Beard Papa's cream puffs in NYC, New York
Yes, I confess: when writing my blog post about Dinosaur BBQ, I omitted a small detail...It concerns the fact that we were planning to walk up to the restaurant and, coincidently, we passed by Beard Papa's...I am sure that when Jodi will read the word "coincidently", she will roll her eyes...I am discovered! Yes, I had a plan! Look, walking to Dinosaur BBQ requires so energy and Beard Papa's had what I needed! If you do not know what Beard Papa's is, it is a French-style bakery franchise that originated in Japan in 1999 and specializes in delicious cream puffs or choux à la crème! You cannot not notice the logo that is a bearded...papa...who looks like a sailor!
I still remember the first time I tried Beard Papa, few years ago. We were walking in the street on the Upper West Side when a delicious smell came through our noses. Outside of the store, they were giving samples of these cute choux packed with deliciousness! After we tried it, we had to get several of them! From all the flavors they propose, the vanilla custard remains my favorite! Even the chocolate one does not measure up for me.
So, here we are again! The staff greeted us in Japanese and freshly stuffed the Chou with the vanilla custard.
I think it is great that they fill them a la minute, because otherwise, the shell would lose its slight crunch. You should have seen my big smile when they handed me over the yellow bag...
I delicately opened it, and there was the vanilla custard filled cream puff, with a bit of confectioner's sugar on top (that usually ends up on my shirt!).
The first bite was fantastic, as well as the second, third, etc...The vanilla custard was so good!
It really tasted fresh and homemade!
Then, few weeks later, thanks to a colleague, David, I got the chance to try a Paris-Brest cream "donut" puff. Paris-Brest is a French Pastry made of a chou cut in half with praline cream in between the two slices.
As well as an eclair one:
The Paris-Brest was very good with a slightly different shell for the chou. The chocolate eclair would satisfy any fan of chocolate! First of all, it tasted like real chocolate melted and not just some sugary one. Then, the filling was a vanilla custard and I really thought that it was an excellent pairing with the dark chocolate, because it counter balanced the bitterness of it.
Well, after writing this post, it makes me want to go back quickly! What about you?
Enjoy (I did)!
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Trece Mexican Restaurant in NYC, New York
Still looking for cheap eateries near Union Square, we ended up at Trece Mexican Cuisine and Tequila Bar. We did not really know what to expect, but were for sure excited to have Mexican food! The place was big and colorful. They sat us at a table next to the bar and the big TVs overlooking the dining room. Well, for sure the staff was more interested in the TV novella than the customers!!!
We started with a dish we always order in Mexican restaurants: guacamole!
The guacamole is made to order that is always great and better than having a restaurant serve some guacamole that was made few days ago or just bought somewhere!
It was good, with big chunks of avocado, was not too salty (I hate that!), but was missing a bit of acidity.
It was not good! First of all, as you can see on the photo, the avocado were not good. Then, the fish tasted fishy and there was too much iceberg lettuce. The sauces were good, but the wait staff was unable to explain what they were!
Jodi ordered a blend vegetable quesadilla!
It was so disappointing! And expensive for the quality of the food. We should have passed our way...
Enjoy (...)!
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Nanoosh Mediterranean Cuisine in Greenwich Village, NYC, New York
Still looking for cheap places near Union Square, we ended up at Nanoosh, a restaurant serving Mediterranean food. The place was packed so we imagined that there was a reason for it. The dining room was pretty big with high ceilings adding to the impression of volume. They sat us at the communal wooden table.
The menu is supposed to be on the healthy side, featuring salads (Greek, greens, tabbouleh, quinoa...), hummus plates (with falafel, chicken, beef...), wraps or for an even healthier version, bowls, that are in a way or to simplify this post, a different version of the salads or hummus plates they propose.
We decided to go for hummus plates. The hummus can be plain (original) or made with roasted red peppers. It is made daily with fresh organic chickpeas.
Jodi decided to go for the falafel hummus plate.
With the hummus plates, they brought us some pita (we picked whole grain):
The presentation was beautiful and very appetizing. They laid out the hummus in the bottom and then added the different ingredients. We added some toppings such as cucumber, tomatoes and olives, but I have to say that I was surprised that they charged us for it ($1 each), especially as it was not a big quantity they put and it definitely contributed to make the dishes pricey compared to other similar restaurants like Mamoun's falafel or Taim!
In term of taste, it was disappointing: the falafel, that were baked (therefore healthier than their fried version) were missing some crunch and texture. The hummus was just ok, not as tasty as I would have liked. The chicken was good at least...as well as the olives!
I also ordered a mint iced tea:
I guess the mint part refers to the couple of mint leaves that were added to the iced tea. Unfortunately, there were not enough to give that wonderful refreshing taste to the drink.
When we finished our dinner, we felt that something was missing and that our dinner was incomplete. For sure it was not dessert as they only proposed rice pudding or a chocolate dessert...
To conclude: average food and pricey considering the much cheaper choices in the city! I definitely prefer Mamoun's falafel or Taim over Nanoosh!
Enjoy (...)!
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11th Annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party at Madison Square Park in NYC, New York!
Today was a good day for my stomach: the 11th Annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party at Madison Square Park took place over the week end, featuring some of the best pitmasters in the country, from Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama...This event takes place every year, one week end of June, in support of the Madison Square Park Conservancy.
The festival was all about food, but there was also a beer garden, some BBQ demonstrations and some music.
It was for sure packed and more and more people showed as the day went by, trying to benefit from the food that cost $9 a plate. Surely, walking around, you could not miss the delicious smell originating from the different BBQ pits, each pitmaster having his own design, some of them looking industrially made:
and others looking more...homemade!
