I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/19

Dafni Greek Taverna in Times Square, New York, NY

It has been a while since we went to Dafni Greek Taverna across from Port Authority and I admit that I totally forgot to post about our last visit. So, as we were looking for a place very close to this area because we were meeting Jodi’s cousin Rebecca , we booked a table for a dinner. The place was not that crowded (it was a Wednesday), and the waiter found a way to mix up dishes a bit, mistake that I would put on his difficulty to understand my French accent, although I was showing him the items we we were ordering on the menu.
We hear a lot about Mediterranean diet, so I took that dining experience as a way to improve our health, dessert included. Here is what we had:

Kourtaki wine at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

We then share a bunch of appetizers, starting with a trio of spreads (pikilia):
- tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill),
- melitzanosalata (baby eggplant, garlic, olive oil and lemon). So, in fact they brought us the taramosalata that is made with fish roe that I admit I did not really liked, and we had to tell the waiter he made a mistake that he corrected graciously.
- tirokafteri (cheese with spices).

Spreads at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Tzatziki at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Dolmades at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Tirokafteri at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Taramosalata at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Melitzanosalata at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

The spreads came with pita, slices of tomato and dolmades, these grapevine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs. This was good overall, the tzatziki and melitzanosalata being my favorites.

We also shared a saganaki that is a baked Greek cheese. Do not expect them to flambé the saganaki like at Uncle Nick’s while waiters scream “Opa” and people are cheering. It is simply baked. Still, it was really good and I recommend it if you like cheese.

Saganaki at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Next was kolokhitakia tiganita, that are fried slices of zucchini and eggplant, but instead of serving this with tzatziki, they bring it with skordalia that is a garlic spread that I ditched as not as good for a dip. The dish itself was good, slightly crunchy and not greasy at all.

Kolokhitakia tiganita at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

In fact, at the beginning, instead of bringing us the Kolokithakia Tiganita, they brought us, by mistake, the Kolokithokeftedes that are zucchini fritters with onions, mint and cheese, served with tzatziki. And the waiter admitted his mistake as he put the plate on the table, probably thinking that it would otherwise go to the trash…This dish was quite good and I did not regret tasting it: not greasy, tasty, the inside had strings of zucchini that gave an interesting texture with the outside being crunchy.

Kolokithokeftedes at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Of course, we could not not have the Greek salad, which is always a good choice.

Greek salad at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We decided to share a baklava and a Galaktoboureko, a Greek dessert made with a custard in a phyllo pastry shell. Both were good, quite sweet, with a preference for the Galaktoboureko as the custard counterbalanced a bit the sweetness of the sugary syrup it was smothered with.

Baklava at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Galaktoboureko at Dafni Greek Taverna in NYC, NY

Overall, we had a great time at Dafni Greek Taverna: the food was good as was the company. It is not the best Greek restaurant for sure, but they offer a decent meal if you are in the area and Uncle Nick’s is either too full…or too noisy.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dafni Greek Taverna - 325 West 42nd Street, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/19

Terrific burger at Untitled

We had a plan to go to the Whitney Museum Biennial exhibit but I admit that I was more thrilled about what was coming next: the brunch at Untitled, the restaurant on the side of the Museum (you do not need to go into the museum to go there). I cannot believe it has been two years that we went there and I was looking forward to eating two things: the burger and the cookie and milk that Chef Suzanne Cupps proposes.

Cabbot cheddar burger at Untitled in NYC, NY

Yes, the Cabbot Cheddar burger is fantastic: tasty and juicy, like a piece of art. Squeezed in a brioche bun, the meat patty is topped with a caramelized onion aioli. But if you are vegetarian, you can opt for the Untitled veggie burger (Jodi asked without the bun) that is made with shiitake mushrooms, spring greens and cheddar (I admit that I did not try it as I was totally focused on my dish). Only thing is that I was surprised that the burger does not come with any sides: it came with pickled vegetables, as if it was a way to made the dish healthy. So we tried their salt and vinegar potatoes that I thought would be like chips, but it was like crushed potatoes. This was good, but I prefer fries or onion rings with a burger.

Salt and vinegar potatoes at Untitled in NYC, NY

Pickled vegetables at Untitled in NYC, NY

They offer also for brunch a nice selection of wine and cocktails, as well as juices like the blood orange soda or the lemon and mint soda.

Mint and lemon soda at Untitled in NYC, NY

Blood orange soda at Untitled in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: the must have is the triple chocolate chunk cookie and milk. I simply love it: the cookie is slightly warm, slightly crispy and salty, chewy, with a nice amount of chocolate in it, the milk helping neutralize its sweetness nicely. This is in my top 5 cookies and I just wish they were giving two...

