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

Brunch at Cosme near the Flatiron

It's been a while since I wanted to try Cosme, a contemporary Mexican restaurant located few steps from the Flatiron. I was glad we had a reservation because the place was quite packed when we arrived. Filled with music, I thought it had a cool vibe with its bookshelves going all around the dining room The service there was efficient and courteous, ensuring we would have a great experience. And we did.

The food at Cosme was delicious. They have a small menu that is more oriented towards sharing, with interesting dishes like the uni (sea urchin) toast that you would probably associate to Japanese cuisine rather than Mexican. I decided to start the meal with some oysters, served with sangrita that is more associated with tequila than seafood. Well, I liked it as it had the perfect acidity the fresh oysters needed.

Oysters with sangria at Cosme in NYC, NY

Oysters with sangrita at Cosme in NYC, NY

Next was their own version of huevos rancheros, made with re fried black beans, a poached egg, quest blanco and lots of mushrooms sitting on a blue corn tortilla. It was delicious, quite comforting. In the dish were some jalapeño that were the only spicy components.

We also ordered a mushroom quesadilla that was also made with blue corn. Here again, they put a lot of mushrooms as well as a generous amount of cheese. It was simply succulent.

But the most memorable dish was dessert. We ordered their churros, served with hot chocolate sauce. The presentation of the churros was unique and amazing. And the taste was even better: not greasy at all, they were lightly crispy and fluffy. I highly recommend this dessert.

I was glad I finally tried Cosme: their brunch was sublime and made me want to go back for dinner for sure.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cosme - 35 E 21st St New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/17

Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side

Last Saturday, I was invited to sample the menu at Imli Urban Indian Food, a new Indian restaurant located on the Upper East Side. I was not sure what to expect, New York having so many Indian restaurants and was wondering what Imli Urban Indian Food would have that makes it stand out. Well, as you will see below, there, Chef Manuel Butler, crafted a very interesting menu inspired from street food, with dishes from all over India, made with a twist, but still staying true to its origin.

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

Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Chef Manuel Butler at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Of course, on their menu, you will recognize dishes that people are always expecting in an Indian restaurant, like samosa, saag paneer or chicken tikka masala. But, for instance, the chicken tikka masala was slightly modified: the Chef added some smoked peppers (smoked in the restaurant's tandoor oven), adding a nice but subtle smokiness to the dish. Other ingredients such as clams or duck, rarely seen on a menu are also proposed.

Tandoor oven at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Before I talk about the food, let's talk about the place that has one particularity that is priceless: their patio, a fantastic hidden gem in an already beautiful restaurant.

Bar at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Dining room at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Patio at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

We started off our meal with some beverages. Jodi went with a delicious mango lassi (notice the absence of ice that is always appreciated especially when ice melts and waters down the lassi) and I went for one of their cocktails, the Kachumber Cooler (made with Hendricks Gin, St. Germain, lychee juice and cucumber), that was very refreshing and dangerous as not strong and so I could have drank a bunch of them.

Mango lassi at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kachumber cooker at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kachumber cooler at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Food wise, we got a nice array of dishes:

Crispy okra topped with toasted fennel and herbs:

Crispy okra at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Cauliflower tikki, their take on aloo tikki, these potato pancakes:

Cauliflower tikki at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Shrimp Koliwada, that are perfectly cooked spicy battered shrimp in peppers and chili:

Shrimp koliwada at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Kerala Beef marinated with yogurt, onion, pepper and cardamon:

Kerala beef at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Achari mushrooms, cooked in the tandoor, seasoned with garam masala and achari spice blend:

Achari mushrooms at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Then the classic Chicken Tikka Masala that was delicious:

Chicken tikka masala at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

That I ate with a sublime garlic naan instead of rice:

Garlic naan at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Imli lamb chops, cooked in the tandoor, perfectly cooked, moist inside and with a nice char:

Imli lamb chops at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Baby eggplants cooked with tomatoes in a not so spicy hot sauce (we asked our food mild):

Baby eggplants at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Grilled duck served au jus: very good, as I mentioned before, I rarely saw duck on an Indian menu. The duck breast was delicious, although I would have liked it slightly less cooked and it reminded me a bit of a French dish.

Duck at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Last were dessert: we got to try two perfectly executed Indian classic desserts. The first one was the gulab jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a sugar syrup:

Gulab jamun at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

The second was the kheer or rice pudding:

Kheer or rice pudding at Imli Urban Indian Food on the Upper East Side, NYC

Overall it was a succulent meal: the food was delicious and not spicy, with lots of flavors. I love the tapas concept that allows to try plenty of dishes. Imli Urban Indian Food stands out from lots of Indian restaurants in the city thanks to its elevated menu. I would for sure 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!

Imli Urban Indian Food - 1136 First Ave. NYC NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/2/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/2/17

Burgers at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Last Thursday, I tagged along my friend Mailini, The Restaurant Fairy, to an influencer evening organized by David "Rev" Ciancio from Burger Conquest and Food and City at The Bedford in Williamsburg where some amazing burgers, cocktails and wine were served.

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

The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The Place:

We did not go to the main dining room but to the bar in the back that was beautiful with its leather banquettes and decor that gave the impression we went back in time.

Bar area at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The burgers:

There were three different burgers:

The Mac and Cheese Burger that was my favorite. Contrary to what some restaurant that combine burgers with a dish as decadent as mac and cheese, at The Bedford, the buns are replaced by a crispy mac and cheese patty made with Monterey Jack cheese, Mozzarella and NY State cheddar.

Mac and cheese burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The Mozzarella burger: similar to the Mac and Cheese Burger, the mozzarella was in a panko crusted patty that added a nice crunch to the whole thing, but this time it did not replace the bun. The sauce was a paprika aioli.

Mozzarella burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

But probably the most surprising of all was the Everything Scotch Egg Burger, a fusion between a Scottish and an American Classic, the scotch egg replacing the bun. This burger had NY State cheddar cheese and some purple pickled onions.

Everything Scotch egg burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I should mention that the meat was a grass-fed beef that you could really taste the meat, not smothered with a bunch of seasoning, and was perfectly cooked, very juicy.

The cocktails:

I tried two of the three cocktails that were proposed. The first one was the Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned, made with dark rum, roasted pineapple syrup and bitters.

Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The second was L'étranger, maybe an homage to Jean-Paul Sartre and his famous book. It was made with Absolute lime vodka, watermelon, aperol, white wine and mint.

L'Etranger cocktail at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

The wine:

I had a Pinot Noir from Cloud No 9, a producer from New Zealand. I met the founder, Christian Butler and we talk about wine, and food of course. They describe on their website better than me this wine:

Cloud No. 9 Marlborough Pinot Noir comes from the heart of the Marlborough Golden Mile in Rapaura.

The berry is an uneven ripener that needs to be sorted carefully, and getting this right takes time, patience and perfectionism. It is hand picked, vinified using traditional methods and aged in oak barrels for a total of 18 months.

Our Pinot exhibits beautiful, primary fruit characters on the nose. Displaying hints of dark cherries, raspberry and wild violets. It has a delightful juicing mid palate, with fine grain tannins and clean acidity. Once it has opened up, new flavours will come to light that bring you back for a second taste.

Cloud No 9 Pinot Noir 2015 at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Cloud No 9 Pinot Noir and mac and cheese burger at The Bedford in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I had a great time with my fellow bloggers at The Bedford and the food and drinks were fantastic. I would definitely go back there, especially considering how easy and quick it is to come from the city.

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 Bedford - 110 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/17

Chef's Table at The Urbani Truffle Lab

Last night, I was invited to a dinner at The Urbani Truffle Lab, a space setup by Urbani Truffles with tasting rooms and a test kitchen. And this dinner was a Chef's Table where you sit right in front of the kitchen where the magic happens, a great opportunity to observe and interact with the Chef and have at the same time an amazing dinner. Because let's not forget it: Urbani Truffles is the largest truffle purveyor and a Chef's Table organized by them can only be amazing. And it was!

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

Tasting room at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

The truffles that Chef Ken used for this four-course meal were Summer black truffles that are often less liked by people because the flavor is less intense than Winter black truffles (and as a reminder, there are no truffles in the month of April!).

Chef Ken talking about grana padano at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

We started off with some prosecco from Cantine Ferrari Brut and truffle chips.

Truffle chips at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

prosecco from Cantine Ferrari Brut at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

And for the dinner, I tried a great Terre Margaritelli Roccascossa Sangiovese from Umbria red wine.

Terre Margaritelli Roccascossa Sangiovese from Umbria red wine at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

The first dish was a Truffle asparagus pizzette, that had goat cheese and almonds for an extra crunch and nuttiness. It was in fact drizzled with truffle oil. I should mention that Urbani Truffles truffle oil is not artificial and has bits of truffle in it (it can be found at Urbani Truffle's website or, if you do not like to buy online, at Eataly).

Chef Ken preparing the Truffle asparagus pizette at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Truffle asparagus pizette at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Next was chitarra alla spoletina, a stunningly simple dish that was sublime. Chitarra means guitar in Italian and these pasta got that name because they look like guitar strings. This pasta dish was simply made with grated truffle (a lot), olive oil and grana padano cheese (aged longer and so with a more intense flavor than parmesan, also saltier and with a nice bite from bits of salt in the cheese).

Step 1: cook the pasta and then put them in a pan with olive oil

Step 2: mix the grated truffle in the pasta

Step 3: mix (lots) of grana padano cheese in the pasta

Chitarra alle spoletina at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

After that, they served us a succulent seared sea bass with asparagus and truffle beurre blanc. Of course, I cannot not mention that truffle shavings on top of the fish. The fish was perfectly cooked, being moist and flakey inside and with a crispy skin. The beurre blanc had a subtle truffle taste that was perfect.

Seared sea bass with truffles at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: it was a plum tart with ice cream and truffle honey. Definitely a good way to end the meal.

Plum tart with ice cream and truffle honey at Urbani Truffle Lab in NYC, NY

This was a fantastic meal and I loved the setting (we were 8 people) that made this meal enjoyable but also very informative. The food itself was delicious and with some of the dishes quite inspiring, especially considering their simplicity that shows that less is more and you do not need much to impress as long as you have great ingredients and it is well balanced.

It is my second visit at The Urbani Truffle Lab and I love that place. Know that they do not just propose the Chef's Table: you can also attend cooking classes (fresh pasta, pizza, etc.). I for sure recommend 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!

Urbani Truffle Lab - 10 West End Avenue, NY, NY 10023

I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/17

New Opening: Icelandic Fish and Chips in The West Village - Closed

Opening today is Icelandic Fish and Chips, an outpost of a restaurant that opened in 2006 in Reykjavik, Iceland, that proposes an elevated version of fish and chips, trying to make it healthier. How? Besides of using fresh fish, they replaced eggs and wheat with spelt. Spelt absorbs less oil and creates a lighter coating with still a crunchy texture. For chips, instead of frying potato wedges, they roast them in the oven before tossing them in parsley and Icelandic salt. If you are not really into potatoes, you can also go for the onion rings.

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

Fish and chips at Icelandic Fish and Chips in NYC, NY

Onion rings at Icelandic Fish and Chips in NYC, NY

Beverage wise, they have wine, but more noticeable are the Icelandic beers (I tried an Linstock white ale brewed with coriander and orange) and cocktails (I tried one with Brennivin that is a sort of schnapps and apparently considered Iceland's signature distilled beverage).

Einstok Icelandic white ale at Icelandic Fish and Chips in NYC, NY

Brennivin at Icelandic Fish and Chips in NYC, NY

Cocktail with Brennivin at Icelandic Fish and Chips in NYC, NY

Icelandic Fish and Chips is a nice addition to the New York restaurant scene and I wish them good luck for their opening!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Icelandic Fish and Chips - 28 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/17

5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

So, it all started with a discussion with my friend David about Korean BBQ and a "let's set a date for that!" No, 5 Napkin Burger does not serve Korean BBQ, but it gives you the setting for what would be a wonderful evening. The date was set, but our friends asked to go to 5 Napkin as they heard about it and were eager to try their juicy burger. After a quick reservation on OpenTable, here we are, at their location near Union Square. We were five people: Jodi, Ciara, David and Caleb. Five, an odd number restaurants do not like as it can mean losing a seat. Well, what they have done there was to sit us at a booth and bring an extra chair at the head of the table: not the most comfortable setting for sure, especially for the person sitting there...

At 5 Napkin Burger, instead of bringing you a bread basket to start, they bring you a bowl of pickles, good pickles, reminiscent of delis.

