I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/19

Florence, Italy: Borgo Antico

We discovered Trattoria Borgo Antico in Florence 5 years ago after finishing a walking tour in Piazza di Santo Spirito, right in front of the Santo Spirito Basilica and were really looking forward to going back there. We went back in fact for a dish that I love there and was kind of déjà vu: the linguine alle vongole or linguine with clams in a white sauce. There are few things I need for this dish to be successful: pasta well cooked, lots of well cleaned clams (who likes to chew on sand?) and the right amount of sauce (and of course a good sauce). Well I got all of that to the point that …

We went back in fact for a dish that I love there and was kind of déjà vu: the linguine alle vongole or linguine with clams in a white sauce. There are few things I need for this dish to be successful: pasta well cooked, lots of well cleaned clams (who likes to chew on sand?) and the right amount of sauce (and of course a good sauce). Well I got all of that to the point that we went a second time to that place that is not just for tourists, our friend Allan who lived in Florence for the past three years mentioning it when we asked for good places to dine at.

Linguine alle vongole at Borgo Antico in Florence, Italy

Jodi, each time, got the margarita pizza: simple and good, I admit though that for me it was fine, nothing extraordinary compared to the other pizza I had in other places.

Margarita pizza at Borgo Antico in Florence, Italy

Not surprisingly, I had a Spritz with my meal, the popular Summer drink in Europe where it seems to be proposed everywhere. For sure, in Florence, you see signs for it, restaurants proposing cheap prices for a cocktail that sometimes seems cheap but is in fact too diluted. Not at Borgo Antico.

Spritz at Borgo Antico in Florence, Italy

Lunch is quieter than dinner there and I enjoyed people watching with a nice espresso. Relaxing. So I guess Borgo Antico will be like a pilgrimage for us when we go to Florence. I love it and surely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Borgo Antico - Piazza Santo Spirito, 6-red, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/19 I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/19

Florence, Italy: Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe

Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

On our first evening in Florence, we looked up for best pasta in the city and found out Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe (the cat and the wolf), located via Ghibellina, a charming street few blocks from the Duomo. The comment on the website where we found it said that it was one of the last typical Italian restaurants and the rustic decor seemed a reminder of the past (although not so old in the city as it opened in 1979), but the crowd (lots of American tourists) removed any dream to find that hole in the wall where only locals go. Anyway, it still proposed a delicious Italian menu, with classic dishes like the Ribollita alla Fiorentina, a Tuscan soup made with white beans, chickpeas, lentils and pieces of bread that was quite comforting.

Ribollita alla Fiorentina at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

They also have pizza and pasta and Jodi decided to try their margarita with mozzarella di buffala, but they served a regular one that had lots of cheese and was good, but is not the kind you would remember.

Margarita pizza at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

The penne a la vodka is however something to try, the pasta being perfectly cooked, al dente, and with a homemade sauce that was delicious, smothering not only the penne but also some chopped onions, that added made this dish a bit different from what you would expect. I definitely recommend this dish, although it might not be what comes to mind when thinking about Italian pasta.

Penne alla vodka at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

As a cocktail, I got the popular Aperol Spritz, that I sipped while eating some homemade bread dipped in olive oil.

Spritz at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

Bread at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

Olive oil at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

Last was dessert: of course, we tried their tiramisu that is always interesting as everybody has its own recipe. It was good, creamy, with a chocolate sauce on top that I prefer to the chocolate powder that sometimes makes you choke...

Tiramisu at Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe in Florence, Italy

So overall, although Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe misses the Italian ambience a tourist would look for, we had a nice meal there. Would I go back? Not sure in fact: I would rather go to a place with a more local atmosphere, even if it seems it is more and more difficult near the city center.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe -151/r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/19

Loquito, Taco Arabes in Hoboken, NJ

Am I going to be loco of Loquito in Hoboken? I know this is an easy way to start this post when you know that Loquito is a diminutive of loco that means crazy in Spanish. Loquito opened few weeks ago on Washington street, result of the cooperation of Chef Stephen El-Hassan, co-owner of O’Bagel, his sister Helengrace and Sammy Abdo, co-founder of Michigan’s Jersey Bagel and Deli. With a name like Loquito, you would expect a taqueria, but the mention “tacos arabes” below the name on the awning makes you wonder what kind of tacos they serve. At first, I thought it would be like the tacos you find in France: the tacos de Lyon, that are more a North African version of a burrito (fantastic with merguez sausage and cheese but quite heavy!). No, these are more a direct Lebanese twist on the classic Mexican dish, the tortilla being replaced by pan árabe or tandoori mountain bread and the filling being mostly meat if not for the falafel that has avocado in it to continue of the Mexican-Lebanese theme.

This is a small place where you order at the counter before sitting on one of the few stools. The order is in three steps:

First you pick the base that is either tacos or a bowl with a choice of rice (white or brown) or lettuce. The bowls will also have corn elote, hummus and black beans.

