I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/18

Mr Bing, Chinese Crepes at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Mr Bing, located in Urbanspace Vanderbilt, serves jianbing, traditional Northern Chinese crepes, a street food that the founder, Brian Goldberg, tried while studying Chinese in Beijing in 1998. The way the crepes or bings are made is with mung bean, rice and wheat flour crepe coated with egg, sesame seeds, scallions, hoisin sauce, crispy chili paste, cilantro, and crunchy wontons. Then, you can pick the filling. Jodi ordered the classic vegetarian bing that is the crepe with no filling.

Vegetarian crepe at Mr Bing at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

On my side, I tried the Peking Duck Bing, that is the classic bing with Beijing style roasted duck. This was fantastic: the crepe, folded like a sandwich, was very good, soft, and the duck succulent.

Peking duck crepe at Mr Bing at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

This was delicious and different from the classic crepes we see more often. Mr Bing is a good address to know and I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mr Bing - Urbanspace Vanderbilt, 230 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10169

I Just Want To Eat! 3/2/18 I Just Want To Eat! 3/2/18

Delaney Chicken at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

I love fried chicken, a dish I never had in France if it was not at...KFC in Paris! Yes, fried chicken is not something that you would find in classic French cooking, and I think it is too bad as I love it! So, I was really looking forward to try Delaney Chicken at Urbanspace Vanderbilt. Their menu is simple: chicken, chicken and chicken, offering three types of sandwiches.

Preparing chicken sandwiches at Delaney Chicken at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

I tried of course their original chicken sandwich made with house pickles, mayo and hot sauce. They chicken was perfectly cooked, moist and delightfully crispy, with the mayo counterbalancing the hot sauce. If you like spicy, I suggest you go for the spicier version of this sandwich that has pickled jalapeño.

Original chicken sandwich at Delaney Chicken at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Their chicken club is also good, made with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. No surprise as far as the chicken is concerned as it is the same type, fried in a batch and randomly picked.

Chicken club at Delaney Chicken at Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Overall it was good sandwiches, but I was still a bit hungry after just one. I wish they made them a bit bigger. Delaney Chicken is good, but for me, the best fried chicken sandwich remains Oppa: it is outstanding!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Delaney Chicken - 230 Park Avenue, New York, NY10169

I Just Want To Eat! 2/28/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/28/18

Delicious burger at Hard Times Sundaes in Urbanspace Vanderbilt

I love food halls as they offer some food diversity, perfect if people have different tastes and usually not too pricey. We discovered last year Urbanspace Vanderbilt, a food hall located few steps from Grand Central, that hosts 20 different vendors, from Japanese ramen (Ippudo), lobster rolls (Luke's Lobster), to burgers and shakes (Hard Times Sundaes). We went for the latter, trying not just the burgers, but also their old fashioned egg cream, an item that screams Americana, that was quite good.

Hard Times Sundaes in Ubanspace Vanderbilt

Egg cream at Hard Times Sundaes in Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Then, we had the burgers. Jodi asked for a single cheeseburger with pickles and mushrooms.

Cheeseburger with pickles and mushrooms at Hard Times Sundaes in Urbanspace Vanderbilt

On my side, I went for the signature cheeseburger that is a double cheeseburger with caramelized onions and bacon.

Signature burger at Hard Times Sundaes in Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Both burgers were really good: the meat was tasty and juicy, with a nice char on the outside. I appreciated the fact that they put a nice amount of cheese in it and loved the simplicity of it. We also ordered some fries that were also quite good: thin, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through, the way I like them.

French fries at Hard Times Sundaes in Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Hard Times Sundae is definitely a great place to know if you want to indulge with a delicious burger, far from the crowd of Shake Shack...And they have a breakfast burger with eggs and bacon that seems...like a heart attack on a plate!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hard Times Sundae - Urbanspace Vanderbilt - 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169

I Just Want To Eat! 2/26/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/26/18

New Opening: Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken

Finally! Choc-O-Pain, the French bakery located Downtown Hoboken just opened an Uptown location, replacing Ganache in the Hudson Tea Building. It is a good move as the north part of the city is missing some places like this, Brod finally withdrawing their project to open in the Maxwell Place building, close to La Isla.

Choc-O-Pain Uptown is quite big, with a lot of light thanks to the large windows, with even a small room where people with kids can enjoy some time there.

Counter at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Kids room at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Dining room at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Books at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Choc-O-Pain Uptown is quite big, with a lot of light thanks to the large windows, with even a small room where people with kids can enjoy some time there. The main dining room is quite large, with individual tables, as well as two large communal tables, and, for people who want to spend time working there, power outlets as well as free wifi: all elements to get you stay there and indulge with delicious bread and viennoiseries. We went three times and got to try few things:

First, I should mention the espresso that is quite good, not bitter, and with a single shot equivalent to a double or even triple shot at Starbucks, similar to the quantity you would get in France.

Espresso at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

For breakfast, we tried their chocopain or chocolate croissant that was buttery and flakey.

Chocolate croissant at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Their almond croissant is a must have, with lots of almond filling in it.

Almond croissant at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

The chocolate babka is ok, a bit hard and with not enough chocolate.

Chocolate babka at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

They also propose kouign aman that is a croissant dough on steroids, meaning with much more butter, that they propose with chocolate or fruit. We tried the former that was good, flakey and buttery. I hope they will propose bigger ones and just plain ones.

