I Just Want To Eat! 11/30/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/30/18

Luzzo's in Long Island City

Luzzo’s is for me one of the top Neapolitan places in New York, a place that I discovered few years ago on a pizza tour and where I went back few times. They opened quite few locations, the last one being in Long Island City, few steps from the subway.

We went there on a Saturday evening, early, and observed the place starting to fill up, in an area where there are not that many options. Food wise, they have a wide variety of dishes, from pasta to pizza. So we tried both! Here is what we had:

I started with a cocktail, the East to West, made with Bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, Angostura bitters, fresh orange juice and lime juice. Very refreshing, I liked to think that it was at least a serving of fruit…

East to West cocktail at Luzzo's in Long Island City

Jodi had a sparkling orange Italian soda or aranciata soda:

Aranciata soda at Luzzo's in Long Island City

The appetizer was the sfogliata di melanzane or eggplant parmigiana, a succulent dish with perfectly cooked eggplant, a delicious tomato sauce and tons of cheese.

Sfogliata di melanzane at Luzzo's in Long Island City

Next was the Tagliolini al tartuffo, a pasta dish made with mixed wild mushrooms, speck, truffle paté in a creamy sauce. A bit heavy for sure, rich, it was very good.

Tagliolini al tartufo at Luzzo's in Long Island City

The pizza was the 4 cheese pizza or Quattro formaggi. I am not sure what cheeses were on it but I guess it was at least mozzarella, ricotta and gorgonzola. This was a fantastic pizza: the crust was puffed up on the outside and thin in the center, deliciously charred.

Quattro formaggi pizza at Luzzo's in Long Island City

We finished the meal with their homemade tiramisu that was a good way to end a formidable meal.

Luzzo’s never disappoints and I am glad to see that they are expanding. Their location in Long Island City is a great addition to Queens.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Luzzo’s - 42-60 Crescent St, Long Island City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 11/28/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/28/18

Lunch at Manhatta

I finally made it to Manhatta, one of the most talked about openings of 2018. This little gem, last project of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, is located on the 60th floor of a high rise building in the Financial District, and boast incredible views of Manhattan. Know that the entrance is on the side of the building it is located in, the staff being probably used to have people asking them where to find the restaurant and directing them at the corner of Liberty and William Streets. Once you find the right entrance, you end up in a lobby where you will check in and check your coat, before stepping into an elevator that will bring you straight up to the 60th floor, a somewhat long ride. As you arrive, the first thing you see is the view: on one side, in the Bay lounge, the Statue of Liberty, from the lounge, downtown and Brooklyn with its famous bridge from the dining room.

Table with a view at Manhatta in NYC, NY

There, Executive Chef Jason Pfeifer created an interesting French inspired menu, with a week day lunch that has fewer options than the week end or evening menu and if you are vegetarian, you might be limited in your choices, although the kitchen seems accommodating. Here is what we had:

Of course, I could not not try their signature cocktail, the Manhatta or Manhattan, made with New York Distilling Ragtime Rye, Carpano Antica, Demerara and bitters.

Manhattan cocktail at Manhatta in NYC, NY

They brought us some delicious crackers with an eggplant spread. They proposed to bring more, but we declined as they were quite addictive and we wanted to eat our meal…

As an appetizer, Jodi got their Stracciatella, a dish made of this delicious Italian cheese, spaghetti squash and olive oil. Normally, it has anchovies that are probably adding a nice depth to the dish. This was good, but there was way too much cheese and the spaghetti squash got lost in it.

On my side, I ordered their Scotch snails, that is a take on escargots and scotch eggs, the snails being served with a pork sausage, bathed in a delicious sauce made with butter, garlic and parsley. This is a great dish and I loved the rustic presentation with the fresh baguette that was cut by hand and aimed at dipping in the sauce.

For her entree, Jodi had to go with another appetizer as there was no vegetarian choices in the proposed entrees. It was the market lettuces, accompanied with radish, tahini and shaved mimolette. Good, but a bit disappointing for her.

For me it was much easier, their entrees being all very interesting. After much hesitation, I opted for the duck confit that is their version of cassoulet. It was served with bacon and watercress. The quantity was a bit small, but it was amazing: the beans were very soft, literally melting in my mouth, with the bacon adding a nice smokiness to the dish. And that duck: perfectly cooked medium rare, the skin was slightly crispy and a bit fatty.

