I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/16

Authentic Cantonese cuisine at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown

Chinese food is one of those cuisines that I often crave, but, with so many restaurants in Chinatown, one never knows where to find authentic Chinese cuisine, far from the tourist traps. Well, I might have found the perfect spot: Bite of Hong Kong. What makes it different: it's seafood for sure, from fish to crab (the day I went, they had this huge Alaskan crab that was the size of beast you see in horror movies, results of nuclear experiments). Ok, I might exaggerate a bit, but still: it was a nice size.

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

Aquarium at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Opened in 2015, it featured an interesting menu made of classic as well as original dishes crafted by Head Chef Fei who immigrated from Hong Kong.

Kitchen at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

This is quite a big place, with plenty of small rooms, including the VIP room in the back.

Entrance at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

VIP room at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Back dining room at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Booth at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

We definitely had a feast there and I can tell you that the walk we had after that was more than welcome. Here is what we had:

Vegetarian dumplings: the kind I like, with a thin shell and a tasty stuffing.

Vegetarian dumplings at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Egg drop soup, deliciously gelatinous.

Egg drop soup at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Spring rolls: Classic, delightfully crispy and slightly greasy, as expected.

Spring rolls at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Duck tongues Hong Kong Style. Ok, this was the first time I had duck tongue and I admit that I did not really liked it. It was a bit rubbery and had what I guess was bones on one end...it was deep fried and so the first fried dish I ever had that I did not like! Apparently, the duck tongue with soy sauce is juicier: not sure I'll try that though...

Duck tongue at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

For the entrées, we started off with chicken pan fried noodles, a dish I discovered many years ago in Hong Kong. This was very good, the noodles being deliciously crispy and smothered by lots of sauce.

Chicken pan-fried noodles at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Fish maws and dried squid in XO sauce: I admit that I had no idea what fish maws was and learned that it is the air bladder that regulates water and oxygen flow so the fish can ascend or descend in the water. It is considered a luxurious ingredient. It was pretty interesting, a bit rubbery and quite chewy. The best part of the dish was for sure the squid that was nicely grilled and not rubbery at all.

Fish maws and dry squid in XO sauce at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

We also got a vegetarian dish: egg tofu with assorted mushrooms. Pretty good, with lots of mushrooms for sure and a very tasty tofu that was soaked in a thick sauce.

Egg tofu with assorted mushrooms at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

Last was the fried Dungeness crab, one of their specialty. First, it looked spectacular and I could not wait to try it. It was not too complicated to eat as it was already broken apart. The crab was dipped in a batter before being fried in a wok. I could not resist sucking the legs that had that delicious fried batter around, before breaking the shell to get to the perfectly cooked crab meat. It was a bit messy, but worth it and, do not worry: they give you some wet towels so you do not walk around with a piece of crab in the corner of your mouth.

Fried dungeness crab at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown, NYC

With my meal, I got a Tsing Tao beer, probably the most famous Chinese beer. Light, but good.

We had a great lunch at Bite of Hong Kong: the food was exquisite and I loved the fact that they offer a wide array of dishes, from classic to original. I rarely go for seafood in Chinese places and this made me change my mind!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bite of Hong Kong

I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/16

Tabelog dinner at Bread in Nolita

Last Saturday, I was invited to a dinner organized by Tabelog, a website that is more than just a restaurant review site like any others: they have created a community of foodies that I enjoy to meet as the conversation is often centered on food. This time, we were at Bread in Nolita, located inside the Nolitan Hotel. In fact, this is their new location, opened a month ago, after moving from their original one close by, on Spring street.

I did not know the previous restaurant, but this space was nice, simply decorated but with a je ne sais quoi that made me think about a setting overlooking the Mediterranean sea. When we arrived, the place was empty: well, it was not the case at all when we left, the dining room being packed, as was the bar area with people waiting for a table.

Food wise we were there for a treat. We of course started of with...some bread, the focaccia being my favorite one.

Then, we had dishes to share. We got:

Roasted asparagus made with garlic, olive oil, parsley, citrus zest and homemade breadcrumbs. I am not a huge fan of vegetables, but really enjoyed it.

Roasted asparagus at Bread in Lolita, NYC

Wild mushrooms (cremini, oyster and shiitake) cooked with shallots, parsley and cashew milk.

Salmon tartare composed of the fish and avocado (always a good pairing with salmon or tuna tartare), shallot, scallion and citrus zest. Served with crostini, it was perfect for a Summer dinner as refreshing.

Grilled breaded shrimp. You can definitely see the European touch as they served the head that I admit did not try. I liked it as the shrimp was perfectly cooked. I even liked the zucchini slaw that came with it, looking like spaghetti.

Fritto misto that was a mix of seafood and vegetable fritters. There were shrimp, bream (fish), mushrooms, asparagus and squash. This was a perfect dish to share and each pick was like the lottery: besides asparagus that was easy to spot, you never know what you would get. It was crunchy and deliciously greasy.

Beef carpaccio served with arugula and shaved parmigiano. The beef was just very, very thin and I missed the truffle oil that it was supposed to have. However, I liked the saltiness the cheese added to the beef when eaten together.

Pork belly with a roasted tomato sauce and a broccoli rabe pesto: quite good and delightfully fatty.

Arrancini or rice balls made with taleggio cheese and served with a lemon aioli. This was good, crunchy, with the rice having a yellow color from the saffron it is cooked with. My only regret was that there was not enough cheese...

Baby kale salad served with pear, sautéed wild mushrooms, roasted pistachio and crispy quinoa. Alright, so I did not try this one, but my fellow bloggers liked it.

We then had to pick a main dish. I went for the spaghetti alla chitarra that were fresh saffron pasta with sautéed shrimp, cherry tomatoes (I made sure they would not squirt all over me), olive oil, garlic and a saffron seafood broth. I loved that dish: the pasta was al dente and delicately smothered by a fantastic sauce that I could have simply eaten with a piece of bread. The shrimp were also perfectly cooked.

Spaghetti alla chitarra at Bread in Lolita, NYC

Jodi went for the fresh taglioni with pesto. Usually, I am not a big fan of pesto, but I have to say that I enjoyed that dish.

Taglioni al pesto at Bread in Lolita, NYC

I also tried their pork chop that was delicious and looked spectacular, topped with poached apples. This was another dish I usually do not like, but not at Bread.

People at the table also got the wild branzino that looked really good,

as well as the large portion of lasagna (I did not try any of these dishes).

With the meal, I got a glass of red wine that I believe was a Montepulciano.

Glass of Montepulciano at Bread in Lolita, NYC

Last was dessert. And we tried a bunch...There was a crostata, a panna cotta, a chocolate lava cake as well as some sort of bread pudding. All desserts were very good, but my favorite was the chocolate cake, as well as the panna cotta.