Chocolate kouign aman at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Another great item is their palmier that is basically puff pastry and sugar. A must have for sure!

Palmier at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

The last breakfast item we tried was their boule au chocolat, a small bread with chocolate chips: know that only the chocolate will be sweet as this is bread, so if you are looking for something buttery or sweeter, go for the chocolate croissant.

Boule au chocolat at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

For lunch, they also have sandwiches, quiches, croque monsieur, etc. We tried one of their sandwiches that was with saucisson sec (dry cured sausage) and cornichons (little pickles). It was very good, even if I wish they put a bit more saucisson in it. The bread was delicious, fresh and crispy. In fact we also tried their baguette that is superb and perfect with a bit of butter.

Sandwich saucisson sec et cornichons at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Their mushroom quiche is also delicious, not dry, with a flakey crust.

Mushroom quiche at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Last, we tried a bite of their chocolate tart that is very good, very chocolatey. I did not see that many pastries there, but I am sure that after few weeks, we will start seeing more...And I will be there to try them!

Chocolate tart at Choc-O-Pain, Uptown Hoboken, NJ

Enjoy (I did)!

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Choc-O-Pain - 1500 Hudson street, 07030 Hoboken, NJ

I Just Want To Eat! 2/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/23/18

New Opening: Boucherie Park Avenue South

For Valentine's Day, we decided to go back to Boucherie, but we discovered that they just opened, a couple of days before, a new location near Union Square, on Park Avenue South. I admit that we are always a bit reticent to go out that day because a lot of restaurants are packed (kitchen overwhelmed and short in staff) or propose an overpriced prix-fixe. But, considering the meal we had the week before in their West Village location, we thought it would be worth trying.

When we arrived around 7pm, it was not that crowded, and it is only later that people started to show up, the place being packed when we left. As it was Valentine's Day, they put some rose petals on each table and gave a rose to each woman at the end of the meal, but did not forget the men who got the book of the Chef Jerome Dihui, Joie de Vivre, or cheerful enjoyment of life, a sentence that is often associated to the way French people enjoy life, with good food and good wine.

Dining room at Boucherie Park Avenue South

Counter at Boucherie Park Avenue South, NYC

Table with rose petals at Boucherie Park Avenue South

The restaurant is quite big and I admit that I did not explore it, but it still had this feel that you were in a French brasserie. Food wise, they propose the same menu, so it was not too complicated to decide what to get as I already knew, after our first visit, what I wanted to try.

For once, I did not order an old fashioned or a negroni and preferred one of their cocktails with absinthe: the Boucherie Sazerac that is a cocktail created in New Orleans. It had Absinthe Vieux Pontarlier, Rittenhouse rye, Hardy VSOP cognac and madagascar vanilla. This was delicious and even better than the old fashioned I had last time! It was not too strong and you could taste a hint of vanilla.

Sazerac cocktail at Boucherie Park Avenue South

It was followed by bread and butter that was expected as, as I mentioned in my last post about Boucherie, bread is a must have in a French restaurant. They also brought us some pickled vegetables, with one that had canned tuna in it. I am not sure if it was for Valentine's Day or because they just opened, but I thought it was a nice attention.

Pickled vegetables at Boucherie Park Avenue South

Bread basket at Boucherie Park Avenue South

So, for my appetizer, I decided to order the caille farcie, or stuffed quail with foie gras, sitting on top of spinach and served with a balsamic glaze. The quail looked beautiful and was in fact quite good, perfectly cooked and not dry (the filling though was a little dry). Between this dish and the escargots, I prefer the later though.

Stuffed quail at Boucherie Park Avenue South

Then, Jodi decided to stick to the mushroom ravioli that she tried the previous time. No surprise there, except that we did not see the slices of truffles that we had the week before, in the other location. Did they forget? I will never know.

Mushroom ravioli at Boucherie Park Avenue South

On my side, I wanted to try their steaks. I was a bit disappointed that they only propose the ribeye for 2 (Jodi does not like ribeye) and ended up with a New York strip from the steak frites. The meat was perfectly cooked medium-rare, but was a bit tough. It came with a peppercorn sauce, on the side, as well as some crispy seasoned fries. It was good, but definitely not the best steak frites I had (if you ask me, Le Relais de Venise is a great spot for that).

Steak frites at Boucherie Park Avenue South

Sauce au poivre at Boucherie Park Avenue South

For dessert, we tried their profiteroles that were stuffed with vanilla ice cream and smothered in a fantastic chocolate sauce. I for sure recommend this dessert.

Profiteroles at Boucherie Park Avenue South

We had a great time at Boucherie Park: it was a good experience, even if not as good as their sister restaurant, knowing that, when restaurants open, they often have to make few adjustments. I would go back, hoping to get a partner to try their ribeye or, on a Tuesday, get their cassoulet, and will try their foie gras this time for appetizer.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Boucherie - 225 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 2/21/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/21/18

Dinner at Boucherie in the West Village

We recently discovered Boucherie, butcher shop in French, a restaurant in the West Village that is conveniently located close to the Christopher Street subway stop. With its brasserie feel, this place is quite big, with two dining rooms that boast a nice decor made of old commercials and photos, and white tiles to give that butcher shop feel.

Food wise, you will find some classic French dishes like the escargots, foie gras or raie au beurre noir et aux capres (skate meuniere), as well as a salade Nicoise. Of course, as expected in a French restaurant, they brought us some delicious bread with butter. Bread is quite important in France and one cannot imagine a meal without it. And when the bread is good, it is a good sign.

