Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/2/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/2/19

Great dinner at Black Barn

Going to Black Barn is like stepping in a farm in the heart of New York. Located North of Madison Square Park, this place is a true find: this farm to table restaurant’s kitchen is headed by Chef John Doherty who spent 25 years in the kitchen of the Waldorf Astoria. For sure the decor is amazing and I wished I could have visited their second level: thanks to their high ceilings, they built the structure of a barn and the main dining room overlooks the open kitchen and a wine cellar that is quite impressive.

But it is a cocktail I wanted and settled for the Farmhouse, a drink made with High West American Prairie Bourbon, Allapice dram, lemon and honey. Citrusy and slightly sweet, it was a good way to start.

Farmhouse cocktail at Black Barn in NYC, NY

It was followed by a nice bread basket accompanied by a butter with roasted garlic, as well as, complimentary of the Chef, a lemon arancini that was gooey.

Butter and garlic atBlack Barn in NYC, NY

Jodi did not want any appetizer but on my side, I could not resist the bone marrow that was served with Manila clams, a delicious take on surf and turf. I was just disappointed it was not bigger!

Bone marrow with clams at Black Barn in NYC, NY

Then, for her entree, Jodi went for the wild mushroom toast that was made with three kinds of cheese: robiola, tallegio and Parmesan. Very good, with lots of cheese, the mushrooms adding a earthy tone to it. She also had a side of Brussels sprouts that they graciously made with bacon.

Wild mushroom toast at Black Barn in NYC, NY

Roasted brussels sprouts at Black Barn in NYC, NY

On my side, I chose the duck breast pastrami and sausage. I love duck and was not disappointed: the meat was perfectly cooked, the breast having a nice smokiness and being my favorite over the sausage. The addition of the kumquat preserves gave a succulent sweetness to it. However, I did not like the Spanish torta that had nothing to do with a tortilla unfortunately.

For dessert, we could not resist ordering the apple cider donuts that came with a caramel sauce: they were superb, soft and pillowy.

Apple cider donuts at Black Barn in NYC, NY

So overall we had a great meal at Black Barn. This is definitely a place that stands out and I cannot wait to go back there for brunch.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Black Barn- 19 East 26th Street, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/19 I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/19

The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

I know what you are going to think: what I am doing, dining in Times Square where lots of restaurants are more concerned about food traffic than returning customer, proposing just ok meals when not subpar with some exceptions. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens located on the 9th floor of The Edition hotel is surely one. Opened last February by John Fraser (Nix, the regretted Dovetail or Narcissa) is a take on French brasseries and American chophouses where Chef Fraser worked early on in his career.

But you need to know it is there, otherwise you will pass in front of the hotel as we did many times without knowing such jewel was there. As you arrive on the 9th floor, you are overwhelmed by black and white photos that you can admire while waiting for a table. The dining room, separated from the bar, gives the feel that you are outside with all the plants and they do have an outdoor space that I did not get a chance to see (it was cold that day and I was not that motivated to check it out).

I noticed that they were careful to sit people apart from other patrons, leaving a table or two in between, keeping an intimate setting preserved by an acceptable noise level. Many wise, they have a wide range of dishes: vegetarian, seafood, meat, pasta, etc. So it can be hard to make a choice, so many seeming delicious and know that the portions are not so bit, with several dishes proposed in a smaller portion. I started the meal by ordering one of their cocktails: The Wiz, made with Japanese whisky, moonshine (white whisky may sound more elegant), green Apple and ginger, a quite refreshing start.

The Wiz cocktail at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

We then could not resist trying their deep dish focaccia, made with smoked mozzarella and spiced tomatoes, on which they cut some pieces of fresh basil. This is a must have: this fusion between a deep dish pizza and focaccia bread is amazing. The thick and fluffy focaccia is superb, not dry, covered with lots of cheese and complemented well by the freshness of the basil. When I think that I got a deep dish pizza this size at Giordano’s in Chicago that was horrible because extremely dry, I am thinking that they should switch it for this!

Deep dish focaccia at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

The second appetizer that was all for me was the grilled octopus that was served with sweet peppers and an orange ponzu sauce for a bit of acidity and citrusy flavor. The octopus was succulent: nicely charred and not rubbery. My only regret was that it was a small dish otherwise I could have eaten more.

Grilled octopus at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

For her entree, Jodi went for the cauliflower Tagine that was a great vegetarian dish, not like the kind that is created quickly in case somebody ask for it. No, it looked very appetizing with its green sauce made with spinach and Tunisian spices that was put on the cauliflower at the table. And taste wise, it was delicious, from the cauliflower itself that had a little crunch to the couscous underneath.

Cauliflower at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

On my side, I was set on ordering the tagliatelles with king crab and I admit that my only regret was that I took the appetizer size...Elegant, this dish had a nice amount of jumbo lump crab and the house made pasta, covered with sourdough breadcrumbs, although slightly overcooked, was delicious.

