I Just Want To Eat! 9/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/1/17

Indian buffet at Vaibhav Indian Spice Journey in Jersey City

We've heard so many things about the little India in Jersey City, that we decided to check it out. We ate at Vaibhav, but it was not our first choice. No, we were supposed to eat at Vatan with a reservation at 12pm, but, after waiting close to 15 minutes in front of a closed door, we decided to go somewhere else. Don't be mistaken though: Vatan has nothing to do with the elegant Indian place in the city that I still need to discover.

It was a Saturday and Vaibhav was proposing a buffet ($13.99 at the time of this post) that was quite nice, many dishes, with lots of chicken specialties as well as a nice choice of vegetarian dishes. They even had in the back a dosa bar that made delicious dahi puri. Overall the food was very good and seemed authentic, perfect if you like medium to spicy food. If you cannot stand even a bit spicy, do not bother. One negative was the service: I asked three times for the mango lassi I ordered...and never got it. I made sure it was not on the bill...So, overall good, and I would go back for some authentic Indian (by the way, when I asked my Indian colleagues for a recommendation weeks later, they mentioned Vaibhav...).

Here are some of the dishes I ate:

Rice cheese balls (like arancini with spices!):

Rice cheese balls at Vaibhav in Jersey City

Chicken 65 (don't ask me where the name comes from: no idea...):

Pav Bhaji:

Tandoori chicken:

Chicken Biryani:

I'll call this crackers: if anybody knows the exact name, please shoot me an email:

Vegetarian fried rice and tofu in chili sauce:

Kauai Paneer and aloo gobi:

Kadai Paneer and Aloo Gobi at Vaibhav in Jersey City

Dal fry and rice:

Chicken tikka masala and goat curry:

Dahi puri (made at the so called dosa bar):

Naan bread:

Gulab jamun:

Kheer (rice pudding):

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Vaibhav - 737 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17

Burgers at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Sometimes it is nice to do touristy things and as I told Jodi that in my last trip to India I went to The Hard Rock Café in Gurgaon, we decided to visit their location in Times Square that we've never been too. We went on a Saturday, not too late to avoid the crowd and got seated fairly quickly, keeping a tour of the restaurant for later as we did not want to miss the tons of memorabilia they have from iconic stars like Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones to name a few. There's definitely a fun atmosphere there whether you like rock or not.

Entrance of Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, NY

Dining room at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Chad Smith's drums - Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Paul Mc Cartney's guitar at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Jimi Hendrix'suit at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Mickey Jones'drums at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Elvis Presley's memorabilia at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Food wise, we decided to go for burgers, that, priced at $18 with fries, were really good. We tried two of them: the Original Legendary Burger, a 1/2 lb Angus beef patty made with cheddar cheese, an onion ring, smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato. As well as the big cheeseburger, composed of three slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion that we ditched. These were delicious: juicy for sure, the meat was as ordered, medium. My preference went for the legendary one as a bit more decadent and because of the layers of flavors.

Original Legendary Burger at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

The big cheeseburger at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

The fries were good also, although I would they would be crispier.

French fries at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

To accompany my burger, I went for a vanilla milkshake that was nice, with the perfect thickness.

Milkshake at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

As we finished our meal, we walked around this huge restaurant that started to be packed, but still, not as much as we thought. It was a fun moment and I would definitely go back to try their other burgers or ribs, the dish that I tried in India (by the way, there, the beef being forbidden as cows are sacred, they serve buffalo meat).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Hard Rock Cafe - 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17

Ice cream at Eggloo in Chinatown, NYC

Located in Chinatown, Eggloo was a big novelty last year, being omnipresent on instagram. This place that sells ice cream in Hong Kong egg waffles is still popular. No wonder: these waffle cones are fantastic, light and addictive, and their ice cream delightfully creamy. For people like me used to the classic cones that the Ben & Jerry's or Coldstones of this world offer, it is fun to go there and try the various combinations you can make, combining the egg waffle (original, green tea or chocolate, the later being my favorite) with various ice creams (vanilla, cookies and cream, etc) and with unlimited toppings (on that one, I wonder how it would look if you ask for all of them). Original ice cream, besides the monsters that can be served in restaurants like Bagatelle, is now a trend with other ventures like Wu Kong or Taiyaki, all different. But I feel that Eggloo has its place and will continue to indulge there.

