I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/17

Dinner at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Last February, I went to Victor's Cafe to try their lunch deal that was pretty good, and was looking forward to go back for dinner. I love this place that serves some delicious food. Lunch and dinner are quite different, the quiet atmosphere being replaced by a busy, loud but still bearable one, with Cuban music in the background when it is not live music.

Food wise, they have a nice menu with meat and seafood being the stars. Here are some of the dishes I tried:

Appetizer sampler at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

1492 Aperitivo Cubano, an appetizer sampler comprised of Bartolito (sweet plantains, pork stuffing, black bean puree, goat cheese), Cuban quesadilla (creole shrimp and manchego), croquetas corral (smoked ham croquettes), empanada de pollo (chicken), Cuban tamale and fried yuca. Overall very good, especially if you like fried food. My favorite was definitely the chicken empanada that had a nice kick.

Cuban quesadilla at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Cuban tamale at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Chicken empanada at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Croquetas corral at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

For my entree, I chose the Ponle Ropa a la Vaca, a combination of two of their signature dishes: ropa vieja and vaca frita. Ropa Vieja is slow braised and pulled skirt steak in a garlic, tomato, onion and pepper sauce. Vaca Frita is pan fried skirt steak, red onion, cilantro and an orange mojo. Both were presented in a cup made of fried plantains and served with rice and beans. They were delicious, the meat in both case being very good, soft for the Ropa Vieja and chewy for the Vaca Frita. I cannot even decide which one is my favorite!

Ponle ropa a la vaca at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

It was served with rice and beans and I tried the sweet plantains as a side that were as expected.

With the meal, I got a fantastic Pinot Noir, Truchard 2014 from Napa Valley that was perfect with the meat, having a bold flavor and being quite smooth.

Truchard Pinot Noir 2014 at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Even better was dessert: their tres lèches is fantastic, as much as the churros served with chocolate sauce, dulce de lèche , and condensed milk (that I finished with my spoon).

It was a great dinner and I remain a fan of Victor's Cafe, an establishment I use to go to more often when living in the City. If you want to have a nice dinner, this is definitely a place to know.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Victor's Cafe - 236 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 9/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/13/17

Lunch at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

We recently went to Greek Town, a restaurant we did not even knew existed until we passed in front of it in a taxi on our way to Jersey City's Liberty Science Center, and we decided to check it out. We went for brunch and I admit that I wish we knew that this place, opened a year and a half earlier, was there. It is not a fancy restaurant and the decor is fairly simple, but the food was delicious and reasonably priced.

Dining room at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

When we went, it was not that crowded, but we saw a few deliveries being prepared. We decided to share some small plates and went a bit overboard, a pattern quite usual in tapas style restaurants. Fortunately, you can get the leftovers to go...Here is what we had:

Assortment of cold appetizers. It was composed of:

Assortment of cold appetizers at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

Tzatziki:

Stuffed grape leaves:

Fresh beets:

Eggplant salad:

Hummus:

Spicy feta dip:

They were served with pita. All of these were quite good, and I thought that for $15, it was a good deal and good way to try all their cold appetizers.

Then came the zucchini and eggplant chips that were so addictive, I thought they put crack in it! It was the best I ever had: crunchy, not greasy, delightfully salty with some cheese on top.

Eggplant and zucchini chips at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

We also got the meatballs that were good, not dry, nicely charred, served with tzatziki.

We were looking for saganaki, this fantastic flambé cheese, but unfortunately they did not have it. So we ended up with grilled haloumi cheese that was just ok. I even added a bit of lemon to enhance a bit the taste.

Haloumi cheese at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, I could not leave without trying their grilled octopus that was served with chickpeas, onion, capers and roasted peppers. Priced at $14, I did not expect such a big piece. It was delicious: nicely charred, it was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all.

It was a great lunch: delicious food at reasonable prices. For sure we had a lot of food and did not have enough space for dessert...Well, I guess 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!

Greek Town - 86 Garden St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/17

Tapas at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

We were looking for a tapas place when we stumbled upon El Quinto Pino in Chelsea. I thought it was a small place at first, not knowing that there is a bar area and, in the back, a dining room of a good size. Menu wise, each item is made to be shared, the selection for brunch split between little tapas, sandwiches and salads, and eggs. For drinks, they mostly have coffee and tea as well as cocktails.