So it was a great lunch in a nice atmosphere and with a very good service. Know that Untitled is a non tipping restaurant so don’t be too scared when you see the prices!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Untitled- Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014

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

Cassoulet at Bar Boulud

Dining at Bar Boulud, one of the many restaurants of acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud, never disappoints: the food is great and a perfect representation of classic French dishes, like the cassoulet that has become more popular in New York the past few years, with even an annual competition where the best Chefs across the country are dueling over a very comforting dish for the title of best cassoulet in New York. This competition is called The Cassoulet War, a perfect name for a dish that was created during the 100 year war between France and Britain, in Castelnaudary (South West of France), with duck confit, pork shoulder and sausage while the city was besieged and people were asked to bring whatever ingredients they had to prepare a stew and feed the soldiers.

Winner of the 2019 Cassoulet War, Bar Boulud has been showcasing this dish, but not just its own. For one week in February, they offered Le Cassoulet Montalbanais from Parisian Chef Christian Constant who has been crowned World Champion of cassoulet. Made with Tarbais beans (you can find them on Amazon by the way), Toulouse sausage (a classic pork sausage used in cassoulet recipes), braised lamb, pork belly and duck confit.

Cassoulet Montalbanais at Bar Boulud in NYC, NY

Hearty and comforting, I loved it, but I admit that I loved even more the one from Bar Boulud, crafted by Chef Dieter Samijn, made with Tarbais beans, suckling pig, Bacon, D’Artagnan duck confit and Toulouse sausage. Cooked for several hours, this cassoulet is sublime: smokey, meaty and very comforting. Know that this dish is not at this time on their menu as a bit heavy for the summer, but it will be back for sure.

Signature cassoulet at Bar Boulud in NYC, NY

That does not mean you should only go to Bar Boulud for that dish: they have others, like the oeuf mayonnaise that are the French deviled eggs, made with Dijon mustard and herbs:

Oeuf mayonnaise at Bar Boulud in NYC, NY

Or Daniel Boulud signature gougeres, these cheesy choux that can be so addictive (they are pretty big…):

If you are vegetarian, it can be a bit challenging as most of the dishes are for non-vegetarians, but Jodi loved their cauliflower risotto that was not like a side dish quickly put together, and also tried their Spring salad, made with snap peas, sugar snap, fava beans, mesclun greens goat cheese , radish, with a lemon vinaigrette.

Cauliflower risotto at Bar Boulud in NYC, NY

With the meal, you can get a glass of wine or, ike me, a glass of Pastis, a refreshing anis based liquor, or their Upper Manhattan (bourbon, carpano antica, allspice dram).

Upper Manhattan cocktail at Bar Boulud in NYC, NY

Of course, dessert is a must have, although I did not like the ilke flottante that had an off taste, but loved the Gateau Basque, an almond custard cake served with brandied cherries.

So, I can’t wait for the fall or winter to get what I consider the best cassoulet in New York and definitely recommend this place. That does not mean that I will not go back to try other dishes: their food is simply delicious and truly represent the French culinary tradition.

And if you want to know more about cassoulet, check out the podcast episode on Apple Podcast or Google Play.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Bar Boulud - 1900 Broadway, Upper East Side, NY 10023

I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/19

Memorial Day at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

There are not that many restaurants that have a unique way of doing things that sticks in your mind. When people ask me about a life changing dining experience, I often think about Noma, where Chef Rene Redzepi showcases unusual ingredients that Mother Nature has to offer like moss or flowers. In New York, I think about The Marshal in Hell’s Kitchen, that cooks all the dishes in their wood fire oven (they do not have a regular oven, so even the S’mores are cooked in there) and in Hoboken, there is Antique Bar and Bakery, downtown. There, Chef and co-owner Paul Gerard stays true to their motto “Break bread, not promises” by crafting an Italian menu inspired from classic dishes, prepared using French techniques and cooked in their coal fire oven. Sitting next to the kitchen is a treat as you can observe the magic happen in front of your eyes.

Coal fire oven at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

That day, they proposed some roasted pork that looked impressive and I admit that if I was not set to have their ribeye, I would have gone for it!

Roasted pork at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

I admit that I was mesmerized by it and kept going back and forth between ordering the pork or the ribeye, driving Jodi a bit crazy. Having both would not have been reasonable as their dirty ribeye is a 2 pounds piece of meat and Jodi being vegetarian, it meant that it was all for me. I guess they call it the dirty ribeye because of all the products they put on top: lemon, roasted garlic, peppers and herbs give an incredible flavor, without overpowering the delicious piece of dry aged meat, that was tender, juicy and extraordinary flavorful. I always hesitate to order meat when not in a steakhouse because often either the quality is not there or they do not know how to cook it. Well, at Antique Bar and Bakery, this is a must have.

Dirty ribeye at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

With it, I got their smoked golds and garlic chimi, a fantastic side also (perfectly) cooked in the coal fire oven, where potatoes are served skin on in a delicious chimichurri sauce.

Smashed golds and garlic chimi at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

But it is not the only dish of the entire meal. We in fact started with a special that was their homemade mozzarella with roasted figs: the cheese is served warm, so it is softer. That dish was amazing: topped with a bit of salt and some balsamic vinegar, it was both sweet and savory, far from the classic tomato and mozzarella salad. They bring it with their homemade bread that is drizzled with olive oil, but I could anyway eat that dish without as it is very, very good.

