Joe's Shanghai in New York, NY
It has been years since I went to Joe's Shanghai, having tried their midtown (food just ok and poor service) and their Chinatown location. But, after trying the soup dim sum at Red Farm, I wanted to go back and see how these restaurants measure up against each other.
We went on a week day and showed up a bit before the opening as, each time we passed by, there was a long line, this restaurant being recommended in a lot of guides. Surprisingly, there was barely anybody, so we got a table right away.
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Paname, French restaurant in New York, NY
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Paname, that means
Paris
in slang, is a French restaurant located Midtown East, opened a year ago by Chef Bernard Ros, a veteran of the New York food scene, known not only for his cuisine, but also his mentorship in the industry, helping people get jobs or training them, solely for the love of food. The adventure started in 1967, when Chef Ros came to Montreal for the World's Fair. He then decided to go visit New York...and never went back to France, working in many restaurants, before opening Meli Melo and then Paname.
Chef Bernard Ros with the "Marilyn Monroe's legs"
I spoke at length with him during my dinner at Paname and truly felt that he was more interested in making his customers pleased with the experience at the restaurant, serving them classic bistro dishes, reinvented, at low prices, creating a loyal clientele, instead of one time diners.
Chef Ros goes everyday to the market to pick ingredients, putting an emphasis on the quality of the meat and seafood he will serve. If you go to Paname, you will definitely see him (he is there 7/7) going from table to table, to ensure everything is fine.
Menu wise, you will find classics, but as I mentioned before, reinvented. For instance, there are escargots (snails), but not cooked the usual way, with garlic and butter. Also, everything is homemade, including the desserts, that can be a challenge for a Chef, but not for Bernard Ros, as you will see in this post.
We started our meal with an amuse bouche that was made with gorgonzola and a tomato coulis, a perfect combination.
Then, I tried few appetizers:
Tomato and mozzarella:
Grilled portobello mushrooms with mozzarella:
Homemade pâté with cornichons:
Escargots de Bourgogne with Russet potatoes:
The first thing I noticed was the presentation and then, the originality of the escargot dish: it was definitely a different way of preparing escargot, like a twist to stuffed vegetables, a French classic, where the snails replaced the ground meat. On the plate were stuffed potatoes and zucchini.
Also, the pâté had this rustic taste, full of authenticity.
For entrees, I tried:
The paella Valenciana:
You are right, it is a Spanish dish, but it seems that customers love this special, so it is often proposed. It was prepared with seafood (a lot, such as calamari, clams, shrimp and mussels), as well as chorizo and chicken. Delicious dish, very appetizing with all these vivid colors.
The sautéed cod fish à la niçoise with a tomato fondant:
I really liked it: the fish, sitting on top of smooth mashed potatoes, was perfectly cooked and topped with a sort of stew made with roasted tomatoes, peppers and a black olives (the
à la niçoise
part of the dish) that was sublime, giving another dimension to the dish.
Last was the bouillabaisse, a fish stew that comes from the city of Marseille in the South of France, where I was born!
When the dish came to the table, it had this wonderful aroma and I could not wait to taste the broth that was delicious and very flavorful, perfectly seasoned. It was composed of mussels, clams, baby scallops, shrimp and cod, accompanied with a garlic aioli (on two pieces of toasted bread, as well as on a spoon, to mix with the broth)..
That was very good and very comforting, definitely a dish I would recommend, even in Summer time.
Then, it was time for dessert. At Paname, they have classic ones, such as crème brûlée, tarte tatin or mousse au chocolat. I did not eat the latter, but Bernard Ros, showed me how they served it and it was amazing: not served in the usual bowl, it was truly artistic.
I tried the flourless chocolate cake that was probably one of the best I had so far. Prepared with some Valhrona bittersweet chocolate, it was dense and very chocolatey.
Last were the homemade crêpes, made with Grand Marnier and served with almonds.
The crêpes were thicker than what I am used to, making them a bit heavier. However, I truly appreciated that they put the right amount of alcohol and the added texture of the toasted almonds.
Last were cookies:
I should mention that I drank a glass (or two) of Côtes du Rhône with my meal.
The short walk after we left was welcome...Paname is a nice place to go to, simple and unpretentious, where the passion of its Chef and owner really reflects into the dishes. And with a $35 prix-fixe with an appetizer, entree and dessert, you cannot go wrong!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Per Se in New York, NY
We dreamt about going to Per Se for a while and decided, for our wedding anniversary, to go there instead of traveling. It was worth it. Acclaimed Chef Thomas Keller and his crew, led by Chef de Cuisine Eli Kaimeh are like magicians. They not only make disappear your appetite and a large sum of money from your bank account, they also erase any memory or reference to any good meal you had before going to Per Se. Yes, after dining at Per Se, any good restaurant will be like going to MacDonald's after tasting the burger at Minetta Tavern. This team shows so much technique and artistry that we were blown away.
Before I talk about the food, let me tell you a bit about this restaurant. Located on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center, the American Chef Thomas Keller opened Per Se in 2004. It soon received the accolades of critics and easily gained three Michelin stars, reaching the top of the New York dining scene and being constantly mentioned in best restaurants ranking, including world best.
