I Just Want To Eat! 10/6/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/6/15

Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

After burgers, fried chicken or chicken wings might be the other meal that is growing on the food scene. And, similar to burgers, everybody has to put its own twist. I mean, KFC is one thing, but, once you tried some Korean fried chicken at Hell's Chicken, you will understand why I am so enthusiastic.

Stainless bar at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

The name of course indicates the location: Hell's Kitchen, but, unfortunately for the restaurant, it is located on 10th avenue where the foot traffic is much less than on 9th. Shall I say fortunately for the diners, as it gives a chance to get a table? It is a small place with a nice and warm decor: stainless bar with a wall full of bottles of wine, wood looking walls and two narrow booths.

Entrance at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

Dining room at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

Food wise, they not only serve fried chicken, but also some classic Korean dishes such as bibimbap, japchae or soondubu. I went with my fried Benny who, like me, loves chicken and we decided to order few dishes.

We started off with mandu or dumplings, fried, rather than steamed. We had a choice between vegetable, pork, shrimp or beef. We chose the later.

Beef mandu at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

The mandu (5) were deliciously crispy with a thin shell, and the feeling was juicy and tasty.

Then, came the chicken platter.

Chicken platter at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

It is a full meal, so it was accompanied by a salad and white rice.

Salad at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

I did not really care about the salad and was more interested in the chicken, smothered by a sweet and spicy sauce, that was so good, quite hot, but so delicious that I would go back to it, using the rice to sooth my mouth that was on fire.

The fried chicken was even better: each piece is dipped in a rice batter, then double fried and brushed with the sauce of your choice.

Korean fried chicken at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

I decided to go for the Hell's sauce, that has a caramelized tomato base. his was fantastic: sticky for sure, but crispy and a bit sweet, with a perfectly cooked chicken. I totally recommend this.

As a side, I also ordered mac and cheese, made with american cheese and butter. This was a bit disappointing and I would pass next time on it: it was more like tortellini bathed in some cheese sauce that was a bit bland.

Mac and cheese at Hell's Chicken in NYC, New York

Overall is was a delicious meal and I cannot wait to go back to Hell's Kitchen 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! 10/3/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/15

C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

I love big buns I cannot lie and so, we decided to try this place called C Bao Asian Buns and More, few steps from Union Square. It's definitely not the kind of place where you go for the decor, the restaurant apparently not attaching that much attention to the way it looks as can attest the small area on the right side of the door.

Dining room at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

It is a big place with the counter and kitchen in the back. You order at the counter and they will call the number that is on the receipt once your meal is ready.

We first got our apple fizzy that was fairly good, with tiny pieces of apple that passed through the large straw.

Apple fizzy at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

Then came our order. I expected the bao to be on a plate, even paper plate...

Order at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

Here is what we tried:

Peking Duck Bao (Chinese roasted crispy duck skin served with scallion, cucumber & house sauce):

Peking duck bao at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

Tofu Veggie Bao (fried organic tofu served with shiitake mushroom, oyster Sauce and Taiwanese relish):

Tofu veggie bao at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

Crispy Chicken Bao (fried chicken served with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and honey-mustard):

Crispy chicken bao at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

Original Bao (Taiwanese braised pork belly served with powdered peanut, cilantro and Taiwanese relish):

Original bao at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

The bao were big and too thick compared to what was inside. My favorite was the Peking duck one, thanks to the house sauce that seemed to be simply hoisin sauce, but, again, too much "bread" versus filling. My least favorite was the crispy chicken that was dry, as well as the original bao and tofu bao, because of the Taiwanese relish that I did not like. The was very disappointing...

We also got scallion pancakes that were just ok.

Scallion pancakes at C Bao Asian Buns and More in NYC, New York

So this was a disappointing meal and I doubt that I would go back to that place. For bao, I definitely prefer those served in ramen places like Ippudo or even Baohaus. Or even the ones I made one time at home (recipe here)!

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! 10/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/15

Recipe: Meatballs with Orzo

This is a simple recipe for a dish that is very comforting: meatballs with orzo (that we call in French langues d'oiseaux or birds' tongues because of their shape).

Time: 2h

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

One pound ground turkey
One pound beef (80 /20)
1 cup of orzo
5 carrots
1 1/2 cup peas
olive oil
1 bottle of guiness
salt & pepper

Step 1: preparation of the vegetables

Well, the main preparation will be for the carrots that should be cut in small cubes. As you can see, I used frozen peas that I found very practical compared to canned ones or even fresh ones.

