Food

Dough

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Dough probably serves some of the best doughnuts I've ever had because they not overly sweet (okay it is sweet but it's a doughnut, what do you expect?!?) and are high quality. Most doughnuts I've had tend to be on the sweeter end of the spectrum. The emphasis of these doughnuts is not on the sweetness but on the different flavours of natural ingredients used such as hibiscus or lemon poppy seed. They actually taste like the flavours claimed because.....they use the ACTUAL real ingredients (I think). Who knew. They also claim to use organic ingredients. That is not to say these doughnuts are healthy but probably the better alternative in the world of doughnuts. 

They have two locations, one in Flatiron and the original location in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The original location is much smaller and calmer—also slighlty cheaper. The Manhattan location is a lot brighter—has a large seating space but is a lot more crowded. There is always a line!

You can't go wrong with any of the doughnuts really. My personal favourites are the grapefruit (seasonal), apple jam (seasonal), passion fruit, lemon poppy seed, toasted coconut, Nutella and hibiscus. The salted chocolate is also delicious. Honestly, they are all pretty good it just depends on your mood. My advice is to go with your initial instinctive choice. If you are in the mood for something fruity go with fruity, don't be tempted by the chocolate options. The other day I was determined to either get the grapefruit or passion fruit, but got distracted and got the dulce de leche. It was good don't get me wrong, but I wasn't fully satisfied. Something was missing. So trust your gut and don't get distracted. An alternative would be to get two or three flavors, that way you can satisfy your true craving while satisfying your faux craving. However, this may not be the most bikini body-friendly choice. 

Apple jam

Dulce de leche

 

Hibiscus

Lemon poppy seed

 

Xi'an Famous Foods

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The first time I came here was over a year ago. I ordered the spicy cumin lamb noodles to go. I recall it was a rainy and a not so glamorous day. The noodles were overly spicy to the point where I couldn't enjoy the flavors of the cumin. I love spicy food but it had reached a level where the emphasis was on the hotness and not the spicing. I also got a stomach ache the next day and did not do so well digestion wise, so I never ate there again—until yesterday. I was suddenly craving spicy hand-pulled noodles and decided to give it another try. It has been over a year. People seem to love it, maybe I just had a bad day last time?

Food

I decided to order the spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped in noodle soup and spicy cumin lamb again. I asked for mild spicy because last time the spice level was absurd. The hand-pulled noodles were delicious—this is the exact type of noodles I prefer—similar to Spicy Village. The cumin lamb was exceptionally well seasoned. Very authentic. I also ordered the spicy cucumber salad and tiger salad. The tiger salad and cucumber salads were also very well seasoned and fresh. They are right when they say it's best to eat immediately. Take-out was not a good idea. 

I also tried the famous liang-pi cold skin noodles and I personally did not enjoy it. Not to say it was not good but I prefer the cumin spice flavor. I do not recommend the lamb dumplings. Lamb in dumplings does not go well in my opinion. The flavoring was just off. Most people I've spoken to also did not recommend the dumplings. You're better off by going to Prosperity Dumplings or even Spicy Village.

Cumin lamb noodle soup

Quality

The quality seemed to be pretty solid the second time around. Xi'an Famous Foods is very popular so they must have a high turnover of ingredients, which is a good sign. I did not get a stomach ache the next day so that is always positive. 

Ambiance

The store itself is a bit dirty in my opinion. I've been to the Midtown and Chinatown location, and the latter is even less appealing. I'm also slightly OCD, so uncleaned tables make me uncomfortable. They don't have any waitstaff—hence the excessive "dirtiness". But just keep your eyes on the food. You are purely there for the food. Eat and get out. 

Price

Compared to Spicy Village it's definitely more expensive. But compared to everything else, it's pretty damn cheap. I'd expect to pay about $10-15 per person for two dishes each—which is more than enough food. 

Spicy cumin lamb

Spicy cucumber salad

Liang-pi cold skin noodles

Maison Premiere

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Yesterday I stopped by Williamsburg to brunch at Maison Premiere. The great thing is you can make a reservation online! I absolutely hate waiting (who doesn't?).  

