I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/17

Product Review: Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce

I recently received some bottles of Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce. Little I knew that this company has been created by Dexter Holland, the lead singer of The Offspring, a multi-platinum American Punk Rock band. I still remember some of their songs that were really popular when I lived in France. Apparently, Interestingly, the adventure started as gifts to friends:

Please note that this product was sent to me complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

"I just thought it would be cool to have a hot sauce," says Holland. "I gave away the first batch as Christmas presents to my friends".

But, as people loved it, he decided to commercialize it and it is now available in many countries (Australia, Canada, UK, ...) and in the US, you can find it at Whole Foods or Amazon. Note that it is him represented on the bottles!

They sent me three sauces:

Green: made mainly with habanero and serrano peppers, this is the least hot of the three I have tried, but it still had a nice kick.
Red: made with habanero, jalapeño and red Japanese chili peppers. I found it less hot than the green one, however, it left a little tingling sensation on my tongue.
Orange or super hot, made with Scorpio chili pepper and Jolakia chili pepper. This is definitely the hottest, with the heat hitting you very quickly and lasting few minutes.

These all natural sauces have less salt than others and contains no preservatives. Perfect with tortilla chips, I love to use them with tacos or any Mexican / Tex-Mex or latin meal. But not just that, fried chicken for instance is perfect with it. I also tried to use the green one for a cocktail, trying to match the heat with a rolling effect. So, I tried to make a cucumber cooler (recipe below).

Cucumber cooler made with Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cucumber
2 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup of cold water
1 dose of vodka
3 dashes of green Gringo Bandito hot sauce
1 teaspoon of white sugar

In a mixer, put half of the cucumber and puree it until obtaining 1/4 cup.

In a shaker, add the cucumber puree, the sugar, the lemon juice, the water, the vodka and the hot sauce. Shake well and strain the cocktail in a glass. Add a slice of cucumber for presentation and enjoy!

Cucumber cooler with Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce

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! 8/12/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/17

Emily in The West Village

Known for its burger, but also pizza, Emily opened recently in the West Village after feeding an hungry crowd in Brooklyn. I was really looking forward to trying that place and we got an early reservation there. Well, maybe too early and we were the first ones to arrive for dinner, diners arriving a bit later, especially families with kids. The place is of a nice size with lots of light thanks to its large windows.

Dining room at Emily in The West Village

I started off with a cocktail: the Auntie Blayze, made with Bourbon, orange liqueur, angostura bitters and citrus. Very good with a nice citrusy flavor.

Auntie Blayze cocktail at Emily in The West Village

The first dish we had was the Grammy pizza, Detroit style (e.g. square pizza that has a thick deep-dish crisp crust), with tomato sauce and mozzarella. In terms of size, it is comparable to a personal pizza. It was deliciously crispy and the tomato sauce was divine.

Grammy pizza at Emily in The West Village

But the best was the Emmy burger, made with Pat LaFrieda dry aged beef (there are two patties), Tom Cat pretzel bun, Emmy sauce, caramelized onion, Grafton cheddar and cornichon. Cooked medium rare, it was juicy and quite messy as there was so much caramelized onions and cheese that it overflowed the bun. In fact, the pretzel bun was amazing, perfect as soft and not too thick, keeping a nice balance between the meat and the bread. The burger was served with fries that were just ok though.

Emmy burger at Emily in The West Village

The food at Emily WV was fantastic, especially the burger that is on top of my list of best burgers in the City. 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!

Emily WV - 35 Downing St, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/17

Yonekichi, rice burgers in Hell's Kitchen

We were set to eat at a Pizza place in Hell's Kitchen when, on our way, we stumbled upon Yonekichi, a tiny restaurant that opened last November, which serves rice burgers. I admit that I would have never noticed this place if it was not from the sign outside.

Dining room at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Paper cranes at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

It is a casual place with few seats, opened on the busy kitchen and with a bunch of paper cranes hanging around. You order at the counter and few minutes later, they will bring your order (or part of it) to your table. I was excited as I heard about rice burgers but never tried any. A rice burger is basically a burger where rice cakes replace the buns. But, at Yonekichi, they do not propose classic combinations, rather asian variations, the rice burgers coming from East Asia. We went for some combo:

Drink and burger for Jodi: she chose the iced maple matcha tea (that I did not like)

Iced maple matcha tea at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

And the Tofu Ganmo, a rice burger made with a tofu, onion, kale and carrot tempura, shiso and akoh salt. I found it fairly good, although slightly on the bland side.

Tofu Ganmo rice burger at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

On my side, I went for the burger and fries combo. The fries, called "furi furi" were covered with a delicious wasabi salt, that had a nice kick. They had a thick cut (they were potato wedges) and were a bit too soft for my taste (I like fries crispy).

Furi Furi potato wedges at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

For the burger, I first was thinking about chicken as I was supposed to get a burger for dinner, but, when I saw that it was a meatball patty, I passed. I finally chose the Sukiyaki beef that was composed of a thinly sliced beef, onion, lettuce, and togarashi (chili pepper) threads. I liked it, the beef being tender and tasty, but, overall, it was slightly on the bland side, the rice cakes overpowering the burger. I wish they had put some more sauce in it.

Sukiyaki beef rice burger at Yonekichi in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Both burgers were small and I was still hungry. So, I ordered an original tastuta that is a fried chicken skewer. It was pretty good, crispy, the chicken being perfectly cooked and moist.