Tagliatelle with king crab at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

Last was dessert: the milk chocolate almond torte was a great way to end that meal. Not that big (we could have ordered two desserts in fact), it was quite chocolatey, the almond flour giving a nice texture and the raspberries a good contrast with the chocolate. Superb!

Chocolate almond torte at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens in Times Square

So we were thrilled that we found this place. It is a bit pricey but you get excellent food there. And the service is fabulous. In fact they understand the difference between good service and hospitality. Rare these days...

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens - 701 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/27/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/27/19

Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store

We were walking on the Upper West Side and looking for an ice cream shop when we stumbled upon Emacks and Bolio. I admit that I thought it was some ice cream parlor with innovative creative flavors rather than an established company founded in 1975 in Boston with a concept, three years before Ben and Jerry’s. Its founder, Robert Rook was a music lawyer who worked with Aerosmith, Boston, The Cars, U2, James Brown, and Al Green, as well was an advocate for the homeless, and it is apparently two homeless men who asked him to give his shop their names. The first shop was a sort of underground place where musicians could hang out late at night as the laws in Boston at that time forced clubs to close at midnight. So Robert got the idea to rent a space in a basement, install an ice cream machine, and then ask his friends to come and hang out, listening to acoustic music. Learning this, I understand now why there is a guitar in their decor and the place on the Upper West Side kept a hippie feel.

It’s is a very small place with only few seats inside and a bench outside, but the proximity of Central Park is perfect. As you enter, you cannot not notice the cones that are dipped in various ingredients like rice crispies, sprinkles or choco puffs. The first one I tried had nutella and rice crispies, the second (not the same day!), choco puffs. It looks decadent and creates a thick wall to contain the ice cream and helps me avoid having some of it dripping on my shoes. Decadent but a bit hard unfortunately and you pray that none of your teeth will get stuck. If you prefer regular cones, they also propose them.

Cones at Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store in NYC, NY

Their ice cream flavors are definitely not classic besides the vanilla with vanilla specks or maybe the creamy strawberry ice cream that is probably not that usual. No, they have choices like the Cosmic Crunch that is vanilla with caramel swirl, chocolate chips and pecan crunch or Oreo (original Oreo or even more decadent, the S’moreo that is their take on S’mores).

Cosmic crunch at Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store in NYC, NY

Original Oreo at Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store in NYC, NY

If you are vegan, they also have few flavors like the vegan toasted coconut Ice cream, made with coconut oil, coconut extract and toasted coconut flakes.

Vegan toasted coconut ice cream at Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store in NYC, NY

The ice cream is creamy and decadent but I would not go for the cones beside the chocolate sprinkles. Emack and Bolio is good, but I admit that I prefer Ben and Jerry’s or even Coldstone where you can make your own decadent mix. Mine is vanilla ice cream, Graham cracker, caramel and pecan. What is yours?

Enjoy (I did)!

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Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream Store - 389 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/25/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/25/19

Redeye Grill: how service can ruin a meal

Sometimes you get excited going to a place but unfortunately, your plan does not go the way you thought. That is what happened with Redeye Grill, a restaurant located across from The Carnegie Hall that went recently through renovation and had one of the best banana cream pie I tried in the city. We decided to go on a Friday evening not knowing that they have live music. Fortunately the weather was nice and we decided to sit in one of their tables outside. I wonder if it was not a mistake! We sat there with their menu for a bit before our waiter came asking if we wanted some water and if we were ready to order. We were and I was surprised to see that he did not write down our order, impressed by such memory. For sure he had difficulties to understand my accent and most of my sentences where followed by a “what?”. I was not impressed that long as he came back asking to confirm the order few minutes later. Then it took a while to get our appetizers, that were finally followed by our drinks (Jodi ordered a pink grapefruit tonic and I got a cocktail, The French Quarter, made with cognac, rye, bitters and absinthe). I had to try their dancing shrimp that are Coconut battered colossal shrimp served with a pineapple sauce, a ponzu sauce and a salsa verde. The presentation was spectacular, the shrimp coming on skewers. Taste wise, it was quite good, crispy and not greasy, the shrimp being well cooked. The second appetizer was guacamole and chips that was nice, the chips being homemade and the guacamole perfectly done, definitely freshly made.

