I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/18

Gaonnuri, Korean restaurant with a breathtaking City view

Meaning “The Center of the world”, Gaonnuri is a Korean restaurant located on the 39th floor of an office building, offering breathtaking views of Manhattan. This is definitely unique in Korea Town and, to get a seat next to a window, you apparently need to book a table a month in advance with a special request. We did not and got seated in one of the comfortable booths.

It is quite a huge place with a nice vibe and lots of light. Menu wise, they propose an elegant version of classics as well as quite interesting dishes. All of this with an impeccable service. I started with one of their cocktails called When September Ends, made with Hudson Manhattan Rye, honey jujube, Montenegro amaro and Grand Marnier.

Then, we decided to take their $55 prix-fixe menu that includes an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. Jodi chose japchae with mushrooms. Japchae are glass noodles made with sweet potatoes. This was really good, the mushrooms being very tasty and not just steamed.

On my side, I had the fried calamari salad, composed of fried calamari tossed In honey wine Go-Chu-Jang sauce and served on seasonal mixed greens with pear dressing. When I asked the waiter how spicy it was, he replied: “I believe in you” that was pretty funny. It was spicy for sure, but so good that I was going back at it.

Fried calamari salad at Gaonnuri in NYC, NY

Then came the entrees. Jodi ordered the vegetable bibimbap that came, as expected, in a piping hot bowl. The waiter mixed it for her. I liked it although I prefer it with beef or chicken and we failed to create a rice crust that is always the best part.

Strangely, it came with a soup that had tofu and enoki mushrooms in it and was unexpected.

On my side, I went for the marinated galbi that is marinated beef short ribs. They asked if I I wanted it cooked in the kitchen or at the table and I picked the latter. They then uncovered the grill that was in the middle of the table and grilled the meat to a nice medium rare. It was delicious: juicy and tasty, I simply loved it.

It came with a salad, rice (to share with Jodi: weird considering she had a rice dish), and some banchan, that are small dishes. There was my favorite, kimchi (fermented cabbage), that was not too hot, pickles, potatoes and radish.

Last was dessert. I admit that I was a bit intrigued as Korean restaurants are rarely proposing dessert. It was a chocolate financier with a mango sorbet. It was decent, with a beautiful presentation.

This was a very good dinner and I loved the atmosphere at Gaonnuri. The food is really good and 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!

Gaonnuri - 1250 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/18

Emmett's Chicago style pizza

Jodi was recently in Chicago for a show where one of her paintings was selected for, but, unfortunately I had to travel for work and could not go with her. I not only regretted not being present for the event itself, but also not being able to explore the food scene in the windy city, especially the deep dish pizza Chicago is known for. I admit that the only place where I tried these pizza was at Pizza Uno, so we wanted to see if there was another place in New York. That is how we found Emmett's a small joint with a rustic and warm feel located downtown.

Created by native Chicagoan Emmett Burke in Fall of 2013, they serve also thin crust pizza and sandwiches, one of them being the Char Dog, grilled over an open flame. But we were set on the deep dish pizza and settled on the cheese Louise, only available for lunch and that has caramelized cheese all over the crust, giving an additional crunch to it. As the pizza takes close to 40 minutes, we decided to share a Caesar salad: that might have been a mistake as the pizza was quite filling and definitely serving 3 people rather than 2.

When the pizza came and they lifted the first slice, with all that cheese dripping from the slice, we knew we would not regret our choice and that pizza was superb! Definitely for the cheese lovers!

Cheese Louise Pizza at Emmett's in NYC, NY

With it, I got my favorite drink with pizza: root beer. Funny enough, this is not a drink you would find in France and often, I hear French people talking about it, thinking it is a beer rather than a soda.

Root beer at Cheese Louise Pizza at Emmett's in NYC, NY

This was a great meal and we left full, taking a long nice walk to help digest...I would definitely go back there, but know that they do not take reservation and it apparently starts to get crowded for dinner on week ends at 6pm., but what you can do is order your pizza, go somewhere else and they will call you when ready.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Emmett's - 50 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/18

Dinner at Empellon Midtown

After the service issue and the so so meal we had at Rosa Mexicanos for Jodi's birthday, I surprised her by reserving a table over the week end at Empellon Midtown, the latest venture of chef and founder Alex Stupak, who gave us the wonderful Empellon Taqueria where we went a couple of times, enjoying both the brunch and dinner. The place opened few month ago in a setting that is a bit more spectacular, more upscale than its sister restaurant, and so, it has a different vibe and crowd.

Dining room at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

I started of with a cocktail, whisky based of course, and ordered the Tamarind Julep, made with Bain’s Cape Whiskey, Von Humboldt’s Tamarind Cordial, Carpano Antica, Lemon Syrup. It was quite refreshing, but the lemon overpowered a bit the drink.

Tamarind Julep cocktail at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

Food wise, they have lots of interesting dishes, but, as we had a fairly heavy lunch, we decided to order a bunch of small dishes, perfect to share anyway. The first one was of course their guacamole, served with 7 different salsas, from mild to really spicy. The sauces were: smoked cashew, salsa roja, salsa borracha, salsa verde, tomatillio-chipotle, salsa de arbor and habanero. I have tried the habanero one and my mouth was on fire for quite some time...The guacamole was quite good, well seasoned with chunks of avocado, delicious on their homemade tortilla chips, but I admit that for $21, I was expecting a bigger quantity (if you are 3 people, you need a second order).

Guacamole with 7 salsas at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

Guacamole at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

Next were the half dozen oysters, served with a marinade and hot sauce. They were delicious and I was glad that it was not too spicy.

It was followed by the white asparagus salad, served with queso fresco and pink grapefruit, an interesting salad, especially with the addition of the grapefruit that gave a nice acidity to the dish.

White asparagus salad at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

The last dish was the smoked black cod with potato-chorizo vinaigrette. I loved the presentation, where the vinaigrette was poured in the middle of the plate and you had to dip the fish in it. It was the first time I had smoked cod and I found it superb, the smokiness adding a dimension to the fish that had a nice texture. And the sauce was pretty good, dominated by the grease of the chorizo that gave a nice color to it.

Smoked black cod at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Jodi was too full to try their corn ice cream sandwich and not so tempted, so we ended up with the chocolate mousse that was served with with goat milk raspado and chicory cold brew. The chocolate mousse itself was delicious and very chocolatey, but I did not really liked the raspado that is a Mexican ice.