We ended the meal with their chocolate gateau that is a chocolate layered cake, very chocolatey, served with a salted caramel ice cream.

I left Manhatta quite happy that I got to finally try that place: the food was delicious (if you are non-vegetarian), the service on point, in a setting that is amazing, especially if, like us, you are sitting next to a window. Know that Manhatta is a non-tipping restaurant so, besides the tax, there is no surprise with the prices. The quantity of food is small but the flavors are big: I definitely recommend it and will go back there for dinner for sure!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Manhatta - 28 Liberty St, New York, NY 10005

I Just Want To Eat! 11/26/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/26/18

New opening: Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Tim Ho Wan, the acclaimed Hong Kong based dim sum restaurant opened a second location in Hell’s Kitchen after 2 years in the East Village and announcing several future restaurants in the United States. There, Chef Yinghui Zhou, a 30 year dim sum veteran, is serving a menu that I found mainly catered towards non-vegetarian diners. They do have few vegetarian dishes that are properly marked on their menu, but, the day we went, several dishes were not available and most of them were vegetarian!

The place opened beginning of November and I was thinking that the best day to go would be the day before Thanksgiving, rather than waiting for a weekday or week end, thinking that people would travel. It might have been less crowded than usual, but still: as we arrived, they put our name on the wait list, telling us that the wait would be 30 minutes and that we would receive a text when our table would be ready. 40 minutes later, we got seated. They gave us a menu printed on a piece of paper where we had to mark the dishes we wanted and, fortunately, looking at the images on the table set, helped us understand what was what. Here is what we had:

For drinks, Jodi got a blood orange ginger ale and I got a Tsingtao beer (they also have wine and a couple of cocktails):

Blood orange ginger ale at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Tsingtao beer at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Steamed egg cake (vegetarian): interesting dish for sure. It was spongy and fluffy, quite light and slightly sweet. I would easily imagine that as a dessert.

Steamed egg cake at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Har Gow or steamed shrimp dumplings: very good, the shell was perfectly made and the filling very tasty with large chunks of shrimp in it.

Baked BBQ Pork buns: this is apparently their signature dish. Well, after one bite you understand why: it was superb! very flavorful, it had a slight crispiness and I had no difficulty eating the three buns on top of the rest…

BBQ pork buns at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Steamed rice rolls with shrimp and Chinese chives: very good, light, the rice rolls melted in my mouth.

Steamed rice rolls with shrimp at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Pan fried noodles (vegetarian): these thin noodles were delightfully crispy.

Pan fried noodles at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

Dessert: French toast with custard Tim Ho Wan style. This is a must have: deliciously crispy, with a nice custard in the middle, I would eat tons of it.

French toast with custard at Tim Ho Wan in Hell's Kitchen

So, overall Tim Ho Wan was good, not expensive for NYC and the service was on point. Waiting a bit for a table is a bit annoying but it is worth it. The only negatives are the limited choice of vegetarian dishes that is worse when you end up like us on a day where they are short in ingredients and the bill, where I realized that they charged me for a dish they could not make and I had to replace with the pork buns (also charged): so, make sure you check the bill before paying... Despite this, I will recommend it for some delicious dim sum when not in Chinatown, even if you do not get the fun of seeing carts going around.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tim Ho Wan - 610 9th Ave., New York City, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/18

Poulet Frites at Rotisserie Georgette

I love chicken, not as much as my cat, but still. So I was really looking forward to try the poulet frites at Rotisserie Georgette in the Upper East Side. This elegant place, with its partly open kitchen, where you can see the rotisserie in action, is the creation of Georgette Farkas, who worked with famous Chefs like Alain Ducasse or Daniel Boulud.

Bar area at Rotisserie Georgette in NYC, NY

Dining room at Rotisserie Georgette in NYC, NY

There, Chef Francisco Blanco proposes for lunch, for $29, a roasted half chicken (poulet in French), French fries (frites) that are served skin on and were slightly crispy, and a mixed green salad served with a mustard vinaigrette. The chicken was really good: perfectly cooked, with a crispy skin, it was really moist and the sauce that came with it was not even necessary. It was a jus Provencal, made with herbs from Provence that are typically bay leaf, thyme, fennel, rosemary, chervil, oregano, tarragon, mint and marjoram, that can be found at Whole Food or Trader Joe’s.

