I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/15

Ponty Bistro, French-African and Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC, New York

Ponty Bistro is an interesting restaurant; not because of the decor, but more the selection of dishes that are French, African and Mediterranean. There, Chef Cisse, who opened the restaurant in 2008 with his cousin, after years in the restaurant business and an impressive resume (Daniel Boulud at Daniel Restaurant, Vong and Mercer Kitchen for Jean-Georges Vongerichten and others), crafted an eclectic menu adding some African influence to some traditional dishes.

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

Chef Cisse at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Chef Cisse at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

But do not imagine that all dishes are like that and if you are more traditional, you will surely find something that will suit you, whether it is Italian (ravioli or pasta) or French (carré d'agneau).

Decor wise, this 45 seat restaurant is like a trip to another place, if it was not for the loud noise of the street outside that brings you back to the reality of the city when the windows are open.

Dining room at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Dining room at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

African wood sculpture at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — African wood sculpture at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

To start off the evening, I decided to try one of their martinis (know that those are not traditional ones made with gin and vermouth). I, of course, chose The French, made with cassis, pineapple and vodka. It was fairly refreshing, having the right balance between the two kinds of fruit (they apparently use fresh fruit), and on the light side as far as the alcohol content is concerned. This was fine for me as I am not too much of a cocktail guy, but it could be dangerous as some may drink it as they would drink milk...

French martini at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — French martini at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

Then came first dish that is not on the menu (know that these were tasting portions): it is a special that is served everyday and that one would appreciate as the temperature rises. It was a gazpacho, made with tomato, cucumber and Berber spices (light touch).

Gazpacho at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Gazpacho at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

The second dish was surprisingly good: it was a kale salad with pine nuts, dried cherries, apple, dried apricot and goat cheese, perfectly dressed with a lemon and honey vinaigrette. I wrote "surprisingly ", because I admit I cringed when I heard the word "kale". It is probably bad experiences in the past, when I ended up with bitter leaves that made up my mind about these trendy leaves. I liked it and finished my plate...

Kale salad at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Kale salad at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

After the kale salad, we got a taste of their wild mushroom risotto. That was a great dish: classic but perfectly executed, with an aroma that could have made me forget my bonnes manieres (etiquette), making me not wait for my fellow bloggers to be served before starting to eat.

Wild mushroom risotto at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Wild mushroom risotto at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

Then, it escalated to an even better dish: mussels or moules Africana.

Mussels Africana at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Mussels Africana at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

The sauce was made with coconut milk, curry and lemongrass. It had a very subtle heat that I only felt after eating few of these giant mussels that are sourced in Long Island. Understand: that sauce was delicious with either bread, fries (hand cut and heavenly crispy) or simply eaten with a spoon. Ok, so you probably noticed that I mentioned dipping the fries in the sauce. Well, I do not see any other purpose when pairing fries and mussels! Try it!

French fries at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — French fries at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

The last dish was Le Poulet Tagine or the chicken tagine, a Moroccan dish.

Le poulet tagine at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Le poulet tagine at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

Chef Cisse really cooks it in a tagine, this traditional pot that gave the name to these succulent dishes. The chicken, perfectly cooked, was smothered by a sauce loaded with spices that had a little kick. It was served with couscous as well as vegetables cut in small pieces.

Last were desserts. We tried three of them:
The chocolate fondant (damn it, my fellow bloggers got the best part):

Chocolate frondant at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Chocolate frondant at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

The crème brûlée:

Creme brûlée at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Creme brûlée at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

The tiramisu:

Tiramisu at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York — Tiramisu at Ponty Bistro in NYC, New York

My favorite was definitely the tiramisu that was delicious and ended the evening on a nice note. For sure, the dishes showed how versatile Chef Cisse is, proposing a wide range of choices well executed. Ponty Bistro is the kind of place that can satisfy any crowd, adventurous or not. So, you may want to check it out...

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! 5/14/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/14/15

Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The last and only time we went to Marc Forgione, the eponymous restaurant of the celebrity Chef was in 2011; but trust me: I still remember a phenomenal meal there and could talk about most of the dishes we had with detail, although they are not anymore on the menu. It was time to go back and they welcomed us back after we sat, not because I am someone you would never forget, but because they probably keep the names of their customers in a database that is checked whenever somebody makes a reservation.

Dining room at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Decor wise, it is a warm and rustic place, with a noisy side, close to the bar, that has dimmer lights than where we were seated. In fact, we sat at the table next to the one we sat the first time we went, and next to a couple who had apparently too many drinks...

After we ordered, they brought us some very good potato buns, that were homemade.

Potato buns at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Potato buns at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

As well as some amuse-bouche composed of an everything bagel with crème fraiche and a salmon rillette.

Everything bagel with crème fraiche and a salmon rillette at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Everything bagel with crème fraiche and a salmon rillette at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

It started well and I was looking forward for the foie gras that I ordered for the appetizer.

Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Brioche for Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Brioche for Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Smoked almond jam for Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Smoked almond jam for Foie gras at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

It was served with two brioche, husk berries with either cilantro, mint or basil, and a fantastic smoked almond jam that I ate even without the foie; although, with the foie, it was succulent, the sweetness of the jam complementing well the foie gras and the crunchiness of the almonds adding a nice texture to the dish.

Jodi did not order any appetizer and went straight to her entrée. She chose the halibut en croute, without the hazelnuts. It was served with a sauce "proposal". I do not know what proposal it was but I accepted it, digging a bit more than I should have in her dish...

Halibut en croute at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Halibut en croute at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The fish was fantastic: perfectly cooked and flakey.

