I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/8/19

Interesting treats at Supermoon Bakehouse

I just realized that I completely forgot to post about our visit last September at Supermoon Bakehouse in the Lower East Side: yes, It has been a while, but still, it is worth mentioning this place that sets itself apart from other bakeries by proposing creative baked goods like the cruffin, a croissant and muffin or the banoffee croissant, a banana and toffee croissant, names that seem to be inherited from the cronut invented few years ago by Chef Dominique Ansel. Still, Supermoon Bakehouse is trying to stay original, without copying what others are doing. At the time we went, they had a chocolate chip cookie croissant that was made with a milk chocolate creme patissiere, topped with meringue and chocolate chip cookie. The second thing we tasted was their chocolate hazelnut donut that was delicious. In fact, they make very good croissants and donuts that is a good first step as this is their base for original treats.

Treats selection at Supermoon Bakehouse in NYC, NY

Kitchen at Supermoon Bakehouse in NYC, NY

Chocolate chip cookie croissant at Supermoon Bakehouse in NYC, NY

Chocolate hazelnut donut at Supermoon Bakehouse in NYC, NY

I should mention that they do not only offer sweet options, but also savory ones like the croquet monsieur twice baked croissant or the reuben croissant. Reviewing the photos from our past visit, I am thinking that we should go back there…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Supermoon Bakehouse - 120 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/19

Charlie Palmer Steak

For our birthdays, Jodi and I are always picking where we want to have dinner and not surprisingly, I always choose a steakhouse…So this year, it was Charlie Palmer Steak in the Archer Hotel. I was looking forward to it as I heard so many great things about that place. Unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The steak was just ok: I ordered a ribeye, my favorite cut, medium rare; it was cooked medium and when I mentioned it to the waiter, he first denied it but upon my insistence, apologized and sent it back. The bone-in ribeye is a $65 dish, so, it should be cooked well, especially in a steakhouse and if not, I think it is normal to send it back. It spoiled a bit the dinner as the sides were already there, and I ate them separately, before they got cold but also because Jodi was also served and I did not want her to wait longer. Finally my steak came back properly cooked and they gracefully comp’d my drink (a glass of Talisker 10 y/o Scotch), realizing I was right…But still, the ribeye, dry-aged for 30 days, although juicy, was not as tender and tasty as I expected. Too bad. I also paired it with a lobster tail that was quite small for the price but fortunately well cooked. At least the sides were delicious: we chose the Mac and cheese that was really creamy as well as the crunchy hash brown. For appetizer, I went for the East Coast oysters, served with a Champagne mignonette and lemon: no complaint there as they tasted fresh. On her side, Jodi got a Bibb salad without bacon (for sure, vegetarian dishes are more limited in a steakhouse…).

Talisker Scotch at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Bibb salad at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Oysters at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Bone-in ribeye at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Lobster at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Mac and cheese at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Hash brown at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: we went for the key lime pie that was quite good, deliciously tart with a great Graham cracker crust and at least a nice way of ending the meal.

Key lime pie at Charlie Palmer Steak in NYC, NY

Still, I was a bit disappointed although I had a good birthday with Jodi. I was expecting more from Charlie Palmer Steak and would not recommend it.

Enjoy (…)!

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Charlie Palmer Steak - 47 West 38th Street, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 5/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/3/19

Italian dinner at Da Andrea

I often crave Italian cuisine and, as we were passing by Da Andrea, we decided to stop there for dinner. A light dinner as I like to call them: no appetizer, only entree and dessert…And the entree was superb: I went for the Tagliolini neri alle vongole, a homemade squid ink tagliolini with clams, cherry tomatoes in a garlic white wine. I loved it: the pasta was really good and the sauce delicious, so good that I dipped some focaccia bread in it…And yes, I always put cheese on my pasta, even if it has seafood in it: this seemed to have shocked the waiter who did not want to give me any cheese before, until I insisted.

Polenta and mushroom at Da Andrea in NYC, NY

Tagliolini neri alle vongole at Da Andrea in NYC, NY

Dessert was a must have: their homemade tiramisu that was creamy. They also gave us some cookies with a lemon curd, a nice touch.

Da Andrea was a great find: I would definitely go back to try other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Da Andrea - 35 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/1/19

Proper West near Bryant Park

Holidays are the best time to go to noisy places and we were glad to end up at Proper West on Good Friday: it was literally empty! This place is pretty big with large TVs on the walls of the main dining room and I cannot imagine what it is when full. Anyway, this allowed us to enjoy a quiet dinner (there was just some music in the background), sharing various dishes vegetarian and non-vegetarian typical from a bar. Here is what we had:

For a cocktail, I got the PW Old Fashioned, made with Bulleit rye, orange bitters, angostura bitters muddled brown sugar cube and orange zest. They also gave us some potato chips with it.

PW Old Fashioned at Proper West in NYC, NY

Truffle Mac and cheese: quite good, very creamy.

Truffle Mac and cheese at Proper West in NYC, NY

Wings: they propose different sauces, like Korean bbq, classic buffalo, sweet chili, zip zip, or a featured sauce. They unfortunately did not provide a sampler or at least offer more than one sauce, so I ended up with the former. It was nicely sweet and the chicken was moist.

