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

Brunch at Cecconi's in Dumbo

We had Cecconi’s in Dumbo on our radar for a while. Each time we went to that area, we saw this place full with sometimes a line at the door. Little we knew that this Italian restaurant had locations in many places like West Hollywood, Miami, Istanbul, Barcelona, Berlin and London. I did not imagine before eating there that it was so huge, but the best is their waterfront seating that offers stunning views of Manhattan and the Manhattan bridge.

We were there for brunch on a Saturday. I started the meal with a fresh squeezed orange juice that was very good, not watered down.

As an appetizer, we shared the crostini with whipped ricotta and truffle honey. I love the combination of ricotta and honey that complement each other well. As they saw we were close not to have anymore crostini, they graciously brought some additional ones.

Crostini with whipped ricotta at Cecconi's in Dumbo

For her entree, Jodi ordered the butter lettuce with sprouts, avocado and tomato. Know that you can add things like burrata or chicken to it.

Butter lettuce salad at Cecconi's in Dumbo

On my side, it was the tuna tartare that was prepared table side. Well, close enough to our table that I could see them adding the ingredients to the chopped ahi tuna and avocado. They added quite a few that I cannot all remember, but there was mint, chili and lemon. It was delicious, tasted fresh, with a nice acidity.

I accompanied the tartare with hash browns that were more like tater tots. Very good, crunchy and addictive.

So overall we had a great brunch at Cecconi’s: the food was good, the atmosphere relaxed, the service on point and the view fantastic. I definitely would love to go for dinner there, their menu being mouth watering.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Cecconi’s -55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/19

Brunch at Minnie's

Located on the Lower East Side, I admit that Minnie’s was not our first choice for brunch, but the place we wanted to try was packed, so we walked around and found this place that had a nice atmosphere, quite relaxed, bright, with a decor that probably shocks prude customers (check out the pillows in the photo below).

The food there is American but the Chef ventures in Mediterranean and Middle Easter ingredients, using Haloumi, tzatziki or harissa in comforting dishes. Their heirloom and haloumi salad, served with heirloom tomato, two poached eggs, avocado, arugula and grilled sourdough is a nice representation of that cuisine, well executed, the star being the cheese that is nicely charred.And at least, they know how to make poached eggs! Even better is the LES Croque Madame that is made with Katz’s pastrami, gruyere, béchamel squeezed between two slices of sourdough and topped with a fried egg. Very comforting and filling, I just wished that the bread was sliced a bit thinner. But for sure, it is one of the best croque-madame interpretation I had, appreciating the nod to the succulent pastrami of one of the Lower East side’s most popular restaurant that is Katz’s Delicatessen.

Heirloom and haloumi at Minnie’s in the Lower East Side

LES Croque Madame at Minnie’s in the Lower East Side

The brunch was good and their dinner looks even better, with a limited number of dishes on the menu, enough to satisfy a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian palate. That is the kind of place I would probably go back too.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Minnie’s - 29 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/15/19

Fried pizza at Don Antonio

Our last stop on Jodi’s birthday was Don Antonio, a pizza joint located midtown from the owner of Kesté Pizza & Vino, Roberto Caporuscio, that serves fried pizza. Yes, you read it well: fried pizza. But do not imagine something gross: this is a bit crispy and delicious, while being very slightly greasy. Not that all their pizza is like that, but usually, when we go there or talk about this place, this is what we get:

We tried two fried pizza. The first one was their signature, the Montanara, that is a lightly fried pizza dough topped with tomato sauce, smoked buffalo mozzarella and basil.

Montanara pizza at Don Antonio in NYC, NY

The second was the Quattro formaggi, a white pie made with buffalo mozzarella, gran cru pecorino, caciocavallo ragusano, parmigiano reggiano, crescenza BelGioioso, basil and olive oil. Between the two pizzas, this was my favorite: like the other one, the sides were nicely puffed up and charred, crispy, with a thin center, and it had lots of cheese.

Quattro formaggi pizza at Don Antonio in NYC, NY

With it, we got some Italian soda.

So it was a great meal and Jodi as happy that we could get a table for her birthday, but with all the food we had that day, we skipped dessert…The pizza at Don Antonio is very good and definitely a treat. The fact that it is fried is however more obvious with their calzone that we got the last time we went there. It is for sure a good spot for a succulent meal in Midtown.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Don Antonio - 309 West 50th Street 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/19

Sweets at Billy's Bakery in TriBeCa

After our lunch at Joe’s Ginger, Jodi wanted cake for her birthday. So, after checking few places like Harbs and Baked, we ended up at Billy’s Bakery in TriBeCa. I love this place: when you enter, you get that fantastic smell that makes you want to try everything they are making in the back kitchen.