On my side, I got the dover sole with lobster mousse, brussels sprouts and truffle. It was their interpretation of a lobster roll apparently. I liked it, not as much as the halibut, but still. The fish was good and well cooked.

Dover sole with lobster at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dover sole with lobster at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Before bringing us dessert, they brought a ginger pomegranate shot that was a nice way to clean our palates before finishing our meal on a sweet note.

Ginger pomegranate shot at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Ginger pomegranate shot at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

So, then was dessert. We decided to go for the S'mores.

S'mores at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — S'mores at Marc Forgione restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

It was composed of a sort of brownie with a Graham cracker crust, a toasted marshmallow and a vanilla ice cream. I loved it and just wished there were more marshmallow. I definitely recommend this dish.

At the end of the meal, they brought us some peppermint chocolate, another occasion to have palate cleanser...

We definitely had a great dinner at Marc Forgione: the food was original, creative and delicious. Would I go back? For sure!

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! 5/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/12/15

Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Rotisserie chicken brings to me some childhood memories, from the time we were going to the farmers' market on Sundays or when we passed by the butcher's section at the supermarket, our noses filled with the delicious and appetizing smell of the roasted bird. I love rotisserie chicken and could eat a whole one with some mayonnaise or simply by dipping the meat in the almighty juice.

Eiffel Tower at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Eiffel Tower at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Dining room at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dining room at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

So I was definitely excited when I discovered Poulette, a French-inspired rotisserie chicken place located on the upper part of Hell's Kitchen. I went there on a Saturday, for lunch, and was glad there was nobody yet. I immediately liked the setting: simple and clean decor, with white brick walls and exposed filament bulbs.

Exposed filament bulb at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Exposed filament bulb at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Menu wise, I was not sure what to get. First, I should mention that this is a place for the carnivores, the dishes made exclusively with chicken, although, if you are vegetarian, you can order some sides (ratatouille, quinoa and kale salad or string beans with mushrooms for instance). I definitely hesitated between a rotisserie chicken or the chicken sandwich that could have been called The French chicken sandwich, considering it was made with a baguette and an herbed aioli, two elements that would justify the name. So, I went for the sandwich, as well as some wings. The wings choice was trickier as I love buffalo wings, but need definitely the blue cheese sauce to soothe the heat of the sauce. At Poulette, they do not serve them with blue cheese sauce and you just have to take the heat...well, not me: I therefore went for the salt and pepper ones, not really motivated by the cayenne pepper or sesame glazed options.

Chicken sandwich and wings at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Chicken sandwich and wings at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

After ordering at the counter, I picked a seat and my plate came few minutes later, containing both the sandwich and the wings. Looking at it, it had this rustic feel that is probably on purpose, transporting customers to a time when it was ok to eat without a fork and knife!

I began with the sandwich. The first bite of the chicken was disappointing: it was very dry.

Chicken sandwich at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Chicken sandwich at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Too bad because it looked very appetizing. It might have been better with smaller sizes of chicken smothered in the delicious aioli. As far as the wings were concerned, I was also very disappointed: I did not like the breading and the salt and pepper was overpowering, not being evenly spread out.

Salt and pepper wings at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Salt and pepper wings at Poulette, Rotisserie Chicken, in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

So, no, I did not enjoy this lunch that I was looking forward to. Would I go back to Poulette? Probably not...

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! 5/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/10/15

Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY

We were looking for an Italian Restaurant Midtown and stumbled on Il Corso, a small trattoria located a couple of blocks from the MOMA. Opened in 1993, the name of this place means The path. The owners, who are from the south of Italy explain it by saying that "their goal is to
guide their clients on a path to a wonderful experience".

We decided to sit in the back room, not because of the decor that was somewhat simple and not so interesting, but because it was quieter. In terms of menu, they have the classic dishes you would expect in an Italian restaurant: burrata, octopus, bolognese or vongole (with clams) pasta, risotto...But know that their pasta, bread and desserts are homemade, that definitely makes a restaurant stand out, especially if they do it well.

White bread and focaccia at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY — White bread and focaccia at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY

Talking about bread, they brought us some white bread and focaccia with a dip made with lentils and olive oil that was delicious. But I admit that I was not that thrilled about the bread that were just ok for me.

Lentils and olive oil at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY — Lentils and olive oil at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY

As an appetizer, we decided to try their parmigiana estiva, a dish made with slices of grilled eggplant, tomatoes, basil and some Italian cheese that I do not recall the name (the menu online says mozzarella di bufala, but it is not that).

Parmigiana estiva at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY — Parmigiana estiva at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY

Although a bit pricey, I thought that it was a nice way to start, especially as I am a big fan of eggplant. I just wished there was more cheese and basil.

For her entrée, Jodi chose the homemade gnocchi a la Siciliana.

Gnocchi a la Siciliana at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY — Gnocchi a la Siciliana at Il Corso, Italian Restaurant in New York, NY

It was served with eggplant (again?), tomato, ricotta salata and tomato sauce. This was a fantastic dish; the gnocchi were amazing: light, not doughy at all. This was not heavy and the ingredients, namely tomato and eggplant added a nice freshness to it. I definitely recommend it.

On my side, I was inclined to order the Linguine alle vongole, but the printed menu mentioned that the pasta was not homemade. So, I ordered the Pici cacio e pepe or thick fresh spaghetti with black pepper, pecorino cheese and olive oil, served in a cheese basket.

This was very good, especially if like me you love cheese as there was plenty of it. The pasta was fantastic and perfectly cooked al dente. When you see the dish coming, you may think that there is not that much quantity of it, but in fact, there is enough. The cheese basket was a great idea, although it was a bit tough to cut with the knife and a bit salty.

