Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
It has been a while since I wanted to try Brick Lane Curry House, the restaurant being on my list after I saw an episode of Man vs Food where the challenge was to eat the Phaal, a very hot curry, so hot that you need to wear a gas mask to cook it, the fumes of the ten different chili used being too intense. But it was not for the Phaal that we went, and the disclaimer below did not change my mind, even if I can get a free beer...
Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
Brick Lane Curry House takes its name from the neighborhood in London that is supposed to have the best curry houses outside of Asia. I have never been there, maybe one day.
Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
It is also a subway stop, so no wonder why you can see some subway signs (underground as they say in the UK) or subway maps.
Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
The place is like a labyrinth with three different dining rooms, the two main ones being separated by bottles of wine.
Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
As soon as we sat, they brought us some delicious papadum:
papadam at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
For appetizers, we decided to try some classic vegetarian dishes: pakora.
vegetarian pakora at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
These are vegetable fritters served with a tomato chutney that had a nice kick. The pakora were good, but missing a bit of crunch.
Then, we had aloo (potato) samosas:
aloo or potato samosa at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
Served with the same tomato chutney, it was just ok for me, as they mainly tasted the potato that was a bit bland.
aloo or potato samosa at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
The shell however was deliciously crispy.
Then, we shared the Chana Masala (Vegan):
chana masala at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
It is a dish made of chickpeas, tomatoes, onions and spices.
chana masala at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
I usually love chana masala, but did not like this one that was missing texture and flavor.
However, the lamb madras curry was perfect!
lamb madras curry at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
The waiter told us that it was spicy, but in fact, it just had a bit of a kick. The curry, made with a gravy prepared with mustard seeds, curry leaves and finished with coconut milk was very good and flavorful. I could have eaten that even without meat (the lamb was perfect), with just rice or better, with naan.
Both dishes were served with some rice:
pulao rice at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
And we also ordered some naan that was freshly made:
naan at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
As usual, I ordered a sweet lassi that was pretty good: thick but not too much and not too sweet, it was perfect to extinguish any heat coming from the dishes.
lassi at Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, NYC, New York
The food at Brick Lane Curry House was just ok for me and I think that it is overpriced. I definitely prefer Baluchi's or The Masala Wala over this place.
Enjoy (...)!
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Restaurant Information:
* Restaurant Name
* Overall
* Neighborhood / Cuisine
/
* Street Address
306-308 East 6th St., New York, NY 10003
* Phone
(212) 979-2900
My Trip to India - Bukhara in Delhi
Bukhara in Delhi, India
What you are going to witness is one of the best Indian dinners I ever had. It was at Bukhara, a restaurant located at the Luxury Collection ITC Maurya Hotel in Delhi that, for more than 30 years, served the same menu made of dishes from the North Western part of India.
The restaurant itself is bursting with a mix of tourists, expats, business men and Indian clientele in a decor made of stone walls, dark wood beams and red rugs.
kitchen at Bukhara in Delhi, India
In the back is the kitchen, visible from the dining room, where you can see the Chef and cooks prepare the dishes in their tandoori ovens (clay ovens).
tandoori oven at Bukhara in Delhi, India
We got the privilege to visit the kitchen, where many skewers were ready to be put in the ovens.
tandoor master at Bukhara in Delhi, India
meat skewers at Bukhara in Delhi, India
cottage cheese skewers at Bukhara in Delhi, India
So I was ready for my meal, bib on, wine in one hand and menu in the other.
dining at Bukhara in Delhi, India
The wine was an Indian wine called Sula from the Nashik region, 180 km Northeast from Mumbai.
Sula wine at Bukhara in Delhi, India
After we sat, they brought us some papadam:
papadam at Bukhara in Delhi, India
And red onions:
red onions at Bukhara in Delhi, India
But was I was waiting for was the family naan, a giant naan perfect to share with the entire table that was the attraction of the restaurant.
family naan at Bukhara in Delhi, India
Then, the food came...First was this incredible dal.
slow cooked dal at Bukhara in Delhi, India
Made with a blend of dark lentils, tomatoes, ginger and garlic, it is slow cooked for 24 hours on a charcoal fire, finished with cream and some unsalted butter, giving it a creamy texture and an amazing taste.
slow cooked dal at Bukhara in Delhi, India
Then was the tandoori salad:
tandoori salad at Bukhara in Delhi, India
It was composed of onions, capsicum, tomatoes, fresh cottage cheese and pineapple seasoned with yellow chilies, garam masala, black cumin and malt vinegar.
We also tried the paneer tikka, that is cottage cheese marinated in fresh cream, gram flour, ajwain (caraway) and yellow chillies.
paneer tikka at Bukhara in Delhi, India
We also ordered a fish called pomfret that was cooked in the tandoor with yellow chillies, garam masala, turmeric and caraway.
tandoor pomfret at Bukhara in Delhi, India
Then, we got the slow cooked leg of lamb - Sikandari Raan:
slow cooked leg of lamb at Bukhara in Delhi, India
It is a whole leg of lamb that is braised in a marinade of malt vinegar, cinnamon, black cumin and red chili paste. It is then finished in the tandoor, giving a nice char on the outside. The meat was very tender and moist: divine! If you love lamb like me, this is definitely a dish to order. In fact it is close in concept to the
gigot d'agneau de 7 heures
, a French dish that is also slow cooked lamb.
Chicken:
chicken at Bukhara in Delhi, India
ok, I admit that at some point lost track of the dishes as they all came at the same time and I was trying to take my photos...This was a good chicken, served in a creamy sauce that was not spicy at all.
After this feast, we still had some space for dessert...First was the gulab jamun that were quite big!
gulab jamun at Bukhara in Delhi, India
Phirni, a dessert made with milk, basmati rice and cardamon, quite close to rice pudding (besides the texture).
Phirni at Bukhara in Delhi, India
And Rasmalai, poached dumplings of cottage cheese in a saffron flavored reduced milk sauce.
Rasmalai at Bukhara in Delhi, India
I admit that I was full after this, but thrilled that I got the opportunity to dine at Bukhara. If you are in Delhi, this is definitely not to be missed.
Enjoy (I did)!
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My trip to India - The Spice Route at The Imperial Hotel in Delhi
Gate of India in Delhi
Gate of India - Delhi, India
I was recently in India, Delhi more precisely. It has been 14 years since I went there and I was thrilled to go back.
