I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/21

Wild Ink in Hudson Yard, NYC

Going to Wild Ink in Hudson Yard was not our original plan. We wanted to go back to Miznon for dinner, but they did not have table service and we just wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere. So we roamed around the mall and ended up finding this place on the fifth floor. With its great view of the river and the Vessel, this place was quite busy, with few groups celebrating events and one of the dishes we saw the most passing by was their Peking duck that I would have loved to try, but they…

I started with a cocktail and got their Soul of Tokyo, made with Suntory Toki whisky, oolong tea, pear syrup and yuzu.

Soul of Tokyo cocktail at Wild Ink in Hudson Yard, NYC

I then decided to try their main lobster and prawn hargow, one of their dumplings where the shell, that was similar to the one in crystal shrimp dumplings (not too thick and a bit sticky), was made with squid ink, giving to this dish this beautiful black color. The filling was quite good, composed of chunks of lobster and shrimp that were perfectly cooked.

Lobster and prawn hargow at Wild Ink in Hudson Yard, NYC

We also shared the crispy mapo dumplings that were filled with shiitake mushroom, tofu and ginger, one of the few vegetarian options they propose. Quite good, it was very tasty and I loved the crispness of the shell that was not greasy at all.

Crispy mapo dumplings at Wild Ink in Hudson Yard, NYC

Talking about vegetarian dishes, we were a bit surprised that they did not propose more vegetarian entrees as Asian cuisine offers tons of options that can even satisfy non-vegetarians. The only one was the sizzling rice pot that was not at all what we expected. We were expecting a dish similar to a bibimbap for the sizzling part but the bowl was not at all hot and so you could forget about creating a rice crust aka soccarat! You definitely needed the mala sauce in it, but it was a bit spicy for Jodi who ditched it, but, unfortunately, it was a bit bland and lacked a bit of shiitake mushrooms. For $26, they probably could have put more of them.

Sizzling rice pot at Wild Ink in Hudson Yard, NYC

On my side, the experience was different: I got their black angus bavette that is flank steak. It was served with an herb salad and marinated in a pho broth, giving to the meat that was tender and juicy, an incredible taste. I simply loved it. And I can say that I had a salad for dinner…

For dessert, we decided to try their sundae that was composed of three ice creams: black sesame, Japanese brown sugar and red bean, topped with a dark chocolate sauce and a coconut whipped cream. Interesting flavors, my favorite was the brown sugar one that had a nutty flavor.

So, overall, I had a great meal at Wild Ink. Less for Jodi, but it could be because of the choice of the entree. If we go back, she will have to pick various vegetarian appetizers that will hopefully be good. Because I would love to go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Wild Ink - 20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 10/27/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/27/21

The Flatiron Room in NYC

When it comes to whisky, the one place I love in the city is The Flatiron Room near…The Flatiron! I discovered it back in 2018 when looking for a whisky class. This place is amazing with its close to 1,000 different kinds of my favorite spirit. You can see all these bottles along the wall opposite the bar, locked up as some of them are precious like the Macallan 30 y/o at $8,523 a bottle!!!

Whisky tasting at The Flatiron Room in NYC

Kavalan Ex Bourbon Oak from Taiwan.
Starward Nova from Australia: I discovered this one few years ago at an event from Flaviar, a whisky club, and loved its smokey flavor.
Bastille Single Malt from France.
The Irishman’s Founder Reserve from Ireland.
The St George “Baller”, an American Single Malt. I loved this whisky that had a nice underlying tone of plum. The bottle is very interesting: it looks like a Japanese liquor, a nod from the master distiller, Lance Winters to Japan. I loved it so much that I got myself a bottle the next day!
Paul John Edited from India.

We went there on a Friday evening, and of course, they had a band playing in the back, adding a bit more to the retro atmosphere this place carries.

For my meal, I decided to try a couple of appetizers. The first one was the roasted bone marrow, that I was looking forward to; it was topped with fizzled leeks and accompanied by garlic bread.

Roasted bone marrow at The Flatiron Room in NYC

The second one was the 3 picadas, inspired from a Colombian dish, where they propose three kinds of meat served on top of what seemed like an arepa. The meats were: crispy pork belly, short rib and American wagyu (i liked them in that order, from good to very good). Delicious and quite flavorful, each of them was different, to the point that it seems more a dish for one person than to share so you do not miss out on any of the combinations.

Pork belly picada at The Flatiron Room in NYC

Short rib picada at The Flatiron Room in NYC

Wagyu picada at The Flatiron Room in NYC

Jodi opted for the curried cauliflower and charred tomatoes that came with basmati rice and naan bread. I should mention that they do have a few dishes if you are vegetarian.

Curried cauliflower and charred tomatoes at The Flatiron Room in NYC

For dessert, we decided to try their 28 layers cake. Funny enough, it collapsed as soon as they pour the chocolate sauce on it and they had to replace the table cloth were some cake and sauce landed, and brought us a new one that they put on its side to avoid another accident. The cake was quite good, very chocolatey. A must have!

