Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/14/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/14/20

Kellari Taverna in NYC

After a first visit at Kellari Taverna, a Greek restaurant located two blocks from Bryant Park, I decided to have dinner there again with Jodi on a Friday evening. The first time I went (no photo, sorry), I was really excited as their fish (they serve fresh sustainable fish that is on a beautiful display) was very good: I first was going for the barbounia aka rouget aka red mullet, but that day they did not have any. So I had the filet of sole that they deboned for me perfectly and was the star, not smothered with any sauce So you could really get its delicious taste.

Seafood display at Kellari Taverna in NYC

But with Jodi, we decided to share a bunch of vegetarian appetizers: the selection of spread is always one we choose and we went for all their spreads that are in fact 4 of them: Tzatziki (Yogurt), Melitzanosalata (Eggplant), Htipiti (Whipped Feta - supposedly spicy but personally I did not think so), Tarama (Caviar).

Well yes, the caviar was not vegetarian and we did not even check the description; otherwise I would have ask to replace it by another one like the hummus that they give with olives and radishes at the beginning.

Olives, radishes and hummus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Nevertheless, these spreads, served with pita were very good, and we in fact ate them with the Kellari chips that was our second appetizer. These chips made with fried eggplant and fried zucchini are also a favorite appetizer: crispy and not greasy, it is a good way to get some vegetables in your diet...

The next dish was the saganaki. The kefalograviera cheese came flambé (they use Metaxa brandy): it was good but not the best I ever had for sure and I found that the brandied apricots and hazelnuts on top were not necessary.

I got a non-vegetarian dish all for myself though: the octopodi or grilled octopus that was sitting on hummus, and served with onions, peppers and capers. This is a great dish, with a large portion perfect to share. The octopus was superb: well cooked and not tough at all.

Grilled octopus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With my meal, I got a glass of ouzo that I did not see on the menu surprisingly but was sure they would have (they do not even try to make a cocktail with it that would be a good idea).

For dessert, I let Jodi picked, knowing that the last time I went I tried their baklava that is superb. She decided to go for the galaktoboureko, a Greek dessert of semolina custard in filo. This was very good: buttery, not too sweet, with the custard having a nice vanilla flavor.

Galaktoboureko at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With it, I decided to go for a Greek coffee that they made medium sweet. Good, but the previous time, I thought it was less watery.

So overall it was good, but the service is a bit inconsistent and I found some of the items overpriced. Not sure I would go back considering the other options in the city like Molyvos.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Kellari Taverna - 19 W 44th Street, New York 10036

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/12/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/12/20

Brunch at La Bonbonniere

We passed so many times in front of La Bonbonniere in the West Village that we were curious to know what this place was, the restaurant having a French name meaning the candy box. So we decided to go for an early brunch on a Saturday as each time we saw that place, there were people waiting outside.

We probably arrived around 11am and this tiny place was packed! Yes, La Bonbonniere is tiny and when near the bar and even the entrance, you can feel the heat of the grill that is sitting right there.

Opened since the early 80’s by Marina Cortez Arrieta and her business partner Gus Maroulletis, La Bonbonniere is not a French restaurant but more an old school diner where classic dishes such as sandwiches, pancakes and eggs are expected, including their famous French toast as they call them that we decided to try. Made with challah bread, they looked impressive but could have been soaked a bit longer.

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

We also tried their grilled cheese with cheddar that was good and comforting like at home.

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

As beverages, Jodi got a tea while I could not not have an egg cream that is a drink I adore.

Egg cream at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Quick, comforting and not pricey is how I would describe La Bonbonniere. This cash only place has a neighborhood atmosphere that is even more noticeable than its food. If I had people visit who never went to a diner in their life, I may bring them there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Bonbonniere - 28 8th Avenue, New York 10014

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/10/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/10/20

New Bakery in Hoboken: SunMerry

There is a new bakery in Hoboken, but this time, a Taiwanese bakery with European influences: SunMerry. Not their first location is the US though as they have few in California as well as New Jersey, and I even passed by a store under renovation in New York that should be opening soon. So we decided to check it out for breakfast. I admit that I was a bit disappointed to see that they do not have anywhere to sit, and so it is a grab and go kind of place. Hopefully they will have outside seating when the weather is nice so you can relax with a coffee (no espresso though) or tea and some treats.

We tried few things there and I would have been more adventurous if we would have eaten there as, if you do not like something, you can get something else right away. Here is what we tried:

Chocolate croissant: well it is literally a croissant with chocolate inside that is truly what it should be as croissant refers to the shape (in French, we do not call it « un croissant au chocolat » although the dough is identical, but rather a « pain au chocolat »). Anyway, it was good, flakey and buttery.

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

The cinnamon bun looked spectacular but it was a bit dry...

My favorite was the Portuguese egg custard that is like a small tart made with a flan. Delicious, not too sweet, I could have eaten a bunch.

