Reputed for its aphrodisiac qualities, chocolate has become a Valentine’s Day favorite. So, when Li-Lac Chocolates, the oldest chocolate house in the city (it was founded in 1923) sent me some samples, I was really excited. I discovered Li-Lac many years ago, during a walking food tour, and have been a fan since then. Why? Their chocolates, made with high quality ingredients, in small batches, using classic techniques that are very good. Even the simplest ones, that are dark or milk chocolate are …

I was looking forward to trying Cafe Cartel, a coffee shop serving Colombian specialties that opened in the Summer 2024. I admit that, like the infamous drug lords, they have hidden their location as the address at 1100 Adams is a bit misleading, the entrance being on Jefferson street. Small, with two huge drip coffee makers for their cold brew, a logo representing a bandit with its face covered and a “Made in Medellin” neon sign that fan of the TV series Narcos will appreciate, it serves classic breakfast items like croissant, chocolate croissant or cinnamon rolls. We tried the latter as…

Before I talk about the food, let’s talk about their cocktails as they also have a lounge. They have quite a good selection of coktails, classic or not. I admit that I could not resist trying their Rare and Allocated cocktail called the R&A Tipperary for the simple reason that it had green Chartreuse in it. Well balanced, I was glad that this divine French liquor was not lost in the mix of High n’ wicked Aeneas Coffey Irish whiskey, Vermouth, aromatic bitters and orange oil. They also had seasonal cocktails, served hot, considering the freezing temperatures we recently had. So, I tried The Dori, that is…

A couple of months ago, following my try out of their juicer, Amzchef Appliances sent me this commercial grade induction cooktop (model: HL-PC4) that I tried many times and I am now even using in replacement of my stove, as I find it better. Why? It heats up faster and I can better control the temperature. This was my first experience with an induction cooktop and I just knew that not all pans can be used with it. That was it! I learned that in induction cooking, heat builds up directly in the pan by electromagnetic vibrations: that is why you need magnetic cookware and performing a magnet test will…

We passed in front of Blue Eyes so many times, always thinking that we should go there for brunch or dinner, that we finally decided to stop by few months ago. Little we knew that this place will have to make major changes as the Hoboken City Council approved a new lease agreement last Summer, that forces the restaurant, that sits in Sinatra Park, to comply with the Green Acres program. This program requires Blue Eyes to expand its menu to offer a much broader choice to visitors, with apparently only grab and go (no more table service, with all seats available to all visitors), and more affordable prices. I admit that I was shocked when I heard this, thinking that they could have probably find a middle ground between the Green Acres Program and the survival of a successful business. So, what …

We recently discovered Shabu House in Fort Lee, thanks to Jodi’s cousin Jessica and her husband Michael. This All You Can Eat (AYCE) place, specialized in Shabu Shabu, a Japanese hot pot dish where thinly-sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in broth, is phenomenal: for dinner, you can go for the buffet with no meat for $27.99 or for the buffet with unlimited meat for $37.99 (they have the same options for lunch, a bit cheaper). If you choose the former, you can add some meat from $6.99 to $8.99 depending on the cut, but it seems a no brainer to go for the buffet with meat as, for $10, you get unlimited portions of either brisket, top blade, ribeye roll, beef pastrami, pork shoulder, pork belly, chicken, lamb or tripe. However, it has …

Weehawken, and in a way, North Hoboken, recently welcomed a new restaurant: Drift, where Chef Bryan Noury crafted a modern American menu that is quite exciting. Well, not fully American as the menu includes sushi that I did not try, always thinking that, if I wanted sushi, I may as well just go to a Japanese restaurant…This place is huge, with a dining area that is stunning, dominated by a 100-feet rectangular bar, brass walls and leather banquettes that give a warm and elegant feel to the place. I should mention their 4,000 feet outdoor space that overlooks the New York skyline and will be awesome when the weather will be warmer. We went a few times there and, for the most part, we…

We currently went to Grand Brasserie, a French restaurant that opened few months ago in Grand Central Terminal. This place boasts more than 400 seats in a unique decor representing a French brasserie and offers a menu with many classics. This place has four main areas: the dining room split between regular seats and high tops, the green room and the bar in the back, that is louder and with dimmer lights as this is a more confined space.

When we went to Kame with our friends Jen and Gary, there was a sense of deja vue and, thanks to the blog, I realized that we went to that place years ago, but not in that location on 8th avenue: their previous location on Park Avenue. At the time, I found it good, thinking that I would go back, but with all the restaurants to try in New York, I never did, until now. Yes, not only did we go with our friends, but we went back few weeks later to try some of their appetizers, that I always find they are ignored in this type of places, people focusing mainly on ramen. Don’t get me wrong: their…

I was recently invited at Brick Lane in Jersey City, not to try their phaal, but to try their buffet. If you do not know what the phaal is, you are missing out on the spiciest curry in the world. Made with Carolina reaper, ghost pepper and habenero, among seven different kinds of chili, whomever prepares it needs to wear a gas mask because of the fumes that would burn your eyes as this dish is made. Only few people are able to eat it, approximately 5%, after signing a release, and, if you do within 30 minutes, you get a free beer and your name on the “Phall of fame”, with a certificate. I admit that I only …

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…

When I think about Leerdammer, I remember the commercial when I was a kid growing up in France: “Leerdammer ou j’fais un malheur” that you could translate loosely by “Leerdammer or I am gonna get mad”. Created by two dutchmen in 1974, Cees Boterkooper and Bastiaan Baars, this…

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…