I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/13/22

Korean BBQ at Don’s Bogam

I discovered Don’s Bogam few years ago, thanks to Jodi’s cousin, Jessica. This Korean BBQ place is great: good food, great drinks and courteous staff, a trifecta that makes for a perfect evening.

Eating at a Korean BBQ, there is always the excitement of getting the banchan, these small plates they bring at the beginning of the meal, with kimchi being usually the only sure thing you would get. And unless you ask, it is sometimes difficult to recognize what the dishes they are bringing are, or how…

I discovered Don’s Bogam few years ago, thanks to Jodi’s cousin, Jessica. This Korean BBQ place is great: good food, great drinks and courteous staff, a trifecta that makes for a perfect evening.

Banchan are what peanuts and olives would be in a French aperitif: they accompany perfectly a drink. And Don’s Bogam has for sure a good list, but soju, the Korean rice wine, is a must have to stay in the theme. Regular is quite fine, served in shot glasses, but I was pleasantly surprised by one flavored with lychee, the sweetness of the fruit balancing well the alcohol, but making it quite a dangerous drink as you would think it is just a juice…

And the meat! First, the staff will take care of cooking it for you on the gas grill that is at the center of the table, letting you know when it would be ready. Then, quality of the meat they serve is phenomenal: I thought that the marinated chicken breast (Dak-Gui) would be boring and overcooked, but in fact it was quite good and moist. The pork belly marinated in Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine Samgyeopsal) was delightfully fatty. And then, the beef platter that was composed of marinated ribeye, spicy marinated short rib, and marinated short ribs and mushrooms was exquisite. The meat, that I rolled into a piece of salad with a bit of gochujang was tender and juicy, with a nice char on the outside. Know that if you are vegetarian, they have couple of options so you can enjoy a somewhat similar experience.

Marinated short rib and mushrooms at Don’s Bogam

Marinated short ribs and mushrooms at Don’s Bogam

Last, I should mention the fluffy eggs. Coming in a piping hot pot, they were amazing, like a fusion between a soufflé and scrambled eggs. I definitely recommend it just to try.

Don’s Bogam remains one the best Korean BBQ places in Koreatown and seeing how busy they were was a testimony of it. Reservation recommended!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Don’s Bogam -17 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/11/22

Bryant Park Grill in NYC

It’s been a while since we have been to Bryant Park Grill and so, we decided to go for dinner on a Friday evening. The weather was nice but not enough for us to sit outside, so we ended up in the dining room, enjoying the noise level that I would love to see more often in restaurants.

I started the meal with a cocktail, The Wiseman, made with Kentucky Owl Wiseman bourbon, Campari and grapefruit juice. I admit that it tasted more like grapefruit than anything else…

The Wiseman cocktail at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

As an appetizer, we shared the basket of grilled bread and veggies with vegan spreads. The first spread was crushed vine ripened tomato with sea salt. This was my least favorite, the spread strangely having kind of a fishy taste. However, I loved the black bean hummus (my favorite from all the spreads), the fire roasted caviar and the baba ganoush. The veggies that accompanied all of this were grilled artichokes and long hot chili. I admit that I was surprised by the choice of veggies, not that it was bad, to the contrary, but these are not really the kind that are meant for dipping.

Basket of bread and veggies at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

For her main, Jodi got a salad made with chopped avocado, tomato, cucumber, tabbouleh, greek feta and pita.

Avocado salad at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

On my side, I tried their crab cake that was good but I was expecting jumbo lump crab meat and thought that it was not worth the $24 they charge for, as well as the Australian rack of lamb, marinated with lemon zest and herbs, served with whipped mashed potatoes and sitting on a faro and lentil ragout. The presentation was fantastic and very appetizing, although I thought that there was too much of the whipped smashed potatoes. In fact, they did not need it, the faro and lentils ragout that had pieces of lamb sausage was amazing. The lamb was superb: well cooked medium, with a nice crust on the outside and juicy. I was in heaven!

Australian rack of lamb at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

For dessert, we opted for their coconut angel food cake as Jodi loves coconut. It was served with a cheesecake ice cream and a passionfruit caramel coulis. Overall, it was quite good, even for me who is not a big fan of coconut.

Coconut angel food cake at Bryant Park Grill in NYC

This was a delicious meal, in a nice atmosphere, and I would go back to The Bryant Park Grill to try some other dishes, their menu being mouth watering.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Bryant Park Grill -25 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/9/22

Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

When going to Gallagher ‘s, I always remember the first few times I went there: disappointing. But then, after they changed ownership and renovated the restaurant that clearly needed a new decor, I went back and was blown away. Not only did the place get a fantastic makeover, the food there has always been outstanding. Here…

As a cocktail, I decided to go with the Gallagher’s Rob Roy, a cocktail made with Cutty Sark Prohibition whisky, dry vermouth and orange bitters that was created in 1894 by a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, in honor of an opera based on the life of a Scottish hero, Rob Roy McGregor. Similar to a Manhattan, a Rob Roy is exclusively made with scotch whisky (while a Manhattan is made with rye, bourbon or even Canadian whisky).

