* I'm Leslie, a foodie and wine afficianado based in New York, and here are my epicurean discoveries.
JADIS
I always tease my sister about hanging out in the Lower East Side whenever she’s in the city. It seems like she happens to be there the times she tells me stories of her outings with friends. Coincidentally when I called her that Saturday evening, she happened to be there. She asked me to meet up with her and friend, so I went. On that one rainy day in October, I came to encounter the gem that is Jadis.
After an hour and a half of traveling from Midtown East to the LES via subway and taxi due to the usual weekend transportation woes, I walked past the wine bar twice as my sister and friend watched me, confused, try to find the sign and entrance.
Once I arrived at Jadis, and immediately I taken by its charming and cozy ambiance. The bacon-wrapped scallops were enticing, and without hesitation we ordered it. From my own experience, meat, fish, cheese, and fruit wrapped in bacon will dazzle your taste buds, and make you believe that bacon is king. I feel that bacon possess the ability to transform ordinary tastes into the extraordinary. I exaggerate a bit.
Slightly hungrier than the rest, I tried the Quiche au Poulet. It could have had more of a kick to it in terms of the taste, and the texture could have been firmer. Overall, I thought it was pleasant dish.
To satisfy the last bit of hunger and close the meal, we ordered a Banana Chocolate Pudding, Creme Brulee, and a Chocolat Fondant; those were all the desserts on the menu that evening. We might have slightly overdone it with the desserts, but who wants to leave a void like that in one’s dining experience? Of the three, I thought the banana chocolate pudding was the best. The vanilla ice cream and strawberries were complemented the chunky consistency of the banana pudding ideally. The other two you can find them as standard selections on typical restaurant and cafe dessert menus. The creme brulee and chocolat fondant were delightful though there was nothing phenomenal about them.
Wine. How could I forget about thee? I spotted a familiar name on the wine list - Tempranillo. I’ve drank this kind before and was curious about the one Jadis featured. Taking the recommendation of our server, we chose the 2009 “Valderiz” Valderhermoso Tempranillo. This wine is similar to that from Rioja since it comes from the neighboring region of Ribero del Duero. That’s what the waiter/somm(?) told us. (It’s true!) It’s versatile; it did not overpower the flavors or interfere with taste the foods we ate. Tempranillo is a full-bodied wine that I find easy to drink. I’d enjoy drinking it on its own.
The atmosphere in the evening was boisterous and not the least bit rowdy. Area-wise, there was warm and dim lighting - a small, single candle illuminated each table and nook at the bar. I liked it. The only downside was the lack of available wait staff. Considering it was a Saturday evening, the place was packed, one bartender and three waiters, (one of the waiters also played host to entering guests) aren’t sufficient to keep things running smoothly and in a timely manner. Perhaps it was only that night that the service was sluggish, but that didn’t affect my mood negatively.
I’m already anticipating another visit to Jadis. Their wine list looked promising!
After that evening, I told my sister that her “favorite” NYC neighborhood left me with a good, lasting impression. She may have been somewhat amused.
Jadis
42 Rivington St. (bet. Eldridge & Forsyth)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-1675
13th December 2011
Notes: 32
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo1_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo2_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo3_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo4_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo5_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo6_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo7_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo8_1280.jpg)
![EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St. New York, NY 10014(212) 647-9196http://www.enjb.com](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lusecfjj4P1qzohtyo9_1280.jpg)
EN Japanese Brasserie [ENJB]
If you’re looking for relaxed Japanese dining in a spacious, modern and comforting atmosphere, then you must go to EN Japanese Brasserie, or ENJB. From my experience, a good amount of places in New York aren’t authentic Japanese or have done Japanese fusion wrong. It turns out that ENJB is a 100% authentic with a modern approach by Chef Abe Hiroki. It’s actually an izakaya which is a bar-restaurant that primarily serves light, small, tapas-style dishes for sharing. ENJB is more on the upscale side of izakaya dining.
