A French Brasserie In The Heart of New York - Brasserie Cognac
Brasserie Cognac, located near Columbus Circle in New York, serves delicious brunches! I never tried their dinner, but the brunch menu is quite good. I like the feel of the restaurant that reminds me of brasseries you can find in Paris. They in fact sat us next to the window, overlooking the street, and it was as if we were there (I am not comparing the streets of Paris with the streets of New York, just the relaxed feeling of eating outside, watching people passing by).
The Chef of the restaurant, Florian Hugo, worked under the supervision of the world renowned Alain Ducasse. I learnt that he is a direct descendant of Victor Hugo, the famous French writer of Les Miserables! Well, our food experience did not make us miserables at all!
So, for brunch, they have a prix-fixe: for a little less than $25 (in 2011), you get a drink (I got a nice belini - Champagne with peach nectar), an appetizer and a dessert. One of their famous appetizers is the Gougeres: some warm cheese puffs served in a basket. Light and delicious. They also have a fantastic homemade chicken and duck liver mousse on toasts. Very tasty!
For entrees, their mussels mariniere (white wine, shallots, light cream, parsley) with fries are very good. The filet mignon burger is good too: well cooked (I asked medium) and moist. I wish they put more tartare sauce on it and found it overpriced when looking at the price on the menu ($18).
The best is their Croque Monsieur! First, the way it is presented is awesome (on a cutting board, cut in stripes) and so appetizing! Then the taste: divine! Especially the cheese on top that is gratinee. It is served with a salad.
Definitely it is a good brunch and I will probably try for dinner one day! Worth mentioning that they have a bakery next door where you can get some great croissant and pains au chocolat (chocolate croissant).
Enjoy (I did)!
And remember: I just want to eat!
Portuguese Barbecue at Piri Piri (Hoboken, NJ)
As for the name, it refers to the African bird's eye chili that portuguese explorers discovers in Mozambique. It seems that the restaurant, to this day, is shipping the chili from there to prepare their piri piri sauce!
The decor is very nice: they have a big communal table and the top of the tables is made of blue tiles, giving a rustic feel to the restaurant. One of the wall is made of bricks (very warm) and the other has plenty of photos of Portugal.
In term of food, they have a wide variety of dishes, few being vegetarian only. What I liked is that they propose half plates for their barbecue, allowing their guest to pick several dishes...That is what I did!
I first tried their signature dish: Frango de Churrasco: it is a free range chicken, butterflied and cooked in the charcoal fire pit. The restaurant says that these chicken are hormone and antibiotic free, bought in small farms where they roam free. So, the chicken was good: lean and tasty. The skin was crispy and not too fatty. The other dish was Costela de vacca or beef short ribs: The meat was good but a little bit dry. Both dishes were served with a small salad, rice (overcooked or made cooked a different way? Not for me) and fresh potato chips (very good).
For dessert, we tried the Serradura, a fresh cream and tea biscuit pudding: this was delicious. Lighter than what I though and not too sweet. Nice way to finish a meal!
Concerning the service, it was a bit slow and later, the restaurant got packed: it got worse! Fortunately, they give you some delicious bread (I could not stop eating it), olives and pickles while you wait for your dishes.
I would probably go back to Piri Piri to try some of their traditional dishes, as well as the paella (the table next to us ordered it and it looked amazing!).
Enjoy (I did)!
And remember: I just want to eat!
The decor is very nice: they have a big communal table and the top of the tables is made of blue tiles, giving a rustic feel to the restaurant. One of the wall is made of bricks (very warm) and the other has plenty of photos of Portugal.
In term of food, they have a wide variety of dishes, few being vegetarian only. What I liked is that they propose half plates for their barbecue, allowing their guest to pick several dishes...That is what I did!
I first tried their signature dish: Frango de Churrasco: it is a free range chicken, butterflied and cooked in the charcoal fire pit. The restaurant says that these chicken are hormone and antibiotic free, bought in small farms where they roam free. So, the chicken was good: lean and tasty. The skin was crispy and not too fatty. The other dish was Costela de vacca or beef short ribs: The meat was good but a little bit dry. Both dishes were served with a small salad, rice (overcooked or made cooked a different way? Not for me) and fresh potato chips (very good).
For dessert, we tried the Serradura, a fresh cream and tea biscuit pudding: this was delicious. Lighter than what I though and not too sweet. Nice way to finish a meal!
