I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/15

Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Saigon 48 is categorized as a Vietnamese restaurant, but it serves Asian food, from, of course, Vietnamese to Thai or Chinese. Located few block from the heart of Times Square, the interior of the restaurant is not what you would expect. Looking at the menu and their lunch special, I thought it would be the kind of place where you go more for the food than the atmosphere, and was definitely surprised to see the nice decor of the dining rooms (they have a small dining room in the back that would be perfect for a private gathering). But know that it is noisy and not primarily because of their customers, but because of the music that causes patrons to talk louder. Service wise, it is quick, efficient and cordial and, if you are in a hurry, they will definitely accommodate you.

Dining room at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Both times I went there, I decided to go with their specials, where you get a dish for less than $10. But there, similar to Pongsri, the Thai restaurant next door, there is no appetizer, only the main dish. So I tried one of their appetizers: scallion pancakes.

Scallion pancakes at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Scallion pancakes at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

It was served with a peanut sauce. I liked it: it was slightly greasy and crispy, like scallion pancakes should be.

Then, I tried the chicken and eggplant in brown sauce.

Chicken and eggplant with brown sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Chicken and eggplant with brown sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

This is the kind of dish I would get in a chinese restaurant, as I love eggplant and love this thick brown sauce that I also ate with brown rice.

Brown rice at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Brown rice at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Last was the crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce.

Crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Crispy fish with sweet and sour sauce at Saigon 48, Asian restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

This was a big portion and definitely a good deal. There was a lot of fish, that was deliciously crispy, and lots of veggies, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste.

I think Saigon 48 is the kind of places where I would go for a quick and cheap lunch. For the price I paid, I was not expecting a gourmet lunch for sure and it was pretty decent. Question is: can I find better deals on 9th avenue, just few blocks away? I bet I can...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/15

Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

Pongsri is what we could call a chain restaurant whose first location was opened in 1972, in Chinatown, makes it the oldest Thai restaurant in that area. I did not go there, but to the one near Times Square, that I saw many times when walking near the multiple theaters.

Dining room at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Dining room at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

You would not go there for their decor and the ambiance, but certainly for the cheap prices they offer, especially with their lunch menu that propose a large selection of dishes, for the vegetarians and non-vegetarians; it goes from noodles to curry and fried rice, as well as salads. Contrary to the majority of the restaurants that offer a lunch prix-fixe, you just get your main dish: no salad or spring roll. So, as we were a group, we decided to get spring rolls, called Siam roll.

Siam or Spring rolls at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Siam or Spring rolls at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

There were six of them. I admit that they were really average: greasy and the only thing you could taste was the greasy crispy (at least that) shell; the inside, made with bean threads and vegetables was tasteless.

For my main dish, I got the chicken massaman curry that I asked not spicy. I do not know if it was because I ask for no heat, but it was a bit bland. So disappointing.

Chicken Massaman curry at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Chicken Massaman curry at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

I guess the only order I liked at Pongsri was my Thai iced tea, a must have when I eat in a Thai restaurant, even if the temperatures are freezing.

Thai Iced Tea at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York — Thai Iced Tea at Pongsri, Thai restaurant near Times Square in NYC, New York

So, it was a disappointing experience, the food being really average, even considering the price. There are plenty of cheap options midtown Manhattan, like Thai Grill, or Viv, that I will pass next time...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/15

Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

The dish took a bit of time to come, but, when it was at the table, my nose was invaded by the delightful smell of the lamb. It was a good dish: the meat being perfectly seasoned and moist, but I would have liked some sauce with it, maybe yogurt. I also liked the grilled vegetables that had a nice char.

Branding is an interesting industry: people can pay millions to get the perfect name for their business. Others use their imagination or maybe not. I mean, calling your restaurant Turkish Cuisine might be genius: instead of using a word that people who not speak Turkish would understand, possibly making people confused about the type of restaurant it is, just naming the type of cuisines straight forward and simple. Although I cannot imagine a place called French cuisine: it would lack the authenticity people are looking for.

Anyway, Turkish Cuisine is a...Turkish restaurant located in The Theater District, few blocks from Port Authority. I think we passed many times in front of it, but never noticed it (hence my surprised face when they told us they have been opened close to twenty years ago).

Dining room at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dining room at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Decor wise, it was like being a in a garden, thanks to the shutters on the wall.

Menu wise, I was already set with the combo grill that had all the selection of kebab, whether lamb or chicken. I chose the bulgur pilaf over the rice.

Combo grill at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Combo grill at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Bulgur pilaf at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Bulgur pilaf at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Jodi went for the falafel platter. It was composed of three large falafel, hummus and a green salad.

Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Falafel at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Falafel at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

The falafel were good, a bit crunchy, but I would not put they at the same level as Taim for example. To go with the hummus, they brought us more warm pita that came at the beginning of the meal.

Pita at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Pita at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Of course, we could not miss dessert, especially after we saw their dessert platter.

Dessert platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dessert platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

We decided to order the baklava (good and not too sweet):

Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

And the Turkish cotton candy that was a definite surprise: I do not know how they make it, but it was spectacular! I could have had more as it was not too sweet and light...like cotton candy.

Turkish cotton candy at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Turkish cotton candy at Turkish Cuisine in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

It was a good meal, but a bit overpriced and not the same quality as Roka in Queens, a restaurant that would make you rave about Turkish food. Service was good, although we could sense their disappointment when we did not order appetizers or drinks. Would I go back? I am not sure: I think New York offers plenty of other options...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/2/15

Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

I have never seen a presentation like this and was mesmerized by it! Taste wise, it was delicious, the octopus being perfectly cooked and the dish having the correct acidity. I admit however that I prefer when the octopus has a bit of char that enhances a bit the taste. But still, it was very good.

Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, Rosemary's gets its name from the mother of its owner, Carlos Suarez, who also owns Bobo and Claudette. The restaurant has a rooftop farm which produces and herbs are showcased in the all Italian menu crafted by Executive Chef Wade Moises. Decor wise, this place has a rustic charm that makes you forget that you are in Manhattan.

