I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/16

Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Open face sandwiches are nothing new: there are few in American cuisine, like the Kentucky Hot Brown (that you can have at Bar Americain, the Midtown joint of Chef Bobby Flay - I recommend a nap after that), or the tartines served at Le Pain Quotidien or Maison Kayser. But I have never see anything like what Duran Sandwiches proposes: small open face sandwiches with a wide variety of combination, probably 30 different kinds, made daily.

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

Sandwiches at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Duran Sandwiches was established in 1969 in Austria, by two brothers, Vladimir and Tomas Duran who came from Hungary after the World War II. The location in New York being their first outpost in the US, opened two years ago and offering the same kind of sandwiches offered elsewhere. Each sandwich is priced $2.50 to $3.50 and can be on white, whole wheat, pumpernickel or gluten free bread. And if you are vegetarian or vegan, they have several options on their menu that would satisfy your appetite. Size wise, Jodi was fine with 2 sandwiches; for me, 5 would be enough. They package the sandwiches well in boxes that allow for their easy transport.

Box of Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Here is what we tried:

Egg salad:

Sundried tomato: vegan, it had a bit of sweetness coming from dates.

Sundried Tomatoes Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Maine Lobter salad (one of my favorites and their best sellers):

Maine Lobster salad at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Jalapeno salad (my least favorite):

Jalapeno Salad Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Tuna salad:

Smoked Salmon:

Farmer cheese:

Shrimp:

Salmon caviar:

Spicy Hungarian salami (my number one: that salami is fantastic):

Salami:

Traditional Hungarian sausage sandwich:

Sheep cheese:

Roast beef:

Turkey:

Tomato and mozzarella:

Vegetable chutney (made with pumpkin and carrots as well as other ingredients I cannot remember):

Vegetable Chutney Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Camembert (for a French touch):

Camembert Sandwich at Duran Sandwiches in NYC, NY

Goat cheese:

Paprika Farmer's Cheese:

These sandwiches were good, my favorite being the spicy Hungarian salami, Hungarian sausage and Maine lobster salad. I should also add the sun dried tomato one that was really surprising. What is great with Duran Sandwiches is the variety their offer, allowing to change every single day your order and not having to stick to the same sandwich again and again. It is an interesting concept that also extends to catering with even smaller sandwiches, the size of an amuse-bouche, all looking exactly the same, showcasing the precision of these handmade sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Duran Sandwiches

I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/16

Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

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

Meaning beautiful summer in Japanese, Natsumi Tapas, located in Gramercy, is a true find. No, it is not a Japanese/Spanish fusion, but rather a Japanese/Italian fusion restaurant. It is just that people understand what tapas means better: small plates. Great concept in this modern Japanese kitchen, result of the collaboration between Barbara Matsumura and Chef Haru Konagaya, formerly from Haru.

The place is fairly big with two main areas: the bar area that is quite spacious, as well as the dining room that has different sections, including large tables for large parties or communal dining, as well as small booths where in fact we got seated. I appreciated there the noise level that was definitely reasonable despite some music in the background.

Food wise, we had an amazing dinner. I admit that I was more interested by the tapas side of the menu than by the fusion dishes. So, no pasta, tacos or flatbread, but rather small plates elegantly presented. We went for six tapas that seems to be the number for two people, although, depending on the choice made, it may vary. But six is a good benchmark. What I appreciated with the service is that they did not bring all of the dishes at the same time like a lot of restaurants do, making sometimes the experience uncomfortable, plates being all over the table and not leaving us any space. No, at Natsumi Tapas, they bring the dishes gradually, allowing the diners to enjoy their meal, comfortably, without any pressure to eat their meal quickly. For sure, when seeing the size of the servings, there is always the fear that not enough was ordered, but I recommend that you finish eating your order and decide at the end if you need more, knowing that you absolutely need to keep some space in your stomach for dessert (one of the desserts we tried was amazing). To go with my meal, I decided to try one of their cocktails. I chose the Whiskey Hunny, made with Redemption rye, yuzu honey and yuzu.

Whiskey Hunny at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

I liked the mix of whiskey with the sweetness of the honey that kind of counteracts the acidity of the yuzu. Quite refreshing for sure.

Then, our first dish arrived. It was a fairly classic Japanese dish: miso black cod. It came with bonito flakes on top that were dancing on the plate, as if they were alive. Writing this post, I wish I had taken a video so you could see. This was a great dish: the fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, dipped in a delicious sauce with sesame seeds for added nuttiness.

Miso black cod at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Then, our nose got filled with a nice truffle scent: it is because they were bringing to the table a filet mignon tataki, thin slices of meat in a ponzu truffle sauce. The meat was too rare for Jodi, so I ate most of it: I am not going to complain considering that it was a sublime dish. The meat was tender and, with the ponzu sauce looked like an interpretation of a carpaccio, although the slices of meat were thicker than they would if indeed it was a carpaccio.

Filet mignon tataki at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Next was a request from Jodi: edamame dumplings.

Edamame dumplings at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

I admit that I was not sure if I would like it as I had bad veggie dumplings in the past, from a filling that I did not like to a doughey thick shell. But this was not the case at Natsumi Tapas: the shell was not thick and the filling delicious, with pieces of edamame to give some texture.

Edamame dumpling at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

After that was another kind of dumplings: the king crab tom yum. Now, this sauce was hot, but strangely, although my mouth was on fire, I kept going back to it (I loved the taste of the lemongrass in it). The dumpling was also very good and I think that the combination of these dumplings with this fantastic spicy sauce was on point.

King crab Tom Yum at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

Another classic dish we got at Natsumi Tapas was the vegetable tempura. There were various veggies such as eggplant or sweet potato, but the best one was the onion. The tempura were delicious: crisp and not greasy.

Vegetable tempura at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

The last dish, probably my least favorite, was the Japanese fried chicken. Don't get me wrong: it was good, but I guess that with all the different fried chicken I have tried, I was expecting more.

Japanese fried chicken at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

We finished our meal with two desserts, both fried. The first one was fairly common: banana Spring roll. It as very good: crispy and not greasy, with a well ripe banana. I should mention that it came with a chocolate sauce that was great with it.