28 layers chocolate cake at The Flatiron Room in NYC

So we had a great time once again at The Flatiron Room. The food there is delicious, so I am not just going there for the whisky…

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 Flatiron Room- 37 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/21

Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

Hoboken as truly good places to eat, but I feel that those that are not on Washington street are sometimes forgotten, unless word of mouth puts them on the map like Antique Bar and Bakery or Chocopain. So it is nice to explore and find a place off the beaten path like Il Tavolo di Palmisano, an Italian restaurant in the corner of 7th and Clinton St. We went there on a Saturday evening and could only sit on the high top next to the bar, the dining room in the back being full. Normally, I would not like it because of…

I started the meal with their barrel Manhattan, loving the taste of amaro. It was made with Savage & Cooke rye, Montenegro amaro, vermouth and orange bitter.

Barrel Manhattan at Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

For our appetizer, we share the fried burrata that was superb: first of all, anything fried is good, and I loved the crispness of the fried shell combined with the softness of the burrata that has always this refreshing tone. It was on top of a spicy pepper spread that had a nice kick that was combined with a tomato sauce. If you never tried fried burrata, I recommend it.

Fried burrata at Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

For her main, Jodi got a special: eggplant Parmesan ravioli, that, just by the name of it sounds delicious and a bit magic. And it was quite good: the oversized ravioli had a nice amount of eggplant parmesan in it and were topped with cheese and bathed in a tomato sauce.

Eggplant parmesan ravioli at Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

On my side I could not not go with linguine and clams, on of my go to dishes when eating in an Italian restaurant. It was good, not the best I ever had, but good.

Linguine with clams at Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert. I admit that I would have liked a tiramisu, but unfortunately, they did not have any and we went instead for their creamy almond cake that was ok.

Creamy almond cake at Il Tavolo di Palmisano in Hoboken, NJ

So overall, it was good, maybe not the best Italian in Hoboken, but a good address for sure. I’ll be definitely back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Il Tavolo di Palmisano -700 Clinton St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/22/21

Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

There are many vegan places in the City and Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village seems to be very popular. Definitely, the is a bit of a hype vibe there and their outdoor patio is a nice setting for lunch or dinner.

This place serves tequila, mezcal and Mexican beer, with some interesting take on classic…

This place serves tequila, mezcal and Mexican beer, with some interesting take on classic cocktails like their Oaxacan Old Fashioned, made with Cazadores reposado, mezcal, agave and chocolate bitters.

Oaxacan old fashioned at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

Serving Mexican food, they have classics: guacamole, enchiladas, tacos, etc. with descriptions that are quite mouth watering. But I admit that, after two visits, I was not that impressed with their menu. I know, I am a non-vegetarian, so going to a vegan restaurant seems a bit out of place, but, even classic dishes like the guacamole were not that well done: it was simply watery.

Guacamole at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

Then, I found that the tacos and their stuffed homemade tortillas had too much on it, not only making it difficult to eat, but having too much going on and being a bit mushy. The mezcal mushroom tacos that are made with beet and paprika tortillas, red pepper, pico de Gallo and sour cream (not sure how they make it but their vegan sour cream is quite good) were just ok for me and did not like at all the Barbacoa tacos that are made with yuba, adobo, guajillo and ancho chili, coconut feta cream, serrano pepper. This dish was quite spicy, as advertised, but it is the taste of the Yuba that I did not like at all.

Mezcal mushroom tacos at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

Barbacoa tacos at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

We also tried the Gorditas that is made of two stuffed tortillas, beans, serrano pepper, shiitake bacon and sour cream. The fried tortilla was crispy, but again, too much going on in it.

Gorditas at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

But not everything was not great: the elotes or Mexican street corn were delicious and slightly spicy. This is always a crowd pleaser.

Mexican street corn at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

Or the coconut quest quesadilla, made with spinach and basil pesto, serrano, king mushroom, pico de Gallo and sour cream: creamy and tasty, this was my favorite with the corn from all the dishes I have tried.

Coconut queso quesadilla at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

Last is of course dessert and their churros are superb. They come with a coconut dulce de leche that I did not care for and can be eaten without it, being quite addictive.

Churros at Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas in the West Village

So, the meals there were ok. I would go back there only if someone I know wants to go there, being vegan, vegetarian or curious. And I would then get the corn, the quesadilla and, of course, the churros! They are quite creative and their dishes are colorful, but this is not for me…

Enjoy (…)!

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

Jajaja Plantas Mexicanas - 65 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/20/21 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 10/20/21

Vegetarian dinner at Vatan in NYC

Vatan is probably my favorite vegetarian Indian restaurant in the city. Recognizable by its front with an elephant as an ornament, its is an interesting place. Although it has no windows, they successfully recreated a space that would make you think, as you enter, that you travelled to India, having dinner outside thanks to the fake tree in the middle of the main dining room and not bothered by…

Their concept is great: all you can eat vegetarian with first, a set of small dishes (called thali) where you cannot pick the spiciness (besides the fried hot pepper, it was fairly mild) and then main dishes, also in small quantity, but with the choice of spiciness, from mild to spicy. The meal would then end with desserts. Again, all you can eat and for just $39. Drinks are not included but I recommend their mango lassi and sweet lemon drink.

With our drinks, they also brought some far far crackers that are always a crowd pleaser.