Korean BBQ wings at Proper West in NYC, NY

Tempura cauliflower: there were two types. One was smothered in a tangy plum and the other by a Nashville hot sauce accompanied by celery and carrots. Both were good and tasty, crispy, with one side sweet and the other quite hot, very good with the blue cheese sauce of the wings.

Plum sauce tempura cauliflower at Proper West in NYC, NY

Nashville hot sauce tempura cauliflower at Proper West in NYC, NY

Grilled cheese dippers with a tomato soup: it was unfortunately soggy. Too bad because I was really looking forward to it.

Grilled cheese dippers at Proper West in NYC, NY

Gilled cheese dippers at Proper West in NYC, NY

For dessert, we chose the Oreo n’ Cream cake, made with a chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream and Oreo cookie crumbs. It was good, more creamy than chocolaty with a nice crunch from the Oreo cookies.

Oreo n’cream cake at Proper West in NYC, NY

Overall Proper West was good, perfect If you like bar food and share dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Proper West - 54 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/19

The Harrow in Hell's Kitchen

When people think about Hell’s Kitchen, they often think about 9th Avenue, neglecting the great restaurants 10th Avenue has to offer. The Harrow is one of them. This farm to table restaurant that serves new American cuisine is a true find: great atmosphere, courteous and efficient service, and delicious food are their recipe for success. If not for food, it can be a nice spot for cocktails with interesting creations like the Queen V, made with blended scotch, lemon juice, plum shrub and cardamom bitters. More interesting is the fact that they mention the type of glass it is served in.

Queen V cocktail at The Harrow in Hell's Kitchen

The food is also original. Inspired by international cuisines, I found the escargots superb. No, this is not the classic French dish, but rather poached snails bathed in a butter and garlic sauce where you can dip puff pastry circles. Close but not the same.

Escargots at The Harrow in Hell's Kitchen

For the entrees, the grilled duck is a good choice: perfectly cooked as ordered (medium rare), I loved the crispy and fatty skin. It was served with caramelized fennel, radicchio and spicy pickled raisins. I definitely recommend this dish if proposed as their menu changes from time to time.

If you are vegetarian, there are few choices, but just one in the entrees: the socca crepe that is made with sweet onion jam, crispy kale and baby tomatoes. Socca is a thin, unleavened crêpe made with chickpea flour that originated in Genoa (Italy) and is a specialty from Nice, in Provence. This was a good interpretation of it although not similar.

Socca crepe at The Harrow in Hell's Kitchen

Of course, dessert cannot be missed. Cookies and cream, chocolate s’mores tart or sweet honey cake (topped with fresh pineapple, coconut caramel and accompanied with brandy cherries and crème fraîche, it was very good but I wish a bit more moist) are the delicious choices you have.

Sweet honey cake at The Harrow in Hell's Kitchen

Dining at The Harrow is great and it is the kind of place that makes you glad you found it, wishing nobody else knows about it, keeping it secret like a treasure. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Harrow - 720 10th Avenue, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 4/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/22/19

Dinner at Valerie

When I picked Valerie for a Friday evening dinner, I did not know what to expect: French firstname, description on Opentable saying they propose an American fare and menu featuring Asian inspired dishes like the Korean BBQ fried chicken sandwich. I was at a loss. And did not expect either to end up on such loud place, the saving grace being the end of the happy hour!

For sure, this place was full, on both floors and when we arrived, I prayed that we would be sitting upstairs, thinking it would be quieter. I was slightly wrong. Valerie is a beautiful restaurant though, with its retro decor and eye catching bar. I would probably go more for a cocktail than for the food, the latter looking interesting, except the desserts and for me not to eat dessert is exceptional (I am either too full or nothing appeals me like it was the case that evening). With quite few Asian dishes, the menu is a bit overwhelming because you wonder where the chef excels: American or Asian? So we tried a bit of both. Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I chose a sazerac with rye, absinthe and bitters, a drink that was on their happy hour list. Jodi on her side got the Gloria de Casares, a non-alcoholic cocktail made of Seedlip grove 42, grapefruit shrub, fever tree aromatic tonic.

Braised olives with a citrus spiced marinade and grilled bread. Good but quite salty.

Truffled portobello flatbread, one of the few vegetarian dishes they offer (they do have the Impossible burger otherwise). This was a good bar dish.

Truffled portobello flatbread at Valerie in NYC. NY

Char-grilled octopus with marcona almonds, peashoots, carrot romesco and cannellini beans salad. That was my favorite dish: they surely know how to cook octopus. It was nicely charred and not rubbery.

Beef cheek steak buns, with Brussels sprout kimchi and sriracha aioli. I was looking forward to this dish but it did not deliver: the meat was dry and it was lacking the flavors and heat the description suggested.

So overall, it was disappointing: I would only go to Valerie for a cocktail, certainly not for the food. Dommage...

Enjoy (...)!

