Cherche Midi

Cherche Midi is the newest French brasserie (opened in June) from restauranteur Keith McNally and since I love his other restaurants (Balthazar and Minetta Tavern), I had certain expectations for this restaurant. Unfortunately I was not impressed with my meal and will definitely stick to the my usual two in the future.

Steak Tartare - Toasted Baguette and Market Greens 
I liked how the tartare was not too minced and it was nicely seasoned. However, it's better at Balthazar. 

Pot de Fromage - Parmesan Custard with Anchovy Butter Toast 
I really liked the cheesiness of the custard but it was a bit too eggy and the texture got a bit weird after a few bites. I loved the anchovy butter toast though. 

Steak Frites with Béarnaise Sauce
The fries were good but the steak was incredibly mediocre. Just a very meh piece of steak... quite chewy. 

Roasted Cauliflower with Sauce Gribiche
I was really excited for this dish because I heard so many great things on the Yelp reviews but once again while the flavors were delicious... there was also an issue with the texture with this dish. The cauliflower was way overcooked and very mushy. I get that cauliflower is in general a soft vegetable but it was just much too soft. I loved the sauce gribiche though, it was tangy and very yummy. 

Bone-in Skate Wing Meuniere with an Onion Fennel Soubise
This may have been the best dish of the night.  The skate was seasoned perfectly and had a perfectly crispy exterior while maintaining a wonderfully delicate interior. 

It is a shame that I was not too pleased with my meal as I love discovering new delicious french brasseries (hello Lafayette!). I hear that their prime rib is actually a big hit but I probably will not be back to try it out!

Cherche Midi

282 Bowery

10012

Les Halles

Les Halles is a french restaurant that is famous for their steak frites and for having Anthony Bourdain as its former executive chef.

Escargots - Snails Roasted in Garlic Butter 
The snails were plumb and I loved soaking up the garlic butter with my bread. I also enjoyed how the snails were already out of the shell because sometimes I have difficulty extracting it and almost have a Pretty Woman moment. Having the snails out of the shell also allows the garlic butter to seep into the snails and result in a stronger flavor. 

Salade d’Auvergne arugula, endive, bleu d’Auvergne, roasted walnuts and apples with walnut vinaigrette
I loved this flavor combination and this salad was definitely needed as we had a lot of meat and fries.

Steak Tartare - Lean Top Round, Ground to Order
I really liked how this was ground to order and made table side, that was definitely a nice touch. The meat was a little too minced for my liking but the taste was on point. 

Foie Gras Poëlé aux Pommes - Foie Gras Sautéed with Apple, Walnuts, and Calvados Sauce
Guhhh this was delicious. The foie was smooth and fragrant and the apple's sweetness balanced that richness of the foie perfectly. 

Coq au Vin - Rooster Braised in Red Wine, Bacon, Button Mushrooms and Pearl Onion
This dish was incredibly well done and I was very impressed with the complexity and richness of the flavors. It tasted like how red velvet feels if that makes any sense. The pearl onions were very sweet and the chicken was juicy and tender. 

Noix de St. Jacques Poêléesaux Champagne - Pan Seared Scallops with Artichoke Barigoule and Champagne Cream Sauce
The scallops were seared perfectly and were plump and juicy. The artichokes were also able a great accompaniment to the scallops. 

Confit de Canard - Crispy Duck Leg Confit, Frisée Salad, and Truffled Potatoes
The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat was juicy. I still think Balthazar's duck confit is still #1 as it is just so incredibly flavorful and delicious but this is also well done. 

Overall I enjoyed the meal and think that this is a nice option when you want well executed French Brasserie fare. Balthazar is still my favorite but it is usually more difficult to get reservations so this would be a nice second choice. I also did not get the steak frites so I would definitely be happy to come back to try their iconic dish.

Les Halles 

411 Park Avenue South

New York

NY 10016

Lafayette

I have a soft spot for French Bistros and spotted Lafayette which is right next to the Noho SoulCycle location. The space looked lovely with large windows and warm lights inside. The menu also looked very appetizing and I am happy to say that the food was also delicious! I had a great catch up dinner with K and we loved every bite! They also make a mean vesper which is a big plus in my book. Our server was also very friendly and professional. I will definitely be back.

Prime Beef Tartare “New Orleans,” Tabasco Aioli, Quail Egg
This was perfectly seasoned and also cut up to the ideal consistency, not too chunky and not too minced. The bread was also amazing with its perfect grill marks and tangy flavor.

Duck au Poivre, Organic Grains, Radish, Smoked Bacon
K and I both widened our eyes when we bite into this. It was absolutely delicious! The duck was incredibly tender and just full of flavor. The organic grains had so much texture and the sauce was very complex and smokey. A must order! 

Roasted Pork Chop, Wild Mushrooms, Brussels Sprouts
While we enjoyed the duck more, this dish was also expertly made. The brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection and the pork chop was juicy and had a great crust on the outside. The apple slices also added the ideal crunch and freshness to this dish. 

I had such a great meal here and will definitely be back! I hear that they do a great brunch also so I am looking forward to trying that. 

Lafayette

390 Lafayette Street 

New York 

NY 10003

Balthazar

W and I were in Soho on a Friday or Saturday night and was looking for a place for dinner, Balthazar is always extremely packed so we totally did not expect to be able to grab a table at such a prime time but we were pleasantly surprised! I love the atmosphere there and service was very friendly. As always the food was top notch.

Duck Confit - Yukon Gold Potatoes, Cipollini Onions, Wild Mushrooms, and Frisée 
The ultimate duck confit. The skin was so incredibly crispy and the flavor was rich and deep. The meat was also incredibly juicy and the onions and mushrooms were cooked perfectly. The frisée added the perfect crunch and freshness to this incredibly decadent dish. A must order if you are ever here!