It was overall an interesting meal and although it was slightly bland, I liked it but not to the point to crave it like I would a burger, seeing it more as an original item. I thought that it was a bit pricey for the quantity you get and cannot say for sure that the price was justified by the quality of the ingredients. For me, Yonekichi is the kind of place to go to to surprise people who never had rice burgers or if you are eating gluten free. Going back there otherwise? I do not think so...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Yonekichi - 238A E 9th St, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/17

Dinner at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

Back in May, we celebrated Jodi's birthday at Habanero Blues, a Mexican restaurant located Midtown Manhattan. There, we had a great time and very good food, certainly thinking about going back. Little we knew that one of the owners, Willy Reichenbach would invite me few months after for a meal there. Willy is a great guy, with lots of energy and passionate about the restaurant and ensuring his patrons have a great time. He gave me a few bits of interesting info about the place:

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

Co-owner Willy Reisenbach and Chef Angel at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

How did you come up with the name?
"We thought it sounded cool. We didn't really have a great name and I actually design restaurant concepts as a hobby and originally called it Habanero Grill. Then I had a bunch of names. One was Habanero Harry's. A lot of people liked the name Habanero Blues. I know that some people associate it with music".

Why did you decide to open a Mexican restaurant?
"I love Mexican food. I love all kinds of food but Mexican is one of my favorites. I used to go to Jackson Heights often for really authentic Mexican food in places where I was the rare gringo. I have been to Mexico but truth be told, you can find good Mexican here in New York. I wanted to bring the kind of Mexican food I like to Americans. Many people won't venture into ethnic neighborhoods. In our first restaurant, David Copperfield's, we did a lot of Mexican influenced food and at the Hop Devil Grill we ran a Taco Tuesday and a Tostada Thursday special. We made an awesome Pozole there and I am trying to get the Habanero Blues pozole to that level. Hop Devil had a Southwestern Menu mostly and we ran a place for a short while called the "Latin Lounge". "

What can you tell me about the restaurant?
"Habanero Blues is our first full out Mexican restaurant. We opened about 8 months ago but we had to develop it to where it is now. We are still adjusting some dishes but I am very proud of the current menu. A lot of great things to eat".

Willy also gave me a tour of the place that is even bigger than what I thought with not only a room with full bar upstairs, but also a room downstairs with some amazing street art.

Upstairs bar at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

Downstairs bar at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

Downstairs room at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

Food wise, we were there for a treat and tried some succulent dishes prepared by the Chef, Angel, who is from Pueblo in Mexico.

Chef Angel in the kitchen at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

I started off with a sangrita, a mix between their margarita and their Burgundy sangria, a quite refreshing drink.

Of course, we had to have guacamole that was perfectly seasoned.

But the most surprising was the Esquites en Vaso, Mexico City street style corn made with chipotle aioli, cotija cheese and cayenne pepper. It was fantastic with a nice sweetness of the corn counterbalancing the slight kick of the cayenne pepper.

Esquites en Vaso at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

For her entree, Jodi had a vegetarian enchilada that was one of the best I had. Often, I find vegetarian enchiladas bland, with tons of cheese to mask the fact that the vegetables are tasteless.

On my side, I tried the barbacoa that is braised beef served with arroz y frijoles (rice and beans). You can eat it straight or in a tortilla that comes with three different toppings: one made with corn, onions or fresh cilantro. The meat was awesome: nicely fatty, it literally melted in my mouth. Know that you can also order it in tacos.

I also tried their chicken mole that was delicious. Homemade, the mole is made with chocolate, chilis, peanuts, raisins, sesame seeds and plantains. I loved the sweet and savory taste of that dish that is kind of decadent with the chocolate in it.

Chicken mole at Habanero Blues in NYC,NY

Last was dessert. We got the churros we tried the last time we went there, definitely a must have.

As well as the flan that is made with condensed milk, giving a dense and creamy texture to a wonderful dessert.

This was, again, a great meal. Habanero Blues is a place I recommend, their food is delicious, beyond the classic tacos, and it is one of my favorite Mexican places in 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!

Habanero Blues - 29 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/17

Dinner at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Going to Brooklyn is always an adventure especially with the trains, but I was looking forward to trying Alice's Arbor where I was invited. Located in Clinton Hill, this is a cute place, with a rustic and warm feel. Wood is omnipresent there and I love the use of old doors as backs for banquets.

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

Dining room at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Bar at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Banquette at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

The concept there is farm to table and the chef, Mike Franzetti crafted a seasonal menu using produce from various farms in New York and New Jersey.

They started off by bringing us some cocktails:

Cocktails at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

The Bad Hombre was the most surprising: it is made with tequila, jalapeño and cilantro infused syrup and fresh lime juice. You could definitely taste the jalapeño and it had a nice kick mixed with the acidity of the lime.

The Bad Hombre cocktail at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

The second cocktail was The Bedstuy Run, made with London Gin, fresh ginger syrup, lime juice, cassis topped with club soda. Delicious, it was not as strong as the other one and very refreshing.

The Bedstuy Run at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

For an appetizer, we got the burrata, a daily special, served with heirloom and cherry tomatoes, basil oil and balsamic vinaigrette. The burrata was fantastic, very creamy, with a nice touch from the kosher salt they added on the dish, enhancing the flavor. But what was even better was the heirloom tomato that was succulent and not at all tasteless as the ones you often get at your local supermarket.