As I mentioned few times on this blog, what we call BBQ in France is grilling and I can assure you that each time I have visitors, I bring them to a BBQ joint and they really love it! So, imagine me in this festival: I was like a kid in a candy shop! Especially looking all these stands prepare their food!
Like Whole Hog at Skylight Inn:
Sausages at Jim'N Nick's:
With all this food all around and that smell that kept tempting us, it was time to try some food! We started with Blue Smoke.
I always wanted to try their restaurant and it was the perfect occasion to taste their salt & pepper beef ribs!
They were fantastic! Juicy, with a nice char on top and some delicious fat, the meat was falling of the bone. There was also a nice quantity of it: in fact I found it to be one of the best deals there!
Then, we went to Salt Lick BBQ from Texas:
They were serving sausage and brisket:
They served it Southern style, with a slice of white bread in the bottom and we put some of their BBQ sauce. The sausage was pretty good, with a nice kick, but the brisket was a bit tough and dry. So sad, because we got a sample earlier and it was very good and juicy.
The last one we tried was Scott's BBQ from South Carolina.
I am not a big fan of shredded pork shoulder because it tends to be dry, but I was curious to try this as they mentioned pork skin and I could see them shredding the pork that had this beautiful reddish crisp skin.
Here again, they served the meat on a piece of white bread and put some vinegar all over it.
Well, they called it vinegar, but I did not really taste vinegar! I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting some of the skin of the pig we saw before. Instead, they throw some fried skin from a bag...It was good and crispy, but still not what I was expecting. This was good, but a bit bland and dry. I did not finish it.
This was a great opportunity to try different BBQ joints and was for sure for meat lovers as there was nothing for the vegetarian: no Mac & Cheese and no fried green tomatoes! Chapeau to the pitmasters and staff for cooking in these high temperatures on a hot day! The Big Apple Block Party was fun and well organized and I will probably go back every year! One thing is certain: the beef ribs from Blue Smoke were the best from what I tried and I am looking forward to try their restaurant!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Hibachi at Ayame in Hoboken, New Jersey
Ayame ("Iris" in Japanese) is the only Hibachi place in Hoboken. If you do not know what Hibachi is, it is a grill where food will be cooked during a cooking show that surely requires some skills!
I sometimes wonder if people go to Hibachi places for the food or for the show! I go for both!!! First time I tried it was in Seoul, Korea. It was in the hotel I was staying in and I still remember the filet mignon and the grilled veggies, notably the mushrooms and onions that were fantastic. The Chef put a bit of a show, but it was not as much as what I saw later.
I sometimes wonder if people go to Hibachi places for the food or for the show! I go for both!!! First time I tried it was in Seoul, Korea. It was in the hotel I was staying in and I still remember the filet mignon and the grilled veggies, notably the mushrooms and onions that were fantastic. The Chef put a bit of a show, but it was not as much as what I saw later.
So, here we are at Ayame, excited at the idea of what is to come. Jodi orders the vegetable and tofu Hibachi and I ordered a combo of two where I picked shrimp and chicken (they also have scallops, filet mignon, lobster...). The Chef comes with his little cart full of ingredients and greets us. He then starts by whipping out the hot surface and the show can begin. The video below will speak more than any words I could write!
This was spectacular! What you do not see on the video is that he proposed me some sake. I thought that he would give me some in a shot glass, but instead, he squeezed a bottle to let the sake flow come to my mouth!
My shrimp and chicken combo like that:
There was definitely a lot if food and the fried rice was not necessary! The only negative is that they asked us if we wanted regular or fried rice, as if it was included!
Otherwise, the food was fantastic: tasty with generous portions. For instance, the shrimp were of a good size and I had a dozen.
For the second time at Ayame, trying the Hibachi, we had not only a good time, but also some delicious food! We definitely need to go back and try their other dishes!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Taboonette, pocket food in NYC, New York
The owners of Taboon, a Mediterranean restaurant located in Hell's Kitchen, decided to open another location in Greenwich Village; a sister location named Taboonette. The concept is pocket food: putting food into a pita or wrap, like a little pocket.
I was pretty excited as I love Mediterranean food and the simplicity of pita sandwiches. I was also looking for cheap eats in this area (the highest price on their menu is $12).
The place is nice with a simple decor; the light wood gives a zen atmosphere to it.
I also loved the lamps and the old fashion bulb where you can see the filament. For sure it is nicer than those energy efficient bulbs! If they could make them look like that, that would be awesome!
The hummus was good, but did not taste homemade; more like the one I buy at the supermarket. The pita chips were very hard and burnt.
Jodi ordered the Roasted eggplant Tabouleh:
It was made of bulgur, parsley, tomato, onion, mint and scallion. It is in fact the way tabouleh is done in countries like Lebanon: the grain is not couscous but bulgur and there is a lot of parsley. I liked it. although I would have preferred more eggplant.
I ordered the Kebab in a pita:
It was served with few homemade chips. The stuffing was made of ground lamb and beef, grilled eggplant, lettuce, tomato puree, tahini, mint and cilantro. The meat was good with the nice strong flavor of the lamb coming through. But, I do not know if it was due to the tahini, but the texture was off in the bottom of the sandwich.
I was a bit disappointed with Taboonette. I definitely prefer Mamoun's Falafel for kebab and Taim for a vegetarian option...