Making waffles at Eggloo in Chinatown, NYC

Here is what I tried:

Vanilla ice cream and regular egg waffle with condensed milk and graham crackers:

Original egg waffle with vanilla ice cream at Eggloo in Chinatown, NYC

Cookies and cream ice cream and chocolate waffle with condensed milk and Oreo cookie:

chocolate egg waffle with cookies and cream ice cream at  Eggloo in Chinatown, NYC — chocolate egg waffle with cookies and cream ice cream at Eggloo in Chinatown, NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Eggloo - 60 Mulberry Street, New York, NY10013

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/17

Brunch at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

We were looking for a place to have an early lunch close to the IFC Center where we were going to see the documentary "City of Ghosts" about the improvised journalists of Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (eye opening by the way), when we found White Oak Tavern on Waverly Place. Nice place, fairly big with a bar in a sort of U shape in the middle with an impressive collection of alcohol, especially whiskey. I love the rustic feel of the place that gives the impression you stepped back in time, with old objects and photos on the shelves.

Dining room at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

Food wise, they serve an all American fair. We started off with a banana bread, served with butter, that was delicious. However, beware that there are nuts in it, information that they may want to provide on their menu.

Banana bread at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

I should also mention the chocolate muffins they bring to each table: light and chocolatey.

Chocolate muffins at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

For her entree, Jodi got the chopped salad that was composed of romaine, cucumber, tomato, carrot, haricot verts, kalamata olives, avocado, feta and a tahini dressing.

Chopped salad at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

On my side, I ordered the bacon cheese burger. Made with a Pat Lafrieda patty, cheddar, a thick cut of bacon, pickled red onions and a chipotle aioli, it looked beautiful and the first bite was divine. I ordered it medium-rare and it was perfect, so juicy, with the nice smokey taste of the bacon. I really liked the extra bite that the red onions gave, adding a bit of acidity as they were pickled.

Bacon cheeseburger at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

That was succulent and I definitely recommend White Oak Tavern for their burger. Would I go back? Definitely! I already saw few dishes on their menu that I would like to try.

Enjoy (I did)!

White Oak Tavern - 21 Waverly Place, New York, NY, NY10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/17

The Gumbo Bros, Cajun and Creole cuisine in Brooklyn

It's been a while since I had Cajun and creole food, the only restaurant I knew in Manhattan being closed unfortunately, as I wanted to explore more of this cuisine after a wonderful trip in New Orleans few years ago (yes, I still rave about the beignets at Café du Monde). I did find a couple of food trucks but was never thrilled by the experience. Until I got invited at The Gumbos Bros, a small and charming place in Brooklyn that opened in December 2016, meeting with my friend Malini, The Restaurant Fairy. There, I got to try quite a lot of specialties and made up my recommended meal: fried green tomatoes (perfectly non ripe tomatoes deep fried), a po'boy (I cannot decide between the catfish and their best seller made with shrimp), and the banana pudding (I had to go and missed the beignets).

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

Logo of The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Dining room at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Beads for Mardi Gras at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Here are the food I sampled:

Selection of dishes at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Crawfish mac and cheese:

Seafood gumbo, a family recipe from one of the owners, handmade the old fashioned way with a 2 hour roux, shrimp, blue crab, rice and green onions.

Seafood gumbo at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Crawfish étouffée:

Boudin ball that is a Cajun French recipe you would rarely see on a menu, that is not the classic French blood sausage. No, it is a deep fried rice and sausage ball.

Boudin ball at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Rice and debris gravy (not sure what the debris were):

Rice and debris at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Catfish po'boy (made with Leidenheimer French bread shipped fresh from New Orleans, Duke's mayo, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and pickles).

Catfish Po'Boy at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Shrimp po'boy:

Fried green tomatoes (I should mention that Jodi said:"these are the best I had in the city"):

Fried green tomatoes at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Banana pudding:

Bourbon pecan pie:

I also got one of their beers on tap (they have a nice selection of beers from Louisiana):

I was impressed by The Gumbo Bros: owners Clay Boulware and Adam Lathan (who are not brothers but best friends, i.e. Bros) created a nice casual place with a relaxed atmosphere, serving dishes from their cherished native South. I should mention that they have couple of vegetarian dishes besides the fried green tomatoes, like a vegan po'boy. I just wish I got to try the beignets...Well, I will have to 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!

The Gumbo Bros - 224 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/17

Thai dinner at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

One night, we decided to go to a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen with our friends Ciara and David, when we stumbled upon Yum Yum Too, the sister restaurant of Yum Yum, a Thai place located a block away, that I often saw in commercials at the movie theater few years ago. The place was quiet, although full. We started off by trying few drinks. David had a cocktail that I admit I cannot name, but remember had a nice cantaloupe taste...and color. On my side, I went for my usual Thai iced tea that was perfect.