Heirloom tomato and burrata salad at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Then came mussels, cooked with tomato and white wine. These were fantastic and some of the biggest mussels I ever ate. They were prepared with tomato, fennel and garlic in a white wine broth.

Mussels at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Ratatouille: a classic French dish with some Middle Eastern flavors, this was my least favorite dish. I prefer when the vegetables are cooked all the way through and it was not the case at all for the zucchini.

Ratatouille at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

For her entree, Jodi chose the veggie burger topped with avocado. The burger was made with wild rice, lentils, chickpeas, fennel and coriander served with cowboy fries, pickled green tomato, red onion and brioche.

Veggie burger at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

On my side, I got the baby back ribs (Carolina style dry rub) that were succulent: the meat was literally falling off the bone and I could just use my fork to eat it. It was served with a potato salad.

Baby back ribs at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Last was dessert. We tried their white peach tart served with a sublime chai creme anglaise:

White peach tart at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

As well as the chocolate peanut butter torte that was amazing. It was composed of a chocolate shell, peanut butter drizzles, chocolate and peanut butter mousse, and with rice crispies for an added crunch.

Chocolate peanut butter torte at Alice's Arbor in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

We had a great meal at Alice's Arbor. I love the variety of the menu and its seasonality. It is definitely a place to know if you are in the neighborhood!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Alice's Arbor - 549 Classon Avenue, New York, NY11238

I Just Want To Eat! 8/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/5/17

My Trip to India: The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

I went to The Great Kabab Factory two years ago and forgot that this all you can eat place serves a phenomenal amount of food, to the point that, to my regret, I skipped dessert...Located in a hotel, the Radisson Blu (formerly Park Plaza), this is a nice place, with the dining room overlooking the kitchen that I only photographed at the end, busy talking to my colleagues explaining why the photo shows an empty room.

Dining room at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Kitchen at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Going there is like going to a Brazilian rodisio: they keep bringing food over and over and over. The best part is when you realize that you are full and have only eaten the appetizers...That is what happened to me, forgetting my past experience. Overall the food is delicious and would satisfy meat lovers. It is packed in spices and not too spicy, except the curry chicken, and I like the wide variety of dishes they propose. The Great Kabab Factory is a chain and if you happen to see one, I suggest you have a meal there: it is delicious!

Here is what I had:

Kingfisher beer:

Galouti Kabab (minced lamb with raw papaya):

Galouti kabab at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Amritsari Macchi Fry (boneless fish marinated with spices from Amritsar and deep fried):

Amritsari Macchi Fry at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Rogani Chooza (chicken marinated with spices):

Rogani Chooza at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Hyderabadi Murgh Ki Parchey (chicken marinated with spices from Hyderabad and cooked on Mahi Tawa - pan):

Hyderabadi Murgh Ki Parchey at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Lanshni Murgh Tikka (boneless chicken flavored with garlic and cooked in a clay oven):

Lanshni Murgh Tikka at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Gosht Pudina Seekh (minced lamb flavored with mint leaves and Indian herbs, cooked in clay oven):

Gosht Pudina Seekh at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Curry chicken:

Biryani:

Dal Makhani:

Dal Makhni at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Butter naan at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Bread (I cannot remember the name...):

Bread at The Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida

Enjoy (I did)!

The Great Kabab Factory - Radisson Noida, C Block, Sector 55, 201307 Noida, India

I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/17

Bukhara in Delhi, India

Each time I go to Delhi, I end up at Bukhara, the world famous restaurant. Don't be fooled by restaurant using that name: they are not part of the brand created by ITC and they try to use the notoriety of this fantastic establishment. I love this place that is a bit touristy but still serves some amazing food prepared in the kitchen that you can observe from the dining room (the first time I went there, I even got a tour of the kitchen).

Food wise, there are few dishes that I recommend: first is the paneer tikka that is cottage cheese that is the best I ever tried and far better than the paneer you can find in restaurants in New York City. The meat cooked in the tandoor is also spectacular, well cooked, not dry, with a nice char. Then, the dal makhni aka dal Bukhara that is very creamy, with some added butter. Last is the naan bread. They serve it family style that is good for the show, but I prefer the regular version of it. They have other succulent dishes that fouls satisfy both vegetarians and non-vegetarians who would like to have a memorable evening.

Here is what I had:

Butter naan:

Bharwan Kulcha:

Bhagwan kulcha at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Paneer Tikka and tandoori aloo:

Barrah Kebab (chunks of leg of lamb and chops marinated in a mixture of yogurt, herbs and spices, and cooked in the tandoor oven):

Murgh Malai Kebab (boneless chicken blended with cream cheese, malt vinegar, grilled chili and coriander, cooked in the tandoor):

Murgh Malai Kebab at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Dal Makhni:

Gulab jamun:

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bukhara - ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/17

Carl's Jr and Hard Rock Cafe in...India!

Au Bon Pain at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Red Mango at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Krispy Kreme at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Starbucks Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

During my last trip to India, i was really curious about the influence of the West on food, not that it is a new topic as chains like McDonald's or KFC have been present there for a long time, adapting their menu like, in any country where they invest, but with the added rule of not serving beef, cows being considered a sacred animal. I went to a mall in Noida as well as a tech center in Gurgaon, the Cyber Hub, where there were lots of chains that we know, reminding me a bit of Singapore. There were places like Wendy's, Red Mango, Starbucks, as well as Carl's Jr and The Hard Rock Cafe where I ended up for meals, one of my colleagues being so happy to eat something different and wary about his nut allergy.

Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Decor at Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Dining room at Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

The Hard Rock Café was exactly like the other locations of this famous joint with the usual decor full or Rock memorabilia like a guitar from Kiss or Van Halen, serving some classic dishes and to my surprise, burgers. Yes, they serve burgers, but the meat is buffalo. I admit that I was more curious about the Hickory smoked BBQ Combo that was composed of baby back ribs (pork) and the Hickory BBQ chicken that were succulent. It was served with Cowboy beans, seasoned fries and coleslaw.

Hickory Smoked BBQ Combo at Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Baby back ribs at Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Hickory Smoked BBQ chicken at Hard Rock Cafe at the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Dining room at Carl's Jr in Noida, India

At Carl's Jr, it was all chicken and I chose a hand-filet chicken sandwich that had just a little amount of spices. It really liked it. Of course, they had other choices that were more local such as tandoori chicken or tikka masala, as well as a bunch of vegetarian options, a mandatory thing in India. Last were sides that had spices: the onion rings that were nice and crispy, always comforting and some fries that were decent.

Hand-filet chicken sandwich at Carl's Jr in Noida, India

Onion rings at Carl's Jr in Noida, India

French fries at Carl's Jr in Noida, India

It was a nice insight, but of course does not stop there: there are many restaurants like the famous Le Cirque in Delhi that go beyond the casual and fast food dining I saw so far. I gonna have to try some the next time I go to India.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Carl's Jr - DLF MALL OF INDIA, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India

Hard Rock Cafe Cyber Hub - Unit No. 4/5/104/105, Ground and First Floor, R-Block, DLF Cyber City, Phase III, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002, India

I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/17

New Opening: Le Relais de Venise L' Entrecote in Soho

Le Relais de Venise, the outpost of the French restaurant that simply serves steak frites smothered in a secret sauce that one believes has chicken liver in it, has opened a new location in Soho. A big place with the same feel and decor. Not French but Italian, with big paintings representing life in Venice. No, you are not mistaken: I said Italian. I love the story of Le Relais de Venise. It all started in 1959, when a winemaker named Paul Gineste de Saurs decided to buy an Italian restaurant in Paris with the intention to use it to showcase the wine produced by his family, Château de Saurs, wine still proposed at the restaurant. As he had no experience in the restaurant business, he decided to keep the Venetian decor, add L'entrecote (strip steak) to the name and propose a single item menu: steak frites. Instead of serving the steak with the traditional butter with parsley, he served it with what is still today a secret sauce. Close to 70 years later, the concept is still there and grew more popular. I mean, if you are serving one single dish, you need to do it well and I have never been disappointed.

Decor at Le Relais de Venise L' Entrecote in Soho

Each time you go, you get the same modus operandi. First, they ask you how you would like the meat cooked: rare, medium or well done, with no in between. They will write your choice of temperature on the paper tablecloth. Then if you would like to drink something.

Temperature at Le Relais de Venise L' Entrecote in Soho

Then, they would bring bread (baguette) as well as a salad, always a bit overdressed, topped with walnuts.

Walnut salad at Le Relais de Venise L' Entrecote in Soho

Then was the meat, sirloin, topped with that delicious sauce I mentioned before, where I love to dip the fantastic fries they serve there. My steak was rare and Jodi's medium, both perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. Know that when you dine there, they will bring two servings and if the person you are with only wants one, don't be shy to ask for their portion...That's what I always do with Jodi...

Steak frites at Le Relais de Venise L' Entrecote in Soho

The food was fantastic and we even got 50% discount following an offer they posted on their Instagram profile, making the experience even more sweeter (offer available until Labor Day 2017, but we fortunately had a screenshot of the post as at first they did not apply the discount). Anyway, with or without discount, Le Relais de Venise remains one of my favorite steak places in New York City and I am glad they are opening another location. I highly recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote - 40 Thompson St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/17

Indian Dinner at Benares in TriBeCa

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

When you are a blogger and get an invitation from PRs and restaurants, it is always tricky as one would wonder how objective you would be. I always follow certain rules: always disclose that I was invited, be honest about the food (if I do not like it, I will write it), never talk about the service as they know that you are coming for a review and for sure will give you extra attention. People sometimes ask me: if you get invited and do not like the food at all, what do you do? Frankly, I would not post as a courtesy to the person who invited me. Benares is an interesting case though: I went two years ago and did not like it. So, going back was weird and the experience was different, the food we tried much better than what we had the first time we went to their location in TriBeca (although I still find their samosa just ok), and we tried a lot of it, as they proposed a tasting composed of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Here is what we had:

High Society Old Fashioned:

Mango and sweet lassi (perfect for soothing my mouth as the food was a bit spicy):

Far Far Crackers:

Paneer (cottage cheese) with onion sauce:

Paneer with onion sauce at Benares in TriBeCa

Khasta Gobhi (lightly battered crisp cauliflower with garlic and crushed pepper in a tangy sauce):

Aloo Papri Chaat (wheat crisps, chickpeas, potatoes, topped with yogurt, roasted cumin, mint and tamarind sauce) and vegetable samosa:

Aloo Papri Chaat and samosa at Benares in TriBeCa

Tandoor specialties: it was composed of Aamiya Jhinga (jumbo prawns marinated in mango, chili, rice vinegar, ginger and molasses, cooked in tandoor), Chicken Tikka Smokey,

Tandoor specialties at Benares in TriBeCa

Chicken Tikka Smokey at Benares in TriBeCa

Achchari Chicken Tikka at Benares in TriBeCa

Paneer (cottage cheese) Tikka:

Banarsi Kachori (crispy flour puffs served with tomato salsa, potatoes and chutneys):

Lamb chop:

Fish Malai Tikka (fish filet marinated in yogurt and cooked in the tandoor):

Kholapuri Misal (a spicy dish made with sprouted beans in chili, coconut, herbs and spiced crisps with toasted pav):

Chicken tikka masala:

Lamb Rogan Josh:

Saag Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese):

Peshawari Chole (chickpeas cooked with roasted herbs and spices in a tomato and onion sauce):

It was served with naan and rice:

For dessert, we got Atam Bomb, a chocolate lava cake with rose petal ice cream:

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Benares TriBeCa - 45 Murray Street, New York, NY 10007

I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/17

Bastille Day Celebration at La Gamelle - Closed

For Bastille Day, we decided to celebrate in a French restaurant and chose La Gamelle, a place we passed in front of quite a few times. Nice place with live music, it definitely has a Parisian feel and not just because of the French music or French speaking staff.

Dining room at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

I started by ordering a cocktail: a vieux carré, made with cognac, rye, vermouth and Peychaud bitters, a recipe created in New Orleans. Quite strong, it was pretty good.

Vieux Carre cocktail at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

As an appetizer, I was already set on their escargots that looked beautiful in their shell and were delicious, the butter sauce being addictive (yes, I dipped lots of bread in it!).

Escargots at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

For my entree, I went for the duck confit that was topped with an amazing foie gras butter, and served with lots of mushrooms and panisse. This was one of the best duck confit I had in a long time: the duck itself was fantastic, not too salty. I just wish there was more.

Duck confit at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

Jodi on her side went for the Bibb salad and the cheese plate. The cheese plate was a bit disappointing: first, nobody was able to tell us what cheeses were served, but we know there was manchego and Gouda, two cheeses that are not French. Well, when you order a cheese plate in a French restaurant, don't you want to get French cheese?

Bibb lettuce at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

Cheese plate at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

For dessert, we tried two classics: the Île flottante and the tarte tatin. I admit that the desserts were just ok and at that point I regretted not ordering the crème brûlée or the mousse au chocolat. The île flottante was good, but could have had more crème anglaise (vanilla bean sauce), and the tarte tatin seemed to have been warmed up for too long in the microwave, the crust being very rubbery and impossible to cut with a spoon and the apples being too hot. It was also served with creme fraiche that was way too sour...

Ile Flottante at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

Tarte tatin at La Gamelle, East Village, NYC

Despite that, I had a nice dinner there and would definitely go back to La Gamelle. If you go, order the duck confit: it is succulent!

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 Gamelle - 241 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/17

Live Octopus at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

It has been so long since I wanted to go to Sik Gaek in Woodside to try their live octopus, but I needed to find adventurous people to come with me to have a fun experience as Jodi categorically and understandably refused to come with me. So, I went on a Friday night with two of my colleagues, Abe and Fabien. I was not sure what to expect besides a crowded restaurant: not crowded when we showed up at approx. 6:45pm, but then, it filled up with quite a lot of people there to enjoy Korean food.

Dining room at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

There are two sections: tables and then booths. I immediately noticed that they did not try to maximize the number of tables in the restaurant, leaving some space in the middle and making the experience comfortable. We were seated in a booth and noticed a button that is used to call the staff who was equipped with an ear piece to receive instructions. Efficient.

Button to call wait staff at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

We started off by ordering some beer (Kloud) and, of course, some soju, choosing the Jinro Chamisul Classic that was the strongest on their menu and not aromatized.

Jinro Chamisul Classic soju at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

Cloud beer at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

With our drinks, they brought us some banchan, slightly different from the usual I got in Korean restaurants, besides the kimchi that is fairly classic and sort of expected. There were rice cakes that were in a red sauce that was not spicy, as well as fried eggs, one per person.

Fried eggs at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

Rice cakes at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

Then came the live octopus: I admit that I was a bit worried that we would go and they would tell us they did not have any that day! But no, here it was, moving on the plate, the movements slowing down as time passed, but still quite a lot, making it even more difficult to grab some of it with the chopsticks. But, when you get one, you need to make sure you dip it well in the sauce they give you so it does not stick into your mouth. Taste wise, there is so much sauce all over it that you cannot really taste anything. Texture wise, it was not as slimy as I expected...And no, you do not really fill something moving in your mouth as your are quickly going to chew on it.

We also ordered some marinated beef ribeye that was cut thick. It was presented sitting on a bed of onions that I could care less except when it the top that had a nice taste of the marinade and beef. I then took some lettuce, and wrapped a pice of meat with some gojujang sauce. I loved it: the beef was delicious, being juicy and tender.

Marinated beef at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

At that point, we decided to order another dish and went for their seafood hotpot as they seem to be also known for it. As we waited, they brought us, complimentary, a soju bomb, made with beer and sprite, where you drop a shot glass of soju.

Soju bomb at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

When the hotpot came, I found it beautiful, with lots of seafood: shrimp, clams, mussels, octopus (not live this time), calamari and lobster, as well as a white fish that I did not recognize but might have been tilapia. My favorite besides the lobster (that had to be eaten quickly so it would not be overcooked) was the clams that were superb. However, it looked big, but the bottom was mainly made of cabbage and bean sprouts, with not enough noodles.