Step 2: preparation of the meatballs

Similar to my burgers, I prepare meatballs simply with salt, pepper and...a bit of guiness!

Recipe: Meatballs with Orzo - using Guiness for making meatballs

I will add the beer until fully incorporated in the meat (approximately half the bottle goes and you know what to do with the rest...). In a pan, on medium heat, I will sear the meatballs (cook them quickly on each side, turning them from time to time so each side is seared.

Recipe: Meatballs with Orzo - searing the meatballs

Step 3: cooking

Put the meatballs in a dutch oven. Add salt, pepper, the orzo, the carrots and the peas. Add water until all the ingredients are covered and cook at medium heat. Cook until the water evaporates.

Et Voila:

Bon appétit!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/15

Red Velvet NYC: make your cake and eat it!

If you love baking but do not want to go shopping at a crowded supermarket, do not want to waste the excess of ingredients and to save time on preparation, Red Velvet is certainly for you. The concept is simple: they propose various desserts, from molten chocolate cake to chocolate pot de crime or tiramisu, and will deliver the recipe with all the ingredients to your door. And do not worry: refrigerated items are kept with icy packs in a pouch.

Recipes have different levels: easy, moderate and advanced. I decided to try the olive oil cake, that was for an advanced level. I admit that the only thing I would consider advanced was the blood orange frosting that did not really look like the photo and was a bit too sweet...

The rest was fairly easy and I loved the fact that I did not have to buy anything and that everything was measured, saving me some time. When I see for instance how much blood orange juice they provided, I am glad I did not need to squeeze it on my own! The instructions were simple and, understandably, they did not write the quantities on it, quantities that you can measure if you really want. I did not.

The result was fantastic (it looked good and tasted very good) and know that I do not bake that much. In fact, it made me want to bake more!

So, Red Velvet is s great idea and, if you like to bake or would like to, you may want to try!

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! 9/30/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/30/15

Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

After trying the burger for brunch, I was looking forward to try other items at Hudson Tavern and went back, again for brunch, but also dinner. I admit that I was not disappointed and I prefer this place to The Madison Bar and Grill or City Bistro. What makes them different? The variety and quality of food that you would not expect in a bar.

If you are familiar with this blog, you probably know that I am not a big fan of noisy places. Not that Hudson Tavern is quiet, but they have a separate dining room that will do it.

Dining room at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

Menu wise, we tried the following dishes:

For brunch, the Tavern dip, thinly sliced roast beef, sautéed onions and mushrooms, fresh garlic herbed butter on a toasted ciabatta bread.

The Tavern dip at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

I devoured it literally, dipping the sandwich in the jus as well as the horseradish cream sauce. Jodi tried their portobello mushroom sandwich, made with mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto on a ciabatta bread and I admit that it was fairly good.

Portobello sandwich at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

Dinner was the most surprising. We tried:

The white truffled Mac and cheese, Made with smoked bacon, mushrooms, Swiss and provolone cheese, as well as white truffle oil.

Mac and cheese at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

This Mac and cheese is fantastic: very creamy with a nice amount of mushrooms. Definitely recommended for the cheese lovers.

Buffalo chicken rolls with a blue cheese dipping sauce.

Buffalo chicken rolls at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

This is an interesting take on an all American Classic, the shell adding a nice crispness to the dish. You can also go for the traditional buffalo wings that I tried few years ago there and if you like spicy food, they have a sriracha version that I am sure is very hot!

If you do not like chicken or are vegetarian, they also serve some pretty decent Thai Spring Rolls.

Thai Spring rolls at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

Not so authentic, but good, are the pierogis, these potato dumplings filled with onions and cheese and topped with walnuts and tomatoes.

Pierogis at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

The Lump crab cake is also worth trying.

Crab cake at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

Interestingly, this dish is supposed to be served with arugula, but, when I got it, it was on top of some deliciously creamy risotto. This is not the best crab cake I ever had, but it is pretty good.

They also offer a seared tuna salad that I mentioned in my previous post. This is a good alternative if you are health conscious and know that they propose it in two sizes: appetizer or entrée, the first one being perfect if you have a small appetite or want to try several dishes.

Seared tuna salad at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

Another good salad is the poached pear and spinach salad, topped with goat cheese.