Last was dessert. We decided to go with the classic tiramisu.

What a wonderful way to end a delicious dinner: the homemade tiramisu was succulent and flavorful; the lady fingers were perfectly soaked in coffee; the mascarpone cream was light and airy; there was a touch of chocolate and hazelnut paste, thicker than nutella, as well as a nice amaretto taste from the cookie crumbles on top of the dessert.

This dinner was unexpected and I am glad that I have found this place. Would I go back? For sure and I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/15

Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York - CLOSED

It probably took me a year before going to Devi. Not that I could not get a reservation, but the list of restaurants I would like to visit is long as NewYork offers endless choices. I added it on my list after visiting Tulsi in November 2013, the Chef Hermant Mathur having worked at Devi, allowing the restaurant to receive a Michelin Star in 2007 and 2008. I had high hopes, but, unfortunately, it turned out to be a sad experience, far from the elegant dining experience we were expecting to get. The service was not good, not attentive at all, with maybe some serious issues in the kitchen as the food took forever to come, prompting us to leave without any dessert, as we did not want to wait any longer. Food wise, I found it overpriced for what it was, the quality being far below Tulsi, Tamarind or even Baluchi's that is owned by the same person, Rakesh Aggarwal.

Dining room at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Dining room at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

The chana masala was just ok, and a bit spicy, although we asked for not spicy and they assured us they could make is as requested.

Chana Masala at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Chana Masala at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Even eating it with rice, naan or drinking some mango lassi did not help.

Rice Pulao at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Rice Pulao at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Naan at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Naan at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Mango lassi at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Mango lassi at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

The chicken tikka masala was average, the sauce being good, but the chicken overcooked and so dry.

Chicken Tikka Masala at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Chicken Tikka Masala at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

However, I enjoyed the dal that, although spicy, was creamy as I like it.

Dal at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York — Dal at Devi, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

So, if you ask me if I would go back, I guess you know I will probably not...

Enjoy (...)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/15

Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, New York, NY

There, no surprise concerning the cuisine served as it is pretty standard, the only thing that would make them standout from other Thai restaurants is the prix-fixe menu that they propose for dinner, probably wanting to align with the other restaurants in the area that try to attract theater goers.

Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

Still exploring the many restaurants located on 46th, we noticed this small Thai restaurant called The Bangkok House. Well, small from the outside, big in the inside, thanks to the long shape of the dining room.

I started of course with a Thai iced tea.

Thai iced tea at Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York — Thai iced tea at Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

It was very good, but had too many ice cubes in it.

We decided not to have the prix-fixe and shared the spring rolls as an appetizer.

spring rolls at Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

They were good, tasty and not greasy. Pipping hot of course...

For her entree, Jodi ordered the pad see ew.

pad see ew at Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

And I ordered the curry massaman.

curry massaman at Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

I asked for not spicy, but there was definitely a bit of kick that started building up in the back of my throat.

The food, pretty standard, was good and the portions generous. The service was also excellent, ensuring that we had everything we needed and liked the dishes.

Would I go back? Yes, if I am in the area and am looking for a Thai that serves traditional dishes. For a more modern, more original and a little pricier menu, I would go to QI in Times Square.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/15

Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Q2 Thai is the type of Thai places you find in New York, where you do not go for the decor, but more for the food: delicious and cheap, especially when going for lunch and enjoying a meal for less than $10. I heard about this place few times, my colleagues mentioning how good but how spicy this place could be. So I went once to try by myself.

Well, this post was ready for publication when I discovered that the place just closed. So sad: I liked their food and was planning on going back when I saw the iron curtain down...Anyway, here is the post:

Dining room at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dining room at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

I started off with a Thai iced tea that is my favorite drink when eating Thai, the tea being heavenly sweet, allowing to tame any spiciness of the food.

Thai iced tea at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Thai iced tea at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Then, I got the first part of my meal: black bean soup and vegetable Spring roll.

Black bean soup and Spring roll at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Black bean soup and Spring roll at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Spring roll at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Spring roll at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

I admit that I was surprised by the black bean soup, associating it more with Mexican cuisine rather than Thai. But, it was still good! The Spring roll was good too, being not too greasy, with not too much shell, and tasty.

Next was my usual Thai dish: chicken curry massaman.

Chicken curry massaman at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Chicken curry massaman at Q2 Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

I asked for it mild and the level of spiciness was perfect, this dish having a nice kick but not being overly spicy. It was delicious and I appreciated that it was not loaded with mostly potatoes.

This was a good meal and I would definitely go back to Q2 Thai. I should mention that the service there was courteous and fast. Maybe too fast as they came few times to remove the dishes, although I was not fully done...

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! 5/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/15

Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

I guess Burger Fi's name is an homage to the military, the US Marines motto being Semper Fi, an abbreviation of the latin Semper Fidelis that means Always Loyal. In this case, it would be loyalty for burgers, that I have no problem to have! Each time I eat a burger, I think about how, many years ago, before meeting Jodi and before the burger craze started, I thought that the quarter pounder from McDonald's was the best...Today, there are so many chains and restaurants that elevate the burger to something else than just fast food: Burger Fi is one of them. Yes, it is a chain with many locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee...And New York, where we went on a Saturday, before twelve and the place was not yet full. Yes, it got crowded few minutes after.

Dining room at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Dining room at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

Soda fountain at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Soda fountain at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

Counter at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Counter at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

Decor wise, there are couple of things that I noticed. First, the wood on the walls that reflects the commitment of Burger Fi to serve natural ingredients and beef raised without antibiotics or hormones, as well as the two wooden communal tables. Then, if you look on the left of the counter, you will see some bottles of wine on the wall: they serve wine by the glass or bottle, as well as craft beers. I did not go for any of these, but rather for a banana milkshake, a flavor I did not see in a while and that I love. When ordering it, you get to chose the base: vanilla or chocolate. I went for vanilla.

