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[titos-taste-test]

Hazelnut Kitchen Restaurant

53 East Main Street

Trumansburg NY 14886 USA

http://www.hazelnutkitchen.com

Dinner on Saturday 10/29/2022

While visiting the Finger Lakes region of NYS, we came across this hidden gem of a restaurant in Trumansburg. We ate so well there the night before and our only regret was that we didn’t get to try the other items on the menu. We decided to correct that culinary injustice by returning for dinner the following night.

Two items were so good the previous night that they warranted a do-over: the badger flame beet salad which I had described as a “deconstructed borscht”, and the savoury chichen liver stuffed profiteroles. I can confirm that they were as good, if not better, the second time around.

As main course, I had the pork schnitzel, served with spicy greens, shaved kohlrabi, and pickled apple. It was deliciously crispy and well balanced by the brightness of the accompanying greens and apple.

As a rich side dish, I tried the roasted oyster mushrooms with soft egg, cauliflower purée, whipped egg sauce and chives. It was an egg cloud above the smoky umami of the mushrooms.

The meal was rounded out with a dessert of honey panna cotta served with a mead granita topping and a bee pollen crisp: not too sweet, refreshing, satisfying.

Throughout the meal, I found myself eating and chewing slowly to prolong the gustatory pleasure.

My taste buds were singing Madonna’s “Like a prayer”.

Please also see the write up from the night before, Friday 10/28/22.

Bravo Chef Matt Hummel— Encore!

#trumansburg #hazelnutkitchen #NYS #fingerlakes #fingerlakesregion #badgerflamebeet #chickenliverprofiterole #ChefMattHummel #borscht #schnitzel #oystermushroom #pannacotta #beepollen #mead

[titos-taste-test]

Hazelnut Kitchen Restaurant

53 East Main Street

Trumansburg NY 14886 USA

http://www.hazelnutkitchen.com

Dinner on Friday 10/28/2022

We were on a trip to explore NY State’s Finger Lakes Region.

We tried this restaurant and were blown away!

We didn’t have reservations and the dining room was full so we were fortuitously offered seats at the bar which overlooked the kitchen. We basically got dinner AND a show.

You knew you’d be up for a formidable meal just from the bread and butter given to start. The butter was topped with beautiful edible flower petals.

The menu was interestingly divided by the size of the portion/plate: small, smallish, bigger, biggest.

We started with what we called a salad that will change your life: the badger flame beet salad, horseradish crème-fraiche, seed cracker, trout roe and dill. This salad was a delight for both the eye and the palate. The fiery orange-red color of the “badger flame beet” was something I’d never seen. Flavour-wise, it was a deconstructed borscht!

Next course was the honeynut squash risotto with feta topped with crunchy pepitas. We called it creamy risotto with a sparkle crunch.

The kitchen staff obviously heard us ooohing and aaahing about the food and gave us a taste of the chicken liver profiteroles, tamarind caramel and pickled delicata. Profiteroles are typically associated as a dessert. Paired with chicken liver sounded a bit gross BUT throw your predetermined thoughts out the window. This combination was completely yummalicious.

Our main course was the whole fried black bass, ginger scallion sauce, carolina gold rice and crushed cucumbers. Cooked to perfection, flaky and just LOOK at that impressive presentation! I am well practiced in taking apart whole fish but can see how such a dish might be intimidating for those less experienced.

To top off dinner, we tried the ice cream sandwich made with Vietnamese iced coffee ice cream and Dutch stroopwafel with espresso caramel. Having travelled numerous times to both Amsterdam and Vietnam, I was entertained by the successfully inventive mashup of flavors and cultures.

Tasty surprises came even with the bill in the form of house made caramels.

Notes I jotted down in my phone as we ate:

Happy dance food!

I am not going to brush my teeth because I want to keep that taste in my mouth forever. 😁

Original, well thought and inventive food combinations that simply worked.

Watching the chef cook in the kitchen with his staff: genius at work.

Highly highly recommended.

This restaurant’s food is a triumph in Trumansburg.

Bravo Chef Matt Hummel!!

#trumansburg #hazelnutkitchen #NYS #fingerlakes #fingerlakesregion #badgerflamebeet #chickenliverprofiterole #blackbass #vietnameseicedcoffeeicecream

[titos-taste-test]

Leeann Chin

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Termincal C Concourse, 6000 N Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA  30320   USA

http://www.leeannchin.com/

Lunch on Saturday 11/02/19

I was looking for an asian food venue.  They are typically scarce here in ATL.  I was happily surprised to run into this newly opened fast food restaurant in the Terminal C concourse.   I had never heard of Leeann Chin; my asian food standard in US airports is Panda Express.  A little research yielded that this is a US chain based in the Minneapolis MN area.

