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

STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

STK is definitely not your usual steakhouse, getting away from the manly atmosphere classic steak joints sometimes have. No, it is modern and combines not only a restaurant, but also a lounge, like Mastro's does. So, there, the noise level is quadruple, the music from the DJ forcing people to scream to get heard.

Dining room at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Dining room at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Their menu is also unusual, definitely elegant and unique. You find of course the classic pieces of meat, such as ribeye, filet mignon or porter house, but for instance with interesting toppings like foie gras butter or bone marrow.

They started off by bringing a sourdough bread with blue cheese butter on top and a chive butter on the side.

Sourdough bread at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Sourdough bread at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

I admit that I would have never thought it was a sourdough bread as it tasted more like a brioche. Bringing this was a mistake, as it was so good, it was difficult to resist it...

For the appetizers, I tried the crispy lobster tails, served with green chili aioli, pickled chilies and a papaya slaw.

Crispy lobster tails at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Crispy lobster tails at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

It was kind of refreshing, thanks to the papaya slaw and I loved the texture of the lobster that was slightly undercooked but had the crunch from the crust on top.

But my favorite appetizer was the seared scallops, accompanied by short rib marmalade, squash puree and pomegranate.

Seared scallops at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Seared scallops at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The presentation was outstanding, one of the scallops having the short rib marmalade (that was fantastic by the way) on top and the other one under. This was a spectacular dish: the scallops were perfectly seared and paired perfectly with the squash and marmalade, as well as the pomegranate that added some nice acidity.

To go with the meat, I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Cutrer 2013 from California. I noticed preparing this post that the alignment of the glass with one of the tables gives the impression I had somebody in my glass!

For the steak, I did not go for the filet mignon

Filet mignon at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Filet mignon at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

But for the ribeye that is my favorite cut. I asked for it medium rare.

Ribeye at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Ribeye at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The ribeye was perfectly cooked, but a bit too fatty. Know that they apparently do not dry-age their meat, that is fairly rare nowadays. It was a very good piece of meat: tender, juicy, with a great bold taste, especially close to the bone. I ordered a delicious béarnaise sauce with it, as well as a bone marrow that I inhaled...

Bone marrow at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Bone marrow at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

For the sides, I tried the mac and cheese, as well as the truffles and parmesan fries.

Mac and cheese at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Mac and cheese at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Truffle and parmesan fries at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Truffle and parmesan fries at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

I did not like the fries: undercooked and bland, it was very disappointing. However, the mac and cheese was sublime: the pasta were perfectly cooked, there was a lot of cheese and it was really creamy.

I had to pace myself as I really wanted to try their desserts, having couple of options in mind. The first one was the churro milkshake.

Churro milkshake at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Churro milkshake at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

The milkshake was made with dulce de leche and I used it to dip the perfectly made churro bites that were crunchy with a delightful gooeyness in the center. But my favorite dessert was definitely the banana cream pie in a jar.

Banana cream pie in a jar at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York — Banana cream pie in a jar at STK, modern steakhouse in NYC, New York

Made with banana, house made vanilla wafer, vanilla custard and butterscotch, it was topped with a meringue that was not too sweet. In fact the entire dessert was not too sweet and was comforting. I think I could have eaten the entire jar if I was not already full from all this good food I had...

STK is for sure a great place: fantastic food and good service. I wonder if it is quieter for lunch as, if like me, you do not like noisy places, this is not for you. Although I have to say that, after what I ate, I would not mind going back, bringing a pair of ear plugs with me...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 12/2/15 I Just Want To Eat! 12/2/15

Mac and Cheese burger at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

We were looking forward to having brunch with our friends Jen and Gary and I was in charge of finding a place in the city. Knowing that Gary was, like me, a fan of burgers, I looked for a restaurant with an extensive menu. That is how we ended up at The Ainsworth. I mean, just seeing their mac and cheese burger made me drool and I could not wait to try it. Interestingly, while we waited for Jen and Gary, we saw Alma, one of Jodi's friends who lives in the neighborhood. She could not believe we were going there, even for food: it is a bar and it comes with all the disturbances you can be imagine, from the loud music to the drunk people, without forgetting the fights. Well, Alma, the brunch might be your best bet, but not on a game day: The Ainsworth being a sports bar (it has 40 TV over 6,000 sqf), I am sure it gets crazy there.

Dining room at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

It did not take too long to decide what to eat, but I admit that the food took forever to come; it was odd considering there were maybe three tables occupied. I guess they had the minimum staff that day, but they could at least check on the patrons.

So I ordered the mac and cheese burger. It was one choice in many unusual combinations, such as the French onion or breakfast burgers.

The Mac and Cheese burger at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

When it came, it looked big and yummy, but big, but yummy, but big...it was composed of a bun with, in the bottom, a panko crusted mac and cheese, topped with a patty (between 6 to 8 ounces) and a scoop of mac and cheese.