Arriving at the restaurant, my heart was beating faster from the excitement to finally go there. We sat few minutes in their anti chamber of heaven, looking at the blue doors that are a reference to Thomas Keller's flagship The French Laundry in California (the dining room has 62 seats like The French Laundry - another reference?).
Then, it was time to start this culinary adventure. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and got seated at a table overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park, the latter reminding me that I would probably need the gym later on...
To make sure everything was at its place, they brought Jodi a little stool for her bag...
I started by ordering a glass of wine picked from their impressive list displayed on an IPad.
I went for a glass of Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py, 2012:
We made our choice from the menu. Per Se proposes two prix fixe for $310 service included: the vegetarian menu (Jodi's pick) and the Chef's Tasting, each of them having 9 courses. For each course, you have two choices, some of them including an up charge, as prepared with luxurious items such as foie gras, caviar or truffles. Know that the menu will change on a daily basis, although some of the dishes, search as the first course I got seems to be a recurring choice.
So, let's see what we got!
Amuse-Bouche:
For Jodi, it was a cone with Belgian endives, grapefruit and cream cheese:
For me, a cone with marinated salmon and cream cheese:
Cheese gougères (choux pastry mixed with cheese):
I love when they bring amuse, because not only it opens your appetite, but it also contributes to the excitement of the whole experience.
First Course:
For Jodi - Meyer lemon-lime sorbet, served with Rocky sweet melon, Hass avocado puree, Yarrow blossoms and finger limes:
For me -
Oysters and Pearls
Sabayon of pearl tapioca with Island Creek oysters and white sturgeon caviar. This dish is very often served on the menu apparently and, after the first bite, I understood why: what is surprising about it is how well these ingredients worked together, texture wise, flavor wise and temperature wise. The sabayon was hot while the caviar and oysters were not; it was sweet, while the caviar was slightly salty. I really loved that dish that was like bringing the appetizer and dessert together.
Second course
For Jodi - turnip "Bavarois":
Composed of Stonington nori, compressed nectarine, Persian cucumber and charred hearts of romaine lettuce.
For me - Hudson Valley Moulard duck foie gras:
At that point, I had a choice between a salad of marinated tomatoes or a foie gras for $40 supplement. I did not think twice and went for the latter. It was served with a confit de canard sauce, oat Streusel, stewed blueberries, fennel bulb, amaranth and black winter truffle, as well as the most delicious brioche ever, drizzled with coarse salt:
Funny enough, I was half way through the brioche when they removed it from the table, causing my heart to drop, but it was to replace it with another one. Well, they could have left both on the table: they would not have made it that long there...
There was also some salt for the foie gras brought to the table, coming from different countries such as a sel de Guérande from France or the black salt from Hawaii.
I did not use the salt as I thought the dish did not need any and was perfect as is. The only regret is that, although it had the visual of truffle, it did not have the aroma.
At the same time they brought us the second course, they brought some butter and bread. The first butter was a honey butter, shaped like a beehive:
The second one was from a farm in Vermont where they have only ten cows:
It came with a small bread:
But then, before the third course arrived, they came with a beautiful bread basket:
Jodi chose the pretzel bread:
While I chose the mini-baguette:
All these bread were deliciously fresh and crunchy when expected.
Third course
Jodi - Griddled corn cake:
Served with Brentwood corn relish, pole beans, tomatoes, quail eggs, mâche (green salad) and black winter truffle.
For me - Crispy skin Mediterranean lubina:
Served with Rick Bishop's snow peas, green market radishes and horseradish crème fraîche. Lubina is in fact sea bass; that was definitely the star of the dish: it was perfectly cooked and that crispy skin was succulent. I also appreciated the fact that the crème fraîche was not overpowered by the horseradish.
Fourth course
Jodi - English pea "flan"
It was served with morel mushrooms, asparagus, heirloom carrots and garlic scapes.
For me - Butter poached Nova Scotia Lobster:
The dish was composed of the lobster, greek bottarga (salted, cured fish roe called
poutargue
in French), avocado squash, cranberry beans, stonecrop and garbanzo beans vinaigrette. Just the presentation was amazing, from the plating to the popping colors. But the best was of course the flavors that were like a concert in my mouth, the bottarga adding a subtle bitterness and the avocado some richness to a perfectly cooked lobster.
Fifth course
This was a long awaited course: the truffle course. For Jodi, it was a pasta course and she had the choice between basil agnolotti and the gnocchi with truffles. For me, it was either the fricassee of Salmon Creek Farms' pork belly or the tagliatelle with truffles. Each truffle dishes required a supplement of $125. I admit that we hesitated a bit and then went for it, thinking that we would probably regret not having them and, as it was a special occasion...
The black winter truffles, that are from Australia, came in a box. When they opened the lid, our noses got invaded that this fantastic smell so characteristic of these ugly fungus. They shaved them generously on our plates, making us wonder how they know when there have to stop.
