The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, NYC, NY
Before, when I went to Chinatown to eat, it was to have some Chinese food, but it did not include ice cream, until now. We discovered the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory thanks to our friends Gary and Jen, after a brunch at Tartinery that left us hungry for something sweet. We went twice and each time, the place was busy.
What makes it stand out? They have been making homemade ice cream for more than 30 years. But not just your regular flavors, like the vanilla I tried once with Nutella.
What makes it stand out? They have been making homemade ice cream for more than 30 years. But not just your regular flavors, like the vanilla I tried once with Nutella.
And once without:
No, some combinations are quite interesting, like the durian, this Asian fruit I tried many years ago in Singapore and that you can find in stores in Chinatown.
In Singapore, at the time, it was forbidden to carry it in public transportation or to bring it to the hotel because of its pungent smell. I remember that we ate it after putting plastic bags on our hands so they would not smell...
The taste was good, particular but good and indescribable.
So there, at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, they sometimes have ice cream made with durian. Sometimes not, because they vary the flavor for the joy of their customers avid to try uncommon flavors. And I am definitely one of them!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Dumbo, Brooklyn
Alright, I finally made it to Grimaldi's, on a week day to avoid the mass of tourists and New Yorkers who want to have a piece of the most famous pie in New York.
It was probably a smart move as we showed up few minutes before opening time and there was already a line. Tourists for sure, from France, Germany or Japan, as well as a pizza tour.
This place is impressive, located right under the Brooklyn bridge, it is an old Bank building. But it is not the original location: it was originally at 19 Old Fulton, few steps from it, where now sits another pizza place, Juliana's, opened by the original owner of Grimaldi's, Patsy Grimaldi himself. Yes, because Grimaldi's was sold by Patsy in 1998 to Frank Ciolli as Patsy wanted to retire. Few years later, Frank Ciolli had to find a new place, his landlord refusing to renew the lease because, allegedly, of problems with rent and city taxes. Hence the new location. Few years later, regretting selling, Patsy decided to do a come back, opening Juliana's where Grimaldi's was first open. Needless to say that it started a feud between the two owners, that I am not sure is settled today.
We got seated pretty fast, in one of the tables on the left after entering the restaurant.
There, you cannot order a slice and have to pay cash. So, we looked at the menu and considered the many toppings they propose. We went for a small pizza (6 slices) with mushrooms, ricotta and meatballs.
After a short wait, our pizza arrived. Ok, let say that it is 6 large slices...
Not only it looked appetizing, but it smelled fantastic, freshly cooked in the coal oven.
I truly appreciated that they put a lot of the toppings we ordered (especially the ricotta and meatballs) and did not simple drizzle few of it. The crust was nicely charred, with a delicious crispness on the outside. The tomato sauce, that I believe is cooked in advance, had a wonderful taste and it was great that they put a reasonable amount of it on the pie.
This was a succulent pizza, the crust, cooked in the coal oven, being incredibly good. I understand now why Grimaldi's is considered one of the best in the US.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Talde in Park Slope, Brooklyn
I wanted to try Talde, the eponymous restaurant of Chef Dale Talde in Park Slope, for a while, but I admit that I do not like to wait for hours to get a table. So, as I was off on a Monday, we decided to show up for an early dinner.
I was intrigued by the Asian-American menu considering the impressive resume of Chef Talde who worked in renown restaurants (Jean George's Vong in Chicago, Buddakan or Morimoto, to name a few), getting his inspiration from his Filipino's roots. You may have seen him on Top Chef, showing an incredible talent as well as a bad temper...
So, here we are, at Talde in Brooklyn. The 75 seats restaurant has a beautiful decor: black wood with Asian carving, definitely neat and slick.
In the back is the kitchen where you can admire the crew prepare uncommon dishes.
The concept is simple: small or large plates preferably for sharing. So we shared!
Our first appetizer was the yuzu guacamole.
Served on crispy rice, they propose it with ham or vegetarian. We chose the latter. Not only the presentation was sublime, but it also was scrumptious. I really liked the transition of texture, from the soft guacamole to the crispy rice.
Then, we got the Hawaiian bread buns.
As they come by three, we ordered the three proposed combinations that were served with garlic vinegar mayo and pickled shallots:
Filipino sausage:
Crispy market fish:
Shiitake mushroom:
These little sliders were fantastic, the three of them being packed in flavors. The sausage was my favorite.
Then, we ordered the glass noodle stir fry.
Not sure what the Buddha style mentioned in the menu means, but it was very good. I admit though that I expected the noodles to be crispy, but it was not the case.
The last dish was the Korean fried chicken:
It was delicious pieces of chicken (crispy and moist), placed on a kimchi yoghurt sauce that was quite spicy, but so good that I did not care if my mouth was on fire.
It was served with grapes and mint that helped cool off my palate. If you like fried chicken, do not miss this dish.
It was served with grapes and mint that helped cool off my palate. If you like fried chicken, do not miss this dish.
Thrilled by the originality if the dishes, we were anxious to see the dessert menu. Unfortunately, there was none and they only proposed one dessert that, although original, did not appeal to me. This was really the only disappointment there, the rest if the meal being beyond my expectations. Now I know why there is so much buzz about Talde!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Waffle and Wolf in Brooklyn
Waffle & Wolf, located in Williamsburg, has an interesting statement: it is a “refined fast food” restaurant serving gourmet waffle sandwiches. Yes, you read properly: waffle sandwiches! It all started in 2011, when Chef Daniel Richardson and its co-owner Arman Sen decided to serve a refined version of American recipes, wrapped in waffles.
This is a tiny place for sure and we were surprised that it was not bigger, probably mistaken by the establishment next door that has the same exterior. So, you order at the counter and they will call you once your sandwich is ready. The menu proposes both savory and sweet recipes and you can chose which type of waffle you want, between buckwheat, cornbread or regular.
I decided to order #29:
It was made of smoked salmon, lemon-dill-caper cream cheese, spinach and red onion. This was fantastic, the waffle pairing perfectly with the ingredients, as well as a bagel would. In fact, know that the batter of the waffle is made with less sugar so it goes well with the savory recipes. There was also a lot of salmon there and, at the beginning, I though that I would be hungry and would need to order another one, the waffle being thinner than usual.
Jodi decided to order the #18:
It was made with olives (not inside, but baked in), hummus, cucumber and arugula. This was also really good, although it became a bit soggy after a while.
I really liked the food at Waffle and Wolf: it is not only original, but delicious. I will definitely go back to try their sweet waffles next time!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Chikalicious Dessert Club in the East Village
ChikaLicious Dessert Club is an offshoot of ChikaLicious Dessert Bar, located across the street from one another. I wanted to go there after people at work mentioned it to me. I also wanted to try the Dough'Ssant, their response to the Cronut from Chef Dominique Ansel. We decided to show up early on a Saturday afternoon, thinking that there would be a large crowd. I admit that our target was the dessert bar and not the club that we did not know exist. So when we arrived and saw the doors closed until 3pm, we were a bit disappointed. Then we turned our back and saw the dessert club, empty!
