When I got invited to Ben and Jack's Steakhouse, I was really excited. I know that place as I went there already, enjoying their delicious pieces of meat dry aged for 32 days. My excitement was not just for the food, but also because I got to meet Executive Chef Admir Alibasic.

Chef Admir is truly passionate about what he is doing, working tirelessly to make sure his customers will have the best experience. He explained to me the dry aged process in a scientific manner, that is not surprising considering he has a degree in science.

I love The Gotham West Market and my favorite places there are El Comado, a Spanish tapas place, and The Cannibal. We went back few weeks ago to see what was new and found Choza Taqueria. As it has been a while since we had Mexican food, we decided to get a bite, before having dessert at Ample Hills Creamery.

Maison Kayser is like a trip to France for the cost of a subway fare. I love that place. My first visit, I was a bit disappointed by what I got: I remember I was looking forward to getting an authentic Mille feuille, but what I got was not what I expected and the cafe gourmand was so so. But, since then, each time I went back, I got some delicious cakes or viennoiseries (croissant, pain au chocolat, etc.). And since then, locations have been popping up throughout the city. At this pace, Maison Kayser will be the Starbucks of French Boulangeries-Patisseries.

I do not know why, but I always loved diners. It might be because I saw them on TV when I was a kid in France, with their all-you-can-drink filtered coffee (as opposed to espresso) and the fact that their was always a pie on the menu. It was usually there that cops would meet their informants or envelopes would be passed...When going to a diner, like others, I am not expecting anything earth shattering, but more comfort food with dishes that represent America.

I found Amelie thanks to Opentable, as I was looking for a place to meet our friends Anne and Klaus who were visiting us from Denmark for brunch. We liked it so much that we decided to go back for dinner the same week. 

Lots of people are talking about the mainstream ramen joints that are Ippudo or Momofuku, but they should not miss some great, more low key ramen restaurants that one can find walking the streets of the city. This is how we found Ramen Thukpa, by simply walking down 7th avenue. 

When Taka Taka, a restaurant serving Mexican and Japanese fusion (Japanese-Cantina as their neon sign said), I was a bit disappointed: I liked the concept and the conveyor belt sushi. But then, I saw Combina, a Spanish and Israeli fusion restaurant from Chef Einat Admony who opened the wonderful Taim many years ago. I was intrigued and really looking forward to try it. Combina opened mid-November 2015 and thus far, has been successful. We went on a Tuesday night and were surprised to see this place so packed. Too packed I would say, the tables really being close to each other (at this point, let's just have communal tables).

We found Mighty Quinn's Slow Smoked Barbeque thanks to Jodi's friend Caleb. It is no secret that I love BBQ and I could not wait to try this place. There are several places in fact: one in Greenwich Village, where we went, one on the East Village where I could have ended up if I did not call Jodi to reconfirm the address, as well as others in Brooklyn, New Jersey, etc. 

I might have found one of the best places for burgers in Hoboken! I use to think that, besides Five Guys that I adore, Hudson Tavern had the best burger in town, but Onieal's surpasses it. Imagine that they have a whole burger menu that will make you dizzy: so many choices that can then be multiplied by the number of combinations their toppings allow you to create. 

Shigure means shower in late autumn or early winter that I guess explains the logo for this bar located in TriBeCa. I had it on my list for a while, after discovering sake with my friend from Tabelog as well as during my various eating adventures in some of the great Japanese restaurants in the city, like EN Japanese Brasserie, Maison O, or Sakamai. 

Dining at Eleven Madison Park is for sure one of the best culinary experience I had and trust me: I had many. No wonder how this place got some many accolades, from 3 Michelin stars since 2012, to James Beard Awards to name a few: the service was impeccable and the food was not only creative, but also fantastically presented and delicious. Know that they only offer a tasting menu and there is no a la carte, so your meal with take few hours for the pleasure of your eyes, palate and stomach. We even got the chance to meet with Executive Chef and owner Daniel Humm and chatted a bit about the menu

I was looking for a noodle place near Christopher Street when I found Niu Noodle House on Greenwich. When we arrived, we realized that we passed many times in front of it. It is a nice place: big with a nice decor, the exposed bricks in some areas and wood all over the place giving a bit of warmth. What really interested me in this place is their menu: they offer a wide range of Asian dishes, from dim sum, noodles or soup (well they have much more). 

Located in The Park Hyatt Hotel, The Back Room is an impressive restaurant. Overlooking Carnegie Hall, this place has a sophisticated decor combining modern and luxury elements. There are a few things that I really appreciated there besides the food: the noise level that was perfect (it was louder near the bar area, located at the entrance), the music being in the background, allowing people to have a conversation; second were the tables that were not too close to each other; and last, the service that was not only courteous, but also unhurried, letting us not only talk, but also enjoy their meal.

It's been a while since we went to Cho Dang Gol and went on Christmas Day at the request of Jodi's cousin Jessica, as we were all meeting in the city to see the latest installment of Star Wars (great movie by the way, the spirit of the original movies being kept).