So, the dishes were:
For Jodi - russet potatoes gnocchi with parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) and black winter truffles (of course):
For me - hand cut tagliatelle with parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) and black winter truffles (of course):
Do not think that we left the shavings that were on the side of the dishes: for that price, we surely ate them!
It was delicious: not only because of the truffles with their pungent aroma and wonderful taste, but also because the creamy cheese sauce and the pasta were scrumptious. We definitely did not regret the extra cost.
Sixth course
For Jodi - Croustillant de pommes de terre:
It was served with ruby beets, French leeks, Spring onions, mustard cress and "bordelaise".
For me - Marcho Farms' "selle de veau" (veal loin):
It was composed of Oregon morel mushrooms, good nugget potatoes, Tokyo turnips and brown butter jus. The veal loin was just ok for me, as I did to really like the texture, but, with all the components of the plate, it made it successful, especially the morel mushrooms and the brown butter jus.
Seventh course - cheese course
For Jodi, Moses sleeper cheese from Vermont (it is close to a French brie), with walnut "melba", heirloom cauliflower, stonecrop and Royal Blenheim apricot compote.
For me, Consider Bardwell Farm's "pawlet", with Hadley Orchards' Medjool dates, Jingle bell peppers, glazed broccoli, petite parsley and "Romesco":
It came with a tiny garlic ciabatta bread:
I did not know what pawlet was, but I really liked this soft and buttery cheese from Vermont.
Eight Course - Assortment of desserts
That is when the madness started: desserts were coming one after the other, each one more exquisite than the other.
First, Jodi got a Victoria sponge cake with blackberry jam, vanilla and white chocolate buttercream and green market berries.
For me, a strawberry soda, lemon verbena pastry cream, champagne granité and French meringue:
Then, Jodi got the fig ice cream with a rose geranium gelée:
And I got a toasted almond ice cream with a garniture from Montélimar, a city in France known for its nougat.
For our anniversary, they brought us a dessert made of white and dark chocolate mousse inside:
And when we thought we were done, they brought us some more. For Jodi, a dessert called "Loma Sotavento", made with salted caramel, peanut "Nutella" and red verjus jelly.
For me, a chocolate mint made with a Valrhona chocolate ganache and with an "After Eight" and mint tea purée.
And when we thought we were done, they brought us some more (I think I already said that...)! First were chocolates:
They came with this big box full of different chocolates, the top row being dark chocolate, the middle row white and the bottom row milk chocolate.
I picked:
- on the left, an olive oil and rosemary white chocolate where these two surprising ingredients burst into my mouth delightfully.
- on the bottom right, a vanilla bourbon milk chocolate.
- on the top right, a Mats brothers Madagascar dark chocolate.
Few minutes later, came a semifredo cappuccino and donuts, a dessert from The French Laundry:
And what I would call a magic box:
It opened, revealing some more sweets!
In the bottom were chocolate truffles:
In the middle, macarons:
On top, some nougats and caramels:
And then for home, some shortbread cookies with chocolate in the middle.
It was as if the dinner was ending with fireworks. We left full, not only in our bellies, but full of memories: we will remember that dinner for sure. Everything was on point and the food was spectacular, not only taste wise, but also the way it was presented, each plate used to serve the dish looking as if it was custom made.
This is definitely a restaurant I recommend for a special occasion if the price is not an issue. Chapeau Per Se!
Enjoy (I surely did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Le Bernardin in New York, NY
Before stating that you definitely do not like fish, go to Le Bernardin, the three Michelin starred restaurant of Chef Eric Ripert and Maguy Coze, located in Midtown Manhattan. This place, opened in 1986 is the pinnacle of seafood in America and kept a solid reputation all these years. There is no doubt Chef Ripert is talented, crafting an elegant and tasteful menu that even the most skeptical will rave about, but, behind the scenes is one man, an incredible fish butcher by the name of Justo Thomas, who takes care of more than 1,000 pounds of fish per day, requiring three people to replace him when he is on vacation! Thanks to his craftsmanship, you will not find one bone or fish part that you cannot eat, filleting fishes to perfection and ensuring you have the best quality on your plate, making the whole experience there unforgettable (I just drooled by the way just thinking about it).
We went there for our wedding anniversary, for a first celebration (yes, we had two!). I do not really remember the decor, three years ago, when we went for dinner, right before their renovations, adding a lounge to the restaurant, where I believe you can just walk in and have a more casual experience than in the dining room (Gentlemen, jacket is required). The decor is classy, modern and warm, with a beautiful painting in the back from Brooklyn artist Ran Ortner representing the sea, dominating the entire dining room.
As we were still deciding what to pick from the menu, they brought us an amuse bouche.
It was composed of:
Goat cheese and beet in phyllo:
Oyster from Washington State with sea beans:
Carrot and ginger soup with a tuile:
That was a great way to start, my preference going to the soup because I thought that it had complex flavors. Even Jodi, who does not like carrot loved it.
Then, they brought us some bread and butter.
There was a large choice of bread for sure.
Jodi picked the pretzel bread
And me, the sundried tomatoe and fennel (pretty good).