Dining room at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Dining room at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

But, back to the menu: it is also rustic, in the taste and its presentation and I admit that picking dishes was rather difficult, so many of them being mouth watering. Most, if not all, of the plates are small dishes perfect to share and the pasta and focaccia are homemade, adding a bit more authenticity to the place. We started off with the focaccia taleggio tartufi or focaccia with taleggio cheese and truffle (real bits of it).

Taleggio and Truffle focaccia at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Taleggio and Truffle focaccia at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

It came on a wooden board and the first thing we noticed was the smell of truffle. It was warm, with the cheese deliciously melted: I was in heaven. This is a very addictive dish and I could not stop eating it...

Then, came the braised octopus presented like...salami!

Octopus salume at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Octopus salume at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

For our main dishes, we decided to share some pasta. We ordered the cavatelli, served with butternut squash and sage brown butter (no walnuts for us):

Cavatelli at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Cavatelli at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

The second one was the fusilli all Napoletana or fusilli with tomato, homemade burrata, basil purée, pine nuts and parmigiano.

Fusilli alla Napoletana at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Fusilli alla Napoletana at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

Both dishes were delicious, but my favorite was the cavatelli: I love the texture of the pasta that was soft and perfectly cooked al dente, as well as the sweetness coming from the butternut squash that complemented well the brown butter. But don't get me wrong, the fussili was also very good, but I wished there was more sauce on it.

We first ordered the lemon ricotta bombolini (Italian donuts) with Nutella:

Lemon ricotta bomboloni at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Lemon ricotta bomboloni at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

The Nutella sauce was divine, as if Nutella was mixed with whipped cream, making it light, but the hazelnut spread taste not being lost. The donuts were also fantastic: soft, well fried and definitely addictive.

The second dessert was the olive oil cake.

Olive oil cake at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York — Olive oil cake at Rosemary's, Italian Restaurant in NYC, New York

It was served with a blueberry compote and some whipped cream. It was succulent and I wished there was more, although I started to be full at this point...

Our dinner at Rosemary's was spectacular and I highly recommend this place: they food is great and the service was more than perfect. I would certainly go back, maybe for brunch, to see what amazing egg dishes they serve.

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 3/31/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/31/15

La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

I love Eataly, the bustling Italian marketplace located across the Flatiron. The last time we ended up there was for pizza, at their restaurant La Pizza & La Pasta. We went early enough, right before they opened for service, to get a table as this place can be crazy.

Counter and pizza ovens at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY — Counter and pizza ovens at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

I like this place: low key, you definitely go there more for the food than for the decor. Menu wise, we were more focused on the pizza than the pasta, although I eyed the linguine con vongole, my favorite. We decided to order two pizzas:

The quattro formaggi or four cheese pizza, made with mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmigiano reggiano and pecorino romano (there is no tomato sauce):

Quattro formaggi at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY — Quattro formaggi at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

The second one was the calzone, made with ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce and prosciutto cotto:

Calzone at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY — Calzone at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

The quattro formaggi was delicious, perfect for cheese lovers as they are generous with the quantity of cheese they put on top. I also loved the crust that was thin in the center and puffed up on the outside, with a nice char and crunchiness. I retrieved these characteristics with the calzone that was different from the one I am used to and was in fact my favorite. I loved the fact that they put some tomato sauce on the outside and the ricotta definitely tamed down the saltiness of the prosciutto. This is really a dish I recommend.

Bread at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY — Bread at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

Olive oil at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY — Olive oil at La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly in New York, NY

I should mention that, similar to the other restaurants at Eataly, they brought us some bread and olive oil at the beginning of the meal: bad idea as I could not stop eating it...

Although it is a bit pricey, Eataly is a great spot to eat, as well as to find some Italian products or some freshly made ingredients (their bread is fantastic and their fresh pasta divine). So, do not ask me if I would go back: you know I will!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 3/29/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/29/15

Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Jing Fong is a gigantic restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, specializing in dim sum, but with also a large menu featuring fried rice, noodles, seafood...We tried to go there few times, but it was always packed and we were discouraged by the long wait. So, one day, we went early, very early...

When we arrived, the hostess greeted us and brought us to the restaurant, located on the second floor and accessible via the escalator. When we arrived, we could not help but notice the huge chandeliers that were a bit over the top...

Escalator at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Escalator at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Chandelier at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Chandelier at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Then, we entered into the large dining room and realized that we were among the first customers (I told you we went very early...).

Dining room at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Dining room at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

We went there for dim sum and only looked at the dim sum menu, discarding the regular one. So, after some tea, we ordered our food. But before that, I should probably mention their wine cellar that you can see next to the bar, in the back of the dining room: it has various kinds of wines, some from France, Italy...

Tea at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Tea at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Wine cellar at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Wine cellar at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Once we ordered our food, it came pretty fast.

Dim sum at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

We ordered:

Vegetable dumplings (thin shell and filled with mushrooms - delicious):

Vegetable dumplings at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Vegetable dumplings at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Har Gow or shrimp dumplings (my favorite):

Har Gow or shrimp dumpling at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Har Gow or shrimp dumpling at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Shrimp rice noodles (succulent dish):

Shrimp rice noodles at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Shrimp rice noodles at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Fried shrimp wonton (nice crunch, not greasy):

Fried shrimp wonton at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Fried shrimp wonton at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Fried vegetables Spring rolls (very good, crispy and not greasy):

Fried vegetable Spring rolls at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Fried vegetable Spring rolls at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf (my least favorite; it had meat in it that I did not like):

Sticky rice at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Sticky rice at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

Sticky rice at at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Sticky rice at at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

We passed on dessert as we had other plans, but got our fortune cookies as well as some slices of orange...

Fortune cookies and orange at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY — Fortune cookies and orange at Jing Fong, Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, New York, NY

We had great dim sum at Jing Fong and I am glad we were able to go there. Would I go back? Certainly, maybe to try some of their regular menu dishes (I love chicken pan fried noodles or Peking duck), but will for sure go early again...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/15

Desserts at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY

We went on Martin Luther King's Day, after enjoying some Japanese food at Sushi Dojo Express in the Gansevoort Market and trying the croissant-donut at The Donut Pub. The place was packed, so, we had to wait in front of the cake display, that was literally torture! They sat us after 15 minutes, in one of the tables next to the windows. While we waited for our desserts to come, I admired the European feel of the place that I found too crowded, the space having so many tables that it was difficult to circulate.