Concerning the service, it was a bit slow and later, the restaurant got packed: it got worse! Fortunately, they give you some delicious bread (I could not stop eating it), olives and pickles while you wait for your dishes.
I would probably go back to Piri Piri to try some of their traditional dishes, as well as the paella (the table next to us ordered it and it looked amazing!).
Enjoy (I did)!
And remember: I just want to eat!
Mac Donald's to serve Baguette in France - The Mac Baguette?
Update 5/7/2012 - full review of the Mc Baguette by clicking here!
As incredible as it sounds, Mac Donald's is catering to its clients in France and will be selling baguette (traditional French bread) for breakfast (with butter and jam), as well as planning to have baguette sandwiches on its menu for several weeks starting April 18th in its 1200+ locations!
The burger will be made of Charolais beef meat (famous and prime quality), French-made Emmental cheese and mustard.
Opened at the end of the 70's in France, the franchised restaurant had to adapt to the French culture and introduce a different spin to its food (the Mc Cantal is a good example, Cantal being a famous French cheese).
As incredible as it sounds, Mac Donald's is catering to its clients in France and will be selling baguette (traditional French bread) for breakfast (with butter and jam), as well as planning to have baguette sandwiches on its menu for several weeks starting April 18th in its 1200+ locations!
Opened at the end of the 70's in France, the franchised restaurant had to adapt to the French culture and introduce a different spin to its food (the Mc Cantal is a good example, Cantal being a famous French cheese).
Now, why do they go that far? Simple: according to the Gira Council Cabinet, French people eat nine times more sandwiches than burgers and 60% of these sandwiches are made with baguettes! The bread will apparently be provided by The Holder Group, owner of Ladurée stores and Paul Bakeries (great sandwiches!). So, my fellow compatriots, are you ready for the Mac Baguette?
Tacos at The Taco Truck (Hoboken, NJ)
The Taco Truck is a good example of a food truck that succeeded. Imagine that: they started with a truck and now they have a storefront. Trucks are really becoming popular. When you go in the City, you see so many different trucks: tacos, cupcakes, sweets, dumplings, pyrogies, pizza....Soon, you will find: dentists, doctors, opticians...
So, let's go back to the Taco Truck: the adventure started in 2009, when two friends, inspired by their experience in Mexico and California decided to create their own spin on food shop (taqueria) and food truck locally. The Taco Truck was born and became popular quickly. Their truck goes either to Hoboken, Jersey City and to the Highline Mondays and Sundays! If you are in Hoboken, you can also go to their restaurant close to the path. Important to keep in mind that their food is all natural and prepared right away, a la minute: you cannot miss the freshness of the ingredients!
I have tried several of their tacos. My favorite is the Pescado or fish taco (photo 1 below): crispy catfish, red cabbage, pico de gallo, Mexican tartar sauce and chipotle salsa. The crispiness of the catfish, the crunchiness of the cabbage and the different layers of flavors create an incredible experience. On top of that, if like me you add guacamole and cheese, you are in Heaven!
Of course, they have other good tacos:
- if you want to eat vegetarian, the Hongos (mixed mushrooms, seasonal vegetables and epazote with lime-pickled onions and chipotle salsa - photo 2 below) is perfect. As I mentioned before, the ingredients are fresh and you will really feel it in this taco.
- Pollo Asado (guajillo marinated grilled chicken with lime-pickled onions and roasted red salsa).
There are some that I did not really like, such as the Barbacoa de Costilla (pasilla braised shredded beef with onions, cilantro and roasted red salsa). The day I tried it, the meat was dry. Might have been a bad day!
If you are not into tacos, they also have salads, soups, sides or great Tortas (mexican sandwiches that are toasted). The Hongos, similar to the taco is great.
When we went, they had a special: Aguacate Tostado Tacos (fried avocado, black beans, sesame seeds, pickled onions and tortillas fritas with sesame ancho crema - photo 3 above). I never had fried avocado and I have to say it was dam good! They really have a way of creating the perfect pairing of ingredients!
Definitely, The Taco Truck makes great tacos. The drawback is that it will be your reference and will spoil any other taco experience you may have...Too bad! Or maybe too good!!!
Enjoy (I did)!
And remember: I just want to eat!
We went back to Bar Suzette (New York, NY)!