Bar area at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Bar area at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Dining room at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Dining room at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Menu wise, each item is made to be shared, the selection for brunch split between little tapas, sandwiches and salads, and eggs. For drinks, they mostly have coffee and tea as well as cocktails. No juices, just lemonade, and they would gracefully make any cocktail a mocktail. Jodi got a lemonade and I got myself a Café con hielo with milk that is similar to a macchiato.

Lemonade at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Lemonade at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Cafe con hilo at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Cafe con hilo at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Food wise, here is what we had:

Croquetas (creamy Serrano ham croquettes):

Croquettes at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Croquettes at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Pan amb tomaca (garlic and tomato rubbed bread with salt and olive oil):

Pan amb tomaca at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Pan amb tomaca at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Garbanzos fritos (crispy pimentòn dusted chickpeas):

Garbanzos fritos at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Garbanzos fritos at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Tortilla Espanola (Spanish potato omelet ):

Tortilla Española at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Tortilla Española at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

El doble (double beef patty burger, idiozabal cheese, sweet pickled onions, cornichons and their special sauce):

El Doble burger at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — El Doble burger at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

For dessert, churro with dulce de lèche.

Churros at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Churros at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Overall, the food was very good. I was really surprised by their delicious burger that was juicy and had a nice crunch and texture thanks to the cornichons. I also loved the tortilla that I consider a must have when having tapas. However, the churros were a bit disappointing, as they were not cooked all the way through. Besides that, I really liked our meal at El Quinto Pino and would definitely go back for 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!

El Quinto Pino - 401 West 24th StreetNew York, NY 10011

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

Cherche Midi in Soho - Closed

It's been a while since we wanted to try Cherche Midi, one of the multiple restaurants of Keith McNally, who owns Balthazar, Morandi, Minetta Tavern and Pastis. Not because of his other popular restaurants, but because we loved Pulino's the restaurant that used to be there before Cherche Midi. Unfortunately the restaurant did not work as expected and was replaced. It is a nice place, with some elements of the decor kept. A bit dark though when going for dinner...

I started off my meal with an Old Fashioned that was pretty good, quite strong for sure.

For appetizer, I went for the octopus, a bit disappointed that they did not have the classic escargots or foie gras. Well cooked and nicely charred, it was served with fennel, leeks and salsa verde.

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Cherche Midi salade Niçoise that was a bit pricey for what it was. At least the tuna was delicious, cooked as requested: rare.

On my side, I ordered the Bouchot Mussels, prepared with caramelized fennel, Pernod, crème fraîche and tarragon. I was a bit surprised when they asked if I wanted to order a side of fries as the mussels came with bread only. I declined: can't they just throw fries in a $26 dish? The sauce was good and the mussels ok, with a couple having a weird taste (it's ok, I survived).

For dessert, Jodi was looking forward to the coconut cake that was probably the same served in McNally's other restaurants and from Balthazar. Well, it seemed stale.

I was luckier with my tarte tatin that was succulent, delightfully buttery.

I was disappointed with Cherche Midi: the food had nothing extraordinary and is a bit pricey for what it is. For a French restaurant in the area, I definitely prefer La Gamelle, not just because more traditional, but also because the food is much better.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cherche Midi - 282 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

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

Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

I love Korean fried chicken: it is so crispy thanks to its double frying process, sometimes spicy and surely tasty. I admit that it has my preference from all fried chickens out there. So I was really looking forward to going to Turntable LP Bar & Karaoke in K-Town with my friend Benny. I discovered it few years ago at Turntable Chicken Jazz and put it at the same level as the popular BonChon. Interestingly, both Turntable places are like a hidden gem (beware that Turntable Chicken Jazz is currently relocating one block away from its current location): if you do not know they are there, you will miss them.

Elevator to go to Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

DJ station at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Bar area at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Entrance of Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Old radios at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Dining room at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

The place looks smaller than its sister restaurant but I admit that this time I did not roam around and did not check out the private karaoke rooms they have. However, I browsed around the decor made of turntables, figurines or LPs that I always find fascinating. I should also mention the DJ section that you can see at the entrance, that is probably in use late at night or on week ends.

We started our meal with drinks. Krawl draft beer from Belgium for Benny:

Kwak Belgian beer at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Smokin'Sour cocktail for me:

Smokin'Sour cocktail at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

The beer was good and probably a better choice to counteract the spiciness of the chicken. The glass was interesting but not that practical to drink...

For the appetizer, we chose the Korean seafood pancake that I thought was just ok, tasting slightly undercooked and missing some texture.