Chocolate lava cale at Bread in Lolita, NYC

This was a feast and Tabelog has again organized a great event at Bread. I enjoyed the food as well as the company, and got some more addresses of restaurants...Thanks Tabelog for this nice 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!

Bread

I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/16

Incredible meal at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn

I finally made it to Pok Pok, the restaurant in Brooklyn that created the buzz few years ago with their fish sauce wings. It was on my list, and, when I discovered that it was on Opentable, I could not resist booking a table for a Saturday, for lunch. The restaurant is definitely off the beaten path and you really need to be motivated to go there. But you know what? It was worth the trip and, although a bit pricey, the food was fantastic.

We arrived right on time, at twelve o'clock and I was a bit surprised to see the bar and dining room quasi empty. Well, it did not take too long for people to arrive and, when we left, it was packed, to the point that the two tables next to us hosted six people instead of the four who would normally seat, making the whole experience probably very uncomfortable, but, seeing their faces delighted by the food, they did not seem to care.

At first, they put on the table some peanuts with various spices, as well as some water that had a weird taste...No wonder: it contained pandanus leaf, like thru do in Northern Thailand, giving to the water a sort of toasted rice flavor.

Although I was ready to drink that water, I decided to order a Thai iced tea that was very good.

Thai iced tea at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn, NY

We ordered couple of dishes from their menu that offers dishes from Southeast Asia, mainly Thailand and Vietnam. First was Cha Ca "La Vong" or Vietnamese catfish marinated in tumeric, fried in tumeric oil with scallions and dill, served on cold rice vermicelli with peanuts, mint, cilantro and mam nem, a Vietnamese anchovy fermented dipping sauce.

Cha Ca "La Vong" at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn, NY

This was succulent: first of all, the fish was perfectly cooked and so moist. Then, the dish was very light and refreshing, all the ingredients working perfectly together.

The second dish was Khao Soi Jay, a vegetarian curry (you can choose the version with chicken), that is a northern Thai mild curry soup prepared with their secret curry paste and coconut milk. It comes with house pickled mustard greens, shallots, crispy yellow noodles and roasted chili paste. This was another delicious dish that had a nice kick at the end, and was very comforting.

Khao Soi Jay at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn, NY

Then was the long awaited Vietnamese fish sauce wings. When they arrived at the table, I could definitely smell the fish sauce that gave a very dark color to the wings and made them very sticky. The first bite was surprising: crispy, with a nice combination of fish and chicken flavors. It was very addictive and I literally inhaled the dish. Looking around the room, this was for sure the most ordered dish.

Fish sauce chicken wings at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn, NY

Last was dessert. We went for the Pok Pok affogato that is a take on Vietnamese breakfast of coffee and fried donuts, where an espresso shot is poured over condensed milk ice cream and eaten with delicious Chinese donuts that were crispy and airy. A great dessert.

Our meal at Pok Pok was memorable. Chef Andy Ricker succeeded in creating a unique place with dishes that will satisfy any palate curious to discover some authentic Southeast Asian dishes. I would certainly go back and get those wings again! But not only...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pok Pok NY

I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/16

Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

Well, I have heard about Yum Yum simply watching some commercials at the movie Theaters in Times Square. This is a small Thai place with low light setting and loud music in the evening, setting this place apart from most of the Thai restaurants in the area. The food there is good, with reasonable prices. We ended up there after a movie in fact, looking for a place in Hell's Kitchen. The place was packed for sure and the staff extremely busy.

To start our meal, we decided to share some Spring rolls that were made of crispy rice paper wrapped around a mix of clear noodle, taro and vegetables, and served with sweet chili sauce. It was good, crispy and not too greasy, with a shell not too thick.

Spring rolls at Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

For her entree, Jodi went for pad see ew (Pad Sie Eil on the menu), these wide rice noodles that she most of the time orders. It was served with tofu, broccoli and egg in a soy sauce. I liked that dish that had a nice sweetness.

Pad See Ew at Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, to accompany my meal, I decided to order a Thai iced tea, my usual beverage in a Thai restaurant.

Thai iced tea at Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

It was quite good and refreshing, perfect to counterbalance the heat of the chicken curry massaman I ordered. Served with rice, it was quite good, with a nice kick. I appreciated the fact that there was not too much potato in it, and a nice amount of curry.

Chicken Massaman at Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

The food at Yum Yum Bangkok was quite good and not expensive at all. It is a fine place if you'd like a quick classic Thai place, but I have to say that I was not wowed by it. There are so many places in the area with more interesting menus such as Thai Select or the more classic Chili Thai close by, that I am not sure I would 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!

Yum Yum Bangkok

I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/16

Indian Accent, contemporary Indian cuisine in Manhattan

Few weeks ago, Indian Accent, the famous New Delhi restaurant of Chef Manish Mehrotra opened its door at the Parker Meridien Hotel. This opening has been surrounded by a lot of buzz in the press and social media, giving a new light to Indian cuisine, usually considered a cheap option rather than an option for fine dining, even though places like Tulsi or Tamarind successfully attracted a crowd hungry for such cuisine, but looking for something different. In fact, we were so excited to try Indian Accent that we showed up...one week ahead of our reservation! And they graciously accommodated us...

Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC, New York

Dining room at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

Entrance of Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

I like the place: modern with a decor not overdone, and an acceptable noise level that I always appreciate. I decided to start this wonderful experience with a cocktail, the Eastern Milk Punch, made with Batavia Arrack (It is Arrack from Indonesia, distilled from sugarcane), pineapple and assam tea. This was a very refreshing drink, where the flavor of the Assam tea came through more than the taste of alcohol, making this probably a bit dangerous as one can drink it like milk.

Eastern Milk Punch at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

To start the meal, they brought us some amuse bouche. The first one was two small blue cheese naan with a coconut, pumpkin and garam masala soup. The naan was delicious, having lots of blue cheese in it. And that soup: I would have it every day.

Blue cheese naan and pumpkin soup at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

The second amuse was green peas with puffed rice, another great way to start the meal.

Fresh green peas and puffed rice at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

We then decided to go for the 4 course tasting. Know that there is no a la carte and only a choice of tasting, from 3 to 4 courses or the Chef's tasting that is 7 courses (they all include dessert). For the first dish, we both picked the potato sphere chaat with white pea mash, a street food interpretation. This was succulent: crispy, refreshing with hints of mint and the coolness of the yogurt.

Potato chaat at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

Then, Jodi went for the soft paneer, crispy quinoa and ramps. It was a beautiful presentation and also a good dish, although I found the paneer not as fantastic as the one I got in Delhi.

Paneer and Quinoa at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

On my side, I ordered the baby squid, crispy rice and everything chutney. I was quite interested in that dish as I do not recall having seen ever squid on the menu of an Indian restaurant. And I did not regret it. The presentation was great: there was a small cone that looks like a newspaper that contained the crispy rice and they poured the sauce all over a perfectly cooked squid. It was like a take on fried calamari.

