I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/17/22

Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

We were going to South Street Seaport for an art show and were looking for a place to eat where I found Tajin, a Mexican restaurant located few blocks from the World Trade Center. This was the wrong choice unfortunately as we will discover it…

Dining room at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

The place is quite big, colorful and was empty probably because we were a bit early. We started by ordering a lemonade that was very sweet, as well as some guacamole and chips. Jodi does not like spicy food so she asked if it was possible to make one without jalapeño, but the waiter told us that it was already made. We could tell when it came as it was cold and lacked flavor.

Lemonade at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

Guacamole and chips at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

Then, Jodi got her cheese quesadilla that was decent, but we were surprised not to see a dollop of sour cream and some pico de Gallo on top, next to the guacamole. Still, it was ok.

Cheese quesadilla at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

On my side, I was not so lucky. I saw on their menu online and then on Instagram that they served a California burrito that is a dish I love (I do not really like rice in a burrito, but fries are welcome!). I did not see it on their menu and so I asked the waiter if they were still doing it as I came for it and he said that it would be ok. When the burrito came, it did not look well made and, when I cut it in half, it had rice and to be honest, the shredded chicken did not look appetizing. When I told the waiter, he said that they do not do anymore California burritos and so they brought this one. As I sent it back, the owner (I guess it was the owner) came and apologized, asking the kitchen to make a California burrito for me that was nice. Unfortunately, it was not great. First, they cut it in half, not sure why, and some juice, maybe from the chicken escaped, soaking the tortilla that was not well rolled, everything falling apart. Taste wise, it was lacking flavors and the fries were soggy. Disappointing.

California chicken burrito at Tajin Mexican Restaurant in NYC

So, after that, we did not even checked desserts…This was a disappointing experience.

Enjoy (…)!

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

Tajin Mexican Restaurant - 85 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10006

I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/14/22

Sophra Grill, Turkish and Mediterranean Cuisine

From what I understand, Sophra means in Turkish, a table set to eating a meal. And this was a nice meal that we had at Sophra Grill Midtown East. This casual place is a hidden gem that offers a wide range of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes.

I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.

I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.

Ayran yogurt drink at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

We then got their mixed appetizer sampler that is a great thing to share, allowing us to try few cold appetizers with a delicious homemade bread that I totally forgot to photograph! The sampler had hummus, babaganouj, tabouleh, cacik that is a yogurt dip similar to tzatziki, eggplant with sauce (made with tomato sauce, pepper and garlic, and ezme, a spicy salad.

Mixed appetizers at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

I also tried their grilled octopus that unfortunately was over cooked and quite chewy. A bit disappointing.

Grilled octopus at Sophra Grill in NYC, NY

We also shared their cheese pide, a long shaped flatbread topped with mozzarella, slices of tomato and butter. This looked very appetizing and was delicious: the crust was nicely charred and slightly crispy and they were quite generous with the cheese. This is a must try.

We finished with a kunefe and a Turkish coffee, medium sweet. I was so excited to try their kunefe, a dessert made with kataifi that is soaked in a sugar based syrup and layered with cheese. Crispy, gooey, sweet, this is heaven!

So, overall, this was a good meal that made me want to go back to Sophra to try other dishes. Yes, I’ll be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sophra Grill - 535 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/12/22

Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Chili vs Cafe China seems to have been a story for some time, people confusing sometimes the two places. In fact, Chili is located where Cafe China used to be before deciding in 2021 to move two blocks away to a bigger location. Soon after, several former employees opened Chili and there has been a bit of a dispute as Cafe China accused Chili to copy their menu. I admit that when I saw the menu at Chili, I saw few similar items like the tea smoked duck, that made me think that it was owned by the same people.

We started our meal at Chili with drinks: sparkling peach water for Jodi and a cocktail for me called “Drinking Alone by Moonlight”, made with Mint River baijiu, freshly squeezed lemon juice, coconut syrup, dry tangerine peel. Baiju is a Chinese liquor with a taste that some describe as “funky, with a rotting, sweet fruit flavor and a touch of nuttiness”. It definitely has a weird fermented taste but I would not go as far as saying it is rotten!

Sparkling white peach water at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Drinking Alone by Moonlight cocktail at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

We then got small plates. Vegetarian ones like the savory tofu and celery shoots that was a bit bland or the vegetable pot stickers that were pretty good. Of course, we had to get scallion pancakes and they were deliciously crispy and slightly greasy as expected.

