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

Brunch at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ - Closed

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

When I went to Porter Collins several weeks ago, I had a fantastic dinner and was planning on going back there to try their brunch, when I received an invite from their PR. So, we just went yesterday and got the chance to see Chef Anthony Pino that I was looking forward to finally meeting, having dined at his other restaurants, Bin 14 and Anthony David's, multiple times. During our discussion, he explained that he decided to become a Chef at 10 years old, wanting to save his family from bad food: well, I am sure that his family is grateful now! I asked him why he decided to open another restaurant in Hoboken instead of New York and his answer defines well his character: he wants to stay close to his family as they are important to him. Having restaurants located close by, although keeping him busy, allows him to spend a good amount of time with them. As for the octopus mural in the dining room, his answer was simple: he loves the beach and loves octopus. Talking to him, I could sense the passion for what he is doing that is not just business, but true hospitality.

Chef Anthony Pino at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

We then proceeded to try their brunch, served Saturdays and Sundays: for $35, you get not only an all you can eat buffet, but also four Chef's specials, as well as bottomless drinks (mimosa, bellini and bloody Mary). The buffet includes a wide variety of dishes, mainly cold, that can satisfy everybody: from more healthy with fruit and salads to classic Italian dishes like chicken parmesan or rigatoni, or hanger steak. I appreciated the fact that they had large shrimp and oysters that, if you are a seafood lover, make the price of the brunch even sweeter. For the specials, they had: huevos rancheros, breakfast burrito, blueberry pancakes and eggs benedict, the later being my favorite, the eggs being perfectly poached, with their runny yolk.

Here is what we had:

Buffet:

Chocolate mousse at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Hot entrees: chicken parmesan, rigatoni and potatoes / bacon / sausages.

Chicken parmesan at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Rigatoni at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Potatoes, sausages and bacon at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Chef's special:

Breakfast burrito at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Eggs benedict at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Blueberry pancakes at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Huevos rancheros at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Drinks:

Porter Collins cocktail at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Various plates:

From the buffet at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

Oyster from the buffet at Porter Collins in Hoboken, NJ

It was overall a great brunch, as I expected after our wonderful dinner at Porter Collins. I am glad that Chef Pino decided to open this place on the Northern part of Hoboken, that area needing moe places like this one.

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 Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

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

Blason Louis, Premium French Wine by the glass

I recently received, for just $1, some wine from Blason Louis, a French Wine seller that teamed up with more than a dozen winemakers in France and is reaching out to bloggers. But it is not a bottle that I received: no, it was four flacons in a box, that I admit looked pretty sleek. These tubes full of wine are great, especially if, like me, you do not drink enough wine to open a bottle, thinking that it would go to waste fairly quickly, turning into something that would only be good as a cooking ingredient. Restaurants offer wine by the glass, but at home, the choice is limited: you can find half bottles, but, usually, they will be located close to the cashier, like a pariah. So, now, the alternative exists with Blazon Louis, addressing not only the quantity, each tube being a glass of 10 cl or 3.4 oz, but also the quality, proposing premium wine. Perfect also if you want to do a tasting of various grapes, it is ideal if people have different tastes and you do not want to open several bottles.

They propose premium wines from the various producing regions. I got for instance:
- Pommard, a 100% Pinot Noir grape, from Burgundy.
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, a 100% merlot, from Burgundy.
- Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois, 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% merlot, from Bordeaux.
- Sancerre, 100% Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.

Each box comes with a flyer that will give some information about the wine, perfect if you are a neophyte or just curious: origin, quote from the producer, how the wine is made, main characteristics (fully bodied, fruity, woody, floral, mineral) as well as how it looks (eye), smells (nose) and taste (mouth), with also some pairing information.

This is a great concept that will disrupt the wine industry for sure and Blason Louis is not the first to try it. Others like Copa Di Vino or Vinebox already did. But what would set Blason Louis apart is the quality of the wine that they propose.