Here is what we had:

Appetizer thali:

Chana masala - garbanzo beans cooked with onions and coriander
Khaman - wheat flour cakes
Muthia - steamed flour with spinach
Mirchi Bhajia - fried hot pepper with garam masala
Batatavada - fried potato balls in a chickpea flour batter
Ragda patis - potato cutlet in white bean sauce
Sev puri - crispy bread filled with potatoes, chickpeas, yogurt and chutney (one of my favorites)
Samosa (no need to introduce)

Entrees thali:

Toor dal - lentils cooked with spices
Bhaji - sautéed spinach and corn
Ful-Cobi - cauliflower and green peas sautéed in a savory sauce
Batakanu Sak - potatoes cooked in a mild gravy
Chole - chickpeas cooked with garam masala
Kheer - rice pudding with dried fruit (I know what you may think: is it dessert? Not yet but they serve it with entrees, maybe so it soothes your mouth if you get spicy food)

With the entrees came:

Pulao, khichdi and khadi at Vatan in NYC

Pulao - boiled rice with peas
Khichdi - lentils mixed with rice and vegetables
Khadi - soup with yogurt and chickpea flour in spices (I did not eat it as a soup but more mixed with the rice)

There were also breads, puri, a fried puffed up bread that is a must have and roti, as well as papadam (crispy lentil waffers).

Last was dessert and, although they are in small quantities, you can get several like ice cream (kulfi), gulab jamun (one of my favorite Indian desserts) and then some masala chai (tea).

So, we left full and walked a bit after dinner, glad that we went there. Vatan is a great place with a good deal for prix-rice and, being a non-vegetarian, I am still raving about this!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Vatan - 409 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/18/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/18/21

Double Zero, Plant Based restaurant in the East Village

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

I am a non-vegetarian eater and you may wonder what I was doing at Double Zero, a plant based restaurant located in the East Village, where Chef Matthew Kenney, a celebrity Chef specialized in plant based cuisine proposes an interesting vegan menu. Well, it is not just that I know the wife of one of the owners: my wife, Jodi, being vegetarian, I like to venture to vegetarian and vegan restaurants to try their food, being quite open minded about food from a very young age. But definitely, between vegetarian and vegan diets, there are big difference that some could find challenging. In a vegan diet, there is no animal products at all: no eggs, no dairy and from what I understand, no things like honey. Still, I had great experiences in the past with places like Elizabeth’s Gone Raw in Washington DC or, more recently Vedge in Philly. These are fine dining experiences for sure, but I had more casual meals at places like a location of Charritos, in Hoboken, that served only vegetarian food and had superb vegan dishes like the Quesongo, made with vegan cheese and mushrooms, that since closed; or the last example I can give is Delice and Sarrasin in NYC, a French restaurant with classic dishes like escargots or boeuf Bourguignon made vegan. I can tell you that I had amazing meals in all these places, blown away by the creativity of the Chefs, making you forget that you are in a vegan restaurant and will not have any meat at all! The secret I believe is to not try to reinvent too much meat, although now with the Impossible burger and the likes, you can do a. lot more, and use alternative products like almond or coconut milk, avocado instead of butter, or cashews to make vegan cheese (not so great for people with a nut allergy). That’s how for instance they make their margherita pizza at Double Zero: their wood fired pie is topped with a marinara sauce and a mozzarella made with cashew.

Margherita pizza at Double Zero in NYC, NY

Or the cacio e Pepe bucatini made with almond parmesan and a cashew cream, reminding me a recipe my family has been making since I was a kid, non-vegan though as with creme fraiche and walnuts.

We also got to try the nachos from the restaurant next door, Bar Verde, that is now proposing a menu 100% gluten free. They are made with butternut queso cashew, quinoa chorizo, beans, pico de Gallo. I do not know if it is because nachos have something comforting, but I could not stop eating it and found the butternut squash cashew cheese quite good.

Dessert is also an interesting thing to do with no dairy and their cheesecake, made with cashew, although not comparable to what you would get normally, was delicious.

Overall, the meal was good, interesting in a way to see what alternative cuisine can be. I’ll explore more for sure in the future!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Double Zero - 65 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/21

Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

Located Midtown Manhattan, Blue Willow is a true find. Serving Chinese cuisine from Hunan and Szechuan, it has an extensive menu that made me think about the regretted Blue China. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners would surely find dishes to try with various levels of spiciness.

The dining room is beautiful, although a bit dark, with these nice…

The dining room is beautiful, although a bit dark, with these nice Chinese lamps on each table and a decor that would make you forget you are in New York City.

The food there is really good, but I admit that I was surprised to see dishes coming out of order. So, here is what we had, in order of appearance!

The first dish that came was the hometown tofu casserole that was made with pan fried tofu and vegetables smothered I a delicious sauce that had a slight kick.

Hometown tofu casserole at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

Then came my drink, from their large offering that had not just Chinese items, but also French wine and beer, sake, etc. I decided to go for a cocktail called The Opium, made with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, lemon, peychaud bitters, a cherry, star anise and simple syrup. Very much like an old fashioned. The presentation was superb as it was served in a small bowl with a lid that added a bit to the whole experience.

The Opium cocktail at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

At the same time, they brought us the scallions pancakes that were flaky and deliciously greasy, as well as crystal shrimp dumplings that is my go to dim sum. These dim sum were perfect: the shell was not too thick, slightly crispy, covering a good piece of shrimp.