My sister is a huge fan of this place. “It’s my favorite restaurant,” she always tells me. When her friends here ask her for a recommendation on where to eat in NY, ENJB is the one place she’ll tell them about. I’ve heard her rave about this restaurant for the longest time, so I decided to try it out when a friend of mine from LA came to town.
First dish - the wari-joyu tofu, served warm or chilled. We opted for the chilled. It’s one of the top tips on Foursquare and Yelp, so we had to try it. It also had its own little section on the corner, so it had to be one of the restaurant’s specialties. The tofu was so fresh. Extremely fresh. Not only is it made in-house, it was carefully prepared and served with a light sauce, something similar to soy sauce but much lighter in taste and color. A nice start to dinner as well a way to prep our palates.
Second dish - My friend selected the Saikyo Miso Black Cod. I believe seafood is a must at any Japanese restaurant unless it’s a yakitori/yakiniku place. It was an excellent choice. You’re able to taste to the delicate nature of the black cod with an even flavor of miso throughout. The cod wasn’t overcooked. I thought it was perfectly done!
Nigiri sushi - This wasn’t exactly a “dish” (more like a tasting) but my friend saw the nigiri-zushi selection and was enticed to have the Kuroge Washugyu which was the Black Angus NY Strip Steak, so I took the next choice, the Toro Salmon Aburi which was the Fatty Salmon. The softness, and tenderness of the succulent fatty salmon was like a bite of heaven. Melted right on the tongue, and I savored every moment of it. My friend ‘fell in love’ with the Black Angus NY Strip Steak nigiri-zushi. “Best piece of ‘meat’ sushi” he’s ever had.
Third dish - Chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard dish with seafood (usually) reminds me so much of the time I lived in Japan. My first encounter with this dish was when I was living in Nagoya. I went with a co-worker to a small, udon shop for lunch, and she ordered this for me, and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing that ENJB had Black Truffle Chawanmushi on their menu as one of their seasonal dishes, I knew my friend and I had to have it. ENJB’s chawanmushi was fluffy, airy, and very smooth. There was no seafood in it, mainly shrimp since I am highly allergic to it, so we were able to enjoy the full flavors of dashi, bonito and hint of truffle in this dish.
Fourth dish - Mochi Croquette. Anything with duck? Yes, please. Inside the croquette was Hudson Valley Duck and potato, and it was served in a savory, dashi broth. The consistency of mochi, and this goes for all of my mochi experiences, including sweet - mochi is sticky. When cooked in a broth or soup, I think it becomes even stickier. That’s just how rice is. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Very flavorful but where was the duck?
Fifth dish - Mmm, Berkshire pork belly is great. Here come’s the Kurobuta Kakuni - braised Berkshire pork belly in sansho miso, daikon radish, spinach with a hard-boiled egg. The pork was tender and soft; the miso completed a well-balanced blend of all the flavors of the daikon radish and spinach. The egg was a plus. Love eggs.
Dessert - Black Sesame Ice Cream. If this is on the dessert list, I’m having it. Everyone loves green tea ice cream (the boldness of the matcha flavor - a must), but I think I’m over it especially when black sesame appears. I love the taste of black sesame. It’s another level of sweetness that differs from that of red bean. It has a light, gritty texture.
There was a three for $18 sake tasting that night (from 6-8PM if I remember). I forgot to take photos of it. Ask for the waiter’s recommendation. Ours helped us out with the tastes we preferred. There were three shots. I remember two of the three we had, though not the names - one had hints of pear and was juicy, and the other was made with ocean water, and was slightly on the dry, salty side. The third was probably some other fruit, apple, perhaps? All very clean tasting, and not very strong. I thought the tasting was a good value. For those who are interested in sake or would like to get into it, I recommend trying the tasting. Also, there are bottles of sake, shochu, wine, beer and cocktails available.
