The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ
It has been a while since I wanted to try The Chicken Factory in Hoboken. It is a small place that serves Korean dishes besides their own version of wings and drumsticks, smothered either with a soy and garlic sauce or a sweet and spicy sauce. For instance, they have bibimbap, bulgogi, japchae or Haemul Pa Jeon that is a seafood scallion pancake. Then, if you are vegetarian, they do have few options for you: vegetarian bibimbap, garden salad, coleslaw, kimchi, etc.
Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa
Far from K-Town, Kori is a Korean restaurant that is a true finding in Tribeca. I like their statement:
In Korean, KORI means “connection,” which represents our vision of connecting healthy Korean cuisine with New Yorkers in the finest way possible.
Yes, it is an elegant Korean restaurant with an elevated menu. Not a big place for sure and you'd better have a reservation.
Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ
I admit that we hesitated before going for lunch at Casual Thai in Hoboken, a delivery few years ago going wrong from the time it took to get our food to the food itself not being good. But I was thinking that sometimes, deliveries do not give justice to restaurants; for instance, pizza is not as good when delivered as it usually steams in the box. Same for burgers or hot sandwiches.
Brunch at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa
If there is something for which Sarabeth's is known for, it is its brunch. Believe it or not, but I never went there and only tried some of their jam that you can find in some supermarkets. So, we decided to go to the one in TriBeCa on a Sunday. We had of course a reservation as the place was packed.
Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York
How did I end up at Dallas BBQ in Times Square? I simply wanted to eat BBQ and my favorite, Southern Hospitality, was full. I think I should have gone to Brother Jimmy's, although it was not really in the area where I was...I mean, the service at Dallas BBQ was very good, being courteous and efficient, but the food did not meet my expectations and I kind of left me still craving some delicious ribs...
Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York
Meaning everything is fine in French, Tout Va Bien is a family restaurant that has been serving a classic French bistro menu since 1948. It is a small place with a decor quite cluttered iwith so many French artifacts all over, from photos to littles statues, to soccer club flags, as well as the French songs playing in the background (Charles Aznavour when I went there), creating definitely a certain atmosphere close to what you would find in some restaurants in France.
Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ
I was thrilled when I heard that Del Frisco's Grille would open in Hoboken end of September 2015. We decided to go there for brunch and then dinner to check it out. It is a fairly big place, with a view to the kitchen and pass that is in the back, a view that I always find interesting, especially in that place, where you could see the staff lining up, waiting for the dishes to be ready and giving the last touch, like the brush of mix of salt, pepper and butter on the steaks.
Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Eating at Tikka Indian Grill is like traveling far away from the trendy Williamsburg neighborhood. The food there is amazing, especially if you like spices and discovering flavors and aromas that will astonish you during the entire meal. There, owner and Executive Chef Mallika Khan, who is from Bangladesh, crafted a menu inspired from her mother's recipes, covering many parts of India.
Rice Shop in Hoboken, NJ
I cannot remember the last time we went to Rice Shop in Hoboken and why did not come back, until we went back...Yes, we were disappointed by the food to say the least. It started well, with a very good Thai iced tea that is one of my favorite beverages with its delightful sweetness counterbalancing the bitterness of the tea.
Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York
Maria's Mont Blanc was on my list of restaurants to try, few people recommending this place that serves European cuisine and is one of the rare restaurants in New York to have raclette, a dish found mainly in Switzerland and France, where cheese (racket cheese) is melted and then eaten with such things as potatoes or dried meat.
Recipe: S'Mores pie or should I say S'Mornies?
I discovered S'Mores in this country, this treat not being known at all in France. Even roasting marshmallows, that we call chamallows, is pretty uncommon there. So, I decided to make my own version of a S'Mores pie, layering a Graham cracker crust, a fudgy brownie and some torched marshmallow. An easy recipe that will satisfy adults and kids!
DOSAI, Indian restaurant in Curry Hill, NYC, New York
At Dosai, I got to meet with the new Chef, Hemnath Nagaran, who explained to me that he was proposing dishes mainly from South India, few of them being from the North, based on his mother's recipes. Dosai might be a kosher vegetarian place, I can tell you that I did not mind not having any meat the day we went: the food was fantastic and some of the dishes not that commonly found on menus of Indian restaurants here.
Ocean Prime in NYC, New York
I was thrilled to go to Ocean Prime the day after their opening. Located midtown, this American restaurant replaced Ben Benson that closed several months back after facing a rent increase. Like Mastro's across the street or STK, few blocks away, it boasts an elegant decor that is both modern and classy, and a service that is perfection.
Max, Italian Restaurant in TriBeCa
Recipe: Olive Oil Cake
I discovered olive oil cake a couple of years ago, eating in an Italian restaurant. Since then, I never hesitate to order it for dessert, often preferring it to the popular tiramisu. And in fact the best olive cake I ate, that inspires this recipe, was at Maialino. So, I decided to make my own: an easy recipe for a succulent cake...
Korean Burger at BarKogi in NYC, New York
Second Avenue has some interesting spots to eat and I should probably go there more often. That is where we found BarKogi, a Korean restaurant serving traditional Korean specialties as well as some interesting fusion dishes, such as Korean fried chicken or a Korean BBQ inspired burger: the short rib bulgogi burger.
Patiala, Indian cuisine, in NYC, New York
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches in Hoboken, NJ
Don't desperate to find a Jimmy John's near you: this supposedly gourmet sandwich joint is a franchise. Their sandwiches are delicious and made fresh in less time you will have to read the menu. Gourmet might be a bit of a stretch, but they for sure have good sandwiches. First, what makes them real good is their bread that is apparently made daily: this is a fantastic bread and, as you know 50% of a success of the sandwich is the bread. The rest of the ingredients is also apparently fresh. For instance, they make daily their tuna salad.
Burger at Eats in NYC, New York
I was really looking forward to go for brunch at Eats, a restaurant located on the Upper East Side. There was only one item I was eying on their menu: the dry-aged steak burger. I mean, when a burger has a name like that, it gives a lot of expectations. So, we arrived way earlier than our reservation, but it was not a problem. We sat at a table next to the window.