I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/18

Calle Dão, Cuban-Chinese restaurant

Fusion food is always interesting, not just when people experiment but more when it is part of a culture. So I was curious to try Calle Daõ, a Cuban-Chinese restaurant located close to Bryant Park. It was not my first meal of this sort, having dined in the past few times at La Caridad on the Upper West Side, a much more casual place. I liked the food there, that I found quite creative, but the dimmed lights and loud music spoiled a bit the meal. So if like me you like to see your food and a quieter setting, I suggest you either go for lunch (hopefully quieter) or sit close to the door, on the few tables next to the windows...In terms of food, you can find classic Cuban dishes like yucca fries, plantains, or rice and beans, and then some that stand out and seem more branching out to the two cultures like the goat neck that I would have eaten if it was served with something else than bok choy! But overall, I had a good meal (Jodi was not as enthusiastic as I was, finding her dish a bit bland - I should mention that the vegetarian choices are limited). Here is what we tried:

As a cocktail, Opium, made with Bourbon, tamarind, Ruby red grapefruit, lemon and poppy seeds. Quite good and well balanced, it was not too strong.

"Opium" cocktail at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

Yucca fries: fairly classic but always a crowd pleaser. It was served with their house mojo sauce and a gochujang ketchup that was my favorite of the two.

Jodi had the Mushroom & Broccoli, a dish made with King Oyster, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Chinese Broccoli with Lo Mein Noodles dressed in Garlic Hoisin. She thought it was bland: I did not. For sure it was not the kind of dish that would sweep me off my feet but I found it decent.

Mushroom and broccoli at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the black rice seafood paella that was very good, with lots of seafood in it. It was tasty: the rice seemed to have been cooked with the seafood and not put together before serving (I had a bad paella many years ago in Miami where you could tell the rice was cooked separately). However, there was no soccarat, the delicious rice crisp that forms when cooking that makes paella so good.

Black rice seafood paella at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: we could not have left without ordering one, their menu offering mouth watering options. So we chose the bunuelos, that are like beignets. These were fantastic: hot, not greasy, smothered in Chinese five spice sugar. It was served with a chocolate coconut sauce that I did not really care about, the bunuelos being so good, there was no need for it. Although I admit that since I had churros with condensed milk at Victor’s Café, I am always hoping people would serve condensed milk instead of chocolate...

So we had a good meal at Calle Daõ: I found the food very good and even if the noise level was too high for me, I would go back and better pick my seat...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Calle Dao - 38 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/18

Indian Vegetarian dinner at Vatan in Murray Hill

Serving an all-you-can-eat vegetarian menu inspired from Gujarati cuisine, Vatan is the kind of restaurants that a non-vegetarian person like me would rave about: the food that they serve there is so good and full of flavor that you will forget you are having a vegetarian dinner. I love the concept: for $34 you get a full meal: an appetizer thali (slightly spicy), an entree thali (you can choose between mild, medium and hot) with its sides and desserts. As it is all you can eat, they ask you if you'd like more but trust me: it is so filling that you will not order as much as you think!

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

Vatan is quite big with its two rooms (the main dining room and the mezzanine) that have no windows but with a decor that gives you the impression you stepped into a place in India, with its paintings on the wall, its 20 foot tall banyan tree, thatched roofs and big lord Ganesha in the center of the main dining room.

Main dining room at Vatan in Murray Hill

Painting on wall at Vatan in Murray Hill

Know that drinks are not included in the prix-fixe. They have a nice selection of alcohol from India, from beers to whisky, as well as sodas (Jodi got their lime soda that was nice) and the must-have mango lassi that is very good and perfect to soothe your mouth if you have eaten something spicy.

They then served us some snacks as we were waiting for our dishes. Crunchy, they were made with rice flour.

Next was the appetizer thali. As I mentioned before, you cannot change the level of spiciness. But, at the exception of the Mirchi Bhajia, that is a fried hot pepper with chaat masala, it was not that spicy.

Here is what the thali was composed of:

Chana Masala - Garbanzo beans with onions and coriander:

Muthia - steamed flour with spinach

Batatavada - fried potato balls in chickpea flour batter:

Khaman - wheat flour cake:

Samosa - filled with spicy potatoes and onions.

Mirchi Bhajia, that is a fried hot pepper with chaat masala

I admit that I do not remember this one: it was like yellow dal but had potato in it.

Sev Puri - garbanzo beans, yogurt and chutney (my favorite):

The appetizers came with some sauces like the mango chutney that was my favorite, adding a nice sweetness to the dishes. Needless to say that I asked for more sev puri and batatavada that I really liked.

Then was the entree thali that we both asked mild.

It was composed of:

Puri - fried puffy bread:

Toor dal - lentils cooked in spices

Chole - chickpeas cooked in garam masala:

Bhaji - sautéed spinach and corn:

Roti with butter:

Kheer - rice pudding

Ful-Cobi - sautéed cauliflower and peas:

Batakanu sak - potatoes in a mild red gravy:

There was also a papadam that I forgot to take a photo of that was a bit spicy...

The entrees came with some sides: raita (perfect when eating spicy food as it is made with yogurt and soothe a mouth on fire), rice as well as a twice cooked rice that was phenomenal with the raita!

Twice cooked rice at Vatan in Murray Hill

Last was dessert. I admit that we did not ask for more of the entrees as we started to be really full, and were looking forward for the desserts. It was a Malai ice cream that was very good (it had cardamon in it), gulab jamun, one of my favorite Indian desserts, and a masala chai.

We had great time at Vatan: the food was very good and the service on point, courteous and ensuring that we had everything we needed. When we went last year, I had the exact same experience but thought that going there often might not be necessary as they do not change their menu: I was wrong! I would in fact go back there often and, if you think that these are small quantities, trust me: you will need a walk after eating there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Vatan - 409 3rd Avenue, New York, NY10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/18

LSC After Dark Preview Event - Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is a great place to learn: it has an amazing setup and their planetarium is awesome. So we were excited when I got an invite for their evening event, LSC After Dark, that takes place every third Thursdays of the month: Grossology - The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, where you can climb in various parts of the human body (you can see the inside of the nose) or play games that reveal the secrets of boogers, vomit, odors, and more. Yes, it is gross but at the end of the day, it is what we are and be honest: this type of stuff makes people laugh..I have to say it was entertaining as well as educational and I enjoyed it!

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

Grossology exhibit at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

At the same time, during that event, we got to go to the amazing Planetarium (the largest in the Western hemisphere with approx. 400 seats)for an amazing show about planets that ended up with a sky ride that was spectacular and in a preview of their laser show on the rhythm of David Bowie's Let's dance song.