Enjoy (...)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Isaan Thai Food at Zabb City in NYC, New York
We really found this Thai place, Called Zabb City, by coincidence as it is located in a street, in the East Village, where the only attraction would be Momofuku Milk Bar! It does not look like your typical Thai restaurant: with such a decor, I would easily see a Wine Bar there (would a Thai Wine Bar make any sense? Could be a trend!). Their menu offers Isaan dishes. I know: me too, I have no idea what it means...Isaan is is the northeastern region of Thailand.Well, their menu proposes the usual dishes you would find in Thai cuisine, but I was desperately looking for the Chef's specials to see if they served frog legs...Yes, I mainly find these delicacies in Thai restaurants! Unfortunately they did not have it!
Of course, I got my usual Thai Iced Tea:
I love that drink: so refreshing with its kind of indescribable taste. When you think that you pay $3 for it, that is the price you would pay for a regular tea in a restaurant! $3 for hot water: no (except if the tea is not a basic one); for a Thai Iced Tea: definitely!
We started of the meal with spring rolls:
They were served with duck sauce and red chili flakes (it was not really spicy). The rolls were good, although I would have preferred less dough.
They we pretty good: the tofu was fried and was bit tasty and there were a lot of veggies (mushrooms, pepper, broccoli...).
I ordered my test dish for Thai restaurants: Chicken Massaman.
It was served with white rice. I liked it a lot: the sauce itself was divine and had a little kick that built up in the back of my mouth. The potatoes and onions were well cooked (soft) and cut in a way that it was not a nightmare to eat (no knife needed). No need to say that I finished my plate...
Zabb is a nice and quiet place that offers a good, traditional Thai with similar prices than most of the Thai restaurants in NYC. I surely prefer that place over Spice, located few blocks away...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Italian Dinner at Casa Nonna in Hell's Kitchen NYC, New York
I recently went to Casa Nonna, literally Grandma's house, located in Hell's Kitchen, for a dinner with Erika and Kenta from Tabélog, a new online space for restaurant lovers that has more than 40 millions users in Japan and is launching a site in the US! For sure, I would have never found that place if not meeting people, as it is in the middle of a block, on 38th street. Not that many passersby!!!
I was surprised because the restaurant is big with different areas: the bar, two dining rooms of a good size and a counter next to the kitchen.
Interestingly, there is a small area on the right of the entrance that is a Go Burger! We sat in the dining room in the back; the first impression I had, besides the volume of the room, was that it looked more like a steakhouse than an Italian restaurant, thanks to the dark wood and leather banquettes.
The tables were heavy and made with the wood from wine boxes.
The menu was definitely Italian, but not your basic / classic dishes. No spaghetti with meatballs, but rather veal meatballs as an appetizer. No eggplant Parmesan or linguini a la Vongole as I am used to! But I am not going to complain, considering that I am a big fan of that type of cuisine and their menu had interesting dishes!
We started of with appetizers. Polipo - baby octopus, peanut potatoes, pearl onions drizzled with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette:
I was excited to have baby octopus because I love it! Unfortunately, it was not that great! I think after I had better octopus at Officina Laina or Thalassa,
I was expecting something fantastic...It was a bit chewy and the only thing you could taste was the fact that it was fried!
We also shared the fried calamari:
The last appetizer was the veal meatballs:
For the entree, I ordered the gnocchi with Berkshire pork ragu and crispy pig ears:
Gnocchi is definitely a good test for an Italian restaurant because you do not want the gnocchi to be dough-y or potato-y.
They did a good job at Casa Nonna: they were very, very light and perfect with a pork ragu that was delicious (yoou could taste a bit of wine). What elevated this dish a bit was the crispy pig ears: it added some crunch to the dish: wonderful! Before leaving, I asked the waiter if they make their own pasta and he mentioned that everything is homemade there.
Then was time for desserts! I could try two. The tiramisu:
And the mascarpone cheesecake, served with a blackberry citrus sauce:
Desserts were definitely not the highlight of the meal! So sad, because the presentation was spectacular. The tiramisu was overpowered by the chocolate on top and I could barely taste the espresso cream. The cheesecake might have been better, but had nothing exceptional and did not have enough blackberry sauce.
The food at Casa Nonna was average and forgettable (I still prefer Morandi or, for family style dinners, Tony Di Napoli). Fortunately, the conversation with Erika and Kenta and discovering Tabelog made the experience worth it!
Enjoy (...)!
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Little Fox Cafe in Chinatown, NYC, New York
Before reading this post, please note that, in accordance with the FTC guidelines, I must disclose that I was contacted directly by the restaurant or a PR and that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I got invited to review the Little Fox Cafe, located near Chinatown. I was very excited to go there because, looking for their menu on the internet, I discovered that they have an artist, Mike Breach, making portraits on latte and there are some incredible photos on their facebook pages (the Jean Simmons portrait is awesome)! Unfortunately, Mike Breach is only present on Wednesdays and it is not possible for me to go there on those days. Interestingly, few weeks ago, my sister Corinne told me that she heard on the French TV about a cafe in New York making portraits in latte, but she could not remember the name! That was probably this place that was also featured on Good Morning America.
I was also excited because I love coffee: I drink coffee and I bleed coffee and a place that has a sign like the one above is on the right track!
The place is small but I truly appreciated that there were not too many tables as a lot of cafes are trying to maximize the space to the point where it becomes uncomfortable!
It definitely had a rustic feel with its 18th Century Church pews and shelves from the recently demolished Kenmare hotel. Apparently, the name comes from one of the original owner who comes from England (they have lots of foxes there) and looking at the decoration, I would think there is a British touch to it!