Rob Roy Cocktail at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

As an appetizer, I got the sweet medley of seafood that was composed of lobster, jumbo shrimp, oysters, jumbo lump crab and little neck clams. I love seafood and this platter tasted really fresh, with definitely a good quantity of each to share.

Seafood platter at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Then came the porterhouse. They propose it for two, three or four persons. Perfectly cooked medium rare, the meat has a nice char, was tender and deliciously juicy.

Porterhouse at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

For sides, the Mac and cheese (if I recall, made with four cheeses) was amazing and their fries nicely crispy.

Mac and cheese at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

French fries at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Dessert in steakhouses is also a treat. I often go for the key lime pie that was quite good there, delicately tart, or the pecan pie that was quite decadent. Both desserts were big and after a meal like this, you need a bit of a walk to digest!

Key lime pie at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Pecan pie at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in NYC

Definitely Gallagher’s is on top of my list when it comes to steakhouses, and not just for the meat.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Gallagher’s Steakhouse - 228 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/6/22

Afternoon tea at Prince Tea House in the West Village

I heard about the afternoon tea at Prince Tea House, so we decided to try as we were on a quest to try all the afternoon teas in the city. Interesting place for sure with a chic decor that is perfectly suited to the theme of this place.

We decided to solely go for their afternoon tea for two, knowing that they offer other options if you are not up for it. The afternoon tea included small sandwiches (pastrami with Swiss cheese, smoked salmon with avocado, cucumber with tzatziki, crab meat with aioli, and wasabi deviled eggs), scones, assorted desserts (macarons, fruits tarts and flourless chocolate cake), as well as unlimited tea (I went with the usual, mint).
I admit that we were a bit surprised that they would not accommodate the fact that Jodi is vegetarian, not that I did not enjoy the smoked salmon and pastrami (my favorite), but they could have made an effort and double down on the vegetarian sandwiches. The scones were of a good size, slightly hot and delicious with clouted cream, and overall the sandwiches, although small, were good. However, we were disappointed with the desserts that were just ok. But hey, you get what you pay for, the overall experience costing $55 for two. Still, I am glad we tried but do not think I would go back as this is nothing to rave about.

Tea at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Sandwiches at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Scones at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Desserts at Prince Tea House in the West Village

Enjoy (…)!

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Prince Tea House - 204 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/4/22

Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

We discovered Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen few years ago and have been raving about their cotton candy dessert for some time. So, it was time to go back. Ok, the name is not that original, but at least you know what that this is a Turkish restaurant! We went on a Friday evening and the place was packed! I admit that I did not recall the decor that was full of little dolls and black and white photos, nor did I recall the desk in the back where a person, who was either the owner or a manager, was watching the operations, telling the wait staff what to do. It was a weird setup for sure.

Their drink menu is limited so I decided to try a Turkish wine. So I opted for a glass of Kavaklidere that was described as having flavors of fig and red current, with a velvety finish. Well, the wine was ok, and the finish certainly not velvety! Jodi got a non-alcoholic beverage but admit that I do not recall what it was…

Non-alcoholic beverage at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Kavakledere wine at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

As appetizers, we shared the babaganouj that was deliciously smokey, and I got myself some sautéed liver (arnavut ciger) that was delicious.

Babaganouj at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Sautéed liver at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

For her main, Jodi chose the falafel platter that came with hummus (a nice portion of it) and a salad. The falafel was nice, not dry at all, perfect with or without hummus. On my side, I was not sure at first what to get as they had many dishes with lamb and I love lamb! I finally settled for the lamb and eggplant kebab. The chunks of lamb were sitting on a mix of eggplant and tomato, accompanied with rice. I loved it: the lamb was perfectly cooked, as was the eggplant. Definitely a dish I would recommend.

Falafel platter at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

Lamn and eggplant kebab at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

For dessert, there was no cotton candy, so we got their baklava that was superb: flakey, buttery and honey soaked. I accompanied it with Turkish coffee, medium sweet.

Baklava at Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen

So, overall we had a good meal at Turkish Cuisine, even if we did not get the dessert we hoped they had. Maybe another time!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Turkish Cuisine - 631 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/2/22

Ippudo in NYC

When people ask me what the best ramen place in NYC is, my answer is simple: Ippudo. I have been to this place for so many years and not once have I been disappointed.

It is a great experience. First, as you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed in Japanese (that always makes me think about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm), and you are…

When people ask me what the best ramen place in NYC is, my answer is simple: Ippudo. I have been to this place for so many years and not once have I been disappointed.

It is a great experience. First, as you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed in Japanese (that always makes me think about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm), and you are given the choice to sit in the dining room or at the large U shape table, that give you a communal experience while watching the magic happen in the kitchen.

We always start our meal with buns. Vegetable for Jodi (this one was made with eggplant) and chicken or pork for me. These steamed buns are nice: slightly sticky, fluffy and pillowy, the inside always smothered by sauce or mayo.