It has been a while since we wanted to go back to Café Lalo, a restaurant well known in New York for its desserts. I mean, when I went there four years ago, I remember that I got a quiche that was just ok, but the pecan pie I had will remain engraved in my memory.

Cake display at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY — Cake display at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY

Jodi ordered a coconut custard pie that she really liked (I tasted it, but I am not the biggest fan of coconut).

Coconut custard pie at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY — Coconut custard pie at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY

On my side, I saw a banana cream pie on the menu. Unfortunately, they did not have any that day. That's right: they have a large selection, but certain items are not always available. So, fortunately, I saw a S'mores tart while waiting and so, decided to order it.

S'mores pie at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY — S'mores pie at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY

It was a three layer tart, with all the components of a S'mores: graham cracker crust, a thick chocolate layer and some toasted marshmallow fluff. It was fantastic: decadent and not too sweet, it is perfect for chocolate lovers. I highly recommend it.

Of course, with my dessert, I got a double espresso that came with some Toblerone.

Espresso at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY — Espresso at Café Lalo on the Upper West Side, New York, NY

It was a nice afternoon there and the desserts were delicious. I will surely go back for lunch and hope that, this time, they will have a banana cream pie!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/25/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/25/15

Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

Those who think that going to Heartland Brewery is only for the drinker of beer is wrong. The food there is pretty decent: not your fine dining experience for sure, or a place where I would go all the time, but good enough for a nice casual dinner, where American staples meet international dishes, on the menu, but also on the plate. They have few locations across the city, opened (and closed) since 1995. One of the locations is conveniently located in Times Square, on one side of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I admit that it feels more like a place to go before grabbing a bus, considering the number of restaurants in Hell's Kitchen.

Dining room at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Dining room at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

You enter from the noisy bar, before discovering, in the back, the large dining room. There, we tried quite few of their dishes:

One of my favorite item is the Buffalo chicken Spring roll: that is a nice re-interpretation of a classic Asian dish, married with an all American specialty, Buffalo chicken.

Buffalo chicken Spring rolls at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Buffalo chicken Spring rolls at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

It was served with a blue cheese sauce that had lumps of blue cheese, and a Buffalo sauce that had a nice heat.

Continuing with Buffalo chicken, they also have a delicious Buffalo chicken salad, where, again, the heat of the Buffalo sauce, coupled with the lumps of blue cheese, gave to this dish a divine taste.

Buffalo chicken salad at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Buffalo chicken salad at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

We also tried the Southern fried dill pickles, where I enjoyed tasting the sweet and sour flavor after biting in this deliciously crispy shell.

Southern fried dill pickles at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Southern fried dill pickles at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

Then, was the homemade chickpea and red pepper hummus, that was a bit inconsistent: good the first time, not good the second time, having an off taste.

Chickpea and red pepper hummus at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Chickpea and red pepper hummus at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

Next was the spinach, pear and goat cheese salad, that, although small, is a nice healthier appetizer choice:

Spinach and pear salad at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Spinach and pear salad at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

The last appetizer I tried at Heartland Brewery was the crab cakes: they were pretty decent, with not too much breading.

Crab cakes at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Crab cakes at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

For the entrées, I could not not try the burger, made with a 100% black angus blend prepared by Pat La Frieda.

Burger at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Burger at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

I asked for cheddar as well as caramelized onions. With the tater tots, it brought this burger to $18 (with the tater tots), that is pricey. Don't get me wrong: it was a delicious burger, but you can get an even better one for the same price or lower at Umami Burger or Burger Joint, if not 5 Napkin Burger.

Tater tots at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Tater tots at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

I should also mention the tater tots (additional $2). They were more like croquettes, being made with bacon and cheddar. I was definitely surprised to see only 6 on the plate... They were ok, being crunchy on the outside, but a bit undercooked on the inside for my taste.

The last entrée we tried was the sesame seared tuna, that was quite good, the fish being fresh and tasty and the sesame crust delicious.

Sesame seared tuna at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY — Sesame seared tuna at Heartland Brewery in New York, NY

It was served with vegetables and rice, with a delicious sesame citrus sauce.

Overall, our meals at Heartland Brewery were good. For sure, there are so many restaurants in New York and in the close by area that is Hell's Kitchen, that it will not be first my place of choice. I should mention their large selection of beers, served by the pint or half pint.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/23/15

L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

We saw the episode where L'Apicio was featured and immediately booked a table. It was few weeks ago, my bookings being already full. So, when we arrived, I remembered two things: first, they use a nice amount of heat in their cooking, the Executive Chef being from Texas and marrying Texan flavors with Italian ones, hence the label Italian-inspired. The second one was that the pork chop is their specialty.

TV shows are a great way to find restaurants and, once again, it was thanks to our television that we found our next target: L'Apicio, an Italian-inspired restaurant located in Greenwich Village. This time, it was not because of an episode of Unique Eats, but The Best New Restaurant, the show with Tom Colicchio, co-produced with Chef Gordon Ramsay, that is trying to find the best new restaurant in the US, crowning the winner after tense duels.

I admit that I did not really remember the decor there, but immediately liked the warmth of the dining room, whether it came from the wood (I respect it, Mr Larry David) or the exposed bricks.

Dining room at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Dining room at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

Table at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Table at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

Tables at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Tables at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

Bar at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Bar at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

We sat in the room adjacent to the bar, thankful that we would have lots of light for the photos, light that was coming from the floor to ceiling windows.

Bread and olive oil at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Bread and olive oil at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

In terms of the menu, I hesitated. There was the quail, served with braised cipollini, maitake mushroom and a pickled pearl onion, and the charred octopus, that came with fregola (a pasta from Sardinia), pepperoni, olives and lemon. I decided to go for the latter...