Pickles at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

I started of with a cocktail and hesitated between the French 55 (for an obvious reason and no, I am not 55!) and the 5N Manhattan, made with woodford reserve bourbon, carpano antica vermouth, citrus-bathed glass & fee brothers orange bitters. For that drink, the only negative was the glass (I hate these glasses that are always filled to the top); it was a delicious drink, with the right amount of bourbon and a nice bitterness.

5N Manhattan at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

We then got our burgers. Normally, I would have gone with their signature, the "original 5 Napkin" that is made with gruyère, caramelized onions and a rosemary mayo, a burger so juicy and messy that you will need more than one napkin, hence the name of the restaurant. No, this time, I wanted to try their merguez burger. Merguez is a lamb sausage often used in North African cuisine, couscous and ravine especially, and that people from France like to grill. In New York, you can find few places where they serve them with eggs or in a sandwich, like Marseille or Chez Felix. I was curious about the merguez burger, because the first time I tried one was at the now closed Combina in TriBeCa and it was amazing. Merguez are quite greasy, so it can give you a very juicy patty. The patty at 5 Napkin was a mix between the lamb sausage and beef, surrounded by pickles, oregano roasted tomatoes and an harissa yogurt. The first bite was really good: first, you get the crunch and sourness of the pickles, then the strong taste of the merguez and juiciness of the patty. The harissa yogurt was not spicy for me and balanced well the lamb. Is it the most amazing burger, especially compared to Combina? No, it was very good and is a great choice if you want to try something more exotic, but I prefer their original that is out of this world.

Merguez burger at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

Jodi on the other hand went for the avocado ranch burger, but, instead of pepper jack cheese, she chose cheddar, change that they accommodated without any issue. This burger had cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato and ranch sauce. It was quite good, but extremely messy!

Avocado ranch burger at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

As sides, we decided to share French fries, as well as their onion ring tower, served with their 5 Napkin sauce and blue cheese sauce. Both were pretty good, but I admit that my preference went to the onion rings that were delightfully greasy, crispy and cooked all the way through.

Onion rings tower at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

French fries at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

Last was dessert and I could not resist ordering a cookies and cream milkshake that was delicious.

Cookies and cream milkshake at 5 Napkin Burger near Union Square, NYC, NY

We had a great time at 5 Napkin Burger: the food was as good as the company!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

5 Napkin Burger - 150 E 14th Street, New York, NY10003

I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/17

My trip to France: Gaudi Café in Grenoble

There are places like Gaudi Café where the expression "do not judge a book by its cover" is undeniably applicable. I thought it was a café and we ended up having a great culinary experience. The decor inside is nice, more cozy than your traditional Café. The owner, Laurent Ibanez named the place as an hommage to the architect and designer, perfectly matching the creativity he instills in his kitchen.

Dining room at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

We went there for my Dad's 80th birthday and it was a perfect spot. We started off with a glass of champagne and some homemade foie gras. The foie gras was ok though, I thought it needed to sit a bit, being too cold, but was anyway missing some flavor. This was the only complaint of the meal.

Foie gras and champagne at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

Foie gras at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

Next was the octopus with pesto that was sublime: first, the octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all. Then, with that fantastic pesto, it was even better, elevating even more the dish and adding a vibrant color to it, making it even more beautiful.

Octopus at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

Jodi opted for the asparagus with a poached egg and Parmesan. Nice dish, the egg being so soft that it broke immediately, spreading the delicious yolk around the asparagus that had a nice crunch.

Asparagus with poached egg at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

After that, I got the veal chop with morel sauce. I should first mention few things: first, the size of the chop that was 280g or 9.9oz, considered big in France. Then, they offer three options with the meat: fries (quite good), veggies (did not try them) or salad (I chose that, being very reasonable). The meat was perfectly cooked and that sauce was succulent. The morels, chopped, gave a nice flavor to it, so good, that I cleaned the plate.

Veal chop with morel sauce at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

Jodi got a massive salad, the Italienne salade, composed of bressaola, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, burrata and capers. It was delicious and very refreshing with the perfectly made burrata.

Italian salad at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

With our meal, we got a great bottle of wine: a Côté-Rôtie Village Stéphane Ogier, 2014.

Cote-Rotie wine at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

Last was dessert and it was excellent. Jodi ordered the pavlova with berries (they were in the center).

Pavlova at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

On my side, I ordered the reconstructed strawberry tart that was even better, staying true to what the original dessert is.

Reconstructed strawberry tart at Gaudi Café in Grenoble, France

This was a delicious unexpected dinner: Gaudi Café is definitely a place to know when visiting Grenoble and I would certainly 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!

Gaudi Café - 5 Cours Berriat, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/17

My trip to France: La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage

La ferme à Dédé in Sassenage is a great find. This place serves some of the classic dishes from the Grenoble region, from raclette to ravioles, as well as products from the terroir. I love the rustic decor with the various farm tools all other, a rustic feel that we would retrieve in the way they serve dishes.

Window at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Tractor at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Dining room at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

We were there with our friend Chrystelle and celebrated with an apéritif. I decided to go with a walnut wine, the walnut from Grenoble being quite famous. I liked its taste that is very particular, but not as nutty as one may think. Served cold, with an ice cube, it was very refreshing.

Walnut wine at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

With the drinks, they brought us some cornichons and some crackers.

Cornichons at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Walnut wine and crackers at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

We did not order any appetizer and went straight to the entree. I ordered the farm raised chicken with a morel sauce, dish that came in a Dutch oven with its lid on; I could not wait to lift the lid and, at that point, for the amazing smell of the dish. The smell was amazing, but the taste was even better, the chicken being perfectly cooked and moist and that sauce! It had lots of morels and I could not resist dipping bread in it. The chicken was served with a gratin dauphinois that is made with potatoes and cream. I admit that the gratin was just ok, having a bit too much garlic.

Le Creuset pot at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Farm raised chicken with morel sauce at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Gratin Dauphinois at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

On her side, Jodi went for the Saint-Marcelin salad, Saint-Marcelin being a cow's milk soft cheese It was a big salad for sure and it had lots of cheese in it. I loved the way they served it, the salad bowl being inside a strainer.

Saint-Marcelin salad at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Last was dessert that we had with an espresso. I tried the crème caramel

Creme caramel at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

As well as the crème de spéculos.

