The Kitchen Table at The Modern in NYC Adjacent to The Moma, The Modern is probably the most underrated two Michelin stars restaurant in the City. I do not know why. Anyway, we were looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary when we saw that they offer a unique experience that any food enthusiast would appreciate: a table in the kitchen that gives you an inside look to what happens in the kitchen. I have been to Michelin star kitchens before, from Noma in Denmark to Maison Pic in France, without forgetting Eleven Madison Park, and have always been impressed by the calm and organization ..read more

Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ Replacing City of Saints, Koocheh Coffee, opened few weeks ago in Hoboken. In Persian architecture, a Kucheh or Koocheh is a narrow alley that suits well this small place for sure. At Koocheh coffee, you get classic offerings of a coffee place, but there are few additional choices that are worth trying: chai that you can see more and more on menus, that, even if made from a syrup, is quite good, and their turmeric latte that Koocheh’s owner, Babak Moghaddam, told me is made with turmeric imported from his native Iran. Turmeric drinks has a quite interesting taste ..read more

Italian family style restaurants always remind me when I brought my family who came from France for our wedding to Tony Di Napoli for a welcome dinner. We not only had fun with my family singing what I would just call classic French celebratory songs (I will not give more details but you can guess that there was some good ambiance in the restaurant), but the food was delicious (if you go, get the meatballs). So, I was looking forward to going to Carmine in Times Square. We were 7 people and had to wait just a bit for a table, the big restaurant being packed. Packed and loud, very loud, to the ..read more

Uncle Momo in Jersey CityUncle Momo in Jersey City We passed in front of Uncle Momo many times and decided to try that place for brunch on a Saturday. The result? We went back several times for lunch and dinner, the food being very good. We mostly tried their Lebanese dishes, some being served with their house made pita that is superb and is a must have (you can order it for $1), perfect with hummus or babaganouj. If you are vegetarian, they do have a falafel platter (these falafel are light and crispy), but my favorite is the Momo’s breakfast that is composed of two eggs over easy, served wi ..read more

Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn With its scallion pancake sandwiches, Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn, has been all over social media, people raving about the Taiwanese American sandwich fusion. So, I decided to try it. We went early right before Memorial Day, thinking that many people would be away. Wrong: the place was packed, we got lucky and found a seat inside. We ordered at the counter and it took a bit of time to get our food, the staff bringing it to you after identifying your order with the number they give you at the cashier that you place on your table. I got the mortadella egg sandwich, mor ..read more

Have you ever eaten in a disco, the music being so loud you can’t even hear what other people are saying? That is what I felt when I had dinner at Pink Taco in Times Square. They describe themselves as a “trendy eatery/bar with a rock 'n' roll vibe, serving Mexican fare, including tacos & margaritas”, that is for the most part correct, but the rock n’ roll part is more than a vibe. Good music, but so loud, that you just want to eat quickly and leave (at least that is how I felt). The thing is, the food took forever to come, and then came at once: house margarita, guacamole and chips (thes ..read more

Sala Astoria We were going to the Museum of the Moving Image in Long Island City, when we stumbled upon Sala Astoria a restaurant with a large tapas menu. Great place I have to say, with so many choices for vegetarians and non vegetarians. Of course the tortilla espanola is a must when having tapas and theirs is superb: moist with the egg very slightly runny, smothering the perfectly cooked potatoes and onions. Tortilla española at Sala Astoria Tortilla espanola at Sala Astoria Here are the other dishes we tried: Pan tumaca: a toasted rustic bread topped with fresh grated tomato, olive oil ..read more

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ When Morelia Gourmet Paletas opened in Hoboken, I was really excited! I love ice cream, so combined with whatever topping you can put on top, this is heaven. The ice cream at Morelia is simply delicious, made fresh everyday, and creamy. When you go there, you first pick your paleta from their large selection, that you can then dip and cover with the topping of your choice: dark chocolate, white chocolate, crunchy hazelnut, cookie butter for the dips and Oreo crumbs, peanuts, pistachio, almonds, M&M’s, rainbow sprinkles, Graham Crackers, toasted cocon ..read more

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ If you are looking for a place for breakfast or brunch that proposes insane dishes and milkshakes, Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold is the right place for you. As you enter, you get the sense that this will be a bit crazy, the decor, with its fully functional carousel and sign in the back, setting the tone. Sure, you can get plain pancakes, waffles or French toast, but, looking at the menu, you will be intrigued and probably want to order something decadent. To start, check out their milkshakes: you can get a classic vanilla or chocolate one, b ..read more

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ The Burger Temple in Weehawken is an interesting place: located in an old bank (you can see the vault in the back) and with a cool decor, it is not just serving burgers, but also Colombian dishes like arepas or empanadas. The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ We went there for the burgers that look fantastic on their electronic menu, to the point that I was not sure what to order. I finally went for the Bank burger, that is made with two beef patties, ch ..read more