Saturn at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

Laser show at the Planetarium in The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

At the same time, we got to eat some great food and cocktails from vendors of Midnight Market, that are just $5 a plate. Here is what we had:

Eemas, Hawaiian cuisine - I tried this place in the last LSC After Dark event I went to: it was the first time I had Spam and found it delicious. They served it with their Thai iced tea that is one of my favorite drinks when I go to a Thai restaurant. But this time, they had a dish for vegetarians: Tempeh Katsu. I admit that I was not sure I would like it as I remember I tried tempeh few years ago at Gobo, that since closed, and I did not like it. But this time I did! Marinated in pineapple and ponzu, and breaded with panko, it was tasty and crunchy.

Thai iced tea from Eemas at LSC After Dark

Tempeh Katsu from Eemas at LSC After Dark

Waffle Totz - Imagine a waffle made with tater tots: extra crunchy and delightfully greasy! They were proposing three different kinds: sweet chili (my fav), Whiskey BBQ and Buffalo Ranch.

Sweet chili at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Buffalo each at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Whiskey BBQ at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ - They were serving three kinds of tacos made with a homemade tortilla that was superb. There was a veggie taco, a chicken taco and my favorite: a brisket taco that was addictive, being very flavorful, the brisket being delicious.

Veggie taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

Chicken taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

Brisket taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

On the sweet side was Pick a Bonbon, that makes Amegrideiros or American Brigadeiros, homemade Brazilian inspired bonbons that just around 100 calories! Colorful, they were all delicious although a bit sweet, but probably because I tried them all...There was The colorful Unicorn with sprinkles on top, The Peachy-B that is a Peach Bellini (minus the booze), The Figazzi with Fig and rose water, The O.G. that is full of chocolate.

Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark at Liberty Science Center, Jersey City

Peachy-B from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The unicorn from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

Sampler from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The Figazzi at Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The OG from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

But it would not be complete without some liquid nitrogen and we got to try two things: The mucus margarita (Remember: it is for the Grossology exhibit!), made with tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and orange liqueur. Very good, I never thought I would ever say: "Can I have a mucus margarita, please?".

Then was the liquid nitrogen ice cream from Cryo Cream: it was a nitro-affogato and Dragon's breath ice cream with a toasted marshmallow and a graham cracker, like an interpretation of S'mores, but with the wow effect of the liquid nitrogen!

Liquid nitrogen ice cream from Cryo Cream at LSC After Dark

So we had a fantastic time at LSC After Dark: I think it is great that The Liberty Science Center organizes these evenings where you can meet people, eat, drink, have a good time, and at the same time, have access to the exhibits that are always fun and educational.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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

Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Boasting 13 locations across the US, Hot’n Juicy Crawfish serves seafood creole and Cajun style. Yes, seafood and mainly seafood. If you do not like it or are allergic, unless you are ready to eat corn, rice and potatoes, this place is not for you. But if you like crab, crawfish, shrimp or lobster, it is a fun experience. Notice the way I put it and understand that when I say a “fun experience” it means that I personally would not go often there, prices being high considering what ends up in your belly once you eliminate the shells that make up most of the weight of the food you order.

Dining room at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

I started of with ordering a Brooklyn Lager draft beer:

Blue Point oysters at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Then, I got half a dozen blue point oysters that were quite good and tasting fresh.

Oysters at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Oyster at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

At the same time came a bucket, a bib and some plastic gloves for the crawfish and crab I ordered. I appreciated the fact that they gave several pairs of gloves as one was definitely not enough to go through the lunch. And there was the bib: you may think twice before refusing to wear it because you would look ridiculous. Yes, if you walk like that in the street you would certainly look ridiculous if not crazy. But, in this kind of restaurant, mostly everybody is wearing it and everybody understands that you have to choose between wearing it or sacrificing your shirt! So who cares?

Bucket, bib and gloves at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

The first thing that came out was the pound of crawfish ($15/lb). I asked to have it with garlic butter, mild. I forgot to mention that you have to choose the sauce and the spiciness of it. Loving butter, I did not hesitate, although I admit that with the amount of garlic it had I will be protected from vampires for the next three months...As far as the spiciness is concerned, mild was fine: it had a slight kick at first, but it built up in my mouth as I was eating. The crawfish was good, well cooked.

Crawfish at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Next was the blue crab ($15/lb). 1 pound is equivalent to three crabs. They looked good and were good, but you do not get much meat in it and would probably need to order 3 or 4 pounds to be satisfied. I chose the exact same sauce as for the crawfish.

Blue crab at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

So overall it was good, but I left a bit hungry. I would go back there for fun, but not if I am craving seafood. For that, I would go to The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market: pricey but more satisfying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

hot’n Juicy Crawfish - 243 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/18

Poor service at Big Daddy's Diner

I love diners: they represent something I associated with the US during my childhood as I watched a lot of American series where there would be a scene at a booth, as characters were enjoying milkshakes (introduced in France by MacDonald’s and Ben & Jerry’s) or burgers (well also introduced by fast food chains although when a kid I did not like ground meat and always settled for a filet’o fish...). So I was excited to try Big Daddy’s Diner near Union Square: the neon and walls covered with American TV series names, singers, etc, giving a particular feel to the place.

Dining room at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Trivial Pursuit cards at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Comfort food for sure, but comfort only on the menu. We should have had a hint when it took them time to seat us: at least they should have acknowledged we were there and let us know they had to clean a table first. Quite basic. Then, the food was subpar: Jodi had a vegetarian burger that was mushy and my Mac ‘n Grilled cheese was horrible; it looked more like two pieces of toasted bread with a bit of Mac and cheese in between. When you think about grilled cheese, you think about bread grilled on a skillet in butter and delicious charred cheese. There, they promise on their menu some oozing cheese sauce: they did not deliver.

Mac'n grilled cheese at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Veggie burger at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

At least the fries and tater tots were good, but I am sure I can do the same job with frozen products...

Tater tots at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

French fries at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

The service was also not good: they did not check on us, forgot to bring utensils and took forever to take our order or bring the food (the bill came faster though and fortunately, they had Trivial Pursuit cards at the table to let time pass), to the point that we decided to forget about dessert as it would have taken to so long that my parents would have alerted the authorities wondering where I was! Too bad: we wanted to try the S’mores waffles that looked promising and hopefully would have been a bit of a highlight. So the experience at Big Daddy’s Diner is unforgettable in a forgettable place where I am not ready to go back soon.

Enjoy (the post only)!

