I Just Want To Eat! 5/31/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/31/17

Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ - closed

Porter Collins, the new venue of Anthony and Liz Pino who gave us Anthony David's and Bin 14, opened just 2 months ago in an area that is developing. It is true that the North part of Hoboken needs more restaurants and Porter Collins is for sure a good addition, serving cocktails as well as a modern American menu. We went there early on a Saturday evening, still suffering from jet lag from our trip to France.

Bar area at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

There are two areas: the bar, fairly cozy and the main dining room, quite bright thanks to the floor to ceiling windows, and with a beautiful painting of an octopus, signaling the predominance of seafood on the menu.

I started off by ordering a Manhattan, a delicious cocktail made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, cherry hearing and Averna Amaro bitters.

Manhattan cocktail at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

We then decided to share the raclette flatbread that was made of raclette cheese, egg (it was supposed to be sunny side), wild mushrooms, Philly hot peppers and herbs. I liked it: it had not only a lot of cheese, but also lots of mushroom. However, I could have passed on the hot peppers that were spicy.

Raclette flatbread at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

The second appetizer was my favorite: I chose the Charred Octopus charred octopus with salsa verde, marble potatoes and crispy chorizo. The presentation was beautiful and the octopus was delicious and well cooked, being delightfully tender with a nice char. However, I could not care less about the chorizo that was maybe too much on the plate. It was good, but I thought it did not need it.

Charred octopus at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

For her entrée, Jodi chose the bibb wedge salad that she asked for without bacon

Bibb wedge salad at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

And I picked the small Littlenecks & Spaghetti made with tomatoes, pancetta, chilies and roasted garlic. It was very good, a perfect size after all these appetizers (and before dessert). I loved the subtle kick it had and enjoyed the delicious sauce that I guess was made with white wine.

Littlenecks and spaghetti at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert. We decided to go with the banana foster bread pudding. It was good, but I admit that it just looked and tasted like a banana bread pudding (there would have been caramelized slices of banana, I would have probably conceded it was a banana foster bread pudding). A creme anglaise would also have been better with the bread pudding that was slightly dry.

Banana foster bread pudding at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, we had a delicious meal at Porter Collins: I like that place and cannot wait to go back to try some other dishes, especially the burger and their bottomless brunch. I am glad such place opened Uptown Hoboken and I am sure that they will be successful!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Porter Collins - 1426 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/29/17

Dinner at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

Interesting how things can be coincidental: I ended up at Thai Sliders in Chelsea the day my friend Benny told me about this place, although he was referring to their location in the Financial District. The restaurant itself is nice, not big, but with a sense of space probably coming from the high ceiling that is garnished with some metal sheets that gives the place a sort of authentic feel.

Dining room at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

Food wise, I was excited to try their sliders. I chose two of them:

Sliders at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

The first one was the Nuur Slider, made with steak and a Thai style mayo.

Nuur Slider at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

The second was the Kai Slider, made with chicken glazed in coconut milk and peanut sauce.

Kai slider at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

The sliders were ok, the proportion bread / meat being unfavorable to the later and the steak being a bit tough.

Jodi went for the pad see ew that was much better, not the best, but better.

Pad see ew at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

I should mention the Thai ice tea I had with my meal that was delicious.

Thai ice tea at Thai Sliders, Chelsea, NYC, NY

Overall, I was a bit disappointed by Thai Sliders. Too bad, because it could have been promising. Would I go back? Probably not: there are so many Thai places in New York that serve great food...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Thai Sliders - 150 8th Avenue, NY, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/17

Lunch at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY - Closed

We wanted to get a bibimbap on a cold day and decided to try Kang Suh, a restaurant located right at the beginning of 32nd street. It is a huge place, with multiple dining rooms, the one where we got seated being quite big, but not that crowded...

Dining room at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY

Upstairs dining room at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY

They started off by bringing us some banchan, these little side dishes that I am always looking forward to getting.

There was:

Kimchi:

Potato salad with apple:

Potato salad at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY

Squid:

Radish:

Mushrooms:

Seaweed:

It was a good start and I could not wait to get the main dishes. When we ordered, we were a bit confused because they had bibimbap on their menu, as well as gopdol that was described as "rice with assorted marinated vegetables cooked in a sizzling stone bowl". Well, looked like a bibimbap to me, but when we asked, they told us that, the bibimbap dish on their menu was cold and the gopdol was what we call bibimbap. No comment: to this day and as I am writing this post, I am still confused. Anyway, Jodi ordered the godpol with tofu. The dish was just ok, a bit bland for me.

Godpol with tofu at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the bokkum bap, a rice fried in a wok. Instead of kimchi or vegetables, I chose the beef version that was quite good: delightfully greasy, it was very flavorful and the beef was nice. I thought it was a fairly comforting dish.

Beef bokkum bap at Kang Suh in KTown, NYC, NY

The meal at Kang Suh was good, although the godpol was not that great, maybe the choice of tofu instead of beef not being the best in term of flavor. I would go back and try their BBQ next time as I am a bit on the fence...