Chocolate mousse at Empellon Midtown in NYC, NY

Overall it was a good meal and I regret I was not more hungry to try their tacos. I would go back for that, their food being delicious, but it is definitely pricey...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Empellon Midtown - 510 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/18

Dinner at Rosa Mexicano Lincoln Square

For her birthday, Jodi wanted to eat Mexican food, but only in a restaurant that makes guacamole. You may find it obvious that a Mexican restaurant would serve guacamole as an appetizer, but in fact, one of my colleagues suggested a place few months ago, but we did not go simply because there was no guacamole. So she picked Rosa Mexicano, the popular elegant Mexican chain where I had dinner few weeks ago. The food was good, but I admit that the poor service wrecked a bit the evening. You know, I like to spend some time with my wife sharing a meal, but it has to be on my own terms. That day, it was such a mess! Our order for entrees was only taken after we finished the guac; then I had to inquire for our entrees as we waited 30 minutes; next, I had to inquire about our dessert after waiting 20 minutes and it was definitely not a soufflé; last, the waiter gave me back my credit card but did not even print the receipt to sign, showing for a last time a lack of attention. During all this time, no apology.
At least the food was good and my previous experience, few weeks before was not like this, making me think that it was due to a bad seed...

Dining room at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

There, they have a nice selection of cocktails, but instead of going with a margarita, I decided to try their one made with whisky called El Viejo and made with Jack Daniels Whiskey, canela-infused agave, Aztec chocolate bitters.

El Viejo cocktail at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

For sure if you go there, you have to get their guacamole that is freshly made and, if space permits, prepared table side. Although I admit that I had better ones like in Charritos in Hoboken. But still, I love when guacamole has chunks of perfectly ripened avocado.

Guacamole at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

For her entree, Jodi just went for a cheese quesadilla, appetizer size, that was quite good, being filled with lots of cheese. It was served with rice and beans.

Cheese quesadilla at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

Rice and beans at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

On my side, I went for the Alambre a la Mexicana, that is skewered and grilled filet mignon served with chorizo, onions, Serrano peppers, on their house rice, with tomatillo and tomatillo-chipotle salsa. The filet mignon was good, decent for the price, and the chorizo delicious. However, I did not like the rice that was a bit dry. Fortunately, Jodi did not eat her beans and so I ate them with the rice.

Alambre a la Mexicana at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

For dessert, we ordered their tres leches that was quite good.

Tres leches at Rosa Mexicano near the Lincoln Center

Overall the meal was ok, but I admit that I had better in places like Empellon Taqueria. Rosa Mexicano serves decent food, but it is not what it used to be.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Rosa Mexicano - 61 Columbus Avenue,NY, NY 10023

I Just Want To Eat! 5/21/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/21/18

Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

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

Opened last February, Ruumy's Tavern is the last venture of restauranteur Mike Kocak who also owns Akdeniz, a Mediterranean restaurant located Midtown West (Ruumy is the nickname of one of his relatives). There, Executive Chef Matthew Sadownick, who worked at Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe, crafted an interesting menu that he calls comfort food, made of small dishes as well as large ones. This is the interesting thing: we had a debate with the Chef and my fellow bloggers who were present at the dinner about what comfort food is as they disagreed with the concept. For most of the bloggers, it was the classic mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and not what was served at Ruumy's Taven; my view (and Chef Matthew agreed with me) is that it is subjective as it all depends on where you come from and what reminds you either your childhood or your home. For me for instance, it is steak frites, potato au gratin or crepes.

Executive Chef Matthew Sadownick at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

So, before talking about the menu, let's talk about the place: There are really 4 main parts: the main dining room, a room downstairs with an adjacent private room that is also the wine cellar, as well as a garden in the back. It has overall a rustic feel, warm and comfy with its exposed brick, terra-cotta floors and reclaimed wood tables. I love the photos of New York hanging on the walls, photos that were taken by a friend of the owner.

Main dining room at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Private dining room at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Downstairs dining room at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Garden at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

They do not have a full liquor license, but have a nice list of wine from all over the world as well as sake, as it is in the wine category, from which they make cocktails. I tried a few of their wines, in small quantity of course! I like the rosé that is often not well considered, although quite refreshing. There was a French one, a Sancerre, 100% Pinot Noir 2016 from Karine Lauverjat that had a nice strawberry aroma.

Rosé Sancerre 2016 from Karine Lauverjat at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Bacchus Cabernet Sauvignon2015 at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Johnson Family 2015 Pinot Noir at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Sake cocktail at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Food wise, we were there for a treat. We started off with the chicken liver mousse that was very good, perfectly made, and hummus, a good French / Middle Eastern composition, the former being my favorite.

Chicken liver and hummus at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

It came with pickled vegetables: pearl onions and beets.

Pickled vegetables at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Then, a duo of flatbreads: the first one was shiitake and portobello mushrooms with fontina cheese and salsa verde.

Mushrooms flatbread at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Mushroom flatbread at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

The second, raven and boar ham with swiss cheese, black pepper and creme fraiche. This was my favorite, the ham having a nice smokiness and it had a slight kick to it.

Raven and boar ham flatbread at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Next were vegetables: blistered shishito peppers drizzled in preserved lemon yogurt and grilled baby zucchini with cheese. Both were good, my favorite being the peppers that have a Japanese inspiration.

Shishito peppers at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Grilled baby zucchini at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

It was followed by red snapper that was perfectly cooked and had a nice crispy skin, presented on a wild mushroom salad with a lemon and fish vinaigrette. Not only the fish was delicious, but I admit that the salad, made with pickled enoki and portobello mushrooms was superb, and had a nice acidity.

Red snapper at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

One of my favorite dishes was the burger topped with cheddar and pancetta: the patty, made with brisket, top round and some 30 days dry aged meat was phenomenal, juicy and tasty, perfectly cooked to a medium rare.

Burger at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

The last entree was the steak frites with béarnaise sauce that was also succulent! The very good NY strip (tender, juicy) was accompanied by a homemade béarnaise sauce and herb French fries. I would go back for this and for the burger for sure! The béarnaise was a twist on the original by the Chef and was very good with the fries.