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! 7/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/17

El Maguey Y La Tuna: authentic Mexican restaurant in the Lower East Side

Located off the beaten path on the Lower East Side, El Maguey Y La Tuna is not unknown to me: I went few years ago for a press dinner where I was amazed by the delicious food that place serves. There, I met again Maria, the owner, who ensure that patrons feel welcome in this small restaurant where the food matters more than anything else.

El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Dining room of El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

We started off our meal with some guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips. The guacamole was decent, definitely not the best I had, but still. It was as if the avocado had been put through a blender, eliminating the texture that a fresh guacamole made by hand would have.

Guacamole at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Salsa at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

Tortilla chips at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

For her entrée, Jodi ordered the queso quesadilla: there were two of them that were good but there could have been some sour cream and more guacamole with them.

Cheese quesadilla at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the chicken mole that is one of their specialties and I was not disappointed: that mole is one of the best I ever had. I like to think that it is made with chocolate (you can taste hints of it) and so many spices that it takes time to make such an incredible dish.

Chicken mole at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

For dessert, we tried their flan

Flan at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

As well as their chocolate cake

Chocolate cake at El Maguey Y La Tuna, Lower East Side, NYC, NY

I personally preferred the flan, the chocolate cake being a bit dry.

I overall liked the food at El Maguey Y La Tuna: there, you can find some authentic Mexican cuisine at very reasonable prices. It is not the best Mexican restaurant in the city, but their mole is definitely a must have.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

El Maguey Y La Tuna - 321 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/17

Dinner at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Southern Hospitality use to be my favorite BBQ place. Used to...After I went back, I cannot say that anymore: the menu has changed and not for the better. I wonder what happened! I was really looking forward to go back there and have one of their combos, but, they were not proposing it anymore and some of the great dishes they use to propose were changed, such as the fried green tomatoes that are topped with a house-made remoulade and pickled tomatoes. The fried tomatoes were not great, a bit soggy.

Fried green tomatoes at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Then, I got few BBQ items, making my own combo: baby back ribs, spare ribs, sausage and brisket. Unfortunately, the meat was dry and the only thing I really liked was the sausage...

Combo at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Baby back ribs at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Dry rubbed spare ribs at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Sausages at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Brisket at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

As sides, we got corn bread with honey butter (quite good) as well as mac and cheese that was just ok.

Mac and cheese at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Corn bread with honey butter at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Fortunately, their banana pudding remains delicious and I would just go there for that.

Banana pudding at Southern Hospitality in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

This was overall a disappointing experience: Southern Hospitality is not anymore what it used to be and certainly not anymore my favorite BBQ place in NYC. So sad...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Southern Hospitality - 645 9th Avenue, New York, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/11/17

Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

The last time we went to Empellon Taqueria was few years ago, for brunch, where we had an amazing churro French toast. So, as we were celebrating for a second time Jodi's birthday, we decided to go there for dinner. We went on a Friday and the place was packed. I have to say that I love the colorful decor of that place and the setting of the dining room that has some warmth to it, but like less the noise level for dinner that was very loud and not really suited for a romantic dinner...

As we sat at one of the high tables in the middle of the room, I noticed the bottle of Patron tequila and the shot glasses that you can purchase, unless like me you go for one of their cocktails. I chose the Upper Old Fashioned, a drink made with El Mayor Añejo, Leopold Bros. Coffee Liqueur, demerara (sugar) and bitters. It was very good and not too strong.

Upper Old Fashioned cocktail at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

For appetizers, we went of course for guacamole that was also served with salsa roja and a smoked cashew sauce. It was quite good, freshly made with some chunks of avocado.

Guacamole and chips at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Guacamole at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

The second appetizer was melted cheese with black trumpets and guaje seeds. It came with some tortilla. It is the perfect dish if you like cheese or mushrooms. Very good, it fills you up fairly quickly.