We rushed inside of this tiny place that was empty. I like when there are not too many people, so we have enough time to make up our mind about the pastries. There are not that many in fact, but enough to make us think...
We decided to first try the chocolate chip cookie:
We immediately picked it because of the large quantity of chocolate that it seemed to have and we were not disappointed. Not the best chocolate chip cookie, but a decent one.
Then, we picked the TiMo or Tiramisu Mochi:
That was fantastic: inside the mochi shell was a delicious tiramisu. I am not sure how they are making it, but it is surely successful.
Jodi could not resist ordering the coconut lychee marshmallow:
If you like coconut, this is definitely for you!
Last, was the Dough'Ssant:
As I mentioned, it is the equivalent to the Cronut, but know that it is not fried, but baked, making it, suposedly healthier...Unlike the cronut, besides the demand, they offer different flavors: plain, nutella, Meyer lemon, caramel...We decided to go for crème brûlée.
It was sublime, light, it did not have all the layers of a croissant, but was still airy. Similar to the cronut, there is some custard inside (all Dough'Ssant have a vanilla creme inside) that adds to the decadence of this pastry. I liked it, but would not put it at the same level of the cronut. I just consider it different.
Price wise, it was reasonable as we ended up paying $20 for all of these plus a double espresso and a tea. I liked it and already have my sight on what I will order on my next visit...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Italian lunch at Bricco in Hell's Kitchen, NYC,NY
I found Bricco looking for a reservation Midtown, on open table. Not sure I would have found it otherwise, the street it is located on not being that busy. Opened by restauranteur Nino Catuogno, the restaurant serves Southern Italian cuisine with a Northern Italian flare.
It is a big place for sure, painted in pastel colors matching the tablecloths and napkins, and with some interesting art on the wall.
In the back is the wood fire oven where they make pizza:
And probably the focaccia bread they brought to the table (I found it stale):
When I looked at the menu, I could not miss the Polipo Alia Griglia or grilled octopus:
I love grilled octopus: it is definitely hard to prepare as it needs to be cooked enough so it is not rubbery and I believe, needs a nice char that enhances the taste.
It was served over a mesclun salad and topped with a mint sauce that had a very refreshing taste, without overpowering the octopus. If you like octopus, this is for sure a dish to try there.
I also tried the Melanzane In Carrozza or baked eggplant and mozzarella that was delicious.
For the entree, I chose the Fettuccine Integrali Alla Contadina:
These were homemade whole wheat pasta in tomato sauce with sausage, fennel's seeds and a touch of cream. Well, more than a touch! It was good, but very, very heavy: the pasta were perfectly cooked and the sauce to die for, very rich, with a nice hint of fennel that came through from time to time.
The food at Bricco was good, with reasonable prices. Unfortunately, I did not have time to get dessert, the dishes taking time to come to the table...But trust me: I left with my belly full!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
There is a new burger place in town! Yes, Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries opened a week ago, replacing Bombay West an Indian restaurant that closed. At first, I thought it was another place to celebrate the Jersey Shore, like the now defunct WindMill tried to. But in fact, it refers to the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, where the owners, brothers Dave and Fran DiFerdinando use to go to get fresh hand cut fries that gave them the idea to open their first establishment, serving mainly French fries, cooked at different temperatures in peanut oil, giving them a nice taste and slight crunch, keeping the inside soft. But customers were asking for more and they decided to add burgers to the menu. Today, this franchise has locations in Georgia, California, Maryland, Texas...
Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
And now a brand new location in Hoboken that, despite the Art and Craft Festival, attracted the crowd.
Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
The way it works is that you order at the counter: you can either pick one of their signature burgers or build your own. They will then give you a number and bring your order at your table.
Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
It came fairly quickly. First was my vanilla milkshake that I could not resist to order.
milkshake at Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
burger at Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
On my side, I ordered a double patty with American cheese, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, ketchup and mayo.
burger at Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
burger at Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
We ordered one order of those delicious fries that were cooked skin on and delivered their promises. I wondered why the patties did not look perfect; it is because they are made with fresh ground meat (not frozen) and shaped every morning by hand.
burger at Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries in Hoboken, NJ
And these burgers delivered too! The buns that were like brioche were fantastic, the meat perfectly cooked medium, juicy, with a nice char on the outside, and with cheese oozing from between the patties. Definitely great burgers and I cannot wait to try some other combinations as well as their cheesesteaks! So, you guess: I'll be back!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Wasabi Sushi and Bento, Times Square, NYC, NY
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I was recently invited to Wasabi Sushi and Bento, the outpost of a fast casual Japanese grab and go restaurant popular in London that opened in February in Times Square. It is always exciting to try a new place, trying to find what makes them different and stand out. For sure, Japanese cuisine is fairly popular here, between the Japanese restaurants, the non Japanese restaurants serving sushi like Rue 57 or 5 Napkin Burger, the supermarket or deli offering sushi boxes to grab. I admit that I would never order sushi in a burger joint or grab a box made who knows when from a supermarket or deli.
So let's see what Wasabi Sushi and Bento is! Before talking about food, let's talk about the place. It all started in 2003 in London, when its owner, Mr Kim, a Korean born immigrant, got the idea to offer high quality Japanese classics for takeout at reasonable prices. He now has opened 36 locations across the UK and is branching out to the US with this first location that is of a nice size, with impressive high ceilings, white walls and floors that are immaculate, the main color standing out being the green from the stools.
In the back is the open kitchen where you can observe the crew preparing some food cooked all day long, making sure that what you eat is fresh.
At Wasabi, you can pick either sushi, salads or hot food (photo below), including soups.
It is grab and go, that is nothing extraordinary, except for sushi: you can grab individual pieces rather than a sushi set, allowing you to compose your meal at a reasonable price.
So I decided to compose my dinner with a bit of everything:
I grabbed different pieces of sushi:
- hosomaki (thin rolls),
- nigiri (thinly sliced fish over rice),
- Maki (large rolls made with two or more fillings wrapped in rice and nori).
Here is some of what I tried:
Tuna Nigiri:
Salmon Nigiri:
Tamago Nigiri (Japanese omelet):
Crabmeat and cucumber maki:
Inari Nigiri (deep fried tofu):
Tempura Veg maki:
Avocado Hosomaki:
Cucumber Hosomaki:
This was really good, each of the pieces I tried tasted fresh (they are made that day and never served the next day). Little I know that the owner, Mr Kim, is committed to serving sustainably-sourced yellowfin tuna and salmon.
