Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York
I had so much fun at Jeremy's Ale House in the Financial District. I went yesterday and our first encounter with Jeremy Holin, the owner of this dive bar was quite surprising: he made us taste an heirloom tomato that he found that had a succulent taste. Not that he was selling it as a dish or anything in his bar, but just because he wanted to share his discovery with us. That's Jeremy and it definitely shows the person he is: generous and incredibly friendly. One thing he said that I still remember is "Saloon is not a business: it is a way of life".
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I had so much fun at Jeremy's Ale House in the Financial District. I went yesterday and our first encounter with Jeremy Holin, the owner of this dive bar was quite surprising: he made us taste an heirloom tomato that he found that had a succulent taste. Not that he was selling it as a dish or anything in his bar, but just because he wanted to share his discovery with us. That's Jeremy and it definitely shows the person he is: generous and incredibly friendly. One thing he said that I still remember is "Saloon is not a business: it is a way of life". Yes, Jeremy is one of those restauranteurs and bar owners who care about their patrons more than money, although of course he has to make a living, and wants his customers to enjoy the time they have there.
It is a nice place with a great atmosphere and lots of humor. Well, of course you cannot miss the bras and ties hanging from the ceiling.
We talked about how the business has changed for the past few years, at the peak of the Financial district, and of course, talked about 9/11. A sad time for sure described with incredible details. That day, Jeremy opened his bar to people who could not reach their families and allowed them to use his five phone lines, as well as served them food. A plaque on the ceiling commemorates this fact.
Before I talk about food, let's talk about beverages. The drink of choice there is beer: they have lots of beers on tap, with classics like Samuel Adams, Bud Light, or less common like the mermaid pilsner from Coney Island.
They also have European beers like Heineken or Stella Artois.
But I wanted to go for something special, so they recommended a Dogfish Head that, with its 9% alcohol was more than enough for me...They also made me taste a Mermaid Pilsner from Coney Island.
Jeremy told us that he also makes martini, but without olives, because they make very few and olives go bad...
Food wise, Jeremy's Ale House proposes awesome bar food: nothing elegant or elaborate, just some good food, a lot fried, that will go perfectly with a beer.
First, you cannot miss their half pound bacon cheeseburger made with a pretzel bun.
It was buried under homemade chips that were very addictive. After uncovering the burger, I ditched the lettuce and tomato and added some ketchup on top of the bacon. Well, it was simply delicious: the pretzel bread was not too dense and the beef patty was really tasty.
The second sandwich we tried was the fried chicken sandwich that was served with some delicious fried onions.
I thought the chicken was overcooked, but in fact, it was perfect, moist and delightfully crispy. It paired very well with the pickles that added a sour note and the fried onions that were deliciously sweet.
The last sandwich I tried was the grilled chicken sandwich that was just ok. It was missing something and I suggested to put the same fried onions that are in the previous sandwich I tried.
If you like seafood, then you have to try their shrimp cocktail: the shrimp are perfectly cooked and not not have this icy taste that they sometimes have in restaurants.
There is also the fried calamari that was deliciously crispy and not rubbery.
The fish and chips, made with tilapia.
The fried scallops that can also be served grilled.
The last dish is not yet on the menu and was one of my favorites: lobster bisque.
Made with half and half cream, it had lots of chunks of lobster in it. Imagine that Jodi who does not usually like lobster liked it. Strangely, it was served with a small glass of sherry...So, stay tuned for having this served there! It is worth ordering.
We really had a good time at Jeremy's Ale House: Jeremy is a very friendly and interesting person, who creates an atmosphere that truly makes this place a neighborhood gem too rare to find in New York. So, if you are looking for a dive bar, this might be your place and you will also taste some awesome bar food there.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Restaurant Week: Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York
It's been a while we wanted to go to Blue Water Grill, the seafood restaurant located in Union Square. So, we decided to go for restaurant week, thinking that it would be a good way to try this fancy place. It is fairly big, with two floors that were packed. We got a seat next to the station where they prepared the seafood and could observe the staff relentlessly opening oysters or preparing seafood platter that looked amazing.
It's been a while we wanted to go to Blue Water Grill, the seafood restaurant located in Union Square. So, we decided to go for restaurant week, thinking that it would be a good way to try this fancy place.
It is fairly big, with two floors that were packed. We got a seat next to the station where they prepared the seafood and could observe the staff relentlessly opening oysters or preparing seafood platter that looked amazing.
For my appetizer, I decided to go for the oysters: one side was from the East coast and the other from the West coast.
The oysters were really good and fresh, worth the $5 surcharge and perfect with a glass of Riesling.
On her side, Jodi got the maki of the day. I cannot remember what was inside, but it was vegetarian and had tempura in it for an added crunch.
For her entrée, Jodi got the pan seared tile fish that was served with a ratatouille and a spinach purée. The fish was perfectly cooked, moist and with a delicious crispy skin.
On my side, I got the casarecce pasta, served with blue crab, a tomato sauce and spicy almonds. I was less lucky as my dish was not that great: the pasta was doughy unfortunately.
For dessert, Jodi ordered the dark chocolate sundae with espresso caramel, turkish coffee gelato and whipped cream.
On my side, I got the market blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato.
Between the two desserts, I prefer mine, but mainly because, although I am a coffee drinker, I do not like coffee ice cream.
The Restaurant Week dinner at Blue Water Grill was fairly good and a perfect way to discover this place. Would I go back? Certainly and this time, I would try some more seafood.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Paul Bocuse - L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges
If you are well versed in French gastronomy, you probably know who Paul Bocuse is: he is an icon in France and his restaurant, L'auberge du Pont de Collonges is the only restaurant in the world that had three Michelin stars for 50 years in a row. Some, like me, may think that Paul Bocuse serves classic French cuisine, but in fact, he is said to be the father of the nouvelle cuisine, a lighter, more delicate cuisine that focuses on presentation.
If you are well versed in French gastronomy, you probably know who Paul Bocuse (Monsieur Bocuse as they say) is: he is an icon in France and his restaurant, L'auberge du Pont de Collonges is the only restaurant in the world that had three Michelin stars for 50 years in a row. Some, like me, may think that Paul Bocuse serves classic French cuisine, but in fact, he is said to be the father of the nouvelle cuisine, a lighter, more delicate cuisine that focuses on presentation. People from all over the world come to L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges and it is fairly common to see people taking a picture in front of what could be a lifetime experience (it is not us on the photo below...).