For the ramen, there have a couple of vegetarian options like the nirvana Akamaru that is made with a sesame mushroom broth, and served with thin noodles, tofu chashu, scallion, bamboo shoots, garlic oil and topped with their secret « Umami dama » paste. I have to admit that their vegetarian ramen is pretty good: earthy, the only negative for me was the thin noodles that I never found as good as the thick ones that usually have a nice bite. In fact, the ramen I chose (Potara miso ramen) had Tokyo wavy thick noodles. It was composed of pork tonkotsu broth with various kinds of miso and seasonings, a spiced ball, slow fried onion chips that has a nice crunch at first, boiled spinach (fortunately not too much as I am not a big fan), corn, bamboo shoots and pork chashu. I asked for an egg also, an add on I always get with ramen. This was so good! The broth was rich and tasty, a bit silky, and the entire thing was quite comforting.

But if you do not want ramen, they have other alternatives like the Mori-Mori salad that has green salad with 11 kinds of vegetables tossed in a house made citrus matcha dressing. To keep it vegetarian, you can add an avocado or tofu; if not, chicken chashu.

So, after all there years, Ippudo remains on top of my list. I love this place and will certainly go back.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Ippudo - 321 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/29/22

Battello in Jersey City

I really do not remember how many times we tried to go to Battello, an Italian restaurant located in Jersey City, with breathtaking views of the New York skyline. Well, weekends are more for private parties so we decided to go on a Monday a couple of months ago. Definitely ideal as there were not that many people, they sat us in the covered patio where we could admire the view while enjoying a delicious meal.

We started off by ordering some drinks. Jodi got a mocktail, the Portside pear, made with pear, yuzu, fever tree sparkling lemon, while I simply got an old fashioned.

Portside pear mocktail at Battello in Jersey City

Old fashioned at Battello in Jersey City

As we were waiting for our dishes, they brought us some delicious focaccia bread that was drizzled with olive oil and surely did not need any of the butter that came with. The problem was that I could not stop eating it…

One of the things I like at Battello is that you can order pasta in appetizer size so you can try few of their homemade delicacies. That is what we did in fact, starting with the malfade cacio e pepe that was perfect, the amount of pepper being exactly what it should be and not overpowering at all the entire dish. The second one was the lacinato kale and taleggio tortellini with mushroom burro, topped with shaved black truffle. Decadent and elegant, this was my favorite pasta dish. The third pasta dish was the squid ink torchio that was made with a spicy tomato sauce, octopus and crab. Good, the pasta was deliciously al dente and the breadcrumbs added a nice crunch.

Malfade cacio e pepe at Battello in Jersey City

Lacinato kale and taleggio tortellini at Battello in Jersey City

Squid ink torchio at Battello in Jersey City

For dessert, we decided to try their apple bread pudding, thinking that we should go with something different than the classic dessert you usually get in Italian restaurant. It was unfortunately just ok, being a little dry and would have been great with a creme anglaise.

Apple pudding at Battello in Jersey City

apple bread pudding at Battello in Jersey City

Overall, we had a good meal at Batello: the menu is great and I love the fact that you can try several pasta dishes. Between the food and the view, it is worth the ride to Jersey City.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Battello - 502 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/27/22

Basta Pasta, Italian food by a Japanese Chef

I cannot believe that it has been 2 years since we went to Basta Pasta, the US outpost of an Italian restaurant that opened in Japan in 1985, that I discovered few years ago and remains one of my preferred Italian restaurants in the city. Always packed, the menu there is amazing with so many mouth watering dishes that you are not sure what to get and just want to order the entire menu.

We went there on a Thursday evening, arriving a it earlier, so we sat at the bar to enjoy some drinks while waiting for our table. Jodi had a mocktail called the Pompelmo, made with grapefruit juice, fresh mint, soda and tonic, while I had the No BS cocktail, made with Bird Dog Bourbon, hibiscus syrup, lime juice, serrano salsa and fresh mint (I asked for not too much salsa so it would not be too spicy).

Pompelmo mocktail at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

No BS cocktail at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

We started the meal with the burrata that was served with a Winter citrus salad (I loved the combination of the oranges with the creaminess of the cheese), walnuts, onion and olives. Refreshing, this is a perfect dish to share and one of the few vegetarian appetizers.

For her main, Jodi went for the Cavatelli mozzarella, pomodori e fungi, that is homemade cavatelli pasta with mozzarella, fresh tomato sauce, shiitake mushrooms and grana padano cheese. Quite good and comforting, with a nice amount of cheese, this is the perfect dish if you love mushrooms.

Cavatelli mozzarella, pomodoro e funghi at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

On my side, I could not resist ordering the spaghetti Nero ai frutti di mare or squid ink spaghetti with clams, squid, sea scallop and shrimp. The pasta was amazing, perfectly cooked al dente and every piece of seafood was perfectly cooked too. It was served with a discrete tomato sauce that definitely enhanced the entire dish. I loved it!