The last sushi I tried was a first for me: it was the Chicken teriyaki onigiri, a triangle of rice tied in nori and flavored with chicken teriyaki.
I had to follow the instructions to unwrap it:
Et voila!
It was served cold and had some nori inside. Very tasty, it had a slight kick that tickled my throat.
Of course, I also had to try some hot food. First was the grilled teriyaki chicken bento box:
Chicken in a teriyaki sauce on a bed of stir-fried cabbage mix, served with rice, garnished with pickled cucumber, red ginger & sesame seeds:
If you like chicken, this is definitely to try, the meat, although smothered by teriyaki sauce was quite moist.
Next was the Chicken gyoza tanmen, a soup made with super thin rice noodles with lots of fresh vegetables in a delicious house-made broth:
It was a very good soup, made with plenty of veggies like Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, pak choi, carrot, onion or snow pea. But the star of the dish was the gyoza itself that was fantastic!
At the time we went, they did not have any more ramen, that they also serve, because they prepare their broth in advance, cooked for 8 hours, and serve it until there is no more.
Last was something sweet. I chose a Daifuku that is mochi filled with Azuki (sweetened red bean paste):
It was a delicious way to end a great discovery. Wasabi is a great way to get high quality Japanese food in the busy area that is Times Square, allowing its customers to create their own menu at very reasonable prices.
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Gotham West Market - part 5/5: Court Street Grocers
The last restaurant we visited at The Gotham West Market was Court Street Grocers, an outpost of the Brooklyn food shop. Smaller than the other places there, they offer a menu composed of mouth watering sandwiches, mainly for carnivores, the vegetarian options being limited, although I have no doubt that they would accommodate.
So we sat at the counter, overlooking the small kitchen.
Jodi decided to order their grilled cheese sandwich.
It was made of four different cheeses (Swiss, Pecorino, mozzarella and cheddar) and tomato mayo, squeezed between two slices of brioche bread. So, if you are a cheese lover, this is definitely good stuff! I was scared at first that it was too burnt on the outside, but in fact, it was fine. As they were generous with the quantity of cheese, it was deliciously gooey, oozing from the sandwich, like a call to be eaten.
With the grilled cheese came a side of pickles:
On my side, I ordered the Italian combo:
It was prepared with mortadella, salami, hot copa, mozzarella, Swiss, Pecorino, arugula, red mayo, a hoagie sauce and vinaigrette. As they were out of hero bread, we went for a ciabatta.
Not only it looked appetizing, but it was scrumptious, packed in flavors, each layer contributing to a great taste that made us regret it was not bigger.
With our sandwiches, we simply ordered a coke and chips.
This was very good: my favorite was the Italian combo that is definitely recommended. On top of that, the service was courteous and efficient. Definitely a good sandwich place to know.
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Gotham West Market - part 4/5: The Cannibal
When I saw that Le Cannibal was at The Gotham West Market, I was definitely intrigued. I heard few times the name of the restaurant, but never went. I was wondering how this name was found, what type of food they serve, and if I had to eat my dishes Walking Dead style. So, this is an offshoot of the main restaurant located on the East side, that defines itself as meat, beer...and cycling, the name coming from a famous Belgian cyclist, Eddie Merckx, who had a prestigious career in the 60's and 70's and was nicknamed "Le Cannibal", because of his insatiable appetite for victories.
I felt reassured that I could follow the good manners my parents taught me and that we would not eat out of a large pot, simmering on an open fire.
Similar to the different restaurants I have tried at the GWM, you can either sit at the counter or in the common area. We decided to sit at the bar, in front of the kitchen, to see how dishes were prepared. I admit that it was a good place for this, but not for the smoke coming out from their oven, sometimes profusely...
The menu is all about meat, with very few options for the vegetarians or for people who cannot find anything to order. I mention the later because it is not your regular meat there: no steaks or roasted chicken.
At best you can have some salumi, but otherwise, it is more on the creepy side or let's say unusual. They have few seafood options like the octopus terrine or the rock shrimp. Otherwise, it is pates, sausages, tartares, as well as more elaborated dishes. The most popular that we saw going out of the kitchen was the bone marrow.
It looked amazing to the point that I regretted not having ordered it. They first bake it in the oven (probably using the broiler), then put scrambled eggs and then mushrooms.
So, here is what we had:
First we ordered the pretzel (homemade):
At best you can have some salumi, but otherwise, it is more on the creepy side or let's say unusual. They have few seafood options like the octopus terrine or the rock shrimp. Otherwise, it is pates, sausages, tartares, as well as more elaborated dishes. The most popular that we saw going out of the kitchen was the bone marrow.
It looked amazing to the point that I regretted not having ordered it. They first bake it in the oven (probably using the broiler), then put scrambled eggs and then mushrooms.
So, here is what we had:
First we ordered the pretzel (homemade):
It came with a sauce made with beer and cheddar.
The pretzel was delicious, served warm, perfect with the sauce that definitely had beer in it, from the hint of it that came through.
Then, I ordered the pig's head terrine or fromage de tête:
Yes, as its name indicates, it is made with the head of a pig, the flesh after removing the brain, eyes and ears to be precise. Eating this definitely matches the name of the place...
It you wonder what it taste like, I would say that it had a gelatinuous texture with a lighter taste than ham, a bit salty, especially with the capers that were added. It was served with a lemon butter that I did not like at all.
Then, I got the lamb and gruyere sausage:
It was served with an arugula pistou, an hibiscus-date puree, and a bulgur salad. I really liked it: the sausage was similar to a merguez sausage that I love and it had a sort of Mediterranean flair, although a bit elevated with the sweet hibiscus and date puree.
I guess you are wondering what Jodi ate there. Well, she first ordered the brussels sprouts:
They were served with some mint and ham gremolata (mix of herbs with a bit of ham). It was good, although I prefer brussels sprout a bit more cooked.
We also shared a cheese plate:
The cheeses were:
A cheddar from Indiana (Milton creamery):
A blue di buffala from Italy:
And a goat cheese from Vermont:
Fortunately, this cheese plate was on the menu so Jodi could eat! It was a nice selection that was served with bread and I admit that I used the pretzel bread also.
It was overall a nice discovery, but they definitely have a challenging menu if, as mentioned before, you prefer more common dishes. Anyway, if you really want to try with people, do not forget that it is a food court and that, while you satisfy your palate with such dishes, they can order some other delicious food in the other restaurants.
Enjoy (I did)!
The pretzel was delicious, served warm, perfect with the sauce that definitely had beer in it, from the hint of it that came through.
Then, I ordered the pig's head terrine or fromage de tête:
Yes, as its name indicates, it is made with the head of a pig, the flesh after removing the brain, eyes and ears to be precise. Eating this definitely matches the name of the place...