Banana Spring rolls at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

But it was the second dessert was the most amazing and surprising one: tempura cheesecake with a raspberry coulis. What? tempura cheesecake? Well, it was probably the first time I saw such item on a menu and did not regret ordering it. To even emphasize more how good it was, know that Jodi does not like cheesecake; but it was her favorite dessert! We always say that anything fried is good and this is no exception: the batter was good, slightly crispy, but the inside was even better, sort of melted a bit. A great dessert that is worth trying.

Tempura cheesecake at Natsumi Tapas in NYC, NY

We left full from Natsumi Tapas and glad we got a chance to try this place. It is definitely not your typical Japanese restaurant and I love their small plate concept. Next time I go back, it will probably to try their Japanese-Italian fusion dishes...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Natsumi Tapas

I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/16

Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

One of my friends, Abe, who was born in India kept talking about a South Indian restaurant in Curry Hill called Kokum, taking its name from a plant whose fruit can be used in the kitchen. Little did I know that it was one of the ventures of Michelin Star Chef Hemant Mathur who already satisfies hungry crowds in places like Haldi or Dosai; Chef that I met a couple of times and, again this time at Kokum. So I was really excited to see what this place was about.

Interestingly, the restaurant is close to Haldi and next to Dosai, the places I mentioned earlier, but with a different decor, different feel and completely different menu, serving veg and non-veg dishes. The restaurant is long and decorated with paintings of boats, that refer to the Aranmula Boat Race, also known as Kerala Boat Festival. Very colorful indeed.

Food wise, we were in for a treat: the extensive menu has dishes that are fairly known such as chicken tikka masala or dal, but also lots of them totally unknown to me that my friend referred as "similar to what my mom cooks and typical of Kerala cuisine", the first statement being quite a big one! We started off with papadum that I am always looking forward to, that I accompany with a mango lassi.

We then shared some dishes that my friend Abe suggested. There was:

Kerala parotta, a multi layer bread grilled on a pan:

Kerala Parotta at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Savitri Amma's Idli that are steamed rice cakes (idli) with a lentil based soup (sambhar) and chutneys (some of them spicy):

Savitri Amma's idli at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kumily chicken fried that is spiced chicken tossed with curry leaves and fried, one of my favorites of the evening.

Kumily chicken fried at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kochi goat curry (curried goat on the bone with curry leaves):

Kochi goat curry at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Fish moilee (fish cooked in a numeric infused coconut milk sauce):

Fish moilee at at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Kundapur chicken (chicken and potatoes cooked in coconut cream with curry leaves):

Kundapur chicken at Kokum in Curry Hill, NYC

Last was dessert. My all time favorite: gulab jamun that are deep fried milk balls.

And rasmalai, that are soft cheese patties dipped in a milk reduction.

I loved the food at Kokum: not the classic dishes I am used to like chicken tikka masala or chana masala. This place has a very original menu for non-Indian patrons and I definitely recommend it. For sure, when knowing that Chef Mathur was involved in this restaurant, I was sure I would not be disappointed. And I was not for sure, looking forward for my next visit 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!

Kokum - South Indian Cuisine

I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/16

KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Times Square is not really a reference when it comes to dining places and I am not talking about 9th Avenue that has great places, but more the heart of Times Square that starts on 8th avenue (Port Authority) and 6th avenue. There used to be Urbo, a quite good restaurant that opened end of 2014 and closed recently (so sad). So, luckily, few weeks ago, KungFu Kitchen opened a Chinese restaurant that serves some pretty good food. We went a couple of times and I was never disappointed.

Dining room at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

This cash only restaurant is of a nice size, with the kitchen at the entrance, where you can see them make dumplings. Menu wise, they offer plenty of dishes, offering even ramen soup. Our first choice went for the pork soup dumplings or xiao long bao. They came very hot and were delicious: the shell was perfect and did not break, and the inside was nicely fatty.

Soup dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Soup dumpling at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Next was the scallion pancakes, a classic dish that rarely disappoints. And we were not disappointed: it was crispy and delightfully greasy.

Scallion pancakes at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Now, what was disappointing was the vegetarian spring rolls: these huge rolls had a weird taste that I did not like and were very greasy.

Vegetable spring rolls at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

One appetizer I recommend is the roasted duck buns with hoisin sauce. I love duck and especially Peking duck and that was a fantastic dish: the bun was delicious and not too thick, enveloping a sublime duck that was quite tasty. I definitely recommend this dish.

Roasted duck buns at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

The last appetizer we tried was the fried pork dumplings. I do not know if it is because I am used to the pork gyoza that are smaller, I did to expect the size of these dumplings that were delicious: the shell was perfect, a bit crispy on the side that hit the pan and the filling was a bit juicy and very tasty.

Fried pork dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Fried dumplings at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

The last dish we tried was their noodles with chicken. Good, I admit that I would have liked the noodles to be fried so they could be slightly crispy.

Noodles with chicken at KungFu Kitchen in Times Square, NYC

Know that if you order few appetizers to share, you may end up with a surcharge that is between $3 and $4, but I would say that it is worth it considering that their food is reasonably priced for that area. KungFu Kitchen is a very good addition to the restaurant landscape of Times Square and I will surely go back there. In fact, I am curious to taste their soups that couple of people around us ordered and looked delicious (the soups, not the people!).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Kungfu Kitchen

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/16

Mother Burger in NYC

With a name like this, you would wonder if Mother Burger is the mother of all burgers. This is an interesting place, that I knew for its frozen margherita that I enjoyed few times in the outside seating area. But this time, I did not go for a drink but for their burger.

We went on a Sunday, couple of minutes after they opened and decided to sit outside. There were not too many people at that time and we enjoyed some quiet time, until a group of girls sat in the table next to us and made me think that, no, they were not four, but probably twenty of them, the noise level being a bit annoying. But we did not really care as we were finished and waiting for the bill, so we could escape! I wanted to try their signature burger, the Mother Burger, that had no description on the menu. So, when I asked the waitress what it was, she told me it was...a burger. Well, thanks for the information! I was able to know that it had I cheese and ordered a double with American cheese and sautéed onions.