After ordering, I decided to get a cocktail: the Boucherie old Fashioned. It is made with el Jimador Añejo Tequila, old Forester Bourbon, plum, lavender and lemon oil.

Old fashioned at Boucherie in the West Village

As an appetizer, I hesitated between three dishes: the foie gras from Hudson Valley, the stuffed quail and the escargots. I went for the latter, although I was a bit surprised by the price as I thought that $23 for 6 escargots was a bit pricey. In fact, there was a dozen, that were delicious. For sure, the best was the butter, garlic and parsley sauce and I could not resist dipping the bread in it!

Escargots at Boucherie in the West Village

Jodi did not order any appetizer, preferring eating solely an entree: the raviolis aux champignons or mushroom ravioli served with black truffle beurre fondu (black truffle butter sauce) and quite few slices of Burgundy truffles. When the dish came, you could not miss the smell of the truffle that was really appetizing. But then, the ravioli themselves where succulent: homemade, they were thin, perfectly cooked, with a delicious filling.

Mushroom ravioli at Boucherie in the West Village

On my side, I could not not go for the confit de canard aux pommes salardaises (duck leg confit with frisée salad and truffle potatoes). The duck itself was fantastic: perfectly made, it was not too salty and I loved the crispiness and fattiness of the skin. I am not a big fan of frisée salad, but the pommes salardaises, that are slices of potatoes cooked with garlic and duck fat did it for me. If you like duck confit, this is one of the best in the city, a must have dish.

Duck confit at Boucherie in the West Village

For dessert, we chose the tarte tatin that I admit was a bit small for the price, but it turned out to be it superb: buttery, the apples were soft and caramelized, without being too sweet and were accompanied by a vanilla ice cream and some salted caramel.

Tarte tatin at Boucherie in the West Village

This was a great way to end a very good dinner and we thought that we should definitely go back to Boucherie to try their steaks. And we did a week later for Valentine's Day! But this is for another post...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Boucherie - 99 7th Avenue South, New York City, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 2/19/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/19/18

Expensive dinner at Da Marino in Times Square

When I booked a table at Da Marino on Opentable, I did not realize I passed many times in front of this place, where every time, there was somebody outside the restaurant haranguing the crowd to persuade them to come have a meal there, something that I always thought was unnecessary if a place is good. Well, too late: we already had a reservation and I was set on having spaghetti alle vongole, one of my favorite Italian dishes, as well as a tiramisu (yes, I most of the time know what I will be eating as we always scrutinize the menu before going).

The place is bigger than what I thought, packed with mostly tourists and a few regulars. Decor wise, I could not not miss the big chairs that make you think you are a king in the middle ages, as well as the fresco on the walls depicting an Italian city. Food wise, they serve classic Italian dishes but have more emphasis on pasta. No pizza. However, the prices are a bit outrageous for what they are and I understood why they did not publish prices on their website. Here is what we had:

They started by bringing us some delicious bread with lentils, that were really good.

Bread and lentils at Da Marino in Times Square

We then went for the Antipasto Italiano, an assortment of Italian cold cuts, cheeses, and peppers. For $14.75, this was a nice start, especially considering the amount of charcuterie (cold cuts).

Antipasto italiano at Da Marino in Times Square

Then, Jodi ordered the Capellini Pomodoro ($19.75), that is angel hair pasta in a tomato basil sauce. Portion wise, it was fine, but I thought that the sauce was weird and did not taste homemade.

Capellini Pomodoro at Da Marino in Times Square — *Capellini Pomodoro at* Da Marino in Times Square

On my side, I got my spaghetti alle vongole that had the incredible price of $33.95! For that price, I was expecting lots of clams, but it was not the case, and the white wine sauce was just ok.

Spaghetti alle vongole at Da Marino in Times Square

Last was their homemade tiramisu that was very good, creamy, but not worth the $16.95 price tag!

Overall, the dinner was ok and expensive for what it was, with the poor staff struggling to serve diners (we waited for some time for our dishes). For the same price, we can have a better meal few blocks away at Lattanzi or Becco, or downtown, at Morandi, where the vongole is much better and much cheaper ($21 at the time of this post). And I know that with Times Square, some restaurants care more about foot traffic than returning customers, but still, you can find decent places in the area. On my side, I would not go back to Da Marino!

Enjoy (the post)!

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Da Marino - 220 W 49th Street, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 2/16/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/16/18

Burger heaven at The Baroness in Long Island City

We recently discovered a great place in Long Island City called The Baroness. Located few steps from Queensborro Plaza, it is a burger bar that serves fantastic burgers! Well, fortunately for them as this is their main purpose, but no, really, their burgers are so good that we went twice in a week. They have close to 20 different beef burgers made with Pat Lafrieda meat, that they cook medium rare and bring with a knife planted into them adding a bit of drama to the presentation. But, if you do not like beef, you can have lamb, chicken, ahi tuna or a vegetarian patty (that is house made), but with a much limited choice, all on the menus that are presented in old record sleeves.

Record sleeves for menu at The Baroness in Long Island City

They also serve beers from local breweries, that are quite delicious. But before I tell you about the place. Well, first, when you arrive, you cannot help but notice the swords on the door that are a sign of what is happening inside, bottles of champagne being opened with a saber, like it used to be in the 19th century. Decor wise, there is some sort of nostalgia especially with the old portrait hanging on top of the bar, as well as some coziness, mostly in the back where there is a small comfy area next to the open kitchen.