NY strip at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Bearnaise sauce at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

French fries at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

Last was dessert and it was spectacular: it was a chocolate mousse with dulce de leche, candied peanuts and coconut. I could have eaten a bucket of it!

Chocolate mousse at Ruumy's Tavern in Hell's Kitchen

This was a very good dinner and quite comforting for me: Ruumy's Tavern is a surprising restaurant serving some food that you would not see on a lot of "tavern" menus, associating more this term to the beer than such a wonderful cuisine. I would definitely go back for the steak frites or burger, knowing that it would not be a problem for Jodi as they have few interesting vegetarian dishes that stand on their own and are not just an afterthought.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ruumy's Tavern - 310 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

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

Brunch at Atrium Dumbo

Jodi and I were supposed to see the open studio of Peter Drake, an amazing painter who is also the dean of the New York Academy of Art where Jodi studied. So we decided to find a place in Dumbo where the studio is and stumbled upon Atrium, a restaurant that serves seasonal dishes.

Open kitchen at Atrium Dumbo in Brooklyn

I really like the place, from its open kitchen to the decor, one of the walls being covered by a plant, highlighting even more the concept.

We went for brunch and I rarely order a cocktail, preferring usual fresh squeezed juices or, like this time, a rosemary lemonade that was quite good and refreshing.

Rosemary lemonade at Atrium Dumbo in Brooklyn

For my entree, I opted for the Cobb salad and added lobster that elevated that classic salad that I would not have ordered if such option was not available. And I did not regret it: there was a nice amount of a perfectly cooked lobster in it.

Cobb salad with lobster at Atrium Dumbo in Brooklyn

Jodi went for their avocado toast that had a perfectly cooked poached egg on top. But, like often, there could have been more avocado on it...

Avocado toast at Atrium Dumbo in Brooklyn

Last was dessert: we could not resist ordering their brioche donuts with homemade sour cinnamon sugar butterscotch. I was a bit disappointed. Not only were the donuts a bit dry, but the butterscotch had way too much scotch in it (don’t get me wrong: I like scotch but not like that) and was too sour.

Brioche donuts at Atrium Dumbo in Brooklyn

We left with mixed feelings about Atrium. Maybe we will give it another shot, this time for dinner. I am not sure yet...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Atrium Dumbo - 15 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/18

Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor in Jersey City

We were walking around while waiting for our reservation for brunch at Talde in Jersey City, few blocks from the Grove St path train, when we stumbled upon Torico, an homemade ice cream parlor. It did not take long for us to decide to go back there after lunch for dessert, the weather being perfect for it.

How can you resist homemade ice cream? And they have some interesting flavors like avocado, bubble gum or black sesame, but I decided to stick to my favorites: butter pecan, and praline and cream. Praline is my favorite flavor, but unfortunately, you do not see it often, so I was in heaven. I had it in a delicious waffle cone and I admit that there was a lot of ice cream. It was fantastic, quite rich for sure, my favorite being the praline and cream if I had to pick one.

Praline and cream at Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor in Jersey City

Jodi went for coconut, of course! And she picked the coconut and cream that she loved.

Coconut and cream at Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor in Jersey City

This is very good ice cream and I would just go to Jersey City for 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!

Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor - 20 Erie St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 5/14/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/14/18

Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

For my birthday, I proposed to go to Butcher & Banker, a Steakhouse that opened several months ago that I really wanted to try. Located in the New Yorker Hotel, few blocks from Penn Station and The Madison Square Garden, it used to House the Manufacturers Trust Company and they smartly kept the vault, transforming it into a dining room. I like the place because it has its charm and is not your typical steakhouse. No dark colors or leather, but lots of red, and, in the main dining room, an amazing chandelier. But, what you cannot miss are the two black and white portraits that have a strange presence in the room.

Bar area at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Dining room at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Vault at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Food wise, I was there for a treat. I started by ordering a whisky from their long list: a Balvenie single barrel 15 yr. I admit that I found it ok, trying in the past their 17 yr that has a better finish.

Glass of Balvenie single barrel 15 yr whisky at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, I went for oysters. East cost and west coast. I preferred the latter that were tastier, but overall, they were very good, fresh from the sea (hopefully).

East coast and West coast oysters at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

West coast oysters at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

East coast oysters at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Jodi did not have any entree but appreciated, like me, their homemade bread that was so good, it was hard to show restraint considering what was coming.

Bread at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

As she is vegetarian, she decided to order few sides: first were the Crisp Top Macaroni and Cheese, made with cheddar and soft-ripened raclette cheese. It was delicious, with lots of cheese in it. If you go there, do not miss it.

Mac and cheese at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

The second dish was their T-bone cauliflower steak, served with capers, raisins, sweet peppers and a warm vinaigrette. It was good, definitely an interesting dish to propose as a side as I would never think about ordering this with a steak...

T-Bone cauliflower steak at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

The last side was the onion rings that I did not really like:

Onion rings at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Talking about steak, I went for the Cowboy bone-in ribeye, that I topped with thick slices of bacon and foie gras. The meat was very good, tender and juicy, but more cooked than I would have liked (I love medium rare). Concerning the toppings, my favorite was the seared foie gras that was superb.

Cowboy bone-in ribeye at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Thick cut of bacon at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Seared foie gras at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We opened for the lemon meringue curd tartlet that was succulent, not too sweet.

Lemon meringue curd tartlet at Butcher and Banker steakhouse in NYC, NY

Overall we had an excellent diner at Butcher and Banker: the food there was delicious and the service on point. But next time, I will ask to be seated in the vault, hoping that nobody will close the door!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Butcher & Banker - 481 8th Avenue, Vault Level, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/18

Brunch at Talde in Jersey City

Few years ago, we went to Talde, the eponymous restaurant of Top Chef alum Dale Talde, in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I totally forgot that he opened a second location in Jersey City and we simply stumbled upon it while going to a brunch place. Well, we decided to change plans, persuaded that we would have a great experience there. And we were not disappointed. This is a big place and we were definitely early, the restaurant being empty, quiet so we could enjoy our brunch. But when we passed by a bit later, it was quite busy.

I started the brunch with a homemade lemonade that was nicely acidic and not too sweet.

Then, we decided to go for a classic: the avocado toast, served on a sourdough bread, with yuzu guacamole, a poached egg and seaweed. It was like an asian version of what has become in the past few years a classic brunch dish. And it was good, the guacamole definitely having the right acidity from the yuzu and the egg being perfectly poached, the yolk being runny.