Signature burger at Mother Burger in NYC

It was a quite big burger, with two juicy patties that were delicious and tasty, or should I say tasting like meat. It also had a piece of lettuce that I discarded as well as a slice of tomato, all of this sitting on a potato bun. That was a succulent burger that I literally inhaled.

Jodi went for the veggie patty that she ordered without a bun. Quite good for a veggie option, but not as good as my burger.

The two dishes came with fries that were just ok for me, preferring thinner and crispier one, like the ones at MacDonald's or even better, Minetta Tavern. I just wished that they have sides like onion rings that are perfect with a burger.

I left with my burger craving totally satisfied. If you cannot get a spot at Shake Shack, few blocks from there, you may want to try Mother Burger. And hopefully now you know that their signature burger is...a burger!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mother Burger

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/16

North Square in NYC, New York

North Square is probably the kind of restaurant you have no idea exists. Located on the North square of Washington Square Park, this medium size restaurant is really a true find, although my first impression of the place was negative, the patrons being of a certain age, not that I have anything against it, but it definitely gave a certain vibe. Well, eating there changed my mind and I have to admit that I am looking forward to going back. The service was also on point and they addressed an issue with one of my dishes with great professionalism.

Wine selection at at North Square in NYC, New York

As we were looking at the menu, they brought us some bread, with olives, cornichons and pickled onions, as well as some olive oil. At least, it was not a boring bread basket: it had different kinds of bread such as one with nuts and cranberries.

Bread basket, olives, cornichons and olive oil at North Square in NYC, New York

Olives and pickles at North Square in NYC, New York

The menu at North Square is pretty interesting for an American bistro as it offers Mediterranean dishes or flavors. For instance, I tried their sausage plate that was composed of
merguez (a lamb sausage from North Africa), Linginuica (Portuguese smoked pork sausage), jalapeno chicken, roasted grape tomatoes, garlic, cipollini onions, pita, as well as two sauces: hot mustard and a chive aïoli, This was a great sampler dish that is perfect for sharing. These sausages were succulent, my favorite being the merguez that was so flavorful. I should mention that the jalapeno chicken was very spicy, but so good, I could not resist going back to it.

Sausage plate at North Square in NYC, New York

Jodi chose the vegetable tagine, also a North African dish, made with eggplant, zucchini, fennel, Brussels sprouts, chick peas, quinoa and a crispy corn tortilla. Know that this dish is vegan and gluten free, the only one of that sort for entrees. For sure, it is an adaptation of a traditional dish as, normally, it is couscous, not quinoa that would be used. It was a pretty good dish, healthy and very flavorful, a good alternative if you do not want to eat meat.

Vegetable tagine at North Square in NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the lamb sliders.

Lamb sliders at North Square in NYC, New York

Well, first of all, when I read sliders, I was expecting something smaller, especially after having an appetizer to share all by myself. I never resist a lamb burger, a dish that should be more often offered. It was delicious, the lamb being juicy and having this bold flavor that make this meat so particular, topped by pickles that added some crunch. It was served with some onion Rings that were nicely crunchy and not greasy, cooked all the way through, jalapeño pickled vegetables, and a lemon Aïoli.

Lamb slider at North Square in NYC, New York

Onion rings at North Square in NYC, New York

For dessert, we went for:

The chocolate mousse cake:

Chocolate mousse cake at North Square in NYC, New York

And the key lime pie:

Key lime pie at North Square in NYC, New York

Both desserts were fantastic and, although we were full, we could not resist finishing them. If you are a chocolate lover, then the chocolate mousse cake if for you: it was dense and decadent. The key lime pie was also a hit, and I truly appreciated that it was not too sweet. This was the perfect way to end a delicious meal.

I admit that I did not expect such a fantastic meal at North Square and there is no question that I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

North Square

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/16

Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Ootoya is not your typical Japanese restaurant. There, it is not for sushi or sashimi that you would go, but for their full meals that are beautifully presented and are in fact a pretty good deal, especially considering that prices include taxes and tip.

Bar area at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soy sauce at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chilies at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Dining room at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soy sauce and chilies at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chop sticks at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

We went there on a Saturday, at opening time and were surprised to see that there was a line in front of the restaurant. And, sure enough, when we left, the place was packed. This is a nice place, with a zen decor, and you cannot miss the wish tree at the entrance, as well as in the first dining room that is right after the bar area. Yes, this is a big place.

Decor at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Food wise, one of their specialty is the teishoku that is a traditional home cooking in a set-meal, a menu rarely offered in New York. We decided to try it, but before, we wanted to try their house made tofu: I am more a carnivore than a vegetarian, but I admit that, after trying home made tofu, I was sold. It love the silkiness of it and the texture that is different from what most restaurants serve or what you can buy. It was served with their special sauce, as well as some bonito flakes that I personally did not care about.

House made tofu at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

For the main dish, We both picked soba noodles that are also house made. Jodi went for the tororo soba, that are warm soba noodles in Ootoya original soup, served with grated yam (really weird taste). It was accompanied by bonito flakes, pickled vegetables and an egg custard.

Tororo soba at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Pickles at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Bonito flakes at Oootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Egg custard at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Grated yam at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Onions at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

On my side, I went for the mini-oyako don that is grilled free range chicken and onion simmered in a dashi broth and wrapped in an egg custard on top of rice. It was also accompanied by pickled vegetables and an egg custard, as well as cold soba noodles and a miso soup.

Mini-oyako don at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Soba noodles at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Pickled vegetables at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Chicken and rice at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Miso soup at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

Wasabi at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York

I admit that I preferred my dish that was delicious, especially the chicken and rice dish that was fantastic. The noodles were also very good, but I have to say that it was too much food and I left full for sure. This was really a complete meal and most of the dishes served around us looked very appetizing, making me want to come back again. And for sure, I will come 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!

Ootoya

I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/16

Greek cuisine at Souvlaki GR in Midtown

On a Friday night, we were looking for a restaurant Midtown on Opentable, when we stumbled upon Souvlaki GR, a new Greek restaurant in the area. Nice decor, transporting you in a street in Greece, but a bit narrow, prompting the wait staff to pass very close to tables...

Dining room at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

Food wise, they have some classics such as the spreads you would find in most places: tzatziki, hummus or the delicious melitzanosalata that is made with eggplant, a dish served with some very good pita that I think was house made.