Savory tofu with celery shoots at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Vegetable pot stickers at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Scallion pancakes at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

For non-vegetarian dishes, I admit that their menu was a bit overwhelming. So I went for their dan dan noodles that were good, and not that spicy, as well as their mouth watering chicken that is made with poached chicken with house special sauce, sesame, and peanuts. The poached chicken is a bit bland by itself, but covered with that sauce that had some heat was amazing and I loved the fact that there was peanuts so it would give a bit of texture to the entire dish. And for sure, I had to get their crystal shrimp dumplings that were perfectly made.

Dan dan noodles at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Mouth watering chicken at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Chili, Chinese restaurant in NYC

We were too full for dessert and left glad that we tried this place. Chili is a very good place and I would definitely go back there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Chili - 13 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016

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

Laree Adda in Jersey City

Laree Adda in Jersey City was not really our first choice when going to Grove street, our first target being closed when we arrived. So, as we love Indian cuisine, we decided to give a try to their Pakistani / Indian casual eatery. This is not a table service restaurant: you order at the counter and they will bring the food once ready. So we decided to try few things there, especially their curries. For me, it was their chicken tikka masala that was good, but did not have enough chicken. Jodi went for the palak paneer that had even less paneer in it unfortunately! At least, the paratha bread, gunpowder chai and gulab jamun were delicious. Still, this is not the kind of place I would rave about…

Gulab jamun at Laree Adda in Jersey City

Enjoy (…)!

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

Laree Adda - 287 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/22

Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

It’s been a while since we went to Momosan, the ramen and sake joint from Chef Morimoto. So we decided to go there on a Friday evening and sat at the bar, preferring these seats from the communal tables that are in the back. And when sitting at the bar, you cannot miss all these bottles with Chef Morimoto on the label.

Looking at their drink menu, I realized that Chef Morimoto is collaborating with many spirit and wine makers, like the Fukumitsuya Brewery for sake or Grgich Hills Estates from Napa Valley, California for Cabernet. But what caught my eyes was the Morimoto Single Malt made by Rogue Ales and Spirits that was smooth with smoky hints of cocoa, citrus, and cherry.

Morimoto Single Malt made by Rouge Ales and Spirits at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

They had few vegetarian options on their menu, like the spicy vegan miso ramen that they could have made less spicy by removing chili oil or paste, but the broth would still have been spicy. So Jodi went for their Brussels sprouts that were made with a balsamic soy reduction and fried onions, asking them to ditch the bonito flakes, as well as their vegetable rolls that were composed of cucumber, lettuce and avocado.

Brussels sprouts at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Vegetable rolls at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

On my side, I chose their dinner set where you get a ramen and an appetizer for $25. For the appetizer, I was not sure what to get because they have so many mouth watering options and finally ordered their duck tacos that were delicious, served in a crispy gyoza shell, with the roasted duck topped with hoisin sauce and apricot sweet chili, giving a nice sweet and savory taste to it, with no heat. As they made a mistake with my order, they offered, complimentary, some pork buns or kakuni bao, made with braised pork, lettuce, mayo and hoisin sauce. Classic for this type of restaurant, and quite good.

Duck tacos at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Pork buns at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

Then came the tonkotsu ramen that was superb! Made with a silky pork broth, it had a generous amount of chashu pork, some mushrooms, takana (pickled spicy mustard greens) and ajitama (soy marinated soft boiled egg). Less is more in the sense that many times, ramen have too many ingredients like lettuce, bean sprouts, etc. that is not something I look forward too. Not at Momosan: they put the right amount of ingredients and I was glad that they had thick curly noodles instead of the thin ones you sometimes get, the thicker one having a good bite usually. I simply loved it.

Tonkotsu ramen at Momosan Ramen and Sake in NYC

The only negative is the fact that they do not have dessert: I like to finish my meal with something sweet. Still, Momosan is a great spot for comforting food and delicious ramen. I’ll definitely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Momosam Ramen and Sake - 342 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/22

Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Jersey City Heights has some great finds and Los Tres Chilitos (the three chilis) is one of them. Serving Mexican cuisine, it has a quite extensive menu that can be a bit overwhelming, with some many dishes and options that it is endless. For instance, I got their enchiladas that could be with pollo (chicken), carne asada (grilled steak), quesillo (Oaxaca cheese) or vegetales (vegetables), and then with three types of choices: verde, roja, mole. So I ended up with chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. Served with refried beans and yellow rice, it was very good, not that I am an expert in mole. Still, that sauce, made with chocolate was delicious, not too rich and comforting.