The Lotus temple in Delhi, India
Lotus Temple - Delhi, India
Women crossing the street in Delhi, India
Crossing the street - Delhi, India
Food wise, I was very excited as I love Indian food, although I did not try the street food as I did not want to get sick and my Indian colleagues and friends told me to be extremely careful and only eat cooked food. I followed their advice and had some of the best meals ever, especially at Bukhara, a world famous restaurant serving incredible meats cooked in a tandoor (clay pot) oven.
street food in Delhi, India
Street food - Delhi, India
street food in Delhi, India
Street food - Delhi, India
In the next posts, you will read about some of the most memorable meals I had:
Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel, Delhi (India)
Hallway of the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
Hallway of the Imperial Hotel - Delhi, India
The Imperial Hotel is one the fancier restaurants you would find in Delhi. As soon as you enter in the lobby, you are mesmerized by the fantastic decor. Walking in the hallway, you will find The Spice Route, considered by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top ten best restaurants in the world. There, Chef Veena Arora crafted a menu that follows the route of spices from the Malabar Coast in Kerala through Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia to Thailand and Vietnam.
The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
Designed by Rajeev Sethi, the decor is hand painted with vegetable and flower dyes by mural painters brought in especially from a temple in Guruvayur, Kerala and furnished with antiques from South East Asia.
The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
There, we tried the express lunch that was a tasting menu, which proposed vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I went for the latter.
papadam, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
Before our dishes came, they served us some papadam with various sauces, some of them very spicy and some sweet.
sauces, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
The spiciest one being the one in the bottom left that I truly enjoyed.
appetizers, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
The first dish was composed of a Por Pia Chae or Thai style spring roll, served with a sweet chili and a plum sauce. On the left, was Yum Woon Sen Chae or Thai bean vermicelli salad with vegetables:
Yum Woon Sen Chae or Thai bean vermicelli saladl, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
On the right, Laab Kai or minced chicken salad flavored with glutinous rice.
Laab Kai or minced chicken salad, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
Then, came the soup:
Tom Kha Kai or coconut milk Thai soup, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
It is called Tom Kha Kai, that is a traditional Thai soup made with coconut milk, vegetables, lemongrass and galangal (root similar to ginger).
Tom Kha Kai or coconut milk Thai soup, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
After eating this delicious soup, we got our entree(s):
entree, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
First was the Meen Varuval or crispy filet of sole flavored with Kerala spices. It was sitting next to some jasmine rice.
Meen Varuval or crispy filet of sole, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
On the left was Kaeng Kheow Waan Kai or chicken cooked in Thai curry with pea and krob aubergines.
Kaeng Kheow Waan Kai or chicken cooked in Thai curry, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
In the center was Pad Thai noodles:
Pad Thai noodles, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
And on the right was a Chef's special: stir-fried bok choy with shiitake and coral mushrooms, and a soy bean paste flavored with bird eye chilies.
Stir Fried Bok Choy, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
Last was dessert: vanilla ice cream with rambutan.
Vanilla ice cream with rambutan, The Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi, India
This was a wonderful meal, tasty and very flavorful, made mild at our request. After eating there, no wonder why some consider it one of the top ten restaurants in the world!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Korean BBQ at Madangsui in NYC, New York
When I got invited by Sang Kim, the owner of Madangsui Korean BBQ to try his restaurant, I was really excited: each time I go to a Korean restaurant, it reminds me of my trip to South Korea many year ago, when I got to try my first BBQ.
Couple of blocks from the heart of Korea Town, Madangsui is located on 35th street. Next to the entrance is a display of their dishes that I admit makes you hungry and wonder what you should order, so many dishes looking yummy.
Then is the dining room, similar to lots of Korean restaurants, if not for the distinctive sign that is present on each pillar:
I was wondering what it was until I understood what Madangsui means in Korean: man. It implies a person with strong moral fiber who rises early, works hard and helps those around him according to the restaurant who does not hesitate to associate the definition to Sang Kim, the owner, who opened this place in 2007 and explains the concept of the restaurant in his press release:
“My mission is to introduce organic Korean food – especially our BBQ – to Americans throughout the country, as well as to travelers from abroad,” says Mr. Kim. “I started working in a Korean restaurant as a waiter in college, just loved the industry and was promoted to manager. Here at Madangsui I’m always delighted when people love our food – and even more so when they come back for more!”
“We use only USDA prime meat,” says Mr. Kim. “Our beef comes from pasture- raised and grain-finished cattle that are humanely treated by American cattlemen and we use wet- and dry-aging methods with the utmost care. So what we serve is the highest quality American beef, prepared Korean style.”
With an introduction like that, I was ready to check for myself especially after looking at the menu, crafted by Chef Hyun Kim: with plenty of vegetarian choices, it proposes a large selection of BBQ, Bibimbap, soups, noodles...
So we sat at one of the tables that had a grill in the center and few minutes later, they brought us the banchan, these little side dishes served at the beginning of the meal.
A Korean restaurant without banchan is like a French restaurant with no bread! What they served us was: mashed potatoes.
Pickled radish:
Bok Choi:
Octopus:
As a drink, I opted for a Korean wheat wine (Saeng Mak Geol Li) rather than the usual soju.
It was served in a big bowl with a large spoon and looked milky.
It was very close to unfiltered sake.
Our first appetizer was the jap-chae, Korean glass noodles fried with vegetables and beef, seasoned with soy sauce.
These noodles were fantastic! Made with sweet potatoes, they have a nice sweetness that married very well with the vegetables and beef. This is definitely an appetizer I recommend.
The second appetizer was the mandoo or dumplings.
We had the choice between fried or steamed and we chose steamed. They were stuffed with beef, pork and vegetables.
These were also very good: the shell was not too thick, not doughy and the filling very flavorful. Needless to say that we ate them all...
For the entree, we first picked the bulgogi bibimbap.
Bibimbap is a rice dish that comes in a bowl that is extremely hot, so the ingredients continue to cook in it, creating a delicious crust with the rice. The photo above shows the rice bowl before being heated, and the photo below after, once all the ingredients have been mixed together.
Unfortunately, the bibimbap was a miss for me. I found it bland with not enough beef in it.
Next was the BBQ. We chose the Yang-Nyum Galbi that is marinated short rib. They started off by turning on the grill in the center of the table.
Then, then brought us the different ingredients. First was the lettuce:
Then, the onions:
The chili paste sauce (not spicy):
And the star of the show: galbi or short ribs.
That meat looked definitively of good quality, with a nice marbling and thick cut.
They put it on the grill with the slice of onion, mushroom and pepper it came with.
There, it cooked for few minutes.
Once ready, we picked a lettuce on which we put some onions, some meat and some chili paste.