Poached pear and spinach salad at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

If you want some pasta, their linguine alle vongole (with clams) are good and I could not stop dipping the bread in the white clam sauce.

Linguine alle vongole at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

If you do not like clams, their wild mushrooms and butternut squash ravioli will do it: they are creamy and deliciously sweet.

Wild mushrooms and butternut squash raviolis at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

But one of the most unexpected dish I had there was the Saint-Louis style BBQ pork ribs. Unexpected because of the portion (I chose half rack), but also the taste that was fantastic, the meat melting in my mouth and literally falling off the bone. Another recommendation if you go to Hudson Tavern.

For the sides, they propose onion hay, fries (regular or sweet potatoes) or salad. I went for the fries (crispy on the outside and thin like I like them) and onions (not greasy at all). Know that on Mondays, they offer ribs and a glass of wine or beer for $14.50 that is an excellent deal.

Glass of Pinot Griggio at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, I admit that we fell short, having eaten too much food each time. But we tried their mi-cuit au chocolat, a chocolate cake with a melted center, served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. A nice way to end a meal on a high note.

Molten chocolate cake at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

We also tried their triple chocolate cheesecake that was to die for.

Triple chocolate cheesecake at Hudson Tavern in Hoboken, NJ

This is only a small part of their large menu and I cannot wait to go back there try other dishes!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/15

Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

Located in Weehawken, right before entering Hoboken and kind of in the middle of nowhere, sits Hi-So Thai, a Thai restaurant as its name indicates. We have been wanting to go there few times in the past, but the location did not really appeal to us. So, finally, we decided to go for dinner on a Thursday. The large place (bigger than it seems from outside) was not crowded at all. Ordering was fast and it started well, my deliciously refreshing Thai iced tea arriving within minutes.

Thai iced tea at Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

Same speed for the appetizer, flaky crust curry puffs stuffed with potatoes, onions and various vegetables.

Flaky crust curry puffs at Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

It was just ok and I regretted at this point that we did not go for the usual rolls or for the Thai sausage.

Then, our entrees took forever to come and we were definitely not the only table waiting. Jodi got pad see ew, these large noodles served with eggs and broccoli that are delightfully sweet. She asked for tofu with it.

Pad See-ew at Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

I tried her dish first and found that it had a weird taste...

On my side, I got the chicken curry massaman, with coconut sticky rice.

Chicken curry massaman at Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

Coconut sticky rice at Hi-So Thai in Weehawken, NJ

The rice came several minutes after my dish, increasing my discontent about the kitchen (I figured they were short in staff, maybe because it was a weekday). It was a good dish, with lots of chicken and a nice kick.

The long wait discouraged us from having dessert, even if I was eyeing the mango with sticky rice that is my favorite dessert...Overall, it was an ok meal and with all the other options for Thai food in Hoboken (T Thai and Sri Thai are my favorites), I do not think I would go back...

Enjoy (...)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/15

Restaurant Week: Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria in NYC, New York

One of the great discoveries for Restaurant Week was Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria, an offshoot of the original restaurant that is also a market place. There, we had a fantastic prix-fixe meal that definitely made us want to go back.

Before I talk about the food we had there, let me talk about this place. So, it is a market where you can buy all sorts of products: salumi, cheese, pastries...

I like the decor that is rustic and warm, especially thanks to the exposed bricks. They sat us at the bar, overlooking the large selection of wine and the preparation of cocktails.

But no cocktail for me: I preferred a fresh squeezed orange juice that was perfect.

We decided to get their housemade bread for $1 per person. I admit that I was surprised that they would have patrons pay for bread, but anyway...

For the appetizer, Jodi decided to go for their housemade pastry basket that was served with jam as well as a succulent hazelnut butter that I simply ate with a spoon.

Too bad they were unable to tell me what these pastries were, although we could guess the chocolate donut, a cranberry roll and some sort of chocolate cake.

On my side, I decided to try their housemate ricotta. This was definitely a better choice and I definitely recommend this dish. It was served with some lettuce, cherry tomato for acidity and a white grape.

For the entrée, Jodi picked the Tonno or olive oil poached albacore tuna. It was like a salad, served cold.

It was an ok dish, not as good as mine that was the eggs Al Forno or three baked eggs (with a perfect runny yolk) and culatello, a salumi I never heard before, that is apparently the most prized in Italy.