Warm mozzarella at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

For her entree, Jodi got their lasagna edges, one of the few vegetarian dishes they propose. It is made with burnt butter mushrooms, herbs, cheese and served with homemade bread. This is succulent although a bit oily. Do not think it is anything close to lasagna: the name refers to the pasta itself.

Lasagna edges at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Of course we could not leave without getting a dessert. We hesitated as their dirty chocolate cake is fantastic but finally settled for the frozen cannoli sundae that is made with crushed cannoli shells and cannoli ice cream. This is a good take on a classic Italian dessert and it was quite big, especially after such a feast!

Frozen cannoli sundae at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Know that Antique Bar and Bakery has a full bar with interesting cocktails like the Jonnhy Friendly made with Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey, sage, lemon and agave.

Johnny Friendly cocktail at Antique Bar and Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

So yes, Antique Bar and Bakery is one of Hoboken’s best restaurants. Going there, you are sure to get amazing food and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. I definitely recommend it whether you are leaving in the Mile Square city or not: it is worth the trip!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Antique Bar and Bakery - 122 Willow Avenue, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/14/19

Culture Espresso: best chocolate chip cookie in NYC?

Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies? I discovered them in France, when I was a kid: my brother made some at school, but it was really something we saw on TV, not that mainstream, that appeared few years later at the supermarket. Then, coming here, I had a revelation at Levain Bakery, on the Upper West Side: they serve the kind of cookies that make you want to lay down. They are big, heavy, chewy, with tons of chocolate. Sweet but not overly. My next cookie adventure was at City Bakery where I got the chance to try freshly made cookies that were so delightfully buttery that you refuse to share them. Followed Jacques Torres and Untitled at The Whitney Museum, accompanied by a little bottle of milk to neutralize the sweetness. Of course, I cannot not mention the interpretation of cookies and milk that Chef Dominique Ansel did, pouring milk in a glass shaped cookie. In fact, it is while eating the cookie at Untitled that our friends Jen and Gary mentioned the one at Culture Espresso and, we stumbled upon that place as we were going to an art gallery before bunch, attracted by the sign saying “voted best cookie in NYC”.

Jodi probably saw my eyes looking with envy at the place and it did not take long to persuade me to their cookie before lunch…At $3.50 a piece, the cookie has a weird shape, like a dome. It was slightly warm and, as I broke it into two pieces, it revealed lots of chocolate that was slightly melted. The first bite was divine: chewy, slightly buttery, you cannot not end up with chocolate on your fingers. It was very good, although a bit sweet and a glass of milk is definitely welcome.

Chocolate chip cookie at Culture Espresso at in NYC, NY

Is Culture Espresso the best chocolate chip cookie in the City? I beg to differ: City Bakery, Levain Bakery, Jacques Torres and Untitled are my top 4. But still, if you are passing by, it is worth trying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Culture Espresso - 307 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/12/19

Neapolitan pizza at Love and Dough in Brooklyn

As we were planning to go see artists in Dumbo for open studios (check out one of my favorites, Peter Drake that we never miss to visit), I was happily tasked to find a place for lunch. As Jodi loves pizza even more than I do, I looked up for a pizzeria and found Love and Dough on Pearl street, just few blocks from the Brooklyn Bridge. This place has a nice feel with lots of old black and white photos of Italian actors and actresses and the smell of their brick oven that sits in the back of the dining room. They offer Neapolitan pizza, made with flour imported from Napoli and apparently make their own pasta that I will have to try in our next visit.

I started the meal with an Italian soda, a San Pellegrino Aranciata that is slightly sparkling, close to Orangina, a French drink you can sometimes find in restaurants or grocery stores that Jodi loves.

San Pellegrino Aranciata at Love and Dough in Brooklyn

We then hesitated between ordering two pizzas or getting one with an appetizer. We went for the latter and chose, as an appetizer, the burrata con panna that is a burrata with roasted eggplant, served with toasted bread. This was delicious: roasted eggplant and burrata go really well together, the particular taste of eggplant complementing well the creamy flavor of the cheese. The only problem is that it is so good with bread that it fills you up a bit, especially with a pizza coming next…

Burrata con panna at Love and Dough in Brooklyn

The pizza was even better: it was the four kings, made with gorgonzola, taleggio, pecorino, mozzarella and honey. We did not hesitate as far as this pizza was concerned as we often pick four cheese pizza and the cheeses they use are superb. But what was really a good surprise was the honey on the pizza that added a nice sweetness to a perfectly charred pizza that had a delicious crust, nicely charred, thin with puffed up sides.