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

Big Daddy’s Diner- 239 Park Avenue South, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/18

Dinner at Café Boulud

After our incredible meal at Daniel, the eponymous restaurant of acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud, we were looking forward to dining at Café Boulud, located at The Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side. Boasting one Michelin Star, Café Boulud celebrates 20 years of existence in what used to be Daniel’s original location and is a nod to the Chef’s family run restaurant in Lyon (just so you know, Lyon is considered the capital of French gastronomy, although I am sure some people would disagree). The menu, prepared by Chef Aaron Bludorn, is very interesting, declined in four sections:
- La Tradition (no need to translate) is about French classic dishes, elevated.
- La Saison (The Season), this time Summer, seasonal and local produces.
- Le Potager (The Garden), vegetarian dishes.
- Le Voyage explores cuisines of the world with a French twist. This time it was Mexican as it was the first voyage celebrated 20 years ago when the restaurant opened.
They also had a special menu for La fête de Bayonne, to celebrate basque cuisine, but it is for all the table and, as Jodi is vegetarian, we dismissed it, most of the dishes being non-vegetarian. And to continue on the celebration theme, they had a live band that payed some nice music, not too loud, allowing us to have some conversation without having to shout.

I should also mention their beverage list: lots of wine and interesting cocktails, and, to my delight, a nice selection of whisky, where the only complaint I have is the limited choices when it comes to a French whisky. I know that some may be surprised by this comment, but France has quite an extensive production of whisky, being a large cereal producer, and what great ambassador than a such an acclaimed Chef! The one I chose was a Rozelieures single malt smoked, that was indeed smokey like I like them, but less than an Ardberg Scotch. I liked it and would love to find a bottle (the search is on).

Whisky Rozelieures at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Before I talk about our meal, let’s talk about their bread that blew me away when dining at Daniel. As a reminder, they make their own bread at their commissary, for all their restaurants. But, the breads are not the same. At Café Boulud, I got to try: the sourdough, the rosemary, the walnut and the pumpkin bread. All very good and very addictive with butter...

Sourdough bread at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Rosemary bread at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

They started by bringing us an amuse: arancini with green peas and mozzarella. Delicious start for sure.

Arancini amuse at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, Jodi ordered the tomato salad made with Eckerton Hill Farm tomatoes, robiola nonno (a soft and creamy cheese), sourdough, basil pesto and cherry vinegar.

On my side, I chose the seared foie gras that was served on top of a brioche doughnut with apricot, almond streusel and ginger. I loved it: the foie was delightfully fatty, melting in my mouth. I loved the brioche doughnut that is a nice touch, different from the usual brioche and with a more dense texture that is perfect with the foie, and the apricot that added some sweetness to the dish.

Seared foie gras at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi tried their sweet corn risotto, made with chanterelles mushrooms, Pecorino Romano, tarragon and vanilla oil. I thought it was a great idea to propose an appetizer size for it especially considering that Jodi has a small appetite...not like me! The risotto was succulent: creamy, the rice had a nice bite and I loved the wonderful sweetness from the corn.

For me, it was simple: although I hesitated between the lamb and the duck, I decided to make it an all duck meal (except dessert of course). So I went for the Crescent Farm duck, served with peach, natural jus and some white grits and pecan crumb. There was a nice amount of duck that was perfectly cooked medium, not dry and with a skin that was deliciously fatty and very slightly crispy. I loved it. The grits were a tiny portion but they were so good I could have eaten more, even if I started to be full and really wanted to have dessert.

And so yes, we got dessert and what a way to finish this superb meal! It was the molten chocolate cake weigh vanilla ice cream. That cake was one of the best I had: the center was, as expected, liquid. I hate when you ask for a molten cake and it is overcooked. Not at Café Boulud and we were in heaven. If you love chocolate, do not miss it.

Molten chocolate cake at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

After all of this and as we were waiting for the check, they brought us some raspberry chocolates, as well as the same madeleines they served us at Daniel. This was a challenge to my full stomach because I could not stop eating them: they are so good!

Raspberry chocolate at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Our dinner at Café Boulud was great: the food was good and I liked the atmosphere with the band. I think it is very smart from them to have a menu that is not just French classics, and offers options like Le Voyage, ensuring that people come back from time to time to check out the creativity of the Chef. Chapeau Chef Boulud!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Café Boulud - 20 East 76th Street., Upper East Side, NY 10021

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/18

Product launch event: Bazodee sauces at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem

Last Tuesday, I was invited at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem for the launch of the Bazodee line of sauces, a set of Caribbean sauces from Mavis Foods, LLC. I love the story of this company: it all started with Ms. Mavis Davis, the daughter of a family of 12 children who has been cooking since she was 13 years old, complaining about the family not cooking and losing the legacy of the Caribbean and Venezuelan dishes carried from one generation to the other. That is how Bazodee, that means crazy, head over heels in love in Trinidad and Tobago, started.

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

Mavis Davis and Debra Sandler from Mavis Foods, LLC

I got the opportunity to meet them at the event as well as try some of the family recipes made with their sauces:

The Marvelous Marinade, made with green herbs and seasonings.
The Soca sauce, made with vegetables, peppers and seasonings.
The Hot Hot Soca sauce, made with the Trinidad Scorpion pepper, one of the most piquant peppers in the world.

Here is what I tried:

Orzo with mango salad made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Chicken with Angel hair pasta made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Tomato salad made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Tomato salad Chicken with Angel hair pasta made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade

Shrimp ceviche made with Bazodee Hot Hot Soca sauce:

Accra, codfish cakes:

As a drink, I got the Planters Punch made with Cannes Brûlées Classic Rum, pineapple, citrus juice, bitters and grenadine juice.

The food, prepared by Executive Chef Martin Little, was delicious and I could not believe how most of these dishes were so simple. I should also mention the venue: Minton's Playhouse is an institution. Minton's Playhouse is a jazz club that was founded by tenor saxophonist Henry Minton in 1938. It is famous for its role in the development of modern jazz, also known as bebop, where artists like Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke, Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie performed. It closed in 1974 and then reopened few years after few tries in 2013. I loved the atmosphere there as well as the old black and white photos of the artists who created such a legend.

Dining room at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, NY

It was a great event and I loved the food and concept created by Mavis Foods, LLC. I will for sure try to make these recipes and others with the Bazodee sauces that were in the press kit!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Minton's Playhouse - 206 W 118th Street, New York, NY 10026

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/18

Ikinari Steak, Japanese Steakhouse

I recently went to Ikinari Steak, the Japanese chain with few locations in New York where steaks are cut to order and customers are supposed to eat standing. For the latter, if you go to the location midtown, you will be properly seated. However, it is true that they cut the meat to order, with limited choices: ribeye, filet, sirloin and a cut I never heard about called wild steak that the waitress was not able to explain.