Food

We stumbled upon their oyster happy hour and ordered 10 oysters for $10!—$1 each. The oysters were very fresh and well prepared. All of them were very tasty and enjoyable. I prefer the smaller oysters, none of them were too meaty. They have oyster happy hour Monday to Friday from 4-7pm and Saturday and Sundays from 11am to 1pm.

We ordered the butter scone and it was perfectly warm and crumbly. It was not too sugary—just the right amount of sweetness. For entrees, we ordered the duck hash and baked eggs with andouille. The eggs were perfectly poached. They really know how to poach eggs. The spicy andouille went very well with the tomato jam and spinach. 

Overall a very light brunch. It paired well with the oysters. Initially, we were a bit skeptical because we thought it may have been a bit early for oysters. But not at all. I highly recommend it. 

Buttered scone

Baked eggs with andouille

Duck confit hash

 

Ambiance

It reminded me of Milky & Honey in that the decor and ambiance were similar to that 1920s prohibition style. They also offer garden seating that is open during the spring and summer. 

Quality

Quality is definitely excellent. Everything seemed fresh and well prepared. 

Price

Very reasonably priced. Between two people, we ordered oysters, biscuits, two entrees and a pot of tea, and each paid about $28 per person including tax and tip.

Entrees range from $11-16 per plate. 

 

Bonjour Vietnam

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Growing up in Vancouver, BC I had my fair share of pho. I've also experienced the vast degrees of pho offered in Seattle from $5 college grade to higher end at $14-15 a bowl. And let me tell you, the college pho is complete shit. Since arriving in NYC I've tried some of the allegedly "top" pho spots in the city. I was awfully disappointed. Who would think that a tiny random Vietnamese restaurant in Paris could offer some of the finest pho I've ever had? I've never been to Vietnam so I am sure that's a whole other ball game. But of all the pho(s) I've ever had, Bonjour Vietnam is my favorite. I've been going there since 2012 and have probably gone 10 times easily. I go every time I'm in Paris. This last trip I went three times in one week!

Pho is a very simple dish with regards to its flavors. What differentiates Bonjour Vietnam is the quality of ingredients. Firstly, the broth was exceptional—I have no idea what it's comprised of or technique used but it tasted so fresh. Secondly, the noodles were perfect—not the flimsy cheap instant noodle-like crap you get at most places. They were firm, not too soft and not too hard. Thirdly, the meat was real meat. It's not the mystery meat you'll find at typical pho establishments. And lastly, the onions and basil were very fresh. When you go you'll notice they don't serve you within 2 seconds of ordering, because they are actually making the food from scratch! This clean-cut bowl of pho is a good idea any day of the week. If you ever find yourself in Paris hungover, sick, cold or just craving a nice bowl of noodle soup then stop by Bonjour Vietnam. This is where the locals dine during their lunch break.

If you've ever had pho in North America, you'll know that you'll tend to smell like shit after eating. But truly great pho does not cause an odor stain. When I go to Bonjour Vietnam, nobody knows where I've eaten based on my body odor. I think there is an inverse relationship between quality and smell level. The higher the quality, the lower the stink level. 

The picture above does not do this place justice. Can you see the thickness and depth of the noodles? The freshness of the meat? 

A small bowl of pho is 8 euros and 10 euros for the large. I recommend the large bowl. Very reasonably priced.

A few things to note. There are three locations. The original and the best one in my opinion (I've been to all three) is on 6 rue de thouin. There is a second Bonjour Vietnam literally on the corner of the same block. The third location is about a block away on 85 rue du cardinal lemoine and has been re-branded  as Restaurant Vietnamien Mouffetard Saigon's. All three are within a one block radius of each other. 

They are open every day from 12pm to 3pm and reopens again at 7pm till 11pm. They are closed on Sundays. Sometimes the hours are a bit weird so I would call in advance just to be sure! No reservations needed, but the best time to go for lunch is around noon right when it opens or around 2pm right before it closes.