Chicken enchilada at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Jodi got their vegetarian quesadilla that had corn, zucchini, mushrooms and cheese,served with guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo, a tasty dish that was not boring at all.

Vegetarian quesadilla at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Talking about their guacamole, it is pretty good, with chunks of avocado as I like it, the only negative was the rings of onions in it that were not great to have or bite into.

Guacamole and chips at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

They have lots of dessert and I admit that we probably made the wrong choice when ordering their empanada de arroz con lèche that is empanada filled with rice pudding. Very hot, the rice pudding lost its creaminess and the rice became over cooked in the frying process. Too bad! I regretted not ordering their churros.

Empanada de arroz con leche at Los Tres Chilitos in Jersey City

Still, it was a good lunch and I will certainly try something else another time. But then I will get the churros!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Los Tres Chilitos- 456 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/22 I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/22

Southern Food at Emma's in Jersey City - CLOSED

Emma’s in Jersey City, right outside the Journal Square Path station, is truly an incredible find. We passed few times in front of it, but never imagined that their food would be so delicious, if it was not from someone Jodi knows who mentioned it casually. They opened right at the beginning of Covid that has been a bit of a challenge and is very courageous and we went there few times, seeing their menu evolve. They serve Southern cuisine and even smoke meat. Regrettably, at the time of the post, they do not have anymore their slow smoked BBQ St Louis Spare ribs that…

Slow smoked BBQ St Louis spare ribs at Emma's in Jersey City

They also had at some point an incredible brisket grilled cheese that was made with lots of a deliciously juicy brisket and lots of cheese squeezed between two slices of thick challah bread. Decadent and very filling, it was served with large French fries that I admit did not care much for as I prefer thin and crispy ones.

Brisket grilled cheese at Emma's in Jersey City

At least they. kept their Southern fried chicken dinner that is superb, served with mash and gravy, a biscuit and some slaw. The chicken is crispy, moist and cooked all the way through, definitely something to try.

Southern fried chicken dinner at Emma's in Jersey City

For vegetarian options, they used to have an impressive falafel salad that is not anymore on the menu, but serve a veggie burger that is made with black beans, oats, chickpeas, vegetables and quinoa topped with gruyere, on a brioche bun. For $3 additional, you get fries. Also, for appetizer, they have surprising crispy buffalo cauliflower that have a nice crispiness and a bit of heat.

Crispy buffalo cauliflower at Emma's in Jersey City

Desserts are not to be missed and it is homemade. My favorite is Miss Tami’s Southern Pecan pie and then then their key lime pie that has a delicious graham cracker crust, both served with fresh whipped cream. I have also tried their chocolate chip bread pudding that is served with a dulce de leche ice cream and topped with a salted caramel sauce, but I admit that I found it too dense.

Chocolate chip bread pudding at Emma's in Jersey City

So, on one hand I am sad to see some of the dishes I loved not anymore on the menu, but on the other hand, it forced me to try others. And Emma’s blew me away. This unfussy spot is a true gem that I absolutely recommend!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Emma’s - 4 Path Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 9/30/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/30/22

Parker & Quinn in NYC

We were looking for a place Midtown for a dinner on a Friday evening when we stumbled upon Parker & Quinn, a restaurant located in the Refinery Hotel. Big, bright and not too loud, the kind of places I like.

This place that serves an American fare proposes some interesting cocktails, not just the classic ones. So I got tempted by The City is Mine, an original cocktail made with Great Jones bourbon,…

This place that serves an American fare proposes some interesting cocktails, not just the classic ones. So I got tempted by The City is Mine, an original cocktail made with Great Jones bourbon, angostura bitters, lime and mint. For sure, they were generous with the quantity of bourbon, and this was quite refreshing with the touch of mint and lemon. Jodi settled for their pomegranate lemonade that was not too sweet and also quite refreshing, going for a non-alcoholic beverage.

Pomegranate lemonade at Parker & Quinn in NYC

The City is Mine cocktail at Parker & Quinn in NYC

As an appetizer, we decided to try their homemade focaccia that came with olives. Although good, this was a bit disappointing because it did not look or taste like a focaccia bread…

Focaccia bread and olives at Parker & Quinn in NYC

Focaccia and olives at Parker & Quinn in NYC

For her main, Jodi ordered one of their flatbreads: the funghi Bianca that had, besides mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, taleggio, Gruyère and arugula. The thin crust was pretty good, nicely charred with some bubbles, and a generous amount of toppings, especially with all these different kinds of cheeses.