Squid and crispy rice at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

The next course was, for Jodi, the paper roast dosa, mushrooms and water chestnuts. This was delicious, the dosa being well made and a bit crispy, with a nice amount of mushrooms.

Dosa with mushroom at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

But the most surprising dish was definitely the soft-shell crab koliwada with malvani dried shrimp pulao. Similar to the squid, I have never seen soft-shell crab on the manu of an Indian restaurant (crab curry, yes, for instance at Tamarind or Baluchi's). The dish looked beautiful and the crab was so good, deliciously crunchy. I am not sure how the rice was made, but it was fantastic. Thesis definitely a dish I recommend.

Soft-shell crab at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

We also wanted to try their black dairy dal, made with black lentils, butter, ghee and cream. This was amazing: thick, creamy, it was very tasty and I truly appreciated that it was not spicy.

Black dairy dal at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

The dal came with some butter naan that was quite good.

Butter naan at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

We also ordered a butter chicken kulcha. Kulcha is a Punjabi leavened bread. So, it was stuffed with butter chicken, one of my favorite Indian dishes. And it hit the mark: very hot (temperature rather than spices), it was so good, I could have eaten more of it.

Butter chicken kulcha at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

Last was dessert. Jodi got the doda barfi treacle tart with vanilla bean ice cream. That tart was fantastic: it was so buttery that it kind of reminded me a perfect pecan pie, minus the nuts.

Doda barfi treacle tart at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

On my side, I went for the crispy seviyan, rice pudding with coconut jaggery ice cream. A spectacular presentation that looked like a nest. Taste wise, it was quite good but missed a bit of sweetness. If I had to pick, I would go for the Doda barfi treacle tart. But still, this was a good dessert.

Crispy seviyan with  rice pudding at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC — Crispy seviyan with rice pudding at Indian Accent at The Parker Meridien, NYC

Our dinner at Indian Accent was phenomenal: I loved the fact that it was an unusual menu, modern with Indian flavors and stunning presentation that made the whole experience memorable. Between the food and the excellent service, I would not be surprised that they will get a Michelin Star...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Indian Accent

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/16

Pizza and Pasta at Tutti Matti in Long Island City

Going to Tutti Matti in Long Island City is like finding a corner of Italy one stop from Grand Central. The Italian atmosphere is not just carried by the food, but also the Italian language you will hear abundantly, spoken by the staff or customers. Looking small from outside, this place is fairly big and when we came, they were finishing serving a baby shower.

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

Espresso bar at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

Bar at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

Dining room at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

Tutti Matti serves authentic Italian cuisine, crafted by Executive Chef Giovanni Vittorio Tagliafierro who, with his long experience in the kitchen, satisfies hungry crowd with incredible dishes.

Executive Chef Giovanni Vittorio Tagliafierro at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

I think my top dish was the pizza. I admit that I was not sure which one I should order, from the classic margherita to the tartufata that has a black truffle infusion on it. Well, I went for the four cheese pizza or quattro Formaggi, probably my French roots kicking in when it comes to cheese. The cheeses were: Gorgonzola cheese, caciocavallo, mozzarella Fior di latte and pecorino romano. And there was definitely a lot of cheese in that pizza that was cooked in their wood fire oven as you can see below. This was a fantastic pizza: between the generous amount of cheese to the succulent crust that had a nice char and had a nice crunch. I loved it with its puffed up edges and thin center: this is definitely not to miss when going to Tutti Matti.

Quattro formaggi pizza at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

Wood fire oven at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

We also tried their house made pasta that were also very good. The first one was tagliatelle alla bolognese, a meat and tomato sauce that was sublime and I have to say that they put a lot of it with the pasta.

Tagliatelle alla bolognese at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

The second was the ravioli al porcini, ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and parmigiano topped with a light gorgonzola sauce. It was also very good, although I would have liked more sauce on it.

Ravioli al porcini at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

Last was dessert. We decided to go with a classic Italian one: the tiramisu that is home made too. And it was very good, with the lady fingers moist and well soaked in coffee, as well as a nice mascarpone cream. Simply delicious.

Tiramisu at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

I should mention that, to accompany our meal, we got some prosecco from the Treviso area.

Prosecco at Tutti Matti in Long Island City, Queens

We had a great meal at Tutti Matti: the food was fantastic and the atmosphere nice and relaxed. I loved their pasta, but if there is one dish that was even better, it is the pizza that is one of the best I had in New York. So I guess you know: I will surely 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!

Tutti Matti

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/16

Salam café in Greenwich Village

We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.

I like the place, its decor that seems authentic, as well as the layout of the restaurant: the entrance looks like a café, with its beautiful round tables decorated with mosaic, a private room that gives the impression you are in a tent, and its large dining room where we got seated.

We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.

Decor at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Dining room at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Food wise, they have tons of dishes that cater to vegetarians and non-vegetarians, with some classics like falafel, hummus, babaganoush or kebab. After we ordered, they brought us some grilled pita (a bit tough I have to say) as well as some olives that we call olives cassées in French or cracked olives, a truly mediterranean way of preparing olives. The olives, green, are first cracked, then marinated in a juice (saumure), prepared in a similar manner as an herbal tea, made of different herbs like fennel, coriander, etc. as well as pepper. It has been a while since I ate some and I could not stop...

Pita bread at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

Olives cassées or cracked olives at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC — *Olives cassées* or cracked olives at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For our appetizer, we went for the Sfia, a Syrian flat bread topped with cheese, that was very good and would satisfy any cheese lover considering the amount of cheese there was.

Sfia or Syrian flatbread at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For her entrée, Jodi chose the vegetable ouzi, a fillo stuffed with spinach, eggplant, zucchini, carrots, peas, rice, raisins that has been baked golden brown. It definitely looked good and seemed to be a popular dish (the offer it also with chicken, lamb or shrimp), but it was just ok, having more rice than anything else.

Vegetable ouzi at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

On my side, I went for the combination kebab, composed of chicken, shrimp, lamb, merguez sausage, and kufta. Served with rice and cooked on charcoal, this was really good and a good price, although I wish they had more merguez sausage in it as it was so good! I love when restaurants propose a combination platter so you can try few things and this was is definitely recommended.

Combination kebab platter at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

For dessert, we opted for the baklava that was just good, but a bit dry.

Baklava at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

We had our dessert with some delicious mint tea that cut the sweetness of the baklava.

