place was not that busy, although we saw many people stopping by to get some goods there. We ordered at the counter after a lengthy discussion about what to get, as everything looked good. We then sat at a booth, waiting for our drinks (double espresso for me and London Fog tea for Jodi). The food looked good and, after splitting everything evenly (1/3 for Jodi and 2/3 for me - yes, this is what I I would call evenly as Jodi only eats few bites compared to me and she was the one holding the knife), we tried first the cinnamon bun ($8), that I thought was good but not the best I ever had. Same for the triple chocolate chunk cookie ($8), Funny Face Bakery bring so good, that it ruined all other cookies for me! However, I really loved their paneer tikka pinwheel ($6.5) that is on the savory side and a good option for lunch: made with a croissant dough, it was crispy on the outside, buttery and not spicy, packed in flavor. Now, we had to try their best seller: their strawberry tart with passion fruit cream ($8.5). Made with croissant dough, I was not sure if I would like it, simply because of the passion fruit that can sometimes overpower a pastry and be too tart. This was not at all the case and this was sublime: first of all, these strawberries were delicious. It’s been a while since I had good strawberries, the one I found even in farmers markets lacking flavor. These were delightfully sweet, pairing perfectly with the crème pâtissière and its just perfect dosage of passion fruit, and the flakey and buttery crust. A must have.
So, it was a nice introduction to Hani’s Bakery, where I should also mention the very friendly staff who made us feel welcome. Their menu is original, but if there is one thing I would absolutely get there, it is their strawberry tart.

Cinnamon bun at Hani's Bakery in New York, NY

Paneer tikka pinwheel at Hani's Bakery in New York, NY

Triple chocolate chunk cookie at Hani's Bakery in New York, NY

Strawberry tart at Hani's Bakery in New York, NY

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hani’s Bakery - 67 Cooper Sq, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 5/12/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/12/25

Product Review: Discover Japanese treats with the Sakuraco Box

One of the most memorable trips abroad was when we went to Japan few years ago, visiting Tokyo and Kyoto. I loved the food and the culture. An opportunity we got later on was getting a subscription to Tokyo Treat, where you receive a box on a monthly basis for a subscription, allowing you to discover, every time, new sweets or snacks. So, when ICHIGO.inc, the company of www.tokyotreat.com and Sakura.co contacted me to try their Sakuraco’s “Moonlit Sakura” box, I could not refuse. With a monthly subscription of $37.50 (with savings if subscribed for longer - for instance $33.50 for 6 months), you get, for very time, a different part of Japan featured. So, you never know what you are going to get, adding some excitement as your open the box. A small guide will describe the various snacks, sweets and teas you will be receiving that is very helpful as the packaging is in Japanese, describing each item in details and giving you some backstories of some of the local makers they promote. So, if you love Japan or are curious to try different food, check it out (this Youtube short will how you what was in the box - enjoy!)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/25

Does Oxomoco deserve a Michelin star?

I had Oxomoco in Greenpoint on my radar for a while, so, when I heard that they got awarded a Michelin Star, I had to definitely go and see for myself. Let me start with that strange name that refers in Aztec mythology to a deity associated with night, astrology and the calendar, and is said to be the first woman, akin to Eve. Isn’t food a good way to discover other cultures?
Anyway, we decided to go to Oxomoco for brunch, that is served also weekdays. The trip to Brooklyn was not too bad, a few stops on the E train and then a few on the G line, and Oxomoco is only few steps from the Greenpoint Avenue stop. The place is fairly big with a covered patio in the front and a beautiful bright dining room in the back dominated by a stunning bar. We started off with drinks: Jarritos grapefruit for Jodi and Paraiso tropical for me, a mocktail made with non-alcoholic tequila, pineapple, coconut and lime. Quite refreshing.