I had orange chicken with lomein noodles and green beans.  The chicken was not as bright and tart as the Panda’s but these green beans were real good.  The lomein was a bit gummier than I liked but overall the food was quite good as fastfood asian food in airports go...

[titos-taste-test]

Budi’s Sushi

349 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA  30312   USA

T:  +1 (404) 907-4500                 http://www.budissushi.com/

Dinner on Tuesday 10/29/19

I had to stay with family at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and wanted an option to eating at the hospital cafeteria.  I was happily surprised by how good the food was at this locale, just a 10 minute walk away.

On this night, I had the kaisendon (sashimi fish over rice).  It was so good that went back two other nights for dinner.  I tried their matcha green tea with bubbles, indonesian tofu fried rice, spicy tuna roll, seaweed salad and finally a brothy beef ramen.

[titos-taste-test]

D92 Korean BBQ

1080 Baxter Street, Athens, GA   30606 USA

T:  +1 (706) 850-7990                https://www.yelp.com/biz/d-92-korean-bbq-athens

Dinner on Thursday 10/24/19

I’ve been waiting to try this Korean BBQ in Athens and was happily surprised at how good it was.  

The selection of pan-jan, the small side dishes served with most korean food meals, was extensive and good:  romaine salad w/gochujan sauce, soy sauce peanuts, bean sprouts, macaroni salad, kimchi of course, firm tofu, sliced pickled daikon tinted w beet juice.   To be eclectic we ordered mul namgmyeon (buckwheat noodles in a cold beef broth), kimchi jigae (kimchi & pork stew), and grilled kalbi (beef ribs).

The only comment is that their kimchi was a bit too new/fresh for me.  I prefer mine more pickled & “ripe”. Apart from that, the food, service and ambiance were all great. 

Recommendable, specially for Athens, GA.

[titos-taste-test]

Pacific Rim Bistro

303 Peachtree Center Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA  30303   USA

T:  +1 (404) 893-0018                http://www.pacificrimbistro.com/

Dinner on Tuesday 10/22/19

My sister had to go have surgery in Atlanta.  I came down to support her/her family. We went out to dinner as part of making “lemonade out of lemons”...

Nice surroundings and innovative pan asian cuisine.  

We had seafood ceviche, braised brussel sprouts, chinese roast pork, and two rolls as starters.  For main courses, we had a whole steamed red snapper hong kong style and seafood pad thai.

It was a nice treat to prepare us for the task ahead.

[titos-taste-test]

Qianlong

8726 NW 25th Street #15, Doral, FL  33172   USA

T:  +1 (305) 477-8188                https://qianlongchineserestaurantdoral.com/

Dinner on Wednesday 10/02/19

This place is our go-to place for good basic cantonese food in Doral.

This evening we shared four dishes:  a dumpling noodle soup, mapo tofu. sweet and sour pork, and mixed veggie dish called buddha’s delight.

The food itself here is always good.  The wait staff is another thing.  It’s clear that they don’t use chopsticks nor are they aware of chopstitck etiquette.  We had to ask several times for utensils like soup spoons.

[titos-taste-test]

Yoju

3665 NW 41st Street #104, Doral, FL  33178   USA

T:  +1 (786) 391-0380                http://yojusushi.com/en/home/

Lunch on Wednesday 10/02/19

They say that food morphs to the local tastes.  So when japanese sushi meets a latino population, you end up having ceviche on the menu.  I had the ceviche, which was very good, and a selection of sushi.  Food was good, the location cool but again eerily empty.  It was only our one table with the sushi chef and the wait staff.  We can only assume that they do a booming take out or delivery business.

[titos-taste-test]

Moderato

3887 NW 41st Street #105, Doral, FL  33178   USA

T:  +1 (786) 360-3707                http://www.moderatoristorante.com/

Dinner on Tuesday 10/01/19

What a treat to have some nice italian food.  It was clear that despite the fact that the owners, management, and workers are all spanish speaking latinos, that they have taken a lot of time to prepare and serve very authentic italian cuisine.  

We started with an order of burrata which came garnished with prosciutto, and an order of mixed cold cuts (prosciutto, mortadella, salame).  My main course was eggplant parm which was ok but the eggplant itself was underdone.  For dessert, we had the classic tiramisu.

