Sushi and Co in Time Square

Sushi and Co in Time Square

I don’t know if you have noticed but there are more and more Japanese restaurant that are based on the principle of make your own box rather than just taking some pre-made items. Sushi and Co is one of them, with already three located in the city. The one I visited opened several weeks ago in the heart of Time Square in New York City.

Sushi and Co in Time Square

So, first you need to decide which option you want to make your own. There are definitely lots of choices, from making your own teriyaki bento (that I did with air baked salmon teriyaki, avocado salad, eel avocado maki and shrimp tempura maki), sushi and roll box (2 rolls, 4 nigiri sushi and a salad), or 4 roll box (4 rolls and a salad) that is apparently their most popular with the sushi mix and match (3 rolls and a salad). Then you pick the rolls (California, spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, tuna and avocado, Philadelphia, yellowtail, shrimp tempura, eel and avocado or vegetable) or the nigiri (tuna, salmon, shrimp, yellowtail, gold tuna - that is tuna with a gold leaf on top- or eel). For salads, you can pick between avocado (that I always choose), mixed greens, edamame, seaweed or sashimi.

Sushi teriyaki mix and match at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Sushi teriyaki mix and match box at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Avocado salad at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Eel avocado maki at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Air baked salmon at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Shrimp tempura maki at Sushi and Co in Time Square

You can also choose their Omakase box where you have to pick 8 nigiri or sashimi, as well as a salad. So, I went for all the choices they had (6 of them: tuna, salmon, tuna with gold leaf (not really necessary), shrimp, eel and yellowtail) and picked another eel and salmon, with an avocado salad.

Sushi and Co in Time Square

Shrimp and yellowtail nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Salmon and tuna with gold leaf nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Salmon and tuna nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Tuna with gold leaf and salmon nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Eel nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

You can also just order rolls like avocado rolls or vegetable dumplings that are pretty good.

Avocado rolls at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Vegetable dumplings at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Overall it was good, but I thought some of it was a bit pricey. Still, the fact that you can mix and match makes choices quite unlimited and so, exciting. I would not mind going back to try their soup or special rolls.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sushi and Co - 1407 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

 

Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Paris Baguette opened few weeks ago in Hoboken. This South Korean bakery that opened in first location in 1988 proposes a French inspired offering. But I admit that I would probably not go there for a croissant or chocolate croissant that are good but would be better with more butter, preferring more their pain aux raisins or their chocolate twist that is slightly crunchy and buttery, their sugar twist, their Pastéis de Nata that is a Portuguese egg tart, or, more French, the palmier that is one of the best I had, being buttery and nicely caramelized. They also have their own interpretation of the Cronut, an hybrid between a croissant and a donut, created years ago by Chef Dominique Ansel. Theirs was filled with a delicious vanilla cream and topped with a lemon cream and some zest: fantastic. I should also mention their sticky milk buns that are presented in a small loaf of deliciousness.

Croissant at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pain au chocolat at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pain aux raisins at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Croissant donut at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Sugar twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Sticky milk bun at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Palmier at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pasteis de nata at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pasteis de nata at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

My least favorite is the almond croissant that has almond cream in it, quite liquid and not as good as frangipane, and their jumbo twist that is topped with a crunch rice topping and cinnamon sugar. Not as good as the sugar twist that reminds me a beignet called a chichi that I used to eat in France.

Almond croissant at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Jumbo twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

I still have a lot to try at Paris Baguette, including their…baguette. We tried to go there for lunch, but thought that their offerings are more limited, for example the only salad that day was a salmon salad and no vegetarian sandwich. I will try again!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Paris Baguette - 1000 Maxwell Ln, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Sponsored post: Damascus Chef Knife from Sakuto

Gyuto Damascus steel knife from Sakuto

A knife is to the Chef what a scalpel is to the surgeon. So, when a representative from Sakuto proposed to send me a Damascus steel knife complimentary for a review, I was quite excited. I admit that I never heard of Sakuto before, probably because I was not looking specifically at kitchen knives before, but learned that it is one of the most famous Japanese brands that originated in Seki, a city well known for its sword production. No, frankly, I never really cared about what kitchen knife I was using before taking a knife skills class at the Culinary Institute of America few years ago (I’ll pass on the fact that the first day of my next class - a week of French classics-, I cut my finger badly while cutting some celery…).

Gyuto Damascus steel knife from Sakuto

Gyuto Damascus steel knife from Sakuto

So, when it comes to knives, Japan is quite renown, but I never heard of Damascus steel before and discovered that these knives are made from several layers of flat steel with different properties that are arranged one onto the other, being sharper and more durable than a classic stainless steel. They also have some patterns on the blade that make them such a piece of art that you hesitate to use them in the kitchen and would just use them as decoration like you would a sword. The Gyuto knife is heavier than the classic Chef’s knife I own and feels solid, well balanced, with a good grip, the handle being made with Pakkawood, a composite material made of wood and resin that is commonly used in Japanese knives. It is definitely sharp that is a real pleasure when cutting meat or vegetables.

Cleaning it in the dishwasher is certainly not an option! So, handwashing and drying immediately is preferred. Some people say that you need to polish them weekly to preserve the patterns, but I am not there yet…

I never had a Japanese knife before and I love this: it is not only beautiful, but the best knife I ever owned. So, if you are looking for an upgrade to your Chef’s knife, check out Sakuto!