Melted cheese with black trumpets mushrooms at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Tortilla for melted cheese at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

Next were tacos. Jodi went for the mixed mushrooms with Pasilla chile:

Mushroom tacos at Mixed Mushrooms with Pasilla Chile

I chose the fish Tempura tacos

Fish tacos at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

And the lamb barbacoa tacos

Lamb barbacoa tacos at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

I loved these tacos (three were sufficient for me) and my favorite was the fish tacos that I thought at first, looking at it, would be dry: it was not the case at all as it sat on a lime mayonnaise and some cabbage, adding some more crispiness to the whole dish. The fish was perfectly cooked, all the way through, and moist. The lamb tacos were also delicious, very tasty and I loved the addition of the cucumber that gave more texture and a bit of crunch to it. The mushroom tacos were good, but not as much as the others.

Last was dessert. I admit that I was a bit disappointed as there were only two choices and no churros that are my favorite when it comes to Mexican desserts. So we ended up with their chocolate flan that was served with a cinnamon ice cream. I loved it: it had a perfect texture and was not too chocolatey, the cinnamon of the ice cream pairing well with the chocolate.

Chocolate flan at Empellon Taqueria in NYC, NY

I liked our dinner at Empellon Taqueria and it would have been perfect if the music and noise level was not so loud. Their food is very good, focussing on small plates to share. It is definitely a great spot for Mexican food and I would surely 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!

Empellon Taqueria - 230 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/9/17

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo near Union Square, NYC

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo is a Japanese restaurant in Union Square, that serves creative Japanese and Korean influenced dishes (Shinokubo is named after the Shin Okubo Koreatown in Shinjuku, Japan). Ichiba is quite a big place compared to the usual hole in the wall type of ramen restaurants that popped up in the past few years and it has a colorful and cool design, with a beautiful painting on the top of the wall.

Dining room at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Table at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Menu wise, they serve quite a wide range of dishes with sushi if you are not that excited with ramen. We started off our meal with buns. Usually I go for the pork buns that I love, especially if the pork belly is nicely cooked and has a bit of fat to it, smothered by either hoisin sauce or mayonnaise. But this time, I decided to try their bulgogi buns that I have never seen on a menu before. They were composed of marinated ribeye, pickled cucumber, lettuce and a not so spicy mayonnaise. It was very good: the steamed buns were fluffy and soft, and the meat tender and juicy.

Bulgogi buns at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Then, we got ramen. Jodi went for the matcha shoyu ramen that was very colorful, the green of the matcha tea being quite vibrant. It was a vegetarian ramen made with a matcha vegetable broth, a reduced shoyu base, roasted tomato (spicy), enoki mushrooms, pickled onion and scallion. It was quite good, the matcha tea taste delightfully coming through.

Matcha shoyu ramen at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

But I thought my ramen was even better: it was a tonkotsu ramen composed of a pork bone base, an umami garlic base, pork belly, menma (bamboo), kikurage (mushroom), scallion, pickled red pepper, roasted perilla. I added a boiled egg, that was nicely soft with a runny yolk, to it. Everything in this ramen that was slightly spicy was good, from the pork belly to the tasty pork broth, although I would have liked a little less garlic. But I loved it as the photo below shows...

Tonkotsu ramen at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

The noodles in each ramen were different: thin straight noodles for the tonkotsu ramen and wavy spinach noodles for the matcha shoyu, both having a nice bite.

Tonkotsu ramen noodles at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

Matcha shoyu ramen spinach noddles at Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo, NYC, NY

It was overall a very good meal. Ichiba Ramen is on my top list of ramen joints and there is no doubt that I would go back there. But this time maybe not for ramen, but to try their Korean tacos!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ichiba Ramen by Shinokubo - 125 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

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

Fantastic dinner at Mamo NYC

Located in Soho, Mamo NYC is the outpost of Mamo Le Michelangelo, a restaurant in Antibes, a city in the French Riviera. I had this place on my very long list of restaurants to try and took the opportunity of having an OpenTable reward to dine there. And what a meal!