Bar area at The Baroness in Long Island City

Cozy area at The Baroness in Long Island City

Portrait at The Baroness in Long Island City

Open kitchen at The Baroness in Long Island City

I tried some of their beers on tap. The first one was the Queen of Shadows from KCBC - Kings County Brewers Collective, a double espresso imperial stout, perfect for coffee maniacs...like me!

KCBC Queen of Shadows at The Baroness in Long Island City

The second one was the Sloop Brewery "Juice Bomb", an unfiltered IPA with a golden color, that had a nice citrusy flavor.

Sloop "juicy bomb" at The Baroness in Long Island City

One of the times we went, for appetizer, we went for the Bretzels, that are soft pretzel balls stuffed with cheddar cheese and served with mustard, grain mustard and a beer cheese sauce. I appreciated the fact that they gave a nice amount of sauce and mustard to dip these small balls that were very light and so good.

Bretzel balls at The Baroness in Long Island City

Pretzel balls at The Baroness in Long Island City

Jodi decided to have their veggie burger and from the two choices they have, picked the Opal, served with caramelized pineapple, pico de gallo, cucumber and arugula, on a potato roll. The first time, she added avocado.

Opal veggie burger with avocado at The Baroness in Long Island City

The second time, guacamole and sautéed mushrooms.

Opal veggie burger with guacamole at The Baroness in Long Island City

This was a good veggie burger, not spicy as advertised, but definitely with a slight sweetness from the pineapple.

The Marylin burger at The Baroness in Long Island City

On my side, I decided the first time to try the Marylin, that is their mac and cheese burger. This is definitely a heart attack on a plate: the patty is made of 70% beef-30% bacon, and is accompanied by their mac and cheese, pancetta crumbles, bacon, cheddar cheese, beer and cheese sauce and spicy bacon ketchup. This was amazing and the first bite was divine: it was juicy and very tasty, with so many different flavors that worked well together. I admit though that I was expecting much more mac and cheese in it, remembering the mac and cheese burger at The Ainsworth...

The second burger I tried was the Fiona, apparently a new dish, made with seared filet mignon, blue cheese compound butter, pickles and caramelized onions, served on a pretzel bun. I have to say that I did not read with much attention the description, thinking that the patty was made with filet mignon and not that there would be pieces of steak on top. Anyway, I was not going to complain about it! It was a bit messy to eat, but was spectacular! The meat was juicy, tender and perfectly cooked, pairing really well with the blue cheese and caramelized onions that gave a nice sweetness to the whole thing.

The Fiona burger at The Baroness in Long Island City

With the burgers come sides, but in a small quantity. We tried their mac and cheese, original with seven cheeses and the one with bacon & jalapeño (a good kick), their kettle chips (they do not serve fries, and their house salad (alright, it was for Jodi, not me). The mac and cheese was good, but I wish it was more gooey.

Seven-cheese mac and cheese at The Baroness in Long Island City

Jalapeno and bacon mac and cheese at The Baroness in Long Island City

House salad at The Baroness in Long Island City

Kettle chips at The Baroness in Long Island City

Both times we went to The Baroness, we left full, really full (by the way, they do not serve any dessert there). The burgers there are spectacular and they deserve to call themselves a burger bar. I definitely recommend this place and put it on my top 5 best burgers in New York.

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 Baroness burger bar - 4126 Crescent Street, Queens, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 2/14/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/14/18

Qi Bangkok Eatery, Modern Thai cuisine in Hell's Kitchen

I love Qi, a Thai restaurant serving a modern fair that relocated from Times Square to Hell's Kitchen, at the location where Chef Pichet Ong opened Chaan Teng, an eclectic Chinese restaurant end of 2016, that unfortunately closed. It is unfortunate as Chaan Teng was pretty good, but at least, it gives Qi a better chance to attract customers, the restaurant in Times Square being beautiful, but not the best location, with people also wondering if it was a lounge considering the feel it had. In Hell's kitchen, there is no doubt, even with the music playing, that they are serving food.

Of course, I ordered my favorite Thai drink: a Thai iced tea that was very good.

Thai iced tea at Qi Bangkok Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

As an appetizer, we shared the veggie Spring rolls, made with glass noodles, minced vegetables, accompanied by a plum sauce. They were delicious but very hot, with the wrapping not too thick and a nice amount of vegetables.

Veggie spring rolls at Qi Bangkok Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

For her entree, Jodi ordered a sautéed dish made with baby corn, mushrooms, zucchini, scallion, bell peppers, carrots, onions and celery, with an addition of tofu. At first, I thought it would be bland, but it was not the case.

Ginger dish with tofu at Qi Bangkok Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, I opted for the General Tso fried chicken and waffle. Few reasons: I love General Tso chicken, I love fried chicken, I love waffles and I love the combination of sweet and savory. I was also intrigued by the dish as it is not your classic fried chicken and was amused that they would serve what you typically see on a brunch menu for dinner. The dish looked very appetizing and I was not disappointed at all: the chicken was fantastic! It was crispy and tasty, slightly sweet, less than your traditional General Tso, perfectly cooked and moist. It was also served with a very good waffle, that was slightly crispy and not too soft. The only improvement I see is the quantity of syrup (made with red dates and sesame), but you can ask for more anyway. If you like fried chicken and waffle, I definitely recommend this dish.