We then closed the lettuce and ate it like a sandwich. The first bite was divine, all the ingredients working well together, but letting the incredible pieces of short rib shine. I could have just eaten the meat alone: tender and juicy, it had a rich flavor. To my surprise, Jodi who is usually not a big fan of Korean BBQ loved it (I thought I would have all of it for myself...).
I really liked my dinner at Madangsui and may have found my new spot for Korean BBQ, my favorite one having closed a couple of years ago. The meat there is definitely of higher quality and I will probably go back as they offer other selections of BBQ such as the well known Bulgogi, tongue or seafood.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Madangsui | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Midtown West / Korean | |
| * Street Address | |
| 35 West 35th St., New York, NY 10001 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 564-9333 |
The Brick Pizzeria in Hoboken, NJ
We decided to try The Brick, a new pizza place uptown Hoboken. I am sure the stakes are high for The Brick considering the number of pizza places in Hoboken, such as Benny Tudino's, Johnny Pepperonni or Basile's. So I was curious to see what would make it stand out.
The decor has nothing fancy, but there is a bit of warmth from the bricks on the walls.
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I decided to try their homemade mint lemonade.
It was delicious, not too sweet, with the right amount of mint, making this drink quite refreshing.
With it, they brought us some olive oil with basil, where they added a nice amount of parmesan.
We ate it with some bread.
Looking at the menu, they have interesting dishes such as their own version of chicken wings, made with siracha sauce. They also have salad, pasta and pizza.
For the appetizer, we went for their caprese bruschetta:
It was composed of grilled eggplant, fresh tomato, basil, garlic, red onions, kalamata olives, fresh mozzarella and parmigiano cheese, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. I really liked it, the bread being soft and not too chewy and I loved the mix of flavors that made each bite unique.
Then, we ordered the margherita pizza:
It was made of tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil, drizzled with olive oil. This pizza being quite common, this is the perfect choice to compare to other pizzeria.
I liked it: the tomato sauce was good and the crust deliciously crispy, although I would have liked a bit more cheese.
The second pizza we tried was The Brick pizza:
This is not your regular pizza: it is made of prosciutto, pear, fresh mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheese on a white crust.
This was even better: there was a nice amount of gorgonzola that paired perfectly with the pear that added a delicious sweetness to the pizza, counterbalancing with the saltiness of the prosciutto. I would definitely reorder it!
I liked my dinner at The Brick and I am looking forward to go back there to try some other dishes.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Lady M Upper East Side, NYC, New York
After having tried Lady M at Bryant Park several weeks ago, as well as the one in the Plaza Hotel, we decided to go on the Upper East Side, thinking that, as it is their original location, it would be bigger and would have more choices.
I admit that I was a bit disappointed as it was the same size as the other one and the same menu, but my disappointment did not last too long at the sight of these spectacular cakes that they showcase.
I was there fixated on one and one only cake: the Mont Blanc!
When you start digging in, you are wondering where the cream is.
But then you find it and you are happy about it, because it cuts on the sweetness of the chestnut cream; because yes, it is very sweet. But very addictive too, to the point that I finished it...
Jodi was set for the vanilla mille-crepe, but finally decided to order the banana mille feuilles:
It is made of big chunks of banana, puff pastry, whipped cream and layers of sponge cake. This was sublime! It reminded me of a banana cream pie in a way.
These desserts were perfect with my double espresso. Jodi ordered a tea that was good, but pricey ($8)!
The more I try Lady M, the more I like this place and I can tell you that it was not my last visit!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Dandelion chocolate - San Francisco
Recently, we received a package containing some chocolate bars from Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco, sent by Jodi's cousin, Rebecca and her boyfriend Leo. They went there after we saw this place on the TV show Unique Sweets (I love that show and recommend any person with a sweet tooth to watch it: it is definitely some food porn!).
So we got to try the following chocolate bars:
70% Ambanja, Madagascar 2013
What I like about this chocolate is that they describe the beans and process as well as what one should taste when eating it. This one says: this batch has a bold, lemon front, followed by a mellow nutty finish.
I tasted the lemon, but not the nutty finish...
This one says: we taste notes of fudge bownie and espresso with a lively cinnamon finish.
I would agree.
70% Maya Mountain, Belize 2013
The last one says: we're excited to introduce this fruity bar that has notes of pineapple and honey.
This was in fact my favorite: I loved the finish taste of honey.
This was a great tasting, trying each chocolate bar, one after the other, and trying to see if we could match their description. This is definitely some good chocolate if you like dark, made only with cocoa beans and cane sugar. On their website, they display the places where you can find them all over the country. For instance, in New York, you may find their chocolate at Chelsea Market Baskets. I will have to check that you!
Thanks to Rebecca and Leo!
Thanks to Rebecca and Leo!
Enjoy (I did)!
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BXL Café in the Theater District, NYC, New York
BXL Café is a Belgian restaurant located in the Theater District. The last time I went to a Belgian restaurant besides Le Pain Quotidien was B Café on the Upper West Side: disappointing experience. Few years ago, I use to go to Café de Bruxelles that had these fantastic escargots au roquefort (snails with a blue cheese sauce), but unfortunately, it closed. So we decided to try BXL Café (BXL is short for Bruxelles). When we arrive, the place was not that crowded, but when we left, it was packed, with people not only eating in the dining room, but also at the bar.
It is a small place in fact with a rustic feel: wood everywhere, from the floor to the tables and chairs.
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In term of menu, they propose traditional Belgian dishes such as moules frites (mussels and fries), waffles, as well as American dishes like cheeseburger. Interestingly, they also propose a beer and cheese tasting!
We decided to try few dishes. First, we shared the Croquettes aux Truffes or Truffle mushroom and cheese croquettes:
It was very hot! But the first bite was divine: the croquette itself was crunchy, not greasy and light.
The inside was made with potatoes, cheese and a tiny bit of truffle mushroom that gave a very subtle taste. I really enjoyed it with the salad that came with it.
Jodi ordered a Salade Verte au Fromage de Chèvre Chaud or warm goat cheese salad:
There was some honey that gave a nice sweetness to counterbalance the sour taste of the goat cheese.We decided to try few dishes. First, we shared the Croquettes aux Truffes or Truffle mushroom and cheese croquettes:
It was very hot! But the first bite was divine: the croquette itself was crunchy, not greasy and light.
The inside was made with potatoes, cheese and a tiny bit of truffle mushroom that gave a very subtle taste. I really enjoyed it with the salad that came with it.