The Kitchen Table at The Modern in NYC

The Kitchen Table at The Modern in NYC

Adjacent to The Moma, The Modern is probably the most underrated two Michelin stars restaurant in the City. I do not know why. Anyway, we were looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary when we saw that they offer a unique experience that any food enthusiast would appreciate: a table in the kitchen that gives you an inside look to what happens in the kitchen. I have been to Michelin star kitchens before, from Noma in Denmark to Maison Pic in France, without forgetting Eleven Madison Park, and have always been impressed by the calm and organization of the kitchen staff, only disturbed by tickets being called, followed by a “oui” Chef shouted in unison. It is simply mesmerizing and the kitchen at The Modern is no different: organized in three sections: dining room, pastry and bar room, the 30 or so staff there were working like a well oiled machine while 30 other people where preparing the next service (we went for lunch).

The Kitchen Table at The Modern

The $345 menu is a suprise: they ask you for any dietary restrictions and anything you do not like, but that’s it: Executive Chef Thomas Allan and his team will decide what to serve you with some classics like their eggs on eggs on eggs or their dry aged duck, each dish being like a piece of art carefully crafted. Here is what we had:

They started by bringing us an amaretto flavored kombucha from Brooklyn to prepare our palate, as we were waiting for our drinks. We also got a mocktail for Jodi (Ko-Pilot, made with a non-alcoholic Duche de Longueville sparkling cider, Yuzu, maple and sea salt) and cocktail for me (First World, made with Mezcal, Falernum that is a Caribbean syrup, vermouth, verjus and green chartreuse, that is what made me decide to go with this cocktail, lemon and fleur de sel that was on the side of the glass). I also had, later in the meal, a nice 2022 Roger Belland Chassagne Montrachet that was a bit of a bet as I did not know what they would serve, but could not resist a pinot noir!

Amaretto flavored Kombuchar at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Ko-Pilot mocktail at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

First World cocktail at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

2022 Roger Belland Chassagne Montrachet wine at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Then started the 8 course menu that was more 10 with the add-ons…Here is what we had with, on the left, the vegetarian dishes for Jodi:

Amuse bouche:

Beets and lovage:

Vegetarian: beets and Lovage at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Hiramasa or yellow tail and elderflower:

Hiram's or yellow tail with elderflower at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Beluga lentils eggs on eggs on eggs:

Beluga lentils eggs on eggs on eggs at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Asparagus, green tomatoes, avocado ice cream and burrata:

Asparagus green tomatoes and burrata at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Endive with grilled sugar snap peas and morel mushroom broth:

Endived with sugar snap peas at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Caviar eggs on eggs on eggs:

Caviar eggs on eggs on eggs at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Chilled lobster, green tomato, avocado ice cream and burrata:

Chilled lobster green tomatoes and burrata at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Sea bass with grilled English peas and mushroom broth:

Sea bass with English peas at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Agnolotti with artichoke, sorrel and black truffle from Australia, a treat from the Chef:

Agnolotti with artichoke and black truffle at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Grilled Summer squash with poached cherries and chanterelles:

Grilled Summer squash at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Confit eggplant with squash blossom and saffron:

Confit eggplant at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Agnolotti with artichoke and black truffle at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Dry aged duck with poached cherries and summer squash:

Dry aged duck at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

American Wagyu beef with creamy chanterelles and parmesan:

American Wagyu beef at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Frozen Almond with cucumber and passion fruit to clean our palate:

Frozen almond with cucumber and passion fruit at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Raspberry and pistachio ice cream compliment of the Chef:

Raspberry and pistachio ice cream at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Dark Chocolate tart with blueberries and sunflower:

Dark chocolate tart at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Raspberry and pistachio ice cream at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Cheesecake ice cream, strawberries, brown sugar:

Cheese cake ice cream at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Banana toffee at The Modern in NYC

Last, they brought us some banana toffee that were the last thing I could eat after such meal. Everything was delicious, my favorite being the duck that was perfectly cooked, the skin being crispy and deliciously fatty, as well as the pasta that surprised me, not because of the truffle, but because, when I heard “artichoke”, I was not sure what to expect. Being in the kitchen you can of course expect a top notch service, but it was even better: this was true hospitality, everyone making us feel comfortable, in a setting that was not stuffy at all. I definitely recommend it if you can afford it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Kitchen Table at The Modern - 9 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

 

Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Replacing City of Saints, Koocheh Coffee, opened few weeks ago in Hoboken. In Persian architecture, a Kucheh or Koocheh is a narrow alley that suits well this small place for sure. At Koocheh coffee, you get classic offerings of a coffee place, but there are few additional choices that are worth trying: chai that you can see more and more on menus, that, even if made from a syrup, is quite good, and their turmeric latte that Koocheh’s owner, Babak Moghaddam, told me is made with turmeric imported from his native Iran. Turmeric drinks has a quite interesting taste: creamy, earthy, very slightly sweet, some say that it taste like chai that is not the case at all. When it comes to pastries, they get theirs from Baltazar: croissants, chocolate croissants, almond croissants, etc.