Portuguese egg custard at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

SunMerry is a nice addition in Hoboken, but I still prefer Chocopain (that should not surprise you by now if you follow me on Instagram). I’ll wait for the nice days to visit this place again and try some of their savory items.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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SunMerry - 519 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/7/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/7/20

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It’s been a while since we had Prato Bakery on Washington street in Hoboken in our sights and we finally decided to try this place two weekends in a row. Prato Bakery is small with only few seats inside, but fortunately outside seating during the warmer days.

They propose many mouth watering dishes, with few vegetarian choices, such as pizza, pizette (ie mini pizza) and sandwiches. The pizza is good (we tried their margarita one), having a thick crust that reminded me a bit what my grandmother, who was not Italian, used to make. The eggplant caprese on focaccia is also a great option.

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

But what I loved the most were the sandwiches, especially the ones made with focaccia over their brioche that I find better for the sweet options as you will see later. No, the focaccia sandwiches are delicious and not just because of the ingredients inside: the bread, made daily in another location is incredibly good, even more when they toast for few minutes your sandwich. The one I tried is the Bronte, made with mortadella, pistachio cream and mozzarella. The first bite of it is like heaven with angels singing over your shoulder: you first get the crunchiness of the focaccia that is followed by the creaminess of the mozzarella, topped with the nuttiness of the pistachio, all of this not overpowering at all the mortadella that definitely comes through.

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

The brioche is a smaller size sandwich because I admit that the ones with focaccia are quite filling, but, although good, they do not have the same effect, the one with prosciutto crudo (pan brioche ripiena) being good but with more bread than filling. With Nutella however, the brioche is awesome! It kind of complements perfectly the sweetness of the Nutella and as you can see they put a lot in it!

Brioche with prosciutto crude at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Brioche with Nutella at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

So overall, Prato Bakery is a great find: you get great sandwiches there without breaking the bank. It reminds me a bit All’Antico Vinaio in Florence that we discovered last Summer with its fantastic focaccia sandwiches. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Prato Bakery - 201 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/5/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/5/20

TKK Fried Chicken

When Taiwanese fried chicken meets bubble tea, it gives you an interesting fast food mix: this is what TKK Fried Chicken and Kung Fu’s Tea did this year in a location few steps from Madison Square Park. I love fried chicken, discovering it while living in Paris, at KFC! Yes, I know, it might not have been the best fried chicken but still, it is a good memory, similar to when I first tried chicken wings at...Pizza Hut! But, when I moved to New York many years back, I not only got introduced to its Southern roots, especially accompanied with a waffle, but also got my first Korean fried chicken that I adore even more. But Taiwanese? Never until now. Not that it is a novelty as TKK opened in 1974 in Taiwan and has now more than 60 locations, mainly in Taiwan. So the New York experience is a good challenge considering the number of places that serve the crispy bird, but, after visiting TKK, I would not be surprised to see other locations opening in the coming months. The feel of the place is definitely one of a fast casual restaurant and, although the chicken is not fried to order, TKK surely knows how to cook it: the thick crust is delicious, very crispy, and the chicken, wether dark or white meat, perfectly cooked all the way through and moist. They propose it in three level of spiciness: original, crispy mild or crispy spicy, the latter not being to the level of the spicy fried chicken you get in Korean restaurants that can set your mouth on fire, but you can dip the pieces in Tabasco or a mango habanero sauce that would wake you up. Personally, I loved the honey garlic sauce that had a nice sweetness.

Dining room at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Mashed potatoes at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken combo at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

Shishito peppers at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Sweet potatoes fries at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

The crispy chicken sandwich was equally good: the delicious crispy chicken is accompanied by cheese, lettuce and tomato and squeezed between two pieces of soft bun. This is definitely a must have if you prefer having a sandwich instead of pieces of chicken.

Crispy chicken sandwich at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

And of course, for drinks, you benefit from the menu of Kung Fu Tea (and I am not talking about the draught beer they propose…). So, bubble tea like the chai I got was was a natural choice for me.

Chai bubble tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Oolong tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

So, overall it was quite good but I thought Thai fried chicken would stand out like Korean Fried Chicken is. Still, If I were in the area and was craving fried chicken, that would be the place to go to.

Enjoy (I did)!

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TKK Fried Chicken - 115 E 23rd Street, New York, NY

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/3/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2/3/20

Brunch at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

I had Narcissa on my long list of restaurants to visit for a while now and it is finally when Jodi’s cousin Rebecca proposed to go there for brunch that we ended up at the New American restaurant of Chef John Fraser (Nix, The Terrace and The Outdoor Gardens) at the Standard Hotel in the East Village. Of course, as usual, we had an early meal that is often my favorite way of enjoying restaurants, the crowd not only increasing drastically the noise level but also often slowing down the kitchen.