Poulet frites at Rotisserie Georgette in NYC, NY

French fries at Rotisserie Georgette in NYC, NY

Greens at Rotisserie Georgette in NYC, NY

Know that this place is mainly geared towards carnivores, but has some vegetarian dishes like the gnocchi Parisienne or some interesting sides like the roasted cauliflower gratin. And it is not just about chicken: they have duck, guinea hen, baby back ribs or dorado. So, yes, I would go back to try other dishes, probably more for dinner this time.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Rotisserie Georgette - 14 E 60th Street, Suite 205, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/21/18

Charritos, Vegetarian Mexican restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

I am not sure if it was always like that or simply because they also have another restaurant few blocks away, on Washington street, that Charritos decided to go all vegetarian, proposing even vegan dishes. We never went there before as it was always packed, an hungry crowd filling their colorful dining room.

We showed up as they opened one day and got to enjoy some delicious dishes that even me, a non-vegetarian, loved. Here is what we tried:

Guacamole: a must have, their guacamole is made fresh and you choose if you want it mild, medium or spicy. I have never been disappointed by it!

Tortilla chips at Charritos in Hoboken, NJ

Quesongo, a dish made with melted cheese and a mushroom chorizo. Very hot, it is definitely a dish for cheese lovers! It comes with pico de gallo and soft tortillas. So, you guessed: you put all of this on the tortilla and make sure you do not burn your mouth…When trying it, it is hard to believe that this is made with vegan cheese.

Pico de gallo at Charritos in Hoboken, NJ

Soft tortilla at Charritos in Hoboken, NJ

Molotes or pan fried plantain rolls stuffed with cheese, tomato sauce, queso fresco (almond milk based), crema, pickled onions, garlic, and sun dried chiles. It was good, although a bit mushy.

Vegetarian empanadas: good and crispy, the filling was tasty.

Vegetarian empanadas at Charritos in Hoboken, NJ

Overall the meal was delicious, very tasty and I did not miss having meat there. I think it is a good idea for Charritos to cater to vegetarian people: maybe this time, it is the non-vegetarian like me who need to make an effort. Not such a big effort though…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Charritos - 121 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/19/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/19/18

Dinner at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

It has been a while since we went to Marseille, one of my favorite French restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen (there are not that many) and I realized that I only went there for lunch or brunch, never for dinner. So it was time to change that! We ended up there on a Friday night, the place mainly filled with theater goers considering that, starting 7:30pm, lots of patrons left…

Dining room at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

I like the feel of the place, except the dimmed lights: a bit noisy, I could still enjoy a nice conversation with Jodi, and the service was quite good and efficient.

Food wise, they have some of the classic dishes you are expecting, but still with traditional ones missing (you can’t propose everything anyway): escargots but no foie gras, duck breast instead of confit, with few appetizing options for vegetarians. Here is what we had:

A mandatory apéritif to have there is a Ricard or pastis, an anise-flavoured spirit from South of France, especially the city of Marseille, that was first commercialized by Paul Ricard in 1932, that you typically drink with a bit of water. I had it with a drop of mint, what we call a “perroquet” or parrot, giving to the drink an interesting color.

Perroquet at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

I then got their escargots, prepared also with pastis, garlic butter and herb bread crumbs. Very good, I could not resist dipping my bread in the sauce, the best part of the dish!

Escargots at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

Then, Jodi got a few small dishes: the first one was the Marseille salad that is bibb lettuce, toasted hazelnuts (she asked without), unfortunately overdressed.

Marseille salad at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

The second was the goat cheese tart that has been on the menu for a very long time: it is made with a deliciously flakey puff pastry, goat cheese, tomato confit and caramelized onions. This is a fantastic dish and I love the combination of the confit and sweet caramelized onions with the goat cheese.

Goat cheese tart at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

The third was the panisse or chickpea fries served with a rosemary mayonnaise.

Pretty good, but not as good as the fries that accompanied my steak. Yes, I rarely order steaks in restaurants when not a steakhouse, but cannot resist a steak frites from time to time. What is always surprising me is how thick the steak is usually compared to France where it will be maybe 0.4 inches thin. It was good, but not exceptional: for the same price range, I would go to Le Relais de Venise that only serves steak frites smothered by a secret sauce that is to die for. The steak was served with a béarnaise sauce that was quite good: I just wish there was more of it.

Steak frites at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

For dessert, we decided to try their Valrhona chocolate cake that was delicious, oozing chocolate in the center and perfect with the raspberry coulis it was served with.