Banana milkshake at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Banana milkshake at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

It was sublime: thick and flavorful. Jodi even said that it was the best milkshake she ever had! Now, that's a statement!

Then we got our burgers. Know that at Burger Fi, you do not wait for your order at the counter or get a number: you get a buzzer.

Burgers, fries and onions rings at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Burgers, fries and onions rings at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

Instead of building our own burgers, we went for their menu items. Jodi ordered their vegi patty, a crisp quinoa patty, with white cheddar, grilled mushrooms and BurgerFi sauce served on a multigrain bun. This was a total surprise: it was good! It did not taste weird and was not mushy; to the contrary, it was tasty and a bit crispy, as advertised. It would not convert me, but still, it was pretty good.

Vegetarian burger at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Vegetarian burger at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

On my side, instead of building my own, I went for their cheeseburger. It is composed of double Angus patty, double American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and BurgerFi® sauce.

Cheeseburger at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Cheeseburger at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

As you can see on the photo above, the burger was branded with the name of the restaurant. The patties were similar to the way they serve burgers at Shake Shack: very thin, cooked medium. They were delicious, but I had to remove some of the iceberg lettuce as there was too much of it. I really liked it.

For the sides, that they call accessories on their menu, we went for the cry and fries that are fries and onion rings. Good idea to have this combination so we do not have to order two sides to try them.

Fries and onion rings at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Fries and onion rings at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

Onion ring at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York — Onion ring at Burger Fi in Yorkville, NYC, New York

The fries were crispy and cooked all the way through. Then, the onion rings were spectacular! I mean, look at the size! And they were delicious: the onions was perfectly cooked and it was heavenly crispy and not greasy.

We had a great meal at Burger Fi: the food was delicious and the service courteous. I would definitely go back for a burger or maybe a hot dog. And this time, I will try the banana shake with the chocolate base.

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! 4/30/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/30/15

Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

There, Nicholas Morgenstern serves unique ice creams. Yes, unique is probably the right word, although innovative might be more appropriate. He is taking classic ice creams and put his own twist on it, using all natural products. For instance, he proposes the King Kong Banana Split made with bananas (of course!), five scoops of ice cream, sesame caramel and pineapple.

One of the TV shows that made us discover so many good places in New York is Unique Sweets and, again, thanks to them, we discovered Morgenstern's, an ice cream parlor located on Rivington street. It is a small place with great decor that has a bit of nostalgia in it, reminding me of the old ice cream parlors I used to see on TV when I was a kid in France.

There, Nicholas Morgenstern serves unique ice creams. Yes, unique is probably the right word, although innovative might be more appropriate. He is taking classic ice cream and putting his own twist on it, using all natural products. For instance, he proposes the King Kong Banana Split made with bananas (of course!), five scoops of ice cream, sesame caramel and pineapple.

But if we went to Morgenstern's, it was to try their New God Flow. I think the name was perfectly chosen as we could hear angels singing as we were eating. So, what is The New God Flow? First they take a thick slice of Japanese milk bread (very close to a brioche). They pour honey on it that they will torch, giving this dish a nice crust, similar in a way to a crème brûlée, but thinner. Then, they add on top two scoops of their delicious milk ice cream, topped with a bit more honey. The result is sublime, succulent, and fantastic. The ice cream not being sweet counterbalances the sweetness of the honey. And that bread...It is a great bread that you can find in bakeries such as Tous Les Jours or Fay Da. I guess you understand that I highly recommend The New God Flow!

Preparing The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — Preparing The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — The New God Flow at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

We also tried one of their chocolate flavors: salted chocolate.

Salted chocolate at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY — Salted chocolate at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, NY

This was also a very good ice cream: creamy and chocolatey, but I admit that The New God Flow was probably enough for us to share...it's good that we did not also go for the banana split!!!

This is a great place and I cannot wait to go back to it and try some other flavors (burnt honey vanilla, café latte) or their salted caramel pretzel...

Enjoy (I surely 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! 4/28/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/28/15

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Located in Chinatown, Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli, formerly Banh Mi So 1, has been serving banh mi to an hungry crowd since 1988. A Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich, taking its origin from the French during its colonial period. In fact, Banh Mi is the bread before being the sandwich.

Inside of Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Inside of Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Sandwiches at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Sandwiches at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

This is a very small place with only few seats, so either grab and go, or go early to sit on the few spots available. Menu wise, they have quite a large choice, for the carnivores, but also the vegetarians or vegans, and it is not only limited to sandwiches: you can get rolls (pork or vegetarian), as well as salads (green papaya or chicken). But we are there for the banh mi, especially after we tried Banh Mi Saigon several weeks ago. Jodi decided to go for their vegan sandwich called Bánh Mì Chay Đậu Hũ, Xả Ớt Rau or Vegan chicken (tofu) with lemongrass (choice 11).

Vegan chicken sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Vegan chicken sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

On my side, I got the Bánh mì pâté supreme (choice 5) made with Pork liver pate, vegan salami and vegan ham.

Pâté supreme sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY — Pâté supreme sandwich at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in New York, NY

Each banh mi was stuffed with crisp strips of cucumber, cilantro and shredded pickled turnip (radish) and carrots, that gave a nice freshness to it. My favorite was the pâté one, especially because of the homemade pork pâté that was succulent.