Enjoy (I did!)

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

Kang Suh - 1250 Broadway, New York, NY10001

I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/17

Family style dinner at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square

Times Square is not the best area to get great food, lots of restaurants focusing more on foot traffic than anything else, not caring if people would have a good time and great food, so they would come back. But there are exceptions and Tony's di Napoli is one of them. We often go to this family style Italian restaurant when people visit: the food is good and prices are quite reasonable. The last time we went was with our friends, the Yates, who came visiting.

Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

Bread basket:

Fried calamari: deliciously crispy, not greasy and perfectly cooked, not at all rubbery.

Fried calamari at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

Caprese rustica salad made with mozzarella, tomatoes and croutons:

Caprese rustica salad at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

Spaghetti with meatballs: a must have! These large meatballs are fantastic and we always order them. I wish I knew how to make them: they are tasty and not dry at all. And that sauce is delicious.

Spaghetti with meatballs at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

Eggplant parmesan: another great dish that we always order.

Eggplant parmesan at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

Nutella cake: normally, desserts are for 2 to 3 people, but I could not share this one...

Nutella cake at Tony's di Napoli in Times Square, NYC, NY

We had a great time, with great company and great food. If you are looking for a family style Italian restaurant in Midtown, Tony's Di Napoli is the perfect plate.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Tony's Di Napoli - 147 W 43rd Street, New York, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/17

Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY - Closed

It's been a while since I wanted to go to Momofuku má pêche, one of the many restaurants of Chef David Chang, my favorite being Momofuku Noodle Bar. Yes, I wanted to go there to try their signature dish: the habanero fried chicken. It was not that hard to get a reservation on O pentable. In fact, I was surprised that the place would not be more crowded for a Friday night. When you enter into the building, the first think you will see is Momofuku Milk Bar where Pastry Chef and founder Christina Tosi offers a bunch of delicious treats.

Momofuku Milk Bar at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

Dining room at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

In term of drinks, they have a nice selection of cocktails, beers, sake and wine. I decided to go for the bonji old fashioned, a cocktail made with bourbon, black sugar and bonji (a cold-pressed liquid seasoning made in the style of tamari and soy sauce from fermented grains). It was ok, having too much bourbon that hid the other ingredients that I was looking forward to tasting.

Bonji Old Fashioned at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

Food wise, they offer small and large plates, as well as very large dishes for 3 to 5 people. For the appetizer, we decided to order the corned beef buns, served with cabbage and 1000 island dressing. I liked it, the buns being very soft and the filling delicious, with a delightfully fatty corned beef smothered with that delicious sauce.

Corned beef buns at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi picked the roasted rice cakes made with mushroom, kale and garlic chives, the only vegetarian main dish (if you are vegetarian, you will have only a couple of dishes on the entire menu, unless you settle for side dishes). I liked her dish, especially the texture of the rice cakes that have nothing to do with these rice cakes you find in supermarkets.

Roasted rice cakes at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the habanero fried chicken, their signature dish. It came in a bucket, with some lime that kind of helped soothe a bit my mouth, although I would have prefered having some daikon that would have been more effective, the chicken being quite spicy, the habanero being in the brine and batter (on a scale from 1 to 10 of spiciness, I would say that it was a 7). The chicken was really good, not greasy, crispy on the outside and moist inside. There were 5 pieces of it and was served without any sides, that surprised me considering it was a $28 dish.

Habanero fried chicken bucket at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

Habanero fried chicken at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We decided to go for the banana bread pudding, made with plantain chips that added a nice crunch, dulce de leche and labne ice cream. I liked it, at the exception of the ice cream that tasted really weird on its own (I would have preferred vanilla ice cream).

Banana bread pudding at Momofuku má pêche in NYC, NY

I liked my meal at Momofuku má peche: it was good and creative. I would go back definitely and recommend it, unless you are vegetarian...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Momofuku má pêche - 15 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/21/17

Dinner at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

So we are back at Indian Accent, the contemporary Indian restaurant from Chef Manish Mehrotra located at The Parker Méridien Hotel, midtown Manhattan. This time we were there with some of our blogger friends, for a fantastic evening filled with laughter and amazing food.

The restaurant itself has a nice vibe and is the kind of place were you will spin your head to look at the dishes passing by, their presentation being beautiful.

When they asked us if we wanted to order drinks, I made the exact same mistake as last time and asked for a lassi: they do not have any! I was again surprised as this is a classic beverage and, finally, decided to order a cocktail called Smoke & Spice, made with ras el hanout infused Islay scotch, allspice dram (liquor flavored with allspice berries), and a flamed orange. I picked it because I was curious about the ras el hanout spices that I use when making couscous. This was really good, refreshing, with a nice aftertaste of orange and spices.

Smoke and Spice cocktail at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Then, they came with a mysterious box filled with some little balls that were an homage to street food.

