Tag Archive for "restaurant"

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Jersey Joe’s Year Four Rewind

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : May 29, 2014

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Here it is – my fourth official season finale! True, I’ve only been writing on Been and Going since it launched about a year ago, but this blog has now been online for four complete years. It all started 182 editions ago on fierceandnerdy.com. As my season wraps, I always go back and update what I’ve written about. So, get ready as we take a quick look back…

You can click on the title of each blog to check out the original post.

THE JUDGE JUDY SLOT MACHINE

Blogumn #134 – April 12, 2013

This blogumn looked at the new Judge Judy slot machines that had just hit casino floors. At the time, the machines were highly popular and can still be found in most major casinos.

The popularity of this slot machine continues today. During a recent visit to Atlantic City, there was always somebody playing them and still had a line of spectators watching at both banks of machines I found at Bally’s and the Golden Nugget.

BURGER TIME: THE ORIGINAL HELL’S KITCHEN

Blogumn #139 – May 17, 2013

This blogumn took a look at one of my favorite video games of all time, Burger Time. The game is simple, you are the chef and your job is to assemble hamburgers in a crazy kitchen where the ingredients have come to life and are after you!

I love to play this game at Barcade, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Barcade is a cross between a bar and arcade that thankfully, is for adults only.

Sadly, the machine has gone missing from this location. Barcade is in the process of opening a new location in Manhattan and I can only hope that it will end up there. Both locations will only be a PATH train ride away.

BURGER KING RIB SANDWICH

Blogumn #140 – May 21, 2013

In this special edition, I discussed the new Burger King Rib Sandwich that the fast food chain had added to their menu. It was their first big jab at McDonald’s by creating their own version of McDonald’s legendary McRib.

The Burger King Rib Sandwich was added to last summer’s menu and I judged it to be far superior to the McRib. While it did sell well, the sandwich finished its summer run and was removed from BK’s menu early last fall. Sadly, it has not returned and there have been no plans announced to bring it back. I hope that Burger King reconsiders and makes this a permanent addition to their menu.

NEW JERSEY ANTES UP TO ONLINE GAMBLING

Blog #157 – December 5, 2013

In a little over a week after online gambling was legalized and officially launched in New Jersey, I tested out a few sites to see what all the hype was about.

Like it or hate it, online gambling has generated extra revenue for both the state and the Atlantic City casinos who took part in it. Sadly, the state overestimated how much revenue would be brought in.

The state was estimating that $10.6 million would be earned in just six weeks. The total earned was $7.3 million, which is still a success. The revenue earned from legal online gambling has saw steady growth from January – March, with April being the first to see a slight decline in the amount wagered. The state still expects continued growth moving forward.

THE FINAL MOMENTS OF THE SANDS ATLANTIC CITY

Blog #162 – January 9, 2014

This blog took a look back at the night I was there for the final moments of the Sands casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With my old camera phone, I captured the final blackjack hand and security ushering everyone out, while the slots were being turned off. The casino was closed for a project, that was to build a mega casino and hotel in it’s place. Sadly, the economy went bust and the project never happened.

The Madison House, a hotel that is located across the street from the site, was once used as an additional hotel tower for the Sands. It closed when the casino did, but finally reopened this past January. Sadly, Tripadvisor reviews of the initial opening were terrible. Guests complained of slow elevators, filthy and outdated rooms, and a strong cigarette smoke smell. Many guests have commented that a renovation has begun and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction for the historic property. I plan to check it out as some point in the future.

The Sands site still sits unused, outside of a light up artist installation.

JUDGE JOE BROWN DRUNK

Blog #169 – February 27, 2014

In this hilarious video I found online, we get to see TV’s Judge Joe Brown all liquored up and hitting on a group of women at some kind of resort. Joe even makes fun of his old TV show.

Since then, Judge Joe has gone back to being a lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee. Back in March, during a court child support preceding, he went on a tirade against the judge and it got him thrown in jail. (You can hear TMZ’s copy of the court room audio here.) He was sentenced to five days, but was released in a couple of hours. He is also running for District Attorney in Shelby County. Could it have all been a publicity stunt?