Melitzanosalata or eggplant spread at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

We also tried their kolokithokeftedes or zucchini croquettes that were a change from the usual fried zucchini and was both crunchy and tasty, without being greasy.

kolokithokeftedes or zucchini croquettes at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

We also tried the Greek meatballs, or keftedes, made with beef, onion, garlic and parsley. Served, again, with tzatziki, they were just ok, a bit dry. I think they would have been better with a tomato sauce.

Keftedes or beef meatballs at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

But the best was the saganaki cheese croquettes called tyrocroquettes: that cheese is fantastic whatever shape it is served. This was in fact my favorite dish and it did not even need the tzatziki it came with.

saganaki cheese croquettes called tyrocroquettes at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

The second best dish of the evening was the grilled lamb chops that were perfectly cooked medium on charcoal. My only regret was that they were frenched, so the best part, the fat on the bone, was missing. But still, it was delicious. However, I found it weird that they would serve lamb with pita. It was probably because of the tzatziki that was, again, present...

Grilled lamb chops at Souvlaki GR in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. Instead of going for the baklava, we decided to go for their Greek donuts, the loukoumades, that are fried balls of dough, honey, walnut and cinnamon. What a disappointment! It was simply rubbery and not good for me.

The food at Souvlaki GR was overall good. It is clearly not the best Greek restaurant in New York, but has some decent food at decent prices. Would I go back? Not sure: for the same prices, Uncle Nick's in Hell's Kitchen is much better. For a little more, Molyvos close but is my top choice.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Souvlaki GR

I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/16

Burger at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

So I was craving a burger and as we were near Grand Central Terminal, I proposed to go to Smith and Wollensky, the famous steakhouse located Midtown East. Alright, this was not our first time: we went there few years ago and still remember the rude waiter who served us as well as the average steaks we got: definitely not on top of my list, but I was thinking that perhaps, being a steakhouse, they would have a killer burger.

Steak knife at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

We went for lunch during a weekday and the place was empty, with very few tourists and a majority of business people. The service was really pushy there, trying to convince us to order drinks, then appetizers, then sides, then desserts. They did it in such a way that it was a bit annoying to say the least.

Dining room at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

Of course, our meal started with the classic bread basket that was quite nice and I could not resist eating bread with butter, although the burger would come soon...

Bread basket at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

And when it came, it looked quite good: thick patty on a toasted sesame bun with some cheddar cheese on top. Unfortunately, the first bite was disappointing: it was a bit dry and not as tasty as I would expect. Well, for steakhouse grade meat, my reference is The Brindle Room and if you try both, you will understand. I did not even finish it to tell you the truth. The fries were good, crispy and cooked all the way through.

Burger at Burger at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

Jodi decided to go with the burrata and tomato salad. I should mention the tomatoes: delicious in both the salad and on top of the burger. This was a good dish, but pricey for $18.

Burrata and tomato salad at Smith and Wollensky in NYC

I was a bit disappointed when I left, hoping really that this steakhouse would have a great burger. I should have gone to Five Guys or tried the burger at The Capital Grille close by...Definitely Smith and Wollensky is not on my top list of steakhouses...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Smith & Wollensky

I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/16

Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

If you want to experience what a brasserie in Paris can offer you, Cafe 123 is your spot: classic dishes and rude service characterize this French restaurant located in the heart of Times Square, where theater goers can enjoy a good meal. Yes, you can feel that this reasonably priced joint attracts lots of tourists and pre/post theater people, especially when you arrive in a packed restaurant that becomes empty after 8pm...

Decor wise, it had definitely the feel of a brasserie and I would say also the atmosphere. But it is the food that interests me the most: they have quite few classics, like the escargots de Bourgogne (snails), the pâté de campagne (country pâté) or the foie de veau (calf liver). However, they also have a bunch of dishes that are surprising to see on a French menu. Of course, there is the burger, but I was surprised to see the Peking duck sandwich that I did not try, although I got a delicious crepe des Pyrenees that was made with duck confit and hoisin sauce (a bit salty though). In fact that have a nice selection of crepes and they are making them pretty well. Dessert wise, I admit that I was a bit disappointed: I do not know if they are trying to be original, but their dessert falls a bit short. The only exception might be the profiteroles that were good, although the choux were a bit tough to cut through. I would still order that one.

Dining room at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Overall, it is a decent French restaurant. Not the best for sure, but decent and conveniently located, with again, reasonable prices. Would I go back? Probably.

Here is what I tried at Cafe 123:

Bread basket: It is a French restaurant so you would expect some good baguette. Well, not there and when the bread comes hot, it usually means it is old or not good...

Bread basket at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Escargots de Bourgogne: good, but missed a bit of butter and had a bit too much breadcrumbs.

Escargots de Bourgogne at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Salade de chevre chaud (goat cheese salad): good, but could have had more cheese.

Salade de chevre chaud at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Moules frites, a classic, that are steamed mussels in a white wine shallot broth with a touch of cream served with French Fries: great dish with the best part being the dipping of the fries in the sauce...

Moules frites at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Then they have crepes. We tried: crepe classique, a very good ham and cheese topped with a fried egg crepe.

Crepe classique at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

And the crepe des Pyrenees, stuffed with duck confit, black olives and scallions, but not so French as it had Peking duck sauce.

Crepe Pyrenees at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

I have to say that I really enjoyed the crepes, even if the duck one was a bit too salty for my taste, probably because of the olives. The crepe itself was nicely done and thin, not like these weird ones you sometimes see at street fairs.

Then, for desserts, we tried:

The tarte tatin (why did they put some apricot sauce there?):

Tarte tatin at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

The profiteroles (again, the best): these are puff pastry filled with vanilla ice cream smothered in a warm chocolate sauce topped with sliced almonds.

Profiteroles at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Crêpe au Chocolat: made of chocolate, Banana, shaved coconut, and coconut sorbet.

Crêpe au Chocolat at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Crêpes Suzette, flambéed with Grand Marnier and Cognac.

Crêpe suzette at Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cafe Un Deux Trois

I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/16 I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/16

Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Flaming Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown. I guess the name Flaming Kitchen, especially the first word, could also refer to the heat typically found in Szechuan cuisine; but don't be afraid: if you do not like spicy food, they can tame down the heat or you can pick some dishes that will satisfy your palate. This place is big, with the top floor having the perfect private room for parties.