Jodi ordered a Salade Verte au Fromage de Chèvre Chaud or warm goat cheese salad:
On my side, I ordered the mitraillette sandwich:
A mitraillette is a traditional Belgian sandwich that can be found in the North of France, made of steak, fries on a French baguette with a tangy sauce. I am sure you are wondering what this sandwich has to be special as looking at the photo and description it would be just another steak sandwich. Well, normally, the fries are with the steak, in the sandwich itself!
So here I am, disappointed at the sight of my dish that is not really what I ordered. So I proceeded to put some fries in it, but I admit that it was a bit fought to eat, because the meat was cut into two and fell all over...
Too bad, because I really like the nice char on the burger meat, the sauce, as well as the crispy fresh bread.
I liked my brunch at BXL Café, even if my dish was not exactly what I was expecting. The service was courteous, but the kitchen quite slow. We also noticed that the prices on the menu were not the one billed ($1 to $2 difference), that is something I do not like as it is a bit deceptive; if they change the prices, they should reprint the menus.
Enjoy (I did)!
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| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| BXL Cafe | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Times Square / Belgian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 125 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036 | |
| * Phone | |
| 212-768-0200 |
Rosticeria Da Gigi in Hoboken, NJ
Rosticeria Da Gigi, located uptown Hoboken, is the kind of small joint where you would go to grab a quick bite: nothing fancy, but comforting.
It is a small place that probably sits 16 people.
So we sat at one of the tables and went through the menu. It consists of standard breakfast dishes like eggs, pancakes...as well as panini, sandwiches or items from their rotisserie.
Jodi decided to try their croque-monsieur:
When the plate arrived, we were a bit surprised as it did not look like a croque-monsieur, but more like a panini.
There was for sure a decent amount of ham and cheese, but the brioche bread was too thick and unbalanced the proportion of bread / ham / cheese. It was also a bit dry.
On my side, I went for half roasted chicken:
It was definitely a nice piece of chicken and I really liked it: the chicken was moist and the skin crispy.
With it, I could pick two sides and decided to go for the meatballs with tomato sauce and the rice balls with tomato sauce.
It came in one plate as the tomato sauce was the same for both sides. The meatballs were good, but I really did not like the rice balls that were missing flavors. Even with the tomato sauce, the only thing I could taste was some overcooked rice.
Besides the chicken, the meal was ok. I would probably go back to try some other dishes, their menu being so diverse. Although maybe it is the issue: too many things on the menu. I am still unsure about that place...
Enjoy (...)!
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Lazzara's Pizza and Café in the Garment District, NYC, New York
I love pizza and with a city like New York, you can find so many different ones, each restaurant having its own way to make the crust, the sauce, to cook it...This time, we went to Lazzara's in the Garment District. You really need to know that it is there, as it is located off the beaten path and you may miss it walking on 38th street.
Opened in 1985 by the Lazzara's brother, Sebastian and Tony, the restaurant is located on the second floor of a townhouse.
The dining room has a warmth and reminded me some restaurants we ate at in Italy, especially in Venice that is in fact representing in a painting hanged on the wall.
When we sat, they brought us the menu as well as the special of the day written on a little chalk board.
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When we sat, they brought us the menu as well as the special of the day written on a little chalk board.
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As you can see on the photo above, the pizza is square; but it is not like a Sicilian pizza: the crust is thin. So, the top half of the pizza was the lasagna pizza:
The second half was the margherita pizza:
It was composed of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil.
I have to say that I love both: the tomato sauce was delicious and seemed to be made with fresh ingredients. There were in fact some slices of tomatoes and fortunately, it did not make the pizza soggy as it is sometimes the case.
The lasagna pie was also very good, rendering perfectly what lasagna would be, replacing the pasta with the crust: it was very flavorful and they were generous in the quantity of meat and ricotta. I definitely recommend it.
The thin crust was on the chewy side, being crispy on the outside.
I was ready to get some dessert, but they brought us the check, making me feel dirty...I then asked if they had some homemade desserts, being interested by a tiramisu, but they do not and the waitress did not seem to be interested to tell me where they buy them. So I decided to pass...
The pizza at Lazzara's was good. It is a good spot if you want more than just a slice, although I prefer Capizzi located few block away.
Enjoy (I did)!
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| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Lazzara's Pizza | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Garment District / Italian / Pizza | |
| * Street Address | |
| 221 West 38th St. (Between 7th Ave. & 8th Ave.), New York, NY 10018 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 944-7792 |
Little Pie Company in NYC, New York
The Little Pie Company was on my radar for a while and I confess that I lured Jodi to that place, making sure we would pass in front of it when going to the Gotham West Market.
Little Pie Company is small, but don't be fooled by its name: the kitchen next to it is of a good size.
I was looking around to see what to get, not realizing that they had a banana and coconut cream pie. But trust me, Jodi immediately saw it and ordered it right away as it was the last one and she did not want to see it go to somebody else, leaving me with just couple of minutes to take a decision.
I was surely not going for one of the cookies that looked a little sad compared to what you can get at City Bakery or Macchiato. I desperately looked for a cherry pie and then saw a cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. That was my choice.
It was pretty good, creamy with the same density as the cheesecake at Junior's. I loved the crust that added another layer of deliciousness and a slight sweetness.
Of course I could not let Jodi eat alone the banana and coconut cream pie. Originally, I thought it was only a coconut cream pie and Jodi kept telling me it was with banana, I was so desperate to find something that I did not hear. When she told me, I was so happy: I love banana cream pie!
And this one is a little piece of heaven! I loved it, even with the toasted coconut on top, although I would have preferred without. Not only did I finish the cheesecake, but had a nice piece of pie.
So, do not be surprised to see me going back soon!
Enjoy (I did)!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Murray's Cheese Bar in the West Village, NYC, New York
Being French, I was raised eating cheese, any kind of cheese, although, as a kid, I hated the stinky ones. I have no favorite and in fact, with close to 400 different cheeses in France, it is tough to choose. I remember that the first time we went to France Jodi and I to visit my family, I brought her to a supermarket to see the different cheeses proposed, but also how cheap it is compared to the US. I would say that it is 2 to 3 times the price. So sad, as cheese is so good! The best places to buy cheese in New York City are for me Fairway, Zabar's and Whole Food, where they offer a wide variety of cheeses from all over the world. But there is also Murray's on Bleecker.
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When we arrived, the place was not that crowded, but when we left, it was packed! They sat us at the bar that was very comfortable considering that it is fairly large and we were not too close from our neighbors.