Spaghetti nero ai frutti di mare at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

For dessert, we decided to try their chocolate lava cake. Served warm, gooey in the center, it was served with a creamy vanilla Ice cream that paired perfectly with the chocolate and balanced the sweetness of the cake.

Chocolate lava cake at Basta Pasta in NYC, NY

We left satisfied after a delicious meal at Basta Pasta. This place is quite unique: the food is exquisite and the service on point. I definitely recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Basta Pasta - 37 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/25/22

Maiella in Long Island City

It’s been a while since we wanted to go back to Maiella, an Italian restaurant we discovered few years ago. So, as we were in Long Island City to see the opening of Peter Drake, the Provost of the New York Academy of Art and an amazing painter, we decided to make a reservation there, on a Saturday evening. Well, we went around 6pm and the place was not that busy and I enjoyed the fact that we could have a quiet dinner, until they started to increase the volume of the music and people started to come, large tables filling up with people ready to celebrate birthdays and other kinds of events.

I started the meal by ordering a cocktail, Il Padrone, made with Bourbon, Amaro, lemon and ginger. This was good, like a palate cleanser with the ginger giving a nice heat in the back of my throat. With it, they brought us some homemade focaccia that was good, brushed with olive oil.

Il Padrone cocktail at Maiella in Long Island City

As an appetizer, we shared the Polpete Melanzane, or eggplant croquettes that were sitting on caponata and drizzled with smoked ricotta. If you like eggplant, this dish is for you. The fried croquette was deliciously crispy, not oily, letting this delightful vegetable be the star of the show.

Polpette Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

For her main, Jodi got the Cappelletti ai Funghi that is cappelletti stuffed with mushrooms, served with a sauce made with mushroom and truffle, and grana padano. This dish was amazing: decadent as well as elegant thanks to small bits of truffle, each bite was an explosion of flavor.

Cappelletti ai funghi at Maiella in Long Island City

On my side, I hesitated a bit between few dishes but finally decided to get the Strozzapretti ai Ricci di Mare. This homemade pasta was smothered with sea urchin butter, mixed with Red Busan crab (jumbo lump crab), Calabrese chili and squid ink breadcrumbs. Just reading the description made my mouth water and showcased the creativity of the Chef. The pasta was deliciously cooked al dente, and the chili gave a nice heat to the dish while the breadcrumbs added some crunchiness. Superb!

Strozzapretti ai frutti di mare at Maiella in Long Island City

For dessert, we chose the chocolate budino. They did not have this amazing meringue cake we had the last time that Jodi raved about, but I admit that the budino was amazing! The chocolate custard that was dense and not too sweet was sitting on a sable, topped with chantilly that balanced the robustness of the chocolate, and accompanied by an orange marmalade. Orange and chocolate go very well together and I just wished there was more marmalade on the plate. Still, this was a great dessert.

Chocolate budding at Maiella in Long Island City

So, yes, we were not disappointed by Maiella: this is a great place in Long Island City that I absolutely recommend. And it is not that far if you take the subway: it is worth the trip!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Maiella - 4610 Center Blvd, Queens, NY 11109

I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/8/22

La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We were looking for a place to eat near Bryant Park when we decided to try the new location of La Pecora Bianca. Although it was a Tuesday, we decided to still reserve a table: I am glad we did as the place was quite packed…and loud! The noise level in restaurants is definitely something I will never get used to, but we really wanted to try their menu.

I started off by ordering a negroni from…

I started off by ordering a negroni from their negroni bar and picked the Winter as made with bourbon.

Whisky Negroni at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We then shared the crispy provolone that is fried provolone as you would have mozzarella sticks. Crispy, with lots of cheese, it was not greasy and delicious dipped in a vodka sauce that was a nice substitute for the classic marinara.

Fried provolone at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

For the entrees, we both tried their homemade pasta that are definitely a must have. Jodi got their bucatini cacio e pepe (nice amount of cheese but a bit too much pepper), while I had their linguine with clams that were succulent.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

Linguine with clams at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

We finished the meal with an olive oil cake that was superb, and ditched the quince that came with it as it was a bit too syrupey.

Olive oil cake at La Pecora Bianca Bryant Park

Overall, the meal at La Pecora Bianca was great. The only negative was the noise level that made us want to get our dishes quickly and leave…Still, this place never disappoints.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Pecora Bianca -20 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/6/22

L’Adresse in Times Square

We discovered L’Adresse a while back and decided to go back for dinner on a Friday as we were looking for a place close to Bryant Park. I remembered that I had a good meal there and was curious to know if they were still good considering that they opened a second location in the City, a sign that I took as a success for their venture.

The place was not that crowded and I really…

The place was not that crowded and I really appreciated the fact that, besides for a table for 10, it was quiet.

Food wise, they have an interesting menu that takes specialties from various countries and cannot be associated to just one. Here is what we had:

To start, we ordered drinks. Jodi got a strawberry lemonade, while I had a Sea Buckhorn whisky sour, made with bourbon, egg white and house made Sea Buckhorn syrup. Good, strong and refreshing.