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

Main dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Bar area at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Private dining room at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

In addition to serving Szechuan cuisine, Flaming Kitchen proposes a nice choice of dim sum. I should mention that we asked for smaller portions of dishes, when possible, so we could try several of them. So they created a sampler of vegetable dim sum and shrimp dumplings, my all time favorite.

Dim sum sampler at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

You may wonder how they got the shrimp dumpling to be orange, well, they simply added carrots to the dough. These were delicious: the shell for all of them was thin. The shrimp ones were so good, I would have a full meal of it, but I admit that the vegetarian ones were also delicious, very tasty.

Vegetable dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Shrimp dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

We also tried their soup dumplings that were really good, the soup having a nice amount of fat, as good as the (touristy) famous Joe's Shanghai couple of blocks away: no need to wait online for delicious soup dumplings, Flaming Kitchen will definitely do it! You have the choice between pork or pork and crab. We went for the former.

Pork soup dumplings at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Pork soup dumpling at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Next was scallion pancakes, but prepared two ways: regular and also with shredded beef and hot green peppers (not hot fortunately).

Scallion pancakes at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Scallion pancakes with beef and peppers at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Then, we tried the braised tofu, a vegetarian dish that was fantastic, a big statement from the non-veg that I am! The tofu was soaked in a delicious sauce that gave a lot flavor to an ingredient that many, including myself, can find boring and tasteless. The dish had mushrooms as well as sugar snap peas in it.

Braised tofu at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

The next dish was braised jumbo shrimp that was supposed to be spicy and they graciously made it mild, although I was careful not to eat the chili that were on the plate. On top was some ground pork. The shrimp were superb, big and perfectly cooked. I should mention that the shrimp had their head on.

Braised shrimp at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

The last dish was braised frog in spicy chili sauce. I admit that I was excited to try it as I love frog legs and it is not that present on restaurant menus in the US besides few French or Asian restaurants. This dish was a bit spicy for my taste and I did not really liked the fact that they chopped the legs because of the small pieces of bones.

Braised frog legs with spicy chili sauce at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Of course, with our dishes, we got some rice, white and brown.

Brown and white rice at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

Last, I should mention the drink I had with my meal. Tea of course, but no Tsing Tao beer this time. Instead I got a peanut and black sesame multi grain shake, a pretty interesting drink that had a nice nuttiness to it.

Peanut and black sesame multi grain shake at Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC

We had a good meal at Flaming Kitchen: their menu is fairly large, with so many different dishes, I admit that I had trouble picking dishes. Well, it gives me an incentive to go back 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!

Flaming Kitchen

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/16

Padoca, creative bakery on the Upper East Side, NYC

There are places I go to where I am thinking: Damn, I wish I had such place in my neighborhood! Padoca is one of them. Meaning “neighborhood bakery” in São Paulo, this bakery opened a little over a year ago, pure product of Marina Halpern and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder, offering specialties inspired from Marina's Brazilian roots and Rachel's Israeli experience gained when living in Israel. I should mention that both of them had already an impressive exposure to the culinary world, Marina Halpern at The Dutch and The Mark, and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder at Maialino, Savoy and Tabla, credentials that surely helped them in this adventure.

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

Marina Halpern from Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

I like the atmosphere of the place that felt both rustic and zen with wood being present all over, from the tables, to the counter, walls and ceiling. Also a bit playful with the swing instead of a stool at one of the tables, as well as the line of tea pots transformed to lamps.

Counter at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Dining room at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Tea pots lamps at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Swing at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Flowers at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Foodwise, we were there for brunch and I admit that I was not sure what to pick considering that everything in front of us looked very good. For drinks, we started with a fresh orange juice.

Orange juice at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, we tried Grandma's milk, a steamed milk with dulce de leche and a shot of espresso (optional) that was very close to a light cafe au lait, the dulce de leche adding a nice sweetness to it.

Grand Ma's milk at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, the hot chocolate that was pretty good and not some diluted hot cocoa that we sometimes end up with...

Hot cocoa at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Last was the espresso that I had to try, being addicted to coffee. It was made with the Brazilian Dromedaire Cuveé medium roast from Nobletree Coffee, a Brooklyn-based company. Nobletree has implemented its Modbar Espresso System, an advanced system that is available at only one other NYC location that allows the barista to exert more control over the pressure used in the espresso extraction process. It was quite good and not bitter at all.

Espresso at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

For our meal, we first had some savory specialties. First I should mention their pao de queijo or cheese bread that they ingeniously use to make sandwiches (they call them PDQ - Pao De Queijo sandwiches). We were lucky to try some fresh from the oven and it was so addictive.

Pao de queijo at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We tried two of their sandwiches made with this bread. The first one was the ham with an egg (optional). Well, in fact it is their take on a ham and cheese sandwich, except that the cheese is already in the bread! This was so good, between this fantastic bread, the generous portion of ham and the perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk making this sandwich more delicious.

PDQ ham and egg at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

The second one was a new addition in their menu: the BLT where we added some avocado and an egg for more decadence.

PDQ BLT at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Both sandwiches were fantastic and would satisfy cheese lovers thanks to the bread, as well as people who only eat gluten free, the bread being totally gluten free, a fact that few people know. Who said that gluten free is not good? Well if you did, try this and let me know!

Savory treats at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

The next dishes were Empadinhas, flaky pastries similar to a pot pies. We tried the chicken one and the mushroom one that was Israeli inspired. Both were very good but I admit that I preferred the mushroom one, the filling being so good, but also showcasing more the flakiness of the dough. The chicken, finely shredded was also quite delicious and very flavorful.

Chicken empadinhas at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Mushroom empadinhas at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We also tried their egg and cheese brioche with bacon, another delicious dish made with a fully cooked egg in the center, sprinkled with parmesan and accompanied with bacon for some additional smokiness.

Egg and bacon brioche at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then was dessert. The first one was the coconut cake that Jodi wanted absolutely to try. I was curious too as I knew that this cake is a Marina Halpern's family recipe reimagined by Chef Binder using a Moroccan basbousa recipe as inspiration. Understand that I am not the biggest fan of coconut cake, but this one is an exception: it was spectacular: with the right balance between the coconut and the orange flavor, it was incredibly moist.