I liked Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli: theses cheap sandwiches (less than $6.50 each) were delicious. Would I go back? Definitely: I would like to try their Grilled minced pork with sweet glazed or sardines one.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich on Urbanspoon

I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15

Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

I was really looking forward to the Bacon and Beer Classic event at Citi Field, after a first immersion last year. Again, I was more interested with the bacon part of it, but was glad to try some different beers too. At the same time, I got to be invited as Press (the perks of a food blogger: what a sacrifice!) and thus, had access to the field (you need a VIP pass for this), but this time, no visit of the secret inside of the stadium, the season not being over.

Please note that this event was complimentary. However, the opinion expressed in this post are my own.

I went with my friend Gary who is a huge Mets fan. We queued up, anxiously waiting for the doors to open, in the middle of a crowd excited at the idea to be in the stadium, but even more excited to get some food made with bacon (some very original), as well as different kinds of beers.

Dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY — Dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY

Phones in the dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY — Phones in the dugout at Citi Field in Queens, NY

So, this event is about bacon and beer. For the later, there was ton of choices, with beers from all over the country.

Beer at the Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Beer at the Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Concerning the food, we got to try some amazing dishes; some of them were classic, others quite creative and surprising.

There were of course burgers! It started off with BareBurger and their bacon jam and blue cheese burger. It was heaven from the start: the meat was juicy and the pairing with the bacon jam and blue cheese was delicious.

Bareburger bacon and blue cheese at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bareburger bacon and blue cheese at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Then, the one from S.Ottomanelli and Sons that was a caramelized onion patty:

Caramelized onion burger with bacon from S.Ottomanelli and Sons at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Caramelized onion burger with bacon from S.Ottomanelli and Sons at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

And the peanut butter and bacon burger from Whitman's, surely an interesting combination that surprisingly works:

Whitman's bacon and peanut butter burger at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Whitman's bacon and peanut butter burger at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

There was also bacon on a stick. First was Landhaus from Brooklyn, with their maple bacon:

Maple bacon stick from Landhaus at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Maple bacon stick from Landhaus at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Steakhouses were well represented, first by Executive Chef Michael Vignola from Striphouse, with his Strip House cured Mangalista bacon with tomato chimichuri:

Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Cured bacon with tomato chimichuri at Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Cured bacon with tomato chimichuri at Strip House at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

As well as the bacon on a stick from Angus Club Steak House, a great restaurant located Midtown that I discovered last year.

Angus Club Steakhouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Angus Club Steakhouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

John's Pizza was also there, with a great cheese and bacon pizza that definitely pleased the crowd.

John's bacon and cheese pizza at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — John's bacon and cheese pizza at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Or the bacon rolls from Roll With It:

Bacon rolls from Roll With It at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon rolls from Roll With It at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

As well as the Applewood smoked bacon with magic sauce and BBQ confit Nueske from Bar Bacon (nice name!):

Applewood smoked bacon from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Applewood smoked bacon from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

BBQ confit from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — BBQ confit from Bar Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse:

Bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon and cauliflower chowder from Blind Tiger Alehouse at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef.

Asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Asparagus and potato with foam infused with bacon from Casa Del Chef at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

For a healthy (right) snack, there is nothing better than broccoli dipped in some sort of bacon marinade from The East Pole.

Brussels sprout dipped in a bacon marinade from The East Pole at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Brussels sprout dipped in a bacon marinade from The East Pole at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Then, we got to try some sweets with bacon! First, the best was the pineapple bacon chocolate delice from Manila Social Club:

Pineapple bacon chocolate from Manilla Social Club at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Pineapple bacon chocolate from Manilla Social Club at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

Donuts with bacon from Sweet Dreams:

Bacon donuts from Sweet Dreams at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Bacon donuts from Sweet Dreams at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

The nutella and bacon cheesecake from Bespoke:

Nutella and Bacon Cheesecake from Bespoke at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field — Nutella and Bacon Cheesecake from Bespoke at at Bacon and Beer Classic 2015 At Citi Field

So we had a great time there: the food was delicious and the beer unlimited...This is definitely an event that is worth going to!

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! 4/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/26/15

Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

We passed so many times in front of Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking district, whether we were going to the High Line, The Gansevoort Market or Chelsea Market. So, it was on our list and, after a day strolling in the city, we decided to go there to try their cheeseburger. We went early, at a time when it was not that crowded and so, we could hear each other...

Dining room at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Dining room at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

The place is fun: it has a dining room in the back, away from the bar, with colorful paintings on the wall.

I went for their signature burger, the Bill's Burger, served with American, lettuce, tomato and pickles.

Cheeseburger at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Cheeseburger at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

Jodi ordered the same, but added mushrooms.

The burgers were good, but did not provoke the OMG reaction we have when we go to Shake Shack, Burger Fi or Five Guys, that are even cheaper.

For sides, we ordered the onion rings that were also good, but a bit greasy.

Onion rings at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York — Onion rings at Bill's Bar and Burger in the Meatpacking District, NYC, New York

I was a bit disappointed, expecting more from this place. I may go back and see if their other location, located in the Rockfeller Center, with its 400 seats, is better...

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! 4/24/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/15

By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Finding a good crêpe place in New York is not that easy. My favorite so far was Bar Suzette, in Chelsea Market, but I was hoping to find another great spot, maybe a bit cheaper and far from the hype of the market. This time, I tried By Suzette, a tiny place in Tribeca.

The first crêpe we tried was La crémière, made with cheddar, swiss, mushroom, tomato and cream.

La crémière crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — La *crémière* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I liked it, although the crêpe itself, made with buckwheat was too soft and missing the crunchiness it usually has. There was for sure lots of cream and cheese in it.