Seafood Hotpot at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

As they did not have dessert, they offered us some watermelon juice that was a good palate cleanser.

Watermelon juice at Sik Gaek in Woodside, Queens

We had fun at Sik Gaek and the food was good, although a bit pricey. It is definitely a place where I would go back for the live octopus, for a dare dinner with family and friends. By train, taking the 7 line, it is not that far and worth the trip if you are adventurous.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sik Gaek - 161-29 Crocheron Avenue, Queens, NY 11358

I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/17

Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

I love donuts and, as we were in Philly, we decided to try their famous Federal Donuts, a place that, outside of Philadelphia, only made it so far to Miami.
We went for breakfast and, as we entered, our nose got filled with a delicious smell of fried dough.

School desks at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

It is not a big place, but it is sufficient considering the kind of place where we were. Notice the school tables that render the experience even more fun!

We decided to try several donuts, the fancy ones being already made and the two classics being prepared a la minute.

Donuts at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

These were the churro:

Churro donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

And cinnamon sugar:

Cinnamon sugar donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

For the fancy ones, we got the banana cream pie:

Banana cream pie donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

And the cookies and cream:

Cookies and cream donut at Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, PA

These were all cake donuts, not too heavy and not dry. My favorite of all was the churro one that I thought was a great fusion between an American and Spanish classic. The cinnamon sugar that looked very similar to the churro was also delicious, as was the cookies and cream. Unfortunately, the banana cream pie was not: it had an off after taste that I did not like. Despite that, I loved the donuts at Federal Donuts. They are good and creative, with the great idea to reinvente traditional desserts into a donut. But if you go there, i definitely recommend the churro donut: it is so good...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Federal Donuts - 1632 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/17

Dinner at Anthony David's in Hoboken

I am a fan of Chef Anthony Pino who I got the chance to meet recently at Porter Collins, his new restaurant in Uptown Hoboken. I simply love his restaurants, including Bin 14 where we went quite a few times for brunch. So I was excited when I got invited for dinner at Anthony David's, his very first restaurant in the mile square city. It is not as big as Porter Collins, but has its charm and benefits from quite a number of seats outside, and from a large private room that I only saw from outside, a party taking place when we went.

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

Dining room at Anthony David's in Hoboken

This place if BYOB so I decided to bring a Pommard from Blason Louis, a 100% Pinot Noir from France that was perfect with the meal I ordered.

Pommard wine from Blason Louis at Anthony David's in Hoboken

They started off by bringing us some bread and a spread that was probably made with beans and sat in olive oil.

Bread and bean spread at Anthony David's in Hoboken

We then got our appetizers. Jodi went for the grilled asparagus, topped with a sunny egg, prosciutto, pecorino and black truffles. The yolk was perfectly runny on the deliciously grilled asparagus and the generous portion of prosciutto.

Grilled asparagus at Anthony David's in Hoboken

On my side, I could not resist the charred octopus, served with fennel, cannellini beans, tomato and garlic. The octopus was beautiful, perfectly cooked and delicately charred, not rubbery at all. It came with a sort of bean ragout that was very comforting.

For our entrees, Jodi ordered a vegetarian dish: the eggplant Bolognese where the eggplant replaces the meat, made with bucatini, mozzarella, pecorino, tomato and chilies. That was a good dish that was also comforting. The pasta were cooked al dente and the chilies added a slight kick that I really liked.

Eggplant bolognese at Anthony David's in Hoboken

I decided to go with the duck breast, served with a very creamy polenta, arugula and cherries. That was a succulent dish: the duck was perfect cooked, being pink in the center, and with a crispy skin. I loved the pairing with the cherries that added a bit of sweetness to the gamey taste of the duck.

Duck breast at Anthony David's in Hoboken

Last was dessert. We tried their Bourbon glazed donuts that were amazing and a bit like crack: once you try one, you cannot stop!

Bourbon glazed donuts at Anthony David's in Hoboken

The second dish was a chocolate budino or chocolate pudding that was quite dense and very chocolatey.

Chocolate budding at Anthony David's in Hoboken

We left full and amazed with our meal where every dish was sublime. Anthony David's is a fabulous restaurant that has its place in Hoboken and has its own character, being different from his sister restaurants. This is definitely a place that I recommend for brunch or dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Anthony David's - 953 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/17

My Trip to Philadelphia: Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

I was really happy to find a Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Philadelphia. I know the steakhouse in New York where I went a few times and was never disappointed, and was looking forward to see if the one in Philly would deliver showing some consistency.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Dining room at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

I thought the restaurant in New York was big, but it was before seeing this one! What used to be the First Pennsylvania Bank is huge, with three different floors, the one downstairs being for private parties. We got seated on the second floor, having an amazing view of the place.

I started off my meal with my favorite cocktail: an old fashioned, made with Knob Creek Bourbon, muddled cheery, orange, sugar and bitters, a cocktail that was very good.

Old Fashioned at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

For appetizer, I hesitated between a few: the thick cut bacon au Poivre that I would have ordered if it was by the slice as Jodi does not like it; the jumbo lump crab cake that is their specialty that I had several times and consider one of the best; and the lobster bisque that I never had. I went for the latter and did not regret it: creamy, it had a nice slight spiciness and lots of lump of lobster in it.

Lobster bisque at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

For steaks, Jodi ordered their 8oz filet mignon (medium):

Filet mignon at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

And I ordered the 16oz ribeye (medium rare):

Ribeye at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Both steaks were perfectly cooked, nicely charred and very tender. My preference went, not surprisingly, to the ribeye that was delightfully fatty. We asked for some béarnaise sauce that was delicious and I appreciated that they did not charge us for it.