Charred octopus at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Charred octopus at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

First, the presentation was very nice, but I admit that I was expecting more octopus for the price. At least, the octopus was delicious: perfectly cooked and charred, not rubbery, with enough acidity to it from the lemon. Then, the pasta, pepperoni and olives were an outstanding combination, the pepperoni giving a nice heat to the dish.

Jodi decided to go for the bibb salad, served with nice chunks of gorgonzola, pancetta and croutons.

Bibb salad at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Bibb salad at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

But this was only the start of a fantastic dinner. Our entrées definitely convinced us that we were in a good place (in all senses of the expression).

Homemade pasta at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Homemade pasta at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

Jodi ordered the tajarin, which is pasta that looked like tagliatelle. They came with morel mushrooms, garlic, parmesan and thyme.

Tajarin with morel mushrooms at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Tajarin with morel mushrooms at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

On my side, I ordered the garganelli verde with lamb bolognese, chili and pecorino cheese (I asked for not too spicy, remembering the show...).

Garganelli verde with lamb bolognese at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Garganelli verde with lamb bolognese at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

Both pasta dishes were delicious. Homemade, they were perfectly cooked and their accompaniments were perfect, whether it was the morel mushrooms or the lamb bolognese. No need to say that I finished my dish!

For dessert, although full, we could not resist. Jodi ordered the caramelized pineapple cake. What made her pick this was the coconut, as it was composed of tapioca coconut and toasted coconut gelato. I should not forget the sublime almond cake that was underneath.

Caramelized pineapple cake at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Caramelized pineapple cake at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

On my side, I chose the chocolate hazelnut ice cream cake. If you love hazelnut, this is definitely a must have. It has a salted-caramel gelato that gave a nice sweet and salty dimension to the dessert, as well as a praline-hazelnut crunch that was divine. I also finished it...

Chocolate hazelnut ice cream cake at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village — Chocolate hazelnut ice cream cake at L'Apicio, Italian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich Village

This was a fantastic dinner and we were surely not disappointed. I am not not sure how L'Apicio is going to perform on the show (we need to catch up few episodes), but do not care in that: it is a great place, although on the pricey side. I should mention that the service was courteous and efficient, definitely contributing to this great experience. So, no need to ask me if I would go back: I guess you know what I would say. But, what about you?

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/21/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/21/15

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

I cannot resist fried chicken. The first time I tried it, I could hear angels singing. Yes, fried chicken is a very comforting food that I never had in France. Well, there is the escalope panée (breaded veal cutlet), or poisson pané that was the quintessence of frozen food, but I do not recall poulet pané or breaded chicken. And then, when I saw on TV chicken and waffles, I was mesmerized and could not wait to try it. And when I did, I was, again, in heaven, loving the sweet and savory taste.

This place is part of The Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group, created by Chefs Bruce and Eric Bromberg who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts School in Paris. It is casual and you cannot miss the smell of fried chicken when you enter.

Counter at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Counter at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

Buzzer at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Buzzer at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

Pickup at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Pickup at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

Dining room at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Dining room at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

You order at the counter and they will give you a buzzer that will vibrate and light up when your order is ready. You then go to the pickup window, where you can see all this delicious fried chicken already cooked (I guess they flash fried it to have it served hot). Then, find a seat and enjoy!

Sauces and honey at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Sauces and honey at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

At the table, you will find a nice choice of sauces and flavored honey: wasabi honey (it had a slight wasabi taste), wildflower honey or chipotle honey (my favorite) that are perfect with either the chicken or sides.

I was with my friend Benny, and we decided to try few dishes:

Sandwiches at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Sandwiches at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

The natural sandwich - grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and pickled cucumber:

The Natural sandwich at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — The Natural sandwich at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

The Blue Ribbon - Fried chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and pickled cucumber:

The Blue Ribbon sandwich at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — The Blue Ribbon sandwich at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

Both sandwiches were good, but I preferred for sure the Blue Ribbon sandwich, i.e. the fried chicken one that was delightfully crispy, although the grilled chicken had a nice char. Both chicken breasts were perfectly cooked and moist. I also appreciated the fact that the bun was soft and not dry as it is the first thing you bite into.

For sides, we tried:

The french fries, that were like I love them: crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through:

French fries at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — French fries at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

The spinach Judy, made with sour cream and water chestnut (not my choice, if you see what I mean...):

Spinach Judy at at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Spinach Judy at at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

The hush puppies that were delicious and had had pieces of corn in it:

Hush puppies at at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY — Hush puppies at at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in the East Village, New York, NY

I loved the fries and hush puppies, but not so much the spinach. I thought that their choices of sides were quite comforting and they probably just missed a good mac and cheese.

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken serves some good food at reasonable prices. Would I go back? Probably, if I am in the area...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like the post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/19/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/19/15

Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

As we were craving Mexican food, Jodi and I decided to try Añejo (aged in Spanish), the small plate restaurant where Chef Angelo Sosa, a runner up of Top Chef Season 7, crafted an elegant menu, elevating some traditional Mexican dishes. This place, opened last year, is an offshoot of the location in Hell's Kitchen. I do not know if the decor is the same, but the location in Tribeca is gorgeous: exposed brick, reclaimed wood, crystal chandeliers and Mexican art.

Dining room at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

It is a tequila bar as well (they have an impressive selection), so do not go there if you want to have a quiet dinner! Between the music and the people at the bar, it was a bit tough to have a conversation...

There were many dishes we wanted to try on their menu. We started off with guacamole. Smartly, they have a sampler.

Guacamole sampler at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Guacamole sampler at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The guacamole we tried were:

The traditional, made with avocado, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño and lime:

Guacamole at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Guacamole at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The Verde, made with avocado, tomatillo, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate, poblanos and chipotle:

Verde guacamole at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Verde guacamole at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The pineapple chipotle, made of pineapple, chipotle and cotija cheese:

Pineapple chipotle at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Pineapple chipotle at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

They were served with homemade tortilla chips that were delicious.

Tortilla chips at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Tortilla chips at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Their guacamole was good and I truly appreciated that none of them were spicy. My favorite was the traditional, then the verde (I loved the pomegranate in it, that added a nice sweetness and tartness) and the pineapple last, being a bit too sweet.