Breakfast at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Almond croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

After Bwe, this is the second “persian coffee shop” in Hoboken. It is always nice to see family owned shops opening instead of another corporate one. Koocheh Coffee is a nice addition to the neighborhood and I wish Babak all the best for his business!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Koocheh Coffee - 1320 Bloomfield St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Carmine, family style dinner in Times Square

Italian family style restaurants always remind me when I brought my family who came from France for our wedding to Tony Di Napoli for a welcome dinner. We not only had fun with my family singing what I would just call classic French celebratory songs (I will not give more details but you can guess that there was some good ambiance in the restaurant), but the food was delicious (if you go, get the meatballs). So, I was looking forward to going to Carmine in Times Square. We were 7 people and had to wait just a bit for a table, the big restaurant being packed. Packed and loud, very loud, to the point that dessert was not even an option for me: I just wanted to get out! And it was not the only issue: we were a bit pushed to order more food than what we needed, our waiter, who by the way did not check on us after we were served, telling us that the eggplant parm we ordered was small, more like a side, that was not true at all. At least you can bring food home, but I do not like this kind of dishonest method. The eggplant parmesan was just ok, and I preferred the chicken marsala, or the appetizers we had previously: fried zucchini that is always a decadent way to eat that vegetable, or the spiedini all romana that is a roasted Italian loaf that is toasted and covered with melted mozzarella cheese in a capers, anchovies, basil and white wine reduction. At least we had good company, but I admit that Tony Di Napoli remains my favorite for Italian family style in Times Square.

Spritz at Carmine in Times Square

Bread basket at Carmine in Times Square

Fried zucchini at Carmine in Times Square

Spiedoni alla romana at Carmine in Times Square

Eggplant parmesan at Carmine in Times Square

Chicken marsala at Carmine in Times Square

Enjoy (…)!

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

Carmine - 200 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

 

Uncle Momo, French-Lebanese restaurant in Jersey City

Uncle Momo in Jersey CityUncle Momo in Jersey City

We passed in front of Uncle Momo many times and decided to try that place for brunch on a Saturday. The result? We went back several times for lunch and dinner, the food being very good. We mostly tried their Lebanese dishes, some being served with their house made pita that is superb and is a must have (you can order it for $1), perfect with hummus or babaganouj. If you are vegetarian, they do have a falafel platter (these falafel are light and crispy), but my favorite is the Momo’s breakfast that is composed of two eggs over easy, served with hummus, tabouleh, labne, home fries and mixed greens. They also do propose other eggs dishes, like the Parisian Omelet, or crepes, that are pretty good, made with quinoa flour that has a nice slight nutty flavor, but, a classic not to miss is their French toast: the challah bread is slightly crispy on the outside, soft and custardy, topped with fruits and accompanied with creme anglaise and maple syrup.

Pita at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Babaganouj at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Falafel platter at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Parisian omelet at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Crepes scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Falafel platter at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Breakfast platter at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Crepe scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

French toast at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

French toast at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

My least favorite there was their regular pitza that, celebrate what some say is the origin of pizza: in Naples, pita was thrown into wood fire ovens to clean them and someone had the idea to put tomato sauce and cheese on top and serve it. No, the pizza was not as good as what you would get in a pizza shop: the sauce is a bit bland and the tomato sauce, that is what I always look for in pizza, lacking robustness. Maybe the ones with lamb and chicken are better and tastier, but it did not make me want to try more.

Pitza at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Pitza at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

For non-vegetarian, they also have a wide range of dishes. if you are not sure what to try, the mixed grill is a good way to try their grilled chicken, lamb chops, Lebanese sausage and lamb kebab. Everything was delicious, tasty and juicy, but my favorite is their Lebanese sausage, or Makanek, that reminded me of mergez sausage, although it was made with ground beef instead of lamb. Served with hummus, pita and fries, it is a dish I would get over and over. I should also mention their lamb kofta kebab, that is made as a sandwich, wrapped in their delicious pita with tahini and onions: I recommend it if you love lamb.

Mixed grill at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Mixed grill at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Makanek at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Makanek at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Lamb kofta kebab sandwich at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Lamb kofta kebab sandwich at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

This place does not have a liquor license, so it is BYOB, but they propose few mocktails that are refreshing, like the virgin mojito or Pina colada. For brunch, they do offer classics: espresso, macchiato, americano, or mint tea, but also serve a decent chai or Turkish coffee, and an interesting baklava coffee that I found too sweet.

Mojito at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Iced Americano at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Chai at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Macchiato at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Turkish coffee at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Mint tea at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Baklava coffee at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Now, you are probably wondering if they serve desserts. They do, but, each time, we were full and we only tried their Muhalabia that is a milk pudding that has the consistency close to a panna cotta, made with milk, heavy cream, rice flour, orange blossom, topped with a blueberry sauce and pistachios. Soft and light, not too sweet, it was a perfect way to end a meal.

Muhalabia at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Muhalabia at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Hopefully, with all these photos of delicious food, you understand now why we went many times to Uncle Momo. This place is worth a trip to Jersey City, being located few blocks from the path train. It is great for brunch or dinner. They have a large menu and we will for sure go back to try more!

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!

Uncle Momo - 289 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

 

Scallion pancake sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

With its scallion pancake sandwiches, Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn, has been all over social media, people raving about the Taiwanese American sandwich fusion. So, I decided to try it. We went early right before Memorial Day, thinking that many people would be away. Wrong: the place was packed, we got lucky and found a seat inside. We ordered at the counter and it took a bit of time to get our food, the staff bringing it to you after identifying your order with the number they give you at the cashier that you place on your table. I got the mortadella egg sandwich, mortadella being one of my favorite Italian sausages. The egg sandwich, squeezed between a scallion pancake that was perfectly layered and deliciously greasy, was composed of an omelet, a nice amount of havarti cheese, mortadella and pickled peperoncini. I admit that I should have asked without the latter as they overpowered a bit the delicious bite I was getting and proceeded to remove them from my sandwich. The first bite was divine, even after burning a bit my hand as the sandwich was hot and greasy: you first get the crunchiness and greasiness of the scallion pancake that had a nice char, then the pillowy omelet that, with the melted cheese, balanced perfectly the saltiness mortadella. Delicious!