The second crêpe was La complète, made with ham, cheese and egg.

La complète crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — *La complète* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This is a fairly classic one. It was good and tasty, but the egg was a bit overcooked.

Last was our dessert crêpe. We picked a classic: butter and sugar.

Butter and sugar crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York — *Butter and sugar* crêpe at By Suzette, Crêperie in Tribeca, NYC, New York

If you compare the color of the crêpe between the savory and the sugary one, you will notice a difference. The sweet one is of a lighter color: it is because it is made with white flour rather than buckwheat. The crêpe itself was good, but there was this rancid taste that I guess came from the butter...So disappointing...

So it was just ok. Would I go back to By Suzette? I guess only if I am in Tribeca and really am craving crêpes...

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! 4/22/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/22/15

Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

This was a spectacular dish: first, the presentation was really appetizing and the dish had such an aroma that I just wanted to dig in. The duck was served in two ways: first was a breast that was perfectly cooked (pink) and with the best part being the skin that was deliciously fatty and heavenly crispy. Then, the kebab sausage that had so much flavors, thanks to the spices they used in it. The dish was served with parsnip purée, quinoa and grapes.

Little Park was last year's new addition from Chef Andrew Carmellini who brought us Locanda Verde, The Dutch and Bar Primi. Little Park is a seasonal restaurant (we went there for their Winter menu), serving dishes prepared with ingredients from local farmers.

Flower at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Flower at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I like the place, that has a natural decor and lots of booths (I love that as it is cozy and, by the way, never see that in France except in certain supermarket restaurants when I was a kid). Service wise, it was very good, except their insistence in putting our coats to the coat check that was a bit annoying and unnecessary. I am not sure what type of instructions they get, but I do not need to be reminded that the coat check is free to persuade me to leave my coat there.

What was interesting is that bread was upon request. I guess to avoid wasting it. It was a spent grain bread served with cultured butter.

Bread and butter at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bread and butter at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

As an appetizer, Jodi decided to go for the crispy brussels sprouts, served with smoked parsnip and apple.

Brussels sprouts at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Brussels sprouts at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

It was a very good dish, hearty. I particularly liked the slight smokiness of the parsnips. On my side, I went for the bay scallops, served with watercress, coriander and garlic.

Bay scallops at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bay scallops at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

The presentation was spectacular and I loved the contrast of colors, especially the green from the sauce that made that dish pop up. Taste wise, it was divine: the scallops, that were raw, tasted fresh and were not overpowered by the sauce that had a slight kick.

For her entrée, Jodi went for the butternut squash ravioli. What persuaded her to go for that dish was the morel mushrooms that are in there; and there were quite a lot of them.

Butternut squash ravioli with morel mushrooms at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Butternut squash ravioli with morel mushrooms at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Quantity wise, I would call it a French serving, so do not expect a large portion, but, in all honesty, with an appetizer and a dessert, it is enough...

On my side, I went for the dry-aged duck and kebab.

Dry-aged duck and kebab at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Dry-aged duck and kebab at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Of course, we could not leave without trying a dessert and we picked the pear and milk chocolate tart, that came with a white wine sorbet.

Pear and milk chocolate tart at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Pear and milk chocolate tart at at Little Park in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

The presentation was again amazing. Unfortunately, I did not like it: there was something about the texture that made it mushy and the taste of the pear got lost between the red wine that they used to poach it (they should specify that the pear are poached in red wine on their menu, so people know better what they are ordering) and the liquid chocolate. I also did not like the white wine sorbet.

Even if I did not like our dessert, I really liked Little Park and would certainly go back. This is another great spot in TriBeCa.

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! 4/20/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/20/15

Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Back in March, on a cold day, we went to Queens, in Sunnyside, to celebrate our friend Livia's birthday, at Bucharest, a Romanian restaurant. We went on a Saturday and I enjoyed the fact that the place was not crowded as we could hear each other talk, until they started string up the place for a party that night and the star of the event started singing. Don't get me wrong: it was...

Dining room at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Dining room at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

So, it is a big place, with 2 main dining areas. The first one is at the entrance, with its bar and the large painting on the wall that give a certain authenticity to the place I guess. The second, being the area where I believe they organize parties; long and wide, with a stage in the back for the entertainment and the disco lights.

I never had Romanian food before, so I let Livia and her husband George guide me in this culinary discovery. Livia told me that a typical meal starts with a soup, so I decided to go for it and went with apparently a classic, the Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup.

Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Ciorbă de Burtă or tripe soup at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

The soup came with some sour cream and a green pepper that I totally ignored. It was very creamy and perfect for this cold day. The tripe was in the bottom. It has been so long since I have had a dish with tripe: I really enjoyed it.

Jodi went for a more classic dish: Salată românească or Romanian salad, that had tomato, olives, cheese, lettuce...

Salată românească or Romanian salad at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Salată românească or Romanian salad at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

For the entrées, we also followed Livia and George's advice. Jodi ordered a deliciously creamy polenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă):

olenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă) at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — olenta with cheese and sour cream (Mămăligă cu smăntănă) at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

On my side, I went for the Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries.

Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian sausages or Mititei with French fries at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

Both dishes were very good, but I have to say that the sausage was my favorite: they were moist and so tasty, but there was so much of it and I really wanted to have a dessert, especially as I had my eyes on the Papanasi that are donuts with sour cream and jam on it.

Romanian donuts at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian donuts at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

I loved the donut that was deliciously fried and not too sweet, but the sour cream was too much, hiding the delicious taste of the fried dough. I wished I knew there was all this sour cream on top of the donut, because I would have asked for it on the side.