Valrhona chocolate cake at Marseille in Hell's Kitchen

So overall we had a good dinner at Marseille: it is a nice place that serves a delicious menu. I’ll be back for sure!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Marseille - 630 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

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

British Columbia Oyster Festival preview at Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Yesterday, I was invited by the British Columbia Seafood Festival to slurp some oysters at the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, and meet international oyster shucking champion and Guinness Book World Record holder Patrick McMurray aka Shucker Paddy.

Please note that the chocolate was complimentary. However, I was not obliged to post and the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Shucker Paddy has been in this business since 1992 and swears that he is not tired of it, to the contrary, and is not even sick of eating oysters. He is in the Guiness Book of Records for having shucked 38 oysters in 1 minute. One minute is probably the time it takes me to first figure out where to insert the knife before trying to open one single oyster…And wearing a glove to protect your hand is not just for the profane: Shucker Paddy wears a stainless steel glove after cutting himself with a knife in the past.

Shucker Paddy wears a stainless steel knife to shuck oysters

Three kinds of oysters were showcased:

Sawmill Bay Oysters, from the Sawmill Bay Shellfish Company, a family owned business, where the Pocock Family produces shellfish from glacier-fed waters off Read Island in British Columbia, in an environmentally sustainable and ethical manner. These were large oysters, with a moderate salinity.
Mac’s Oysters, a third generation producers, the McLellan family produces sustainable oysters in Fanny Bay. I did not know in fact that Joseph McLellan is a renown pioneer in the oyster aquaculture, importing seeds from Japan after WWII and creating a major industry in the region. With their smooth flavor, their level of salinity varies.
Pacific Rim Oysters from Pacific Rim Shellfish Corp. (The Lobster Man), a company established in 1977 that works directly with producers. These were the smallest of the 3.

There were others like the royal Miyagi or the Totten Virginica, an East Coast oyster that is farmed on the West Coast in Southern Puget Sound, Washington. This variety was introduced to me by Executive Chef Sandy Ingber who oversees Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, with whom I had a nice chat about oysters.

Executive Chef Sandy Ingber from Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Needless to say that I was full of oysters to the point where I wonder if a shell will grow on my back…I love oysters in any way: naked, with a bit of lemon (but not too much as you want to be able to taste it), baked or fried. Trying different ones at the same time is great because you can really taste the difference: some are meatier than others, or even briner. Specialists can also determine flavors like cucumber, lettuce or butter, but I admit that I am not there yet! And I am glad that I got to chat a bit with Shucker Paddy and Executive Chef Sandy Ingber who truly showed some passion from what they are doing.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/17/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/17/18

Contemporary Spanish cuisine at Salinas in NYC

Salinas is a Spanish restaurant where Chef Bollo who grew up in Spain is serving a contemporary Spanish menu. Opened in 2011, this place is pretty nice and the dining room where we were seated seemed to cater to couples with its small tables arranged in an intimate setting. So I was excited but my excitement was short lived, the inefficiency and rudeness of the service ruining a bit the whole experience. Food wise, it was interesting and just ok. Know also that if you are vegetarian, the choices are going to be very limited. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I chose their Quemar La Casa, made with J.Reiger whisky, Talisker 10 yr Single Malt, garam masala Demerara and Angostura bitters. It is like an old fashioned, but the garam masala Demerara made it a bit interesting.

Quemar la casa cocktail at Salinas in NYC, NY

We then ordered plenty of small dishes. Jodi started with their coliflor al yogurt or flash fried multicolor cauliflower, citrus yogurt and Pimenton à la Vera. Beautiful and delicious dish.

Coliflor al yogurt at Salinas in NYC, NY

Then she got the cheese plate and I admit that I do not remember what all the cheeses were. Good, but I would have preferred bread rather than these crisps they serve that with.

On my side, I started with the Pringa al Pedro Ximenez. Pringa is a dish from Andalousia composed of various meats such as roast beef, pork, cured sausages such as chorizo and morcilla, with beef or pork fat slow cooked. Pieces of crusty bread accompany the dish to pull away a bit of meat, sausage and fat. I admit that I had no idea what it would be and was expecting a trio of sausages and meat, as the description mentioned chorizo, blood sausage and pork belly. But in fact, it was like little pockets that were quite comforting, where the chorizo took the stage. Now that I know what the original dish is, I am quite impressed by the creativity of the Chef!