As a side, we shared the massive onion rings. They were good, crispy, however, the onion could have been cooked a bit more.

Onion rings at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

Last was dessert. And what a dessert! We got the warm banana bread pudding that was amazing, especially the top part that was caramelized and delightfully crunchy.

Banana bread pudding at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia, PA

This was a wonderful meal: the food was fantastic and the service very good, making us feel welcome. Sel Frisco's Double Eagle is a great steakhouse and I am glad to see that they show consistency across their locations.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - 1426-28 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/17

Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

For our 10 year anniversary, we went to Philadelphia and picked Aqimero, the restaurant from acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval. Located in the Ritz Carlton, this place is beautiful and big. There are two areas: the lounge when you enter immediately in the hotel, and the restaurant on the left side, with its kitchen in the back where you can see the magic happen.

Dining room at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Food wise, Chef Richard Sandoval crafted a Latin seasonal menu with quite a nice choice of plates to shares, at prices that are not outrageous for such a place. Here is what we had:

For cocktails, I went for an Old Fashioned that was not on their cocktail menu, but that they can accommodate as they have a full bar.

Old Fashioned at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

We started off with the guacamole that was quite good, although not amazing as I thought it would be in this type of place.

Guacamole at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

After that, I tried some of their oysters: the smaller ones were Bull's eyes from Maryland and the larger were from Virginia.

Bull's eye oyster from Maryland at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Virginia oyster at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Next was the grilled melon with Serrano ham and blue cheese, a nice take on melon and prosciutto.

Grilled melon and serrano ham at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Then, came the wild mushrooms flatbread that was delicious with its caramelized onions and goat cheese. Drizzled on top was a bit of truffle oil that added an elegant touch to it.

Wild mushrooms flatbread at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

Of course, I had to try their Grilled Spanish octopus that was perfectly cooked, not rubbery, with a nice char on the outside.

The last dish we tried was the cauliflower steak, served with lime crema fresco, tempura pickled mushrooms and raisin chimichurri. I admit that it was my least favorite dish, the cauliflower, raw, not being that easy to cut and because there was not enough sauce.

Cauliflower at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

For dessert, we got the churro waffle and ice cream. It was served with grilled pineapple and coconut cream. Although it was a good waffle, I admit that I was expecting something closer to a churro (you would have told me it was a waffle, I would not have even think about the taste of churro). I wish they had the tres leches rice pudding on their menu that day...

Churro waffle at Aqimero in Philadelphia, PA

It was overall a fantastic dinner: Aqimero is a place to know if you want to have a nice, elegant dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Aqimero - 10 Ave Of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/17

My trip to Philadelphia: Sonny's Famous Steaks

We were going to see a gallery in the Old City part of Philadelphia and so, I looked for places for cheesesteaks there, stumbling upon Sonny's Famous Steaks, a casual place located on Market street.

We were going to see a gallery in the Old City part of Philadelphia and so, I looked for places for cheesesteaks there, stumbling upon Sonny's Famous Steaks, a casual place located on Market street.

Dining room at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

This place might not be as known as Pat's King of Steaks, Tony Luke's or Geno's, but it is definitely a place to know: low key, its menu items are not expensive, the highest dish there being the double grilled cheese burger, a hamburger served between two grilled cheeses. And when you try their grilled cheese, you quickly understand that it can be a heart attack on a plate. We did try their grilled cheese that is made with two thick slices of brioche, and two cheeses (provolone and american), with some tomato as an add-on. It was delicious: there was so much cheese that it was oozing from the middle of the sandwich.

Grilled cheese sandwich at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

Of course, we also tried their cheesesteak, that was made with a generous amount of a thinly sliced ribeye and american as our pick for cheese. The meat was succulent: juicy, tender, it was smothered by lots of cheese and housed in a very good bread that was soft and not chewy.

Cheesesteak sandwich at Sonny's Famous Steaks, Philadelphia, PA

We ended up paying $16 for the grilled cheese, the cheesesteak and a bottle of water: pretty good deal! Sonny's Famous Steaks is now on my radar and I would definitely go back. Maybe next time to try that grilled cheese burger...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sonny's Famous Steaks - 228 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/17

Beer Ice Cream at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

July is not only National Ice Cream Month, but it is also National Beer Month. So, Our Name Is Farm, a digital media and event production firm had a great idea to merge them together and asked Tipsy Scoop, the boozy ice cream parlor, to come up with some creation for Lantern Hall, the largest beer hall of Bushwick, Brooklyn that consults with them. Bars always fall short when it comes to dessert, so it is a very interesting way to fill the gap.

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

Beer ice cream flight from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

We tried a flight made with local beers; the flavors were:

Mosaic Creamsicle - Ice cream blended with pineapple, orange and mango puree. Infused with Gun Hill Brewing’s Mosaic.

Beer ice cream: Mosaic Creamsicle from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

Happy Hour - Ice cream infused with Jack’s Abby House Lager and blended with Tipsy Scoop’s house pub mix: crushed peanuts, salty pretzels and toffee bits.

Beer ice cream: Happy Hour from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

She’s a Maniac! (Sorbet) - Honey-lemon sorbet infused with KCBC Janiak Maniac pilsner.