Dining room at Billy's Bakery in TriBeCa

Hesitating between the beautiful cupcakes they have and a slice of cake, Jodi finally went for the latter and chose the crowd pleaser with vanilla frosting that was a moist cake with chocolate in the center.

Crowd pleaser cake at Billy's Bakery in TriBeCa

On my side, I did not hesitate and picked the banana cream pie that is amazing: creamy with lots of slices of banana, a good way to get your daily serving of fruit.

Banana cream pie at Billy's Bakery in TriBeCa

If you do not know Billy’s Bakery, check it out: they have great cupcakes and cakes. I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Billy’s Bakery - 75 Franklin Street, New York 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/19

Joe's Ginger in Chinatown

For her birthday, Jodi had two requests: pizza and Chinese food at Joe’s Ginger, the sister restaurant of Joe’s Shanghai, few doors away. Not that it has been a while since she went there as it is her go to restaurant when she craves Chinese cuisine, her last visit being in April when her friend Pam came to visit: she simply likes it and enjoys the vegetarian dishes they offer, with their classic scallion pancakes that are always a treat: hot, crispy and slightly greasy, they are very comforting.

Scallion pancakes at Joe's Ginger in Chinatown

Another dish she loves is the pan fried noodles that you can have crispy: not always easy to eat, you have to wait just a bit for some of the noodles to get softer, the center being smothered with a very tasty thick sauce and lots of veggies (my favorite is with chicken, but it was her birthday…).

Vegetables pan fried noodles at Joe's Ginger in Chinatown

I admit that I could not resist a getting a BBQ Peking Duck Spring roll that was delicious, the shell being not too thick and the roll having a nice quantity of duck. It is a small roll though and I wished I had more...

BBQ Peking duck Spring roll at Joe's Ginger in Chinatown

Joe’s Ginger never disappoints: this cash only joint is rarely crowded, not like Joe’s Shanghai, victim of its success, being in plenty of tourist guides for their crab and pork soup dumplings that are delicious. Know that the exact same dumplings are served at Joe’s Ginger! So skip the line and enjoy (I did)!

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Joe’s Ginger - 25 Pell Street, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 7/8/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/8/19

Dinner at Habanero Blues

Habanero Blues is back! After changing the concept to American Hall, a beer hall serving classic American dishes, the Reisenbach brothers decided to bring back the Mexican cuisine in this huge and amazing space, keeping the arcade room in the colorful downstairs area. I admit that I was looking forward to having dinner there, some of the items served there being delicious and not often offered on menus, like the Esquites en Vaso, a Mexico City street style corn made with chipotle aioli, cotija cheese and cayenne pepper. Unfortunately, it was not anymore offered, but we could enjoy their classic guacamole that is quite good: well seasoned with chunks of avocado as I like it (who likes a soupy guacamole?).

A great vegetarian appetizer is their Baja Cali Cauliflower that is lightly breaded cauliflower fried until golden and served with a chipotle remoulade that has a slight kick. Eating this, I just wished it was the way my mom made cauliflower when I was a kid!

Baja Cali cauliflower at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

They have a nice selection of tacos (with homemade tortilla), and I just wished they offered a sampler to try several of them. For meat eaters, the Al Pastor is a must have: made with rotisserie pork marinated in adobo, and served with chipotle, the meat was tasty and not dry at all. If you do not like pork and still want meat, you can opt for the short rib tacos that are served with pickled onion, cilantro and guacamole, although I have to say that it lacked a bit of flavor. Needless to say that they also have tacos with chicken, fish or shrimp.

Al pastor tacos at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

Short rib tacos at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

Rice and beans at Habanero Blues in NYC, NY

If you are vegetarian, they do have few options like the taco with fried avocado (avocado frito), that I was surprised Jodi did not order. No, instead, she went for the taco salad that was good but a bit boring.

I should mention that with the meal I had a margarita, classic, a must have at Habanero Blues.

And of course dessert: another must have are the churros that they surely know how to make. The dulce de leche and chocolate dipping sauce are nice with it, the former being my favorite, but even without sauce, you quickly regret when the bag they serve the churros in is empty.

So we had a good time at Habanero Blues. It is a nice place for Mexican food Midtown if you are in the area, much quieter than Mexicue!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Habanero Blues - 29 West 36th Street, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/19

Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yards

Since it opened, Hudson Yards has been the focus of many articles and Instagram posts, whether about the views, The Vessel or the restaurants. Often crowded, the mall there has many places to eat, from reasonable to expensive. On the latter, Estiatorio Milos sits on an upper floor (you have to climb some beautiful stairs from the bar to the dining room), with stunning views worth seeing at sun down.