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This is what we picked:
Vendéen Bichonné from France:
This is a creamy cow’s milk cheese that is salty and nutty with a hint sweet cinnamon-clove spice. It was paired with pickled raisins.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar from Vermont:
Made with cow's milk, it is sweet, savory, nutty and tangy. It was paired with an apple butter.
Vacherin Fribourgeois from Switzerland:
Made with raw cow milk, it has a slightly acidic and resiny flavor. I admit that I forgot what the chutney was...
Époisses from France:
Produced in the village of Époisses in Bourgogne, this cheese an unpasteurized cow's milk cheese with a pungent taste. It was paired with a carrot chipotle that had cumin in it.
Blu di Bufala from Italy:
This blue cheese made with buffalo milk had a nice buttery texture and was both sweet and tangy. It was served with a salted caramel.
This was a perfect dinner and it will for sure not be the last time I will be there! Definitely the place for cheese lovers!
Enjoy (I did)!
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Murray's Cheese Bar | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / American New | |
| * Street Address | |
| 264 Bleecker St. (Between Cornelia St. & Morton St.), New York, NY 10014 | |
| * Phone | |
| (646) 476-8882 |
Restaurant Week: Spice Market
For my last Restaurant Week review, we decided to go to Spice Market for lunch. Located in the trendy Meatpacking District, this place is amazing! Well, its owner, Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Jean-Georges, Jojo, The Mercer Kitchen...), is no stranger to creating unique experiences and this time we were there for a treat. Inspired by Jean-Georges Vongerichten's travel in South East Asia, Spice Market has an impressive decor and as soon as you enter, you are transported miles away.
At the entrance is the bar with its wood carving and white leather stools.
Then the dining room with its custom-made colonial style furniture, mixed with artifacts brought from all Asia, the antique copper lamps and the fans. But it is only the first floor. Downstairs, an even more impressive dining room is available.
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Interestingly, they have a whole section kind of separated from the rest that can cater to large parties and provide some privacy.
So we sat at our table on the first floor and got greeted by our waiter Lionel. He explained to us that the food was served family style, each dish being brought to the table as soon as ready. We looked at the menu, inspired by South Asian street food and made our choice from the Restaurant Week deal ($25 for an appetizer, an entree and a dessert).
They brought us some papadam that is a lentil bread. It was served with a spicy tomato sauce.
I then had a house made soda called Calamansi that takes its name from a widely cultivated fruit in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
It had a fantastic color and was very citrusy.
Then, the first appetizer came. Jodi ordered the soy cured salmon served with Cilantro, crème fraiche and some Asian pear.
This was fantastic: refreshing with the crème fraiche and Asian pear, the salmon was delicious and delicate.
My pick for appetizer was the Thai beef noodle soup made with crispy garlic and herbs:
I then had a house made soda called Calamansi that takes its name from a widely cultivated fruit in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
It had a fantastic color and was very citrusy.
Then, the first appetizer came. Jodi ordered the soy cured salmon served with Cilantro, crème fraiche and some Asian pear.
This was fantastic: refreshing with the crème fraiche and Asian pear, the salmon was delicious and delicate.
My pick for appetizer was the Thai beef noodle soup made with crispy garlic and herbs:
This was very good, especially the broth that was light and milky, flavorful. The beef was sort of giving some flavor to the dish and clearly not the star of the dish. Yes, again, that broth...
For the entree, Jodi chose the Wok charred pearl noodles served with smoked tofu in a black bean sauce.
If you are still doubtful that tofu or vegetarian food can be good, you have to try this dish: the noodles were fantastic and the smoked tofu was incredible, showing that tofu does not need to be bland. Last, the sauce, which had peanuts in it, was perfect and I truly appreciated that it was not too salty.
On my side, I ordered the Tempura catfish Bahn Mi prepared with pickled carrots and mint:
Bahn Mi is a Vietnamese term for bread that refers in the culinary world to a sandwich, the bread being usually a baguette.
This was an amazing sandwich: the tempura was crunchy and not oily, the fish was perfectly cooked, the toasted baguette soft but a bit crispy and the entire sandwich was bursting in flavors, between sweet and savory, with peanuts in the bottom for an extra texture. This is definitely a sandwich to try.
Last was dessert. We tried first the banana cream pie made with caramelia chocolate sauce.
It was not your usual banana cream pie: it was a cream puff. The shell was quite good and the filling delicious, not too sweet, with some pieces of banana in it.
The second dessert was the Japanese cheese cake served with Kumquat marmalade.
This was a very good dessert, the cheese cake not being too dense, but I think the star was the kumquat marmalade that was superb.
I loved my lunch at Spice Market: again another restaurant that embraces the principle of Restaurant Week by serving spectacular dishes that make want you to go back. Not only was the decor amazing, the food was uncommon and out of this world. Bravo Jean-Georges Vongerichten!
Enjoy (I did)!
For the entree, Jodi chose the Wok charred pearl noodles served with smoked tofu in a black bean sauce.
If you are still doubtful that tofu or vegetarian food can be good, you have to try this dish: the noodles were fantastic and the smoked tofu was incredible, showing that tofu does not need to be bland. Last, the sauce, which had peanuts in it, was perfect and I truly appreciated that it was not too salty.
On my side, I ordered the Tempura catfish Bahn Mi prepared with pickled carrots and mint:
Bahn Mi is a Vietnamese term for bread that refers in the culinary world to a sandwich, the bread being usually a baguette.
This was an amazing sandwich: the tempura was crunchy and not oily, the fish was perfectly cooked, the toasted baguette soft but a bit crispy and the entire sandwich was bursting in flavors, between sweet and savory, with peanuts in the bottom for an extra texture. This is definitely a sandwich to try.
Last was dessert. We tried first the banana cream pie made with caramelia chocolate sauce.
It was not your usual banana cream pie: it was a cream puff. The shell was quite good and the filling delicious, not too sweet, with some pieces of banana in it.
The second dessert was the Japanese cheese cake served with Kumquat marmalade.
This was a very good dessert, the cheese cake not being too dense, but I think the star was the kumquat marmalade that was superb.
I loved my lunch at Spice Market: again another restaurant that embraces the principle of Restaurant Week by serving spectacular dishes that make want you to go back. Not only was the decor amazing, the food was uncommon and out of this world. Bravo Jean-Georges Vongerichten!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Spice Market | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / Asian Fusion | |
| * Street Address | |
| 403 West 13th St., New York, NY 10014 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 675-2322 |
Restaurant Week: Abboccato
Taking advantage of Restaurant Week, I went for lunch at Abboccato, an all Italian restaurant located Midtown West, behind the Ziegfeld Theater. Abboccato meaning palatable in Italian, my expectations were high.