Overall experience at ENJB - very, very good. The food, service, and ambiance were great. Our waiter was funny, helpful, and he gave us good, honest recommendations. It’s nice for a date or a group. It’s quite dark, and could be romantic. There’s a larger room that’s brighter and with communal tables from what I saw. You have an excellent view of the kitchen there with the chefs at work.
EN Japanese Brasserie
435 Hudson Street @ Leroy St.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 647-9196
http://www.enjb.com
TARTINERY NOLITA
I’ve always wanted to try Tartinery after passing by it with a friend early this year in the late spring. The clean, and elegant appearance lured me as did the appealing menu, and it being French. However, I forgot the name of this place! I only found out about it again from another friend’s foursquare check-in, and it clicked - this was the place!
Tartinery NoLita is a modern take on the traditional bistro. It’s focus is on the tartine, a gourmet, open-faced sandwich on thin, delicately toasted bread. One of their breads, the Poilane country bread, hails from the famous St. Germain-des-Prés boulangerie in Paris. Oh, and this bread is flown daily from the bakery in Paris to New York. Oh, très special, non?
I came for brunch on Saturday, late September - my apologies for the delayed post!
After flipping through photos from fellow Yelp reviewers, I decided on the Jamon Purée tartine. The Jamon Purée is cooked ham, Brie cheese and dijon mustard. I chose to have it on the Poilane country bread.
How was it?
My taste buds were dancing with delight! It was absolutely divine. The tartine was perfectly done, and the flavors were very well-balanced.
I didn’t know whether to use my hands to eat the tartine or dining utensils, so……I went for the dining utensils. The neater(?) way. I was confused. I probably should have asked them what to do.
Followed my meal with a cappuccino and dessert (why, it has to be complete!) I skimmed the menu for a unique dessert then asked the friendly bartender (I sat at the bar) for his recommendation. He suggested the clafoutis, so I chose it. The clafoutis is a baked dessert, that is a little buttery and flan-like with berries inside - this one had the aroma and taste of almond, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and donned with a mint leaf on the side. First time tasting clafoutis, and I adored it! I definitely could have had another one.
Tartinery NoLita offers lunch and dinner (aside from the tasty tartines) and carries a vast collection of organic wines, mostly French from what I remember. They also serve cocktails, beers, fresh juices, water, and soda.
My overall dining experience was lovely. I enjoyed the attentive, friendly service, the beautiful interiors, and especially the food. I will definitely be returning and recommending this French NoLita gem to my family, friends, supper club and lovers of food.
This might just be the beginning of future, regular visits to Tartinery NoLita.
Tartinery NoLita
209 Mulberry Street (at Spring St.)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 300-5838
![MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée 864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)New York, NY 10021(646) 558-3157http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3rb6Z8cI1qzohtyo1_1280.jpg)
![MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée 864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)New York, NY 10021(646) 558-3157http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3rb6Z8cI1qzohtyo3_1280.jpg)
![MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée 864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)New York, NY 10021(646) 558-3157http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3rb6Z8cI1qzohtyo4_1280.jpg)
![MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée 864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)New York, NY 10021(646) 558-3157http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3rb6Z8cI1qzohtyo5_1280.jpg)
![MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée 864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)New York, NY 10021(646) 558-3157http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr3rb6Z8cI1qzohtyo6_1280.jpg)
MAISON Ladurée
[The Upper East Side Welcomes the Sweet]
Ladurée - the luxury, French pastry shop has opened its doors on the Upper East Side.
Having opened on August 30, 2011, the craze for Ladurée macarons has been insane! The line wrapped around the corner of E. 71st street and ends inside the shop. A typical wait is 45 minutes to over an hour or two. Never have I seen such a wait for sweets like this in New York, only in Japan. I always thought I would never subject myself to waiting 45 minutes to over two hours on a line for a cake or pastries from a famous maker after seeing people in Japan do it patiently and calmly.