Strawberry lemonade at L’adresse in Times Square

Sea buckhorn whisky sour at L’adresse in Times Square

For the appetizer, we decided to share the mezze that was a platter composed of beet hummus (I like beet but surely prefers the classic hummus made with chickpeas), tzatziki and spicy feta. It was served with a delicious grilled naan that was topped with za’atar, as well as Fire roasted tomatoes. It was overall delicious, the naan being the star of the show, but I found the quantities quite small for $25!

Mezze platter at L’adresse in Times Square

Continuing on the naan adventure, Jodi got a mushroom naan flatbread that was made with truffle mushroom pate, mushrooms and Asiago. It looked great and tasted delicious, topped generously with cheese.

Mushroom naan flatbread at L’adresse in Times Square

On my side, I settled for the steak frites. Served with truffle fries that were slightly crispy but did not taste truffle at all, the cut was a NY strip that was unfortunately overcooked and that I sent back. The second time was better (I asked for medium rare and it was close), but the steak was not tender. It was juicy and for sure, they put a lot of butter (beurre Maître D) on top compared to the size of the meat!

Steak frites at L’adresse in Times Square

Last was dessert: we got their chocolate envy. It was a chocolate and almond cake filled with layers of gianduja, caramel dark chocolate mousse and feuillantine of a little crunch. This cake was the star of the meal: very chocolatey with nice hints of hazelnut. I loved it.

Chocolate envy at L’adresse in Times Square

So dessert was good, but overall the meal was a bit disappointing and pricey for what it was. Too bad.

Enjoy (…)!

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L’Adresse -1065 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/4/22

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We were exploring the Financial District when we stumbled upon Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill at The Lowell, a luxurious apart-hotel. I knew Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken and was always curious to try this venture, having seen plenty of photos on Instagram that seem to showcase delicious food. We went on a Friday evening and, although the place was not that packed when we arrived, it changed as the evening went, the dining room filing up very quickly…

I could not resist ordering a glass of Japanese whisky from their small selection and got a Ichiro Malt that had a beautiful golden color and a subtle fruity taste.

Ichiro Malt Japanese Whisky at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We them shared the cauliflower tempura that was superb: light, crispy, with the cauliflower cooked all the way through, it was served with a sweet miso sauce. I also wanted to try their salmon tartare that was topped with a quail egg and scallion, with a nice quantity of wasabi that enhanced the taste of the soft salmon.

Cauliflower tempura at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

Salmon tartare at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

For her entree, Jodi had a bit of choice for vegetarian options and opted for their shiitake mushroom roll, their avocado roll and we shared tamago (aka Japanese omelet). On my side, I tried their Kyuri special that is a roll made with eel, crab stick, cucumber and avocado. The rolls were delicious, my favorite being the one with eel as well as the tamago.

Tamago, shiitake roll and avocado roll at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

Kyuri special roll at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

For dessert, they did not have a menu and just two specials. We decided to try their flourless chocolate dessert that was made with white chocolate in the bottom, topped with a fudge-y milk chocolate, that had the consistency of a thick custard and was quite decadent, served with a green tea ice cream that complemented quite well the sweetness of the chocolate.

Flourless chocolate cake at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the Financial District

We left full and satisfied by this delicious meal, certain we would come back there as their menu is mouth watering and there were many other dishes that we wish we could try. This is definitely a place I would recommend.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill - 84 William St, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/22 I Just Want To Eat! 4/1/22

Mezcali in the Financial District

We decided to explore the Financial District when we stumbled upon Mezcali, a Mexican restaurant that opened few months ago. So we decided to book a table for the following Friday. Well, a Friday is always busy and this place was no exception: our table on the ground floor was located close to a table of screaming diners (the four of them sounded like there were hundred people, the alcohol not really helping), as well as a large table of corporate folks going there for a drink before the week end. We were there so there was no turning back, especially as I wanted a particular dish that I will mention later.
I started off by ordering their ancestral old fashioned, made with Abosolo Mexican whisky. I admit that I nether heard of Mexican whisky, so it was interesting to try, but let’s face it: they would put a Maker’s Mark, I would probably not see the difference.

We then went for our go to appetizer: guacamole, that they made mild. Good, with chunks of avocado, they brought it split into two different bowls. I was wondering if it had something to do with people not wanting to dip their chips in the same bowl (or even Covid) that made them do that.

For her main, Jodi got the veggie taco that was made with cauliflower. Good and tasty.

And then on my side was the long awaited dish: a California burrito. I have been looking for this since a trip a few years ago in San Diego. If you never had it, think about a classic burrito where the rice has been replaced by fries. I do not particularly like rice in a burrito. But fries! This burrito was made with Oaxacan marinated steak (tender and juicy), avocado, black beans and cascabel queso. I loved it! It was like having a compressed steak frites where you get the taste of the meat and fries at the same time, the fries being sometimes crunchy, sometimes soft. I highly recommend it.