Mint tea at Salam café in Greenwich Village, NYC

The food at Salam café was good, but I admit that it is not as good as Byblos, a Lebanese restaurant I discovered last year and where I would rather go back to to get some delicious Middle Eastern food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Salam Cafe & Restaurant

I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/16

Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Taking its name from a Province of the Persian Empire with its main city being Persepolis, Pars Grill House was the choice of restaurant from Jodi for her birthday. She wanted to have Persian cuisine, and, thankfully, we realized that Persepolis, on the Upper East Side, was only offering a slimmed down menu for lunch. After a quick web search, we found Pars Grill House and, looking at their menu, we decided to change our reservation and try it.

Bar area at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Dining room at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Camel bell at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

It is a large place, bright, with a nice decor and I should mention that they really made us feel welcome, being very hospitable.

Food wise, we had some great dishes. At first, they brought us some bread that they bake in their oven (I believe it is called barbari bread). It came hot as I guess they just made it and was sublime with butter, a bit crispy.

Barbari bread at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Then, we got some maast o khiar that is made with yoghurt, cucumber and dry mint, a dish very similar to the Greek tzatziki, that was perfect with the bread, but also with our main course.

Maast o khiar at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

For her entrée, Jodi went with her favorite Persian dish: kubideh that is a skewer of ground beef and lamb, mixed with onions and spices, and served with saffron basmati rice and grilled vegetables.

Kubideh at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

On my side, I ordered a mixed grill that had kubideh, as well as lamb chops. It was for sure a lot of food, and it looked very appetizing, especially the lamb chops that looked fantastic and were succulent: tender, juicy, perfectly cooked, they were delightfully fatty. The kubideh was also fantastic: juicy and very tasty.

Mixed grill at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Lamb chops at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

With my dish, I opted for a different rice made with almonds, pistachios, orange zest and carrots: the shirin polo rice. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like the taste of orange zest.

Shirin polo at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

For dessert, we decided to try their homemade baklava that was fantastic and had lots of honey in it.

Homemade baklava at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

Last was a Persian tea that was fairly good.

Persian tea at Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York

We left full and glad we found this place. If you've never had Persian cuisine before, I highly recommend Pars Grill House: it is a great restaurant.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pars Grill House & Bar

I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/16

The Brooklyn Tree in New York

What I love about Brooklyn is that there are plenty of restaurants that are true neighborhood gems, thinking more about giving back to the community than making huge profits. The Brooklyn Tree is one of them. Inspired by the book “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” written by Betty Smith, which is set in East Williamsburg, Chef Patrick Quinn crafted a menu with dishes that are a nod to the book, such as meatloaf, pickles or iced coffee.

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

Gilbert and Chef Patrick Quinn at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Chef Patrick Quinn in the kitchen at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

It is a small place, with a casual yet warm setting that is dominated by a painting of a tree with Brooklyn in the background.

Dining room at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

We tried quite a lot of dishes and I admit that there was none of them that I thought was not good. Here is what we got:

For drinks, we tried their ginger mint tea, honey lemonade (you really get the taste of honey) and iced coffee that is inspired from the book and made with coffee from Café du Monde in New Orleans (it is a mix between coffee and chicory - in the book, as they have no money, they drink chicory as it is cheap).

Ginger mint tea and honey lemonade at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Iced coffee at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

We started our meal with gazpacho, a perfect cold soup for the summer. It was made with heirloom tomatoes, english cucumber, toasted coriander.

Gazpacho at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Then, we tried their cheese puffs that were spectacular! They were ricotta fritters served with a sweet pepper and peach jam. Not greasy, they were really addictive.

Cheese puffs at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Then was the tomato and cucumber salad. I was surprised about the size of the bowl as, for $8, it was quite big and know that it is not just tomatoes and cucumber: it has seasonal greens and crispy chickpeas with a tahini dressing. These crispy chickpeas were great, giving a bit of originality, as well as a nice crunchiness, on top of the one given by the cucumber.

Tomato and cucumber salad at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

With salads, you can add a side of meat or veggie loaf, or chicken. I decided to try their meatloaf, a comfort food that I rarely tried. It was served with a red pepper glaze that elevated the dish. It was delicious, dense, with a nice crust.

Meatloaf with a red pepper glaze at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Next were two sandwiches. The first one was something Chef Quinn is working on: a buffalo chicken schnitzel with sugar snap slaw (that can also be ordered as a side). It was succulent: served on a muffin, the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist. And I love the crunchiness added by the slaw. I just wished it was spicier.

Buffalo chicken schnitzel sandwich at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

The second one was their signature burger, made with grass-fed beef with aged white cheddar, smoked tomato aioli, seasonal greens and house pickles. The bread was also an English muffin. When you order a sandwich, you get a side and we got the sweet potato fries, served with an avocado ranch sauce that was a perfect pairing.

Burger and sweet potato fries at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

That burger was sublime: the thick patty was perfectly cooked medium, juicy and tasty. There was also lots of cheese and also some crispiness from the pickled vegetables.

Sweet potato fries at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

Sweet potato fries with avocado ranch at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

In fact, we also tried their pickled vegetables separately from the burger and they are a nice addition to a meal.

Pickled vegetables at The Brooklyn Tree in New York

I loved the food and atmosphere at The Brooklyn Tree: I wish I had such a restaurant in my neighborhood. Chef Patrick Quinn is doing a great job creating dishes that make you want to come back. I should mention that the products used at The Brooklyn Tree are sustainable, from local purveyor, surprising considering their reasonable prices. So, it shows that you do not need to over-pay to get sustainable quality food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Brooklyn Tree

I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/16

Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Located on Bleecker in the heart of Greenwich Village, Romagna Ready 2 Go is an amazing restaurant where Chef and owner Lorenzo Lorenzi serves authentic Italian food straight from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. Chef Lorenzi designed the restaurant, that is divided in two main areas: the dining room, with its brick walls and various tools hanging there, as well as the covered garden interestingly decorated with things like his grandfather’s original racing bicycle painted with the colors of the Italian flag, an every day reminder of his home country and his family.

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

Dining room at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Table at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Tools hanging from the walls of the dining room at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Covered garden at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Bicycle at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Food wise, we were there for a treat, with specialties that transported us, for a moment, to Italy. We started off with the rimini piadine, a traditional flatbread from the Emilia-Romagna region, simply made with white flour, olive oil, salt and water. This was like a sandwich made with prosciutto, arugula and stracchino cheese. It not only looked fantastic, but was succulent: the ingredients tasted fresh, there was a nice amount of prosciutto and that bread was spectacular, slightly crispy. I could definitely eat this every day (they have 22 different choices of piadina)!

Rimini piadina at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The second appetizer was the bruschetta al pomodoro, that is tomato, garlic, oregano and olive oil on a toasted slice of bread. A classic perfectly executed.

Bruschetta al pomodoro at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

Then came the pasta course, all homemade. First was the Lasagna della Nonna or Grandma's lasagna, probably one of the best lasagna I had in a while. The pasta itself was delicious, with no need for a knife to cut through. And then, there was a generous amount of meat and sauce.