Then you pick the protein. I already mentioned the avocado falafel, so let’s talk about the meat: they propose pollo shawarma that is thin slices of roasted chicken seasoned in their own spice blend, beef barbacoa (it is not on the menu and was proposed instead of kifta, a seasoned ground beef with citrus zest, mint, parsley and Serrano pepper. The last meat choice was the Za’atar carnitas, that is shredded pork shoulder that is braised for six hours in their Za’atar-mojo blend.

Last, you choose the style. They offer three different:

- The O.G., made with garlic toum, lemon and pico de arabe (gallo?).

- Rojo: garlic toum, tahini mole, pomegranate, mint, turmeric, pickled onions and roasted sesame seeds.

- Verde: garlic toum, salsa verde, minced Serrano pepper, onion, cilantro, beet-pickled turnip (nice purple color) and pomegranate.

So first you may wonder what garlic toum is: toum is a garlic sauce similar to the French aioli, made with garlic, salt, olive oil or vegetable oil, and lemon juice.

My choice was simple: I mixed the meat dressed it based on the order I made: chicken O.G., beef barbacoa Rojo and pork verde.

Tacos at Loquito, Taco Arabes in Hoboken, NJ

The tacos came pretty quickly, presented next to each other. They had a small size so definitely three is a good portion. My favorite was the pollo shawarma that was very flavorful, followed by the pork and then the beef. All were juicy and I admit that it was a bit messy to eat, because of the sauce dripping. The shell was quite good, slightly chewy.

Za’atar carnitas taco with salsa verde at Loquito, Taco Arabes in Hoboken, NJ

The bowl was also delicious, filling, with the falafel that I would not mind having in tacos.

Falafel bowl at Loquito, Taco Arabes in Hoboken, NJ

With our meal, we also tried their turmeric lemonade that was perfectly made as well as a mango soda from Jarritos, one of our favorite brands (I prefer pineapple though).

Turmeric lemonade and mango soda at Loquito, Taco Arabes in Hoboken, NJ

No dessert: I was set to get their churro donuts but they are not making it anymore as it seems it is too much work and they are working on a new dessert that will come soon. So, this is another reason to go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Loquito - 217 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/19

The Rag Trader: come with an appetite, leave with a headache!

Food is stronger than common sense: why did we decide to go to such place as The Rag Trader when we know that we hate noisy places, preferring quieter ones so we can enjoy a nice conversation while having a great dinner? This place kept popping up on Opentable.com and their menu was mouth watering, offering lots of dishes to share inspired from a wide range of cuisine. When we arrived, we realized our mistake, the place being packed and loud, but had few minutes of hope when they told us our table was upstairs. Yes, I thought that maybe upstairs was quieter, more geared towards diners. I was wrong: there was a large group of incredibly loud people (one of them could probably be heard from the West Coast). They first tried to seat us next to them but I politely declined. Still, we were close and I wish they sat us in that taco van that is on one side of the room…

We started the meal with their cauliflower and feta fritters, served with a cilantro and sumac aioli. These fritters were superb: not greasy, slightly crispy on the outside, the inside was a soft mix of cauliflower and cheese that was perfectly balanced, with just a hint of the cauliflower taste. I think that even somebody who hates cauliflower would love it.

Cauliflower and feta fritters at The Rag Trader in NYC, NY

Jodi then ordered their vegan burger, that was made with a Beyond Meat patty, vegan cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, onion, vegan secret sauce on a pretzel bun. It was ok, definitely not the best veggie burger I had (Saxon + Parole is amazing).

Vegan burger at The Rag Trader in NYC, NY

On my side, I decided to try two of their appetizers: the fried chicken sliders that were delicious and not spicy as I expected from the sriracha aioli, as well as the baby back ribs smothered in a pomegranate molasses. The sliders were my favorite: the ratio bread chicken was fine and the chicken was sublime. It was crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked, the chicken was moist and not dry at all. The ribs were good too, falling off the bone, with a nice sweetness from the molasses.

Fried chicken sliders at The Rag Trader in NYC, NY

Baby back ribs at The Rag Trader in NYC, NY

I would go back to The Rag Trader as their food is quite good, but probably more for lunch, hoping I will not need a Tylenol after that...And don’t be surprised if I did not mention dessert: we just wanted to leave as soon as possible!

Enjoy (I did...food only)!

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The Rag Trader - 70 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/19

Taco Dumbo in NYC, NY

We passed in front of Taco Dumbo few times and decided to try it on a Friday evening. This casual place with a busy bar was packed and we were lucky to find a seat after the ordering at the counter.

The tacos and guacamole came fairly quickly at our table, but I had to ditch the classic margarita I ordered, realizing that they forgot it in my order. The guacamole, house made was pretty good, with chunks of avocado, but needed a small bit of salt. It was not bland though, but the tacos were! Bland and dry were the beef short-rib and the rotisserie chicken Tinga that I was really looking forward to as I love rotisserie chicken. Fortunately, there was some sauce (medium) spicy that I generously used in order to add flavor, but still, it was disappointing. More flavorful but still meh was the miso cod in lettuce wrap.

