I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/17

Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

I love donuts and, as we were in Philly, we decided to try their famous Federal Donuts, a place that, outside of Philadelphia, only made it so far to Miami.
We went for breakfast and, as we entered, our nose got filled with a delicious smell of fried dough.

School desks at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

It is not a big place, but it is sufficient considering the kind of place where we were. Notice the school tables that render the experience even more fun!

We decided to try several donuts, the fancy ones being already made and the two classics being prepared a la minute.

Donuts at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

These were the churro:

Churro donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

And cinnamon sugar:

Cinnamon sugar donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

For the fancy ones, we got the banana cream pie:

Banana cream pie donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

And the cookies and cream:

Cookies and cream donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

These were all cake donuts, not too heavy and not dry. My favorite of all was the churro one that I thought was a great fusion between an American and Spanish classic. The cinnamon sugar that looked very similar to the churro was also delicious, as was the cookies and cream. Unfortunately, the banana cream pie was not: it had an off after taste that I did not like. Despite that, I loved the donuts at Federal Donuts. They are good and creative, with the great idea to reinvente traditional desserts into a donut. But if you go there, i definitely recommend the churro donut: it is so good...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Federal Donuts - 1632 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/17

Dinner at Anthony David's in Hoboken

I am a fan of Chef Anthony Pino who I got the chance to meet recently at Porter Collins, his new restaurant in Uptown Hoboken. I simply love his restaurants, including Bin 14 where we went quite a few times for brunch. So I was excited when I got invited for dinner at Anthony David's, his very first restaurant in the mile square city. It is not as big as Porter Collins, but has its charm and benefits from quite a number of seats outside, and from a large private room that I only saw from outside, a party taking place when we went.

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

Dining room at Anthony David's in Hoboken

This place if BYOB so I decided to bring a Pommard from Blason Louis, a 100% Pinot Noir from France that was perfect with the meal I ordered.

Pommard wine from Blason Louis at Anthony David's in Hoboken

They started off by bringing us some bread and a spread that was probably made with beans and sat in olive oil.

Bread and bean spread at Anthony David's in Hoboken

We then got our appetizers. Jodi went for the grilled asparagus, topped with a sunny egg, prosciutto, pecorino and black truffles. The yolk was perfectly runny on the deliciously grilled asparagus and the generous portion of prosciutto.

Grilled asparagus at Anthony David's in Hoboken

On my side, I could not resist the charred octopus, served with fennel, cannellini beans, tomato and garlic. The octopus was beautiful, perfectly cooked and delicately charred, not rubbery at all. It came with a sort of bean ragout that was very comforting.

For our entrees, Jodi ordered a vegetarian dish: the eggplant Bolognese where the eggplant replaces the meat, made with bucatini, mozzarella, pecorino, tomato and chilies. That was a good dish that was also comforting. The pasta were cooked al dente and the chilies added a slight kick that I really liked.

Eggplant bolognese at Anthony David's in Hoboken

I decided to go with the duck breast, served with a very creamy polenta, arugula and cherries. That was a succulent dish: the duck was perfect cooked, being pink in the center, and with a crispy skin. I loved the pairing with the cherries that added a bit of sweetness to the gamey taste of the duck.

Duck breast at Anthony David's in Hoboken

Last was dessert. We tried their Bourbon glazed donuts that were amazing and a bit like crack: once you try one, you cannot stop!

Bourbon glazed donuts at Anthony David's in Hoboken

The second dish was a chocolate budino or chocolate pudding that was quite dense and very chocolatey.

Chocolate budding at Anthony David's in Hoboken

We left full and amazed with our meal where every dish was sublime. Anthony David's is a fabulous restaurant that has its place in Hoboken and has its own character, being different from his sister restaurants. This is definitely a place that I recommend for brunch or dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Anthony David's - 953 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/17

My Trip to Philadelphia: Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

I was really happy to find a Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Philadelphia. I know the steakhouse in New York where I went a few times and was never disappointed, and was looking forward to see if the one in Philly would deliver showing some consistency.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Dining room at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

I thought the restaurant in New York was big, but it was before seeing this one! What used to be the First Pennsylvania Bank is huge, with three different floors, the one downstairs being for private parties. We got seated on the second floor, having an amazing view of the place.

I started off my meal with my favorite cocktail: an old fashioned, made with Knob Creek Bourbon, muddled cheery, orange, sugar and bitters, a cocktail that was very good.

Old Fashioned at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

For appetizer, I hesitated between a few: the thick cut bacon au Poivre that I would have ordered if it was by the slice as Jodi does not like it; the jumbo lump crab cake that is their specialty that I had several times and consider one of the best; and the lobster bisque that I never had. I went for the latter and did not regret it: creamy, it had a nice slight spiciness and lots of lump of lobster in it.

Lobster bisque at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

For steaks, Jodi ordered their 8oz filet mignon (medium):

Filet mignon at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

And I ordered the 16oz ribeye (medium rare):

Ribeye at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Both steaks were perfectly cooked, nicely charred and very tender. My preference went, not surprisingly, to the ribeye that was delightfully fatty. We asked for some béarnaise sauce that was delicious and I appreciated that they did not charge us for it.