Lobster Agnolotti 
Mmmm this was another amazing dish. The filling had a lovely sweet flavor and went very well with the plump pieces of lobster. The flavor was extremely tasty but also had a subtlety about it.

Balthazar 

80 Spring Street

New York

NY 10012

La Vache

Steak, bearnaise sauce, and unlimited fries?! Sounds like heaven to me. La Vache has been super hot since opening 1-2? years ago and I've been DYING to try this place. They only take reservations for 5+ people and I tried to go once for dinner with 4 people but the wait was ridiculous so I had to sadly wait for another time. This time we went for lunch and although we did make a reservation I think it is much easier to get a table during lunch time. The tables were half filled when I first arrived at 12:30 and the place slowly filled up but it did not seem like there would be difficulty in getting a table if you just walked in. La Vache pays homage to the famous Relais de Venise in Paris which serves just one menu of salad, steak, and fries (with their special sauce). The atmosphere was cute and you will be greeted with a large red neon sign as you walk in. I liked the cute little drawings on the menu and the paintings on the walls with the wine bottles in front. Service was also friendly and prompt.

I got a drink since the rest of my lunch party was not here yet... although it's not like I ever really need an excuse to get a drink :p 

Salad with Walnuts
The salad was fine, nothing special but the dressing was tangy and was a nice start to the meal. The addition of walnuts also gave it a nice crunch.

Entrecote Steak - Medium Rare and Rare
The steak was very tender and quite fatty - just how I like it. I usually prefer fatter cuts such as ribeye so this was perfect. Entrecote is approximately the ribeye section and I got it rare because it sits on a metal plate with a candle under. I loved the char on the outside and the bearnaise sauce was also yummy. One piece of steak was leaner than the others so perhaps if you prefer that you can tell the server. 

DROOL

Unlimited Fries 
The fries were SO good. They are on the crispier side and they were so delicious and I inhaled my first pile in a heartbeat. The second serving of fries was less fresh which was unfortunate but they were still very good. I loved dipping them in the bernaise sauce, ultimate fatty indulgence (apart from my usual fries and mayo)

Profiteroles with Ice Cream
I heard that there is a dessert cart during dinner service but we were given these profiteroles during lunch. It was a rather large dessert but a nice end to our meal. I think maybe one profiterole would have been enough as a small sweet treat to finish off the meal. 

Overall I loved La Vache!! The food was delicious and it was a really enjoyable lunch! I would love to come again for dinner with a group and indulge in wine and cocktails. Unfortunately it was a weekday lunch so we kept the alcohol level low. I will definitely be returning!

La Vache

48 Peel Street

Central

Hong Kong

La Parole

My mom has been on a recent little streak of trying new restaurants and I am very pleased about it! Usually her and my dad like to stick to tried and trusted restaurants and we will only sometimes try new places when I am a little more pushy. My mom told my dad and I about this new place that she really enjoyed called La Parole that apart from serving delicious food also has a charitable story behind it. According to the website:

"Every dollar you spend in La Parole, after deducting necessary expenses, will be contributed to Benji’s Centre. Benji’s Centre was founded in 2004, it is the first and only charitable organization providing specialized one-to-one professional speech therapy to children and teenagers from low-income families. Benji’s Centre is currently serving over 370 children and has helped over 1,900 children since its establishment."

I am always excited to try out and support a institution with a meaningful cause so we made reservations to dine there. The executive chef also has impressive accolades and graduated with a renowned French culinary school. Unfortunately, my dad and I were not as smitten with the restaurant as my mother. The food was actually good, but it just wasn't very memorable and had that "western food cooked by a cantonese" vibe to it. The presentation was also thoughtful and very detailed, but at times seemed a little confused as you can judge for yourself in the photos. I think that instead of doing french food, perhaps they could try out a more unique cuisine or concept since the Hong Kong dining scene is so competitive. While the dining experience was fine, I would not be particularly yearning for a 2nd visit. But if you are curious about this restaurant or want to support this cause, do come for a visit because you can tell that care and thought has been put into these dishes.

La Parole 

3/F

The Pemberton 

22-26 Bonham Strand

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

Liberty Private Works - Christmas 2013

Liberty Private Works is one of my favorite restaurants in Hong Kong (perhaps in the world!) and I know I am always in for a top notch treat whenever I score a reservation at this Hong Kong hotspot. Unfortunately this post was from a while back and therefore I don't think I can provide an accurate review of each dish but what I do know is that everything impeccably prepared and absolutely divine. Chef Vicky is such a magician with the flavor profiles of each dish and the presentation is always spectacular. Thank you T for treating me to such an amazing Christmas meal and thank you Chef Vicky for once again delighting my palate and giving me that extra truffle and extra mochi :)

Not pictured: the classic tuna and uni dish

Oyster by Angelica

Blue Lobster, Black Trumpet, Lomo, Clementine

Local Market Fish, White Anchovy, Romaine, Piquillo Peppers

Egg, Truffle, Parmesan, Caviar with supplemental Alba White Truffle

Rabbit, Spaghetti Squash, Goji Berry, Pistachio

Venison, Cherry, Salsify, Gingerbread

SO beautiful

Strawberry, Coconut, Champagne, Pink Peppercorn

 More mochi please!

So cute! 

Unfortunately I was barely in HK this summer and was unable to grab a meal at LPW. I will make sure I come again next time I am back!

Liberty Private Works

26/F

Stanley 11

11 Stanley Street

Central 

Hong Kong