Beef short ribs and rotisserie chicken Tinga tacos at Taco Dumbo in NYC, NY

However, I found the impossible taco quite good compared to the others, but not to the point where I would go back for it. No, I would simply forget about this place and go to Mexicue for tasty tacos.

Impossible taco at Taco Dumbo in NYC, NY

Enjoy (...)!

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Taco Dumbo -2 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 8/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/23/19

Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

I am a coffee drinker: there is no doubt, although I severely reduced my intake when I realized that 14 espresso was a bit too much. So, tea is not something I would drink on a regular basis except at Chinese or Thai restaurants. One exception is Chai that I discovered many years ago during a trip to India. Chai means “tea” in Hindi so you should never say “Chai tea” the same way you would never say a “coffee espresso”. It is black tea that is mixed with spices like cardamom, clove, ginger, etc. and is said,…

So I was glad to see Simply Chai open few weeks ago, in a space that has seen many unsuccessful business closing fairly quickly, mainly coffee shops trying to compete with the nearby Starbucks. The space is big, relaxing and colorful, especially with all these little umbrellas on the ceiling.

Menu wise, they propose various versions of Chai and I should mention that, contrary to lots of places, they do not use tea bags or concentrate. No, they use spices sourced in India that they mix with black tea, boil it, add milk and continue to boil for a few seconds. Then they strain it and voila! You get a mixture that not only smells incredible, but also tastes amazing. They offer six different kinds of Chai (you can even get a flight of three), served hot, as well as five version of cold drinks that they are called Thandais. One of them is the Haldi Doodh, a drink that gets its color from turmeric (haldi) and is made with honey, spices and oat milk. Refreshing, you definitely get more than a hint of turmeric in it. This is again known as having health benefits thanks to the turmeric anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property.

If you are not really into chai, rest assured that they also propose coffee, from espresso to cortado, as well as an iced coffee made with cardamom that I preferred with milk.

Cardamon cold brew at Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

Petit coeur t Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

Haldi Doodh at Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

But besides the Chai, there is one thing that make this place even stand out: their dosa waffle. This dish is not a classic Indian dish but more a fusion of the dosa, a sort of crepe, and the waffle as we know it for the shape. We only tried the savory ones that are all vegetarian. My favorite was The Millenial, made with feta and avocado (a good one at least), but I also liked the Bombay Dreams stuffed with onions, cucumber, Amul cheese, sev for some added crispness, mint and date chutneys. The former being more like a classic American brunch offering and the second bringing Indian flavors. I admit that the waffle itself was really good, slightly crunchy in some areas.

The Millenial dosa waffle at Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

Bombay dreams dosa waffle at Simply Chai in Hoboken, NJ

I just need to try the sweet ones next time we go there. Because yes, I would go back in a heartbeat. I should mention that this place does something admirable: 10% of their profits will be used to house, feed and educate the homeless. So it is an even better argument to recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Simply Chai - 79 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/19

Guest Chef's Night at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

When we got invited to Soul Curry in Hoboken 2 Saturdays ago to attend a Guest Chef Night’s event, I was really excited: we love this place and we are often going there, the last time being right after being back from Europe, as we were craving Indian food. At Soul Curry, the menu proposes innovative and classic dishes crafted by Chef Hari Nayak that I met again, 7 years after our first encounter when the place was called Matt and Meera. It is always a pleasure to meet with Chef Nayak: his love for his cuisine and hospitality being undeniable. I told Chef Nayak that we were sad to see Matt and Meera close, the concept of American-Indian fusion being unique in Hoboken, and he explained that after 5 years, they wanted to change a bit. I am not going to complain, although I miss the wings at Matt and Meera that were superb, but still can enjoy the naanchos, a take on the messy nachos or their Old Deli butter chicken that has now some burrata in it, adding more creaminess to the dish, as well as a soothing element for those who find it spicy (I do not).

Manchurian cauliflower at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Also appreciated is the fact that they have a nice choice of vegetarian dishes, not so surprising for an Indian restaurant, but not the kind of dishes that would repulse non-vegetarian diners: yes, it happened that we shared an all vegetarian meal with Jodi and I was perfectly fine with it, to the contrary. Last, and before I talk about the guest Chef, I would point out the shareable appetizers, especially street food, that are amazing.

Chef Sampath and Chef Nayak at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

So, that evening, the Guest Chef was Aarthi Sampath who worked at Junoon, a Michelin starred restaurant in the city we visited last year. I learnt that Chef Sampath started as an intern at Junoon and climbed the ladder to become Chef de cuisine that I am sure is not a simple thing. Quite impressive in fact, especially in a place like that. Her menu (a la carte or prix fixe with an appetizer, entree and dessert for $27) offered dishes inspired by North American comfort food, but with indian spices and a twist. For instance, one of the appetizers was a butter chicken poutine, with cheese curds, lime mayo, and makhni but, despite the name, no chicken. Perfect for two to share, I loved it: tasty and flavorful, with one of my favorite sauces drenching crispy (at first) fries. The second dish inspired from comfort food was the Kerala fried chicken and coconut waffle, a node to a classic southern dish. I admit that I did not really like the waffle but the chicken was fantastic: moist and well cooked, the crispy batter was infused with Indian spices.