Lasagna della Nonna at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The next pasta course was the panzerotti al porcini, a sort of ravioli that looks like a calzone, stuffed with mushrooms and served with a cream that has a hint of truffle (I guess oil). It was another hit: first, when the dish came, we could smell the truffle. And then, the first bite was divine, giving a rush of mushroom flavors. The panzerotti itself was sublime, perfectly cooked and soft, even on the edges that I find sometimes a bit hard.

Panzerotti al porcini at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

The last dish was the octopus alla griglia spruzzato all'aceto balsamico di Modena or octopus broiled and grilled with a secret balsamic vinegar sauce. The octopus looked fantastic and was well cooked, being not rubbery at all. It was good, but I thought that the vinegar overpowered a bit the dish.

Octopus at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

To accompany the meal, I got a glass of Sangiovese Doc Le More 2014:

Sangiovese Doc Le More 2014 at Romagna Ready 2 Go in Greenwich Village, NYC

We left full and satisfied after a fantastic meal. Chef Lorenzi is truly talented and serves and amazing food in a setting that will make you forget that you are in the heart of Manhattan.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Romagna Ready 2 Go

I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/16

Caviar and Chocolate, an association from Petrossian and La Maison Du Chocolat

Caviar, chocolate and champagne: aren't these three names synonymous of a luxurious meal? That is what was on the menu of an event hosted by Petrossian, in association with La Maison Du Chocolat, in the presence of Alexandre Petrossian, from the famous caviar purveyor family, and Nicolas Cloiseau, the Chef behind the incredible creations of the chocolatier.

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

Caviar from Petrossian and Chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat

Chef Nicolas Cloiseau from La Maison du Chocolat

Alexandre Petrossian and Chef Nicolas Cloiseau

In this stunning setting, I have not only enjoyed some delicious amuse bouche from Petrossian's Executive Chef Richard Farnabe, but also the result of the collaboration of these two famous establishments.

Here is what I tried:

Vodka caviar marshmallow (Petrossian):

Vodka caviar marshmallow from Chef Farnabe of Petrossian

Salmon and cream cheese lollipop with a beet mousse (Petrossian):

Salmon and cream cheese lollipop with a beet mousse from Petrossian

Chocolate ganache tart (La Maison Du Chocolat):

Chocolate ganache tart from La Maison Du Chocolat

Macarons from La Maison Du Chocolat (the white one was made with praline that is one of my favorite flavors):

And then, I could try their extravagant trio: caviar, vodka and chocolate, that you can also taste in a limited edition called Chocolate Vodka & Caviar, featuring two different kinds of chocolates:

The Vodka and dark ganache chocolate: for this, Chef Cloiseau used Petrossian 's premium vodka and made a ganache with it. When eating it, you get first a crisp flavor, and then feel the warmth of the vodka.

Petrossian Vodka Dark Ganache chocolate from La Maison Du Chocolat

The second chocolate was a dark ganache caviar. For this one, Chef Cloiseau used Ossetra caviar for its nutty and buttery flavor. He paired it with the nuttiness of the praline and, on top, put a caviar ganache that gave a taste of the sea.

Petrossian caviar dark ganache chocolate from La Maison Du Chocolat

Then, Chef Cloiseau made an exclusive treat for the evening: a macaron with caviar ganache topped with a green apple whipped cream and caviar.

Chef Clouseau adding green apple whipped cream to a chocolate macaron

Last step: Chef Clouseau adding an edible gold leaf to the chocolate macaron — Last step: Chef Clouseau adding an edible gold leaf to the chocolate macaron

Next step: Chef Clouseau adding Petrossian  caviar to the chocolate macaron — Next step: Chef Clouseau adding Petrossian caviar to the chocolate macaron

Chef Clouseau presenting his chocolate macaron with green apple whipped cream and caviar

Et Voila:

Chocolate macaron with green apple whipped cream and caviar

And as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, there was champagne...And not just one bottle, trust me!

This was a great event and I was really please to meet Chef Cloiseau and hear Alexandre Petrossian talk about the collaboration between Petrossian and La Maison du chocolat. Pairing chocolate and caviar is a very creative idea and it works! Bien joué, Messieurs!

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! 6/24/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/16

Brunch at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Beauty and Essex is for sure an interesting place. You would think, looking from outside, that it is a pawn shop, but the door in the back opens up to an incredible space were multi ethnic food crafted by Chef Chris Santos. Yes, the dining room is spacious and elegant.

Pawn shop at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Door to the restaurant at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Dining room at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Cash register at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Bar at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

They also have multiple private dining rooms like the one I saw in the back of the first floor.

Private dining room at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Food wise, the brunch menu had so many dishes that looked fantastic, showcasing the inspiration of the Chef, that choosing was difficult.The menu is organized in such a way that it is a progression, especially if you share (most of the dishes come in quantity of three and, if you share, they can make it four), keeping the theme of the pawn shop: first are the "sweet thing and starters", then "jewels on toast", "featured items", "accessories " and desserts.

So we opted for an appetizer: their vanilla beignets with raspberry jam. These small beignets were fantastic: not doughy, they were cooked all the way through, delicately smothered with powdered sugar and filled with a delicious raspberry jam that was not too sweet.

Vanilla beignets with raspberry jam at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

Then, Jodi ordered their scrambled eggs toast that was served with zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes. It is supposed to have burrata in it, but I admit that it was unnoticeable...

Scrambled eggs toast at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

It was good, but not as good as my lobster tacos that were definitely worth it. The beer batter Maine lobster was very good: the lobster itself was perfectly cooked and the fried batter crispy. I thought it was a perfect take on fish tacos. I should mention that it was served with a red cabbage slaw and a poblano crema.

Lobster tacos at Beauty and Essex in The Lower East Side

That was a great brunch! The food was delicious, well presented on the plate and the place fun. Service wise, it was also on point, making the whole experience enjoyable. Would I go back to Beauty & Essex? Certainly and this time, I would try their burger, chicken biscuit bites or huevos rancheros with short ribs. Well, I told you choosing a dish was difficult 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!

Beauty & Essex

I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/16

Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Last Friday, I was walking on 44th street toward 8th Avenue when I noticed Sammy's House of BBQ, a new restaurant in the heart of Times Square. I love BBQ so I could not resist and convinced Jodi that we needed to go there for lunch the next day. I thought the place would be busy, even if we went at around 1:30pm, as Times Square is always packed with tourists, but was surprised to see that place fairly empty. It is a big place with three main dining rooms: one in the front, one in the back and one upstairs. The bar was not yet busy as they did not have yet their liquor license that should, apparently, be granted soon.

