I Just Want To Eat! 11/11/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/11/18

Washington DC: Root Cellar Whiskey Bar at the W Hotel

Located in the lower level of Pinea, the restaurant of the W hotel near the White House, Root Cellar Whiskey Bar is like a hidden gem. No really, truly hidden and you definitely need to know it is there. This place boasts a large selection of whiskey from all over the world.

Root Cellar Whiskey Bar at the W Hotel in Washington DC

Patio at Pinea in the W Hotel in Washington DC

Whiskey selection at Root Cellar Whiskey Bar in the W Hotel in Washington DC

They did not have a list of whiskey but gladly helped me pick a local one: it was a Filibuster “double cask” rye, the only one in fact that was local. Or sort of…Filibuster Distillery was founded in 2013 in Washington D.C. but relocated later in Maureton, Virginia. So, not totally local, but it will do it. Notice the name of the company that is fairly interesting considering the location and its political meaning…

Filibuster dual cask rye at Root Cellar Whiskey Bar in the W Hotel in Washington DC

Their rye is aged in new charred oak barrels, followed by a second aging in French wine oak barrels. Here are the tasting notes as described by Filibuster itself:

Appearance: Deep Amber
Aroma: Cinnamon bark, oak spice and tropical fruit play off of more classic Caramel and Vanillin aromas.
Taste: Very Rich and soft texture, Spice, Caramel, Honey and hints of Rye toast.
Finish:Warm and creamy, notes of baked apple, very long.

I admit that I prefer bourbon, but it was pretty nice. Know that since my visit in September there, Pinea went into some renovations and will reopen in 2019. Hopefully they will keep this whiskey bar that is a true find.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Root Cellar Whiskey Bar at the W - 515 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/18

Washington DC: Pi Pizzeria, a St Louis Deep Dish Heaven

As Jodi loves pizza, I looked up for a place close to the National Portait Gallery in DC and stumbled upon Pi Pizzeria, à joint known for its St Louis style cornmeal crust that is said to be President Obama’s favorite pizza. Apparently, while in St Louis, campaigning for the election, President Obama asked one of his staffers to bring him pizza. That is how Pi Pizza ended up on his lap or should I say in his stomach. Once elected, he invited the owners to cook pizza for him. Well I might be less known than President Obama, I still love pizza and was ready to try it. Before I talk about the food, I should mention a fact about the name of the place: it was born in St Louis whose area code is 314; so no wonder why they chose the association with the mathematical symbol for 3.141592653589793238462643383...

Bar area at Pi Pizzeria in Washington DC

Dining room at Pi Pizzeria in Washington DC

The place is big, with two floors and a bar area where you can also enjoy a slice. No, not a slice as they do not serve by the slice, but a full pie, deep dish or thin crust, even vegan or gluten free. We decided to try the deep dish pizza that is made with the cheese first, covered with a thick layer of tomato sauce. We added fontina, goat cheese and Gorgonzola and, on one half, some prosciutto. I am glad we had the small pie that is definitely enough for two. The first bite was divine: it was the first time I had a cornmeal crust and it was fantastic, crunchy and crumbly. And they were not cheap in toppings, especially the cheese that made it really decadent. I should also mention the tomato sauce that was out of this world, very fresh.

We washed down the pizza with some soda: root beer for me as this is my favorite beverage with pizza and cherry soda for Jodi.

Root beer at Pi Pizzeria in Washington DC

That was a great meal: we would not have had other places to try in Washington DC, we would have gone back. Pi Pizzeria is one of the best pizza I ever had and no need to be a President to claim it out loud!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pi Pizzeria - 910 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

I Just Want To Eat! 11/9/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/9/18

Washington DC: Dinner at Michelin Star Kinship

I could have passed in front of Kinship without even noticing the one Michelin Star restaurant of Chef Eric Ziebold and partner Célia Laurent. Inconspicuous from the outside and undeniably delicious from the inside, it is like a secret gem that is not anymore secret considering how crowded the place was on a Sunday night. We arrived 5 minutes earlier than our reservation and they sat us in their waiting area with a fireplace that was welcome considering that for our last day in Washington DC, the temperature dropped.

The menu is split into few sections:

- Craft that celebrates cooking techniques.
- History revisits classics or dishes that the Chef experienced while traveling.
- Ingredients celebrates a specific product.
- Indulgence highlights specialty items.

Know that typically, the first two options are appetizers while the others are entrees and the last desserts. A bit complicated at first, especially as you would easily want to order two entrees, the menu being mouth watering. Here is what we had:

As a drink, Jodi order Tropical Isle mocktail, a pineapple and lemon soda.

Tropical Isle Mocktail at Kinship in Washington DC

On my side, I went for a local whiskey (I have been looking for one in the past few days!): a Joseph Magnus whiskey from Washington DC.

Joseph Magnus Whiskey at Kinship in Washington DC

Multigrain and sourdough bread with butter:

Bread and butter at Kinship in Washington DC

As an appetizer, Jodi went for the salade tunisienne or Tunisian salad, made with marinated lemon cucumber, red onions, cherry tomatoes, brioche croutons and parsley-mint sorbet.

Tunisian salad at Kinship in Washington DC

On my side, I chose the cuttlefish confit served with olive oil bavarois, pickled celtuce (aka celery lettuce) and wilted arugula. That was fantastic: perfectly cooked, the cuttlefish has a nice texture, being not rubbery at all.

Cuttlefish confit at Kinship in Washington DC

Next was the La Ratte potato salad for Jodi, made with eggplant, grilled Vidalia onion, yellow Roma tomato and eggplant purée.

La ratte potato salad at Kinship in Washington DC

For me, I picked right away the braised Peking duck leg that was served with spaetzle, flowering quince, pumpkin and foie cider broth. Everything was fantastic but that duck was amazing: it literally fell off the bone, not even needing the Laguiole knife they gave me to pull it apart. And that taste! Not salty, it was delightfully fatty and perfect with the foie cider broth and spaetzle.

Peking duck leg at Kinship in Washington DC

Last was dessert. As we could not decide, we got two. The first one was the Manjari chocolate pot de crème that was topped with port-poached pears, candies hazelnuts and Roquefort cheese. The combination there was very interesting: pear and Roquefort are often served as an appetizer; and then pear and chocolate as a dessert. Imagining a fusion of the two is quite creative. I would say that the chocolate and Roquefort paired surprisingly well together, but I did not like the pears that were not soft enough. I should mention however that the chocolate pot de creme was very chocolatey.

