Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/15/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/15/19

Florence, Italy: Lo Scudo

We found Lo Scudo while walking behind the Duomo in Florence, attracted by the meat displayed at the window. We loved it so much that we went there twice during our trip: once for lunch and once for dinner, trying various dishes and of course the steak. This place is less than two years old but the owners, Alessandro and Federico succeeded in creating a nice atmosphere, very welcoming, where tourists and locals mingle. This is the kind of restaurant that truly knows what hospitality means and their food was superb.

Dining room at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Here is what we had:

Of course, you should not be surprised that I had a spritz, one of the most popular cocktails…with tourists!

Insalata mista, a salad composed of organic mixed greens with tomato, carrots and olives.

Insalata mista at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Caprese di burrata e basilico, an appetizer made with burrata cheese, cuori di bue tomatoes and basil. That burrata was perfectly creamy.

Burrata with tomato at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Carciofi indivia parmigiano a scaglie olio e limone or Artichokes endive with parmigiano and lemon and olive oil dressing. I loved it: artichokes are unfortunately not often proposed on menu and, when I was a kid, we used to eat them with a vinaigrette, dipping the leaves and the core in it, after ditching the fuzzy center.

Artichokes at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Pappa al pomodoro, a thick Tuscan soup made with stale bread. This was amazing: tasty and comforting.

Pappa al pomodoro at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Linguine al nero di seppia, vongole veraci e bottarga di muggine or Black squid linguini with veraci clams and bottarga: this was an amazing dish: the homemade squid ink pasta was superb, perfectly cooked al dente, smothered in a delicious sauce that I finished with pieces of bread...

Squid ink linguine at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Then was the Bistecca alla Fiorentina or T-bone steak that you can find all over in Florence, but with various quality of meat. At Lo Scudo, they serve Chianina beef that is one of the oldest breed of cattle in the world and if you look at photos on the internet, you will be amazed by its size. To prove me that this was Chianina meat, they showed me the certificate that authenticates it. Butchering it was a bit difficult for them as you can see on the video and then, they put it on the grill for some time, until reaching a perfect rare to medium-rare temperature as this is recommended. The meat, aged for 28 days, was tender, juicy and very flavorful. I definitely recommend going to Lo Scudo for it!

Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Lo Scudo in Florence, Italy

Last was dessert: we had their tiramisu that was a great way to end these meals: it was so creamy, with the necessary hint of coffee, but without being overwhelming.

I am a big fan of Lo Scudo: it is a great place that I definitely recommend and will surely go there on my next trip to Florence.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Lo Scudo - Via dell' Oriuolo, 53, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.

I Just Want To Eat! 12/14/19 I Just Want To Eat! 12/14/19

Florence, Italy: Trattoria Zaza

Similar to Borgo Antico, we went back to Trattoria Zàzà, a restaurant located in the busy area of the Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo (The San Lorenzo Central Market that exists since 1874), where hordes of tourists gather to buy bags, belts and other goods made with Italian leather, where bargaining is mandatory, like a game in which everyone will win. The market itself offers a bunch of local products, from vegetables, to meat or seafood, with creepy sightings like the skinned rabbits ready to be cooked.

San Lorenzo Central Market in Florence, Italy

Difficult to miss Trattoria Zàzà outside with the naked Cupid showing the way to the entrance. The food there is pretty good, with reasonable prices. We started by ordering some beverages: a sparkling mandarine soda for Jodi and a spritz for me:

Mandarinata soda at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

Spritz at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

Then, as an appetizer, I ordered the prosciutto di Parma and cantaloupe, a fairly classic Italian appetizer mixing sweet and savory flavors.

Prosciutto di parma and cantaloupe at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

Proscittu di parma and cantaloupe at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

Next was the Spaghetti with clams alla Zàzà, a dish similar to spaghetti alle Vongole, that was succulent: the pasta were well cooked, al dente, bathed in a delicious white wine sauce and complemented with lots of clams.

Spaghetti with clams alla Zaza at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

Jodi simply went with tomato and mozzarella, a simple but good dish.