Butter chicken poutine at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Kerala fried chicken with coconut waffle at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

The last one in this category was the veggie burger, with a patty made with a potato and peas patty. Fairly classic and one again infused with Indian flavors. I should also mention the salad proposed as an appetizer: a tandoori peach salad that was quite refreshing and had lots of pieces of deliciously charred peach that paired very well with the generous amount of feta they put.

Veggie burger at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Tandoori peach salad at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

We finished with dessert. And what a dessert! You could see the connection to her background at Junoon, this dessert being elegant with beautiful colors. It was a mango custard that was so light, with a superb baked mango custard with lime and champagne jello.

Mango custard at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

This was a quite good meal and I admit that, besides the fact that I love the regular menu of Soul Curry, the idea of bringing a Guest Chef once a month is great. And know that if you do not want to try the special menu that evening, you can still order from their regular menu.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Soul Curry - 618 Washington Street, Hoboken NJ 07030

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

Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

I was recently invited at Garam Masala, an Indian restaurant located in Ridgewood, Queens. Its owner, Saiful Islam, who previously managed Tandoori Masala in Bushwick and Mahal Kita in Williamsburg wanted to open his own place, catering to a crowd hungry for Indian flavors, but as he says, flavorful does not mean spicy and he and his team ensures diners get the right level of heat.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

“I am from a South Asian country called Bangladesh,” he says. “My culture embraces a richness of values, family life, and food. I have had experience in managing as well as engaging in a partnership in running a restaurant and my desire was to operate one of my very own. I am strongly motivated to serve others and I feel there is no better place for success than right here in NYC.”

Dining room Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

The menu offers a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The must have vegetarian dishes are definitely the Manchurian cauliflower, an Indo-Chinese appetizer made of a crispy cauliflower smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce, or the samosa, these crispy turnover usually served with tamarind and mint sauce.

Manchurian cauliflower at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Samosa at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

You can also opt for some vegetarian sides like the dal makhni if you like lentils or the chana masala, a dish made with chickpeas slow cooked in a sauce made of onion, tomatoes, coriander, garlic, chilies and ginger. Both dishes were not spicy at all and quite comforting, perfect with some of the plain or cheese naan we tried.

Dal Makhni at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Chana Masala at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Plain naan at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Basmati Rice at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Cheese naan at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

For non-vegetarian dishes, there is the classic Chicken Tikka Masala that has this incredible sauce that is so flavorful and creamy, perfect with naan. I also loved the barrah kebab that is lamb marinated in yogurt, tumeric, cumin and mustard seeds. That marinade was so good, I loved it and they surely know how to cook the lamb that was not dry.

Chicken Tikka Masala at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Barrah kebab at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

For dessert, we tried classics: gulab jamun that is my favorite as well as rasmalai, made with cottage cheese, sitting in a delicious almond and milk sauce.

Gulab Jamun at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Rasmalai at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Of course, I must mention the beverages that go from sweet or mango lassi as well as Chai, served either hot or cold.

MAngo and sweet lassi at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Chai at Garam Masala in Ridgewood, Queens

Garam Masala is delicious and we had so many wonderful dishes. This is the kind of place I would want in my neighborhood. Know that the portions you see in the photos are for tasting as we had quite a feast there. Your turn!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Garam Masala - 1819 Palmetto St, Ridgewood, NY 11385

I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/16/19

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC, NY

I discovered Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream few years ago, while watching a TV show, Unique Sweets, that unfortunately does not run anymore. It was in 2015 and the flagship parlor on the Lower East Side was like going to heaven. But a crowded heaven unfortunately and I admit that I have a limit to my patience when it comes to food, especially in hot weather...So we were excited when we saw that Nicholas Morgenstern decided to open a second, larger location on West Houston. Although also packed, it is usually fine to go there and have some of the incredible flavors they are proposing: burnt honey vanilla (great in a milk shake, it has a bit of a butterscotch taste), macadamia praline banana (superb - especially if you love banana and the added crunchiness of the nuts) burnt sage, raw milk, Vietnamese coffee are just a few of the choices you get and I admit that the menu is a bit overwhelming, with just few classic flavors like vanilla (pick between Madagascar or French) or coconut. I should mention that some, tagged with an “A” have alcohol in it like the hazelnut ribs (rum).

Mascarpone with salted hazelnuts at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC, NY

Hazelnut risbo at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC, NY

Coconut on a cone at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC, NY

Burnt honey Vanilla milkshake at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC, NY

The milkshakes could seem pricey ($12) but they put three large scoop of ice cream in it. Otherwise, you can get your scoop(s) in a cone that can be challenging as these scoops are large and so not that easy to stick on the little cone, or if like me you always end up with ice cream on your shoes, you can opt for a cup.