Chocolate pot de creme at Kinship in Washington DC

The second dessert was the sugared brioche donut with roasted fennel cream, brown sugar crunch and Concord grape sorbet. It was quite good, the donut being delicious (I did not taste the fennel though in the cream). Definitely this donut can stand on its own.

Brioche donut at Kinship in Washington DC

I admit that the desserts were a bit out there and not as good as the dishes. Kinship was quite good and the service there on point. No wonder how they got awarded with a coveted Michelin Star!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Kinship - 1015 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/18

Washington DC: Raw-Vegan dinner at Elizabeth's Gone Raw

If I were vegetarian I would for sure want to eat regularly at Elizabeth’s Gone Raw in DC. Well maybe I should more say, as a non-vegetarian, if I wanted a vegetarian meal, I would for sure want to eat at Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. This raw-vegan place is simply unique, elevating vegan food to fine dining like I never experienced before. And although there is no doubt that I love meat, I left this place as excited as if I just had the best steak of my life (I did in fact in Japan but it is another story).

Dining room at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

Quiet and perfect for a nice evening if you like to hear your co-diner(s) talk, the service there is impeccable: courteous, efficient and knowledgeable about the dishes that are on the unique tasting menu they serve on Fridays and Saturdays, the only days they are open. There, Chef Francisco Hernandez, a non-vegetarian, who successfully used his amazing skills to craft a menu where you would never guess that some of the dishes were vegan. Here is what we had:

As drinks, Jodi got their orange and ginger soda.

Orange and ginger soda at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

On my side, I settled for the Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned that was made with Angel’s Envy Bourbon from Kentucky (finished in Port barrels), Crown Bourbon aged Maple syrup, Angostura and orange bitters.

Maple old fashioned at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The first dish was the Crispy Cassava Cup that was composed of Gorgonzola cheese and cherry-chartreuse pearls. Not only did it looked beautiful with these cherry pearls that looked like sturgeon caviar, but you would really think that it contained Gorgonzola cheese!

Crispy cassava cup at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

Then they brought some kale chips that were quite addictive.

Kale chips at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The second course was the Silver White Corn Soup served with Red bell pepper sorbet, fava bean cake and rosemary powder. This cold soup was superb: slightly on the sweet side, it was elevated by the fava bean cake that added some texture and the red bell pepper sorbet that was interesting.

Silver white corn soup at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The third course was the Heirloom Zebra & Grape Tomato Salad, made with smoked peaches, pine nuts, micro lemon basil, passion fruit gel and pickled watermelon. You probably think that it is just a salad. In a way yes, except that the smoked peach and pickled watermelon gave another dimension to it, making it even more refreshing.

Tomato salad at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The fourth course was even more surprising. It was the Royal Trumpet Mushroom & Heart of Palm Crab Cake served with a broccoli and pear purée, tarragon “mayonnaise”, malt vinegar paper, zebra lemon oil and dehydrated celery root. Did it taste like crab cake: very slightly if you ever had a crab cake where they add celery in it and too much of it. It was good and the texture was on point.

Royal trumpet mushroom and heart of palm crab cake at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The fifth course was Cantaloupe Apricot Sorbet with orange blossom water, black lava sea salt, cucumber wasabi crème. Quite refreshing, it was a perfect palate cleanser.

Cantaloupe apricot sorbet at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

The sixth course was the Kennebec Potato Gnocchi, made with coconut bacon crumbles, white candied onion and morel mushrooms. These gnocchi were not your classic ones, these being little pockets runny in the inside. Comforting, the coconut bacon was probably the star of the dish, adding a nice texture and smokiness to it.

Kennebec potato gnocchi at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

Last was the dessert that was spectacular. It was the Meyer Lemon Confit. The lemon was emptied and the peel confit and filled with a delicate yuzu cream. The whole thing was accompanied by a delicious strawberry sauce and a finger lime-tarragon jam. I simply loved it: the yuzu cream and the lemon peel paired well together, counterbalancing any acidity of the citrus. The presentation was even more superb.

Meyer lemon confit at Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC

We left satisfied by this incredible meal that shows that vegetarian food can be exciting for anybody and I did not even miss not having any meat that evening. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw has its place in a culinary scene dominated by steakhouses and I hope to see more ventures like this.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Elizabeth’s Gone Raw- 1341 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/7/18

Washington DC: Mediterranean brunch at Zaytinya

We went to Zaytinya so long ago that we were really looking forward to having brunch at this Mediterranean tapas restaurant from Chef José Andrés. After our great experience at Jaleo, we were sure we would not be disappointed. And we were not. Meaning “olive oil” in Turkish, Zaytinya proposes a wide array of small plates with a large selection of vegetarian dishes.

It is a big place with impressive floor to ceiling windows that give a nice light and a sublime impression of space. In the back, is their open kitchen where the magic happens. Oh yes, it happens as you can see below:

Open kitchen at Zaytinya in Washington DC

I first ordered a Turkish coffee that was proposed without sugar (sade kahve), semi-sweet (orta şekerli) and sweet (tatlı). If you never had Turkish coffee, don’t be surprised that they ask you before if you need sugar and if there is no spoon: the sugar is added during the brewing process and you have to let the finely ground coffee fall to the bottom unless you like the taste of coffee grind... Taste wise, it has a slightly stronger taste than espresso and is not bitter.

Turkish coffee at Zaytinya in Washington DC

We started the meal with two spreads that were served with their homemade pita that came hot and was fluffy. I should even add addictive.

The first spread was their labneh, a Lebanese strained yogurt with za’atar, that is a blend of herbs like sumac, thyme, oregano...

The second was the baba ganoush that is made with fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon and garlic.

Baba ganoush at Zaytinya in Washington DC

Baba ganough at Zaytinya in Washington DC

Both spreads were really good and tasted fresh. I thought there would be a bit less of it and I am glad we did not order their sampler that would have been too much considering the other dishes we ordered...

Next was the mushroom saganaki or seasonal mushrooms with sundried tomatoes and melted vlahotiri cheese. It came very hot and was quite decadent, the kitchen not being cheap on the quantity of cheese! Very earthy, it was quite comforting and very flavorful.