Tomato and mozzarella at Trattoria Zaza in Florence, Italy

So overall, we were not disappointed by Trattoria Zaza: the food there is quite good and prices are reasonable.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Trattoria Zaza - Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

I Just Want To Eat! 12/13/19 I Just Want To Eat! 12/13/19

China Blue in Tribeca

We were looking for a place to eat near Canal street when we stumbled upon China Blue, the sister restaurant of Cafe China, a place I visited last year while going through some Michelin Star restaurants. I was not sure what to expect but, as we entered, we felt immediately that we would probably have a memorable lunch. Yes, the decor is beautiful with all its Chinese ornaments and the dining room spacious enough to allow for some privacy, at least at lunch time (we went on a Saturday at noon).

And the food was amazing: they offer a wide variety of dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Here is what we tried:

Thousand year eggs in pickled chili sauce that is in fact a cured duck egg where the white becomes brownish and the yolk dark and transparent with a gelatinous texture. Taste wise, it does not really have the same taste as a boiled egg. In fact I am not sure how to describe the taste to be honest and think that when you get past the look, you can really enjoy this dish that is a bit spicy.

Thousand years eggs at China Blue in Tribeca

Savory bean curd wrap with marinated shiitake mushroom: this was delicious and tasty, surprisingly cold.

Scallion pancakes: our go to dish when eating in a Chinese restaurant. Perfectly made and delightfully greasy.

Scallion pancakes at China Blue in Tribeca

Pork soup dumplings: another dish I love to get in a Chinese restaurant. Well made, the shell was thin but did not break out and the soup was deliciously fatty, as expected.

Vegetable potstickers: made with bok choy, shiitake mushrooms, carrot and cellophane noodles. I admit that I am not always a big fan of veggie dumplings but these were very good and quite tasty.

Vegetable potstickers at China Blue in Tribeca

Vegetabe potstickers at China Blue in Tribeca

The last dish was the crispy eels Wuxi style that is like baby eels fried and smothered by a sweet sauce. Very good, crunchy but a bit too sweet.

Crispy eel Wixu style at China Blue in Tribeca

Overall we had a great meal at China Blue: the food was delicious and items on the menu are great options to share. I should mention the service that was impeccable. Definitely a place I am looking forward to go back to.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

China Blue -135 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/11/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/11/19

Ramen at Ippudo

Time for ramen! That is what Jodi and I thought when planning a day to the city and we decided to go to Ippudo West Side for lunch. Early enough to get a seat before it started to get packed. As we were showed our seats at the counter, the hostess shouted in Japanese something like “there are two guests sitting at the counter”, followed by a “welcome” from the staff.

Time for ramen! That is what Jodi and I thought when planning a day to the city and we decided to go to Ippudo West Side for lunch. Early enough to get a seat before it started to get packed.
As we were showed our seats at the counter, the hostess shouted in Japanese something like “there are two guests sitting at the counter”, followed by a “welcome” from the staff.

The menu there is great, offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes all mouth watering. We immediately saw the Ippudo buns where you could pick various fillings: chicken, pork, shrimp or vegetarian. We went for the latter so Jodi could share with me. It was made of eggplant and eringi mushroom with spicy sauce, mayo and lettuce. And there was lots of sauce so I was glad they gave us a wet towel...The first bite was succulent: the buns were soft and fluffy and the filling delightfully crunchy and hearty, with a slight kick that was compensated by the mayo. I was pleased to see a vegetarian version of the buns on the menu that well executed as usually, they are proposed with pork belly and rarely with veggies.

For her main dish, Jodi the Nirvana Akamaru ramen, made with a silky nirvana broth (no relation to a famous band and no, I have no idea what it was made with besides vegetables), braised tofu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallion, cabbage, garlic oil, tamago (egg, ordered as an addition) and their secret “umami dama“ paste.

Nirvana Akamaru ramen at Ippudo West Side

On my side, I got a special ramen: the Miso Akamaru ramen, made with tonkotsu pork broth mixed with three kinds of miso, pork shashu (braised pork) and ground pork, scallion, shiraganegi (sliced leeks), akamiso paste and garlic oil.

