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…

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…

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:…

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 …

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…

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…

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 …

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 …

Another recommendation from our tuk tuk tour guide was the Mercado do Bolhao in the city center. This is an impressive open market, with its two floors, the first one full of tourists avid to eat seafood (especially oysters and shrimp), charcuterie, cheese, bread, pasta, you name it, and the second floor being a bit more quieter, with restaurants serving Portuguese specialties (one of them was vegetarian) and that seem to cater also to tourists. We just stopped by for sweets, having a …

As we were on our way to see the striking Sao Bento railway station (impressive blue tile work describing the history of Portugal), we stumbled upon the Time Out Market that is a little over a year old. I admit that I had no idea there was one there and so we had to check it out. Opened daily from 10am to 12pm, it overlooks the train station. Inviting, with lots of light thanks to its floor to ceiling windows, there is also a large outside area where diners can enjoy the good weather. Most of the restaurants were serving Portuguese cuisine, a heaven for seafood lovers, with few…

I finally tried a real Pastéis de Nata during my visit in Porto. I have tried this Portuguese egg tart in the past in Chinese restaurants, at Paris Baguette and even Trader’s Joe who proposed for a limited time frozen ones that were pretty good, but never what I would qualify as “real” ones. I mean, the closest were probably in Chinese restaurants as this delicacy was introduced in Asia, especially Macao as it was a Portuguese colony. Still, the one at Manteigaria, a store that is all around Porto where…

During a tour of the city in Tuk Tuk, our guide mentioned the Majestic Cafe, saying that the interior is worth a visit there. So, we decided to check it out. Originally opened in the 1920s, this cafe that went through ups and downs, is a popular spot for tourists who want to admire the beautiful art nouveau decor, with its curved wooden frames, large mirrors and stunning decorative details, or want to see one of the locations where…

Looking for a random place to eat in downtown Porto, we ended up at Raiz, a place that seem small, but little did we know they had additional dining rooms on the three upstairs floors. We decided to try it for two reasons: availability of vegetarian options that were sometimes very limited, and the fact that it offers lots of small dishes so we could try a bunch. Here is what we had:…

There are several dishes that are must have in Portugal and the Francesinha is surely one of them. What I did not know is that this decadent sandwich that originated in Porto at the beginning of the 1950s is inspired from the French Croque Monsieur. The story says that Daniel David de Silva, upon returning from France and Belgium tried to adapt the French sandwich to Portuguese palate. The result is a heart attack on a plate: …

Porto has quite a few Michelin Star restaurants and Elemento is surely one to visit. Located few steps from the Cathedral, the front of the restaurant does not give much hints about what is going on there, except the mention of “Fire Dining” under its name, that I am sure people read quickly as “Fine Dining”. No, it is the word “fire” that is written, and entering the restaurant, your nose cannot miss the smell of burning wood. The explanation is simple: everything is cooked with…

Angelina Bakery, not to confuse with Angelina Paris (the place near Bryant Park with the amazing hot cocoa), is an homage by Tony Park, who is of Korean descent but was raised by an Italian family, to his grandmother Giuliana, who taught him cooking and baking, and his daughter Angelina who gave her name to the quickly expanding franchise. The location in Times Square opened a couple of months ago and is much better than the one they have on 8th avenue: brighter, more inviting and surely a perfect spot for business. There are really two things I love there: their …

Dining at Lilli’s Victorian is like jumping into another dimension, but not just any, the one from Harry Potter. The entire decor reflects the magical world of the famous wizard: from the Hogwarts train station, to Dobby, to the giant Hagrid in the back who overlooks the dining room, as if he wanted to make sure all diners would behave. Lilli’s Victorian has an interesting menu, but what we wanted to try is their afternoon tea. For $50, you get assorted mini sweets (tier 1), scones with jam and pastries (tier 2) and sandwiches (tier 3). Two things happened when we ordered. First they told us that we need to choose two out of four sandwiches, a choice that is not indicated on their menu. That was fine, Jodi choosing …

When one of the descendants of writer Victor Hugo (« Les Misérables ») joins forces with the Serafina group, you get one of my favorite French restaurants in the city: Brasserie Cognac. It is in 2008 that Chef Florian Hugo started this adventure that continues years later with the same quality and superb French flare. Brunch or dinner are equally delicious, with dishes like the soufflé that are perfect any time of the day. Their cheese soufflé ($34) is definitely recommended: fluffy and cheesy, with a delicious golden crust. It is a rare dish to see on a menu, besides of course, the classic chocolate soufflé, and they execute it perfectly, reminding me a bit my childhood in France when my mom was making it for dinner, being less successful when it comes to the way the soufflé rises. For a smaller size appetizer, the…

The 2nd Avenue Deli is one of these iconic Jewish delicatessen that do not age. The food is simply comforting, large portions being the main characteristic of such place. However, I love the fact that they offer a half sandwich and soup, even if for $28.95, it is a bit pricey. For soups, I prefer the matzo ball over the borscht, the latter not being the best I ever had (Veselka it is). The matzo ball is light, bathed in a delicious chicken broth with pasta and carrots. A…

We passed in front of Shoo Loong Kan in Jersey City so many times, with sometimes people waiting outside for a table, that we decided to give it a try on a windy and somewhat cold Saturday. We showed up at 12pm and got a table right away. Good, considering that 30 minutes later, the place was full. Meaning “Little Dragon Ridge”, It is named after a location in the Shapingba district of Chongqing, known for its mountainous terrain that looks like a dragon. Originating from the…