Menu wise, they have your classic brunch dishes, from eggs to burger, but not prepared in a usual way for the most part. For instance, the burger, called steakhouse burger for no apparent reason, is not just a cheese burger. It has bacon, blue, spinach, jalapeño and garlic mayo (aka aioli) on a toasted bun. I admit that at first I was not that thrilled to see spinach in it, but was thinking that if I did not like it, I could remove it. No need: there was just the right amount. And that burger was superb, even if a bit spicy because of the jalapeño: the meat was perfectly cooked and juicy, and I loved the pairing with the blue and bacon, the latter adding some smokiness and decadence to it.

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

The burger was served with fries (I had to pick between this and a salad), that were like I love them: thin, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through.

Jodi settled for their egg white omelette, composed of spinach, caramelized onions and goat cheese. I am not a huge fan of egg white omelets, but admit that this one was pretty tasty.

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

We also shared the French toast bites that is the perfect dish to share with people. They were served with maple syrup and a lemon sauce that was so tart that I dished it. Anyway, the French toast bites were so moist that did not need any sauce.

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

At the start of my meal, I also got a non-alcoholic drink: the wellness shot, that has turmeric, ginger, lemon, honey and cayenne pepper. That was spicy! But good. But spicy. For sure you need to like ginger...

So overall, the brunch at Narcissa was very good and the service on point. I definitely need to check out this place 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!

Narcissa - 25 Cooper Square, New York 10003

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/31/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/31/20

L'Amico: another service going wrong

It has been so long that we wanted to go for dinner at L’Amico, the restaurant from Chef Laurent Tourondel where we had a great brunch last year. So, we finally decided to go there on a Friday evening. I am not sure it was a good move: it was packed, extremely loud and the service was disappointing, to the point that we asked one of the managers if somebody would take our order! Well, he could have been more gracious about it and at least apologize instead of giving us the feeling he was annoyed by our request. It was thanks to him in fact that my cocktail, ordered 25 minutes before, came to the table. It was the Brooklyn Bound, made with Smooth Ambler Contradiction whiskey, …

Brooklyn bound cocktail at L'Amico in NYC, NY

After a while, I was able to grab the waiter and reminded him that we were still waiting for bread…

At that point, I was not sure we would ever get our appetizer that came few minutes later. It was the mushroom arancini. Pretty good, slightly crunchy on the outside and creamy inside, it was sitting on a delicious truffle aioli.

Still set with mushrooms, Jodi then ordered the white mushroom pizza that is made with truffle paste, taleggio and fontina cheese, and sage. Cooked in their wood fire oven, this pizza was superb: the crust had this wonderful char and the pizza was packed with mushrooms and cheese.

On my side, I went for the seafood agnolotti that were made with lobster, scallop, crab and rock shrimp, in a creamy sauce. Decadent and elegant, I simply loved it. The agnolotti were perfectly made and cooked, filled with a delicious mix of seafood. I just wished they had some rock shrimp on top of the pasta for an added texture. Still, it was a very good dish.

Last was dessert. I admit that at first we wanted to leave before dessert as we thought that it would take forever to get served. But, as the evening went, service improved and we decided to try their baba with rum that was a nice take on a classic dessert.

So, although the service could have been way better, we liked our dinner at L’Amico. It shows how bad service can spoil a meal. I still would go back but probably on a week day...

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

L’Amico -849 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/29/20

Le Jardinier, Midtown East

I noticed Le Jardinier, a restaurant located Midtown East, when it got a Michelin Star in the 2020 New York Michelin Guide. Meaning The Gardener in French, Le Jardinier translates perfectly the concept from Chef Alain Verzeroli with a menu centered on vegetables complemented by sustainable fish and meat. And what a decor! Design by renowned French architect Joseph Dirand, it is as if you were dining in an elegant greenhouse.

Here is what we had:

Here is what we had:

To start, we got their house made lemonade that was fizzy and refreshing.

House made lemonade at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

They then brought their gluten free bread basket. I was surprised how good it was: I love bread and you would have told me it was gluten free, I would not have believed you.

Gluten free bread basket at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

For her appetizer, Jodi ordered their mushroom veloute with crispy polenta. This was an elevated version of a mushroom soup that was succulent and I loved the fact that they used crispy polenta to replace classic croutons.

Mushroom veloute at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

On my side, I settled for the grilled yellowfin tuna: the dish looked beautiful with all the color, from the red of the fish to the green of the mache. The fish was delicious, slightly seared, and I noticed some crispy black rice that gave a nice crunch to the dish.

Then came the entrees. Pearled barley risotto for Jodi and duck confit for me. The risotto was pretty good, made with winter squash and mushrooms, and the color came from the use of mimolette cheese. Between this and the use of barley instead of rice, I thought it was a great interpretation of a classic Italian dish. The only negative is that it could have had more squash and mushroom in it.

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

The confit however was perfect: the meat, falling off the bone, was not too salty and the skin was delightfully fatty and crispy. The duck sat on top of black lentils that had a nice bite and there were few pieces of kumquat that gave a bit of acidity.

Last was dessert. After a slight hesitation between the Forêt Noire (black Forrest cake) and their fruit tart made with yuzu and topped with a meringue, we opened for the former that was decadent and not light, with delicious brandy cherries.

