A Taste of Indonesia!

Like most things on my first trip to Indonesia, the food did not disappoint. It was yet another piece of an awesome experience that I really enjoyed and wanted to share with you. There were so many different restaurants with all sorts of influence and culinary techniques; though instead of focusing on any of those specifically this time, I thought I would just leave you with a slideshow of some of my favorite moments!

From your every day breakfast buffet to more traditional plates like nasi goreng or beef rendang, the food was all good fun for the palate. My only issue was that similar to Morocco with tagine, I felt that the options for more traditional meals got a bit repetitive. However they were all flavors that I loved and did not mind eating over and over again, so no real complaint there! Tons of fresh vegetables with fish or meat seasoned generously is almost always a win in my book. Overall the food was really tasty and interesting enough to carry a scene worthy of keeping any foodie occupied while visiting. Now loosen your belt buckles and pretend you’re there! 

Harlem Shake: No, Not The Dance... The Diner!

After years of passing by Harlem Shake in central Harlem, a good friend of mine finally got me in there. It was time to see if the afro-centric 50’s style diner on the corner of 124th and Lenox was as cool as I heard it was... 

I could already tell by the 90’s throw back hip hop playing as we walked up that I was going to like this spot. The walls inside the shop were covered with portraits of celebrity supporters. The bathroom walls wrapped in vintage covers of Jet Magazine’s past. A giant portrait of the reigning Miss Harlem Shake, glistening from afro to platforms stood in life size over the indoor dining area. Apparently it’s a pageant they hold in the community every year. This place was getting cooler by the second!

I got the “hot mess” turkey burger with truffle fries as a suggestion from our cashier. My friend got his usual favorite, the jerk chicken burger with fries. After hearing it was my first time they ended up giving us an extra combo order just for me to try! This place just kept racking up the points! 

The staff was super friendly, the crowd was diverse, the music was jam worthy and most importantly, the EAT was delish! Harlem locals to Euro tourists, this is a chill spot that everyone can visit to soak up some good vibes. Kudos to Harlem Shake for being more than just a burger joint. For preserving a piece of Harlem and giving it back to the community. This 50’s style diner got it right; they’re integrated and cool! 

IT'S MOFONGO MUTHA F******!

On my most recent trip to Puerto Rico as per usual I was on the hunt for some of the best local food to be had. After a little online research and some word of mouth, I ended up at Punto de Vista on the roof of the Milano Hotel in Old San Juan. They boasted to be the only real rooftop restaurant in San Juan, and to have the best mofongo on the island with the reviews to back them up! SOLD

I got the traditional garlic sauce mofongo with fried pork as my choice of meat. This was that “smack yo momma” kind of good that had you licking the plate and looking for more! I mean the kind of meal that made the dishwashers love you cause you did half the work for them! Ugh; and chasing it down with one of the house coconut mojitos only made it that much sweeter! Take me back take me back take me back! This is a must visit when in San Juan! I would go back to PR for this plate alone! #NOM

Eating With: Master Chef Jean-Yves

Over time Paris has grown to be one of my favorite cities. I love everything about it; the culture, the architecture, the nightlife, but most of all, the food! I can't help going back for more. However the challenge that comes with frequenting a city over and over is finding new adventures to explore and keep it interesting. 

Well on my last trip I was browsing the net for good eats and suddenly found myself on the EatWith website... This is a great site that connects you with local Chefs in different cities who invite you to purchase a private dining experience in their homes. I saw an event hosted by Master Chef winner Jean-Yves who does an amazing French/Asian gastronomic fusion and my mind was instantly made up. I knew I was in for an awesome foodie adventure! 

I arrived at the disclosed location promptly at 8pm with an empty stomach and a world of excitement. My first impression of Jean-Yves was a very friendly and welcoming one. (Though I can't imagine anything less from someone that runs this kind of experience) Feeling very much at ease, I entered his home and formally met him and his Sous Chef David, who was also a stand up guy. 

I was escorted into the dining room where I met the only other guest at the time, Ben from the U.K. We jumped into conversation like we were old buddies and swapped stories of food and travel as we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive. Shortly after that a local Parisian and his father, another lone traveler from Amsterdam and a fun couple from Chicago joined the table. It was a great group of well-travelled foodies and I knew right away this was going to be an epic night. 

The dinner started with a brief introduction from our host, accompanied by a glass of delicious champagne garnished with fresh cranberries. He gave us a little background on his career and hosting style, and told us what to expect from the night. With this we were ready to start our meal!