It you wonder what it taste like, I would say that it had a gelatinuous texture with a lighter taste than ham, a bit salty, especially with the capers that were added. It was served with a lemon butter that I did not like at all.
Then, I got the lamb and gruyere sausage:
It was served with an arugula pistou, an hibiscus-date puree, and a bulgur salad. I really liked it: the sausage was similar to a merguez sausage that I love and it had a sort of Mediterranean flair, although a bit elevated with the sweet hibiscus and date puree.
I guess you are wondering what Jodi ate there. Well, she first ordered the brussels sprouts:
They were served with some mint and ham gremolata (mix of herbs with a bit of ham). It was good, although I prefer brussels sprout a bit more cooked.
We also shared a cheese plate:
The cheeses were:
A cheddar from Indiana (Milton creamery):
A blue di buffala from Italy:
And a goat cheese from Vermont:
Fortunately, this cheese plate was on the menu so Jodi could eat! It was a nice selection that was served with bread and I admit that I used the pretzel bread also.
It was overall a nice discovery, but they definitely have a challenging menu if, as mentioned before, you prefer more common dishes. Anyway, if you really want to try with people, do not forget that it is a food court and that, while you satisfy your palate with such dishes, they can order some other delicious food in the other restaurants.
Enjoy (I did)!
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| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| The Cannibal | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Flatiron / American New | |
| * Street Address | |
| 113 East 29th St. (bet. Park & Lexington Ave.), New York, NY 10016 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 686-5480 |
The Gotham West Market - part 3/5: Genuine Roadside
At Gotham West Market, away from the hustle and bustle of the main food court is Genuine Roadside, a casual sandwich shop with its own dining area, from AvroKo Hospitality Group, who also owns Saxon+Parole and Public. Well I guess it is it's own dining area, though I witnessed a group of people sitting at one of their tables and getting some food from another restaurant (I have names!).
The seating area is definitely comfortable, especially if you want to avoid sitting at a counter of a restaurant or hate communal tables.
Decor wise, it is suppose to reflect a certain nostalgia, from the old photos on the walls, to the old radio and cassettes.
They also provide games, so you can play while waiting for your order.
Food wise, it is more for the carnivore than vegetarian, the later having very limited choices. But if you like burgers, pork, chicken or seafood, this might be your spot.
The way it works is that you order at the counter, and they will give you a buzzer that will vibrate and light up when your food is ready.
Our food came after a reasonable wait.
It is made of a marinated portobello mushroom that is grilled, topped with dill, tomato, Swiss cheese and their house sauce. It is a very good sandwich, flavorful, and you do not need to be vegetarian to appreciate it.
On my side, I ordered the buttermilk battered chicken sandwich:
I think I inhaled it: it was delicious! The chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and moist inside, it was paired with sambal mayo (sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian condiment made with chili pepper and salt) and a celery and apple slaw, giving a sweet and spicy taste. This is definitely recommended.
To counteract the spices and stay hydrated (???), I ordered a vanilla milk shake.
It was quite a good one, thick, but not to the point that when you will try to get it through the straw it will be too hard, and not too milky, having a nice vanilla taste (they probably use vanilla syrup).
We enjoyed the food at Genuine Roadside. It is a bit on the pricy side considering the food they serve (for instance, the fries are extra, that is crazy: they could throw few fries with the sandwiches), but it might be justified by the quality if the ingredients. I would definitely go back to try some other sandwiches.
Enjoy (I did)!
On my side, I ordered the buttermilk battered chicken sandwich:
I think I inhaled it: it was delicious! The chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and moist inside, it was paired with sambal mayo (sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian condiment made with chili pepper and salt) and a celery and apple slaw, giving a sweet and spicy taste. This is definitely recommended.
To counteract the spices and stay hydrated (???), I ordered a vanilla milk shake.
It was quite a good one, thick, but not to the point that when you will try to get it through the straw it will be too hard, and not too milky, having a nice vanilla taste (they probably use vanilla syrup).
We enjoyed the food at Genuine Roadside. It is a bit on the pricy side considering the food they serve (for instance, the fries are extra, that is crazy: they could throw few fries with the sandwiches), but it might be justified by the quality if the ingredients. I would definitely go back to try some other sandwiches.
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Gotham West Market - Part 2/5: Tapas at El Colmado
Next stop at the Gotham West Market: El Colmado, a Spanish tapas bar. I was pretty excited to try it, because I love the opportunity to try plenty of dishes as tapas (small plates) allow you to do.
When dining at El Colmado (spanish for "The grocer", "to celebrate the artisanal olive oils, vinegars, and preserved seafoods for which the country is famous" as they say), you can either order and sit in the common area, or sit at the bar.
We went for the latter and picked a spot in front of the kitchen, allowing us to watch them prepare dishes crafted by Chef Seamus Mullen and his team. Just looking at this and the minutiae put into the presentation, we knew we would be there for a treat.
We went for the latter and picked a spot in front of the kitchen, allowing us to watch them prepare dishes crafted by Chef Seamus Mullen and his team. Just looking at this and the minutiae put into the presentation, we knew we would be there for a treat.
So we had a look at the menu that proposes a large number of plates, some small, some even smaller as you order the number of pieces you want (it is the case for deviled eggs, ham croquettes or langoustines). If you are vegetarian, there are few options.
We decided to start with the Huevo Al Diablo or deviled eggs.
They were not your regular deviled eggs: they contained some smoked bacalao and roasted peppers. They were really good, the taste of the mayonnaise not too pronounced, and with a nice smokiness coming through.
Ordered by piece, it was very soft and creamy inside with a crispy shell that was not greasy at all.
After that, we got a classic: tortilla or Spanish omelet.
I really liked it. At first, I asked for mayonnaise, but there was really no need for it, the omelet being so moist and tasty.
Then, we had to try some cheese and chose to order the Queso Fresco ahumado (means smoked) served with delicious slices of bread toasted and brushed with olive oil.
It also had guindilla and rosemary. This homemade cheese was basically ricotta, this is the kind of cheese that has a very subtle taste. It therefore needs either something herbaceous, nutty or sweet to enhance the taste, hence the perfect pairing with the toasted bread and olive oil, as well as the pieces of roasted pepper that were put on top of it. However, I did not notice any smokiness...But still, delicious.
Next was the pulpo a la plancha that is octopus served with marinated potatoes and a spicy olivada (olive spread made of olives, olive oil, spices and herbs).
I like the dish that had not only a great presentation, but also a great taste. The octopus was quite tasty and very tender. I would have just liked some more char to it. Complementing them with the soft marinated potatoes was a good idea.
The last entree was the special of the day: mustarda verde that was, in a nutshell, a salad served with fried chickpeas, raisins and some cheese similar to parmesan.