Four kings pizza at Love and Dough in Brooklyn

This was a great meal, even worth a trip there in fact: I would go back to Love and Dough, indulge in their divine cuisine and then walk back through the bridge, each step erasing the guilt that such meal would being…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Love and Dough - 57 B Pearl Street, Suite C, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/19

The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

It’s been a while we have been to The Kati Roll Company, a restaurant that serves these delicious street food wraps that originated in Kolkata, India. There are many variants, but, at The Kati Roll Company, they are made by wrapping warm paratha, a type of Indian flat bread, around a variety of meats, vegetables and cheese. But I would not compare them with wraps that you can find anywhere else: these are so flavorful that one is not enough, even if some are spicy…We went on a Saturday, at 7pm, and the place was already full. I should even say packed and we got lucky because our friend Caleb got a table and was able to resist the various attempts by hungry customers to storm it

Dining room at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

Bollywood posters at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

We ordered some rolls at the counter and then waited several minutes to get our order. It was composed of:

Unda Chicken Roll, a Chicken tikka roll with a layer of beaten eggs.
Unda Shami Roll, a Shami kabab roll (made of a minced lamb and lentil patty with herbs and spices) with a layer of beaten eggs.
Chana Masala Roll , chickpeas with tomatoes and blackening spices. This was one of the few vegetarian options they have.

My favorite is the shami roll, simply because I love lamb and find this very flavorful, without being too spicy, although, if the spiciness builds up, know that you can get some mango lassi, one of my favorite Indian drinks. The others are good, quite tasty, with or without meat: yes, the vegetarian rolls are definitely not bland and boring.

Order at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

Chana masala roll at The Kati Roll Company in NYC

Unda shami roll at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

Mango Lassi at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

Unda chicken roll at The Kati Roll Company in NYC, NY

The Kati Roll Company is a must have if you love Indian cuisine and never tried a kati roll before. Not expensive, it is the perfect casual meal that will satisfy your appetite. I still wish they were offering desserts like gulab jamun or jelebis, but still, it is a place I highly recommend.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Kati Roll Company - 49 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/19

Chicago: Cone Gourmet Ice Cream

We were looking for the best ice cream in Chicago and a quick Google search brought us, on a rainy day, to Cone Gourmet Ice Cream, a family run ice cream parlor with an Irish theme (between the “Lick me I’m Irish and ice cream flavored in Jameson whisky - that I did not like - or Baileys, you cannot miss that). That place has its charm and is cozy, with a neighborhood feel. However, I found the flavors to be a bit too much out there and wished they offered classic flavors like hazelnut. Jodi was happy of course as they had coconut sorbet (good), but I admit that I was a bit unsure what to get. I finally settled for marshmallow delight and the Elvis, made with banana and peanut butter, topped with some homemade whipped cream that unfortunately fell quickly on the table…Overall, the ice cream was good, but I admit that it was not to the point where you absolutely have to go back there. Yes, my next trip to Chicago, I will probably check another place…

Coconut with chocolate sprinkles at Cone Gourmet Ice Cream in Chicago, IL

Elvis ice cream at Cone Gourmet Ice Cream in Chicago, IL

Enjoy (…)!

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Cone Gourmet Ice Cream - 1047 W. Madison Street, IL 60607

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

Chicago: Mindy's Hot Chocolate

We were looking for a breakfast place when we stumbled upon Mindy’s Hot Chocolate in the Revival food hall: this small place serves a bunch of mouth watering goodies besides bagels and we liked it so much that we went twice, our experience at Le Pain Quotidien being quite disappointing over the week end (yes, this place is closed Saturday and Sunday, so we had to find a backup…).

Breakfast there is great (I am not sure what they serve for lunch and anyway that food hall has plenty of other joints like a BBQ place I wish I had time to visit). The coffee, prepared next to Mindy’s was good, a bit bitter but nice, and we tried several things there, the best being the biscuit that was delightfully flakey and buttery, although I admit that I added a bit of butter on it (there is never enough, no?). Then, they propose doughnuts: that day, there was a slated caramel one and a cinnamon sugar donut. We went for the latter that was really good, not doughy at all and quite light (to my standards…). However, we were disappointed by by the coffee cake that had cream cheese and a chocolate streusel: it had a weird taste, a bit off, maybe from too much bitterness from the chocolate. We also tried their chocolate croissant that was flakey, but way too buttery (alright, before, I wrote not enough and now, too much: yes, way too much, literally dripping).

Coffee cake with chocolate streusel at Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, IL

Cinnamon sugar donut at Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, IL

Biscuit at Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, IL

Chocolate croissant at Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, IL

Overall, it was good, especially the biscuits that I wish we could have had both times. I would definitely go back to Mindy’s Hot Chocolate and maybe also try their hot cocoa that is apparently good, hopefully not as bitter as the coffee cake…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mindy’s Hot Chocolate - 125 S Clark St, Willowbrook, Chicago

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

Chicago: Firecakes donuts

On our first day in Chicago, we looked up donuts places and stumbled upon Firecakes Donuts, a shop with a few locations in the Windy City. It is with excitement that we went to their Hubbard street location in the River North neighborhood and I was surprised to see a very small place with no seating area. This is the kind of joint where you truly get overwhelmed by the many tempting choices in front of you, knowing that you will probably go only once as a visitor. So we decided to try three donuts and not just two: there were a sprinkles donut, a buttermilk old fashioned and a honey glazed donut.