It was a bit messy to eat, but the first bite was divine: first you get the soft brioche bun, then, at the same time, creaminess of the mac and cheese on top and the crunchiness of the crusted one in the bottom, before tasting the meat that was not as juicy as I would have liked. It was delicious, but I admit that it was a bit challenging to eat it, especially as the cheese got colder. I mean, you will definitely forget about the fries and I have to say that not only it was challenging to finish, but it was also a bit heavy after...

Jodi, more reasonable than me, got the traditional breakfast, two eggs (she asked for sunny side), buttermilk biscuit, potato hash, and bacon. Good, but nothing unusual.

Traditional breakfast at The Ainsworth in NYC, New York

We had a good time at The Ainsworth and I appreciated the fact that they let us hang out there for a while. Besides the company, the highlight of the meal was definitely that fantastic burger that I highly recommend. And yes, I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/15

Bangkok City, Thai restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Bangkok City is a Thai restaurant located on the main street, Washington, in Hoboken. It is a fairly big place, and they offer a basic Thai menu, if it was not for the frog legs that I had there from time to time...Yes, not that many French restaurants serve them, but Thai restaurants often do (I think they call it Kha Gob). But, also often, you can taste that they have been frozen as they get this fishy taste that is so recognizable.

Dining room at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, as usual, I started by ordering a Thai Iced tea that looked great with the condensed milk not fully mixed in it. It also tasted good by the way...

Thai iced tea at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

We then ordered vegetables dumplings for appetizer. They were good, but I thought the shell was a bit too thick.

Vegetable dumpings at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Vegetable dumplings at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

For her entrée, Jodi ordered Pad Ma Kua, a vegetarian dish made of sauteed eggplant with black bean sauce and fresh basil leaves, a fairly successful dish, especially if you like eggplant.

Pad Ma Kua at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, not surprisingly, I went for the chicken massaman, my favorite curry.

Massaman curry at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

I was glad that there was a right balance of curry and veggies as sometimes there is too much of the latter. But this one was real good.

Mango sticky rice at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Dessert was a bit disappointing...We ordered mango with sticky rice. The mango itself was very good and perfectly ripe. But, the sticky rice would have been better with some coconut milk as it was a bit bland.

Despite that, I thought that Bangkok City was not that bad. Not the best in Hoboken, but still good (I prefer Sri Thai or T Thai). Would I go back? Maybe...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/27/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/27/15

Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

It has been a while since we ate at The Vegetarian Dim Sum House in Chinatown, and so, after our last trip to Joe's Ginger, we decided to go back and see if the food was as good as we remember.

Dining room at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

This cash only place is like lots of restaurants in Chinatown: a destination for food (authentic, comforting, good and cheap), not a place you would go for the decor, the ambiance or to get an outstanding service. So, it is not the best place for a date...I personally think that their dishes are better than their dim sum, the later being a bit greasy and not as good.

Dim sum menu at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

They have a large dim sum menu and you will check the one you want with the pencil that is on each table. We decided to go with:

Vegetable pork roast mock buns (doughy and tasteless):

Vegetable pork roast mock buns at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

Mini vegetarian spring rolls (not so mini, pipping hot and very greasy):

Vegetarian spring rolls at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

Pan fried dumplings (greasy and not that tasty):

Pan fried dumplings at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

However, their three mushrooms pan fried noodles was delicious!

Three mushrooms pan fried noodles at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in ChinaTown, NYC, New York

The noodles were smothered in a delicious sauce, some of them not and therefore being delightfully crispy. There was also lots of mushrooms on it, perfect if you love them.

I am a bit on the fence as far as The Vegetarian Dim Sum House is concerned. It is for sure cheap and I am not expecting gourmet food, but I think that places like Joe's Ginger (across the street), The Great NY Noodle Town or The Golden Unicorn are far better. Would I go back? Maybe, but not for dim sum.

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/15

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

I was really looking forward to going to Ruth's Chris in Weehawken for two reasons: first I love Ruth's Chris that I consider one of the best steakhouses I ever been to (and trust me: I went to many); second because somebody told me one time that the Midtown location was good, but not the others. So, it was a way to see if this place was consistent across locations.

Weehawken is a fairly small city, conveniently served by a ferry that will bring you there from NY in close to eight minutes. You wonder how such a big place like Ruth's Chris would end up there; well, it is right next to a Sheraton Hotel and also benefits from the parking of the shopping center, allowing diners from the cities around to come without any headache about parking. We went on a Saturday and it was packed for sure.

Dining room at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

The restaurant is fairly big, with an elegant decor and a nice light as it benefits from the large windows that are all around.

Bread at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

As we sat, they brought us a loaf of bread with some whipped butter. I was surprised as most of the steakhouses will bring you a bread basket that has all sorts of breads, like pretzel, Italian sticks...But not there: just some warm and crispy bread that I had to stop eating, thinking about what was coming.

Jodi passed on the appetizer, but I could to resist ordering their blue crab cakes.