Morgenstern’s is the kind of place that has an old fashioned ice cream parlor feel but gets you excited by creations not seen before. If I could, I would go every week end...I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)

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Morgenstern’s-88 W Houston Street, NYC, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/19

800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

When we went to 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen, it was it because Chef and founder Anthony Carron partnered with two NBA players, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem. No, actually we just found it on Opentable.com and thought it would be a good idea to try this place, the concept (cooking food on an open flame) being quite interesting, especially after our dinner at The Marshal in Hell’s Kitchen last year where they really embrace this way of cooking.

Open kitchen at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

Wood fired oven at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

The place is big, with the open kitchen in the back where you can see the team cooking a bunch of dishes, from pizza (the margarita is good, with a nice char and lots of cheese), to rotisserie chicken, that I was really looking forward to trying. I ordered half a chicken that took forever to come to our table and found slightly overcooked..and dry. Too bad because the skin was deliciously charred. The chicken was served with rotisserie basted potatoes that looked good but would have been better fully cooked. So disappointing.

Margarita pizza at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

Rotisserie chicken at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

Potatoes at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

Our appetizer was the roasted cauliflower served on top of roasted golden beet tahini. This was ok, the cauliflower needing more char.

Roasted cauliflower at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

But I liked my cocktail, the Smoky Liber-Tea, made with an apple and cinnamon infused bourbon, iced tea, smoked maple syrup and lemon. Not strong, I found it refreshing.

Smoky Liber-Tea cocktail at 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in NYC, NY

We skipped dessert simply because each dish took forever to come and we did not want to get stuck there for three days! It was overall disappointing.

Enjoy ()!

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

800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen -1 East 33rd Street, New York, NY, 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/19

Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

When Shaka Bowl opened a little over a year ago, I did not know what to think: Poké seems a bit of a trend that may not last as long as ramen. For me, I may crave ramen that I find comforting in the winter time (no hot soup in the summer please), but never craved Poké, even if I love raw fish. Go figure. So it took us time before going to Shaka Bowl, and I admit that it is the tacos they offer that persuaded us to go on a Sunday. And we did not go just once.

The menu is interesting: it is not just poké. They also offer açaí bowls, oatmeal (the maple banana one is very good, with lots of toppings), avocado toast and guacamole (I would pass on these as the guacamole is simply not good) and their tacos that are succulent. My favorite is the lava rock shrimp tacos that is composed of battered shrimp drenched in sweet chili and spicy Shaka sauce, topped with cabbage, mango and pickled onions. When the three tacos came, I was surprised by the amount of filling in each corn tortilla and feared that it would be more cabbage than anything else: I was wrong! There were lots of shrimp that were amazing: well cooked, crispy and slightly spicy, the mango adding a bit of sweetness and cooling effect for those who think it is spicy (no, slightly).

Avocado toast at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Lava rock tacos at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

This is a must have, even better than the buffalo shrimp tacos where battered shrimp are smothered with buffalo sauce, topped with cabbage, strawberries (for some sweetness), jalapeño and blue cheese sauce. Quite good, a bit spicier than the previous one I talked about.

Buffalo shrimp tacos at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

There are only two issues with the two kinds of tacos above: they are messy to eat because they put lots of ingredients (nice problem to have in fact), and they come with three: I wish I could order one of each like the other tacos that they offer, that can be made with kalhua pulled pork (one of the best pulled pork taco I had), shrimp, steak, tuna or chicken (my least favorite, the chicken being a bit bland). These tacos are served with pineapple, cabbage, pickled onions and their spicy Shaka sauce.

Pulled pork taco at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Chicken taco at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Shrimp taco at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Jodi also tried one of their poké bowl but, instead of raw fish, she chose tofu. It was good, with lots of fresh produce, but definitely over dressed.

Tofu poke bowl at Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

So, overall, Shaka Bowl is pretty good and I would just go for the tacos, especially the pork or lava shrimp tacos. It might not one of be the healthier options on their menu, but it is fine by me!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Shaka Bowl - 110 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/9/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/9/19

Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We were in Williamsburg for a street art exhibit called Beyond The Streets and so, decided to find a place after seeing the amazing work from the artists. Looking for a place, we stumbled upon Patisserie Tomoko. It was interesting to find such place there, a bit of the beaten path, serving French and American dessert with a Japanese touch, creation of Chef Tomoko who I admit has an impressive resume, having worked at Le Bernardin, Bouley and The Russian Tea Room.

Counter at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Open kicthen at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This is not that big and, instead of sitting at a table, you would sit around a horseshoe counter, watching the Chef and her staff making delicious treats. We hesitated between getting their dessert course that is a small tasting menu or picking few items. We went for the latter, hesitating a bit because of the mouth watering choices in front of our eyes. Chocolate banana tart? Mille crepe? No, we finally tried their donut with yuzu glaze, a nice Japanese twist to a classic American cake, although I admit that I was not as fond as I thought of that combination.

Yuzu glazed donut at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The chestnut cake was amazing, even better than the Mont-Blanc at Lady M that is a bit too sweet. The cream was light, topping a fantastic almond base.

Chestnut tart at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

And of course, we got their cream puff, a classic in Japanese deliciousness that I discovered at Beard Papa on the Upper West Side few years ago (well, if I discard the French choux a la creme).