THE 411

Name: Kicking Back with Jersey Joe

What: weekly blog on beenandgoing.com

Time: new editions post Thursday at Noon Eastern / 9am Pacific

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

Thanks again for all your support and for checking out my blog. I love how we get to chat like this each week. As always, feel free to comment below each post or reach out to me on twitter @jerseyjoe50.

This summer, I have a quite a treat for all of you TV fans. Starting with next week’s blog, I am going to post 10 at a time, my 100 favorite TV show theme songs. You’ll get to see show opens from some of your favorite series and a few that I’m sure you’ve forgotten. Don’t miss it – starting next week!

Image credits – Chris Marquardt, Kathrina Birkenbach,

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Everybody Loves Pancakes!

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : May 8, 2014

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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

Tags:breakfast, butter, cooking, crepes, fruit, home cooking, jam, jelly, palachinki, pancakes, restaurant, sour cream, stove, syrup

Growing up, my grandmother would cook me her own spin on pancakes called a palacinki. Instead of a traditional pancake, it was rolled up on a plate, served in groups of three, and filled with jelly, then topped with syrup, and sometimes chocolate. She told me that she learned to make that from her mother, who from Slovakia. (Yes, I know they’re basically a crepe.) When I was home a few months ago, she again whipped up her mouthwatering treat and it had me wondering: what are pancakes like in other countries around the world?

A palacinke, or palacinki (there are numerous spellings) for this succulent treat!

Pancakes, the delicious fluffy treats we all scarf down by the millions at breakfast. They are a cheap breakfast to cook in the home and a big money maker for restaurants. Made with just a few ingredients, they can start your day off right and their history dates back to before Christ.

American Pancakes are flat and thin round cakes prepared in a pan or on a griddle. We generally eat them for breakfast with fruit, syrup, or butter. Here pancakes usually use a baking agent to make them rise, but many other countries eat them flat as a crepe. The basic shape and serving of pancakes varies around the world.

Classic buttermilk pancakes.

The history of pancakes dates back to a previous millennium. The Ancient Greeks first served pancakes as early as 5 BC and were made the same basic way as they are prepared today with wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk.

But, some places really have a unique spin on the recipe.

Injera

In Africa, most countries eat the pancake as more of a flatbread with a meal. Here, they do not use yeast, which keeps the pastry as flat as possible. It is also served with most meals as side bread. In Ethiopia, pancakes serve as both a plate and a side dish. Known as injera, the pancake holds a stew (or salad where they don’t eat meat) and soaks up the juices. The meal does not end until the entire injera is consumed.

In China, pancakes are made with dough, instead of a batter. In Japan, they are made from egg, flour, and cabbage.

In India, pancakes are made without any rising agents and are prepared either sweet or salty. The salty version is served with cottage cheese.

In Indonesia, they are made with rice flour and coconut milk.

In Malaysia and Singapore, you can find pancakes that include sweet corn!

In Denmark, pancakes are served in the shape of a sphere. In parts of Germany, they are also served with soup.

Icelandic pancakes

Iceland has an unusual way of preparing pancakes. There, they try to get the cake as thin as possible and will use the same pan over and over to prepare them. It is strongly encouraged not to wash the pan. They will also use pancakes as bread for a sandwich.

In Spain, the ingredients for a pancake can include flour, milk, eggs, or blood! Yes, blood! The blood style is served during a pig slaughter feast.

Pancake restaurants in the Netherlands are extremely popular. They will serve giant pancakes with bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, or apples baked inside.

In many countries, pancakes even have their own day! Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Lent where the faithful can gorge themselves all they want and to use up the fatty ingredients. The celebration is similar to Mardi Gras and is celebrated in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. It is also known as Pancake Tuesday or Fat Tuesday… doesn’t the last one sound familiar?

An International House of Pancakes restaurant, in S. Portland, Maine as pictured in the 1970’s.

Pancake runs are also part of the Shove Tuesday celebrations. Usually held for charity, most of these runs feature women who must toss their pancake in the air and catch it in a frying pan as they run. This all started back in 1444, when an English housewife heard the bells of her local church and she ran out of the house with her apron on and a frying pan still cooking the pancake to get to the service.

Cooking up pancakes on a stove top griddle.

THE 411

Name: pancakes

What: soft, cake style pastries served for breakfast in the US, but served as part of meal worldwide

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

I absolutely love pancakes. Besides, my grandmother’s awesome home cooking, Café Metro, a restaurant on New York’s Upper East Side, has some of the best. Their recipe uses a hint of lemon flavoring in the batter.