Upon reading the news about the opening of Ladurée, I was determined to visit the place. I love sweets, macarons especially, so I had to go. Seeing that the line outside Ladurée at 3:45PM on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend was half the block of 71st street, I almost gave up and went to yoga early instead. I became one of the many waiting for two and a half hours to get in. Yes, 2.5 hours. I am insane.
Besides the delicate, delicious, and delightful macarons, Ladurée also sells handmade chocolate, tea, and ice cream. They also carry eco-friendly totes, candles, and home fragrances for sale. At $2.70 a piece, a macaron here is the most expensive in the city yet very well worth the price. You can purchase them by color and design of box in six, twelve, twenty-four, and probably other multiples of six.
The macarons are shipped by boat daily from France since they’re so fragile, and because there is no pastry chef here yet to make these beauties.
There are only two cashiers available inside - one for cash, the other credit. Credit takes a bit longer because they must make a carbon copy of your card to in order to charge you. I hope they update their CC system. The sales attendants were very nice and helpful, but still need to cope with the volume of customers flooding the store. Well, they are new and probably did not expect to be overwhelmed once opening.
I bought a 24-piece pink box of macarons that day. All 14 flavors with a few doubles. After a wait that long, I felt I should sample all flavors and take more home with me to share with my family. My favorite flavor is the Cassis Violette. I love, love cassis.
I can’t believe how patient I was during that wait! Good thing,I had a book with me to read, but that only distracted me for so long, hahaha.
Next, I’ll have to see how tea at Ladurée measures up to that of Mariage Frères. (Mariage Frères needs to open a tea salon in New York as soon as possible. I’ll be ther first to go).
Will I return? I braved the wait the first time, so I’ll endure another wait.
Maison Ladurée
864 Madison Avenue (bet. E. 70th & 71st streets)
New York, NY 10021
(646) 558-3157
http://www.laduree.fr/en/scene
![ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the ParkE 64th St and 5th Avenue (by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PMhttp://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq4jvhtUvj1qzohtyo1_1280.jpg)
![ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the ParkE 64th St and 5th Avenue (by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PMhttp://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq4jvhtUvj1qzohtyo2_1280.jpg)
![ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the ParkE 64th St and 5th Avenue (by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PMhttp://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq4jvhtUvj1qzohtyo7_r1_1280.jpg)
![ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the ParkE 64th St and 5th Avenue (by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PMhttp://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq4jvhtUvj1qzohtyo3_1280.jpg)
![ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the ParkE 64th St and 5th Avenue (by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PMhttp://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq4jvhtUvj1qzohtyo4_1280.jpg)
ROUGE TOMATE Cart in the Park
[A Food Cart Unlike the Others]
How excited was I when I heard that my favorite restaurant Rouge Tomate launched a food cart a mere 10 blocks from my workplace! I think it’s only been about eight weeks since the opening of the Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park, and I am loving it!
I’ve been three times in the past month having ordered two of the same lunch box combos with different drinks.
Featured here is the lunch box from the second [fabulous] time I visited the Rouge Tomate Cart.
First photo from the left is the Rouge Tomate BLT. This was probably the best and healthiest BLT sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with Benton’s Hickory Smoked Bacon (glorious bacon, wherever they get it from), Jersey Beefsteak Tomato, wild arugula, and avocado on whole wheat bread.
Next is the Local Chilled Corn Soup. It’s clean, crispy and creamy with succotash, jalapeno, and basil. I’m not a big soup person — it really depends as when it comes to soup, I’m picky. When there’s a soup on a menu that grabs my attention, I’ll go for it. Since it’s a Rouge Tomate creation, I definitely had to try it. This soup was phenomenal! It’s very refreshing when you eat it.
Center stage — my snapshot of the lovely cart at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I was thrilled when I took this photo. Silly, yes. Excited I finally found it? Very much so.