Dining room at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

I love the decor there: simply rustic, with burlap used for the banquettes, making you think you are away from the city, in Texas. And also, when you go to a BBQ place and they have rolls of paper towel on the table, you know it is going to be messy and messy for a BBQ means good! Ever better are the various sauces, my favorite being the Saint Louis style BBQ sauce.

Sauces and paper towel at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

To start, we decided to go with fried green tomatoes, a dish that is not that often proposed in New York, except at Southern Hospitality not too far from there. Unfortunately, they came back few minutes after our order to let us know that they did not have any and we decided to go with the fried pickles that were quite good, especially dipped in a hot chipotle sauce.

Fried pickles at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

For her main dish, Jodi went for the mahi mahi tacos that were delicious: three tacos that were made perfectly, especially the fish that was well cooked and moist. It could have had a bit of crunch, but even without, it was worth trying it.

Mahi Mahi tacos at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

On my side, I decided to go with one of their samplers that comes with corn bread and two sides: you can choose between a choice of 2, 3, 4 or 5 meats that comprised of brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs, smoked chicken and sausage. As I am a reasonable guy, I went for only 3... There, I chose the brisket (melting in my mouth and deliciously fatty), the pulled pork (fantastic, moist and with burnt ends that gave an even better taste) and the ribs (disappointing as they were dry). For the sides, I chose the tater tots (just ok) and the mac and cheese that was pretty good and very cheesy.

Sampler at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Brisket at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Ribs at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Mac and cheese at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Pulled pork at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

Corn bread and tater tots at Sammy's House of BBQ in Times Square, NYC

We left the restaurant full, with no space for dessert (although I do not know if they have any). Sammy's House of BBQ is a good place, not as good as Brother Jimmy's or Southern Hospitality, but much better than Virgil's, located a couple of block away. Their brisket is fantastic as is their pulled pork. I will probably go back there to try some other specialties such as the wings that I was close to order...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sammy's House of BBQ

I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/16

Bayou Bash with Top Chef Contestant Isaac Toups and Heluva Good!

Tonight, I got invited to a Bayou Bash with Top Chef contestant Isaac Toups and Heluva Good! This event that took place at Bourbon Street Bar & Grille was the perfect occasion to meet Chef Isaac Toups who was a contestant in the last season of Top Chef on Bravo TV. We not only talked about his experience on that show, but also about the food in Louisiana as well as New York, where he went to places like Gramercy Tavern or Roberta's for pizza, but also to some Indian places. I always appreciate successful Chef’s that are still modest and passionate about what they are doing. I could also see his love for Louisiana that translates into his food.

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

Bayou Bash with Top Chef Isaac Toups and Heluva Good!

This event was hosted by Heluva Good, to celebrate their new dip flavored with Tabasco brand that was just a bit spicy and delicious with the creations from Chef Toups that, looking at the recipes, were fairly simple to make and could, accompanied with one of the dips, stun your friends. There was:

Fennel grilled shrimp:

Fennel grilled shrimp with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

Smokey cauliflower:

Smokey cauliflower with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

Beef satay:

Beef satay with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand

French onion dip with chips and veggies with the hot and spicy dip:

Heluva Good French onion dip with potato chips

with Heluva Good! Dip flavored with Tabasco brand with veggies

The food from Chef Toups was very good and had this surprising simplicity in terms of execution. I admit that the cauliflower was one of my favorites, that is a lot to say for me, being more a carnivore than a vegetarian...

With the food, I went for a Stella Artois beer.

And we also enjoyed a band that gave a nice Louisiana atmosphere to the party.

Band at the Heluva Good Party with Chef Isaac Toups

This was a great event thrown by Heluva Good, giving us the opportunity to think we were in Louisiana and not in the heart of Manhattan. Hosting this party with such a talented Chef as Isaac Toups was for sure a great move and an opportunity for food lovers like me to meet with him. And I can tell you: he is like on the show!

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! 6/20/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/16

Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

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

Caviar is an interesting product: reserved to only a few years ago and symbol of luxury and gourmet; it is now more and more popular and often present in restaurants dishes, more often used as a topping than standing on its own. Well, this may change and if you want to discover the many variety of caviars that are available, Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge is for you as they offer various ways of tasting these luxurious eggs at good prices. Of course, the higher the quality, the pricier it will be, but imagine that, unless you go for caviar tasting platter shown below, priced at $55, you can try caviar on egg for as little as $5 a piece, up to $32 for a Beluga. I should mention that the latter is from South Korea, farm raised and Olma is the only company in the New York Metropolitan area to import farmed Beluga caviar. Owned by Edward Eliachov and partner Igor Eliachov, President of Olma Food, a company established in 2001 in Brooklyn, they not only sell, but also manufacture caviar. And if you do not like caviar, there are many other options as you will see in this post.

Olma Caviar Boutique and Bar at The Plaza Food Court

The place on the Upper East Side is an outpost of the one located in the Plaza Food Court. But, in this recently opened location, you can appreciate even more an elegant decor that is dominated by an amazing display: not only the display is amazing, but also what is inside...

Dining room at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Display at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

We started with a glass of champagne, a generous amount for sure .

Champagne at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Then came the long awaited caviar tasting. It was composed of eight different kinds, sitting on a mini-blini with a touch of creme fraiche, in a progression from left to right, from the lower to the higher grade, progression that they suggested to follow. The four on the left side were from the US, while the four on the right side where from abroad. I truly appreciated that the plate came with a band where the names of each beautiful pearls were written, although I would have liked having also a description of each of them, so I could better compare.

Caviar tasting at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Caviar names at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

There was (from left to right - description provided by Olma):

Salmon red: red to orange role, firm, glistening eggs with fresh, juicy crunch

Salmon caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Bowfin caviar: distinctive mildly tangy flavor.

Bowfin caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Paddlefish black: similar to Sevruga, from the Spoonbill fish, dark gray to black roe, with nice salinity.

Paddlefish caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC — Paddlefish caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Hackleback: from Hackleback Sturgeon, black or dark gray glistening eggs, firm with a nutty taste.

Hackle back caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

White Sturgeon: slightly firm but delicate texture.

White sturgeon caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Russian Siberian Aurora: similar to Beluga, high quality, from Siberian sturgeon.

Siberian caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Russian Osetra Karat: delectably fresh and fruity, warm brown to dark gray color, firm and juicy, distinctive flavor.

Osetra Karat caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

Beluga: extremely mild, buttery and unique full-flavored aftertaste, large pearly light gray grains, firm, clear and glossy.

Beluga caviar at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

That was really good and I liked the fact that I was able to try one after the other, the texture and taste differing from one another. If you do like caviar, as I mentioned before, they have multiple options, such as foie gras, duck, crab, as well as salmon that I tried in a sandwich: the salmon lox sandwich composed of a generous portion of lox, cream cheese, arugula and tomato in a deliciously soft and crispy French baguette.