Flatbread funghi bianca at Parker & Quinn in NYC

On my side, I picked one of their fall dishes: the pan roasted duck breast that was served with a butternut squash puree, braised Swiss chard, roasted parsnips, pickled pearl onion with a pomegranate-apple emulsion that gave a nice sweetness to the dish. Although the portion was not that big, it was enough and, most importantly tasted delicious. They surely know how to cook the duck that had a slightly crispy skin that was deliciously fatty: the best part in fact!

Pan roasted duck breast at Parker & Quinn in NYC

Last was dessert: we chose their cookie skillet that was topped with a salted caramel gelato and a drizzle of chocolate ganache. This was pretty good, decadent, the cookie having plenty of melted chocolate inside and being a bit chewy.

This was a nice way to finish a pretty good meal. I would definitely go back to Parker & Quinn to try some other dishes, and of course, cocktails!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Parket & Quinn - 64 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/28/22

Black Barn in NYC

I discovered Black Barn few years ago and I have to say: this is one of my favorite places in the city for brunch or dinner. Their menu is mouth watering with so many interesting options that you would want to order every single dish. On top of that, you sit in a place with a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful decor that matches the name of the place, i.e. a barn, but without the smell!

So, the last time we went, we tried the following:

As a cocktail, I drank the American Pharaoh, a whiskey drink (Glenmoramgie X) mixed with espresso, coffee in cocktails, especially Martini being a bit of a trend in the past year, reinventing a bit the classic Irish coffee.

American Pharaoh cocktail at Black Barn in NYC

As an appetizer, I could not resist ordering their olive oil braised octopus that was served with a delicious roasted pepper hummus, fresno chili fennel, and a preserved lemon and olive gremolata. This was superb: the octopus was tender, with a nice char and I loved eating it with the gremolata that gave a nice acidity to the dish.

Olive oil braised octopus at Black Barn in NYC

Jodi got their wild mushroom toast with robiola, taleggio and Parmesan, on a sourdough that was a delicious appetizer, with a nice amount of toppings.

Wild mushroom toast at Black Barn in NYC

For her main, she got the grilled corn and kale salad, without bacon, that had tomato, avocado (a nice portion), radicchio, baked ricotta, smothered by a an herb buttermilk dressing (smothered but not overdressed).

Grilled corn and kale salad at Black Barn in NYC

On my side, I had their BBQ beef ribs. It was made with a chipotle-orange rub and served with shoestring fries that were nicely crispy but definitely the kind where your hand rather than a fork is to be used to eat them…The ribs were fantastic, literally falling off the bone, slightly spicy, with the cucumber salad that came with it giving a cooling effect. This is a must have for sure!

For dessert, we shared their apple cider donuts that came with a caramel sauce. These donuts were superb: perfectly made, I could have eaten more than what they served and it did not even need the caramel sauce.

So, this was an amazing dinner. Black Barn is a great place and I will go back for sure. You should too!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Black Barn - 19 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 9/26/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/26/22

Dim Sum Garden in NYC

I discovered Dim Sum Garden recently, thanks to one of my colleagues, Alex who recommended it, but with the caveat that he thought it was expensive for dim sum. I had to see it myself. The place is bright with few booths that I admit are not that comfortable…The way it works is that you will mark with a pen your selection and the dishes will come as they are ready. One of the original dishes is their sampler that is beautifully presented in a wooden tray that separates

I discovered Dim Sum Garden recently, thanks to one of my colleagues, Alex who recommended it, but with the caveat that he thought it was expensive for dim sum. I had to see it myself.

The place is bright with few booths that I admit are not that comfortable…The way it works is that you will mark with a pen your selection and the dishes will come as they are ready. One of the original dishes is their sampler that is beautifully presented in a wooden tray that separates 9 big dim sum, vegetarian and non vegetarian, 2 of them being dessert. The dim sum are quite large, so worth the $21.99 for this and I love the fact that the menu describes each of them. For instance, for roasted duck dumpling, it says: “Roasted duck dumplings was first created by the Cantonese Chef that wanted to combine Peking duck (roasted duck) with dim sum. It was made from diced roasted duck skin and meat, mixed with chopped carrot, celery and other mixed vegetable for more decent texture”.