We are greeted by WC:
I was also excited because I love coffee: I drink coffee and I bleed coffee and a place that has a sign like the one above is on the right track!
The place is small but I truly appreciated that there were not too many tables as a lot of cafes are trying to maximize the space to the point where it becomes uncomfortable!
It definitely had a rustic feel with its 18th Century Church pews and shelves from the recently demolished Kenmare hotel. Apparently, the name comes from one of the original owner who comes from England (they have lots of foxes there) and looking at the decoration, I would think there is a British touch to it!
We are greeted by WC:
We talked a bit and I learnt that he is an artist who travels the world to do murals. In fact, the Little Fox Cafe has a room downstairs that they are planning to open to display Art and organize parties at some point. Because Little Fox Cafe is like Jekyl and Hyde: cafe during the day and bar at night! You can get a hint looking at the beer on tap they serve! But know that beer is not the only beverage they serve on tap: there is also iced coffee that was perfect on this hot day!
I also tried their espresso that I found good but a bit too bitter:
I also tried their espresso that I found good but a bit too bitter:
But I think my favorite was the latte! Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk. This one is probably one of the best I ever had: it was so creamy! And the best of all is that WC was able to draw little characters on it as shown below:
Step 1 - make the latte:
Step 2 - draw with a thin wooden stick
Step 3 - Et Voila!
Or:
That started to be interesting when I drank some of it!
They typically do it if they see that people are not in a hurry and I guess if they have time!
Step 1 - make the latte:
Step 2 - draw with a thin wooden stick
Step 3 - Et Voila!
Or:
That started to be interesting when I drank some of it!
They typically do it if they see that people are not in a hurry and I guess if they have time!
Food wise, they have quite few interesting items: cookies, brownies, croissants, pecan bars...coming from different suppliers such as Ceci Cela Patisserie for the croissants or a guy named Andy for cookies!
I asked WC which item was the most popular and it was the croissant with nutella that I decided to try:
They cut the croissant in two, put a generous amount of nutella on one side, close and grill it like a panini sandwich!
It was very good and if you decide to go there, do not miss the latte and nutella croissant!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Looking for Pizza on Bleeker: Keste Pizza and Vino, John's Pizzeria and Pizza Roma in NYC, New York
I never really noticed how many pizza places there are on Bleeker, until I went to review John's Pizzeria (an institution here in New York!), Keste Pizza and Vino and Pizza Roma! This post is about our trip to these pizza joints (not the same day...)!
Keste Pizza and Vino:
The great thing with the blog is that now, when people eat in great places, they will send me some information or give me a business card from the place, suggesting me to go. That is how I heard about Keste Pizza & Vino: one of my co-workers, Richard, recommended it. As I went down to my long list of places to try and was in the mood for pizza, I proposed Jodi to go there.
It was a Saturday and the place was not that busy. I liked the decor and the atmosphere that gave a certain authenticity to the place. Their menu was mouth watering and, as we do most of the time, we already checked it before coming and knew exactly what we would order! In fact, each time we go to a pizza place we look for two items: the homemade burrata and the four cheese pizza! And Keste had both of them!!!
So we started off with the homemade burrata.
It was a big portion and was served with half a tomato, a slice of bread and some prosciutto. It was really good, although the mozzarella shell could have been a bit thinner. It also missed a bit of olive oil and the dish could have been elevated with some balsamic vinegar that would have enhanced the delicate taste of the cream.
Then came the four cheese pizza!
It looked very appetizing with its burnt edges. The cheeses were mozzarella, grand cru (I guess pecorino), caciocavallo and parmigiano reggiano. They also put on top some fresh basil leaves and some olive oil.
The crust was delicious with all these blobs at the edges and a bit of a burnt taste here and there. Unfortunately, it lost its crispiness because there was too much olive oil that made it a bit soggy.
But overall, it was a delicious pizza that would satisfy any cheese lover! They were really generous with the amount of cheese too! Fantastic!
It was definitely a great lunch at Keste that is, by the way, the official location for The APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) whose mission is to protect and preserve the Neapolitan pizza tradition and promote the art of pizza making. I will definitely have to go back to try some of the other pizzas they offer on their menu!
John's Pizza:
Walking around Bleeker while waiting for Keste Pizza and Vino to open, I eyed at John's pizza and decided to go there for my next Pizzeria review. This place has been around for quite some time: opened in 1929 by John Sasso, it looks as if it was suspended in time!
We went early because there is always a line and they sat us at one of these tight booths, overlooking the busy kitchen (the coal oven was not visible from there)!
Sitting there, you cannot miss the walls, full of carved graffiti:
Their menu is simple: pizza, a few pasta dishes and meatballs: no way you can get overwhelmed by a large choice, but for sure, you would want to order a bit of everything! Yes, this is the type of restaurant that smells authentic and where you wish there was a tasting menu!
We decided to go simple and order a 14 inch pizza (6 slices) with mushrooms:
The pizza was delicious: the crust, a bit burnt on the edges, was perfectly crispy!
The pizza sauce was very good with just enough cheese, but not enough mushrooms (at $3 a topping, they could have put more!).
It was a good pizza, but I remain convinced that San Matteo Pizza on the Upper East Side is the best!!!
Pizza Roma:
The last pizza place we tried on Bleeker (last but not least for sure!) was Pizza Roma, a small joint, steps away from Keste and John's pizzeria! We passed by few times and could not miss the delicious slices of pizza at the window! So here we are! We can either order pizza or some other food, but the choice for us was fairly quick!
The way it works is that you pick what pizza you want and they will slice it for you, eat it and serve at one of the few tables near the entrance.