Mortadella egg sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Mortadela egg sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Jodi got their veggie milk bun that was also quite good, the omelet being once again well made, sitting on top of a delicious shiitake mushroom cake and havarti cheese. Not as good as the scallion pancake, but a good alternative.

Veggie milk bun at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Veggie milk bun at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

I also got some cold soy milk that was sweet (tian doujiang) and they brough us some fried dough that we did not order and thought at first that was a mistake with our oder. It was a bit boring and could have been better if rolled into some cinnamon-sugar.

Soy milk at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Fried dough at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

The food at Win Son Bakery is good and I understand why people are raving about it. Is it worth a trip to Brooklyn? Probably not. You can wait for their Manhattan restaurant to open to try this as they announced few weeks ago that they will soon have an outpost 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!

Win Son Bakery - 164 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206

 

Pink Taco in Times Square

Have you ever eaten in a disco, the music being so loud you can’t even hear what other people are saying? That is what I felt when I had dinner at Pink Taco in Times Square. They describe themselves as a “trendy eatery/bar with a rock 'n' roll vibe, serving Mexican fare, including tacos & margaritas”, that is for the most part correct, but the rock n’ roll part is more than a vibe. Good music, but so loud, that you just want to eat quickly and leave (at least that is how I felt). The thing is, the food took forever to come, and then came at once: house margarita, guacamole and chips (these could have come first), Mexican corn, fried lobster tacos and vegetable fajitas. Overall, the dishes were good: the guac, although small, was fresh and well seasoned; the lobster tacos were crispy and well cooked, not greasy, with a nice kick from the mango-habanero salsa (I should mention that they came with rice and beans). The Mexican street corn was good, but spicy, with a nice char, and the vegetable fajitas, that also came with rice and beans, decent.

House margarita at Pink Taco in Times Square

House margarita at Pink Taco in Times Square

Guacamole at Pink Taco in Times Square

Chips and salsa at Pink Taco in Times Square

Mexican corn at Pink Taco in Times Square

Rice and beans at Pink Taco in Times Square

Vegetables fajita at Pink Taco in Times Square

Rice, beans and tortilla at Pink Taco in Times Square

Fried lobster tacos at Pink Taco in Times Square

Fried lobster tacos at Pink Taco in Times Square

Dessert was a bit of a let down: we decided to try their tres leches churro, thinking that merging two of our favorite desserts would create an amazing combination. That was not the case at all: it looked really good, but the churros were heavy and doughy, with a pink tres leches sauce that did not help. This was not good at all.

Tres leches churro at Pink Taco in Times Square

Tres leches churro at Pink Taco in Times Square

Although most of the food was good, I was a bit disappointed by Pink Taco. Too loud for my taste and the food is not worth having a headache…

Enjoy (…)!

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

Pink Taco - 7 Times Sq, New York, NY 10036

 

Tapas at Sala Astoria

Sala Astoria

We were going to the Museum of the Moving Image in Long Island City, when we stumbled upon Sala Astoria a restaurant with a large tapas menu. Great place I have to say, with so many choices for vegetarians and non vegetarians. Of course the tortilla espanola is a must when having tapas and theirs is superb: moist with the egg very slightly runny, smothering the perfectly cooked potatoes and onions.

Tortilla española at Sala Astoria

Tortilla espanola at Sala Astoria

Here are the other dishes we tried:

Pan tumaca: a toasted rustic bread topped with fresh grated tomato, olive oil, garlic and salt. Simple, it was very good, the fresh tomato being used like a spread.

Pan tumaca at Sala Astoria

Pan tumaca at Sala Astoria

Queso de cabra con miel: fried goat cheese topped with caramelized onion and served with honey. This was delicious: first, you could say that anything fried is delicious. As you bite, you get the crispiness of the shell that was not greasy, and then the sweetness of the caramelized onion and honey balancing perfectly the goat cheese. I definitely recommend this dish if you love goat cheese.

Queso de cabra con miel at Sala Astoria

Queso de cabra con miel at Sala Astoria

Pulpo a la plancha: grilled octopus with a confit of russet potato, covered with salsa verde. The octopus was perfectly cooked with a nice char.

Pulpo a la plancha at Sala Astoria

Pulpo a la plancha at Sala Astoria

Gambas al ajillo: shrimp cooked in olive oil with garlic, hot pepper and parsley. This came piping hot, the olive oil still bubbling. This was quite good, but I got a sense that I would be protected for few years from vampires, if you see what I mean…

Gambas al ajillo at Sala Astoria

Gambas al ajillo at Sala Astoria

Ensalada verde: mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, macaroni almonds and almond dressing. Good, they offer it as a side, that was quite a generous portion.

Ensalada verde at Sala Astoria

For dessert, we had the churros that was served with a chocolate sauce. They were good, but I admit that I had better.

