There are quite a lot of nice greek restaurants in the city and Kellari Taverna is one of my favorites. We went there over the past few months, for dinner and brunch, although the latter feels more like lunch considering the dishes we got that are not at all brunch-like. Located few steps from Times Square, Kellari Taverna is identical to many places of that sort: big, with high ceilings, the center piece of the dining room being their fresh fish that is something I …
I discovered South House two years ago, wanting to explore a bit what Jersey City had to offer, but the experience was not that great and I never went back. Until I received an email from one of the managers, Mike, who found the post and was saddened to read the experience I had, asking us if we would be willing to come back as him, and another manager, Taylor, made some changes to the place. So, we decided to give it another try, with the idea to order the same dishes as last time, allowing us to compare the experience. I like the feel of the place with its exposed bricks, wood beams and stairs, furniture and old photos or paintings, that make me think strangely about a place you would find in areas like …
No, Long Island dumplings is not in Long Island but in Manhattan, right next to the 23rd street path station and a couple of blocks from Union Square. This small joint with few tables and a counter to sit, is a nod to their restaurant in Long Island called Long Island Pekin. As you arrive, you order your food on the self-service kiosk, that is sometimes less stressful if you are not sure what to order, allowing you to go back and forth on the menu. So, as their names has “dumplings” in it, we decided to try a bunch, neglecting any soup, noodles or curry dishes they also have on their menu. Of course, I could…
Canto, a popular eatery in the West Village, just opened an outpost on the Upper West Side and I was invited to try their brunch in the new space. There, I briefly met with Chef and owner Djamel Omari who crafted an original menu that combines American brunch classics with Italian and Mediterranean dishes…
Skinner’s Loft in Jersey City is a true find. Located few steps from the Grove St Path station, this unassuming place boasts a terrific menu. We went there over a period of time, trying their brunch and dinner, always leaving satisfied after a nice meal. For brunch, I loved their croque monsieur, where the black forrest ham was smothered with a nice amount of gruyere cheese, before being squeezed between two slices of country bread and again topped with cheese. There is never …
We were visiting our friends Pam and Pat in Florida, when, as we were talking about lunch, Pat mentioned the brisket sandwich at Buc-ee’s, a chain of gas stations that started in Texas, with an outpost in Daytona Beach. The close to an hour drive, with potentially traffic, was not a deterrent, my love for BBQ being more powerful than the idea of potentially sitting in traffic the day before Thanksgiving…As we drove, I was already checking Buc-ee’s website, trying to figure out what I should…
Meaning “River”, Aragvi refers to a river in Georgia that is popular for kayaking and rafting. It is also a Georgian restaurant located Midtown East, where Chef Mikheil brings authentic recipes to our plates. Of course, when going to Aragvi, you have to try their khachapuri, Georgian cheese bread made famous on instagram, especially the Adjaruli that is an open-faced khachapuri from the Adjara region topped with a cheese blend that will be mixed with butter and egg yolk in a photogenic twirl. But they …
I should start this post by saying that Wolfgang Steakhouse is not the restaurant of Wolfgang Puck who opened Cut by Wolfgang Puck many years ago. No, this place takes its name from its owner, Wolfgang Zwiener who was a former headwaiter at Peter Luger. There is definitely a big step between working the dining room and the kitchen, and they successfully made it, but I admit that not all locations are equal. However, the one in Times Square is great: the food is consistent and their steak superb. The porterhouse, that comes sizzling or the tomahawk cajun style are both
It’s been a while since we went to Fushimi, my first visit being not in Times Square but Brooklyn. So, when they invited us for their first year anniversary, I was quite excited. Located few steps from Port Authority, this place is gorgeous: as you enter, you are right away amazed by their rendition of the Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto that is famous for its thousands of red torii gates that create a trail we visited few years back during a memorable trip to Japan. The rest of the…
Few months ago, we decided to go to Memphis with the most memorable moments being the visit of the Lorraine Hotel and National Civil Rights museum, as well as Graceland, the songs from the Elvis Presley being part of my childhood. We stayed at the Caption by Hyatt Beale Street and had no idea that a not so little gem was standing next to the hotel: Amanda Gene’s, a restaurant where Chef Nate Henssler crafted a contemporary menu inspired by global cuisines. That place, that used...
I admit that I had no idea what the Dubai chocolate was until I read an article in the news about the frenzy that has taken over Tik Tok. So, I decided to try it and went to The Nut Factory who was promoting it. At close to $19 a bar, this chocolate bar, made with Belgian chocolate, pistachio and kataifi is pricey, but so good! Kataifi is used in many desserts, my favorite one being kunefe or knafeh...
If you have never been to The Tin Building, you are truly missing an incredible experience. This food market from Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is superb, with my favorite spot being their bakery that proposes delicious items, similar to what you would get in France. My favorite is their brioche au sucre that is better eaten there, as the sugar will fall in the bag on the way home, and their...
Shalom Japan in Williamsburg is an interesting find: there, married chefs and owners Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi created a menu that merges their two cultures, Jewish and Japanese, giving a nice twist to both cultures, the most representative dish being their matzoh ball soup ramen that is made of chicken broth, wood ear mushrooms, scallions, nori, soy marinated egg (it is an add on), Mandel for some crunch and matzoh ball (I asked for a second one). This is a ...
Few weeks ago, Amzchef Appliances sent me this slow juicer and asked me to review it,. So, I played a bit with it, making orange juice, pineapple and apple juice, pomegranate and apple juice,...
It is a tall juicer for sure, and, when I unboxed it, my first action was to make sure that it fits under my kitchen cabinets, that was not a problem at all. The size is because...
Years ago, I have tried the lobster pasta at Avra Estiatorio, a fancy Greek restaurant with several locations in New York and since then, I have been drooling just thinking about it. The last time I went there, they were offering the dish for market price at $75 a pound, plus $20 for the pasta that I thought was a bit pushing the envelop as they could have thrown the pasta for free for anyone ordering lobster! Anyway, we went there on a weekend for lunch and I saw it on the menu for $64. So, I decided...
Smashed burgers are becoming a trend. It’s true that because of the way they are cooked, the taste will be a bit more pronounced, especially when the edges are slightly crispy and caramelized. So, after 7th Street Burger (my least favorite) and Dipped’n Smashed (my top burger joint) opened, I thought that would be it. This was until Mashed Burgers opened a couple of weeks ago, replacing Bareburger that suddenly closed. So we had to try it. The decor at Mashed is colorful and you cannot...
Don’t be mistaken by its name: Byrd is not specialized in cooking volatiles many ways, but is a nod to the American polar explorer, Richard Byrd, with their logo being the Arctic Tern. Yes, it is Byrd with a “y”. Located off the beaten path, it is one of those fancy restaurants in Hoboken that are worth a little walk. There, Chefs and owners Ehren and Nadine Ryan serve an array of interesting dishes to share or not, starting with snacks like their bbq'd Matake mushroom skewers smothered in soy caramel glaze...
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.
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…