The place is fairly big with three distinctive areas. The bar:
The main dining room and a smaller dining room next to the entrance.
For restaurant week, they proposed a menu for $25 comprising an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.
As we were choosing our dishes, they brought us some Italian breads: focaccia and sticks.
They then poured some olive oil that I really like as a replacement to butter. The bread was decent.
For the appetizer, I picked the fried polenta crusted calamari. It was served with a San Marzano tomato sauce that was supposed to be spicy (it was definitely not).
I really liked it: it was crispy and the calamari not chewy. You could sometimes feel some polenta grains when biting into it.
Then I got the sweet potato ravioli.
The ravioli was perfectly made, thin and delicate, filled with a mix of sweet potato and ricotta, served with a brown butter sauce and hazelnuts. The filling was a bit too sweet and I would have liked a little less as it was overpowering the ravioli. However, the combination with brown butter was fantastic and I just wished at that point that they put more sauce.
One thing I should mention is that the lunch menu had tagliatelle instead of the ravioli printed on it as a choice for entrees, the ravioli being proposed in the price-fixe dinner. They apparently made a change that they communicated to me, but did not update their lunch prix-fixe or their computer. So, when my dish came, it was...the tagliatelle. As I was set for the ravioli, I sent it back and they were really apologetic about it, bringing my dish not too long after.
For dessert, I chose a tiramisu.
The serving in a glass hinted for a creamy one. And it was. The lady fingers were heavenly soaked in coffee and the cream quite light, but a bit bland. It was an ok tiramisu.
My lunch at Abboccato was decent; it did not wow me to the point that I would like to go back on another occasion, like I would for Tamarind or Remi. If I really wanted to eat Italian in this area, I would probably go to Circo that is located on the same block.
Enjoy (...)!
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| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Abboccato | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Midtown West / Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 136 West 55th St., New York, NY 10019 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 265-4000 |
Johnny Pepperoni in Hoboken, NJ
The night of the Super Bowl, we decided to go to Johnny Pepperoni to try their pizza as a friend of Jodi recommended that place. Needless to say that this was the perfect night as the place was empty!
I discovered there that the owner, local restaurateur John Avoletta, also owns City Bistro, a popular bar Uptown Hoboken; so I figured at that point that it was not just some random pizza joint. It is a place of a good size that serves Italian food only, from pasta to pizza, and even more. Too bad as I was craving wings...
The restaurant had a nice feel, with its red and white checkered tablecloth and the black and white photos of Italy on the walls.
On the right of the entrance is the open kitchen and on the left the dining room.
We decided to start our dinner with Arancini Di Riso, that are fried rice balls with cheese and prosciutto.
They were served in a thick tomato sauce that had a bold taste. The balls themselves were delicious: crunchy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. I simply loved it and they were probably some of the best I ever tried.
Then, we shared the square pie:
Made with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, it was cooked in a pan with extra virgin olive oil.
It was a slightly thinner version of a Sicilian. The crust was crispy and the sauce deliciously thick. There was also a lot of cheese. The pizza was quite big and I am glad Jodi stopped me when I proposed to order a second one!
For dessert, we ordered the homemade tiramisu.
It was good and light, but I would have preferred more cream, i.e a better proportion cream vs lady fingers.
The food at Johnny Pepperoni was very good and I definitely recommend the Arancini. I am sure it is not the last time I will be there!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Lunch at Tamarind, Indian cuisine, in Tribeca, NYC, New York
Continuing our discovery of restaurant through Restaurant Week offers, I picked Tamarind, an Indian restaurant located in Tribeca. I saw that they offer an Executive Lunch for $25, so there was little risk for us to go there for Restaurant Week.
Sadly, the scaffoldings on the art deco building this place is located in are masking the restaurant, but, as soon as you enter, you cannot miss the fantastic decor and the space.
So we sat at a table close to the kitchen that opened into the dining room.
Before we ordered our food, they brought us some rice with mint sauce as an amuse-bouche.
This was a nice way to start, the dish being flavorful, with a bit of spiciness.
As a beverage, I ordered a mango lassi that was not too sweet and perfect to fight any heat that the dishes had:
Then, we ordered our appetizers. Jodi went for the spinach and watermelon salad:
It was composed, besides the watermelon and spinach, of grilled paneer (cheese), and drizzled with a tamarind-balsamic dressing. I really liked it as it was refreshing and the cheese and watermelon paired very well together, the cheese being chewy and the watermelon crunchy, giving a nice texture to each bite.
On my side, I ordered the crab nazakat:
It was made of lump crab meat, mustard seeds, curry leaves, lemon zest, honey and coconut, and was served with a papadum. I liked it although a bit watery: it was refreshing and had a nice balance of flavor, the sweetness of the honey balancing the acidity of the lemon zest. However, if it was not for the place and the papadum, I would not have associated this dish with Indian cuisine.
Then, we had to pick two entrees. Jodi ordered the Potli Baingan:
It was eggplant smothered in a sauce made with potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, cumin and coriander seeds. That was very good! I truly appreciated the fact that the eggplant was not overpowered by the sauce that was creamy and mild.
Her second choice was mehti paneer:
It was paneer (cheese) bathed in a thick sauce made with fenugreek leaves, coriander, yogurt, onion and garam masala. This was delicious too, the sauce being smooth and very tasty.
On my side, I ordered Murg Kali Mirch and Taar Korma.
Murg Kali Mirch were some pieces of chicken that were seasoned and grilled with a sauce that had white and black pepper.
This was delicious: the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, with a nice char and the sauce thick and a bit spicy. Definitely a dish I recommend.
The second dish, Taar Korma, was lamb smothered in a tomato and yogurt sauce that had ginger juice and saffron.
That was another fantastic dish: the lamb was very good, and the sauce delicious. In fact, I could have eaten it with or without the lamb, simply with some naan bread, or with the five spice rice that was served with our dishes.
They also brought us the vegetable side of the day that was made with spinach and potatoes:
That was a nice addition to our meal, although I wish there was more potato (we got only one small piece).
They also brought us some naan that was fluffy, with some nice char.
Last was dessert. Jodi ordered the Mango Shrikand that was like a mango yogurt with pieces of mango on top.
On my side, I ordered Khubani Halwa:
It was made with apricot, almond and honey.
I really liked the texture and taste of it and it was not too sweet. It was perfect with the double espresso I drank with it.