General Tso Chicken and waffle at Qi Bangkok Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Last was dessert. Well, in fact no, no dessert: they just had ice cream! No mango and sticky rice or even fried ice cream. So we left, a bit disappointed because of that, but still glad they relocated and did not permanently close. Qi is a nice place that serves some delicious food at reasonable prices. If you are in Hell's Kitchen, check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Qi Bangkok Eatery- 698 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 2/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/12/18

Mostly vegetarian dinner at The Little Beet Table

We were looking for a restaurant on a Friday when we stumbled upon The Little Beet Table, a place located few steps from the Flatiron that focusses on local ingredients, mostly vegetarian, with only few non-vegetarian dishes. Their menu is interesting as the plates show some creativity: it is not an after thought and, for a carnivore like me, quite satisfying. Here are the dishes we tried:

First, as a cocktail, I sipped a maple old fashioned, made with calvados, bulleit bourbon, maple syrup, angostura bitters and orange bitters, that was perfect, not too strong.

Maple old fashioned at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

We started off with the dip trio and veggie crudités (by the way, crudités are veggies...). It was composed of three spreads: , walnut muhammara (left), white bean-avocado (middle), cauliflower hummus (right). It was very good and quite original, especially the cauliflower hummus that is not something you see often or maybe I should say that you never see. My favorite was the walnut muhammara that had a nice texture and nuttiness to it. I liked the fact that they gave veggies to dip in these spreads instead of bread, giving a healthy dimension to the dish.

Dip trio at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

Crudités at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

Then, we got the only non-vegetarian dish we ordered that evening: the salmon crudo, served with cucumber-chili relish, hibiscus pickled onion and yuzu kasha, a Japanese paste that combines yuzu, chilies, and salt. This was a great dish, refreshing, the salmon tasting quite fresh and the dressing adding a perfect acidity.

Salmon crudo at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

After that, we ordered an entree and two sides. The entree was their grilled cauliflower steak, accompanied with green curry, maitake mushroom, salad of market herbs, apple and almonds. I loved the dish: everything went well together and I loved the fact that they added the apple for some nice acidity and the almonds for a bit of crunch.

Cauliflower steak at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

The first side was the smoked maitake mushroom that was sublime. It was made with idiazabal cheese and herbs.

Smoked maitake mushroom at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

The second one was the roasted brussels sprouts with salsa verde and salt. This was good, but I wish there was more sauce.

Roasted brussels sprouts at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We settled for the apple-cranberry crumble that was my least favorite dish: there was not enough crumble on top and too much cranberry for my taste, overpowering the apple and giving this dish a taste that was way too tart.

Apple cranberry crumble at The Little Beet Table in NYC, NY

Overall, I had a great meal at The Little Beet Table and did not mind ditching the steak or chicken choices from the menu. The food was delicious, original and healthy, that bring vegetables to a different level. I definitely recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Little Beet Table - 333 Park Avenue South, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 2/9/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/9/18

Fondue at Mont Blanc 52, Midtown West

The last time I went to Mont Blanc 52, it was called Maria's Mont Blanc and was located in the Theater District: same owners but different location as they lost their lease. The one on 52nd has less exposure to foot traffic, but equally good and welcoming. We went there for dinner, eager to try this time their cheese fondue. I admit that I was surprised about the price, as, for $54 of two, it seems a bit overpriced, and did not expect having a salad and some fried potatoes (called rosti) that then explained the price.

For the salad, we both went for the one with blue cheese. It was a nice portion for sure.

Blue cheese salad at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

Then came the rosti, a Swiss version of the classic potato pancake or latkes. I loved the crunchiness of it.

After the roti, came the Swiss fondue, made with four different types of cheeses. If you never had cheese fondue, it comes with cubes of bread, usually old bread as, if the bread is too soft, it will fall in the pot and you will have a dare. So, you put a cube on the special fondue fork and dip it into the cheese, making sure it is all over the bread. Voila! The fondue was good and definitely had some Swiss cheese in it, maybe a bit too much of it. But still, it was delicious.

Swiss cheese fondue at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

Cubes of bread at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

Bread dipped in the cheese fondue at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

With the fondue, I had a glass of white Swiss wine, La Cote du Chasselat as we say in France that it is not good to drink water with a cheese fondue...Probably an urban legend to entice people to drink wine!

Glass of La Cote du Chasselat wine at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

Of course we could not leave without having dessert, although at that point I was quite full...We decided to go for their meringue glacé, composed of a homemade meringue, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. I loved it: light, not too sweet, it was the perfect way to finish our meal.

Meringue glacée at Mont Blanc 52 in NYC, NY

That was a great meal and I was glad we walked a bit after that! I like Mont Blanc 52: it is a nice place that serves delicious dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mont Blanc 52 - 344 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 2/7/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/7/18

Fantastic dinner at Basta Pasta

One of my colleagues, Abe, has been talking about Basta Pasta for a while and so, Jodi and I decided to go there for dinner. Little did I know that this place first opened in Tokyo, back in 1985, with the concept of having an open kitchen so diners could enjoy a sort of cooking show, offering entertainment as well as good food. Five years later, they opened their Chelsea location, where Chef Takada crafted a creative menu inspired from classic Italian dishes.