Jodi loved it. On my side, I found it good, but was not wowed by it to the point that I would order it again like the rest.
Of course, we could not leave without trying a dessert. We decided to try their torrija or French toast.
I am not sure what all the ingredients were, but it was one of the best French toast I ever had! I know: it is a bold statement, but you would try it, you would agree! The brioche bread was perfectly soaked in the custard that I believe was vanilla. They used a torch to create a fantastic sugar/caramel crust that added a nice crispiness to the dish and topped it with orange peel.
We finished our meal full and glad that we tried this place, with already plans to come back (I saw them prepare these amazing lamb meatballs...). So, definitely, El Colmado is a tapas place on top of my list.
Enjoy (I did)!
Then, we had to try some cheese and chose to order the Queso Fresco ahumado (means smoked) served with delicious slices of bread toasted and brushed with olive oil.
It also had guindilla and rosemary. This homemade cheese was basically ricotta, this is the kind of cheese that has a very subtle taste. It therefore needs either something herbaceous, nutty or sweet to enhance the taste, hence the perfect pairing with the toasted bread and olive oil, as well as the pieces of roasted pepper that were put on top of it. However, I did not notice any smokiness...But still, delicious.
Next was the pulpo a la plancha that is octopus served with marinated potatoes and a spicy olivada (olive spread made of olives, olive oil, spices and herbs).
I like the dish that had not only a great presentation, but also a great taste. The octopus was quite tasty and very tender. I would have just liked some more char to it. Complementing them with the soft marinated potatoes was a good idea.
The last entree was the special of the day: mustarda verde that was, in a nutshell, a salad served with fried chickpeas, raisins and some cheese similar to parmesan.
Jodi loved it. On my side, I found it good, but was not wowed by it to the point that I would order it again like the rest.
Of course, we could not leave without trying a dessert. We decided to try their torrija or French toast.
I am not sure what all the ingredients were, but it was one of the best French toast I ever had! I know: it is a bold statement, but you would try it, you would agree! The brioche bread was perfectly soaked in the custard that I believe was vanilla. They used a torch to create a fantastic sugar/caramel crust that added a nice crispiness to the dish and topped it with orange peel.
We finished our meal full and glad that we tried this place, with already plans to come back (I saw them prepare these amazing lamb meatballs...). So, definitely, El Colmado is a tapas place on top of my list.
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| El Colmado | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Hell's Kitchen / Spanish | |
| * Street Address | |
| 600 11th Ave., New York, NY 10036 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 582-7948 |
The Gotham West Market - Part 1/5: Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop
The part of Hell's Kitchen that is on 11th avenue is clearly not the best to satisfy an appetite. Or should I say was not, since the Gotham West Market is definitely changing everything! Some say that this place was created to lure renters to the Gotham West building, but they definitely did not stop there, as people start to know this place. We went on few occasions and, on the week end, it gets crazy crowded and it is difficult to find a spot to sit.
It is like a food court where you can either sit at the counter of the restaurant or take your food and eat it on one of the tables in the common area(s).
There, you have plenty of choices: Ivan ramen for some delicious Japanese dishes (ramen or donburi), The Cannibal for the carnivores or The Sandwich Shop for...sandwiches.
Ivan Ramen:
We went to Ivan Ramen couple of time after Jodi's cousin, Jessica, recommended it. The stakes for ramen restaurants are high considering the number of places that are present in the City, some successful, others just average. Adding to that that the owner, Ivan Orkin, is not Japanese, I was definitely curious. His story is fairly interesting: originally from Long Island, he discovered Japanese culture and cuisine at age 15, when working as a dishwasher in...a Japanese restaurant. After majoring in Japanese culture and literature, he lived in Japan and opened a restaurant there, before opening the location at The Gotham West Market, perfecting his soup recipe and testing it on his Japanese wife!
The menu is fairly straight forward, with three non vegetarian ramen and two vegetarian. If soups are not your thing, they also propose rice balls calls donburi with either fish or pork, as well as curry rice with rib-eye. We decided to try their ramen.
The menu is fairly straight forward, with three non vegetarian ramen and two vegetarian. If soups are not your thing, they also propose rice balls calls donburi with either fish or pork, as well as curry rice with rib-eye. We decided to try their ramen.
 |
| Shio Ramen (left) - Vegetarian Shoyu (right) |
You first order at the counter, give your name, and, shortly after, they will call back your name giving you your order.
Each time, Jodi went for the Vegetarian Shoyu:
It is composed of enoki mushrooms, arugula, bathed in a soy sauce and vegetable soup.
The eggs, perfectly cooked, are add-on ($2).
And the noodles are rye noodles. I admit that I liked it a lot, the broth being very flavorful and the noodles slightly al dente. What I also liked is that it is a pretty simple soup, combining not too many ingredients, but still tasty.
On my side, I tried the Shio ramen:
The broth is made with sea salt, chicken and dashi broth. It has pork chashu and I added an egg also.
The last ramen I tried was the Roasted Garlic Mazemen :
It is made of chicken and dashi broth, roasted garlic, nori. I ordered it "fully loaded", meaning with extra pork chashu, an egg and roasted tomatoes ($17).
The broth was a bit thicker and definitely saltier and very garlicky (we probably were protected from vampires for few days). I was so thirsty after eating it! Not sure I would take it again. However, the "fully loaded" formula was great: their pork chashu is delicious and the roasted tomatoes superb.
I really liked Ivan Ramen: it might not be the cheapest, but it is definitely very good.
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Ivan Ramen | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Hell's Kitchen / Japanese | |
| * Street Address | |
| 600 11th Avenue (Bet. 44th & 45th St), New York, NY 10036 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 582-7942 |
Tabélog event at Skál on the Lower East Side
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Skál, what a strange word, except if you speak old norse where it means "cheers". It also means little bowl, representing the concept of small dishes to share that compose the menu and are even present in the decor.
Skál is where Tabélog organized a meet and greet event for the bloggers who are actively participating in the content of the site. I think it is great as it brings food lovers together. It was also the occasion for their CEO, Kenta, to announce the expansion of the site to other states like California (congrats!!!). There, I had a nice evening talking with Lord of the Fork, Cutie Patroller, The Restaurant Fairy, Lea_K and Johnny Prime. There, food was more photographed than people and they conveniently set all the dishes in an area so we could take our time to take a pic.
So, Skál is a Scandinavian restaurant located in the limit of Chinatown, where Chef Ben Spiegel (who worked at Noma in Copenhagen) crafted an original menu using products locally sourced.
I also spoke with one of the owners, Christophe, a fellow Frenchman, who talked to me, with passion, about the restaurant and their future projects to expand it. I got a tour of the facility and could not miss the large selection of wines in the basement. They propose 27 wines from 12 different countries that they source at small producers all around the world, as well as beers from Iceland that are not that easy to find in the city.
