I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/25

Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Meaning “to eat with warmth and joy”, Dagg is not your classic Thai restaurant: with its full bar, cocktails could be a reason, besides good food though, that people go there. After dining there a few times,I discovered that it opened in 2018 and I could not believe that it did not get more attention like Thai Diner and Thai Villa among others did. Let’s start with cocktails ($18): creative, I loved their banana in pajamas that is made with whisky infused with sun-dried bananas, but my favorite was the It’s cornnn! That is a mix of coconut rum, condensed milk, corn, nixta corn liquor and corn flakes. Nicely sweet, smooth, I loved the …

Banana in pyjamas at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

It’s cornnn! cocktail at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Kiwi breeze at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Thai tea at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Their food, is not to be ignored as well and if you go for lunch, check their lunch special that has classic dishes like the massaman or Penang curry, where you can add chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, tofu, vegetables or duck, with a price that varies from $17 to $32 depending on the choice of protein. For that price, you also get an appetizer, small size than the real dish for sure. So, for instance, I got the duck Penang curry for $32 and chose the chive dumplings that we once had for dinner, over a salad or vegetable roll (I tried those for dinner and they were nicely made: crispy on the outside, with a shell that was not too thick, and delightfully greasy, with a nice filling made of glass noodles, carrots, taro and cabbage - $13). The dumplings, filled with chive and corn are not to be missed: tasty, the shell is nicely sticky. The duck Penang was delicious: the duck was perfectly cooked, and the curry was a bit spicy, but not too spicy, knowing that I asked them not to make it too spicy anyway. Proposing duck as a protein is kind of elevating the dish and I was glad I tried it. But it was not the first duck dish I tried there. Their Chu Chee Duck ($34) is another good dish showcasing duck. It is served with broccolini and beet, bathed in a coconut curry sauce made with chu chee sauce that is a type of red curry. Another duck well cooked, bathed in a sauce that had a nice kick. The chicken massaman ($20), that I often get in Thai restaurants was also quite delicious, a good dish if you like more classic ones, proposed with the same protein I mentioned before, or pad see ew ($17 with tofu) and a superb fried rice ($17 with tofu).

Chive dumplings at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Chu chee duck at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Massaman curry at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Duck penang curry at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Tofu fried rice at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Tofu pad see ew at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Dessert is not to be missed, my favorite being the mango sticky rice ($16). They also have a taro puff ($17) that is a roti in a shape of an empanada, filled with mashed taro and accompanied with a coconut ice cream. It was good, but I thought that it was a bit pricey and they could have thrown a second roti as it was quite small.

Mango sticky rice at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Taro puff at Dagg, Thai Restaurant in NYC

Nevertheless, the food a Dagg is really good and I highly recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dagg - 10 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/18/25

Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

I love Turkish cuisine and so, I was very excited to try Omar’s Mediterranean Cuisine in Midtown Manhattan. This is a casual place where you can either order at the counter and go, or sit in their large dining room. They do not have a very extensive menu, but, you get classics like their lamb Adana in a pita ($20.95) that was really good. The price is a bit high, but you get lots of lamb in it at least and their fluffy pita is something we enjoyed in every single meal we had there, whether with hummus, babaganouj or their eggplant Turkish salad. Now, one of the things I always look forward to in such restaurant is their combo. For non-vegetarian, there is the Omar’s signature ($27.95), that is composed of chicken shawarma, chicken kebab, lamb kaufta, rice and eggplant salad. I loved every piece of meat on the plate, each being perfectly cooked and flavorful, with the perfect amount of spices to not overpower anything. They also have a vegetarian combo ($23.95) that is composed of falafel, tabouli, hummus and babaganouj. Their falafels were quite good, crispy on the outside and moist inside, perfectly paired with a delicious hummus that you can tell is homemade and a babaganouj was was delightfully smokey. This is a good option, better than the Greek salad ($13.95) that was just ok, missing a bit of feta. With my meal, I got some Ayran, a Turkish yogurt drink. Prices are a bit high, but at least it is good and you leave satisfied, a must have being their lamb Adana sandwich. Know that, with your meal, you will also get some baklava that was flakey, crunchy, and buttery. A delight!

Enjoy (I did)!

