I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/30/19

Bierocracy in Long Island City

We were walking on Jackson avenue in Long Island City, on our way to a restaurant when we noticed Bierocracy, a Central European beer hall. As it started to rain hard, we changed our plan and thought it could be nice to go there for lunch, dinner being probably packed and noisy. And we were half right: the place started empty but they had two parties: one on one side of the bar room and another one in the back, where they have a private room.

Beer wise, they have quite a large choice of beers from all over and I settled for the Omegang GOT: King in The North, a straight reference to the fantastic HBO show. This dark beer is a limited edition imperial stout that is aged in bourbon barrels for 6 months. With 11% ABV, it has a chocolate finish that is quite surprising and matches the color of the beer.

Omegang GOT beer at Bierocracy in Long Island City

Food wise, they have few vegetarian options but meat is the star. However, although Central European dishes are served like sausages or schnitzel, they do have some classic bar food like burgers and wings. We started our meal with their giant Bavarian pretzel that came very hot with a spicy mustard (not so spicy in fact) and a house made beer cheese sauce that was very good. Delicious, the only problem is that it is also filling...

Pretzel at Bierocracy in Long Island City

For her main, Jodi chose the winter kale salad that was served with avocado, Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato served with tahini dressing and sesame seeds. She added some Parmesan to it.

Kale salad at Bierocracy in Long Island City

On my side, I opted for the sausage platter composed of Bratwurst, chicken kielbasa, bockwurst and kielbasa. It was served with sauerkraut. I liked it: comforting, my favorite was the bratwurst and then the kielbasa, both being made with pork, that as a more flavorful taste than chicken.

Sausage platter at Bierocracy in Long Island City

We had a nice meal at Bierocracy: rustic and comforting. If you are in the area, you should check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bierocracy - 1223 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/19

San Diego: Salud! By San Diego Taco Company

Our last meal in San Diego was at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company, a popular Mexican restaurant located in Barrio Logan. Crowded inside with a long line outside, I was really excited to try it. And I was even more when inside, the decor being really beautiful with its murals that are tattoo inspired and the car hoods on the wall.

Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

It is a fast casual place: you order at the cashier, they give you a number and then you pray you can find a spot to sit…Few minutes later, your meals comes. Easy, but then I forgot the idea to have their churros with ice cream thinking that if ordered at the same time as the rest, the ice cream would melt and, if I wanted to order later, I would have to queue up again…Too bad they do not have a system where when you finish eating, you can claim your dessert.

Here is what we got:

As a drink, a Pineapple Mexican Soda from Jarritos:

Jarritos pineapple soda at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Fish taco made of beer battered catfish served on a fried handmade tortilla with mixed cabbage, cotija cheese, pico de Gallo and their special house sauce. This was really tasty and I got the tortilla fried that added a nice crunch to the taco, making it even more decadent.

Fish taco at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Then, Ciara, David and I got the Califas that are made with your choice of meat (we all picked carnitas that is fried tender pork) and french fries on a handmade flour tortilla. It is topped with guacamole, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and crema. It was good, except for the guacamole and I was also expecting much more fries…The pork however was delicious!

Califas tacos at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Yes, I mentioned the guacamole that was really not good: it seemed to have been made in a blender that gives a soupy texture and lacks taste. When going to a Mexican restaurant, you would expect the guac to be very good: It is like going to an Italian restaurant and getting a bad tiramisu! On top of that, the description was: “Our famous handmade chips with a large serving of our tableside guacamole topped with pico de Gallo”. The guac was definitely not made table side unless they bring that blender!!!

Guacamole at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Tortilla chips at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Jodi on her side got the cheese quesadilla that was good.

Cheese quesadilla at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

Last was the Mexican street corn, their take on corn on the cob found in the streets of Mexico, made with fire roasted corn, lime, queso fresco, crema and Chile. It was ok, having a bit too much lime that overpowered the whole thing.

Mexican street corn at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company in San Diego

So overall it was just ok and I admit that I was a bit disappointed with Salud! Considering how crowded it was, my expectations were high and they did not deliver. If I had to pick I prefer Lucha Libre and the Taco Stand.

Enjoy (…)!

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

San Diego: Salud! By San Diego Taco Company - 2196 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113

I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19

San Diego: Ironside Fish & Oysters

For our last lunch in San Diego, we decided to go light as we planned an early dinner with our friends Ciara and David, before our flight home. So I found this seafood place that had a couple of vegetarian options for Jodi called Ironside Fish and Oysters. Located in Little Italy, this restaurant is quite big and has a beautiful sea themed decor, especially the wall full of piranhas…

Piranhas decor at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

The menu, printed on a daily basis, based on the catch of the day, offers a nice selection, from the raw bar to seafood a la plancha. I admit that we would not have had that early dinner, I would have probably tried their lobster (grilled or a la plancha), served with clarified butter and béarnaise sauce. Instead, I chose their octopus a la plancha, served with chorizo and olives, like a chorizo tapenade and a play on surf and turf. I loved it: the octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all, and paired well with the chorizo that added a nice saltiness to the dish.