It is a small place with an interesting decor considering the raven (not to mistake for a crow) that sits on top of the bar. It is not that they are fans of Game Of Thrones, but because the raven is the emblem of Iceland.
Food wise, we got a nice sampling of their menu. Here is what they served us:
Well fleet oysters served with a versus and chamomile:
Long Island duck wings with mussels and red seaweed:
Heirloom carrots prepared with burnt honey, buttermilk and dill:
Beef tartare served with fermented ramps, little neck clams and Sorrel:
Salt cod croquettes with a horseradish remoulade:
Smoked mackerel served in an onion with whey and foie gras:
Scandinavian donut with vanilla cream:
This was a very exquisite sampling, some of the dishes being truly original. I wonder if the duck / seaweed and mackerel / foie gras dishes were not a take on surf and turf! If it was: chapeau. If it wasn't: chapeau.
After this event, I am looking forward to go back to Skál.
Thanks to Tabélog and Skál for this wonderful evening!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Skál | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Chinatown / Scandinavian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 37 Canal St., New York, NY 10002 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 777-7518 |
Dinner at Left Bank in the West Village, NYC, New York
Last week, I had a fantastic dinner with my friends from Tabélog, Sachiko, Kenta and Shouhei. If you read this blog, you probably remember my encounter with Tabélog, a year ago. Tabélog is a restaurant review site with over 40 million users in Japan, expanding now in the US. Their reviews are not anonymous, leveraging bloggers and putting an emphasis on photos, that is great considering that a photo is worth a thousand words. But, what I like also is that the team loves food as much as the bloggers they meet and it is always fun to exchange experiences and good addresses.
This time, we had dinner at Left Bank, a restaurant that defined itself as "an American tavern, inspired by Greenwich Village itself, and influenced by European sensibilities". At first, I thought it referred to the rive gauche (literally left bank) in Paris, that is, beyond a location, a movement of writers, artists and philosophers like Pablo Picasso, Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine, Henri Matisse, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many others. You many not know the term rive gauche, but, if you went to Paris, you probably heard about Boulevard Saint-Germain or the Boulevard Saint-Michel.
I arrived a bit early (I hate to be late) and toured the restaurant to take some photos. What I like is that there is a bit of space between tables and they did not try to maximize the space.
When I looked around, I could definitely sense a European feel, reminding me a bit restaurants in Paris, especially La Butte Aux Cailles, where I use to live.
The menu, crafted by Chef and owner Laurence Edelman, is of a good size, offering small plates as well as just few choices per section (raw bar, appetizers, pasta, meat / poultry /fish, vegetables), made with ingredients provided by local farmers.
We decided to start with drinks. On my side, I ordered a thyme and ginger cocktail:
The presentation was appetizing and rustic. You may wonder what the layer around the chicken liver pate was. Well, it was butter! And I admit that it went well together. This is definitely a dish I recommend.
Then, we had the Mongolian fish dumplings:
It had a nice acidity from the lemon and were perfect for me as I do not like when the shell is too thick.
Then, we shared the lobster puffs with champagne cream:
This is definitely an elegant dish, the champagne cream pairing perfectly with the fresh cream puff, but keeping the lobster the star of the dish.
For the entrees, we started first with the homemade parpadelle, served with sunchokes and fava beans:
That was one of my favorite entrees, the pasta being succulent and the dish being hearty.
Next was the suckling pig porchetta:
It was served with English peas, thumbelina carrots, ramps. This was a very good dish: the pork was very good, with a nice amount of fat, paired with a bold sauce that did not overpower the meat.
Last entree was the iron roasted split chicken:
It was prepared with roasted shitakes, escarole and puffed wild rice. I was not a big fan of the escarole, but certainly was of the chicken that had a crispy skin, heavenly salty, and moist inside.
To stay healthy (of course), we also ordered roasted cauliflower:
I admit that I just had a bite to try, preferring to focus on the meat...
Last was dessert. We went for the olive oil cake with candied hazelnuts:
This was sublime: not the lighter dessert, but a perfect one to end a wonderful and fun evening.
Thank you to the Tabélog's team for the invite and great evening at Left Bank, a place that is now on my list of restaurants to go back to!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Left Bank | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / American New | |
| * Street Address | |
| 117 Perry St. (corner of Greenwich St.), New York, NY 10014 | |
| * Phone | |
| 212-727-1170 |
Parm in Nolita, NYC, New York
On a Sunday afternoon, we were walking in Nolita, looking for a place to eat when we passed in front of Parm, on Mulberry St. We were so pleased to see it that we both shouted "Paaarm!" at the same time. Yes, this place was on our wish list for a while, since we saw their baked ziti featured on the TV show Unique Eats. So, I guess at this point you know what we would order...
This place, opened in 2011, is an offshoot of Torrisi, located few steps away. It is a small place:
Bar and delivery takeout at the entrance:
Small dining room in the back:
With an open kitchen where you can see the Chef and crew prepare the dishes.
We decided to sit at the bar, overlooking a part of the kitchen, watching the magic happen.
The menu is not that large, that is understandable for such a small restaurant. Anyway, I prefer a small menu well executed rather than a large one poorly delivered. At Parm, they propose few vegetables, salads, sandwiches or this mouth watering baked ziti.
You are probably wondering what the big deal is. Well, first of all, after baking the ziti, they fry them in a pan, giving to the sides a nice crunch.
Second, there is a lot of cheese: mozzarella and ricotta.
Last there is a lot of tomato sauce, so it is not dry like baked ziti can be in some restaurants.
So, definitely, this dish is worth the trip and no wonder why our plate was empty in a matter of seconds.
We also decided to try one of their sandwiches and hesitated between the eggplant Parmesan and the meatball one. We picked the later.
We chose to go with the hero bread over the roll or plate (served with a salad or ziti).
I liked it: they used the same tomato sauce as for the ziti and put lots of mozzarella cheese, in a hero bread that was perfectly soft. The meatball itself was good and flavorful, however, I wish it was slightly burnt on the outside to give a nice crunchiness and add texture to the dish. But still, it is a good dish.
We were glad to find Parm on our way and I can't wait to go back to try their other sandwiches. Well, I can't wait to go back to eat this ziti!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Parm | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Lower East Side / Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 248 Mulberry St. (bet. Prince & Spring St.), New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 993-7189 |
Celebrating Easter with La Maison du Chocolat
Please note that the chocolate was complimentary. However, I was not obliged to post and the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
La Maison Du Chocolat proposed to send me some samples of their Easter collection, crafted by Chef Nicolas Cloiseau. I, of course, accepted, being a big fan of this establishment (great hot cocoa, pastries and chocolates).
- Praline with crispy crepe,
- Almond praline,
- Praline hazelnut (my favorite),
- crispy praline.