Dining room at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Jarritos grapefruit juice at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Paraiso tropical mocktail at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Of course, we could not not try their guacamole ($21). When I asked if they could make it mild, I was surprised to hear that it was premade, with Serrano pepper seeds in it. You would think that in this sort of establishment they would make it fresh, but no. Regardless, it was very good, the smoked cherry tomatoes giving a bit of originality to a classic appetizer. Next was the polenta pan Frances ($25). Understand French toast. Topped with fig jam and cream, they drizzled a delicious burnt honey toffee on top. This was superb: the bread was perfectly soaked with caramelized sides. A must have. But my all time favorite was the lamb barbacoa tacos ($27). First of all, the dish looked beautiful, the squash blossom giving some elegance to the dish and contrasting well with the darker color of the homemade tortilla and lamb. And what a lamb: moist, with burnt ends that gave a slight crispiness to the meat, that, despite the spices and salsa pipicha, remained the star. I highly recommend it if you love lamb. Jodi got their Mushroom Tlayuda that is a vegetarian dish I would describe as a Mexican pizza or open face quesadilla. It was made with three sorts of mushrooms topped with mole chichilo and Oxomoco salsa. Good, crunchy, I just wish there were more mushrooms.

Guacamole at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

French toast at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Lamb barbacoa tacos at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Mushroom tlayuda at Oxomoco in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Needless to say that we did not have dessert, the French toast being anyway the sweet course of our meal. This place has creative dishes, with a wide selection for vegetarians, an impeccable service in a relaxed atmosphere. So, yes, Oxomoco deserves a Michelin star!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Oxomoco - 128 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 5/5/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/5/25

Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new coffee shop in Hoboken, that seems to be the kind of businesses who wants to open in the mile square city considering how many have opened in the past few months or are scheduled to open. Question is: how many coffee shops do we need? I do not know and anyway decided to try anyway! So, Forum Coffee is new, replacing Cafe Amor, Hoboken being its third location. What makes Forum Coffee different is not their pastries that I found ok, having better chocolate croissant or pain aux raisins at Chocopain nearby, the coffee cake being probably what I would go for instead for something different. No, what makes them different is their specialty coffee where they propose French toast latte, cannoli latte, gingerbread latte, chocolate covered strawberry latte, or the creme brulee latte that I tried. Original, with a subtle taste of creme brûlée, I thought it was pretty good, the only negative being that they did not serve it in a cup so I could get a nicer presentation, similar to the photos on their website. But hey, the main thing is that it was good. So, would I go back to Forum Coffee? Sure, for their latte mainly.

Creme brulee latte and London fog tea at Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Creme brulee latte at Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Pain aux raisins at Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Coffee cake at Forum Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Enjoy (I did)!

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Forum Coffee - 123 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/25 I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/25

Is this the best lobster roll in New York?

It’s been a while since I visited one of the locations of Luke’s Lobster, that I once considered, with The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market, one of my favorite locations for a lobster roll. There are plenty of places proposing this divine dish, but I often end up with a roll that has too much celery, overpowering the entire thing, or the lobster is overcooked. So, after going to Angelo Seafood Market in Hoboken, I decided to pay the one in the garment district a visit. But, instead of having a lobster roll, I decided to go for their flight that consist of three half rolls, so you can sample the lemon butter, spicy honey butter and truffle butter variations. You get that flight for $40, with chips and any soda (beer is extra). The rolls came fairly quickly and the brioche bread was totally submerged by the generous portion of lobster. I liked the three preparations, none of them overpowering the perfectly cooked lobster. So, yes, $40 is a bit pricey, but at least there is a good amount of lobster and you leave with a happy stomach. Therefore, I’ll keep Luke’s Lobster on my list of favorite places for lobster rolls.

Lobster roll flight at
Luke’s Lobster in NYC, NY

Lemon butter lobster roll at
Luke’s Lobster in NYC, NY

Hot honey butter at
Luke’s Lobster in NYC, NY

Truffle butter lobster roll at
Luke’s Lobster in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Luke’s Lobster - 1407 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

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! 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 (…)!

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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)!

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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 - Closed

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.

Burger with cheese at L'Adresse Bryant Park

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