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Valerie - 45 West 45th Street, Midtown, New York City, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 4/19/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/19/19

One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Located in Dumbo, One Girl Cookies is the kind of place that you are looking forward to visit, expecting, based on its name, to get giant cookies that would make you be unreasonable and defy your doctor for a minute or two. But no, no big cookies, rather tea treats smaller than the size of a dollar coin if you discard cupcakes, whoopie pies (the red velvet one is delicious) and the linzer torte that is not to be confused with the linzer cookies with its crumbly cookie and confectioner sugar: no, the linzer torte is less usual and definitely the kind of tart you should get if you love marzipan, although this one was spiced. Still, this is very good, having a bit of raspberry in between and being not too sweet. The small tea cookies are interesting though as they allow you to get a bite of everything. We tried:

Juliette, made with chocolate, hazelnut and cinnamon, pretty nice although there was a bit too much cinnamon that overpowered the whole thing.
Mary, a chocolate chip cookie. Ok.
Lucia, a chocolate and caramel shortbread layer bar that was my favorite. Like a Twix bar in a way.

Whoopie pie at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo

Tea cookies at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo

Juliette at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Espresso at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Linzer tort at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Lucia at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Mary at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Tea at One Girl Cookies in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Needless to say that you can get tea and coffee with your cookies. So overall it was good, but did not live up to my expectations. If you are in Dumbo, it is worth trying but I would not make the trip just for this place.

Enjoy (…)

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One Girl cookies - 33 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 4/17/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/17/19

Mexican Dinner at Vida Verde

We were looking for a Mexican restaurant Midtown Manhattan when we found Vida Verde on Opentable. So we decided to go there on a Friday evening, not knowing that it would be so loud, the noise level making the entire experience there a bit painful. This bi-level restaurant with a rooftop would definitely satisfy margarita lovers and other guacamole aficionados (it is made table side but do not expect a cart coming to you like some places do: there is not enough space between tables to allow that and they simply put all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing them in front of you). Menu wise, they offer salads, tacos and quesadillas and enchiladas, If you are vegetarian and like mushrooms like Jodi, you can get their mushroom quesadilla or quesadilla huitlacoche. Composed of Mexican truffled mushrooms, Oaxaca cheese and avocado salsa, it was a nice dish, earthy. I usually go for tacos and wanted to try their crispy fish tacos that were sitting on a black bean puree that kind of overpowered a bit the dish. This is unfortunate because the mahi mahi was delicious but there was not enough of it and it could have been a great dish without that puree. I should mention the salsa that was dried on top: it was quite spicy…

Crispy fish tacos at Vida Verde in NYC, NY

Mushroom quesadillas at Vida Verde in NYC, NY

For dessert, we hesitated between the tres leches and the churros bites and went for the latter that were decent but could have been fried slightly longer.

So overall the food was ok and with the loud atmosphere, we just wanted to leave as soon as possible…I guess brunch might be quieter, but still, I was not impressed by the food. I’ll pass…

Enjoy (…)!

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Vida Verde - 248 W 55th St, Midtown, New York City

I Just Want To Eat! 4/15/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/15/19

Ravagh Persian Grill in Midtown

Operated since 1998, with few locations in New York City, Ravagh Persian Grill is, according to one of my co-worker who is Iranian-American, the best Persian restaurant in the city. So we had to try it and did so on a Saturday evening. With its two floors, the place slowly filled up as the evening went by, with quite a lot of Iranian patrons, a good sign that this place had some authenticity. Food wise, we were there for a treat, with large plates coming in front of us, enough for this diner and another. My eyes went directly to the kebab section that is definitely more geared towards non-vegetarian diners, but if you are vegetarian, you should not be disappointed by the vegetarian kebob plate that was composed of grilled vegetables, basmati rice and hummus, delicious with the Persian bread they served with the meal. On my side, I admit that I was looking forward to try their sultanI kebab, composed of barg (marinated strips of sirloin) and koobideh that is a skewer made of chopped beef that is grilled on an open flame. Both were delicious, juicy and tasty. My dish was also served with basmati rice, but we also asked for plain tadig, the burnt crust of the rice aka soccarrat for paella lovers. Good but a bit tough, it is probably better accompanied with some stew. Anyway, we ate the rice with mast khiar, a yogurt based side with cucumber and mint. I should also mention the Doogh I drank, a classic Persian drink made with yogurt diluted in water, salt and mint, that is either house made (what I had) or from a can, if you prefer carbonated.

Doogh at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Bread at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Mast Khiar at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Vegetarian kebab at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC

Tadigh at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Sultani kebab at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Dessert is not to be missed. Of course you can get a baklava or some ice cream, but my favorite is the zoolbia bamieh, some Persian donuts made with rose water and saffron. If you like jelebis that are Indian sweets, you will love the zoolbia. Crispy and very sweet, it is perfect with Persian tea, but will definitely increase your sugar level...

Zoolbia bamieh at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Bamieh at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Zoolbia at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

Persian tea at Ravagh Persian Grill in NYC, NY

So overall, we had a great meal at Ravagh. The food was good and I would probably put Ravagh at the same level as Persepolis on the Upper East Side.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ravagh - 11 East 30th Street, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 4/12/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/12/19

Choc O Pain in Jersey City

As I had to be in Jersey City for an early meeting, I could not miss an opportunity to go to Choc O Pain few steps from the Grove Street Path Station. Smaller than its sisters bakeries, Choc O Pain has a nice neighborhood feel, with a rusticity that gives some coziness to the whole place, an a French touch from food to music.