Pita at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Hummus at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Falafel plate at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Greek salad at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Signature combo at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Lamb adana sandwich at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Baklava at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

Ayran at Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

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Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine - 20 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/25

Fluffy Fluffy Go in the Newport Mall, Jersey City

We recently discovered Fluffy, Fluffy, Go! In the Newport mall. Located in the third floor food court, this place is a little gem. Of course, the main thing to try there is their fluffy pancakes, a Japanese version where egg whites are beaten to give this thick and airy consistency to an all American dish. So, I went for their combo ($27.50) that came with their signature pancake, a sandwich (I chose the tamago ham sando), and a drink ( had a Thai iced tea). The pancake was very good, light and fluffy, covered in cream and fruits. It did not even need any maple syrup. The sando was a nice take on the classic egg and ham sandwich, although I wished there was a bit more mayo as it was a bit dry. We also tried their crispy tofu rice bowl ($9.50): the tofu was really good, nicely crispy as advertised, but the bowl itself could have had more veggies in it.
Overall, it was good, the star of the show, as expected, being the pancake. I would definitely go back to try others as they have many kinds, like an Oreo cookie one for instance, that I am sure is delicious. So, yes, this is worth a trip to the mall…

Enjoy (I did)!

Crispy tofu rice bowl at Fluffy Fluffy Go in the Newport Mall, Jersey City

Tamago and ham sand oat Fluffy Fluffy Go in the Newport Mall, Jersey City

Signature pancake at Fluffy Fluffy Go in the Newport Mall, Jersey City

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Fluffy Fluffy Go - 30 Mall Dr W VC12B -3rd floor, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 8/11/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/11/25

Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

I have always been a fan of Chef David Burke: his food is creative and exciting, sometimes whimsical, so every meal is something to remember. So, when I walked passed Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke, I made a point to try it. We went for brunch twice, the second time being at the time of restaurant week, where, for $30, you get an appetizer and an entree. The menu had plenty I wanted to try, but I settled for the lobster dumplings that were sitting on a delicious tomato-miso dressing. Elegant, the shell was perfectly made, covering the deliciously cooked lobster. Then, although I was originally going for the cheeseburger, I noticed their pastrami sandwich that was recently ranked number one among five of New York City most famous pastrami sandwiches in a blind tasting. The competition was not that easy as it included Sarge’s, Katz’s, 2nd Avenue Deli and Carnegie Deli. The house pastrami is smoked overnight and served with a toasted seedless rye bread, and spicy brown mustard. When it came to the table, I could not not notice the fattiness of the meat and the burnt sides, the fat dripping a bit as I took the sandwich in my hand. The first bite was divine: the crispiness of the toasted bread comes first, followed by the rich, savory and smokey flavor of the pastrami. The fact that the bread was toasted not only gave some texture, but it helped keeping all of this together. A must have if you can go before the end of restaurant week on August 17 2025. And I should mention their fries that were nicely crispy, some of the best I had. There are also delicious dishes besides that, like the tomato soup au gratin ($15) that is a take on grilled cheese and tomato soup, onion soup style or the Asian fried chicken and waffle ($25) that is composed of a perfectly made waffle topped with an Asian glazed fried chicken that is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. For a lighter meal, you can get the simple green salad ($16) with spring greens, cucumber, tomato and chickpeas, or the burrata and tomato salad ($22) that also comes we prosciutto that we ditched as it was for Jodi (they could have charged a bit less considering this). We also tried their Asian glazed Brussels sprouts ($8), that were a good side to complement our meal. I should mention their mocktails that are as creative as their food: I liked their phony Negroni ($12) that was deliciously bitter, and their Java mockhattan ($13) that is a perfect drink if you love coffee. I cannot talk about dessert because, unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the portions being what they are and the richness of some of the dishes made me stop there, but I am sure I will go back just to try some of what they are proposing there as it looks really good! So, as you can guess, I highly recommend this place.

Java Mokhattan at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Simple green salad at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Burrata salad at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Lobster dumplings at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Brussels sprouts at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Tomato soup au gratin at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Asian fried chicken and waffle at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Pastrami sandwioch at Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke in NYC

Enjoy (I did)!

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Park Avenue Kitchen by David Burke - 514 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/25

Recipe: Baked Brie

President Cheese sent me a Brie to come up with a recipe and of course baked Brie is what comes immediately to mind. I mean Brie with a good bread is fine, but I often get Brie bites or baked Brie in restaurants, so, why not make my own? It is an easy recipe that will make for a great appetizer and takes less than 30 minutes to make.