Both ramen were delicious. The one Jodi had had thin noodles while mine had thick noodles. The veggie ramen was quite good and tasty, not boring at all, with lots of flavors. But I admit that mine was even better: rich and comforting, it was packed in flavors. For sure, when it comes to ramen, Ippudo is a reference: I highly recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ippudo West Side - 321 West 51st Street, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 12/9/19 I Just Want To Eat! 12/9/19

Hong Kong Station in Times Square

As we were walking on 47th street to go to The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens for dinner, we passed in front of Hong Kong station, a Chinese restaurant with an interesting menu that would satisfy vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Located on the ground floor of the Night Hotel, in the heart of Times Square and I did not imagine how big this place is, with the decor at the entrance, especially the red lanterns standing out.

Red lanterns at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Back dining room at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

After a cup of hot tea that they automatically brought to the table (I am always annoyed when they charge for tea…There, they do not), we decided to order a bunch of dishes. Here is what we had:

Tea at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Shrimp dumplings: these are my favorite steamed dumplings and at Hong Kong station, I found them superb, especially the shell that was well made, not too thick and slightly sticking to the chopsticks.

Shrimp dumplings at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Crab and pork soup dumplings (Aka crabmeat juicy pork buns): they were just ok and should have probably been cooked a bit more as a bit doughy and breaking as soon as I grab them. The soup itself was also missing the fattiness that I love in these dumplings.

Crab and pork soup dumplings at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Vegetable spring rolls: quite good, the shell not being too thick and delightfully greasy.

Vegetable spring rolls at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Scallion pancakes: crispy and greasy as expected.

Scallion pancakes at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Peking duck buns: I loved them. I love Peking duck as well as the sweet and savory tastes of this dish and this was perfect. The duck was really good, the skin being slightly crunchy and deliciously fatty.

Peking duck bun at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Tofu in brown sauce: lots of sauce for sure, tasty and flavorful.

Tofu in Town sauce at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

For dessert, we tried their sweet egg yolk creamy bun that was good but not the best I had.

Sweet egg yolk creamy bun at Hong Kong Station in Times Square

Overall it was good and this is a nice addition to Times Square, even if it is not the best Chinese restaurant you can find I the city. So yes, if you are in that area and are craving Chinese cuisine, this is a good address to know.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Hong Kong Station -157 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/6/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/6/19

Junior's in Brooklyn, NY

The first time I went to Junior’s was more than a decade ago, one of my friends talking about the cheesecake all the time and since then, I consider this deli to have the best in New York. There was just one location I never went to: the original one in Brooklyn that opened in 1950 under a different name, being a diner first. For sure, this was less crowded than in its sister restaurants in New York and I felt that it had an authentic feel to it, some sort of nostalgia.

While Jodi only went for a bagel with cream cheese accompanied by a hot chocolate, I decided to go for an all delicatessen meal: egg cream, pastrami reuben and cheese cake. Egg cream is an interesting drink: this cold beverage does not contain egg or cream but rather milk, carbonated water and a syrup, in my case chocolate. Some say that the name comes from the German “echt” that means “real” or “genuine” who initially gave a meaning of “good cream” to it. And if you look closer to the photo, you will see that the glass has the measurement of each component on it.

Hot chocolate at Junior's in Brooklyn, NY

Bagel and cream cheese at Junior's in Brooklyn, NY

The delicious cheesecake that was quite dense was although a bit much after that big pastrami reuben I had for my main: with its toasted rye bread, Swiss and sauerkraut, it contained a large amount of a delightfully greasy pastrami. This is indeed my go to sandwich when eating in a deli.