Creme de spéculons at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Creme de spéculos at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

Both were succulent, but I have to say that I loved the crème caramel that had a delicious thick layer of caramel that was very buttery.

Espresso at La Ferme à Dédé in Sassenage, France

This was a great meal: La Ferme à Dédé is a great spot to eat traditional French cuisine from that area, at reasonable prices. I definitely recommend 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!

La Ferme à Dédé - 39 Avenue de Romans, 38360 Sassenage, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/17

My trip to France: So Krep' in Grenoble

So'Krep is an interesting place. Located few steps from Grenoble city center or from the city art museum, it looks like a fast food place from outside, especially because of the bright colors of the chairs and facade. But it is in fact a fairly good crêperie, serving two kinds: the galette made with buckwheat and the crepes made with regular flour.

Large table at So Krep' in Grenoble, France

I decided to order the Caraque crepe, made with emmental, bleu d'Auvergne (blue cheese) and goat cheese. I asked not to have walnuts as Jodi does not like it.

Caraque crepe at So Krep' in Grenoble, France

Jodi ordered the Péniche crepe, composed of Saint-Marcelin cheese, ham and honey.

Peniche crepe at So Krep' in Grenoble, France

Both crepes were delicious, the galette being perfectly made and earthy. They also both had lots of cheese in it, especially the Caraque one that was my favorite. But I admit that I was impressed by the Péniche that had lots of ham and a delightful sweetness from the honey that paired very well with the cheese.

With the crepes, we got a bottle of cider (Loïc Raison), sweet, that I recommend.

Cider Loic Raison at So Krep' in Grenoble, France

Last was dessert. I decided to go for a beurre / sucre (butter/sugar) that was so good I could have ordered a second one...

Crepe butter sugar at So Krep' in Grenoble, France

Our meal at So'Krep was delicious with prices that are reasonable considering the portions. It is definitely a good address if you are craving crepes in Grenoble.

Enjoy (i did)!

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

So Krep' - 3 Rue Frédéric Taulier, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/22/17

My trip to France: La Petite Idée in Grenoble

I love finding small places that provide not only good food, but also an outstanding service. That's the way I feel about La Petite Idée, a small restaurant that serves classic French dishes. I was excited to go there, having checked their menu the day before and already knowing what I would order. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed (we had a reservation), and emptied little by little, people going back to work.

La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

Dining room at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Dining room at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

I liked the atmosphere there that was rustic and very hospitable.

Menu of La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Menu of La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

For my appetizer, I was set on the cassolette d'escargots, or snails with butter, garlic and parsley (lots of it, giving a nice green color to the dish). It was very good, with for sure a nice amount of garlic that made me wonder if I brought some mints with me...The butter sauce was so good that I could not resist dipping some bread in it!

Cassonetti d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Cassonetti d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

Cassolette d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Cassolette d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

Dipping bread in the Cassolette d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Dipping bread in the Cassolette d'escargots at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

Jodi skipped her entree and went for the feuilleté de Saint-Marcelin, a salad topped with a puff pastry filled with lots of Saint-Marcelin cheese. Delicious, I loved the crispness of the puff pastry and of course that cheese that is fantastic, very creamy.

Feuillete de Saint-Marcelin salad at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Feuillete de Saint-Marcelin salad at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

On my side, I was set on magret de canard (duck breast). As they did not have any morel sauce, I went for the honey sauce, more traditional: I had no regrets! Although I would have preferred the duck slightly less cooked (it was medium and I prefer pink), I loved it: it was not dry and delightfully fatty, with a nice char on the outside. It was served with a succulent ratatouille (sort of vegetable stew) and potatoes cooked in duck fat.

Magret de canard au miel at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Magret de canard au miel at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

It was so good that I finished my dish, but was unable to eat dessert; I just went for an espresso.

Espresso at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France — Espresso at La Petite Idée, Grenoble, France

La Petite Idée is a great find in Grenoble; a small spot that serves delicious food without being pretentious. I definitely recommend 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!

La Petite Idée - 7 Cours Jean Jaurès, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/17

My Trip to France: Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy - worst service ever

It all started with what should have been a great lunch. My brother proposed to spend the day in Annecy and have lunch at the brasserie of the Imperial Palace, a stunning "belle époque" hotel with fantastic lake views.

Unfortunately, the service at the restaurant was deplorable, a level that was so surprising for such luxurious place. We sensed something was wrong quite quickly as they did not ask us if we wanted an apéritif (a drink before the meal, fairly common in France) as they handed out the menu and then when we had to ask somebody to take our order, task that they executed without a smile, as if we were bothering them. The food took quite some time to come, but it was worth it. I shared some dishes with my brother. The first appetizer was the house made smoked salmon that was delicious, the salmon being thickly cut and having a nice smokiness.

Smoked salmon at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

The second dish was the pâté en croûte au foie gras (pâté with foie gras) and an onion jam made with xérès wine (delightfully sweet). This was very good, a nice fusion of two classic French specialties.

Pate en croute at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Pate en croute au foie gras at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

At that point, we had to ask for some bread as they forgot to bring some, a sacrilege in France where bread is always present in a meal. After these delicious appetizers, we waited approximately 40 minutes for our entrées, asking twice where they were to a staff who was not apologetic at all. The whole meal was so slow that my brother had to go and skipped his entrée and went straight to the dessert buffet (no wait at least). Finally, the food came. Imagine that Jodi did not have any appetizers and so waited close to 1h30 for her dish! She got a salade de chèvre chaud (goat cheese salad) that was just ok considering the great similar salads we had in other places.

Goat cheese salad at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

On my side, I had the Féra de lac, a white fish from the lake that was delicious, cooked in a hazelnut butter. It was served with some potatoes that were quite good.

Féra de lac at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Last was dessert. For 10 euros, you can have the dessert buffet that was a good deal, proposing not only pastries, but also candies. I only went for the former, with all desserts made in house. There was: finger, baba au rhum (my favorite), lemon tart and a Paris-Brest (chou with hazelnut cream). Jodi went for a Tropezienne with passion fruit, chocolate mousse and lemon tart. All the desserts were good and a nice way to end the meal.

Candy buffet at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Desserts at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Dessert buffet at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Of course, we could not end the meal without coffee but did not expect our espresso to take 20 Minutes to come...

