I was thrilled to go to City Lobster and Steak, more for the lobster than for the steak to be honest. As you know if you follow this blog, I am definitely a carnivore and enjoy a good ribeye, but, after trying a lobster roll few years ago at The Red Hook Lobster Pound food truck, I became addicted to it.
Feijoada is Brazil's national dish, so I could not be in that country and miss an opportunity to try it. This specialty is made of black beans (feijoa in Portuguese), meat, manioc, collar greens (cove) and oranges. It is like a Brazilian cassoulet, but cheaper as the meat are the remains of the animal: ears or tail for instance.
What are the chances that I would go to a restaurant in one country and then, go to the same in another country? Slim, but not impossible. This is what happened with Fogo De Chao, the churrascaria place I blogged about few months ago: I tried their outpost in New York (post here), before trying one of their restaurants in Sao Paulo.
Bugnes are some sort of beignets that are popular in Central-Eastern France, the most known being the bugnes de Lyon. There are two sorts: the soft and the crunchy, the difference between the two being the presence of yeast (soft) or not (crunchy). It is not difficult to make, but takes a bit of time as the dough has to rise.
But what struck me at first with Mastro's was the decor. First of all, the entrance looks like one you would find in Las Vegas: flashy with its neon lights. Then, when you enter, it feels more like a club that offers dining than a steakhouse with music: there is loud music, with live entertainment at certain hours, increasing the noise level in the dining room.
I went to a fantastic event at The French Cheese Board. This time, no pairing with tequila or bourbon: straight cheese tasting with more than twenty different European cheeses, in a new setting showcasing the work of photographer Colombe Clier, about milk. We were also honored by the presence of Max McCalman, a maître fromager with an incredible knowledge that I met in previous events, and Top Chef France contestant Valentin Néraudeau.
Today, I went to Moda Espresso and Wine Bar, a coffee shop in Chelsea, opened in 2011, that is located few steps from FIT (hence the name Moda). It was not to try some of their Italian dishes (they serve panini, salads, wrap, pizza and...Italian sushi made with prosciutto and mozzarella!). No, it was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nutella, the delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread. Well, knowing my love for Nutella, there was no way I could not go!
No, I am not planning to replace Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Food or Anthony Bourdain: I was just curious and had been wanting to try the Filipino dish that is balut for a while. For sure, for Jodi, it was out of question to come with me as she was grossed out at the simple idea to see me eating this.
Last Thursday, I was invited at La Scuola in Eataly for a media event to celebrate a variety of pear called the Abate Fetel, in a 3 course-tasting meal prepared by Chef Nicoletta Grippo. I was definitely curious as I mostly associate pear with desserts, besides the classic salads or the pear with roquefort that is a great combination, the sweetness of the fruit neutralizing the acidity of the cheese.