We decided to go for the mushroom pizza and the Cipola Y Gorgonzola (onions and gorgonzola) pizza:
as well as the plain pizza and Tricolore (Basil pesto and mozzarella di buffala):
The mushroom pizza was good except that the mushrooms were mushy. The best of all was the onion and gorgonzola one, but unfortunately there was not enough cheese! The plain was good but the pizza sauce tasted like any can you can buy...
The slice with the basil pesto and mozzarella di Buffala looked very appetizing, but the pesto was so overpowering...
So, the slices were not that great and it was expensive: more than $26 for all of this with a coke...Definitely, they cannot measure up to Keste or John's Pizza!
Enjoy (...)!
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Lunch at Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem NYC, New York
For my birthday, Jodi and I went to Dinosaur BBQ IN Harlem. It has been a while I wanted to go back. The last time was 6 years ago for our friend Gary's Birthday. The place opened few months before and, as a Syracuse University Alumni, he was thrilled to bring a bunch of friends to celebrate. I remember that I had a fantastic ribeye!
Another time, visiting Syracuse University, we went to their first location. This time , no ribeye, but BBQ chicken.
So, here we are on our way there. Before arriving at the restaurant, we passed the famous Cotton Club! I confess that I did not think it was still there!
We got our table fairly quickly, thanks to the reservation we made. No reservation was definitely synonym of a long wait. Interestingly, the crowd was a mix of families, couples, friends and bikers.
Entering the restaurant, our noses immediately smelled BBQ! For sure, that makes you hungry!
We started off with the appetizer sampler for two.
It was composed of chicken wings, shrimp, fried green tomatoes and eggs mayonnaise.
I truly appreciated the fact that they offered a sampler so we could try several appetizers. The chicken wings were my favorite: the skin was smothered with an heavenly delicious BBQ sauce. Know that they were not spicy.
The shrimp were good but had nothing special. They were served shelled, but it was not an issue as BBQ means dirty hands!!!
The green tomatoes were not bad, but they were missing that crunch that I am so used to since I tried them at Southern Hospitality!
The green tomatoes were not bad, but they were missing that crunch that I am so used to since I tried them at Southern Hospitality!
Last were the eggs mayonnaise that I really liked: tasty and not too mayonnaise-y.
Then, Jodi ordered the wedge salad, but with no walnuts:
The salad was good...for a salad! What was great is that they put the blue cheese dressing on the side (they offer different choices such as BQ Blues House, Creole Honey Mustard Vinaigrette...).
She also ordered a side of Mac & Cheese:
It could have been a decent Mac & Cheese, unfortunately, the seasoning they put on top was overpowering.
I decided to order a BBQ sampler plate. I think it is great that BBQ joints offer samplers: that way, I can try different meats! Luckily, they have a small sampler, called the Nuevo Sampler.
It came with chicken, ribs and brisket. The brisket was definitely the star of the plate! It was tender and not dry with a nice amount of fat. The chicken was ok with a crispy skin, but a bit bland. The ribs were dry.
With the platter, they give you a corn bread (very good) and you pick 2 sides. We went for the fries and the brussels sprouts that were the side of the day. It was good, but nothing extraordinary!
I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the experience: the food was just ok at the end and I remain a fan of Southern Hospitality and Brothers' Jimmy!
Enjoy (...)!
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A visit to the Brooklyn Museum: Brunch at Sunshine Co and treats at Joyce Bakeshop!
Jodi wanted to see the exhibit of John Singer Sargent at the Brooklyn Museum and we planned for few weeks to go with our friends Gary and Jen. So the rain did not stop us and we were certain to add to this artistic experience a culinary one, especially considering that more and more delicious restaurants are opening in Brooklyn! We did not pick in advance a place and just used our mobile phones to find out where to go. Unfortunately, the first two choices we had were not possible, because of the waiting time. Usually, we do not mind, but with the rain, waiting was a big no-no! That is how we found Sunshine Company!
We immediately got a table! The place was nice with a rustic although modern feel, very bright thanks to the large windows going up to the high ceilings.
Most of the items on the menu looked fantastic and it was a tough choice! I started anyway with a double espresso, my drink of choice for brunch...
Then, Jodi got the baked eggs:
The baked eggs were served with grilled zucchini, grilled eggplant, tomatoes and feta cheese, topped with some salad. It came with two slices of buttered bread.
The eggs were perfect: the yolk was slightly runny like I love it! I was even surprised to see Jodi eat them as she usually do not like runny yolks! Also, having all these vegetables made this dish very earthy.
I decided to order the Tres Leches French Toast:
It looked fantastic and the French toast itself was good with the bread perfectly soaked. I just wished it has more tres leches taste, similar to the one at The cuban in Hoboken!
We definitely had good food and a good time at Sunshine Co and it was great that we found this little gem just walking desperately around!
Then, after the museum, we wanted to see if there was a bakery around. Same modus operandi to find a place: cell phones...And we ended up at Joyce Bakeshop!
It is a nice little place, perfect for a coffee in the afternoon to catch up with your long time friends. Their pastries looked delicious and very tempting and what I liked was the fact that they propose a large and a regular version of most of their cakes!
Gary and Jen had a Woopie pie and a black and white.
Then, after the museum, we wanted to see if there was a bakery around. Same modus operandi to find a place: cell phones...And we ended up at Joyce Bakeshop!
It is a nice little place, perfect for a coffee in the afternoon to catch up with your long time friends. Their pastries looked delicious and very tempting and what I liked was the fact that they propose a large and a regular version of most of their cakes!