If you recall our visit at Chelsea Market, we ended up trying a delicious butter and sugar crepe. I could not forget that experience and could still remember the way they made it: they first put the slob of butter on the crepe, let it sit few seconds so it starts melting and then spread out the butter all over the crepe. After that, they add the sugar. Your first bite is incredible! You taste the crepe, then the butter and then the sugar: it is divine! So good that you need another bite, until you reach the end, at the bottom of the crepe, full of butter and sugar. It will be a last explosion of flavors, so delicious that you will want another one. At least I do....
So, we tried:
- Ricotta, figs and honey: I tried this combination in a sandwich once at Le Pain Quotidien! These ingredients pair very well together and it is very refreshing.
- Apple and Brie: they are very generous on the brie and apple! This was awesome! I loved the crunchiness of the apple and the creaminess of the brie.
- Banana and Nutella: ok, for this one, I was disappointed! Not enough nutella! You have to put more! When you take a bite, you have to have some nutella on the corner of your mouth!!!
Needless to say that we also got a butter and sugar one....
This is very good and more appetizing than the creperie you find at the street fair with their nasty samples! Try it: you will not regret it and will want to know fairly quickly how to make crepes!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Today is Dussehra - Happy Holiday!
Today is Dusserha, a popular Hindu festival also known as Vijayadashmi ('Vijay' meaning 'victory' and 'Dashmi meaning 'tenth day'). It celebrates the day Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and rescued his abducted wife Sita. So it is the victory of Good against Evil.
So, you are probably wondering what it has to do with my stomach? Well, one of my co-workers who is Indian and knows that I love Indian food brought me, as a surprise, an Indian lunch composed of a vegetarian byriani (rice dish), crackers and sweets. I was very touched by this gesture! The food, cooked by his wife, was simply delicious! The byriani had a nice kick and I could not believe that the crackers were homemade! I will try to get the recipe for you...and for me!
So, Happy Holiday to all my Indian friends, co worker and readers! With this awesome lunch, I felt I was celebrating with you!
And remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Restaurant Review: Bombay West (Hoboken, NJ)
I guess that now you understand that I like Indian food. So here is another experience that could have been great. It was food wise but not in term of service. What I really like with Bombay West is that they serve Thali, that is a selection of different dishes, served in small bowls on a round tray. I had my first Thali in India: it was my very first all vegetarian meal (yes, that's possible) and was all you can eat. I remember that I was drinking Chaas that is a buttermilk drink slightly more liquid than a lassi. It was delicious and I wanted more! In fact I had more as, remember, it was all you can eat!!!
So I was very excited when I saw the menu of Bombay Palace: different Thali where you pick one entree (vegetarian or chicken or shrimp for instance) and they bring you a Poori that is a fried bread, three appetizers and a dessert. All of this for less than $20. One time, I had the bad idea to ask for a naan bread instead of a poori as I prefer the nan. They did not seem to like it...I finally got a chapati (flatbread). So, I went few times and all the time the same pattern:
- The manager is not nice with the staff: who do you think you are? Gordon Ramsey? She should also be more welcoming as you have the impression that you are bothering her!
- The food takes a long time. I am wondering if they are not shipping it from India!
Fortunately, the food is good! They always serve you a papadum that is a kind of cracker. Good way to make you wait for your food! Their dahl is delicious, the chicken tikka masala very creamy and flavorful, the Chanaa masala perfect, the naan very good. In term of dessert, the rice pudding is ok; however, the gulab jamun are awesome! So, food good, but the whole experience is spoiled by the bad service! Too bad!
So if you go to Bombay West, keep in mind that the food is good and imagine you are watching Hell's Kitchen!
Enjoy (I did)!
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Bombay West | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| New Jersey / Indian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 832 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 | |
| * Phone | |
| (201) 653-0011 |
Restaurant Review: Two Boots Pizza (New York, NY)
Do you remember my story about the day when I walked out of Zen Palate? Well, that day we ended up at Two Boots Pizza. I know: I am a little behind in my posts...
So, what makes a good pizza? For me: the crust must be crispy. It can be thin or thick, I do not care. Then the second thing is the tomato sauce. Most of the pizza shops buy pizza sauce. They just need after to put some additional ingredients, such as oregano, to make the difference. What is interesting is the way pizza is eaten in France versus the US. In France, you can also have it by the slice, but only for take out in boulangeries or sandwicheries. If you go to a pizzeria, they will serve you a large pizza, bigger than a standard round plate. Then, the toppings are different. For instance, one of my favorite when I was living in Paris was one with smoked salmon and creme fraiche. They first cook the pizza and then, before serving, put generously some creme fraiche and then the salmon. I find it better this way as, if you cook the salmon directly with the pizza, the sauce will have a fishy taste and it will reveal the salt of the fish.