Once in the restaurant, there is definitely a cult of personality when it comes to Paul Bocuse, whether it is his photo on the menu or his name everywhere.
So, we decided to go with my brother and my sister-in-law. We started off by having a drink before our meal. Jodi got the house cocktail that was made with raspberry, cassis and crémant de Bourgogne, a delicious sparkling wine, perfect for this type of mix. On my side, I got a glass of champagne.
We decided to order a la carte, meaning from the menu, instead of picking a prix-fixe that would have been too much food, especially considering we were having a late dinner (it was 9pm) and we had a very early flight the next day.
After few bites of delicious bread and butter (I had to restrain myself), they brought us a tomato velouté with a quenelle of cream of curry and, on the side, a parmesan cheese shortbread.
This was a good start, the velouté being refreshing and the shortbread fantastic (why do they only give one?).
Then, I got the Truffle soup V.G.E, a soup that was created in 1975 for the French president at that time, Valéry Giscard D'Estaing. It is one of the signature dishes of the restaurant and its price (85 EUR at the time of the post) is justified by the quantity of black truffle and foie gras that is in it.
It comes covered by a dome made of puff pastry that acts as a lid. So, what you need to do is open the top and then reach inside to discover the pricey ingredients. Surprisingly, I did not smell the truffle, before or after I opened that dome, and was not overwhelmed by the taste of the truffle, that was a bit a disappointment in fact.
It was good, but I was not astonished by it: it is good to try once, but, if I went back to L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, I would probably choose another dish. Maybe the Maine lobster salad ‘à la française‘ that my brother picked and that looked delicious.
At that time, we decided to order a glass of wine and chose a red: Volnay Clos Des Ducs 2006.
Then was the dish that made this whole experience worth it: Bresse chicken truffled cooked in a bladder ‘à la Mère Fillioux’. At 230 EUR (at the time of the post), this is the kind of dish to share and so, my brother, sister-in-law and I decided to order it. When it came, it looked like a dinosaur egg and the video below shows you how they carved it.
The result was the following:
I admit that I did not care for the vegetables and rice and only wanted the chicken and the morel mushrooms. The chicken was perfectly cooked, smothered in a sauce that was not too rich and complemented it very well. They were also generous as far as the quantity of mushrooms and Jodi was glad I am the kind to share. Talking about Jodi, she went for the Filet of sole with noodles, ‘à la Fernand Point’.
It was a fairly good dish, but nothing compared to the chicken.
Already full, we decided to pass on the cheese. Know that, if you want fresh cheeses, you can get all-you-can-eat for 35 EUR (at the time of this post). A bit pricey, and the same concept applies in fact for dessert.
But, before they brought us desserts, we got a creme chocolat et griotte (chocolate cream and morello cherry) that was like a pot de creme: very dense and chocolatey; very addictive.
As well as some cookies and chocolates.
Then came the unlimited desserts. There were so many carts (I might have missed one or two) that we were a bit overwhelmed.
Jodi went for the Ile flottante, a dessert made with egg whites, smothered in a vanilla custard. Topped with candied pistachio, it was a pretty good one.
On my side, remembering that we were paying 35 EUR, I decided to order few desserts and try a bit of each. I went for:
The baba au rhum (for sure there was plenty of rum!):
The raspberry tart:
A creme brûlée:
All these desserts were good, especially the raspberry tart.
We finished the meal full and glad that we had to experience L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges. Paul Bocuse is definitely a legend in the French gastronomy and his legacy is tremendous; know that Daniel Boulud and Jean-George Vongerichten worked under him! Now, I admit that I was expecting to be wowed much more when going there. Maybe it is the choice of dishes that we ordered, I do not know. But there are restaurants like Per Se or Daniel that gave me more chills than L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ
I have to say that it takes some courage to open a healthy restaurant next to a burger joint, not that I expect a rivalry between Flatbread Grill and Bareburger...Flatbread Grill is fairly new as it opened a couple of weeks ago at the location where a frozen yogurt used to be.
I have to say that it takes some courage to open a healthy restaurant next to a burger joint, not that I expect a rivalry between Flatbread Grill and Bareburger...Flatbread Grill is fairly new as it opened a couple of weeks ago at the location where a frozen yogurt used to be.
The concept is not new: healthy Mediterranean food with freshly made dishes and breads baked daily on premises. I guess I was mainly interested by the computer where you order, pay and register the buzzer, allowing the patrons to take their time to customize their order, as well as the employees to cook.
Jodi went straight for a salad: goat cheese salad with some add-ons (grilled eggplant, croutons and chickpeas):
Interestingly, they told us that they did not have any croutons, that is surprising considering that it is a pretty basic item, especially knowing that they offer a Caesar salad on their menu. The salad, dressed with balsamic vinegar, was big: it is like frozen yogurt, you get a large cup and will always get more than what you can eat. There, they offer so many choices for the salad, that, if you are not careful, you will end up with a too big portion.
On my side, I was not sure what to get, so I decided to go for a combo: half Caesar salad (remember: no croutons) with half a chicken chipotle flat melt.
The Caesar salad came with a piece of bread that was delicious and probably the same one as the one they use for the flat melt called the "thumb bread".
The chicken chipotle flat melt was very good and I just wish I ordered a full one. It was composed of chicken with melted cheddar cheese, turkey bacon and some chipotle spread.
We also tried one of their drinks that was a mix between lemonade and iced tea: bad choice! We should have gone for the strawberry lemonade...
Despite that, I really liked my meal there. I guess Flatbread Grill is, like Pita Grill, the type of places where I would go when I feel like eating healthy...that is not that often!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York
You may think that Byblos is a Greek restaurant, but it is in fact Lebanese, taking its name from a city in Lebanon that is a popular tourist destination. This place, opened in the Flatiron district in 2012 by Executive Chef Sabeh and his wife Sonia Kabouch is an offshoot of their original restaurant opened in 1990 in Murray Hill, but unfortunately destroyed by a fire years later.