Pancakes with a hint of lemon, served with bacon at Cafe Metro, New York City.

Another favorite is Hash House a Go Go, with three locations in Las Vegas. Their pancakes are massive and have a great flavor to cure your Vegas hangover. It’s almost impossible to finish a serving in one sitting. If I were local, I would probably take mine in a To Go box, but being a tourist, I don’t think they would sit well in a hotel room. Hash House a Go Go has a location in The Quad hotel and casino on the Strip and another in The Plaza hotel and casino downtown on Fremont Street. They also have restaurants in San Diego, Chicago, Orlando, suburban Las Vegas, Reno, and at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Image credits – Martin, Davide e Paola, Addison Berry, Caleb Sconosciuto, Snugg LePup, chotda, Allen, Dvortygirl

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] The McGangbang & Other McDonald’s Secret Menu Items

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : February 13, 2014

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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

Tags:California, drive thru, eating, fast food, McDonald's, McGangBang, restaurant, restaurant chain, Ronald McDonald, secret menu

Ordering an item off a restaurant’s secret menu, can give you the feeling that you’re part of a club, where only special people have the privileged information. Many restaurants have secret menus, or items that you can order, that aren’t officially on the menu. Fast food restaurants are no exception, with everyone from Burger King to In and Out Burger getting in on the secret menu act.

Some restaurants are more open about their secret items than others. Dozens of websites and news stories are devoted to finding the newest secret item. While some have been created by the restaurant specifically, others have been created by fans, and have become lore. I recently sampled two of McDonald’s secret menu items: The McGangBang and The Land, Sea, and Air Burger.

The McGangBang

THE MCGANGBANG

The McGangBang may be McDonald’s most famous secret menu item and likely, because of the price. Both items needed to make the sandwich come off the dollar menu, giving you a full meal for only a couple of bucks.

Simply put, the McGangBang is a McChicken sandwich, shoved in between the patties of a McDouble. Each costs $1 on the dollar menu, so for a cheap $2 plus tax, you have this belly busting sandwich!

The name is a nod to the adult term, “gang bang” which means to have intercourse with multiple partners at one time. So, I guess your taste buds are getting multiple flavors at one time? Obviously, this is not officially sanctioned by the McDonald’s corporation.

When I tried ordering this at my local New Jersey McDonald’s, the woman had no idea what I was talking about. Sadly, she spoke little English, so even ordering regular items became a challenge. Armed with my knowledge of the sandwich, I ordered the McChicken and a McDouble and assembled them, myself.

The taste was pretty good and the sandwich is definitely filling! The chicken and the beef patties go well together. The mayo from the McChicken worked well with the ketchup, pickle, and onions of the McDouble. Each time I chewed, I got a little flavor of chicken and then a little flavor of beef. The sandwich was a little heavy with all the multiple patties of meat.

Maybe a more “in the know” cashier will know about this sandwich, but my first secret menu ordering attempt was a bust. Some online reports list this as being first served by employees at a Daytona Beach, Florida McDonald’s. (Again, probably without the consent of the McDonald’s corporation.)

According to recipes online, you can replace the McDouble with a Big Mac, but I’m not sure how that would work with the secret sauce. You can also spice this up, by replacing the McChicken with a Spicy McChicken. I’d definitely try this again, but keep to the original McDouble recipe.

Apparently, there is another version known as a McWhitey, which features a Filet-O-Fish sandwiched in between two McChickens.

The Land, Sea, and Air Burger

THE LAND, SEA, AND AIR BURGER

This giant sandwich looks really nice once assembled! The land, sea, and air burger consists of a patty of beef (land), fish (sea), and chicken (air) all placed together. Yes, I know chickens can’t really fly… I’m not responsible for naming this thing! Would you rather call it the Land, Sea, and Embryo Hatcher Burger?

To enjoy this monstrosity, you will have to pony up several bucks. Only the Hamburger and McChicken are on the dollar menu, so you will need to pay the full price for the Filet-O-Fish to finish this giant sandwich.

This time, I tried ordering at a New York City McDonald’s and again, she had no idea what I was talking about. So, I ordered the three sandwiches separately and assembled everything myself.