Drink following was the Mint Lemonade. How can the proportions of lemon, mint, lemon and lime syrup, and seltzer be mixed to create a wonderfully balanced drink? I think the experts at Rouge Tomate hold that secret. Who doesn’t love the refreshingly cool and clean taste of mint?
Lastly, the lunch box spread. I finally received my reusable, insulated Rouge Tomate lunch tote! Appetizing and healthy!! The menu at Rouge Tomate and the cart are created with executive chef Jeremy Bearman and nutritionist, Natalie Hancock. Rest assured, you can feel great about what you eat here, because it’s healthy and satisfying!
They serve breakfast (muffins, parfaits, juice) and desserts (sorbets and gelato), too!
As an avid user of social media such as twitter and facebook (plus tumblr), I immediately had to follow and become a fan in order to spread the word and Rouge Tomate (cart and restaurant) love to all my friends and fellow followers.
Let me tell you, everything in the lunch box tasted of a perfect combo of fresh and savory. I can’t describe any other way. BLT lunch box is only $15! You must go and try it!
Enjoy and eat healthy! Love you guys!
Rouge Tomate Cart in the Park
E 64th St and 5th Avenue
(by the entrance of the Central Park Zoo)
Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 6PM
http://www.rougetomatenyc.com (Restaurant homepage)
Cart menu // Facebook fan page
Check the menu regularly for any delicious additions or changes!
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo2_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo3_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo4_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo5_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo6_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo7_1280.jpg)
![NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.NICE MATIN201 W 79th St.(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) New York, NY 10024(212) 873-6423
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpwlosEn1Q1qzohtyo8_1280.jpg)
NICE MATIN
[An Upper West Side discovery]
I came across this lovely, casual French restaurant on the Upper West Side while exploring the neighborhood back in February 2011. After a short bout of shopping, I was famished so I used my trusty Yelp mobile app on my phone to search for a restaurant to fend off my hunger. When my search found “French” in the results, the closest and most-rated Nice Matin appeared and immediately caught my attention. A few quick review reads, and I was sold! So, off I went.
I happened to dine in during “Stinky Cheese” month. It’s been several months already, so the names of the dishes I tried all had some type of cheese (stinky and non-stinky). Forgive me for not jotting down the names for this delayed post!
The first two photos are of the Fava Bean soup I had with some sort of stinky cheese (name I cannot recall). The beans in this clean tasting but slighty odorous soup were delicate and still crisp. It reminded me of a French Onion Soup since the cheese was baked over the soup and because of the bowl it was served in.
Following the soup are three photos of the Lobster Truffle Mac & Cheese. I can never deny any dish with truffle in it or lobster, and when together, it seems impossible to say no to a superb pairing of the two. The macaroni was cooked perfectly, and I was pleased with the generous chunks of lobster baked with it. This dish was rich, creamy yet not overpowering in taste of the cheese, and the addition of truffle added the appropriate zesty flavor.
Lastly, I was adventurous when it came to dessert. I wanted to complete my “Stinky Cheese” experience so I took the recommendation of my waiter to go for the honey-glazed, ricotta-filled crepes with almonds. Not an immediate fan as the crepe was sour and the honey did not balance the taste of the slightly bitter and sour after taste of the ricotta. It wasn’t terrible nor was it amazing at least according to my palette. It was different. Not the usual sweet dessert I’m used to selecting, but I’m glad I tried it!
Nice Matin is a lovely, cozy and bustling restaurant (depending on the time of day). I definitely would return for brunch and dinner as the menu offers many delicious treats and seasonal dishes. I highly recommend trying this quaint place if you’re ever in the Upper West Side or willing to trek uptown to check it out.
Whether it’s a bistro, cafe or restaurant, if it’s French, I’m always up for it!
** Excuse the poor lighting in my photos. I used my camera on my phone.
NICE MATIN
201 W 79th St.
(between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway)
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-6423