The second dish was the Everything roti & lox, another interpretation of a classic deli dish, where the bagel is replaced by a delightfully crispy roti, topped with cream cheese, lox, capers and onions. I loved it and could eat that roti by itself!

Everything roti and lox at Talde in Jersey City

But we could not resist ordering tater tots as a side and they were amazing: crispy, slightly greasy, as expected, they were served with a sriracha ketchup that was not that spicy.

It was great that we found Talde on our way and I did not regret our change of plans: this is a nice place and I will surely go back for dinner, especially for their fried chicken...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Talde - 8 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/18

Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

I finally made it to Nusr-Et Steakhouse, the NYC outpost of Chef Nusret Gökçe aka Saltbae, a social media sensation known from the way he cuts meat (he is a trained butcher) and put salt on dishes, falling on his forearm. When it opened several weeks ago, the reviews were not that good: expensive (they do not even serve tap water!) and not good, with some sanitary concerns that could have violated the health code (you should not touch the meat with your bare hands once cooked; Salbae is now wearing gloves). But I admit that, when I went, I found the food excellent, although still expensive, and the evening quite entertaining, each dish being kind of a show. This is the kind of place to do once, if you have the cash of course, for fun, but there are so many great steakhouses in the city that are much cheaper that I am not sure if it will last once the excitement of the novelty passes, unless prices are lowered. As far as Salbae himself, it is funny to see him walking around and do his thing, but it was a bit cold. One of my friends told me that it is because he does not speak english.

Saltbae and me at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

Here is what I tried:

#salbae old fashioned, made with a single malt whiskey, ginger, all spice dram and bitters. A very good cocktail, perfectly made.

#salbae old fashioned cocktail at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

For the meal, a glass of Pinot Noir, Bethel Heights Estate Eola-Amity Hills 2015, a robust wine with black cherry notes, perfect with meat.

Pinot Noir, Bethel Heights Estate Eola-Amity Hills 2015 at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

The appetizer was the steak tartare, made with Dijon mustard, shallots, capers, chili sauce, ketchup (what?), cognac and topped with crispy potato. The tartare is prepared table side like you would see in Mexican restaurants with guacamole, the person going from table to table with a cart. The meat was a filet mignon, cut with a knife, as a tartare should (I hate to see ground meat for a tartare!). I was surprised that they used ketchup, a sort of heresy for such a classic dish and compared to the rest of the ingredients and the mustard kind of overpowered a bit the dish, but it was quite good. I especially loved the addition of the crispy potatoes that added a nice crunch in contrast to the texture of the meat.

Steak tartare at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

Next was the tomahawk steak, an impressive piece of ribeye that was mustard marinated and cooked medium. At $275 a piece, it is very pricey and you get the Chef to come and cut it for you...The meat was magnificent: juicy, delightfully charred and very tender, it was quite flavorful.

As sides, I tried their rosemary mashed potatoes that were superb, the potatoes mashed skin on, and their sautéed mushrooms.

Mashed potatoes at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

Sautéed mushrooms at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

For dessert, there was only one choice: baklava with ice cream and it was again a show! This homemade pistachio baklava is to die for: buttery and with a nice amount of honey, it was perfect with the ice cream that neutralized a bit the sweetness of it. It is one of the best baklava I ever had! The way they serve it is amazing as I would never accept a dessert that has been screwed up like that in another restaurant, but not at Nusr-Et.

Last was a Turkish coffee that was good and strong.

Turkish coffee at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Nusr-Et Steakhouse - 60 W 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/7/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/7/18

Le Cirque in Delhi, India

It is undeniable that Le Cirque and the Maccioni family are icons in the New York restaurant business and as soon as I knew that they opened a location in Delhi, I had that place in mind. I was recently in the Indian capital and we tried to book a table at this renowned Italian restaurant on a Sunday night. Unfortunately, it was full, a party of 70 hungry Italians having booked the place. Fortunately, thanks to Mauro Maccioni, one of the sons of Sirio Maccioni, the patriarch of the family, who I met a couple of times at Circo (Mauro, not Sirio - maybe one day!), I was able to get a reservation, my friends not believing that it happened.

Chef Matteo Fontana from Le Cirque with me!

There, we met with the Chef, Matteo Fontana, who has been feeding diners since last December after an incursion at Le Cirque Abu Dhabi, serving one of the most memorable menus I had. The restaurant is located on the 10th floor of The Leela Palace, in the Diplomatic Enclave of New Delhi, organized in three different areas overlooking the city: the bar at the entrance, the main dining room with its opened kitchen and a private dining room with only few tables. This is in the latter room that we got seated.

Open kitchen at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Dining room at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Private dining room at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

At Le Cirque, they have an extensive list of wines from around the world and I chose a Chianti, Brolio Barone Ricasoli 2014, an Italian wine with cherry notes.

Chianti, Brolio Barone Ricasoli 2014 at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

They started off by bringing us some delicious focaccia bread that I simply could not stop eating...

Focaccia bread at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Then, was an amuse that has a beautiful presentation: on one side was a very refreshing Italian gazpacho (chilled tomato soup) and on the other side, presented like a macaroon was their Tuscan liver paté, sandwiched in a brioche that was topped with a slice of black truffle. I could have eaten an entire plate of this delicious paté that was perfectly made. In fact, they offer it as an appetizer if you are tempted.

Chicken liver pate at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Italian gazpacho at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Talking about appetizers, I decided to try their Consommé of free range chicken, made with a sous-vide marinated chicken breast, green zucchini pearls and black truffle. Well, that's not your traditional chicken soup for sure: it was delicate and so refined, the truffle adding a bit of decadence and elegance to it.

Consommé of free range chicken at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

The second dish was the ravioli stuffed with barolo braised duck leg, a homemade ravioli filled with a duck leg cooked for 4 hours in the oven. It was served with a pumpkin velouté that added a nice sweetness, rosemary morel mushroom, leek spaghetti and topped with a parsley foam. The ravioli was definitely the star of the dish: perfectly cooked with a nice bite, it had a pyramid shape that held inside a fantastic duck leg.

Ravioli stuffed with duck leg at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

I also got to try one of their specialties: the lobster risotto cooked in lobster bisque: that is one of the best risotto I ever had! There was a nice amount of lobster and the fact that it was cooked in lobster bisque gave even more lobster flavor to the dish. I definitely recommend it.