We opted for the prix fixe dinner, the tasting menu looking good, but having plenty of dishes that Jodi would not like. For $135, you get three dishes and a dessert. Pricey, but totally worth it.
The first dishes were in the section
Almost raw
. For Jodi, it was the striped bass:
It was a wild striped bass tartare, Jicama salad with a champagne-mango emulsion. For most of the dishes, the sauce or emulsion was put at the end, poured slowly by the wait staff, like a ceremonial gesture.
It was served with some toasted sourdough bread.
I got the yellowfin tuna that was layered over foie gras and toasted baguette, with chives and extra virgin olive oil on top:
This was a nice take on surf and turf, and it worked! Similar to a carpaccio, I loved the combination of fish / foie gras, with the added crispiness from the baguette.
The second dishes were from the section
Barely touched
. For Jodi, it was the white tuna or escolar poached in olive oil and served with niçoise olives, grilled maitake mushrooms and a citron (lemon) vinaigrette.
For me, the king fish and caviar:
It was served with brioche bread.
Similar to Jodi's first dish, the light marinière broth was added at the table.
Et voila!
This was a fantastic dish: the king fish was sliced like a sashimi and not at all overpowered by either the broth or the caviar that gave a very slight saltiness to the dish.
Then was the last dish, from the section
lightly cooked
. Jodi ordered the crispy black bass, served with wood ears mushrooms and water chestnuts, and bathed in a black truffle hot and sour pot au feu:
She was a bit disappointed, especially after she tasted my dish...I tried it and liked it, the fish skin being deliciously crispy and the fish being perfectly cooked, but I have to agree with her that we could barely taste the truffle.
So, on my side, my last dish was spectacular! It was a surf and turf made of white tuna (escolar) and kobe beef.
There were three elements to the dish:
The escolar with its soy-lemon emulsion:
The kimchi and Asian pear:
The kobe beef:
That was the best dish of the evening and, considering what we had so far, it is a pretty big statement! The escolar was so good, with its nice grilled taste, it was literally melting in my mouth. So was the beef that was tender and juicy (I drooled again!).
Last was dessert. Jodi ordered the S'mores (smoked Madagascan chocolate crémeux, Graham cracker sablé, Tahitian vanilla ice cream) that she inhaled:
And I ordered the banana, a dessert composed of a roasted banana mousse cake and ice cream, Piedmont hazelnuts:
I loved it: it was quite light and delicate, not too sweet, perfect if you love banana!
But it was not the end. They brought us a small plate with, from left to right, a cherry chocolate (that had peanut in it), a salted caramel (my favorite), a peach pate de fruit and black currant financier:
I should of course mention the wine. I went for a glass of Meursault "Les grands charrons", a Bourgogne from 2011.
With its medium-bodied flavor, it was perfect with the fish.
Dining at Le Bernardin was a sublime experience: the service was outstanding and the food beautifully presented and delicious. Yes it is pricey, but this is the kind of restaurant where you will not be disappointed. So I guess there is no need to ask me if I would go back: you know the answer!
Enjoy (I surely did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Empellon Taqueria in New York, NY
As we were craving Mexican food, we decided to go to Empellon Taqueria, located in the West village; a place whose staff has definitely a sense of humor...
Big place with beautiful mural on the wall.
That day, they were hosting a birthday party and I did not had time to have a look at the menu crafted for the event, but noted that this could be a good place for a group meal.
To start, we went for the guacamole and chips.
The guacamole was definitely freshly made as could attest the chunks of avocado, chopped onions or fresh cilantro.
I truly appreciated the fact that they put the jalapeño on top, so if one does not like it, it is easy to remove them.
It was perfect: well seasoned, served with delicious tortilla chips.
For her entrée, Jodi ordered the mixed mushroom tacos (she chose to get two instead of three, that are the two sizes proposed).
This was a delicious dish that I recommend if you love mushrooms, because they put a lot of it and it is not mixed with any sauce or ingredients that would overpower the entire dish, letting the mushroom be the star.
On my side, I was first set for tacos, but changed my mind when I saw that they were serving a churro French toast. Yes, you read that right and I was sure the combination of a churro and a French toast would be divine: I was not mistaken.
First of all, it was a perfect French toast: the bread that was like a brioche or challah was perfectly soaked, and the churro created a crust that was delightfully crispy. It worked so well that I did not need to add any butter and maple syrup.
This was a fantastic brunch there, all the dishes being very good and the service perfect. I am still ecstatic about the churro French toast that I definitely recommend. I will definitely go back as I saw some tacos I definitely want to try. I really enjoyed: oh yes I did! Sorry, I just drooled all over my computer...
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Larb Ubol, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
There are so many Thai restaurants in New York, that I was a bit skeptical when I received an invitation from Kao Srisuphasiri, one of the owners of Larb Ubol, a Thai restaurant located in the bottom part of Hell's Kitchen. Even there, that restaurant is surrounded by other ones serving Thai food. I soon understood why Larb Ubol is original.