Blue crab cakes at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Like the steaks, they came on a pipping hot plate (500 degrees - see the bubbles on the photos). They were made of jumbo lump and did not have any filler that would overshadow the delicious taste of the crab. There was for sure lots of butter and I guess it is one of the characteristics of Ruth's Chris steakhouses: they cook dishes in butter, lots of butter and if you are on a diet, you'd better go somewhere else (although I am sure you can find steamed vegetables on the menu...). In fact, when Jodi got her petite filet mignon, there was still on top of it some butter in the process of fully melting.

Petite filet mignon at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

On my side, I ordered a petite ribeye. Yes petite size, 12 ounces, that is not something you do not see often and is a perfect portion, but still at a steep price ($45).

Petite ribeye at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

When the steak came, besides the sound of the sizzling dishes that make you look around each time you hear it, wondering what people ordered, there was this delicious smell of meat and butter that made me want to skip taking photos and get a first bite right away. Both steaks were very tender and tasty, the ribeye having of course a stronger taste and being delightfully fattier.

Temperature wise, it was not exactly what we ordered: Jodi wanted a medium steak and got it more on the medium rare side, but as the steak continued to cook on the 500 degrees plate, it was not an issue. On my side, I wanted it medium rare, but it was slightly on the medium side, but still delicious as my empty plate attested.

To accompany my ribeye, I decided to get a glass of Pinot Noir, Au Contraire, Sonoma Coast, California, that had a bold taste perfect for the meat I was eating.

Glass of Pinot Noir at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Last was dessert, that we decided to share: warm apple crumb tart.

Apple crumb tart at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Made with Granny Smith apples, it was cooked in an amazing buttery crust with a thick streusel crust on top that I ate with delectation. The two crusts were very addictive and I had to pace myself not to over eat. The apples were perfectly cooked, soft and sweet, perfect with the vanilla ice cream that was slowly melting.

We had a fantastic dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weekhawken and I definitely recommend this place if you are in New Jersey or live in New York and want a change of scenery.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/15

Breakfast and treats at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

After trying the chocolate Babka at Breads, near Union Square, I kept dreaming about what else they could have that would be as delicious. We went few times back and tried different things that convinced me that it is one of the best bakeries in New York. I know: it is a big statement, but I stick to it.

Double espresso at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

For sure, their espresso or tea will not make the difference. But, if you try for instance the rugelach, then it is like the babka: a revelation.

Chocolate rugelach at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

We chose the chocolate one that was flaky and very chocolatey. They come by pair, but I would not have minded a full bag!

Then, there is the cinnamon roll that is one of the best I have tried so far.

Cinnamon roll at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

The chocolate chip cookie is good, chewy with lots of chocolate, but not at the level of the one at City Bakery.

Chocolate chip cookie at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

The only deception was the almond chocolate croissant. Well, first I should say that I wanted an almond croissant, but they did not have any. So as I really wanted to try their marzipan that they ship from Germany, I decided to try the chocolate almond version. It was heavy and had lots of marzipan in it. It was flaky and buttery, but the combination of chocolate and marzipan was too sweet.

Chocolate almond croissant at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

Too bad they did not have the almond croissant. Well, I guess this gives me a reason to go back to Breads Bakery. No, to be honest, I do not need a reason: it is simply delicious.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/15

NY Lobster Club Truck in NYC, New York

Lobster roll might be the almighty sandwich for me. Seriously, who got such an idea to make a sandwich with lobster? Well, in fact I do not care that much about that and surely care about where to find a delicious roll. I believe the first time I tried a lobster roll was at The Red Hook Lobster Pound truck during a food truck festival at South Street Seaport. It was buttery (there was butter on the roll and the lobster was poached in butter, Connecticut style) and I admit that I prefer it this way rather than with mayonnaise. So I was definitely excited to try the NY Lobster Club truck.

Classic roll at NY Lobster Club Truck in NYC, New York

But my excitement was short: when I opened the box, I saw a tiny roll and, although there were claws, I found there was not that much lobster. I mean all the ingredients were good, but it was not worth the $16 I paid. The roll, toasted was deliciously buttery, but the lobster looked dry and lacked taste, being slightly over cooked. I was for sure disappointed and for me, it does not measure up with The Red Hook Lobster Pound or Luke's Lobster. Too bad...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/15

Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

You should have seen our faces when we saw Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market! We heard about this ice cream parlor from Jodi's cousin, Rebecca who recommended it. We went a couple of times and, each time, we got some amazing creamy and rich ice cream.

Cones at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Jodi went for the sugar cone, while I went for a bowl, too scared to get some ice cream on my shirt...And I have to say that a scoop is a generous amount of ice cream! What I like about Ample Hills Creamery is the originality of their flavors. I have two favorites:

Snap Mallow Pop: that is advertised as a deconstructed rice krispie treat: made with marshmallow ice cream and buttery Rice Krispie clusters.

Snap Mallow Pop at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Sweet cream and cookie that is in fact cookies and cream.

