I Just Want To Eat! 9/16/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/16/22

La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

Few months ago, the owners of Barbes, a French-North African restaurant located Uptown Hoboken that serves delicious tagines and couscous, decided to open a French restaurant where the closed restaurant Cucharamama use to be. So we went there on a Friday evening, to check it out. The decor at La Boheme is great, with the very large black and white photos of French celebrities like Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardo, Serge Gainsbourg or Eddy Barclay, giving a bit of a nostalgic atmosphere to the place.

Pernod Ricard at La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

Being in a French restaurant, I could not not have a Pernod Ricard pastis that, although not on the menu, is available. This is a classic drink from the South of France, that is usually drank mixed with cold water that is adding to the anise and licorice flavor some freshness.

What I discovered while writing this post is that there used to be a ban in France for anise based aperitif and, in 1951, when the ban was lifted, Pastis 51 was the first of the kind to be crafted in Marseille where it is also referred as pastaga and is considered part of a tradition there.

I then started the meal with the escargots, a classic French dish in which the star is the butter, garlic and parsley sauce where, once you finish eating the snails, you will dip some bread (at La Boheme, they served it with some toasted pain de champagne).

For her main, Jodi simply ordered their salade de pasteque or watermelon salad that was served with feta, chickpeas and mint to add a bit of freshness to it.

Watermelon and feta salad at La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I opted for the steamed mussels in white wine or moules marinieres that I ordered with a size of fries to complement this appetizer and making it a main. This was pretty good, with a large quantity of mussels that were of a medium size. The sauce was good and I, of course, dipped fries in it…

Moules marinieres at La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

French fries at La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, we were not sure what to get and finally decided to try their brioche tropezienne that are rarely seen on a dessert menu. It is a brioche that is filled with lemon vanilla custard and raspberries. The brioche was good, but, unfortunately, the custard was too cold and there was not enough of it. So it was just ok.

Brioche Tropezienne at La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, the meal was good at La Boheme, we will have to go back for dinner as they seem to have great pizza there (one of them has merguez that is a spicy lamb sausage you can get at Barbes) as well as other dishes I really want to try.

Enjoy (I did)!

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La Boheme - 233 Clinton St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/22

Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

Jacques Brasserie used to be my favorite French restaurant when we were living on the Upper East Side and it has been 9 years since our last visit! So we decided to go back there for a lunch on a weekend. The place looks like what I remember: brasserie feel with a decor that would make you think that you just travelled across the ocean in a restaurant in Paris, besides the music being more international!

As it was a hot day, I did not feel like having an aperitif or a glass of wine, so I opted for an iced coffee while Jodi got a tea.

Iced coffee at Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

I hesitated a bit for appetizer between the escargots and the foie gras terrine and chose the former that came piping hot but was so good! Of course, I had to have some bread to dip in the butter, garlic and parsley sauce that is what makes this dish amazing!

Escargots at Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

Jodi got an arugula and apple salad (without pecans) that had a generous amount of blue cheese, while I got their steak frites. It was an 11 Oz thick piece of sirloin that was perfectly cooked medium-rare, looking the same as I remember! When ordering the steak frites, you can choose between a sauce au Poivre or a béarnaise which was my choice. Everything was delicious, even the fries that, although not freshly cut, were crispy.

Baby arugula and apple salad at Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

Steak frites at Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

We did not have dessert as we had other plans, but we left happy that we went back to Jacques Brasserie: I am glad this place is still there and will try to go back before the next 9 years…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Jacques Brasserie - 206 E 85th St, New York, NY 10028

I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/22

Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, simply known as Jean-Georges, opened a month ago a high end market at South Street Seaport, the Tin Building. This gigantic market proposes various restaurants serving French, Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisine in the middle of a busy market place where you can get vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, cookies and all sorts of delicacy that would make you want to move in.

So we decided to try their brasserie called the T. Brasserie or Tin Brasserie that is located on the first floor. Beautiful place with a decor that truly makes you think you have flown to France before realizing it. And they do serve classic French dishes like the pate en croute, escargots or steak tartare. But, that day, they had a special that I could not miss: cuisses de grenouille a la Provencale or frog legs Provencale that were made with parsley, garlic and tomato. This finger food (try to eat frog legs with a knife and fork) was perfectly cooked: overcooked frog legs can quickly dry up. It was crispy and I appreciated the fact that they did not put too much garlic so the dish was not overpowered.

Frog legs a la Provencale at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

I ate that with a glass of 2021 La Croix de Peyrassol rosé from Provence while Jodi sipped a cherry and yuzu carbonated soda specially made in Brooklyn for the Tin Building.

2021 La Croix de Peyrassol rosé at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Cherry Yuzu soda at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

While I was devouring my frogs legs, Jodi had a heart of lettuce salad that was composed of avocado, radish and fines herbs, with a red wine vinaigrette.