Cheese being big in France (more than 400 different varieties), you have pizzas with different combinations of cheeses. One of my favorite is with St Marcellin (when I can find it!). A last example refers to my last trip there: I had a pizza with cream and ravioles that are a thiner and better version of cheese ravioli. That was so delicious!
So, to go back to Two Boots: the restaurant was opened in 1987 by 2 indie producers, explaining why their signature pizzas have name like: Mr Pink, Larry Tate or the Newman. They of course have the standard pizzas: sicilian, cheese....We tried the sicilian (awesome with a perfect crust - I need a corner), the classic cheese (lots of cheese and a great tomato sauce) and a cheese with roasted pepper (love it)! Perfect crust, perfect sauce! Perfect pizza! This is definitely a nice address to know, especially if you are in Time Square and want to go grab a quick bite before or after a movie, instead of going to a touristy, overpriced restaurant!
Enjoy (I did)!
Restaurant Review: Akbar (Edison, New Jersey)
I went to Akbar twice and I have to say that it is quite difficult to find if you do not know it is there! This place is huge! It has three different rooms that can accommodate 600, 110 and 80 guests! The metallic doors to the different rooms are beautiful. The entrance is decorated with amazing stained glass that I think represent Akbar, a Mughal Emperor from the XVI th century.
They serve a buffet that is pretty good!
There are in fact three areas:
- The main buffet area (photo).
- A table with some appetizers.
- The table for desserts. This one is important of course! Especially knowing that they always serve two desserts: a specialty and an ice cream. Most of the indian buffet I went to only proposed one dessert! That's a plus.
The buffet offers a soup, a salad / fresh vegetables, as well as 5 different dishes.
The day I went, they had: tandoori chicken (photo 1), Palak Softa (photo 2 - spinach with grated cottage cheese), dahl (photo -3) lentils), Phool Gobi barnasi (photo 4 - cauliflower) and Chana beans poriyal (no photo). It was very good and tasty. All the dishes were very flavorful and all the spices were dancing in my mouth! I only regret that they did not serve another meat like Chicken Tikka Masala that is pretty standard!
With your meal, they will serve some buttered nan (bread) and a dosa, that is like a crepe, that originates from South India. Seeing them making the dosa was interesting! Look at the photo below and you will see how they spread the batter. The result is delicious!
Last but no least is the dessert: it is called Semiya Keer. It is like a rice pudding but the rice is replaced by angel hair pasta. It was so good that I had two bowl...little bowls...very little....
That was a very good meal at a very good price (less than $9). Definitely worth trying it!
Enjoy (I did)!
Restaurant Review: Marseille (New York, NY)
Marseille (no "s" at the end!!!!) is one of my favorite restaurants in New York; I went there for brunch or dinner and I have never been disappointed! The food there is so good and inspired from Mediterranean cuisine and Provence (hence the name, close to my heart and now to...my stomach). It is one of the restaurants in New York where you can eat merguez (spicy lamb sausages)!
I like the restaurant: the large dining room is bright, with a brasserie decoration and feel. They always give a bread basket to put you in appetite, served with butter and jam. In term of food, it is simply delicious! Their burger (the chef is also in charge of Nice Matin or 5 Napkin Burger) is very good and tasty. It is served with caramelized onions and comte cheese. The moules frites are also a hit.
This restaurant is one of my favorite places for brunch in New York! They of course serve the basic brunch staples but sometimes with a mediterranean twist: eggs, French toasts, etc...The last time we went there, I decided to try different appetizers instead of getting an entree. We ate:
- Tuna tartare (photo 2) served with cucumber, jalapeno, spicy mayo in a crispy wonton: this was awesome! Very light and fresh! The mayo had a nice kick. The presentation in three little wonton baskets was very aesthetic.
- Goat cheese tart with tomato fondue and caramelized onions: do I need to say more? Simply delicious! It is so good that I wish they had a bigger portion. The goat cheese, onions and tomato fondue pair so well!
- Garden salad with Bibb lettuce, hazelnuts and mustard vinaigrette: ok, it is just salad. But the most important about a good salad is not only the salad itself (Bibb is one of my favorites), but to not overdress it.