Lobster risotto at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Then, was the Acacia honey glazed female duck breast: I admit that this was the first time I have seen the gender of the duck I am going to eat on the menu. Chef Matteo explained that the female being smaller than the male, the breast is a bit smaller as well, hence the choice of the female duck for that dish. Pink in the center, the breast was very good, perfect with the duck jus, and with a nicely fatty skin. It was served with some roasted potatoes that were a bit crunchy, like I like them.

Acacia honey glazed duck at  Le Cirque in Delhi, India — Acacia honey glazed duck at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

But in fact I only got few of these potatoes, focussing more on the black truffle fries that were superb, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through, with that incredible scent from the shaved truffle.

Roasted potatoes at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Truffle fries at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

It was followed by a palate cleanser, that was called "three layers of mango".

"Three layers of mango" at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Last was dessert, compliment of the Chef. It was their dessert sampler that is something I am always looking forward to seeing on the menu, allowing indecisive diners to try multiple desserts. It was composed of the tiramisu, the napoleon, the baked Alaska and the Le Cirque creme brûlée. All of it was very good, my favorite being the baked Alaska that is out of this world.

Dessert sampler at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Baked Alaska at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

Creme brûlée at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

And as if we did not eat enough, they brought us some petits fours that were, from left to right: florentine, fresh fruit tart, green apple chocolate, berry financier and raspberry truffle.

Petits fours at Le Cirque in Delhi, India

This was one of the best dinners I had: the food was succulent and the service on point. I agree when some say that it is like having a Michelin Star treatment and I hope that they will be rewarded with these stars one day as they deserve 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!

Le Cirque - The Leela Palace, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/18

Aureole in NYC, NY

It’s been a while since we wanted to try Aureole, located close to Bryant Park. When making the reservation, they asked if we wanted to dine in the casual or formal dining room, where a tasting menu was served. We went for the latter and did not regret it. The food and service at this acclaimed Charlie Palmer’s restaurant were impeccable and they accommodated Jodi with a vegetarian menu that was definitely not an afterthought.

Casual dining room at Aureole in NYC, NY

When you enter, you first go through the casual room I mentioned, called the Liberty Room, with its huge chandelier and the view of their incredible wine cellar on the second floor. The formal dining room in the back is quieter and emptied after 8pm.

I started by ordering a cocktail called Sgt Pepper that I guess was an homage to the Beatles. Refreshing and not strong, it was made with William Peel blended scotch, Cynar (Italian bitter liquor), bell pepper, lemon and grapefruit.

Sgt Pepper cocktail at Aureole in NYC, NY

They then brought us an amuse: pomegranate gelée for Jodi

Cured salmon in a dashi broth with bonito and crispy rice. A good way to start.

It was followed by some house made bread. We both chose some focaccia that was so good, I got a second piece...

We had to pick between the five course and the three course tasting. The five course was fully defined, while we had various choices for the three course. But, when I saw the dishes in the five course menu, I could not resist. The first dish was King Crab + Apple, a crab toast made with kupie, nori dust, paddlefish roe, avocado on a brioche. This was delicious, the crab not overpowered by the sort of mayo it was mixed with. And that brioche was so good, very buttery.

Jodi on her side got a Spring salad that did not look boring at all.

Next was a white asparagus soup with a goat and ricotta ravioli for Jodi

White asparagus soup at Aureole in NYC, NY

And Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras With pear purée, pickled ginger, blackberry on the same brioche I had with the crab. The soup was pretty good, smooth, and the foie gras fantastic, deliciously fatty and literally melting in my mouth. In fact, I enjoy more seared foie gras over the pâté.

The third course was Cavatelli pasta with mussels, garlic, saffron and heirloom tomato.

Cavatelli pasta with mussels at Aureole in NYC, NY

Jodi got a vegetarian version of this course. The pasta was very good, perfectly cooked al dente.

Cavatelli pasta, vegetarian version at Aureole in NYC, NY

The fourth course was, with the foie gras, what I was looking for: Long Island Duck Breast with white asparagus, fava beans, pickled rhubarb and sauce béarnaise. I was expecting to see the sauce on the duck, but it was on the asparagus: I loved it. The asparagus were well cooked, with a nice bite, smothered by a delightfully buttery béarnaise. The duck was cooked medium rare and was nicely fatty, the skin being slightly crispy. If you love duck, I strongly suggest this dish.

Long Island duck breast at Aureole in NYC, NY

Jodi on her side got some seasonal vegetables.

Seasonal vegetables at Aureole in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We both got the Wild Strawberry on top of a sablé breton, natural jus with fromage blanc ice cream. It was good, but it is not the kind of dessert that blows you away and that you would remember.

Wild strawberries dessert at Aureole in NYC, NY

With the check, they brought us a plate of cookies that was a nice attention, but we were so full...

It was a great meal and I would definitely go back to Auréole. I am in fact curious to go to their casual dining room, the burger I saw passing by looked very appetizing...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Aureole - 135 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/18 I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/18

Barbes, Moroccan French restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Hoboken has a new Moroccan and French restaurant that opened uptown on Park. Barbés is not totally unknown to me as it used to be in New York but unfortunately closed. Taking its name from the neighborhood below Montmartre, the restaurant serves more Moroccan dishes than French ones, if not for the duck, served confit as an appetizer or as a magret (duck breast) as an entree, or the steak au poivre. No, definitely I wanted to go there to try the Moroccan dishes, especially Tagines and couscous as there are not that many restaurants serving great ones.

Funny enough, we heard about this place while dining at Ali Baba, a Middle Eastern restaurant on Washington Street, where I was eating...couscous. The two times we went there, we arrived pretty early and luckily got a seat as the place got packed fairly quickly. The first dinner at Barbes I got tempted by a cocktail: The New York Sour, a whisky sour made with dried red wine (that for sure came through).

NY sour cocktail at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

The second time, I tried a glass of Guerrouane, a wine from Morocco that was fine with the meal.

Glass of Guerrouane at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

Here are some of the dishes we tried:

A great appetizer to share is the salade méditerranéenne, composed of hummus, shashouka (made with tomatoes and peppers), as well as zaalouk, an eggplant salad. All of them were delicious on pieces of pita and my favorite was the shashouka, that reminded me of my family cuisine.