Heart of lettuce salad at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

For her entree, she ordered another appetizer: their baked brie, served with a lemon jam, pistachio and honey, but instead of being wrapped in puff pastry as you would usually find it, they used kataifi. This was delicious: the kataifi and pistachio have a nice texture that complemented well the melted cheese. That is the top of dish that is great with some salad in fact.

Baked brie at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

On my side, I went for the pepper wood grilled NY strip that had a pepper crust and was sitting on a pepper sauce. So, I was a bit wary that there would be too much pepper, but it was not the case at all. The crushed pepper on the crust was surprisingly not overpowering, letting the perfectly cooked thick piece of meat be the star of the dish. It was served with fries that were skin on, slightly crispy.

Wood grilled NY strip at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

French fries at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Of course we could not leave without trying their desserts and we decided to try their Meyer lemon meringue tart that was superb, not too tart (the lemon sorbet that came with it was and I could have done without it) and not too sweet, even the meringue on top that , to the contrary balanced well the tartness of the lemon curd that was sitting on some frangipane (almond “paste”). A must have for sure that I appreciated with an espresso.

Meyer lemon meringue tart at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Espresso at Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Overall, it was a nice meal, with delicious food and a very courteous staff who made sure we had a great time. As this post is published, the restaurant only opens from 8am to 5pm, but will extend times later in the fall. So, this is definitely a place to check out!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Tin Building by Jean-Georges - 6 South St, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 9/10/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/10/22

Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

When Il Laboratorio del Gelato opened mid-July in Hoboken, I did not know what to think. I went to their spot on the Lower East Side many years ago and, although I thought it was an interesting concept, I never really craved it. The concept? Making hand-crafted gelato with unique flavors like olive oil, malt, buttermilk, cardamon, tarragon, mint, etc.

We went three times already and I admit that their ice cream is pretty good, creamy and original with the use of ingredients that you would never think to make ice cream with. My favorite is the rosemary ice cream that is interesting because I used to hate rosemary until few years ago; the taste is subtle but still discernible. Cardamon is also delicious, reminding me of Indian ice cream or kulfi. The only one I did not like there was the hazelnut that seemed to be more a sorbet than ice cream, being a bit crumbly and missing the creaminess of a good gelato.

If you are not adventurous, they have a couple of more classic ones like vanilla, dark or milk chocolate sorbet (I loved their white chocolate ice cream that you rarely see on a menu).

White chocolate ice cream / Tarragon ice cream at Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Vanilla ice cream / Milk chocolate sorbet at Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Rosemary ice cream / Hazelnut sorbet at Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Dark Chocolate sorbet / coconut ice cream at Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Cardamon ice cream / Fior di latte ice cream at Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Know that the menu changes often and that the last time we went they stopped giving samples that is unfortunate considering how weird some of the flavors can be. Despite that I will continue to explore the various creations of Il Laboratorio del Gelato, finding the concept fun and intriguing at the same time.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Laboratorio del Gelato - 500 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/8/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/8/22

Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Dear Maud opened in July in Hoboken and I surely wanted to try this eatery. Our first attempt was on the Friday before Labor Day, thinking it would be quiet. We were wrong: the restaurant was not only busy, but they were blasting music that is something I really cannot stand while having a meal! So we went back for brunch the following Sunday. Quieter, but with still loud music, we decided to give it a try. Entering the place, we soon realized how big it is with the back area that seemed to be quite spacious and the bar area, also large, with its impressive bar that dominated the room. To start our meal, we decided to get…

Peppermint tea at Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Hangover Cure at Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

We then decided to share the French toast sticks. I admit that I was a little disappointed with it: it was just two slices of French toast cut in half and not sticks like we had in other restaurants. But the main issue was the fact that the bread was not soaked enough and we could not really taste the cinnamon sugar, so it was just ok. For her main, Jodi got their pecan and apple salad that she ordered without pecans and added a side of avocado. It was composed of baby spinach, green apple, strawberry and blue cheese crumble. That was quite a nice salad that you can also have with chicken or shrimp. On my side, I settled for the fried chicken sandwich with French fries. The chicken was made Korean style that is I guess double fried, topped with spicy mayo, scallion, and a generous amount of sweet chili sauce. It looked fantastic, but I was thinking, seeing the chili sauce dripping on the plate that it would be messy. It was less than I thought after cutting the sandwich in half. There was perfect balance between the bun and the chicken that was crispy and moist, perfectly cooked, with a nice saltiness that was counterbalanced by the sweet chili sauce. It has been a while since I had such a good fried chicken sandwich! This was worth the torture in my ears!

French toast sticks at Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Apple and pecans salad at Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Fried chicken sandwich at Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

So I was glad we got to try Dear Maud and I would just go back for that sandwich. As we were there, we saw lots of mouth watering food passing by, so I am curious to try other dishes. They do not have a website yet and looking at photos of menus on the internet, it is hard to define a genre, but I would say that they have lots of Asian inspired dishes. Maybe next time I will have to try a very early dinner…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dear Maud - 205 1st St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/22

Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

When Plaka Souvlaki opened on Newark avenue, I was quite excited, not being too excited by Surf Taco, its predecessor, but more because I love Greek food and heard that they were serving souvlaki that is meat cooked on a skewer, not to be confused with gyro that is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. My favorite meat? Lamb!