Amuse bouche at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

As well as a pumpkin shorva or soup and too small blue cheese naan that were addictive.

Blue cheese naan at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

For dinner, we went for the 4 courses. For the appetizer, I went for the crab claws, accompanied with butter pepper garlic and cauliflower. Slightly spicy, it was delicious, the crab being perfectly cooked and the sauce very tasty.

Jodi went for the potato sphere chaat served with a white pea mash.

Potato sphere chaat at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Then, mid-course. Soy keema, quail egg, lime leaf butter pao for jodi. This dish was amazing and the presentation sublime.

Pathar beef kebab, bone marrow nihari for me (I could not resist the bone marrow).

Bone marrow nihari at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Main course. Paper roast dosa with water chestnut and mushrooms for Jodi:

For me, braised lamb with prune korma and Rajasthani pearl millet khichdi:

Braised lamb at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

As an accompaniment, we both picked a kulcha (type of leavened bread), with mushrooms for Jodi and with hoisin duck for me, a spin on Peking duck that might originate from Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Mushroom kulcha at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Hoisin duck kulcha at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Jodi went for the doda barfi treacle tart, served with a vanilla bean ice cream. If you go, this is the dessert to order.

Doda barfi treacle tart at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the makhan malai, made with saffron milk, rose petal jaggery brittle and almonds.

Makhan Malai at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

At the end of the meal, we got the opportunity to visit the kitchen where we met with Chef Vivek whom treated us with a mango sorbet that was superb.

Tandoor oven at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

Mango sorbet at Indian Accent in NYC, NY

This was a wonderful evening and the food was outstanding. Every dish was an explosion of flavors and the presentation was amazing. There, the Chef crafted an elegant menu elevating dishes to a level that would satisfy not only people who love Indian food, but also others, the amount of spices being very measured. I definitely recommend Indian Accent: you will not regret dining 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!

Indian Accent - 123 W 56th Street, Midtown West, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/19/17

Kati Rolls at Desi Grub near Times Square - Closed

I love Kati Rolls, a sort of wrap made with paratha bread, typical street food, that originated in Kolkata, India. So I was excited to go to Desi Grub, a place we found walking on 40th, on our way to Port Authority. It is a small place, with just few seats and an open kitchen from where they will cook your rolls to order.

Open kitchen at Counter at Desi Grub, NYC, NY

Here are the rolls we tried:

Egg roll (the simplest on the menu):

Chicken Tikka Roll:

Chana roll ordered not spicy (it is normally a Spicy Chana roll):

Shami kebab roll (made with minced lamb):

Shami kebab roll with egg at Desi Grub, NYC, NY

Spicy shrimp roll (not that spicy I have to say):

Spicy shrimp kati roll at Desi Grub, NYC, NY

My favorite roll is the shami kebab that is very flavorful (I love lamb so it is an easy sell) and my least favorite is the spicy shrimp as I thought the shrimp were way overcooked. I love their bread that is delightfully greasy. One roll is fine if I want to be reasonable, but I do not mind a second one as they are of a decent size.

As a beverage, each time we went, we got their mango lassi that is very good, and perfect if your mouth is on fire.

I like Desi Grub: it is not at the level of The Kati Roll Company that is few blocks away, but I find their Kati rolls pretty good and reasonably priced.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Desi Grub - 200 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 5/17/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/17/17

Cannelle Patisserie, French Bakery in Long Island City

I sometimes go to a place and wish they were in my neighborhood. This is what happened with Cannelle, a French bakery located in Long Island City, where we went for Jodi's Popup Show. We had to go early to setup her art at the Rockaway Brewery Co and and I proposed to go have breakfast at Cannelle.

We got a table, but, trust me, it was challenging as that place was quite busy in the morning. Of course, in that area, there are not that many options, but I also soon discovered that it was also probably because it was fantastic, very authentic.

Viennoiseries at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Here is what we had:

Chocolate croissant (flakey and buttery):

Chocolate croissant at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Pain viennois (reminds me when I was a kid and ate that with...butter):

Pain viennois at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Kouign Aman (a specialty from Brittany, think about croissant with more butter and sugar on the outside, caramelized):

Kouign Aman at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Lemon tart: alright, this was not for breakfast. We in fact went back in the afternoon, before the show, so I could get my coffee fix and I could not resist.

Lemon tart at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

For beverages, Jodi got her tea, and I got a double espresso as well as a fresh squeezed orange juice.

Espresso at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Orange juice at Cannelle Patisserie in Long Island City

Everything was very good and traditional. They have a nice selection of pastries (damn, I saw too late they have a Mille-feuille), and sandwiches, although some of them were less classic like the chicken and Roquefort sandwich. Price wise, it was quite cheap compared to most of the French bakeries you find in New York City, the rent probably playing a big part of it. Overall, it was great. Considering that it is not too far from Manhattan (short distance by train), and the beautiful river front that is few blocks away, I cannot wait 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!