The taste was really gross. The tarter sauce from the Filet-O-Fish drowned out all other flavors and the fish was really nasty with the hamburger and chicken. While it looked impressive when plated, the taste prevented me from finishing this one.

I couldn’t find who first came up with the idea for this sandwich, but it is not as much of a cost saver as the McGangBang. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

The internet is full of McDonald’s secret menu items, but it looks like only fans or bored employees are responsible. None of these are sanctioned by the restaurant.

A few other popular so called McDonald’s secret menu items are:

• Big McChicken – a Big Mac, but with the buns replaced with McChicken patties, similar to the KFC Double Down sandwich a few years ago

• Chicken McGriddle – a McGriddle breakfast sandwich with a slab of fried chicken instead of the sausage, egg, or bacon

• Grilled Cheese – cheeseburger with no meat patty or condiments

• Mc1035 – only available from 10:35-11am, when breakfast service is switching over to lunch, featuring two burger patties and cheese (from a McDouble) sandwiched inside an Egg McMuffin

• McCrepe – an order of hotcakes, with a yogurt parfait folded up inside

• McKinley Mac – this was actually served at one time and still is overseas, featuring Quarter Pounder patties, instead of regular burger patties, on a Big Mac

• Monster Mac – 8 burger patties piled inside a Big Mac, variations have appeared on overseas menus

• Pie McFlurry – a McFlurry with an apple pie blended inside

While some of these may sound crazy, McDonald’s has an interesting assortment of sandwiches, which ARE being served by their restaurants overseas. While there are hundreds of sandwiches we never see here, here’s a list of a few more novel ones being offered in foreign markets:

The Ebi Filet-O in Japan

• German Sausage Chicken – served in Japan, fried chicken patty, pork sausage, sauerkraut, cheese, and mustard

• Mega Sausage – served for breakfast in Japan, a hot dog with relish and ketchup or mustard

• McPork – served in Japan, a sausage patty with lettuce and sweet & sour sauce

• Ebi Filet-O – served in Japan, a shrimp patty with Thousand Island dressing and lettuce

• Mega Tomago – served in Japan, a double Big Mac with egg and bacon

Ad for the Mega Tomago

• McD Chicken Porridge – served in Malaysia, porridge with onions and chicken

• Prosperity Burger – served in Malaysia, looks like a McRib, but with black pepper sauce and onions, may be chicken or beef

• McSpaghetti – served in the Philippines

• Seaweed Shaker Fries – served in Asia

• Chicken Maharaja Mac – served in India, a Big Mac with spicy grilled chicken, instead of beef

• McAloo Tiki Burger – potato and chickpea patty with tomato, onions, and tomato mayonnaise

• Brie Nuggets – served in Russia

• McTurco – served in Turkey, two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, cayenne pepper sauce on a pita

The McLobster

• Kiwi Burger – served in New Zealand, with beef, tomato, fried egg, lettuce, and beet root

• McLobster – served in Canada & parts of US, lobster salad on a roll

• Lakeswrap – served in Norway, fried salmon filet, lettuce, cheese, in a tortilla

• McKroket – served in Hungary, fried pastry filled with beef stew on a bun

• McPumpkin Omlet Sandwich – served in Hungary, vegetable beef hash brown, egg, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, on pumpkin seed roll

McDonald’s first opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California and along with the rise of the automobile, helped fuel the fast food craze that swept through the United States and now globally. Their menu of quick service burgers and fries, along with their mascot Ronald McDonald, has become an American icon.

While McDonald’s does not have an official company sanctioned secret menu, many other fast food chains do. Pass along the info if you know of or have tried any!

McDonald’s restaurant in Miles City, Montana

THE 411

Name: McGangBang and Land, Sea, and Air Burger

What: so called McDonald’s restaurant secret menu items

First served: approximately 2006? Popularity spread with rise of internet

Website: mcdonalds.com

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

Don’t be surprised if you get shot down when you ask for one of these at your local McDonald’s. I don’t want to discourage you from giving it a try. But, if they have no idea what you are talking about, just do what I did, and order the parts to assemble the sandwiches yourself.

Just stay away from the Land, Sea, and Air burger… this thing is just gross!

Image credits – loop_oh, albedo20, Tony Chung, Canadian Pacific, and Dave Schott

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] A Man’s Dream: An Entire Bar Devoted to Bacon!