The first course out was the Madame Butterfly Rolls. A lemongrass grilled chicken wrapped in rice paper and garnished with cucumber, mint and a delicious sweet and spicy sauce. As it came out, Jean-Yves took the time to explain what it was and how to eat it. The roll was first, then the cucumber and mint together to cleanse your palate, followed by a lettuce boat of delicious sauce for an extra kick of flavor. We were off to a great start. 

The next course out was the Imperial Ravioles, served with prawns and mushrooms in a sabayon sauce. Again, Jean-Yves broke down the dish by teaching us the difference between ravioli and ravioles. Then he explained the sauce ingredients and told us the history behind the French flower garnish. Another great dish and I could tell by the progression in flavor that he would be taking our palates on a very welcomed roller coaster ride.

The next and main course was one of my favorites! A duck breast Rossini grilled with foie gras, a sweet potato mousseline cream and zucchini cake with a fresh seasoned yellow pepper garnish. He topped it all off with a homemade crunchy cheese cracker and mmm mmm mmm! Not sure how many times I can tap the "like" button on this one, but let's just say my thumbs would go numb! The flavor was impeccable, the duck was cooked perfectly and the crunch of the cracker helped to balance all the textures in the dish. It was simply amazing and my favorite of the night. 

That was until dessert was served. I don't have the biggest sweet tooth these days but I can always appreciate a great dessert. Especially when you're in Paris, eating with a renowned chef who specializes in gourmet macaroons. Umm, need I say more? The softest most delicious raspberry and passion fruit macaroon with a melon ganache, cornflake gold dusted chocolate ball and lychee pearl. Like, what?! I literally had to stop myself from licking the plate. Well-done sir... Well done. 

Just to recap: The food was divine, we had wine pairings with each course and Jean-Yves was very cool with me invading his kitchen for behind the scenes photos. Now I've been lucky enough to have some amazing food experiences in Paris and around the world, and I'm no stranger to good food; but this was that and so much more. It was a curated night of memorable experiences. As good as the food was, what I loved even more was sharing a table with a group of traveling foodies and chefs that spoke my language. Swapping stories and sharing laughs made it feel a lot like family, and to me food and family go hand in hand. I highly recommend exploring this and other experiences that EatWith has to offer. It won't be my last, that's for sure!

"I always say a pig on the grill is worth two in the mud!" My Big Apple BBQ Experience

I’m pretty sure I was the pig in mud as I entered Madison Square Park and got my first whiff of all that slow roasting BBQ! Looking around and seeing my fellow brothers and sisters in meat made me feel right at home! Sorry in advance to all my veggie and vegan friends but we all know I’m not about that life! Cook it up and cover it in BBQ sauce and chances are I’ll eat it. Well this actually ended up being so much more than that!

Now, to all my meat lovers! Welcome to block party paradise in the heart of NYC! The Big Apple BBQ has 16 of the best pit masters from across the country come show off their skills to earn bragging rights as the best in the biz; all while raising money for charity! They basically turn Madison Square Park into a giant playground for music loving, beer drinking meatheads like me! 

So entering the park is free, but the not so small samples are priced at $12 a pop. Ergo it pays to do your homework and go in with a plan, which I didn’t do. I sold my sights on the ribs from 17TH Street BBQ in Murphysboro, Illinois and the award winning pulled pork sandwich from Big Bob Gibson in Decatur, Alabama. Both were delicious, but didn’t really stand out compared to some I’ve had in the past. The pulled pork was pretty up there though. I decided I didn’t have the stomach space for more, especially being my first stop of the day. So I called it and got a beer to sip while listening to the featured band which was pretty good. 

Overall I would say I’m definitely a fan of this festival as I’m a true carnivore at heart; but next time I may do a little more research on the lineup then go with a plan of action. The best part for me was talking to the pit masters and watching their different techniques. I’ll also say that if you’re not big on meat, there were still a ton of options for vegetarians and those with a sweet tooth. It’s even great to just go for a drink, enjoy a free concert and play some games. I vote YES to The Big Apple BBQ block party!

Josè María: A Taste of Segovia!

So you all know me pretty well by now, and as soon as I decided to take a day trip to Segovia on my last visit to Madrid, the first thing I did was look up where to eat! I knew Segovia was known for great Castilian food and most of all a good cut of pork, so I brought my palate and appetite ready to explore!