Churros at Sala Astoria

Churros at Sala Astoria

Overall, the food at Sala was very good. This definitely a place to know if you are in the area or decide to go to the museum that was a great experience, especially with their Exorcist exhibit…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sala Astoria - 34-39 31st St, Queens, NY 11106

 

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

When Morelia Gourmet Paletas opened in Hoboken, I was really excited! I love ice cream, so combined with whatever topping you can put on top, this is heaven. The ice cream at Morelia is simply delicious, made fresh everyday, and creamy. When you go there, you first pick your paleta from their large selection, that you can then dip and cover with the topping of your choice: dark chocolate, white chocolate, crunchy hazelnut, cookie butter for the dips and Oreo crumbs, peanuts, pistachio, almonds, M&M’s, rainbow sprinkles, Graham Crackers, toasted coconut flakes and more for the toppings. My favorite? The white chocolate sauce, covered with Graham cracker, and topped with condensed milk.

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

They have many flavors, some with a filling inside, like the dulce de leche with dulce de leche filling that definitely works, the creamy ice cream balancing the sweetness of the generous filling, or the banana filled with Nutella that would satisfied people who love this chocolate hazelnut deliciousness; those with no filling are still delicious, my favorite being the Sicilian pistachio and one of their best sellers, the cookies and cream with pieces of Oreo cookies. For an even more decadent ice cream, try their chocolate fudge brownie that has a delicious brownie inside. For more classic flavors, you can get their coconut paleta that is vegan, or lime sorbet.

Sicilian pistachio at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Sicilian pistachio at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Cookies and cream at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Cookies and cream at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Dulce de leche at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Banana filled with Nutella at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate fudgy brownie at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Coconut at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

With so many flavors, dips and toppings, each visit can be different and the combinations are endless: this is the kind of place where I never get tired to go to!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Morelia Gourmet Paletas - 932 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

If you are looking for a place for breakfast or brunch that proposes insane dishes and milkshakes, Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold is the right place for you. As you enter, you get the sense that this will be a bit crazy, the decor, with its fully functional carousel and sign in the back, setting the tone. Sure, you can get plain pancakes, waffles or French toast, but, looking at the menu, you will be intrigued and probably want to order something decadent. To start, check out their milkshakes: you can get a classic vanilla or chocolate one, but their “ultimate insane milkshakes” are not to be ignored. I tried their Oreo cookie cake milkshake that had a piece of Oreo cookie cake literally on top! After this and a banana French toast I ordered, I just needed to lay down…On a lighter note, I also tried their Hazelnut coffee dream, made with vanilla ice cream, Nutella, milk and Nescafe, a perfect combination for Nutella and coffee lovers, even if Nescafe is a bit light for me!

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Oreo Cookie Cake milkshake at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Hazelnut coffee dream at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

So, the French toast is not my favorite: I wish it was more eggy and less dry, but their pancakes are really good, quite fluffy. I also liked their waffles, choosing their Oreo Nutella one that is baked with oreo cookies and topped with vanilla ice cream, oreos, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, peanut butter and nutella. This really decadent waffle was superb, but you need some savory sides if you do not want to crash considering the amount of sugar you are ingurgitating…Sausage or eggs will do it.

Pancakes at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Coconut pancake at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Banana French toast. at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Oreo Nutella waffle at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Whether you want a crazy meal or not, Brownstone Pancake Factory is worth trying. Their menu is quite large with also burgers, omelets, quesadilla and more. So I guess, I will have to go back to explore more…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Brownstone Pancake Factory - 3445 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728

 

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken is an interesting place: located in an old bank (you can see the vault in the back) and with a cool decor, it is not just serving burgers, but also Colombian dishes like arepas or empanadas.

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

We went there for the burgers that look fantastic on their electronic menu, to the point that I was not sure what to order. I finally went for the Bank burger, that is made with two beef patties, cheddar cheese, onion rings, pickles and house sauce. Looking decadent and quite appetizing, I loved the crunch that the pickles and onion rings gave, the former adding some nice acidity, but found the meat to miss the mark, lacking some char and taste.

The Bank burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Bank burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

Jodi went for the Ivy burger, a veggie burger accompanied with lettuce (she also replaced the bun with lettuce), tomato, smashed avocado, onion rings and TBT sauce. This was a pretty good veggie burger, not mushy, tasty, the onion rings adding some texture to it.

The Ivy burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Ivy burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

We also got some fries, but I have to say that they were not that great. I wished we had onion rings instead.

Fries at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

But the reason I would go back at The Burger Temple is their milkshakes: their Nutella milkshake was very good.

Nutella milkshake at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

So, besides the milkshake, I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the burger there, the expectation being high considering the name of the restaurant. Nevertheless, I might go back there to try some of their Colombian dishes.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

The Burger Temple - 3522 Park Ave, Weehawken, NJ 07086

 

Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Created last year by the founders of Unregular Pizza, Unregular Bakery is quite original: do not go there if you are looking for classics. The vessels for their sweet or savory offering are laminated croissants or bombolone, these Italian donuts and you kind of get overwhelmed with all these mouth watering items on their menu, with lots of vegan choices. I did not really liked the filling of the BurraCroissant, that is filled with burrata and basil pearls, missing the creaminess of this fantastic cheese, but the laminated croissant itself was superb. The bombolone are quite good, the Everything salmon, composed of smoked salmon, aperol pickled onion, capers, chives and cream cheese, being a great take on a classic. A much simpler choice was the bombolone with cacao e Pepe that we created from their build your own menu.

Everything salmon bombolone at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Everything salmon bombolone at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Cacio e pepe bombolone at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

BurraCroissant at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

For dessert, we got their Death by chocolate bombolone, a vegan dessert made with a vegan chocolate bombolone, vegan chocolate and vegan brownies. Decadent, the best part was the brownies that were pretty good, crunchy on the outside and moist.