- Ratatouille nicoise: this one was ok. It did not really taste like ratatouille (check Maison and their ratatouille and goat cheese crepe...). Not something I would have next time.
So, if you are looking for a good brunch, check that restaurant: you will not regret it!
Enjoy (I did)!
Restaurant Review: Uncle Jack's Steakhouse (New York, NY)
I love steaks and the meat in this country is incredible! But not all restaurants know how to cook a good steak. Of course the quality of the meat is important too. So, what I am looking for is good piece of meat and good way of cooking it. As I mentioned in a prior post, I have a rule that says that I should not have a steak if the restaurant is not a steakhouse. Steakhouses are specialized in steaks, so they should know how to make them!
I went to Uncle Jack's few months back for lunch and had a special: surf and turf for $29. It came with a petite filet mignon, a small lobster tail with clarified butter, and mash potatoes. It was delicious! So we decided to go for dinner! I am going to make my usual comment: the restaurant was dark! why? One of my colleague thinks that it is because steakhouses were more geared to men decades ago. And so???
At Uncle Jack's, the meat is of the highest quality (USDA Prime) and aged for 21 to 28 days on premises. They cook it at 1800 degrees on an infrared broiler that gives a nice char and then finish the meat at temperature, served with their natural au jus.
I had a very good meal there! I started with crab cakes (I know I am obsessed). They were good and you could see and taste the lump crab! However, I did not like the sauce (kind of a lobster sauce).
I then ate a bone in filet mignon; first time I tried that! The taste is between the filet mignon and the prime rib with a fattier meat around the bone. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender and very juicy. As a side, we picked onion rings: they were big! Not greasy at all, just missing a bit of salt. Of course we could not finish the meal without a desert...We chose the creme brulee: delicious!
This was definitely a good meal! Uncle Jack's is an address to have in mind for steaks!
Restaurant Review: Baluchi's (New York, NY)
Baluchi's is one of my favorites indian restaurants in the city. Some of my friends from India love it, so I guess it confirms my taste! Not only they have good food, but they also have a good deal for lunch: 50% off! How do they do that? They serve less quantity than for dinner, but it is still a good portion.
What I prefer: crab curry (photo), chicken Tikka Masala or tandoori chicken! The crab curry has so many flavors; I always ask mild as it is spicy. Even like that, it has a nice kick!
They also have a good sweet lassi and great nans (bread)! If you'd like to try different types of nans, try the nan basket!
Enjoy (I did)!
Amy's bread - Coconut Bar! (New York, NY)
I like Coconut but I am not a coconut lover. But, when I tried the Coconut Bar from Amy's bread, it was a revelation! Think about it: buttery crust, coconut and chocolate chips! They all pair perfectly together and it is even better after you pop the bar in the microwave for few seconds. Add a glass of milk and it is a perfect treat!
Definitely worth to try!
Enjoy (I did)!
Recipe: Baguette with a hint of Olive oil
You probably know the caricature of the French: baguette and beret! Well, the beret is truly a caricature (mastered in the movie
with Mark Walberg) as you will not see that many people wearing it if you go to France, except if they are a certain age; but the baguette is true! Bread is an institution there! You will find boulangeries very easily, with many types of breads: baguette, sour dough, with olives, blue cheese.... In restaurants, they will always give you some bread with your meal: as much as you want!
When I came in this country, I missed passing by a boulangerie and buying my baguette or ficelle (very thin baguette - outstanding when hot with just butter on it). Well, I then discovered different types of breads (Challah, focaccia, Hero, bagel...) and locations to buy some: whole food (great baguette), Balthazar (bread sold in different stores) or Amy's bread. Then, to counter the fact that there are not as many boulangeries as I would like, I bought a bread machine: it is great! The kneading is better than doing it by hand (I tested on burger rolls) and you can set the machine so when you wake up, you have fresh bread for breakfast. Not to mention the sensational smell of fresh bread in your home!
Here is an easy recipe of French bread where I replaced part of the water with olive oil to give a hint of olive flavor and make the bread moist.
Ingredients for 2lb:
- 1 1/4 cup (30 cl) lukewarm water
- 1/4 cup (5 cl) olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 4 cups of flour (1 cup = 128 grams)
- yeast
Put all the ingredients together and knead them until obtaining a firm, non sticky dough. Let rise for 1 hour. Put the bread on a backing sheet and make some incisions on top with a knife. Let sit for 30 more minutes.
