Foodle

So many lovely dishes @cedarandelmseattle, a gracious, light-filled, conversation-friendly dining room in Kenmore's @lodgeatstedward

1. Lion's mane & maitake mushroom confit with sourdough breadcrumbs
2. Buried under all the hazelnuts is a roasted wedge of cabbage with black garlic, spinach & eggplant
3. Koji cured bavette steak frites
4. Alaskan king salmon with turnips
5. Branzino with lemon sauce
6. A posset topped with cocoa nibs
7. Strawberry sorbet with brittle shards of panforte

#seattlerestaurants #dinnerwithfriends Less

Discovering the Iconic John's of Bleecker Street in Manhattan

When it comes to pizza in Manhattan, one name often rises to the top: @Johnsofbleeckerstreet. What’s the one pizza place in Manhattan to eat? Asking food advisors like Adam Hyzdu, relying on AI recommendations from ChatGPT, or following the enthusiastic endorsement by @stoolpresidente, known for his no-nonsense pizza reviews, John's is frequently hailed as a must-visit destination. So naturally, Mrs. Grubber and I decided to see if it lived up to the hype.

The Pizza Experience
The experience did not disappoint. The pizza at John's is among the best I've ever tasted, with each component—crust, cheese, and sauce—coming together in perfect harmony. While I may not prioritize the way a slice folds, John's manages to excel even there. The crust was thin yet delightfully charred, or "undercarriage" as Portnoy would say, and it still folded flawlessly. The plain pie was simply superb, earning my enthusiastic "I'd rush back" approval.

What’s Next?
Intriguingly, my friend Joey D, who knows his pizza having grown up with it, insists that I must try their calzone next time. Will it live up to the high standards set by their pizza? Only a future trip will tell, and with so many culinary adventures awaiting in NYC, it’s a matter of when—not if—I return.

Have you been to John's of Bleecker Street? What’s your take on their pizza? And if you've tried the calzone, is it as legendary as the pizza? Let's get the conversation rolling!

Join the Discussion
Have you visited John's of Bleecker Street? Share your experience!
What's your go-to pizza spot in Manhattan?

Any recommendations for my next NYC culinary adventure?

#JohnsOfBleeckerStreet #PizzaLovers #NYCEats #FoodieAdventures #ManhattanPizza
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Discovering Chinatown's Culinary Gems: A Taste Adventure
I found myself in an enviable situation, following up what many consider the top pizza place in Manhattan with a visit to Chinatown’s consensus favorite—arguably. My stop at Uncle Lou's was a culinary delight.

A Sizzling Experience with Scallops
The scallops in black pepper sauce were served on a sizzling plate, and they were a true highlight. The scallops themselves were of high quality, but it was the world-class black pepper sauce that truly elevated the dish. It was flavorful without being overpowering. Have you ever tried a dish that perfectly balances bold flavors?

Wontons with a Twist
The wontons in chili oil at @unclelouny had more of a resemblance to shumai dumplings as compared to some of my favorites in Johns Creek, which are like smaller dumplings.

Comparing Chinatowns: A Broader Perspective
This wasn't my first rodeo in NYC's Chinatown; I've also explored the vibrant Chinatowns of San Francisco and Philadelphia. So, when New Yorkers boast about their unrivaled food scene, it's crucial to remind them that great Chinese food isn't exclusive to their city. Have you visited Duluth, Johns Creek, or BuHi? These spots offer incredible Chinese cuisine that deserve attention.

A Call to Explore
This isn’t to say the top 5 on a tiny stretch of Medlock Bridge would compete with the Chinatown of the one of the biggest cities in the world and most populated of US. They might not all make a top 5 list on Manhattan, but they certainly stand strong on their own. Isn't it time to stop pretending these places don't exist and start exploring them?

Ready to dive into more of what Chinatown has to offer? I'm eager to return and continue this delicious journey. What about you? Share your favorite Chinatown experiences or local finds in the comments!

#FoodAdventure #ChinatownEats #ExploreLocal #CulinaryJourney #AtlantaGrubber Less

In Neapolitan tailoring, sprezzatura is shorthand for cool, effortless style, where the shoulder of a softly padded $5,000 blazer is mischievously pleated; the breast pocket curved like a small boat; and the wearer looking as if he had ordered the second-cheapest Barolo with conviction.

At the upper end of dining, this studied nonchalance is refreshing. And @somma.world , housed in the former library of a midcentury-modern school, understands the appeal.

Last year, I (endearingly) took aim at the way Somma choreographed the midpoint between dinner and dark theater. A few of those elements still remain, but the fervent huddle of chefs behind those doors no longer startles; the room feels brighter; and the sermons feel more lived in. What holds today, more clearly now, is that the chef @iammirkofebbrile has turned Somma into one of the most dynamic restaurants in the city.