As I had to be in Jersey City for an early meeting, I could not miss an opportunity to go to Choc O Pain, a few steps from the Grove Street Path Station. Smaller than its sister bakeries, Choc O Pain has a nice neighborhood feel, with a rusticity that gives some coziness to the whole place, an a French touch from food to music. Menu wise, there is no surprise there, with the usual French viennoiseries (croissants, chocolate croissant, brioches...) and sandwiches. When we arrived, the place was empty but it filled up quickly right before 8am, not surprising considering how good this place is.. And no, I do not own any part of it: I just love it!!!

Dining room at Choc O Pain in Jersey City

Brioche au sucre at Choc O Pain in Jersey City

Bread, viennoiserie at Choc O Pain in Jersey City

Chocolate croissant at Choc O Pain in Jersey City

Enjoy (I did)!

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Choc O Pain - 530 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ07302

I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/10/19

Hometown Bar-B-Que in Red Hook, Brooklyn

It has been a while since I wanted to try Hometown Bar-B-que in Red Hook, but I admit that going from New Jersey to Brooklyn can feel like a whole trip, especially on the weekends with all the construction in the subway. But, I saw that it was possible to go there using the ferry to the neighboring IKEA, a ferry that is free on week ends, but can be packed. So we ended up going the week end of Labor Day (yes, I know: this post is long overdue) at Pier 11 with my co worker Quentin, for what would be a phenomenal meal. 25 minutes after boarding, we approached the restaurant, noticing a nice smell as well as a small “portable” smoker on the side of the street, smoker that I guess is used in fairs like Smorgasburg. After taking a photo of the facade, we entered the place and are surprised to already see a line inside considering that it was only 5 minutes after they opened, it was Labour Day week end and I secretly hoped that people would be sleeping late, hungover from their Friday evening drunkiness. I was wrong and we waited 30 minutes on line, Jodi making sure we got a table.

Smoker near Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Dining room at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

People in line at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Bar area at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Hometown Bar-B-Que is quite big, rustic and smokey: you will surely leave with your belly full and your clothes smelling whatever wood they use for their BBQ. This is a cafeteria style restaurant with a carving station that makes you drool on the spot. Know that drinks are ordered separately at the bar. Food wise, Billy Durney, the pitmaster and co-owner, and Michael Conlon, the “pit boss”, serve a Texas style BBQ but not only: they crafted a menu that goes beyond you classic BBQ, offering for instance lamb belly, banh mi or Vietnamese chicken wings. There is unfortunately no sampler, but you can order by the half pound that will not spare you from ordering too much if like me you get crazy in this type of joint and...always order too much!

Here is what we had:

For drinks, I had a root beer and Jodi a ginger ale. They also have beers, but as we were going to a whiskey tasting later, I passed...

Root beer at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Lamb belly: if you like lamb, you will surely like it, although the amount of fat is pretty impressive as dripping from the meat and creating a not so appetizing coating once it becomes a jelly...Otherwise, it is very good, especially if you get some of the burnt ends.

Lamb belly at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Baby back ribs: I admit that I did not expect such a big size and thought these were small ribs...They were superb: falling off the bone, nicely charred and barely no fat.

Baby back ribs at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Thick cut pastrami bacon: we fortunately ordered only one slice instead of 1/2 lb considering all the food we had. But it was so good that I regretted not having more. This is one of the best I had.

Thick cut of bacon at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Hot Vietnamese wings: you get 3 for $9 and these are whole wings, not just the small chicken wings you sometimes get in restaurants. With their beautiful orange color, they were delightfully sticky, but not hot, slightly crunchy and sweet. But not hot at all. The chicken was perfectly cooked, being moist.

Hot Vietnamese wings at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Brisket: the brisket was perfect. It was tender, juicy and had a nice char on the outset. In fact, when they put it on the board, just looking at that beautiful piece of meat, I was literally drooling and noticed that many people ordered the brisket sandwich that looked amazing. It was very good, but I admit that the brisket at Fette Sau is even better, a bold statement considering how good the one at Hometown is.

Brisket at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Homemade Italian sausage: delicious, the casing was not too hard and it was not over seasoned. I often find that homemade sausages in BBQ joints have too much fennel in it. It was not the case.

Homemade Italian sausage at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Now you probably wonder what Jodi ate. Being a vegetarian, a BBQ place might not be the best choice for her. Well, she was fine with sides and got the Mac and cheese that was quite creamy and the corn bread that was succulent, deliciously sweet.

Corn bread at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

Mac and cheese at Hometown Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn

We skipped dessert as we planned to go to Ample Hills Creamery, but it is another story...

I was so glad I tried Hometown Bar-B-Que: it went beyond my expectations and I understand now why people think this is the best in New York. It is a bit out the beaten path, but going there makes it a nice experience that you will not regret.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Hometown Bar-B-Que - 454 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/19

Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

I often crave Italian food, especially pasta, and was glad to discover Aunt Jake’s Wine Bar and Pasta Lab in Greenwich Village. I am sure we passed in front of it several times, unnoticed, until I found it on Opentable. Crowded for a Wednesday evening, a reservation was needed and people without one were turned away. We sat at a table, but I admit that my eyes keep looking at the counter where one guy kept making pasta over and over, wondering if he would not get bored at some point. Yes, they propose fresh pasta at Aunt Jake’s and I like the fact that you can make your own dish, choosing first the pasta (fettuccine, tagliatelle, cavatelli or rigatoni to name a few), and then the sauce to pair it with (marinara, arrabbiata, meatballs, all vodka, etc.), making each visit different. Of course, you can pick a specialty dish like I did: I opted for the squid ink fettuccine all vongole, a fusion of two of my favorites: squid ink pasta and all vongole that is clams in a white wine sauce. Although I would have preferred the pasta al dente (they probably cooked it 1 minute longer than what I would have liked), it was a succulent dish: with lots of medium size clams, the sauce was delicious; so was the pasta. Jodi chose the fettuccine with marinara sauce that was also quite good.