Then, we got the fish tacos:

The fish (hake) was dipped into corn flour before being perfectly fried. it was accompanied by pickled jalapeño slaw, mustard seeds and radish. It was good, but I thought it was missing some crunch and could have had more seasoning.

Fish tacos at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Fish tacos at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The next dish was the corn dumplings.

Corn dumplings at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Corn dumplings at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I loved that dish, for the corn and cheese dumplings, but also for the chorizo and tomato sauce that was fantastic, very hearty.

Last was the pork empanadas:

Pork empanadas at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Pork empanadas at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

It was made of pork adobo and black beans, and served with a salsa verde. I really liked it: the shell was flaky and crispy, and the filling delicious.

We still had a bit of space for dessert. Well, we knew we would have dessert from the start, when we saw that they had a tres leches cake.

Tres leches cake at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Tres leches cake at Añejo in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Unfortunately, if was just an ok dessert, not as exquisite as the tres leches we had in other restaurants. We should have gone for the flan...

For the most part, I liked our dinner at Añejo and would not mind going back, maybe more for lunch than dinner, the noise level being too high for me...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/17/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/17/15

The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

Located in TriBeCa, The Odeon is a French restaurant. I am not sure I would call it a brasserie, although the decor reminds me of one (besides the low light at dinner time), and the small brasserie menu they offer (I did not see the usual escargots or steak frites though, but they had the confit de canard or duck confit, as well as the soupe à l'oignon or French onion soup that I chose to start with.

French onion soup at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY — French onion soup at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

It was delicious, flavorful, with lots of croutons inside and a nice cheese crust.

For her entrée, Jodi went for the classic Croque Monsieur.

Croque Monsieur at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY — Croque Monsieur at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

Made with Pullman white bread, it was stuffed with black Forrest ham, prosciutto di Parma and Gruyere (also on top, in a Béchamel sauce). This was a delicious Croque Monsieur: it was perfectly made, not dry, with lots of cheese.

On my side, I went for the moules frites.

Moules frites at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY — Moules frites at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

What struck me when it came was the size of the mussels: they were big and definitely fresh. The sauce, made with confit tomato and leeks in a saffron cream was fantastic. I even ate some of it with a spoon, like a soup, or with some of the bread they brought at the beginning of the meal.

Bread and butter at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY — Bread and butter at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

I should also mention the delicious fries that were like I love them: crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through inside.

For dessert, we got the warm doughnuts, served with a raspberry jam and maple syrup.

Doughnuts at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY — Doughnuts at The Odeon in TriBeCa, New York, NY

I admit that I was looking forward to it, but was disappointed as the doughnuts were a bit tough on the outside and tasteless.

This was a nice dinner and the food was delicious. Would I go back? Certainly! I already eyed some dishes such as the beef tartare, the duck confit and the chocolate pudding. I would not mind going for brunch also, where the noise level might be lower.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment! Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/15/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/15/15

Wolfgang's Steakhouse in Times Square, New York, NY

At first, when the steaks came, they looked overcooked and dry, but, when cutting them, the juice oozed from the meat that was perfectly cooked, tender and delicious, especially the ribeye that was heavenly fatty. I do not like pepper sauce and was glad that we ordered béarnaise, although the steaks were succulent without it.

Few years ago, I had a so so experience at Wolfgang's Steakhouse (see the post here), and I decided to give it another try, but in their latest restaurant located in Times Square. The space is pretty impressive, with lots of light (for a change, steakhouses being often dark) and incredibly high ceilings.

After we got our bread basket, that is a fairly standard item in a steakhouse, I got one of my favorite appetizers: crab cakes.

It was perfect, with nice lumps of crab and little filler, so the crab was the star of the dish.

Then, we got our steaks. Jodi ordered a filet mignon, medium, that was served with a pepper sauce.

On my side, I opted for the ribeye, medium rare.

I do not like pepper sauce and was glad that we ordered béarnaise, although the steaks were succulent without it.

We decided to order only one side dish and picked the onion rings that were perfect: the onion was well cooked, it was crunchy and not greasy.

I should mention that with my ribeye, I got a glass of pinot noir, my favorite wine to pair with such a meat as it has a bold flavor that complement well the steak.

Last was dessert. We went for the key lime pie, served with their homemade whipped cream or schlag. Great dessert, the whipped cream counterbalancing well the sweetness of the pie.

This was a fantastic dinner, with a great service, and the steaks were delicious. I guess I changed my mind about Wolfgang's Steakhouse. So I will be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to post a comment or share it! Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/15

Restaurant Week: City Hall in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The scallops were perfectly cooked, with a nice sear on top and a delicious saltiness. The cavatelli, that were homemade, did not stand out by themselves, but, were succulent with the swiss chard and the cheese.

Last was the City Hall ice cream sundae.

For our last incursion into Restaurant Week, we decided to try City Hall. This restaurant, opened in 1998 by Chef Henry Meer, got its name from the city government building located few blocks from there. This place has definitely a stunning decor: very high ceilings (it is built in an old warehouse), wooden tables and old photos of Manhattan all around the dining room.

The menu for Restaurant Week was totally different from their regular menu.

After we ordered, they brought us a small plate of olives and pickled vegetables, similar to what some steakhouses serve, replacing the standard bread and butter.

Then, Jodi got the burrata salad. It was served with grilled zucchini, frissée salad and tomato-chili jam.

On my side, I went for the wild mushroom risotto with white truffle olive oil and thyme.

Between the two, I preferred the risotto. Not that the burrata was not good, but the risotto was phenomenal: creamy with a fantastic taste.

Then, Jodi ordered the blackened barramundi that is a white flakey fish.

It was served with sea peas, coconut basmati rice and guacamole. The dish was just ok for me: I liked the fish, but not the rice.

On my side however, I got a great dish: day boat sea scallops with meyer lemon cavatelli and braised red swiss chard.

Last was the City Hall ice cream sundae.

The brownie was very good, but, unfortunately, the ice cream (vanilla and salted caramel) was just ok.