Korean seafood pancake at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Then, we had their fried chicken burger that was delicious: very tasty, the bread was soft, letting the moist and crispy chicken breast shine. It was served with a side of fries that were ok for me, preferring crispy shoestring to this thick cut.

Fried chicken sandwich at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Last was the fried chicken combo. Composed of thigh and wings, we ordered half-half that is half in soy and garlic sauce, and half in hot sauce. Both were delicious, but I preferred the hot one that had a nice kick, less than what I remember from the other location, but enough to make you sweat. The chicken was very crispy and moist. I should mention the daikon served with it that is supposed to cool your mouth.

Fried chicken combo at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Soy garlic fried chicken at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Hot and spicy fried chicken at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Overall, we had a good time and a great meal. Turntable LP Bar and Kataoke is, with his sister restaurant, on top of my list for Korean fried chicken and I would definitely go back there for more!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke - 36 W 32nd St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001

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

Laut, South East Asian Cuisine at Union Square, NYC

Few days after going to The Chinese Club, I was invited at Laut, a South East Asian restaurant near Union Square, opened many years ago by the same owners, Stacey and Salil Mehta. Laut is not unknown to me, as I went there few years ago, after hearing about that place that was the first Malaysian restaurant to get a Michelin Star in New York. We went when they opened at 1pm on Sunday and there was not that many people, until maybe half an hour later when the restaurant got crowded.

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

We started off our meal with drinks: This Iced Tea for Jodi (notice the stripper on the glass!) and spiked Thai Iced Tea for me, made with Disaronno (amaretto flavored liqueur) and Kalhua. Both were really good, but my preference went for the spiked one that was even better and not strong at all.

For appetizers, we first tried the veggie Spring rolls that came with a cute tiny pot that had some sweet chili sauce in it: the rolls were perfectly made, crunchy, not greasy, with lots of filling in it, made with cabbage, mushroom and carrot.

The second appetizer was the Roti Telur, an Indian pancake stuffed with egg, onion and hot pepper, and served with a curry sauce. This was very good, definitely enhanced by this curry sauce that I could have eaten with a spoon.

Then, for her entree, Jodi chose the Mamak Mee Goreng, a dish made in a wok, with egg noodle, tofu, shrimp fritter, home made curry sambal, tomatoes and eggs. This was very comforting and I loved the slight sweetness of the dish.

On my side, I settled for the Nasi Lemak (National dish of Malaysia), a sampler of Malaysian cuisine composed of Coconut Rice, Achar (South Asian pickles), Peanuts and dry Anchovies Sambal, egg, curry chicken and shrimp in sambal sauce. This is a great idea to propose a sampler and everything was really good, my favorite being the chicken and the most surprising being the dried anchovies and peanut sambal. I should mention that I did not find this spicy.

Peanut and anchovies sambal at Laut in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Similar to The Chinese Club, they propose one made with a Chinese Waffle and I could not resist trying that one over the mango and sticky rice that I love. This time, it was not served with purple yam ice cream, but rather vanilla ice cream. It was a great dessert, perfect for sharing. The waffle was delicious, a bit crispy and fluffy. I definitely recommend it.

With dessert, I got Malaysian coffee that was sublime, deliciously sweet thanks to the condensed milk that they put in it.

We had a great meal at Laut: I love their menu that has so many choices, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I would definitely go back there to try other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Laut - 15 East 17th Street New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/17

The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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

When being invited at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, I had no idea about the history coming with this place. Stacey Lo, co-owner with her husband of this place that opened in March 2016, is the Granddaughter of Lo Fung Foo, the founder of the original Chinese Club, a restaurant in Darjeeling, India, established in 1914 (hence the reference on the facade), that catered to Chinese expatriates. From outside, you would not guess that history as well as the fantastic decor inside that may look overdone by some. The dining room in the front has nothing spectacular besides the funny drawings of super heroes, the mahjong tiles from Ms Lo's Grandmother or the Chinese temple. No, it is the back that is amazing, giving the feel that you travelled miles away: red paper lanterns or colorful posters give a certain atmosphere to the place.