Overall it was a superb meal in a relaxed atmosphere not stuffy at all, with a very courteous and dilligent service. No wonder they got that star that is well deserved after few months operating, the restaurant having opened in May 2019.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Jardinier -610 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/20

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new deli in Hoboken, but not the classic ones the city already has. No, this time it is a Jewish style deli: Pastrami House Delicatessen. Located where Boardwalk Burgers and Fries used to be on Washington street, it opened on January 4th. Finally, as this spot has been unoccupied for a while since the burger joint closed, at some point being replaced by The Brooklyn Bagelry, before that company went bankrupt. So, we decided to check out Pastrami House on a Saturday and I admit that it was a bit hectic, mainly because of the customers who were literally blocking passage with their strollers or not going where they were supposed to go to order. So you could definitely see that the high flow of …

So, at first, I went around the place, looking for the seating area: there is none. Pastrami House is solely take out and will soon start delivery. This was a bit of a bummer because by the time you go home, the food is cold. Anyway, we decided to try few dishes there from their mostly classic Jewish deli menu (understand matzo ball soup, potato latkes, reuben, hot dogs or knishes to name a few). Here is what we had:

Pastrami reuben: made with rye bread, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, it was pretty good. I just wished that it was toasted a bit more so the bread would be slightly crunchier and the cheese melted. Still, it was good. I should mention that they offer a junior size for most of their sandwiches that is great if you have a small appetite or want to try something else...

Pastrami reuben at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Reuben dog: I am not sure if it was intended and I misunderstood what it was or they forgot something, but it was like a hot dog except that the sausage was replaced by pastrami and it had mustard. It was good but after the pastrami reuben, a bit of a repeat. It was served with steak fries that needed to be reheated in the oven as mushy.

Reuben dog at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Knish: quite good and comforting.

Knish at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, they also have classics like black and white cookies, rugelach or the sprinkle cookie Jodi ordered. But on my side, I was more interested by the mini cheesecakes from Junior’s...

Sprinkle cookie at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Junio’s cheesecake at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Last, they have drinks you would expect in delis, especially from Stewart’s. So, I could not resist ordering a root beer with my meal.

Overall, although a bit hectic, there is no doubt that Pastrami House Delicatessen will be successful in Hoboken. I admit that I was expecting a sit down restaurant considering the space Boardwalk Burger and Fries had, allowing to enjoy the food right after being made. I will probably wait for their delivery service to be operational to try other menu items.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pastrami House Delicatessen -832 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/24/20

Lunch at Red Farm

It’s been a while we went to Red Farm, the inventive Chinese restaurant located in the West Village and decided to check it out for Veterans’ Day as I had the day off. Good idea as the place was barely filled at the time we went.

This is a one of a kind restaurant for sure and its menu is quite overwhelming, but in a good way: well presented with the dumpling section highlighted, it is just that there are so many mouth watering dishes that you just want to order everything! The dim sum are for sure a must have and I could not not try their pan fried lamb dumplings that were superb and a change from the classic pork dumpling, the lamb elevating the dish.

Pan fried lamb dumplings at Red Farm in NYC, NY

But do not miss their vegetable and mushroom spring rolls that are quite tasty, very crunchy and slightly greasy, with a presentation that cannot go unnoticed.

Vegetable and mushroom spring rolls at Red Farm in NYC, NY

We also shared their soft and crunchy vegetable fried rice that was not boring at all and was packed in flavor, also slightly greasy as you would expect fried rice to be.

Vegetable fried rice at Red Farm in NYC, NY

We also had their Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles and Shiitake mushrooms that was really good.

Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles & Shiitakes at Red Farm in NYC, NY

I should mention that with my meal I tried their Thai basil lemonade that was quite refreshing.

Thai basil lemonade at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Last was their key lime pie that is one of the best I had: it had the right balance of tartness and sweetness. Another must have!

Red Farm does not disappoint for sure and I regret I let that much time pass between two visits.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Red Farm - 529 Hudson Street, New York 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/22/20

Benno, Michelin Star in NYC, NY

When I read the paper from Pete Wells in the New York Times about Benno, it made me laugh: it represents why when people call me a food critic I cringe. No, I am not a critic just somebody who loves to eat and share his experience. Critics are often too elitist and disconnected from what the masses like, expecting perfection from start to finish when what one may call a perfect meal can differ from my own appreciation. Here is an excerpt from Pete Wells, New York Times:

“Dated was the word one friend used after going to Benno, and if you’ve eaten there, too, you’ll know why. It’s as if the past 15 years in food never happened. The menu seems to be stuck in some time between 1994, when Thomas Keller bought the French Laundry, and 2004, when he opened Per Se with a young Jonathan Benno leading the kitchen.”

I might not be a millennial but still, I did not find Benno dated. Located in The Evelyn Hotel, the eponymous restaurant of Chef Jonathan Benno received a coveted Michelin Star this year and, after dining there, I find it well deserved: excellent service and great food are the perfect combination for a meal in an Art Deco dining room with an impressive skylight, in a setting that does not feel stuffy at all.