Pancakes at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

What I was really looking forward to was the Peking duck. I was glad to see that they offer a half and admit that it was a nice quantity of it that came with these little things him crepes that are Mandarin pancakes, hoisin sauce, green onion and cucumber. The way to eat is is to spread the pancake with some hoisin sauce, put some green onion and cucumber, top with some slices of duck, and then close it like a wrap. The first bite was divine: you get a sweet and salty flavor from the hoisin sauce, mixed with the fattiness of the skin with some juice oozing from it. Texture wise, the cucumber and skin add a nice crispness to the whole dish.

Peking duck at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

For dessert, we had the sweet and sticky rice cakes that were superb, nicely sweet.

Sweet and Sticky rice cakes at Blue Willow in Midtown, NYC, NY

So, overall, this was a great meal in a nice atmosphere. I definitely recommend Blue Willow if you are looking for a Chinese restaurant Midtown.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Blue Willow - 40 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 10/13/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/13/21

Bang Cookies in Jersey City

As we were on Grove St in Jersey City, and after a good meal at Brick Lane Curry House, we decided to try Bang Cookies. We heard about them and were curious to see how they measure against Levain Bakery or Insomnia Cookies. It did not start well as they did not have the one I wanted: hazelnut stuffed cookie. Still, not discouraged, we decided to try their sea salt chocolate chunk and macadamia white chocolate chunk.

Sea salt chocolate chunk at Bang Cookies in Jersey City

White chocolate macadamia at Bang Cookies in Jersey City

We had lots of expectation for these cookies that were rather big and dense, not too sweet with a nice chewiness, but, unfortunately too gritty for my taste. I would rather go to Levain Bakery or Insomnia. Another place that has great cookies, especially their red velvet one is Baking Mama in Hoboken. But this is for another post…

Enjoy (…)!

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

Bang Cookies -1183 Summit Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/21

The Law of Donutgineering or LODG in Jersey City

The Law of Donutgeering or LODG in Jersey City

The Law of Donutgeering also known as LODG is a donut shop in Jersey City that opened in March 2020, few days before the you know what hit the fan with COVID-19. When we visited them a couple of months go, they were still standing, glad to have made it through and determined to continue on that path. The owners, Edward Alfonso and Flavia Carballo are respectively from Cuba and Argentina and so, decided to infuse some of their background into their donuts. So, do not expect to have classic ones. And, last thing before I talk about the donuts: Edward has a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering, explaining the theme and the nod all around their shop with books and other science artifacts.

So, now, the donuts: they are large, packed in flavor and they even propose vegan donuts. Their menu will change often, so the ones below are probably not going to be there if you decide to try, but they will give you an idea of the kinds they propose. Here is what we had:

The Pig and the fig at The Law of Donutgeering or LODG in Jersey City

Monkey <3 Nutella at The Law of Donutgeering or LODG in Jersey City

Butter snow at The Law of Donutgeering or LODG in Jersey City

El Gauchito at The Law of Donutgeering or LODG in Jersey City

The pig and the fig: maple bacon and fig on a yeast donut filled with cheesecake.
Monkey <3 Nutella: a yeast donut stuffed with banana mousse and covered with Nutella.
Butter Snow: creamy butter sugar glaze on a yeast donut.
El Gauchito: dulce de leche and pineapple.

The Law of Donutgineering is an interesting place where you would not get your classic donuts but more creative ones that would make you excited. They yeast donut is quite good, chewy and not doughy and the fillings fun. I’ll definitely be back to try others!

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 Law of Donutgineering - 7 Bleecker St, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 10/8/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/8/21

BK Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

There is no question that I love lobster rolls, especially the ones where the lobster remains the star of the dish and is not smothered with an overpowering sauce or seasoning. So, when BK Lobster opened in Hoboken earlier this year, I was both happy and curious. After all, Luke’s Lobster tried to settle in the mile square city but closed after just few years in operation, their food truck seemingly more successful when showing up at Pier 13…

BK stands for Brooklyn, the birthplace of that joint that has expanded a bit. Their menu offers quite a bit, with limited choices for vegetarians (cheese quesadilla, Mexican corn, onion rings or the fries that I did not really like, not crispy at all and not always cooked all the way through), or, interestingly, for people who do not like seafood, they have meat choices like beef sliders or chicken. I already see comments about why you would go there if you are vegetarian or do not like lobster! What about if someone tou know absolutely wants a lobster roll and you are tagging along?

Anyway, I decided to try their Bed-Stuy biggie lobster roll: big for sure as it’s name indicates, the lobster is tossed in a butter sauce with a lemon dressing spread on a brioche bun. This roll looks very appetizing and they are definitely not cheap on the amount of lobster, with big chunks and even a claw overflowing the delicious brioche bun. The meaty pieces of seafood are perfectly cooked and the flavor enhanced by the butter sauce. There is lots of butter though and you surely need some napkins because it is messy to eat. But delicious!