Dining room, first floor of Mamo NYC in Soho

Dining room on the second floor at Mamo NYC in Soho

Bar in the dining room on second floor of Mamo NYC in Soho

At first, I thought it was a small place, not knowing that it is on multi-levels. They did not sit us in the first floor that had a small dining room, but on the second floor with its bar and quite large dining room decorated with large Colorful old movie posters (I should mention the old photos of actors and singers like Charles Aznavour or Gerard Depardieu). The dining room was quite elegant and with lots of light so we could admire each and every dish that was served. Interesting detail: each table had tomatoes and a lemon, but not for consumption.

Tomatoes and lemon on table at Mamo NYC in Soho

They first brought us some bread, one of them being a delicious focaccia that I bet was house made, especially considering that they do offer focaccia on their menu.

I started by ordering a Negroni and they asked me if I would prefer an original one or the Mamo version. I went for the latter that was made with aperol, vermouth, and orange infused gin.

We usually do not go for any special, but when we heard what they proposed, we could not resist. It was a deep fried burrata in panko flakes that was served with black summer truffle and prosciutto. It was the first time I have ever seen deep fried burrata and have to say that it is amazing! First, you get the succulent crust contrasting with the creaminess of the burrata and then you get hit by the delicious flavor of the truffle that had an incredible smell enhanced by the truffle oil that was also in the dish.

Deep fried burrata with truffle at Mamo NYC in Soho

Then, Jodi ordered the raviolini with truffle. When the dish came, we immediately recognize "ravioles" these small ravioli filled with cheese (cantal cheese to be precise). It was an amazing dish: the ravioles were bathed in just enough cream and topped with a nice amount of truffle. It is definitely a dish that truffle lovers would love.

Ravioli with truffle at Mamo NYC in Soho

On my side, I went for spaghetti alle vongole or with clams. I simply loved it. The pasta were perfectly cooked al dente and the sauce was delicious, not too garlicky. Of course, there were the clams that were well cooked and tasted fresh.

Spaghetti alle vongole at Mamo NYC in Soho

We finished our meal with their house made tiramisu that was as sublime as the rest of the meal: very creamy, not too heavy with just enough coffee soaked cookies.

We left amazed by the experience at Mamo NYC: the food was spectacular and the service on point, efficient and courteous. Mamo is a great place if you are looking for a good Italian meal or to celebrate an event. I would definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mamo NYC - 323 W Broadway New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 7/6/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/6/17

Product Review: People's Choice Beef Jerky

I received a pack of beef Jerky from People's Choice Beef Jerky, a company located downtown Los Angeles that has been handcrafting premium meat for more than 85 years, staying true to their tradition, and keeping the handmade process in each step (slicing, marinating, laying and cooking). Their products, all made with natural ingredients, are defined in three different lines that I tried:

Old Fashioned line: it is an old family recipe that dates back from the 20s that has been since then updated with all natural ingredients. From that line, I have tried:

The original Beef Jerky:

Hot and Spicy Beef Jerky:

Old Fashioned Original Beef Jerky from People's Choice Beef Jerky

Carne Seca line: this line is inspired by the various cuisines from Downtown LA. From that line, I tried:

Carne Seca Limon:

Carne Seca Limon con chile:

Tasting Kitchen line: here, flavors are from all over the world. From that line, I tried:

Garlic Ginger:

Sriracha:

Sweet Chili Habanero:

Tasting Kitchen Garlic Ginger from People's Choice Beef Jerky

Orange Honey Teriyaki:

All of these were really good and my favorite was the garlic ginger as well as the Orange Honey Teriyaki. Although I liked the original beef jerky, I love the creativity of the different lines, bringing interesting flavors to a snack often ignored. Well, not anymore by me!

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! 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