Sweet cream and cookie at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Jodi got the vegan coconut chocolate ice cream that she loved. I have to say that it was good dark chocolate, but I still prefer the first two...

Vegan coconut chocolate ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Ample Hills Creamery is definitely one of my favorite ice cream joints: their ice cream flavors are original and phenomenal. I definitely recommend it if you love rich and creamy ice cream. And you know what? I will go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/15

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.

Counter at The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ

This is a very casual place, with only few tables inside and outside. You definitely do not go there for the decor (I was going for the chicken!).

I ordered the wings and drumstick combination, with a mix between the two sauces, curious to see how the sweet and spicy sauce was. When it came, it looked very appetizing and indeed it was fantastic!

Wings at The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ

The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, smothered by a coating slightly crunchy and addicting to a point where you would try to get every pieces of it on the chicken bone. The sauces were very good, but my preference went to the sweet and spicy sauce that had a nice heat to it. And there, no blue cheese sauce to appease your mouth.

The Chicken Factory is definitely a place to know if you love chicken wings. I would probably go back there to try some other dishes, but I admit that I may finally re-order these wings that were succulent.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/15

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.

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.

Dining room at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Kitchen at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

As a started, they brought us a salad in a spherical bowl that caught my attention more than what was inside...As well as kimchi, seaweed and what I think was pickled turnip.

Salad at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Banchan at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Then, we ordered some veggie dumplings that were pretty good, but I cannot remember the name (damn it!).

Veggie dumplings at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

For her entrée, Jodi chose the mushroom bibimbap that came pipping hot in a stone bowl, the rice continuing the cook and creating a delicious crust.

Mushroom bibimbap at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

On my side, I went for the bulgogi stew that was simply fantastic!

Ribeye and mushrooms at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Bulgogi stew at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

The marinated ribeye came on the side, with mushrooms and scallion. They then poured them in the very hot broth that was in a very hot stone bowl too, from where emanated a delicious aroma. In couple of minutes, the beef was cooked and I literally inhaled that dish that was succulent. It came with rice that absorbed the delicious broth that now had the taste of meat. This is definitely a dish I recommend.

Rice at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

For dessert, we decided to go for roasted rice cake sticks with green tea ice cream.

Rated rice cakes at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Green tea ice cream at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

That was a great dessert: first the rice cakes were awesome, a bit chewy, and perfect dipped in the honey that came with it. Then, the green tea ice cream, although bitter, was deliciously creamy. A hit!

I really liked our dinner at Kori and would certainly go back: the food there was very good and comforting and the service courteous and efficient.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/15

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.

Dining room at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

So, we went on a Sunday, for lunch. The place was not that crowded and I guess they had limited staff that day, because our food took a long time to come. Decor wise, it is nice, with a Buddha at the entrance that definitely sets the atmosphere.

I started off with my favorite drink: a Thai iced tea that was delicious and, fortunately, did not have too much ice in it.

Thai iced tea at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

Then, we decided to share the vegetable spring rolls.

Vegetable Spring rolls at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

They came very hot and were quite good, with a good proportion of shell versus veggies, but with unfortunately too much pepper in it.

For her entrée, Jodi went for Pad Woon-Sen, that is glass noodles with vegetables and tofu, a pretty good dish that is sweet and savory.

Pad Woon-Sen at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I got the chicken massaman.

Chicken Massaman at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

White rice at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

It was good, but a bit difficult to eat in the little bowl they gave (they removed my plate) and with too many vegetables compared to the succulent curry sauce. With it came some white rice.

For dessert, we ordered my favorite: mango with sticky rice.

Mango sticky rice at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

The presentation was beautiful. The mango was perfect, ripe and deliciously sweet, but the rice, although good, was missing some coconut milk that would have made this dish successful.

I am a bit on the fence with Casual Thai, the food being just ok. I think that restaurants like T Thai or Sri Thai are any way much better options...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/15

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.

After sitting at our table that was located in the back, we ordered our food as well as beverages: for Jodi, a tea, and for me the Four Flowers Juice, made with orange, pineapple,
banana & pomegranate juice.

Four flowers juice at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

Jodi decided to try their garden omelette, composed of mushroom, green peas, zucchini, cheddar. Eggs and omelettes are coming with a choice of muffin, scone, toast or croissant. She decided to pick the croissant that was pretty good, flakey and buttery.

Garden omelette at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

As far as the preserves that came with it, we only got an orange marmalade that was fantastic; but it was such a small portion...

orange marmalade at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

The omelette itself was good: fluffy and not dry, there was lots of vegetables in it, but not enough cheese for my taste. On my side, I decided to go for the salmon benedict.

Salmon benedict at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

The benedict were really good: the yolk was perfectly runny and there was a delicious Hollandaise sauce smothering it, where I dipped the delicious muffin that was in the bottom.

I should mention that we also shared a muffin basket that was just ok. The muffins were regular size and I thought they would have a nice selection of mini ones. There were pumpkin, corn and bran muffins.