Fettuccine marinara at Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

Squid ink fettuccine alle vongole at Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

We could not not try an appetizer that was served with their homemade garlic breadsticks (ask for it: it is very good). Our choice was the burrata “stracciatella” that was served like a big bruschetta made with a rustic bread, topped with cheese, roasted tomato and a basil tapenade. Not your regular burrata for sure, but still good If like me you like cheese.

Breadsticks at Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

Burrata at Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

I should mention their cocktails: they have few like the thunderbird I tried, made with scotch, lemon and jalapeño for some spiciness, or you can build your own by choosing a spirit, then a flavor profile (sour, bitter, sweet or spicy) and an ingredient (fruit, produce or syrup): they will do the rest. Playful, you may endup with a nice creation!

Thunderbird cocktail at Aunt Jake's Wine Bar and Pasta Lab

We skipped dessert as we were full and thinking that we would have to go back, the food being very good and the service on point despite the crowd. If you are craving fresh pasta, Aunt Jake’s is the place to go to, but do not forget to reserve your table: you will not regret it! I should mention the pasta lab: they give classes if you want to know how to make pasta. For $35 including eating the pasta, they propose a good deal.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Aunt Jake’s Wine Bar and Pasta Lab - 47 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 4/5/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 4/5/19

Hanco’s Vietnamese restaurant in Brooklyn

It’s been a while since we had Vietnamese cuisine and we were looking for a place to eat in Brooklyn before an errand when we saw Hanco’s a casual Vietnamese eatery that serves bubble tea, pho and banh mi. Empty at first, it started to get busy especially with a young crowd attracted by not only the food but also the price. This is a casual place, so you order at the counter and then your number is called in the back, where you will get your tray and can sit either in the front or in the small upstairs dining room. I was not so interested in the bubble tea that is a bit gimmicky and hesitated between a Thai iced tea and a Vietnamese coffee, both containing condensed milk. I went for the latter that was good, delightfully sweet. What was good about the place was that there were several vegetarian choices like the tofu vermicelli salad, that had rice vermicelli, cucumber, lettuce, mint leaves and roasted peanuts, or as an appetizer, the tofu rolls made with lettuce, mint leaves, rice vermicelli and tofu wrapped in rice paper. But we both thought it was a bit bland, but fortunately, they have some hoisin sauce to add some taste. Still, it was a bit boring. My classic banh mi was a bit better but not the best you can find. Made with pate, Vietnamese ham and roasted ground pork stuffed in a toasted French baguette with mayonnaise, butter, cucumber, carrot, daikon and very little cilantro, it was uneven, some parts having much more vegetables than others.

Vietnamese coffee at Hanco’s in Brooklyn, NY

Tofu vermicelli salad at Hanco’s in Brooklyn, NY

So Hanco’s did not wow me at all and was even a bit disappointing. For a banh mi, I’d rather go to Banh Mi Saigon that has a much better one.

Enjoy (…)!

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Hanco’s - 147 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 4/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/3/19

Dozzino, pizza in Hoboken, NJ

Located off the beaten path, Dozzino serves pizza cooked in a wood fire oven with rustic decor and a relaxed atmosphere. It is one of my colleagues who recommended this place and told me that it is packed on week ends, but going during the week right after they open is perfect for some quiet time. The pizza itself is not that big, probably enough for one person, but perfect to share, with a nice mix between vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The crust is crispy and not floppy in the center, with the outer part being puffed up and nicely charred. La Pizza is their classic, made with fior di latte that they make in house from curd from Caputo Brothers Creamery, tomato and basil. But I admit that the tomato sauce seems straight from a can, not as good as the one at Uptown Pizza that is succulent, especially on the Sicilian pizza that is my favorite. The Supercheese, made with fior di latte, pecorino romano, fontina and “artisanal cheeses” is also good, but I admit that I was expecting more cheese like maybe a blue. Same here: good but I got better for 4 cheese or cheese pizza like the burrata pizza at Annabelle in Hell’s Kitchen.

Supercheese pizza at Dozzino in Hoboken, NJ

Beverage wise, they do their own lemon drink and also offer an Italian coke.