Bed-Stuy Biggie lobster roll at BK Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

So, overall, I was please when I tried BK Lobster. It is pricier than Luke’s Lobster but this roll is much bigger. Worth a visit!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
BK Lobster - 732 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/6/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/6/21

Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

We recently discovered Rumba’s Cafe in Jersey City. We went for lunch and this place was extremely busy, not just with diners, but also with a large amount of take out. The reason: cheap and comforting Cuban food that is also delicious…

Dining room at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

There you will find plenty of dishes you would find at La Isla, like the beef empanada that was quite good, flakey and slightly crispy with a flavorful filling (I hate when the filling is just dry and lacking flavor) or the Cuban sandwich that is one of the best I ever tried. They just don’t put ham and cheese and press it: you get pieces of pork as well as pickles in it. Just that sandwich that costs $4.95 makes a whole meal. Of course, if you are vegetarian, you can go with their version of grilled cheese that is a pressed sandwich with 4 slices of cheese in it. Understand though that they make it on the same press as the meat one. But, hey, what do you think happen in most restaurants ? Your veggie burger is probably done on the same grill as a cheeseburger. So, if you do not mind, go for it: it is crunchy and has lots of cheese in it (not that melted though).

Beef empanada at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Cuban sandwich at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Grilled cheese at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Accompanied with plantains chips, you would be in heaven. What we did not try but saw lots of people ordering it is their breakfast that comes with a fresh squeezed orange juice (loved it), coffee and various combination of eggs or meat ranging from $4.75 to $7.45 with generous portions for sure.

Orange press at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Fresh squeezed orange juice at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Plantain chips at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

Desserts looked delicious but I admit that the batido de Mamey that is like a milk shake filled me up and I could not eat more (ok, I admit that our plan was also to buy donuts somewhere else…).

Batido de Mamey at Rumba’s Café in Jersey City

So, overall, Rumba’s Cafe is a great find. This is worth a trip to Jersey City!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Rumba’s Cafe -513 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 10/4/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/4/21

The Phaal, one of the hottest curry on Earth at Brick Lane Curry House

So, the last time I went to Brick Lane in Jersey City was end of July for an event celebrating the 1947 beer (check out my podcast episode with the founder and CEO of 1947 Craft Beer) and I was looking forward to going back there. And we did, eager to get my hand on that beer and also try their most famous dish: the phaal, a curry so hot that they cook it with a gas mask, the fumes of the peppers being so intense. I discovered this dish on Man vs Food and was always curious to taste it, knowing that you have to verbally remove the restaurant from any responsibility should you decide to eat it.

1947 beer at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

And if you finish it, you get a free beer and your picture in their wall of fame…I do not know anyone who has been able to eat it fully and even our waiter told us that he never did and would not even try. What is great at Brick Lane is that you do not need to order the entire curry and can just get the sauce as a side for $6. That way it does not feel like a total waste. Still, you get a nice quantity of that curry that is topped with a pepper that is daring you to try. I dipped a piece of naan, making sure that there was enough sauce on it and took a bite. I then turn to Jodi and said: “Alright, that is not that…”. Yeah, this is the kind of treasonous spicy dish where you think you can handle it and then suddenly it hits you: Jodi said that my face was like in movies when people get stabbed. My mouth was on fire, I started sweating a bit and my eyes became watery. I was also laughing at the same time as this was unexpected and grabbed a glass of 1947 beer, some rice and some naan, to try to extinguish this intense fire. It worked but I could still feel a bit of it as I continued my meal, but there was no way I could have continued to eat the phaal.

Phaal at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

At least the rest of the food was not that spicy or not spicy at all. We had:

Imli baigan that is like eggplant chips topped with yogurt, tamarind and cheddar cheese. Nice and crispy, I love the sweet and savory combination of the dish.

Imli Baigan at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

Paneer tikka, where the cottage cheese, cooked in a tandoor, came on a sizzling plate, accompanied with vegetable. I liked their paneer that had this nice char and kick.

Paneer tikka at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

It came with a tikka masala sauce as well as a naan.

Tikka masala sauce at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

Naan at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

On my side, being in a British curry house, I wanted to try their chicken tikka masala. I was not disappointed: creamy, with lots of chicken in it, I could not stop dipping naan in it!

Chicken tikka masala at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

Last was dessert. We were planning on stopping by Bang Cookies that is few doors away, but could not resist getting their gulab jamun…

Gulab jamun at Brick Lane Curry House in Jersey City

Overall, we had another great meal at Brick Lane Curry House. This is a great place to know and I would definitely go back, but not for the phaal…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Brick Lane Curry House - 136 Newark Avenue, Jersey City 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/21 I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/21

Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

I heard about Jack’s Wife Freda for some time, but we never got the chance to go there, until one Friday where we were looking for a place to eat downtown. They had reservations at 6:30pm, but, by the time we looked at the menu, it was gone and the only reservation we could get was…

The place was not that crowded when we arrived, but, 30 minutes later, it was packed. I like the atmosphere there that is quite lively. The main characteristic of their menu, besides having Mediterranean influence, is that they serve breakfast all day and I would say that it is probably more a place for breakfast, lunch or brunch than for a classic dinner, not that they do not have other kind of dishes, but I found them less appealing. But if you like the concept, go for it: the food is quite good and the service courteous.

Here is what we had:

As a cocktail, I had the hot toddy that was made with bourbon, honey, lemon, and topped with star anise that looked like little spiders on the photos.

Jodi got their mint lemonade that was quite refreshing.

Mint lemonade at Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

We then shared the grilled halloumi that seems to be one of their signature appetizers, a quite popular dish if I consider all the tables who ordered it. I love the chewy texture of halloumi and was not disappointed.