Mushroom saganaki at Zaytinya in Washington DC

On my side, as I love oysters, I got the oysters saganaki that are 5 Rappahannock River 'Olde Salts' oysters roasted on the half shell with ouzo, tomato and feta. That was superb: the oysters were not roasted for a long time that can really damage their taste and the pairing with the tomato and feta was surprisingly working well together. Of course, the ouzo added a little plus that made the juice that sat on the shell even more precious...

Oysters saganaki at Zaytinya in Washington DC

The last entrée was the Knisa lamb chops that came with an incredible smell and a more sublime taste. Perfectly cooked, these 2 chops were amazing, juicy and deliciously fatty. They were served with a smoked yogurt tzatziki that counterbalanced well the strong taste of the lamb.

Last was dessert. I was expected baklava but unfortunately they did not have any. So, as Jodi was full, I ended up with their Greek yogurt and apricots that they smartly served in a small size (mezze). Very good, it was made with muscat soaked apricots, apricot sorbet, vanilla yogurt cream and pistachio powder.

Greek yogurt and apricot at Zaytinya in Washington DC

A great way to finish a meal with something sweet and not heavy. We left Zaytinya full and glad we went back there. My only regret is that they do not have an outpost in NYC! Maybe one day...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Zaytinya - 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

I Just Want To Eat! 11/6/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/6/18

Washington DC: Spanish Tapas at Jaleo

Meaning “fuss” in Spanish, Jaleo is a Spanish tapas restaurant of acclaimed Chef José Andrés that I discovered few years ago on Top Chef and while dining in its other DC restaurant, Zaytinya that we also visited during our trip to the capital. Jaleo is a little jewel, with an incredible menu that can be a bit overwhelming, having many choices to pick for the vegetarians and carnivores. But do not think you can just show up on a Friday night for dinner: reservation is highly recommended.

Dining room table at Jaleo in Washington DC

Here is what we tried:

Bread and olive oil:

As a beverage, a grapefruit and cinnamon soda:

Grapefruit and cinnamon soda at Jaleo in Washington DC

Pan de cristal con tomate: it is simply slices of bread brushed with fresh tomato. Yes, simple but delicious.

Pan de cristal con tomate at Jaleo in Washington DC

Queso Massimo Del Rey Silo con magaya de sigra: taking its name from the King Silo of Asturias, this is an Asturian raw-cow milk cheese cured for 4 months, specially made for Chef Andrés and Jaleo. This was fantastic, and in fact, I ate it with the pan con tomate, the two pairing well together. It was served with pressed cider apples that I however did not really like.

Queso Massimo Del Rey Silo con magaya de sigra at Jaleo in Washington DC

Calamares en su tinta: basque style squid with rice and squid ink sauce. I was really looking forward to that dish that was superb: the calamari was perfectly cooked, not rubbery, and the squid ink sauce was thick with a bold flavor that was nice with the calamari but also the rice that was slightly fried.

Calamares en su tinta at Jaleo in Washington DC

Setas al ajillo or sautéed button mushrooms in a garlic and white wine sauce. It was my least favorite dish: I found it just ok, with too much garlic. In a smaller quantity it would have been fine maybe.

Setas al ajillo at Jaleo in Washington DC

Tortilla de patatas al momento: Spanish omelet with onions and potato. A classic dish, I was wondering where the mayonnaise that is often served with it was. There was no need for it: it was delightfully runny, the onions and potato adding some texture to it.

Iberico de bellotta mini hamburguesas or Spanish slider made with iberico porc and bacon. I am always hesitating when ordering sliders because they can quickly turn dry. Not this one, from the delicious bread to the juicy patty. If they made this a whole burger, they would make a killing!

Last was dessert. I admit that I was a bit disappointed not to see any churros as this is a classic Spanish dessert. But maybe that is why Chef Andrés does not put it on the menu: too classic. So we ended up with their arroz con lèche “tia chita“ that is their version of rice pudding, also a classic dessert, made with caramelized rice and creamy rice pudding with vanilla, lemon and cinnamon. The description looked fantastic and I was expecting a dish that looked like a crème brûlée, the top being caramelized. But it was not the case. I enjoyed the caramelized rice but there was not enough; the rice pudding could have been sweeter and the lemon gave an off taste to the dish. Too bad.

Despite this, we have a wonderful meal at Jaleo. If you are in DC and like tapas (or never had any), I highly recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Jaleo - 480 7th St NW, Washington DC 20004

I Just Want To Eat! 11/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/5/18

Washington DC: Breaksfast at Maison Kayser

On our trip to Washington DC, we ditched the breakfast at the hotel that are always overpriced and decided to go to Paul, a French bakery that is our go to breakfast spot when we visit my family in France. There is none in New York so I could not miss trying it in DC. Unfortunately, it was still closed 15 minutes after opening time and we changed our plan for Maison Kayser a couple of blocks away.

Eric Kayser opens everywhere and I will not complain! In fact we were there the three days of our trip, every morning, but tried various items as showed below:

Day 1: chocolate croissant and white chocolate bread:

Chocolate croissant and white chocolate bread at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

White chocolate bread at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Chocolate croissant at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Day 2: Bressane (sugar tart) and brioche:

Brioche (left) and Bressane at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Brioche at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Bressane at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Day 3: chocolate viennoiserie and brioche au sucre:

Chocolate viennoiserie (left) and brioche au sucre at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Brioche au sucre at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Viennoiserie au chocolate at Maison Kayser in Washington DC

Maison Kayser never disappoints...My favorite? All of them!!!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Maison Kayser - 1345 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/18

Dinner at Parm where a dish is a must have!

It has been too long we went to Parm and had an occasion recently to go back being in their neighborhood. Parm is a sort of old school Italian that serves some amazing dishes. Must have is their baked ziti that take 15 minutes to get ready. On its own, this dish is superb, but what makes it even better, besides the fact that it has tons of cheese and a delicious tomato sauce, is that they fry the sides in a pan, giving a nice crispness to it.

The other must have are the meatballs: tasty and not dry, I had them in a hero that was soft and let these sublime meatballs shine. If the hero is too big for you, know they they also propose a smaller version on a roll.

With reasonable prices, Parm is like your neighborhood Italian joint that serves comfort food. Too bad it is not in MY neighborhood!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Parm - 248 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/18

Brunch at La Bergamote in Chelsea

It’s been a while we wanted to try La Bergamote in Chelsea, passing by many times, but thinking that it was a small place that served pastries, until we looked for a brunch place and stumbled upon it on Opentable. I had no idea that they have a small dining room in the back.