Cannelle - 5-11 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 5/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/15/17

Celebration event of Sushi Seki's placement in "Wine & Spirits Magazine- NYC 50"

This week, I was invited to a wonderful event at Sushi Seki Times Square, to celebrate the placement in Wine & Spirits Magazine - NYC 50 (where to eat and drink well in NYC right now). I have never been to that place, but, believe me: after what I have tried, I will surely go back, especially after trying some of the signature dishes of Chef Seki, that I wish I met that day.

Here is what I had:

For beverages, this event was full of top producers, serving not only beer or sake, but also shochu, whiskey and champagne. For the latter, I knew already the Lanson brand as I remember that my grandfather used to buy it whenever we celebrated an event or a Holiday.

Bottles of Lanson Champagne at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Glass of Lanson Champagne at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

There was also a wine-style sparkling cider from Cliffton Dry, a refreshing drink that had nice notes of pear, honey and citrus with a clean apple finish.

Clifton Dry Wine-style sparkling cider at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Cliffton Dry Wine-style sparkling cider at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

They also proposed Shochu that I tried in a drink I will talk about in a few, as well as Japanese whiskey.

Japanese whiskey at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Shochu at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

But, there was one table people could not miss: Sakeman! Well, there were two guys wearing masks that most of the people mistook for Mexican wrestlers because of the lucha libre inspired masks, but with a small difference: each character has a letter in the front, forming the word "sake" (I got to meet the "S" and "K").

Sakeman at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

The cocktails I tried at Sushi Seki were fantastic: well balanced, not overly strong, and refreshing. The first one was called "Ringo Thyme", that is exclusively served at the Times Square location, made with the sparkling cider mentioned above.

Ringo thyme at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

The second one of the Yuzu cocktail, made with shochu. shizo, yuzu honey and yukari salt. It was in fact my favorite.

Yuzu cocktail at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Food wise, they served some delicious hors d'oeuvre, some of them like the tomato seared over salmon sushi being signature dishes. Here is what I could try:

Seared tomato over salmon sushi: a surprising combination that is like a Japanese bruschetta.

Seared tomato over salmon sushi at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Hamachi sushi with jalapeño:

Hamachi sushi at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Yuzu miso cod:

Chicken yakitori:

Soba noodles:

Gobo (burdock root):

Gobo at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

Shrimp and lotus root:

Veggies with dashi and bonito flakes:

Oysters:

Oyster at Sushi Seki Times Square in NYC, NY

The food at Sushi Seki was delicious and tasted fresh. This event definitely makes me want to go back and try some other dishes. I am not surprised Sushi Seki is named in Wine & Spirits: this is well deserved!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sushi Seki Times Square - 365 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/17

Untitled at The Whitney Museum

Our friends Jen and Gary wanted to go to the Whitney Museum and then have lunch at Untitled, the restaurant located on the first floor of the museum (art without a title is named "untitled"). I admit that I was not sure what to expect there, thinking that the food would probably be overpriced and subpar. I was wrong! At Untitled, Executive Chef Suzanne Cupps crafted a small contemporary American menu perfectly executed and served in a modern dining room with lots of light thanks to the floor to ceiling windows. And if you are curious like me, you can even observe the ballet happening in the open kitchen.

Dining room at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Open kitchen at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Here is what we had:

Bread basket with butter (not sure what kind of bread it was, probably with cereal, but it was delicious and earthy):

Bread and butter at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Bread at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Butter at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Burger for me, made on a soft brioche roll, cheddar cheese and crispy onions. It was fantastic: juicy, very flavorful, I did not even need to add any ketchup on top of it. It came with roasted potatoes, aioli and another sauce that I cannot recall...

Burger at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Jodi got the soft scrambled eggs served with cloumage cheese and grilled bread (she asked for it without the scallions). These were some of the best scrambled eggs I ever had: soft and very creamy.

Soft scrambled eggs at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Last, we were ready to get the check when Jen remembered that they serve a very good cookie. So we ended up with cookie and milk. And what a cookie! Chewy, very chocolatey with big blobs of chocolate and delightfully salty in some parts, it is on top of my list.

Cookie and milk at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Cookie at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Milk at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

They also propose cocktails and beers, but I went for their spiced pear (quite good) and an espresso. Jodi went for a tea.

Spiced pear at Untitled at The Whitney Museum, NYC, NY

Overall, we had a great brunch at Untitled: although a bit pricey, they serve a delicious brunch in a nice atmosphere. But if you go, I recommend the burger and the cookie: that will do it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Untitled - Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/17

Banh Mi at Co Ba in NYC, NY

As we were walking in Chelsea, we stumbled upon Co Ba, a small Vietnamese restaurant and decided to have lunch there to try their banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with a French baguette.

Co Ba is not that big, quite narrow in the back, with a simple but nice decor.

As we were walking in Chelsea, we stumbled upon Co Ba, a small Vietnamese restaurant and decided to have lunch there to try their banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with a French baguette.