The dinner for Restaurant Week at City Hall was good, but not to the point that I would definitely go back or highly recommend it for Restaurant Week. They probably should have stick to their regular menu to showcase it, encouraging people to go back...

Enjoy (...)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/15

Restaurant Week: Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

This was fantastic, especially the rice that was heavenly crunchy. It was definitely a dish I recommend.

On my side, it was the Kobe style potstickers that were also very good, the dough being as I like, meaning thin and a bit crunchy and charred on one side. The pork filling was very tasty as well. I guess it was a good start!

Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Another pick for Restaurant Week was Koi Soho, the Japanese fusion restaurant that opened in 2012 in the Trump Soho hotel. If you follow this blog, you probably know now that I like to have a dinner where I can enjoy the company I am with and do not need to yell to be heard. Well the funny thing is that, as soon as we opened the first door, we heard the music blasting and Jodi and looked at each other thinking that it would probably be hell. Fortunately, they put us few tables from the bar that was packed with people enjoying drinks and food. But still, loud music.

Dining room at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Dining room at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Chandelier at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Chandelier at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Decor wise, it is an impressive place: modern and slick, with floor to ceiling windows, booths as well as comfortable chairs giving an elegant and trendy feel to the place.

Replacing the bread basket that would anyway not make sense in a Japanese restaurant (!), was the edamame that was on top of the Restaurant Week menu.

Edamame at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Edamame at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

I liked it as it was perfectly cooked and salted.

For her appetizer, Jodi ordered the Koi crispy rice that is one of their signature dishes. To top it, she had the choice between tuna and avocado. She chose the latter.

Crispy rice with avocado at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Crispy rice with avocado at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

This was fantastic, especially the rice that was heavenly crunchy. It was definitely a dish I recommend.

Potstickers at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Potstickers at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Then, for her entrée, Jodi picked the vegetable quinoa croquettes, that was served with an edamame wasabi cream. This was a good vegetarian dish and I loved the croquettes that were deliciously crunchy. Would I order it? Maybe, but more for an appetizer.

Vegetable quinoa croquettes at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Vegetable quinoa croquettes at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Vegetable quinoa croquette at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Vegetable quinoa croquette at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the O Su Su Me, Chef Nobu's selection of nigiri and double tuna roll (tuna sashimi, on spicy tuna roll with wasabi tobiko and wasabi aioli).

Nigiri at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Nigiri at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Tuna roll at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Tuna roll at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

This was not too original, but I admit that I enjoyed it, the fish being fresh and the roll having a nice texture.

For dessert, we both got the trio that was composed of green tea Mochi ice cream, a raspberry with caramel (yes, it counts as one in the trio...) and a succulent green tea tres leches, that was a nice take on this Latin dessert.

Dessert trio at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Dessert trio at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Green tea tres leches at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Green tea tres leches at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Raspberry and salted caramel at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Raspberry and salted caramel at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

Green tea mochi at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York — Green tea mochi at Koi Soho in the Trump Hotel, NYC, New York

That was a good way to end our Restaurant Week dinner at Koi. Would I go back? Probably, for more crispy rice and that tres leches!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/15

Restaurant Week: Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

The clam chowder was very good, quite smokey considering the generous amount of bacon there was in it. The salad was also good, the goat cheese deliciously counterbalancing the sweetness of the beets and chutney.

For the entrée, Jodi went for the salmon that was grilled with lemon and thyme, and served with white Tuscan beans and arugula.

For our next Restaurant Week place, we picked TriBeCa Grill, one of the oldest restaurants in the coveted area (it opened in 1990) and the first venture in the restaurant business of Robert De Niro. It is also co-owned by Lou Diamond Philips among others.

Dining room at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Dining room at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

Chandelier at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Chandelier at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

This ancient warehouse has an impressive decor, between the high ceilings, large chandeliers and what I read are Robert De Niro's father's paintings.

Bread at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Bread at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

After the usual bread and butter, our first dishes came. For her appetizer, Jodi ordered the baby beet salad, served with Asian pear, raisin chutney and goat cheese (she asked for no hazelnuts).

Baby beets salad at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Baby beets salad at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the New England Clam Chowder.

New England Clam Chowder at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — New England Clam Chowder at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

For the entrée, Jodi went for the salmon that was grilled with lemon and thyme, and served with white Tuscan beans and arugula.

Grilled salmon at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Grilled salmon at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

It was good, the salmon being perfectly cooked and moist and the white beans being a nice garniture.

On my side, I ordered the Amish chicken, that came with whipped potatoes and haricots verts.

Amish chicken at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Amish chicken at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

I admit that I started with the haricots verts as I am often disappointed with them, restaurants cooking them just a bit to preserve the vitamins. In France, it would be cooked longer and be softer. At TriBeCa Grill, it was cooked as I like them! That was a good start! Then, I tried the chicken that was very good: moist, with a nice grilled skin. Last was the whipped potatoes that were, as expected, delicious.

After that came dessert. For Jodi, it was the TriBeCa chocolate cake that was just ok, not tasting as chocolatey as I would have expected.

Tribeca chocolate cake at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Tribeca chocolate cake at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

But, my dish was fabulous: it was the apple, pear and cranberry crumble.

Apple, pear and cranberry crumble at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York — Apple, pear and cranberry crumble at Tribeca Grill in NYC, New York

When it came to the table, I could smell the butter emanating from the crumble part. The first bite was divine: heavenly sweet and buttery, this dessert was amazing.

We had a nice dinner at TriBeCa Grill, but I admit that, although the food was good, I was not as excited as I was when I went to Tamarind, that is close by, or Hakkasan, these two places showcasing their menu in a way that is embracing truly the spirit of Restaurant Week. But I enjoyed it, I did...

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/15

Aaheli, Indian restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

Opened six years ago, Aaheli ("pure" in sanskrit), located in Hell's Kitchen, is a small restaurant with a forgettable decor, but a delicious menu, serving dishes from North and South India (for instance, they have masala dosa, these Lentil and rice flour crêpes stuffed with potato masala).