So here we are, with Jodi’s cousin Rebecca, on Labour Day, a quite toasty day for sure, hungry as usual. Opened back in 1998 by two Frenchmen, Stephane Willemin, the executive pastry chef, and Romain Lamaze, the managing director, serve quite a classic brunch with French dishes that stand out like the moules frites or the ratatouille omelette, ratatouille being some sort of peasant dish, that became popular thanks to the Disney movie, but is quite a comforting dish, each family having its own way to make it (I’ll soon post my own recipe that I am working on right now, remembering the one my mom cooked when I was a kid).

Ratatouille omelet at La Bergamote in Chelsea

Only things is that, like many restaurants, omelettes or scrambled eggs fall short in whatever they fill or complement them with. Not enough ratatouille and not enough wild mushrooms in the wild mushroom scrambled eggs that Jodi ate.

Mushroom scrambled eggs at La Bergamote in Chelsea

Don’t get me wrong: they were good but you would probably not come back for that. No, what you would probably come back for is the croque-monsieur, that has tons of cheese smothering the thin slice of black ham squeezed between a delicious brioche. This is a wow moment of you love cheese and I am glad that they are serving it with greens as fries or potatoes (that are quite good), would be too much.

Croque Monsieur at La Bergamote in Chelsea

The other items that cannot be missed there are the pastries: they have a nice selection and we tried their Napoleon, that, although not classic with its raspberries, was pretty good.

But the one I was really looking forward to try was their strawberry tart that is nice, with whole strawberries and a crumbly crust.

Strawberry tart at La Bergamote in Chelsea

Overall the meal was good and I would just go back for the croque monsieur and the pastries. Although I admit that with places like Maison Kayser, there is some competition 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!

La Bergamotte - 177 9th Ave, New York, NY 1001

I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/18

New: Seven Valleys, Persian restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Sometimes, when I see restaurants opening in Hoboken, I am wondering if the owners did some research before and it is sad to see some of them closing after only few months. But, when we learned that a Persian restaurant would open on Washington street, we thought it was very smart: there is no such restaurant in Hoboken. So we were looking forward for Seven Valleys to open. Know that The Seven Valleys is a book written in Persian by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith, that is the faith from the owner, Dale Ryan, who also owns Bwé on the next block.

Dining room at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

It is a small restaurant and I was glad we got to go early on a Thursday as it started to get crowded quickly, maybe from people as curious as us to try that place. Here is what we tried:

Persian yogurt drink or doogh:

Persian bread with a spread made with yogurt, beets and garlic:

Persian bread with beet spread at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

Kashke Bademjan or sautéed eggplant prepared with a blend of herbs and spices, sautéed onions and yogurt. Delicious if you like eggplant and perfect on the bread.

Kashke Bademjan at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

Jodi ordered the vegetarian kebob, made with eggplant, mushroom, onion, pepper and tomato. It was served with rice (as I am writing the post, I see that it is supposed to be served with hummus but she did not get any).

Vegetable kebob at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I got the soltani kebob that is composed of one beef kebob and one koobideh (seasoned ground beef). The meat was delicious: not dry, juicy and very tasty.

Soltani kebob at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

I ordered it with a specialty rice that was the Baghali Polo, a saffron basmati rice served with Persian dill and lima beans. Quite good, it was a bit dry and I should have ordered some Masto Khiar that is yogurt, cucumber and mint.

Baghali polo rice at Seven Valleys in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert: we tried their baklava that comes, probably like the bread, from a bakery in Paterson, NJ. It was one of the best baklava I had: flakey, buttery and a nice amount of honey.

Overall we had a nice dinner at Seven Valleys: this is definitely a nice addition to the Hoboken restaurant scene!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Seven Valleys - 936 Washington Street Hoboken NJ, 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/26/18

Dinner at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Sometimes I get so excited to try a restaurant that I may forget that the reservation is not for that day, but a week later. So, when we arrived at Vandal on a Friday evening and saw the restaurant closed for a private party, I was a bit surprised and upset, thinking that they probably have tables in their lounge or somewhere to accommodate our reservation. But when the hostesses looked at me as if I had three heads, I realized that I was one week early...We’ll, it was not so bad as we finally ended up at The Musket Room that day and came back a week after to check out the food at Vandal. I admit that I did not realized how big the place is, with its 22,000 Square footage. Very loungey, I counted three big dining rooms, ours decorated with undressed geishas, and a quite large bar area. I should also mention the outdoor area that is a nice addition when the weather permits.

Outdoor area at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Dining room at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Bar area at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Food wise, this place owned by The Tao Group and Chef Chris Santos from Stanton Social, serves elevated street food from all over the world. The menu is definitely intriguing and is not shy of buzzwords that would excite any foodie dining there, most of the dishes being served tapas style. And if you are vegetarian or vegan, they have a nice selection that even me, a non-vegetarian, felt excited about. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I got the Trigger Finger, made with woodford reserve bourbon, amaro, cocchi americano, raspberry and bitters.

Trigger finger cocktail at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Eggplant meatballs (vegetarian), made with whipped basil tofu and San Marzano tomatoes. Quite nice, do not think that they have the same texture as meat-meatballs: they are softer, more delicate, but quite good, especially if, like me, you like eggplant.

Eggplant meatballs at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Crispy bao buns, made with brisket, crunchy Asian slaw and sesame. That was fantastic: not your classic bao, but very addictive, being very tasty, crunchy and delightfully juicy. And that brisket that superb!

Crispy bao buns at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Wild mushroom pizza (vegetarian): this was so good; I love cheese and it had tons of fontina and mozzarella on it. I also love the sweetness the caramelized onions gave to it, pairing perfectly with the cheese.

Wild mushrooms pizza at Vandal in the Lower East Side

The last dish was the New York hot pretzel tartare, that is inspired probably from the New York street vendors who sell these big pretzels that I find not good and overpriced...It was a pretzel cut into pieces topped with raw American Kobe beef with smoked aioli and pickled mustard seeds. Chewy in the bottom and crunchy on top, I admit that it did not meet my expectations. Don’t get me wrong: it was good, but did not have the wow factor that the name of the dish suggests and, when it comes to tartare, I am a purist: it needs the egg yolk!

