Foodle

I don’t know when Caprice turned.

Twenty years ago, it opened with great fanfare in a tall room with crystal chandeliers that draped like tents, framing wide views of the harbor. The team came from Le Cinq, and the chef Vincent Thierry maintained the polish of Philippe Legendre’s kitchen, whose cooking, as I remember from the year prior, in Paris, was colorless but precise. You’d notice the tight haircuts; the way servers move briskly, with confidence; and the longstanding captain plucked from Gaddi’s. The food was classical yet thoughtful.

Not much on the surface has changed over my half-dozen visits. The dining room still shimmers. So do the gastrotourists pocketing another three-star and those influencers patiently photographing themselves before the food. But my meals there began to fade, and at one point, lunch was tended by unkempt server ferrying visibly flawed dishes, like prematurely carved venison hemorrhaging its juices onto the plate.

Those episodes kept me away until others insisted that the latest chef had found his stride. There’s verve again, they said. Go! So I returned, searching for the Caprice that once moved me.

It never arrived, but there are flickers of craft. The first of it from a $400 (USD) menu appears after a ferry of wan crowd-pleasers — an unremarkable beef tartare and a clean, if blandly austere, slab of foie terrine, with a muted fruit marmalade hijacked by black pepper — and it’s a consommé with enthralling depth, warm with ginger, coriander and timut pepper, that may have overtaken the lean sweetness of the red mullet, but still felt alive. Sadly, the denouement begins with flawlessly-cooked lamb undone by nondescript, mushy celtuce and an over-reduced jus, followed by a promised millefeuille that ate like a dense, day-old napoleon.

Caprice doesn’t have a true analog in Hong Kong; the closest is Singapore’s Les Amis. And while the latter unfairly bludgeons diners with caviar, the soul of its simpler dishes isn’t lost, and a meal there on their best day doesn’t veer far from a well-established, old-school Parisian eatery.

If Paris is the promise, this one feels like the postcard. Beautiful, glossy, and stamped long ago. Less

Friends American Grill – Cumming Visit 🍽️

Ever chase down a regional favorite just to see if anyone in Georgia gets it right? For my latest, it was the Indiana-style fried pork tenderloin sandwich—crispy, oversized, and impossible to find around Atlanta. Someone tipped me off that Friends American Grill might be the closest thing.

Finally tried the Cumming location. Verdict? Pretty close, a bit dry, but it hits the authentic button. I’ve had the real deal in Indiana (yes, the one USA Today in partnership with Indy Star called best in the state), so expectations were high.

Surprise highlight: those pimento cheese wontons 🔥—crispy shell, creamy inside, and that sweet-spicy chili sauce ties it together. My wife went for the pretzel with dips, and it was a win too.

It’s not trying to reinvent bar food, but there’s a neighborhood comfort to it—bigger menu than expected with regional takes the highligh, a few creative touches, and definitely worth another round to explore the specialties.

Been to Friends? What’s your go-to order or favorite location? Drop it below 👇

#AtlantaGrubber #FriendsAmericanGrill #CummingEats #AtlantaFoodScene #GeorgiaFoodie #PimentoCheese #FriedPorkTenderloin #SouthernEats #EatLocalGA #AtlantaRestaurants #BarFood #FoodieFinds Less

Back at Wired Coffeehouse and not only did I try another specialty latte 🧊☕️ But this time I tried one of their sandwiches and pastries and both were delicious 🥪🥐🤤 This place does not disappoint 👏🏻 Be sure to stop by and check my original blog post on this place 👀

#ny #nj #newyork #longisland #longislandfood #foodie #foodreview #foodconisseur #foodcontent #foodblog #foodblogging #foodieonthego #foodmarketing #wiredcoffeehouse #oceansideny #frenchtoastlatte #turkeycapresesandwich #chocolatecroissant #thedailyfoodiechat #globalfoodreboot #internationalfoodiesunite #bestiebites #favglobalfoodies #instasitiophile #foodexplorertribe Less

just dropped: violet oon’s newest eatery @bibik.violet 〰️ 3 things to know:
1️⃣ open for breakfast, lunch + dinner // weekdays 8–9.30pm, weekends 10–9.30pm
2️⃣ perfect for out-of-towners or just your local fix
3️⃣ heads up: veg options are v limited, not for you