Co Ba is not that big, quite narrow in the back, with a simple but nice decor.

They offer a menu with various Vietnamese specialties such as pho, but also some that seem to be a fusion, like the Co Ba tacos. But, as we had plans for dessert, we decided to stick with the banh mi. Jodi went for the banh mi chay, the sole vegetarian sandwich, made with tofu and shiitake mushrooms.

On my side, I ordered the banh mi thit composed of cold cuts and chicken liver pate.

Interestingly, the sandwiches come with jalapeño, but they were served on the side (Jodi asked for hers without). These sandwiches were just ok, having more bread than anything else and in fact a bread with a thick crust that was dry because slightly overlooked.

As a drink, we tried their special made with fresh squeezed lemon juice, kumquat and mint, a quite refreshing beverage.

Signature drink at Co Ba in Chelsea, NYC

Overall it was disappointing. If you want to eat a banh mi, Co Ba would definitely not be a first choice. In fact I would go to Banh Mi Saigon Bakery that is fantastic!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Co Ba - 110 9th Avenue, New York, NY10011

I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/17

BXL Cafe in NYC, NY

Menu wise, they have some interesting items, going from traditional (like the chicons or moules frites) to classic American like their burger. For our appetizer, we decided to go with the croquettes aux truffes that were quite delicious, the golden brown outside being very slightly crispy, enveloping a nice and gooey mushroom filling.

A lot of people have this idea that restaurants too close to Times Square care more about foot traffic than satisfying a hungry crowd mainly made of tourists. BXL Cafe is not one of them. This Belgian restaurant (BXL is for Brussels) opened in 2004, offering a good selection of beers, like the Stella Artois I ordered.

Stella Artois beer at BXL Cafe in NYC, NY

Croquettes aux truffes at BXL Cafe in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi went for the salade de chèvre chaud or goat cheese salad that was good, the cheese being delightfully sweet, thanks to the honey they poured on top of it.

Salade de chevre chaud at BXL Cafe in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the moules frites and chose the vin blanc et crème (white wine and cream mussels and fries). It came in a large pot with the lid used for the shells. There was a good quantity of it and the mussels, smothered in a delicious sauce, were of a nice size.

Moules vin blanc et creme at BXL Cafe in NYC, NY

It was simply delicious and I dipped my fries in the sauce, ditching the mayonnaise that came with it.

For dessert, we went for the Belgian waffle that was a bit disappointing, not as good as the ones you get at Wafels and Dinges.

Although dessert was not great, I had a nice meal at BXL Cafe, a good spot if you are looking for a place to eat near Times Square or simply want to grab a good beer.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

BXL Cafe - 125 West 43rd Street, New York, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/7/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/7/17

Wafels and Dinges in the East Village

We were going to an art gallery on my birthday and stumbled upon Wafels and Dinges, an outpost of the now famous Belgian waffle truck (more than a truck today...). Nice place with the yellow color being omnipresent, and with various waffle makers hanging around.

Direction to Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

Kitchen at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

Breakfast promotion at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

Dining room at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

We wanted to try their two kinds of waffles, the Brussels one and the Liege one, but they mentioned to us that they only had the latter, that was weird and prompted me to think that they probably get the batter delivered instead of making it on site. So we got the Liege waffle that was quite good, light and chewy, that we simply ordered with sugar and a side of strawberries. We could have gone crazy as we could have added an insane amount of toppings, from Nutella to whipped cream, without forgetting speculoos, a paste that some people find addictive, not me.

Liege waffle at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

Although, I took few speculoos cookies that were offered in a basket.

Speculoos cookies at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

As they did not have the Brussels waffle, I decided to try instead a banana and Nutella milkshake that was very good.

Banana and nutella milkshake at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

We also got an espresso (double, although small) and a tea for Jodi.

Espresso and tea at Wafels and Dinges in the East Village, NYC, NY

It was good. I just wished that they had the two kinds of waffles so I could have compared each of them. I guess it means that I will have to go back to Wafels and Dinges...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Wafels and Dinges - 15 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

I Just Want To Eat! 5/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/5/17

Porter House in NYC, NY

It has been a while since we wanted to go back to Porter House, the fancy steakhouse located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. We went there three years ago for a lunch during Restaurant Week and promised ourselves that we we will go back for dinner one day. That day had come. We went on a Friday and I could not believe how packed this place was. I wished we had a table next to the windows so we could have a view of Columbus Circle, but unfortunately, it was not possible. We got a good table though, if it was not for our neighbor who had a tendency to comment on every dish we ordered, with some sort of admiration for the "unhealthy choices" we ordered. As I told him: when you are in a steakhouse, you have to go all in. I do not see a point in ordering a huge steak and go for steamed broccoli...

Instead of going for wine, I decided to check their signature cocktails and chose to go for their Gentleman's bet, made with Rittenhouse rye, Aperol, Lustau Oloroso sherry, and Dolin Rouge vermouth, a nice bitter drink that I really liked.