Dining room at  Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY — Dining room at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

Table number at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

The way it works there is that they seat you at a table that has a number. If it is your first time, they will tell you that they only take orders for sides like soup, salads, garlic pepper rice or mashed potatoes. For steaks, you need to go at the kitchen counter: you choose the cut, the size (the ribeye was $1.6/oz, a good price) and tell them how you want it cooked. You then tell them if you want different sides with the steak such as potatoes or broccoli, the standard being corn and onions (you can substitute and every additional side is just $1).

They told me the steak should take 10 to 15 minutes to come: it took close to 30 minutes. When it comes, I put on a bib that was definitely necessary considering the projections that came out of the piping hot skillet when I poured their signature sauce (and I was wearing a white shirt that day!). The plate smelled really good and the steak was well cooked, medium rare, with a nice char. It was juicy and very tender, but had a bit too much fat. I should mention that all steaks are wet-aged for 40 days.

I also got a glass of sake to accompany my steak. I picked the Ume-Rosé that is made with plum ume sake. It was a bit too sweet for my taste, although they mentioned that it is “no sugar added”.

Ume Rose sake at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

Overall it was a good meal and despite the long time it took for my steak to come I would go back. I found the meat quite good and prices reasonable for this quality of meat considering how much you have to pay in a Steakhouse. It is a cool concept, but, I would avoid if your co-dinners are vegetarian, the vegetarian options being very limited.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ikinari Steak - 368 West 46th street, New York, NY 10036

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

Dinner at Junoon, contemporary Indian

With a name signifying “passion”, there is added pressure for Junoon to deliver elegant contemporary Indian cuisine. Since opening in 2010, Junoon has been awarded a Michelin Star. Yes, 7 years: not a small accomplishment for a cuisine that is sometimes misunderstood. It has been a while since we wanted to go, but the list of restaurants on my list being what it is, it was often postponed: I regret it. The food crafted by Executive Chef Akshay Bardhwaj being superb, creative and beautifully plated. It is served in a nice atmosphere where the only negative is the light: it is so dimmed you cannot eat with your eyes.

But before I talk about the food, let’s talk about their cocktails: at Junoon, Mixologist Hemant Pathak created interesting combinations with herbs, spices and tea from Asia. But what was really funny is their “Game of Thrones” section that has cocktails like Arya Stark, Little Finger, Mother of Dragons or Jon Snow. I decided to go for the latter that was made with Cognac, Ardberg 10 year old Scotch, Carpano Antica, crème de cacao à la vanille, bitters and a spiced smoke for an additional smokiness and for the show. This was delicious and a must have if you like whisky, smokey whisky.

For the dinner, we decided to go for their 3 course meal that, for $75, is a good deal for this type of restaurant. Jodi started with the Lahsooni Gobi, a crispy cauliflower with a tomato, garlic and chili chutney.

On my side, I chose the tandoori octopus as I did not think I saw octopus on an Indian menu before, and thought it would be interesting. It was served with arugula, almond and a mango vinaigrette. It was really good, although at the beginning I thought that the octopus was too soft; but, the almonds added the required texture. I also liked the mango vinaigrette that gave a nice fruitiness to the dish.

With our appetizers came three chutneys: pineapple, bok choy kimchi (my favorite, a bit spicy) and spicy tomato.

For her main, Jodi got the mushroom medley Khichdi, that was served with an asparagus puree and masoor dal.

On my side, I went for the lamb, hesitating a bit with the tandoori squab. The three lamb chops were perfectly cooked medium, juicy and smothered in spices that had a very slight kick that let the meat shine. It was sitting on a mushroom purée that was delicious.

With our entrées came some rice, yellow lentils (dal tadka) and black lentils (dal makhni), as well as some naan bread. The quantity of dal seemed small, especially considering it was very good, noticeably the dal makhni that was very creamy, but, finally, taking into account the rest of the meal, it was perfect as at the end I was full. The naan though was amazing: the butter naan was quite classic, but the cheese naan was incredible: it had so much cheese in it (there was gruyère cheese in it) that it was like an Indian grilled cheese rather than a bread to accompany your meal. It is a must have!

For dessert, I went for the drunken Shahi Tukra, a saffron cake with Amrut rum. It was good, but I admit I was expecting a sort of Indian version of a baba au rhum that I love so much.

Jodi ordered the Ma’s Rice pudding that I preferred, being nicely sweet with a nice crunch from the almonds.

With the check, they brought us some pistachio chocolate biscuits that were very good, slightly crunchy.

Pistachio chocolate biscuit at Junoon in NYC, NY

This as a great meal: the food was good as was the service, the staff making sure we enjoyed our dinner. Like Indian Accent, Junoon redefines Indian cuisine, elevating it to a level that truly deserves a Michelin Star. I definitely recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Junoon - 27 West 24th Street, Flatiron district, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/6/18

U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park

Last Sunday, I ventured to Rego Park were I was invited to try a kosher Uzbeki and Middle Eastern restaurant: U Yuri Fergana. It means “Yuri from Fergana”, Fergana being the city from Uzbekistan from where Yuri Moshev and his wife Myra are from. Myra is the chef: she has been cooking since she is 15 back there and serves some of her grandmother’s recipes for the pleasure of their patrons. You would ask me probably what makes this place so unique, the city having many Uzbeki restaurants? Well, Yuri and Myra own their own livestock that they raise organically. At least they know where the meat comes from.

Dining room at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

As far as the food is concerned, they do have vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, but the meat is king there. They have soups and salads as well as hummus and babaganouj. Their salad Fergana made with fresh vegetables is good, but the salad with sautéed eggplant is a must have: it was very good, the eggplant being well cooked (have you tried an undercooked eggplant? Horrible!), mixed with some sweet peppers. The best part was when dipping the delicious bread in the sauce that had a nice sweetness.

Fresh vegetable salad at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Bread at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Eggplant saad at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

I then tried their dumplings that came with fries. I admit that I ditched the fries that were a little soggy and focused on these little crunchy pockets filled with a mix of ground lamb and beef. Very flavorful and addictive.

Dumplings at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Next was the plat de resistance (main entree of the meal): the Shish Kebabs. They have a nice selection of meats and oval like liver, heart and kidney, but also regular cuts. You just order by the skewer, allowing you to try few. There was: veal liver, chicken, lamb and beef. The meat was pretty good (they served it with a hot sauce that was perfect with it and was not too hot), each kind being moist and well cooked. However, I wished it had some char and guess that they cook it on a gas grill rather than on charcoal.

Shish kebab at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Shish kebaba at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Hot sauce at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

For dessert, they only had a homemade cookie filled with hazelnut that was good and that I had with green tea.