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
You may think that Byblos is a Greek restaurant, but it is in fact Lebanese, taking its name from a city in Lebanon that is a popular tourist destination. This place, opened in the Flatiron district in 2012 by Executive Chef Sabeh and his wife Sonia Kachouh is an offshoot of their original restaurant opened in 1990 in Murray Hill, but unfortunately destroyed by a fire years later.
You might not be astonished by the decor that is fairly simple, but Byblos is all about food and the atmosphere that Sonia and Sabeh created: casual and warm. In fact, you may even see Sabeh sit at the table with regulars or making sure that the patrons enjoy their meal and have everything they need.
At the entrance is the marble and cherry wood and marble bar and then, in the back, is the large dining room that accommodates 90 diners and more if rearranged, the tables having enough space between them.
Menu wise, it was a feast and Sonia and Sabeh made sure we would have a memorable experience. As we sat, they first brought us some a platter with pickled turnip, carrots, peppers and radicchio.
Then, we started the meal with Tabboule. It is different from most of the Tabboule you see, as not made with couscous, but bulgur as well as parsley, tomato, onion in lemon and olive oil dressing.
This was a very refreshing dish, even better with arak, an anise alcohol very similar to the French anisette, that they poured similar to the way I have seen mint tea being poured.
Then came the appetizers that we all tried to photograph, more or less at the same time, but still with courtesy, all of us making sure that we would not start eating unless everybody took photos.
Hummus with meat (with seasoned ground lamb and pine nuts):
Baba Ghannouj (deliciously smokey):
Falafel:
Zaatar pies (thyme, sesame, olive oil and sumac, baked on homemade pita):
Vegetarian grape leaves:
Muhammara (spicy red pepper dip mixed with rice and chick peas):
This one, I cannot remember the name, but it was beans cooked with olive oil and garlic. Sonia explained at that point that lots of Middle Eastern dishes are close, but prepared slightly differently. She mentioned for instance that this dish was cooked with cumin in Syria, but not in Lebanon.
Batata Harra (potatoes with chopped cilantro, garlic and pepper):
Kibbee Krass (ground lamb and bulgur):
Cheese Rikakat (phyllo pastry filled with haloumi cheese):
Loubie Bil Zeit (string beans with tomato, garlic, onion and olive oil):
Fattoush salad, made with mixed greens and eaten with their homemade pita:
So, I mentioned few times their homemade pita: I mean, it is a must have and I had to restrain myself from eating the whole basket.
To accompany the appetizers, I had a glass of Lebanese white wine, a Massaya 2014 (70% of Byblos wine list is Lebanese wine):
You would think that the meal ended there, but no, we had yet to try the entrées as well as one more appetizer (I should have worn my stretch pants)...
Baked Kibbee (stuffed lamb and bulgur):
Then, our first entrée was stuffed zucchini with hot yogurt sauce (it was stuffed with rice and lamb):
Then, we had grilled striped bass (perfectly cooked I have to say):
The last one was a mixed grill composed of shish kebob (lamb), shish taouk (chicken) and kata kebob (beef). It was served with rice and peas.
With the entrées, I drank a glass of red Lebanese wine (Les Terroirs, Domaine Wardy 2012):
For desserts, we got their homemade baklava as well as a homemade Mouhalabia (milk pudding):
This ended the meal perfectly. I had such a good time at Byblos and the food was fantastic: Chef Kachouh crafted a succulent menu with flavors that will transport you miles away from the time of your dinner. This is the perfect place if you want some exotic dishes that are perfect for sharing and, if you are vegetarian, they have plenty of choices.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Raaz, Indian restaurant in Jersey City, NJ
It's been a while that I wanted to eat in an Indian restaurant in Jersey City, keeping a list of places in my notes gathered during conversations with my coworkers. I ended up at Raaz on a Saturday for lunch, going with one of my colleagues who was visiting from India. He went to this place few times and liked it, even if some of the taste was a bit Americanized.
It's been a while that I wanted to eat in an Indian restaurant in Jersey City, keeping a list of places in my notes gathered during conversations with my coworkers. I ended up at Raaz on a Saturday for lunch, going with one of my colleagues who was visiting from India. He went to this place few times and liked it, even if some of the taste was a bit Americanized.
Raaz, meaning secret, is conveniently located across the Newport path station. It is a fairly big place that serves a buffet during the week, and also on week ends. And it is a quite good buffet, offering a nice number of dishes, vegetarian or non-vegetarian as well as, this time, some Chinese dishes. Ok, I went back four times to get food, but it was to try a bit of every dish...
Besides the usual red onions for additional heat and raita to cool down the palate, there was:
Samosa chat (a bit spicy and interestingly cut in half - I love eating it with tamarind sauce):
Dahl makhni (I was surprised to see beans in it):
From the tandoor oven that we could see behind the buffet, we got Tandoori chicken (deliciously cooked, moist and with a nice kick):
I guess they were also making the fluffy and buttery naan we also got in the tandoor oven.
There was rice, but I admit that I ate most of my dishes with that delicious naan.
An interesting dish was idli sambar, idli being a sort of rice cake that you either eat with coconut chutney (hot) or sambar that is like a soup made with lentils, tomatoes and turmeric to name few ingredients. It is apparently more a breakfast dish.
I admit that I did not really like the idli part of the dish (a bit bland, even when dipped in the soup), but enjoyed the sambar.
Other dishes included:
Mushroom mutter, mushrooms and peas cooked in onion gravy with spices (great vegetarian dish):
Paneer in gravy (I cannot remember the name, but it was a creamy gravy that was fantastic):
My least favorite was Dhaba murgh or chicken curry, the chicken being dry.
Last was Aag Gosht or goat cooked with khada masalas in an onion based gravy with coriander, cinnamon, clove and chillies. A fairly good dish, not that spicy.
And guess what? they had my favorite dessert: gulab jamun. I had to control myself not to go get more as they were so good, heavenly sweet.
To accompany my meal, I had a mango lassi that was perfect.
I liked the food at Raaz: it was tasty, varied and not too spicy with the right balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. I would surely go back, maybe for dinner!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York
It has been a while since I wanted to try Hill Country Chicken. The name says it all: it is all about chicken, although if you do not like this delicious bird, you have some alternatives there. I went there with one of my colleagues from India, after he told me that he loves chicken, but never tried it fried before.
