Eclectic French-Cuban Cuisine at Chez Henri

Chez Henri offers a dynamic fusion of French and Cuban cuisine. Since it opened its doors in 1994, Chez Henri has received wide acclaim in the culinary world, having won several Best of Boston awards like "Best French Restaurant," "Best First Date Restaurant," and "Best Fusion."

The Pan-Roasted Long Island Duck Breast with a Rhubarb Ginger Gastrique, Citrus Salad, and Yuca Roesti. The duck breasts were sliced bite-size for the convenience of consumers. Instead of the ubiquitous mashed potato, the mashed yuca added nice color and different flavors. The salad on the side was a bit bland.

Criollo Bouilabaisse, or Latin-Spiced saffron fish stew with fresh New England shellfish and a chipotle-garlic rouille. This dish is a seafood lover's dream, with lots and lots of clams, mussels, shrimp, fish, etc. The broth had pretty strong tomato taste with hint of spices.

The Braised Lamb & Goat Cocido with handmade pasta and West Indies spices. This dish was also broth-y, with a handful of pasta in the middle with braised lamb and goat surrounding it.

Steak Frites...what an All-American dish. It had a chunk of grilled NY sirloin with crispy fries and green peppercorn-dijon cream sauce.

Finally, the dish that I settled for was the special of the night: Red Snapper filet steamed in banana leaf with coconut rice and shrimp-mango escabeche. To be honest, I was a bit shocked to see fully-scaled red snapper underneath the banana leaf. I couldn't really taste the scent from the banana leaf. Also, the coconut flavors in the rice was a bit too strong.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Bland Avocado Sandwich from Andala in Cambridge

Harvard students have the tendency to think that anywhere outside of Harvard Square is simply too far. This notion restricts many students to the "Harvard Bubble," preventing them from venturing into other parts of Cambridge/Boston. While spending a part of summer in Cambridge, I visited a couple of restaurants and cafes in Kendall Square and Central Square, including Andala Cafe. According to its website, Andala opened to serve as "a warm place where people can socialize in an environment that fosters intimate conversations."

In addition to coffee and tea, Andala offers Middle Eastern food. My friend and I decided to get a vegetarian dish and a meat dish and share them. The Chicken Khalili Sandwich ($8.95) is grilled chicken with jalapeno peppers in Jerusalem salad sauce, served in toasted Arabic bread. The dish came with hummus and some vegetable sticks on the side.

The Arabic bread looked like pita, but it was thinner with crunchier exterior. I wasn't sure whether to pick up the food and eat it like a sandwich or use utensils because the bread was too thin and everything inside sort of fell apart.

Inside the two thin slices of Arabic bread were grilled chicken, lots of jalapeno peppers, yogurt-like dressing, and basils.

The sandwich would have been...edible if there weren't jalapeno peppers because these were extremely spicy! I literally took a bite and couldn't eat it anymore. The spiciness from the peppers was definitely way too overpowering.

The Avocado Press Sandwich ($7.95) didn't have any description in the menu, so I had no idea what to expect except that there will be avocado inside. Like the chicken sandwich, it was served in Arabic bread, but it had potato salad on the side instead of hummus. The sandwich was sprinkled with basil on top.

Inside the sandwich were huge chunks of avocado, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, some sort of black bean puree sauce, and...lots of mozzarella cheese. I wish I had asked what was in there because the sandwich would have been perfect sans cheese.

The Avocado sandwich was a sharp contrast to the chicken sandwich because it tasted rather bland. Rotating a bite of the chicken sandwich and a bite of the avocado sandwich, therefore, was very complementary :)

Crabmeat Soup Dumplings at Joe's Shanghai in Midtown NYC

While spending the summer in New York City, my roommate and I ventured into the city quite often to sample its diverse ethnic cuisine. One of my favorite places was Joe's Shanghai, a popular Chinese restaurant that has opened a total of three chains throughout NYC since opening its door in Chinatown.

Joe's Shanghai is popular for its soup dumplings. For light lunch, we decided to share a serving of crab meat soup dumplings. We were considering going to the original, Chinatown location, but since we were already in midtown, we decided to go to the closer location on 56th St. and also to save taxi fare.

I sort of wished we had gone to the original location because I don't think the dumplings tasted as good. Further, we only got 6 dumplings, as opposed to 8, and paid more for it at midtown than at the Chinatown location!