Well, like many Thai places, you do not go there for the decor and they admit that they prefer putting the money on the food as this is the reason why customers come back. Entering in the restaurant, you immediately notice the big empty space at the entrance: at this point, they are not really sure what to put there, whether a plant, fountain or tables. For the moment, it is nice because it does not feel too crowded.
The decor is very simplistic:
banquettes and chair backs are covered with Thailand’s traditional checkered pha khao ma cloth used to fashion everything from sarongs to hammocks
. On the ceiling and walls, some small umbrellas coming from Thailand:
So, it was clear that we were there for the food, and we made sure we tried several dishes prepared by Chef Ratchanee Sumpatboon, who worked for 20 years in New York City, in well known restaurants, such as Zabb Elee. Her menu is Isan cuisine, from the North East of Thailand, characterized by its heat, chili peppers being prominent, as well as sticky rice, used as we would bread.
Looking at the menu, I immediately noticed the absence of the massaman or penang curry I am used to seeing in Thai restaurants, the only well known dishes being Pad See ew or Pad Thai. I guess that is where Larb Ubol is different. So, it was time to check it out!
To start our feast, we ordered a Thai beer (Singha):
As well as Thai iced tea that was perfect to cool me from the heat of the dishes.
To start, we ordered a couple of appetizers. First was the Larb, a spicy ground meat salad that gave its name to the restaurant (Ubol comes from the city of Ubon Ratchathani where the Chef grew up).
We had the following choices for the ground meat: chicken, pork, beef, veggie duck...We went for beef (
Nuer Larb
). It was good, but spicy and I loved mixing the spicy meat with the refreshing cucumber or mint leaves. I liked it so much that I kept going at it.
Then, I tried the grilled chicken liver skewer (
Tub Yang
), served with a tamarind dipping sauce:
If like me, you like chicken liver, this dish is for you. I admit that it was a bit dry, but the tamarind sauce did its magic, making it a very enjoyable appetizer.
The next dish was Peek Kai Tod or marinated chicken wings, served with a sweet chili sauce:
I thought it would be spicy, but it was not the case at all: the sauce was on the sweet side and was perfect with the moist chicken wings. Good dish for bird lovers.
Then, we had the Pukk Boong Fai Dang or sautéed morning glory with fresh chili:
I do not think I ever had morning glory before. It looks like this:
I enjoyed the dish, but should have ordered it with crispy pork as I am not too much of a vegetarian. The morning glory tasted a bit like spinach, maybe a bit less bitter.
Then was the Chicken Pad Ped:
It is one of their Chef's special, composed of chicken, Thai eggplant, bell pepper, basil, wild ginger and drenched in a spicy curry paste. I should add the large quantity of peppercorn...
After one bite, my mouth was literally on fire and I was glad I had the sticky rice and Thai iced tea to cool down!
I also ate some Pad See Ew that helped against the heat:
We went for the tofu version that was very good.
Last was dessert: we ordered the fried ice cream.
I always find fried ice cream to be an interesting dessert: who got this idea to fry ice cream?
This was a very addictive dessert, the vanilla ice cream pairing well with its shell that was slightly crispy and deliciously sweet.
This was a very good dinner and I am glad I had the opportunity to try a different cuisine. Larb Ubol is definitely unique and stands out from the traditional Thai restaurants. Would I go back: certainly. But this time, I'll ask for non spicy dishes...
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
Taste of Asia 2014: Huaiyang cuisine cook off!
You will also find many booths proposing Asian cuisine, such as Nyonya, a Malaysian restaurant.
I have tried their chicken curry with pickled vegetables and it was fantastic, a bit spicy, but so good, the pickles adding a refreshing part to the dish.
Nyonya
199 Grand St
New York, NY 10013
On the left is Kean Wong, host at NTD Television and producer of the movie Free China, The Courage to Believe. On the left, Jenny, anchor of Global Watch and also the Hostess of Time with Fang Fei on NTD Television.
First was Chef Ueda Tadayoshi from Japan:
Chef Tong Yuncai from the US:
Chef Zhang Jun from Germany:
The jury was composed of Chefs as well as Akiko Katayama, a food writer that you may have seen as a guest judge on Iron Chef America on the Food Network.
The Chefs had 45 minutes to cook dishes inspired from the Huaiyang cuisine, known for its delicate taste and demand on technique. I got to sample three of them:
Braised dried tofu shred from Chef Ueda Tadayoshi from Japan:
Similar dish from Chef Tong Yuncai from the US, but with shrimp:
Based on the taste, I believe that the shrimp were dried, having a bit of a fishy taste. I definitely preferred the first one from Chef Ueda Tadayoshi.
The next dish I tried was sweet and sour swordfish from Chef Ueda Tadayoshi:
The bright color of the dish was spectacular, as was the dish, that had a nice sweetness and crispiness also; the only negative being the bones...
I did not try any other dishes, but was waiting for the judges to declare the winner. First, each of the contestants had to face the jury:
 |
| Chef Ueda Tadayoshi (Japan) and the jury |
 |
| Chef Tong Yuncai (US) and the Jury |
 |
| Chef Zhang Jun (Germany) and the Jury |
It was written in Shūfǎ or Chinese calligraphy.