Gilled Halloumi at Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

For her main, Jodi got their Mediterranean breakfast. It was composed of two eggs any style (she chose scrambled and it was pretty good, not dry as you something get because overcooked), chopped salad, labne and pita. Good overall, but nothing special.

Mediterranean breakfast at Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

On my side, I went for the Madame Freda that is their version of croque madame, but made with duck prosciutto instead of ham, cheddar béchamel, gruyere and topped with a sunny side up egg. This was delicious, with lots of cheese!

Madame Freda at Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

Last was dessert. We decided to go for what we thought was a bread pudding, that seemed to be quite popular considering the number of people who ordered it. It was the “Noam’s Malva Pudding”. A Malva pudding is a South African cake that I soaked in caramel. This was superb: decadent without being too sweet, the only complaint I have is that I would have like more of it!

Noam’s Malva Pudding at Jack’s Wife Freda in NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Jack’s Wife Freda - 50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

I Just Want To Eat! 9/29/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/29/21

Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

I was curious to try Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square, the location being unusual for a steakhouse where usually more affordable options are available. This is your typical steakhouse: there is the raw bar, with its seafood platters, its appetizers and salads (yes, there is a wedge salad) and then the steaks that you can top with foie gras or lobster and accompany with sauces or classic sides. Missing in action are things that I always look forward to see on a menu: crab cakes and a…

Here is what I tried:

They first brought some bread that was quite nice with butter. Too good in fact because you cannot stop eating it!

Bread at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

I ate it with a Manhattan that was served in a martini glass that I hate so much, as I find that I always end up with some cocktail on my fingers at the beginning.

Manhattan at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Then came the seafood platter, Le Petit, that was composed of mussels, oysters, shrimp and clams (the latter did not taste that fresh unfortunately).

Seafood platter at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Next was the bone marrow. Roasted, it was topped with pickled shallots and served with a roasted baguette. Good, I however thought that for $17, they could have given two or a larger bone as this was not that big.

Bone marrow at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

It was followed by the long awaited porterhouse. Long awaited and unfortunately overcooked, so I sent it back. They apologized and, instead of throwing it in the garbage, they brought it back to go and sent two appetizers complimentary. That’s what I call excellent customer service! The second porterhouse was perfectly cooked medium rare, with a nice crust. The meat was good, tender, but I thought that it lacked flavor.

Porterhouse at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

The sauces I tried were béarnaise (my fav), au poivre (well made, not too peppery) and their house steak sauce.

Sauces at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

The sides were: the fries that were not crispy as if they cooked them in low temperature; the onion rings that were a bit gritty, the sweet charred corn that is cooked with butter was my favorite; and the roasted king oyster mushrooms that I thought were bland.

Onion rings at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

French fries at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Roasted charred corn at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Roasted King oyster mushrooms at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

With the steak, I sipped a glass of Pinot Noir, Louis Jadot, clos des Gatsulards, from burgundy 2016.

Pinot Noir, Louis Jadot, clos des Gatsulards at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Last was dessert. The crème brûlée was well made, but the cheesecake was a let down, bland also.

Creme brûlée at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

Cheesecake at Charlie Palmer Steak in Times Square

So overall, I was a bit disappointed with Charlie Palmer Steak. I thought the food did not deliver its promise and does not stand out like La Grande Boucherie or Gallagher’s do. This was just ok for me.

Enjoy (…)!

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

Charlie Palmer Steak -135 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/21

Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ

Bin 14 is one of my favorite places in Hoboken for brunch and dinner. Their small menu changes often and there is always something that will excite you and want to go back. The place is cozy and warm, with a patio in the back that is much quieter than the outdoor setting, where a band comes to play music for Sunday brunch….

Talking about brunch, Chef Pino’s Wine Bar offers a great deal: the $29 Zeppolini brunch is composed and of three zeppolini (mini zeppole but not so small - larger serving if you order directly from the menu), an appetizer and an entree, with discounted prices for cocktails like the berry spritz (my favorite) or the Sbagiato Nero, made with Campari, sweet vermouth and lambrusco. Of course, they have the classic Bellini, mimosa, etc.

They have a wide range of brunch dishes, from waffles to eggs to burgers and know that you can also order a la carte. Quantities are not huge: this is when you remember that it ia better to have quality over quantity.
What is surprising is that they bring the zeppolini first. I am fine with it: why not starting a meal with dessert, that way you are never full to have some! Know that, when you order in the brunch menu, you will get 3 of them versus 5 when ordering off the menu.

Few things are popular there: first, their thin crust pizza that they cook in their wood fire oven. Jodi always orders the wild mushroom and burrata pizza. I like it but usually ditch some of the arugula on top.

Wild mushroom and burrata pizza at Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ

Another popular dish is the hand cut fries. When they opened, they used to have truffle fries that were always a must have. Now, we get the chilies and pecorino fries. Not spicy at all.

But then, if you go there, you must try their meatballs: they are some of the best I ever had. Not dry at all, they propose them as an appetizer or with poached eggs and a creamy polenta that is to die for.

Meatball and polenta at Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ

Other egg dishes include their egg in hole that is made with a slice of brioche (with the hole where the egg is cooked), smoked ham and mornay sauce, and served with house potatoes (I prefer the fries though). Very creamy, this is a quite comforting dish. And that brioche is so good!