This was a fantastic dish, very comforting and perfect for brunch. The culatello was deliciously fatty and paired perfectly with the eggs.

Last was dessert. They did not have the selection written on the menu and proposed us some other options. We tried their raspberry sorbet that was delicious with the fruit really coming through.

And the chocolate budino that is like a chocolate pudding.

This was very good: dense and very chocolatey, I loved the fact that they put some candied hazelnuts on top that added some crunch on top of their delicious taste.

So this was definitely a great meal and I am glad we took the opportunity of Restaurant Week to try Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria. We will definitely go back 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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/15

Restaurant Week: Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Rodizio restaurants (all you can eat style Brazilian restaurants, churrascaria referring to a steakhouse) can be fairly expansive, especially when you go for dinner, so, Restaurant Week is the perfect occasion to indulge with unlimited meat (if you are vegetarian, you can also go for the buffet). But, of course, they will not serve all the choices they offer for dinner, conscious of the price difference.

Dining room at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

It has been a while since I went to Churrascaria Plataforma, preferring the one that was located in Tribeca but unfortunately closed. It is a big place, but the decor has nothing extraordinary, contrary to Fogo De Chao that is few blocks from there.

Restaurant week menu at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

For Restaurant Week, Churrascaria Plataforma offers a menu that includes the buffet, some meat and desserts (glad they offer three different and not just one). I went with my colleagues and they all rushed to the buffet, probably more health conscious than me, especially as I went for the cheese and bacon, without forgetting anchovies...Look, I came for the meat, not the salad bar and I know the tactic of these restaurants who hope people will indulge with the buffet, the bread and the sides, so they would eat less meat!

Buffet at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Parmiggiano reggiano at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

As we were eating, they brought us some Pao De Queijo (aka Brazilian Cheese Puffs or cheese bread, made with tapioca flour), that were very tempting and I admit that I could not resist.

Portuguese bread or cheese bread at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Then came the meat. If you have never been to a rodizio restaurant, know that you have a disk on the table with two colors: green means that they can bring you meat and red means you do not want it anymore.

Disks at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Well, as soon as we put our disks on the green side, we started seeing coming lots of meat, to the point that we had to turn it to red. The way they bring the meat is on a skewer and they will slice it, depending sometimes on the temperature you want (in fact, I ended up with blood on my white shirt at some point, at the moment the waiter pulled back with his knife...).

Chicken and pork sausage at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

At first, they brought us chicken and pork sausage. They were good, especially the sausage, but I was more looking for the prime meats...

Chicken at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Pork sausage at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Then came the top sirloin and the top round steak:

Top sirloin at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Top round steak at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

The turkey with bacon photo did not make it and I did not regret as it was my least favorite, being a little dry. However, the Plataforma steak was fantastic: tender, juicy and tasty.

Plataforma steak at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Concerning the sides, we got mashed potatoes, fried plantains and fried polenta.

Plantains at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Fried polenta at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

Last was dessert and I went for the flan that was another highlight of the meal, being dense thanks to the condensed milk they use and not too sweet, I could have eaten few of them.

Flan at Churrascaria Plataforma in NYC, New York

It was a good meal for Restaurant Week at Churrascaria Plataforma, but I have to say that I prefer Fogo De Chao that serves better meat and has a better buffet for lunch.

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! 9/21/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/21/15

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!

Jeremy Holin at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Entrance of Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Decor at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Bras at Decor at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Bar at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Bras and ties at Decor at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Brick wall at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Bras at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

9/11 plaque at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Beer on tap at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

They also have European beers like Heineken or Stella Artois.

Heineken beer at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Dogfish Head beer at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Mermaid Pilsner at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Cheeseburger at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Fried chicken sandwich at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Grilled chicken sandwich at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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.

Shrimp cocktail at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

There is also the fried calamari that was deliciously crispy and not rubbery.

Fried calamari at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

The fish and chips, made with tilapia.

Fish and chips at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

The fried scallops that can also be served grilled.

Fried scallops at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

The last dish is not yet on the menu and was one of my favorites: lobster bisque.

Lobster bisque at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

Glass of sherry at Jeremy's Ale House in NYC, New York

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/15

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.

Dining room at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

Seafood station at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

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.

East coast West coast oysters at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

For my appetizer, I decided to go for the oysters: one side was from the East coast and the other from the West coast.