Preheat the oven at 400 F
Put the Brie in a skillet and make some incisions with a knife on the top crust. so it is easier to dip a piece of bread ion it.
Pour a bit of olive oil on top.
Add small tomatoes on the side and top them with slices of bread (I used a baguette).
Pour olive oil over the Brie, bread and tomatoes. With a brush, spread the olive oil evenly.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. The Brie should be soft and creamy at that point.
To reheat, bake for 10 minutes at 325 F

Et voila!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/25

Spring Cafe Aspen in NYC, NY

We wanted to have a light lunch on a weekend and ended up at Spring Cafe Aspen, located few blocks from Washington Square Park. Their menu, that they describe as « healthy conscious » is vegetarian, with lots of vegan options, all prepared using organic produce and no refined sugars or processed food. Considering the dinners I had that week, I thought it would be a good idea…

To start, Jodi got a lemonade (homemade « lemon-aid » for $5), while I opted for an iced coffee ($6), a good way to cool off on a hot day. We then both got their fruit bowl ($6), and Jodi just ordered some avocado ($5 for half) and some tofu ($6). On my side, I went for the yogurt parfait with granola and blueberries ($12), with almond butter ($1.50). All was fine, there was nothing extravagant in what we ate, their menu for brunch being different from the regular lunch. Going back would not make sense for this, but maybe their lunch would be worth trying.

Lemonade at Spring Cafe Aspen in NYC, NY

Iced coffee at Spring Cafe Aspen in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I still did)!

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Spring Cafe Aspen - 14 West 4th St, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/25 I Just Want To Eat! 8/4/25

Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

There used to be a time where, if you wanted to eat a cheap meal, you would go to a Thai restaurant. And then, the past few years have seen the emergence of fancier Thai places, not only serving different dishes than the traditional curries or noodles, but also proposing interesting cocktails. Chalong in Hell’s Kitchen is one of them. Meaning “celebration” in English, Chalong is also a southern district of Phuket in Thailand. The restaurant, that opened in 2023, serves Southern Thai food. There, Chef Nate Limwong crafted a menu that is quite unique, centered on seafood and with limited vegetarian options. The waitress warned us that the food marked with one pepper is mild, but, with two peppers, it would be very spicy, the kitchen not accepting any alteration as they want the diner to experience the true flavor of their dish. I admit that I was a bit disappointed because they had a crab dish I really wanted to try, but I learned in the past that when someone tells you it is very spicy, it is very spicy. So, I decided to try their massaman duck confit ($32), thinking that it is an interesting fusion of Thai and French classics. Served with rice, this was delicious and an elevated version of one of my favorite dishes: the small boiled potatoes were skin on, there were picked shallots and fried onions that accompanied a perfectly made duck confit. A must have. Jodi got the Mushroom J ($22), a dish composed of sautéed mushrooms in a vegan garlic sauce, also served with rice. This was really good: there was a good variety of mushroom and the entire dish had that delicious smokey taste. I should mention that we shared an appetizer: at first, we ordered the potato puff sticks, but, as they ran out, we went for the only other vegetarian choice, the Phuket Pak Mor ($15), that are dumplings filled with peanuts, sweet radish and black pepper. They were superb, very peanuty, with a sticky shell.

Phuket pak mor dumplings at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

Mushroom J at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

Duck confit massaman at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

They have interesting cocktails, but I was more feeling like having a Thai iced tea ($9), while Jodi opted for their chai-lychee ($13) that is Thai tea with lychee purée. It was good, but I thought the two flavors competed a bit against each other.

Thai iced tea at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

Chai lychee at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

For dessert, we had their mango sticky rice ($16), that is my favorite Thai dessert. And it was good: the mango was perfectly ripe and the sticky rice well soaked in coconut milk. A must have.
This was a nice meal and a nice find. I like Chalong, but admit that their rule that is to not accommodate level of spiciness is a bit much and limits what people who cannot eat too spicy can order. I understand that they want people to experience the real flavor, but I am sure that making these dishes mild is not going to kill their flavor.

Mango sticky rice at Chalong, Thai restaurant in NYC, NY

Enjoy (I did)!
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Chalong - 749 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/25

Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Located few steps from the Empire State Building, Royal 35 Steakhouse is one of these little gems that no one is talking about (think Peter Luger and Gallagher’s for instance). Well, this is probably a mistake. This place that has been around for some time is worth knowing. I recently went with a friend and we shared an amazing porterhouse ($75 per person). I love the porterhouse experience: even if you do not order it, you cannot resist looking up as you hear the sizzling sound passing by. But, when it comes to your table, it is even better! The meat was perfectly cooked medium rare, with a nice char. It was tender and juicy, making every bite divine. I loved it with or without a perfectly made béarnaise sauce (my favorite sauce with steak) or a pepper sauce. For sides, I tried their Mac and cheese ($19) that were good, but could have been creamier, and their creamed spinach ($19) that I liked despite the fact that I am not the biggest fan of spinach…
But of course, you cannot go to a steakhouse without try their sizzling Canadian bacon ($10 per slice) and their crab cake ($29) that were both pretty good.

Crab cake at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Sizzling Canadian bacon at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Creamed spinach at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Mac and cheese at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Porterhouse at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

I should mention that I had a whisky, a Glenfiddich 15 years ($26). This was not my first choice, but my third! Each time I was selecting one, they did not have it! And I should mention that they offered a sweet wine at the end.