Octopus a la plancha at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

At the same time, I was sipping a cucumber mint lemonade that was delicious and refreshing.

Cucumber mint lemonade at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

At that point came the 6 oysters I ordered : I asked for a mix rather than having 6 of the same. I do not remember which one was which, at the exception of the Ironside select from Washington State that was the largest one. There was also: Nautilus and Kumiai from Baja, Phantom Creek from British Columbia, and Mirada and Sapphire from Washington State. All tasted very fresh and satisfied my craving for oysters.

Oysters at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

On her side, Jodi got the persimmon and burrata salad that was pretty good.

Persimmon and burrata salad at Ironside Fish & Oysters in San Diego

Overall, we had a nice meal at Ironside Fish and Oysters in San Diego. When we left the place was packed, making me think it is a popular spot for seafood. I would definitely go back there and this time try their lobster...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ironside Fish and Oysters - 1654 India Street, San Diego, CA92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/28/19

San Diego: Juniper & Ivy by Richard Blais

We were really excited to be able to get a reservation at Juniper and Ivy, the restaurant of Top Chef alum Richard Blais where Executive Chef Anthony Wells creates a very creative menu that would for sure excite the culinary curious...unless vegetarian. I wish restaurants were keeping their menu online up to date because Jodi was excited to try their pasta with truffle, but unfortunately it was not there, their menu changing on a regular basis and the waiter did not really come back with options besides what was there written. So I left glad I got to try that place; Jodi was less enthusiastic than I was...Here is what we had:

Apple juice at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

It was followed by an amuse that was their take on deviled eggs where the egg white was replaced by a meringue: simply delicious!

Deviled eggs at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

We then got a bunch of bites:
- foie gras cookie with miso and a fig jam that was the kind of cookie that does not need milk. Very good, crumbly, the foie gras definitely went through.
- bison sausage with cocoa BBQ sauce: very good, I could have had more.
- Mushroom and Swiss Madeleine: a delicious twist on a classic. You could for sure taste the mushroom.

Small bites at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Mushroom madeleine at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Foie gras cookie at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Bison sausage at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Then, we ordered their house made biscuit that was topped with a big chunk of butter that slowly melted as the biscuit was hot. This was fantastic: from the rustic presentation to the taste that was fantastic.

For the appetizers, Jodi ordered their cheese board and I admit that I do not recall what was there...

Cheese board at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

On my side, I chose the foie gras tart, enjoying foie gras before the ban took effect few days after in California. I thought it was a great take on the classic foie gras and brioche or bread. Served with a caramelized apple jelly and roasted chestnut, it was like a Holiday dish for me, perfect for the Christmas /New Year period.

Foie gras tart at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

For her main, Jodi got the citrus salad with kumquat dressing and chicories. Colorful, it had unfortunately too much kumquat that overpowered the whole dish and was too sweet.

Citrus salad at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

On my side, I picked the raviolo, a big ravioli (I know I should say raviolo as there was only one) stuffed with braised lamb neck in a posole broth (a corn Mexican broth) with Manila clams. It was a sort of surf and turf, with all the components working very well together. The raviolo was perfectly made, and the braised lamb sublime. But what was even better was the broth that had a lot of depth. Superb!

Lamb ravioli at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

We did not have dessert as we were full and anyway did not see anything exciting on the menu. But, with the bill, they brought us some chocolates that were a nice touch to end the meal.

Chocolates at Juniper & Ivy in San Diego

Overall I liked the meal at Juniper and Ivy. As I mentioned before, the menu caters more to non-vegetarian with original dishes and so many choices that you kind of get overwhelmed. But still, I enjoyed.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Juniper & Ivy - 2228 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19

San Diego: Donut Bar

The Donut Bar was our first target for sweets in San Diego, but, at 4:15pm on the Thursday we arrived there, they were already closed. A quick check on the hours mentioned 8am to sold out. What? First time I saw that besides at food trucks. Is it a way to create some sort of demand? I do not know, but what was sure was that we would go back as their menu looked really good, made of classic and innovative donuts. So we went back on our last day, at 8:45am thinking that, being a Sunday, lots of people would still be asleep. Wrong: there was a line from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. In front of the store was a Ferrari with the name Donut Bar on it. At that point I was thinking that business is pretty good for this place that started in 2013 and is now expending (if you miss going there, know that they are apparently also located at The San Diego Airport. Just in case...). We even saw Chef Santiago Campa distributing Cookie Monster donuts to kids in line and encouraging them to go in his car. Very nice indeed.

The menu at Donut Bar can be a bit overwhelming as they have lots of choices and you feel pressured to order quickly. But the only thing you would regret is not wearing stretch pants as some of these donuts are big. Like the classic or Homer’s donut, a yeast donut topped with pink cake batter glazed and sprinkles. Big but good: you do not want a doughy donut or a heavy donut and this one was perfect, not dry and airy, with enough glaze on top.

The second was the Boston cream, a donut filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate fudge glaze. It was pretty good although I found the cream was not evenly filled in the donut. I should mention that it was not my first choice: I wanted to go for the maple bacon donut but was disappointed by the look of it (if you live in the NY area, check out the one from The DonutProject: it is sublime) and then switched to the one next to it. I finally regretted it a bit.