Beer ice cream: She's a maniac sorbet from Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

Salty Pretzels On Fleek - Chocolate ice cream infused with Stillwater On Fleek Imperial Stout, blended with salty pretzel bits.

Beer ice cream: Salty pretzel on fleetfrom Tipsy Scoop at Lantern Hall in Brooklyn, NY

It was quite surprising, the ice cream having a nice hint of beer, not overpowering at all, but still present. Meshing the two is like having a drink with dessert, with flavors that are refreshing and some of them comforting because they remind us of our childhood, like the creamsicle one. My favorites were the Happy Hour and Salty Pretzel On Fleek, as I love the sweet and savory combination.

If you'd like to try a flight, go quickly as they will serve it until supply lasts, most likely a week. Price wise, it costs $8, a reasonable price for four scoops of delicious ice cream.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Lantern Hall - 52 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11237

I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/17

LSC After Dark event at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

I have never been to the Liberty Science Center (aka LSC) in Jersey City and was excited when they invited me for an evening called LSC After Dark: Electric BBQ, an all adult event with booze, food, a DJ and an electric show to conclude the evening. This was a media preview of their event on July 20th. Interesting concept: although lots of adults love science, this kind of place is often associated with kids and the Liberty Science Center decided to create specific events for adults the third Thursday of each month. I think their first one was called LSC After Dark: sexy science party that was probably not as X-rated as the name may suggest, and more recently, LSC After Dark: nerd prom and wearable fashion show.

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

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Ticket for LSC After Dark at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

The Electric BBQ event had a variety of food, the most unique being the balut, a Filipino dish that consists in an egg hatch for close to two weeks before being eaten; a specialty that became famous thanks to Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods. It was not my first balut and I enjoyed it. Another unique food I tried was flavored crickets and grasshoppers: crunchy, they were prepare in different ways: spicy chili lime grasshopper (my least favorite), smokey BBQ crickets, sour cream and onion crickets (my fav) and honey mustard crickets (pretty good).

Spicy chili lime grasshopper at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Smokey BBQ crickets at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Honey mustard crickets at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Sour cream and onion cricket at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Otherwise, we ate some more "normal" dishes like:

Meatballs from Hanna's Meatballs. They offered teriyaki, buffalo, BBQ and marinara (we went for the last two):

Hanna's Meatballs at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Marinara meatballs from Hanna's Meatballs

Spam Musubi and Thai ice tea from Eemas cuisine, a place proposing Hawaiian dishes. It was the first time I tried spam and found it quite good the way it was prepared.

Emus Cuisine at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Thai ice tea from Eemas Cuisine at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Corn on the cob with homemade sour cream and chives from Whealth and Co:

Poké bowl and acai bowl topped with Nutella from Ono Grinds Poké:

Mochi and waffles fusion from Muffle, one of my favorite: when you cross mochi and waffle together and serve it in a flight: S'mores, Unicorn and Fireball.

Moffle Bar at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle flight at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moflle fire ball at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle unicorn at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Moffle S'Mores at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

There were also beers, wine and smoking drinks made with dry ice, like the tropical sangria I tried.

Tropical sangria at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

We finished the evening with an amazing electric show where they use Tesla coils to make music, putting people in a Faraday cage in the middle of the stage. We had a good time there and found this interesting. If you too are interested,you can find more info here.

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 Liberty Science Center - 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305

I Just Want To Eat! 7/18/17 I Just Want To Eat! 7/18/17

My Trip to Philadelphia: Estia, Greek Restaurant

For our 10 year anniversary, we decided to go to Philadelphia, before a big trip that we are planning as a true celebration at the end of the year. I like Philly: food wise, it has lots to offer besides the usual cheesesteak that is undeniably associated to this city. As we arrived in the afternoon by train, I looked for a restaurant close to our hotel, keeping the option of a cheesesteak for later, our dinner being already steak. Looking on OpenTable, we found Estia, a Greek restaurant located near the city center.

Dining room at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

Fish display at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

Estia is a fairly big restaurant, beautifully decorated, with an open kitchen in the back and a nice fish display. I used to order classic dishes like moussaka or lamb youvetsi when eating in Greek restaurants, disregarding fish options. But then, I rediscovered fish and any kind of seafood (octopus of course) at Thalassa in TriBeCa. But to start, it is not fish that we wanted but their saganaki, this pan fried kefalograviera cheese that is flambé. We never got it, our waiter not being that focused on his work and preferring talking to a table where he was probably hoping for a larger order and thus a larger tip. That was fine finally as we had plans for the day...

They started off by bringing us some bread and a spread that one of the waiters could not name for us.

Jodi went for the arugula salata that was made with arugula, cherry tomatoes, shaved kefalograviera cheese, in a sweet vinaigrette.

Arugula salata at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

On my side, I ordered two appetizers. The first one was the grilled sardines that were de-boned, topped with ladolemono, a classic Greek sauce made with olive oil and lemon. This was very good, the fish being perfectly cooked and fresh.

Grilled sardines at Estia in Philadelphia, PA

My second appetizer was the octopedi or octopus that was grilled and charred, served with red and sweet onions, roasted peppers, dill , capers, parsley and a red wine vinaigrette. This was another great dish: the octopus was not rubbery at all and was nicely charred.

Last was dessert. We ordered one of their popular desserts, the salted caramel baklava, and ended up with baklava. That was fine as their baklava was really good, not dry at all, with lots of honey.

Despite the service that should have been better, I really liked the food at Estia. I would probably go back there and try some more seafood.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Estia - 1405 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19102