Espresso at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

Last details that were quite surprising in this kind of establishment were the lack of cleanliness of the staff uniforms, and the fact that many tables were not cleaned for a long time (30 minutes for the one next to us), the staff passing next to them, empty handed.

Table at Brasserie of the Imperial Palace in Annecy, France

It is too bad that the service at the Imperial Palace was so poor. It is a beautiful place with stunning views and great food, but a perfect example of how poor service can ruin a great experience. French people are known to like to spend a lot of time at the table, but only when it is not imposed by poor service or a slow kitchen, enjoying a good meal in good company. Hopefully it was a one time issue and the management will do the needful to address them. However, I should mention that when we paid, they finally apologized and compt my brother's meal. But still, we left disappointed...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Brasserie of the Imperial Palace - Allée de l'Impérial, 74000 Annecy, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/20/17

My trip to France: Neko Cafe, a cat bar in Grenoble

Meet the cats from Néko Café, a cat bar located in Grenoble city center. It was our first time in such place and we love it (we have a cat at home named Whitney, so yes, we love cats). Going there requires a minimum of precautions. First, there are two doors that separate the café from the street, a sort of safe measure to avoid an escape. Then, as soon as you sit, they will give you some hand sanitizer, whether you pet the cats or not. On the table, you will find some basic rules, such as not feeding the cats, not making loud noise, etc.

Dining room at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

At Néko Café, they have five cats:

Marcel, a Sphynx, totally hairless but quite soft, looking like Gollum in Lord of the Rings:

Marcel the cat at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

Monsieur Bruno, a chartreux who's apparently Marcel's best buddy:

Monsieur Bruno playing with patrons at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

Monsieur Bruno playing with Marcel at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

The tiny Marguerite (a Devon Rex):

Marguerite at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

The hairy Madeleine, a playful Maine Coon:

Madeleine at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

Noé, a turc de van, who stayed most of the time at our table (or shall I say: WE sat at his table):

There, we enjoyed some drinks, not being hungry at all as we had a big meal. Jodi went for a chocolat viennois (hot chocolate with whipped cream):

Chocolat Viennois at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

And I went for a cold latte macchiato:

Latte Macchiato at Neko Cafe in Grenoble, France

This was a relaxing time, the cats playing with customers. It is a nice concept that pet lovers would surely like. For sure it is better than the rat cafe that is opening in San Francisco...

enjoy (I did)!

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

Neko Cafe - 14 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/19/17

New Opening: Junior's on 49th and Broadway

Junior's has a new location and I could not resist to go there few days after their opening! I love Junior's and I am glad they opened other locations, not only in New York in fact as they opened at Boca Raton in Florida. So, the new location on 49th street and Broadway is quite big, looking more modern that its sister a couple of blocks away, with the feel of a modern deli, keeping the vibrant orange theme omnipresent.

Dining room at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

Counter at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

Food wise, there is no surprise there as they serve a full menu with classics that made their success, the cheesecakes being of course their number one seller. And if you do not want to dine there, you can just grab one at their takeout counter located right at the entrance.

Grab and go at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

We went on a Saturday, quite early and were surprised how crowded this place was. They first proposed us to sit at the counter but we preferred a table that we got without even waiting. After ordering, they brought us some pickled beets as well as cabbage and sour pickles that were quite good.

Pickled beets at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

Sour pickles and pickled cabbage at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

I also ordered a Dr. Brown's root beer, a bit tempted by their milkshakes, but thinking that it would be too much with the cheesecake I was planning to get for dessert.

Dr Brown root beer at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

Jodi ordered a matzo ball soup (always delicious there)

Matzo ball soup at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

As well as a Greek salad.

Greek salad at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

On my side, I ordered their pastrami reuben that I admit could have had a bit more cheese and sauerkraut, but was delicious, delightfully messy from the fat dripping from the thick layer of meat and the generous amount of Russian dressing I put on top of the pastrami. I also loved the crunchiness of the toasted bread that gave a nice contrast to the softness of the meat.

Pastrami reuben at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

Last was the long awaited cheesecake (plain) that is always fantastic and that I consider the best: smooth, dense and creamy.

Cheesecake at Junior's on 49th St. and Broadway, NYC

I love Junior's and was once again not disappointed!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Junior's - 1626 Broadway, New York, New York 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/18/17

Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West - Closed

This week, I was invited at Uncle Jack's, the famous steakhouse from TV personality William Degel who was a steakhouse owner before going on TV rather than just investing in a restaurant thinking that your name solely will bring patrons. Lots of celebrities who invest in the restaurant industry have no clue what the day to day of a restaurant is; it is not the case with William Degel who is fully immersed in the process, even sometimes hand picking the meat from his purveyors who are mainly in Omaha, Nebraska, probably less now that he is busy with his career and multiple restaurants. I went to their location Midtown West that opened back in 2004 and it was not the first time as it was one of the first steakhouse I reviewed after starting my blog in 2011.

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

Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Dining room at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Beef parts at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Bull's head at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

They invited us for a tasting that was amazing, allowing us to try several of their dishes, some very popular and, as you will see, some classics but also some more surprising dishes in this kind of establishment as they had...Asian flavors.

At Uncle Jack's, they have an extensive wine list, but I decided to go with a classic Manhattan, a cocktail I love and would love even more if these martini glasses did not exist! I don't know about you, but I always find the first sips difficult with these glasses, especially as they are usually filled up to the top, most of the time ending up with some cocktail on my fingers. But I managed and really liked it, including the cherry that was in it, completely soaked with alcohol.

Classic Manhattan cocktail at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

The first dish was shrimp and lobster dumplings with a lemongrass broth that I would have probably more associated to a Thai restaurant. It was pretty good, the dumpling being well made and the broth being quite tasty, not spicy.

Shrimp and lobster dumpling at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

The second dish was a maple glazed Nueske bacon served with peanut butter and a hint of chipotle. This was an incredible dish and probably one of the best bacon dishes I ever had! Most of the time, restaurant will just serve the bacon without any sauce and you can add some steak sauce. At Uncle Jack's, they stand up by giving a dish full of flavor: smokiness of the bacon, the sweet and savory dimension given by the maple syrup that has deliciously caramelized, and the nuttiness of the peanut butter. All combined, it gives you a spectacular dish that I highly recommend.