NY hot pretzel tartare at Vandal in the Lower East Side

Then was dessert. Loving whiskey, i got the Irish coffee milkshake shot that was made with espresso ice cream, Jameson whiskey and whipped cream. Small, I thought it was a quite nice interpretation on a classic Irish drink.

Irish coffee milkshake shot at Vandal in the Lower East Side

We also shared the churros, served with spiced chocolate. It was simply delicious. If you like churros or things that are fried, you need to order this. The chocolate sauce was definitely spicy and I ignored it: anyway, these churros could stand on their own.

Churros at Vandal in the Lower East Side

We left very happy that we found this place: Vandal has an original menu with so many interesting items that I would definitely go back 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!

Vandal - 199 Bowery, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 10/24/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/24/18

Brunch at Bocce in Union Square Park

Tucked on the side of Union Square Park and hidden by the farmers’ market is Bocce, an Italian restaurant that takes its name from the talion ball game inspired from the french boules (pétanque) and the British bowls. They even have a small bocce court on the side by the way if you want to play while waiting for your food to come. So I never really noticed it until we passed in front of it at night, as we heard music and patrons having dinner there. So, few days later, as we had to be in the area, we decided to try their brunch. Light brunch as we had a big dinner that day.

Dining room at Bocce in Union Square Park

We decided to sit outside, the weather being really nice, but I could not resist checking out their dining room that was big and inviting, wondering how it would work in the cold winter as it does not seems to be completely closed of...

Here is what we had for brunch:

They have a nice selection of Italian sodas, so Jodi went for the San Pellegrino Aranciata that is a sparkling orange drink, and I chose the chinotto orange drink that I love because of its bitterness.

San Pellegrino Aranciata soda at Bocce in Union Square Park

Chinotto soda at Bocce in Union Square Park

We then shared an appetizer: the Summer melon (cantaloupe) with straciatella cheese and crispy prosciutto (that Jodi avoided). This was small but quite refreshing at least.

Summer melon salad at Bocce in Union Square Park

We then wanted to get a pizza mesmerized by what was on tables around us, the crust being puffed up and nicely charred. And I am not talking about their breakfast calzone that looked even more appetizing. We decided to order their cheese pizza, made with tomato, fresh mozzarella, pecorino, parmigiano and basil. This was delicious: the tomato sauce was good and there was a lot of cheese. And that crust: crispy and charred with nice bubbles. A must have.

Cheese pizza at Bocce in Union Square Park

We did not get dessert because they only had a lemon cake that was like a cheesecake and had anyway other plans. But this is for another post...

So, in a nutshell, we had a nice brunch at Bocce. I like the atmosphere of the market next to it and I am curious now to try their dinner. I’ll definitely have to go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bocce - 20 Union Square W, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/18

Le Privé, French restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

Le Privé is a new French restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen that replaced Hallo German, going from one European country to another but elevating quite a bit the dinning experience from beer and sausage to wine and escargots. Opened few months ago, we decided to try it as we were dining with Jodi’s cousins.

Not that busy for a Thursday evening, I like the Victorian-era space that has a nice feel, relaxed, with a very good service during the whole meal. Food wise, we in for a treat, each dish I tried being quite good. Here is what we had:

They have few cocktails, but none made with whisky, my go to liquor. No french whisky either that is a bit of a shame for a french restaurant as I always see them not only being the ambassadors or french food but also of french wine, liquors or other beverages. I ended up with an old fashioned that they made as they have a full bar.

For an appetizer, I got the escargots (snails), that were cooked in garlic and parsley butter, the traditional way. The snails themselves were really good, smothered in a sauce where I could not resist dipping some bread.

Jodi went straight to the entree and chose the Mac and cheese or Le gratin de macaroni, made with 4 kinds of cheese: chèvre (goat cheese), raclette, camembert and Parmesan. $21 is a bit pricey for the dish, but I have to say that it was superb, creamy, with tons of cheese.

On my side, I hesitated between the steak frites (NY strip)

And the magret de canard (duck breast). I went for the latter that was served with a roasted parsnip and celeriac purée. At first you would wonder where was the purée, but it was simply right under the duck that was cooked medium-rare as I like it. The dish was delicious, the duck being very good, nicely fatty near the skin that could have been crispier.

For dessert, we opened for the beignets that are a must have and perfect for sharing (if you are wearing black you will certainly end up with spots of sugar as there was lots of it)

And the chocolate mousse that was quite good too, very chocolatey.

Last was some port wine, on the house, that was a nice attention and a good way to end a delicious meal.

So it was good meal, a good atmosphere. I would definitely go back to Le Privé!

Le Privé - 626 10th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/18

Vegan French dinner at Delice & Sarrasin

What do you do when you become vegan and crave French food? I am not talking about me but of Christophe Caron, the owner of Delice & Sarrasin, a French vegan restaurant in the west Village. French and vegan is a bizarre association, French cuisine being known for using lots of butter and cream, as well as meat, poultry or fish. So, if you want to eat a boeuf bourguignon or a cassoulet, you might be out of luck. Well, not anymore with Delice & Sarrasin: they offer a menu that can satisfy a carnivore like me. See for yourself what we tried in the two times we went there...within three weeks.

For appetizer, I tried their escargots beurre Maître d’Hotel (gluten free and soy free). These are vegan snails made with oyster mushrooms in garlic butter that is coconut based. The presentation was very similar to the classic dish and the color of the mushrooms was very close too. Taste wise you cannot be mistaken between a snail and a mushroom, but let’s be honest, the best part of escargots is the sauce. And it was good: I just wished there was more so I could dip some bread.

Escargots at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

For entrées, all 100% vegan, they have a large choice between fake meat, fish and poultry or, crepes made with buckwheat flour (Sarrasin in French). We tried:

The tournedos Rossini, made with the "Impossible Food" steak, cooked in light butter, on a crouton topped with sliced foie gras (tahini based) and fresh black truffle. I mentioned in the past the Impossible burger at Saxon+Parole that could be in a way mistaken for meat and is completely plant based. There, they elevated it with some mock foie gras, giving to the dish some decadence not typically associated with vegan cuisine. I thought at first that the “steak” was their version of a piece of meat, but it was ground mock meat like in the burger. They cooked it well, so it was tasty and not dry at all. The foie gras could not be mistaken for the real one as it had a softer texture, less fatty and tasty, but still: it was good and went well with the steak.