Dinner is also quite good with lots of dishes that change quite often. When we went recently, they had this cherry marmalade and burrata that was served with roasted hazelnut and crostini. That homemade burrata was amazing: very creamy, I loved the pairing with the cherry marmalade with its sweetness balancing well the milky flavor of the burrata.

One of my favorite appetizers was the grilled octopus that was served with a cannellini beans ragu: I could have eaten even more it, this very comforting dish being succulent and homey; they surely know how to cook octopus and I loved to taste the fact that they finish it in their wood fire oven, giving a nice char.

They also have pasta, Bin 14 being not only a Wine bar, but also a trattoria. So, for the first time, I decided to try one of their pasta dishes and got their truffle and bucatini that were served with a poached egg, parmesan and a light cream sauce. Overall good, although I thought that there was way too much cream.

Truffle and bucatini at Bin 14 in Hoboken, NJ

So yes, Bin 14 is always a treat, for brunch or dinner. if you go for brunch, get their menu: this is a very good deal! But in all cases, I recommend the octopus, the meatballs, the pizza and the zepollini.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bin 14 - 1314 Washington street, Hoboken, NJ

I Just Want To Eat! 9/24/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/24/21

L’Angolo in TriBeCa

Sitting on a TriBeCa corner, L’Angolo (means angle in Italian) is a popular Italian restaurant that I discovered few years ago. As we were in the area on a Saturday afternoon, we decided to stop by and see if we could get a table. With their outside setup, it was not a problem, and I was even surprised to see people eating inside in a…

I started the meal with an Aperol Spritz, enjoying the sweet and bitter taste of this popular drink.

Then, we tried few specials that they smartly added on their e-menu, instead of having the wait staff repeating to each table what the night specials are, more often to deaf ears. We started with their fiori di Zucca, that are zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and dipped fried tempura style, served with a tomato sauce and zucchini. It reminded me the zucchini flower beignets that you can eat in Nice, if ever you go to the south of France.

The second special was the truffle pasta. It was homemade tagliolini accompanied by pecorino and topped with black truffle, a good amount of it. The smell of black truffle filled our nose before we dived in a deliciously decadent dish, the pasta being perfectly cooked al dente.

I also got my own dish that is on the regular menu: linguine del mare. These homemade linguine, also cooked al dente, were served with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari, in a light tomato sauce made with white wine that definitely let the pasta and seafood shine. Sublime!

Linguine del Mare at L’Angolo in TriBeCa

We did not get dessert, the day being filled with ice cream and donuts, but also because the kitchen seemed a bit overwhelmed and, at that time, we finally decided to skip it. Still, this place serves delicious food and I will certainly be back there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

L’Angolo -190 A Duane St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 9/22/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/22/21

Steak frites at Le Relais de Venise in NYC

Being back at Le Relais de Venise was a great feeling: this place, although less crowded than usual, survived, still serving their delicious steak frites with a secret sauce that kept its mystery after more than 60 years. It’s French but refers to Venice in its name and decor; well, there is a good explanation for this: in 1959, a French winemaker, Paul Gineste de Saurs, decided to open a restaurant where he would showcase the family wine, Le Chateau de Saurs. He bought a restaurant in Paris that was…Italian! He had no experience in the restaurant business and decided to keep the place as is and only propose one menu option: the steak frites. Bold at that time and still today as, if you are only serving one dish, you better execute it well. I believe they still do. And by the way, they still offer their house wine prefixed with the restaurant name (I instead went for a Pinot Noir from Burgundy - 2018).

Glass of Pinot Noir from Burgundy at Le Relais de Venise in NYC

I love the principle: they just ask you how you want your steak: rare, medium or well done. There is no medium-rare for instance, and they will write the initial of the temperature on the paper table cloth. They then bring their bread and salad topped with walnuts.

Walnut salad at Le Relais de Venise in NYC

Once you finish your salad, you get the steak frites, a sirloin cooked to perfection, smothered with this delicious sauce that I always ask to also put on these thin and crispy fries that I love so much. But wait! This is the first serving: once you are done, they come with more!!!

And if you are vegetarian, no worries: they have a cheese plate (instead of the temperature of the steak, they will put a V on the tablecloth). They were not able to tell us what all the cheeses were, but there was definitely a Camembert, a goat and a blue cheese. By the way, there were also walnuts in the middle of the cheese, so I am wondering if they are also growing walnut trees on top of making wine! Another salad came, larger (I was not sure it it was a mistake). Interestingly, it came with fries with that sauce on part of the plate. Does that mean that the sauce is vegetarian ? I doubt it.

Cheese plate at Le Relais de Venise in NYC

French fries and secrete sauce at Le Relais de Venise in NYC

With the vegetarian meal came a dessert as the minimum per person is $33.95 that is the cost of the steak frites. I admit that it is always difficult to pick just one, as they have lots of mouth watering options. We finally went for their vacherin, a signature dessert that is a must have. This impressive tower that I am still surprised can stand straight, is made with a fantastic meringue that is crunchy on the outside and gooey inside. There is first a meringue, then a scoop of vanilla ice cream, another meringue, a scoop of praline ice cream, a meringue, some whipped cream, the whole thing topped with a dark chocolate sauce. First of all, I was happy to have praline ice cream because it is not something I find often here (I use to buy it at the supermarket when living in France and indulge…quite often…). Then, it is not too sweet, the ice cream balancing the sweetness of the meringue and chocolate sauce.