I really liked my lunch at Tamarind: I think this restaurant is really embracing the concept of restaurant week by making people discover their cuisine, proposing them not one but two entrees as well as an amuse-bouche and an additional side. Needless to say that at the end of the meal I was full, content to have a good deal, and looking forward to going back for dinner to discover other dishes.
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Tamarind Tribeca | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| TriBeCa / Indian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 99 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 775-9000 |
Celebrating Restaurant Week at Remi, in Midtown West, NYC, New York
It is no secret that I am not a big fan of Restaurant Week, because a lot of restaurants are using this event more to make money than making people discover their cuisine. In the past, I had bad experiences at steakhouses (check out my try out at Dino & Harry in Hoboken), as well as all american restaurants like Beacon (closed since) where we ended up with a hefty bill because of all the supplements they were asking for dishes whether it was appetizers or entrees. So it has been a while since I took the opportunity to go to a restaurant offering a menu for Restaurant Week, but this time, I had a strategy: I picked restaurants that usually have a lunch prix-fixe.
That is how I ended up at Remi, an Italian restaurant located Midtown Manhattan that was not unknown to me.
Remi is an upscale Italian restaurant with a clientele that is more business than tourists. In terms of decor, it has this impressive mural representing Venice and its canals.
The $25 menu for restaurant week includes an appetizer, an entree and a dessert with a choice for vegetarians. After we ordered, they bought us some bread (there was focaccia) that was delicious dipped in olive oil.
For the appetizer, I ordered the Melanzane e Mozzarella alla Parmigiana similar to an eggplant parmesan:
It was in fact a baked eggplant and mozzarella gratinee with a tomato sauce. If you look at the photo, you can see that there was a lot of cheese, and I mean a lot! I loved that dish: this is a more decadent version of an eggplant parmesan. The sauce was not as light as they advertise and had a bold flavor and the eggplant was perfectly cooked. This was a fantastic dish and I am surprised that they are proposing it as an appetizer only.
For the entree, I picked the Fegato alla Veneziana or “Venetian Style” Calf Liver:
The liver was sautéed with onions and served with a creamy polenta. Although the liver was gamey, I really enjoyed the dish, the sauce having a bit of acidity to offset the sweetness of the onions. The polenta was also perfect, creamy and not dry, it was an excellent choice of garnish.
Last was dessert. I went for the Crema Catalana or crème brûlée:
That was very good: not too sweet, the custard was well set, with a nice torched sugar crust on top. This dessert was perfect with a double espresso.
This was a delicious meal at Remi and I am glad I picked this place for Restaurant Week. So in case you are not sure where to go, I suggest you check out this place! And do not forget that they have a prix-fixe all year long.
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Remi Restaurant | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Times Square / Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 145 West 53rd St., New York, NY 10019 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 581-4242 |
French dinner at Sel et Poivre on the Upper East Side, NYC, New York
When I received an invite for a press dinner at Sel et Poivre, a French bistro on the Upper East Side, I was very excited...and curious. Yes, curious because there are so many restaurants claiming to serve French cuisine in the City, when in fact their menu is at most inspired. Not that it is bad, but there are not that many places that serve classic French dishes besides the usual steak frites or the quiche Lorraine.
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Sel et Poivre (salt and pepper in English) has been opened since 1989 and is currently owned by husband and wife, Pamela and Christian Schienle. I got to meet with Christian and really enjoyed talking to him. I did not get a chance to meet Pamela as they try to work separately, a good way to keep the peace in their marriage!
Know that Christian, who is the Executive Chef and wine director is not French. So was I again in a bad copycat restaurant? I would know soon enough!
The place first: I was curious to know if there was any story behind the name of the restaurant.
Christian said that there was no particular meaning, but it was a way to pair the white and the black of the salt and pepper with the back and white photos that are all over the walls. I liked these photos, the lack of color giving a nice atmosphere to the place. They represent different places in the world, Paris of course, as well as personal photos such as Pamela and Christian's wedding.
As soon as you enter, you feel like you are transported in a French restaurant in France. Normally, they have couple of tables outside, but, with this weather, needless to say that it was not setup! Near the entrance, are few tables, surrounding the bar; further, is the main dining room with its leather and fabric-upholstered banquettes, antique sconces, wood floors and classic mirrors that give a dimension to the room.
As we were waiting for other guests to arrive, they offered me a glass of wine. Looking at the extensive wine list, I noticed that they serve wines from many countries, not only France. But hey, I had to stay true to what I was looking to experience and ordered a fantastic glass of Brouilly 2005 - Domaine Du Moulin-Favre (Beaujolais).
Then, as guests arrived, we sat at our table where the tasting menu was printed. Not that their menu was completely unknown to me: before going to any restaurant, I check the menu. So did I for Sel et Poivre, the day before, drooling over the escargots, frog legs, liver and kidneys. And I smiled when reading what would be served to us...Let's see why.
The first dish was a celery remoulade with red beets.
This was, as for the other dishes, a tasting portion.
It was perfect with a piece of baguette, that is an essential element of a French meal: you cannot serve a meal in France without some bread.
The second dish was not a dish I would have associated to French cuisine: red pepper bisque.
It had a bright red color and a nice smell that definitely made me want to try it. It was not a thick bisque as not made with cream, but with a potato broth, making it a lighter and healthier version. I loved the taste of red pepper it had, keeping it the star of the dish as not being diluted in the broth.
Then came a wild striped sea bass with artichoke hearts, fennel and black olive, drizzled in some lemon oil.
This was a very nice dish, presentation wise and taste wise. The fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, with a slightly crispy skin on top. I liked that they served it with tomatoes, olives, arugula, fennel and artichokes, the last two bringing their own particular flavors, allowing each bite to be unique.
Then, we got a canard a l'orange or duck a l'orange.
It was served with wild rice and spinach. This is also a classic French dish. However, whenever I had it, it was with a magret de canard rather than the way it was served that was close to a confit, although less (over) cooked and less salty. It was good though, but I wish there was more sauce.
After that was the steak (sirloin) with sauce au Roquefort and sauce au Poivre.
Served with fries, this is definitely a classic, although not that many people tried steak with a Roquefort sauce.
Whenever I have some steak leftover, I cook it in sour cream and blue cheese. It is rich...but delicious.
The pepper sauce was also very good, not being too peppery, although I admit that the cracked pepper on top tickled my throat at some point!
Whenever I have some steak leftover, I cook it in sour cream and blue cheese. It is rich...but delicious.
The pepper sauce was also very good, not being too peppery, although I admit that the cracked pepper on top tickled my throat at some point!