Dining room at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

When we arrived, the restaurant was packed and the kitchen staff was extremely busy, going back and forth from the kitchen to the refrigerators that were right behind the bar. The dining room was nice, with some light so we could see our food, but I thought that they crammed too many tables in there, especially on the sides. Food wise, their menu was definitely mouth watering and I was not sure what to order...I started off by ordering a glass of red wine, a Pinot Nero (Pint Noir) 2015 from Lombardy:

Glass of Pinot Nero 2015 at Bar area at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

Then, they brought us a bread basket, as well as some toast made with gorgonzola and mascarpone, a delicious way to start, although I wish there was more cheese.

Bread basket at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

Gorgonzola and mascarpone toasts at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

Next, came the appetizers. Jodi went for the Cartoccio di Funghi Misti, a dish made of three kinds of mushrooms baked inside a cooking paper with thyme, garlic and olive oil. The presentation was great: they came with the cooking paper that was like a bag in which the mushrooms were. And it was so good, very earthy.

Baked mushrooms at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

On my side, I went for the Polpo or braised octopus, served with fingerling potatoes, radishes, olive flakes, pangrattato (Italian for bread crumbs), and a paprika tomato sauce. It was quite good, the octopus being well cooked, very tender, made a bit too much: I wish it was a bit grilled to give a nice char to it and some bite.

Next were the entrees. Jodi went for the spaghetti con mozzarella, pomodoro e funghi, that is spaghetti with mozzarella, parmesan, shiitake mushrooms, basil and fresh tomato sauce. I should mention that it was an appetizer portion: yes, they do propose such portion for their pasta that is great for people who have a small appetite and want to order an appetizer, of for people who want to share several dishes.

Spaghetti con mozzarella, pomodoro e funghi at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

On my side, I went for the Spaghetti con prosciutto e parmigiano, which is spaghetti with prosciutto di Parma and parmigiana reggiano, prepared in half wheel of parmesan cheese, table side. First, the preparation was nice, attracting the attention of dinners. They first tossed the spaghetti in the cheese, then put the pasta on a plate and added some of the melted cheese, lots of it. They finished with the prosciutto on top. This was succulent: first, I should mention that for both dishes, the spaghetti was cooked al dente and had a nice bite. This dish was so good: there was a lot of cheese and I loved the combination with the prosciutto that added a succulent saltiness to the dish.

Spaghetti con prosciutto e parmigiano at Basta Pasta in Chelsea, NYC

Last was dessert. We decided to go with their signature tiramisu that was delightfully creamy. A good way to end the meal.

Our dinner at Basta Pasta was sublime: the food there was delicious and I loved watching the kitchen. I would definitely go back there and recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Basta Pasta - 37 W 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 2/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/5/18

Restaurant Week 2018 - Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

So right now is Restaurant Week until February 9th. I have to say that I am on a fence when it comes to Restaurant Week: it is a great event, but not all restaurants are embracing the principle that is for diners to discover restaurants and, in a way, want to come back to try their regular menu. No, some restauranteurs simply lower the quality of their food: too bad. But I have to say that Ruth's Chris is not like that: first of all, they have a delicious lunch menu that they serve all year long, crafting a menu for restaurant week is not too far fetched.

Lobster bisque at Ruth's Chris in Manhattan

For the entree, I chose the filet mignon, sad that they did not offer the sublime ribeye that is on their lunch menu. Anyway, the filet was succulent: cooked medium-rare, it came in a 500 degree plate that was sizzling, the butter still cooking the tender and tasty meat.

Filet mignon at Ruth's Chris in Manhattan

As sides, I tried their creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, both being perfectly made.

Creamed spinach at Ruth's Chris in Manhattan

Mashed potatoes at Ruth's Chris in Manhattan

Last was dessert: it was a mini cheesecake with chocolate pecan bark. That was so good, I wish it was a bigger portion. It was creamy, light and not too sweet.

Cheesecake and chocolate pecan bark at Ruth's Chris in Manhattan

Ruth's Chris proposes a delicious Restaurant Week menu that I definitely recommend: for $29, you get a succulent meal, with a good piece of meat that will make you want to go back for sure!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ruth's Chris- 148 West 51st Street, NY, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 2/3/18 I Just Want To Eat! 2/3/18

Yakiniku Futago, Japanese Steakhouse

I recently went to Yakiniku Futago, few blocks from Union Square and I was blown away: the food there is superb and there is a nice and relaxed atmosphere, all the ingredients for a great evening. The decor is beautiful, elegant and zen, with a noise level that was perfect considering that I like to enjoy a good conversation with a meal.

Dining room at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

Food wise, it is mainly for meat lovers, but vegetarians can find few dishes. It is a steakhouse or a barbecue place, it depends how you want to interpret their concept that is very similar to Korean BBQ (or Japanese BBQ as a matter of fact). In fact, Yakiniku means to barbecue and each table has its own grill, like in Korean or Japanese BBQ places. However, I would call them a steakhouse considering the choices of meat they offer, from Japanese Wagyu to American USDA prime cuts. I got to sample quite a lot there, so here it is:

Edamame: ok, nothing extraordinary here, but probably the sole healthy dish of the evening...

Spicy Crispy ‘‘BON-CHOL” Fried Chicken: It was so good that we got a second order! The chicken was moist and the double frying made it heavenly crispy, smothered in a sauce that was not spicy at all.