The place has been completely remodeled, bringing bright colors and a mediterranean feel to the place.

But let’s go back to the souvlaki. They have chicken, pork and beef/lamb ones, served in a pita with tomato, onion, fries and tzatziki sauce, and you can make it “Athens style” that is with their signature Greek Harissa (a spicy red chili sauce) and yogurt. The sandwiches are not that big, and have the right balance between meat and fries, the latter adding a bit of decadence to it, and used as a delicious filler. My favorite is definitely the beef/lamb and I just wished they would have one with just lamb. Know that if you do not want to have a sandwich, you can create your own plate with a protein (they have falafel for vegetarians), rice, fries or mixed greens and sides such as chickpeas, quinoa and lentils (by the way, they have an amazing salad called “quinoa lentils” in the sides section that has caramelized onions, feta, roasted peppers and you can add haloumi cheese - superb!).

Beef/lamb kebab at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

They have a bunch of appetizers like the grilled haloumi cheese (do not expect that they will flambé it, screaming Opa like lots of restaurants do), or, when we went, they made a Greek guacamole made with avocado and tzatziki that was just ok, preferring one or the other rather than mixed…In fact, we also got their trio of dips that were eggplant, tzatziki and spicy feta that were served with crispy pieces of pita. This is a fairly classic appetizer that is great to share. One thing you should not miss is their Tiropita that is a flakey buttered phyllo filled with lots of cheese!

Grilled halloumi cheese at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Grilled haloumi at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Greek guacamole at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Trio of dips at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Tiropita at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Of course I could not not try their grilled octopus that was served as a salad with capers for a nice acidity, onions and chickpeas. It was overall good, the octopus being well cooked, but I was surprised by the quantity of octopus for the $22 of the dish.

Grilled octopus at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

They have few sodas, like the carbonated lemonade we had, and several desserts, my favorite being their baklava that is flakey, buttery and is bathed in syrup. Not to be missed!

Baklava at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Carbonated lemonade at Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, we had great meals at Plaka Souvlaki: this casual spot definitely has its place in the restaurant scene of Hoboken.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Plaka Souvlaki - 62 Newark St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/2/22

Benjamin Steakhouse Prime in NYC

Restaurant week is always a gamble: some restaurants understand that it can be a way for diners to discover a place, others simply do not care, looking more for number of tables than number of returning customers. Benjamin Steakhouse Prime is the former, offering a delicious menu for $45 with an appetizer, an entree and a dessert that certainly will make you think you got yourself a good deal. For appetizer, I got their grilled calamari that was a good change from the usual fried calamari, giving the sense that I started with a healthy dish…The calamari were perfectly cooked, not rubbery, served with olive oil, lemon and garlic.

Grilled calamari at Benjamin Steakhouse Pime in NYC

For the entree, being in a steakhouse, I had to try their sirloin. This dry aged steak that came bone-in, was succulent: nicely broiled, it was tender and juicy, although more medium than medium rare. It was served with mashed potatoes and vegetables that were just fine with it.

Sirloin at Benjamin Steakhouse Pime in NYC

For dessert, I decided to go with the NY cheesecake over the chocolate mousse cake. The cheesecake was delicious, creamy with the right density. I loved it.

Cheesecake at Benjamin Steakhouse Pime in NYC

So overall, this was a great meal and a very good deal that certainly made me want to go back to Benjamin Steakhouse Prime!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Benjamin Steakhouse Prime - 23 E 40th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/22

Brunch at Who's Jac W.?

We were looking for a restaurant for brunch on the Upper East Side when we found Who’s Jac W.?, wondering what the somewhat cryptic name was all about. Is it Jack? is W for Wife? My curiosity stopped when we looked at the menu and decided to give it a try. It is a spacious restaurant, with a cozy feel, but going at the beginning of service might not be the best idea as they were still setting up things…

I started off with a grapefruit juice that is a drink I rarely order in restaurant, preferring usually an orange juice, but only when freshly squeezed. This one was not.

Grapefruit juice at Who's Jac W.? in NYC, NY

One of the dishes I could not resist trying was their Nashville hot frog’s legs where the chicken was replaced by four decent sized frog legs that were fried after being dipped in a deliciously hot sauce. Interesting take on wings considering what we often say that frog legs taste like chicken that is in fact a bit of a stretch. I totally ignored the potato bread that came with it, but enjoyed the pickles that were right under the frog legs.

Nashville hot frogs legs at Who's Jac W.? in NYC, NY

Jodi and I then shared two dishes. The first one was their avocado toast that we asked to have without jalapeños and just topped with radish, toasted pumpkin seeds and tomato. It was the first time I had an avocado toast with goat cheese and this was awesome, the two marrying perfectly. I truly appreciated also that the bread was not hard to cut as it is often the case with avocado toast, causing usually toppings to fly around.