East coast oysters at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

West coast oysters at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

The oysters were really good and fresh, worth the $5 surcharge and perfect with a glass of Riesling.

Riesling at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

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.

Maki of the day at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

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.

Pan seared tile fish at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

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.

casarecce pasta with blue crab at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

For dessert, Jodi ordered the dark chocolate sundae with espresso caramel, turkish coffee gelato and whipped cream.

Sundae at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

On my side, I got the market blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato.

Blueberry shortcake at Blue Water Grill in NYC, New York

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/15

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.

L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Menu at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Salt and pepper at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Plate at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Glass of wine at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Bocuse artifact at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Knife and spoon at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

House cocktail at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Champagne glass at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Bread and butter at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Tomato velouté at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Soupe aux truffes VGE at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Lobster salad at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

At that time, we decided to order a glass of wine and chose a red: Volnay Clos Des Ducs 2006.

Bottle of Volnay Clos Des Ducs at at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Glass of Volnay Clos Des Ducs at at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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:

Bresse chicken cooked in a bladder at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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’.

Filet of sole at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Cheese cart at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Creme chocolat et griotte at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

As well as some cookies and chocolates.

Cookies and chocolates at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

Then came the unlimited desserts. There were so many carts (I might have missed one or two) that we were a bit overwhelmed.

Dessert cart at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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.

Ile flottante at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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!):

Baba au rhum at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

The raspberry tart:

Raspberry tart at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

A creme brûlée:

Creme brûlée at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges of Paul Bocuse in France

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!

www.bocuse.fr

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

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.

Dining room at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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.

Ordering at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

Buzzer at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

Jodi went straight for a salad: goat cheese salad with some add-ons (grilled eggplant, croutons and chickpeas):

Goat cheese salad at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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.

Salad and sandwich at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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".

Thumb bread at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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.

Chicken chipotle melt at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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...

Mix lemonade and tea at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

Strawberry lemonade at Flatbread Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/15

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.

Executive Chef Sabeh Kachouh and his wife Sonia at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Bar at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Dining room at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Pickled vegetables at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Pickled carrots at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Pickled turnip at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Peppers at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Tabboule at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Arak at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Appetizers at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Hummus with meat (with seasoned ground lamb and pine nuts):

Hummus with meat at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Baba Ghannouj (deliciously smokey):

Baba Ghannouj at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Falafel:

Zaatar pies (thyme, sesame, olive oil and sumac, baked on homemade pita):

Zaatar pies at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Vegetarian grape leaves:

Grape leaves at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Muhammara (spicy red pepper dip mixed with rice and chick peas):

Muhammara at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Beans at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Batata Harra (potatoes with chopped cilantro, garlic and pepper):

Batata harra at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Kibbee Krass (ground lamb and bulgur):

Kibbee Krass at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Cheese Rikakat (phyllo pastry filled with haloumi cheese):

Cheese Rikakat at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Loubie Bil Zeit (string beans with tomato, garlic, onion and olive oil):

Loubie Bil Zeit at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Fattoush salad, made with mixed greens and eaten with their homemade pita:

Fattoush salad at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Homemade pita at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

To accompany the appetizers, I had a glass of Lebanese white wine, a Massaya 2014 (70% of Byblos wine list is Lebanese wine):

Massaya wine from Lebanon at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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)...

Dishes at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Baked Kibbee (stuffed lamb and bulgur):

Baked kibbee at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Then, our first entrée was stuffed zucchini with hot yogurt sauce (it was stuffed with rice and lamb):

Stuffed zucchini at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Then, we had grilled striped bass (perfectly cooked I have to say):

Grilled stripped bass at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

Grilled striped bass at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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.

Mixed grill at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

With the entrées, I drank a glass of red Lebanese wine (Les Terroirs, Domaine Wardy 2012):

Les Terroirs Domaine Wardy at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

For desserts, we got their homemade baklava as well as a homemade Mouhalabia (milk pudding):

Baklava and Mouhalabia at Byblos, Lebanese restaurant in NYC, New York

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!

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

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.

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):

Tandoori chicken at Raaz in Jersey City, NJ

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):

Mushroom mutter at Raaz in Jersey City, NJ

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.

Chicken curry at Raaz in Jersey City, NJ

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.

Aag Gosht or goat at Raaz in Jersey City, NJ

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/15

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.