Mesón de Jose María, as it’s formally called is one of the go to places to try Segovia’s cochinillo asado, or suckling pig. Now there are other options to choose from on the menu here, but if you don’t eat pork or are turned off by large portions of meat then skip this recommendation all together; but if you’re a true foodie like me and open to most food experiences or just love a good cut of pork, then this is a must visit for your trip!

On initial approach this place seems like a small pub, but once you enter you’ll see that if you follow the bar towards the back, it opens into a larger yet still cozy dining room. I heard it could get pretty busy during the lunch hour there so I was taking a gamble, but I walked in with no reservation and used my best Spanish to kindly request a table for one. Luckily it wasn’t too crowded and I was seated right away.

I scanned the room and took in the crowd. I saw a mixture of families, solo diners like myself, and even a few tables of suited businessmen that seemed to be on work lunches. The staff was pretty attentive, as I never had to wait long to get their attention. It was a communal staff so no one had a dedicated waiter as they all kind of worked all the tables, which was nice when I needed help. However I will say that some of the staff was extremely nice and patient and a few were slightly cold and seemingly annoyed. I chalked this up to a culture barrier since I was the only person of color in the restaurant (and all of Segovia that day from what I saw) No one was outright rude though and I still got full service, so that was easy to shake off.

They started me with a breadbasket and plenty of marinated olives, which is pretty much a staple in Spain. I asked to pair my pending meal with a glass of red wine and was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with their personalized house bottle, which was delicious. I found the way they served the wine to be interesting as well. He asked me if I would like a glass or a bottle. Not looking to tackle a whole bottle at lunch solo, I told him I would probably have two to three glasses. He said “no problem, a half bottle!” I expected him to show up with a small carafe but instead they put a bottle on your table and leave it on you to pour and abide by the honor system, which I found interesting.

On to the first course! For a starter I ordered the “Ensalada de cordero lechal en escabeche con manzana confitada” or more simply put, marinated lean lamb confit paired with an apple confit. It was a cold, tart dish, which I didn’t expect but the flavor was good and the portion was a good size for a starter.

For the main course and primary reason for my visit, I ordered the “cochinillo asado de nuestra corte y hornada.” This is basically a milk-fed suckling pig, slow roasted in a traditional oven. (about 26€) I don’t know which part was better, watching them serve it or actually eating it! Almost everyone comes for this dish so they bring them out as whole pigs at a time and crush through them with heavy plates as opposed to a boring knife and fork carving, which is amazing to watch. Don’t worry though; the quality of the meat matches the hype! Crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside, not a lot of excess seasoning; just a nicely cooked great cut of meat! Just beware; this dish comes with no sides so if you can’t chow down on this alone, you’ll need to order some a la carte. I ate it with my bread, as I knew ordering anything else with those portion sizes would be a waste by myself. Also it comes with a delicious broth that is great for bread dipping so that was a win to me and everyone else apparently as I repeatedly saw people requesting more of the broth to do just that!

At this point I was stuffed to the max so I skipped desert and cut off my wine intake (pretty sure I was at half a bottle anyway lol) Overall I thought the food was pretty good here. Not the ideal place to dine alone though. I think it would be really great to go there with a group, share the meat along with some other dishes and take your time to eat, converse and enjoy the experience. It’s definitely worth the stop and a story though!

Restaurant Laurent: Fine Dining the French Way!

It’s no secret that the French know how to eat, and we all know Paris is known for its amazing culinary scene. I recently got to experience some of the best food Paris has to offer and believe me when I say the experience was life changing. I’m talking about The Restaurant Laurent. A gem of an establishment tucked away in the gardens of the ever-popular Champs-Elysées.

I was happy enough knowing where we were going that night so you can imagine how much wider my smile got when we walked past the main entrance to a back door that led straight to the kitchen. A friend of mine is good friends with the head chef, Alain Pégouret and let me tell you, it paid off. 

The service was impeccable. 12 courses of edible artwork and the visual of these artists cooking up a storm in front of you. I was speechless. My palette has never been so affected, so alive or so intrigued. I absolutely loved every minute of it. I didn’t stop there though. As a true foodie and ambassador for foodie establishments, I took a walk around this venue to get a sense for the whole experience and there was no disappointment. The staff was friendly, the décor was beautiful and the food was incomparable. This is worth the stop and money for any seeker of fine dining in the city of lights. I'll let the images from that night speak for themselves...