Dim sum sampler at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

It had, from top to bottom:

Crispy Sesame ball at Dim Sum Garden in NYC, NY

Beef with black pepper roll at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Crispy shrimp ball at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Roasted duck dumpling at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Crabmeat and shrimp with spinach at Dim Sum Garden

Steamed egg custard bun at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Shrimp drumpling (har gow) at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Shrimp with pork shumai at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Black truffle and mushroom dumpling at Dim Sum Garden

We also tried their crispy vegetable spring roll that came really hot, delightfully greasy and crispy, that I dipped in duck sauce. Their mixed vegetable dumplings were also delicious, the filling not being overpowered by any particular ingredient (I never liked the ones where spinach is the predominant flavor).

Vegetable Spring rolls at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Mixed vegetable dumplings at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

We accompanied our meal with a peach black tea for Jodi and a Hong Kong style milk tea for me (it is made with black tea and milk that is usually served for lunch in Hong Kong tea culture).

Hong Kong style milk tea and peach black tea at Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Overall, we had a great meal at dim sum garden. The prices might be a bit higher than other restaurants Midtown like Dim Sum Palace, but the dumplings are bigger (forget about the one bite for most). Interestingly, most of them have a very glutinous shell that can on one hand be challenging, but on the other hand keeps it together when splitting it in half. If you are non-vegetarian, I highly recommend the sampler that is superb and a good deal in my opinion. This place is for sure a must try.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Dim Sum Garden - 338 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/22

Vegetarian meal at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

After trying the T Brasserie in the Tin Building, our next stop was their vegetarian restaurant, Seeds and Weeds, on the second floor. Nice place, spacious, with lots of light, the green color and wood decor rendering perfectly the theme of the restaurant and giving a zen atmosphere to it.

We started off our meal by ordering beverages. Jodi got the same Cherry and yuzu carbonated soda she tried the last time, and I got the “red juice” that is made with beets and…

We started off our meal by ordering beverages. Jodi got the same Cherry and yuzu carbonated soda she tried the last time, and I got the “red juice” that is made with beets and had a hint of ginger in it. Quite good, it was served in a wine glass, a funny detail if people were trying to hide that they were just having a vegetable juice rather than a fancy glass of red wine.

Red juice at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

Cherry and yuzu soda at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

The menu offers small dishes, so we ordered a few that we shared, that came as they were ready. The first one was the dosa. In fact, they serve crepes and dosa in a stand on the first floor in case you want to try this classic South Indian crepe made with a fermented batter made with lentils and rice flour. This is very smart to offer that as typically vegetarian, but, they Americanized it by serving it with sprouts, avocado and yogurt, like a take on an avocado toast, or egg, cheddar and sambal that would be like a take on an egg sandwich. I thought the dosa was well made, being nicely crispy, but I wished there was more avocado.

Dosa at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

We then got the olive oil fried artichokes that were served with a saffron rose aioli. It was delicious, but small for the $24 they charge!

Fried artichokes at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

The last dish before dessert was the cornmeal crusted baby trumpet mushrooms that came with a Grenada pepper dip and topped with mint, basil and plum. That was really good, crunchy, perfectly cooked, with a dip that had a subtle kick to it.

Cornmeal crusted baby trumpet mushrooms at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

Of course we could not leave without dessert and chose the chocolate pudding that was topped with blackberries and accompanied by cocoa nib shortbread. This dessert was superb: the pudding was creamy, not bitter, pairing well with the blackberries, and the shortbread was a nice addition to it. I definitely recommend it.

Chocolate pudding at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

Espresso at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

Overall we had a nice meal at Seeds and Weeds. It is a bit pricey though so it is more a treat than somewhere where I would go often there. Still, worth trying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building - 96 South St, New York, NY 10038

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

Cafe Fiorello in NYC

It’s been years since we had a meal at Cafe Fiorello on the Upper West Side. I discovered this place when a colleague of mine referred it as the best pizza in NYC. The rectangle crust at the time (not anymore) was good, but what I loved there was their open face lasagna, Parmesan ravioli and their chocolate mousse bucket that was always a treat.

So we went back last Saturday after a…

So we went back last Saturday after a long day walking around the city, happy to sit outside as the weather was nice. Their Fiorello Spritz was a welcome way to relax and enjoy the meal that would come. It had passion fruit in it that was original and gave an exotic taste, slightly more bitter to it.