Sprinkles donuts at Firecakes Donuts in Chicago, IL

Honey glazed donuts at Firecakes Donuts in Chicago, IL

Buttermilk old fashioned donuts at Firecakes Donuts in Chicago, IL

Overall it was good and I wished we had more time to try other donuts like the churro one. However, I would not put them at the same level as The Doughnut Plant or The Donut Project in NYC or The Donut Bar in San Diego. Still, it is worth trying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Firecakes Donuts - 68 West Hubbard Street, IL 60654

I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/4/19

Chicago: Goddess and The Baker

With a name like Goddess and The Baker, you can expect incredible food and so we decided to try this place for breakfast and then went back later on for a treat in the afternoon. The place is not that big and seems to be quite popular to the point that it can be challenging to get a table, especially if the tables outside are not an option because of the rain (and it rained a lot as we were visiting the Windy City).

Dining room at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Buzzer at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Breakfast was quite good, Jodi having a tea and me, a double espresso, accompanied by a delicious coffee cake that had a nice crumbled top with a nice amount of cinnamon. The almond croissant though was just ok, the almond paste not being as good as what I am used too, more like a paste than frangipane. We went back for a treat and tried their chocolate chip cookie that was slightly warm and had lots of chocolate, as well as the brownie that was just ok for me.

Breakfast at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Tea at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Coffee cake at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Chocolate chip cookie at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Espresso at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Almond croissant at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Brownie at Goddess and The Baker in Chicago, IL

Goddess and The Baker is a nice place, with lots of things to try. I like the relaxed vibe and would probably go back to try other sweets.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Goddess and The Baker - 33 S Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60602

I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/19

Chicago: Sepia, a Michelin star restaurant

With its one Michelin Star earned since 2011, Sepia has been feeding Chicago diners a seasonal menu working with producers who use sustainable practices. This West loop restaurant is a true gem for sure and we were glad we could get a table on a crowded Saturday. With a near perfect service, although overwhelmed as the evening went and the dining room filled out, we had a great time and ate delicious food as you will see below.

They then brought some multi-grain bread that has a nicely crunchy outside. I admit that the bread was so good it did not last long...

The amuse bouche was a succulent date and sorgum ball topped with a lemon puree:

Date and sorgum amuse at Sepia in Chicago, IL

As an appetizer, I decided to try their beef tartare, served with celery root, grapes, green peppercorn hollandaise sauce and a toasted brioche. The tartare, perfectly cut with a knife (I mention it because you can still find places that serve ground meat!), was well seasoned and the mustard seeds gave a nice texture to it. Simply delicious.

We also shared the tempura asparagus that was topped with gochujang and pumpkin seeds. This was amazing: crispy and not greasy, it was not spicy at all.

Tempura asparagus at Sepia in Chicago, IL

For her entree, Jodi had the masa cavatelli (pasta), topped with morels, English peas, in a sauce that had mint and black garlic. This was superb and very comforting. The pasta was perfectly made and cooked, soft and not al dente.

On my side, I opted for the duck breast that came with sauerkraut, baby beets and a beer mustard. I loved it: the duck was well cooked, slightly rare (or pink in the center), with its delightfully fatty skin that I just wished was crispy. Still, I recommend it.

Of course we could not go without dessert and decided to order two. The first one was the lemon donuts accompanied with a grapefruit curd and a lemon ice cream. The only disappointment in that dessert was the fact that there were not that many donuts. Otherwise, it was fantastic! The donuts came hot, smothered in sugar, perfect alone or with the grapefruit curd that gave a nice acidity to the dish.

The second dessert that the pear upside down cake, served with creme fraîche and Concord grape sorbet. That was definitely on top of our list because I love pear and unfortunately, it is not often that I see desserts with this magnificent fruit. And I did not regret it: this was a nice take on the classic pineapple upside down, the pear being perfectly cooked, soft and packed in flavor, covering a pear infused cake that was buttery. Divine! I admit that I focused on the cake and did not really care about the sorbet that was good but not a favorite of mine.

Pear upside down at Sepia in Chicago, IL

At the end, with the bill, they offered us some cookies, homemade and remembered that Jodi is vegetarian. So, no marshmallow for her, rather a blackberry pate de fruit, and we both got a tart chocolate macaron.