Salade Mediterraneenne at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

The couscous aux legumes or vegetable couscous, a vegetarian option, that was served in a tagine, giving a rustic and authentic feel to the dish (in fact, one of the co-owner, Omar, told that that sometimes people just order because of the tagine, not knowing what is inside). The vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini, chickpeas...) were sitting on deliciously made semolina, with also some raisins that added some sweetness.

Tagine at Salade Mediterraneenne at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

Vegetable couscous at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

I have also tried their couscous royale that is my favorite: the base is the same as the vegetable couscous, but they add some merguez (lamb sausage), chicken and lamb. Simply delicious!

Couscous royale at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

Since I love merguez, and I do not see it often on a menu, except in French or Moroccan restaurants, I also tried their merguez brochette, served with a quinoa tabouleh (you can otherwise chose French fries). This was great: the merguez were delicious, delightfully greasy and a bit spicy. I was in heaven.

Merguez brochette at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

Last, dessert: they have chocolate mousse or Pastilla au lait, a dessert made with fried phillo dough, smothered with milk and rose water. Both are very good: the chocolate mousse is very chocolatey and has a nice texture, and the pastilla is fantastic, not overly sweet and crunchy, sublime like anything fried!

Chocolate mousse at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

With it, we ordered a mint tea, but I admit that I found it disappointing as they put rose water instead of green tea, overpowering the mint.

Overall we had a great meal at Barbés: the food was delicious and the service on point. It is great addition to Hoboken and I hope they will be successful, especially considering that the location is not that obvious, a bit off the beaten path.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Barbés- 1300 Park, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 4/30/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/30/18

The Modern next to the MOMA

Located next to the Museum of Modern Art aka MOMA, The Modern is one of the restaurants of acclaimed Chef Danny Meyer from Marta, or more popular...Shake Shack. What a difference between the latter and The Modern, where we had a fantastic meal! We decided to go to the formal dining room that had an exclusive view on the garden inside the museum, a room with a very high ceiling and huge windows that gave lots of light to that beautiful room. It was definitely in contrast with the more casual room that was next to the bar, dimmer and noisier.

Formal dining room at The Modern in the MOMA

I started off by ordering a cocktail: the Wakatake, made with Japanese single malt, shoshu, matcha, lemongrass and lemon. It was an interesting cocktail, with a nice green color given by the matcha that really came through.

The Wakatake cocktail at The Modern next the MOMA

They then brought us bread: whole wheat for Jodi, baguette with caraway seeds for me.

As an amuse, they brought a celery soup that was surprisingly very good and smooth. I admit that I was surprised as I am not a huge fan of celery. With it were small tartlets made with seasonal vegetables. Really good.

The first course was, for me, Gently seared scallops seasoned with yuzu juice and toasted pistachios. The color of the dish was superb and the scallops were perfectly cooked, nicely sautéed.

Seared scallops at The Modern next the MOMA

Jodi got the warm red pear and lettuce hearts dressed in black truffle buttermilk. The most surprising element of the dish was the black truffle buttermilk dressing that was succulent.

Warm red pear and lettuce hearts at The Modern next the MOMA

The second course was, for me, Foie gras poached in a duck broth with pickled mushrooms and celery. The foie gras was really good, deliciously fatty and buttery. They poured on top a nice duck consommé that I inhaled.

Poached foie gras at The Modern next the MOMA

Jodi got some Spring vegetables with apple chips.

Spring vegetables at The Modern next the MOMA

The third course was the best of the evening: Beef crusted in aged Comté cheese - à la royale style with beluga lentils. The tenderloin was a perfectly cooked medium rare and was so tender, it was like butter. It was definitely a good quality piece of meat. I loved the aged comté cheese crust that added a nice saltiness to the dish.

Beef crusted in aged comte at The Modern next the MOMA

For Jodi, it was Acorn squash with root vegetables, lentils and morels.

Acorn squash at The Modern next the MOMA

After this, they gave us a beautiful bite to cleanse our palate: it was a lime sorbet with coconut, nestled in mango.

Lime sorbet with coconut at The Modern next the MOMA

Last was dessert. Jodi ordered the Brioche bread pudding with crème anglaise and golden pineapple. The presentation was interesting and it was like a deconstructed dessert, delicious for sure.

Brioche bread pudding at The Modern next the MOMA

On my side, I went for the Mont Blanc, a dessert made with chestnut, a crispy cashew tuile and a vanilla-chestnut ice cream. This was sublime! Not too sweet and quite delicate.

As we finished, they offered us a petit four made with salted caramel and ganache. Lucky for me, Jodi got full, so I got both...

We left full and amazed by the food we got at The Modern. I should point out the excellent service and beautiful plating of each and every dishes. The attention to each detail made this one of the best fine dining experiences we had in the city. If you want a nice meal and can afford it, I strongly recommend this place: no wonder why they got two Michelin stars!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Modern - 9 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/18

Brunch at Bowery Road near Union Square

We were looking for a brunch place near Union Square, when we stumbled upon Bowery Road, an American restaurant located in the Hyatt, where Chef Ron Rosselli serves farm-to-table dishes composed with products sourced at the Union Square Green Market close by. I like that the place is quite spacious with very high ceilings and the omnipresence of wood underlying the theme of the restaurant.

Dining room at Bowery Road near Union Square

We started our meal by sharing their crushed avocado, served with a tomato chutney and a corn seed cracker. This is one of the 4 dips or spreads they are proposing, each having a unique bread. The presentation was really nice, colorful with the contrast of the green from the avocado and the red of the tomato chutney. The dish was delicious: there were chunks of avocado that were perfectly ripe and was, with the chutney, like a Middle Eastern version of guacamole. It was delicious on the cracker that was really surprising, quite flavorful and crunchy.

Crushed avocado at Bowery Road near Union Square

Corn seeded cracker at Bowery Road near Union Square

For her main entree, Jodi ordered the USQ Market Grain Bowl, composed of egg (she asked without), faro, quinoa, lentils, haricot verts, avocado, mushrooms and sunflower.

USQ Market Grain Bowl at Bowery Road near Union Square

On my side, I could not resist trying their chicken two-ways, that was a fried thigh, roasted breast, sweet potato, herb yogurt and anaheim chili salsa. The chicken was succulent: each piece, whether fried or roasted, were perfectly cooked and moist. I liked the chili salsa, but admit that the chicken was so good, it did not need anything.