Pink Grapefruit tonic water at Redeye Grill in NYC

French Quarter cocktail at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

Dancing shrimp at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

At this point, no water. As we finished our first courses, we waited again a while looking at the managers walking around and cleaning tables, looking at us but definitely ignoring us. Finally, the entrees came. Orgininally I was going for crab cakes but as I ordered the waiter let me know that there was no crab dish available that was a bit surprising for a restaurant with a large seafood selection and I wished they told me before. On top of that, several yummy dishes do have crab in it...So I went for...steak. I ordered a Delmonico ribeye that was supposed to be served with a bordelaise sauce that I asked on the side. When the steak came, there was no trace of bordelaise sauce and instead, I got some blue cheese, that was fine as I did not care much about the sauce. When I cut the steak, I could see that it was not a good cut and, fortunately for me, it was cooked medium and not medium rare as ordered. I told one of the staff who told me he would tell our waiter immediately and then proceeded to clean tables...Finally, our waiter stopped by, apologizing and then coming back few minutes to let me know the steak would come soon and that the Chef mentioned that it was indeed medium-rare but they would bring me a steak a bit more rare than medium (that’s what I would probably call medium-rare anyway and I was a bit surprised about the comment that was unnecessary). This is at that point that we got our water! It took a good 10 to 15 minutes for the steak to come back and I could see a difference in the quality and temperature (below, you can see the one on the left that was cooked medium and the one on the right that is in fact more rare than medium-rare). The steak was good, juicy, but a bit tough to cut in some parts.

Delmonico ribeye at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

Delmonico ribeye (medium) at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

Delmonico ribeye (rare) at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

We were glad that Jodi got a cold dish as we waited a while between the moment she got it and the moment I got my dish. It was the Green Goddess veggie roll made with asparagus, avocado, daikon and a spicy miso.

Green Goddess veggie roll at Redeye Grill in NYC, NY

After we finished our entree, our waiter was nowhere to be found so we decided to skip the dessert we were so looking forward to have. And to top the poor service we had, they counted two steaks on the bill and added the blue cheese sauce I never asked for! Good that I always check the bill before paying. And again, I got a bit of an attitude from the waiter who, instead of apologizing told me that he was “not a computer”. Well I could have guessed but it is not a reason to be rude! At least you should apologize for a blatant mistake. Anyway, this was disappointing and shows how poor service can wreck a meal. Too bad because the food was decent and I was so looking forward for that banana cream pie.

Enjoy (…)!

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Red Eye Grill - 890 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/22/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/22/19

Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

It has been three years that I discovered Thai Select, a Thai restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. As we were looking recently for a place to eat, walking towards Port Authority on 9th, we stumbled upon it and decided to have dinner there. The place did not change besides the Halloween decor that was all over and the room in the back with its backlit photo still looks beautiful.

Dining room at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

As usual, I started my meal with a Thai iced tea that is one of my favorite drinks, that did not last long...

Thai iced tea at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

We then shared two appetizers: the crispy tofu with chili sauce (a bit bland so you need a lot of sauce) and the chive pancakes that were quite delicious.

Crispy tofu at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

Chive pancakes at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

For the entrees, Jodi wanted a mushroom dish that they unfortunately do not offer anymore (they should mark that on the menu) and ended up with string beans and tofu, served with a soy garlic sauce. Good but I admit a bit boring for me (Jodi loves it). On my side, I went for a chicken curry massaman, classic and safe usually. This was good, tasty and not spicy. Well made although not the best I had.

String beans and tofu at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

Chicken massaman at Thai Select in Hell's Kitchen

Overall it is was a good meal: Thai Select is a good choice if you are in the area. Know that they serve dishes a bit less classic than the one we had like their honey duck I had last time, so discovering their menu can be a nice adventure.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Thai Select -472 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/19 I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/19

Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

I was craving Indian food and coincidentally, I saw a photo on Instagram of a dish at Roasted Masala, an Indian restaurant in the Upper West Side. The photo was posted by my friend Malini, The Restaurant Fairy, who seemed excited about the food there and knowing her, if she was positive, it meant that it was good. So we decided to check the restaurant website and our excitement went up: lots of classic dishes, but not only. They have lots of vegetarian dishes, so it was perfect for Jodi, street food dishes as well as ones that I never …

Dining room at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

We went there for an early dinner as we had an early lunch (only way to get a reservation to the restaurant we went to for brunch). And let me tell you: we had a solid appetite as we walked all day from Midtown to Downtown and then Downtown to the Upper West Side. So the place was empty when we arrived. Big and with a nice decor, I appreciated the fact that the noise level was low, as customers came. It seems that lots of patrons were from the neighborhood that is good, but, we felt at some point that they neglected us a bit. Despite that, the food was really good and Jodi was grateful that it was not spicy. Here is what we had:

Lasooni Gobi, an Indo-Chinese dish that is a stir fried cauliflower smothered by a garlic sauce (lasooni means garlic in Hindi).

Lasooni gobi at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

Another dish I love is pakora, these fritters that are so comforting: isn’t anything fried so good? So they do have onion fritters that do not even need any sauce to dip them in: the onions were cooked all the way through and the outside was delightfully crispy.

Onion fritters at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

Then we hesitated as we love samosa, these fried turnovers usually filled with a vegetarian mix made with potato and peas. But we finally went for samosa chaat, a sort of crushed samosa with onion, yogurt and tamarind sauce. The presentation is not always good for that dish but the taste, that is an explosion of flavors because of all the ingredients, is delicious.