As a side, we shared the massive onion rings. They were good, crispy, however, the onion could have been cooked a bit more.

Onion rings at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Last was dessert. And what a dessert! We got the warm banana bread pudding that was amazing, especially the top part that was caramelized and delightfully crunchy.

Banana bread pudding at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

This was a wonderful meal: the food was fantastic and the service very good, making us feel welcome. Sel Frisco's Double Eagle is a great steakhouse and I am glad to see that they show consistency across their locations.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - 1426-28 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/17

Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

For our 10 year anniversary, we went to Philadelphia and picked Aqimero, the restaurant from acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval. Located in the Ritz Carlton, this place is beautiful and big. There are two areas: the lounge when you enter immediately in the hotel, and the restaurant on the left side, with its kitchen in the back where you can see the magic happen.

Dining room at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Food wise, Chef Richard Sandoval crafted a Latin seasonal menu with quite a nice choice of plates to shares, at prices that are not outrageous for such a place. Here is what we had:

For cocktails, I went for an Old Fashioned that was not on their cocktail menu, but that they can accommodate as they have a full bar.

Old Fashioned at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

We started off with the guacamole that was quite good, although not amazing as I thought it would be in this type of place.

Guacamole at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

After that, I tried some of their oysters: the smaller ones were Bull's eyes from Maryland and the larger were from Virginia.

Bull's eye oyster from Maryland at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Virginia oyster at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Next was the grilled melon with Serrano ham and blue cheese, a nice take on melon and prosciutto.

Grilled melon and serrano ham at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Then, came the wild mushrooms flatbread that was delicious with its caramelized onions and goat cheese. Drizzled on top was a bit of truffle oil that added an elegant touch to it.

Wild mushrooms flatbread at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Of course, I had to try their Grilled Spanish octopus that was perfectly cooked, not rubbery, with a nice char on the outside.

The last dish we tried was the cauliflower steak, served with lime crema fresco, tempura pickled mushrooms and raisin chimichurri. I admit that it was my least favorite dish, the cauliflower, raw, not being that easy to cut and because there was not enough sauce.

Cauliflower at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

For dessert, we got the churro waffle and ice cream. It was served with grilled pineapple and coconut cream. Although it was a good waffle, I admit that I was expecting something closer to a churro (you would have told me it was a waffle, I would not have even think about the taste of churro). I wish they had the tres leches rice pudding on their menu that day...

Churro waffle at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

It was overall a fantastic dinner: Aqimero is a place to know if you want to have a nice, elegant dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Aqimero - 10 Ave Of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/17

My trip to Philadelphia: Sonny's Famous Steaks

We were going to see a gallery in the Old City part of Philadelphia and so, I looked for places for cheesesteaks there, stumbling upon Sonny's Famous Steaks, a casual place located on Market street.

We were going to see a gallery in the Old City part of Philadelphia and so, I looked for places for cheesesteaks there, stumbling upon Sonny's Famous Steaks, a casual place located on Market street.

Dining room at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

This place might not be as known as Pat's King of Steaks, Tony Luke's or Geno's, but it is definitely a place to know: low key, its menu items are not expensive, the highest dish there being the double grilled cheese burger, a hamburger served between two grilled cheeses. And when you try their grilled cheese, you quickly understand that it can be a heart attack on a plate. We did try their grilled cheese that is made with two thick slices of brioche, and two cheeses (provolone and american), with some tomato as an add-on. It was delicious: there was so much cheese that it was oozing from the middle of the sandwich.

Grilled cheese sandwich at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

Of course, we also tried their cheesesteak, that was made with a generous amount of a thinly sliced ribeye and american as our pick for cheese. The meat was succulent: juicy, tender, it was smothered by lots of cheese and housed in a very good bread that was soft and not chewy.

Cheesesteak sandwich at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

We ended up paying $16 for the grilled cheese, the cheesesteak and a bottle of water: pretty good deal! Sonny's Famous Steaks is now on my radar and I would definitely go back. Maybe next time to try that grilled cheese burger...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sonny's Famous Steaks - 228 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/17

Beer Ice Cream at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

July is not only National Ice Cream Month, but it is also National Beer Month. So, Our Name Is Farm, a digital media and event production firm had a great idea to merge them together and asked Tipsy Scoop, the boozy ice cream parlor, to come up with some creation for Lantern Hall, the largest beer hall of Bushwick, Brooklyn that consults with them. Bars always fall short when it comes to dessert, so it is a very interesting way to fill the gap.

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

Beer ice cream flight from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

We tried a flight made with local beers; the flavors were:

Mosaic Creamsicle - Ice cream blended with pineapple, orange and mango puree. Infused with Gun Hill Brewing’s Mosaic.

Beer ice cream: Mosaic Creamsicle from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

Happy Hour - Ice cream infused with Jack’s Abby House Lager and blended with Tipsy Scoop’s house pub mix: crushed peanuts, salty pretzels and toffee bits.

Beer ice cream: Happy Hour from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

She’s a Maniac! (Sorbet) - Honey-lemon sorbet infused with KCBC Janiak Maniac pilsner.

Beer ice cream: She's a maniac sorbet from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

Salty Pretzels On Fleek - Chocolate ice cream infused with Stillwater On Fleek Imperial Stout, blended with salty pretzel bits.