Avocado toast at Who's Jac W.? in NYC, NY

The second dish was their banana foster French toast. This was pretty good, with a fair amount of pecans and banana, I just wished that they soaked the bread longer and that they gave us more maple syrup (our waiter was hard to get…).

Banana foster French toast at Who's Jac W.? in NYC, NY

So overall, we had a delicious brunch at WHO’s Jac W? It made me curious to try their dinner: I will have to check it out and would for sure go back there for brunch.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Who’s Jac W? - 1626 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/22

Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

We passed many times in front of Great Jones Distillery Co and it was time to check out the only active whisky distillery in Manhattan, opened 100 years after prohibition. We went for dinner and so did not get a chance to visit the distillery or even the lounge, but, as we entered, we could not miss the large copper pot that dominates the shop where you can buy some of their whisky as well as various merchandise like glasses, books, hats, etc.

Dining room at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

For dinner, you can even have a tasting of their whisky as I did, trying the 4 kinds their propose: straight (my favorite), 4 grain, rye and Black Dirt Apple Jack. Or you can try the many cocktails they have, crafted or classics like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Whisky tasting at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

For appetizers, Jodi ordered the Gem Lettuce Salad that was chunks of feta and a green goddess dressing (no idea what was in it but it tasted good), while I went for the gazpacho, a chilled tomato soup that was served with a delicious pan con tomate. The gazpacho was very good, not too acidic, topped with cucumber for a little crunch and added freshness.

Gem lettuce salad at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

Gazpacho and pan con tomate at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

Then, I got the lamb porterhouse: the roasted lamb shoulder was sitting on top of giant beans (gigante beans that I solely saw in Greek restaurants before) that were bathed in an aged balsamic jus that was amazing. Served in a skillet, giving a rustic feel to the dish, the smell that emanated from the dish made me want to dive in right away. If you love lamb, you cannot miss this: the meat was perfectly cooked, not at all overpowered by the jus, very tender.

Lamb porterhouse at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

Jodi got their roasted cauliflower that was served with tahini glaze, chili de Arbol and yogurt, the only vegetarian dish. It looked amazing and was good, but quite spicy, the yogurt not being enough to counteract the spiciness from the chili.

Roasted cauliflower at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

We finished the meal with a baked Alaska, a dessert that I rarely see on a menu. Interestingly, it was not made with ice cream but with lemon and coconut sorbet. I found it good, refreshing, not too sweet, although the meringue on top was definitely sweet, but it is as if the sorbet cut through it. It was made with a Great Jones rye and pineapple sauce. So, it was a fruity version of this dessert.

Baked Alaska at Great Jones Distillery Co in NYC

Our dinner at Great Jones Distillery Co was quite good, and of course, we stopped by the shop before leaving. I like their menu that has interesting dishes and would certainly go back there at some point.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Great Jones Distillery Co - 686 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/26/22

Beneci's in Weehawken, NJ

Jack Austin’s in Weehawken closed its doors several months ago and has been replaced by Beneci’s, an Italian restaurant that we decided to check out. Most of the decor from the previous restaurant was gone, except these funny dog lamps that I guess they could not resist keeping. But I admit that the restaurant feels like a hotel restaurant and it is not just because of the fact that it is adjacent to the Sheraton.

Dinner is better for me than brunch and I just wish they posted their menu online. They serve brick oven pizza, but I thought that their Margherita pizza was just off, the tomato sauce tasting like something dumped on the crust straight from the can. But two must have are:

the arancini, that were made with a mushroom risotto. They were creamy, with lots of cheese, simply delicious, served with a marinara sauce.
the lobster pappardelle, with a good portion of lobster, and a sauce to die for made with butter, cream and white wine. Not the lighter dish on the menu, but so good!

Lobster pappardelle at Beneci's in Weehawken, NJ

I enjoyed the meal with a Spritz, and we could not resist trying their tiramisu that was a bit dense, but good.

We went back for brunch, but I though it was a bit disappointing. We shared few dishes and were really looking forward to getting their Belgian Waffle that was in the “From the griddle” section, thinking that they would make it, but we ended up with the kind that you can buy at Whole Foods! Good, but then do not give the impression that you are making it! Dense, it has pearl sugar and they topped it with a bunch of berries. I liked it but was a bit disappointed. I also got the eggs Benedict San Gennaro, that were served on Tuscan bread with sweet Italian sausage, pancetta, mushroom and a Hollandaise sauce. The eggs were perfectly poached but this was again disappointing: there was barely any sausage and just a couple of bits of pancetta and mushrooms. They could have also toasted the bread to give a bit of structure to the dish, but no, the bread did not taste that fresh, and put more Hollandaise sauce…Jodi on her side got lucky with her eggs that were fine.