Gary and Jen had a Woopie pie and a black and white.
We ordered a chocolate chip cookie
and an almond and pear tart:
It looked better than it tasted! The almond and pear tart was dry as was the cookie, despite all the chocolate in it. The crust in the tart was a bit salty too: it definitely needed butter!
Look, we tried and you never know: sometimes you find great places just walking around, like the Sunshine Co!
Enjoy (I did)!
and an almond and pear tart:
It looked better than it tasted! The almond and pear tart was dry as was the cookie, despite all the chocolate in it. The crust in the tart was a bit salty too: it definitely needed butter!
Look, we tried and you never know: sometimes you find great places just walking around, like the Sunshine Co!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Burger or pizza at Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ
It is no secret that I am a fan of Bin 14, the Hoboken Wine Bar of Chef Anthony Pino. I like the atmosphere as much as the food. We often go there for brunch as they have a fantastic brunch menu. I think I tried most of their menu, but there is one item that I never ate there: the burger. So, Jodi and I decided to go to remediate to this!
Once there, I ordered my Bin 14 burger:
The beef patty was delicately put on a piece of brioche bun (the menu said toasted, but it was not), with a roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella, arugula and pancetta. It was served with French fries, skin on, drizzled with pecorino cheese.
First of all, the presentation was very appetizing and I just wanted to have this first bite that can be so comforting when eating a burger. The meat was perfectly cooked, juicy (I asked for medium) and did not seem to be full of fillers. It was a good burger, although not the best I had: the cheese had a too subtle taste to be really noticed, the pancetta was barely noticeable too and the arugula has a too strong flavor to go well with the meat as it has a tendency to overpower it.
The French fries were very disappointing: limp, not crunchy and not cooked all the way through. So sad...
Jodi had the truffle and creamy taleggio pizza.
This pizza is definitely a hit for us: they are generous with the cheese and the truffle and the crust is thin and crunchy, cooked divinely in their brick oven.
I definitely recommend the pizza over the burger!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Pie By The Pound in NYC, New York
Pizza is definitely one of my favorite meals, although I probably say this about everything I eat!!! I love pizza: it is comforting and often cheap. This is the type of food where you would say that less is more: a plain slice can be so good. No need to add tons of toppings on top!
A big difference between the US and France is that, in France, except in boulangeries (bakeries) and sandwicheries (for sandwiches), you cannot find pizza by the slice. So usually, in a pizzeria, people would order their own pie. I prefer by the slice because you can try few. So you can imagine how excited I was to go to Pie by the pound, where they sell slices...by the pound!!!
I tried the location near Union Square. I guess they cater to students as the place has an area with a copier, or people who want to hang out with books (mainly about food, gluten free food) and even games (not that they are only for them).
They have a large selection of pies and what you do is choose your pie, tell them how much you want of it; they will weight it to determine the price et voila!
We selected the following slices:
The snow white (mozzarella, ricotta, oregano and garlic)
Fresh Mozzarella (fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil)
It was really good! The crust was thin and crispy. The tomato sauce was delicious (well, what makes the difference between one pizzeria and another is the tomato sauce for the most part!). My favorite was the mushroom one as it was made with fresh mushrooms that did not seem out of a can! I also appreciated that there was not too much garlic on the white pie!
Pie By The Pound is definitely a place to know for a nice, cheap bite! And if you prefer whole wheat or gluten free, they have something for you!
Enjoy (I did)!
Hotel Tortuga Mexican Restaurant in NYC, New York
Walking around NYU in search for cheap eats, we found this place called Hotel Tortuga. It is a Mexican restaurant that offers a large selection of vegetarian dishes for reasonable prices. Yes, it is called Hotel Tortuga, but it is not a hotel! In fact, they want you to imagine that you are in a hotel near Acapulco. The decor definitely feels like South America and is very cozy with its red booths and relaxed atmosphere.
This restaurant serves traditional stuffing for tacos such as beef, chicken or fish, as well as a large selection of vegetarian ones: tempeh (soy protein), vegetable chorizo, grilled vegetables...
This is what we ate for less than $30:
A large side of guacamole with corn chips:
The guacamole was decent, but I do not think it was fresh. We could get as many chips as we wanted, as they offered chips and salsa.
Two vegetarian chorizo tacos:
One fish taco (tilapia):
The tacos were made of two soft corn tortilla (you can pick flour instead of corn): they were good and there was a lot of stuffing in it.
The chicken taco was pretty good and the chicken had a nice grilled taste. The fish taco was perfect too: the fish was moist and did not taste fishy. However, the vegetable chorizo was not good: the first bite was ok and interesting as it was the first time we tried vegetable chorizo, but it was very salty and after a couple of bites, the saltiness was too much.
We finished with a Mexican hot chocolate:
It was hot chocolate with some cinnamon that was a fantastic combination as the cinnamon enhanced the taste of the chocolate. As you can see on the photo, they put a lot of whipped cream on it! This is definitely a must have, even for dinner...
I think that Hotel Tortuga offers a nice Mexican menu for good prices. My main disappointment is that they do not have homemade desserts, just cakes that they buy in a bakery in Vermont, cakes that are more American than Mexican. Despite that, this is definitely a good place to gather with friends and chill out.
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Pho at Pho 66 in Hell's Kitchen - NYC, New York
There are days where you are fixated on a particular dish. This time (shall I say again?), it was ramen! We were planning on going to Sapporo ramen, but it was packed. So Jodi and I decided to walk on 9th avenue, aka Hell's Kitchen, and see if any restaurant would erase our disappointment. We noticed Pho 66. The location looked familiar and it is only after we entered the restaurant that we realized that we went there several months ago, at the time it was a Colombian place called Farmers Rotisseria A La Brasa. I could not believe it!