Boton cream donut at Donut Bar in San Diego

Boston cream donut at Donut Bar in San Diego

The last one was the unicorn donut, made with cake batter glaze, buttercream hair and chocolate ear and horns. Pretty good, but not as good as the classic. I think this one if more for the show...

Still, this is a fun place and I would go back if in San Diego, probably trying less classic donuts that time. However, they would be in NYC, I am not sure they would measure up with The Donut Plant or The Donut Project, but I found them better than Dough.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Donut Bar - 631 B Street, San Diego CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/19

San Diego: Lucha Libre

Our next stop during our trip to San Diego was Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop simply called Lucha Libre by the locals. This restaurant that has 3 locations was opened in 2008 by the Rojanos brothers who celebrate Mexican wrestling in their colorful restaurants.

Serving classic tacos but also Cali burritos, a San Diego creation, where the rice and beans are replaced by French fries in their most decadent version. French fries in a burrito? It reminds me a bit when I was younger and used to have the American sandwich in France: a baguette stuffed with two beef patties and French fries, smothered by ketchup or the Tacos de Lyon that is a popular dish where my family lives: more a burrito than a taco, it also has French fries in it, but the Mexican flavors are replaced by Middle Eastern flavors. Still: very filling! So, at Lucha Libre, I went for the Ado-Haba Piña California burrito, stuffed with Adobada pork, grilled pineapple, French fries, sour cream, Jack cheese, pico de Gallo and pineapple habanero sauce. Heavy, the burrito was amazing: at each bite, you get the flavors of the meat, fries and cheese, literally smothered by the other ingredients, the habanero sauce being neutralized by the fries and sour cream and the pineapple adding some sweetness to the dish. I simply loved it!

Cali burrito at Lucha Libre in San Diego

Jodi, on her side, ordered a classic: a vegetable quesadilla.

Vegetarian quesadilla at Lucha Libre in San Diego

We also shared some guacamole that was pretty good compared to some we had during the trip, as well as the TJ corn that was some corn served in a cup with queso enchilado, mayo, chile, and lime (just ok for me, as I found it a bit watery and with too much lime).

Despite that, this was a great meal: not the best diet but so good. I really loved the Cali Burrito and hope I can find a place in NYC that will serve 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!

Lucha Libre - 3016 University Avenue, San Diego 92104

I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19

San Diego: Puesto at The Headquarters

We were looking for a Mexican restaurant on Opentable, when we stumbled upon Puesto at The Headquarters. Little did I know that the Headquarters referred to The San Diego Police Headquarters (some of the cells are still there), that has been transformed to a shopping and restaurant area.

The place was quite busy and I was glad that they sat us upstairs, more quiet and with a nice view of the bar and open kitchen where I could see the magic happen, especially the way they were making tortillas, endlessly.

Open kitchen at Puesto at The Headquarters

As a cocktail, I tried their avocado margarita that was quite unheard of, but I admit that I could not taste the avocado…

Avocado margarita at Puesto at The Headquarters

Then, of course, our appetizer was guacamole and I admit that theirs was quite good. We wanted it mild and the waiter explained to us that they do not make it a la minute and therefore it was already made, but assured us that it would not be spicy. He was right and the guacamole tasted fresh as I believe they make quantities as the evening goes considering that lots of people order it. No, for sure it was well seasoned and had nice chunks of avocado.

Guacamole at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Chips and salsa at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Then, we got tacos. They proposed on their menu a choice of 3 for $17; as Jodi wanted only 2 vegetarian tacos and knew that I wanted to try their fish tacos that was not available in that sampler, she Kindly proposed to pick 1 of their choices for me. So she ordered:

The grilled portobello taco made with Cilantro chimichurri, papas fritas and avocado. She ordered it naked, meaning that the tortilla was replaced by some lettuce.
The verduras that had crispy melted cheese, rajas, papas, tatume squash, corn & tomato, nopales, avocado, and zucchini blossom. She also ordered this one naked.
The grilled pulpo or octopus made with potato, cilantro chimichurri, avocado whip, pickled red onion.

They must have understood because they brought the octopus tacos in a separate place. Jodi’s tacos were good, although spicy for her. The octopus one was very good: well cooked, not rubbery, it was delicious and very flavorful.

Grilled portobello taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Octopus taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Verduras taco at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

Then I got the Baja fish tacos that are made with beer battered wild cod, shredded cabbage, avocado, crema and salsa quemada. These 3 tacos were very good: crispy, not greasy with a perfectly cooked flakey fish. I just wished there was more crema and salsa on it.

Baja fish tacos at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

For dessert, we were really excited to get their tres leches but they told us that they did not have it anymore, weird considering that it was 7pm…So I ended up with the Rompope Paleta, a Mexican eggnog made with brandy that was served like an ice cream. This was quite good in fact and I loved the peanut dust it was sitting on.\

Rompope Paleta dessert at Puesto at The Headquarters in San Diego

So it was a nice meal: I liked Puesto. This is a good place if you want a little more upscale place for Mexican cuisine. I would definitely 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!