Beer ice cream: Salty pretzel on fleetfrom Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

It was quite surprising, the ice cream having a nice hint of beer, not overpowering at all, but still present. Meshing the two is like having a drink with dessert, with flavors that are refreshing and some of them comforting because they remind us of our childhood, like the creamsicle one. My favorites were the Happy Hour and Salty Pretzel On Fleek, as I love the sweet and savory combination.

If you'd like to try a flight, go quickly as they will serve it until supply lasts, most likely a week. Price wise, it costs $8, a reasonable price for four scoops of delicious ice cream.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Lantern Hall - 52 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11237

I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/17

LSC After Dark event at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

I have never been to the Liberty Science Center (aka LSC) in Jersey City and was excited when they invited me for an evening called LSC After Dark: Electric BBQ, an all adult event with booze, food, a DJ and an electric show to conclude the evening. This was a media preview of their event on July 20th. Interesting concept: although lots of adults love science, this kind of place is often associated with kids and the Liberty Science Center decided to create specific events for adults the third Thursday of each month. I think their first one was called LSC After Dark: sexy science party that was probably not as X-rated as the name may suggest, and more recently, LSC After Dark: nerd prom and wearable fashion show.

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

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Ticket for LSC After Dark at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

The Electric BBQ event had a variety of food, the most unique being the balut, a Filipino dish that consists in an egg hatch for close to two weeks before being eaten; a specialty that became famous thanks to Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods. It was not my first balut and I enjoyed it. Another unique food I tried was flavored crickets and grasshoppers: crunchy, they were prepare in different ways: spicy chili lime grasshopper (my least favorite), smokey BBQ crickets, sour cream and onion crickets (my fav) and honey mustard crickets (pretty good).

Spicy chili lime grasshopper at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Smokey BBQ crickets at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Honey mustard crickets at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Sour cream and onion cricket at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Otherwise, we ate some more "normal" dishes like:

Meatballs from Hanna's Meatballs. They offered teriyaki, buffalo, BBQ and marinara (we went for the last two):

Hanna's Meatballs at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Marinara meatballs from Hanna's Meatballs

Spam Musubi and Thai ice tea from Eemas cuisine, a place proposing Hawaiian dishes. It was the first time I tried spam and found it quite good the way it was prepared.

Emus Cuisine at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Thai ice tea from Eemas Cuisine at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Corn on the cob with homemade sour cream and chives from Whealth and Co:

Poké bowl and acai bowl topped with Nutella from Ono Grinds Poké:

Mochi and waffles fusion from Muffle, one of my favorite: when you cross mochi and waffle together and serve it in a flight: S'mores, Unicorn and Fireball.

Moffle Bar at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle flight at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moflle fire ball at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle unicorn at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle S'Mores at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

There were also beers, wine and smoking drinks made with dry ice, like the tropical sangria I tried.

Tropical sangria at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

We finished the evening with an amazing electric show where they use Tesla coils to make music, putting people in a Faraday cage in the middle of the stage. We had a good time there and found this interesting. If you too are interested,you can find more info here.

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 Liberty Science Center - 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305

I Just Want To Eat! 7/18/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/18/17

My Trip to Philadelphia: Estia, Greek Restaurant

For our 10 year anniversary, we decided to go to Philadelphia, before a big trip that we are planning as a true celebration at the end of the year. I like Philly: food wise, it has lots to offer besides the usual cheesesteak that is undeniably associated to this city. As we arrived in the afternoon by train, I looked for a restaurant close to our hotel, keeping the option of a cheesesteak for later, our dinner being already steak. Looking on OpenTable, we found Estia, a Greek restaurant located near the city center.

Dining room at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

Fish display at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

Estia is a fairly big restaurant, beautifully decorated, with an open kitchen in the back and a nice fish display. I used to order classic dishes like moussaka or lamb youvetsi when eating in Greek restaurants, disregarding fish options. But then, I rediscovered fish and any kind of seafood (octopus of course) at Thalassa in TriBeCa. But to start, it is not fish that we wanted but their saganaki, this pan fried kefalograviera cheese that is flambé. We never got it, our waiter not being that focused on his work and preferring talking to a table where he was probably hoping for a larger order and thus a larger tip. That was fine finally as we had plans for the day...

They started off by bringing us some bread and a spread that one of the waiters could not name for us.

Jodi went for the arugula salata that was made with arugula, cherry tomatoes, shaved kefalograviera cheese, in a sweet vinaigrette.

Arugula salata at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

On my side, I ordered two appetizers. The first one was the grilled sardines that were de-boned, topped with ladolemono, a classic Greek sauce made with olive oil and lemon. This was very good, the fish being perfectly cooked and fresh.

Grilled sardines at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

My second appetizer was the octopedi or octopus that was grilled and charred, served with red and sweet onions, roasted peppers, dill , capers, parsley and a red wine vinaigrette. This was another great dish: the octopus was not rubbery at all and was nicely charred.

Last was dessert. We ordered one of their popular desserts, the salted caramel baklava, and ended up with baklava. That was fine as their baklava was really good, not dry at all, with lots of honey.