Cream puff at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

With our treats, we got a mocha chai latte and an iced Americano that was a bit small for the price, the metal cup being filled with lots of ice cubes…

Mocha chai at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Iced Americano at Patisserie Tomoko in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

So it was a nice discovery and I would definitely go back to Patisserie Tomoko if I am in Williamsburg, maybe after indulging a bit at Smorgasburg. Hopefully we will see an outpost at some point in New York City.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Patisserie Tomoko - 568 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY11211

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

Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

Seafood or steak restaurant? When you go to Ocean Prime, you might be a bit confused. This place is not unknown to me as I went there few times, often for lunch or a drink, their bar being quite busy in the evening. This time, it was Jodi who wanted to go as she wanted to try a dessert I have been talking about for quite some time. So here we are on a Friday evening. As we did not have any reservation, they put us on one of the side tables in the mezzanine, overlooking the dining room: it was a bit dark, but I was quite happy as the noise level was much lower than on the main floor.

Food wise, we had a great meal, sharing few items, vegetarian, like the goat cheese ravioli that are proposed as an appetizer but would make a perfect entree. These ravioli are simply superb: well done and soft, they have lots of goat cheese.

Goat cheese ravioli at Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

We also shared the smoked Gouda tater tots that were quite interesting: larger than regular tater tots, you could definitely taste the smoked Gouda.

Smoked good tater tots at Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

We also got the truffle Mac and cheese that was deliciously creamy.

Truffle Mac and cheese at Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

The last two were sides that accompanied my steak, a ribeye ordered medium-rare. The meat was quite delicious, tender, juicy, with a nice char.

I should mention the cocktail I got with my meal: the Rye on the Hudson, the 2018 National Bartender contest winner, a creation from Ocean Prime New York. It was made with Hudson Rye “Private barrel selection”, Cherry heering, dry Olorosso sherry and bitters. Succulent to say the least.

Rye on the Hudson cocktail at Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

Last was the dessert that did not make us regret to go there: the warm butter cake that is their signature dessert. Served hot with vanilla ice cream, it was very addictive, like an olive oil cake but with tons of butter. If you go to Ocean Prime, it is a must have.

Warm butter cake at Ocean Prime in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ocean Prime - 123 West 52nd Street, NY 10019

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

Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We were walking around in Williamsburg, looking for a brunch place before going to a street art show called Beyond The Streets that was amazing by the way, when we saw Shelter Pizza, a restaurant recognizable from the outside by its vibrant American flag. We hesitated between going there or the nearby Smorgasburg, and decided to give it a try. Entering there is like stepping in another world: this big place is like a lodge in the middle of nowhere: Native American artifacts, animal fur on seats...Warm and cozy, with fireplaces that we surely did not need that day.

Bar area at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Open kitchen at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Dining room at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg

Decor at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The food at Shelter Pizza is quite interesting: they serve Argentinian-Italian dishes. On the Argentinian side, we tried their empanadas that were sold by the piece. The first one was the onion and cheese, made with slow cooked onions, scallions, fontina and gruyere: delicious, with lots of cheese. The second one was the Humita, made with Sweet corn, scallions, nutmeg and bechamel sauce. This was an interesting one: sweet and savory, creamy and cheesy, you could definitely taste the nutmeg. I should mention that these empanada were cooked in their wood fire oven.

Emapanada at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Humita empanada at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Onion and cheese empanada at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

On the Italian side, we went for their mushroom and egg pizza, a classic brunch pizza in a way, made with portobello mushrooms, two eggs, mozzarella, Parmesan and truffle oil. Good, with lots of cheese, I only regretted that the egg was not more spread out considering how thin the crust was, giving me the impression I was just eating a baked egg rather than a pizza. But still, quite a good pizza.

Mushroom and egg pizza at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

As a beverage, I got their orange juice that I doubt was freshly squeezed as they claim…or was watered down, tasting like a bottled one.

Orange juice at Shelter Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Shelter Pizza was a good find, especially the empanada that were delicious. I would go back there and I am curious to try their dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Shelter Pizza - 80 North 7th Street, Williamsburg, NY 11249

I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/19 I Just Want To Eat! 8/2/19

Greek food at Fournos Theophilos

There are places that are just confusing: I would have passed in front of Fournos Theophilos, I am not sure I would have stepped in when looking for a dinner place, if not just out of curiosity. Not that it looks dirty or anything, but just because the fast casual feel of this Greek joint hides a restaurant upstairs that we simply found on Opentable. For sure you are not going to Fournos Theophilos for the atmosphere, but I admit that the food was good, maybe not the level of Uncle Nick’s or Greek Town in Hoboken, but still, good. Here is what we had:

We started with the assortment of spreads that were:

Tzatziki (Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic and olive oil).
Spicy feta (homemade spread with feta cheese and pepper).
Fava (yellow split pea spread, from Santorini Greece).

We ate them with some pita as well as some grilled bread drizzled with olive oil. It was good but the spicy feta and fava were a slightly soupy (I guess they make them in a blender). Still, it was good.