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : January 30, 2014

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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

Tags:after work, bacon, bacon flight, Bacon Lobster Roll, bacon popcorn, bar, BarBacon, beer, beer flight, BLT, burger, drinking, eating, food, grand opening, Happy Hour, new york, New York City, potato salad, restaurant, Super Bowl, travel

You take bacon, you take beer, you dedicate a bar to serving them both and you’ve got just about every man’s dream! It’s happening – in New York City!

NYC certainly has no shortage or great restaurants and bars. Just about any theme or cuisine you desire can be found here. But, every once in a while a new place just commands special attention – and the new BarBacon is it! The only question is – what took so long for someone to come up with an entire bar devoted to bacon?

Inside BarBacon, New York City.

BarBacon opened their doors in December 2013 and judging by the crowd; this place is already a hit! Last Friday, it was packed with after work New Yorkers hungry for beer and bacon! As the evening rolled on, the place became standing room only. By 5pm the bar was completely full.

BarBacon’s Old Fashioned

Their concept is simple, assorted craft beer and spirits mixed with a menu where just about every item features bacon. Beers start at $6 ($3 during 4-7pm Happy Hour) and their specialty cocktail menu starts at $13, which includes cocktails like the Bacon Bloody Mary, Smoked Maple Lemonade (lemonade with Maple Syrup), and a Bacon Old Fashion (which comes with a Brown Sugar rim).

Their location at 836 9^th Avenue between 54^th & 55^th streets makes it convenient for both locals and tourists. The interior design features warm wood wall coverings, black bar and table tops, with an open view into the stainless steel kitchen. Exposed soft lighting helps add to the warm, yet rustic industrial feel.

One of the highlights of the appetizer menu is a $20 beer and bacon flight. Four 4 oz. draft beers are paired with four different types of bacon. Or, you can opt for a $12 bacon only sampler.

Even the garnish on the bacon slides features bacon!

The restaurant proudly serves the following bacon varieties:

• Nueske’s Smoked Applewood Bacon – family smoked bacon from Wisconsin

• Nodine’s Peppered Bacon – fine coated in course black pepper and smoked with hickory & maple hard wood, from the New England Berkshires

• BarBacon Lamb Bacon – salty, smoky, sweet lamb bacon

• Father’s Country Maple Bacon – from a family farm in Kentucky, features flavor of natural, hickory smoke with a glaze of brown sugar

• Peppered Turkey Bacon

• BarBacon Veggie Bacon

This place has cooking bacon down to a science! While bacon is generally really greasy, it is not the case here. Each slice is cooked medium-well. Not too crispy, but not rubbery, either. They have found the perfect cooking temperature!

The bacon lobster roll.

The sandwich menu features multiple specialty burgers, sandwiches, and rolls – all of course, come with bacon.

While I opted for the classic BLT (which was awesome with a huge stack of bacon for $11), my friend Craig ordered their much hyped lobster bacon roll ($18), featuring chunks of real lobster, which he said was absolutely fantastic.

The bacon popcorn.

Another of their crazy menu items is the bacon popcorn, which features small chunks of bacon shaken into a funnel of popcorn – another home run!

The BLT with a side of bacon potato salad. Note: sides do cost extra & are not included with all sandwiches.

To go with my sandwich, I also tried a side of their bacon potato salad. It featured large chunks of bacon, mixed in with large chunks of potatoes, egg, and a light mayo. I enjoyed it, but found the egg taste a little much. I’m not a fan of giant chunks of hard boiled egg and yoke, which this prominently featured.

They also offer a small dessert menu, which includes ice cream and cookies. As of now, none of the dessert items really feature bacon, but online rumors state they are working on their own bacon ice cream and hope to have that ready in a few weeks.

With the Super Bowl in town this weekend, I’m sure fans would love to make this place a highlight of their Big Apple experience!

THE 411

What: BarBacon

Location: 836 9^th Avenue, New York City

Ambience: bar/casual dining

Website: www.barbacon.com

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

This place is quickly becoming one of New York City’s best kept secrets and is part of the new gastropub restaurant phase. Once the place fills up, it can get a little loud, but I was there on a busy Friday night and people were drinking the work week away. We got there before the crowd, but the volume went up as the place got packed. I saw multiple people walk in and walk back out when they saw how busy it was. Your best value is definitely during the 4-7pm happy hour.