The brunch at Sarabeth's was overall good, but I admit that I expected better. It is not cheap, but you pay for the name and location. Would I go back? Probably, but this time to try their crispy chicken and waffle or their burger.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/15

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...

Dining room at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I went to Dallas BBQ long time ago on the Upper East Side, but I cannot remember that experience, that is probably a bad sign. This was big, with and industrial feel, packed with tourists and moviegoers in search for good food to eat.

Beer at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I got a Stella Artois beer, just 10oz, 20oz being too many back and forth trips to the restroom. Strangely, they gave us a straw...

Straws at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I chose their classic combo, composed of fried chicken (with honey glaze), ribs and fried shrimp. It came with quite good corn bread and I decided to pick a baked potato over fries and onions, a sort of fake healthy choice that felt good on my conscience.

Classic combo at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

The plate looked a bit like a mess and it was a bit tough not to have food fall on the table while cutting the chicken. So I methodically started with the fried shrimp that were fairly good: well cooked and crispy. Then the chicken that I admit was delicious too. The last part was the ribs that I was keeping for the end. They were so disappointing: dry and not at all falling off the bone. At least, the generous amount of sauce helped, because I was so looking forward to it.

Ribs and crispy shrimp at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

Fried chicken at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

They brought a tangerine and pineapple cupcake for dessert, a special for Halloween. That was just ok, the frosting being a bit weird. But you know what? It was a nice touch anyway.

Cupcakes at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

So, my dinner at Dallas BBQ was definitely not that great, New York offering many options for great ribs that were for me the main reason I picked the combo. Next time, I'll pass...

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! 11/5/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/5/15

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.

Dining room at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Decor at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they really have all the classics: escargots, foie gras, soupe à l'oignon, coq au vin, etc...as well as crab cakes that day as a special (they have few daily specials presented on a chalk board).

Daily specials at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Soupe å l'oignon at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Crab cake at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For appetizer, I decided to order the escargots. I could have ordered 12, but, as you know, I am a pretty reasonable guy, so I only went for 6.

Escargots at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

They came pipping hot, still sizzling, with a delicious buttery smell emanating from the dish. I loved it: simply made (butter, garlic and parsley), the sauce was very addictive and I kept dipping my bread in the butter. I wondered at that point if one should not just serve butter with garlic and parsley, without the escargots, as an appetizer.

Bread at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For my main entrée, I hesitated between the veal liver and the veal kidney. I went for the later that was served with mashed potatoes and haricots verts. For the sauce, I had the choice between vin blanc (white wine), Bordelaise or moutarde (mustard). I chose mustard and definitely did not regret it. I should mention that they were generous with the amount of sauce on the plate and I was close to dipping my bread in it when I remembered that I also wanted dessert...

Veal kidneys å la moutarde at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

This was a fantastic dish: the kidneys were perfectly cooked medium rare, with a pink center, and perfectly cleared, so not tough at all. And that sauce was deliciously creamy. This is definitely a dish I would recommend and I am curious how the other sauces are.

Know that if you are not really fans of the creepy meats, you can try their filet mignon that looks appetizing or their fish dishes (below a red snapper provençal that was a fail special).

Filet mignon at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Red snapper provençal at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

I paired my meal with a glass of Bordeaux, but, of course, they have other selection, not all French (Malbec for instance).

Glass of Bordeaux at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For dessert, I went for the poire belle Helene, made with canned slices of pears, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. They have kind of similar dessert with peaches (peche melba).

Poire belle Helene at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Peche melba at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Good dessert, but I admit that I would have been even more pleased if they had an ile flottante or floating island, or even a tarte tatin that is one of my favorite desserts. Otherwise, they have the classics: creme brûlée, chocolate mousse...It was perfect with a double espresso.

Double espresso at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

So I was really pleased with my meal at Tout Va Bien: the food was really good and the atmosphere enjoyable, with a nice service. I would definitely go back there an this time get that veal liver!

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

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.

Dining room at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Interestingly, it was not that crowded for brunch, but when we went for dinner, it was packed, from the dining room to the bar area. Service wise, it was good, although a bit over the top, probably because it was close to their opening and they wanted to make sure patrons would have a good time.

In terms of food, they have quite a large choice. For brunch, we skipped eggs and decided to order:

Guacamole:

The Ahi tacos:

Ahi tuna tacos at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

The banana foster French toast:

Banana foster French toast at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

It was just ok: the guacamole was missing salt and the chunks of avocado were to big, giving the impression to eat an avocado salad rather than guac. The tacos were good and I loved the idea of using ahi tuna paired with a delicious spicy citrus mayo (I recommend it). The banana foster French toast was good, but missing some rum sauce (and adding syrup kind of throw the dish off), and there was not enough banana.

Steak knife at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

For dinner, I was excited to try the steaks. Jodi went for the filet mignon (8oz that is a perfect size for her), ordered medium.