#whatKBeats #peranakan #peranakanfood #nyonyafood #violetoonsingapore #violetoon #bibikviolet #bibikvioletsg #singaporeeats #sgeats #sgfoodblogger #sgfoodie #sgeatout #sgmakandiary #sgnewrestaurant #sgrestaurants #singaporelocalfood #sglocalrestaurants #peranakansg Less

NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT

@juneinorlando

This is by far my new favorite Mexican restaurant in town.

First and foremost I LOVE THE FLAVORS!

I think the food in general could use some more heat, but at the same time, it’s super friendly for people that can’t do spicy food.

The creativity, innovation and the presentation is also on point!

Check them out!

PERFECT SPOT FOR A DATE NIGHT

FYI: The Crab Tostadas and The Banana cocktail were my favorite things. Less

The middle child, (according to ChatGPT), usually creates their own identity, acts as a natural mediator, stays adaptable, reads people well, and is quietly overlooked.

Let’s see how Middle Child in Alserkal stacks up.

Independent:-
Not just a restaurant, but also a well-stocked bookstore, showcasing dozens of culinary titles - from McNally’s I Regret Almost Everything to Lopez’s The Food Lab.

Add to that an eclectic range of gourmet pantry items with quirky handwritten labels and suggested recipes, and you start to see the shape of its personality.

The menu is actually quite simple, almost café fare - a contrast to the abundance of culinary inspiration living on the bookshelves.

A club sandwich, cheesecake, roasted potato salad, Labneh Yuzukosho - comfort food that did the job - not trying to impress, just doing its thing. Totes independent.

Diplomatic:-
Middle Child was full of the most eclectic mix of diners - from the conservative to the flamboyant, a full spectrum of religions, cultures, professions, and beliefs - as if we were all about to star in a Benetton advert.

Only a true middle child could smooth tensions, connect opposites and read people this well.

Empathetic:
The soundtrack alone told you Middle Child understood people - a blend of lo-fi groove, soul, and cosmic cool that dialed itself in perfectly to the room’s collective mood.

The Serb and I were showing our age; one of us (can’t remember who, but it wasn’t me) commented on how loud it was. Then, in a brief pause between tracks, we discovered they also own the world’s loudest blender.

Adaptable:
7 p.m. and Middle Child was full. Maybe people waiting for the traffic to die down, but Middle Child’s ability to respond with the day is undeniable.

Coffee stop, counter lunch, makeshift office, dinner with friends, retail browsing, quiet read, quick takeaway - Middle Child has found the sweet spot.

Overlooked:
If middle children grow up fearing they’ll be overlooked, Middle Child at AlSerkal can rest easy. A cool, casual little spot, with bags of personality and charisma - no one’s overlooking this one. Less

@amalinyc has long been one of my favorite spots in #midtowneast! This elegant Mediterranean restaurant features a seasonal menu using locally sourced ingredients - and I’ve yet to find a dish I didn’t like! Definitely don’t miss their pastas and seafood, and dessert is the perfect way to wrap up the meal.

🐚 Scallop Crudo
🐙 Spanish Octopus
🌰 Agnolotti with Chestnuts
🍝 Spaghetti
🍗 Tamarind Chicken
🍞 Bread Pudding
🍰 Basque Cheesecake
.
.
.
.
#seafoodlover #seafooddiet #octopus #braised #scallop #crudo #agnolotti #chestnut #spaghetti #pinenuts #meltedcheese #basil #pastalover #tamarind #grilledchicken #basmati #breadpudding #cheesecakelover #basque Less