Expect to pay around $50 for a meal that includes appetizer, beer, entrée, and dessert. Of course, the more drinks you have the higher the bill. The cost for the beer is about $1 more than you generally pay around the Hell’s Kitchen area in my opinion for a name brand draft.

It’s a great meal and a great place to talk about. It’s in a convenient location for locals and would be great for tourists as well. I plan on bringing my out of town friends there and definitely will be back for another meal. While it’s probably not the best place to take a first date or kids, more established couples or guys out on the town will find it the perfect spot. Besides, who doesn’t like bacon!?!?

While there is a small vegetarian menu, sadly this is probably not their scene!

You’ll find more information about the restaurant on their Facebook page. Their main website is still under construction. Also, look for daily specials on the blackboards above the kitchen.

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] I Ate Inside a Train on the Roof of a New York High Rise

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : December 12, 2013

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You take an old fashioned train car, park it on top of a New York high rise and you’ve got one of the city’s best kept secrets that’s been there for decades!

Recently, I’ve undergone a new philosophy – and that’s to break out of my normal pattern and find new places to eat, drink, visit, and dine. Working in New York City, my options are just about endless. I’ve ate and drank everywhere from a log cabin, to a trailer home, and now a railroad car parked high in the sky! We’ve shared many of these experiences in my blog and I’m happy to share another with you!

Le Train Bleu is parked on top of the 6^th floor of the Bloomingdale’s flagship department store at 59^th St. & Lexington Avenue in New York City. The restaurant is named after an actual French luxury train that would travel from Calais via Paris to the French Rivera from 1886 – 2003.

Le Train Bleu as seen from an overhead view via Google Maps.

While the restaurant is listed on Bloomingdale’s web page, only a few little signs inside the store actually list its existence. Zoom in on Google Maps and you will see the strange train parked on the roof of the original building.

The Bloomingdale’s flagship offers multiple dining options on various floors. The most notable are Magnolia Bakery and a David Burke restaurant, with other side cafes and a Starbucks. But, I was looking to try this unique train car experience.

A co-worker and I ventured over for lunch – and it was that, an adventure!

To access the restaurant, you will want to enter on the Lexington Avenue side and take either the elevator or escalator to the 6^th floor.

One of the few signs directing hungry guests to Le Train Bleu.

Upon arriving on floor 6, there are no signs directing to the restaurant. We had to circle the floor for a few minutes (and this store his HUGE, so it did take a little time) and finally started smelling some yummy food, so we knew we were close.

The stairs up to the platform where Le Train Blue awaits hungry Bloomingdale's customers.

Stairway up to the platform where Le Train Blue awaits hungry Bloomingdale’s New York City shoppers.

Indeed, that yummy was coming from a coffee shop area at the rear of the floor. But, right near the coffee, is a big sign on the ceiling pointing to a carpeted stairway. We walked down an aisle of a zillion Keurig K-Cups and arrived at the steps with a sign displaying the menu for Le Train Blue.

Upon climbing the steps, you actually arrive on a train station platform with a waiting train car!

While there are two sets of doors, the restaurant uses one as an entrance and the rear doors as the exit. So, we followed the paper sign, entered into the train car, and were promptly greeted by a hostess.

This must be a replica train car, but that doesn’t mean that the inspiration for the interior pieces aren’t from a real vintage train. If they’re not, there’s no way to tell. The car is wider than a standard train to allow for two rows of tables and a center aisle. There are doors at both ends, with one leading to the kitchen (the restaurant has its own kitchen up there) and the other leading to the platform exit.

The inside is decorated in early 20^th century wood that features two long overhead racks, just like in a passenger train where shoppers can place their coveted Bloomingdale’s Big Brown Bags. The walls are covered in green velvet and the tables with white linens and cloth napkins.

Overhead racks, just like those found in a real train car, are ready to hold shoppers bags at Le Train Blu at Bloomingdale's flagship store in New York City.

Overhead racks, just like those found in a real train cars, are ready to hold shoppers Big Brown Bags at Le Train Blue at Bloomingdale’s flagship store in New York City.

This restaurant is a little upscale, as is the Bloomingdale’s flagship store, but not like dining at the White House. We were both dressed appropriately in our work clothes.

