When we visited Zaytinya in Washington DC back in 2018, I ended up regretting that it did not have an outpost in New York City. Well, this gap has been closed since July last year and it seems that this place does not stop getting full with a crowd eager to try some Mediterranean cuisine served mainly tapas style.
We were looking for a treat when we stumbled upon Yuki’s Bakery and Coffee near the Monroe Center, an area where we do not venture to that often but that seems to have some interesting places. Opened mid-2021 by Yuki (Aviva) Levinson, this Israeli influenced bakery is a great find. Small, it has some exciting offerings like the rugelach and halva rugelach that are superb. Rugelach are…
After Maison Kayser closed during Covid and sold its stores to Le Pain Quotidien, I was wondering what would come to the Bryant Park location, construction soon starting there for another bakery. Several months later, in December 2022, Heritage Grand Bakery opened. We went few times and I admit that it is a great addition for bread, viennoiseries (croissants, pains au chocolate, etc) and cakes. Their croissants and chocolate croissants (pains au chocolat) are good, but not as buttery and flakey as some others like Chocopain, and I did not like their pistachio honey croissant as there was…
Few weeks ago, we decided to try 30 Burgers, a new place that opened few steps from the path. I am always excited to try a burger place, hoping that they will serve an awesome cheeseburger, especially considering the name. The place, that used to be Pico Taco, has been fully repurposed, with less tables. So when you sit, you cannot not miss the photo of Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis from Top Gun, staring at you while you take your first bite…
I was never a big fan of burritos for the simple reason that I always thought that restaurants were packing them with rice, ordering mine without each time I could. The only exception is probably Orale Mexican Kitchen with its truffle ribeye burrito that is out of this world. Then, end of 2018, we went to San Diego and had lunch at Lucha Libre. The sole purpose of the visit was to try a Cali Burrito and since then, I have been obsessed with this! So, as we were looking for a place for dinner in Journal Square,…
I discovered Sushi by Bou back in 2019 when they opened a location in Jersey City. Sushi by Bou is serving Omakase that is a trend in the dining scene, literally meaning “I leave it up to you”, allowing the Chef to decide what will be served as sushi. I could bring a guest to a media invite and, as Jodi is vegetarian, I went with a friend who I thought loves fish, but, little I knew that he only eats cooked fish, not raw and he did not know what he was coming for…No problem: Chef Andy took care of him whenever possible; when not, lucky for me, I ended up with two pieces of fish!
Going to a 3-Michelin Star restaurant is always an experience: you dress up a bit and get ready to spend an unusual amount of time at the table, ending with a need for a walk after that, every dish being an appeal to all your senses, making you stop for a minute before digging in and tasting what you came for. Maison Pic in Valence, France is no exception! Anne-Sophie Pic is not well known in the US, unless probably if you are in the food industry or maybe if you watched The Final Table on Netflix, the most famous woman French Chef who has 3 Michelin stars being Dominique Crenn, the only female Chef with such award for her restaurant in San Francisco, L’Atelier Crenn.
I passed in front of Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina few times in the morning and was not sure what to expect from it and thought that going on a Friday before a major Holiday would be a good idea, expecting less people and so, less noise. I was wrong: as we entered the restaurant to inquire for a table, we ended up in a dark setting with a noise level that was definitely not for me…Fortunately, they had tables outside and the weather was still adequate for an outdoor dinner.
I guess that after Chef Dominique Ansel created the buzz with his Cronut that he was selling with limited quantity, causing very long lines around the block of his bakery in Soho, this has proved to be a good recipe for success. Is it what The Hive in Hoboken tried to do with its cinnamon rolls? Maybe. What is sure is that they have been quite successful! These cinnamon rolls are only available on the weekend, with a limited number, selling within one hour apparently. So we had to try it to understand what the craze was about. I admit that the first time we did not realize it was only offered on the weekend and went on…
Last Saturday, I was invited at Kings of Kobe in the Newport Mall, in Jersey City. Let’s first clarify one thing: there is no Kobe beef there, but rather American Wagyu, served in different forms: steaks, burgers, hot dogs or chili. Located across from the Cheesecake Factory, Kings of Kobe is fairly big with, on one side, a large bar, and the other, the dining room where upbeat music is played while you are waiting for your meal.
It’s been a while since I wanted to try Dim Sum Sam in Times Square. We went a couple of times and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. From outside, you would think that it is a small place, but it has a large dining room in the back as well as upstairs. This is more a casual spot where you will order at the counter and they will assign a number. You then go to the dining room, passing the kitchen with peking ducks hanging, where a TV will…
Shokudo opened in March 2020, right at the beginning of Covid 19, that is quite courageous, although I am sure that they wanted to open earlier, but getting permits from the city can be challenging and they not have had any other choice. So, why having another Japanese restaurant in Hoboken, Robongi, Yeung II, Sushi Lounge or Illuzion already feeding the Hobokenites hungry for sushi?
I discovered Aux Merveilleux de Fred many years ago, thanks to my friends Caroline and Arnaud, at a time where this fantastic shop was not yet in New York. The merveilleux is a cake that originated in Belgium, that consist of two light meringues that sandwich some whipped cream and are also covered in whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. Chef Frédéric Vaucamps, Fred, decided to…
We like to explore the area near Grove Street in Jersey City as there are plenty of interesting places to try there. So, that time, we decided to go for a brunch to South House, a huge place that serves a Southern fare.
We sat in their front area that had this nostalgic atmosphere, with all these paintings on the wall and the wooden doors that gave me the impression I was going into a farmhouse, especially after seeing the milk cans that are used for tables.
It’s been a while since I wanted to try Jollibee, a Filipino chain with over 1,500 stores worldwide that opened its first location in the United States in Daly City, California on June 13th, 1998, and then opened a large spot in Times Square in August 2022. But it is not in Times Square that I tried it, but in Jersey City, a quieter location for sure!
From what I understand, Sophra means in Turkish, a table set to eating a meal. And this was a nice meal that we had at Sophra Grill Midtown East. This casual place is a hidden gem that offers a wide range of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes.
I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.