And the winner was:
 |
| Chef Ueda Tadayoshi (Japan) |
 |
| Second was Chef Tong Yuncai (US) and third, Chef Zhang Jun (Germany) |
Enjoy (I did)!
Brunch at Sounds Of Brazil SOB's in NY, New York
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I do not know how many times I passed by SOB's, but I truthfully thought it was just another club that entertained many for more than 25 years. Until I received an invite to come and try it. This venue that can accommodate up to 450 people is huge and composed of different sections:
The bar area:
With its table football that was there especially for the World Cup.
Its large dining area with a stage where they play music for patrons who either want to eat, drink or dance.
In fact, during our brunch, there was band playing some Brazilian songs.
I admit that when they arrived on stage, I was thinking that it will probably be loud and annoying as I like to enjoy my meal in a atmosphere where I can talk to my wife without screaming. It was perfect, being more in the background; the acoustic was fantastic and the band was very good.
They brought us the brunch menu that, for $31, includes unlimited sangria (red or white), an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. I was more inclined to try a caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail made with cachaça, sugar and lime.
I truly appreciated the fact that it was not too sweet and well balanced, with a nice quantity of lime in it.
At the same time, they brought us a bread basket:
It was composed of a small croissant, bread, corn bread and of course, some cheese bread or pao de queijo (I love it):
Then of course was the food. The menu, crafted by Chef Jorge Lima is latin, not only Brazilian.
So we started with the appetizers. We went for the butternut squash soup with toasted pumpkin pepitos and crème fraiche:
It was very good, with a nice sweetness from the butternut that worked perfectly with the crème fraiche (I just wish there was more of it).
The second appetizer was the empanadas:
One was made with cheese:
The other one with some spicy beef:
Both were good and I could not decide which one I liked best. The shell was delightfully crispy and flaky. Dipped in their spicy red pepper sauce, it was divine!
Let me tell you: this sauce was very hot, but so good, that I could not resist dipping the empanadas in it.
Then, Jodi got the fish tacos:
It is like a do-it-yourself version of it, made with pan-fried tilapia served with chopped greens, fresh tomatillo salsa, avocado relish and sour cream. The fish was perfectly cooked, slightly crispy and not greasy and at some point, I did not care about the tortilla and just ate it with the different components it was served with. It is a great dish.
But, the specialty I was thrilled to try at SOB's is the feijoada:
It is Brazil's national dish made with pork ears and tail, dried beef and black beans (
feijão
is the Portuguese for "beans"). Yes, I was thrilled to eat it because I first tried it in April at a restaurant called Bolinha in São Paulo. It was also served with rice, collard greens (surprisingly delicious as I tend to find them too bitter), a slice of orange and manioc flour. Was it close to what I tried in Brazil? Yes, Although Chef Jorge Lima told me that he is trying to recreate it with the ingredients he can find here. And I am sure anyway that everyone has its own recipe. What I can tell you is that it was very good and comforting: the meat was very tasty (they had a generous amount of it) and I liked mixing the different components together.
You are probably wondering at this point if we were still hungry. Well, not really, but we could not leave without trying some desserts! We tried:
The flan:
And the empanadas with chocolate and banana:
My favorite was the flan: dense, it was prepared with condensed milk, like in Brazil. This is definitely a dessert I recommend. The empanada? It was just ok: I thought that there was not enough filling and that it was not heavenly spread, only one bite (photo below), having a nice amount of chocolate.
This was a fantastic brunch and surprising: I would have never thought about going to SOB's for lunch or brunch. Would I go back? Hell, yeah!
Enjoy (I did)!
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My trip to Europe: Gelato in Florence, Italy
You cannot go in Italy and not eat Gelato! We had gelato probably every day, but not at Eataly that was there, Via dei Martelli.
And not in the multiple gelateria we saw while walking in the street, some of them with a spectacular presentation...
One of the gelateria we found was in the opposite side of Eataly. It was called Caffè Del Battistero.
There, we simply ordered our flavors and the guy serving us (I wonder if he ever smiled in his life), gave us a huge gelato that ended up on our hands, the ice cream melting fairly quickly because of the outside temperature. Jodi got the coconut gelato:
And I got the hazelnut one:
The gelato was good, but I wish they asked us for the size we wanted, 10 euros being a bit expensive for what it was anyway.
Caffè Del Battistero
Via Martelli 13 Florence, Florence, Italy
But then, we went to Vivoli, a gelateria recommended by Jodi's friend Sabrina.
When we arrived, there was a group of tourists there, making me think that it is probably in lots of guide books. The way it works there is that first you pay and then you go to the gelato counter and order your flavor. Jodi ordered her coconut gelato that was deliciously creamy.
On my side, I did not order my usual hazelnut flavor, but a pear and caramel scoop that was amazing. Ok, I did not really taste the caramel, but the pear taste was incredible: I bet they make their ice cream with real pears there.
This was the best gelato we had in Florence and I truly recommend Vivoli. Know that they have a location at Macy's in New York. We went there, but I admit that it did not look that appealing and we did not see any tempting flavors. I guess I will stick with Grom...