Could this be outdoor seating? A spectacular view of New York City, Upper East Side high rise apartment buildings.

We were seated at a table by the window which offers a view of the neighboring high rise apartment buildings and a little roof porch. Maybe at one point, they offered outdoor seating?

While, the train could hold probably 200+ diners, only one other table was taken at 2pm and with that, only one other group arrived for lunch. With so few diners, the wait staff was basically waiting around, but was spot on with attention.

The Le Train Bleu menu.

I feel bad that I don’t remember the name of our server. But, she promptly greeted us and it felt like she’s worked there for decades. Her attitude was electric and she was like your New York City mother that makes sure you’re taken good care of. She loved to joke around and definitely enjoys her job and the unique location.

The lunch menu features everything from simple burgers, crab cakes, and salads to upscale continental cuisine such as steak frites, pecan chicken, grilled sea scallops, and sautéed calf’s liver. Sounds like the menu on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen TV show, right?

You can also opt for the Prix-Fixe menu which includes an appetizer, entrée, and desert for a flat $42. They also offer an extensive menu of wines and other limited adult spirits, along with a kids menu.

Butter… Le Train Bleu, style.

We decided to go al a carte. I ordered a Caesar salad and the Sirloin burger. After taking our order, she was right back with a basket that contained several types of bread, and offers us a choice from the basket. She also gives us a large bowl of butter with the restaurant’s logo embossed in wax paper on the top. Classy!

The Caesar salad arrived and it was huge! It featured large slabs of Parmesan cheese with toasted rye bread croutons. It seems like there was almost a whole head of lettuce in there!

While starting on our appetizers, I noticed our waitress was attentively waiting off to the side and was right there the second we needed anything, including refilling our water.

Le Train Bleu burger.

About 20 minutes later, our burger entrees arrived. These are not your typical greasy spoon platters. Each featured bacon, sauteed onions, and Gruyere cheese. They were accompanied by a generous helping of steak fries and a hidden bonus underneath – beer battered onion rings!

All of the food is hand made to order. There’s no reheating a food service bag, here. Those were honestly the best onion rings I ever had. I could have done with an entire plate of those!

The burger was awesome and cooked to medium-well perfection. There’s definitely a blend of spices inside and the burgers were huge.

I was barely able to finish the meal, but it was so good, I was disappointed when it was over.

We got the check and were on our way back to work. Lunch was quick and the whole experience took around 50 minutes.

Bloomingdales opened their first New York City store in 1861. They moved to the present Upper East Side location in 1886 and eventually grew to take over the entire city block. The store is huge and encompasses several interconnected buildings, one as high as 10 floors.

The store is a throwback to the grand old days of downtown department stores. Before malls, stores like these were a destination, where families could shop for hours – hence the need for restaurants. This location is also known for their over the top Christmas display windows that draw large crowds every year.

There is another unrelated upscale Le Train Bleu restaurant located inside the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris.

Interior of Le Train Bleu, situated on the 6th floor of Bloomingdale’s flagship department store, New York City

THE 411

Name: Le Train Bleu

What: restaurant located inside a train car on the 6^th floor of Bloomingdale’s flagship department store

Address: 1000 3^rd Avenue, New York, New York, 6^th floor

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:30am-5pm; Thursday 10:30am-7pm; Sunday 11:30am-4pm

Website: Bloomingdales.com (New York City, Upper East Side location)

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

What a great, unique experience!

I asked other New York friends if they knew about this place and only one, did. This is a great experience for both tourists and locals and I will definitely make another visit. The hours are limited, so make sure you check their schedule, and remember they are not open late into the evening.

The total cost of my meal: $36.99 and was absolutely worth it for the experience. If you’re looking for a fun place to splurge in the Big Apple… this is it!

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Burger King Tries to Invent a Healthier French Fry & Goes to War

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : November 14, 2013

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Category: Columns, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe

Tags:BBQ Rib Sandwich, Big King, Big Mac, Burger King, fast food, French fires, McDonald's, McRib, New York City, restaurant, Satisfries, World Trade Center

Can you take the classic deep fried, golden brown French fry and make it even healthier? Burger King thinks so with what they are calling “Satisfries.” I find out exactly how much healthier they are and if you should make the switch.