Samosa chaat at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

For the entrees, we shared a dal makhni that was creamy and had just a slight kick and I got a chicken dish: chicken kolhapuri that is chicken cooked in roasted spices. Good, not spicy, the chicken was perfectly cooked and the sauce, although not as creamy as I like sauces in Indian cuisine, quite good. In fact, I skipped the rice and ate it with the cheddar naan that was one of their take on cheese naan.

Dal Makhni at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

Chicken Kolhapuri at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

Cheddar nan at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

For dessert, I first wanted to get one of their choices that has jelebi in it, a very sweet pastry rarely seen on a menu, but, unfortunately, they did not have any and we ended up with some delicious gulab jamun.

Gulab jamun at Roasted Masala in The Upper West Side

So overall, this was a very good meal, tasty and comforting. I would definitely go back to Roasted Masala to try other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Roasted Masala - 914 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY

I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/19 I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/19

Brunch at La Bouche Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

Going to La Bouche Café is like trying to go to a Rolling Stone’s concert: difficult to get a ticket but once you are there, you enjoy it (just so you know, I have never been to their concert). This place that used to be on Garden Street, off the beaten path, has now a prime location on Washington street with a little outdoor space. Their, Chef and owner Esra Yuzer who is from Turkey, serves a European menu with few Mediterranean dishes. We tried to go few times but it was always busy and we were not willing to wait. So it is on Columbus Day that we got lucky and sat outside for lunch on a beautiful day. Jodi ordered their crispy fried goat cheese salad, a goat cheese salad being a classic French dish that Jodi often orders when we are in France. This one had strawberries and a pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette that added a nice sweetness.

Goat cheese salad at La Bouche Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I could not resist their French burger, made with caramelized onions, blue cheese, cheddar fondue, crispy bacon, on a Balthazar potato roll. When it came, I was surprised to see that it did not come with any side, but, as it was big, I did not bother. It looked beautiful, with the cheese fondue all over. And the first bite was divine: the roll was soft and you get first the taste of the cheeses that pair perfectly together, then the crunch of the bacon and the delicious flavor of the meat that was juicy and perfectly cooked medium. It was messy but so good that I literally inhaled it.

French burger at La Bouche Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

We also had some chai that is tea: regular for Jodi and dirty for me: not that it was served in a dirty glass or with an olive, but more with honey, vanilla and espresso (I could barely taste the latter).

Dirty chai at La Bouche Cafe in Hoboken, NJ

The brunch was quite good and that burger amazing: this definitely made me want to try their dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Bouche Cafe - 207 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/15/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/15/19

Brunch at Motel Morris in Chelsea

We passed many times in front of Motel Morris in Chelsea, a place that only has such name because of the nostalgia of the 1960s from the owners. Yes, it is just a restaurant and not attached at all to a hotel. But an interesting restaurant for the atmosphere it carries: retro from its decor and popular from its crowd.

Menu wise, for brunch, it proposes an elevated all American menu with classics like burgers and eggs. And, reminiscent of diners, floats but spiked with alcohol, like the bourbon cherry coke float that is an interesting fusion of a vanilla milkshake and an old fashioned. But don’t be fooled: there is indeed bourbon in it and if you do not taste it at first because you did not mix the whole thing enough, you feel some warmth in the back of your throat that will remind you you are not just getting your daily dose of calcium.

They have lots of dishes to share and the ricotta fritters, served on ricotta and rhubarb compote are the perfect way to start or even finish your meal. However, for $14, I would have expected a bigger serving and cannot fathom anybody ordering this as a main dish. Nevertheless, these fritters were delicious: fluffy, with the outside slightly crunchy, I liked the addition of the rhubarb compote that paired well with the ricotta and added some sweetness.

Ricotta fritters at Motel Morris in Chelsea

I mentioned the burger before that is probably good, but I was in the mood for a fried chicken sandwich. The one at Motel Morris is served with celery root cabbage that is unfortunately a bit overpowering. Still, the chicken was good, crispy, tasty and cooked all the way through without being dry. It as served with some greens, probably to give the impression it is a healthy dish…

Fried chicken sandwich at Motel Morris in Chelsea

Jodi chose a salad and went for the hacienda salad that she asked without jalapeños. It was a fairly big salad composed of tomato, lettuce, avocado, black beans, cotilla cheese and a coriander ranch dressing.

Hacienda salad at Motel Morris in Chelsea

We did not have dessert as we had the fritters and were planning to go somewhere else, but overall, we had a good brunch there that makes me want to go for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Motel Morris - 132 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/13/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/13/19

Brunch at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

As we were in Long Island City, we decided to find a brunch place and ended up at Café Henri few steps from the subway station. We went for an 11:30am brunch and I could not believe how crowded this place was! Luckily, we got a table fairly quickly. I love the decor there, with his big chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the core color of the walls that gave an old feel to a place that definitely feels like your neighborhood joint, like stepping in a restaurant in Paris without the price of the flight.