Death by chocolate bombolone at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Death by chocolate bombolone at Unregular Bakery in NYC, NY

Overall, this was good and Unregular Bakery chose perfectly their name as none of their offering is classic. I would definitely go back to try other things 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!

Unregular Bakery - 124 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

 

Antique at 112 in Hoboken, NJ

Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

There is no question that Antique Bar & Bakery is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken: their food is simply fantastic, their dirty ribeye being phenomenal and their bread pudding one of the best I ever had among other things that makes this popular restaurant a visit worth a trip to the mile square city. So, when they opened Antique at 112, few steps from their restaurant, we had to try it. The first time was during the Holidays, a perfect time as many people were traveling. The second was recently: the experience was totally different as the place was packed and the cuisine seemed overwhelmed with not just the orders from their hungry diners, but also the deliveries. I admit that it spoiled a bit the experience and I missed a bit the atmosphere of our first visit. Antique on 112 definitely captures the spirit of the original restaurant, looking like an old diner that survived the decades passing.

Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

As you arrive, you pick a menu and a pencil, make your selection and then order at the counter. Once you pay, they give you an order number made with game cards, and you can sit wherever you can. When your food is ready, they will bring your food.

Order number at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

The menu is brunch all day (they extended the hours to dinner with the same items) with few specials. Of course, I had to try their chicken and waffle sandwich that was composed of waffles instead of buns, two fried eggs and a deliciously crispy fried chicken that was perfectly cooked and moist. For sure, this is messy to eat as the maple syrup will make your hands sticky, prompting you to switch to eating with your knife and fork, like a regular chicken and waffle, less the fried eggs (and yes, the runny yolk will add to the messiness). If you prefer a burger, their “Big J Burger” is quite good, but I admit that their ribeye burger is better, or, if I was really craving a burger, I would go to Dipped’n Smashed few blocks away. The Big J Burger was composed of two 2.5 oz. smashed burger patties, their “fancy Sauce”, lettuce, cheddar, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun. Like a Big Mac, the patties are separated by a bottom part of a bun. It was good and tasty, but I missed the char you typically get with smashed burgers and the additional layer of bread was unnecessary. It was served with their homemade potato chips that are a good addition, or, if you prefer, you can order fries, or even better, hash brown that are delightfully crispy.

Chicken and waffle sandwich at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

Hash brown at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

The Big J Burger at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

The Big J Burger at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

If you prefer healthier options, you can opt for the Chef's Overnight Oatmeal, composed of almonds, chia seeds, berries and bananas, that is served cold, or the Antique Grain Avocado Toast + Egg Whites that has a fairly descriptive name. I should mention that they have several plant based options as well.

Avocado toast + egg white at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

Chef’s overnight oatmeal at Antique on 112 in Hoboken, NJ

The menu at Antique at 112 is exciting and what we had was good, but they are definitely victim of their success. There are many dishes that I would like to try, but I guess I will have to wait for the next Holidays, so I can avoid the crowd…

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Antique at 112 - 112 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

When La Isla Uptown closed, I was a bit sad, the place serving delicious Cuban food in a more spacious space than the downtown location. Martha’s came a few months later, who, leveraging on the decor of its predecessor, serves new American cuisine. We went there a couple of times, and tried some of their dishes. Here is what we had:

They have a nice selection of cocktails. Of course, I had to try their espresso martini that was well balanced, and also got their Mellow Yellow that is made with Bulleit Rye whiskey, amaro montenegro, citrus syrup and lime cordial.

Espresso martini at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Mellow Yellow cocktail at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

A must have in their appetizers is their crispy cauliflower nuggets that is smothered with spicy mayo and togarashi, and topped with black sesame seeds. They are not that spicy and deliciously crispy: I love that dish. Their Spanish octopus a la plancha served with gigantic beans (they have now replaced them with potatoes) is also a great way to start a meal: the octopus is perfectly cooked, nicely charred. I love the fact that they serve it with chorizo, giving to the dish a surf and turf take, the red pepper aioli adding another layer to the whole thing.

Crispy cauliflower nuggets at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Crispy cauliflower nuggets at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Octopus a la plancha at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Octopus a la plancha at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

If you are vegetarian, they married cauliflower with pasta, two ingredients often used when proposing vegetarian entrees on a menu. This time, it was cauliflower truffle fusilli Calabresi, made with truffle cream, wild mushrooms, parmesan and breadcrumbs. This was a good dish, the pasta being well cooked and the truffle cream not overpowering the entire dish. This pasta dish was better than my Crab Pasta where the spaghetti alla chitarra were unfortunately slightly overcooked. Too bad, because their was a nice amount of crab and the light sauce made with lemon and Calabrian chili was quite nice.

Cauliflower truffle fusilli Calabresi at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Crab pasta at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Their chopped salad could also be an option if you are vegetarian, not boring at all as composed of charred corn, feta, Persian cucumbers, hearts of palm, Kalamata olives, radishes, avocado, red onion and oregano vinaigrette.

Chopped salad at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Chopped salad at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

But my favorite main at Martha’s is their steak frites! Their skirt steak was perfectly cooked medium-rare and was juicy, with no need to dip it in their chimichuri sauce, although I admit that I did not ignore their Maitre D' butter…It was served with some salad and fries. This is a must have as well.

Steak frites at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Steak frites at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

They offer two desserts: the chocolate budino that is my favorite, topped with pistachio crumble, berries, and mascarpone cream, and their tiramisu that has cognac in it. The tiramisu was good but a bit too dense for my taste.

