DBGB Kitchen & Bar

This new casual restaurant from famed French Chef, Daniel Boulud, is located at 299 Bowery in NYC's Lower East Side.

The specialities are hamburgers and sausages, but there are other traditional bistro dishes such as steak frites, oysters and ratatouille.

"M" had the Frenchie ($17) - 6 oz beef patty with grilled pork belly, arugula, tomato-onion compote & morbier cheese on a peppered brioche bun with cornichon, mustard & fries.

I had the Piggie ($19) - 6 oz beef patty topped with daisy may’s bbq pulled pork, jalapeño mayonnaise & boston lettuce on a cheddar-cornbread bun with mustard-vinegar slaw & fries.

Both were cooked slightly less than Medium, but were juicy and delicious. And served with more than enough french fries.

And for dessert "M" had the Coffee & Bourbon Sundae ($9) - chocolate cookie, brownies, candied pecans chocolate sauce & whipped cream.

I had the Souffle Chaud ($10) - grand marnier soufflé with crème anglaise. It was light and airy and delicious!

Le Colonial

This restaurant has been around for many years located in NYC's Midtown area at 149 East 57th Street. The decor is a throwback to colonial French occupied Vietnam with ceiling fans and louvered faux window shutters.

"J" and I went to NYC Restaurant Week and enjoyed a 3 course prix fix dinner for $35. We both started with the shrimp dumpling appetizer in a yummy coconut sauce. "J" had the salmon entree and I had the seafood green curry which was not spicy (as warned by our waiter), but mild and tasted more like coconut. I was a little put off that after the waiter asked us if we wanted a side order of rice that it was a $3.50 charge. How else does one eat curry if not with rice?

Then we shared the only 2 desserts offered on the prixe fix: banana and coconut tapioca pudding (which was more liquid than solid) and assorted sorbet (a scoop of raspberry and coconut). But since we didn't start off our meal with a usual bread basket we made up for it by ordering a 3rd dessert: banana beignet which was a banana in a fried wonton served with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Although the setting and service was very good this is the type of food you can get at more casual Vietnamese restaurants at a fraction of the price.

Marseille Again

"J", "R" and I returned to Marseille for another pre-theatre dinner. Marseille is located at 630 Ninth Avenue in NYC's Theatre District.

"J" and I both had the 3 course prix fix for $30. For appetizers "J" ordered the mediterranean salad and I had the onion soup. We both ordered the steak frites for our entrees. "R" had the lamb couscous.

For dessert our waiter allowed us to order off the regular dessert menu instead of being limited to the 3 desserts on the prix fixe menu. We had the apple tart tatin with vanilla ice cream and the warm beignets with chocolate sauce.

The prix fixe is a good value and the food at Marseille has always been consistently good and servings and generous.

Just Like in Paris

Le Relais de Venise is a new restaurant in NYC's Midtown located at 590 Lexington Avenue.

This outpost from the original Parisienne restaurant does not have a dinner menu. Each person is served the exact same thing: salad with walnuts and mustard vinagrette dressing, sliced steak and frites for $24. There are no other appetizers, salads or main entrees. The also served french bread, but do not ask for butter because they don't have any. They suggest you use the bread to soak up the house sauce served on the steak. And don't ask for ketchup because they don't have any. They serve you half of your entree and keep the other half warm. Once you finish your first half they serve you the balance and will also give second helpings on the steak and frites if you are still hungry.

You can only order your steak four ways: blue, rare, medium or well done.

The salad was good. The steak was cooked perfectly and was tender. The fries were excellent.

You do have your choice of several desserts. There is actually a dessert and wine menu. "J" had the apricot and peach melba in a cookie cup and I had the house special Venise which is meringue with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with another meringue, a scoop of hazelnut ice cream, topped with another meringue, covered in whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Both were $6.50.

The food was very good and our waitress had a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor. All of the waitresses were the same black dress and white apron uniform as their Parisienne counterparts.

It was an interesting experience. And the couple seated next to us said it was an exact duplicate of the original Paris restaurant.

Bon Apetit!

Theatre District Hidden Gem

On the east side of Broadway in NYC's theatre district is a great little french bistro, Saju Bistro, located at 120 West 44th Street.

They offer a great 3 course prix fixe pre-theatre menu for $28.

I had the the country pate with gerkins, hanger steak with mashed potatoes and chocolate mousse. They also give the table complimentary petit fours along with our desserts.

The a la carte menu is reasonably priced and the service is excellent.

Corton

is located in the former Montrachet home in NYC's Tribeca at 239 West Broadway. They offer two menus: "Menu" which is a 3 course prix fixe for $85 and an 8 course "Tasting Menu" for $140.

Even though the Menu it looks like 3 courses it really is about 8 courses with the amuse bouche, little side dishes that accompany the appetizer and entree, the sorbet before dessert, the petit fours after dessert and the mini cakes presented with the check.

I had the following (sorry there are no photos, but the restuarant asked guests to refrain from cell phone use and photography in the dining room)

Amuse Bouche - foie gras with truffle foam

Appetizer - Foie gras (pate in ball form), concord grape, chioggia beets, cataluna spices with brioche toast

Entree - Lola Duck, honey, turnip gelee, mead jus

Palette Cleanser - Lemongrass Sorbet

Pre dessert - lychee and passion fruit candies

Dessert - Macoun apple, caramel chestnut crust, yogurt and rosemary

Petit Fours - pumpkin spice macaron, violet and blueberry macaron, salted caramel chocolate, hazelnut chocolate

5 For $35

The Provencal restaurant, Paradou, in NYC's Meat Packing District at 8 Little West 12th Street had a special 5 courses for $35 deal from Oct 27-29. "T" and I made our way there on the last day to take advantage of this special offer while dining in their hidden year-round garden.

Appetizer: Lightly Broiled Curried Sea Scallop with Seaweed Salad & Fresh Herbs

Fish Course: Seared Red Snapper, Saffron Fumet, Canadian Sturgeon Caviar & Micro Mizuna

Main Course: Slow Roasted Capon with Roasted Beet Puree & Mache Lettuce

Cheese Course (for 2 people): 2 Cheeses & 2 Chef Kfir's Confitures (peaches and mixed berries)

Dessert Course (for 2 people): 3 Desserts - Meringue topped with cream, fruit tart, flourless chocolate cake with carmelized bananas.

Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. We shall return!

Foodie Films

Babette's Feast

This is my most favorite food film. It really centers around food, cooking and eating.

La Bergamote

Translated this means The Lemon Drop. This quaint french cafe is located in NYC's Chelsea at 169 Ninth Avenue. They serve exquisite pastries, baguette sandwiches and coffee.

But I was on a macaron mission and tried the Pistachio and Mango - $1.25/each. They were good, but the outside cookies were a little brittle.