Tournedos Rossini at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

Then we tried the steak frites infusées à la truffe blanche, a vegan beef steak made with three types of mushrooms, served with french fries infused in white truffle. Contrary to the Impossible Steak, the texture and flavors are not those of meat and I found it quite tasty. This is probably a better option if you are vegetarian and do not like the taste of meat. The fries were steak fries that I am usually not a big fan of. But these were superb: cooked all the way through and crispy.

Steak frites at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

Another classic is the salade niçoise that was of course without anchovies or tuna.

Salade Nicoise at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

And the boeuf bourguignon, a stew made with beef (that was a pea protein) marinated in red wine and "four spices", pearl onion, carrots, and fingerling potatoes. The presentation was rustic and appetizing: you would never guess that it was a vegetarian dish just looking into it. The mock meat, covered in the thick sauce, looked like beef and the texture was quite close. Taste wise, it did not taste like beef (or peas), and it was good and comforting.

Boeuf bourguignon at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

Last was dessert. They serve savory and sweet crepes, made with buckwheat flour, so we had to try their sweet crepes. We chose La Bordelaise, stuffed with roasted apple, salted caramel and served with some vanilla ice cream made with coconut milk. The crepe was really good and at the exception of the taste of the salted caramel, it is a regular crepe. I mentioned the salted caramel because it did not have, of course, butter in it, so you do not get at all the same taste. And that ice cream! It was deliciously creamy.

La Bordelaise crepe at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

The second dessert we tried was the almond milk chocolate cake that definitely measured up against plenty of restaurants where I had non-vegan chocolate cakes. Moist, very chocolatey, we were fighting to get the icing! It is a must have.

Chocolate almond cake at Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village

If you follow the blog, I am sure you are thinking that you have never seen me that excited after going to a vegetarian restaurant unless it is an Asian cuisine. When Table Verte closed, I thought a void was left, but after discovering Delice & Sarrasin, I realize it is not the case. I definitely recommend this place whether you are vegetarian or not.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delice & Sarrasin - 20 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/18

The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

Last week, I got invited to The Freckled Moose in Astoria, a restaurant that opened last July and whose name comes from a Northern saying: “In the contest of moose vs car, the moose will always win.” and was also one of the nicknames of the owner, Peter Lyman. I got to talk a bit with Peter who has an interesting background, growing up in Massachusetts and learning skills of a chef on the job. The menu is his creation, inspired by his childhood.

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

Dining room at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

Backyard at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

I started off the meal with their signature cocktail: The Freckled Moose, made with Bacardi rum, crème de pamplemousse (grapefruit cream), pineapple juice and Shofenhoffer grapefruit. That was quite refreshing, fruity and a bit dangerous as you would drink it like milk.

Signature cocktail at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

Then we got the appetizers that were, for the most part tasting portions. The first one is the nachos, a typical bar food that is a must have. Hard to believe that it was half a portion considering the amount we had on the plate! And it apparently is even bigger when you add beer pulled chicken to it! It was composed of tortilla chips, guacamole, onions, black beans, jalapeño, tomato and a blend of cheese.

Nachos at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

Then, the wings that were really food and had a nice kick. These wings are cooked 3 times: first they are smoked, then fried and finally finished on the grill.

Wings at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

It was followed by the Mac and cheese, Peter’s personal recipe that is made with five cheeses: cheddar, mozzarella, fontina and gruyère, topped with Parmesan. Assembled to order, it was very creamy and of course the best part was the Parmesan crust on top!

Mac and cheese at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

But the most interesting and decadent appetizer there is probably the crab tater tots that is the fusion of two classics inspired by Peter’s childhood in Nantucket where he was fishing (and eating) crab and tater tots. Served with a spicy remoulade, it was very good, a bit crunchy and tasty. Definitely addictive.

Crab tater tots at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

For the entrees, Jodi went for their grilled cheese that is served with steak fries or tomato soup. She chose the latter. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a very comforting dish and this was well executed. The sourdough bread was crispy, buttery but not greasy, and there was lots of cheese in it.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

On my side, I went for the volcano burger that is supposed to have a molten fontina cheese center. I say “supposed” because I was ready to see a melting center when cutting the burger in half, my phone set to the video setting, ready to immortalize that moment. Unfortunately, the magic did not happen. Nevertheless, it was a good burger, thick and juicy. It was served with steak fries that I did not really like because they were not cooked enough and not crispy.

Volcano burger at The Freckled Moose in Astoria, Queens

Overall the food at The Freckled Moose was good: this is the type of place you should know if you are in the neighborhood and want to have a drink or some comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere. And if you go, get these tater tots!

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 Freckled Moose - 33-17 31 Ave, Astoria, NY 11106

I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/18

Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new Italian Bakery in town: Dolce & Salato. I never hid the fact that I was not impressed by Carlo’s Bakery that, for me, gained success thanks to its TV show, The Cake Boss, rather than to its pastries. No, for me, the best Italian Bakery is Giorgio’s Uptown Hoboken. Old school, it is consistently good. So I was curious to try Dolce & Salato, located on Grand Street. Result of the passion for Italy from Maurizio Dolce, Michael Nirchio and Brian Mazzei, it proposed not just pastries, but also various Italian products like cheese (not just Italian by the way:

Our first visit (yes, we had several), we got their rainbow cookie, cannoli and lobster tail. All were very good, tasted fresh, but I admit that my favorite was the lobster tail, a flakey dough filled with Bavarian and whipped cream.

Pastries from Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Lobster tail at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Rainbow cookie - Dolce & Salato,Hoboken, NJ

Cannoli at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

The second time, we tried a sprinkle cookie and the sfogliatela that was filled with a cream based on ricotta. The sfogliatela was good, but not as good as that lobster tail.

Sfogliatella at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Sprinkle cookie at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

The third time, we went for lunch. We started the meal with the eggplant caponata that was superb and a nice appetizer.

Eggplant caponata at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

The second appetizer was the Sicily, a salad made with burrata, arugula and tomato. The burrata was deliciously creamy in the center, dusted with salt and drizzled with olive oil.

Burrata salad at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Then we got salads. The first one was the verde or green salad, made with various greens and tomato. It was good but felt a bit like a repeat of the previous salad.