Coconut cake at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then, we tried two versions of their babka. The Romeo and Juliette made with guava and cheese (in Brazil, when guava and cheese are mixed, you would refer to as these Shakespearian characters) and the chocolate and dulce de leche babka. These might not have been the best babka I ever tried, but they were very good, the chocolate and dulce de leche one being my favorite, Jodi preferring the other one.

Chocolate and dulce de leche babka at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

Romeo and Juliette babka at Padoca on the Upper East Side, NYC

We left full and definitely needed a walk after such a feast. Padoca is a real neighborhood gem that features a unique and innovative menu: this is definitely a place that I recommend. And yes, I would go back anytime! or everyday?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Padoca Bakery

I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/16

Is the bone marrow and brisket burger from Swine the best burger in NYC?

If you are familiar with the blog, you probably remember that I have rediscovered bone marrow at Noma in Copenhagen a couple of years ago. Since then, I have been looking for it and enjoying it, whether on a steak (like at American Cut by Marc Forgione or STK) or on a burger (at The Brazen Fox). So, my next target was Swine and their bone marrow and brisket burger.

I went on a Thursday and the place started to get crowded after 8pm, with lots of people ordering the almighty burger. I liked the atmosphere there that was relaxed and not too hyper, with its metallic tables and dark tiles on the wall. Decor wise, I loved the back of the room with its pinball machine that is like a divider between the main dining room and a more cozy area that has the advantage of getting some good light from a large window opened to the sky.

Pinball machine at Swine in NYC, New York

Before starting my meal, I asked them if they had any signature cocktail, after noticing that some of the names were homage to popular singers such as David Bowie for the Ziggy's Star Dust made with lemon peel-infused vodka, yellow chartreuse, carrot, ginger, lemon, apple bitters and cider. They recommended the Purple Reign (homage to Prince), made with house-infused bacon bourbon, carpano antica, lucano amaro and apricot-chicory bitters. I really liked it, especially because of the combination smokey / bitter that it delivered perfectly.

Purple Reign cocktail at Swine in NYC, New York

Then came the long awaited bone marrow and brisket burger.

Bone marrow and brisket burger at Swine in NYC, New York

The patty sits on a toasted brioche bread, salad and a slice of tomato, and is topped by Tarentaise cheese and caramelized onions. Instead of fries, it comes with pickles and crispy potato wedges that were piping hot. I ordered the patty medium and it was perfectly cooked, with a nice char, juicy and delightfully fatty, but I admit that I discarded the salad as there was too much of it, completely unbalancing the proportions with the patty.

Bone marrow and brisket burger with crispy potato wedges at Swine in NYC, New York

I, of course, could not leave without trying their desserts and went for the foie gras creme brûlée that was phenomenal. Topped with a slice of bacon, it was a nice sweet and savory dessert that was succulent, giving to this classic dessert another level.

Foie gras creme brûlée at Swine in NYC, New York

I loved my meal at Swine: the bone marrow and brisket burger was sublime, but the most surprising and delicious part of the meal was dessert for me. Yes, the burger is good, but I think that the one at The Brazen Fox mentioned earlier is better. Nevertheless, I would surely go back for that one, or maybe try other dishes, their menu looking amazing.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Swine

I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/16

The Cannibal in NYC, New York

I discovered The Cannibal few years ago, at The Gotham West Market, where I noticed their bone marrow that I kept in mind since then, thinking that I should definitely go back to try it. And I did...I went to their main location, on the East side, for lunch. As I entered, I noticed a large selection of beers, some of them being fairly old.

Entrance of The Cannibal in NYC, New York

It was not that crowded and I easily got a seat at the bar, enjoying a documentary on martial arts that was playing on the TV.

Bar area at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

At first, you would think it is small, but they have an extension in the back, that looks like a backyard in a way, with bicycles hanging from the walls. You might wonder what these bicycles are doing there: well, the name The Cannibal is a homage to Eddie Merckx, a Belgian champion who got this nickname because of his insatiable appetite for victories.

Poster of Eddie Merkcx at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

Dining room in the back at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they have mainly meat dishes, this place bring a butcher shop; and, looking at the menu, there are quite few animal parts you can try.

Butcher counter at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

As far as I was concerned, I was interested with the pig head's Cuban, a twist on a classic pressed sandwich, where the ham, gruyere, pickles and mayo are complemented with some pig's head meat that has been roasted. It was definitely a great sandwich: crispy pressed bread, with the pickles adding an extra crunch; melted Gruyere as well as very tasty meat. Fantastic and a good portion.

Pig head Cuban sandwich at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

But I did not stop there: I needed to try the bone marrow that was prepared brûlée, with marinated mushrooms and cilantro. The presentation was beautiful and very appetizing.

Bone marrow brulée at The Cannibal in NYC, New York

To be honest I skipped the bread that was under the bone and simply ate the marrow with a spoon. The brûlée preparation was simply succulent, giving a bit of sweetness to te dish that counterbalanced the acidity of the vinegar I could notice. If you like bone marrow, you definitely need to go to that place!

I had a fantastic meal at The Cannibal: the dishes were delicious. This is for sure not a place for everybody, especially if you are vegetarian, the choices being limited. And then, if you refuse to even accompany somebody who really wants to eat some of the creepy animal parts, then forget it! Otherwise, it is a place to know.

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 Cannibal

I Just Want To Eat! 7/25/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/25/16

Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa

Located across from the New York Academy of Art, Tutto Il Giorno is an all Italian restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, cooked by Chef Nicolas Reisini, a Northeastern native. I thought it was a small place for two reasons: first, by looking at the facade and second, because of the lack of spots for reservation on Opentable, the few times we tried to go there. I was wrong: it is a fairly big place, long, with high ceilings and a minimalist decor, that celebrates nature.

Dining room at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

Food wise, their menu offers many dishes that will satisfy the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian. We started off our meal with Parmigiana, a dish made with eggplant, a robust tomato sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes and provola, a cheese made with cow's milk the same way mozzarella is done, that had a fantastic smokiness. This was definitely a great way to start and I could easily imagine this dish as an entrée.