Green tea at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Pastry at U Yuri Fergana in Rego Park, Queens

Overall the food at U Yuri Fergana was good: they propose an interesting menu that will excite meat lovers like me. This is a good place to know if you are in Rego Park.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

U Yuri Fergana - 94-09 63rd Dr, Rego Park, NY 11374

I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/18

Revisit: Burger at Nusr-Et Steakhouse

Back in May, I got an opportunity to dine at Nusr-Et Steakhouse, the restaurant from Chef Nusret Gökçe aka Saltbae, a social media sensation known from the way he cuts meat and even more famous, his signature move when putting salt. I knew he was there thanks to Instagram, and, as I was having lunch with a colleague, I proposed to go there for their lunch special where, for $27 you get a burger with fries, a soda and a slice of baklava. And of course, I got to witness the Chef do his show at the table next to us.

Anyway, know that the lunch special is off the menu and, unless you know, it will not be proposed. Here is what I got:

Soda: Coca Cola. I should mention that they do not serve tap water, so, if you want to drink water, you have to pay for it that is crazy considering that New York water is fine.

Coca Cola at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Burger: they said that the Chef suggests to cook it medium rather than the medium rare I wanted. So I went for medium and found the thick patty well cooked. What is great is that they cut the burger in half after assembling it and grill the sides for few seconds, giving a nice char to it. It is quite big, as, as I mentioned, the patty is thick, and it was quite juicy. However, I was not flabbergasted by it, having much better burgers at The Brindle Room, 5 Napkin Burger or...Shake Shack. Know that, if you do not like to touch food with your hands, they give you black gloves, similar to the ones they use for service.

Burger and fries at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Last were the fries that were slightly seasoned: there was a nice quantity of it and I found them quite good, with a slight crunch and cooked all the way through.

One you finish that burger, comes the best part: the baklava. They serve it with goat's milk ice cream that cuts a bit the sweetness of it and brings this dish to a higher level. This was the highlight of the meal.

Baklava at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC, NY

So, what do I think about the lunch deal at Nusr-Et Steakhouse? It is a very good deal, even if the burger will not keep you awake at night. As far as I know, I would have it again, but not for the burger: rather for the baklava that is sublime!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Nusr-Et - 60 W 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 8/1/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/1/18

Comfort food at Chat'n Chew near Union Square

Chat’n Chew is not unknown to me as I went there many years ago, before they closed, back in 2014, and reopened few months ago where City Crab Shack used to be. I remember that at the time, I was not that impressed by this place that serves comfort food, having wings and Mac & cheese that I thought were subpar (yes, I usually remember what I ate in restaurants, even if years ago, but may not remember your name...). So we decided to check it out after an exhibit organized by the New York Academy of Art, where Jodi had 4 paintings. It was not our first choice to be honest, but the few restaurants we entered in on that Tuesday evening were way too loud, blasting music. The new Chat’n Chew is quite big and I appreciated that there was some light so I could see my food! And in fact, the food was pretty good, comforting as advertised. Here is what we tried:

House made Brooklyn chocolate egg cream (instead of a milkshake as I know how to be reasonable when it comes to food. Right?). It was pretty good although I admit that I am not an egg cream specialist.

Chocolate egg cream at Chat'n Chew in NYC, NY

Sweet and sticky jumbo chicken wings with K-Town BBQ and blood orange kimchi aioli. Besides the fact that these wings were not jumbo, they were really good: slightly crispy and delightfully sweet, the chicken being moist. It was not spicy.

Not so classic grilled three cheese, made with cheddar, Swiss and fontina cheese. Very good, it had tons of cheese on it! Instead of fries, we picked a salad to accompany it (I told you I am reasonable...).

Grilled cheese at Chat'n Chew in NYC, NY

Then, their signature Mac and cheese, made with cheddar. Quite good, it was very creamy and did not taste like processed cheese.

Mac and cheese at Chat'n Chew in NYC, NY

Last was dessert that was ok for me: their Coca Cola cake that is like a devil’s cake with layers. The cake was not that moist and I was wondering in fact if it was fresh, although still edible. And you do not taste the Coca Cola by the way!

Coca Cola cake at Chat'n Chew in NYC, NY

Overall it was good, perfect if you want some comfort food with a twist at a reasonable price. I would go back there, maybe for the burger and the cheesecake that sounds yummy...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Chat’n Chew - 10 E 16th St, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 7/30/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/30/18

Gabriel Kreuther near Bryant Park

Gabriel Kreuther, the eponymous restaurant from Jean-Georges and The Modern Alum Chef is another example of how fine dining continues to thrive in New York. There, Executive Chef Kreuther and his team craft a luxurious menu with the Chef’s Alsatian influence. The prix-fixe menu offers mouth watering dishes where you can choose between 4, 6 or 9 courses. We chose the former that was enough, especially when considering the amuse that were served or the three variety of breads that accompanied the meal, a different kind after each course: house made Kougelhopf (an Alsatian brioche) with whipped fromage blanc, then the whole grain ficelle with cultured butter, and with the main course, the rosemary buckwheat rolls with whipped pork lardo (I ditched the lardo as butter or even nothing was fine with it). I should mention that the last two breads are from Maison Kayser.

Kougelhopf bread at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Whipped fromage blanc at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Rosemary buckwheat rolls at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Each dish looked beautiful and we had a succulent meal, but I admit that I could not not compare this place with The Modern that I discovered recently and where the Chef use to work: for the same price point, I have to say that I prefer The Modern. Still, Gabriel Kreuther is a good place to know if you want to have a nice dinner near Bryant Park. Here is what we had:

I first will mention the cocktails: each page of the menu tells a story related to Bryant Park and each cocktail relates to it. But t is not the only thing worth mentioning: the ice in the cocktails contains flowers, specially made for the drink you are ordering. Jodi got the Beehive cocktail, made with apricot, pineapple, lemon and honey, that has the following backstory:

The Park recently installed two beehives on the Northwest corner across the road from Gabriel Kreuther. They are managed by the New York City Beekeepers Association. You can enjoy urban beekeeping classes and might soon be able to enjoy Bryant Park honey.

On my side, I got The Romantic Hero, made with Rittenhouse Rye, Dolin dry vermouth, hibiscus and Lemon, that had a rose in the center of its ice sphere. Its back story was:

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was a German author who practiced law, studied the classics, and believed in the energetic, artistic individual. One of his best known works was The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774),a novel whose protagonist is viewed as one of the first literary “romantic heroes” since he committed suicide after being scorned by his married lover.

The Beehive cocktail at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Romantic Hero cocktail at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

The first amuse was papas fritas with a homemade hot sauce and a roasted tomato tart. It was accompanied by a lime and coconut shot that was unfortunately too thick to get to. But the papas fritas was divine and I could have eaten a dozen of it!