Green salad at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

The second salad was the pear and goat cheese that was good also but could have had more pear in it. However, the candied walnuts they put are sublime. They definitely elevated a salad that could have been boring without them.

Pear and goat cheese salad at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Of course we could not end the meal with some treats that I accompany with a double espresso and Jodi with a tea.

Coffee and treats at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Espresso at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

We had, again, that sublime lobster tail, but also the torta della Nonna, or grandma’s tart, made with a lemon custard and pignoli. It was good but not as good as that lobster tail.

Torta della nonna at Dolce & Salato in Hoboken, NJ

Still, I am still raving about Dolce & Salato and trust me: it is not the last time you will see me there! There are so many pastries I’d like to try, especially their Nutella bomba that is an Italian donut filled with Nutella. Each time we went, they were out of it...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Dolce & Salato - 1101 Grand St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/18

Vietnamese lunch at Cyclo in Long Island City

As Jodi has her art studio in Long Island City, we thought it would be a good idea to explore the neighborhood a bit to see what it has to offer and I have to say that there are quite a lot of places there that are worth trying. The latest? Cyclo, a casual Vietnamese restaurant.

Dining room at Cyclo in Long Island City

We went as they opened on a Saturday, the first one to arrived and witnessing the place getting full half an hour later. Here is what we tried:

To start, I ordered their Iced Vietnamese espresso that is coffee drip with condensed milk. I believe, after looking at the shelves, that the coffee if from Café du Monde, the famous New Orleans eatery that is known for their addictive beignets. I patiently waited for the coffee to drip on top of the condensed milk before putting it in the glass, waiting a bit longer for the ice to make its magic. Alright, I made a bit of a mess at that point...Anyway, it was quite good, just a tad sweet as I like it.

Vietnamese espresso at Cyclo in Long Island City

As an appetizer, we went for the fried quail egg wonton, served with a sweet chili sauce. Crunchy, it was quite good, my only regret being that I wished the yolk was runny.

Fried quail egg wonton at Cyclo in Long Island City

At Cyclo, they have a bunch of vegetarian dishes, so it was not a problem for Jodi. She first wanted a banh mi, but finally settled for their Clay pot tofu that had quite a lot of shiitake mushrooms.

Tofu clay pot at Cyclo in Long Island City

On my side I went for the traditional banh mi, made with a crunchy but soft french baguette, Vietnamese ham, ground pork, pâté and lots of cilantro. It was very good, full of flavors and tasted fresh. I added a bit of their chili sauce that was definitely hot!

Traditional banh mi at Cyclo in Long Island City

Last was dessert. I could not resist ordering their banana and sticky rice, that was good but not as expected. There was red bean sauce in it and I thought it did not have enough banana taste.

Banana sticky rice at Cyclo in Long Island City

Despite that, we had a great meal at Cyclo and I would definitely go back there, especially in the winter to try their Pho.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cyclo - 551 47Th Avenue, NY 11101

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

Celebrating the 100 years of Kaukauna Cheese at Fedora

Last week, I was invited at Fedora, a restaurant in the West Village to celebrate the 100 years of Kaukauna cheese, a company making spreadable cheese. Kaukauna is a city in Wisconsin, approximately 100 miles North of Milwaukee, where the founder, Hubert Fassbender, created a distributing company, which soon became known as South Kaukauna Dairy and eventually Kaukauna Cheese.

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

“Fassbender, who also distributed beer, created the iconic spreadable cheese after numerous tavern owners requested something to serve at their bars. Sold in a ceramic crock, Kaukauna Spreadable Cheese was served in fine hotels and supper clubs across Wisconsin and acquired the nickname "Club Cheese." The Kaukauna Klub brand was introduced and copyrighted in 1933.”

It is apparently the number 1 spreadable cheese brand in America, with more than 4,500 tons of Kaukauna Spreadable Cheese sold annually in 3,400+ American retail outlets.

Today, Kaukauna is launching a new product line with no artificial flavors: these cheese balls are proposed in the two most popular flavors, Sharp Cheddar and Port Wine.

Then we got to try some food from Fedora, but just a little as we had to go. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I tried their Black Squirrel Old Fashioned that is a recipe inspired by The Voyageur Hotel’s bar in Reedsburg, WI. It was concocted with bourbon, cherry heering, maple and pecan bitters:

Black Squirrel Old Fashioned at Fedora in NYC, NY

West Coast Oysters:

Meat board with quince gelée:

Endive “wedge” salad, made with blue cheese, bacon and ranch dressing:

Tempura cheese curd topped with romesco:

Tempura cheese curd at Fedora in NYC, NY

Deviled eggs with horseradish, trout roe and dill:

Tuna tartare crostini with beets and quinoa:

Tuna tartare crostini at Fedora in NYC, NY

It was a nice evening: I was glad to learn a bit from Kaukauna cheese as well as try Fedora that served us some of the items from their supper menu.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Fedora - 239 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

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

The surprising location of Empire Steakhouse

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

Last week, I was invited by the Sinanaj Brothers to their outpost of Empire Steakhouse Midtown East, attached to the Kimberly Hotel. That place is impressive: it used to be an Opera house before becoming a club called Versaillles where Edith Piaf, represented in a large painting in the main dining room, performed. Smartly, they kept the spirit of it, setting this place apart from the traditional wood, leather and low light steakhouses. It is a huge place that can accommodate 500 patrons, with a bar dominated by a large selection of domestic and international whiskey, the main dining room with its plush banquettes and large chandelier hanging from a very high dome ceiling, and the back wine room, used for private parties, with its fireplace...displayed on a flat screen. They also have another room upstairs that you can access via the ornate winding staircase, but, unfortunately, I could not see it as there was a party going on there.

Dining room at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I should also mention the noise level: minimum! For the first time in New York I do not need to scream to be heard. For sure they benefit from the acoustic of the opera house, but still, it is like an incredible thing these days!

Food wise I was there for a treat and regretted not wearing stretch pants. See for yourself:

I started of with a whiskey. I love whiskey and seeing their large selection of close to a 100 different ones, I could not resist. I tried the Oban 14 year, a scotch from the West Highland, that was pretty good, with a nice sweetness.

Scotch Oban 14 y/o at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Then, came the appetizers. The first one was the crab cake that is always my go to when going to a Steakhouse. It was good, but I wish they use jumbo lump crab, elevating a bit the dish.