The menu, with French and Italian inspired dishes would satisfy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Diners, with a little edge for the latter. Here is what we had:

As usual, I looked for a whisky cocktail and ended up with the Irish Breakfast, an interesting take on Irish Whisky made with coffee bean-infused Powers Irish Whisky Gold, Aberna Amaro Siciliano and walnut bitters. For Jodi, it was moktail called the Citrus Blossom, made of orange blossom water, grapefruit juice and fresh mint.

Irish breakfast cocktail at Benno in NYC, NY

Citrus blossom moktail at Benno in NYC, NY

At that point, they brought us some pretzel bread with honey mustard butter that was an interesting fusion of bread and butter, and pretzel and mustard, the honey mustard taste being predominant over the creaminess of the butter.

Honey mustard butter at Benno in NYC, NY

They then offered an amuse, vegetarian for Jodi and non-vegetarian for me. For Jodi, it was golden beets and radishes, and for me golden trout and caviar. The presentation was beautiful and a good way to introduce what was coming next.

Golden beets and radishes amuse at Benno in NYC, NY

Golden trout and caviar at Benno in NYC, NY

The menu is split between snacks, appetizers, pasta and risottos, and mains. So at first, Jodi wanted to go directly with her main but I persuaded her to get falafel that was one of the snacks as otherwise she would have to just watch me eat my appetizer...There were 6 falafel that were accompanied by hummus and babaganouj, all quite good.

On my side, I went for the steak tartare, that was topped with sunny side up quail egg and seasoned with capers, cornichons, birds beak peppers, espelette crisp. Pretty classic and good, with a nice kick and acidity.

For the entrees, Jodi ordered the tagliatelle with white truffle and stracciatella cheese. Elegant and decadent dish for sure, it was sublime and they surely were not cheap with the truffle that they shaved at the table.

Tagliatelle with white truffle at Benno in NYC, NY

For me, I had difficulties to make up my mind as so many dishes looked very good. I finally settled for the duck prepared 3 ways: seared duck breast, duck sausage and foie gras. I simply loved it: each way the duck was cooked was delicious and delicate with the seared foie gras being my favorite. It was lying on top of lentils that were also good.

For dessert, knowing that Jodi is vegetarian, they graciously told her which desserts were vegetarian as many had gelatine in them. I thought that was a nice attention. So we decided to go for the apple cider rum baba. But this one was original, the baba sitting on top of an apple tatin, like a fusion of two of my favorite desserts.

So, overall, it was a great dinner: the food was delicious and the service very hospitable. Sorry Pete Wells, I will have to once again disagree with you: Benno deserves a visit and its Michelin Star.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Benno - 7 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/20/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/20/20

Asset on the Upper West Side

I was recently invited at Asset on the Upper West Side to try their brunch. This Modern American restaurant that serves a cuisine with Mediterranean influences is the result of the collaboration of Larry Bellone and Will Tracy, the owners of Tessa, a place on Amsterdam Avenue that I discovered few years ago (Asset is in fact Tessa spelled backward). With its industrial feel and stunning horseshoe staircase, Asset has a beautiful decor from the same architect who designed Tessa. I particularly like the booths in the back that give an intimate feel to a meal.

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

Bar area at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Menu wise, for brunch, they have classics: eggs, sandwiches, waffles and pancakes are the main highlights, with a nice selection of vegetarian dishes. Anyway, they can accommodate you if you fill like having a dish without meat (not the burger of course), like they did for the avocado toast that is normally made with smoked salmon, trout caviar and radish. Quite good, I for sure appreciate the fact that the bread was not too thick, so there was a good balance with the avocado and could be cut easily.

Avocado toast at Asset on the Upper West Side

Another vegetarian dish is the vegetable scramble that is made with tomato and mushroom: the eggs were quite good, smooth and not overcooked.

Vegetable omelet at Asset on the Upper West Side

For non-vegetarian, I suggest their signature burger, composed of two patties smothered by sharp cheddar and caramelized onion. It was delicious, although I would have preferred a different kind of bread, this one being a bit dry for my taste. The meat was juicy and tasty (I hate when there is too much seasoning and you cannot taste the meat), and I loved the sweetness that the caramelized onions gave. It was served with a pickle and some French fries that were skin on and slightly crispy.

For drinks, while Jodi got an English breakfast tea, I decided to go with an Irish coffee that is a good brunch drink: well it is coffee, right?

English breakfast tea at Asset on the Upper West Side

Irish coffee at Asset on the Upper West Side

Last was dessert and we finished with a sublime homemade banana baked Alaska. Often, I see passion fruit baked Alaska that are not really my favorite, but I admit that this one was one of the best I had. Not too sweet, it was made with a banana mango sorbet and had dulce de leche in it. I highly recommend it!