[titos-taste-test]

Layali Miami Lebanese Restaurant

4862, 11402 NW 41st Street #115, Doral, FL  33178   USA

T:  +1 (305) 403-0188                https://www.layalimiami.com/

Dinner on Monday 09/30/19

We decided to go with something different this evening so went with Lebanese food.

For appetizers, we tried the moutabel (baba ghanouj), tabbouleh salad, lemon cauliflower (seasoned, fried and served w tahini),  and stuffed cabbage.  As main course, I had the Layali lemon chicken (marinated chicken w artichoke, lemon and garlic).  Dessert was called “burma” (strings of dough twisted around chopped pistachio topped with syrup and pistachios).

It’s wasn’t my favourite cuisine but it was good to have a change.

[titos-taste-test]

Ohana

3887 NW 107th Avenue #103, Doral, FL  33178   USA

T:  +1 (786) 391-1062                https://www.ohanasushimiami.com/

Lunch on Monday 09/30/19

Great lunch place, near our office.

Eerily empty but sushi rolls are interesting, a treat for the eye and are good.

[titos-taste-test]

Bistro Moderne

55 West 44th Street, New York, NY  10036   USA

T:  +1 (212) 391-2400                https://www.dbbistro.com/

Lunch on Wednesday 09/25/19

Star chef David Boulud and location right around the corner from the office made this an obvious choice to treat a dear friend out for her birthday.  I had gone there before for cocktails but never before for food.  The decor is tasteful and modern as in the name.

I had country pâté as an app and had their version of profiteroles for dessert.  The country  pâté was good, not surprisingly.  I was not a fan of their version of profiteroles.  I prefer the standard puff pastry version.  

The main course was so good (I guess) that I forgot to take a picture of it. 😆

[titos-taste-test]

Boi Noodles House

240 West 40th Street,  New York, NY  10018   USA

T:  +1 (212) 575-0088                https://www.grubhub.com/restaurant/boi-noodle-house-240-w-40th-st-new-york/81700

Lunch on Thursday 09/19/19

This Vietnamese restaurant on one of the sidestreets of the garment district is a nice respite from all the usual food venues.

I had a simple lunch of green papaya salad and a pork shoyu ramen.  Nice treat on a typical work day.

[titos-taste-test]

Periyali

35 W 20th Street, New York, NY  10011   USA

T:  +1 (212) 463-7890                https://www.periyali.com/

Dinner on Wednesday 08/07/19

This is one of the best and longest running upscale Greek restaurants in NYC.  I was brought here and introduced to the wonders of Greek cuisine by my then boss back in the late 80’s.

As an app, I requested Taramosalata (caviar mousse) and Melitzanosalata (eggplant purée) with toasted pita points.  As a main course, I had a dinner potion of the Oktopodi Sharas (grilled octopus) and my friend ordered the special grilled fish of the evening.

Every dish was just Greek food perfection and just as good as it was back in the late 80’s.

[titos-taste-test]

River Cafe

1 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY  11201   USA

T:  +1 (718) 522-5200                https://www.rivercafe.com/

Dinner on Friday 07/19/19

Google describes this as a “landmark eatery, newly renovated, offering a New American menu & stunning views of Manhattan”.   Manhattanites happily get their passports out to cross the river into Brooklyn to enjoy the food and unparalleled views of “the city”.  It’s that good.

I started with the wagyu steak tartare, had the lamb as a main course, and ended the with the soufflé for dessert.

The event was a dear friend’s birthday dinner, the service was perfect, the food & drink  impeccable, and the evening... magical.  

[titos-taste-test]

Novecento

3450 NW 83rd Avenue, Suite 137, Doral, FL  33122   USA

T:  +1 (786) 871-4935                https://www.novecento.com/

Dinner on Thursday 06/27/19

I travel often to Doral, a suburb of Miami, and when there try to sample the area’s nice choice or restaurants.  This evening, my colleague and I went for Argentinian food.

The theme of the restaurant is focused on soccer.  The food is simply delicious.

I started with the ceviche which came served with fried flattened green plantains and we shared an order of burrata.  As a main course, I had the skirt steak with a side order of charred broccolini.

[titos-taste-test]

Maison Kayser

1400 Broadway, New York, NY  10018   USA

T:  +1 (212) 651-4800                http://maison-kayser-usa.com/

Lunch on Tuesday 06/25/19

Every once in a while and when time allows, it’s nice to break during the busy workday and actually stop, sit, and have a civilized meal.   Classic baguettes, pastries and light french fare this chic bakery/cafe a lunchtime destination in the garment district.

A fresh smoked salmon sandwich and a bottle of badoit and for an hour, just that moment, you feel like you’re in Paris instead of the Big Apple.