Crab cake at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The second appetizer was the Empire’s hot platter. It was composed of a shrimp scampi, stuffed mushrooms, stuffed clams and crab meat. Good, but might not be the best appetizer to share if you get only one.

Hot platter at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The last appetizer was what I always expect in a Steakhouse: a slab of bacon. Sold by the slice, it was delicious with their steak sauce, quite decadent.

Then came the steak: the emperors steak for two that is a bit larger than the porterhouse for two, the fillet mignon being replaced by a chateaubriand that is not to be confused with the dish made with a sirloin topped with a reduced sauce. No, in this case, the chateaubriand is a thicker cut from the tenderloin. It came on a hot plate, sizzling and perfectly cooked medium rare. They dry age them on premises for 28 days, making the meat tender, tastier and juicier. All the juice from the plate came straight from the steak: they do not add oil or butter. Jack Sinanaj explained that they reach such perfection by cooking the meat in the broiler for 5 minutes at 900 degrees, slice it, and put it back for a very short period of time in the broiler to heat the plate. I am telling you: that first bite was heaven and I admit that I went mainly for the chateaubriand that was superb.

Emperors steak at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

To accompany the steak, I tried a Pinot Noir from France, a Gerard Bertrand 2016, that was quite smooth and perfect with the meat.

Pinot Noir Gerard Bertrand 2016 at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The sides were fried onions and a very creamy truffle Mac and cheese, two of my go to dishes when I have steak. I should also mention that, on top of the steak sauce, they have béarnaise sauce, that is not on the menu.

Truffle Mac and cheese at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Onion rings at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. They kindly offered a dessert sampler composed of 4 of their house made specialties: the chocolate mousse cake, the tiramisu, the carrot cake and the cheesecake. They were good, but the best was for me the chocolate mousse cake that had a nice Oreo crust.

Dessert sampler at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Carrot cake at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Chocolate mousse cake at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Cheesecake at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Tiramisu at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

With it, i got a decaf espresso and a sambucca.

Decaf espresso at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Sambucca at Empire Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I had a good time at Empire Steakhouse: the setting was beautiful, the noise level perfect and the steak amazing. I truly appreciated that I did not have to yell to have a conversation and would point out the service that was courteous, not like some steakhouses where being rude seems to be a custom.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Empire Steakhouse- 151 East 50th street, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/18

The Musket Room in NYC

I heard for so long about The Musket Room that, in my quest of going to each and every Michelin Star restaurants in the city, I recently stopped by this place that celebrates New Zealand’s cuisine, a cuisine that Chef Matt Lambert, a native of New Zealand, masters perfectly, crafting a menu that is an incredible experience for the eyes and for the taste buds. The place itself has a rustic feel and warmth that can only be disturbed by loud diners who can make the experience painful...

We started the meal with ordering cocktails. Jodi went for one of their non-alcoholic beverages and I admit that I do not recall what it was...Just that she liked it...

Non alcoholic beverage at The Musket Room in NYC

On my side, I could not resist ordering the smoked old fashioned that was very good, the presentation being superb. Your nose, palate and...fingers will definitely remember the smokiness of this wonderful drink.

Smoked old fashioned at The Musket Room in NYC

Menu wise, if you can afford it, go for the tasting that is $95: you will not regret it. And if you are vegetarian, they will accommodate, serving dishes that are definitely not an afterthought. Here is what we had:

First I should talk about their bread that is really good, especially their cheese bread that was very addictive. If they do not give you this one, ask them if they have it! IT is worth trying.

Sourdough bread at The Musket Room in NYC

Powhiri or welcome in Maori. It was composed of three different dishes: the garden herb tart (bottom right), an heirloom tomato gazpacho (top) and a pork rillette with huckleberry jam and a sage short bread. As Jodi is vegetarian, she got a larger portion of the gazpacho that also had herbs, micro greens and cherry tomatoes in it. Everything was very good: the gazpacho was smooth and refreshing, the pork rillette flavorful and the garden herb tart had this nice earthy taste.

Appetizer trio at The Musket Room in NYC

Garden herb tart at The Musket Room in NYC

Kaimoana or seafood in Maori: it was a smoked king salmon with pear, cucumber and peas. This is one of the best salmon I ever had: flakey, it was perfectly cooked.

For Jodi, they prepared a plate of greens:

Papatūānuku, that in Maori tradition is the land. For me, it was a quail with raspberry, bread sauce and roasted onion. It was small, but sublime: cooking quail is tough as slightly overdone and you get a dry piece of bird. This was superbly cooked, the meat being moist.

Jodi got the asparagus with ricotta, flowers and leaves.

The second meat entree was the 50 days dry aged beef that was smothered by a smoked jus (I realized that the table next to us got the same amount of sauce for 2 plates) and served with their ratatouille that was like a deconstructed version of that classic dish. The meat was tender and juicy and definitely did not need that sauce as it could stand on its own. I liked also the ratatouille that was definitely not traditional, but a good addition.

Jodi's dish was the smoked ricotta dumplings with artichokes, mushrooms and truffle: a sublime dish that proves that vegetarian food can be more than an option on a menu.

Smoked ricotta dumplings at The Musket Room in NYC

Ranginui or the sky father in Maori mythology: it was a pre-dessert, made of a compressed watermelon, sheep milk yogurt and a strawberry yuzu. It was a good palate cleanser, the watermelon being less airy than it should as compressed, but still full of water. It was perfect with the acidity of the strawberry yuzu.

Compressed watermelon at The Musket Room in NYC

Then was the dessert: it was a cake made with chocolate, raspberry and black sesame. It was good, but I thought it was not at the same level as the other dishes, although it had a beautiful presentation.

Chocolate cake at The Musket Room in NYC

But it was not the end: they brought us some treat as part of their Ka Kite or see you / god bless. It was composed of mandarin fruit paté, lemon thyme meringue pie, lavender caramel and coconut chocolate. At that point I was really full but could not resist trying each of them that were a nice way to end the meal, my favorite being the mandarin fruit paté that we call in French pate de fruit.

Lemon meringue pie at The Musket Room in NYC

Lavender caramel at The Musket Room in NYC

Coconut chocolate at The Musket Room in NYC

This was a very good meal and we for sure needed a walk after that. The Musket Room is definitely a place to know and I would go back as their menu changes often, hoping that time that it will not be too loud...

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 Musket Room - 265 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY10012