Belgian Waffle at Beneci's in Weehawken, NJ

Eggs Benedict at Beneci's in Weehawken, NJ

So, overall, the dinner and brunch at Beneci’s were hit or miss. I loved some of it (that lobster dish is amazing), but the majority of it was just ok. I’ll give them few months before trying again. For Italian food or brunch, there are much better options for a short walk to Hoboken, like Anthony David’s that has great pasta.

Enjoy (some of it)

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Beneci’s - 500 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ 07086

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/22

Ice cream at Sedutto on the Upper East Side

Last Saturday, we were walking on the Upper East Side, after spending few hours at Museum of the City of New York in Harlem for a retrospective of New York music from 1980 to 1986, featuring Madonna, Blondie, Run-DMC, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, John Zorn, Liquid Liquid, etc. So, as it was hot outside, we were looking for a new ice cream shop to try and found Sedutto, a small ice cream parlor with so many flavors that it will keep your head spinning. Imagine: they have regular ice cream (I counted 43 different kinds), sorbets (3 flavors), soft and hard yogurt, as well as spiked ice creams from…

We decided to have more classic flavors: coconut with chocolate sprinkles on a cone for Jodi, Butter pecan and banana fudge in a cup for me (I did not try these baseball helmets bowls but was close to, as it seems it is reminiscent from the past). The ice cream was good, creamy, with lots of pecan in mine, and I admit that I loved the combination of banana and fudge. Jodi was a bit less enthusiastic, saying that her ice cream did not have a strong coconut flavor.

Coconut ice cream at Sedutto on the Upper East Side

Butter Pecan and Banana Fudge ice cream at Sedutto on the Upper East Side

Still, I liked it and would stop by if I were in Yorkville for a food outing.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sedutto - 1498 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10075

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

Brunch at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

We were in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, looking for a place for brunch when we stumbled upon Le Gamin (the kid in French), a French restaurant that just celebrated 30 years (they opened on Bastille Day 1992). I was excited to try this place because there were several classic dishes that I wanted to try. So, I started with escargots, snails bathed in a delicious garlic and herb butter sauce, that is what makes this dish awesome. So, yes, I could not resist dipping the fresh baguette they put on the table, forgetting what this was doing to my arteries!

Escargots at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I was set to have duck confit, a typical brasserie dish, but, unfortunately, they only serve this for dinner. So I went for the merguez and French fries that were served with some greens. Merguez are lamb sausages that can be spicy, and for sure these were. But so delicious.

Merguez frites at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Jodi ordered their crepe or galette (when made with sarrazin or buckwheat, you get the real deal for a savory crepe that is then called a galette). Also coming with greens, she had up to 3 choices of filling, and she chose goat cheese, Swiss and caramelized onions. Made to order, this was very good and they were quite generous with the amount of cheese in it. I love the fact that you can pick the filling, from cheese to ham or salmon: it allows for so many different combinations, some probably better than others.

Crepe at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

With our meal, we got tea and an iced coffee that was perfect on a hot day.

Iced coffee at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

But we could not leave with trying their desserts and went for their homemade tarte tatin that was superb: with large chunks of apple, it was not too sweet and delightfully buttery. This is a must have!

Tarte tatin at Le Gamin in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Overall, the brunch at Le Gamin was great and we will definitely try to go back for dinner 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!

Le Gamin – 108 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/22

Deep Dish Pizza at Uno Pizzeria and Grill in NYC

We were looking for a place to eat on a Saturday on the Upper East or West side of the city, when I suggested to Jodi to go to Uno Pizzeria and Grill to get some deep dish pizza. I did not even finish my sentence before she said yes, pizza being one of her favorite dishes…Uno is quite known when it comes to Chicago style deep dish pizza as it is said that it is there, in 1943, that Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo, descendant of Neapolitan immigrants, decided to create an Italian-American version of Pizza.

Deep dish pizza is cooked in a pan, and is so thick that it takes a bit of time to cook (Jodi ordered a side house salad while we were waiting). So, the classic one would have the cheese in the bottom, so the cheese would not burn. But we decided to try something different and asked for a four cheese without pesto. Served with diced tomatoes that added some freshness to it, the cheeses were feta, cheddar, pecorino Romano and mozzarella. And there was lots of it! The test with deep dish pizza is to lift the slice up in the air and see the strings of cheese separating from side slices, showcasing the amount of cheese they put there! The crust was quite delicious, crispy and a bit crumbly, not dry probably because of the amount of oil they put in the dough. It is filling for sure but do not go for the 7 inch individual pizza as we did that one time in Chicago and were a bit disappointed as it was a bit dry.

House salad at Uno Pizzeria and Grill in NYC

Four cheese deep dish pizza at Uno Pizzeria and Grill in NYC

Overall, I liked it but if I had to pick a place for deep dish pizza, I would go to Emmet’s downtown NYC: their pizza if far better for me!