It has been a while since I wanted to try Hill Country Chicken. The name says it all: it is all about chicken, although if you do not like this delicious bird, you have some alternatives there. I went there with one of my colleagues from India, after he told me that he loves chicken, but never tried it fried before.
This is a casual place and you do not go there for the decor. The way it works is that you order at the counter, you pay at the cashier, and they give you a number. Once your order is ready, they will bring it to your table.
We both decided to order the chicken and waffles, a Southern dish that is pretty unique I would say, perfect if you like sweet and savory.
This was a nice portion and the first bite was divine. You first get the delicious crispiness of the crust that is made with crushed crackers, then the perfectly cooked and moist chicken. Adding a bit of waffle drenched in maple syrup and you are in heaven.
With it, to help digest, I got myself a vanilla milk shake that was quite good.
Needless to say that I was full after this and did not get a chance to try some of their pies that I heard are delicious (I was hoping I would still be hungry to try their banana cream pie...).
This was a very good meal and I cannot wait to go back to try some other chicken dishes there, sandwiched or not!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Soup dumplings at The Bao in The East Village, NYC, New York
After seeing the documentary Cartel Land, that I highly recommend, Jodi and I were in the mood for Chinese food. As we walked towards Chinatown, I suddenly remembered a place I wanted to try on the busy Saint-Marks: The Bao. It was 7pm on a Saturday evening and I was not sure if we would get a table, as this place got lots of attention for its dumplings. When we arrived, we immediately got a table and did not have to sit at the communal table located in the back of the dining room.
After seeing the documentary Cartel Land, that I highly recommend, Jodi and I were in the mood for Chinese food. As we walked towards Chinatown, I suddenly remembered a place I wanted to try on the busy Saint-Marks: The Bao. It was 7pm on a Saturday evening and I was not sure if we would get a table, as this place got lots of attention for its dumplings. When we arrived, we immediately got a table and did not have to sit at the communal table located in the back of the dining room.
When we got the menu, I got confused. First, I admit that I heard about this place on Instagram and had no idea what their specialty is. Reading the description of the xiao long Bao, I got confused as for me, bao are these steamed sandwiches that I tried at Baohaus and made one time at home (recipe here). I never read articles about a restaurant before going, explaining my ignorance. So, I asked the waiter who simply told me that they were pork soup dumplings.
We decided to go for it.
We chose the pork one (they propose crab and pork, as well as extra spicy). The only soup dumplings I tried were at Joe's Shanghai (and its sister restaurant Joe's Ginger) and Red Farm. These were smaller, with a lighter color and a thinner shell. I liked them as much as in the other places, the soup was a bit fatty and tasty.
We also ordered the scallion pancakes that were no surprise: crispy and slightly greasy, as they should be.
Last was the Shanghai fried noodles.
I admit that, although I liked the dish, it was not what I expected: the noodles did not seem fried and were not crunchy. They were thick, served with a thick sauce, bokchoi and some small pieces of meat. I would order it again!
So it was a good meal with a good value ($30). Would I go back to The Bao? Definitely.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ
Reservations are definitely required for dinner (we went on a Friday night) and for brunch, although, for the later, there were still tables available. This place is totally different from the one downtown: bigger, brighter and a bit more elegant, although not at the level of The Cuban, but still, a notch better, with colorful paintings on the walls. For dinner, it is also quite noisy, the Cuban music being blasted, forcing the patrons to shout to be heard. Fortunately, this was not the case during brunch...
We were looking for a restaurant on Opentable, when we saw La Isla Uptown popping up: we were so excited to see that this popular Cuban restaurant located at the beginning of Washington street and always crowded, opened next to Maxwell Place over a month ago.
Reservations are definitely required for dinner (we went on a Friday night) and for brunch, although, for the later, there were still tables available. This place is totally different from the one downtown: bigger, brighter and a bit more elegant, although not at the level of The Cuban, but still, a notch better, with colorful paintings on the walls. For dinner, it is also quite noisy, the Cuban music being blasted, forcing the patrons to shout to be heard. Fortunately, this was not the case during brunch...
Food wise, you will find the same dishes that are reasonably priced. For dinner, we decided to go for our usual:
Rice and beans (small size that is already a nice portion):
Tostones (twice fried green plantains with garlic sauce):
Maduros (fried yellow plantains):
Beef empanada (the best I ever had):
Vegetarian empanada (new - made with spinach and manchego):
For brunch, we got:
Huevos rancheros (two poached eggs, spicy tomato sauce in a fried tortilla shell served over rice with a side of black beans):
Chef Omar's French toast that made him a winner during a throw down with Chef Bobby Flay:
The French toast is delicious, made of pullman style egg bread filled with strawberry/guava cream cheese (although a bit too much filling for me), dipped in cinnamon batter and coated with corn flakes and almonds for some crunch.
In term of drinks, they have these batidos, or Cuban milkshakes, and I have tried a batido de mamey, a sweet and creamy fruit from the Caribbean.
They also have a drink called Morir Soñando (die dreaming), a drink made of orange juice, evaporated milk and sugar, that tastes like a creamsicle.
This is a great place for some comfort food at a good price and I cannot wait to go back there and get some Cuban sandwiches or other specialties they have on their menu. The times we went back, we were so full that we dd not even try their desserts...So, I'll have to go back!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark: the world number one restaurant?
I have been looking forward for our lunch at Noma for a while and was really excited to go to what has been considered the best restaurant in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and ranking third best in 2015. I was first surprised by the location of the restaurant that I imagined outside the city, next to a forest where the Chef and his crew would get some of the unusual ingredients they use in their menu on a daily basis. I was wrong: it is located in an old warehouse on the waterfront in the Christianshavn neighborhood, in the center of the city.
I have been looking forward for our lunch at Noma for a while and was really excited to go to what has been considered the best restaurant in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and ranking third best in 2015. I was first surprised by the location of the restaurant that I imagined outside the city, next to a forest where the Chef and his crew would get some of the unusual ingredients they use in their menu on a daily basis. I was wrong: it is located in an old warehouse on the waterfront in the Christianshavn neighborhood, in the center of the city. I loved the atmosphere there that was very relaxed and you could sense the excitement of the diners (I was not the only one to take photos). When we arrived, we were greeted by quite few people and were stunned by the number of staff. We learnt later that they have roughly a ratio of one to one between dinner and staff, staff that is composed of twenty different nationalities. So don't be surprised if somebody from your country is serving you as they try to pair diners with staff by nationality to make them feel home, whenever possible.