Papadum at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

Like most of the Indian restaurants I went to, it all starts with papadum, these large round crispy crackers that are so addictive, especially when dipped in tamarind or mint sauce.

Mango lassi at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

I also ordered a mango lassi. Yes, I used to order sweet lassi in the past, but I have to say that mango lassi has become my favorite. The second purpose for ordering lassi is that it cools me down, whenever the food has too much heat...

For the appetizer, we went for our all time favorite: vegetable samosa.

Vegetable samosa  at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Vegetable samosa at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

It was very good, not greasy at all and not spicy, tasty for sure with a deliciously flakey shell.

Jodi, who loves mushrooms, decided to go for the Mushroom Matar, a first as she usually goes for the chana masala or saag paneer, but she loves mushrooms and was curious.

Mushroom matar  at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Mushroom matar at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

This dish is made of green peas, potatoes and mushrooms in thick and rich sauce. It was delicious, but a bit spicy, and we forgot to ask not spicy when we ordered.

Rice pulao  at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Rice pulao at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

Naan  at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Naan at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

Even eating with the rice or fresh naan did not help (but do not forget I had a lassi to do the trick). Fortunately, the chicken tikka masala I picked did not have any heat.

Chicken Tikka Masala at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Chicken Tikka Masala at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

It was a great dish: creamy, with a perfectly cooked chicken. I love that dish that I find very comforting.

To end the meal, we got tempted by our favorite Indian desserts: gulab jamun that are these fried cheese balls dipped in a very sweet syrup made with honey.

Gulab Jamun at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Gulab Jamun at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

The second dessert was kheer that is basically rice pudding.

Kheer at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY — Kheer at Aaheli in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

Both were delicious (sweet for sure) and a nice ending after a very good meal. Would I go back to Aaheli? Sure and next time, I will try the dosa!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/15

The Donut Pub in NYC, NY

Donuts are becoming more and more popular, to a point that I wonder if they are not the new cupcakes. There has always been traditional donuts, like the ones sold at Dunkin Donuts for a cheap price. And then, gourmet donuts with joints like The Doughnut Plant (I love the tres leches) or Dough (especially their Nutella one), without forgetting the Cronut from Dominique Ansel that is incredible.

One of the oldest donut places in New York is The Donut Pub, a place that opened in 1964 and is still serving some old school donuts, as well as some more modern ones. Going inside The Donut Pub is like traveling back in time, the place keeping an old feel that I used to see with curiosity in American movies when I was a kid.

We tried a few of their donuts:

The coconut and cream:

The Boston cream:

The honey dipped:

These donuts were good: they were light, airy and chewy. The Boston cream and honey dipped were fairly standard. The coconut cream was disappointing simply because it was vanilla cream inside and just some coconut shavings on top. I mean, it was good, but did not let the coconut shine.

The last donut I tried was a spin off of the cronut: the croissant-donut.

The croissant donut at The Donut Pub in NYC, NY — The croissant donut at The Donut Pub in NYC, NY

They have it in three flavors: chocolate, a jam that I forgot to be honest, and simply glazed, that I ordered. It was good, like anything that is fried, and was flakey, but tasted more like a donut than a croissant. It definitely does not measure up with the cronut from Chef Dominique Ansel though.

Also, do not think about ordering espresso there: they only have regular coffee...

The Donut Pub is definitely a place to know: it is not where you will be wowed, but it has certainly a nice old fashioned atmosphere and some delicious donuts that are pretty cheap (we paid less than $11 for the four donuts and the coffee). Would I go back? Certainly: to indulge in donuts, but also to support this old business.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/15

Omakase Kaiseki at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

So, let's talk about the food. their tasting or kaseiki is something new that they have launched this year. Know that the menu, based on seasonal products, may vary. In this menu, Chef Ko took traditional Japanese dishes and elevated them, adding some ingredients from other cuisines, such as cumin, creme fraiche or orange juice.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

I was recently invited to Fushimi in Brooklyn, an incredible Japanese restaurant I discovered end of 2013, that is now proposing a tasting menu or omakase kaseiki. Omakase literally means put your trust in me, and, after the spectacular dinner we had at Fushimi, we did not have any problem to trust Chef Chul Ke Ko that we met again the day we went.

Chef Ko at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Chef Ko at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

So, this time we went to their Williamsburg location. From the exterior to the interior, you can feel right away that it is not your usual Japanese place. There is something elegant and clubby to it, with its red and blue colors.

The entrance has these large sake barrels, as well as the shisa, the guardian lions that are protection against evil.

Entrance of Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Entrance of Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Then, after you pass the bar area, you arrive is the large dining room, where booths replae regular tables, making the experience comfortable. But, of course, if you prefer, you can sit at the sushi bar to observe the team preparing delicious food.

Bar at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Bar at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Dining room at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Dining room at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Sushi bar at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sushi bar at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Private room at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Private room at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

But I guess, one of the main attractions is in the back; it is called the tunnel and brings you to the...unisex restrooms...

The tunnel at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — The tunnel at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Kaseiki menu at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Kaseiki menu at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I should probably mention their large selection of sake, but, most surprising, was their sake sangria, mainly made with strawberries, blueberries, sake and plum wine.

Sake sangria at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sake sangria at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

For the amuse bouche, we got a seafood bisque and a risotto ball. The bisque, made with a crab base, was deliciously creamy. Even Jodi, who does not like seafood, ate it. The risotto ball was crispy and also creamy and cheesy inside. This was a good way to start!

Seafood bisque and risotto ball at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Seafood bisque and risotto ball at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Risotto ball at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Risotto ball at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Then came a large wooden box. When they opened it, there were six assorted appetizers.

Six assorted appetizers at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Six assorted appetizers at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

It was composed, from the top left to the top right, of:

Scallop sashimi with red radish, kizami wasabi and ponzu sauce:

Scallop sashimi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Scallop sashimi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Seasoned sushi rice with baked fresh water eel, kabayaki sauce and rarima sansho:

Sushi rice and eel at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sushi rice and eel at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Organic heirloom cherry tomato in yuzu jelly (great at the end, as a palate cleanser):

Organic heirloom cherry tomato in yuzu jelly at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Organic heirloom cherry tomato in yuzu jelly at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

From the bottom left to right:

Sea grape seaweed in amazu (sweet vinegar sauce). I should mention that I am not a huge fan of seaweed, but finished it...