Spreads at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

Spicy feta at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

Tzatziki at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

Grilled bread at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

Jodi ordered the Greek salad, made with tomato, cucumbers, peppers, onion, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil, whole wheat rusk and red wine vinegar.

Greek salad at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

On my side, I chose the Arni, a dish made of roasted leg of lamb, braised tomato lime sauce, chickpeas smothered by a yogurt lemon sauce. It was a big portion for sure. The meat was delicious, well cooked, with a robust taste expected from lamb and the yogurt lemon sauce was superb,, smooth and unexpected in a way, as I am more used to tomato sauce with lamb (lamb youvetsi).

We finished the meal with dessert: kataifi and baklava, both being delicious and perfectly made, soaked in honey syrup.

Baklava and kataifi at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

Kataifi at Fournos Theophilos in NYC, NY

The meal at Fournos Theophilos was good, although I do think there are much better places to enjoy Greek food in Astoria or at Uncle Nick’s in Hell’s Kitchen. Still, this is an interesting find.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Fournos Theophilos - 45 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/19

Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

Named after Nice (Nizza in Italian), a city in the French Riviera, Nizza is an Italian restaurant located in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s been a while we talked about going there for dinner, Jodi having gone there few times with her friends and me just trying the brunch few years back. That day, the place was crowded and loud, especially before 7:30pm, as filled with lots of theater goers, but also the table of four behind us loud enough to have been heard all the way on Mars. Fortunately they quickly left and we were able to have a nice dinner, more quiet. The space is a bit cramped but nice, with an impressive bar that proposed that day a frozen Spritz, a take on the popular Italian drink. Quite good but too frozen so I had to let it sit for a bit.

Frozen Spritz at Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

The food was quite delicious, with classic pasta and pizza that they cook in their brick oven. I first ordered the linguine alle vongole, these pasta with clams in a white wine sauce that I adore, but as soon as I tasted it, something was off and they took it back without any problem, bringing me the menu so I could pick another dish. I then went for the chicken Milanese, a thin chicken cutlet that is lightly breaded and pan fried, accompanied by a tomato and mozzarella salad. Originally, I was a bit disappointed because I was set to get pasta, but I finally did not regret it, this dish being very good: the chicken, crispy on the outside, was perfectly cooked and not dry. It was great with the salad that had few melted pieces of mozzarella, the chicken melting it.

Linguine alle vongole at Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

Chicken Milanese at Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

We also shared the eggplant rollatini that were cooked in the brick oven. Quite comforting, the sauce was bold and the eggplant filled with lots of ricotta.

Eggplant rollatini at Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

For her main, Jodi ordered the cypress salad: simple, but good.

Caprese salad at Nizza in Hell's Kitchen

And I should mention the focaccia with ricotta and olive oil that they served at the beginning of the meal, that was very good (I would have eaten a whole focaccia).

Last was dessert: we could not not try their tiramisu that was delicious: light and creamy.

Overall, we had a great meal at Nizza, the food was delicious and reasonably priced for this area. I would again mention the service that was impeccable and made us feel welcome and taken care of. I definitely recommend this place if you want Italian cuisine in that area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Nizza -630 9th Avenue, Midtown West, NY10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/19

Inakaya in Times Square

There are few restaurants in Times Square that are little gem and Inakaya is surely one of them and there is one thing I always recommend that is to eat at the counter. There, you not only observe what is going on in the kitchen, watching the staff grilling meat, seafood or vegetables, you get the little show which is how they bring some of the dishes to your table, by simply putting them on a long paddle and handing over the dish to you from afar.

But it is not just the show: the food there is superb, with a nice selection for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, dishes that will come as they are ready.

Here is what we had:

As a special, they had a sakepirinha, their take on Brazil’s national cocktail, the caipirinha but instead of cachaça, they use sake.

Grilled mushrooms in foil: these are three different kinds of mushroom cooked with soy sauce in a foil that you just need to rip open. Simple, but delicious, especially if you love mushrooms.

Grilled mushrooms in foil at Inakaya in Times Square

Vegetable tempura: always a crowd pleaser, they were crunchy and not greasy, with veggies like broccoli, eggplant, mushroom or asparagus. I just wished there was more.

Vegetable tempura at Inakaya in Times Square

Roasted duck slices served with mustard and Japanese dashi. These thin slices were really good, with or without the mustard. Maybe slightly less cooked would have been even better, but even like that, it was succulent.

Grilled squid with soy sauce: this was a fantastic dish, not just because of the beautiful presentation. No, they surely know how to cook squid, this one not being rubbery at all.

Grilled squid at Inakaya in Times Square

Roasted rice balls with plum sauce: a good dish if it was not for the sauce that was too tangy.

Roasted rice balls at Inakaya in Times Square

Dessert was the taiyaki ice cream, a fish shaped waffle stuffed with red bean paste accompanied by vanilla ice cream. The waffle, homemade, was served a bit hot, melting the ice cream. It was very good, with different textures between the waffle, red bean paste and melting ice cream. A must have!