Dining room at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

We started by ordering some beverages: a hot cocoa (not worth trying as not chocolatey enough) and a cafe Francais that is.a stretched espresso (or cafe allonge).

Hot chocolate at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Cafe français at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Menu wise, I appreciated the fact that they served their regular menu on top of their breakfast menu and ordered the escargots that were delicious, especially the butter sauce that is so good when you dip some bread in it.

Escargots at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Dipping bread in the butter sauce at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Next where crepes: I went for the complete that is with ham, cheese and egg. It was good and had lots of cheese but I just wished they let the yolk runny.

Crepe complete at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Jodi made her own that is a great option on the menu and picked three ingredients: Swiss, goat and mushrooms. Delicious.

For dessert, we went for the butter and sugar crepe that had a bit too much butter and not enough sugar. Still, it was good.

Butter and sugar crepe at Cafe Henri in Long Island City

Overall, our brunch at Cafe Henri was good and I definitely want to go back there for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cafe Henri - 10-10 50th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11101

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/11/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/11/19

Brunch at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

As we had to be on the Upper West Side, we checked out a brunch place and stumbled upon The Ribbon, a pretty big restaurant on 72nd and Amsterdam. Yes big place with the bar room when you enter that I bet is crowded and noisy in the evening, and a large dining room in the back, with a view of the kitchen.

Bar area at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

Juke box at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

Dining room at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

Before going there, I already knew what I would get there: yes, we always check the menu before going to a restaurant! I wanted to try their fried chicken sandwich that was composed, besides fried chicken, of lettuce, tomato and their house sauce. The first bite was delicious: the fried chicken was moist and crispy. In fact I could have just eaten that chicken without anything else.

Fried chicken sandwich at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

Jodi opted for the crispy tofu that was an interesting dish to propose on an all American menu. It was smothered in a black pepper glaze that was very good and that, contrary to Jodi, I did not find spicy (it depends on your sensitivity to spice food).

Crispy tofu at The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

So overall we had a great meal at The Ribbon: I would certainly go back for brunch or dinner there to explore a bit more their menu (their Ribbon dip looks amazing).

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Ribbon - 20 W 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/8/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/8/19

Chi Dumplings and noodles at The Plaza Food Court

After going to The Plazza Food Court and trying No 7 Sub, we decided to go back and get a taste of Chi Dumplings and Noodles, a casual Chinese restaurant located in the back. But we did not go for ramen or noodles: no, we decided to share a bunch of dishes. As the name has dumplings in it, we ordered their vegetable dumplings and their shrimp dumplings. I do not know why but when I see green dumplings I always have an apprehension that it will have too much spinach in it. And it did. At least the shrimp dumplings were decent.

Veggie dumplings at Chi Dumplings and noodles at The Plaza Food Court

Shrimp dumplings at Chi Dumplings and noodles at The Plaza Food Court

Next we’re the vegetables spring rolls that unfortunately had too much shell all around, the filling getting lost.

Vegetable Spring rolls at Chi Dumplings and noodles at The Plaza Food Court

Last we’re the pork buns that were good but missing hoisin sauce. Fortunately they have a bottle that I grabbed quickly, making the dish more flavorful.

Pork buns at Chi Dumplings and noodles at The Plaza Food Court

So as you can guess, I am not a big fan of Chi Dumplings and Noodles. Maybe their ramen is better: I’ll have to check that out.

Enjoy (...)!

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

Chi Dumplings and noodles - 1 W 59th Street, New York, NY 10019

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/6/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/6/19

No 7 Sub at The Plaza Food Court

The Plaza is a beautiful hotel and lots of people are missing out on the food court that is in the basement and features various places like Lady M, Billy’s Bakery, Luke’s Lobster or No 7 Sub that we tried recently. Their menu offers only few vegetarian options like the broccoli classic that Jodi tried: made with…roasted broccoli…as well as lychee muchim (that I think is pickled lychee), feta, fried shallots and mayonnaise. I admit that when she proposed me to try, I hesitated, not being a huge fan of broccoli, but was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it tasted good when all mixed together, the feta giving a nice saltiness to the sandwich. On my side, I hesitated between the Dr Melfi made with salami, mozzarella and fried zucchini, and the Perfect Chicken Sandwich, made with fried chicken, Muchim pickles and mayonnaise. I went for the latter and added some BBQ chips that you can add to any sandwich. This was a fantastic sandwich: similar to the Broccoli one, the bread was fresh and soft; the fried chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy, moist and cooked all the way through. I loved the acidity the pickles were adding and the crunchiness and saltiness added by the chips. I definitely recommend it.