Glenfiddich 15 years at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Sweet wine at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Dessert was a good way to end this already delicious meal and the key lime pie is often what I order in steakhouses. Theirs was pretty good, not too sweet and not too tart.

Key lime pie at Royal 35 Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Overall, I had a very good meal at Royal 35 Steakhouse: this underrated place is worth the visit.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Royal 35 Steakhouse - 1 E 35th St, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 7/28/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/28/25

Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop in NYC, NY

I finally made it to Mary O’s Irish Soda Bread shop in the East Village, where Mary O’Halloran serves only soda bread in two shapes: loaf or as a unit with butter and a homemade blackberry jam. This place has been on my instagram feed for some time, but I admit that I was waiting a bit before going because of the wait (they open at 7am until sold out that is their everyday life considering how popular this place is). So, we decided to go the weekend of the 4th of July, thinking that people will be away. Good move! They do not have that many tables and we got lucky to be able to sit on their bench outside. We just went for their soda bread with jam and butter ($6). They surely put lots of butter and a nice amount of jam that complemented perfectly the delicious soda bread that was warm and slightly crispy on the outside. After the first bite, I understood why people love this place: it was so good, and we realized that it is better to eat it right away as the bottom of the bread starts to get soggy after several minutes. In fact, we even heard someone saying that she bought them to go one time and they were not that good because of that same reason. So, is it worth the wait? Yes, definitely. That soda bread is amazing and I highly recommend it. Know that they also have e tea and coffee but it can be overpriced (the double espresso was $10!).

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop - 93 1/2 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/25

Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken,. NJ

Opened beginning of July where Park Avenue Cafe used to be, the Mile Square Cafe caught a lot of attention as it is the new venture of the Chefs behind O’Bagel, a Hoboken favorite who won the United States of Bagel competition. So I was curious to try Mile Square Cafe. It is a nice large space, bright and spacious, with a counter to place orders in the back and a bit of the view of the busy kitchen that does not seem to slow down. Coffee and tea are fairly standard, but what makes all the difference is their food that definitely stands out. They make focaccia in various ways: sweet with their surprising Cin-caccia ($8.95), a successful take on cinnamon roll, and savory with their za’atar focaccia sandwich ($10.95) that is refreshing on a summer day with its labneh, cucumber and mint. Health conscious dinners can also go with their grain bowl ($16.95) made with quinoa, mixed greens, herbed red cabbage slaw, tomato-cucumber salad and pistachios (we asked without), where you can add some avocado falafel that were deliciously crispy on the outside and moist inside, thanks to the avocado that added a nice fattiness to it. For something heavier, the birria grilled cheese is superb: made with braised beef and Oaxaca mozzarella blend, it comes with a spiced consommé that is so good you cannot stop dipping in it. I just wished the bread was thinner. Still, a must have.

Cin-caccia at Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken,. NJ

Za’atar focaccia at Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken,. NJ

Grain bowl with avocado falafel at Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken,. NJ

Talking about must have, you cannot go there and not get their zeppole ($4.95 for 3) that are made to order and come in a paper bag, quite hot, but so good that you do not care that you are burning your fingers while picking them up.

Zeppole at Mile Square Cafe in Hoboken,. NJ

The food at Mile Square Cafe is quite good with definitely few items I would go back for (zeppole first of course, then the grilled cheese and anything focaccia), even if I thought this was on the pricey side.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mile Square Cafe - 746 Park Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/21/25

Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

At Mustard Indian Eatery, he partnered with chefs Sharmeen Rahman and Lisha Khondokar who both have their own culinary expertise: Chef Sharmeen for chutneys, relishes, and curries, like Mughlai Gosht, a classic lamb dish with cashew, bay leaf, and cardamom that I tried. Creamy, comforting, the lamb was perfectly cooked. Chef Lisha who crafts vegan and vegetarian dishes like the Baigan Bharta in the vegan section, that is made with smoked eggplant, garlic, tomato and coriander, reminding me a bit of a spiced version of eggplant shakshuka. Both dishes were delicious with their …

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

When I got invited to try Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, I was quite excited for few reasons: a trip to Harlem, that has an exciting food scene, my appreciation for Indian food that I discovered in my many trips to India and the fact that I knew a bit about the owner Ruhel Amin from my visit to Mumbai Masala Indian Grill, also in Harlem, few years ago.

Ruhel Amin at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Muglai gosht at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Butter naan at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Baigan Bartha at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Luchi at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Appetizers are not to ignored and I loved their samosa chaat, that are crushed samosa covered with yogurt and chutneys, having this crunchy, savory and sweet combination that makes this dish a must have, and, most surprisingly, the potato egg chop, that is a street food I have never seen on a menu, a sort of vegetarian scotch egg, where spiced mashed potatoes cover an egg, before being dipped in breadcrumbs and fried. Superb!