Roasted tomato tart at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Papas fritas at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Lime and coconut shot at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

There were not that many vegetarian options on the menu and they gracefully proposed to make a gazpacho for Jodi's appetizer, this cold soup being very good, and quite smooth.

On my side, I went for the hamachi, black truffle and foie gras "mille-feuille": it looked fantastic and was totally different from what I expected. Very creative, the foie gras, rolled in nuts that gave a nice crunch, was paired with a delicious waffle that was a good idea, far from the usual toast. However, I did not smell or taste any truffle...

Foie gras mille-feuille at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

For her second course, Jodi got the sauerkraut tart. Originally, it is a sturgeon and sauerkraut tart with a caviar mousse line, but they made it completely vegetarian, with corn and tomato confit. The presentation was great as it came in a glass cloche in which it was smoked.

Sauerkraut tart at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for another foie gras dish: Seared Sullivan county foie gras with mustard seeds, pickled turnip and pearl onion marmalade. This was sublime and I loved the sweetness of the marmalade as well as the texture that the mustard seeds gave to the foie that was melting in my mouth.

Foie gras at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

For her third course, Jodi got the Castle Valley Mill's polenta, made with poached egg, mushrooms, sunflower seed crumble and a black truffle coulis. It was very good and the smell of black truffle emanating from this dish was divine. In a way, it was like an elevated version of a brunch dish with eggs and polenta!

My third entree was the black Angus beef tenderloin served with roquefort cheese, asparagus, onions and a red wine jus that had beef tongue in it. At first, I thought there was really a tiny piece of roquefort on the plate, but it was in fact hiding behind the asparagus...The meat was quite good, tender and juicy, and the red wine jus superb, but I have to say that the tenderloin at The Modern ruined it for me.

Beef tenderloin at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

It was followed by a pre-dessert to cleanse our palate: lemon foam with peach and a green tea granita.

Lemon foam and green tea granita at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Ethereal, strawberry and herb for Jodi, a dessert that was composed of a coconut panna cotta, an herb sphere and fresh strawberries.

Dessert (coconut panna cotta) at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

For me, the decadent chocolate caramel, composed of crumble, chocolate mousse and caramel ice cream.

Decadent chocolate caramel at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

The dessert were just ok. I admit that, although creative, they did not meet my expectations.

After such a feast, they brought us some housemate chocolate, probably from the chocolate store next door owned by the Chef. There was a mint chocolate and a salted caramel chocolate that I devoured...And a very good brownie that was quite moist.

Chocolates at Gabriel Kreuther in NYC, NY

Overall, we had a great meal at Gabriel Kreuther, but, for the same price, you can get a dinner at Le Bernardin or The Modern, even more awarded restaurants. Still, Gabriel Kreuther is a good address to know and, if you go, do not miss their cocktails.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Gabriel Kreuther - 41 W 42 Street, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/18

Luca Brasi's in Hoboken, NJ

We have known Luca Brasi’s in Hoboken for many years but only ordered there and never went to their restaurant, until our lunch on July 4th. We wanted to try a new location on Washington street that serves sandwiches but it was closed for the holiday. So we looked around and as we wanted sandwiches, we ended up at Luca Brasi’s. This small Italian place takes its name from the fictional character of The Godfather. So, no wonder why they decorated the place with black and white photos of gangsters, fictional or not and, funny enough, they have a Luca Brasi sandwich made with tuna, a nod to the movie where the enforcer is killed and thrown into a body of water, “sleeping with the fishes”.

Dining room at Luca Brasi's in Hoboken, NJ

The place is not that big, but has several seats so it is not just a takeout place. The sandwiches are made a la minutes, but know that you can also get pasta dishes (their meatballs look fantastic by the way). Jodi settled for a whole wheat bagel with muenster cheese, lettuce and tomato.

Bagel sandwich at Luca Brasi's in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I ordered the Fuggeda’boudit sandwich, composed of ham, salami, capicola, house made mozzarella and roasted peppers. It was a quite big sandwich and they put lots of meat in it.
Very good, it was not the best Italian sub I had, M&P Biancamano being much better, including the house made mozzarella, but still. And for the price, you cannot beat it: $23 total before tip with two drinks.

Fuggeda’boudit sandwich at Luca Brasi's in Hoboken, NJ

So, Luca Brasi’s is a good spot to know for some delicious cheap eats. I would definitely go back, probably to try their meatball or eggplant Parmesan sandwich...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Luca Brasi’s - 100 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/25/18

La Sirena in Chelsea

We often crave Italian food and were looking for a nice place for a Friday night, looking at the list of Michelin star restaurants in the city. That is how we ended up at La Sirena. When reserving the table, I chose the dining room instead of the bar room: it was a bit of a mistake in a way. Yes it was quiet, but I thought that the bar room had more character, the dining room being a bit...boring.

But it was the only negative there, the service being perfect, very hospitable, and the food being good. Not the best Italian I had, but good. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I settled for the Pioneer, made with Stranahan’s whiskey, orange curaçao, yellow chartreuse, lemon and ginger beer. Quite refreshing, it was not too strong, so what I call a dangerous drink: you could sip it all afternoon like lemonade!

Pioneer cocktail at La Sirena in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, I picked the octopus that is cut in half and pounded flattening it. It was served with marble potatoes, pistachio, basil and rosemary. I loved it: the octopus was perfectly cooked and nicely charred. I liked the pistachio that gave a little crunch and nuttiness, and the earthy taste given by the basil and rosemary.

Jodi went directly for a pasta entree: the rigatoni alla Norma. It was made with eggplant, tomato and ricotta. Very good, I found it quite comforting.

Rigatoni all Norma at La Sirena in NYC, NY

On my side, I first wanted the quail as I rarely see it on a menu. But, they had an issue with their delivery and switched to the agnolotti cacio e pepe that were just ok: the pasta was good, well cooked, but there was too much pepper.

Agnolotti cacio e pepe at La Sirena in NYC, NY

For dessert, we got the Budino di cioccolato, an Italian chocolate pudding made with Fernet Branca caramel, sweet cream cloud and amaretti. This was a perfect way to finish this meal: it was fantastic, comforting and not overly sweet.

Budino di cioccolato at La Sirena in NYC, NY

With the check, they brought us pistachio cookies as well as fruit jellies that were a nice touch.