Noma was for sure a unique experience: fantastic service and incredible food that I cannot really compare or want to compare with anything I ever tried before. But, to appreciate it, you need to be open minded: you will eat flowers and maybe insects. Of course, they use common ingredients and we got for instance bone marrow and lobster (not at the same time).
Before I talk about the food, let's talk about the space: I would call it modern rustic and it might be the theme of the restaurant, taking what nature offers and serving it with a modern twist.
The dining room is overlooked by the kitchen, if not the contrary, and we got the chance, like others, to not only visit the kitchen, but also the hidden part of what looks like a laboratory, including the space where they taste dishes people imagine and decide either to dice them, improve them or serve them. There was in fact a session at the time we were there.
The same large room is used for study, relaxing, and growing herbs that will be used in the kitchen. I should also mention the containers that are the fermentation lab outside: they ferment all sorts of things there and a quick passage into one of the rooms is sufficient to fill your nose with this particular smell...
There is also the kitchen, magical place where the fantastic food we tried was assembled. Remember, we visited it after we finished eating and most of the lunch service was completed.
So, back to the food; they serve a unique menu and understand this word in both ways: unique because there is only one (if you are vegetarian, they will accommodate), but also because there is no other place like this. To go with the meal, they interestingly, offer a fresh juice pairing (Danes apparently love fresh juices) as well offer a wine pairing (nice amount per serving, with wines from all over the world). We went for the later.
After a glass of Champagne to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we got the following dishes:
Turnip and unripe strawberry marinated in aquavit:
Whole wheat bread and virgin butter:
Cabbage leaf and white currant:
The First shoots of the Season with scallop marinade (Jodi got the same, but the scallop marinade was replace by an all vegetarian option):
Sweet peas, milk curd and sliced kelp:
Our first pairing was turnip and green strawberries juice and flower tart:
The next pairing was an apple and pine juice (my favorite) with New Danish potatoes and lavage:
This was a take on a traditional Danish dish, with the most surprising part being our fork that was not edible:
Next pairing was sweet shrimp wrapped in ramson leaves and carrots and gooseberries juice:
Cabbage and roses:
Mahogany clam and grains (a 100 year old clam!):
Monkfish liver (my least favorite):
White asparagus, goosefoot and barley:
Lobster and Nasturtium (the lobster was so beautifully cooked):
If I remember, it was paired with rose tea that was also a good palate cleanser:
Vegetable flower:
Roasted bone marrow (my favorite):
The bone marrow was paired with a cabbage juice.
Berries and greens soaked in vinegar for one year:
Rhubarb and sheep milk yogurt:
This was paired with a sorel juice:
Then came one of the most surprising ingredient to try: moss. The dish was forrest flavors, chocolate and egg liquor (eggnog):
I did not really liked the chocolates, but the fried moss was delicious: crispy with a taste I cannot describe. They were in fact cleaning it in one of their rooms upstairs and we got a glimpse at it.
Once we finished our meal, we went to the lounge to get some coffee and tea.
This was a memorable meal and I am sure you are wondering if I think Noma is the best restaurant in the world. Service wise, it is one of the best services I ever had; food wise, I guess that if you rate based on uniqueness of the menu, it probably is. Otherwise, there are plenty of restaurants out there that are as good, if not better. But, if you are in Copenhagen and can afford to go there, it is certainly not a place to miss.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Brunch at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey
I like bar food and enjoy a brunch in a bar. But what I do not like is the noise level that can be pretty high, especially when there is a game on TV. That explains probably why it took me so long before going to 1Republik in Hoboken. But we made it, on a Sunday, showing up at 11:30am. I admit that it was not our first choice, but I am glad we did as the food was fairly good. Time wise, it was perfect as the noise level increased as the time passed, to a point when I was glad to leave...
I like bar food and enjoy a brunch in a bar. But what I do not like is the noise level that can be pretty high, especially when there is a game on TV. That explains probably why it took me so long before going to 1Republik in Hoboken. But we made it, on a Sunday, showing up at 11:30am. I admit that it was not our first choice, but I am glad we did as the food was fairly good. Time wise, it was perfect as the noise level increased as the time passed, to a point when I was glad to leave...
It is a big place, with a large menu that can satisfy a wide range of customers. And guess what: for brunch, you can get a $2 mimosa!
For appetizer, they have the great idea to propose a sampler that can definitely be shared by more than two persons.
The sampler contains buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, fried calamari and truffled tater tots.
When they brought the platter, we could smell the truffle (probably oil). All of the items were delicious, my favorite being the wings (slightly spicy), the fried calamari (well cooked and not rubbery), the tater tots and the gouey sticks. None of the fried items were greasy, but it was definitely not a dish I would have ordered if I was on some sort of diet!
For the entrée, Jodi picked the strawberry and goat cheese salad, without onions and walnut.
On my side, I went for the crab cakes appetizer, rightfully anticipating when ordering that the sampler would be big.
The salad was good, the strawberries and goat cheese pairing well together. The crab cakes were ok, having inside some pepper, red onions and celery that kind of overpowered a bit the crab.
It was overall a good brunch and I would probably go back to 1Republik. Maybe for burger as they have an interesting selection on their menu...
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Harold in NYC, New York
Located in the heart of Herald Square and at the tip of K-Town, The Harold is a bistro I did not expect to find there: good food and nice service, the menu offers a good variety of dishes that can satisfy a wide range of customers. I admit that I went there to try their lobster roll, but, unfortunately, they served it only for lunch.
Located in the heart of Herald Square and at the tip of K-Town, The Harold is a bistro I did not expect to find there: good food and nice service, the menu offers a good variety of dishes that can satisfy a wide range of customers. I admit that I went there to try their lobster roll, but, unfortunately, they served it only for lunch.
After eating some grilled bread that they brought to the table, our appetizer, the flight of dips, came.
Served with grilled pita, it was composed of grilled eggplant, spicy feta, white beans and tzatziki. This was delicious, the spicy feta being was of my favorites. But, I wish there was a bit more of everything. This is a perfect appetizer to share and to open your appetite.