Parmigiana at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

But then, the pasta dishes were disappointing. Jodi went for the penne, served with mozzarella, tomato and eggplant.

Penne at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

On my side, I chose the rigatoni, made with sweet and hot homemade sausages, peas, touch of cream.

Rigatoni at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

For sure, it was a touch of cream, as well as everything! My dish was dry and I could barely taste the sausages. I was expecting a dish with bold flavors and it fell flat. Jodi's dish was better, but there was definitely more pasta (not enough cooked in my own opinion and don't get me wrong I love al dente pasta), than anything else.

We then hoped to finish on a high note with their tiramisu. Well, we were also disappointed: not enough mascarpone cream too cake-y.

Tiramisu at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

I should mention the wine that was very good: a Tutti Il Giorno Montepulciano 2013.

Glass of Montepulciano at Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa, NYC

We left quite disappointed. I really thought that this place was amazing, having heard good things about it. I thought that it was pricey and the food just ok. For Italian in TriBeCa, I surely prefer Max or Petrarca Cuccina e Vino. That is 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!

Tutto il Giorno

I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/16

Dinner at Bubby's in TriBeCa

It has been a while since I wanted to go to Bubby's in TriBeCa for dinner, especially after I tried their brunch at their location in the Meat Packing District. So we went there, on a Friday night and I was really surprised to see that many people with their kids there. I like the place: quite rustic with an interesting vibe.

We decided to start our meal with an appetizer and chose their fried onions. We were not really expecting a big dish and were surprised when they served us a full plate. I mean, I am not going to complain considering that it was very good: not too greasy and crispy, I put this in the category of comfort food.

Then, for her entrée, Jodi decided to order their wedge salad that was composed of baby gem lettuce, Maytag blue cheese, red onion, bacon lardon in a smoked tomato dressing. Nothing to rave about, but still good.

On my side, I hesitated between the BBQ dishes, especially the ribs, and their fried chicken and biscuits. I chose the latter considering how good their biscuits are...

Fried chicken and biscuits at Bubby's in TriBeCa, NYC

Fried chicken at Bubby's in TriBeCa, NYC

Butter and jam at Bubby's in TriBeCa, NYC

The fried chicken came with butter and jam for the biscuits and it could have been my entire meal, the biscuits being quite dense and fantastic: probably the best ones I ever had. The fried chicken was ok: some pieces were moist, some dry. For sure their give you a lot of it.

Then, we were ready to get dessert and were a bit worried that they would tell us that they did not have anymore pies, considering how unlucky we were when we went there for brunch. Fortunately they had some and, as the waiter was giving the different choices of pies that night, my mind stopped at the banoffee, a pie made with banana, cream and toffee. This was spectacular: not too sweet, the whipped cream cutting the sweetness of the toffee, I could have eaten an entire pie. At that point, I regretted that they do not have a take out place similar to Junior's, where you can just go for their pies.

The dinner was good, especially the dessert, but I definitely prefer the brunch at Bubby's: eggs and pie would be the perfect meal for me. So I would 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!

Bubby's

I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/16

Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

I love steaks and was looking for a more original steakhouse, far from the classic restaurants when I stumbled upon Prime and Beyond, a Korean steakhouse. I did not know what to expect there, thinking about maybe a large piece of meat marinated like a bulgogi, prior to being grilled or broiled. It was not really that and I'll explain in few minutes. First, I should talk about the decor that was different from the dark and leathered decor of classic steakhouses. It is not a big place for sure, with a small dining room overlooking the opened kitchen where the magic happens. Well, the magic also happens downstairs where one can see the dry-age room: apparently, they dry-age their steaks for 50 days minimum and they also propose wet-age cuts such as the ribeye.

Bar area at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Open kitchen at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Dining room at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Dry age room at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

This time, as I was in a Korean restaurant, I decided not to order any wine and went for their cranberry soju cocktail, served in a martini glass (I hate these glasses!). It was good, not too strong and a bit refreshing.

Cranberry soju cocktail at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Then, they brought us an amuse-bouche: a melon purée with red bean milk and seaweed. It was beautifully presented and had an interesting texture, the red bean ball exploding in our mouth, unleashing various flavors.

Amuse-bouche at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Menu wise, they offer a mix of classic steakhouse dishes such as mac and cheese or crab cakes, but also some Korean one, such as kimchi. We started off with their potato pancake that had lots of cheese on it and was delicious, not too heavy.

Potato pancake at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Then, they showed our steaks, before cooking them, a sort of teaser that definitely worked. Jodi ordered the wet aged filet mignon and I got the dry aged ribeye that looked fantastic (it was an 18oz piece of heaven).

Ribeye and filet mignon at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Few minutes after, the steaks came, medium-rare for me and medium for Jodi. Both steaks were perfectly cooked, juicy and tender, with a bit of a char and the ribeye had the marking from the grill. The ribeye was deliciously fatty, but I admit that I preferred the filet mignon. Understand, it was a good ribeye, but it was not as flavorful or tender.

Filet mignon at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Ribeye at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

With the meat came some veggies and some garlic. That is where the Korean part of the experience comes: they explained to us that we can eat it after spreading some roasted garlic on the meat and putting some of the greens that were bathed in soy sauce: it was a delightful way of eating it I have to say. They also brought some salt from the North Eastern that has a great hickory taste.

Roasted garlic and veggies at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Greens with soy sauce at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

North Eastern salt at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

As for the sides, we decided to order mac and cheese that were very good, creamy and seemed to be made with lots of good quality cheese.

Mac and cheese at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

Last was dessert: we decided to go with the planetarium, a dome made of milk chocolate mousse and with a pear cream filling. It was quite delicious, but I admit that I was expecting much more pear taste.

The planetarium dessert at Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York

The experience at Prime and Beyond was great: good food and service on point. It is a change from classic steakhouses where the atmosphere can be a bit heavy. Would I go back? Definitely and this time, I'll try their burger that looks delicious!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Prime & Beyond

I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/16

Pepolino, Italian restaurant in TriBeCa

Altright, so I might have found another great Italian restaurant in TriBeCa: Pepolino. Named after a variety of thyme that grows in Tuscany, this casual restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine in a rustic setting. And this place was definitely crowded when we went on a Friday to have dinner at 9pm. So crowded that we ended up in their heated outside seating area that in fact I liked, the noise level being very low and less crowded than their two dinning rooms.