Maple glazed Nueske bacon at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

The third dish was lamb "lollipop" chops that had a panko crust and were served with a rosemary and garlic demi-glace. The chops were "frenched" meaning that the bone was cleaned up, giving the appearance of the lollipop, and the panko crust gave a bit of the crunch right before biting into the tender and juicy meat.

Lamb lollipop chops at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

The fourth dish was buffalo mozzarella salad served with a 25 y/o balsamic vinegar reduction. I admit that this is not really a dish I would order when going to a steakhouse, preferring more bacon or crab cakes. But in fact I liked it, especially because of the mozzarella that was very good and not rubbery at all, and because of the generous amount of basil.

Buffalo mozzarella salad at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

But what I was really looking for the the NY "Trump" steak. Yes, you read well. I asked why they called it this way and got in a nutshell few reasons:

Proximity of the Trump tower and the fact that the Trump Campaign came often to dine at Uncle Jack's.
The support to Donald Trump from the owner.

The person who told me that jokingly said that it is easy to identify President Trump supporters from non-supporters by the way they order that piece of meat, using either Strip or Trump.

NY "Trump" strip steak at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Anyway, when it came to the table, that steak looked fabulous. It was a 16oz NY strip, USDA Prime, that was cooked in its jus in an 1800 degree Fahrenheit infrared broiler that gives a nice char to it. The meat was very tender, flavorful and juicy with just enough fat. It was simply phenomenal. I should mention that they propose this beautiful steak in 8oz, 12oz and 16oz making a steak dinner affordable considering how prices are today.

With the steak, we tried few sides:

Brussels sprouts with a chili glaze:

Brussels sprouts at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Garlic Mash potatoes:

Mash potatoes at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

5 cheese mac and cheese (gouda, american, parmesan, cheddar and swiss):

5 cheese mac and cheese at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

They were all good, but my favorite was the mac and cheese that was delicious, with so much cheese in it!

Dessert sampler at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse in Midtown West , NYC

Last was dessert and we got a sampler composed of a pecan pie (my favorite), a tiramisu and chocolate mousse. At that point, I was just looking forward for the walk we would have after leaving the restaurant. We had a great time and the food at Uncle Jack's was superb. It is definitely on top of my list when it comes to steakhouses in New York and stayed consistent over the years.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Uncle Jack's Steakhouse - 44 West 56th St. NY, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 6/16/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/16/17

Long Island City Flea & Food Market

Jodi had a pop up show in Long Island City, right across from the LIC Flea and Food Market. As we finished setting up her paintings and were looking for a place to eat, I proposed to go there. It was really my first time in this area and I was really impressed by the neighborhood, especially the river bank with its huge Pepsi Co. sign that you can see from the East side of Manhattan.

I love markets because of the diversity of food you can find there, although some of them like Smorgasburg, are getting a bit too crowded. We wandered around the market and our first pick was Empanada Papa, a place that sold...empanadas.

Empanada Papa at LIC Flea and Food Market

Empanadas from Empanada Papa at LIC Flea and Food Market

We chose the cheese and buffalo chicken empanadas. Both were quite good, the empanadas having lots of tasting filling in it and being nicely crispy. However, my favorite was the buffalo chicken one that had a nice kick.

Next was Butcher Bar from Astoria that was proposing BBQ. I could not resist! First, I observed them serving patrons and my appetite increased as I saw them pulling the pork with their hands, so easily. And then I saw the brisket with its nice char: it looked juicy and fatty. So, I decided to try some. They cooked it for 12 hours in a BBQ pit that you could see in the back after applying a dry rub. I ordered it with some slaw that was delicious, but nothing compared with that fantastic brisket: it was so good! Tender, juicy and fatty, I loved the burnt ends. I really need to go check out that place.

Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

Smoker from Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

Brisket being served at Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

Brisket at Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

Brisket and cole slaw at Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

With the brisket, we got some lemonade that was quite refreshing.

Brisket and lemonade from Butcher Bar BBQ at LIC Flea and Food Market

Then, we wanted something sweet and ended up at Enzo Le Beau, a place serving crepes and waffles. I wanted a butter and sugar crepe, my favorite: simple but so good. Unfortunately, they did not have anymore butter (what? Who does not plan for butter when serving crepes?) and I did not want any of those heavy crepes with too many toppings. No, simplicity was fine for me. So I asked for a waffle with sugar. What I did not foresee was that they use the same batter for crepes and waffles. Sacrilege! These are two different items and of course, the texture of the waffle was off, being way too light and a bit bland. Anyway, we just tried bit of it as the wind took care of the rest...

Enzo Le Beau at LIC Flea and Food Market

Waffle in the making at Enzo Le Beau at LIC Flea and Food Market

Waffle from Enzo Le Beau at LIC Flea and Food Market

I admit that I was still hungry after that and so, we finally decided to get a Mozzarepa, a dish that you can often find in street fairs, that is made of two arepas, these corn based "pancakes") and mozzarella. They are cooked on a griddle and the best part is when the cheese is burnt on the outside. We got this delicious item at Chuzos, an Ecuadorian stall.

Mozzarepas cooking on a griddle at Chuzos at LIC Flea and Food Market

Mozzarepas from Chuzos at LIC Flea and Food Market

I liked the market, but know that, like many of these places, you will not find healthy food there, but more items that are in the category of guilty pleasures...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

LIC Flea & Food Market - 21-52 44th Drive, Hunters Point, New York City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/17

Birch Hoboken: better than Black Tap Burger?

Each time we come back from Europe, there is one meal I want to have: burger! And we decided to go to Birch Hoboken, a place that opened two months ago. With a concept similar to Black Tap Burger, I was really curious to see how they would measure up and I was not disappointed: the food at Birch Hoboken is way better than Black Tap. The burgers are tastier and better cooked (I asked for medium and I got a juicy medium patty) and the milkshakes are not a big mess. The only complaint with Birch Hoboken is the music: loud. I would understand for dinner as this is also a lounge, but for brunch? And when I say loud, it is loud. I think they are making a mistake: yes, loud music might get you attention, but it will scare away families who would come to indulge in these fantastic milkshakes they propose.