Pastrami reuben at Junior's in Brooklyn, NY

So definitely Junior’s is and will always be an institution like Katz’s or the 2nd avenue deli: packed with history, a certain nostalgia, good food, and also often many tourists (especially Katz’s), but these are places irreplaceable. And if you are looking for the best cheesecake in New York, Junior’s it is.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Junior’s-386 Flatbush Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn, NY 11238

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/4/19 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 12/4/19

Alfalfa in Hoboken, NJ

When Schnackenberg’s closed in Hoboken, I was so disappointed. I liked that place that was like an old school luncheonette serving classic American dishes at a reasonable price. And so, replacing it by a salad joint was kind of an insult to the history of the previous place. Setting foot at The Garden Street Farmers Market, Alfalfa was even a pop-up in Schnackenberg’s. So, after several months, thinking about eating a salad (it happens), we decided to try this place. As we entered, I noticed that it was completely gut renovated, with only few tables left and a side with books and pillows that give a relaxed feel to the joint.

Well, I’m fact this is not the first thing I noticed. I admit that my eyes went first for the cookies and cupcakes that were on display on the counter and, as soon as I saw they had Nutella bites, I was a bit more looking forward to have a meal there.

Looking at the menu, I was surprised to see that they propose a cup of bone broth that is pretty unusual although lots of people drink it for its health benefits: rich in vitamins and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, reduce inflammation and heals the gut, may protect the joints and help fight osteoporosis, etc.

They also propose salads and burritos: we went for the former that had lots of choices including a build your own that Jodi opted for, where you pick two bases and 5 toppings. On my side, I ordered The Italian, composed of Alfalfa mix, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, Italian sundried peppers, red onion, sliced almonds with a balsamic vinaigrette︎. When the salads came, I was really surprised about the quantity of food: they were big, with lots of toppings, filling and delicious.

Build Your Own salad at Alfalfa in Hoboken, NJ

My salad might not have been the healthiest on the menu but it is still salad right? Anyway, Alfalfa is not a bad addition to the restaurant scene of Hoboken, but I admit that I still would have preferred a place similar to Schnackenberg’s.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Alfalfa - 1110 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 12/3/19 I Just Want To Eat! 12/3/19

Product Review: The Bro Basket

When I received an email from The Bro Basket proposing to review one of their products, I was really excited, especially as what they offered was to review one of their whisky gift sets. I did not hesitate and received it few weeks after The Ultimate Whiskey Sampler, a basket that contains:…

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

Ultimate Whisky Sampler from The Bro Basket

2 Popcornopolis Gourmet Flavored Popcorn
1 Marich Chocolate covered goody
1 BroBasket 11oz tumbler
1 BroBasket Reusable Tin
1 Bottle of Macallan Double Cask 12 year (50ml)
1 Bottle of Johnnie Walker Red label (50ml)
1 Bottle of Johnnie Walker Black label (50ml)
1 Bottle of Glenlivet 12 year (50ml)
1 Bottle of Glenfiddich 12 year (50ml)
1 Bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey (50ml)
1 Bottle of Makers Mark Bourbon (50ml)
1 Bottle of Woodford Reserve (50ml)
1 Bottle of Bulleit Bourbon (50ml)
1 Bottle of Knobb Creek (50ml)

It is a nice selection of whisky that would make any whisky lover happy. And this is just a basic basket as they also have others with some nice selections like The Ultimate Jameson Gift Set that contains a bottle of Jameson, Jameson Caskmates and Jameson Black Barrel or A World of Whisky that includes a bottle of Laphroaig Scotch (750ml), a bottle of Suntori Toki Japanese Whisky (750ml) and a bottle of Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whisky (750ml).

The idea of The Bro Basket came in 2013 as one of the founder explains on their website:

"My fiance (now husband) sent me a bouquet of flowers and I leapt with glee! That evening as I thanked him for the gesture I asked “Well why don’t I send you some flowers at work to repay the favor?”. He laughed and respectfully declined but retorted with, “I don’t want flowers, but you can send me a bucket of beer instead!” After searching the internet and quickly realizing I couldn’t send him a bucket of beer, I realized what a cool concept that would be!"

Know that they have more than just whisky and you can pick tequila, rum, vodka and gin, with even an option to create your own basket, with prices going from $69.95 to more than $400 depending on the content you pick.

I like the concept that changes from the classic gift basket with cookies and processed cheese! So if you are looking for a gift, check out The Bro Basket!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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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)!

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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 (...)!

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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