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Uno Pizzeria and Grill - 432 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024

I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/22

Deep Dish Pizza at Emmett's in NYC

My favorite spot for deep dish pizza in New York City is Emmett’s a small joint located Downtown Manhattan that we discovered many years ago while watching a food show on TV. There is something about this place that I love: some sort of nostalgia from the decor (love the bar with its bills from all over the world) and run down tables, with a warmth not just from the place but also from its staff that makes you want to go back. Their deep dish pizza is a must have and our favorite is the Cheese Louise that is oozing of cheese and has this incredible caramelized crust that is deliciously crispy and adds some decadence to a pizza that is spectacular. The crispy crust is not dry at all and is topped with a delicious tomato sauce and tons of cheese that will fill you up quickly (it is good for 3 people for sure).

Emmett’s is my favorite spot for deep dish pizza in New York. So, if you are craving Chicago style pizza or never tried it, it is worth a trip downtown!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Emmett’s - 50 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/22

Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Have you ever wonder how donut should be spelled? Is it donut or doughnut? According to grammar.com, “More exactly, "donut" is the US spelling and "doughnut" is the spelling used more frequently in the UK”. Whatever it is, I love doughnuts, cake or yeast, classic or with a twist. So, as we were in Greenpoint, we decided to try Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop, a popular place that has fed hungry patrons since the 1950s and was even featured in Spiderman: No Way Home,…

Boston Cream donut at Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

French Cruller at Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Toasted Coconut donut at Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Sugar raised donut at Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Jodi usually goes with a coconut one and she liked the toasted coconut one, although then second time we went there, the coating fell a bit apart. On my side, I usually go for a French cruller not because of the fact that it has “French” in the name, but because I love the slightly crispy airy texture and egg like taste it has. Other favorites are sugar donuts and the Boston Cream. The latter was really good, the vanilla custard it was filled in being very good.

These yeast donuts are superb: airy and chewy, and they only cost $1.50! So if you are in the area, stop by!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop - 727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/22

The Franklin Fountain Ice Cream Parlor in Philadelphia, PA

Going to The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia is like stepping in the past to indulge some old time ice cream, with some people thinking that this place has been opened for decades if not centuries, being maybe the oldest ice cream parlor in America where possibly, Benjamin Franklin used to go. It’s true that the owners have done a good job creating a place that truly looks ancient: from the decor to the way staff is dressed (by the way, they call them Jerks with an old meaning that does not mean how we would interpret it today!), and even some old time flavors. But, in fact, The Franklin Fountain opened…

The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia, PA

The place was packed and we were unlucky to end up right behind a group of 20 people who took forever to order their ice cream! Considering how hot the weather was (close to 100 degrees F), we decided to get a Chinese food take out box rather than a cone, the ice cream melting quite fast and thinking that I would then avoid having some on my shoes, as I usually do when eating a cone…I thought the Chinese takeout box was a fun way to present it rather then the classic cup. Jodi got coconut Ice cream with chocolate sprinkles, while I had butter pecan and a scoop of Hydrox cookie that is the original Oreo. The ice cream was quite good, creamy, my favorite being the butter pecan that had pieces of pecan and some caramel in it. I simply loved it. The Hyrax cookie was good, but I admit that I prefer having it in a milk shake rather than a scoop. The coconut ice cream was not bad, with flakes of coconut, but not the best Jodi ever had, as they could have been heavier on the coconut.

Butter pecan ice cream at The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia, PA

Coconut ice cream at The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia, PA

So this time we really enjoyed our ice cream and I have changed my mind about The Franklin Fountain: the ice cream there is quite good and perfect for a hot day. The scoops are big so two is for me the max I could eat, especially as it is rich ice cream. So, yes, I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Franklin Fountain - 116 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/22

Cheesesteak at Molly Malloy's in the Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia

Going to Philadelphia, there were few things we wanted to do, one of them was to have a cheesesteak and, our plan was to go to Geno’s, but the 100 degree weather made us want to go indoors. So, I looked up on the internet if there were more choices at the Reading Terminal Market to try something new as last year we went to Carmen’s Famous Hoagie. That is how I found Molly Malloy’s, a pub that sits right in the middle of the market. So, going there had few advantages:

Their cheesesteak, that comes with homemade potato chips (nice touch and well made, deliciously crispy), was made with sliced ribeye, Cooper sharp cheese, and I added onions and mushrooms. If it was not for the seeded roll, I would have loved it: the steak was well cooked, very juicy, mixed with lots of melted cheese, onions for sweetness and mushrooms for a bit of texture and earthiness.

On her side, Jodi got the Spring Vegetable salad that had arugula, spinach, quinoa, crispy onions (lots of it), pineapple, grilled asparagus, scallion with a charred onion balsamic vinaigrette.