Gentleman's bet cocktail at Porter House in NYC, NY

As we were still looking at the menu, they brought us some cheese bread (addictive) with some orange butter that I tried but did not like. I thought that was it in terms of bread, but, then, a guy came with a selection of bread and asked us to pick one (or as many as we wanted as our other neighboring table did). I went for the white bread and Jodi with the sourdough, both being quite good.

Orange butter at Porter House in NYC, NY

Sourdough bread at Porter House in NYC, NY

For appetizer, instead of my usual crab cakes, I decided to go with the bone marrow that is a delicacy I wish I could see more often on restaurants' menus. This one was served with chanterelles (nice amount), an herb salad I could not care less for and some country bread. It was a nice piece and I was in heaven, loving the fattiness and texture of the bone marrow that was delicious with the bread or even the mushrooms that I shared with Jodi.

For steaks, they have a nice choice and I could have ordered my favorite cut, the ribeye, if I did not realize it was rubbed with chili. I hate rubs because I think that they tend to overpower what is probably a nice piece of meat. So, we finally decided to go for the porterhouse for two ("You're my hero!" said my neighbor astonished by the fact that I first had bone marrow and now a porterhouse, although not just for myself, Jodi probably eating 20% of it...).

Porterhouse steak at Porter House in NYC, NY

We ordered the steak medium-rare and I thought it was perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, with a delicious char. Both cuts (filet mignon and the NY strip) were so good, I had to remember that we absolutely wanted to order dessert.

As a side, we decided to go for their buttermilk onion rings that were very good, slightly greasy and of a good size.

Buttermilk onion rings at Porter House in NYC, NY

Last was desserts. We ordered two as we both saw on the menu some of our favorite dishes. The South Carolina Coconut cake for Jodi:

South Carolina coconut cake at Porter House in NYC, NY

The banana cream pie for me:

Banana cream pie at Porter House in NYC, NY

Both desserts were good, but my preference went to the banana cream pie that was sublime, although I wished the crust was buttery. Otherwise, I found it on the light side, not too sweet and a good way to think that I was eating fruit after such a meal.

This was a great feast and, although on the pricey side, I consider Porter House one of the best steakhouses in the City. I think that Chef and owner Michael Lomonaco created a spot that is truly heaven for meat lovers. And if you are vegetarian, do not worry, they have several dishes for you!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Porter House - Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/3/17

Lunch at The Grand Central Oyster Bar

On a weekday, Jodi and I decided to have lunch at Grand central Oyster Bar, a place I always wanted to try. We went for a late lunch and, when we arrived, this place was packed and noisy. Fortunately, half way to our meal, people started to leave. This is an amazing place, benefiting from the beautiful architecture of the famous train station.

Dining room at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Menu wise, they mainly serve seafood and a vegetarian would have limited choices there. But, definitely, if you are a seafood lover, you will have a wise range of dishes, including the catch of the day. I started my meal with a New England clam chowder that was too creamy and did not have much clam in it: disappointing start.

New England clam chowder at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Then, I got a lobster roll, the dish I was looking forward to try in this place. Served with cole slaw and sweet potato chips, it came on a brioche roll that was delicious, soft and airy. The problem was the unbalanced amount of bread and lobster, the latter being smothered by mayonnaise and therefor overpowered by bread and sauce. It was just ok for me.

Lobster roll at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Sweet potato chips at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Cole slaw at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Jodi went for the Niçoise salad that was made with a big eye tuna that was perfectly cooked rare.

Salade niçoise at Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, NY

Overall, I was disappointed by the Oyster Bar, expecting better from this place. Overpriced, I think there are better options for lunch at Grand Central and, if like me you want to have a good lobster roll, Luke's Lobster or Cull and Pistol in Chelsea Market will be much better choices.

Enjoy (...)!

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Oyster Bar - Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/17

Le Grainne Cafe in Chelsea

We were leisurely walking in Chelsea when we saw Le Grainne Cafe, a French restaurant that was packed for a late Saturday brunch (when we arrived for sure, the restaurant emptying as we left). You would think that the name is French, but in fact not really. Yes, there is a word for grain that is very close to that (La Graine), but in fact, Grainne is the name of the Irish owner of the restaurant.

The start of the meal was perfect, with some escargots that were delicious. I was not sure though why they gave me the utensil to hold the shell as there was...no shell!

It was not served with bread and I asked for some that took a very long time to come, to the point that I had to remind the waiter as he proceeded to remove the plate. Thank God, I was faster than him because that butter sauce is so divine, you cannot leave a bit of it and have to dip some bread in it.

Next was the ham and cheese crepe, served with a salad. I was excited as they had a nice selection and was also set to try their butter & sugar one for dessert. Well, I quickly removed that idea from my mind as the crepe was passable. Not only the batter, overcooked, was not great, but on top of that, they put too much pepper in it. Too bad, because at least there was a lot of ham and cheese in it. I sucked it up as it took forever for the food to come and I was not really in the mood to wait another 30 minutes. I could not believe that they would do such a bad job: crepes are fairly easy to make!