Overall the food was good, but I admit that I prefer Babbo if I have to compare Italian restaurants in the same category. Still, La Sirena proposes a nice menu and I would certainly go back to try other dishes. Maybe this time they will have the quail...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

La Sirena - 88 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/23/18

Restaurant Daniel on the Upper East Side

Opened in 1993 and relocated in its current location that was once Le Cirque in 1999, Daniel is the quintessence of what fine dining means: an incredible experience from beginning to end where hospitality has a real meaning. Some might be intimidated by the place and the omnipresent service, but the fact that it is not stuffy and very welcoming gives a different vibe to this culinary institution. There, Executive Chef Jean-François Bruel, Chef de Cuisine Eddy LeRoux and Executive Pastry Chef Ghaya Oliveira crafted sublime menu where you will not find classic dishes:

Chef de Cuisine Eddy Le Roux at Daniel in NYC, NY

Here is what we had:

A glass of champagne: compliment of the Chef, I could not remember what kind it was...

Amuse bouche: black onion-parmesan sablé with olive tapenade, tomato confit and Mornay emulsion.

Then we got a tasting of cucumber: we both had the same, except that mine had seafood in it.

Tasting of cucumber at Daniel in NYC, NY

For me: smoked salmon with cucumber noodles, Nettle oil and dill yogurt.

Smoked salmon and cucumber noodles at Daniel in NYC, NY

For Jodi, also cucumber noodles, with Nettle oil.

In the middle was a cucumber soup that we both got, made with Meyer lemon, pickled cucumber and chive oil.

For me, marinated langoustine, cucumber roll and chili pepper oil at Daniel in NYC, NY

Marinated langoustine in a cucumber roll at Daniel in NYC, NY

For Jodi, an equivalent, but I admit that I forgot with all these yummy descriptions!

Then they brought some salted butter from Brittany and a bread basket that was superb: I mean I could have eaten the entire thing, to the point that at some point, I declined having more bread considering the food we were getting. What I did not know is that they make their own bread in their own commissary, that serves all their restaurants,

Buckwheat and sourdough bread at Daniel in NYC, NY

Then came the first course, compliments of the Chef:

For Jodi, Carotte, a chilled carrot velouté with a chermoula cream, lovage oil and confit ginger. I should mention that Jodi does not like carrots: well, you could not tell as she loved it!

I got the Lapin, a rabbit "porchetta" with chorizo, yellow wax bean and haricot vert salad, a quite comforting dish.

Then I got the Saint-Jacques or ceviche of Maine sea scallops, served with an avocado mousseline, white sturgeon caviar, finger lime wasabi vinaigrette and cilantro. This was exquisite: the scallops literally melted in my mouth and I loved the addition of the avocado mousseline that gave a nice smoothness and fattiness to the dish.

Jodi got the Fenouil, or roasted fennel with sorrel coulis and wild asparagus:

Third course: Broccoli for Jodi, that was grilled broccolinis, old Chatham yogurt, Thai basil chutney and Purslane (a leafy vegetable) salad.

Gambas for me, a Santa Barbara Spot prawn "a la plancha", served with a Country Line melon, day lily, honeysuckle-togorashi infused oil. It was good, the prawn being well cooked, and the melon adding a refreshing element to the dish that had a nice kick, but I found it slightly salty.

The fourth course was, for Jodi, compliment of the Chef, the Choux Fleur, a Vadouvan roasted romanesco cauliflower with a saffron dubarry cream, grape-caper brown butter and California green almonds.

Roasted cauliflower at Daniel in NYC, NY

On my side, it was the foie gras that they flambéed in front of us in Mezcal and served with grits, corn in may forms (including pop corn and corn bread!) and sumac. This was fantastic: foie gras sauté is so decadent and scrumptious. I loved the sweetness the corn gave, counterbalancing the fattiness of the foie. I definitely recommend this dish.

For the fifth course, I decided to have a glass of red wine and picked a 2010 Chateau des Fougeres Clos Montesquieu from France, a full bodied Bordeaux beautifully balanced.

2010 Chateau des Fougeres Clos Montesquieu at Daniel in NYC, NY

It was perfect to accompany the quail (caille) that I had. It was the breast of the quail that was served, roasted, served with Bing and Rainier cherries, Easter egg radish, crispy potato "Bellecour" and a Montmorency sauce. That quail was so moist, it was amazing as it can be tricky to cook (overcooked, it is dry).

Jodi got the Trompette Royale or roasted king trumpet mushrooms, porcini coulis, red pearl onions, turnip and lava beans leaves.

Last was dessert. I should say "were" desserts. We got:

Bolivie, a dark chocolate moelleux, served with infused balsamic vinegar, chocolate gavottes for a bit of crunch and spiced herb ice cream.

Abricot or a cake made with vanilla roasted apricots, ginger Chantilly, chia seed Arlette, creamy chai and oatmeal ice cream.

Fraise or strawberry tart with Elderberry flower gelée, berry vinaigrette and a fennel-yuzu confit sorbet. This was my favorite with the moelleux: not only it was beautiful with the sugar tuile on top, it was very refreshing and had nice flowery notes. I just wished it was bigger, because I could have eaten more!

This came with some petits fours and madeleines that I could not resist eating, although at that point I was so full...

After the meal, they gave us two cannelés, a French pastry that they offer at Epicerie Boulud, as well as the menu as a souvenir. It was great and we were glad we walked a bit after that...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Daniel - 60 East 65th Street., Upper East Side, NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/20/18

Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

Instagram is a great way to discover places, but photos can be misleading as a dish can look fantastic but may not taste good, unless the description is more than just what the dish is. Anyway, I may love a dish that others would hate. Still, when I see a mouth watering photo, I often put the restaurant on my list to of places to try. Needless to say that that list is quite long, New York and its area offer so many options! So it is through Instagram that I found Cuba Bakery in Union City, New Jersey. A fellow blogger, Eat in Translation, posted a photo of masa real de coco and, knowing that Jodi loves coconut, I proposed her to go there.

Counter at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

Dining room at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

Cuba Bakery is not just a bakery as they also serve dishes like ropa vieja, empanadas, chicken, etc. But if there are two things we wanted to try were their sandwiches and some desserts. After ordering our meal at the counter, we sat at a table and literally devoured our sandwiches. Jodi ordered a cheese (queso) sandwich with lettuce and tomato.

Queso sandwich at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich (Jamon & queso) that was very good, better for me than the one Jodi got. Their Cuban bread is pressed, melting at the same time the cheese and giving it a slight crunch. And for $4, it is a great deal.

Jamon & queso at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

With my sandwich, I got a batido (shake) made with Mamey, a fruit found in Cuba and Central America.

Batido de Mamey at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

We also brought home that masa real de coco (coconut royal pastry) that I mentioned before ($1):

Masa real de coco at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

The masa real de coco was good (Jodi who loves coconut loved it), but I admit that it was not as good as their tres leches that was sublime!