California burrito at Mezcali in NYC, NY

Dessert was a bit disappointing as I was expecting they would have churros. So we ended up with a taco ice cream that was quite messy and just ok.

Overall, the food was good at Mezcali, but I admit that the noise level made the dinner a bit painful…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Mezcali - 83 Maiden Ln, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 3/30/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/30/22

Porterhouse in Columbus Circle

For a celebratory dinner, we decided to go to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle. We had a deal with Jodi: I would get my steak and she would get the dessert that she has been eyeing for some time…

To celebrate, we got two cocktails: the penicillin (Japanese whisky, honey, lemon, ginger and laphroaig 10 years myst) and a margarita…that was not what we originally ordered.

For a celebratory dinner, we decided to go to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle. We had a deal with Jodi: I would get my steak and she would get the dessert that she has been eyeing for some time…

To celebrate, we got two cocktails: the penicillin (Japanese whisky, honey, lemon, ginger and laphroaig 10 years myst) and a margarita…that was not what we originally ordered.

Penicillin cocktail at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

I started off with their jumbo lump crab cake that was served with a horseradish-mustard sauce. Quite good, although not the best, I was expecting bigger pieces of crab in it (well it says jumbo, so…). Still, good.

For her main, Jodi got the burrata salad composed of tomato and basil. Classic and refreshing.

It was small though but we were planning on sharing sides. The first one was the pan roasted mushrooms that was delicious. I often find roasted mushrooms to be a bit boring, but not this one. The second side was their crispy hash brown. Wow, this was fantastic! Definitely crispy, and cooked all the way through.

Pan roasted mushrooms at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

For the steak, after a bit of hesitation, I chose their chili rubbed ribeye. Perfectly cooked medium rare, with a nice crust on the outside, it was tender and juicy, nicely fatty and not at all overpowered by the chili rub that gave a very slight kick and to the contrary enhanced the taste of the meat. Superb!

Chili rubbed ribeye at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

I should mention that I ate it with béarnaise sauce that is my go to sauce with steak. And they made it well.

Bearnaise sauce at Porterhouse in NYC, NY

Last was the long awaited dessert. We shared their coconut cake that is probably the best I ever had. That says a lot because I am not always a fan of coconut cake but this one was fantastic: light, with a delicious cream, it was not too sweet.

So, after reading this, you probably understand that we had an amazing meal. Porterhouse is for sure a place to know for steak.

Enjoy (I really did)!

Porterhouse - 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 3/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/28/22

Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Cha kee, a Chinese restaurant that opened in September 2021 in the heart of Chinatown. there, Executive chef Akiko Thurnauer (formerly of Mission Chinese, En Japanese Brasserie, Nobu Tribeca), crafted an interesting menu, far from the classic Chinese cuisine you usually find: no vegetarian dumplings or scallion pancakes. In fact, the menu is quite limited if you are vegetarian, so it was a bit of a challenge for Jodi. Not for me.

Dining room at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

I was looking forward to try their Dan Dan noodles that I saw on Instagram one day and was the reason I wanted to go to Cha Kee. I tried these noodles for the first time at Hao Noodle and I am sort of obsessed with them. Made with ground pork and a sesame sauce, it is topped with a poached egg that literally dissolved as you mix everything together, giving a nice coating to the noodles that were perfectly cooked, and added some creaminess to the dish, while the radicchio added a bit of crunch. It was good. However, I was expecting it to be spicy like at Hao Noodle, but it was not at all.

Dan Dan noodles at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

We did share few vegetarian dishes. For appetizers, we had the smashed cucumber with Shio kombu, mama oil and lemon juice, a vegan dish that was just of for me. The best was the Honey walnut cauliflower, that was phenomenal: crispy, creamy, sweet and savory. I definitely recommend this dish!

Smashed cucumber at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

Honey walnut cauliflower at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

For her main, Jodi got the Ume and wood ear mushroom fried rice, made with oyster mushroom, egg and Shiso. Classic, in a way, but a bit elevated, it was quite comforting.

Ume and wood ear mushroom fried rice at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

I should mention that I had a mocktail with my meal (they do not have a liquor license). It was the Garden Spice, composed of seedlip spice, ginger, ginger ale and rosemary. Refreshing, it is a perfect mix if you like ginger.

Garden Spice mocktail at Cha Kee in Chinatown, NYC

We did not have dessert as we were full (and had an ice cream earlier…), but I would definitely go back to check out what they propose as I am sure it is as unique as the other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cha Kee - 43 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/24/22

Pepolino in TriBeCa

I discovered Pepolino in TriBeCa many years ago. This Italian restaurant has been there for some time, that is no wonder when you tried their food. Comfy, it reminded me some of the delicious dishes we had in Italy, like their pappa Al pomodoro, a soup made with tomato, garlic and bread. A peasant soup that is very comforting.
Another classic is their melanzane e scarmoza that is made with thin slices of eggplant topped with smokey mozzarella. Good, with a nice smokiness, I just wished that the eggplant would have been more cooked since it was bit…

Pappa al pomodoro at Pepolino in TriBeCa

Melanzane e scarrozza at Pepolino in TriBeCa

For an elegant experience, they propose a polenta mousse topped with cheese fondue and black truffle. Decadent, creamy and addictive.