Stairs at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Dining room at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

I know this Greek place specializes in seafood from its sister restaurant midtown where I went few times for dinner and lunch. Yes, good and pricey and, if like me you like fresh fish that you can pick from their station and is sold by the pound, you might be surprised by the bill, wondering how two little fishes could have cost $48! Ok, it is not that I went with the cheapest: I ordered the barbouni aka red mullet or rouget, an expensive delicacy from the Mediterranean sea that they prepared fried. But 2 for $48, I was surprised, also noting that the side that came with it was small and...not good, overpowered by lemon. At least I enjoyed that fish: well cooked, it brought to my mind memories from when my mother used to cook them when I was a kid.

Fish station at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Lavraki at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Langoustines at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Barbouni at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Rascasse at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Barbourni at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

From their fish station, I also got a big scallop, that I asked them to grill and they again did a good job.

Scallop at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Of course, you may think that a seafood restaurant was not a good choice for Jodi. Well, they do have few vegetarian dishes like the Milos special, these lightly fried zucchini and eggplant chips served with tzatziki that we shared. This is a must have and lots of people ordered them. They were delicious, crunchy on the outside, cooked all the way through, not greasy and with a nice amount of tzatziki. It also came with Kefalograviera cheese in phyllo, that was delicious (I wished there was more of it).

Milos special at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

She also got the grilled mushrooms that were composed of king trumpet, shiitake, Oyster, hen of the woods and blue foot. It was good overall, especially if you love mushrooms as there was a nice variety of it.

Grilled mushrooms at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

With it, she got the fingerling potatoes, steamed with mint, dill, cilantro and covered with olive oil. It was good but I admit I prefer fried potatoes even if not what the Mediterranean diet would probably suggest.

Potatoes at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

With the meal, I got my favorite Greek drink: ouzo.

Last was dessert: we got their baklava that was quite good, not dry for sure and crispy (as oppose to soggy).

Baklava at Estiatorio Milos in Hudson Yard

Overall, we had a nice meal at Estiatorio Milos, but I admit that it was overpriced and the service was not that great: there are plenty of staff and you are wondering who is taking care of your table. I definitely prefer the location Midtown that is better organized and suggest not ordering from the fish station so there is no surprise with the bill…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Estiatorio Milos - 20 Hudson Yards, 500 West 33rd Street Fl 5, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/19

Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

We recently went to Legacy Records, a place located in a new condo in Hudson Yards. I admit that I was looking for a place at the newly opened Hudson Yards area and did not check the address until the day of our brunch, discovering, fortunately beforehand, that it was not where I thought it was. No, located in the Henry Hall Hotel, Legacy Records is for sure off the beaten path and I would have never discovered it if it was not thanks to Opentable. I was excited to go, thinking that the decor would relate to an old record label but it was not the case, bringing a bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, the decor there is beautiful and elegant, quite huge in fact, with an impressive horseshoe bar.

Dining room at Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

Food wise, the brunch menu offers a bunch of interesting dishes inspired for the majority by Italian cooking. For instance, they propose a Tuscan fried chicken made with rosemary and fennel powder. This was delicious: the chicken was perfectly cooked, moist, crispy on the outside, with succulent hints of rosemary.

Tuscan fried chicken at Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

The charcoal grilled avocado is a good alternative to the classic avocado toast, more like a deconstructed version of it, with rye served on the side. It was beautifully presented and quite good, but it was small: only half avocado was given that makes this dish pricey for $15.

Charcoal grilled avocado at Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

Quantities are small and I was glad that we got their bread (the miche), with cultured butter. This bread was so good we finished it fairly quickly.

Bread and butter at Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

They also have a bunch of juices and at least their fresh squeezed orange juice is a good one, not one diluted in water.

Fresh squeezed orange juice at Legacy Records in Hudson Yards

Overall it was good, but pricey, especially considering the portion sizes. Brunch is not something I would recommend there and I may decide to go back for dinner to see what they offer.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Legacy Records -517 W 38th St Midtown East, New York City

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/19

Event: Mueloliva presents "Venta del Barón" olive oil

We often hear about the Mediterranean diet and its benefits on health, and one of the many common denominators of all the countries mentioned is olive oil. Olive oil is considered a healthy fat that has a vital role in your nutrition and health by helping in the following ways:

Absorb vitamins A, D, E and K,
Increase satiety,
Reduce the glycemic impact of a meal or snack so blood sugar level does not spike and then makes you crash when it falls.