Vivoli
Via Dell'Isola delle Stinche, 7r, 50122 Florence, Italy
The last gelateria I would mention is Carabé that I found surfing on the internet (it was recommended by Condé Nast Traveller).
There, Jodi ordered two scoops: coconut and chocolate.
Although not as creamy as Vivoli, I thought it was pretty good.
On my side, I ordered the pear gelato:
I liked it, but, again, Vivoli was better.
Carabé
Via Ricasoli, 60, Florence, Italy
So, do not miss out on gelato in Florence and if you can, go to Vivoli: it is definitely worth it!
Enjoy (I did)!
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My trip to Europe:Trattoria Sostanza, communal dining in Florence, Italy
After few days in Florence, it was time to go back home. Florence is such a beautiful city, that even people who don't like art would appreciate it.
So for our last dinner, we went to Trattoria Sostanza that was, after Trattoria Mario, our second experience with a restaurant that serves food on communal table. We heard about this restaurant after doing some research on the good places to eat in Florence. One of the recommended dishes was the buttered chicken. I was for sure going to try it!
For dinner, they have two sittings: 7:30pm and 9pm. We decided to go to the earlier one and showed up 10 minutes before, just in case they opened the door in advance to hungry customers. As we arrived, there was already a small group of people waiting.
7:30pm, they opened their doors. We did not have a reservation and I was scared they would not have any availability. But, luckily, after just a couple if minutes, they brought us to a table where there was seated an American Family, as well as a Belgian couple.
7:50pm: all tables are taken (they sit approximately 35 guests).
Few minutes after, they brought us some bread; no bread basket: they simply put it in front of you with their bare hands, making the family next to us talk...
As the menu was in Italian and Jodi and I do not speak the language, I asked for an English version: they did not have any, forcing them to describe dishes to tourists. But hey, this is part of the experience!
To start, I decided to try one of their Italian beers.
And we ordered some delicious salami:
For her entree, Jodi ordered the tortellini al burro or tortellini with butter:
It was very good, the amount of butter not being stranger to that. But for sure, these pasta seemed store bought.
On my side, I got the buttered chicken:
I admit that, when I ordered it, I was a bit anxious, because everybody was ordering either the chicken or the bistecca a la Fiorentina that is simply a grilled T-bone steak you can find all over the city. I did not try it, preferring to try more traditional dishes.
When the buttered chicken arrived, it was still sizzling, a delightful smell of butter emanating from the very hot skillet. I did not try the chicken first, but rather dipped a piece of bread in the sauce that was simply butter; and I mean a lot if butter. This was divine. Of course, I could not not notice the envious looks from my neighbors. The American family ordered the chicken too, for three people and it came in a larger skillet, but they served the chicken in dishes, so they had much less butter than me, hence more envious looks on their part...
The piece of bread dipped in the butter was delicious, but when I tried the chicken, I was in heaven: it was so good! Perfectly cooked, it was moist and I noticed a nice slight salty taste on the surface of the breast that was breaded with eggs, flour, salt and pepper. They probably sear it for several minutes before cooking it in the oven.
This is a fantastic dish, a bit pricey (18 euros) as there was no side, but so delicious that I would definitely reorder it, even if it is a heart attack on a plate.
I still had some room for dessert. We decided to go for their signature dessert:
It was made of very small strawberries (first time I saw them), meringue, chocolate and whipped cream. It was very good: not too sweet, not too heavy (although Jodi would say that my conception of heavy might be different from anybody else...). At 10 euros, this dessert was also pricey.
I really liked my meal at Sostanza and would definitely go back to try some other specialties, although I found the prices to be on the high side. The communal table is also a fun social experience that clearly depends on who you are sitting with. But anyway, you do not have to talk to people and can just enjoy the meal. And I enjoyed, I did!
Trattoria Sostanza
Via del Porcellana
25/R, 50123 Florence, Italy
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My trip to Europe: Osteria Santo Spirito in Florence, Italy
I admit that I was disappointed in a way, as I was expecting a square with a park and the statue in the middle, and not a parking lot and small shops for tourists...
Right after we sat, they brought us some bread and tapenade.
The bread being unsalted, it was perfect with the tapenade.
Then, we went for a tomato and mozzarella salad.
But the star of the dish were the meatballs: they were succulent, moist and tasty. This is definitely a dish I recommend.
We also tried the Minestra di Farro or spelt bean soup:
I ordered the small size and did not expect to get a large bowl.
It was also very good and very comforting. I also recommend that dish that I finished without any problem.
When we finished, they brought us some cherries.
We definitely had a wonderful meal at Osteria Santo Spirito, a place that I definitely recommend.
Osteria Santo Spirito
Piazza Santo Spirito, 19 r, Florence, Italy
http://www.osteriasantospirito.it
Enjoy (I did)!
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My trip to Europe: Caffè Scudieri in Florence, Italy
After our dinner at Trattoria ZàZà, we decided to stop at Caffè Scudieri, to check their pastries. It is a big place with a large terrace and plenty of pastries to try.