Dining room at Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York

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.

Order number at Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York

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.

Fried chicken and waffle at Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York

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.

Milk shake at Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York

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...).

Pies at Hill Country Chicken in NYC, New York

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/15

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.

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.

Soup dumplings at The Bao in NYC, New York

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.

Scallion pancakes at The Bao in NYC, New York

Last was the Shanghai fried noodles.

Shanghai fried noodles at The Bao in NYC, New York

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/15

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.

Dining room at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

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):

Rice and beans at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

Tostones (twice fried green plantains with garlic sauce):

Tostones at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

Maduros (fried yellow plantains):

Maduros at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

Beef empanada (the best I ever had):

Beef empanada at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

Vegetarian empanada (new - made with spinach and manchego):

Vegetarian empanada at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

For brunch, we got:

Huevos Rancheros at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

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:

Chef Omar's French toast at La Isla Uptown in Hoboken, NJ

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!

I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/15 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/15

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 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.

Dining table at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Dining room at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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.

Dish tasting at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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...

Growing herbs at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Prep room at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Fermentation lab at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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.

Champagne at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Glass of Champagne at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

After a glass of Champagne to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we got the following dishes:

Turnip and unripe strawberry marinated in aquavit:

Turnip marinated in aquavit at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Unripe strawberry marinated in aquavit at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Whole wheat bread and virgin butter:

Whole wheat bread at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Virgin butter at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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):

First shoots of the season Cabbage leaf and white currant at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Sweet peas, milk curd and sliced kelp:

Sweet peas and milk curd at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Our first pairing was turnip and green strawberries juice and flower tart:

Turnip and green strawberries juice at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Flower tart at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

The next pairing was an apple and pine juice (my favorite) with New Danish potatoes and lavage:

New Danish potatoes at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Creme fraiche at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Apple and pine juice at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

This was a take on a traditional Danish dish, with the most surprising part being our fork that was not edible:

Natural fork at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Next pairing was sweet shrimp wrapped in ramson leaves and carrots and gooseberries juice:

Sweet shrimp wrapped in ramson leaves at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Carrots and gooseberries juice at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Cabbage and roses:

Mahogany clam and grains (a 100 year old clam!):

Mahogany clam at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Monkfish liver (my least favorite):

Monkfish liver at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

White asparagus, goosefoot and barley:

Lobster and Nasturtium (the lobster was so beautifully cooked):

Lobster and Nasturtium at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

If I remember, it was paired with rose tea that was also a good palate cleanser:

Vegetable flower:

Roasted bone marrow (my favorite):

Roasted bone marrow at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

The bone marrow was paired with a cabbage juice.

Cabbage juice at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Berries and greens soaked in vinegar for one year:

Berries and greens at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Rhubarb and sheep milk yogurt:

This was paired with a sorel juice:

Sorel juice at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

Then came one of the most surprising ingredient to try: moss. The dish was forrest flavors, chocolate and egg liquor (eggnog):

Forrest flavors at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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.

Double espresso at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark

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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I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/15 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/15

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...

Dining room at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

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!

Mimosa at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

For appetizer, they have the great idea to propose a sampler that can definitely be shared by more than two persons.

Sampler at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

The sampler contains buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, fried calamari and truffled tater tots.

Chicken wings at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

Fried calamari at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

Mozzarella sticks at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

Truffle tater tots at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

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.

Strawberry and goat cheese salad at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

On my side, I went for the crab cakes appetizer, rightfully anticipating when ordering that the sampler would be big.

Crab cakes at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

Crab cake at 1Republik in Hoboken, New Jersey

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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I Just Want To Eat! 8/25/15 I Just Want To Eat! 8/25/15

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.

Bread basket at The Harold in NYC, New York

Grilled bread at The Harold in NYC, New York

After eating some grilled bread that they brought to the table, our appetizer, the flight of dips, came.

Flight of dips at The Harold in NYC, New York

Smoked eggplant at The Harold in NYC, New York

White beans at The Harold in NYC, New York

Grilled pita at The Harold in NYC, New York

Spicy feta at The Harold in NYC, New York

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.

Fish tacos at The Harold in NYC, New York

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.

Fish and chips at The Harold in NYC, New York

Mushy peas at The Harold in NYC, New York

French fries at The Harold in NYC, New York

Crispy fish at The Harold in NYC, New York

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)!

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