I really liked the steak (cooked medium and tender with a nice char) and the sauces that were also perfect with the fries, or a piece of bread.
Then was the long awaited veal kidneys!
I was so happy to see it coming. I know that some people consider this a creepy meat, but for me it is a delicacy. I admit that I could not resist going for a second....It was served with a fantastic mustard sauce, boiled potatoes and spinach.
The main difficulty with kidneys is to clean them and these were perfect.
But it did not stop there! When Christian realized that the table was ready for this type of dish, he decided to add to the tasting the calf liver. It was served with a traditional Lyonnaise sauce that was scrumptious.
The dish was composed of onions, mashed potatoes and broccoli. Although the liver was a bit gamey, it was delicious, the dish not being too heavy and the onions adding a nice sweetness.
After this feast, believe it or not but we still had some space for dessert. The first one was the chocolate lava cake, served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.
Homemade, it was perfectly cooked, the center being runny. I also appreciated the fact that it was not too sweet, although the cream and ice cream were perfect to neutralize any sweetness that persisted.
The second dessert was a vanilla creme brûlée.
Pretty classic, it was well set, with a nice torched sugar layer on top.
I really liked my dinner at Sel et Poivre: the food was delicious and, although a bit elevated, stayed true to traditional French cuisine, bringing me back to France for the evening. Whether or not you are adventurous, this is definitely the place to go to! Chapeau!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Sel & Poivre | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Upper East Side / Mediterranean / French | |
| * Street Address | |
| 853 Lexington Ave. (Between 64th St. & 65th St.), New York, NY 10065 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 517-5780 |
Ramen Setagaya in the East Village, NYC, New York
It has been a while since I wanted to try Ramen Setagaya, not just because I love ramen and hope to try all the ramen places in the City, but also because it is always packed and I was thinking that there is probably a reason for it.
So we decided to go on a Sunday at the opening time, to make sure we would be the first there. We showed up at 12pm and, as planned, were there first. I should mention that it was the day of the Superbowl and so there were not that many people roaming in the street of New York.
Chef Maejima opened Ramen Setagaya in 2000 in Tokyo and few years ago in New York and Fort Lee (NJ). The restaurant in NYC is not a big place, probably sitting 25 people. with a communal table in the middle. According to them, they serve 300 ramen daily.
Their menu offers ramen with meat or vegetarian, as well as cold noodles called Tsukemen. If you are hungry, they also propose appetizers and side dishes. But if you are a fan of pork buns like me, you will be disappointed because they do not have them on the menu. Not that it is a deal breaker though!
Jodi ordered the vegetarian miso ramen:
It was made with soft tofu, a half salt tasted egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, cabbage, scallion and onion. When it came, it had this incredible smell that was very appetizing. The broth was good, but had a tad too much garlic.
Also, the tofu was just pieces put on top: fried, it would have given more flavor and some texture.
Also, the tofu was just pieces put on top: fried, it would have given more flavor and some texture.
I went for the Shio Chasumen that is Shio ramen with extra pork:
It was composed of BBQ pork, salt tasted egg, bamboo shoot, seaweed, scallion and scallop powder. The broth is made of chicken, pork and vegetables, as well as Khanh Hoa Salt, which is a natural mineral-rich sea salt from Vietnam. I really liked it: not too salty, light and tasty. The photo below shows you how much I liked it...
The noodles between the two ramen were different (they have three different kinds). The one on the left was in the vegetarian ramen and the one on the right the Shio ramen. In the latter, the noodles were of a lighter color, thinner and a bit more al dente.
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Enjoy (I did)!
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| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Ramen Setagaya | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| East Village / Japanese / Ramen | |
| * Street Address | |
| 34 1/2 Saint Marks Pl., New York, NY 10003 | |
| * Phone | |
| 212-387-7959 |
Brunch at Maialino in NYC, New York
I had Maialino on my list of restaurants to visit for a while, the restaurant being suggested by one of my colleagues Dan. We decided to move it up the list when we saw their olive oil cake and chocolate croissant bread pudding on the show Unique Sweets. We chose to go to brunch, on a Saturday. The restaurant, located in the Grammercy Park Hotel is beautiful.
It has three distinctive areas: the bar area with a few tables and communal tables, the cafe where you can order your espresso and some viennoiseries and then the dining room that had a very warm feel, casual but elegant at the same time. In the back, a wall full of Italian wines:
Because Maialino is an Italian restaurant, another creation from Danny Meyer who already spoiled us with Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park and Shake Shack.
Opened in 2009, this modern trattoria proposes Roman dishes. Maialino means piggy in Italian, so no wonder why this animal is drawn on the menu as well as well represented in the dining menu crafted by Executive Chef Nick Anderer.
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We had very good service there and the waitress asked us first if we wanted to start with a beverage, mentioning that they have a nice "coffee program". Being a coffee drinker, I got interested and ended up ordering a cortado that is between a cappuccino and a macchiato.
I could have eaten them with or without the tomato sauce served with it.
Then, Jodi ordered the Frittata Bianca:
At first, it found it deliciously herbaceous, but unfortunately, some parts of the frittata had too much herbs to the point that it completely overpowered the whole dish.
On my side, I ordered the Contadino:
These are poached eggs served with herb roasted fingerling potatoes and caramelized onions.
The dish looked fantastic and I understood fairly quickly why they brought me a spoon to eat it: the eggs were very soft and the yolks runny, playing the role of some kind of sauce when eaten with the delicious potatoes that were served skin on, adding some texture to the dish. This was so good that I wished there were more, despite the fact that there was not enough caramelized onions! This is a fantastic brunch dish that I definitely recommend.
Then came the moment of dessert! Yes, we went for that and were ready to eat that bread pudding!
Unfortunately, they only serve it for dinner. Bummer! But don't worry, we found some replacements...First was the olive oil cake called Torta di Olio d’Oliva that we wanted anyway to try:
It was served with a cream made of vanilla beans and mascarpone. I admit that I did not really care about the cream: just having the cake was sufficient. You do not taste the olive oil, but it gives a nice constancy to the cake, probably replacing some, if not all, of the butter. Needless to say that we finished it.
We also shared a toffee glazed brioche bun:
It was small, too small unfortunately, because also very good!
The brioche was probably cooked on a bed of sugar that had a nice caramelization on the bottom and sides, and the toffee was sublime. I truly appreciated that it was not too sweet.
I really liked my meal at Maialino and it is definitely on my list of places to go for brunch. I will probably go back to try their dinner, but it will not just be for their bread pudding: their menu looks fantastic!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!