Puesto at The Headquarters - 789 West. Harbor Drive., Suite 155, San Diego CA 92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/26/19

San Diego: In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out burger is not new to me as tried it few years ago in San Francisco. At the end of the post, I even wrote at the time: “If I went back to California, I would definitely go get a good burger there!”. So here we were with our friends David and Ciara. When we arrived, the place was packed, but, lucky for us, people right next to us left and so we got a table, granted that we could have sat outside.

Going there, we knew it would be a feast made of a burger, fries and a milkshake, not that crazy, unless you remember that we were eating out for the past few days quite “complete” meals…But this time, at In-N-Out, we wanted to hit the secret menu. Well, sure secret for Jodi as, being vegetarian, she wanted more than a side, so she ordered their grilled cheese that was simply a burger without any meat: yes, a sad piece of melted cheese with lettuce and tomato between a bun. Disappointing.

Grilled cheese at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

On my side, I asked for a mustard double-double. It is basically a cheeseburger with a double dose of everything, from the patty to the cheese, the meat being cooked with mustard. It was good, but a bit too salty and I ditched some of the lettuce…

Mustard double double at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

The best I think were the fries that I asked extra-crispy (they double fry them): crunchy and cooked all the way through like I love them. And the vanilla milkshake was also nice, quite thick.

Milkshake and fries at In-N-Out Burger in San Diego

So, overall it was good, but I stand with what I thought the first time I tried In-N-Out: good but not as good as Shake Shack or Five Guys…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

In-N-Out Burgers - 2005 Camino Del Este, San Diego, CA 92108

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19

San Diego: The Baked Bear

Ice cream sandwiches are not a novelty and places proposing them have been popping up all over the place, whether in trucks or brick and mortar places. The Baked Bear is one of them. Created in San Diego in 2013 by Shane Stanger and Rob Robbins, this place is a bit overwhelming. Yes, there are so many combinations between cookies, brownies or doughnuts to the variety of ice cream and topping that it is endless. And they make their own cookies.

My friend David went for it but I settled for the doughnut sandwich that I tried few years ago at Holey Cream in Hell’s Kitchen. My choice of ice cream was cookies and cream, and I asked for the doughnut to be warm. They then put some blue icing on top and powdered sugar that made the whole experience a bit messy. But worth it! The doughnut was quite good and chewy, and the ice cream delicious. The only negative is that they do not have a bathroom to wash your hands full of sticky sugar, nor do they offer wipes to their customers (they gave us a wet paper towel that did the job). But overall, it is very good and decadent. I definitely recommend it if you are in the area and want something sweet.

Cookies ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear in San Diego

Donut ice cream sandwich at The Baked Bear in San Diego

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 Baked Bear - 4516 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/19

San Diego: The Taco Stand

Serving Tijuana style tacos and burritos, The Taco Stand in La Jolla is the sort of casual eatery you would want in your neighborhood. When we went on a Thursday evening, at around 7:15pm, it was as if people gathered at the same time, filling the entire place, until the time we were ready to leave: no, when we arrived it was so crowded. After eating their food, I understood why: it was simply delicious. And cheap.

Counter at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Here is what we tried:

I’ll start with my least favorite that was a bit of a surprise when it comes to disappointment: the guacamole. Made fresh, it was missing seasoning. What? A Mexican place that does not know how to make guacamole? That could have been a bad sign if the other dishes were not delicious.

Guacamole at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

The corn on the cob, served with mayonnaise, Parmesan and chili powder was very good, although Parmesan cheese did not seem that authentic...

Corn on the cob at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Corn on a cob at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

For Jodi, the cheese quesadilla that had quite a lot of cheese in it.

Cheese quesdaliia at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

For me, the al pastor taco: this was sublime! The pork is cooked rotisserie style, like you would cook meat for a kebab, giving to the meat a nice char but without drying it out. It was filled with pineapple that added a delightful sweetness, onion and cilantro, drizzled with a cilantro sauce.

Al pastor taco at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

The second taco I had was the baja taco, that is battered white fish with cabbage, tomato, cilantro, onion and chipotle sauce. This was delicious too: the fish was well cooked, crunchy on the outside and there was a nice balance between the quantity of fish and cabbage. The fact that there was a lot of sauce on it which helped make it not dry and very flavorful.

Baja taco at The Taco Stand in Los Angeles

Overall we had a great meal at The Taco Stand: the food there is unpretentious but very good, comforting and seems authentic. I definitely 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!

The Taco Stand - 621 Pearl Street, La Jolla, CA 92037

I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19

San Diego: Extraordinary Desserts

When you go to a place called Extraordinary Desserts, you have high expectations. With two locations in San Diego, this is where we landed as soon as we arrived there.

When you go to a place called Extraordinary Desserts, you have high expectations. With two locations in San Diego, this is where we landed as soon as we arrived there.