Eating soup dumpling is an acquired skill. You first have to bite into the outer layer to make a small hole so that you don't burn your mouth. Once the juice seeps out on to the spoon, you can drink it and bite into the crab meat interior.

The peel was a bit thicker than I would have liked. I thought the crabmeat dumpling had nice seafood flavor, though I would have appreciate richer taste.

The dumplings weren't super greasy. I wonder the proportion of meat vs crabmeat vs shit...Haha

Presentation Matters: Gnocchi and Duck Dish at Chez Henri

You would be immediately censured as being too shallow if you judged people based on their looks. But when it comes to food, I am a firm believer of the phrase that prettier food tastes better.

One such restaurant that focuses on the quality of presentation as well as the taste is Chez Henri, which offers a dynamic fusion of French and Cuban cuisine. Since it opened its door in 1994, Chez Henri has received wide acclaim in the culinary world, having won several Best of Boston awards like “Best French Restaurant,” “Best First Date Restaurant,” and “Best Fusion.”

Upon entering the restaurant, my dining partner and I were greeted by a hostess who seated us on a candle-lit table. Other than the fact that the dim lighting made it hard for me to read the menu, the ambiance radiated warmth and comfort.

We were munching on slices of French bread when the waiter brought our entrees. Despite my aversion to cheese, I decided to get the Seared Ricotta & Semolina Dumplings ($24) because I was craving the chewy texture of gnocchi. What surprised me the most about the dish was its stunning presentation. 

About a cup of gnocchi in the shape of mini marshmallows was placed on the center of a white rectangular plate over purplish red puree of roasted beet and carrot. A sautéed medley of glazed broccoli, cauliflowers, summer squash, and carrots was served on the side to satisfy my daily servings of vegetables. 

The lightly seared ricotta sprinkled on top added light crispiness to the doughy gnocchi.

My friend’s entrée, Pan Roasted Long Island Duck Breast ($28), didn’t disappoint either. On top of the rhubarb ginger gastrique, or caramelized sugar sauce deglzed with vinegar, laid pre-cut slices of medium rare duck breast that were juicy without being too tough. 

A bed of citrus salad on the side with poached pear offered a little crunch from the arugula, while the mashed sweet potato found a perfect medium in texture between runny and coarse.

Indeed, the presentation of food matters, but I think the food at Chez Henri would have tasted great even if I had been blindfolded.

Located on Shepard Street near the Quad, Chez Henri (http://chezhenri.com/) is open for dinner seven days a week and for Sunday brunch.

Nubar, a Hidden Gem in Harvard Square, and Molten Chocolate from Finale

For those of you who ask what my favorite restaurant is in the Square, I can answer you without hesitation: Nubar Restaurant in Sheraton Commander. Because Nubar is a little further out from the Square, a lot of people don't know about it, but this restaurant serves some amazing food!

First of all, the atmosphere of the restaurant is noteworthy. The restaurant has comfortable yet contemporary design. The dining room and bar/lounge are divided by a modern fireplace. The lighting in the restaurant reflects its warm, cozy environment. My first time at Nubar was definitely an unforgettable experience, both in terms of its food, service, and atmosphere, so I was very excited for my second time.

I don't normally eat pizza or sausage, but one item in the flatbread menu caught my eyes. I decided to try the Sweet Italian Sausage, Herbed Ricotta, and Spinach Flatbreads ($12). The flatbread was served on a long, rectangular plate and cut vertically into about seven pieces. Each piece had ample amount of mozzarella cheese  with chunky Italian sausages and bits of ricotta cheese and spinach tucked underneath. The flatbread was sprinkled with some basil. The dough was thin and crispy. The flatbread was perhaps in the oven for a little too long because top layer of the mozzarella cheese was slightly burnt.

This is Pat's Littleneck Clam Roast ($22), a dish I wish I had gotten! The round plate had handful of toasted angel hair pasta with bacon, zucchini ribbons, baby shrimp, littleneck clams, and garlic, and tossed with white wine and olive oil. My favorite part of this dish was definitely the toasted angel hair pasta because it had crunch texture. Definitely going for this dish the next time I come :)

The Pan Seared Diver Scallops ($25) had four plump scallops with a ragu of beech mushrooms and a succotash of sweet onions, corn, beans, and fresh herbs. Other than the fact that it was too salty, the scallops were pan-seared nicely with crispy outside and juicy inside.