Salmon sandwich at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

As well as a cheese platter composed of goat cheese, provolone, cheddar, manchego, grapes and nuts.

Cheese platter at Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side, NYC

This was definitely a good meal and a nice discovery. I love the fact that I got to try all this delicious caviar this way. Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge on the Upper West Side is a good place to know whether you are a gourmet or a curious. And if you are none of those, you can still enjoy some delicious food in an elegant setting.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Olma Caviar

I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/16

Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

I am sure you are wondering why I would eat in a diner considering all the options New York City offers in term of food. It is definitely not because of the prices, this place not being as cheap as one thinks, but rather the folklore that, as a Frenchman, I attach to a diner. Understand that this type of restaurant does not exist in France, but, during my childhood, I kept seeing TV series and movies where the characters would end up in diners, having some eggs, pie or coffee.

Old ads at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Dining room at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Additionally, we were to take a train at Penn Station and this place is conveniently located few minutes from it. I love the colorful decor, as well as the back wall completely covered with posters from old ads and did not miss glancing at the desserts that looked yummy. Service was quick, efficient and friendly and the food as expected: simple and comforting. We were going to a barbecue, so we did not indulge...Jodi got herself a spinach salad that was composed of spinach, cucumber, blue cheese, boiled egg, tomato and avocado.

Spinach salad at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

A fairly straight forward dish for sure with veggies grossly cut.

Ham, Swiss and eggs crepes at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

On my side, I got the ham, Swiss and egg crepe.

Maple syrup and butter at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

Crepes at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

There were two crepes: that was a nice portion, and I was surprised that they would serve it with maple syrup. However, when I tried without, I found the crepe a bit bland; so here went the maple syrup that made that sweet and savory mix delicious (I should add that the generous amount of cheese was no stranger to my appreciation). I should also mention the fresh squeeze juices they offer: we picked orange and grapefruit. They are at a good price, but know that they will not ask if you want a small or large and will immediately go for the later.

Fresh squeeze orange and grapefruit juices at Tick Tock Diner in NYC, New York

So, overall it was a decent meal. Tick Tock dinner can be a good place if you are curious about dining in a diner or if you have to catch a train and want American food only.

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! 6/16/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/16/16

Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

So we made it to Delmonico's Steakhouse, the famous restaurant in the Financial District that gave us the Delmonico steak as well as the Delmonico potatoes that I saw few times on restaurants' menus. This old school steakhouse is an institution and steak lovers cannot miss trying it, similarly to going to Peter Luger. Delmonico's is located in an amazing building on Baxter St, and when you enter inside, you are mesmerized by the decor that can seem heavy, and gives the impression the atmosphere will be stuffy. It was not the case and the patrons were from various backgrounds and dressed in many ways: elegant to casual. One thing I truly appreciated was the noise level that was perfect, allowing us to have a nice conversation while enjoying our food.

Dining room at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Decor at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

The only small inconvenience was that we were seated next to the wine cellar and we kept having the staff going back and forth in it. Otherwise, everything was on point: good service for sure and food to our liking. As I was going to have a steak, I paired my meal with a glass of Pinot Noir from California La fenetre "a cote" 2013.

Glass of Pinot Noir La Fenetre "A cote" 2013 California at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

So, after we ordered, they brought us a bread basket with some whipped butter, fairly standard for a steakhouse.

Bread basket at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

For appetizer, I went for the blue crab cake and bacon. I thought it was a good idea to combine two popular steakhouse items in one single dish: it makes the choice for appetizer easier as I love both. And these were perfect: the bacon was deliciously smokey, fatty, with a crispy outside and the crab cake was really letting the lump crab shine, avoiding stuffing the whole thing with fillers.

Blue crab cake and Billy's bacon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Blue crab cake at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Bacon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

We were then ready for steaks. They have two sections: staples with their signature Delmonico steak, as well as on the bone.

Steak knife at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Jodi decided to go for the filet mignon:

Filet mignon at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

On my side, I really hesitated between their Delmonico steak that is a boneless ribeye and their bone-in ribeye. In all cases I wanted the ribeye and finally decided to try their signature dish.

Delmonico's steak at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Both steaks looked fantastic and had a nice char. The ribeye was topped with fried onions. In term of temperature, mine was perfect, medium rare, but Jodi who ordered her filet medium got a cut cooked more medium rare.

Both cuts were delicious, tasty and juicy, as well as very tender. We accompanied our steaks with a succulent bearnaise sauce. You can add toppings to your steaks, like foie gras, lobster, etc. and my only regret was that there was not any bone marrow...

Bearnaise sauce at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

As a side, we went for the onion rings with buttermilk blue cheese sauce, lots of blue cheese sauce with delicious chunks, definitely a side I recommend.

Onion rings at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

Last was dessert. We decided to go with their signature: the baked Alaska. Created by Charles Ranhofer 1867, it is made of walnut cake, banana gelato and meringue, and served with apricot jam.

Baked Alaska at Delmonico's Steakhouse in The Financial District

The presentation was fantastic with the meringue nicely flambéed. It was sublime, at the exception of the walnut cake that I thought did not go well with the rest. So guess what? I ate everything except the cake...

It was overall a good dinner, a bit pricey, but good. I was glad to try such institution, but was not as enthiusastic when I left as it was the case with similar old school establishments like Peter Luger or The Old Homestead. Would I go back? Not sure: there are so many steakhouses out there that have much better steaks at lower prices. I prefer continuing my exploration of New York steakhouses.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delmonico's

I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/16

Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Bruno Pizza is quite an interesting place in many ways: first of all, they mill their flour that had a whole grain color and taste, and then, their pizzas are not your classic pies. They may look like it, but they have a twist, like the standard margherita made with fermented tomatoes. Another particularity of this place is that prices include tip, providing I guess a fair compensation to all staff, following the path of Chefs like Danny Meyer.

I was there with my friends from Tabelog, the largest community of foodies in Japan that is already making its mark in the US, as well as Jean, a food connoisseur who has an amazing Instagram account. We ended up in this rustic decor that was brightened by enough light so we could see what we were eating, a rarity these days. And I should mention the noise level that was perfect, so we could entertain a nice conversation mainly focused on food...

Counter at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Dining room at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

We had a feast that was definitely dominated by the pizza made in their wood fire oven, giving them a nice char and a bit of crispness.

Wood fire oven at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The pizzas were thin crust with inflated sides, similar to a Neapolitan one. We tried:

The Early spring greens (my least favorite, missing some sauce and thus dry), made with Dorset, onion soubise, arugula and pecorino cheese. It looked like a pizza perfect for people who want to have the impression they are eating healthy, although they are still eating a pizza!