Pre-heat the oven at 375 degrees.
Cook for 30 minutes.
Once done, let the bread cool on a cooling rack. Et Voila!
Bon appétit!
Hoboken Art And Music Festival!
So today we went to the Hoboken Art And Music Festival. Ok, I have to admit, I only go for the art of food! I like going to this kind of festivals because you can try different types of food! Of course, not everything is good! I retrieved for instance this BBQ place that I tried last year: their beef was so dry you had to put lots of BBQ sauce. So we walked around and picked different dishes.
Let's start with one of the standard dishes that you can find in any street fair: the Mozzarepa. It is a twist on the arepa, a south american dish. The Mozzarepa is like a sandwich made of 2 arepas (corn pancakes) that are grilled instead of being fried with mozzarella in the middle. It is served hot, so not that great in the summer, but I cannot resist! The first bite makes you want more!
We then went to the Shrimpman, a stand serving buffalo shrimp and buffalo potato. For $11, you get 8 shrimp, potatoes and a fresh homemade lemonade. This was pretty good and the shrimp had a good kick! Again, spicy food on a hot day....Fortunately I had the lemonade! The potatoes were delicious with a little char on it.
Next, was a cheese steak at an all italian stand. The meat was tender, the onions well caramelized and the bread delicious! Overall good but I wish they put more meat!
We finished of course with desert: cookies from Sassy Sweet Treats. We got 4 cookies for $5. They were great! There was enough chocolate and it was not sugary (I hate when they put sugar on top of cookies or brownies! Isn't it sugary already???).
Enjoy (I did)!
Recipe: Crab Cakes Benedicts
I discovered crab cakes in this country. Well, the first time I tried them, it was at the cafeteria at work and I did not like it (wondering why???). I then tried few years later at Del Frisco's in New York and it was a revelation! Since then, anytime I can, I have crab cakes. The issue with them is that a lot of restaurants put too much bread crumbs and you cannot taste the crab. I tried to make some few months back at the French Culinary Institute (Sunday Brunch with Dave Martin) and decided to make them again, but changed the quantity and some ingredients. So, here I am: put to the test! I have to complete three parts of the dish: the crab cakes, the poached egg and the Hollandaise sauce.
Crab cakes:
Ingredients for 8 crab cakes:
- Claw meat (1 lb)
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of honey
- 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
Mix all the ingredients together and season only with pepper as the crab is salty. The honey is your binding ingredient and replaces mayonnaise. To shape the crab cake, use an egg ring: use you hands to put the crab in the ring and press to remove any excess of juice, otherwise, the crab cake will fall apart (claws are very moist). Cook the crab cake for 4 minutes on each side in olive oil.
Note: if the crab cake falls apart, add one more tablespoon of honey and some breadcrumbs until you reach a satisfactory consistency.
Poached egg:
For an easy way to make a perfect poached egg, check one of my previous posts by clicking here.
Hollandaise sauce:
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup butter
- cilantro
In a sauce pan on low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the egg yolks, the cilantro, salt and pepper. Whisk energetically so the egg yolks do not cook. Once the sauce is slightly thicker, remove from the stove.
Toast an english muffin, put the crab, then the egg and finally the sauce! It's ready!
So now you want to know what I though about it? Well I made a big mistake going with the crab claws! The claws have a lot of sweetness; this added to the honey makes a too sweet crab cake!
It was good, but not a recipe I would strictly follow and next time I will try the lump crabmeat. Clearly, after doing this, I have more respect for those who are making delicious crab cakes from scratch! Not that easy!
Crab cakes:
Ingredients for 8 crab cakes:
- Claw meat (1 lb)
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of honey
- 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
Mix all the ingredients together and season only with pepper as the crab is salty. The honey is your binding ingredient and replaces mayonnaise. To shape the crab cake, use an egg ring: use you hands to put the crab in the ring and press to remove any excess of juice, otherwise, the crab cake will fall apart (claws are very moist). Cook the crab cake for 4 minutes on each side in olive oil.
Note: if the crab cake falls apart, add one more tablespoon of honey and some breadcrumbs until you reach a satisfactory consistency.
Poached egg:
For an easy way to make a perfect poached egg, check one of my previous posts by clicking here.
Hollandaise sauce:
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup butter
- cilantro
In a sauce pan on low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the egg yolks, the cilantro, salt and pepper. Whisk energetically so the egg yolks do not cook. Once the sauce is slightly thicker, remove from the stove.