Menu wise, there were so many mouth watering dishes that I was not sure what to order. Although I could not resist trying their grilled octopus that was served on toast that was delicious smothered in olive oil and topped with a sort of tomato confit. All of this accompanied by a side of greens. The octopus was perfectly cooked for sure, not rubbery and with a nice char.

Grilled octopus at Pepolino in TriBeCa, NYC

Then, Jodi ordered the Spaghettoni Alla Chitarra, home made square spaghetti with fresh tomato and basil. This was also very good, the pasta, perfectly cooked, had a nice bite, and the sauce was delicious.

Spaghettoni alla Chitarra at Pepolino in TriBeCa, NYC

But my dish was even better: the Fettuccine Nere di Mare that were homemade squid ink fettuccine with seafood (calamity, shrimp, squid), prepared in a tomato sauce. The pasta was succulent and the sauce so good that I literally inhaled it, even if I thought that they were a bit heavy handed on the pepper. The seafood was well cooked and there was a nice amount of it in the plate (I should mention that the shrimp were small though). Funny enough, I like parmesan with my pasta and the waiter did not recommend putting any with the seafood. As I kindly insisted, he brought me some on the side, just in case I would not like it.

Fettucine nere di mare at Pepolino in TriBeCa, NYC

To accompany my meal, I went for a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2014 "Umani Ronchi".

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo at Pepolino in TriBeCa, NYC

Last was dessert. We went for their creme caramel that was good but just ok. I cannot remember the description, but we thought it would be a bit more decadent than that...

Creme caramel at Pepolino in TriBeCa, NYC

I should mention that, while waiting for our dishes, they brought us a bread basket with a tomato and basil flan that had a nice kick and was quite refreshing.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Pepolino, that I consider another great find in TriBeCa. The food and service were good and I would definitely go back there to try other Tuscan specialties. The fact that they have homemade pasta is definitely a plus as I always consider that I do not need to boxed pasta outside: I can make my own at home!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pepolino

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/16

Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

I rarely go to the Financial District for a meal, this area not really being a synonym for dining, being mostly a business area. But, for a steak, I am ready to make another exception, following my last outing to Delmonico couple of months ago. That's how we found Reserve Cut, a stunning kosher restaurant that I admit was difficult to find (I always get lost in that area, but thanks to my phone and Google Maps, I was able to make it...). This place is impressive: huge, elegant with a modern decor that definitely differs from classic steakhouses, one dining room separated from the other by an amazing wine cellar.

Wine cellar at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

Food wise, they have classic cuts that they get from a Brooklyn butcher, as well as some Japanese dishes like sushi or sashimi, and Mediterranean products like merguez, that is a lamb sausage often seen in couscous or...with fries in French restaurants. But we were there for steaks and they definitely had a nice selection. Jodi went for the 12oz filet mignon that was served with a sweetbread torch, a weird combination considering that very few people like sweetbreads. In fact, I benefited from it, but did not like it as it was very dry.

Filet mignon at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

On my side, I went with the 14oz Wagyu ribeye.

Wagyu ribeye at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

I was really looking forward to get my steak as it was served with bone marrow and I was not disappointed! I love to eat bone marrow and steak together and I am glad that more and more restaurants propose it.

Bone marrow at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

The steaks were perfectly cooked: medium for Jodi, medium-rare for me. My ribeye was fantastic: charred, fatty and juicy, much better than the filet mignon that was good, but did not wow me.

With the steaks, we got complementary sauces: béarnaise and bordelaise (made with red wine, shallots, herbs and bone marrow). I truly appreciated the fact that the sauces were free considering how pricey steaks are, and both sauces were delicious.

Bordelaise sauce at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

Bearnaise sauce at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

I should mention the side of fries that were ok for me, preferring thinner and crispier ones,

French fries at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

As well as the glass of Chateau Greysac 2013 from Bordeaux, France, a perfect pairing with steaks.

Chateau Greysac 2013 from Bordeaux, France at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

For dessert, they had an interesting selection and so we picked the caramelized chocolate napoleon that was very good, served with a delicious salted caramelized honey ice cream.

Caramelized chocolate napoleon at Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY

I thought that the food at Reserve Cut was good, but pricey and the service, very slow and a bit pushy on the order kind of spoiled the experience. Too bad, because otherwise I would have gone back for another wagyu ribeye 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!

Reserve Cut

I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/16 I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/16

Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

Shake Shack is quickly expanding and I am not going to complain about it. Several weeks ago, they opened a new location on 36th and Broadway and I see that as a blessing as their location near Times Square is always crowded. Although this one might be too soon. Their burgers are fantastic and, with others like Five Guys, they set the expectation for a great burger. No more grey tasteless meat: what the crowd wants is a tasty burger made that not only looks, but tastes like meat. We went there on a Saturday before 12pm and I was glad we were early as this place started to get packed as time passed.

Dining room at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

What I realized as we were waiting to order is that they also propose a menu for dogs. It is either to get some publicity or really because they care about our 4 legged friends.

Dog menu at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

Anyway, I was not there for that, but for a good juicy burger and of course a milkshake, my favorite pairing. After we ordered, they gave us a buzzer and probably 5 to 7 minutes later, our order was ready.

Burgers, fries and milkshake at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

We got:

For Jodi, the 'Shroom Burger, a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce.

'Shroom burger at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

For me, a double SmokeShack, a cheeseburger topped with all-natural applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShackSauce. That was an amazing burger, smokey with a nice texture added by the fatty bacon, and with lots of cheese. And that patty...Deliciously charred. A spectacular burger for sure.

SmokeShack at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

The wavy fries were crispy and good, not as good as Mc Donald's, but quite good.

Wavy fries at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

And of course, a delicious vanilla milkshake perfectly made, not too thick, but thick enough.

Vanilla milkshake at Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan

So, yes, I am a fan of Shake Shack and their delicious burgers and I am glad they are opening more locations so there are more seats for all of us!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Shake Shack