Pad to write down our choices at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

After being greeted, they gave us a pad so we would look around and write down our choices before being seated at a table or at the bar, depending on availability. Problem was that there were too many yummy choices there, not that classic at the exception maybe of the lemon bars or chocolate chip cookies that had lots of chocolate. We decided to try the following:

A shaken cold pressed coffee that is a café au lait served cold and prepared in a shaker.

Shaken cold pressed coffee at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

A crème brûlée bun that was my favorite. The brioche bun was airy and light, filled with a crème brûlée that had a nice vanilla flavor. I recommend it!

creme brûlée bun at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

A double chocolate chunk shortbread that we did not like at all, being quite dry and that might have been stale.

Double chocolate chunk shortbread at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

Jodi of course could not resist ordering their coconut coscada that is a coconut haystack dusted with confectioner sugar. Although I am not a huge fan of coconut, I liked it.

Coconut haystack at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego

I admit that I would have tried other stuff if jodi did not stop me as there were so many mouth watering choices there. Extraordinary Dessert is truly...extraordinary and I hope they will open an outpost in NYC! If not, I’ll make sure I keep that as a must have visit when coming to San Diego!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Extraordinary Desserts - 1430 Union Street, San Diego, CA92101

I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/19

Los Angeles: Vegan dinner at Gracias Madre

What would vegan Mexican cuisine taste? No meat is easy to imagine as you can end up with cheese enchiladas or mushroom tacos, but how do you make an entire menu without cheese? Vegan versus vegetarian can be so different. With its vegan menu, crafted by Chef Chandra Gilbert, Gracias Madre succeeded to offer a delicious meal and when a carnivore like me is excited by the experience, it probably tells you something.

We went there for our last night in LA, to meet Jodi’s high school friend...Jodi. At least I had no problem remembering her name...The place, located on Melrose Avenue was huge with an outdoor area that was as big as the dining room, and packed. It is definitely a trendy restaurant that fits the Californian way of eating.

I started my meal with a margarita that was pretty good, perfectly made.

Margarita at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

Jodi got a vanilla lime soda that was refreshing.

Lime soda at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We then shared the guacamole, served with homemade corn tortilla. The guacamole was very good, well seasoned and mild, with chunks of avocado.

Guacamole at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

Tortilla chips at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi ordered the grilled tofu accompanied with coconut rice, chermoula, eggplant and red pepper.

Grilled tofu at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

It was good, but I admit that it was not as good as my dish that was succulent. It was the sopes con mango, potato-masa cakes topped with mango, habanero salsa, black beans, cashew cream and escabeche. I simply loved it: comforting, the potato-masa cakes were slightly crispy and tasted like potato pancakes. It was superb with the various ingredients on top of it, especially the mango that was ripe and added a nice sweetness to the dish.

Sopes con mango at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We were so full (we also had a late lunch) that we skipped dessert and settled for a Mexican hot chocolate that was good, with nice spices in it.

Mexican hot chocolate at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles

We had a great meal at Garcias Madre: the food was very good and I did not feel like I was missing meat and even forgot I was in a vegan restaurant. I would not only go back, but also 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!

Gracias Madre - 8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19

Los Angeles: Hard Rock Café

Hard Rock Café is the quintessence of Americana: Rock, burgers and shakes are what comes to my mind when I think about this place. It is a fun place for sure that mesmerize amateurs of music, going around the dining room to look at some of the artifacts being a must do before or after a meal there. We went there with our friend Amy and her two kids, Bodie and Jaxon as we met in LA. It was that or Umami Burger that unfortunately closed in NY, but was further away and it was already late.

Dining rom at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

The restaurant was crowded, with music in the background and video clips on the small screens that were on the wall next to the booths where we got seated.

Food wise there, there is no surprise as the menu is identical everywhere (unless you go abroad, like I did in India, where beef is replaced by buffalo). Jodi was really happy to see that they added the Impossible Burger as a vegetarian option but I admit that no one has been able to make it look as good as Saxon+Parole: it was a bit dry and these cheese was not melted enough.

The Impossible burger at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for their original legendary burger, a cheeseburger topped with bacon and a crispy onion ring for a little crunch and greasiness that was juicy and tasty (I hate when the meat is so seasoned that you do not taste it).

The original legendary cheeseburger at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

With that, I got Guinness beer cheese fries that were quite good and a bit addictive, as the cheese did not taste like the process products lots of restaurants use.

Guiness beer cheese fries at Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles

Hard Rock Café is a classic, a safe choice and a crowd pleaser. So if you are not sure where to go, do not hesitate!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Hard Rock Café- 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/23/19

Los Angeles: Delphine in the W Hotel

Located inside the W on Hollywood Boulevard, Delphine Eatery and Bar offers a contemporary American menu. This was our choice for dinner on Christmas Day as we were looking for a place to go not to far from our hotel that would be open that day. Big, I admit that the entrance of the restaurant made it look like a casual eatery, surprising for the W hotel, but then, inside, it has a bit more cachet. Not that it is an elegant place, but the space has some warmth with decor that is supposed to be reminiscent of Provinçal cafés. Not sure how, but it is apparently what they went for.

Menu wise, they had quite interesting dishes but limited options for vegetarians. Here is what we had:

I started with a cocktail, 14th on Main, that was made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, maple syrup, grapefruit juice and lemon juice. Well balanced and citrusy, it was quite good.