Early Spring Greens pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The meatball (my favorite), made with amatriciana, cacciocavalo, cipollini, Calabrian chili. This was delicious, especially the sauce that was very good and is what often makes the difference between pizzas.

Meatball pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The Finocchiona, made with fennel sausage, almond romesco sauce, shisito peppers, bernie (cheese with a texture close to cheddar).

Finocchiona pizza at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

After the pizza, we tried couple of appetizers:

Fluke crudo with aguachile, red onion, avocado spuma and radish. Light and refreshing dish with a nice acidity.

Fluke crudo at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

Razor clam casino, served with smokey mountain bacon, breadcrumbs and an "ocean herbal" broth. That was very good and I loved that they proposed razor clams rather than clams, mussels or oysters for this, making it a bit unique. It was also beautifully presented, with amazing colors.

Razor clams casino at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The last appetizer was the Long Island squid that was made with black garlic, treviso, olives and pine nuts. Another beautiful presentation. The squid was perfectly cooked and not rubbery at all.

Long Island squid at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

The last dishes we tried were pasta. The first pasta dish was the bucatini cache e pepe, that was just ok, being a bit dry.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

And the second dish was the squid ink tonnarelli, served in a spicy tomato sauce that I did not like...

Squid Ink Tonnarelli at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

To accompany our meal, we went for a bottle (or two) of Foradori, Teroldego 2013 from Italy. They have a nice selection of wine there, with lots from Italy, as well as an impressive beer list.

Foradori, Teroldego 2013 Italian wine at Bruno Pizza in the East Village

I had a nice time at Bruno Pizza: good company and the food was for the most part good. I would pass on the pasta for sure. But know that Bruno Pizza offers a very creative menu and could be the place for you if you are looking for that. On my side, I would stick with classic Neapolitan pizza places like Luzzo's or Motorino that are not too far from 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!

Bruno Pizza

I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/16

BLT Prime in NYC, New York

For my birthday, I had to pick the restaurant where Jodi and me would celebrate. I decided to go to BLT Prime that has been on my list for a while. Few years ago, I went to BLT Steaks, their sister restaurant, and I was disappointed: the steaks were overcooked, an issue that was not isolated to just us, but also to the patrons seating close to our table. But, it could have been an off night and it was a different location.

We went there on a Thursday and the place was quite busy. Right away, I saw that it was not the classic steakhouse, but more a contemporary version of it: modern by its decor, its light that allowed us to see our food, as well as the overall feel, although there were lots of businessmen there.

Dining room at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Private dining room at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Foodwise, we were there for a treat. At first, they brought us some chicken liver and some toast. I love chicken liver so I dove right in, but thought it was odd to offer it in replacement of the bread basket, because lots of people do not like it.

Chicken liver and toasts at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

In fact, it was not at all replacing the bread basket: they brought us some amazing popovers with some butter and salt that were difficult not to resist to.

Popover and butter at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

To start our meal, I decided to order an appetizer. I admit that I hesitated between the crab cake and the grilled double cut smoked bacon; I even thought at some point ordering both, but remembered that it would only be the start of a heavy meal...So, I went for the crab cake that was served with a radish salad and a meyer lemon sauce. It was good, but a bit small for the price ($20) and the ratio crab cake / radish salad was a bit unbalanced in favor of the radish that could have overpowered the entire dish (it was a close call).

Then came our steaks. Jodi decided to go for the 10oz filet mignon that was served with a tiny salad and a bit of steak sauce.

Filet mignon at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the cowboy ribeye, a bone-in ribeye that was served in a hot skillet with roasted garlic and some bone marrow. When I saw the bone marrow, I was so happy: I was in fact desperately looking to see if they offered it as an add-on to the steak and did not see any.

Bone-in ribeye at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Bone marrow at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Bone marrow and ribeye at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Both steaks were delicious and perfectly cooked (medium for Jodi and medium rare for me). For sure, the ribeye was the best: tender, juicy and delightfully fatty, it was even better with the bone marrow that added some fattiness to it. With it, we tried their béarnaise sauce that was quite good.

Bearnaise sauce at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

I should mentioned that I paired my steak with a glass of Pinot Noir L' Umami, 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Pinot Noir L' Umami, 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

For sides, we went for the mac and cheese that was ok, missing a bit of creaminess.

Mac and cheese at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

As well as onion rings that were delicious: crispy, not greasy and cooked all the way through.

Onion rings at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. The choice was difficult as they have so many mouth watering options. We finally went for the "banana cream" cream puffs that were served with a caramel praline sauce that was succulent. I simply loved it, but have to admit that I could only eat two of the cream puffs, being full after such a feast.

"Banana cream" cream puffs at BLT Prime in NYC, New York

Well, they also brought us some small brownies that I could not not taste...and I did not regret it!

We had an excellent evening at BLT Prime: the food was delicious and the service on point. This place is definitely an elegant version of a steakhouse. It is a bit pricey, but is worth the trip if you want to celebrate an event or...if money is not an issue...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

BLT Prime

I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/16 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/16

Turntable Chicken Jazz near K-Town in NYC, New York

Turntable Chicken Jazz is a very interesting place. First, it is hard to be found, like a hidden gem that people keep secret. It is on the second floor of a building, in Koreatown, with a very discrete sign outside, to the point that my friend Benny was waiting for me in the wrong restaurant...

Dining room at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Bar at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

The second thing that makes this place unique is the decor: it is all about music and there are turntables on every wall, as well as microphones and photos of singers and bands. I like the vibe that makes it more than just a Korean chicken place.

Turntable at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Turntable and photos at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Turntable for DJ at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Microphone at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Food wise, it is not just chicken there: they have ramen, bulgogi and all sort of dishes that will mainly satisfy the carnivores. Yes, there are few vegetarian dishes, but do not expect a phenomenal experience on that front.

We started our meal with some drinks. A shot of vodka for Benny and a soju bomb for me.

Soju bomb at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Then, the food came. The first dish was an appetizer: fried pork dumplings. We had the choice for the sauce between soy & garlic and hot & spicy. We chose the later and trust me: that was spicy! To the point that my mouth was on fire. But you know what? These dumplings were so good that I could not resist going back to it: the shell was deliciously crispy and the filling very tasty.

Hot and spicy dumplings at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Then, we hot different kinds of chicken: wings, thigh and tenders, with either hot & spicy or soy garlic sauce (you can ask for half and half).

Chicken tenders at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Chicken thigh at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

Chicken wings at Turntable Chicken Jazz in NYC, New York

This was fantastic: the chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy and moist. However, I noticed that the hot & spicy sauce was not that spicy this time, but some white rice was anyway welcome as the dumplings put my mouth on fire for a while.

I loved the fried chicken at Turntable Chicken Jazz: the food there was fantastic and the atmosphere of the place was awesome. It is definitely a place where I would 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!

Turntable Chicken Jazz