Baked Alaska at Asset on the Upper West Side

We left Asset full and glad we got the opportunity to try this place: the food was great and they had a nice and relaxing atmosphere. I will have to go back for dinner...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Asset - 329 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/17/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/17/20

Nusr-Et Steakhouse without Saltbae

It is not my first time at Nusr-Et, the Eponymous restaurant of fame Chef better known as Saltbae made famous by his exaggerated gesture when putting salt on meat, the salt dropping on his forearm into the meat (not so sanitary). The place was quite busy for a Tuesday evening with few large tables and even with a reservation, we were invited to wait at the bar until our table (that was not occupied finally, would be ready. A good trick from restaurants to have you order drinks. 10 minutes after the time of the reservation, we finally got seated. Yes, crowded and not so loud at the beginning despite the presence of a …

The food there is mainly for non-vegetarians with few salads and sides for vegetarians: the star there is meat, the Chef being a butcher originally. They even have a $1,000 gold coated Wagyu tomahawk that I consider a shame personally.

Lots of people come to Nusr-Et to see the Chef do his moves and either take a photo or a video of him, but he is not always there (the best way to know is to check his Instagram), so they amped up a bit the way they prepare or serve the food by having the staff make their own gestures, with the same spirit. When the guy prepared the steak tartare table side, I admit that I was really impressed by his knife skills: he cut the piece of filet mignon at such speed! It is a quite good tartare in fact, where they add Dijon mustard, shallots, cognac, capers, chili sauce and crispy shredded potato for an added texture.

Steak tartare station at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Steak tartare at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

The steak of course is the main attraction: seeing them cutting the tomahaw (aka Saltbae tomahawk) is always entertaining and as you expect you get the weird salt pouring at the end, the person doing it Probably thinking for few seconds that he or she will have a moment of fame. Pricey, the tomahawk is good though: tender, juicy, nicely charred, they will cook it medium rare unless you ask otherwise.

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Wit it, the perfect sides are the fries and the sautéed mushrooms.

Sauteed mushrooms at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Then you cannot leave without dessert: their baklava served with goat milk ice cream is one of the best I ever had, perfect with a Turkish coffee.

Baklava at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Turkish coffee at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

You may wonder what I drank with my meal: the Saltbae old fashioned (nothing special there, not even a bacon rub but good) and a glass of red wine, “Red blend Murrieta’s Well The Spur, Livermore, California”. They do have Turkish wine that I was curious to try but not by the glass...

Saltbae old fashioned at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Red wine, “Red blend Murrieta’s Well The Spur, Livermore, California” at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

So yes, Nusr-Et is a bit of a scene and gimmicky but at least the food is delicious. This is a good place to go if you do not like Broadway shows but are looking for an evening of entertainment!!!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Nusr-Et - 60 W 53rd Street, New York 10019

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/15/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/15/20

Fantastic Hot Chocolate at Mariebelle

There are few things I am looking forward to eat during the cold days: cheese fondue, raclette, cassoulet, ramen and hot cocoa. And as we were looking for a new place for hot cocoa, we found Mariebelle in Soho. As you enter, you first see the elegant shop where they sell all sorts of chocolates and then, in the back, is the Cacao Bar, a small room that was packed. Too packed in fact and they should probably remove few tables so you are not literally back to back with the party behind you. We also saw a group of six women who were trying to get high tea in a very uncomfortable setting, the tables being too small for that.

For hot chocolate, they have three main selections: dark, milk and white. I admit that I only tried the latter at the regretted Voges but prefer either a light dark like the Aztec that is made with 65% cocoa and that they distributed shots of, or milk, knowing that having a side of whipped cream helps reduce the sweetness and darkness of a hot chocolate and adjust in a way to your preference. In each section, they propose a nice number of choices with even a dairy free called Mestizo and you can have a small cup (4oz) or a large cup (8oz). So, Jodi has a small cup of milk chocolate (38%), while I had a larger version with hazelnut. Interestingly, hers was richer and sweeter than mine and I wondered if it was because we got the same amount of cocoa but I had more milk, hence diluting it a bit. Still, I found both hot cocoa delicious: they are like melted chocolate in a cup! Rich and yes, slightly sweet, the one with hazelnut was my favorite.

Aztec hot chocolate at Mariebelle in Soho

Milk hot chocolate at Mariebelle in Soho

Hazelnut hot milk chocolate at Mariebelle in Soho

We also got their chocolate chip cookie that was sublime: served hot, it was chewy, slightly crunchy on the outside with tons of chocolate inside (it was as if there was more chocolate than dough). Quite rich, I am glad we only had this with the hot cocoa (I was going to order a bunch of things but Jodi who is the voice of reason -do not tell her- stopped me).

Chocolate chip cookie at Mariebelle in Soho

Definitely, Mariebelle is with Jacques Torres, one of my favorites for hot chocolate. This is worth a visit!