Samosa chaat at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Potato egg chop at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

This place is BYOB, so we got a Lychee juice, as well as a mango lassi to accompany our meal. Of course, we could not leave without trying their desserts. The Gulab Jamun are always a crowd pleaser, and theirs was delicious, but I was curious to try the sandesh, a famous sweet from Calcutta, made with milk and sugar. I loved it!

Lychee juice at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Mango lassi at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Gulab jamun at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Sandesh at Mustard Indian Eatery in Harlem, NYC

Overall, we had a great time at Mustard Indian Eatery: the food there is really good, with unique dishes. Of course, if you prefer the classic samosa, butter chicken or dal makhni, they have it, and I am sure it is as good as what we tried. This is definitely worth a visit!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mustard Indian Eatery - 2113 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/25

Coletta, Vegan and Kosher restaurant in NYC, NY

Vegan food comes a long way. Having to eat in a vegan restaurant used to be, for non-vegetarians and even vegetarian, a bit of a chore, where you would go only if you had to. Then, it was often rebranded as “plant based”, giving it a cool and planet friendly image. Of course, there were exceptions, like Elizabeth’s Gone Raw in DC (now simply called Elizabeth’s), Vedge in Philadelphia, or the controversial change at Eleven Madison Park in New York. Of course, exceptions were not just reserved to fine dining: places like Double-Zero proposed some quite delicious food. So, I was very open to try Coletta, a vegan and kosher restaurant located few blocks from Madison Square Park. Why? The menu looked quite creative. And I was not disappointed. To the point that we went back. If you did not know it is vegan, you would not be able to tell by simply looking at the menu or even by eating some of their dishes. Take for instance the crispy calamari ($20). When it comes to the table, you really think they are the real deal, but in fact it is king oyster mushroom rings. The texture is slightly tougher than calamari and it has a more earthy taste, but it is a good vegan rendition of a classic appetizer. More surprising is the steak. Ground meat like the impossible is easier to make than a steak, because, for the latter, you need to recreate the texture of a piece of meat, that is not that simple. At Coletta, they are serving the steak ($38) from Chunk Food, an Israeli company that recreated a vegan version of steak with cultured soy protein (defatted soy flour, soy protein isolate, wheat gluten), coconut oil, natural flavors, beet juice concentrate (for color), salt, Iron, and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). The texture is incredible and, if you did not know, you may think it is real meat. Maybe not the best piece of steak you had, but something pretty tasty and close to the real deal.

More classic, they have pasta, my favorite being the eggplant lasagna ($27) over the cacio e Pepe ($26) that, although good, definitely had a nutty taste, and for sure the pizza (we had the wild mushroom truffle - $26) that had a delicious crust. They all have cheese, but vegan cheese, and it was pretty well made, to the point that I would go back for the pizza and lasagna for sure.

Wild mushroom truffle pizza at Coletta in NYC, NY

With our meals, we has some cocktails: for me, Sage & Spice, made with butter sage fat washed bourbon, amaro, pomegranate, apple and lemon ($20), or the sangria Bianca, made with Pinot Grigio, elderflower, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon and angostura bitters ($18); Kiss & tell for Jodi, a mocktail made with lychee, raspberry and lemon ($12).

Kiss & tell mocktail at Coletta in NYC, NY

Sage & Spice cocktail at Coletta in NYC, NY

Dessert was even more surprising with their olive oil cake ($16) that looked like a piece of art. It was made with a citrus vanilla sponge, housemade mascarpone, rosemary whipped cream and lemon zest. A must have!

Our dinners at Coletta were great: the food there is good, with surprising dishes that make you forget that you are in a vegan restaurant. I would go back for sure, to try some other dishes, or even get the same ones as they were pretty good. I highly recommend this place, even if you are not vegan or vegetarian.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Coletta - 365 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 7/14/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/14/25

New Coffee Shop in Hoboken: Blue Angel Cafe & Bakery

Replacing the regretted Hidden Grounds, Blue Angel Cafe & Bakery, a Korean coffee shop, opened a couple of weeks ago and we had to check that out. Of course, I cannot not comment about the fact that there are many coffee shops in Hoboken, but at least, this one is a bit different, competing a bit with Paris Baguette, but, fortunately located far from it, Paris Baguette being uptown and Blue Angel downtown, close to the path. The place is nice, very bright, with a large table in the middle of the room where lots of unusual products are displayed, and, next to the cashier, refrigerated items such as cakes and macaroons. So, let me start with the latter: they have a good variety of macarons, some good like the chocolate, sprinkles or birthday cake, but I found the vanilla one to have a weird taste. For $2.95 a pop, that is a bit pricey, I would expect something better. In the same refrigerated section, we tried their 3 star choco mousse (milk, dark and white) that was very good, the perfect treat if you love chocolate. We also tried their pecan stick ($5.50) that was...sticky for sure, but a nice option with a coffee or tea to balance a bit the sweetness, and their custard bun ($3.25) that was a bit on the heavy side, with a filling that was a bit too thick for my taste. With all that, we tried their chai ($4.75) that was really not good and the caramel macchiato ($5.25) that was too sweet.