Cocktail at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

Thai ice tea at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

For appetizer, we decided to try few dishes. The first one was quite surprising: it was corn fritters. It was really good: both savory and sweet, it was delightfully crispy and not greasy.

Corn fritters at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

The second appetizer was vegetable spring rolls that were quite good, except the carrot sauce that was ok. I would have definitely preferred a plum sauce, but, despite that, the rolls were perfect, the shell not being too thick.

Vegetable spring rolls at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

For our entrees, we all got different dishes: Jodi got sautéed vegetables with tofu that was made of broccoli, napa cabbage, bell pepper, bok choi, mushrooms, zucchini, string beans, chinese broccoli in garlic sauce. I admit that I found that dish a bit bland.

Sautéed vegetables with tofu at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

Chiara chose the chicken Penang curry:

Chicken Penang curry at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

While I went for the chicken massaman curry. Both were really good, not spicy.

Chicken Massaman curry at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

David went for the duck tamarind that was delicious, well cooked with a crispy skin. It was composed of bell pepper, zucchini, string bean, broccoli, bok choy with sweet & sour tamarind sauce.

Duck tamarind at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

All dishes came with rice. On my side, I asked to have some sticky rice as I love it.

Sticky rice at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

Of course, we could not leave without dessert. We chose two:

The first one is fried ice cream, a fantastic dessert, sweet and crunchy on the outside and creamy inside.

Fried ice cream at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

The second was mango sticky rice that was also delicious, the mango being ripe and the rice swimming in a nice amount of coconut milk.

Mango sticky rice at Yum Yum Too in Hell's Kitchen

We had a great time at Yum Yum Too: great food and great people. What else is needed?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Yum Yum Too - 662 9th Avenue, New York, NY, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/17

Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Last year, I finally made it to Delmonico, the famous steakhouse located in the Financial District and was curious to see what Delmonico's Kitchen would have to offer. It is quite a large place with a bar area at the entrance, a dining room next to it and a private party room behind the wine racks, all of them having different light settings. The dining room where we were was a bit dark, an element I notice not only because of the photos, but also because I like to see the food I am eating, especially when it comes to steak and I want to make sure it is at the right temperature (with my French accent, I am always making sure they understand I said "medium-rare" and not "medium-well"...).

Dining room at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

I decided to order a cocktail and picked the Blood and Sand, made with Glenmorangie 10 y/o, orange juice, cherry heering and carpano antica, an Italian Vermouth. It had a beautiful color and was very good, a bit strong but still rendering a nice orange flavor.

Blood and Sand cocktail at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

For appetizer, I wanted bacon, but, unfortunately, they only offered a large plate. So, we decided to go with Billy's bacon and burrata, a dish made of a Maple Brook Farm burrata, pickled red onions, heirloom tomato and melon. The bacon and burrata were really good and paired well together, the bacon adding some saltness and smokiness to the cheese. However, it was missing a bit of seasoning.

Billy's bacon and burrata at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

For steaks, Jodi went for the filet mignon (ordered medium):

Filet mignon at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

And I went for the Delmonico (ordered medium-rare) that is their signature steak, a boneless ribeye with fried onions on top.

Demonico steak at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Delmonico steak at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

The steaks were just ok: tender, well cooked, they were not that flavorful and not juicy.

With the steaks, we ordered the onion rings with blue cheese that we had in their other restaurant and were disappointed when we saw it coming: not as decadent as the dish we tried in the past. The onion rings were a bit soggy on top of that.

Onion rings at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Last was dessert that we were looking forward to: we ordered their brioche beignets served with a chocolate and a caramel sauce. I found them just ok.

Brioche beignets at Delmonico's Kitchen in Gramercy, NYC, NY

I was a bit disappointed when I left Demonico's Kitchen: the food was just ok, the bill we ended up with adding to my deception. Was it an off night considering the party that was taking place in the private room? I do not know, and I should not care.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delmonico's Kitchen - 207 W 36th St, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/17

Mexican food at Charrito's Hoboken, NJ

512 Washington Street has like a curse: every restaurant that tried to open there closed few months ago. But then came Charrito's, a Mexican restaurant with already two successful locations in Hoboken. We went there for brunch and dinner and had a great time in both occasions. Although there are not that many vegetarian options, their food is delicious, especially their guacamole that is made table side and is a must have. The place is nice, big and colorful, with a dining room in the back.