Despite the service that should have been better, I really liked the food at Estia. I would probably go back there and try some more seafood.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Estia - 1405 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/17

Brunch at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ - Closed

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

When I went to Porter Collins several weeks ago, I had a fantastic dinner and was planning on going back there to try their brunch, when I received an invite from their PR. So, we just went yesterday and got the chance to see Chef Anthony Pino that I was looking forward to finally meeting, having dined at his other restaurants, Bin 14 and Anthony David's, multiple times. During our discussion, he explained that he decided to become a Chef at 10 years old, wanting to save his family from bad food: well, I am sure that his family is grateful now! I asked him why he decided to open another restaurant in Hoboken instead of New York and his answer defines well his character: he wants to stay close to his family as they are important to him. Having restaurants located close by, although keeping him busy, allows him to spend a good amount of time with them. As for the octopus mural in the dining room, his answer was simple: he loves the beach and loves octopus. Talking to him, I could sense the passion for what he is doing that is not just business, but true hospitality.

Chef Anthony Pino at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

We then proceeded to try their brunch, served Saturdays and Sundays: for $35, you get not only an all you can eat buffet, but also four Chef's specials, as well as bottomless drinks (mimosa, bellini and bloody Mary). The buffet includes a wide variety of dishes, mainly cold, that can satisfy everybody: from more healthy with fruit and salads to classic Italian dishes like chicken parmesan or rigatoni, or hanger steak. I appreciated the fact that they had large shrimp and oysters that, if you are a seafood lover, make the price of the brunch even sweeter. For the specials, they had: huevos rancheros, breakfast burrito, blueberry pancakes and eggs benedict, the later being my favorite, the eggs being perfectly poached, with their runny yolk.

Here is what we had:

Buffet:

Chocolate mousse at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Hot entrees: chicken parmesan, rigatoni and potatoes / bacon / sausages.

Chicken parmesan at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Rigatoni at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Potatoes, sausages and bacon at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Chef's special:

Breakfast burrito at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Eggs benedict at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Blueberry pancakes at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Huevos rancheros at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Drinks:

Porter Collins cocktail at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Various plates:

From the buffet at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Oyster from the buffet at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

It was overall a great brunch, as I expected after our wonderful dinner at Porter Collins. I am glad that Chef Pino decided to open this place on the Northern part of Hoboken, that area needing moe places like this one.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Porter Collins - 1426 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/16/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/16/17

Blason Louis, Premium French Wine by the glass

I recently received, for just $1, some wine from Blason Louis, a French Wine seller that teamed up with more than a dozen winemakers in France and is reaching out to bloggers. But it is not a bottle that I received: no, it was four flacons in a box, that I admit looked pretty sleek. These tubes full of wine are great, especially if, like me, you do not drink enough wine to open a bottle, thinking that it would go to waste fairly quickly, turning into something that would only be good as a cooking ingredient. Restaurants offer wine by the glass, but at home, the choice is limited: you can find half bottles, but, usually, they will be located close to the cashier, like a pariah. So, now, the alternative exists with Blazon Louis, addressing not only the quantity, each tube being a glass of 10 cl or 3.4 oz, but also the quality, proposing premium wine. Perfect also if you want to do a tasting of various grapes, it is ideal if people have different tastes and you do not want to open several bottles.

They propose premium wines from the various producing regions. I got for instance:
- Pommard, a 100% Pinot Noir grape, from Burgundy.
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, a 100% merlot, from Burgundy.
- Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois, 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% merlot, from Bordeaux.
- Sancerre, 100% Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.

Each box comes with a flyer that will give some information about the wine, perfect if you are a neophyte or just curious: origin, quote from the producer, how the wine is made, main characteristics (fully bodied, fruity, woody, floral, mineral) as well as how it looks (eye), smells (nose) and taste (mouth), with also some pairing information.

This is a great concept that will disrupt the wine industry for sure and Blason Louis is not the first to try it. Others like Copa Di Vino or Vinebox already did. But what would set Blason Louis apart is the quality of the wine that they propose.

Enjoy (I did)!

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! 7/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/17

El Maguey Y La Tuna: authentic Mexican restaurant in the Lower East Side

Located off the beaten path on the Lower East Side, El Maguey Y La Tuna is not unknown to me: I went few years ago for a press dinner where I was amazed by the delicious food that place serves. There, I met again Maria, the owner, who ensure that patrons feel welcome in this small restaurant where the food matters more than anything else.

El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Dining room of El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

We started off our meal with some guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips. The guacamole was decent, definitely not the best I had, but still. It was as if the avocado had been put through a blender, eliminating the texture that a fresh guacamole made by hand would have.

Guacamole at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Salsa at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Tortilla chips at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

For her entrée, Jodi ordered the queso quesadilla: there were two of them that were good but there could have been some sour cream and more guacamole with them.

Cheese quesadilla at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the chicken mole that is one of their specialties and I was not disappointed: that mole is one of the best I ever had. I like to think that it is made with chocolate (you can taste hints of it) and so many spices that it takes time to make such an incredible dish.

Chicken mole at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

For dessert, we tried their flan

Flan at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

As well as their chocolate cake

Chocolate cake at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

I personally preferred the flan, the chocolate cake being a bit dry.