Taiyaki ice cream at Inakaya in Times Square

So overall we had a great meal at Inakaya and I admit that I was surprised not to see that many people in the dining room for a Friday evening. Maybe the Times Square effect or the location on the side of 40th. But definitely, I recommend this place that has great food, good service and a nice atmosphere.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Inakaya -620 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/26/19

Barbes, Moroccan-French restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

So we are back at Barbés, the Moroccan-French restaurant located uptown Hoboken. But this time, I wanted to try their French dishes, the past times having indulged in their couscous and tagines that are very good. After this visit, I remain convinced that this is the spot for moroccan cuisine, less for French. Take the confit de canard for instance: good, not salty, but the skin was charred. For sure, a crispy skin is a must have with a duck confit, but they pushed it a bit far. The steak au poivre, a nice piece of sirloin smothered in a nice peppercorn sauce was also decent, but I had to send it back twice as they did not cook it as ordered: medium-rare: the first one came medium, the second, that they then refired, rare. And what bothered me a bit was that the manager tried to argue that the meat was perfectly cooked. Where are we? In Paris?

Steak au poivre at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

No, Moroccan dishes are much better like the Mediterranean salad, made with Zaalouk (an eggplant salad), shashouka and hummus.

Mediterranean salad at Barbes in Hoboken, NJ

They do serve cocktails but it took a while for my drink to come...I got the Road to Sahara that is their old fashioned. Well done.

We did not have dessert as a bit frustrated with the service and the issue with the steak. Anyway, they did not really ask us if we wanted any and just brought us the bill! So we paid and left, quite disappointed this time since our previous visits were enjoyable. Hopefully the next time we will go will be better...

Enjoy ()!

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Barbés - 1300 Park, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/19

Brunch at Mexicue in Chelsea

We were looking for a brunch place in Chelsea when we saw Mexicue, a Mexican BBQ place that started as a food truck many years ago and spawn into a popular restaurant with three locations in the city. I love this place but admit that dinner can be a bit overcrowded and noisy. But this was our first time in their spacious Chelsea location and I was glad it was on out path: the food there is really good and you may not elect to choose from their brunch menu that is limited and does not offer some of the succulent dishes they offer on their regular menu. For instance, I love the fact that they offer tacos by the piece, allowing you to try several of them and making your own combination. Lots of restaurants do not do it this way unfortunately and you end up with three of similar. And there, you cannot miss the concept of the restaurant as BBQ is the theme. For sure the crispy fish, served with corn salsa, creamy chipotle, pickled pepper and watermelon radish is what you would expect, a fish taco being a must have, but the Nashville hot chicken with slaw, corn salsa and creamy chipotle, or brisket with salsa verde represent what this restaurant is all about. I admit that after the Taco Truck closed in Hoboken, I was desperately looking for an amazing fish taco and I found it at Mexicue: crispy, the fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, and the taco itself was full of flavor. My second favorite was the Nashville Hot Chicken that was not that hot at first, but you could feel the heat building up.

Nashville hot chicken taco at Mexicue in Chelsea

Fortunately and contrary to lots of BBQ restaurants that mainly offer sides for vegetarians, they have some good options there. Of course, you have the classic guacamole or the corn bread, homemade, that is grilled (great char and crispness) and served with chipotle butter.

Or the quesarrito minis that are flour tortillas with melted cheese, crispy tortilla crisps and brown rice that are grilled. The avocado, beans and cheese, made with black bean spread, slaw, corn salsa, guacamole and creamy chipotle was very good, not boring and flavorful.

Avocado, beans and cheese quesarrito at Mexicue in Chelsea

Needless to say that they offer a bunch of cocktails, but I just went for a fresh squeezed orange juice...

So overall we have a nice meal at Mexicue. I love this place that offers delicious food, bringing together two succulent cuisines that perfectly work in combination. Their menu is mouth watering and would satisfy many dinners. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mexicue - 160 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/19 I Just Want To Eat! 7/22/19

Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

So I am back at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell’s Kitchen. I love this place that serves great dishes, not just fried chicken and has this beer on tap that you pour yourself (at least you try, quickly understanding it is not that easy and all in the angle of the glass).

Hitejinro Hite drags beer at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Their fried chicken is delicious: crispy thanks to the double frying process and moist, perfectly cooked all the way through and smothered in a nice sauce that you pick between soy and garlic or sweet and spicy (not so spicy) that I had, or the more classic and less Korean Buffalo (hot or mild).

Fried chicken at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

If you are more into sandwiches and do not like the stickiness of the wings (they should at least give a wet towel), you can get their KCC burger that is made with fried chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, onion and aioli. There again, you get the crispness of the chicken that is superb.

KCC burger at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

But if you do not like chicken, there are other options, like the kimchi pancake that is quite comforting and not spicy at all, or more surprisingly the beef bulgogi empanadas that were little pockets of heaven: the marinated beef was very flavorful and the shell slightly crispy and deliciously flakey.

Kimchi pancake at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Bulgogi beef empanada at Korean Crispy Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

So overall, if you are looking for fried chicken few steps from Times Square, Korean Crispy Chicken is a great place. I would go back again for sure!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Korean Crispy Chicken -528 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018