Then came the fish tacos.
The presentation was beautiful, being colorful. These were decent fish tacos, made with some heavenly crispy cod, a citrus salsa and an ancho chili creme fraiche.
Last was Fish and Chips.
The fish, that might have been cod, was dipped in a tempura batter that was deliciously crispy; it was perfectly cooked, moist and flakey. It was served with mushy peas that I did not really care about, and French fries that were decent.
This was overall a good meal and I surely did not expect it. Would I go back? Definitely. I would probably try their brunch, where they have few eggs Benedict options, as well as the lobster roll I really wanted to try...
Enjoy (I did)!
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It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ - Closed
We went to It's Greek To Me many years ago, and I recall that we left a bit disappointed about our experience, the food being salty and not that great. So, we decided to give it another try and ended up there first for lunch, and then for dinner, our first meal being fairly good.
It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
We went to It's Greek To Me many years ago, and I recall that we left a bit disappointed about our experience, the food being salty and not that great. So, we decided to give it another try and ended up there first for lunch, and then for dinner, our first meal being fairly good.
Located on Washington street, the decor of the place is supposed to represent Greece, like being transported there as soon as you enter there.
Dining room at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Ceiling at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
When we went for lunch, we tried the following dishes:
Saganaki or kefalograviera cheese (fried and not flambé):
Saganaki at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Melitzanosalata or eggplant salad with pita:
Melitzanosalata or eggplant salad at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Pita at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Grilled octopus:
Grilled octopus at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Small Greek salad (not enough feta):
Greek salad at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Greek salad at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Homemade baklava:
Baklava at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Baklava at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
These dishes were overall good, my favorite being the saganaki that was deliciously chewy. However, I was a bit disappointed by the octopus that, not only was small, but was not as good as other places I went to such as Telly's Taverna in Astoria or Uncle Nick's in New York. I should mention that their baklava was very good, with lots of honey and nuts in it (I hate when a baklava is dry).
For dinner, we got:
Melitzana or fried eggplant with tzatziki (I wish there was more tzatziki):
Melitzana or fried eggplant with tzatziki at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Melitzana or fried eggplant with tzatziki at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
The horiatiki pizza (Greek pizza!), made with fresh tomatoes, feta and Greek olives:
Horiatiki or Greek salad at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Shrimp Mykonos, served with fresh tomatoes and feta over orzo:
Shrimp Mykonos at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
For dessert, we went for the ravani, a sweet semolina cake soaked in a light syrup: it was delicious!
Ravani cake at at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
Ravani cake at at It's Greek To Me in Hoboken, NJ
The dinner was even better, with the Greek pizza being very good and kind of surprising, although it is said that pizza was invented by the Greek community in Sicily, from pita thrown into the brick ovens, to clean them. The shrimp Mykonos was good, but missing a bit of sauce and cheese.
We had decent meals at It's Greek To Me: it is not the best Greek restaurant I have tried, but it can satisfy this type of craving. I definitely prefer Telly's Taverna in Astoria or Uncle Nick's in New York for this range of prices. For a more elegant setting, Molyvos or Thalassa are even better!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Fantastic burger at The Brindle Room in NYC, New York
Bon sang! I probably just found one of the best burgers in town! Well, I would not specifically say that I found it: we saw it on the 5 Best Restaurants, a TV show on the food network that will make you salivate. They cover any kind of food: burgers, pizza, ice cream...The first episode we saw was on burgers and ranking number 2 was Sebastian's Steakhouse burger.
Bon sang! I probably just found one of the best burgers in town! Well, I would not specifically say that I found it: we saw it on the 5 Best Restaurants, a TV show on the food network that will make you salivate. They cover any kind of food: burgers, pizza, ice cream...The first episode we saw was on burgers and, ranking number 2, was Sebastian's Steakhouse burger.
This burger is an all beef 6oz patty made with quality meat coming from the New Jersey steakhouse, Sebastian's, of one of the owners, Dean Piccolo (beef neck dry-aged for 30 days, 65% top grade beef and 10% fat that is around the kidneys). It is cooked in a cast iron pan so the fat would not drip out and would remain there for the pleasure of the diners. The patty sits on a white bun and is topped with American cheese and caramelized onions. Temperature wise, they recommend it medium and will not even ask you if it is fine for you (I guess you can tell them if you want a different temperature as they clearly mention it on the menu.
The burger is served with fries and a pickle. Looking at the burger, you may not think it looks exceptional, but the first bite will make you think you are in heaven: you definitely taste the meat that is juicy and has a nice char that gives a little crunchiness to the the burger. The only regret I had was that I did not get more as I could have eaten a second one, transported by the excitement to eat such a flavorful burger.
I should mention that it is a small place, so reservation might be necessary...The Brindle Room has for sure one of the best burgers in town. They propose only one burger on their menu and I can tell you that it is worth paying $15. Would I go back? Hell yeah!
Enjoy (I sure did)!
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La Masseria, Italian restaurant in NYC, New York
La Masseria is with Toni Di Napoli, my favorite Italian restaurant in the Times Square area. Although a bit pricey, it's menu offers some classic Italian dishes in a decor that would make you forget you are in the heart of the city. In a farm, La Masseria is the building where tools to live animals are housed, representing the freshness of ingredients and authenticity of the cuisine. This explains the decor, especially the farm tools hanging on the walls.
La Masseria is with Toni Di Napoli, my favorite Italian restaurant in the Times Square area. Although a bit pricey, it's menu offers some classic Italian dishes in a decor that would make you forget you are in the heart of the city. In a farm, La Masseria in Italian is the building where tools to live animals are housed, representing the freshness of ingredients and authenticity of the cuisine. This explains the decor, especially the farm tools hanging on the walls.
It is a fairly big place and we were seated in the back of the dining room, upstairs, on a corner overlooking the restaurant, but a bit difficult for the staff to reach.
We started our dinner by sharing the meatballs: polpette di manzo della Masseria.
I appreciated the fact that, knowing we were sharing, they split the dish. The meatballs were of a good size, tasty and moist, bathed in a thick tomato sauce that had a bold flavor. This is a classic that is always a crowd pleaser and if an Italian restaurant does not know how to make meatballs, it says a lot abut the rest of the food.