Pringa al Pedro Ximenez at Salinas in NYC, NY

My next dish was the fideos negros or squid ink vermicelli with sepia and smoked aioli. I was surprised how big was the dish as it was in the small plates section of the menu. I love squid ink pasta, but unfortunately did not like the dish that was a bit overpowered by the aioli. When the waitress asked me if I liked it as she saw I did not eat much of it, I nicely responded that no and that it was not a problem, but she seemed to be offended about it and brought it back to the kitchen. She came back few minutes later to let us know that they would not charge us for it, a gesture that surprised me and was well appreciated: this is rare for restaurants to do this and it shows a certain level of care for their customers.

We skipped dessert as it took forever for the waitress to take our order and, anyway, there was nothing that we absolutely wanted to try. It is just that I love to finish my meal with something sweet. Too bad…So, no, this was promising but quite disappointing.

Enjoy (…)!

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Salinas - 136 9th Avenue, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 11/15/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/15/18

Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

I was craving pasta and our last visit to an Italian restaurant did not satisfy my craving. So, on a Friday evening, I reserved a table at Fabio Cucina Italiana, Midtown East. Nice place, with apparently few regulars and the Chef, Chicco Asante, omnipresent in the dining room.

Food wise, we were there for a treat, and the meal was delicious from beginning to end. Here is what we had:

They do not have a cocktail list but can make anything you want as they have a full bar. As we were in an Italian restaurant, I chose an Aperol spritz that was very good, nicely bitter.

Spritz at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

As a appetizer, Jodi ordered the Panella Tartufata, à Sicilian fritter made with roasted chickpeas and served with a salad that had a truffle vinaigrette. I like it: crispy, not greasy and comforting.

Panella Tartufata at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

On my side, I opted for the carpaccio di polipo or octopus carpaccio. I love octopus and, usually, when it is on a menu, I go for it. The carpaccio was good and it is a “light” appetizer in a way, perfect to start a meal. But I admit that I preferred when an octopus is charred, as you get more texture and flavor.

Octopus carpaccio at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

Then came the entrees. We both went for homemade pasta: Jodi love mushrooms and picked the fettuccine alla Fabio, made with mushrooms and truffle, but without the veal (they could have at least knocked down few dollars on the dish). It was delicious, with lots of mushrooms and the truffle aroma filled our noses as soon as they brought the dish.

Fettuccine alla Fabio at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

I went for the linguine nere al’aragosta or squid ink linguine with lobster in a tomato sauce (normally spicy, but I asked for mild). This was fantastic and I literally inhaled it! The sauce was not heavy, the lobster well cooked and the pasta perfectly made. I highly recommend it.

Linguine nere al’aragosta at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

Last was dessert: how could we not pick their homemade tiramisu? It was nice and creamy, a good way to end a very good meal.

Tiramisu at Fabio Cuccina Italiana, Midtown East

This was a great experience and I would definitely go back to Fabio for another delicious meal. Funny enough, as we were walking in the street, two women asked us for directions, but, instead of asking for a street or avenue , the asked for Fabio. So, not only did we tell them where to go, but we also explained what our meal was. They seemed as excited as we were...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Fabio Cuccina Italiana - 214 East 52nd Street, New York, NY10022

I Just Want To Eat! 11/13/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/13/18

New: Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new Italian restaurant Uptown Hoboken, replacing Las Olas, the Asian fusion restaurant that I will always remember for its delicious wings. Yes, Apulia just opened and I was hoping to see something different considering the number of Italian places in Hoboken, the latest being Zero Otto Uno few months ago. The owners, Franco (originally from Apulia in Italy) and his nephew Frank completely gutted the place that is awkwardly in a U shape, giving more space at the entrance, with a dining room dominated by their wood fire oven. Service was courteous but the noise level was a bit too much for me, the music being too loud. Food wise, I admit that I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting pasta dishes, but I would not be surprised to see the menu get adjusted in the coming months. Yes, they just have pizza for the main, good pizza for sure, better than Urban Coal House that we tried again few weeks ago and still does not convince me. Their Margherita pie is quite good, made with Apulia tomatoes and mozzarella (the menu did not say homemade so I get that it is not), but I preferred the Biancaneve, a white pizza made with mozzarella, stracciatella, ricotta and garlic (I should have asked without although it was subtle). If you like cheese, go for it as there is a lot of it. The crust was delicious, puffed up on the outside and nicely charred. At least these were great pies. I should mention that of course they have few appetizers and salads, but, unfortunately, they ran out of the octopus that I really wanted to try.