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Mariebelle - 484 Broome Street, New York 10013

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/13/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/13/20

Disappointing brunch at Black Barn

After the succulent dinner we had at Black Barn, north of Madison Square Park, we were really excited to go back there for brunch. Unfortunately, it did not go as planned, the food being good but the service horrible: my drink took forever to come and we had to wait 45 minutes between the moment we finished our appetizer and the entrees, inquiring twice about our order without any feedback from the staff who never checked with us if everything was ok or if we needed anything. And it was not just for us as the tables nearby seemed to have had the same issue. No, it seems the staff was more occupied with taking care of a private party and setting up a large table than with the people seated.

Waffle croque madame at Black Barn in NYC

Jodi was luckier with her frittata that had spinach and mushroom but too little of goat cheese.

Fortunately the appetizer was awesome: it was the chocolate babka coffee cake that they make in house. Chocolatey, flakey and buttery, it is so good, perfect to share. They also brought us some delicious corn muffins, on the house (not because of the issues with the service: everyone had them).

Chocolate babka coffee cake at Black Barn in NYC

With our meal, we got some drinks: tea for Jodi and for me, I do not recall what it had besides cold brew and whisky.

So yes, we were really disappointed. I do not know if it is because they were short in staff or had too many large tables, but it was a striking difference with the dinner we had there. Maybe in fact I should stick to dinner there...

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Black Barn- 19 East 26th Street, NY 10010

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/10/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/10/20

BBQ at Mason Jar

I was craving BBQ and planned to go to a place on the Upper West Side (no, not Dinaosaur) but we finally changed course and looked up places Midtown. That is how we ended up at Mason Jar. BBQ, Bourbon and Beer are the three main items they serve there, but, although I love whisky and they have a wide selection, I was not in the mood for it. No, I wanted BBQ and Jodi who is vegetarian was a good sport about it (well as long as there is something on the menu for her: we both have to eat!). And there was: it did not take her long to decide to go there, especially after she saw the giant pretzel they have for appetizer. Served with a cheese sauce and some mustard, it was piping hot, but still a great way to start. The pretzel seemed to be freshly made, delightfully soft with the perfect amount of salt on it (no, a mouthful of salt is not good).

Then, for her entree, Jodi chose their Aztec bowl that was composed of rice, black beans, mixed greens, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, jalapenos (she asked without) and avocado.

On my side, I opted for the BBQ tasting platter that was made of half rack of ribs, 6 oz brisket and 6 shredded pork. It was served with any 2 sides, so I picked the fries and the Mac and cheese. The meat was just ok: the brisket was good at first, the top being deliciously fatty and slightly burnt, but the bottom dry and tough. The ribs were unfortunately not falling of the bone and a bit dry and the pork was a bit boring…

At least the fries were good and so was the creamy Mac and cheese.

So, overall, I was a bit disappointed by Mason Jar: the food was just ok for me and I had much better BBQ in the New York, Hometown BBQ in Brooklyn being on top.

Enjoy (...)!

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Mason Jar - 43 E 30th Street, New York 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 1/8/20 I Just Want To Eat! 1/8/20

Bellwether in Long Island City

We have been going to Long Island City quite often, Jodi has her painting studio there and I admit that we found quite a few little gems, my favorite, not so little, being M Wells Steakhouse. So, on a Friday evening, we decided to go to Bellwether, a restaurant that has been on our list for a while, that serves seasonal dishes. The place was so packed that our table was not ready on time for our reservation, the manager apologizing profusely to us.

Dining room at Bellwether in Long Island City

The large menu was mouth watering and it took me a bit of time to choose. Here is what we had:
As a cocktail, I ordered the Wombat, made with rye, smoked maple syrup, ginger and lemon. Nice and refreshing, citrusy with a very slight sweetness.

The Wombat cocktail at Bellwether in Long Island City

Jodi went for a pear and lemon soda, pear drinks being so good but rarely offered.

Pear and lemon soda at Bellwether in Long Island City

We then ordered their Parker House Rolls: in the past, I was a bit annoyed that restaurant would make you pay for bread, because, coming from France, I consider that any meal should be accompanied by a bread basket. But a blog reader made a comment one time that made me think: do you prefer a free low quality bread basket or pay a little for some delicious bread (in this case $6)? I’ll go for the latter. And for sure, we did not regret it: these rolls are so good, with or without butter.

Parker rolls at Bellwether in Long Island City

As an appetizer, we chose the burrata salad that had figs, fava beans and greens. That was a good start: the burrata was perfectly creamy on the inside and soft on the outside.

Burrata salad at Bellwether in Long Island City

Then we both had pasta that I believe they make in house. Jodi chose the butternut squash agnolotti that were served with brown butter and Parmesan, but asked not to have any pecans. That dish was superb: the butternut squash had that sweetness that paired well with the nuttiness of the brown butter.

Butternut squash agnolotti at Bellwether in Long Island City

On my side, I was set on the lamb neck pappardelle that was equally amazing: the braised lamb was delicious and gave to this dish a comforting feel. There also, they put some fava beans.

Lamb neck pappardelle at Bellwether in Long Island City

Dessert was the final nail on a fantastic meal: we had the warm sticky toffee cake. Moist, we probably scooped too quickly the delicious caramel sauce that bathed the cake...