14th on Main cocktail at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Then we shared the white bean hummus that was served with pita, arugula pesto, cucumber and tomato salad, and feta. This was quite good, but a bit filling.

White beans hummus at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Especially with the ahi Crudo that was four pieces of ahi tuna that was dusted with spices, accompanied by a yuzu avocado purée and watermelon radish. I liked it but would have probably preferred thin pieces of tuna and more avocado purée.

Ahi tuna crudo at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

As there were no vegetarian entrees, Jodi ordered the mushrooms that were prepared with garlic, thyme, shallots and Parmesan; as well as some roasted cauliflower and faro.

Mushrooms at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Roasted cauliflower and farro at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

While I had the Diver scallops and shredded pork belly, a sort of surf and turf. It came with truffled sweet corn nage and roasted corn, as well as oyster mushrooms. This was delicious and everything worked perfectly together. The scallops were perfectly cooked and I loved the sweetness that the corn added.

Diver scallops at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Dessert was however just ok: it was a cinnamon bread French toast that I found a bit dry.

French toast at Delphine in the W Hotel, Los Angeles

Overall it was good. Not sure I would put Delphine as a must have though...No, not at all. I should mention that they add 17% tip automatically and the waiter told us that this was what the hotel was doing and that any additional tip would be for him...17% is already a decent tip, no?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Delphine - 6250 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19

Los Angeles: The Highlight Room

On Christmas Day, for lunch, we decided to go at The Highlight Room, the rooftop and poolside restaurant of the Dreams Hotel on Selma Avenue.

It was a beautiful day, but a bit windy and cold, so we were not surprised not to see anybody swimming. At least, we could enjoy some of the views of Los Angeles, with, on one side, the Hollywood sign that has a certain magic.

On Christmas Day, for lunch, we decided to go at The Highlight Room, the rooftop and poolside restaurant of the Dreams Hotel on Selma Avenue.

Swimming pool at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

View from The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

We started our brunch with some virgin cocktails: the 360 for Jodi, made with a cold pressed grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, lemon lime soda and basil. On my side, the Top Floor, made with cold pressed watermelon juice, fresh mint and cold pressed lime juice. Both were very good, quite refreshing.

360 cocktail at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

Top floor cocktail at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

We then shared the house salt’n vinegar chips that came with a caramelized onion dip. The chips were good, not too vinegary, but unfortunately a large part was crushed, making it difficult to eat with the delicious dip. Still, it was a nice appetizer.

Salt’n vinegar chips at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi went for the strawberry field salad, composed of spinach, strawberries, 7 grains croutons, almond, feta, and added a side of avocado.

Strawberry field salad at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

I ordered the lobster toast that was made of a poached Maine lobster, heirloom tomato, tarragon and avocado on a slice of sourdough bread. This was delicious, the kind of brunch dish I love to eat. The lobster was perfectly cooked and there was a lot of it. However, the sourdough bread was a bit hard to cut through...They should probably replace it with a brioche bread, making this dish like an open face lobster roll. Still this was pretty good.

Lobster toast at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

Last was dessert. We could not leave without trying their olive oil cake that was served with brûlée figs and a lemon chantilly. This was delicious: moist, the top was brûlée. This is a must have!

Olive oil cake at The Highlight Room in Los Angeles

This was a nice brunch with beautiful views of the city. The Highlight Room is the kind of place to go to enjoy a quiet time, a good break from the craziness of Hollywood Boulevard...

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 Highlight Room -6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/19

Los Angeles: République

Housed in a stunning place, République was our choice for Christmas Eve dinner. Awarded a coveted Michelin Star, this place is incredible. Built in 1929, this building was Charlie Chaplin’s office before he lost it to one of his wives during a divorce proceeding. With its very high ceiling and stone walls, it is like entering into a church where the angels of food would sing: yes, with its three kitchens, this place serves a fantastic food. The owners, Walter and Margarita Manzke, have succeeded in creating a unique experience, with dishes that change on a regular basis, based on what they find at the market.

Dining room at République in Los Angeles

Although they have a dining room in the back with individual tables, the concept is to eat at communal tables, a way of sharing an experience with your immediate neighbors who are hopefully not annoying...We got lucky as we sat next to a couple who loves food and in fact, the wife, Karis, is also a food blogger. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I decided to try their Eggnog, perfect for the season. It was made with rum, cognac, coconut cream and egg. I loved it but this is the kind of drink that is dangerous as you drink it like milk...

We then got their bread that was a succulent baguette that they make in their bakery, served with some salted butter from Normandy, France (Rodolphe Le Meunier). That bread was amazing and was like traveling to France: the thin crust was deliciously crispy. I definitely recommend it: it is worth paying $8.

Bread and butter at République in Los Angeles

The first appetizer was the potato and leek beignets, filled with gruyère and served with a dijonnaise sauce. That was a very good start: these little balls were slightly crispy on the outside and very cheesy inside.