So Dozzino was good but not exceptional for me. For pizza, besides slices, I would more go to Zero Otto Uno or the famous Grimaldi’s, both on Washington Street.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dozzino - 534 Adams Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/19 I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/19

Brasserie Cognac, French restaurant Midtown Manhattan

I have been to Brasserie Cognac few times but for brunch, so it was time to try their dinner, knowing that there was one dish that I wanted to taste there: the cassoulet, a white bean stew that is up and coming in New York. Owned by a descendant of the famous writer Victor Hugo (Les Misérables), Brasserie Cognac serves a delicious French fare where classic brasserie dishes are proposed like escargots (remember, the butter sauce is the best with pieces of bread, but the salad that comes with it is as if they wanted to justify a higher price) or steak frites. Their cheese soufflé that can be served an appetizer or an entree (the entree will have a salad, the same as for the escargots by the way), is very good, elevated with truffle oil. Vegetarians have few choices like the cheese platter that I always consider to be a bit of a ripoff as you get small pieces of cheese for what you pay, or the goat cheese and tomato tart that is succulent, the three main components that are the puff pastry, goat cheese and tomato working well together, in a balanced way. As far as the cassoulet is concerned, I however was quite disappointed: served at the time of this post only on Thursdays, it was pricey for the quantity and gave me the impression that it was a fusion between a boeuf bourguignon and a cassoulet, the former being more prominent. I would definitely not go to Brasserie Cognac to try this dish, rather La Sirène or Bar Boulud.

Goat cheese and tomato tart at Cognac in NYC, NY

As beverages, they have a nice selection of wine, few whiskey (no French ones though that could be a good idea), beers and spirits. If you like anise based alcoholic beverages, try the Ricard that is quite refreshing.

Dessert is quite good with a special mention to the île Flottante or Floating Island, a dessert made with egg whites that sit on top of creme anglaise (a vanilla sauce): this is a must have.

Brasserie Cognac is a great French restaurant whether for dinner or brunch: there, they truly capture the atmosphere of a French brasserie. I would just pass on the cassoulet…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brasserie Cognac - 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 3/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 3/29/19

Cocotte in Soho

With roots in Southwest of France, Chef Sébastien Pourrat succeeded in creating with Cocotte, a unique tiny spot serving delicious French-Spanish cuisine. Tiny restaurant with portions as big as the place though, keeping alive the reputation French restaurants often have (small portions). But it is not about quantity but more quality and there is something about this place that makes you want to go back: good food, nice atmosphere that makes it the perfect neighborhood hideout. Service is good, at the exception of one waitress that definitely spoiled the last time we went there and dealt with various issues with a definite lack of professionalism; fortunately, the rest of the staff was not like that. Dinner at Cocotte is quite good, but I rather go for brunch that serves amazing classic dishes like the œufs brouillés or scrambled eggs that can be served with mushrooms (champignons - Jodi’s choice) or chorizo with the possibility to do half and half. These eggs were fantastic: perfectly made and not overcooked. But I admit that what I really love was the burger, served with a rustic presentation. Served with focaccia bread, bacon, cheese, onion, guindilla relish and mayo, the beef patty was quite tasty and very juicy, the kind of messy dish you want. I should add that the burger comes with some delicious roasted potatoes (pommes rôties) that I could have eaten on their own.

For dinner, they offer a bunch of small plates like the cheese platter that is a good alternative if you are vegetarian but that I always consider a rip-off considering the amount of cheese served or the butternut squash soup, and if you are not vegetarian, the Spanish or Basque inspired txipirones or baby squid cooked in squid ink is superb. For entrees, they propose various meats like pork or chicken, and their hanger steak (boeuf), smothered with a red wine reduction would satisfy a meat eater in term of taste and temperature, but was very small, leaving me a bit hungry after finishing such a succulent dish (I should mention that it was served with potatoes that I wish were the pommes rôties mentioned above).

Butternut squash soup at Cocotte in Soho

But if you are still hungry or ready to wait longer (our entree took 35 minutes to come), try their desserts, especially the creme mentee that is quite light, served with strawberries and a red berry coulis.

I should mention the beverages: they have various cocktails like whiskey sour, sangria or Negroni, and for brunch, a nice coffee.

Overall, Cocotte is a great place to know, but I would more go for brunch than dinner. Hopefully they will pay attention to the service because it can spoil an evening. But once again, it was fortunately only one of their staff: the others were nice and welcoming.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Cocotte - 110 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 3/27/19

Farm to Burger in Times Square

Farm to Burger: what an interesting name at a time where the farm to table restaurants are considered more and more by diners who want quality food and are worried about the effect of processed or unnaturally fed produce. Grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free are more commonly displayed on menus and Farm to Burger prides itself on offering its patrons quality ingredients that are locally sourced. Opened in December 2018 in the Aliz hotel next to Port Authority Bus Terminal, it is a bit hidden. I admit that I thought it was a small place, maybe like Burger Joint in the Parker Méridien, but it is not: this 90 seater is big with a decor supposed to represent a farmhouse. As it’s name indicates, it is all about burgers, but you can get chicken (they offer a spicy fried chicken sandwich), fish (to be honest I would never consider it) and a veggie burger made with the up and coming Inpossible Burger, a good idea for vegetarians who like the taste of meat, if it was probably well executed and not overcooked like the one we tried, making it a bit dry. For meat lovers, they have a hot dog that is supposedly quite good as well as few burgers like the classic, made with a beef patty, a thick slice of bacon, cheddar, lettuce and tomato. The meat, cooked medium (pink in the center), was good and juicy, but the proportion meat / bread was unbalanced in favor of the latter that was not so soft. Too bad. They would have a better bread and a thicker patty, it would be a good burger.