So I was curious when I received an invite to an event organized for Mueloliva, a Spanish company founded in 1942 by Mateo Muela Velasco, an award-winning olive oil company located in the Subbética region of Córdoba. Most recently, they received first prize for the fourth year in a row for “Venta del Barón” as the premier extra virgin olive oil worldwide at the Mario Solinas Quality Award Competition presented byThe International Olive Council (IOC) in 2019. “Venta del Barón” is among the eight best EVOO in the world!

Venta del Barón is made using picual and hojiblanca olives. After pressing them, the oil is decanted for 15 days and poured blown-glass bottles that you would probably hesitate to open, looking so beautiful.

The event was at The Sousa House, where Chef Kristopher Edelen (also known as Chef KPE) from HOTPANnyc, crafted a delicious meal that we sampled for the short time we were there. There was:

Jamon Iberico:

Green tomato Gazpacho with olive oil whip:

Gazpacho made with "Venta del Barón" olive oil

Sliders with Beef, Manchego and a chipotle glaze:

Sliders made with "Venta del Barón" olive oil

Pintxos (Blackened chicken with olive oil aioli):

Tomatoes with olive oil:

What was also surprising is the signature cocktail they proposed: green apple cotton candy cava cocktail, with its beautiful green color and the amazing way the cotton candy dissolved in it.

It was a nice evening and I am glad I got to be part of it. Thanks to the organizers, Bienvenuti PR and Mueloliva for making it a great event.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/19

Junzi Kitchen, casual Chinese

I noticed Junzi Kitchen a few weeks ago, as they opened their doors few steps from Bryant Park. This fast casual place serves noodles and bings, these Northern Chinese thin crepes (also called Chun Bing) that I tried for the first time at Mr Bing in Urban Space Vanderbilt. I was excited to try it, although feeling the pressure in this type of restaurants to give my order quickly, people waiting behind me. Not that it was crowded though, but I thought it might have been because they opened recently in a location that is probably not ideal.

So, we ordered at the counter and they prepared our food like they do at Chipotle: They go from left to right to put already prepared food items in the bowl or in the crepe depending of what you order. The crepe is in fact already pre-cooked and cooked in an appliance similar to a quesadilla maker (I have one that I admit I am not using much: crazy what you put on your wedding registry...).

They have few vegetarian choices made with either tofu or mushrooms. So, Jodi went with the rice noodles and chose the Furu tofu, that was a griddled tofu with Furu sesame sauce (Furu is a brand), Buddha’s palm, cucumber and scallion. It was ok and would have been probably better with more vegetables and additional sauce.

Furu tofu noodles at Junzi Kitchen in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for a bing with chicken (they also have beef or pork). It was the roasted sesame chicken bing with similar ingredients that Jodi had in her dish except tofu: Buddha’s palm, cucumber and scallion in a roasted sesame sauce. Similar to Jodi, it was ok and could have had more flavor. I also found the chicken to be overcooked.

Chicken bing at Junzi Kitchen in NYC, NY

So overall, I was not impressed by Junzi Kitchen. Not that I was expecting fine dining but more something close to Chipotle: tasty and comforting. I am not sure that would be my go to place for a quick bite for sure.

Enjoy ()!

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

Junzi Kitchen - 135 W 41st St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/28/19

Peking duck at DaDong

I had DaDong, a fancy Chinese restaurant few steps from Bryant Park on my list for a while and was convinced to go there after hearing a conversation in the street from three friends of Asian descent claiming this was the best Chinese restaurant in the city. Famous in China for sure, where chef Dong Zhenxiang opened more than 15 locations devoted to Peking Duck, a dish that duck lovers should appreciate: it is made of thin slices of duck served with a crispy and fatty skin. I could eat that every day, but it is not that often that restaurant serve half a duck and getting a whole one would only work if going with friends, Jodi being vegetarian...So I was glad to see that DaDong offered half Peking Duck and did not hesitate to order it even if I found the price a bit high. As I did not order the whole bird, they did not offer me the same show other tables who did got, that was to observe the Chef slice thinly the duck. That’s fine, at least I got to try it mainly with the very thin crepes they brought, making a wrap with black bean sauce and scallion. The meat was good, fatty and crispy as expected, but unfortunately a bit dry, prompting me to put lots of sauce. It was good, but I was expecting to be blown away as I read this place was the best for Peking Duck in China. Still, if I were to go back to DaDong, I would get this dish.