We chose to sit inside instead of at the terrace.
We decided to order couple of pastries, as well as a tea for Jodi
And a macchiato for me.
It was good, but not as good as the one at Caffè Gilli that was tastier.
Then, the pastries came, and I was ready...
We decided to order:
A chocolate eclair:
A baba:
And a cannoli:
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My trip to Europe: Trattoria ZàZà in Florence, Italy
We decided to go back to the Piazza del Mercato Centrale after our meal at Trattoria Mario, as we saw that there were plenty of restaurants, thinking that they probably source their ingredients from there. At that time, the market was closing down and the market crowd was gone, replaced by tourists looking for some amazing food.
We looked around and noticed a very crowded place called Trattoria ZàZà. That place, opened in 1977 by Stefano Bondi, is huge. They sat us in a small, quiet area, away from the noise.
We were ready for a feast and were not disappointed. Problem was: what do we order? The menu had so many mouth watering dishes that we were not sure...
So we started with the San Lorenzo "Tagliere", a plate of prosciutto, salami, stracchino (so good and creamy) and pecorino cheese, olives. This was a big plate for sure, but so good, especially the cheese.
We also tried a sampler of three traditional soups:
It was composed of:
- Ribolita (top left): a vegetable and bread soup.
- Pappa al pomodoro (bottom left): tomato, basil, leeks and bread soup.
- Bean soup with barley.
Then, Jodi got the Insalata Campagnola, a salad made with pecorino cheese, prosciutto and pears:
On my side, I ordered the linguine alle Vongole, desperate to find one that topped the grainy one from Borgo Antico.
It was just ok, not having enough white wine sauce. At least, the clams were well cleaned.
We did not have dessert as we had other plans and, anyway, needed a little walk after that feast...I certainly recommend Trattoria ZàZà for a good dinner. Their bistecca alla fiorentina looked fantastic and I would have gone back, I would have probably tried it!
Enjoy (I did)!
Trattoria ZàZà
Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26, 50123 Florence, Italy
http://www.trattoriazaza.it
My trip to Europe: Il Salimbecco in Florence, Italy
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My trip to Europe: Mamma Gina in Florence, Italy
Finding a restaurant in Florence is not a problem. The question is where to find a good one. There are of course guide books or sites like Trip Advisor, but the best is to get it either from locals, or from people who lived there. That is what happened with Mamma Gina: it was recommended by Jodi's friend Sabrina, who used to live there.
Mamma Gina is located few steps from the Ponto Vecchio, the famous arch bridge re-built in 1345 across the Arno river, that was in fact the only bridge not destroyed in WWII.
It has interesting architecture, with its shops built along the arch; shops that use to be occupied by butchers, and now by expensive jewelers.
The service there was good, that was, from what we experienced so far, surprising...Anyway, Mamma Gina was definitely a good recommendation and I am glad we had the opportunity to try it.
My trip to Europe: Trattoria Mario, communal dining in Florence, Italy
We went to trattoria Mario thanks to a recommendation from Jodi's friend, Missy. This place, that is only open for lunch and does not take any reservations, is located near the Mercato Centrale or Central Market, where one can either buy food (inside) or bags and souvenirs, outside.
Few minutes later, they opened the door and told us to get seated at specific spots, mentioning that the kitchen would only open at 12pm.
At 12:05pm, the place was full and we heard them telling people that the wait would be thirty minutes.
One particularity of this place is that it is communal seating: that was our first experience in this type of setup and we ended up eating with two regulars who knew the staff so well that one of them helped himself by grabbing some bread next to the small kitchen. They told us that they come on a quasi daily basis, because the food is as good as the one cooked by Grandma.
But let me restate how communal it is: imagine a table of two we are used to and put four people on it.
Trattoria Mario
50123 Florence, Italy
My trip to Europe: Italian desserts at Caffè Gilli in Florence, Italy
After our average dinner at Borgo Antico, we decided to treat ourselves for some good Italian pastries and tried Caffè Gilli, a cafe opened in 1733 by the Gilli family, that moved since then in different part of the city.
Caffè Gilli is a beautiful place that combines a patisserie and a tea room that had a very elegant decor.
Jodi decided to order a tea
For pastries, we went for:
the tiramisu (of course, we could not not have it Italy):
It was delicious, very creamy with a nice amount of coffee.
The baba:
Very good, the cake was perfect and there was a nice amount of rum in it.
The cannoli:
Although I liked the ricotta filling, it was a miss, the shell being soggy.
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My trip to Europe: Borgo Antico in Florence, Italy
We decided to go to Borgo Antico, located in Piazza di Santo Spirito.
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My trip to Europe: Il Caminetto in Florence, Italy
For our first dinner in Florence, we did not have any plan and decided to look for a restaurant near the Piazza Del Duomo, where the impressive cathedral, built in 1296 through 1436 was standing.
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But I was already sure we would dine there because of few dishes I saw and the fact that they make their own pasta, not that it is uncommon in Florence.
My trip to Europe: L'Eden in Coublevie, France