I should mention that we accompanied our meal with some red Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012:

Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012 at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens — Romanian wine, a Fetească Neagră from 2012 at Bucharest, Romanian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens

This was a great lunch: good food and good company. I would definitely go back to Bucharest to try some other specialties.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/18/15

Lotus Blue, elegant Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

As we were exploring restaurants in Tribeca, we ended up at Lotus Blue, an elegant Chinese restaurant. I was intrigued by the name and wondering if it was named after one of the Tintin books, Le Lotus Bleu, but I guess I was mistaken, the lotus on the wall not being blue and nothing really in the decor could have indicated I was right. But it got me there!

Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Dining room at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I was thrilled to go try their menu, composed of small and large dishes. I love small dishes because you can share, but also because it gives you a chance to try several dishes, but I admit that there were so many mouth watering choices that it took me a bit of time to decide. I started off with a Thai Iced Tea that was presented like a cocktail and had some whipped cream on top (first time I got that with my tea).

Thai iced tea at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Thai iced tea at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Like me, you probably wonder how they could serve a Thai Iced Tea in a Chinese restaurant. Well, Lotus Blue serves Yunnan cuisine, a cuisine from the Southwest of China, that borrows dishes, herbs and spices from the neighboring Thailand and Burma.

So, we ordered few small dishes:

Roasted duck wraps, made with vegetables and served with plum sauce. I love duck and was definitely not disappointed. I loved the sweetness of the plum sauce as well as the freshness coming from the mint, both flavors not overpowering at all the duck that was delicious.

Roasted duck wraps at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Roasted duck wraps at Lotus Blue, Chinese restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Then, we got crispy scallion pancakes, served with aloe honey sauce and a lime soy sauce. I liked it: it was crispy as advertised and a bit greasy as you would expect your scallion pancakes to be. I liked the honey sauce, but disliked the lime soy sauce that was too strong and bitter.

In fact, we dipped the pancake in the sauce of the pork pot stickers. The presentation was great, with the crispy crust covering the dumplings that were right under. They were very good, juicy and tasty and the shell was perfect, having a bit of crispiness on top.

The last small plate we ordered was the one I least liked: the grilled lemongrass spare ribs. They were a bit too dry for my taste, although flavorful.

We also decided to share a large dish and I let Jodi pick this time. She went for the pressed tofu stir-fried in basil mushroom sauce. In other words, it was a vegetarian dish and I have to say that I enjoyed it! The tofu was flavorful and, the mushrooms and the eggplant made it a very earthy dish.

I should mention that we both got a bowl of rice with the dish, emphasizing more the fact that the dishes are made for sharing.

Last was dessert, with its original dessert menu...

We went for the banana and jackfruit turon. Little I know that turon is a Filipino snack, a sweet version of a Spring roll. I liked it: it was deliciously sweet, crispy, with sesame seeds on top that added some nuttiness.

This was a great dinner and I can't wait to go back and try some other dishes like the banana blossom (never tried that) and mango salad or the stir-fried prawns with candied olives.

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! 4/16/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/16/15

Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I had Petrarca Cucina e Vino on my list for a while and we finally went there on a Thursday night, after booking the table on Open Table. I guess the name is an homage to Francesco Petrarca, the Italian scholar, but I admit that I was there less for the culture and more for the food...I probably should insist on the Vino part of the name: when you enter the restaurant, you cannot miss the amazing display of wine that goes all over the dining room; it is pretty impressive.

Dining room at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Dining room at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Preserved citrus at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Preserved citrus at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

Food wise, they offer a menu that can satisfy the carnivore as well as the vegetarian, with classic dishes, and others that I do not think I ever saw on a menu, such as Spaghetti Integrali, whole wheat spaghetti with anchovies.

Bread at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Bread at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

We decided to start with couple of appetizers. First was the eggplant capponata bruschetta:

Eggplant capponata bruschetta at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Eggplant capponata bruschetta at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

I did not expect such a big piece of bread, and I have to say that it was a bit challenging to eat it...But it was very good, very earthy, the eggplant being definitely the star of the show.

Then, came the Insalata di polpo or octopus salad.

Insalata di polpo at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Insalata di polpo at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was a sublime dish, the octopus being perfectly cooked, not rubbery and having a nice texture. I was also pleased by the nice quantity of it.

For her main dish, Jodi ordered the Ravioli di Zucca or butternut squash ravioli in a brown butter and sage sauce:

Butternut squash ravioli at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Butternut squash ravioli at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was very good, especially the sweetness coming from the butternut squash, but I wished there was more brown butter sauce...

But I guess my favorite was the Linguine Di Seppia or black linguine with a seafood and tomato sauce:

Black linguine with seafood at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Black linguine with seafood at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

The linguine were fantastic and perfectly cooked al dente, bathed in a succulent tomato sauce. Then, I was surprised by the generous amount of seafood there; there were mussels, razor clams, clams, shrimp, calamari and octopus. The best proof it was good: I finished my plate!

Although we were full, we could not leave without having dessert...We went for the tiramisu:

Tiramisu at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York — Tiramisu at Petrarca Cucina e Vino, Italian restaurant in Tribeca, NYC, New York

This was heavenly creamy and not too sweet. The only negative was that the lady fingers were too much imbibed by the coffee. But still, I liked it.

We had a great dinner at Petrarca Cucina e Vino: the food was good and the service on point. Would I go back? Definitely. This time, I will probably try their chicken parmesan or their homemade gnocchi...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/14/15

Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

I recently went to Havana Central for a quick lunch, trying to benefit from their $12.95 prix-fixe. For that price, you get a main dish with two sides (a choice of maduros, black or red beans, white or yellow rice). I love Cuban food that I find very comforting, so I was excited to see how this would be, especially as the place is close to Times Square and I was wondering if it would be a place where foot traffic is more important than the quality of the food.