Dining room at Farm to Burger in Times Square

Veggie burger at Farm to Burger in Times Square

Onion rings at Farm to Burger in Times Square

Classic burger at Farm to Burger in Times Square

French fries at Farm to Burger in Times Square

Dessert did not also live up to its promises: the chocolate banana bread pudding was a bit dry unfortunately and I more appreciated the caramel ice cream. I would have tried one of their milkshakes if I did not sacrifice myself, Jodi wanting to share a dessert...

Banana bread pudding at Farm to Burger in Times Square

So overall, I admit that I was disappointed with Farm to Burger: the food was just ok and the kitchen was very, very slow, surprising as it was not at all crowded. I’ll pass...

Enjoy (the post)!

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Farm to Burger - 310 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 3/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 3/25/19

Frenchette in TriBeCa

When it opened last year, Frenchette was the most talked about restaurant opening and remains a difficult place to get a reservation unless you are ready to eat really early or late at night. I was wondering what Frenchette means, thinking that it could be a term of endearment for French cuisine or some minimalism, until I discovered that it is the title of a song from David Johansen released in 1978 with one paragraph saying:

“Want you to come in my kitchen and not my kitchenette.

Want you to come in my dining room, not my dinette yet”.

“Want you to come in my kitchen and not my kitchenette.

Want you to come in my dining room, not my dinette yet”.

So my interpretation of it, that was confirmed by the menu, was that it was an American brasserie inspired by French brasseries. Yes, at Frenchette, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, known for their collaboration with Keith Mc Nally at Balthazar, Pastis and Minetta Tavern to name a few, created an interesting menu, taking French classics and giving them their own twist like the duck frites that, is a good fusion of two classic brasserie dishes: duck (usually confit) and steak frites. Rest assured that you can still get steak frites at Frenchette and I bet that the fries are as good as at Minetta Tavern, where I consider them to be the best. What really excited me was the use of ofal like tongue, liver or kidney that is a bold move for a restaurant, lots of people finding these parts gross but being an intricate part of French gastronomy. So I started my meal with their tongue and mackerel salad that was composed of veal tongue, more common in delis as well as mackerel, a fish not that many people like because of its distinct taste and that I used to eat from a can when I was a kid, my parents rarely buying fresh ones. It was like a surf and turf with that was quite good, each element complementing the other well. Then, I got the veal kidney in mustard sauce with fresh pasta. I could not resist ordering this over the duck because I love veal kidney and you also rarely see them on restaurants’ menu. It is not that easy to prepare as they need to be cleaned well and well cooked since if overcooked they will be dry and rubbery. These were perfect, in a succulent sauce that was however a bit salty.

Tongue and mackerel salad at Frenchette in TriBeCa

For Jodi, having a vegetarian meal was a bit more challenging. This kind of restaurant can accommodate if you ask but it is not the best way to make vegetarians feel welcome. So we shared the tortilla that had normally trout roe (so it was without but still superb as melting in our mouths), as well as the only entree that was vegetarian : the tagine d’artichauds or artichoke tagine, a take on a North African dish that was unfortunately bland and gave the impression it was just put together to have something on the menu. Too bad.

Tortilla española at Frenchette in TriBeCa

Tagine d’artichauds at Frenchette in TriBeCa

Desserts were interesting though. And it was a bit difficult to pick as they had very nice choices. We finally went for the tarte au riz that is a rice pudding tart, the rice pudding sitting on a layer of maple dulce de leche for an added sweetness. This was a great dessert, not too sweet and well executed that I recommend if still on the menu.

Rice pudding tart at Frenchette in TriBeCa

I should also mention their cocktails that are creative. I drank the night moves, made with bourbon, cognac, fernet (bitter) and black walnut.

The night moves cocktail at Frenchette in TriBeCa

So overall the meal was quite good....for me. Yes, if you are vegetarian (we told them in advance), you will probably not enjoy as much as non-vegetarians. I personally would go back to try their duck. Although I should mention that the noise level is quite high that is something I will never get used to...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Frenchette - 241 West, Broadway, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/19

Starbucks Reserve Roastery: coffee shop reinvented

Starbucks is elevating its coffee shops with Starbucks Reserve, an elegant and sophisticated version that opened in NYC last December, right next to Chelsea Market. Already popular amongst New Yorkers, this 23,000 sqft place is amazing: two stories if not counting the downstairs floor where the bathrooms are, where a bar, sandwich and pastry stations feed an hungry crowd with some delicious food still casual but tasty, and Italian inspired. Sandwiches are made with breads from Le Pain Quotidien with a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices like the caprese panino made with mozzarella di bufala, cherry tomatoes and arugula; the sfilatino con pistachio mortadella that is made on a crispy thin olive bread or the brioche con prosciutto crudo e parmigiano regiano that is a croissant shaped brioche stuffed with prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. All of these were fresh and succulent, not that pricey for the quality you get.

Pizza station at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Shop at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Order at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Bar and sandwiches at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Roastery at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Brioche with prosciutto at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Caprese sandwich at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Mortadella sandwich at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

As far as beverages are concerned, you get the usual Starbucks offer like the matcha tea or latte, as well as their nitro cold brew that is served elsewhere and was good and refreshing although a bit light for me. But they also propose additional choices: for an espresso, you can choose between beans from Guatemala or their gravitas blend. All of that in real cups, like in a café.