Polenta con fondue at Pepolino in TriBeCa

Of course, going there, you cannot miss the pasta. And I could not resist ordering the linguine nere di mare or homemade squid ink linguine with seafood (shrimp, calamari and mussels) in a spicy tomato sauce. This dish is superb, the pasta and seafood (lots of it) being perfectly cooked, and the sauce, that was not spicy, had a robust flavor.

Linguine nere di mare at Pepolino in TriBeCa

I should mention that, with bread, they served us a tomato mousse that was very good, light and tasty. Different from the classic olive oil and bread.

We did not have dessert there because we had other plans, but I admit that I would have liked to try some of their options. Well, it will be for another time as we will go back for sure since this place truly reminds us some of the restaurants we ate at in Italy.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Pepolino -281 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/22/22

Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

I recently discovered Osteria La Baia, an Italian restaurant that opened a couple of months ago in Midtown Manhattan. I was not sure what to expect, but the few times I went there, I was blown away: great service and delicious food are the two impressions that remain…

It is the kind of place where I see myself going for either a meal or a drink, their cocktail menu being quite large with specialty cocktails like the Il Padrino (The Godfather, made with rye and amaretto), classic cocktails, spritzes and house Negronis (I had the Scrittore that was not made with gin but whisky).

The Godfather cocktail at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Whisky Negroni at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Their menu has classics, but they surely execute them well. The octopus for instance was perfectly cooked, and their burrata creamy, as expected.

They have several pasta dishes and their lobster garganelli « Calabrese », made with Calabrian chili and spicy lobster sauce (not so spicy) was such a treat, but I admit that my favorite was the spaghetti alle vongole, served with Manila clams in a white wine sauce. I simply loved it: the sauce was delicious, not too garlicky, the pasta Al dente and breadcrumbs added a nice crunch.

Lobster Garganelli “Calabrese” at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Spaghetti alle Vongole at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Jodi settled for their wood smoked mushrooms with wood roasted artichoke, eggplant ragu and salsa verde. Interesting vegetarian dish, quite comforting where fortunately the artichoke did not overpower the whole thing.

Smoked mushrooms at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Dessert was also amazing. I am not sure if I prefer the olive oil cake that was a special over the zeppoles (that came with a lemon curd). Both were a great way to end fantastic meals. No, definitely, Osteria La Baia is a great addition to the Midtown restaurant scene. Even better than the closed Remi that was a block away.

Olive oil cake at Osteria La Baia in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Osteria La Baia -129 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 3/16/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/16/22

The Tyger in NYC, NY

You may think when reading the title of this post that I made a typo in the name of the restaurant, especially when seeing a mural of a tiger in the back of the dining room, but it is not the case. The Y replaced the I, as nod to The Tyger, a poem by the English poet William Blake, published in 1794 as part of his Songs of Experience collection. At The Tyger, Chef Paul Donnelly, crafted a menu with dishes from Southeast Asia, but with his own modern interpretation. We liked it so much that we went twice, two weekends in a row…

Here is what we had:

They have cocktails, hot or cold, but we decided to try their non-alcoholic beverages as we went for lunch. I was looking forward to try their Thai tea but preferred the hot version over the cold, the latter being a bit watered down, with too much ice in it. For refreshing mocktails, they also offer two others that take their names from William Blake’s poems: Joy is my name, made with lychee, lime, sea salt and seltzer, and The Maiden Queen, composed of Thai basil, pink peppercorn, lemon and seltzer. Both were very good and I would not choose one over the other.

The Maiden Queen Mocktail at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Joy is my name mocktail at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Their menu is meant to share, and I should mention that they do have few vegetarian dishes to offer outside of the small plates section: there, they only offer the grilled Togarashi corn, that sit on top of Kewpie mayo (a mayo made solely with yolks, giving custardy and rich characteristics), and drizzled with grana padano cheese, to counter the heat that is slowly building up as you eat it.

Grilled togarashi corn at The Tyger in NYC, NY

They propose the classic Pad See Ew and you may wonder why one would order this classic rice noodle dish there. Well it is served with a crispy tofu that reminded me of the five spice tofu at Hao Noodle: silky, slightly crunchy, this is the type of place that make you realize that tofu is not that bland and rubbery protein you often get in restaurants. But my favorite vegetarian dish is their housemade egg noodles, served with oyster mushrooms and lemon (they ditched the bonito flakes to make it vegetarian). These noodles were succulent, smothered in a buttery sauce that was so addictive and in fact perfect to soothe my mouth that was a bit on fire from the dish I had…

Let me start with that dish before talking about non-vegetarian dishes. I could not not try the Ayutthaya style duck confit curry. Well, I love duck confit and was wondering how they would bring an ancient Thai cuisine with a classic French one. I was imagining the duck confit to be cut in pieces, but the duck leg was served whole, bathed in a curry made with lychee, peanuts (for a nice crunch) and fried scallion. I was surprised that it did not come with any side and so ordered some rolls that were perfect with it, not really wanting to have rice as the curry was thick. The duck was perfectly made, falling off the bone and not salty, and I loved the curry itself that was quite spicy, but the kind that makes you want to go back to it. That dish had many elements: saltiness, sweetness and spiciness. Simply delicious!