Broccoli classic sandwich at No 7 Sub at The Plaza Food Court

Perfect fried chicken sandwich at No 7 Sub at The Plaza Food Court

No 7 Sub is a good find: although a bit pricey for what it is (you pay for the location), they have great creative sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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No 7 Sub - 1 West 58 Street, New York, NY, NY 10019

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/4/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/4/19

Enzo Bruni Pizza Gourmet in The Gansevoort Market

On a recent trip to The Gansevoort Market, we decided to try some pizza sold by the slice from Enzo Bruni, replacing Luzzo’s that used to be there for years. The pizza definitely looked good and they propose a nice selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian pies. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the burrata one that had lots of this creamy cheese: the crust was good, puffed up and charred on the sides and thin in the center, like a Neapolitan pizza should be. The one with pancetta that I tried was good but a bit too salty; It had a square crust that was crispy. For a more decadent slice, you can also try the tartufata, made with mushrooms and black olives, and a hint of truffle oil.

Burrata pizza at Enzo Bruni Pizza Gourmet in The Gansevoort Market

Pancetta pizza at Enzo Bruni Pizza Gourmet in The Gansevoort Market

Margarita pizza at Enzo Bruni Pizza Gourmet in The Gansevoort Market

Pizza tartufata at Enzo Bruni Pizza Gourmet in The Gansevoort Market

If you are in the area, Enzo Bruni is a good stop. In fact, lots of tours are stopping there but I still prefer Luzzo’s…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Enzo Bruni - 353 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/1/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 11/1/19

Burger Inc in The Gansevoort Market

We like sometimes to go to The Gansevoort Market to see what they have to offer and there are often new choices there, the proximity of Chelsea Market close by probably making business more difficult. So, as we were there with Jodi’s cousin Rebecca, I could not resist trying Burger Inc as I saw few months before that they propose a burger with bone marrow, The Don. So I went for it and did not regret it: the bone marrow gave a nice fattiness to the sandwich that had a tasty charred beef patty that was juicy.

The Don burger at Burger Inc in The Gansevoort Market

French fries at Burger Inc in The Gansevoort Market

This was a true find and I would for sure go back to Burger Inc to try other menu options like their fried chicken sandwich that looks very good…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Burger Inc - 353 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/30/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/30/19

Tuk Tuk, Thai food in LIC

I sometimes crave Thai food: comforting, flavorful and not always spicy, Thai cuisine offers a nice selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. So, as we were in Long Island City, we decided to try Tuk Tuk, a local restaurant that takes its name from the three wheeled taxi that you see in many Asian countries.

Tuk Tuk serves classics as well as street food that I have never seen on a menu. Vegetarian dishes are very flavorful there and I had no problem sharing with Jodi the vegetable Spring rolls (crunchy and not too greasy with not too much shell), the vegetable dumplings or “green dumplings” that were succulent (thin shell and flavorful filling made with peas and corn to name few ingredients, and bathed in a chili oil) or the surprising pan-fried Chinese chive cakes with spicy soy dipping sauce.

Green dumplings at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

Pan-fried Chinese chive cakes at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

Spring rolls at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

For the entrees, they offer lots of dishes with tofu like the pad see ew that was delightfully sweet, or the magic mushrooms, made with stir-fried shiitake, eryngii and white mushrooms in a garlic pepper brown sauce. I liked it but admit that I see that dish more as either an appetizer or something to share rather than a full entree that you would eat with rice.

Pad see ew at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

Magic mushrooms at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

For non-vegetarians, they have the classic curries like the chicken massaman that I really liked, the sauce being amazing: not spicy, it was tasty with the onions, potato, peppers and cashew nuts that were bathed in it. But more interestingly is their street “Explore” section that includes a bunch of street food dishes like the Kaw-Moo-Dang, made with roast pork and crispy pork belly served over rice with a five-spice peanut gravy, boiled egg, cucumber and scallion. I admit that I was not sure if I had to mix the egg with the pork and rice, so I tried various combinations. This was delicious, the pork being crunchy and the sauce very good, but I admit I would have liked more of it.

Chicken massaman at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

Kaw Moo Dang at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

Of course, each time we went, I ordered a Thai iced tea that is my go to drink when I eat in a Thai restaurant.

Thai iced tea at Tuk Tuk in Long Island City

I like Tuk Tuk: this low key restaurant with a courteous staff stands out from the classic Thai restaurants. I would definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tuk Tuk - 4906 Vernon Boulevard, Queens, NY, NY 11101

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/28/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/28/19

Le District, French market

Italians have Eataly and the French have Le District, a market that opened in 2015, located near The World Trade Center that offers classic French delicacies such as bread or cheese. I admit that, I heard about it in the past but waited until we went to L’Appart few months ago before deciding to explore this place, regretting that I did not go earlier. Depending from where you enter, you can end up in the supermarket that had lots of French products, most of them overpriced unfortunately, or on the food court side, starting with crepes that are not good, Bar Suzette in Chelsea Market being a better option.