If you do not know what Pho is, it is Vietnamese dish consisting of broth, noodles usually made from rice, herbs, vegetables and meat. Well, it was as close to the ramen craving as it could be...
What I really liked is the fact that they offer different sizes of bowl: large, medium and small, to accommodate any appetite.
Jodi ordered the Pho Verte:
Verte means green in France and here, it relates to the fact that it is a vegetarian dish.
On my side, I ordered the Pho Bun Bo Hue:
It consisted of pork shoulder and beef shank and came with some lime, soy and lemongrass to mix with.
Both broths were tasty with for sure bolder flavors thanks to the meat in the Bun Bo Hue. The noodles were good, but I preferred the one in the Pho Verte as the one in the Bun Bo Hue were a bit too al dente for my taste and as they were thicker, it was less enjoyable. I liked both dishes, with a preference for the vegetarian one in fact! Incroyable!
For dessert, we decided to share a black rice pudding:
It was made with coconut milk and served with slices of mango. I did not like it to be honest: the texture was off, I could barely taste the coconut milk and the mango was not ripe enough.
I really liked Pho 66 (except the dessert): the Pho are pretty good (they have a nice selection), they look beautiful and taste good, all of that for a reasonable price! I did not regret not having ramen that night!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Häagen-Dazs® Artist Series Event at Pouring Ribbons in NYC, New York
We were recently invited to the Häagen-Dazs® Artist Series at Pouring Ribbons in Alphabet City. This event was a way for Häagen-Dazs® to showcase "art inspired by a journey in Italy and gelato". I admit that we were there more for gelato than art as, after a trip to Italy few years ago, we got crazy about gelato! Imagine that when we went there, we had gelato everyday: coconut for Jodi, Hazelnut or vanilla for me!
So I was curious to see what Häagen-Dazs® would present! And I was not disappointed! I think the biggest discovery of the evening was that gelato can be used as an ingredient for drinks or pastries! Yes, you read well: drinks and pastries! I know, ice cream cake is popular here, but not in France: we have frozen cakes but it is more for convenience than taste, at the exception of the omelette Norvegienne or baked Alaska.
So let's start with the drinks! Besides regular drinks you would find anywhere, mixologist and co-owner of Pouring Ribbons Troy Sidle proposed some alcoholic drinks of his creation with gelato. We tried the Bello Rosmarino, made with vodka, fresh squeezed lemon juice, raspberries, rosemary and a scoop of limoncello gelato from Häagen-Dazs®.
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy. Based on the information given, this is how Troy Sidle got inspired:
"At the Gelato University in Bologna, Italy, Troy Sidle was struck by the pairing of rosemary and raspberries, never thinking they would go well together. After tasting the unique combination in Bologna, he was inspired to add in the refreshing flavor of Häagen-Dazs® Limoncello Gelato to create a delicious cocktail that can be made at home during the hot summer months".
I never had gelato in a cocktail and was pleasantly surprised. It was very good and the ice cream did not seem out of context. In fact, it was dangerous because so good, it was like drinking milk!
Then, one side of the bar was full of desserts made by Christina Tosi, owner and celebrity Pastry Chef of Momofuku Milk Bar! What was there was not only appealing to the eyes (and the stomach), but very good and creative.
The best of all was the Häagen-Dazs® Dark Chocolate Chip Gelato Cake!
I can tell you that all the guests were gravitating around this cake! The description of Christina Tosi's inspiration was:
"I am a huge fan of ice cream cakes. Fudgie the Whale has nothing on this one! One of my favorite things to snack on while strolling (between gelato shops) in Florence is dried fruits, especially apricots.
Italian bakeries are always full of the most beautiful acetate-lined shiny chocolate cakes, and I just knew I wanted to create one on my terms, combining my American sensibility of an ice cream cake with Häagen-Dazs® Dark chocolate Chip Gelato and my favorite in-between-gelato shop snack."
By the way, writing this post, I discovered that Fudgie the Whale is a type of ice cream cake produced and sold by Carvel in its franchise stores!
Anyway, I got my hand on a slice of that cake!
Look at that slice and tell me you would not want a bite, or two!!! That was light and heavenly good. The pairing of the apricot jam with the chocolate was a killer!
The other desserts were made without Gelato. We got:
Dark Chocolate cookies:
Dark Chocolate Pistacchio spread:
That by the way I used as a filling for crepes! I used it like a nutella spread that was in fact the inspiration of the Chef! Delish!
Biscotti Milk that was Chef Christina Tosi's take on cookies and milk!
This was great and I enjoyed it with the chocolate cake!!!
They also pass around some Häagen-Dazs® gelato samples. We tried the Black Cherry one that was very good. I wish I could have tried other flavors but we had to leave!
Besides food, the evening was filled with art, also inspired from Italy and Gelato, as well as music, with a performance from Suzanna Choffel from "The Voice":
And let's not forget art! There was Tim McFaden (hand-blown glass gelato Bowl), Loren Bartham (cuff bracelet with vintage stones) and Kelsea Slade (leather clutch with tassel).
We had a good time there and were lucky to be part of the guests who could taste these delicious creations!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A Trip to Dominique Ansel Bakery and Pulino's Bar and Pizza in NYC, New York!
Despite the rain today, we tried to make the most of the week end and decided to go to the City to get some good food! I enjoy walking in the city, even with this type of weather to either photograph the street or nature, especially flowers with rain drops on them.