Fried chicken at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

Hot stone garlic rice: it was like a bibimbap with just rice and lots of garlic. Ok, garlic is known for being good for blood sugar and has various medicinal properties, and with this dish, you get a year of treatment for sure, as there is a lot of it. But, if you like garlic, you will love it, as I did.

Garlic rice at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

Japanese Style Cold Noodle: very refreshing, I love the bite the noodles had.

Cold noodles at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

For the main entree, I tried their wagyu deluxe sampler that was composed of 4 different cuts of Japanese wagyu beef: ribeye, tri tip, knuckles and kalbi (short rib). The meat came raw, beautifully presented in a wooden box, with some wasabi and vegetables. The marbling was sublime, especially on the ribeye that was my favorite cut with the knuckles. They were tender, juicy and try tasty. However, the kalbi was a bit tough. I cooked the meat for seconds to minutes, depending of the cut, on the grill that was in the middle of the table, rendering an amazing aroma as the meat cooked.

Wagyu sampler at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

Wagyu ribeye at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

I also tried the Thickly Cut Special Filet Steak With Garlic, that was amazing: also very tender, juicy and tasty, it was accompanied by a delicious garlic sauce.

Filet steak at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

With the meal, some sake was welcome and I chose a Dassai 50 Junmai Daiginjo:

Assai sake at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. I admit that the choices were not that mouth watering, although original. I tried their Sweet Potato Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream, that was just ok, nothing to rave for.

Sweet potato cake at Yakiniku Futago in NYC, NY

At that point, they brought some corn tea that was a nice way to finish the meal and hopefully help my digestion...

The meal at Yakinuku Futago was succulent: the meat there is delicious and the BBQ concept adds a bit of playfulness as long as you know how to cook the meat and do not overcook it...It is a nice place with a relaxed atmosphere, original for sure as far from the usual setting of a steakhouse. I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Yakiniku Futago - 317 W 17th Street, NY, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 1/31/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/31/18

Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition is the second location of Ramen-Ya, a place I discovered a couple of years ago. Bigger than its sister restaurant, the Samurai Edition, the food there was delicious and quite comforting, especially in cold temperatures.

Dining room at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

Jodi went for their vegetarian ramen, made with a vegetable soup, corn, kikurage mushrooms, menma (Japanese condiment made from lactate-fermented bamboo shoots), corn, scallions and seaweed. She also added an egg that's perfectly cooked, the yolk being orange. This was a very good vegetarian ramen: tasty, with lots of vegetables in it. I especially loved the added sweetness from the corn.

Yasai ramen at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

On my side, I got the shoyu ramen, made with a pork base soup (tonkotsu), and composed of a seasoned egg (also well cooked), char siu (braised pork that was quite good), kikurage mushrooms and scallions. This was a delicious ramen and I had no problem finishing it!

Shoyu ramen at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

Both ramen were delicious. Jodi's had thick egg noodles and mine straight thin noodles. I admit that I preferred the thick ones as they were tastier and had a bite.

Wavy egg noodles at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

Straight thin noodles at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village

We had a great meal at Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition in the West Village: this is definitely a place I recommend.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ramen-Ya Samurai Edition - 133 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/18

Burgers at Kings of Kobe - The Burger & Hot Dog Monarchy in Hell's Kitchen

We wanted to have a burger or maybe I should write I wanted to have a burger, and decided to go to check out Kings of Kobe, a place I found on instagram. This place is an odd to Americana, serving burgers and hotdogs made with all natural American wagyu beef. So I was expecting quality burgers, as going for both a burger and a hotdog would have been too much considering the size of the hotdogs they serve.

Dining room at Kings of Kobe in Hell's Kitchen

It is a small place with only few tables and we waited a bit of time until a family of 7 left to get seated at a table, our order being already made at the counter. Jodi went for their vegan burger called the Vegan Republic, made with three types of beans and roasted vegetables, roasted tomato, baby arugula and vegan herb mayo. I admit that it was quite tasty and had a nice texture.

Vegan Republic burger at Kings of Kobe in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, I opted for the Duke of Lux, made with smoked gouda, caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon and chipotle aioli. The patty was unfortunately slightly overcooked and a bit dry and I thought that the onions were overpowering as there was too much of it for my taste. Too bad, because it seemed promising and for sure looked really appetizing.

Duke of Lux burger at Kings of Kobe in Hell's Kitchen

Considering that Jodi liked her vegan burger, I may go back to Kings of Kobe to try their hotdogs, some of their choices, like the Banh Mine, their version of Banh Mi, being intriguing...Or I may try again a burger, with the hope that this time it will not be overcooked!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Kings of Kobe - The Burger & Hot Dog Monarchy

790 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/18

Revisit: Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

Few weeks ago, we went to one of the locations of Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen and had a great time with my nephew Valentin. So we decided to go back, but tried their other location, still in Hell's Kitchen, but closer to Times Square. I admit that the experience was not as good: they were definitely understaffed in a place that was really crowded, affecting the service there. It started with the hostess who was not very nice at first, but then apologized, to the waiter who did not even check on us (forget the bread basket and the cheese on the pasta), to the food that took forever to come, prompting us to skip dessert. It is not the fault of the staff who is being put in this situation, but such service does not make the whole experience satisfying, unless the food is exceptional and then you think that at least you got great dishes. It was not the case unfortunately. I mean the food was decent, but that was it. Such a contrast compared to the other time we went there! Well, maybe the location matters...