I overall liked the food at El Maguey Y La Tuna: there, you can find some authentic Mexican cuisine at very reasonable prices. It is not the best Mexican restaurant in the city, but their mole is definitely a must have.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

El Maguey Y La Tuna - 321 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/17

Dinner at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Southern Hospitality use to be my favorite BBQ place. Used to...After I went back, I cannot say that anymore: the menu has changed and not for the better. I wonder what happened! I was really looking forward to go back there and have one of their combos, but, they were not proposing it anymore and some of the great dishes they use to propose were changed, such as the fried green tomatoes that are topped with a house-made remoulade and pickled tomatoes. The fried tomatoes were not great, a bit soggy.

Fried green tomatoes at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Then, I got few BBQ items, making my own combo: baby back ribs, spare ribs, sausage and brisket. Unfortunately, the meat was dry and the only thing I really liked was the sausage...

Combo at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Baby back ribs at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Dry rubbed spare ribs at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Sausages at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Brisket at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

As sides, we got corn bread with honey butter (quite good) as well as mac and cheese that was just ok.

Mac and cheese at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Corn bread with honey butter at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Fortunately, their banana pudding remains delicious and I would just go there for that.

Banana pudding at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

This was overall a disappointing experience: Southern Hospitality is not anymore what it used to be and certainly not anymore my favorite BBQ place in NYC. So sad...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Southern Hospitality - 645 9th Avenue, New York, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/17

Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

The last time we went to Empellon Taqueria was few years ago, for brunch, where we had an amazing churro French toast. So, as we were celebrating for a second time Jodi's birthday, we decided to go there for dinner. We went on a Friday and the place was packed. I have to say that I love the colorful decor of that place and the setting of the dining room that has some warmth to it, but like less the noise level for dinner that was very loud and not really suited for a romantic dinner...

As we sat at one of the high tables in the middle of the room, I noticed the bottle of Patron tequila and the shot glasses that you can purchase, unless like me you go for one of their cocktails. I chose the Upper Old Fashioned, a drink made with El Mayor Añejo, Leopold Bros. Coffee Liqueur, demerara (sugar) and bitters. It was very good and not too strong.

Upper Old Fashioned cocktail at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

For appetizers, we went of course for guacamole that was also served with salsa roja and a smoked cashew sauce. It was quite good, freshly made with some chunks of avocado.

Guacamole and chips at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Guacamole at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

The second appetizer was melted cheese with black trumpets and guaje seeds. It came with some tortilla. It is the perfect dish if you like cheese or mushrooms. Very good, it fills you up fairly quickly.

Melted cheese with black trumpets mushrooms at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Tortilla for melted cheese at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Next were tacos. Jodi went for the mixed mushrooms with Pasilla chile:

Mushroom tacos at Mixed Mushrooms with Pasilla Chile

I chose the fish Tempura tacos

Fish tacos at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

And the lamb barbacoa tacos

Lamb barbacoa tacos at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

I loved these tacos (three were sufficient for me) and my favorite was the fish tacos that I thought at first, looking at it, would be dry: it was not the case at all as it sat on a lime mayonnaise and some cabbage, adding some more crispiness to the whole dish. The fish was perfectly cooked, all the way through, and moist. The lamb tacos were also delicious, very tasty and I loved the addition of the cucumber that gave more texture and a bit of crunch to it. The mushroom tacos were good, but not as much as the others.

Last was dessert. I admit that I was a bit disappointed as there were only two choices and no churros that are my favorite when it comes to Mexican desserts. So we ended up with their chocolate flan that was served with a cinnamon ice cream. I loved it: it had a perfect texture and was not too chocolatey, the cinnamon of the ice cream pairing well with the chocolate.

Chocolate flan at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

I liked our dinner at Empellon Taqueria and it would have been perfect if the music and noise level was not so loud. Their food is very good, focussing on small plates to share. It is definitely a great spot for Mexican food and I would surely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Empellon Taqueria - 230 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/17

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo near Union Square, NYC

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo is a Japanese restaurant in Union Square, that serves creative Japanese and Korean influenced dishes (Shinokubo is named after the Shin Okubo Koreatown in Shinjuku, Japan). Ichiba is quite a big place compared to the usual hole in the wall type of ramen restaurants that popped up in the past few years and it has a colorful and cool design, with a beautiful painting on the top of the wall.

Dining room at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Table at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Menu wise, they serve quite a wide range of dishes with sushi if you are not that excited with ramen. We started off our meal with buns. Usually I go for the pork buns that I love, especially if the pork belly is nicely cooked and has a bit of fat to it, smothered by either hoisin sauce or mayonnaise. But this time, I decided to try their bulgogi buns that I have never seen on a menu before. They were composed of marinated ribeye, pickled cucumber, lettuce and a not so spicy mayonnaise. It was very good: the steamed buns were fluffy and soft, and the meat tender and juicy.

Bulgogi buns at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Then, we got ramen. Jodi went for the matcha shoyu ramen that was very colorful, the green of the matcha tea being quite vibrant. It was a vegetarian ramen made with a matcha vegetable broth, a reduced shoyu base, roasted tomato (spicy), enoki mushrooms, pickled onion and scallion. It was quite good, the matcha tea taste delightfully coming through.