Chicken two-ways at Bowery Road near Union Square

Sweet potato at Bowery Road near Union Square

The food was really good and I love their farm-to-table concept. Bowery Road is the kind of restaurant in hotel that is worth trying and I would definitely go back for dinner there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bowery Road - 132 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/18

Marea near Central Park

Meaning "Tide" in Italian, Marea is the restaurant of Chef Michael White who succeeded to get two restaurants with Michelin Stars: Marea and Ai Fiori. With its two stars, Marea is a fantastic experience, from the food to the service, focusing mainly on seafood, not surprising considering its name. If you are vegetarian, they are couple of dishes, and it is the sort of establishment that will accommodate without any problem to create vegetarian dishes on the fly (well, I am sure they have couple already created just in case).

Here is what we tried at Marea:

For a cocktail, I tried their Cask-strength old Fashioned, made with russell's reserve "altamarea" single barrel bourbon, oleo saccharin and bitters.

Once we ordered, they brought to us a cauliflower croquette with anchovy aioli, a delicious bite that was a great way to start the meal.

Cauliflower croquette at Marea in NYC, NY

Then some bread: we both chose their house made focaccia made with rosemary and garlic. Problem was that it was really good andI tried not to eat it as we knew we would have a great meal coming...

We decided to go for their four course dinner, but I decided to add a fifth dish: the vongole crudo made with razor clams, crustacean aioli, confit endive and lime. They do have a great selection of crudo, from octopus to scallops or fish like bass or trout, but went with razor clams as I rarely see them on a menu. The dish was small for sure, but very good, fresh with a nice acidity.

For her first dish, Jodi picked a dish made with mushroom and white asparagus.

On my side, I chose the Polipo or grilled octopus, smoked potatoes, radish pickled red onions, chilies and tonnato. The octopus was delicious, not rubbery and nicely charred.

Then came the pasta dish. Jodi had the risotto funghi, made with wild mushrooms and parmesan cheese. This was a very good risotto, the rice having some bite to it and it is the kind of dish that mushroom lovers like Jodi would love.

My pasta dish was the Garganelli with black truffle, bang caudal and parmesan cheese. Bagna caudal is a sauce or dip from Piedmont typically made with garlic, anchovies, olive oil and butter. The dish looked very appetizing and was superb: the house made pasta were perfectly cooked al dente, and not only the sauce was amazing, tasting more butter than anchovies, but there was lots of truffle.

Third course (more fourth for me...), was a beautiful faro salad with mushrooms for Jodi

and the scampi or langoustine from New Zealand with a side of salad for me (I had a choice between salad or potatoes and picked the healthy choice considering the feast we were having). This was very good: the langoustine were simply grilled, served with some butter sauce, and I appreciated the fact that the meat could be easily removed from the shell.

We finished the meal with a succulent dessert: the bomboloni or Italian doughnuts, served with a lemon cream and a strawberry compote. These were awesome and I did not need any cream or compote with them as they were good on their own.

The second dessert was the Delizie al Limone, a lemon chiffon cake served with lemon curd and a meyer lemon gelato. It was beautiful, but I admit that I was not as enthusiastic about it, the dessert being just ok for my taste.

Delizie al limone dessert at Marea in NYC, NY

But it was not the end: with the check, they brought some chocolate with hazelnut, a nice touch to end a delicious meal.

We left Marea full, glad that we had a chance to try this place that definitely deserved to be rewarded. Not only the food was good, but the service was also on the spot.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Marea - 240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10021

I Just Want To Eat! 4/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/23/18

Marta, another Danny Meyer venture

I did not realize that Marta was part of the Union Square Hospitality Group founded by Danny Meyer, but got a hunch when the waiter told us, after handing us the menu, that it was a non tipping restaurant, a concept that Chef Meyer introduced after noticing the disparities in compensation between the front and back of a house of a restaurant, the law prohibiting tips to be shared by the waiters with the cooks and dishwashers. I think it is a great idea and for sure, we had a very good experience there, noticing that the staff at Marta were really working together.

Located in the Redbury New York Hotel, Marta is a beautiful place: big, with lots of light thanks to the large windows, it is not your typical hotel restaurant. We were there for brunch and I admit that I did not know what to get, their menu being mouth watering. I started with a nice fresh squeezed orange juice.

Fresh squeeze orange juice at Marta in NYC, NY

Then, the first appetizer was the Ricotta, with wildflower honey, hazelnuts and sourdough bread. This ia very refreshing appetizer and if you have never tried this, ricotta and honey go extremely well together.

The second appetizer was the Polpo, or charred octopus served with potato, salsa verde and grilled gem lettuce. I simply loved it: the octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery with a nice char. The sales verde was delicious, but the most surprising was the grilled lettuce that was a perfect pairing with the octopus.

For the entrée, we opted for a white pizza with mushrooms called the Funghi pizza, composed of fontina and mozzarella cheese, hen of the woods, yellow chanterelles and thyme (there is normally red onion, but we asked without). The crust was very good, thin and crispy with a nice char. And not only there was a lot of cheese, but also lots of mushrooms. This is a great pizza that will satisfy anybody who loves mushrooms.

The brunch at Marta was delicious and it is definitely on my list for dinner, especially after seeing that they serve a crispy duck confit cooked in their wood fire oven...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Marta - 29 E 29th Street, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 4/20/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/20/18

The Persian Room in Phoenix, Az

I was recently in Phoenix for a conference and, as my uber arrived at the hotel, I noticed a Persian restaurant called the Persian Room. I admit that I could not resist going there for lunch, as I love Persian cuisine, New York City having quite few good choices, such as Persepolis or Pars Grill House and Bar. But definitely, The Persian Room has a more elegant decor and I could not believe how big this place was. The service there was on the spot and the food sublime. Here is what I had:

They started off by bringing some bread with butter, herbs and an onion. The bread on its own was very good: it was a homemade pita that was nicely charred and crisp.

With my meal, I decided to try their homemade yogurt drink (Yogurt, soda water, salt and mint) that I really liked.