Spring veg salad at Molly Malloy's in the Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia

So, overall, it was good, and a good spot for the reasons I mentioned above. It is worth trying, even if I think that it is not the best compared to the more popular Geno’s, Tony Luke’s or Carmen.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Molly Malloy’s - Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

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

Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

We were looking for a restaurant in Philly’s city center that would be opened after 10pm on a Saturday evening, after an opening at MK Apothecary where Jodi had several paintings. In New York, this task would be easy, with so many choices that your selection would be based on your food craving. Not in Philly. Many restaurants were either already closed or would close at 10pm. I was not really into room service, so we decided to eat at Del Frisco’s Grille that was right next to our hotel. I am not going to lie: there could be worst choices and at first, I was eying their steak section. But, as it was pretty late, I decided to go lighter (dessert included as I admit that I have my own perception of what a light meal is). I chose two appetizers: the jumbo shrimp cocktail with a chipotle cocktail sauce (the chipotle part was very subtle) and a lemon dill aioli (not really a classic aioli), and then the jumbo lump crab cake with a Cajun lobster sauce. I was quite happy with my choice: the jumbo part of both the shrimp and the crab cake was respected, especially in the latter where often, you only have very small pieces of crab that you can barely taste. There, there were nice large pieces of crab meat that were mixed with some sort of mayo and some celery, but not to the point where it overpowered the crab.

Crab cake at Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

Jumbo Shrimp cocktail at Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

On her side, Jodi got a burrata and wild mushroom salad that was good.

Burrata salad at Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

I accompanied my meal with a cocktail: a caramelized fig Manhattan. It was made with Sagamore rye, Liber & Co caramelized fig syrup, Carpano Antica Vermouth and bitters. I loved this version of the Manhattan, the caramelized fig taste really coming through and adding a nice sweetness to the drink. Lucky for me, the bartender made a mistake and prepared two of them: instead of discarding the second, they comped it!

Caramelized fig Manhattan at Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

Of course we could not leave without dessert and ordered the caramel pot de creme. It was made with salted caramel, butterscotch and whipped cream. Good and not too sweet, but I was looking for a more pronounced salted caramel taste.

Caramel pot de creme at Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia

So, although it would not have been my first choice, Del Frisco’s Grille was pretty good. This is a good place to know for a late dinner in the city center.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Del Frisco’s Grille - 225 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

I Just Want To Eat! 8/1/22 I Just Want To Eat! 8/1/22

Amazing Dinner at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Each time we go to Philadelphia, we treat ourselves at Vetri cucina, the amazing restaurant of Chef Marc Vetri who is one of Philly’s top chefs. Going to Vetri is such an experience: located in a townhouse, it is as if you were invited to someone’s house. The decor is warm and the perfect setting for an intimate dinner where you will be able to hear your conversation, even if there is music in the background (well, Jodi noticed the music, I did not!).

They offer a four course tasting menu staring with an antipasto, pasta, secondi and dolci (dessert), each section proposing several choices, some vegetarian and some not.

To greet us, they brought us a house cocktail made with Spritz and Prosecco. Light and refreshing on a very hot day. And as it was hot, I decided to accompany my meal with a glass of Rosé, La Spineta Toscana Rosato 2021 “Il rose di Casanova” (from Tuscany).

House cocktail at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Rosé, La Spineta Toscana Rosato 2021 “Il rose di Casanova” at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Before the antipasti, they brought us an amuse-bouche and I admit that the description being so precise, I do not remember what it was! Vegetarian for Jodi: it was a heirloom tomato tart with a roasted pepper that was not hot at all..

Heirloom tomato tart with pepper at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

And for me an oyster from Cape May with a mignonette on top that I do not remember how it was made…And there was a little something made with the same kind of pepper Jodi had next to it.

Cape May Oyster at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

For her antipasti, Jodi chose the sweet onion crepe, the only appetizer that they kept on the menu for years and that she has each time we dine at Vetri. This is a succulent take on a French onion soup where the onions are cooked for more than 10 hours, giving them that scrumptious sweetness. It is made with truffle and topped with a parmesan fonduta.

Sweet onion crepe at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

On my side, I got the grilled octopus that was served with melon, buttermilk, a sumac chili crisp and an 18 year old balsamic vinegar. The octopus was perfectly cooked, nicely charred on the outside and not chewy. I loved the contrast of the buttermilk that counterbalanced the acidity and sweetness of the vinegar, the melon giving a summer touch to the dish.

Grilled octopus at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Next was the pasta course. Jodi ordered the classic split that is composed of two different pasta: a spinach gnocchi with ricotta salata and brown butter, and an almond tortellini with truffle and parmesan. On my side, I got the sheep milk ricotta mezzaluna with chanterelles, cherries and pistachio. They also brought us, compliment of the chef, the pappardelle aglio e olio with zucchini. As the dishes made it to the table, we got the fantastic aroma of the brown butter that just made us want to dig right away. Everything was succulent, the pasta being perfectly made and cooked, even the spinach gnocchi blew me away although I am not a huge fan of spinach. The ricotta mezzaluna was simply delicious, the ricotta not being the most tasteful cheese, but, with the cherries that added some sweetness, the earthiness of the mushrooms and the nuttiness of the pistachio and brown butter, it all balanced quite well. Another favorite was the almond tortellini: I could have had another full dish of it. I loved the little crunch from the small pieces of almond in the filling and there was, again, that use of the brown butter that elevated the dish. Now, when it comes to the pappardelle with zucchini, I admit that I was really surprised at how good it was, admitting that I would have probably never ordered that dish, thinking that there would be big pieces of zucchini mixed with pasta. I was totally wrong: this was amazing, quite comforting in fact.