Lemon meringue tart at Le District in NYC, NY

Eclair au chocolat at Le District in NYC, NY

As you move towards the back, you pass the boulangerie where they sell various classics: croissants, pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant) as well as a brioche with chocolate chips (lots of them) or a bunch of choices with Nutella such as the brioche that was filled with lots of it.

Brioche with chocolate chips at Le District in NYC, NY

Brioche with Nutella at Le District in NYC, NY

The bread, that is served in the various restaurants (L’Appart or Beaubourg) is superb, with or without butter and they even have a ficelle (thinner and smaller version of a baguette) that I tried in a succulent fig and Comte cheese sandwich. This is a good Segway to talk about their cheese: they have a great selection with cheeses like Brillat Savarin, a triple cream cow cheese or the livarot, another cow’s cheese that has a pungent flavor. For sure, this beats any cheese plate offered in restaurants that I often consider a rip off as expensive and too classic.

Brillat Savarin at Le District in NYC, NY

Cheese and meat at Le District in NYC, NY

With the cheese, you can get some meat products like their homemade pate de champagne that is very good and comforting or some jambon cru (prosciutto).

Pate de campagne at Le District in NYC, NY

They also have a butcher that provides meat for their steak frites (my photos got corrupted so I cannot show this dish to you!) or even mergez, these delicious lamb sausages that are hard to find except in French or Middle Eastern restaurants. And of course, they have wine, white, red or rose, you name it.

Le District is a great place: good food and the

Le District is a great place to indulge in French classics but know that it can be crowded, especially in the evening. I cannot wait to go back there to try their cheese fondue and sandwiches.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Le District - 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281

I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/19 I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/19

Pasta Lovers in Times Square

Some may say that I am a bit stubborn, continuing to dine in Times Square hoping to find the Holy Grail of food. There are some nice places I enjoy there like Junior’s or Tony di Napoli, so who knows? Well, for sure, for Italian food, Pasta Lovers is not at the same level as Tony di Napoli I mentioned before. The food is decent but you are not going to drool just thinking about it. We went there on a Friday evening and the restaurant was surprisingly not that full. I started with a Spritz the was definitely not the best I ever had and wondered how you can screw up that drink!

At least, when we tried the appetizer, fried mozzarella triangles, we got a good surprise: it was very good, crispy and not greasy, the cheese delightfully gooey.

Fried mozzarella at Pasta Lovers in Times Square

For my entree, I went for the linguine with clams, one of my favorite Italian dishes. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the plate coming as there were only a couple of shells, giving me the impression that the clams were mostly from a can. The clams were in fact a bit tough, overcooked and fortunately the white wine sauce was good and the pasta well cooked otherwise, this would have been a disaster.

Linguine with clams at Pasta Lovers in Times Square

Jodi on her side got the eggplant parmesan that looked terrible but was good.

Eggplant parmesan at Pasta Lovers in Times Square

Fortunately, we ended up with their tiramisu for dessert: it was very good and is a must have…if you end up at Pasta Lovers.

Tiramisu at Pasta Lovers in Times Square

For sure, I would pass on that place…

Enjoy (…)!

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Pasta Lovers - 142 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10020

I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/19 I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/19

Saar Indian Bistro

I was really excited when we got to go to Saar Indian Bistro Midtown Manhattan: this place is one of the many restaurants of Chef Hemant Mathur who I met few times in the various places he opened in the city, some of them unfortunately closing such as Haldi. This Michelin starred Chef knows how to give a modern twist to Indian cuisine and eating his food is always a festival of flavors. We started our meal with some snacks and a mango lassi that is my go to drink when eating Indian food: nicely sweet, it is a good way to cool your mouth when on fire…

Mango lassi at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

The first appetizer was the paneer fingers made with chickpea flour and served with a pickle aioli. You need to like chickpea as the batter had that taste and if you do, you will love it: crispy and not greasy, quite comforting.

Paneer fingers at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

The second one was the cauliflower latkes that was topped with a cranberry chutney. This was like an homage to jewish deli with their potato latkes, and I love the twist Chef Mother gave to this dish, adding Indian flavor to it.

Cauliflower latkes at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

For the entrees, Jodi settled for some sides: dal makhni (delightfully creamy) and saag paneer made with spinach and Indian cheese. I admit that the latter is not my favorite dish, as I am not a big fan of spinach, but the dal was fantastic, perfect with some butter nan.

Butter naan at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

Dal Makhni at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

Saag paneer at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

I also tried their Saar lamb kebab that was succulent: if you love lamb and do not mind spices, I highly recommend it.

Lamb kebab at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. They definitely have interesting options and although I was disappointed not to see my favorite Indian dessert, the gulab jamun, I was thrilled to try their shahi tukra or Emperor’s morsel, a crispy brioche smothered by a reduced milk cream and almonds. Very good and not too sweet, it had something comforting.