Duck confit curry at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Another main I tried was their Nasi Goreng, a fried rice dish I did not have for years now, that I enjoyed in Singapore and Indonesia years ago. At The Tyger, they make it with squid ink fried rice, calamari and a fried egg on top. It was good, but not as spectacular as the duck. I admit that I was expecting more, but there was too much rice and not enough calamari. Otherwise, I loved the crunch that was from what I think is tapioca, and the yolk helped reduce some of the heat that was building up in my mouth…

Let me finish with two fantastic appetizers I had there: the miso butter escargots that was a successful take on another French classic (I just wish they brought some bread to dip in that succulent miso butter) and the Phnom Penh fried chicken (crispy and perfectly cooked, the chicken being moist), served with a lime and white pepper dressing.

Miso butter escargots at The Tyger in NYC, NY

Phnom Penh fried chicken at The Tyger in NYC, NY

These meals were amazing and I cannot wait to go back to The Tyger and try their entire menu. It is a unique place that I surely recommend if you like Asian cuisine with a twist.

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 Tyger - 1 Howard St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/22

The Ashford in Jersey City

We are looking for a place to eat for brunch near Grove St in Jersey City, when I stumbled upon The Ashford, a sports bar. That’s usually not the type of places I would go to, my noise tolerance being a low, but, when I saw that they had a loaded croque madame on their website (it had fried chicken in it), I could not miss it.

The place is quite big, with multiple floors and a rooftop, and of course, large screens all over…

The place is quite big, with multiple floors and a rooftop, and of course, large screens all over.

Dining room at The Ashford in Jersey City

As we were ready to order, we were told that the menu we landed on with their QR code was the website menu (that I saw before) and was not up to date. We had to scan the football menu QR code. No problem, although I did not understand why restaurants do not update their websites. Anyway, I look at the “new” menu and cannot find the croque madame! So I ended up with their hangover burger. The name says it: perfect for hangover, it is made with an 8oz beef patty, American cheese, bacon, fried egg, Taylor ham, tater tots and maple syrup. Well, the latter made the whole thing a bit messy to eat, but it was really good. I loved the different texture and flavors I was getting at each bite. You have the crunchiness of the tater tots, the smokiness of the bacon, the sweetness of the maple syrup and the juiciness of the beef patty, all at once. The only regret was that the egg yolk was not runny to add some creaminess, but on the other hand, it was messy enough. It came with French fries that were crispy but just ok.

Hangover burger at The Ashford in Jersey City

Jodi on her side got the avocado toast that was made with smashed avocado and sourdough bread.

Avocado toast at The Ashford in Jersey City

I should mention that, after the menu thing, they also told us that they did not have any coffee or tea. This was not a one off: they never have it, that is odd, especially for brunch. I guess people prefer booze that they surely have. Interesting as we are not talking about anything extraordinary and to the contrary quite basic for brunch, especially with the cold air outside.

So, overall good, but probably not the kind of place I would go back to.

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!

The Ashford - 145 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/22 I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/22

Dim Sum at Jing Fong on the Upper West Side

We were craving dim sum and planned to go to Jing Fong in Chinatown when we realized that this place closed, apparently temporarily, the only location still open being on the Upper West Side. Smaller than its sister restaurant, this place was packed and we could only have a seat at the bar, opposite to the counter that had a view on the kitchen. I wonder if it explains why it took them so long to come get our order…

They have a nice selection of dishes, from dim sum to classic Chinese ones perfect for vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners. Here are the dim sum we shared:

Har Gow or shrimp dumplings: my favorite! The shell was thin, slightly sticky and there was a good size piece of shrimp in it.

Shrimp rice noodle roll: another favorite, the rice noodles melting in my mouth.

Shrimp rice noodles rolls at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Peking duck and asparagus dumpling: quite good, I was afraid that the asparagus would overpower the duck, but it was not the case. I guess they make it with the meat of the Peking duck.

Peking duck and asparagus dumplings at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Scallion pancakes: our go to appetizer. It was good, slightly greasy, but the edges seemed a bit overcooked.

Scallion pancakes at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Vegetable Spring rolls: delicious! Crispy, slightly greasy, they came piping hot.

Vegetable Spring Rolls at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Vegetable dumplings: quite good, I wonder why they only bring 3 of them considering that most dumplings come with 4 pieces…

Vegetable dumplings at Jing Fong in NYC, NY

Overall, the food at Jing Fong is good, with a nice selection of dim sum. This is definitely a place to go to if you do not mind the less than welcoming service. I guess it adds a certain charm to 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!

Jing Fong - 380 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10013