Pizza Biancaneve at Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

Margherita pizza at Apulia in Hoboken, NJ

Know that this is BYOB and they have interesting sodas like the Cedrata I had (a lemon sparkling drink).

For dessert, they propose three homemade choices: tiramisu, panda cotta and almond cake. We went for the former that was served with homemade whipped cream and we did not regret it (well the only thing I regretted was not wearing my stretch pants).

So welcome Apulia to the Hoboken restaurant scene: I am looking forward to going back and hope that this time you will have the octopus!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Apulia - 1319 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/18

Treats in Washington DC

This post is a catch all for the various treats we had in DC and the last post in fact for that trip. Yes, besides the amazing food we had there, we also had cupcakes, gelato, cookies and milk...shake. Here it is:

Address: 501 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

Opened in 2008 in Washington this is a tiny place that offers delicious cupcakes. When I think that the first time I tried a cupcake I hated it: not enough icing, too sweet, and a cake that was dry. I am always looking forward for a good red velvet, the best being at Sweet in Hoboken, but admit that the one at Cupcakery is very good and the opposite of what I described above: right amount of icing (made with whipped cream cheese), not too sweet, and a deliciously moist cake. The Cookies 'n Cream cupcake, made with Cookies ‘n Cream pieces blended into a chocolate buttermilk cake and topped with a creamy American buttercream is also very good and one that I recommend. Last, I should mention two details:

It is a small place and you can only stand next to the window to eat your cupcake(s): there are no tables or chairs.
If you need to transport your cupcakes, no worries: their boxes are designed for it so you do not end up with mixed icing and upside down cupcakes…

Red Velvet cupcake at Red Velvet Cupcakery in Washington DC

Cookies’n cream cupcake at Red Velvet Cupcakery in Washington DC

Pitango Gelato and Coffee:

Address: 413 7th Street North West, Washington, DC 20004

Looking for Gelato? Pitango is the right place for you. They have an amazing selection of flavors for gelato churned on premises and not in a factory, so there is no need for any chemicals, preservatives, stabilizers, colorings or flavorings. Looking at their website, I finally got the answer about the difference between ice cream and gelato:

"Gelato simply means “frozen” in Italian. It is an all-inclusive term that loosely translates to ice cream but also includes anything from sorbet and yogurt to custards. In the U.S., gelato cannot be called ice cream because by legal definition ice cream must contain a minimum of ten percent milkfat; premium ice cream brands can contain twice that amount of fat. In contrast, gelato is made with only five to eight percent milkfat, making it a healthier alternative. Gelato is churned differently than ice cream and contains less air. Despite its lower fat content, gelato boasts a creamy consistency and when done right is thick, dense and elastic".

Well, they surely have lots of choices, all displayed on the wall, so, you can check it out while you wait as it can be crowded and you might be behind people who are trying each and every single ones, making the wait a bit like torture…

Of course, Jodi got their coconut gelato, a 100% organic gelato made with organic Thai coconut milk, which is lower in fat and cholesterol than coconut cream. On my side, I went for 2 different flavors: fior di latte or milk and cream gelato (100% organic) and nocciola or hazelnut that is my favorite gelato or ice cream flavor. Fun fact: "in Italy, Nocciola is the number-three gelato flavor after chocolate and Crema" according to Pitango.

This gelato was superb: dense, but creamy and silky. Definitely recommended!

Coconut gelato at Pitango Gelato and Coffee in Washington DC

Hazelnut and fior di latte gelato at Pitango Gelato and Coffee in Washington DC

Captain Cookie and The Milkman:

Address: 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC

Cookies and milk: what a comforting combination. Even better when it is cookies and milkshake…So, after we visited the Lincoln Memorial, we headed to Captain Cookie and The Milkman, near Washington University. There, we got a chocolate chip cookie, a sprinkle cookie (called funfetti) and a vanilla milkshake. For sure, after you try cookies like Levain Bakery or City Bakery, the expectations are high: the chocolate chip cookie was good, with lots of chocolate but could have been chewier. The sprinkle cookie was just ok and the milkshake forgettable. This is ok if you are in the area (in fact it is the perfect location for students), but I do not think it is worth a detour…

Cookies and milkshake at Captain Cookie and The Milkman in Washington DC

Enjoy (I did)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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)!

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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