Double espresso at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Nitro cold brew at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

Matcha tea at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in NYC, NY

I should mention the hospitality of the staff that goes beyond regular service: they want to make sure you have a good experience. Starbucks Reserve definitely reinvents the Seattle chain, a much needed move considering the competition out there and with plans to settle in Chicago or Tokyo, after Milan and Shanghai, I just hope they will not open too many locations, keeping it rare and exceptional. I should mention that this place is packed on the week end and weekdays are much better if you mind the crowd. Despite that, I would go back as they have so many mouth watering choices like their pizzas or desserts. I just love it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Starbucks Reserve - 61 9th Ave.,New York, NY 10011

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/20/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 3/20/19

L'Appart: dining with a star

We recently made it to L’Appart, short for L’Appartement (Apartment in French), one of the restaurants of Le District, a French food hall located near the World Trade Center. You may not notice it when going from The District Garden (their supermarket) to The District Market with its stations and bar, as it is tucked in a hallway, like a gem that only the gourmets know. As soon as you open the wooden doors, you are greeted by David Coucke, The Maitre D’, with a house cocktail (it was a lychee, ginger and rose cocktail that was delightfully spicy) and introduced to the team, like when you go to a dinner with some friends and the host makes the introductions. Because at L’Appart, Executive Chef Nicolas Abello cooks as if you were dining at his place and what a dinner! Using seasonal produces that he sources locally, he crafts a delicious tasting menu that changes every 4 to 6 weeks, showcasing skills that got him noticed at Daniel in New York or in London at Sketch, under the wings of Pierre Gagnaire, a pioneer in “New French” cuisine. The latter explains a lot about the dishes served at L’Appart: creative, elegant and beautiful with delicious flavors. And if you are vegetarian, no problem: the Chef can accommodate as you will see below.

Chef Nicolas Abello and his team at L’Appart in NYC, NY

L’Appart is not just about food: they also have a nice selection of wine and champagne, but if one prefers a cocktail, they can accommodate any with their bar outside, in the market. They also have a nice selection of whiskey and I appreciated the fact that they serve a few French whiskeys that you rarely see on drink list. So I went for the Amorik, s single malt produced at the Warenghem distillery in Lannion, Brittany.

The amuse was a white lentil fritter served with an herbed lebne:

White lentil fritter at L’Appart in NYC, NY

It was followed by a trio of canapés to be eaten from left to right:

Non-vegetarian canapés at L’Appart in NYC, NY

Vegetarian canapés at L’Appart in NYC, NY

For me: sunchoke soup with Hudson Valley foie gras, Ora King salmon topped with a carrot and finished with a wild Alaskan salmon roe, Prince Edward mussel with fennel.

Sunchoke soup with foie gras at L’Appart in NYC

For Jodi: a trio of vegetarian canapés mirroring mine and composed of a sunchoke soup with Argan oil, goat cheese in ginger bread, pearl onion stuffed with fennel.

Goat cheese and ginger bread at L’Appart in NYC

The appetizer was a dumpling:

For me: lobster dumpling with a curry sauce.

For Jodi: vegetable dumpling with a coconut sauce.

The third course was:

For me: slow cooked Berkshire pork belly served with peanuts and apple.

For Jodi: Broccolini served with a variation of apples.

The fourth course was:

For me: scallop with a citrus brunoise.

For Jodi: cauliflower with beurre blanc.

Then, they had a great idea to do a bread course as their bread is so good that it can stand on its own. It was composed of a homemade sourdough mini-baguette and a multigrain pretzel, served with homemade butter with acacia honey and fleur de sel.

The next course was a celery root with a celery mousse topped with black truffle.

it was followed by a twist on the Grenobloise sauce that is typically made with brown butter, capers, parsley and lemon. For me, it was halibut with a piece of brioche as the skin (for some added butter taste) and for Jodi, a potato confit.

The last entree before the cheese course was for me, veal sweetbread served with shiitake mushrooms and salsify, while Jodi got the mushrooms (trumpet mushrooms with a reduction of morel mushrooms). For this course, we decided to get some black winter truffle shavings (3g for $35). The truffle was from Carpentras in France and had an incredible aroma and sublime taste.

Truffle from Carpentras, France at L’Appart in NYC

The cheese course was like a French-American blue cheese competition with on the French side a forum d’ambert and on the American side a Bayley Hazen Blue from Vermont. I admit that my favorite was the former as creamier and richer in taste. The cheese was served with a delicious pear that was cooked in salt and was literally melting in my mouth.

Bayley Hazen blue from Vermont at L’Appart in NYC

The first dessert was a mini-souffle: chocolate for Jodi and praline for me.

It was followed by their take on a coffee cake, deconstructed and accompanied by a cognac cardamon ice cream.

Last, they brought us our menus with a chocolate Negroni.

This was a sublime meal in a great atmosphere that was elegant without being stuffy. It is an incredible experience that made me question the fact that they have only one Michelin Star considering the creativity and deliciousness of the food as well as the excellent service. But I am sure one is only the start of a journey.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

L’Appart - 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281