Custard bun at Blue Angel in Hoboken, NJ

3 star chocolate mousse at Blue Angel in Hoboken, NJ

Sprinkles macaroni at Blue Angel in Hoboken, NJ

Raspberry macaron at Blue Angel in Hoboken, NJ

Birthday cake macaron at Blue Angel in Hoboken, NJ

So, overall, I was a bit disappointed. I'll give it some time before coming back...

Enjoy (…)!

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Blue Angel Cafe & Bakery - 79 Hudson St 1st Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/10/25

Shmoné, modern Israeli cuisine with a Michelin star

I was really excited to go to Shmoné, a modern Israeli restaurant that was awarded a Michelin star for the first time. Knowing that the chef, Eyal Shani, is also behind Miznon, that I love, we knew we would be there for a treat. We went on a holiday and made sure we had a reservation as this place can be packed. And it did fill up pretty quickly, in the dining room, where we were seated, and at the counter, where diners could observe the kitchen do their magic. The menu is definitely intriguing as, it showcases a lot of very creative dishes. For instance, the crab shawarma ($44) on tomato foam was something I had to try and I was not disappointed : it had the texture of shawarma, being caramelized and slightly crispy, but you could still taste the crab. Or the grilled cheese and gazpacho ($20) that is presented elegantly, the sandwich sitting on a martini glass. Everything there was good: the cold tomato soup was refreshing and the grilled cheese crispy on the outside and cheesey inside. I could also not resist the Hokkaido scallop topped with caviar ($26) that was a good bite to start the meal in a decadent way. They have many vegetarian dishes besides the grilled cheese, and so, Jodi settled for the grilled king oyster mushroom in shiitake broth ($26) that was comforting, the mushroom having a nice meaty bite.

Grilled cheese and gazpacho at Shmoné in NYC, NY

Hokkaido scallop with caviar at Shmoné in NYC, NY

King oyster mushroom at Shmoné in NYC, NY

For dessert, we went for their corn tres leches ($19) that was out of this world: instead of the classic sponge, it was a corn sponge, that was perfectly soaked and to complete the theme, they topped it with corn flakes for an additional crunch. A must have!

With our meal, Jodi had a mocktail called Jasmine Nohito ($15) that was a take on mojito, made with jasmine syrup, lime, muddled mint and club soda. On my side, went for the Southern Sting cocktail ($23), that was made with bourbon, hot honey, lemon juice and Laphroaig wash.

Although the portions were small because the principle is to share dishes, we left full and satisfied. The food at Shmoné was really appetizing and delicious, and, even if it is on the pricey side, this is a great place for dinner that I recommend. And by the way, I should mention that Shmone means 8 in Hebrew, the name referring to the location, 8th street.

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Shmoné - 61 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/7/25

Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Taking its name from a famous poet, Rumi Turkish Grill has been serving hungry crowds in Jersey City for several years, offering an extensive menu that makes you want to order everything. We went on a Saturday evening and the place was busy, but not to the point of overwhelming the kitchen as the food came quickly, or the wait staff who was welcoming and checked on us regularly. I love Turkish cuisine and was really looking forward to try few dishes. Here is what we had:…

Sigara Borek: these crispy Turkish cheese rolls are a must have.

Sigara borek at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Eggplant in tomato sauce: I love it with their homemade bread (ekmek) that, by the way, you can buy to go as they have a small grocery section. This dish reminded me of eggplant shashouka.

Eggplant in tomato sauce at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Ekmek at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Then came the entrees that were quite generous portions. Jodi got their veggie kebab, while I had Tandi or slow cooked lamb. The veggies were good, but for sure my favorite was the lamb that was really good and is a perfect dish if you love lamb.

Tandir at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Veggie kebab at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

With my meal, I got their homemade Ayran drink (yogurt drink), and then, with dessert, I got a Turkish coffee and Jodi a Turkish tea. Now, let's talk about dessert. My favorite that I am always looking for in Turkish restaurants is kunafeh, that is made with kadaifi (shredded phyllo), cheese and pistachio, in a sweet syrup. At Rumi, they make it and this was fantastic: crunchy on the outside, gooey in the inside, and delightfully sweet, but not overly. This is a must have!