Chocolate budino at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Tiramisu at Martha's in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, we liked our meal at Martha’s. My ideal meal would be the cauliflower nuggets, the steak frites and the chocolate budino. What would be yours?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Martha’s - 25 12th St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

I passed in front of the Scandinavia house so many times and never noticed that there is a restaurant tucked inside: Bjork Cafe proposes Nordic cuisine in a minimalist decor. We found it on Opentable.com, as we were looking for a place to go on a Friday evening few weeks ago.

Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

We started off our meal with ordering some drinks. I admit that I was a bit disappointed that they did not have any aquavit, and so, I settled with elderflower margarita that was quite fruity, while Jodi ordered their elderflower spritzer.

Elderflower margarita at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Elderflower spritzer at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

The menu is definitely interesting with classics such as herring or gravlax, open face sandwiches aka Smörrebröd, potato wrap, soups or salads. I had to try their fish and shellfish bisque that was quite good, hearty, with lots of fish and shellfish in it. The bisque was not as thick as I expected, but it was pretty good.

Fish and shellfish bisque at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Fish and shellfish bisque at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

I then tried their Smörgåsbord Plate that is a sampler of various dishes they serve there: it was composed of gravlax, mustard sauce, pickled herring, herb herring, Jansson's Temptation, red beet salad, three meatballs, lingonberries, pickled cucumber and boiled potatoes. I thought it was ok, the gravlax being a bit disappointing as very sweet, smothered by a sauce that was too sweet. And I admit that the meatballs were not as good as…Ikea!

Smorgasbord plate at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Smorgasbord plate at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

They have a few vegetarian dishes and Jodi ordered their roasted cauliflower that was served with wild mushrooms, pickled onion, roasted sweet pepper coulis and Coleman mustard sauce. The presentation was exciting with all these colors, and the taste was quite nice, better than my dish for sure…

Roasted cauliflower at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Roasted cauliflower at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

For dessert, we tried the crispy Swedish waffle that, although small, was really good: thin, slightly crispy, it did not even need the jam or whipped cream. This is a must have. The second dessert was the Marängsviss, a traditional Swedish dessert made with made with meringue, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, ice cream, bananas and blackberries. This was also a nice dessert, a bit decadent, with a beautiful presentation. The meringue was the highlight of the dish, the sweetness being tamed by the whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. The fruits are a good justification to indulge such dessert.

Crispy Swedish waffle at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Marangsviss at Bjork Cafe in the Scandinavia House in NYC

Overall, this was interesting to try, but I admit that this is not the kind of place I would die to go back to.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

Bjork Cafe - 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016

 

Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel

This is not the first time we went for afternoon tea at The Plaza Hotel. We wanted to go during the Holidays, but it was impossible to get a reservation. So we went 2 weeks ago, on a Saturday at 11am. As we arrived, they asked if we had any dietary restrictions and gave Jodi a vegetarian menu that was not on their website. On my side, the only choice I had was the Holiday Signature Tea that they probably continue to serve in January. If you never had Afternoon Tea, it is composed of scones, small sandwiches and pastries, accompanied by some tea (I am sure that if you do not like tea, they can accommodate coffee). They bring everything at the same time, on a beautiful and classy stand, so you can decide what to eat first: if you want to start with dessert, you can! Here is what we had:

Vegetarian Afternoon Tea:

Vegetarian afternoon tea at The Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel in NYC

The Vegetarian Afternoon Tea was composed of the following:

Sandwiches:

• Avocado sandwich with pico de Gallo and tomato bread,

• English cucumber sandwich with mint labneh, lemon zest, tarragon, pickled mustard seeds on a white bread,

• Tomato Sesame basket with basil ricotta and sun-dried tomatoes,

• Stuffed mini bell peppers with mixed roasted vegetables,

• Hummus pita toast with chickpeas and red pepper sauce.

Holiday Signature Afternoon Tea:

Holiday Signature afternoon tea at The Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel

The Holiday Signature Afternoon Tea was composed of:

Sandwiches:

• Applewood smoked pearl salmon with dill creme fraiche, pickled shallot, trout caviar on a brioche.

• English cucumber sandwich with mint labneh, lemon zest, tarragon, pickled mustard seeds on a white bread,

• Fire roasted BBQ chicken with scallion cream cheese and spinach on a tomato bread,

• Roast beef sandwich with wasabi dijonnaise, crispy shallot on white bread,

• Foie gras macaronwith truffle kewpie mayo and caviar.

Scones:

We both got the same scones: one sweet (cranberry spiced scone) and one savory (truffle scone) that were served with Devonshire cream, Kalamansi curd and house made cranberry and orange preserves. I should mention that if you want more scones, they would bring some more to you.

Pastries:

Similar to the scones, we got the same selection of pastries that were:

• Dual sesame choux with black sesame diplomate cream and sesame praline,

• Oolong Tea cheesecake with a oolong graham cracker,

• Mont Blanc cassis with a Swiss vanilla meringue, blackcurrant confit and chestnut cream,

• Pecan pie with almond streusel and vanilla creme fraiche,

• Mango coconut tart with mango confit, coconut streusel, mascarpone coconut Chantilly, passion fruit gel and lime zest.

Tea:

They have a nice selection of teas. I went for the Sencha Superior, a green tea “made from the predominant Yabukita cultivar of Shizuoka, Japan and offers the classic, bitter sweet and balanced umami flavor that represents the original Japanese Sencha taste profile” as they describe it, while Jodi got the Big Ben, an English Breakfast blend of black tea from Yunnan, China and Assam, India.