Ham and cheese crepe at Le Grainne Cafe in Chelsea

Jodi fortunately did not choose a crepe and went for the salad Nicoise, made with Ahi tuna (the original recipe is canned tuna). I though that that salad looked a bit sad, with a small portion of tuna that I do not think was high grade, just a little bit of tomato and no egg as the staff forgot them, surprising considering that it was a $19 salad.

Salade Nicoise at Le Grainne Cafe in Chelsea

For beverages, Jodi got and Orangina (carbonated orange drink quite popular in France) and I got their lemonade that was just ok.

Citron presse at Le Grainne Cafe in Chelsea

We left very disappointed and between the food and the very, very slow service, it was for sure not a meal I would remember...positively. Yes, next time, I will pass on Le Grainne Cafe!

Enjoy (the post)!

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Le Grainne Cafe - 183 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/17

BBQ at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

It's been a while since we wanted to go to Stacks Pancake House and Cafe, but I admit that I always got discouraged by the line outside on the weekends. So, when we got an opportunity to go for lunch on a weekday, we did not hesitate. I went there back in 2012, at the time when it did not offer the BBQ menu that was introduced much later.

Sign from Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

They brought us at the beginning of the meal some corn muffins, replacing the corn bread that we got the first time we went: it is always a crowd pleaser, unless of course you do not like corn.

Corn muffins at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

For her entree, Jodi decided to order their spinach salad made with mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, bacon and avocado, served in a crispy tortilla. It was ok.

Spinach salad at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I, of course, ordered their BBQ and went for their combination platter composed of two ribs, three slices of brisket and 1/4 of a chicken. The meat is dry rubbed and marinated with their special blend of seasoning and spices and then placed in their specially designed smoker for an extended period of time. I admit that when the plate came, it looked dry. And it was! Even putting some of their sauces did not help at all and I did not even finish my plate that is really rare considering that I love BBQ. Not only was it dry, but the ribs did not fall off the bone and the brisket was not tender at all.

BBQ combination platter at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

Chicken at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

Ribs at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

Brisket at Stacks Pancake House and Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

So it was very disappointing. If I were to go back to Stacks Pancake House and Cafe, I would stick with pancakes and waffles. For BBQ in Hoboken, I would go to House of Que, few blocks away.

Enjoy (...)!

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Stacks Pancake House and Cafe - 506 Washington St. Hoboken, NJ

I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/17

Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

I recently noticed an increase in the number of restaurants serving poke (pronounce "po-keh"), this raw fish salad that is served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. And Hoboken is not forgotten: few weeks ago, Makai Poke Co opened on Washington street, greeting customers with a cheerful "Aloha".

Dining room at Tofu bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

Sign at Tofu bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

This is a casual place where you will order at the counter and chose between either pre-defined dishes like the "pele" I tried on my second visit, or you can build your own, an experience that is always fun, although overwhelming when you are not sure what to put in your salad...or your burrito (I am not sure I would try that one), feeling the pressure, especially if other customers are waiting behind you.

Here is how you build it:

They have few choices for the base of your dish: white rice, brown rice, zucchini noodles, kale, Spring vegetables or quinoa, the zucchini being my favorite as I thought that the rice needed a bit more sauce and was on the heavier side (you can add soy sauce if you want). It all depends if you chose the bowl, the salad or the burrito.
Then, you will pick your protein: shrimp, salmon, ahi tuna or tofu. For the fish, I have tried their marinated salmon and tuna as well as their spicy version, all being very good.
Next is your vegetables and fruit like mango, jalapeño, guacamole, edamame, corn, etc..A good number of items for sure.
You then add your sauce (I tried few of them, but admit that I forgot what was what...).
Last are the toppings: sesame seeds, macadamia nuts, crispy onions, etc...

Et voila!

Poke bowls at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

The first bowl I tried was composed of marinated salmon, marinated tuna, zucchini noodles and sushi rice (yes, both!), edamame, corn, mango and macadamia nuts.

Marinated tuna and salmon bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

The second time, I got the "pele" bowl, made with spicy tuna and spicy salmon, cucumber, edamame, jalapeño, pickled vegetables, corn, wasabi shoyu and sesame seeds. Another delicious dish, fortunately, the fish was not spicy (I cannot pick if I prefer the marinated or spicy version, both being very good). I should mentioned that the base was the zucchini noodles.

Pele bowl at Marinated tuna and salmon bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

Pele bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

Both times, Jodi ordered a bowl with tofu and zucchini noodles, varying the ingredients.

Tofu bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

I should mention the beverages: they have a good selection of Hawaiian drinks like the mango cream soda we tried the first time or the coffee with milk made with Kona Coffee.