For the entrée, I went for the calf liver or fegato di vitello spadellato all'aceto di mirtilli:
The liver was served with onions and blueberry vinegar. It was a very good dish, the liver being perfectly cooked. I admit that I love the combination of onion and vinegar that give sweetness and acidity to the dish.
Jodi got the Scialiatelli quattro passi, that are home made short cut thick fettuccini with eggplant and smoked mozzarella.
This was a good dish, earthy and very comforting. Definitely worth trying.
For dessert, we could not leave without trying the tiramisu.
It was a good tiramisu, not the best and as creamy as I like it, but good.
Dinner was good: delicious food and excellent service. La Masseria is definitely my go to place for Italian in that area.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Fish and Chips at A Salt And Battery in NYC, New York
No need to cross the ocean to get some good fish and chips: A Salt and Battery (a play on assault and battery) is probably your spot if you are craving this so British specialty..or if you are curious about trying some fried candy bars (I guess anything can be fried).
This is a very small joint with very few seats.
No need to cross the ocean to get some good fish and chips: A Salt and Battery (a play on assault and battery) is probably your spot if you are craving this so British specialty..or if you are curious about trying some fried candy bars (I guess anything can be fried).
This is a very small joint with very few seats.
Menu wise, they offer different kinds of fish: cod and haddock that are the most common and that we tried, as well as sole. Unusual was to see scallops.
Less than ten minutes after we ordered at the counter, our order of cod, haddock and fries (the chips, sold separately) was ready. We decided to go with the regular size that was enough for us, but know that if you have a big appetite, they offer a large portion.
Do not expect them to serve the fish on newspaper there, health regulation probably prevents them from doing it (I do not need ink on my fish anyway). Both dishes came piping hot and I thought the regular portion was a good size. The batter was slightly greasy, but not soggy and was nicely golden. The fish was perfectly cooked and flakey. The ensemble was very good and well seasoned.
As far as the fries were concerned, they were good, but I prefer mine thinner and crispier. But don't get me wrong: I still enjoyed it.
But, what I was most curious to try was the deep fried lion bar. You my not know what a Lion bar is as I rarely see it in the U.S. Composed of filled wafer, caramel (32%), crisp cereal (26%) and Peanut Butter (14%) covered in milk chocolate (42%), it is fairly common in Europe where you can find different variety as well as cereals.
I waited until I finished my fish to ask them to make it, following their advice, as you want to eat it hot. When it came, it did not particularly look good, but I can tell you that the first bite was divine, as were the subsequent ones. Everything besides the wafer and cereal is melted and goes so well with the batter. This is definitely a must have.
I wanted to go to A Salt and Battery for a while now to try their fish and chips and was not disappointed. Would I go back? Definitely, not only for the fish and chips, but also to indulge with some other deep fried candy bars!
Enjoy (I surely did)!
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Bouley in TriBeCa, NYC, New York
Getting a reservation for a Friday night was not difficult and they confirmed twice with us that we were coming for dinner, reminding me each time that jacket is required. Located on Duane street, very close to Khe-Yo, this is a stunning place: big, with an elegant setting , you cannot miss the entrance with its wall of apples, the lounge area with its purple color and flowers, the vaulted ceilings brushed with gold leaves, the heavy wooden doors and the thick carpet that contribute to the general atmosphere of the restaurant. It is fancy, pricey, but comfortable, with a good service, as expected in such place.
For our wedding anniversary, we decided to go to Bouley, the eponymous contemporary French restaurant of famous chef Daniel Bouley, located in TriBeCa.
Getting a reservation for a Friday night was not difficult and they confirmed twice with us that we were coming for dinner, reminding me each time that jacket is required. Located on Duane street, very close to Khe-Yo, this is a stunning place: big, with an elegant setting , you cannot miss the entrance with its wall of apples, the lounge area with its purple color and flowers, the vaulted ceilings brushed with gold leaves, the heavy wooden doors and the thick carpet that contribute to the general atmosphere of the restaurant. It is fancy, pricey, but comfortable, with good service, as expected in such place.
Menu wise, it is contemporary French and you do not find classics that Chef Bouley probably mastered when working for Chef Paul Bocuse in France at some point of his career. For dinner, they propose a six course tasting menu or a three course tasting; we went for the later. After ordering our appetizer, entree and dessert all at once, they brought us some semolina bread, as well as an apple and raisin bread.
But then, before our entree came, we heard a squeaky sound: it was a bread cart similar to a cheese or dessert cart, featuring different kinds of breads.
To start, they brought us a chilled tomato coulis made with a cucumber gelée.
It was very refreshing, a play on gazpacho that was perfect to open our appetite and cool us down. With it came toast that had a truffle purée on top that I inhaled...
For appetizer, Jodi ordered the Forager's treasure of wild mushrooms, a dish composed of mushrooms, sweet garlic and grilled tuna (toro):
Good dish, although the tuna had a bit of a fishy taste, far from the succulent taste of seared tuna we had in other restaurants.
On my side, I was close to order the foie gras, but decided to go for the Pacific oyster that was roasted and served with chanterelle mushrooms.
I first tried pacific oysters at ..., and really wanted to have these large oysters again. I was not disappointed: not only was the oyster fantastic and deliciously fresh, but the sauce and mushrooms were incredible. I could have licked the plate, but it would not have been appropriate...
For her entrée, Jodi picked the Chatham Day Boat cod fish, served with mushrooms (again?), artichoke and romanesco that is an edible flower from the same family as broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
On my side, I went for the Maine lobster.
The fish was composed of fava beans, white asparagus and a pomegranate sauce (weird: the menu said black truffle blood orange dressing, but I did not taste or smell truffle and they said pomegranate when they presented the dish). It was succulent: the lobster being the star of the dish, perfectly cooked. I definitely recommend it.
Both dishes came with a fingerling potato purée that was delicious (I wish there was more).
Before dessert came, they served us a coconut soup with amaretto ice cream and pineapple granité.
I liked it and it was a good palate cleanser in a way. Then, they brought us some chocolates and cookies, and I admit that we could not resist, although we were full.
Dessert was a bit disappointing. We tried the hot Valrhona chocolate soufflé with white coffee cloud, coffee ice cream and a chocolate mousse.