This was a great meal, as usual. Le Relais de Venise has a great concept and they are doing very well with the one thing they are known for, with a steak frites that is delicious and better than what some of more known restaurants offer.

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 Relais de Venise - 590 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 9/20/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/20/21

Thai Villa in NYC, NY

It has been a while since we had Thai food in the city and we kind of were craving it. So we decided to find a place for a Saturday lunch and stumbled upon Thai Villa, near Union Square. I did not expect to find such place. Not only is the decor incredible (the dining room is on two floors, the second being more like a mezzanine that they created, taking advantage of the very high ceilings), with its lamps that make you feel you just entered a dream that started with the serenity of the…

Here is what we had:

Of course, I ordered my go to Thai drink, a Thai iced tea that was good (I think it happened only once that I had a so so one).

Then there were the dumplings I mentioned before. They are called Pak Mor Puk and are vegetable crepe dumplings filled with chive, jicama, black mushrooms, cabbage, bamboo shoots, and served with a sweet soy sauce. I am always a bit wary with vegetable dumplings as, sometimes, the shell is too thick and the filling one dimensional, overpowered by one ingredient. Of course, the blue color is mesmerizing, but the taste was great: the crepe was thin and slightly sticky, and the filling had lots of flavors.

Pak Mor Puk or vegetable crepe dumpling at Thai Villa in NYC, NY

For her main, Jodi got the Pad se-ew that was pretty good, although quite classic.

On my side, I hesitated quite a bit as I always have the Massaman Curry when having Thai food, loving this dish. But their extensive menu has so many mouth watering choices that I finally decided to try something different and ordered their Muk Koong Kai Kem that is sautéed squid and shrimp (there was lots of it) with a duck egg yolk. The presentation was beautiful, the ingredients sitting on a crispy shell similar to these taco shells you get when having a taco salad. It was a bit spicy with sweet and savory tones, and was served with rice that kind of has a soothing effect.

Muk Koong Kai Kem or sauteed squid and shrimp at Thai Villa in NYC, NY

So, overall, we had a great meal at Thai Villa: I cannot wait to go back 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!

Thai Villa - 5 East 19th street, New York, New York, 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/21

Brunch at La Palapa in NYC

It’s been a very long time since we have gone to La Palapa, a Mexican restaurant located in the East Village. In fact, the last time we went was when our friends Jeannine, Brett and their kids were in New York, for a memorable dinner. Brunch was really what we wanted to get there as their French toast was always on top of our list: eggy, slightly crunchy…

So here we were, first to arrive right after they opened on a Saturday. The place was all for us, that is not something I would complain about today…

We started our meal with their guacamole, that we ordered not spicy. It was good, freshly made, even if the texture looked like they used a blender but just a bit so there would not be chunks of avocado in it.

We then got their huevos rancheros, a popular brunch dish that we love. They were good, smothered in cheese and crema, and bathed in a salsa verde.

Last was of course the French toast aka Pan Frances Torrejas. I was really looking forward to it. They were good, but not as good as it used to be: the bread that was eggy was smothered with sauce and fruit overpowering a bit the dish. I would have known, I would have asked them to put all of that on the side.

Pan Frances Torrejas or French toast at La Palapa in NYC

Still, we were happy to go back to La Palapa. That’s the type of places I would go back without hesitation.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

La Palapa - 77 Saint Marks Place, New York, New York 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/21 I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/21

Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ

Root beer has a very long history, that even started at the time when native Americans were making sassafras root beverages for medicinal purposes. It was even called at some point root tea, but the first pharmacist to successfully market a root beer brand, Charles Elmer Hires, decided to call it root beer instead of root tea to appeal to coal miners. It was 150 years ago approximately. There are many brands out there with different price points, and my…

I do not remember the first time I tried root beer. It was in the US for sure, as this is not a drink commonly found in Europe, and it is not uncommon to have tourists think that this is a beer and not a soda…I typically have root beer with pizza but this time, at Stewart’s, I decided to try a float, this place being known for it, their first root beer stand opening in 1924.

Root beer float at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ

A root beer float is made by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to root beer. It was good, but I admit that it is not something that wows me. Still, decadent and refreshing, perfect with the double cheeseburger and French fries I got with my meal. I liked my double cheeseburger: the patties were well cooked, not dry, with a nice char, and with a slice of cheese in between and one on top. Of course, I had to have ketchup and mayonnaise. For $6.30, this was a good deal.

The wavy fries were also quite good: crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through. I just wished they had onion rings to make a perfect combination, but they ran out that day.
You may wonder what Jodi had: it was a grilled cheese that I totally forgot to photograph! I tasted it though and it was good…for a grilled cheese!

Double cheeseburger at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ

French fries at Stewart’s Root Beer in Rahway, NJ

I had a great lunch at Stewart’s: not only the food was good and cheap, but I also liked the atmosphere that is classic Americana. People were pulling up with their car and eating in it, the food trays conveniently hung to their door like you would see in old movies. We did not eat in the car but at one of the tables outside. Still, I loved it.

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

Stewart’s Root Beer- 347 Jaques Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065