Mango creamy soda at Tofu bowl at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

Coffee with milk at Makai Poke Co in Hoboken, NJ

I love Makai Poke Co: they definitely have their place in Hoboken, where delicious healthy places are not that common. The concept is good as you cannot be bored because you can compose a different salad with fresh ingredients each time you go there. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Makai Poke Co - 521 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/17

Kaizen conveyor belt at Yo! Sushi near the Flatiron - Closed

Last Friday, Jodi and I went to Yo! Sushi, a restaurant near the Flatiron that opened a month ago. I really wanted to try it as they have a kaiten conveyor belt, a fun way to eat sushi.

Last Friday, Jodi and I went to Yo! Sushi, a restaurant near the Flatiron that opened a month ago. I really wanted to try it as they have a kaiten conveyor belt, a fun way to eat sushi.

It is not a big place, organized with booths for two people in the first part of the dining room and seats at the counter in the back. Needless to say that if you are a group, you have limited ways to seat together. So, you can either take dishes from the conveyor belt, each plate having a color corresponding to a price, or, you can ask the waiter for hot dishes that will be prepared in the open kitchen. Each table even has a "help" button in case you need your waiter.

Here is what we had:

Tamago nigiri (Japanese omelet):

Shrimp sushi (ebi nigiri):

Avocado roll:

Seaweed salad (kaiso seaweed made with marinated seaweed, edamame and carrot in miso):

Yasai roll made with tamago, inari, avocado, cucumber and carrot:

Japanese chicken wings (dusted with sansho pepper and lemon):

Japanese chicken wings at Yo! Sushi in NYC, NY

Everything was really good, with a special mention for the wings that were delicious, crispy, with the chicken being perfectly cooked and moist, but very hot.

As a drink, we ordered a lychee soda that was quite good.

Japanese lychee soda at Yo! Sushi in NYC, NY

If you'd like to try Yo! sushi, know that you can also get your food to go as they have a bunch of already made dishes or can prepare them to order. On my side, I would go back for the conveyor belt as it is a fun way to dine, although a bit difficult sometimes to identify what the dishes are unless you go for simple ones as we did. It is a nice concept, the kind where people have so much fun that they keep taking plates and end up with a large bill. This was not our case fortunately...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Yo! sushi - 23 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 4/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 4/23/17

NYC Ferry event at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

I was recently invited by N YC Ferry to an influencer event at the Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City. NYC Ferry will launch a new service in the Summer stretching 60 miles of waterway routes, so New Yorkers (and others) can discover new parts of the city, taste new flavors and embark on new cultural adventures in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Citywide Ferry event at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Here is what we had:

Rockaway Brewing Company: this was the place where the event took place, being packed with locals as well as various influencers who were invited. This is an interesting place, with a section where a band was rehearsing (the "Now Recording" on the door may have indicated more...).

The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Band rehearsing at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Main room at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Beer kegs at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Brewery at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

I tried two of their beers:

1875 - a pale ale that has a nice citrusy flavor and the Biere de garde - a dry and savory farmhouse lager with a nice dark color. It was in fact my favorite beer.

Beers on tap at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

1875 and biere de garde beers at The Rockaway Brewing Company in Long Island City

Caracas Arepa Bar, that not only has a spot in Rockaway, but also a very popular restaurant in the city. There, we tried some mini-arepas:

Address:

106-01 Shore Front Parkway, Queens NY

Reina Pepiada, made with chunky chicken and avocado salad, as well as the arepa gate, made with Guayanes cheese, avocado and sweet plantain.

Reina pepiada arepa from Caracas Arepa Bar

Goody's BBQ Chicken and Ribs:

There, I got to try some delicious ribs and chicken served in different style: BBQ and jerk. This was delicious! Of course, I could not not finish with their pulled pork sandwich that was really juicy, and their Jamaican patties (chicken, but also vegetarian).

Address:

7018 Amstel Boulevard, Queens, NY11692

A plate from Goody's BBQ Chicken and Ribs

Rib sandwich from Goody's BBQ Chicken and Ribs

Rockaway Beach Bakery:

This was fantastic: they had a mini-everything ham and cheese croissant that is a great fusion between an everything bagel and a croissant. I also loved their surfboard shortbread that had the mark of a shark attack.

Address:

87-10 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Far Rockaway, NY 11693

Mini-Everything ham and cheese croissant and surfboard shortbread from Rockaway Beach Bakery

Surfboard shortbread from Rockaway Beach Bakery

Mini-Everything ham and cheese croissant from Rockaway Beach Bakery

Other parties involved in this event were: Rockaway Beach Club, A-Team Paddleboarding, Tacoway Beach, Edgemere Farm, Citysticks, DJ Matt Webster and BEasy Band (might be the band I saw outside...). This was a nice event that allowed us to discover a few places in Rockaway and made us want to go there as soon as NYC Ferry starts their new service. Stay Tuned!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Rockaway Brewing Company - 4601 5th St, Long Island City, NY11101