This was a great meal and it is not surprising that Sepia got a coveted Michelin star: great place, great service and great food. What more to ask?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sepia - 123 North Jefferson Street, IL 60661

I Just Want To Eat! 5/31/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/31/19

Chicago: Fat Rice

You may find that Fat Rice is too off the beaten path to go there but not going would be a serious mistake. Surely, when you think about Chicago, especially when you are a tourist, you are more inclined to try the deep dish pizza that the city has to offer and I admit that if we would have not seen the season finale of Top Chef in Macau (the finale was in Macau, not us unfortunately, although I visited this place many years ago) last March, we would not have gone there. The guest chef was James Beard Award-winning chef Abe Conlon who serves Asian cuisine in his restaurant, Fat Rice, with several Macanese dishes. Opened in 2012 with Adrienne Lo who is the manager, Fat Rice offers an interesting and creative menu with striking flavors for a succulent meal. Although I admit that dessert was not that great, the place being short of egg tarts that I am sure are sublime. And if you wonder, the fat rice or arroz gordo is their signature dish, served with curried chicken, char siu (pork), linguiça (sausage), wood-roasted beef and chilli prawns. Unfortunately, they prepare it for the table (It serves 2 to 3 people) and Jodi being vegetarian, this would have been a waste. I asked if It was possible to get it for one as I assumed that, being an asian version of paella, they probably make a large quantity anyway, but they declined. Bummer! Besides this, we had a great dinner, enjoying the following dishes:

Outdoor seating at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

I’ll start with the drinks. Jodi had a non-alcoholic beverage called California Dreamin’, made with mint tea, strawberry and lime (quite refreshing), while I got the John Was The Teeth, made with High West Double rye, calvados, benedictine, yellow chartreuse and a scotch rinse.

California Dreamin cocktail at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

John Was The Teeth cocktail at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

As an appetizer, we shared the são jorge cheese, a dish from The Azores, that was served with pineapple jam (great pairing of sweet and savory), arugula and some housemade chips that were amazing.

São jorge cheese at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

I also tried the chili prawn that is a dish from Macau where giant prawns from Madagascar (I mean, these were of a good size, not like the tiny prawns you often get in restaurants), were served head on (rare as sometimes people consider prawns or fish served with their head creepy), bathed in a delicious white wine and butter sauce that was not that spicy, with fermented black beans. I picked 4 instead of 6 pieces but it was so good that I regretted not getting more…And by the way, you eat them with your fingers, sucking on the juice in the head and they give you wet towels to wash your hands.

For her entree, Jodi chose the daily fried rice that was that day, made with maitake mushroom, egg, ramp and asparagus. I loved it: it had a nice crunch and was quite hearty.

Daily fried rice at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

On my side, I chose a dish from Macau that was offered in limited quantity. It was called O Diabo. Served in a clay pot, it had most of the ingredients of the fat rice dish but without rice: char siu pork, wood roasted beef, chicken, as well as pickles, curry, spicy mustard, egg, and vegetables like peppers and cauliflower.

Additionaly, I could have added their O Diabo house made sauce, that is made with ghost pepper: I could have but did not do it as I already tried one time a habanero sauce and my mouth was on fire; so, as the ghost pepper is 2 to 3 times hotter on the Scoville Heat Units scale, I passed. So this dish was good, with a little kick and nice flavors, especially considering that each spoon was different, having sometimes pork, or beef, or chicken, often a combination of 2 or 3 meats. Delicious, but I was still regretting the fact that I could not get their fat rice!

O Diabo sauce at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

For dessert, we got a mocha chocolate chip cookie that was a bit dry and wanted to try the “Bacon from Heaven” or toucinho do ceú, a traditional custard cake made with almond, honey and cinnamon. I love anything made with almond and was curious to taste it because of the presence of bacon, but, unfortunately, the cinnamon overpowered it and I did not like it.

Mocha chocolate chip cookie at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

“Bacon from Heaven” at Fat Rice in Chicago, IL

So overall the food was good, Fat Rice proposing unusual flavors and creative dishes, with few vegetarian ones, but a majority of meat and seafood specialties. I would definitely go back, their menu being quite mouth watering and hope that one day they will propose their fat rice for one person…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Fat Rice - 2957 W Diversey Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647

I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/19

Chicago: The Dearborn

We were supposed to meet our friend Alison for a brunch on Sunday in Chicago and Jodi booked a table at The Dearborn, a restaurant serving an interesting brunch: it is not everyday that you see a place serving bone marrow and soft scrambled eggs! It did not take me long to want to try this dish, intrigued by this unusual pairing and its description: Parmesan gratin, crusty bread, cheese eggs, fresh herb salad and chipotle sauce. First, let me get the chipotle sauce and the salad out of the way, the latter probably forgotten in the kitchen (i also forgot it was supposed to be there), and the former sitting on the side of the plate, with no clear reason for being there. The bone marrow was topped with the Parmesan gratin that counterbalanced well with its crunchiness and saltiness, the fattiness and texture of the bone marrow that was divine. Then the scrambled eggs were perfect: soft and moist like I like them. They surely know how to make them.

Scrambled eggs and bone marrow at The Dearborn in Chicago, IL

As a drink, while Jodi and Alison were having tea and coffee, I tried one of their juices and settled for the Spring Awakening, a mix of cucumber, celery, tarragon and lime. Refreshing, the first two ingredients were definitely predominant.

Spring awakening soda at The Dearborn in Chicago, IL

For her entree, Jodi went for the meze plate, composed of homemade grape leaves, eggplant dip, white beans hummus, tzatziki, tabouleh and fatoush salad, accompanied by grilled pita. Quite good.