For dessert, we went to Finale in Harvard Square for its signature Molten Chocolate ($9.95). This standout dessert is baked-to-order, so be willing to wait at least 15 or so minutes! The warm chocolate cake with a gooey center is served with a scoop of coffee gelato, topped with milk chocolate covered almonds and Valhona chocolate sauce.

Again, I am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I definitely enjoy a bite or two of this dessert. As you dig your spoon into the warm chocolate cake, the center oozes with chocolate sauce like a lava. My favorite part is definitely watching the sauce spilling over.

The balance between warm chocolate cake and cold coffee gelato is interesting. The almonds also add crunchy layer to this delectable dessert!

Dairy-Free, Cheeseless Affair at Dos Caminos in Midtown, NYC

As someone who is lactose-intolerant, I don't particularly enjoy Mexican cuisine, which tends to be heavy in its use of dairy like cheese and cream. That is why when I dine with a group who wants Mexican food, I usually browse through the menu to ensure that there is at least one item that doesn't use cheese. On a sunny Sunday morning, I went to Dos Caminos, a modern Mexican restaurant in Midtown East, New York City.

My eyes immediately averted from items like quesadillas and enchiladas. I decided to try the traditional Pollo Tacos ($16), served on warm, handmade corn tortillas with Mexican rice, refried beans, and a trio of salsas.

Unlike tacos from Taco Bells, which are packed with string-y, yellow "fake" cheese, traditional Mexican tacos do not have cheese. Instead, packed inside the warm corn tortillas were grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, pinto beans, chicken chicharron, and salsa suprema. I was a big fan of the marinated chicken because it was tender and juicy. The seasoning was slightly spicy. Chicken chicharron, or fried chicken rinds, oozed a lot of oil and fat to the bottom of the tortillas and made them soggy.

The dish on the left is Mexican Chopped Salad ($11.50), which includes grilled corn, poblano chiles, apples, pinto beans, green olives, tomato, onion, and anejo cheese with crispy tortillas on top and tossed with toasted cumin vinaigrette. The dish on the right is Carnitas Tacos ($16), packed with slow-roasted pork and green chile salsa.

The Carnitas Tacos didn't seem as greasy or oily as my Pollo tacos, but they also didn't appear as filling. The basil on top added a nice touch of flavor.

The Dos Caminos Chicken Cobb Salad ($14) was a colorful array of grilled chicken breast, tomato, avocado, corn, onion, queso fresco, and tortilla chips and tossed with cilantro-basil vinaigrette. Now that I reflect, all of the dishes could be made dairy-free if we skipped the cheese! Mexican cuisine is possible for lactose-intolerant people :)

Savory and Sweet Brunch Menu at Henrietta's Table

When my mom came to visit me from Korea, one of the restaurants we dined together with my friends was Henrietta's Table. I have only been here once during Restaurant Week, so I was excited to try its food when the restaurant isn't too hectic and crowded.

Since we were there on Saturday afternoon, Henrietta had a limited fixed menu. All the items were $17, whether you get seafood or sandwich. I ordered Grilled Swordfish with Sauteed Vegetables. Henrietta's Table prides in its use of organic and locally-grown ingredients. I thought the swordfish was a bit overcooked. The sauteed vegetables were drenched in oil so it was too greasy for my liking. I did appreciate the wide selection of vegetables, which included grape tomatoes, green beans, cauliflowers, and carrots.

My friend opted for the Turkey, Bacon, and Tomato Panini with Potato Salad. This entree was definitely overpriced (not worth $17 for sure...). In between the pressed sourdough bread were smoked turkey, bacon, and sliced tomatoes. I could probably make this in the dining hall. The potato salad was made with red tomatoes with skins and mixed in mayonnaise.

The Crystal Valley Farms' Rotisserie Chicken with Creamy Corn Polenta was a decent serving. I am not quite sure what was on the top of the chicken, but I am guessing chopped celery...? I used to like chicken a lot, but nowadays, I don't find it very savory. I prefer lamb chop :)

My mom also got the Grilled Fish, but she got it with butter sauce at the bottom. I was confused that she had more variety in vegetables. For example, I didn't get a single broccoli!

The only sweet brunch dish on the menu was the Challah French Toast. It had three huge slices of challah bread, smothered in an egg batter and then pan-fried. It was served with glazed and buttered apple with whipped butter and maple syrup.