Matcha shoyu ramen at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

But I thought my ramen was even better: it was a tonkotsu ramen composed of a pork bone base, an umami garlic base, pork belly, menma (bamboo), kikurage (mushroom), scallion, pickled red pepper, roasted perilla. I added a boiled egg, that was nicely soft with a runny yolk, to it. Everything in this ramen that was slightly spicy was good, from the pork belly to the tasty pork broth, although I would have liked a little less garlic. But I loved it as the photo below shows...

Tonkotsu ramen at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

The noodles in each ramen were different: thin straight noodles for the tonkotsu ramen and wavy spinach noodles for the matcha shoyu, both having a nice bite.

Tonkotsu ramen noodles at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Matcha shoyu ramen spinach noddles at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

It was overall a very good meal. Ichiba Ramen is on my top list of ramen joints and there is no doubt that I would go back there. But this time maybe not for ramen, but to try their Korean tacos!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo - 125 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/17

Fantastic dinner at Mamo NYC

Located in Soho, Mamo NYC is the outpost of Mamo Le Michelangelo, a restaurant in Antibes, a city in the French Riviera. I had this place on my very long list of restaurants to try and took the opportunity of having an OpenTable reward to dine there. And what a meal!

Dining room, first floor of Mamo NYC in Soho

Dining room on the second floor at Mamo NYC in Soho

Bar in the dining room on second floor of Mamo NYC in Soho

At first, I thought it was a small place, not knowing that it is on multi-levels. They did not sit us in the first floor that had a small dining room, but on the second floor with its bar and quite large dining room decorated with large Colorful old movie posters (I should mention the old photos of actors and singers like Charles Aznavour or Gerard Depardieu). The dining room was quite elegant and with lots of light so we could admire each and every dish that was served. Interesting detail: each table had tomatoes and a lemon, but not for consumption.

Tomatoes and lemon on table at Mamo NYC in Soho

They first brought us some bread, one of them being a delicious focaccia that I bet was house made, especially considering that they do offer focaccia on their menu.

I started by ordering a Negroni and they asked me if I would prefer an original one or the Mamo version. I went for the latter that was made with aperol, vermouth, and orange infused gin.

We usually do not go for any special, but when we heard what they proposed, we could not resist. It was a deep fried burrata in panko flakes that was served with black summer truffle and prosciutto. It was the first time I have ever seen deep fried burrata and have to say that it is amazing! First, you get the succulent crust contrasting with the creaminess of the burrata and then you get hit by the delicious flavor of the truffle that had an incredible smell enhanced by the truffle oil that was also in the dish.

Deep fried burrata with truffle at Mamo NYC in Soho

Then, Jodi ordered the raviolini with truffle. When the dish came, we immediately recognize "ravioles" these small ravioli filled with cheese (cantal cheese to be precise). It was an amazing dish: the ravioles were bathed in just enough cream and topped with a nice amount of truffle. It is definitely a dish that truffle lovers would love.

Ravioli with truffle at Mamo NYC in Soho

On my side, I went for spaghetti alle vongole or with clams. I simply loved it. The pasta were perfectly cooked al dente and the sauce was delicious, not too garlicky. Of course, there were the clams that were well cooked and tasted fresh.

Spaghetti alle vongole at Mamo NYC in Soho

We finished our meal with their house made tiramisu that was as sublime as the rest of the meal: very creamy, not too heavy with just enough coffee soaked cookies.

We left amazed by the experience at Mamo NYC: the food was spectacular and the service on point, efficient and courteous. Mamo is a great place if you are looking for a good Italian meal or to celebrate an event. I would definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mamo NYC - 323 W Broadway New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 7/6/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/6/17

Product Review: People's Choice Beef Jerky

I received a pack of beef Jerky from People's Choice Beef Jerky, a company located downtown Los Angeles that has been handcrafting premium meat for more than 85 years, staying true to their tradition, and keeping the handmade process in each step (slicing, marinating, laying and cooking). Their products, all made with natural ingredients, are defined in three different lines that I tried:

Old Fashioned line: it is an old family recipe that dates back from the 20s that has been since then updated with all natural ingredients. From that line, I have tried:

The original Beef Jerky:

Hot and Spicy Beef Jerky:

Old Fashioned Original Beef Jerky from People's Choice Beef Jerky

Carne Seca line: this line is inspired by the various cuisines from Downtown LA. From that line, I tried:

Carne Seca Limon:

Carne Seca Limon con chile:

Tasting Kitchen line: here, flavors are from all over the world. From that line, I tried:

Garlic Ginger:

Sriracha:

Sweet Chili Habanero:

Tasting Kitchen Garlic Ginger from People's Choice Beef Jerky

Orange Honey Teriyaki:

All of these were really good and my favorite was the garlic ginger as well as the Orange Honey Teriyaki. Although I liked the original beef jerky, I love the creativity of the different lines, bringing interesting flavors to a snack often ignored. Well, not anymore by me!

Enjoy (I did)!