Meze plate at The Dearborn in Chicago, IL

While Alison went for the chorizo and goat cheese strata, made with a housemade brioche, housemade chorizo, mushrooms, fontina mornay sauce and a fried egg:

Chorizo and goat cheese strata at The Dearborn in Chicago, IL

Looking around I saw some mouth watering dishes coming through like the Midwest fried chicken, but did not regret my choice for sure. I liked The Dearborn: their brunch menu is quite appetizing, not that classic, served in a nice atmosphere and with a very courteous service. I would certainly go back the next time we visit Chicago.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Dearborn- 145 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60602

I Just Want To Eat! 5/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/29/19

Chicago: Giordano's, deep dish pizza

For our last evening in Chicago, we decided to go for an early dinner as we wanted to watch the finale of Game of Thrones at 8pm, worries that otherwise we would have this last episode spoiled by social media and news outlets, rightfully so. Our choice was Giordano’s, near Millenium Park that boasts lots of pictures of people lifting slices of their deep dish pizza with long, very long strings of cheese attached to it. When we arrived, we thought that we would have to wait a long time, people waiting outside, but, they just announced 15 to 20 minutes of wait time that was quite surprising and reasonable.

House salad at Giordano’s in Chicago, Il

Seeing all these pies passing by and our neighboring tables getting them opened even more our appetite. Then came our own, a 6 inches pie with extra cheese. We both looked at it with disappointment: it did not have much tomato sauce and looked dry. I desperately tried to shoot a cheese pull that was sad, and the first bite confirmed our first impression: it was dry all the way through, from the very thin layer of tomato sauce to the dough. Too bad because we were really looking forward to it and continued to look at the tables around us with envy.

Deep dish pizza at Giordano’s in Chicago, Il

I was disappointed with our meal at Giordano’s. It was definitely not at the level of Gino’s East when it comes to a delicious deep dish pizza. It was surely because of the size of our pie that was the smallest (we did not want to waste), a size that I do not think they should offer, unless they execute it better. Sad!y….

Enjoy (I did not)!

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Giordano’s-130 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601

I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/19

Chicago: Gino's East, best deep dish pizza!

After our disappointing lunch at Pizzeria Uno, I admit that we were a bit anxious to find a good deep dish pizza in Chicago. Not that we thought it was impossible, but, being there few days, we really wanted to go to a good place that would erase our past experience. And we did. After a walk to the Navy Pier, we looked up pizza places and ended up at Gino’s East, a homegrown chain that serves an amazing pizza. I know that the term chain gives a negative image of the place, but, in this case, it should not. They have places in quite few cities, except unfortunately New York, but who knows, maybe one day! I would surely love to see them in the Big Apple, their pizza being superb: the crust has this golden color and texture that I could have sworn was because of corn meal, but no, it is due to the olive oil they put in it. It comes with a deliciously sweet tomato sauce, that tops a large amount of cheese (we asked for extra cheese and some blue). The pizza cooks for 45 minutes and comes very hot in a cast iron dish. After the first bite, you do not care that you might burn your mouth eating it: it is so good and flavorful. You get the crunchiness and crumbliness of the crust with the sweetness of the tomato sauce and suddenly the flavor of the cheese, especially the blue that pairs well with the tangy tomato sauce. Sublime!

Deep dish pizza at Gino's East in Chicago, Il

Dining room at Gino's East in Chicago, Il

As it takes some time for the pizza to cook, our waiter suggested to order a salad that was welcome after a long walk. We chose the house salad, composed of romaine, arugula, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes and croutons (we asked for no red onions).

House salad at Gino's East in Chicago, Il

Overall, we had a great time at Gino’s East: the service was really good and the pizza fantastic. Know that if you are not lucky to have them in your neighborhood, they ship pizza in the US. I have never tried it but after such feast, I may...

Enjoy (I surely did)!

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Gino’s East - 162 E Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611

I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/19

Chicago: Pizzeria Uno, creator of the deep dish pizza

When searching for the best deep dish pizza in Chicago, I saw some recommendations for Pizzeria Uno and, at first, ditched it, because I thought it was a chain. But then, i read that this is this place that created the deep dish pizza back in 1943. At that time, the owner of the restaurant, Ike Sewell, decided to create a hearty meal by combining, on a pizza, large quantities of ingredients, like vegetables, meats and cheese. That is what you get when you order the Numero Uno, made with extra cheese, sausage, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms and onions. For a less complicated version or if you are vegetarian, you can make your own, as Jodi did, adding mushrooms to a classic tomato and cheese deep dish pizza. I found the pizza ok: the sauce tasting like straight from a can, and the numero Uno having so many things on that crust that was not the best we had (it was a bit dry), and was lost a bit. I preferred Jodi’s pizza, simpler for sure.

Vegetarian deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago, Il

Numero uno pizza at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago, Il

Know that the pizza takes 45 minutes to cook and we should have ordered a salad while waiting. In fact, it would have been good if our waiter told us: I just remembered from a prior experience, a deep dish taking much longer than a thin crust pizza that cooks in minutes.