Here is what we got there:

For burgers, I decided to go with the Cheese Lovers Burger, composed of Monterey Jack cheese, provolone and a white truffle cheese sauce (you could definitely smell and taste the truffle that was not overwhelming). When you order your burger, you can ask for either prime beef or kobe. I went for the latter, although I admit that I could not taste the difference...But for two more dollars, it was a no brainer. I liked the rustic way of presenting the burgers, on a fake newspaper sheet (the bottom was from a Cuban newspaper and the paper sheet for the fries was from...France! The burger was made with a delicious brioche bread that was branded with the name of the restaurant. It definitely had a lot of cheese and I have to say that the first bite and the subsequent ones were divine. The Pat La Frieda patty was juicy and tasty, and the cheese was oozing from the burger. There was so much cheese that it was definitely a burger for cheese lovers.

Cheese Lovers burger at Birch Hoboken, NJ

Jodi went for the veggie burger and added a slice of avocado to it. It looked really good and was delicious: you could definitely taste black beans in it. Good, but not to the point where I regretted to order my burger...

The fries were shoestring, perfectly cooked, but could have been a bit crispier.

Of course, I could not leave without trying their milkshakes and ordered the "Give me S'mores" one. It was quite big and looked spectacular. The sides of the cup had a chocolate rim with cookie crumbles and Hershey's chocolate pieces. On top were marshmallows, toasted s'mores and Graham crackers. The milkshake itself was a chocolate one.

It was overall quite good: the burger and the milkshake being delicious. They have other burgers like the French onion that look succulent or you can build your own. For milkshakes, if you are not into the crazy ones, you can get a simple with just whipped cream on top...

Birch Hoboken is a nice addition to the city and I would definitely go back there, but not in the evening...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Birch Hoboken - 92 RIVER STREET, HOBOKEN NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/17

Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Opened June 1st by veteran restaurateurs Salim Rahman (Tajmahal, Bay Leaf, Tikka Indian Grill) and Amin Ruhel (Tripti, Dipali), Mumbai Masala Indian Grill is a new eatery in the Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill areas of New York City. I am always excited to try new restaurants, even more when they just opened and our visit at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill did not disappoint us.

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

Dining room at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

I like the feel of the restaurant that has a certain warmth, thanks to the exposed brick and admired the handmade lotus flower lamps and the large photos on one of the walls that added a touch of exoticism. The interesting thing about the three large photos in the dining room is their meaning: first you get women in a market in Mumbai, then spices (masala) and then rickshaw in Dhaka, the capital of Bengladesh (Salim told me he is from there).

Papadam at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Menu wise, you get an array of dishes from all over India. They started off by bringing us some papadam with red onion, green and tamarind sauce. I never had a papadam like this: it was very light and literally melting in my mouth. With it we had some lassi: sweet for Jodi, mango for me, the latter being my favorite.

Sweet lassi at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Mango lassi at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

For appetizers, we tried two dishes. The first one was chili gobi, some cauliflower with onions and bell pepper. This was fantastic: it was like a sweet and sour vegetarian dish. At that point, I should mention that Salim explained to us that most of their food is not precooked; it might be marinated, but not precooked, so, compared to other places, it may take more time to come, but also, it probably allows them to adjust the amount of spiciness to a level expected by their customers.

Chili gobi at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

The second appetizer was samosa chaat, a street food dish that is sweet and savory, and so refreshing, with some bits of crispy samosa shell, chickpeas, tamarind, yogurt and chutneys.

Samosa chaat at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Then came the entrees and it was a festival of flavors. First was the tandoor veg (smaller size for us as we were trying several dishes). It was composed of paneer, as well as grilled vegetables, cooked in a tandoor oven. A pretty good dish with a nice grill flavor.

Tandoor veg at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Then, two different dal that they offer as main dishes or sides: dal makhni (black lentils in a creamy sauce that have been slow cooked) and dal tadka (yellow lentils with cumin and coriander).

Dal tadka at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Dal Makhni at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

I am not sure which one I preferred, both being fantastic: tasty, creamy, they were amazing with some of the bread we had (luchi, a deep fried bread, and plain naan brushed with butter).

Yuchi at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Plain naan bread at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Then, the main entree was chicken tikka masala, one of my favorite Indian dishes. It was really good: creamy, the chicken was perfectly cooked.

Chicken tikka masala at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

Last was dessert. Not surprisingly, I got gulab jamun, milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a sugar syrup:

Gulab jamun at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

And kheer that is rice pudding.

Kheer at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill in Harlem

It was overall a fantastic meal: the food at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill is very good and I truly appreciated that it was not overly spicy, yet very flavorful. They have a nice choice of dishes that would satisfy non-vegetarian, vegetarian as well as vegan diners. It is a nice place, located in an area where people never think about going when looking for dining options. Well, now you have a good reason to go 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!

Mumbai Masala Indian Grill - 1768 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10031

I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/17

Grilling University with McCormick

This week, was in a way BBQ week: before going to the Big Apple BBQ Block Party, I was in fact invited to a wonderful evening at the Grilling University by McCormick where I learned a lot about grilling technics. If you cook, whether you have a grill or not, you probably stumbled upon products from McCormick and you might have some in your kitchen. Well, I do.

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

This was an event full of food, cocktails and interesting tips from professionals. We started off with Executive Chef Kevan Vetter who had the hard task to teach people how to grill fish and vegetables, not the first things you would think off when thinking about grilling.

Executive Chef Kevan Vetter at The Grilling University with McCormick

Executive Chef Kevan Vetter preparing fish at The Grilling University with McCormick

Executive Chef Kevan Vetter cooking fish at The Grilling University with McCormick

Applewood rub used by Executive Chef Kevan Vetter at The Grilling University

Vegetables cooked on the grill by Chef Kevan Vetter at Executive Chef Kevan Vetter preparing fish at The Grilling University with McCormick

There was Chef Myron Mixon, aka the “winningest man in barbecue” who has been four times world BBQ champion. And do not tell him that grilling is not BBQ! We talked a bit and when I told him that what we call barbecue in France is grilling, he said: "when you go back to France, tell them that there is an old guy in America that is telling them that grilling is barbecue". He made some amazing hanger steak for us that was marinated in a Brazilian steakhouse sauce from McCormick and explained how to position the charcoal on the grill and its effect on the cooking process.