Toast an english muffin, put the crab, then the egg and finally the sauce! It's ready!
So now you want to know what I though about it? Well I made a big mistake going with the crab claws! The claws have a lot of sweetness; this added to the honey makes a too sweet crab cake!
It was good, but not a recipe I would strictly follow and next time I will try the lump crabmeat. Clearly, after doing this, I have more respect for those who are making delicious crab cakes from scratch! Not that easy!
Restaurant Review: La Isla (Hoboken, NJ)
La Isla is a little gem! A tiny, non pretentious Cuban restaurant, with delicious dishes at a reasonable price. As it is tiny, be prepare to wait or come early to get a table!
The restaurant was showcased in Throw down with Bobby Flay on the Food Network: the owner, Chef Omar Ginner, competed for the best Stuffed French toast and won. His French toast is stuffed with fresh guava and the breading is made with corn flakes and almonds. It is pretty original, good, although sugary! His restaurant uses a lot of guava and even puts some in their BBQ sauce!
They also serve their interpretation of the Huevos Rancheros! My favorite! There is a little kick that I love! Definitely to try!
Another favorite for me is the beef empanada: it is filled with a very moist ground beef, that even if slightly salty, has an incredible taste. Their maduros (fried yellow plantains) are sweet and moist, not like the ones I had at Cubanitas in Milwaukee! Portions are good a good size! I did not try yet their other specialties, but I do not desperate...
Concerning the service, you do not go for that: it is like a bee hive!
Enjoy (I did)!
Restaurant Review: Brunch at Amanda's (Hoboken, NJ)
Plate with Paris map at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
Amanda's is a very popular restaurant in Hoboken, opened more than 20 years ago, whose name is in fact the name of the granddaughter of the original owner.
We went few times in the past and the food was decent. They have an early dinner for $32 for 2 people (at the time of this post), Monday through Saturday with reservations at 5pm and 5:30pm; orders have to be placed by 5:45pm in all cases and guests have to leave by 7pm / 7:30pm. For that price, you get an appetizer, an entree and a dessert of good quality. In term of appetizers, the Creamy Polenta with Red Pepper Coulis, Fresh Basil and Three Cheese Sauce is the best! For entrees, I prefer the Sautéed Cod with Basmati Rice and Savory Cabbage and the Quattro Formaggi Ravioli with a Light Tomato Basil Sauce. Desserts are also delicious (apple strudel, key lime pie or chocolate mousse). Definitely, for $32 for 2, it is worth it!
So, we decided to try their brunch as Zagat voted them, in 2011, the best brunch in New Jersey. Well Zagat, before voting for a best brunch, you have to try several! I was very disappointed by the food! Let me explain why. We tried:
- Croissant French Toast with Seasonal Fruit Compote: not sure where the French toast part was. It was just a croissant with a fruit compote on it and it was very, very sugary.
Croissant French Toast at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
- Poached Eggs with Crab Hash & Orange Hollandaise: at first I liked it, but gradually, it started to taste sweet. I am not sure if it was the French toast effect or the orange Hollandaise sauce. It came with 2 poached eggs: one well cooked and the other one overcooked (based on one of the eggs, and you can see that on the photo, they must use an utensil to poach).
Poached eggs with crab hash at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
Poached eggs with crab hash at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
- Honey Smoked Virginia Ham & Swiss Cheese Omelette: nothing memorable.
Ham and cheese omelet at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
In fact the best part was the bread basket...from Balthazar...It had some delicious scones, not dry at all, and buttery croissants! I guess next time we will go directly to Balthazar in New York!
Balthazar's bread basket at Amanda's in Hoboken, NJ
I do not think I will go back for brunch, but certainly for dinner!
Enjoy (I did not)!
How to make a perfect poached egg
Making a perfect poached egg is not that simple, except if you know a trick to keep the shape of the egg. If you just drop the egg in the water, that will not do it as the white will just go all over the place. So, here is a trick learnt from Chef Dave Martin:
- bring the water to a boil. If you have a gas stove, turn it off; if you have an electric stove, remove the pan from it so the water stops boiling.
- create a swirl in the middle of the pan.
- crack the egg in a bowl and dump it in the center of the swirl. The movement created by the swirl will make the white wrap around the yolk. Wait 30 seconds and then put back the pan on the stove.
- cook until the white is not translucent anymore. Et voila!
Bon appétit!