Burger King, opened their first restaurant known as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida back in 1953. After the first concept failed, a year later the restaurant was re-launched as simply Burger King focusing on fast food hamburgers, fries, sodas, and milkshakes.

Many people now simply refer to it as BK for short.

French fries have been a fast food meal staple since the launch of the drive thru restaurant concept in the 1950’s. Before that, they can be traced all the way back to Belgium in the 17^th century, where they were often deep fried alongside fish as a meal for the poor.

French fries eventually made their way to the Americas and were even served at a White House dinner by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802.

Generally regarded as not the healthiest of meal options, the thin sliced potatoes are deep fried in oil or fat, until crisp and a golden brown. They are then generally seasoned with salt and served with ketchup. (Yes, I know some people love gravy, cheese, mayonnaise, etc.)

Burger King has decided they want to offer a healthier French fry and have created a version that they advertise as 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than McDonald’s fries.

BK introduced the Satisfries on September 24^th as part of a end of the year marketing push with a big media blitz. The restaurant sent hot samples to many TV shows and food critics. They also gave away free samples at restaurants.

My friend Max, along with several others who seem to be concerned about my terrible eating, gave me the suggestion to give them a try. For those who’ve read this blog for years, know that I am generally open to trying a new fast food item.

The Burger King restaurant located next to the World Trade Center construction site in New York City.

The two level Burger King restaurant located next to the World Trade Center construction site in New York City.

On a recent commute home from work, I stopped by the Burger King restaurant located directly next to the World Trade Center construction site in New York City. 4 World Trade Center now towers high above the two story restaurant.

I went inside a little before 7pm and there were hardly any customers. I was greeted by two BK employees arguing in the back, while others watched and laughed. The whole place had an extremely unprofessional feel, but I was promptly greeted at the cash register.

I placed an order for a sandwich and a side of medium Satisfries. She did the usual, try to get me to buy the value meal speech, but I didn’t want to handle a drink on the train. I placed my order, paid and then waited… and waited… and waited… and waited.

The idea of being a fast food restaurant, means serving up fast food. While they had an entire bin of regular fries ready to go, they had to special make the Satisfries. It took about 7 minutes and multiple times yelling at the back to get my order complete.

An order of Burger King Satisfries.

The first thing I noticed is that these fries are crinkle cut, as opposed to the straight slim cuts of BK’s regular fries. BK did this on purpose, so employees are quickly able to distinguish between the two.

I took a bite and they are quite good, but nothing special. The taste honestly reminds me of opening a bag of frozen Ore-Ida fries from the freezer section of my local grocery store. To me, there is really no difference is taste or shape.

The cost for my medium order of Satisfries was $2.89, while a medium order of regular Burger King fries was $2.59 according to the price posted on the menu board. That’s a 30 cent markup for health.

And now the health breakdown:

Judging by information provided on both restaurants’ websites, the Satisfries are much healthier than the regular BK fries and it does appear they are 30% healthier than McDonald’s as advertised. It’s up to you if the extra time and cost are worth it.

Burger King BBQ Rib Sandwich, their take on the McDonald’s McRib.

The Big King, Burger King’s take on the McDonald’s Big Mac.

And Burger King is not done yet. They’re in the process of dropping a bomb in the fast food war against McDonald’s by adding the new Big King and BBQ Rib sandwiches to their menu. They are BK’s version of the popular Big Mac and McRib sandwiches. BK has already scored a victory in the harsh New York City market, by getting their items in the hands of hungry customers, first. MYC is still patiently waiting for the McRib, while BK is already offering theirs for a $1 bargain.

THE 411

Name: Satisfries

What: healthier French fries served at Burger King restaurants

Cost: $2.59 for medium order in NYC

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

Skip these. They may be a little healthier, but they’re really no different from frozen fries you can buy in the grocery store. They are also not worth the wait. This is fast food, after all. And if you are a health nut, you’re most likely skipping the fast food fries, anyhow.

And for some fun, flip over the wrapper for the BBQ Rib Sandwich and you’ll find a surprise! BK restaurants in Wisconsin and Illinois are also serving a Bratwurst Sandwich, which consists of 2 Johnsonville Brats, mustard, onions, and pickle on a long roll for football season. It is currently not a nationwide promotion.

Inverse side of the BBQ Rib Sandwich wrapper which could also be used for the Bratwurst sandwich.

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