Ayran at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Turkish coffee at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Turkish tea at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Kunafeh at Rumi Turkish Grill in Jersey City

Overall, we had a great meal at Rumi Turkish Grill: the food is great and not to be missed. The his is the type of restaurant I would love to have in my neighborhood!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Rumi - 67 Greene St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/3/25

Shogun Omakase in NYC, NY

Omakase seems to be a trend nowadays in New York. I wonder if it is the element of surprise of such meal that makes people love it. If you never had omakase before, know that this Japanese word means “I leave the details to you” and so, you will just sit at the counter and let the chef serve you whatever comes to mind. So, if you do not like raw fish or any seafood, this is …

I went with a friend of mine to Shogun Omakase, a Japanese restaurant located few steps from Grand Central Terminal and tried their 88 Omakase ($88 pp) that comes with one appetizer, ten pieces of nigiri, one monaka, one hand roll and a dessert. Here is what I had:

The appetizer was an oyster with fish roe:

Oyster with fish roe at Shogun Omakase in NYC, NY

Sea bream (madai):

Scallop (hotate):

Stripped jack (shima aji):

Stripped jack at Shogun Omakase in NYC, NY

Squid:

Yellowtail (kanpachi):

Sable fish or black cod (Gindara):

Salmon:

Fatty tuna (O-toro):

Sea Urchin:

Eel roll topped with foie gras:

Monaka (spicy tuna, roe and avocado in a waffer cup):

Tuna roll:

Sake:

Dessert was surprising though, the tiramisu being quite good, but not really what I would have expected to finish the meal. Maybe if they would have made it with matcha, it would have made sense…But overall, this close to an hour experience was delicious. This is definitely a place to know.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Shogun Omakase - 295 Madison Ave #101G, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/25 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/25

Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

Located at the entrance of the Newport mall in Jersey City, Buongiorno Gelateria serves an interesting selection of handmade gelato, like the Dubai chocolate that everyone seems to have right now in ice cream or coffee (theirs is pretty good but I am not sure I would get a full scoop), Rafaello chocolates, Kit Kat, etc. In fact, I got their Two Towers that was made with Kit Kat, Nutella and chocolate, a quite decadent mix that had some pieces of Kit Kat in it that added some crunchiness to it. I also tried their hazelnut and chocolate that is similar to Nutella, a bit more flavorful than their nocciola that is simply hazelnut, that I also enjoyed mixed with coffee when I got their affogato ($10.50 also covered with pistachio for an added nuttiness and crunch). Jodi got their coconut and dark chocolate gelato that were also pretty good, as well as their sorbet, with cantaloup and raspberry, that was really good. The only flavor I did not like was the Lord of the Rings that is made with Kinder Bueno: the Kinder Bueno lost its crunch and was like trying to eat cardboard…

TWo towers and hazelnut gelato at Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

Coconut and Belgian chocolate gelato at Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

Affogato at Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

Cantaloupe and raspberry sorbet at Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

Lord of the rings and hazelnut chocolate sorbet at Buongiorno Gelateria in Jersey City

We only tried their small cup where you get two scoops that are quite big and cost $9.25, the staff trying to convince us to try the medium size. The ice cream is topped with a small cone or a waffle heart, various toppings and drizzled with either chocolate sauce or white chocolate sauce.

A bit pricey, although in the range of most of the gelato places nowadays, the quality is good, the ice cream creamy, and the flavors are interesting. However, I am surprised they do not propose only one scoop as one may not want two much ice cream and would then pass instead of wasting money. Just my view…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Buongiorno Gelateria - 525 Washington Blvd Floor 1, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/25 I Just Want To Eat! 6/30/25

Product Review: President's Whipped Cream

I have known the brand President for its cheese and butter, the last one I tried being the Leerdammer, their brie and camembert being often in my parents’ fridge when I was a kid. So, when they proposed to send me their gourmet whipped cream to try, I was a bit excited. With the summer, it is perfect with ice cream, but I also enjoy it on pies, fruits, on top of my double espresso or a hot cocoa, and even just like that, without anything else. I mean, Chantilly was something I had often when I was a kid, but store bought whipped cream was a bit too light compared to a homemade version. So, when I tried the two products President sent me, I was pleasantly surprised: one is Madagascar vanilla and the other one is extra creamy. They were apparently developed based on traditional French techniques and won the gold medal from the American Masters of Taste. Both are really good, with the extra creamy being a bit creamier than the other one, but, my favorite is the Madagascar vanilla that has hints of vanilla that does not taste artificial. They are both thicker and tastier than what I usually find at the supermarket.