Sencha Superior tea at The Palm Court in The Plaza Hotel

This was great experience, even if I did not like everything. The desserts were a bit too out there for me, especially the black sesame choux and pecan pie that were a bit disappointing, but I loved the rest, even some of the few bites from the vegetarian menu that I tried. It does not seem a lot of food, but, as you drink tea at the same time, you get full ultimately. Again, this is about the experience, from the place itself that is definitely meant for it, the service that is on point, to the ambiance that is not stuffy at all, with many tables celebrating birthdays (the only difference is that the staff will not sing there, but you would get a little birthday crown). It is a bit pricey ($155 for the Holiday Signature and $110 for the vegetarian menu), but it is worth it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel - 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019

 

Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Since it opened in August last year, Toast x Bowl has been one of our favorite places for lunch on the weekend. This casual place offers an interesting menu composed of sandwiches and rice dishes with an asian flair. I admit that I am not sure which one I prefer, both being quite tasty.

The sandwiches are a take on classic egg sandwich. Made with a deliciously buttery toasted brioche, they top the moist scrambled eggs with whatever you will order. My favorite is the bulgogi bliss that is made of toasted brioche, lettuce, red cabbage, grilled onion, mozzarella, scrambled egg, garlic mayo and thinly sliced of marinated beef. But I admit that the sweet and spicy chicken, with its Thai chili mayo and jalapeño, that top the grilled chicken is quite good too, the scrambled eggs bringing down a bit the heat.

Bulgogi bliss sandwich at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Sweet and spicy chicken sandwich at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Their bowls are also superb: tasty and colorful, they are very appetizing. The combinations are similar to the sandwiches, with bulgogi, chicken, shrimp or tofu sitting on white rice and accompanied by fresh vegetables. The bulgogi one is, again, my favorite, followed by chicken and then shrimp. But I admit that the tofu is really good, not bland and slightly crispy. If you prefer a salad, once again, you can get the same choices, like the avocado salad that was quite nice.

Shrimp rice bowl at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Sweet and spicy chicken rice bowl at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Tofu rice bowl at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Bulgogi bowl at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Avocado salad at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

For sides, their crunchy shrimp are deliciously crispy and not greasy, served with a chili yuzu dip, and so are the sweet potato fries that are quite classic.

Shrimpy crunch at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

To accompany your meal, you can get they homemade drinks, their best seller being the Caribbean fizz that is made with mango juice, apple juice, blue curaçao, lemon, mint and seltzer. Or the strawberry fizz that is also quite refreshing.

Caribbean fizz at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Strawberry fizz at Toast x Bowl in Hoboken, NJ

Toast x Bowl is a great spot: the food is very good and tasty, with a menu that just makes you want to go back. They also propose desserts, but we did not yet try them. Maybe the next 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!

Toast x Bowl - 328 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 

Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

When Le Relais de Venise closed during Covid and remained closed until recently, I thought that was it. But then, I started to see people posting about this place. It did not take me long to go there, excited, knowing that the reopening triggered long lines, probably thanks to social media, a phenomenon that happened few years ago with Skirt Steak, a copycat from Chef Laurent Tourondel.

We went when I was off from work and, as they were supposed to open at 12pm, we showed up at 11:40am: there was already a line and I noticed that they already started to seat people before the official opening. I should mention that this is a new location, close to the old one and with the same feel. Although French, it refers to Venice. The reason stems from its story: it all started in 1959, when a winemaker named Paul Gineste de Saurs decided to buy an Italian restaurant in Paris with the sole intention to use it to showcase the wine produced by his family, Château de Saurs, a wine still proposed at the restaurant. As he had no experience in the restaurant business, he decided to keep the Venetian decor, add L'entrecote (strip steak) to the name and propose a single item menu: steak frites. Instead of serving the steak with the traditional butter with parsley, he served it with what is still today a secret sauce but that some say have liver and butter in it. Sixty five years later, the concept is still very popular, with few copycats that did not surpass the original idea.

Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

The menu is simple: for $34.95, you get an overdressed salad with walnut and two servings of steak and fries, smothered by that secret sauce. For the meat, the temperature can only be rare, medium or well done. I usually go for medium-rare, and rare is too rare, medium is fine for me. The thin slices of sirloin were tender and juicy, and the fries, some of the best I had, the sauce not being a stranger to my excitement.

Salad with walnuts at Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

Steak frites at Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

If you are vegetarian, they propose a cheese plate and, like previous times I went there, they were unable to tell me what cheeses were served…Nevertheless, the cheeses were of quality and not like some cheap ones that you sometimes get at restaurants. It came with fries and we asked that they do not put the sauce on it as it is not vegetarian.

Cheese plate at Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

Cheese plate at Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

To make it fair as it is also $34.95, the vegetarian meal is coming with dessert and you can pick anything on their menu. So we went with their best seller: Le Vacherin du Relais that is a succession of meringue and ice cream (vanilla and praline), topped with whipped cream and smothered with a dark chocolate sauce. This is a must have, especially if you like meringue. Not overly sweet, the ice cream balances well the sweetness of the perfectly made meringue and chocolate sauce that I would not be surprised is homemade.

Vacherin at Le Relais de Venise L'entrecôte in NYC

The place was madness, totally packed, and you could see that the kitchen was a bit challenged. As we left, there was still a long line in front of the restaurant, with hungry diners ready to eat what I consider one of the best steak frites in the city.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Relais de Venise - 155 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022