Entrance of The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chinese temple at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Dining room at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chandelier at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Decor at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Buddhas at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Drawings at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Foodwise, we were there for a treat and, before telling you what I had, I should mention that Ms Lo and her husband, Salil Mehta, are the owners of Laut, the first Malaysian restaurant to receive a Michelin star in New York. The cuisine served at The Chinese Club is Indo-Chinese, with a majority of Chinese dishes, a nice choices of vegetarian specialties as well as Indian classics like the butter chicken, all dishes perfect to share. Here is what I tried:

To start, we ordered some drinks. Jodi chose a Thai Iced Tea:

Thai iced tea at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I went for the Dragon Mojito, a massive cocktail made with sugarcane syrup, sake, lime, pepper, dragon fruit and mint. This was definitely a dangerous drink as it was not that strong and could be drank like milk...

Dragon mojito at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

There were also some spicy crackers that were quite addictive on the table.

Crackers at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The first dish was salt and pepper tempura mushrooms, one of their popular appetizers: crispy and not greasy, this was very good and a perfect choice if you love mushrooms. Know that they also have the same dish made with okra.

Salt and pepper mushrooms at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second appetizer was the Peking style pork ribs: I admit that, although it looked very appetizing, the ribs did not deliver, being a bit tough...

Peking style pork ribs at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Next was the Sizzling Manchurian chicken, a dish served in a very hot skillet that is made with chili, garlic, ginger and cilantro. Very good, it was slightly spicy.

Sizzling Manchurian Chicken at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The chicken was served with rice and I opted for the biryani rice that was really good, with or without the chicken, and that I recommend over white or brown rice.

Biryani rice at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The next entree was the mixed vegetables stir fry composed of tofu, carrots, snow peas, broccoli and potato.

Mixed vegetables stir fry at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last entree was the buttery black pepper shrimp, some sort of tempura shrimp served with mushroom, onions, bell peppers and curry leaves. Quite good, the shrimp were perfectly cooked and I loved the brown sauce that smothered them.

Buttered black pepper shrimp at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Last was dessert, and what a dessert! It was their signature: the kulfi waffle. Kulfi is an Indian ice cream an this was a fusion between the Chinese egg waffle and Indian ice cream, the later made with purple yam or ube. The presentation was beautiful and the waffle fantastic, soft with a nice hint of coconut milk; I admit though that I did not like the ice cream that had a weird taste (well remember it was purple yam).

Kulfi waffle at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This was a great meal, not your traditional Chinese food for sure, although some dishes are fairly classic. I like The Chinese Club and it is worth trip to Brooklyn. I will definitely go back there to try some other dishes.

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 Chinese Club - 208 Grand Street Brooklyn, NY 11211

I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/17

La Olas, Mexican-Japanese fusion in Hoboken - closed

I love Mexican-Japanese fusion since I tried it at the regretted Taka Taka in TriBeCa. And when Las Olas opened in hoboken several years ago, I was really happy. We went several times there, but I realized that I never posted about it. Las Olas is a pretty popular spot Uptown Hoboken, offering deals all week long like the Monday's half price appetizer or the Thursday's unlimited chicken wings. Quite good deals, indeed considering how good their food is.

We tried:

The fried chicken wings Asian style: they are simply fantastic. They propose them grilled but the fried version is the best, for sure less healthy, but who cares? Not me. They are crispy, with the chicken being moist and the sweet sauce that I do not find spicy, very good, giving a sweet and savory dimension to the dish. They also propose the wings with buffalo or habanero sauce, the latter probably really hot, choices that are not on the menu.

Asian Chicken Wings at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

One of the Items that I would immediately associate with Mexican food is the guacamole that they propose as a trio, with a selection that changes. We got it with cheese, corn and mango. The guacamole itself is really good, and I admit that I prefer it solo, without any addition, except maybe cheese.

Guacamole trio at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

The pork gyoza are also good, big and crispy.

Of course, they have a tartare on their menu: a spicy tuna mango tartare, served with homemade tortilla chips. I liked it: the spiciness of the tuna tartare being successfully counteracted by the sweetness of the mango that was ripe.

Tuna mango tartare at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

They also serve rolls, from classic to specialty and my favorite is the eel roll with avocado, eel being a fish often disregarded that I discovered during a trip in South Korea many years ago.

But if you just want a salad, they have few on their menu. Jodi ordered their grilled chicken avocado salad, but asked to make it without the chicken. I was surprised that they did not propose an alternative like tofu, but also that we paid full price for it.

Despite that, we always had great food at Las Olas and their deals make the experience even more sweeter. I will continue to go there and try some other dishes from their extensive menu like their rice sandwich or their noodles. So, stay tuned!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Las Olas - 1319 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ

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