Tres leches at Cuba Bakery in Union City, NJ

We ended up paying $16 before tip for this fantastic meal that finished with great satisfaction. Cuba Bakery is a great place to know for some cheap Cuban food and it will not be the last time we go there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cuba Bakery - 1219 Summit Ave Ste A, Union City, NJ 07087

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

Dinner at Babbo

We finally made it to Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, the acclaimed Italian restaurant located few steps from Washington Square Park. This place, that opened in 1998 and got the “Best New Restaurant of 1998” award from the James Beard Foundation, is the first restaurant in New York of Chef Mario Batali. But, it is now owned and operated by Joe Bastianich, who used to be Batali’s business partner before the recent allegations of sexual misconduct of the celebrity Chef that, at the time of this post have not been to trial.

As a cocktail, I ordered the Manhattan Nero, their own version of a classic, made with Michter’s US-1 Bourbon and Amaro Averna. Very good, it was quite strong and had a beautiful dark color.

Manhattan Nero cocktail at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

For appetizer, I was not sure what to get between the octopus, the tripe, the lamb tongue or the sardines. I settled for the latter. The sardines were marinated and served with a deliciously sweet caramelized fennel and lobster oil (I did not get much of taste there). If you like fish, I recommend it and know that the sardines were perfectly filleted, so if you do not like this fish because of the multiple bones, you will not be disappointed.

Sardines at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Garganelli pasta with “Funghi Trifolati” or mushrooms. The pasta was superb, smothered in brown butter.

Garganelli pasta at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

But the best pasta dish was for me the beef cheek ravioli with crushed squab liver and black truffle. These ravioli were amazing: homemade, the shell was thin, perfectly cooked, with a filling that was very tasty, but not as much as the squab liver that I could have eaten on a piece of bread. As far as the truffle is concerned, I however did not smell or taste it...Still, it was a fantastic dish that I also recommend if you are non-vegetarian. I should mention though that, if you have a seafood allergy, it contains anchovy paste.

Beef cheek ravioli at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

For dessert, we could not resist not having the olive oil cake that was superb, not as good as the one at Maialino, but still delicious.

Olive oil cake at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

At the end of the meal, with the bill, they gave us some Italian cookies that was a nice touch to end a delicious dinner.

Italian cookies at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in NYC, NY

I am glad we finally got to try Babbo: it is now one of my top Italian restaurants in the City and I will surely 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!

Babbo - 110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 7/16/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/16/18

Stamatis, Greek restaurant in Astoria, Queens

When my friend Benny proposed to go to Astoria to a Greek restaurant, I was excited. He got a recommendation to go to Stamatis, a family owned restaurant located few steps from the train station. We went on a Friday and this place was so packed with patrons coming and going endlessly, to the point that at 9:30pm, they were already out of desserts: that was a bit disappointing as we really wanted to end our meal with something sweet...

Dining room at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

We tried quite a bit of food, but what I only realized when we left is that the food is pre-made and sitting there, like in a hot buffet...And it might explain why it was just ok! Here is what we tried:

Ouzo, a traditional anise flavored liquor:

Small antipasti platter, composed of Tarama (spread made with fish roe), skordalia (garlic spread, lots of garlic), tzatziki (yogurt spread) and eggplant dips. We were expecting pita, but instead they gave us some bread brushed with oil. It is only later that we saw that several tables got pita...Anyway, this is a must have so you can try several dips, my favorite being the eggplant that had feta in it, as well as the tzatziki.

Dip sampler at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Eggplant dip at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Garlic dip at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Saganaki (fried cheese): this was superb and also a must have. I should mention that they do not flambé it. In fact, when I asked, our waiter said with a smirk on his face: "we do not do that here".

Fried variety: as we could not decide between fried eggplant and fried zucchini, we got both in the fried variety that was supposed to have peppers that were missing in action. I was looking forward to this dish but was disappointed as it was quite greasy.

Fried eggplant and zucchini at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Lamb chops: they were just ok, slightly overcooked.

Lamb chops at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Calf Liver: another overcooked dish, so it was a bit dry.

Calf liver at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

Fried sardines: very good, probably the dish I enjoyed the most.

Fried sardines at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

As we ordered three entrees, we could have three sides. There were potatoes, rice and some collard greens. Overall ok.

Collar greens at Stamatis in Astoria, Queens

You probably wonder if Jodi had an entree: she did but I forgot to take a photo...It was the classic Greek salad that seemed to be fresh.

Overall the meal was ok. Definitely we could see that regulars were coming back to that place that, as I mentioned before was packed all along. But, between the food, the service that was not good (we waited for our dishes a while and they were not that nice), and the noise level that made us want to leave, I do not think I would go back there...

Enjoy (...)!

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Stamatis - 29-09 23rd Avenue, Queens, NY 11105

I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/18 I Just Want To Eat! 7/13/18

Café China in Midtown Manhattan

Located Midtown Manhattan, Café China is a discreet restaurant that won a Michelin Star this year. With its 1930s Shanghai decor, this non-pretentious place serves Sichuan dishes. Service there was good, courteous and efficient, but I found the food to be ok, not that amazing to the point that I would die to go back. Is it because we did not order the right dishes? Maybe. I let you judge after you read what we had:

Vietnamese iced coffee: they do not use a coffee machine to make it, but rather let the coffee drip onto a small quantity of condensed milk. It was good, perfect if you like coffee as stronger than a café au lait, but I admit that it does not beat the Malaysian coffee at Laut, that is also made with condensed milk.

Vietnamese iced coffee at Cafe China in NYC, NY

Crystal shrimp dumplings: quite good, the shell being perfectly made.

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Cafe China in NYC, NY

Bang bang chicken: it is a cold dish made with shredded chicken in a sesame sauce with peanuts. It was ok, a bit spicy but not too much.

Bang Bang chicken at Cafe China in NYC, NY

Scallion pancakes: good, slightly greasy as you would expect them to be.

Scallion pancakes at Cafe China in NYC, NY

Stir-fried assorted fresh mushrooms, made with oyster mushrooms and vegetables. I found the dish bland...This was in fact my least favorite.

Stir-fried mushrooms at Cafe China in NYC, NY

Eight Jewel Rice: this was a dessert that is like a Chinese rice pudding, made with sticky rice, raisins and red bean paste in the center. This is apparently typically served in Chinese banquets, the number 8 being a magic number in China, pronounced like the word that means rich or to thrive in business. It was quite good, not too sweet, with a nice texture from the rice.

Eight jewel rice at Cafe China in NYC, NY

So it was fine but not earth shattering. Other dishes like the tea smoke duck or dan dan noodles might have been a better choice. So I am a bit on the fence concerning Café China. I might have to try another time to see if I get why they obtained a Michelin Star as, after this visit, I am not sure...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Café China - 15E 37th street, New York, NY 10003