Filet mignon at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

I went for the ribeye (16 oz), ordered medium-rare.

Ribeye at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

When they bring the steaks to the table, they ask you to check that they were cooked at the correct temperature: it is the first time I have seen this. The steaks were good; not the same quality as Dino & Harry's or Zylo, but still. They had a nice char, were tender and deliciously juicy. Unfortunately, they had too much salt and pepper (remember the brush at the pass mentioned above) and, after a while, it kind of overpowers the meat, even if you remove it with the knife.

Entrees are coming with sides. Jodi got the fries that were crispy.

French fries at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

I got the mash potatoes that I did not like as it contained too much scallion.

Mash potatoes at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

With the steaks, I got a Pinot Noir Meiomi 2013 from California, a nice pairing with the bold taste of the ribeye.

Pinot noir Meiomi at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert: Jodi went for the coconut cream pie. It was one of the rare times she was disappointed about it: too much chocolate shavings overpowered the coconut.

Coconut cream pie at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I ordered the Nutella bread pudding, replacing the coffee ice cream with vanilla ice cream. This was disappointing too, the taste of the Nutella being minimum and the bread pudding being dry...

Nutella bred pudding at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Nutella bread pudding at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

So I was a bit disappointed after our meals at Del Frisco's Grille, especially the dinner, as I was looking forward for the steak. Would I go back? I do not think so...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Del Frisco's Grille

Address: 221 River St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Phone:(201) 653-0195

I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/15

Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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

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. We unfortunately did not get a chance to meet with Chef Khan, but we chatted a bit with co-owner Syed about the food (and the importance put on the quality of each dish served), as well as Bangladesh and India.

This place just opened on October 22nd 2015, replacing another Indian restaurant called Spice Garden. I love the decor of Tikka Indian Grill: modern and subtle, with one wall with beautiful photos (amazing colors) to remind you that you are in an Indian restaurant.

Dining room at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Table at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Spices at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Foodwise, we had a festival and avoided spicy dishes like the lamb vindaloo I tried few years ago and made me sweat like Ben Stiller in the scene in the Ethiopian restaurant in Along came Polly.

Papadam at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chutneys at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

They first brought us some papadam, an Indian cracker that I always found addictive. It was served with onion chutney (Left on the photo - slightly spicy), cardamon chutney (center) and my favorite: tamarind sauce. We also got a mango lassi that was delicious and not watered down.

Mango lassi at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For appetizers, we got different dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian:

Samosa chaat, a typical street food, made with chunks of samosa, chickpeas, tamarind sauce and yogurt. This is the perfect dish if you like mixing sweet and savory. It has a subtle kick, but the yogurt and tamarind tame down the spiciness.

Samosa chaat at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second vegetarian dish was Sabji Tikka.

Sabji tikka at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It is composed of grilled paneer cheese, mushrooms and potatoes, also grilled. I admit that I did not really care about the potato, but the paneer was fantastic. Often, it is kind of rubbery. At Tikka Indian Grill, you will get one that has a texture similar to farmer cheese rather than firm tofu.

Paneer at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For non-vegetarian dishes, we got first the Tawa lamb kebab or pan fried minced lamb.

Tawa lamb kebab at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It was quite good, especially for people who, like me, love lamb, as it had this bold taste particular to that meat. Eating it, I thought they should serve it with raita though, the patty being a little dry, but I realized, writing this post, that it was supposed to be served with an apricot chutney...

The last appetizer was Paanch Shoran Jingha or shrimp with five spices.

Paanch Shoran Jingha at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This was one of the most flavorful of the appetizers and I am not sure what spices they put there, but I did not leave any shrimp on the plate...And I should mention that the shrimp, were perfectly cooked and of a nice size.

Then, came the entrees.

Entrees at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We asked for a tasting size as we wanted to try different dishes and did not want to waste, so what you see on the photos in the bowls is smaller than usual.

First, there was my favorite: chicken tikka masala.

Chicken tikka masala at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The chicken was perfectly cooked and not dry, smothered by an succulent sauce that I literally inhaled, trying to restrain myself considering we had other dishes on the table.

The next dish was chana masala, curried chickpeas that had a little kick. A delicious dish that I suggest if you are vegetarian...or not.

Chana masala at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I then was looking forward to try their dal bukhara. I love dal that I rediscovered in India last year, being more accustomed to watered down versions in the past, so, not so thrilled about it. But when dal is made with cream and butter, that is another story. And guess what: at Tikka Indian Grill, they use cream, lots of cream, that makes this rich dish one of my favorites.

Dal Bukhara at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last dish on the table was the lamb chops that were marinated in spices and then grilled. Another dish for lamb meat lovers.

Lamb chops at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

When we thought that the next course would be dessert, Syed proposed to try other specialties of the restaurant...

The first dish was chicken korma, that is chicken smothered in a creamy nut sauce.

Chicken korma at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second one was chicken saag tikka, skewered chicken served in pureed spinach.