Split pasta at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Pappardelle aglio e olio with zucchini at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Ricotta mezzaluna with chanterelles, cherries and pistachio at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

At that point I started to get full and was glad that I did not indulge too much on their semolina focaccia and sesame sourdough…

For her secondi, Jodi picked the eggplant terrine served with summer squash and castelrosso fonduta (castelrosso is a whole cow’s milk from Piedmont). This was a beautiful dish, colorful. Cooking eggplant, especially the skin is always a challenge as if not done properly, it can taste bitter. So, they blanche the skin so they can use it as a wrapper for the terrine. It was overall good, well made, but what I remember the most is that pickled eggplant that was superb!

Eggplant terrine at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

On my side, I got the smoked baby goat with polenta. I was curious to see how that goat would be as, in the past, whenever I had goat, it was tough. At Vetri, depending on the size of the animal, they will smoke it between 2 to 4 hours before braising it. Although I did not really care about the house-milled soft polenta, the goat was amazing: tender, with a crispy skin, not dry at all. This is a must have!

Smoked baby goat at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Before dessert, they brought a palate cleanser. It was a blackberry fool, made with blackberry compote folded with whipped cream and topped with an Arnold Palmer granita made with black tea and lemon.

Blackberry Fool with Arnold Palmer Granita at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

I could not wait for my dessert as it was their molten pistachio cake that I had last year. Very soft in the center, it is deliciously buttery and, even Jodi who does not like pistachio loved it. Served with a cherry gelato, it is one of the best desserts I ever had!

Molten pistachio cake at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

Jodi got a strawberry polenta short cake that was like a deconstructed version of a short cake. This was superb, but I admit that the surprising component was definitely the olive oil gelato that is a must try if you come across a place that proposes it. It is not that you get a mouthful of olive oil. No, it gives a creamy and rich taste to the gelato.

Strawberry polenta short cake at Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia

We got espresso and tea with our desserts, and, as if we were not already completely full, they brought a small plate with apricot macaron with lavender buttercream, blueberry rye and fudge with walnut.

I just needed a walk after that! Vetri Cucina never disappoints for sure. Not only the food is amazing there, but the service is exceptional, the staff describing each dish in a way that would make you want to try everything. I should point out that the vegetarian dishes are not an afterthought, being as crafted and elegant as the non-vegetarian ones. This is fine dining at its best, where you realize what hospitality means.

Enjoy (I really did)!

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

Vetri Cucina - 1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/22 I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/22

Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Indian food is one of these cuisines that we often crave and with the closure of Soul Curry in Hoboken, we did not have much in the city, Karma Cafe not being a favorite. So, when Empyrean Indian Kitchen and Bar opened, we immediately ordered food for delivery and were impressed by the food there. So, it was time for us, many months later, to dine in there and, similar to our deliveries, we did it more than once…The dishes at Empyrean Indian Kitchen and Bar are a festival of flavors whether you want it spicy or mild, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Every meal starts with the papadum, these crackers served with mint chutney and tamarind sauce. They are great as an aperitif with one of their cocktails. They have a full bar so you can get either a house cocktail like the Gujju Misunderstood Smash that is made with Misunderstood Whisky, cucumber, lime, mint and ginger, or a classic like a whisky sour. Of course, I tried their mango lassi that is usually my go to drink, using it to counteract any spiciness (also because I like it).

Papadam at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Gujju Misunderstood Smash at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Whisky sour at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

MAngo lassi at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Our go to appetizer there has always been the samosa that have a nice kick.

Samosa at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

For curry, I love their butter chicken and chicken tikka masala (the paneer tikka masala is superb): it is creamy and comforting, the sauce itself being kind of addictive and I could not stop dipping the lachha paratha or butter naan we ordered. But one of my favorites is the lamb korma, that is phenomenal: that cashew sauce is so good! You can decide to have goat instead of lamb, but I admit that in the past, when I tried goat (not there), I found it tough.

Butter chicken at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Paneer tikka masala at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Lamb korma at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Rice at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Lachha paratha at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

Butter naan at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

We also often ordered their dal makhni that was delightfully creamy. This is a dish I re-discovered while traveling to India few years ago and always order, but more as a side.

Dal Makhni at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, our go to is always the gulab jamun that are these deep fried milk balls dipped in a sugar syrup.

Gulab jamun at Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar in Hoboken, NJ

So, yes, Empyrean Indian Kitchen and Bar is my favorite Indian restaurant in Hoboken, not that there are many, but still: the food there is delicious, comforting and flavorful, with generous portions, so we always have some dishes packed for another meal…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Empyrean Indian Kitchen & Bar - 20 Hudson Place, Hoboken, NJ 07030