1. Jamon Purée on Poilane Country Bread
    Close-up of the tartine
    Cappuccino, a post-brunch must
    Clafoutis - soft, almond cake, ice cream
    Sleek brunch menu

    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

    http://www.tartinery.com/

     




  2. Should be pink (poor lighting)
    Macaron menu
    24-pc. delights
    Store front sans line
    Window display

    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

     





  3. Café du Ciel - JR Central Towers: Meieki, Nagoya

    Cafe du Ciel is on the 51F of the JR Central Towers complex part of Nagoya Station. The Central Towers has two restaurant floors - on the 12th and 13th.  From the 13th floor, you can access the elevator that takes you up to the 51F where the Panorama Lounge and three other restaurants, one of which is a French restaurant, are situated.

    There are daily lunch and afternoon tea sets. As for dinner, I think they serve a few varieties of pasta from their regular menu. Then again, it’s a cafe and people would rather have their dinner elsewhere.

    image

    Coaster ^

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    ^ Corn Potage

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    Baked Salmon & Asparagus Doria, Lunch Set

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    Darjeeling Tea

    (choice of drink included in set lunch)

    * All for 1,575 yen *

    My only complaint was that my waitress didn’t bring my Darjeeling Tea in time after I finished my meal as they do in every restaurant and cafe regardless of the place, upscale or everyday.  Even though it was already 2PM and afternoon tea was just starting, how about the customers already there who are the priority as we have been waiting there already before the new ones. I almost missed my train to return to work! Once she brought it over,  I had to gulf down the STILL scalding tea after waiting and inquiring about it for 20 minutes after my meal while she kept telling me to wait shortly it’ll be out in a mintue. Well that 1 minute was 10 minutes before I had to jump into 2 elevators to reach the 1st floor from the 51st and then rush to the station adjacent and fly down the stairs to hop onto the limited express.

    Maybe I’m already used to service here being top-notch every where I go. I wonder if I’ll go nuts waiting when I’m back home?

    image

    Regardless of that unsatisfactory moment, here’s the seating area adjacent to mine but the same - there are also window seats overlooking the Nagoya Station area. Wonderful view.  Even better at nighttime.

     





  4. Pierre Marcolini - Midland Square - Meieki, Nagoya

    This sleek and elegant Belgian cafe has mature as it is posh. There are only 4 locations in Japan - 2 in Tokyo, 1 in Haneda Airport, and the last in Nagoya. Lucky for me!

    This chocolatier is well-known in Europe, especially in Belgium where it originated from, and around the world. There’s only 1 location in NYC. Again, lucky for me when I return home!

    The shop has its own small and cozy cafe with dim lights and aroma of fresh coffee and tea brewing. It’s located in the B1F of the Midland Square building conveniently a 10-minute walk from my apartment.

    I was able to stop by before I saw “The Dark Knight” since I went on a weekday afternoon in July (off-day from work), and thank goodness there was no 50m line outside as there usually is on weekends.

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    I decided on a Cake set with some strong black coffee. Let me tell you that the cake was sure delight! The richness of the flavor and the perfect chewiness of the Gateau Chocolat can be expressed best after trying it for yourself.  The cake itself is sweet and bitter, but it balances out just right.

    If I remember correctly, for this set, it was 1,470 yen that being the least expensive on the menu. It might seem pricey but it was worth it! They also sell and serve their chocolates and other treats t drink with champagne and wine of your choice.

    Though I wouldn’t recommend getting yourself inebriated or being pleasantly buzzed midday during your lunch break, but by all means, try it out at another appropriate time. I have yet to try their chocolates, but I’m sure they’re as delicious as their cake!

     





  5. CASSINA IXC Café - Sakae, Nagoya

    My apologies for the long overdue update! I’ve tried lots of cafes and restaurant since then. Sorry if I don’t list them chronologically!

    I finally found the Cassina in Nagoya!

    It’s smaller than the one in Osaka - at least the cafe part of it - but the store itself is lovely and very modern.

    The layout is different from the Osaka store, but nonetheless it has the same structured environment and cozy, home feeling.

    Fresh Salmon Salad with Penne ^

    Set comes with cold soup, small salad, and dessert of the day

    ^ Cappuccino Cocoa & Raspberry Yogurt Jelly

    * all for 1,000 yen + 300 yen for 1/2 price of 800 yen coffee/tea! *

    I guess you could say it was Sunday brunch since I did go on a Sunday. The place was actually closer than I thought and I wondered how could I have missed it when it’s literally in the area I often walk around and pass by?!

    This has become one of my favorite places to kick back and relax. You could too since there are two comfy, soft leather couches inside where you can lay down if you wanted to and have a bite to eat.

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    Ideal for — Sunday brunch/tea time,  read & relax

    My rating — 73/100, food; 80/100, coffees & desserts