You can find President products at ACME, CVS, Shop Rite, Key Food and Target Fresh among a few, so, if you see it, try it! You will not regret it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/25 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/25

What is the concept of "Bouillon" that is coming back in France?

The concept of bouillon was created by a French butcher, Pierre-Louis Duval, in 1855 who got the idea to serve simple and affordable meals in the bustling Les Halles, in the center of Paris, with broth (bouillon in French) being the base component. In the past few years, this concept saw a revival with many restaurants flourishing across France. There, classic French dishes are served, not all in broth, with a very simple presentation and still good prices. For instance, the popular oeuf-mayonnaise that is similar to deviled eggs is simply a cooked egg split in half, with a dollop of mayo on it. When we were in Grenoble, we tried the one in the city center called Bouillon Archers and got the following dishes:

Escargots (12 for 12 Eur):

Escargots at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Lentils salad (3 Eur):

Lentils salad at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Paris mushrooms in garlic and vinegar (4 Eur):

Paris mushrooms in garlic and vinegar at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Deviled eggs (3 Eur):

Deviled eggs at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Top round with butter and fries (13:50 Eur):

Top round and fries at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Side of fries (4 Eur):

Fries at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Baba au rum (6:50 Eur):

Baba au rum at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Chocolate mousse (4 Eur):

Chocolate mousse at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Shot of green chartreuse (6 Eur):

Green chartreuse at Bouillon Archers in Grenoble, France

Everything was quite good. Simple but good and having all this food for less than 60 Eur is pretty incredible. The only negative was maybe the escargots that. were small and it was a bit difficult to extract the snail from the shell (I enjoyed dipping the bread in the butter sauce by the way…). The biggest surprise, besides the price, was how good the steak was: it was tender, juicy and perfectly cooked medium-rare. Also, all the desserts are homemade and the baba was delicious, well soaked in rum, with homemade whipped cream, and the chocolate mousse was also perfectly made, not overly dense and slightly airy. Both are must have. I love this concept of simple classic dishes and hope it will come to the US at some point, French restaurants being definitely on the pricey side.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Bouillon Archers - 2 Rue Dr Bally, 38000 Grenoble, France

I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 6/24/25

My Trip to Porto: Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

On our first night in Porto, we were looking for a place to eat when we found Auge, a restaurant adjacent to a rooftop on the 19th floor of the Porto Palacio Hotel. We first had a drink, a mocktail called “wild berry” (8 Eur) for Jodi that was made with mixed berries, mint, lime and club soda, and a Port wine for me, a Tawny Douro 20 yr. (20 Eur). Quite relaxing, the view of Porto was beautiful, especially as we started to see the sun go down. I also had a Portuguese whisky at dinner as I was curious to try one from there, a Woodwork, Malte e Grao Portuguese Nº1 (25 Eur) that was just ok for me.

Tawny Douro 20 yr port wine at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Wild berry mocktail at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Woodwork, Malte e Grao Portuguese Nº1 in Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

They first brought us an amuse but I admit that I do not recall what it was besides the fact that it was non-vegetarian. But I can still remember the bread with Portuguese olive oil and caramelized onion butter they brought us: that bread was so good that we could not stop eating it and declined when they proposed to bring more because otherwise we would not be able to eat our meal. I started with an appetizer: vieiras braseadas or braised scallops (18 Eur). It was served with textured cauliflower, toasted pine nuts, sparkling wine and oyster sauce. Quite good, although I wish the scallops were charred on top to give a bit of texture. For her main, Jodi got their açorda trufada de cogumelos florestais or truffled forest mushroom açorda with egg yolk and crispy leeks (26 Eur). It had a great aroma but was unfortunately a bit mushy. However, my entree was really good: it was carabineiro e peixe galo em arroz caldoso de crustáceos, malagueta e salircônia or
john dory and carabineiro in rice with crustaceans, chilli and salirconia aka sea asparagus (42 Eur). The fish and rice were perfectly cooked and I found this dish very comforting. For dessert, we went for the pao de lo, a traditional Portuguese sponge cake that was served with vanilla ice cream, lime caviar and olive oil from the Douro region (14 Eur). This was a delicious way to end the meal: the sponge cake was really good, not dry at all, and all the ingredients in the dish came together to give a nice texture and refreshing flavor. A must have.

Amuse at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Braised scallops at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Bread at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Truffled forrest mushrooms at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

John Dory at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Pao de lo at Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel

Overall, it was an ok meal, a bit pricey as you can expect in a hotel restaurant where you will also pay for the view. Would I go back? yes, for a drink only.

Enjoy (…)!

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Auge in the Porto Palácio Hotel - Av. da Boavista, 4100-130 Porto, Portugal