Chicken saag tikka at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last one was Rogan Josh or lamb curry.

Rogan josh at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

All of these dishes were scrumptious and so flavorful. I am not a big fan of spinach (except a la creme), but the chicken saag tikka with its creamy spinach sauce is definitely a dish I would re-order.

To accompanied our dishes, we tried their delicious naan that was fluffy with a nice char, as well as some basmati rice.

Plain naan at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Basmati rice at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For dessert, we then had kheer or rice pudding:

Kheer at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

As well as gulab jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a sweet syrup.

Gulab jamun at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Both desserts were good and not too sweet, especially the kheer. I loved the gulab jamun that had a dense texture, although I would have liked a bit of the sugar syrup in it.

Seeds at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We definitely had a good time at Tikka Indian Grill. The food was amazing and I am still salivating while writing this post. This is a place to know if you live in Williamsburg, but also in the city, the commute from Union Square being as long as if you were going from there to the Upper East or West side!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

ADDRESS: 185 Grand Street
(btwn Bedford Ave & Driggs Ave.)
Williamsburg, NY 11211
PHONE: 718-768-2262
OPENING: October 22, 2015
WEBSITE: www.tikkawilliamsburg.com

I Just Want To Eat! 10/30/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/30/15

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.

Thai iced tea at Rice Shop in Hoboken, NJ

But then, the food came...We decided to start with the scallion pancakes. Contrary to lots of food, this is a dish that you expect to be greasy and these were dry as if they wanted to make it healthy. And the taste was bland.

Scallion pancakes at Rice Shop in Hoboken, NJ

It was served with a soy and peanut sauce, a weird combination that I did not really like.

Soy and peanut sauce at Rice Shop in Hoboken, NJ

Next was Roti Canai, an Indian bread (roti), served with chicken and potato in a curry sauce. Although I loved the curry, I really did not like the roti that had also a weird taste.

At that point, I was expecting the last dish to save the meal. We ordered chicken pan fried noodles.

When the dish came, it looked fantastic and very appetizing. The noodles were delightfully crunchy, accompanied by vegetables that were smothered in a thick sauce. Unfortunately, the chicken was overcooked and I did not even finish it.

So, yes, I was disappointed, especially as I was craving some good Chinese food. Well, I will have to look somewhere else as I am not sure I would go back to The Rice Shop.

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! 10/28/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/28/15

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.

Bar area at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

This place has been opened for more than 35 years and has this neighborhood feel that I always like, far from the hype and where you feel comfortable and a bit far from the eclectic life outside. So, it serves European cuisine and you will understand when you will see what I ate that sounded more French than anything else. Yes, on the menu, you will find the classic raclette, cheese fondue (for two people - unfortunately, nobody was in the mood for it), pasta, meat...So, I decided to go for escargots for appetizer and veal kidney for my main course.

What I did not see is that my entree came with a salad that came first. For sure, I would have never had the idea of ordering a salad by myself...

Salad at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

So, after few bites, so it would not be wasted, the escargots came.

Escargots at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

It was a traditional way of doing it, with garlic and butter, the sauce being addictive and I had to restrain myself from dipping bread in it.

Bread basket at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

Then I got the veal kidney with Marsala and mushroom sauce. It came in a pot that gave a rustic feel to it and had a nice portion in it that I admit I did not finish. The kidney was perfect: well cleaned and cooked, they were not tough at all, smothered in a delicious sauce that the fans of mushrooms would appreciate.

Veal kidneys and rosti at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

It was served with rosti, that is a Swiss dish made with potatoes and string beans that I did not even touch. The rosti was good: cooked all the way through, it has a slight crunchiness.

String beans at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

For dessert, I had the meringue glacée that is meringue, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Meringue glacee at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

A delicious dessert that I definitely recommend, being also light (by my own reference) and not too sweet.

As far as wine was concerned, we went for a Dole Des Monts, a Swiss red wine.

Dole Des Monts Swiss wine at Maria's Mont Blanc in The Theater District, NYC, New York

I had a wonderful dinner at Maria's Mont Blanc: the food was great and prices reasonable in a restaurant that has this feel that it has been there forever and is only known by a few. I would definitely go back, but this time for fondue or raclette.

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! 10/27/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/27/15

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!

Time: 1h

Servings: 10

Ingredients:

Graham cracker crust:

15 Grahams finely crushed
1/3 cup light brown sugar
8 table spoons of butter

Brownie:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
340g or 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips or morsels
10 table spoons of butter
3 eggs
80 g all purpose flour
1 tea spoon of vanilla extract

And a bag of marshmallows.

Step 1: prepare the Graham cracker crust

Finely coarse 15 Graham crackers in a food processor. Then add the butter previously melted in the microwave and the light brown sugar. Mix it thouroughly to make sure that all the ingredients are fully integrated.