Homemade yogurt drink at The Persian Room in Phoenix, Az

Considering the size of the dishes (and the amount of pita I managed to eat), I skipped the appetizer and went straight to the main course that was the kubideh, this Iranian kebab made with ground meat. As I could not decide between beef or lamb, the waiter proposed to have both. I loved it! Both kinds of meat were superb, juicy and tasty, my preference going to the lamb (the kebab with a stick) because of the stronger flavor. The plate was huge, with lots of basmati rice and a grilled tomato.

Kubideh at The Persian Room in Phoenix, Az

I managed to get dessert though...And it was the zulbia aka jalebi that is made by deep-frying maida flour batter in pretzel or circular shapes, and then soaked in sugar syrup, as well as Bamieh, that is a starch-based dough, which is fried before being dipped in syrup. They were just ok and I have had better.

Zulbia and bamieh at The Persian Room in Phoenix, Az

Overall the meal was very good and I am glad I spotted Persian Room. If you are in North Scottsdale, this is for sure a place to know.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Persian Room - 17040 North Scottsdale Road, North Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ 85255

I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/18

Raoul's Restaurant Francais in Soho

A year and a half ago, I got invited at Raoul's, a French restaurant located in Soho, for an event called Death In The Afternoon, reminiscent of the prohibition era. After that event, I promised myself I would go back and try their signature dish: the steak au poivre, so popular that I read that the cast of SNL used to go there just for that dish. And it is true that, while dining there, I saw a lot of these steak frites going around.

We went on a Friday and the restaurant was packed. Few people tried to go without a reservation (we had one), some, probably regulars, succeeded pretty quickly after speaking with the staff, while we were still waiting for our table...We finally got seated in the dining room that was a bit dark: sorry: I like to see what I am eating!

I started off by ordering an old fashioned, made with Michter's Bourbon, Angostura bitters, sugar and a marasca cherry.

Old Fashioned at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

For appetizer, I could not resist trying their pan seared foie gras, served with Maitake mushrooms and apple. This was superb: the foie gras had a nice saltiness to counterbalance its fattiness and buttery texture. I thought that it was interesting that they served it with Maitake mushrooms, although, with the apple, it gave a bit of bite to the dish.

Jodi simply went for the market greens salad, that had pieces of feta in it.

Market salad at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

She also went for a vegetarian dish for her entree: the roasted cauliflower, with oyster mushrooms, kale and polenta. It was quite good and did not look like a dish put there as a second thought in case a vegetarian diner comes to the restaurant.

Roasted cauliflower at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

Of course, for me it was the steak frites with its famous sauce au poivre. This big piece of filet is smothered by a peppercorn sauce that is divine and one of the best I had. Unfortunately, the steak was medium when I asked for medium rare, and was not as tender as I expected. It was served with a salad and hand cut fries, skin on, that were delicious, a bit crispy.

Steak au poivre at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

Last was dessert and Jodi was really happy to read her favorite ingredient in a dessert: coconut! So we ordered the banana coconut bread pudding that was superb, with more banana than coconut taste. It was soft, not dry and not too sweet, a perfect way to finish our meal.

Banana coconut pudding at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

Banana coconut pudding at Banana coconut pudding at Raoul's in Soho, NYC, NY

Even if I was a bit disappointed with the steak, I thought it was a good meal. I might give it another try, hopping that this time, I will have a better cut and a perfect temperature for what is supposed to be the best steak au poivre in the City...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Raoul's - 180 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 4/16/18 I Just Want To Eat! 4/16/18

Fantastic meal at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

The first time we made plans to go to Annabel was when we wanted to see a horror movie with the same name, but then had to cancel. So, I had that place in mind, not knowing that this was a great find to be honest. We went twice to Annabel: for brunch and dinner, both times having a great experience food wise: the menu crafted by Chef Manuel Conrado is simply succulent. Here are some of the things we tried there:

For brunch, instead of a mimosa or bellini, I opted for their fresh squeezed orange juice, that was ok, a bit watered down.

Fresh squeeze orange juice at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

We were not sure what to get with the pizza we wanted to try, having a choice between salads or eggs. We finally decided to try their puffy bread served with a black olive tapenade and a spicy Calabrian chili oil. That looked fantastic, the bread being indeed puffy and with a nice char, perfect with the oil or delicious tapenade that came with it.

Puffy bread at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

Puffy bread with tapenade at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

For the pizza, that time, we decided to get their mushroom medley with caramelized onions, taleggio and truffle oil (I know that Anthony Bourdain would be outraged to know they are using truffle oil...). When the pizza came, it looked amazing: with lots of cheese and mushrooms, the truffle oil gave a very appetizing smell. And it was delicious: the crust was crispy, nicely charred in their wood fire oven.

Mushroom medley pizza at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

When we went back for dinner, it is the four cheese pizza that we decided to order and we were once again not disappointed. In fact, it was an even better one as it had a nice amount of burrata on it. Know that they do not cook the burrata with the pizza, but add it at the end, so, don;t be surprised if it is cold versus the rest of the pizza being hot. If you are a cheese lover, you will probably find, like me, that this pizza is divine as they put a lot of cheese on it: besides burrata, they put taleggio, mozzarella and parmigiana regiano.

Four cheese pizza at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

I also could not resist trying their grilled Spanish octopus, served with cannellini beans, tomatoes, broccoli rabe, mixed olives, red onions, green peppers in a (not so) spicy smoked paprika sauce. The octopus was perfectly made, nicely charred and not rubbery. I just wish there was more.

Grilled octopus at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

An interesting appetizer was their mushroom risotto au gratin truffles, gruyere and aged cheddar, that was again with lots of cheese and mushrooms. It was an appetizer portion, but quite filling.

Mushroom risotto au gratin at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

With my meal, for dinner, I went for a cocktail called the Lions Tail, made with Berkshire Bourbon, St Elizabeth all spice dram that is an all spice flavored liqueur from Jamaica, and angostura bitters. That was very good, and definitely had a nice bitterness.

Lions tail cocktail at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

Last was dessert. We hesitated between the chocolate mousse and the chocolate ganache cake. We finally picked the latter that was good, sitting on a bed of strawberry preserves.

Chocolate ganache cake at Annabel in Hell's Kitchen

Annabel is a very good find in Hell's Kitchen: the food is delicious and it has this atmosphere of a neighborhood restaurant I would want close to home. If you are looking for a good pizza in Hell's Kitchen, it is, with B Side, one of my favorites.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Annabel - 809 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019