As an appetizer, we went for the antipasti bar that had a lot to choose from. We settled for roasted eggplant Parmesan, cauliflower Milanese and mushrooms trigolati that are oyster, portobello and crimini mushrooms sautéed in garlic. All were really good, the best being the cauliflower that was deliciously crunchy and did not need any sauce to go with.

Cauliflower Milanese at Cafe Fiorello in NYC

Roasted eggplant parmesan at Cafe Fiorello in NYC

For her main, Jodi ordered the margarita pizza that is made with burrata and mozzarella. Quite good, the thin crust was crispy and it was topped with lots of cheese.

On my side, I decided to see if their open face lasagna was still good. And it was! They definitely changed it a bit and it is huge! Not only was it topped with lots of cheese (there was burrata) and well made meatballs that were not dry, it also had short ribs and cheese between layers. I also loved the burnt sides that gave a nice texture to the dish. This is a must have, but tooo big for one person for sure and I could not even finish it or get dessert after that! Well, I will have to go back then…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Café Fiorello - 1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/22 I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/22

Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

There are few places in Hoboken I would go for dinner in a heartbeat. Anthony David’s is one of them. The restaurant from Chef Pino who also owns Bin 14 Uptown is a true gem, serving succulent food for brunch or dinner, although, if I had to pick, it would be brunch where this place is usually packed.

Contrary to Bin 14, plates are larger, less crafted for sharing, and, strangely, they seem made for a more formal dining as opposed to Bin 14 that has a more casual feel. For brunch, I love their…

Contrary to Bin 14, plates are larger, less crafted for sharing, and, strangely, they seem made for a more formal dining as opposed to Bin 14 that has a more casual feel. For brunch, I love their Kyoto ice drip brew that is a 12 hour Ethiopian organic washed process, recommended to be served black that has an unusual taste.

Kyoto Ice drip Brew at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

It is perfect with their Bourbon glazed donuts that are quite addictive and that you also find as a dessert on their dinner menu. And I should mention that they are very generous with the glaze that is so good you cannot stop dipping the donuts in it!

Bourbon glazed donuts at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

On of the specialties of Anthony David’s is the eggs Benedict where they have always proposed few mouth watering ways to serve this dish. My favorite is the Maine lobster “old bay” Benedict that is superb, with a nice amount of lobster so it shines, although completely smothered by a perfectly runny yolk and a delicious Hollandaise sauce. And if you do not like runny yolks or are vegetarian, they propose various eggs dishes like the burrata frittata that is very good, creamy and not overcooked (that is what I often end up to with frittata.

Lobster Benedict at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Burrata frittata at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Similar to Bin 14, Anthony David’s has a great selection of wine and, in the Summer, I often appreciate a good rosé. There, they have a couple of French ones like the Solis Lumen 2020 from Pays d’Oc or the Fleur de Mer 2020, a Cote de Provence, both crisp and refreshing.

Fleur de Mer rosé at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Solis Lumen rosé at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Appetizer wise, their taleggio arancini that is served with a spicy tomato sauce (not very spicy but with a robust taste) is fantastic, crunchy on the outside and creamy inside, but I admit that I was really happy to see a foie gras au torchon on the menu as there are not that many restaurants serving foie gras. It came with some toasted challah bread (not enough) and macerated cherries for some sweetness. Delicious!

Arancini at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Foie gras au torchon at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

The pasta there is worth trying. Their cacio e pepe rigatoni with English peas are very good (we asked for not too much pepper), and their Spring Squash tortellini that are served with goat cheese and an high tomato herb broth was superb!

Spring Squash tortellini at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Cacio e pepe rigatoni at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

But if you prefer meat, I recommend the lamb chops that are so good, served with roasted eggplant, English peas, tomatoes and whipped potatoes. The duck is also good, but I would have preferred it medium-rare rather than medium. It was served with a creamy polenta and a chianti cherry demi-glace.

Grilled lamb chops at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Crispy Rohan duck breast at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Dessert is not to be missed. The fried bananas with gelato and chianti cherries was good (they must love those cherries because we got them with the foie gras, duck and this dessert!), but my favorite was the warm brownie that was fudgey and perfect with the pistachio gelato.

Fried banana at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Warm brownie at Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Anthony David’s is worth a bus or path ticket to Hoboken: the food is great and the donuts amazing. And after a meal, you can have a walk on the river front, a good way to digest after a great 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!

Anthony David’s - 953 Bloomfield St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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)!

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

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