Potato and leek beignets at République in Los Angeles

The second appetizer was the Hudson Valley foie gras, a sautéed foie gras served with a roasted pineapple that gave a nice sweetness that counterbalanced well the fattiness of the liver. It was a delicious dish, but I admit that it was pricey considering how small the foie gras was.

Hudson Valley foie gras at République in Los Angeles

Roasted pineapple at République in Los Angeles

For her entree, Jodi ordered the butternut squash agnolotti, some perfectly made ravioli filled with butternut squash, served with brown butter and Parmesan. This was a great dish: the ravioli had a nice sweetness from the squash that paired well with the brown butter and the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese.

Butternut squash agnolotti at République in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for the duck breast that was cooked as ordered, medium rare, with a delightfully crispy skin that was slightly fatty. The duck breast was sitting on steel cut oats, accompanied by roasted baby beets and a sour cherry-peppercorn sauce. I never had roasted beets with duck, but I admit that all of these elements went well together. I definitely recommend this dish.

Duck breast at République in Los Angeles

Last was dessert. We ordered the almond brown butter cake and, because it took some time to be served, they graciously offered us some house made sorbets: pear (my favorite that is unfortunately not often proposed) and lemon. Both were fantastic, creamy and fruity.

The almond cake was worth the wait: served with berries and an earl grey ice cream, it was phenomenal. Buttery, the outside of the cake were slightly crunchy. This is a must have.

Almond cake at République in Los Angeles

Overall, we had a great time at République: no wonder why this place is one of the popular spots in Los Angeles: the food was delicious and the service on point. I should mention that they add 4% charge to the bill to pay for the staff medical coverage; a charge I do not mind paying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

République- 624 South La Brea Avenue, La Brea, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19

Los Angeles: Dim sum brunch at 189 by Dominique Ansel

Located at The Grove, at the number 189, 189 by Dominique Ansel is an incredible place, that you can recognize with its yellow awning and umbrellas. The bakery is downstairs while the dining room is upstairs, with a terrace where we sat, the weather in LA being gorgeous. What we did not know is they they serve a special brunch, truly unique as it is served “dim sum” style: they pass around small dishes and, if you take some, they stamp your ticket; at the end of the meal, they calculate the bill based on what you ate. I think it is great because it has this excitement when you see these dishes coming and you can try a lot of different ones. The downside is that it can be pricey if you cannot resist...

Dining room at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Ticket at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Here is what we had:

Buttermilk biscuits:

Lox with dill and capers (it is their house cured lox):

Lox at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

DIY lobster rolls: tail and claw meat served with a confit lemon aioli, old bay, espelette and served with two potato rolls (mini):

DIY lobster roll at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Avocado and cucumber salad, served with burrata:

Avocado and cucumber salad at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Dutch baby pancake with a yuzu curd (made to order, it was one of my favorites):

Dutch baby pancake at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Ducth baby pancake at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

DKA or Dominique ‘s Kouign Amann, a croissant dough with much more butter that is usually a favorite when going to Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC. Unfortunately, I did not find it as good, as the bottom was not caramelized.

DKA at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

We also had the starter kit that was, for $10, some fantastic soft scrambled eggs (quite creamy), with a tea for Jodi and an orange juice for me.

Scrambled eggs at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

Last we’re the cronut holes that were filled with cranberry jam and a chocolate ganache. Cronuts are what made Dominique Ansel known: these half croissant, half donuts pastries are superb and showcase the creativity of the Chef.

Cronut holes at 189 by Dominique Ansel in Los Angeles

We left amazed by the food and the concept of 189 by Dominique Ansel. Chef Ansel is so creative that we cannot resist visiting his bakeries or restaurant wherever we go (last time was in Tokyo). I definitely recommend the brunch there that I am sure will be copied...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

189 by Dominique Ansel - 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/19

Los Angeles: Mexican food at El Coyote

On our first day in Los Angeles, we decided to go to El Coyote, an institution serving Mexican cuisine since 1931. This place is like a maze with multiple rooms and I was glad we did not have to wait for a table, arriving probably right before the rush.

The food looks like your classic Mexican restaurant, but it would definitely satisfy your tastebuds. Here is what we had:

I started off with a pear margarita:

Pear margarita at El Coyote in Los Angeles

And of course we tried their guacamole that is not made to order but freshly made as the day goes by, probably because of the frequency of diners. Very good, well seasoned, it had chunks of avocado, making it perfect.

Jodi had the cheese enchilada that was served with rice and beans. Delicious.

Cheese enchilada at El Coyote in Los Angeles

On my side, I went for the fish tacos (2), a white fish served with cabbage (too much of it), pico de Gallo and their Mexican cream sauce. Very good, it was a bit messy to eat by hand, but was not the best fish tacos I ever had (I miss The Taco Truck in Hoboken that had the best fish taco ever). I was expecting the fish to be a bit more breaded than that, adding some crunch to the whole thing. Nevertheless, it was good.

Both of our dishes were served with yellow rice and retried beans that were divine: the yellow rice was not like the dry rice you often get and could stand on its own. And the refried beans, smothered with cheese, were superb. This is a side that I definitely recommend.