I started off the meal with a cocktail: the Sole di Roma, made with Aperol, Limoncello, orange juice and prosecco. This was delicious: bitter and citrusy, not strong at all.

Sole di Roma cocktail at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

Then, we decided to try their meatballs, thinking that if there are dishes that should be good in any Italian restaurant, it would be the meatballs and the tiramisu. The sauce was very good, bold, but the meatballs themselves were dry.

Meatballs at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

We then shared some pasta. The first one was the Penne Gorgonzola Noci e Picelli, that are penne pasta with gorgonzola cheese, peas and walnuts (we ditched these as Jodi does not like them). It was good: the pasta was well cooked, al dente, and that sauce was delicious.

Penne Gorgonzola Noci e Picelli at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

The second dish was the fettuccine a la Bolognese. It was my favorite dish: the homemade fettuccine was fantastic and the meat sauce superb. I found this dish very comforting.

Fettuccine a la Bolognese at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

So, as I mentioned before, we did not bother having dessert, not that there was really something we definitely wanted to try. We left a bit disappointed, but it does not change my opinion that the other location we tried was good. I will need to go back to confirm, or maybe, will have to check the third location they have in Chelsea to see if they are inconsistent in all their restaurants!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Bocca di Bacco - 635 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/18

Tex-Mex food at El Original in NYC, NY

We were walking on 10th avenue when we noticed a place called El Original, a Tex-Mex restaurant adjacent to a hotel that I cannot recall the name. The place is big and I was glad we went for brunch as it looked more like a bar and I could already imagine the noise level for dinner. There were definitely not that many people for brunch, besides a group of construction workers who seemed to be regulars.

Entrance at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Bar area at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We started off our meal with some guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips, all quite good, the guac being fresh.

Guacamole, salsa and chips at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Salsa at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Tortilla chips at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Guacamole at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Then, Jodi opted for the portobello mushrooms tacos, served with yellow rice and beans. The tacos were good and I should mention that they offer a large choice, from chicken, fish, beef or pork, mushrooms being the sole vegetarian option, but a tasty one.

Portobello mushroom tacos at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

On my side, I went for the divorced eggs, a dish composed of two sides: on one side, an egg with salsa roja, over pinto beans, and on the other side, a fried egg with salsa verde over yellow rice, all on top of a crispy corn tortilla, topped with guacamole and pico de gallo. This was good with one being spicy (the first one). I liked the fact that it was two recipes in one dish.

Divorced eggs at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Last, we went for their tres leches that was decent, but definitely not the best we had. Still, a good way to end our meal.

Tres leches at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Our brunch at El Original was overall good: the food is quite good and tasty. This is a good place to know if you'd like a Tex-Mex brunch in that area, better than the brunch we had previously at Arriba Arriba. But that is for another post...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/18

Brunch at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It took me some time to post about my brunch at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, but there are places like that that you cannot forget and I admit that their menu was quite interesting and the experience good, to the point that I am still looking forward to going back for dinner.

Bakery at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Bar area at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

I like the place: rustic, you have the bakery in the front, selling bread and various treats difficult to resist, and, in the back, its open kitchen overlooking the main dining room; a kitchen so busy delivering mouth watering items to hungry diners that you cannot stop looking at it (well, I did).

Kitchen at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

We started off our brunch with deviled eggs, that were good and a nice way to start a meal.

Deviled eggs at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Then, we went for their whole lotta frittata. I admit that we were not sure what to expect considering that we often ended up disappointed with frittata that were tasteless. This one was delicious, full of veggies that gave a nice taste to it.

Frittata at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

But what I was really looking for was their dirty burger, served with cheese and pickles, the patty looked like a giant meatball. It was overall quite good, although slightly overcooked. But still, worth the trip. The burger came with spicy fries that were not spicy at all...

The dirty burger at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It was overall a nice brunch: Antique Bar and Bakery has a unique menu served in a rustic yet modern atmosphere. I definitely recommend the brunch and will for sure go back for the dinner as their ribeye looked amazing!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Antique Bakery - 122 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ07030

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/18

Burger at JG Melon

We recently decided to go to JG Melon with our friends Jen and Gary, a place that I have wanted to visit for a while. My sole goal was to try their burger that I heard was phenomenal. So, here we are on a Saturday, at 12pm, in a place that is already very crowded and remained that way all along. I should mention that, despite the number of hungry patrons waiting for a table, they did not rush us, to the contrary.

Dining room at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

This cash only old school pub opened in 1972 and is famous for its burgers. Beef burgers I mean, although you can get a turkey burger and if you are vegetarian, you might be out of luck as they do not have any veggie patty. Jodi went for a classic cheeseburger

Cheeseburger at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

and I went for the bacon cheeseburger.

Bacon cheeseburger at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

The burgers come with onions and lost of pickles, but no side. No, you need to order the only side available: their cottage fried potatoes that are delicious and not greasy, as if they cooked them in an air fryer. Anyway, back to the burger: the first bite was divine! Juicy and tasty (yes, it tastes like meat, the patty not being overpowered by tons of condiments).

Cottage fried potatoes at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

For dessert, we opted for the lemon pie that was just ok, the crust being a bit soggy.

Key lime pie at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

I loved the burger at JG Melon and would definitely put it on my top ten in New York, the best remaining at The Brindle Room. And if you do not like burgers, know that they serve other dishes such as an omelet or broiled fish...

Enjoy (I did)!

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JG Melon - 1291 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10021