As well as the hot caramelized Anjou pear tart that came with crème fraiche and huckleberry:
The soufflé was slightly overcooked, but I liked the Anjou pear tart, the crust being a buttery biscuit Breton.
I should mention that I drank a glass of Vouvray sec, Philippe Foreau 1999, from Loire, France.
Our dinner at Bouley was good, but I admit that I was not wowed as I expected. Would I go back? Maybe, but if I had to pick a restaurant in TriBeCa, it would be Little Park first. And for contemporary French, I would rather go to Daniel...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Il Tinello: Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, NYC, New York
If you are looking for an old school Italian restaurant that serves traditional dishes from northern Italy, Il Tinello Ristorante might be the place for you. Opening about 30 years ago, it is an elegant and pricey restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. I admit that I do not remember that much the decor, the lights being very dimmed, making me worry about the photos I would take during the meal.
If you are looking for an old school Italian restaurant that serves traditional dishes from northern Italy, Il Tinello Ristorante might be the place for you. Opening about 30 years ago, it is an elegant and pricey restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. I admit that I do not remember that much aboutnthe decor, the lights being very dimmed, making me worry about the photos I would take during the meal.
There, you will find classic dishes and it seems the Chef has no intention to add his own twist. But, hey, Classic Italian is fantastic, so why change it! Menu wise, Italian food lovers will be pleased: there is homemade pasta, seafood or meat, with plenty of vegetarian dishes. There, you will also notice the cart of antipasti, as well as the cart of dessert, that the waiters in white jackets tried to push in the tight space between tables.
I was there with a friend and we shared couple of dishes that the staff nicely split in separate plates. To start, they brought a bruschetta, as well as some bread.
The first appetizer that came was the tuna tartare. Right away, as they knew we would share dishes, they split them evenly; I thought it was a nice gesture.
The tartare was ok, missing a bit of acidity. Then was the linguine all'amatriciana, a thick sauce made with tomato, pancetta and onions. This is definitely a delicious comforting dish, but I wish there was more sauce in it.
Then, I tried the scampi il tinello, or shrimp in a white wine sauce and a touch of pesto. Quite good, the shrimp were of a nice size.
But my favorite was the veal Milanese, a breaded veal chop nicely pounded, served with arugula. Perfect dish that had a slight crispness from the delightful breading. I definitely recommend it.
Last was a decent homemade tiramisu.
They also brought some Italian cookies with our coffee.
I should add that I had wine, but I do not recall the name of it and did not have a photo of the bottle (I took it by the glass)...
It was a good meal, but I admit that I found much better Italian options in the area, such as Osteria Del Circo, Remi or Il Corso. Would I go back? Maybe...
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Restaurant Week: Benoit in NYC, New York
If there is a place that does not disappoint for Restaurant Week, it is Benoit, the French bistro owned by Chef Alain Ducasse. This is the perfect occasion to try this place that I visited before (check my review of Benoit here).
I love the feel of that place that makes you travel miles away, in an elegant French bistro in Paris.
If there is a place that does not disappoint for Restaurant Week, it is Benoit, the French bistro owned by Chef Alain Ducasse. This is the perfect occasion to try this place that I visited before (check my review of Benoit here).
I love the feel of that place that makes you travel miles away, in an elegant French bistro in Paris.
For restaurant week Summer 2015, they offer the traditional appetizer, entrée and dessert for $25 (lunch): a good deal for this place. I went with one of my friends on a Friday. I was surprised that the place was not packed. It might have been because people preferred a place with a terrace, the weather being quite nice outside.
They started off by bringing some cheese puffs or goujeres that were fantastic (not enough I would say) and some bread and butter.
Then, they proposed a gazpacho as the soup of the day. Not really a French specialty, but perfect for the summer.
It was served in the same pot as a French onion soup would be served in, adding a bit of charm. It was good and refreshing, although I like mine less chunky.
For the entrée, there was a Massachusetts hake
But I preferred the poulet a la Basquaise (Basque chicken), a South Western specialty from France. It is a braised chicken cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, peppers, shallots... and served with rice.
I loved the presentation that was very rustic. Taste wise, it was delicious: the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist and I could have eaten the sauce with a spoon. It was a very comforting dish.
For dessert, they had the classic creme brûlée,
As well as some homemade tarts. I decided to go for the strawberry and pistachio tart that was superb, especially the crust that was buttery.
This was a great deal and I really recommend Benoit for Restaurant Week or just for a regular meal there. This is for me a good choice if you are looking for a French restaurant. And if you go, try their cassoulet: it is divine!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Tiny's And The Bar Upstairs in TriBeCa
Tiny's and The Bar Upstairs is a popular place located in TriBeCa and housed in a three story building that dates from 1810. There, siblings Ana, Jack and Matt Abramcyk paired with Chef Paul Warthen to serve to an hungry crowd some American dishes with southern and French influences.
Tiny's and The Bar Upstairs is a popular place located in TriBeCa and housed in a three story building that dates from 1810. There, siblings Ana, Jack and Matt Abramcyk paired with Chef Paul Warthen to serve to an hungry crowd some American dishes with southern and French influences.
We went there for brunch and decided to eat outside, in the tiny terrace, enjoying a nice brise. I started off with a refreshing fresh squeezed orange juice (yes, the table was slightly tilted...).
Then, couple of minutes, our entrées came. Jodi ordered the gruyere omelette.
When the omelette came, I immediately noticed the perfect yellow color, that definitely shows some technic. It was a very good omelette: fluffy and not dry at all, with lots of cheese.
It came with arugula, but most noticeably, some cheddar and chives tater tots, homemade. These were fantastic, with a slight delightful greasiness and crispness that made me regret there were not more on Jodi's plate.
On my side, I went for the oven baked French toast. It was served with spiced pecan, crème anglaise and apple butter.
I admit that, when it came to the table, I was surprised by the portion that was fairly small for a $14 dish and was glad I could eat half of Jodi's omelette. They could have easily cut a larger slice of bread and there was no need to add any crème anglaise or apple butter to it as it was literally bathing the bread. And let me tell you: this was delicious! I would have had a spoon or forgotten my bonnes manières, I would have licked the plate!
The brunch at Tiny's and The Bar Upstairs was really good and I would definitely love me to go for dinner one night, hoping that the noise level will be acceptable.
Enjoy (I did)!
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