Our first target was Dominique Ansel Bakery: it is not the first time we went there and, if I could, I would go every day for their Kouign Amman!
It was not even 12pm and the place was packed! I admit that we went there for the cronut, a new creation from Dominique Ansel that is a CROissant-doNUT! Such a good idea: we could not wait to try it! Unfortunately, they were sold out!!! Of course, we could not leave like that and so, we decided to order a Kouign Amman:
This is a must have at Dominique Ansel Bakery! Imagine a croissant packed in butter and covered with a bit of sugar. Trust me: if you try one, you will dream about it and go back there just for it! But, what is great about this bakery is that they take classic French pastries and put a twist to it! Like the Paris New York that I also tried today:
The Paris-New York is inspired by the Paris-Brest, a French pastry, made of choux pastry and a praline flavored cream. In this one, the cream is made with peanut butter! It was very good, not too sweet and not heavy, with a nice balance between the peanut butter and the chocolate.
Then, we decided to walk uptown, under the rain, thinking that a bibimbap in Korea Town would be perfect for this weather. While walking, I started to have my mind thinking about all the places we could go to , maybe closer, such as ramen or Italian, but Jodi really wanted bibimbap, until I mentioned Pulino's Pizza! We were just passing by W Houston and she pushed me on my right to go towards that restaurant! Then, there was no possibility of changing her mind...and mine at the same time...
It was heaven! The cream was perfect and refreshing! Combined with the crispy bread, the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, it was an harmony of flavors dancing in my mouth!
We then decided to try the simpler pizza you can find: the margherita.
After this second visit at Pulino's, I think that it is a great restaurant. The only negatives today are the table placing (they squeeze their customers so much that it was difficult for the table next to us to get their food without us being on the way) and the waiter was rude!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 9: Houston Steaks Côtes Levées Trudeau Airport
After a fantastic time in Montreal, it was time to go back. We showed up early at the airport to make sure we had enough time for customs and...lunch! Of course, we were not expecting the same level of food like the one we got used to in the past few days in Canada, but wanted to avoid fast food for sure! That is how we ended up at Houston Steaks Côtes Levées.
Yes, this is a steakhouse and Côtes Levées means spare ribs (in Canada - in France it is travers de porc). I was not really motivated to have a steak there though and decided to order a burger:
It was the Houston burger, composed of a beef patty, BBQ sauce, herbed cream cheese, caramelised onions, capicollo and arugula. The bread that was a brioche bread was a bit dry and the arugula was so overpowering that I removed it. It was then just ok: not the best patty for sure! The onion rings however were real good, but there were only a few on the plate!
Jodi ordered the House salad:
It was composed of mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, endives, onions and croutons, drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette. Let say that it was just a salad! Nothing extraordinary...
Well, what can I say: we were not expecting fantastic food at the airport and it was an ok alternative to the fast food. If you are in a hurry, this is not for you: the service was slow and not that friendly!
Enjoy (...)!
It was composed of mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, endives, onions and croutons, drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette. Let say that it was just a salad! Nothing extraordinary...
Well, what can I say: we were not expecting fantastic food at the airport and it was an ok alternative to the fast food. If you are in a hurry, this is not for you: the service was slow and not that friendly!
Enjoy (...)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
A trip to Montreal - Part 8: French Bistro L'Express
On Sunday night, we went rue Saint-Denis to eat in a popular Parisian style bistro called L'Express. It was definitely a trendy place with an elegant decor and a typically French menu, from the appetizers to the desserts. The menu, elaborated by Chef Joel Chapouile, offers classic French dishes such as the rillette, oeufs mayonnaise (deviled eggs), foie gras or steak frites.
When we arrived, there were not that many people. Normal I thought as it was Sunday night. But, as the evening went, more and more people arrived. When we left, the place was packed!
As well as some crunchy cornichons in a jar that gave a relaxed and rustic feel to the experience:
Jodi decided to order only a salad as she really wanted a dessert. She picked the goat cheese salad:
Goat cheese salad is pretty standard on a French menu. Sometimes the cheese is toasted, sometimes it is not. At L'express, it was not. The goat cheese can also vary, from buche to crotin de Chavignoles. It was a good salad: simple, refreshing and not overdressed.
It was served on a bed of micro greens. I liked it but would have liked more texture to it, maybe by cutting the salmon thicker.
Then, for the main dish, I ordered the veal kidneys in mustard sauce:
This is a very classic French dish and I was looking forward to it! I was not disappointed! The kidneys were cooked as ordered, medium, and were tender with a delicate but particular flavor that I am not sure how to describe! They were mixed with delicious mushrooms and the sauce was phenomenal. I do not know how they make it but it was so good! And then there were sauteed potatoes that were awesome! Cooked all the way through, they were a bit crunchy. This was the best dish we had on that trip!!!
They it was time for dessert! Jodi got her long awaited Ile Flottante!
Ile flottante is made egg whites topped with caramel (sauce or harden) served on a vanilla custard sauce. It was delicious: light, not too sweet, the egg whites were perfectly firm and melted in my mouth immediately. The vanilla custard was creamy and tasty, a perfect complement to the eggs.
I could not resist and ordered the Baba au Rhum!
The portion was big too. It was just ok: the cake was not as light and airy as it should and the rum was watered down a little. Between the two desserts, I clearly preferred the Ile flottante!
The walk back to the hotel was really necessary after this excellent feast we had at L'Express! It was a great dinner and if you go, I recommend the veal kidneys!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!