S'Mores pie recipe: Graham crackers in the food processor

S'Mores pie recipe: preparing the Graham cracker crust

S'Mores pie recipe: grinding Graham crackers

S'Mores pie recipe: Graham cracker crust

Melt two tablespoons of butter in the microwave and spread inside your cake mold. Then pour the Graham cracker mix and flatten it to the bottom with the bottom of a glass.

Step 2: prepare the brownie

In a pan, melt on medium heat the chocolate morsels and the butter. Once melted, let it rest for 10 minutes. Then, add the eggs, the light brown sugar, the sugar and the vanilla extract. Once all the ingredients are fully incorporated, add the flour and mix completely, until the flour is well integrated in the chocolate batter.

S'Mores pie recipe: melt chocolate and butter

S'Mores pie recipe: making the brownie batter

S'Mores pie recipe: chocolate and butter melted

Then, pour the brownie batter on top of the Graham cracker crust and make sure it is even in the mold.

S'Mores pie recipe: brownie batter poured on top of the Graham cracker crust

Step 3: bake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then bake the pie for 30 minutes.

Once cooked, remove from the oven and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Toast the marshmallow

Put the marshmallow on top of the pie and toast them using a torch.

S'Mores pie recipe: torching the marshmallow

Et voila!

Bon appetit!

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! 10/26/15 I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/15

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.

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

Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Opened in May 2015, Dosai is one of the multiple new ventures of Michelin Star Chef Hemant Mathur. Interestingly, the place is next to Haldi, another place from Chef Mathur that I tried few months ago, having at the same time the privilege to meet Chef Mathur.

Chef Nagaran at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Dining room at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Before I talk about the food, I should mention the decor, that is quite minimal, but has a certain elegance. I was wondering if the trees in the dining room were a reference to nature.

Tree from the decor at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

I started my meal with a mango lassi, one of my favorites with sweet lassi.

Mango lassi at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

We then tried few appetizers. The first one is a classic: vegetarian samosa.

Samosa at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

The samosa were deliciously crispy and tasty, with the filling mainly made with potatoes and cauliflower; I truly appreciated the fact that they were not spicy at all.

The second appetizer was onion pakora or onion fritters, a classic street food, that were so addictive, that I could not stop eating them, even knowing that more food was coming. They were served with a coconut chutney, but I admit that I preferred dipping them in the tamarind sauce of the samosas...They had a nice crunchy texture and the batter had an interesting taste that was coming from the chickpea flour that they use.

Onion pakora at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

The last appetizer was the Idli Vadai combo, composed of idli (a sort of rice cake), menu vadai (a lentil dumpling that looks like a donut), sambar (that is like a soup made with lentils, tomatoes and turmeric to name few ingredients) and three chutneys: tomato, lentil and coconut.

Idli Vadai combo at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Medu Vadai at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Sambar at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Idli at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

The sambar and chutneys were definitely necessary, the idli and menu vadai being a bit dry, and the idli by itself being bland, but acting like a sponge when dipped in the sambar. I liked the fact that I could eat it in different ways, alternating the chutneys (my favorite was the tomato, then lentil, then coconut) or the sambar, varying the flavors.

Then came our first entrees. I could not miss the dal makhni that is a dish made with black lentils and cream that is slow cooked.

Dal Makhni at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

As well as the paneer makhni, that is paneer cheese with bell pepper, served in a creamy tomato sauce.

Paneer Makhni at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Both dishes were sublime: creamy, with lots of flavors from the spices, they had a nice kick. We ate them with some chapati that is a whole wheat bread (delightfully charred), or basmati rice.

Chapati at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Basmati rice at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

You would think that we were done, but the feast continued. First was a dish that I discovered the last time I was in Delhi: Uttapam.

Uttapam at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

Uttapam is like a pancake made from a batter that contains rice and lentils. This one had onions and green chilies, and was served with the same three chutneys I described before, as well as the sambar. I liked it and was glad that it was not spicy, but definitely preferred the dosa (dosai) that came after and was made from the same batter.

Dosa at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

First, I let you compare the size of this dish with the others: it is huge! The table next to us just ordered this and for sure it was enough. Dosa is a thin crepe deliciously crispy and filled in the center. We picked the Chettinadu Vegetable Dosa that was not spicy. The crepe itself was fantastic and perfect dipped in the chutneys and sambar. I also liked the filling that was made with various vegetables like potatoes and I believe cauliflower.

Of course, believe it or not, we decided to try their desserts. Gulab jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then sit in a cardamon infused syrup was our first choice.

Gulab Jamun at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

It was very good, but I admit that I liked even more the Payasam, a dish made with angel hair pasta, reduced sweetened milk, raisins and peanuts.

Payasam at Dosai, Indian restaurant in NYC, New York

This was a spectacular meal and the walk back to our bus was welcome. Dosai is a great place to know and confirms the talent of not only Executive Chef Mathur who truly creates a unique experience in his restaurants, but also Chef Nagaran who crafted a delicious menu that definitely stands out. Would I go back? I would definitely go back and recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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