Thin crepe for Peking duck at DaDong in NYC, NY

We also tried other dishes as described below:

We first started our meal by ordering drinks. Jodi got a non alcoholic one called Lychee Meringue, made with lychee purée, coconut water, lemon juice and pineapple juice. Smooth and refreshing, well balanced. On my side, I ordered the Just Peachy, composed of Old Camp Peach Pecan Bourbon, vanilla syrup and lemon juice. Fruity and not strong, you could forget that there is alcohol in it...

Lychee meringue cocktail at DaDong in NYC, NY

Just Peachy cocktail at DaDong in NYC, NY

They brought us some fried noodles that were good, although I would have loved some duck sauce with it.

They have quite few vegetarian dishes and Jodi wanted first to try their vegetables buns that are steamed dumplings. I am always unsure when I tried vegetable dumplings, but these were very good, even if they did not serve them some sauce. They were very tasty and the shell was nicely made.

Next was the Chinese broccoli and morel mushrooms served with garlic and a yellow wine sauce. Good but I wish there were more morel mushrooms.

Broccoli and morels at DaDong in NYC, NY

The last vegetarian dish we tried was the DaDong braised eggplant that were just ok. I love eggplant but was not that thrilled about the dish, wondering how they made it.

A truly interesting dish was the squid ink soup with tofu threads and truffle. I love squid and squid ink, especially in pasta or rice, and it was the first time I saw a squid ink soup on a menu. I was so excited that I almost forgot to take a photo of it! I did after the first spoonful of it that was divine: it was thick, smooth and decadent, the truffle giving an earthy taste to it. I was just scared while eating it that my white shirt would not survive.

Last was dessert. We hesitated a bit as they have quite unusual desserts but finally settled for the crispy chocolate rice pudding. It was like rice pudding arancini, crispy on the outside and filled with the chocolate rice pudding on the inside. I found it ok, the passion fruit and mandarin overpowering it a bit.

Crispy chocolate rice pudding at DaDong in NYC, NY

So overall I was a bit disappointed with DaDong: I thought we would have one of those memorable culinary experiences that truly define a restaurant’s fame. It was not the case. The food was good but not worth the price and I found the service spotty, surprising for this type of restaurants. I’ll pass or wait some time before going back to see if it changes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

DaDong- 3 Bryant Park, New York City, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 6/26/19

Woodpecker by David Burke

We passed in front of Woodpecker by David Burke so many times that we decided to try it last Friday. For sure, the location is a bit forgettable, on 30th between Broadway and 5th, a bit off the beaten path and that might be why it was not that crowded when we went. Too bad because I found the food quite good and very interesting, not classic, with only few options for vegetarians though. This place has a nice atmosphere and although I found the service a bit spotty, surprisingly considering it was not that crowded, I would come back. Here is what we tried:

As a cocktail, I decided to try their signature one as it has whisky: it is the Woodpecker, their own version of a whisky sour, made with Breckinridge bourbon, amaretto, fresh cranberry juice, lemon and apricot. Nice, refreshing and well balanced.

Whisky sour at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Jodi opted for a mocktail, that was a honey mint iced tea. I am not always a big fan of iced tea but this one was delicious, not too sweet with nice hints of mint.

Honey mint iced tea at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

With the drinks, they brought us some homemade cheese sticks dipped in olive oil and we decided to share their bread and whipped ricotta. Both were quite good; in fact I should even say that their bread, that came hot, was fantastic: crispy on the outside, it did not even need the ricotta and I could have eaten more if we did not have some food coming.

Cheese sticks at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Whipped ricotta at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Bread and whipped ricotta at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Bread at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi went for one of their specials: mixed mushrooms and truffle ravioli with a creamy pecorino and truffle sauce. As I mentioned before, they do not offer that many vegetarian dishes so it was nice to see that they would offer one as a special. And a delicious one indeed.

Mixed mushrooms ravioli at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

On my side, I ordered the hay smoked lamb chops served with a tomato merguez couscous. The lamb chops were good although they could have been cooked slightly more. I loved the Mediterranean flair of the dish, with the delicious couscous that had few pieces of merguez, a lamb sausage that you can find in classic couscous or tagine dishes, and was very flavorful, with hints of mint and lemon. Superb!

Lamb at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: it was the apple tart served with vanilla ice cream topped with an apple crisp. This was like a tarte tatin. It was ok: the apple was good, but the crust was soggy, missing crispiness and that butter taste that make this dessert delicious.

Apple tart at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Vanilla ice cream at Woodpecker by David Burke in NYC, NY

Overall, we had a great meal at Woodpecker by David Burke. The food was quite good and original. I would certainly go back there.

Enjoy (I dd)!

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

Woodpecker by David Burke - 30 W 30th St, New York, NY 10001

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