There was also a milk chocolate bunny with a surprise inside: yes, some of these chocolate eggs.
Needless to say that these chocolates did not last long...
While preparing this post, I checked the Easter collection of La Maison du Chocolat, and was amazed by the creations of Chef Nicolas Cloiseau, such as the atelier:
 |
| Courtesy La Maison Du chocolat |
It looks incredible and I do not see how one could eat that! Well, ok, it is good chocolate: I would eat that! I just wish it was always Easter...Although I do not need any reason to go to there!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Fortunato Brothers, Italian Bakery in Williamburg, Brooklyn, NY
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Continuing my discovery of Brooklyn, I gladly accepted the invite I received from Fortunato Brothers Bakery in Williamsbug, an all Italian bakery that opened in 1976. Family business for sure, the establishment's name reflecting the association of three brothers from Naples, Michele, Mario and Sal. Today, they transmitted their passion to their sons, Biagio and Biagio, as well as Frank, another member of the family, and another Biagio! I admit that I met with Biagio, but I have no clue which one!!!
So, as we approached the bakery, we could not miss the delicious smell coming from it, as well as the small Fiat cars in front if it.
The shop is fairly big, with a seating area on the side that is perfect to enjoy an Italian espresso, a homemade gelato (they have twenty different flavors, my favorite being nocciola or hazelnut), or a cake.
But of course, the best part was the display, where we could salivate in front of the large choice of cakes and cookies:
As we were close to Easter, they had plenty of items prepared especially for the occasion, some sweet:
and some savory, such as the meat pie that we tasted.
It was a delicious combination of ham and ricotta wrapped in a crumbly dough.
So we sat in the seating area, waiting for our tasting, when we noticed a cat sitting (or shall I say sleeping) next to our table.
His name is Rocco: he is the bakery's owners cat and you might see him either sleeping, walking around, or coming to you to get pet or to play.
Biagio served us a combination of pastries that were mouth watering. Small size though, when possible. I have to say that I love when bakeries offer pastries in a smaller size, as it allows us to try several.
It was fantastic: soaked in rum and light.
There was also a Napoleon:
Similar to the French mille-feuilles, I was glad to see that it had icing and not sugar on top (the best part) and crème pâtissière inside.
The only problem: too small: it was so good that I would have eaten several of them!
Next was the Sfogliatelle (Italian for small, thin leaves/layers):
What is interesting about this pastry is the multiple layers that wrap around a filling made of ricotta, almond flour and candied fruits.
I liked it, but admit that, with a similar dough, I preferred the lobster tail:
It is bigger, but lighter.
In fact, this pastry was invented by Italian-Americans in the 1900s. So, the same dough, but, inside, the filling is made of a cream similar to whipped cream.
Then we got a cream puff that was glazed with a thick layer of dark chocolate.
Inside was a vanilla custard that was delicious and had a perfect consistency.
Following was a classic: cannoli.
It was very good: the ricotta filling was fantastic, not too sweet, and the shell tasted fresh and was crispy. It was my second favorite after the baba.
Last was a cookie called Deliciosa.
It was made with a moca cream. I admit that, although I love coffee, I did not like it.
These pastries could not be eaten without a shot of Italian espresso.
You may think that it was it, but it was not: Biagio proposed to bring home whatever we wanted to try. As Jodi put it, it was like bringing a vampire to a blood bank...
So I went in front of the display and simply (?) asked for some Italian cookies.
So our visit was followed by a cookie tasting.
Here is what we tried:
Rainbow cookies:
Pignoli:
With the equivalent made with pistachio:
Biscotti:
And various cookies.
My favorite were the rainbow cookies and pignoli, maybe because I love any cookie or pastry made with almonds.
So, Fortunato Brothers was definitely a nice discovery of an Italian bakery that seems to stay true to itself, serving customers with traditional Italian specialties, all homemade. Not to mention not too sweet, allowing me to try all of these without falling into a sugar coma!
Enjoy (I did)!
Rainbow cookies:
Pignoli:
With the equivalent made with pistachio:
Biscotti:
And various cookies.
My favorite were the rainbow cookies and pignoli, maybe because I love any cookie or pastry made with almonds.
So, Fortunato Brothers was definitely a nice discovery of an Italian bakery that seems to stay true to itself, serving customers with traditional Italian specialties, all homemade. Not to mention not too sweet, allowing me to try all of these without falling into a sugar coma!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Fortunato Brothers Cafe | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Williamsburg / Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 289 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 | |
| * Phone | |
| (718) 387-2281 |
Umami Burger in NYC, New York
Ah, burgers! One of the most American dish ever, known all around the world, but unfortunately not always with a good representation (I am talking about the fast food chain). Well, I mentioned few times in this blog how teenagers and young adults love Mac Donald's in France, and I recently read that people are thrilled to hear that Burger King is going to make a come back in the country, planning to open 40 new restaurants. Seriously, if your benchmark for burgers are these fast food chains, then you got it all wrong. When I came in this country, I got it all wrong, craving a quarter pounder and eating some on a weekly basis, if not several times a week. Until I tried the Burger Joint, Corner Bistro, BLT burger and others. Now, I only go to Mac Donald's for the milkshakes and the fries that are some of the best.
But burgers are not reserved only to fast food restaurants or diners: more and more restaurants, sometimes high end, propose a burger, most of them trying to make it unique. For instance, DBGB from acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud proposes one with pork belly confit and morbier cheese. Another of his restaurants, DB Bistro Modern, with foie gras.
So, what would make Umami Burger unique, with lots of people saying that they have the best burgers in the City? That is what I was going to figure out. To learn a bit of history about this chain, know that it started in 2009 in Los Angeles, when Adam Fleischman, the owner, passionate about wine and cuisine decided to bring to the masses his twist on burgers. The logo is pretty amusing as it looks like lips made with a bun, hence their motto: get your lips around our buns.
We tried to go on a Saturday night, a little before 7pm, thinking that the crowd would come later. Big mistake! The place was packed with people waiting for tables. So we decided to go somewhere else and try this place the next day, for lunch. As we were not sure how crowded it would be, we showed up a little before 12pm.
The place was empty. As the time passed, we saw families coming, some of them with strollers, this time of the day being more kids friendly, and the only time when parents craving a burger would be able to come, skipping the expense of a nanny to satisfy and sudden urge for a burger.
It is a big place, with a slight industrial look thanks to the air conditioning system. Unlike lots of the burger places today, you do not order at the counter, but rather sit at the table where they will give you a menu; nothing fancy, just the delivery menu.
Umami is what is called the fifth taste, after sweet, sour, bitter and salty. At Umami Burger, they created some combinations that bring together sweet and salty. Because of this, they do not allow for any substitution. You will not find also a classic cheeseburger. There, everything is their own creation.