Chef Myron Mixon at The Grilling University with McCormick

Chef Myron Mixon using a Brazilian steakhouse marinade at The Grilling University with McCormick

Chef Myron Mixon cooking a hanger steak at The Grilling University with McCormick

Then, we got a demo from Chef James Briscione, 2 time Chopped champion and Rocky Stubblefield, grandson of Christopher B. Stubblefield, aka Stubb, creator behind Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce, who made some pork and chicken. One of the useful tips given was to always let the rub on the meat sit for a bit because if you immediately put the meat on the grill, the rub will fall off.

Chef James Briscione and Rocky Stubblefied at The Grilling University with McCormick

Stubb's BBQ sauce at The Grilling University with McCormick

At the same time we had these demos, we also had some amazing food, featuring some of McCormick's products. Here is what I tried:

Delicious food at The Grilling University with McCormick

Watermelon caprese skewer (made with Grill Mates Limited Edition Basil Balsamic Veggie Marinade Mix):

Watermelon caprese skewer at The Grilling University with McCormick

Grilled Indian spiced flatbread: (made with McCormick turmeric, ground cumin and crushed red pepper):

Grilled Indian spiced flatbread at The Grilling University with McCormick

Mojito lime shrimp and mango grilled pizza (made with Grill Mates Mojito lime marinade):

Mojito lime shrimp and mango grilled pizza at The Grilling University with McCormick

Pineapple steaks with toasted coconut (made with Grill Mates Island woodfire grill marinade):

Pineapple steaks with toasted coconut at The Grilling University with McCormick

Grilled vegetable antipasto bruschetta (made with Grill Mates garlic, herb and wine marinade):

Grilled vegetable antipasto bruschetta at The Grilling University with McCormick

Smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce (made with Grill Mates Applewood Rub):

Smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce at The Grilling University with McCormick

Brown sugar bourbon pork tenderloin with grilled peaches (made with Grill Mates brown sugar bourbon marinade mix):

Brown sugar bourbon pork tenderloin with grilled peaches at The Grilling University with McCormick

Grilled cabbage steak with bacon and blue cheese (made with Grill Mates Smoky Applewood Marinade):

Grilled cabbage steak with bacon and blue cheese at The Grilling University with McCormick

Dessert was Zatarain's berry cornbread cake with peppered whipped cream:

Zatarain's berry cornbread cake with peppered whipped cream at The Grilling University with McCormick

For drinks, there was a smoky margarita (made with McCormick Sicilian sea salt and smoked paprika):

Smoky margarita at The Grilling University with McCormick

As well as a Frozé pops or frozen rosé pops made with McCormick vanilla extract, raspberry extract and pure lime extract:

Frozé pop at The Grilling University with McCormick

It was a great event where I learned a lot about one of the most popular cooking method in the US. And in fact, even if you do not have a grill, you get some good tips, as well as good ideas to prepare succulent meals with all the condiments McCormick offers. So, time to start cooking!

Enjoy (I did)!!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/17

The Big Apple BBQ Block Party -June 10/11th 2017

Today I feasted at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party at Madison Square Park, an annual celebration of BBQ. Yes, if you are vegetarian, no need to bother: this is not for you as choices are extremely limited. The Big Apple BBQ Block Party is for meat lovers and it features a bunch of places from all over the country, from Alabama to Texas. We went during lunch time and was quite crowded, full of people excited like me to try some amazing food or simply look at some of the spectacular smokers there.

Whole hog at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Martin's BBQ Joint's smoker at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Whole hog cooking in Martin's BBQ Joint's smoker at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Here is what we tried:

Our first stop was at Dinosaur BBQ, a place well known in the City with its restaurants in Harlem and Brooklyn; they proposed some St Louis spareribs with baked beans. This was delicious: the meat had a nice char and was literally falling off the bone.

Dinosaur BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

St Louis spare ribs on the grill from Dinosaur BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

The second stop was Jim'N Nick's BBQ from Alabama. There, I got their hot link (sausage), pimento cheese and saltines.

Jim'N Nick's BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Sausage and pimento cheese from Jim'N Nick's BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Last was Salt Lick BBQ from Texas that I remember I tried two years ago. And again this year, they proposed their succulent brisket on white bread, sausage and slaw. Simply delicious.

Salt Lick BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Brisket and sausage at Salt Lick BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

Cutting the brisket at Salt Lick BBQ at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party

The Big Apple BBQ Block Party is also tomorrow, so if like me you love BBQ, do not miss it! They offer VIP tickets that allow you to go to a fast track line and get a certain amount of food, but you can like me just go and eat whatever you like, paying just $12 per dish.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/17 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/17

Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

For her birthday, Jodi wanted to go for Mexican food. I asked some of my colleagues who suggested some places. The problem with these: they did not have guacamole! So, I finally found Habanero Blues on Opentable. When we arrived, I realized that we passed so many times in front of it, but the crowd was a bit of a deterrent...Fortunately, on a Monday night, it was not a problem: the place was not that crowded and kind of quiet, until approximately 8pm when the music started (or at least started to be more noticeable) and people started to arrive.

Dining room at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

I started the meal with a cocktail and picked "El Burro" (the donkey), a delicious drink, quite refreshing, made with Bulleit Bourbon, ginger and fresh lime juice.

El Burro cocktail at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

We then got the long awaited guacamole and chips. Quite good, I found it small though...

Then we had tacos. When I checked on their website, they were proposing tacos by the piece, but, they just changed the menu and were not proposing that anymore at the restaurant. When I asked the waiter, he gracefully told us that we could arrange for us to prepare whatever combination we would want. So, we chose:

The pescado frito tacos that is fried sea bass, pickled onions and cilantro cream:

Pescado frito taco at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

Chorizo picado taco made with homemade spicy sausage (I did not find it spicy):

Chorizo picado taco at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

Avocado frito taco that is fried avocado, my favorite taco! The outside is crispy and the inside melting in your mouth.

Avocado frito taco at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

All these tacos were delicious, the avocado one being my favorite for sure, followed by the fried fish and chorizo. None of these were bland and I loved the different texture. Proposing to create your own sampler is a great idea and I hope they will continue on that path.

Last was dessert, with our all time favorite: churros. They came in a bag, dusted in brown sugar and cinnamon, and served with dulce de leech and a chocolate dipping sauce (I preferred the former).

These churros were fantastic: crunchy, I could have eaten another bag of it. It was a good way to end a perfect meal. Habanero Blues is definitely a great Mexican spot Midtown: I would certainly 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!

Habanero Blues - 29 W 36TH ST NYC, NY