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! 7/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/17

Brunch at Cosme near the Flatiron

It's been a while since I wanted to try Cosme, a contemporary Mexican restaurant located few steps from the Flatiron. I was glad we had a reservation because the place was quite packed when we arrived. Filled with music, I thought it had a cool vibe with its bookshelves going all around the dining room The service there was efficient and courteous, ensuring we would have a great experience. And we did.

The food at Cosme was delicious. They have a small menu that is more oriented towards sharing, with interesting dishes like the uni (sea urchin) toast that you would probably associate to Japanese cuisine rather than Mexican. I decided to start the meal with some oysters, served with sangrita that is more associated with tequila than seafood. Well, I liked it as it had the perfect acidity the fresh oysters needed.

Oysters with sangria at Cosme in NYC, NY

Oysters with sangrita at Cosme in NYC, NY

Next was their own version of huevos rancheros, made with re fried black beans, a poached egg, quest blanco and lots of mushrooms sitting on a blue corn tortilla. It was delicious, quite comforting. In the dish were some jalapeño that were the only spicy components.

We also ordered a mushroom quesadilla that was also made with blue corn. Here again, they put a lot of mushrooms as well as a generous amount of cheese. It was simply succulent.

But the most memorable dish was dessert. We ordered their churros, served with hot chocolate sauce. The presentation of the churros was unique and amazing. And the taste was even better: not greasy at all, they were lightly crispy and fluffy. I highly recommend this dessert.

I was glad I finally tried Cosme: their brunch was sublime and made me want to go back for dinner for sure.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cosme - 35 E 21st St New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/17

Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side

Last Saturday, I was invited to sample the menu at Imli Urban Indian Food, a new Indian restaurant located on the Upper East Side. I was not sure what to expect, New York having so many Indian restaurants and was wondering what Imli Urban Indian Food would have that makes it stand out. Well, as you will see below, there, Chef Manuel Butler, crafted a very interesting menu inspired from street food, with dishes from all over India, made with a twist, but still staying true to its origin.

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

Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Chef Manuel Butler at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Of course, on their menu, you will recognize dishes that people are always expecting in an Indian restaurant, like samosa, saag paneer or chicken tikka masala. But, for instance, the chicken tikka masala was slightly modified: the Chef added some smoked peppers (smoked in the restaurant's tandoor oven), adding a nice but subtle smokiness to the dish. Other ingredients such as clams or duck, rarely seen on a menu are also proposed.

Tandoor oven at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Before I talk about the food, let's talk about the place that has one particularity that is priceless: their patio, a fantastic hidden gem in an already beautiful restaurant.

Bar at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Dining room at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Patio at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

We started off our meal with some beverages. Jodi went with a delicious mango lassi (notice the absence of ice that is always appreciated especially when ice melts and waters down the lassi) and I went for one of their cocktails, the Kachumber Cooler (made with Hendricks Gin, St. Germain, lychee juice and cucumber), that was very refreshing and dangerous as not strong and so I could have drank a bunch of them.

Mango lassi at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kachumber cooker at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kachumber cooler at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Food wise, we got a nice array of dishes:

Crispy okra topped with toasted fennel and herbs:

Crispy okra at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Cauliflower tikki, their take on aloo tikki, these potato pancakes:

Cauliflower tikki at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Shrimp Koliwada, that are perfectly cooked spicy battered shrimp in peppers and chili:

Shrimp koliwada at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kerala Beef marinated with yogurt, onion, pepper and cardamon:

Kerala beef at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Achari mushrooms, cooked in the tandoor, seasoned with garam masala and achari spice blend:

Achari mushrooms at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then the classic Chicken Tikka Masala that was delicious:

Chicken tikka masala at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

That I ate with a sublime garlic naan instead of rice:

Garlic naan at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Imli lamb chops, cooked in the tandoor, perfectly cooked, moist inside and with a nice char:

Imli lamb chops at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Baby eggplants cooked with tomatoes in a not so spicy hot sauce (we asked our food mild):

Baby eggplants at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Grilled duck served au jus: very good, as I mentioned before, I rarely saw duck on an Indian menu. The duck breast was delicious, although I would have liked it slightly less cooked and it reminded me a bit of a French dish.

Duck at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Last were dessert: we got to try two perfectly executed Indian classic desserts. The first one was the gulab jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a sugar syrup:

Gulab jamun at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

The second was the kheer or rice pudding:

Kheer or rice pudding at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Overall it was a succulent meal: the food was delicious and not spicy, with lots of flavors. I love the tapas concept that allows to try plenty of dishes. Imli Urban Indian Food stands out from lots of Indian restaurants in the city thanks to its elevated menu. I would for sure go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Imli Urban Indian Food - 1136 First Ave. NYC NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/2/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/2/17

Burgers at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Last Thursday, I tagged along my friend Mailini, The Restaurant Fairy, to an influencer evening organized by David "Rev" Ciancio from Burger Conquest and Food and City at The Bedford in Williamsburg where some amazing burgers, cocktails and wine were served.

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

The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The Place:

We did not go to the main dining room but to the bar in the back that was beautiful with its leather banquettes and decor that gave the impression we went back in time.

Bar area at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The burgers:

There were three different burgers:

The Mac and Cheese Burger that was my favorite. Contrary to what some restaurant that combine burgers with a dish as decadent as mac and cheese, at The Bedford, the buns are replaced by a crispy mac and cheese patty made with Monterey Jack cheese, Mozzarella and NY State cheddar.