Here is what we ate:

Guacamole prepared table side: one of the best I had. They first ask you if you want it mild, medium or spicy. When done, they will ask you to try to let them know if you are fine with it, in case for instance you need more salt.

For brunch, Jodi ordered the hongos (mushroom) quesadilla that was pretty good and had lots of mushroom in it.

Hongos quesadilla at Charrito's Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I went for the enchilada suizas that is stuffed with chicken and topped with salsa suiza and melted cheese: perfect if you love cheese.

Enchilada suizas at Charrito's Hoboken, NJ

Both dishes were served with rice and beans.

Rice and beans at Charrito's Hoboken, NJ

For dinner, Jodi ordered the fish tacos. It was a good tacos, but I admit that I prefer when the fish is fried, adding some texture to the dish and anyway, when it is fried, it always tastes better, no?

On my side, I wanted to try their mole and so ordered the chicken mole that was delicious and I loved the hints of chocolate in the dish.

The only thing we found a bit disappointing was their tres leches that we did not really like, but overall, they have great food. I admit that at first, I was skeptical when I saw that they were opening a third location, thinking that maybe they would close one because of a rent increase or because they wanted a bigger space. But, having three Charrito's in Hoboken is pretty good as all of their restaurants seem crowded. No wonder: their food is succulent.

Tres leches cake at Charrito's Hoboken, NJ

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Charrito's - 512 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/17

Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

We were looking for a seafood restaurant Midtown and decided to go to Blue Fin, the restaurant of the posh W Hotel in Times Square. I admit that we were not sure what to expect as many restaurants in that area care more about foot traffic than returning satisfied customers. And you know what? I was pleasantly surprised!

Lower dining room at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Bar area at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Sushi bar at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Dining room at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

The place is quite big with the main dinner my room being upstairs. The best moment to avoid the noise is definitely after 7:30pm as people start leaving to go to shows and the first time we went there, we arrived in a packed dining room that emptied fairly quickly, giving my ears some well deserved relief.

Food wise, it is all about seafood, including sushi, but, if you prefer meat, they have a couple of dishes that could do it.

Here are some of the things we tried there:

Junmai Nigori sake- Tozai "snow" Maiden: delicious, I love the color of it that comes from the fact that it is unfiltered.

Junmai Nigori Sake at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Szechuan Sour, made with Langley No 8 Gin, yuzu, and kefir lime leaf, Szechuan peppercorn (quite refreshing with a nice citrus flavor):

Szechuan sour cocktail at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Dressed sushi: eel with pineapple and kojujang.

Dressed sushi with eel, pineapple and kojujang at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

East coast and West coast oysters: if I recall, the East cost were Blue Point from Long Island, NY and the West coast were Royal Mayagi from Washington State. They tasted very fresh and I love fact that you can try two kinds, tasting the difference in flavor and texture.

West Coast, East Coast oysters at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Royal Myagi oysters from Washington State at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Blue Point oysters at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

White sesame big eye tuna with sake oakwood shiitake, bok choy, black rice and a ponzu emulsion. Delicious, the most surprising part was the black rice.

White sesame big eye tuna at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Halibut a la plancha served with jumbo lump crab meat, lemon herb gnocchi and roasted squash. That dish was sublime: I thought that maybe with the gnocchi it would be heavy, but it was not the case. And the fish was so good: flakey and moist, cooked to perfection.

Halibut a la plancha at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Glazed Chilean sea bass with sesame roasted eggplant, crispy rice and lemongrass soy. This was another sublime dish. Again, the fish was perfectly cooked and the crispy rice was delicious.

Glazed chilean sea bass at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

One dish however that was just ok for me, after all of these very good one was the simply grilled Montauk calamari that could have had more flavors. It was served with a cauliflower chopped salad.

Simply grilled calamari at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Dessert was not and after thought at Blue Fin! We tried their creme brûlée with shortbread cookies.

Creme brûlée at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

But also their chocolate raspberry molten cake that was to die for.

Chocolate raspberry molten cake at Blue Fin at The W Hotel in Times Square

Each time we went to Blue Fin, we had delicious food. That may be surprising for the location but it is true: it is one of my favorite seafood 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!