Sticky toffee cake at Bellwether in Long Island City

So, as you can see, we had a great meal at Bellwether. I wonder now how their brunch is...I will have to check it out!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Bellwether -47-25 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/6/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/6/20

Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

We were in Chelsea looking for a restaurant when we stumbled upon Excellent Dumpling House. With the word dumpling in its name, it did not take long for us to decide to eat there, focusing exclusively on their dim sum section. As we entered, we thought we would not be able to get a table as it was packed with one very large table making so much noise that when they left, we felt some sort of relief. I should mention that at some point, a woman sitting next to us as the waiter if their soups contained MSG as she is allergic: the waiter responded affirmatively but told her that they could make a soup without MSG if she’d like, invitation that she declined. As she left, …

Anyway, we decided to order few dishes, some vegetarian and some non-vegetarian. Here is what we tried:

Pork soup dumplings: there were six of them that I found delicious, nicely fatty.

Pork soup dumplings at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Crab and shrimp dumplings: I was looking for my usual shrimp dumplings but as they did not have it, I opted for this. I did not regret it: the shell was perfectly made, slightly sticky, not too thick, with a nice filling that tasted mainly shrimp.

Crab and shrimp dumplings at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Vegetable dumplings: Jodi wanted them fried rather than steamed. They were good, but I admit that I tried only one as I already had lot of food to eat.

Vegetable dumplings at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Scallion pancakes: a must have when having Chinese food. It was superb: delightfully greasy and slightly crispy.

Scallion pancakes at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Vegetable spring roll: good and tasty, deliciously crispy.

Vegetable spring roll at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Peking duck spring roll: same as above but with the delicious taste of duck.

Peking duck roll at Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

So, overall, we had a nice meal there: delicious and not pricey. In fact, if you pay cash, you get 10% that makes it a good deal. So, Excellent Dumpling House is a good place to know if you are in Chelsea and are looking for a Chinese place to eat at.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Excellent Dumpling House -165 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/4/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/4/20

Keming, Chinese restaurant in Hoboken

It’s been a while since we wanted to dine at Keming in Hoboken, especially as we saw that they have dim sum. But I admit that I was a bit nervous because lots of Chinese restaurants use MSG and a large amount gives me a terrible headache (cream of tartar helps though). So we decided to go on a Saturday evening. Although it was not crowded, the place filled up quickly.

They have a large menu but we mainly focused on the dim sum. Here is what we tried:…

They have a large menu but we mainly focused on the dim sum. Here is what we tried:

First, they brought to the table some fried noodles with duck sauce that is not served often and that I love (there are never enough of these).

Juicy pork buns: good, delightfully fatty.

Pork soup dumplings at Keming in Hoboken, NJ

Shrimp dumplings: well made, the shell was slightly sticky, as expected and thin, and the filling was perfect.

Shrimp dumplings at Keming in Hoboken, NJ

Scallion pancakes: very hot, they were deliciously greasy.

Scallion pancakes at Keming in Hoboken, NJ

Vegetable dumplings: I admit that I did not like them because they mainly contain spinach but Jodi liked them.

Vegetable dumplings at Keming in Hoboken, NJ

We also shared some vegetable fried rice that was decent, but after having the fried rice at Hao Noodle, I was expecting more.

Vegetable fried rice at Keming in Hoboken, NJ

Overall the food at Keming was good. It is not at the level of some the Chinese restaurants in the City in the same category like Joe Ginger, but still, I liked it and would come back.

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Keming - 1006 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/2/20 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 1/2/20

Teppen Ramen Midtown East

I always enjoy a big bowl of ramen during the cold days and we were looking for a new place to go following a fantastic lunch at Ippudo, one if not my favorite ramen place in the city. That is how we ended up at Teppen Ramen, Midtown East. As we arrived, the small place was not that crowded but started to fill up as we ate our soups.

Dining room at Teppen Ramen Midtown East

Jodi being vegetarian went directly for their veggie ramen (Teppen vegetable) made with A soy milk base, fried tofu, salad, bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, onion, sesame, paprika, scallion, spicy oil and black pepper.

Vegetable ramen at Teppen Ramen Midtown East

On my side, I chose their Maji Teppen, a miso based ramen that is limited to 20 bowls a day. Smart on their part to create this sense of uniqueness that pushes patrons to order it. It was made of bean sprouts, grounded pork, leek, bamboo shoots, corn, seasoned boiled egg, braised pork (char siu), sesame, black pepper and red pepper.

Both were served with wavy noodles, but in both cases, there was not enough and the bowls had an overwhelming amount of bean sprouts. Too bad because besides this, the broths were delicious, with some silkiness for the vegetarian one and a nice miso flavor with a very slight spiciness for the specialty one I ate.

Yes, I admit that I was disappointed by Teppen Ramen: their soup needs more noodles and less bean sprouts for me or maybe none.

Enjoy (...)!

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Teppen Ramen -159 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022