Rice and beans at El Coyote in Los Angeles

For dessert, we got their flan that was quite good. Too bad they did not put real whipped cream. The presentation looked like we had the end of the can...

Anyway, we had a great dinner there and I am glad we got to try this old school Mexican place. If you go to LA, make sure you go to El Coyote: if not for the food, for its history.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

El Coyote - 7312 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/20/19

Los Angeles: a day trip and the Original Farmers Market

It has been a while since we wanted to go to LA and finally decided to go for the Holidays, taking advantage of a warmer weather. The first day there, we booked a tour, like we often do, allowing us to see parts of the city we might not have seen on our own. I admit that we were also looking to see if there were celebrities around, and ended up seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger on his bike in Venice, the first area we visited. We walked around the beach, with the skate park, graffiti walls and market.

We then walk few minutes on Rodeo Drive, followed by a quick drive by Beverly Hills before stopping at the Original LA Farmers Market that is a giant food court a bit overwhelming for me as I would eat in each and every stall...

We walked a little bit, not knowing what to get and finally settled for Nonna’s Empanadas, as they had few vegetarian choices for Jodi. Here is what we had:

Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The mushroom empanada made with portobello mushroom, mozzarella, feta and onions. This was full of cheese but without overpowering the mushrooms. This is the perfect dish for mushroom lovers.

Mushroom empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The Mac and cheese empanada, that was good but could have been creamier.

Mac and cheese empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The beef empanada that was delicious. Made with beef, olives, red pepper, egg and onion, it was quite juicy and flavorful. I did not even need the Chimichurri sauce they gave.

Beef empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Last was the Nutella empanada that was also made with Oreo cookies. I admit that I was expecting better. It was a bit dry on the outside and only started to be interesting in the center, where you could really taste the Nutella. I would pass next time...

Nutella empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Next stop in the market was Fritzi Coop, a place that is for chicken lovers, serving fried or rotisserie chicken. I went for the stinger, their classic fried chicken sandwich, smothered with a buffalo sauce, and sitting on blue cheese dressed greens. This was superb: the chicken (dark meat) was moist and crispy, and the buffalo sauce delightfully spicy (they have a hot version of this sandwich and I cannot imagine how spicy it must be). The sandwich was really good but a bit messy to eat, falling apart at some point.

Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The stinger from Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The last stop was donuts at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts.

Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Jodi went for the coconut one, a cake donut that we did not like, being dry and tasteless. However, mine, the Long John, that is...long with chocolate icing on top and a vanilla custard inside was very good: light (right), the vanilla custard was very well made and the doughnut itself soft. I definitely recommend it.

Coconut donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

The Long John donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles

We left the market full and drove to Griffith Park with its observatory that we saw in many movies getting an exclusive view of the Hollywood Sign.

The last stop was Hollywood Boulevard and its stars. Mine is not there yet, but who knows...Although it was very crowded, it was great to see stars from known artists. Same goes for the Chinese Theater and its hand and shoe prints in cement.

Jack Nicholson’s star on Holliwood Boulevard

Chinese Theater - Steve Mac Queen hands and shoes print in cement

That was a great day, but not the end as dinner was coming and we had a good plan...Stay tuned!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The original Farmers Market - 6333 W.3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/19 I Just Want To Eat! 1/18/19

Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

You are probably wondering what I was doing in Hackensack? Well, we did not go for food but to see the solo show of one of our friends, Amy. So, as we were there, we looked at restaurants nearby and, that day, I was more inclined to have Thai food as it has been a while since we did not have any.

That is how we found Bangkok Garden. Quite big, it filled up as we dined there, a good sign. Food wise, there was not much of a surprise besides the fact that they brought these chips that I believe have shrimp in it (translation: this was all for me). When I was a kid, my mom used to buy them and fry them for apéritif, under our eyes, mesmerized by the shape and color these chips took when dipped in hot oil.

Chips at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

I had them with my favorite Thai drink: a Thai iced tea that was perfectly made.

Thai iced tea at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

For our appetizer, we did not have much choices of vegetarian dishes so we settled for the vegetarian curry puff, a flaky puff pastry shaped like an empanada, filled with carrot, corn, onion, potato and curry, and served with a cucumber salad. This was a good start. The puff were delicious, slightly crispy and the filling very flavorful without an overpowering curry taste.

Vegetarian curry puffs at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

For her main dish, Jodi had more choices fortunately and picked the Pad tofu, a dish composed of sautéed tofu, carrot, scallion, bean sprouts and celery. Served with rice, it was quite good, especially the tofu that was tasty.

pad tofu at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

On my side, I chose the chicken curry massaman. Ordered mild, it had a slight kick that started to build up. I loved it!

Chicken massaman at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

Last was dessert. We could not resist their ripe mango over sweet rice. I was afraid that the mango was not ripe enough but this quickly faded after the first bite that was divine. This is a dessert I highly recommend.

Mango over sweet rice at Bangkok Garden in Hackensack, NJ

We left glad we found Bangkok Garden. This is a great place if you are in the area and are looking for a good restaurant or, like me, craving Thai food!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bangkok Garden - 221 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601