Dining room at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

Bar at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Bar at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

It is a fairly big place, with a nice decor supposed to give patrons the impression they are miles away, in Cuba, rather than close to the busy area that is Times Square.

The dish I ordered was the arroz con pollo or saffron rice with chicken.

Arroz con pollo at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Arroz con pollo at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

With it, I chose black beans and maduros (that are plantains):

Black beans at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

Maduros at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York — Maduros at Havana Central, Cuban food near Times Square, NYC, New York

You may wonder where the chicken was: it was mixed with the rice. I liked it: the rice was flavorful and the chicken, boneless, was perfectly cooked, tasty and not dry at all. I was glad I picked the black beans that were perfect with the rice and loved the added sweetness of the maduros.

I had a nice introductory lunch at Havana Central and would certainly go back to try some other dishes.

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! 4/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/12/15

Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, our burgers came. At that point, we our noses got filled with the fantastic smell of the meat: this definitely opened even more my appetite.

Jodi ordered the cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup. On my side, I ordered the double cheeseburger with ketchup and mayo. I admit that I did not expect the patties to be that thick and the cheddar was oozing from it, giving to the burger an even more appetizing look.

Burger Joint is one of my favorite burger places in New York. The original location, located in The Parker Meridien Hotel is real good, but always packed. So, I was really looking forward to trying their restaurant on West 8th Street.

Neon at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Neon at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

I found for sure some similarities in the decor between the two locations: the neon in form of burger of course, as well as the graffitis on the wall (yes, I Just Want To Eat was here!).

Graffitis at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Graffitis at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

But it stopped there. Well, the first interesting artifact was the big zebra at the entrance, as well as the piano in the back...

Zebra at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Zebra at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Piano at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Piano at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, surprisingly, the place is big and operates differently than the other one: you sit wherever you want and they will take your order at the table, the food being prepared in the back.

Bar at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Bar at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Pickles and figurines at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Pickles and figurines at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Kitchen at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Kitchen at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they propose a bit more choices and, because they have a liquor license, they have a boozy milkshake...

Menu at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Menu at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

But, this was not for me: I went for the Oreo cookie milkshake that was thick and deliciously tasty.

Oreo cookie milkshake at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Oreo cookie milkshake at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Then, our burgers came. At that point, we our noses got filled with the fantastic smell of the meat: this definitely opened even more my appetite.

Jodi ordered the cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup:

Cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

On my side, I ordered the double cheeseburger with ketchup and mayo. I admit that I did not expect the patties to be that thick and the cheddar was oozing from it, giving to the burger an even more appetizing look.

Double cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Double cheeseburger at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

This was a spectacular burger: the meat was perfectly cooked (I ordered medium), was juicy and had a nice char. And definitely, it had a nice amount of cheese.

With it, we ordered some French fries that were cooked all the way through and crispy outside. My only regret was that they did not have onion rings on the menu.

French fries at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — French fries at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

You would think that we were full after such a delightful meal. Well, it did not end there...We spoke with the manager, Monica, and she offered us a complimentary brownie topped with vanilla ice cream. I think at that point my pants were about to burst with all that food!

Brownie at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York — Brownie at Burger Joint W8th Street in NYC, New York

Burger Joint is without any doubt one of the best burger places in New York and I am glad that they opened this location in Greenwich Village that is much more pleasant than the flagship restaurant. At least, we did not have anybody breathing down our neck waiting for us to finish our meal and leave so they can takeover the table. If you are craving a good burger or Burger Joint burger, try their location on West 8th Street: it is awesome!

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/15

Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

My experience at Sombrero started well...I went there during the lunch break of a training I was attending in the area and it was conveniently located a block away from the training facility, allowing me and my fellow trainee to find quickly shelter as the temperature was freezing. When we arrived, it was very cold in the restaurant and we asked the staff if it was normal (they could have just started the heater); they said that it was normal to have such temperature inside. Well, if I was the manager of the restaurant, I would offer, on the house, some warm beverages to my customers, and I am not asking for tequila or a margarita, but rather coffee or tea. They did not. Then, I noticed that my fork was awfully dirty: I mean, there was no way somebody would have missed that when dressing the table! Last, they did not have any lunch menu, that is fairly unusual for this area and I found the prices to be on the expensive side. Anyway, as I said, we were in a rush and I thought that maybe the food would be worth it.

Bar at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Bar at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

Dining room at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Dining room at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

The bar was nice with its orange light in the bottom of the counter, but otherwise, the dining room was lacking some charm. Menu wise, they have the classic Mexican dishes: tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas... They started off by bringing us some salsa and chips; the salsa was quite spicy and I was glad to have the tortilla chips as the food took forever to come.

Salsa and tortilla chips at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Salsa and tortilla chips at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

And when it came, it did not really look appetizing...

Fish tacos at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Fish tacos at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

I ordered the fish tacos, made with red snapper. The only positive was the fact that they had a taco holder, allowing the tacos to stand up. But, if you look closely at the photos, you will see that the extremities of the fish were burnt. I do not understand how one can let that out of the kitchen! I had I not been in a hurry, I would have sent it back. Taste wise, it was bland...

With it, were some rice and beans that were cold. Great...

Rice and beans at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York — Rice and beans at Sombrero, Mexican Restaurant near Times Square, NYC, New York

When I think that this cost me close to $30...I should have gone to Chipotle for a better and cheaper meal! So I guess you know that I would not go back to that place, even if it is freezing out...

Enjoy (the post only)!

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