Blue Fin at The W Hotel - 1567 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/17

Momo Sushi Shack in Brooklyn

We were in Bushwick, Brooklyn for a media event and then looking for a place to eat. Our first choice was Roberta's a popular pizza joint that was unfortunately packed, having an hour wait that we did not even consider. Our backup plan was Momo Sushi Shack with large communal tables and I did not have too many regrets that our first choice did not work. Overall, the food at Momo, consisting in the large majority of small plates with a wide range of Japanese specialties, was good, but they were short in staff that day and the food took a bit of time to come. The wait staff however, very friendly, did their best to serve a crowded restaurant in these conditions. We sat in the second dining room that had more light than the main one that was very dark despite the fact that it was not even 8pm and so bright outside. Here is what we tried:

Miso eggplant: not your traditional Nasu as this one had muenster cheese on it. Quite delicious and an interesting combination.

Miso eggplant at Momo Sushi Shack in Brooklyn, NY

Handmade vegan gyoza made with oyster mushrooms, Napa cabbage and chives. Quite good, the shell was perfect, thin, with a crunchy side.

Vegan gyoza at Momo Sushi Shack in Brooklyn, NY

Pork buns: this was a special that was pretty good, although I would have loved more hoisin sauce, the pork belly being a bit dry.

Pork buns at Momo Sushi Shack in Brooklyn, NY

Karaage: Japanese fried chicken. Very good, it was crunchy, not greasy and the chicken perfectly cooked, being moist.

Japanese fried chicken at Momo Sushi Shack in Brooklyn, NY

Momo Sushi Shack is a good place if you want to eat sushi in Bushwick, their large number of small dishes, a lot vegetarian or vegan, satisfying any palate. Would I go back? If I am in the area, maybe. That time, probably to try their ramen.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Momo Sushi Shack - 43 Bogart St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/17

B Side Pizza Bar in Hell's Kitchen

My friends have been talking about B Side Pizzabar so many times that we decided to go after I came back from a trip from France. This place, located in Hell's Kitchen, has a nice rustic decor, quite warm. Quite minimalist as is the menu that Chef Jason Neroni crafted, that features some quite creative pizza cooked in their authentic Pavesi wood-burning oven.

Dining room at B Side Pizza Bar in Hell's Kitchen

Paves wood-fire burning oven at B Side Pizza Bar in Hell's Kitchen

We decided to just get pizza as a pie had six slices each. Most of the pizzas are very original, with the exception maybe of the Marge, made with tomato, mozzarella, basil, oregano and sea salt.

Marge pizza at B Side Pizza Bar in Hell's Kitchen

The second one was the You got a Lot'a balls that sounds weird when they bring it to the table...This one is made with tomato, meatballs, mozzarella, taleggio and oregano (we asked not to have any peppers).

You Gotta Lot'a Balls pizza at B Side Pizza Bar in Hell's Kitchen

The pizzas were good: crispy and puffed up on the outside, soft and thin in the center, like a neapolitan pizza. The outside crust had a nice char that was so good. Both of them were delicious and there was a generous amount of toppings. I would definitely go back to B Side Pizzabar to get some more pizza like the black and white that had black truffle or the killer bee that has...honey!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

B Side Pizzabar - 370 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/17

Lobster roll at Mary's Fish Camp in Greenwich Village

I love lobster rolls and always mention the fact that French people are always surprised to hear that such a delicacy that is lobster can be served in a sandwich! But when they try, they get hooked. I did for sure. I remember the first time I tried it: it was at the food truck festival in South Street Seaport. After eating the food from food trucks, here it was: the Red Hook Lobster Pound. I remember the big chunks of lobster simply cooked in butter, the almighty crustacean being the star of the dish. Since then, I tried quite a few, but Mary's Fish Camp was missing from my list. So I decided to go for lunch on a weekday. It was not that crowded, pretty quiet and relaxed. They sat me at the bar where I had a nice view of the kitchen that was quite busy shucking oysters and clams, and preparing mainly two dishes: the fish tacos and the lobster rolls.

Although there were plenty of interesting dishes on the menu like the sardine banh mi, I stayed with my first choice. Few minutes after i ordered, here it was: a lobster roll with big chunks of lobster smothered by mayonnaise. It was a bit messy because the lobster was overflowing out of the small roll and I was a bit scared that the mayo would overpower the lobster. It was not the case as the lobster was cut in big chunks. It was delicious: well cooked for sure. With the roll, I had the choice between a salad or shoestring fries. I chose the latter. The fries were good, not that crispy and deliciously greasy.

It was overall a good lobster roll, but I thought it was small for $37, even considering the quantity of lobster. If you do not mind the price, you should check it out. I would go back there and try some other specialties, their menu being very interesting.

Enjoy (I did)!

Mary's Fish Camp - 64 Charles Street, New York, NY10014

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