Sea grape seaweed in amazu at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sea grape seaweed in amazu at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Botan ebi (shrimp) tartare with ginger, uni (sea urchin) and dashi soy:

Chilled vegetables with saikyo miso:

After that, came the sweet soy glazed Chilean sea bass. It was served with a lobster stuffed zucchini blossom, pickled red onion and a black sesame ponzu purée.

Sweet soy glazed Chilean sea bass at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sweet soy glazed Chilean sea bass at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The third dish was called Chawanmushi. It is an egg custard in which Chef Ko put some lobster and shrimp, as well as shiitake mushroom.

Chawanmushi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Chawanmushi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Flower at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Flower at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Then, was the Chu Toro tartare, that is tuna tartare with seasoned seaweed, ikura (salmon roe), aonori (green seaweed), creme fraiche and ponzu, served with toast.

Chu Toro tartare at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Chu Toro tartare at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The next dish was simply called beef. It was a filet mignon with an orange and cumin carrot confit, carrot purée, asparagus, heirloom cherry tomato, fig, mash potato ball, in a port wine reduction.

Filet mignon at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Filet mignon at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Fig with Filet mignon at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Fig with Filet mignon at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The sixth dish was tempura. It was composed of six different varieties:

Tempura at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Tempura at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

There were French beans, shishito pepper, a julienne of mixed vegetables (sweet potato, zucchini and onion), as well as a coconut and macadamia crusted shrimp with tartare sauce. But the most surprising was the shiso leaf and sugar dusted rice puff that added a nice sweetness to the dish.

I started to get full and was glad that they brought us some green tea made with roasted brown rice.

Green tea with roasted brown rice at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Green tea with roasted brown rice at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

After the tea, we were ready to continue our discovery of the kaseiki...The sashimi plate that came was beautiful and had a little light underneath, adding a bit more to the presentation.

Sashimi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Sashimi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

It was composed of:

Yellowtail and king salmon:

Kumamoto oyster with ponzu:

Seared tuna with 5 spices and sweet miso, maul onion salsa with peach:

Seared tuna at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Seared tuna at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Uni (sea urchin):

Uni or sea urchin at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Uni or sea urchin at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

It came with some fresh wasabi that Chef Ko grated for us.

Fresh wasabi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Fresh wasabi at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Then, we got our last dish before dessert: kamadaki rice. It was served in a piping hot bowl, with lobster meat (lots of it), chive and corn. Next to it was a miso soup and some pickled vegetables.

Kamadaki rice at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Kamadaki rice at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Miso soup at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Miso soup at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Pickled vegetables at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Pickled vegetables at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

When dessert came, I regretted that I was not wearing stretch pants...We got to try the two desserts they propose in their kaseiki menu. The first one was a creme caramel with raspberry sorbet and fresh berries.

Creme caramel or flan at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Creme caramel or flan at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The second one was a green tea ice cream (so creamy) with azuki beans (sweet), baby mochi and yuzu gelée.

Green tea ice cream at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY — Green tea ice cream at Fushimi in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Spectacular, incredible, sublime...There are not enough words to describe this extraordinary tasting. Chef Ko is so creative and his dishes not are only beautiful, but delicious, making this culinary experience one of the best I had so far. Fushimi is definitely a place to know and you do not need a passport to go to Brooklyn: it is worth it!

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 3/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 3/1/15

Bibimbap at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Before going to see the last installment of The Hobbit trilogy with Jodi, her cousin Jessica with her husband Michael and their boys Alex and Brian, and our friends Andrew and Miguel, we had a request for bibimbap. As the movie theater was in Times Square, Koreatown was the best destination. I searched for the best places for bibimbap there and found Seoul Garden, a fairly big restaurant located on the second story of a building.

Dining room at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Dining room at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

When we arrived, the place was empty, but it took only thirty minutes to get it packed, definitely affecting the service.

At first, we got the traditional banchan, these side dishes I am always looking forward to eat.

Banchan at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Banchan at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

It had:

Kimchi (quite standard and my favorite):

Kimchi at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Kimchi at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Apple salad (perfect to attenuate any fire caused by the spices):

Apple salad at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Apple salad at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Soybean:

Spinach:

Black beans (great texture and taste):

Black beans at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Black beans at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Squid (spicy!):

Squid at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Squid at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Then, we ordered some delicious mandoo or pork dumplings that were perfect: the shell was thin and deliciously fried on one side, giving a nice crunch to it.

Pork dumplings at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Pork dumplings at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

There was no surprise there, compared to the kimchi pancake that was delicious and, contrary to what I thought, did not have any heat.

Kimchi pancakes at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

Then, they brought us, complimentary, an egg dish that came very hot that looked like a thick fluffy omelet or a custard and tasted like a soufflé.

The second complimentary dish was a miso soup.

Miso soup at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

For the bibimbap, Jodi ordered the tofu one.

Tofu Bibimbap at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

I ordered the galbi bibimbap that is with pieces of marinated ribeye.

Ribeye bibimbap at Seoul Garden in New York, NY — Ribeye bibimbap at Seoul Garden in New York, NY

We both added an egg, but we wanted a raw egg so it could cook in the pipping hot dish. The waiter resisted a bit at the beginning, but finally agreed, mentioning that there would be a $2 charge for each egg. When the dishes came, the eggs were there, but fried instead of raw and a bit overcooked for my taste...

I thought that the bibimbap was a bit bland, even after adding some soy sauce and there was not that much meat in it, adding to my disappointment. This was definitely a miss for me and I did not even finish my dish. I think the only thing I liked was the crust that formed after leaving the rice cook in the hot pot.

So, although I enjoyed the appetizers and banchan, the bibimbap was a bummer and Don's Bogam is a better choice for that dish as far as I am concerned. Would I go back? Maybe, but not for Bibimbap!

Enjoy ()!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share or post a comment. Merci!