I was not impressed, especially after having tasted the deep dish at Pi Pizza in DC, a pizza that President Obama said was the best he had, or Emmett’s in NYC. But I would soon discover a better option with Gino’s East. Stay tuned!

Enjoy (...)!

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Pizzeria Uno - 29 E Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611

I Just Want To Eat! 5/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/24/19

German brunch at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

Located on the Upper East Side, Heidelberg is one of the last German restaurants in Yorkville, reminiscent of the German neighborhood this area used to be. Next to Schaller and Weber, the old school German market, it has kept, some opening in 1936, its rustic and comforting atmosphere, serving a fairly large menu where pork is the star. But no worries: if you are vegetarian, they offer several options like the popular giant pretzel, that I wished was served with a cheese sauce rather than just mustard or the potato pancakes, these crispy thick patties made of grated potato, onion and garlic that are fried, traditionally served with apple sauce. Perfect to share.

Dining room at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

Pretzel at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

Potato pancakes at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

For carnivores, if you prefer sausages over schnitzel, check out the sausage platter: made with bratwurst, bauernwurst and weisswurst (the white one in the middle, made with veal and pork back bacon - I admit this was my least favorite, the others being tastier); it is served with potato salad, red cabbage and sauerkraut. Nice sampler, it is quite filling, especially after the pretzel, but gives a nice taste of typical German sausages that I guess they are getting at Schaller and Weber.

Sausage sampler at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

Of course, going there, you cannot ignore their large selection of beer that they serve in 3 sizes, small, medium and large (no flight). Preferring dark ales, i went for the Hofbrau Dunkel that has caramel notes and a malty finish.

Hofbrau dunkel at Heidelberg on the Upper East Side

It’s been a while we wanting to try this place and I am glad we did, not just for the food, but also for the history this place and neighborhood has. I would probably go back whenever I feel like eating German cuisine, unless I go to the few beer gardens in the city that propose a similar fare.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Heidelberg - 1648 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10028

I Just Want To Eat! 5/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/22/19

Chinese food and steaks at Brooklyn Chop House

There are places like that that mark your memory because of their originality. Brooklyn Chop House is one of them. The name surely indicates a meaty meal made of steaks and burgers, but it also surprisingly offers Chinese dishes. Not so surprising when you know that the person who runs the place, Stratis Morfogen, was one of the people behind Jade Sixty, a restaurant on the upper East Side with the same concept that had to close due to a water main break (too bad because I did not get a chance to visit it!). I tried the ribeye at Brooklyn Chop House and was blown away: their meat, aged 50 to 60 days is tasty, tender and juicy. And they surely know how to cook it!

The Chinese fare is also very interesting, with quite few vegetarian options like the classic scallion pancakes or the vegetable crispy rice that is also available with items like soft shell crab or lobster (they put a nice amount of it). I love the way they present it, in a metal jar, original. Perfect to share are also the shrimp nine season that is sweet and spicy (but not so spicy), the deliciously crunchy crispy chicken wonton or the reuben dumplings that are kind of a nod to the Jewish delis. All of these were really good and comforting, the fried rice being a nice side for a steak.

Fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Veggie fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Crispy chicken wonton at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Veggie fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC

Lobster fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Reuben dumplings at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

They also have salads like the wedge salad that Jodi ordered without any bacon, but I found it overpriced and would pass on it. This is the only disappointing dish we had there.

Wedge salad at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Cocktails are also nice, with classics with a twist like the Brooklyn Old Fashioned, made with Redemption Aged Bourbon, Earl Grey syrup and bitters, or the homemade mule, a mix of Smooth Ambler Contradiction ginger bourbon, mint, lemon and ginger beer.

Old fashioned at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Mule cocktail at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

And of course dessert! For cheesecake lovers, they offer one that is accompanied with a peanut butter fudge, an apple crumb and a chocolate swirl. Good, but I admit not as good as Junior’s that remains my favorite. For a more Chinese choice, they have these crispy apple wontons was come really hot and are addictive.

Cheesecake at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Crispy apple wontons at Brooklyn Chop House in NYC, NY

Brooklyn Chop House is definitely a place I recommend, for steaks or Chinese cuisine: the food there, although a bit pricey is very good and I would certainly go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brooklyn Chop House - 150 Nassau Street, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/19 I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/19

The Mill in LIC

I often tell people that I love so much coffee that it is probably this dark juice that is flowing through my veins. I have been drinking coffee since I was a teenager: I love the smell of the freshly ground beans and the strong taste an espresso has, but not the bitterness that is sometimes in the bottom of a cup. So it was with excitement that we went to The Mill few times as we were in Long Island City. This quaint joint with its rustic feel serves artisanal coffee, sweets and sandwiches in a relaxed atmosphere. They have good espresso and macchiato, but if you are not into coffee, you can opt for a tea. In term of sweets, …

The Mill is a cool place, perfect for a good beverage or to satisfy a sweet craving in an area where there are not that many options. So if you are in LIC, near Court Street, stop by!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Mill - 44-61 11th street, Long Island City, NY 11101