As we were waiting for our burgers, they brought us some sauces for our sides:
From left to right: jalapeño ranch (spicy with really a taste of jalapeño), aioli, spicy diablo (very spicy, it is their version of siracha sauce) and umami ketchup.
Then came the burgers. Jodi decided to try the Umami burger.
As you can see, the burgers are branded with a big U. The Umami burger is made of shiitake mushroom, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, parmesan crisp and umami ketchup. The bread is a Portuguese bun that has a bit of honey, giving to it a nice sweetness.
It was just ok for me, the taste being too sweet, masking the flavors of the meat.
On my side, I ordered the truffle burger.
Also on a Portuguese bun, it was composed of house-made truffle cheese and truffle glaze that were dripping. The beef patty was perfectly cooked medium, juicy and very flavorful, not overpowered by the hints of truffle that emanated from the burger. I split it with Jodi and we literally inhaled it.
With it, we decided to order their jumbo onion rings.
They were impressive and very good, although a bit greasy, delicious with the sauces they brought to the table. I admit that my favorite sauces were the jalapeño ranch and the spicy diablo, even if they were spicy.
I loved the truffle burger at Umami Burger: it is probably one of the best I had so far. They propose other combinations with truffle that I definitely will have to try!
Enjoy (I did)!
Umami is what is called the fifth taste, after sweet, sour, bitter and salty. At Umami Burger, they created some combinations that bring together sweet and salty. Because of this, they do not allow for any substitution. You will not find also a classic cheeseburger. There, everything is their own creation.
As we were waiting for our burgers, they brought us some sauces for our sides:
From left to right: jalapeño ranch (spicy with really a taste of jalapeño), aioli, spicy diablo (very spicy, it is their version of siracha sauce) and umami ketchup.
Then came the burgers. Jodi decided to try the Umami burger.
As you can see, the burgers are branded with a big U. The Umami burger is made of shiitake mushroom, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, parmesan crisp and umami ketchup. The bread is a Portuguese bun that has a bit of honey, giving to it a nice sweetness.
It was just ok for me, the taste being too sweet, masking the flavors of the meat.
On my side, I ordered the truffle burger.
Also on a Portuguese bun, it was composed of house-made truffle cheese and truffle glaze that were dripping. The beef patty was perfectly cooked medium, juicy and very flavorful, not overpowered by the hints of truffle that emanated from the burger. I split it with Jodi and we literally inhaled it.
With it, we decided to order their jumbo onion rings.
They were impressive and very good, although a bit greasy, delicious with the sauces they brought to the table. I admit that my favorite sauces were the jalapeño ranch and the spicy diablo, even if they were spicy.
I loved the truffle burger at Umami Burger: it is probably one of the best I had so far. They propose other combinations with truffle that I definitely will have to try!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post or the photos, feel free to share it using the toolbar below or to write a comment!
And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Umami Burger | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / American New / Burgers | |
| * Street Address | |
| 432 6th Ave. (Between 9th St. & 10th St.), New York, NY 10011 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 677-8626 |
Peruvian lunch at El Anzuelo Fino in Woodhaven, NY
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I recently got invited to El Anzuelo Fino (The Fresh Fishhook) in Woodhaven, Queens. This place opened in 1998, after the owners, Maria and Amilcar Torres, who opened a restaurant with the same name in Lima, Peru in 1982, decided to relocate to the US. It is a small place, with definitely a neighborhood feel. A family business for sure: Amilcar was inspired by his mother to become a Chef and Boris, his son, followed the same path after falling in love with this industry at the age of 12, while working with his parents. Later on, after being trained by Peruvian Chefs, Boris attended the French Culinary Institute and worked in NYC restaurants including Red Rooster, Boulud Sud, Nuela, La Mar, and Raymi before taking over the management of El Anzuelo Fino.
The decor there is really simple, if it is not for the stone wall with fishes in the bottom, swimming freely, probably knowing that they would not be served as ceviche. Because I learnt from my friend Chef Vanessa Greeley, who is from Peru, that ceviche is definitely, with lomo salteado, a specialty of the country.
For our first immersion into Peruvian cuisine, our host was Maria Torres herself. She explained to us the story behind the restaurant, as well as the passion her family has for this business.
Before I talk about the food that was presented to us, let's talk about the beverages. First is wine: they do not have a wide selection there, but if you are curious about Peruvian wines, you should be satisfied.
They also have cocktails, like the Pisco Sour that Maria prepared for me.
It was made with Pisco and just 2 drops of Angostura for the sour taste.
This is definitely not something you would drink like milk...
If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, they have shakes, as well as the chicha:
Chicha is a drink made with purple corn that is boiled for 2 hours and then prepared with fruit like apple and pineapple.
It is quite sweet and thick, with a taste that I cannot really compare to anything. It was our first encounter with purple corn, that I never tried before and that we would retrieve in our dessert.
With our drinks came cancha, that is dried corn that is fried.
Then, we started our discovery of Peru. The first dish was a ceviche made with pollock fish (ceviche de corvina).
It was served with sweet potatoes, French corn and onions.
I liked it: it was fresh and refreshing with a nice lemon hint.
The second dish was the veal hearts or anticuchos con papa cocida y choclo:
I love veal heart, so I was glad they served us this dish where the meat was accompanied with French corn and some potato. I admit that I mainly focused on the meat that was perfectly cooked and had a nice char from the grill.
Next was the pulpo al olivo or grilled octopus topped with a creamy black olive sauce.
This was just an ok dish for me as there was unfortunately too much sauce and I ended up removing it from the octopus that was very good and tender.
Then came the lomo salteado, a dish prepared with some top sirloin that is diced and cooked with onions, tomatoes and French fries. I liked it: original in a way with the fries mixed in, the meat and sauce were tasty.
The last dish was the corvina a la macho.
It is a fish filet (it depends on arrival, this time we got flounder) that is cooked in a secret sauce and covered with some seafood (octopus, calamari and shrimp). If you like seafood, it is a nice dish: all the elements were perfectly cooked, the calamari and octopus were not tough, and the sauce, that cooked for 3 hours, was delicious.
We then finished with dessert and got the mazamorra morada or purple corn pudding:
Just the rice pudding part was delicious and creamy, but with the purple corn pudding, it was fantastic! The left part of the pudding was prepared, besides with corn, with pineapple, vanilla, lemon and anise. It is definitely a good alternative to a simple, but delicious, rice pudding.
The lunch at El Anzuelo Fino was quite good and a nice discovery of Peruvian food, with dishes that were interesting to try. Know that they have a sister restaurant in Jackson Heights, opened in 2008.
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| El Anzuelo Fino | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Woodhaven / Peruvian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 9801 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven, NY 11421 | |
| * Phone | |
| (718) 846-0909 |