Shahi tukra at Saar Indian Bistro in NYC, NY

After such a meal, we were glad to have a little walk and were delighted to have dined at Saar Indian Bistro: Chef Mathur never disappoints for sure!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Saar Indian Bistro - 241 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/19 I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/19

Dinner at Craft

When I think that Craft, one of the restaurants of celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio, has been opened since 2001 and I only tried it in 2019! I was sad to see Colicchio and Sons and Craftbar closing in fact, two restaurants that showed the difference between hospitality and good service and it is only after talking to one of my friends who loves Craft that we ended up there for dinner on a Friday. For once, we ended up in a place where we could enjoy a nice conversation without screaming to the top of our lungs.

I should mention that they offer a delicious potato bread that is light like a brioche and so good that I would eat just that with or without butter.

The bread was followed by a shot of gazpacho, compliment of the Chef:

Serving seasonal dishes with ingredients bought locally, including in the nearby green market, the menu offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with a special section for mushrooms that jodi could not resist, ordering the chanterelles as an appetizer, a good choice for an earthy start.

On my side, choosing an appetizer was challenging as there were lots of mouth watering choices: oysters, octopus, foie gras or quail. I went for the latter that was grilled and topped with aged balsamic. This was perfectly cooked that is always tricky as a quail can quickly become dry if overcooked.

I continued with another bird for my entree: Crescent Pekin duck served two ways, a roasted breast and a confit leg. Both were sublime, perfectly cooked: the breast was medium-rare, with a fatty skin that was very slightly crispy and the confit was not too salty, literally falling off the bone.

Crescent Peking duck at Craft in NYC, NY

It did not come with any side so we went for the aligot, a potato purée with ten times the amount of cheese and butter you would normally put in a classic French purée.

For her entree, Jodi opted for the fusilli with burrata, Goldbar squash and basil squash blossom. Superb! This is the kind of comforting dish that is perfect with this weather.

With our meal, we got some drinks: The bee sting cocktail, made with Pendleton Whisky, fresh ginger, cardamom-honey and Regan's orange bitters.

Jodi got a non-alcoholic beverage called the Phoenician made with pomegranate juice, lemon, mint and Club soda.

The meal finished with fireworks, enjoying their donuts that were some of the best I had in a restaurant: fluffy and light, we finished all of them despite being full…This is a must have!

Overall, we had a great meal at Craft: although pricey, it was a amazing. I would definitely go back.

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Craft - 43 E 19th Street, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 10/18/19 I Just Want To Eat! 10/18/19

House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

I love BBQ and had House of Que in Weehawken on my radar for a while. It is a bit far but a nice walk on the river front or, if you live in New York, the ferry ride from Manhattan to Port Imperial can be a convenient and nice way of discovering this area. House of Que is big, with lots of light and two bars to serve a horde of thirsty patrons, the second bar being in a it, surrounded by oversized TVs. You certainly don’t go to House of Que for a romantic dinner and lunch might be better if like me you like to eat without noise canceling headphones.

Food wise we were not disappointed: at House of Que, Chef Michael Rodriguez serves a large menu with true Texas style BBQ. Their motto? We only smoke the good stuff! My only regret is that they only propose a small sampler or more choice of two meats and two sides during the week as the minimum weight to order is a quarter pound and if you are the only one non-vegetarian, it can be a lot of food. Still, they have plenty of good options, even for vegetarians, like the fried pickle spears that are always a crowd pleaser or their corn bread that is quite good, with or without butter. Yes, sides can be a good way to pick vegetarian dishes and it is fine as long as they are well done like the Mac and cheese that was creamy, but small (it was the medium size).

Fried pickles at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

Corn bread at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

Mac and cheese at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

For meat eaters, I suggest the chicken wings that I chose with chipotle BBQ sauce: slightly crispy on the outside and with a nice sweetness.

Chicken wings at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

I was close to ordering their burger that I tried in their Hoboken location previously and finally settled for the Sloppy Texan, a brioche bun that combines smoked brisket and ground beef braised in chili seasonings, pickled onions, American cheese and pickles (lots of them). The name of the dish definitely says it all as it is very sloppy to eat, but quite good and comforting. The chili has a bold and comforting flavor and the pickles added a bit of crunch and acidity to it that is perfect.

Sloppy texan at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

Last was dessert. I decided to go for the pecan pie that is deliciously buttery, although this time, the crust was a bit overcooked.

Pecan pie at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

You may wonder if I drank anything: they do have an extensive drink menu, from cocktails to beer, but I just went for a root beer, that I love with pizza and BBQ...

Root beer at House of Que in Weehawken, NJ

So, House of Que never disappoints: I love this place that proposes an extensive menu, a bit overwhelming when you want to try a bit of everything, but surely comforting. It will not be the last time I’ll be there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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House of Que - 500 Ave at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ 07086