Mac and cheese burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The Mozzarella burger: similar to the Mac and Cheese Burger, the mozzarella was in a panko crusted patty that added a nice crunch to the whole thing, but this time it did not replace the bun. The sauce was a paprika aioli.

Mozzarella burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

But probably the most surprising of all was the Everything Scotch Egg Burger, a fusion between a Scottish and an American Classic, the scotch egg replacing the bun. This burger had NY State cheddar cheese and some purple pickled onions.

Everything Scotch egg burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I should mention that the meat was a grass-fed beef that you could really taste the meat, not smothered with a bunch of seasoning, and was perfectly cooked, very juicy.

The cocktails:

I tried two of the three cocktails that were proposed. The first one was the Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned, made with dark rum, roasted pineapple syrup and bitters.

Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The second was L'étranger, maybe an homage to Jean-Paul Sartre and his famous book. It was made with Absolute lime vodka, watermelon, aperol, white wine and mint.

L'Etranger cocktail at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The wine:

I had a Pinot Noir from Cloud No 9, a producer from New Zealand. I met the founder, Christian Butler and we talk about wine, and food of course. They describe on their website better than me this wine:

Cloud No. 9 Marlborough Pinot Noir comes from the heart of the Marlborough Golden Mile in Rapaura.

The berry is an uneven ripener that needs to be sorted carefully, and getting this right takes time, patience and perfectionism. It is hand picked, vinified using traditional methods and aged in oak barrels for a total of 18 months.

Our Pinot exhibits beautiful, primary fruit characters on the nose. Displaying hints of dark cherries, raspberry and wild violets. It has a delightful juicing mid palate, with fine grain tannins and clean acidity. Once it has opened up, new flavours will come to light that bring you back for a second taste.

Cloud No 9 Pinot Noir 2015 at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Cloud No 9 Pinot Noir and mac and cheese burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I had a great time with my fellow bloggers at The Bedford and the food and drinks were fantastic. I would definitely go back there, especially considering how easy and quick it is to come from 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!

The Bedford - 110 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/17

Chef's Table at The Urbani Truffle Lab

Last night, I was invited to a dinner at The Urbani Truffle Lab, a space setup by Urbani Truffles with tasting rooms and a test kitchen. And this dinner was a Chef's Table where you sit right in front of the kitchen where the magic happens, a great opportunity to observe and interact with the Chef and have at the same time an amazing dinner. Because let's not forget it: Urbani Truffles is the largest truffle purveyor and a Chef's Table organized by them can only be amazing. And it was!

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

Tasting room at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

The truffles that Chef Ken used for this four-course meal were Summer black truffles that are often less liked by people because the flavor is less intense than Winter black truffles (and as a reminder, there are no truffles in the month of April!).

Chef Ken talking about grana padano at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

We started off with some prosecco from Cantine Ferrari Brut and truffle chips.

Truffle chips at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

prosecco from Cantine Ferrari Brut at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

And for the dinner, I tried a great Terre Margaritelli Roccascossa Sangiovese from Umbria red wine.

Terre Margaritelli Roccascossa Sangiovese from Umbria red wine at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

The first dish was a Truffle asparagus pizzette, that had goat cheese and almonds for an extra crunch and nuttiness. It was in fact drizzled with truffle oil. I should mention that Urbani Truffles truffle oil is not artificial and has bits of truffle in it (it can be found at Urbani Truffle's website or, if you do not like to buy online, at Eataly).

Chef Ken preparing the Truffle asparagus pizette at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Truffle asparagus pizette at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Next was chitarra alla spoletina, a stunningly simple dish that was sublime. Chitarra means guitar in Italian and these pasta got that name because they look like guitar strings. This pasta dish was simply made with grated truffle (a lot), olive oil and grana padano cheese (aged longer and so with a more intense flavor than parmesan, also saltier and with a nice bite from bits of salt in the cheese).

Step 1: cook the pasta and then put them in a pan with olive oil

Step 2: mix the grated truffle in the pasta

Step 3: mix (lots) of grana padano cheese in the pasta

Chitarra alle spoletina at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

After that, they served us a succulent seared sea bass with asparagus and truffle beurre blanc. Of course, I cannot not mention that truffle shavings on top of the fish. The fish was perfectly cooked, being moist and flakey inside and with a crispy skin. The beurre blanc had a subtle truffle taste that was perfect.

Seared sea bass with truffles at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: it was a plum tart with ice cream and truffle honey. Definitely a good way to end the meal.

Plum tart with ice cream and truffle honey at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

This was a fantastic meal and I loved the setting (we were 8 people) that made this meal enjoyable but also very informative. The food itself was delicious and with some of the dishes quite inspiring, especially considering their simplicity that shows that less is more and you do not need much to impress as long as you have great ingredients and it is well balanced.

It is my second visit at The Urbani Truffle Lab and I love that place. Know that they do not just propose the Chef's Table: you can also attend cooking classes (fresh pasta, pizza, etc.). I for sure 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!

Urbani Truffle Lab - 10 West End Avenue, NY, NY 10023