It’s also one of the rare tasting menus that feels more alive on a return visit, as I found in May. “Relaxed” more aptly described the tenor, though Febbrile’s food is still precise and deeply layered. Consider the humble corn husk broth, whose sweetness and nuttiness arrive first, followed by a wash of gently spicy Coratina olive oil that elevates the sip; the manicured asparagus, cooked to a rebellious al dente, paired with a shockingly clean distillation of sugar snap peas, here as ice cream; the deceptively complex pasta course — a full-bore expression of eggplant, whose skins are used with burnt honey and parmesan whey to anoint the water in which the pasta is cooked. Nonchalant is one way to describe its sauce, which is the custardy flesh of the eggplant, loosened with olive oil. Another is unreasonable.

So, too, the lamb: a 3-month-old Pyrenees breed wearing a salt-and-pepper skin as brittle as chicken skin, served simply with spring vegetables. One of the city’s great lamb dishes.

The only slight downer was an unnervingly sweet palate cleanser — Amalfi lemon blighted by Gariguette (!) strawberry — but that shouldn’t detract from the obvious: Somma may still be waiting on a benediction or two from a tire company, but it’s already cooking at that caliber.

📍Somma
🍽️ May ’26 Less

Review of La Gondola Pizzeria in Ramsey, NJ

Hey Atlanta Grubber fam! Just got back from a trip to New York State for a bat mitzvah, where we were extremely well-fed. But you know how it is—when in the area, you’ve gotta explore the local food scene. So, Mrs. Grub and I took a day trip to NYC and, of course, hit up a nearby pizza shop on the Jersey side, not far from the state line.

Now, everyone knows the rules: New Jersey is a top contender for the country's best pizza. As a South Jersey native, I’ve had my fair share of great pies in the Phillyburbs. We’ve had a few in North Jersey, the Big Apple suburbs including the renowned Kinchley’s Tavern, not far from where we were staying. Since that was already checkmarked a few times, this time, we decided to try @lagondolapizzeriaramsey in Ramsey, NJ—a top-rated spot I hadn’t been to before.

Despite it being our third meal of the day (the first two in Manhattan, mind you as reviewed previous!), we couldn't pass up the chance to try this place. Their "#1 rated pie" was the bruschetta, and Mrs. Grub was all in for it. She absolutely loved the roasted garlic, and I was impressed by the fresh tomatoes, which seemed to be added right after baking. Trust me, it was a tough act to follow after John’s of Bleecker earlier that day, but La Gondola held its own and came highly recommended.

While most of my NJ pizza favorites have been visited by @stoolpresidente, it seems La Gondola might have slipped under his radar, though my search may have missed it. It might not hit a 9.3 like John’s, but he’d be missing out if he didn’t give this spot a very good rating.

#PizzaLovers #NewJerseyEats #LaGondolaPizzeria #FoodAdventure #PizzaReview #AtlantaGrubber #RamseyNJ #NorthJerseyPizza Less

Discovering a Hidden Gem in Calhoun: Christian and Jake’s Bistro

A Foodie’s Journey for Chicken Salad
Of course I’m out of my mind. That’s well documented here. I will travel long distances for world-class barbecue, pizza, and cheesesteaks when I’m visiting my old stomping grounds. But chicken salad sandwiches? Not usually top of my list. However, when a fellow food enthusiast gives a recommendation unprecedented for said item, you have to listen. My adventure led me to @christian_jakes_bistro in Calhoun, Georgia.

The Perfect Pairing: C&J's Bistro and Buc-ee’s
The Duffy family doesn’t venture out just for a sandwich. We love Buc-ee’s, and our travels take us through both the Calhoun and Warner Robins locations at least once a year. When the opportunity to combine a @bucees visit with a trip to Christian and Jake’s arose, we made our first out of the way trip to Buc-ee’s and more.

A Chicken Salad Worth the Drive
Christian and Jake’s chicken salad is traditional—finely ground with no nuts or fruits, served on a delicious French roll. The portion size was generous, and the quality could rival any offering in metro Atlanta. If this bistro were closer, it would certainly be my go-to spot for chicken salad.

A Busy Bistro with Loyal Followers
Even on a Monday at 2 PM, the place was bustling, a testament to its popularity. For my next visit, I might try the salad trio. I’m a fan of ham salad, which is not always easy to find, so it was great to see it on the menu. My mom, who wasn’t particularly hungry, enjoyed her side of potato salad, while my wife and daughter indulged in chicken salad—my wife on a Caesar salad and @abbyduffy1 got hers on a croissant.

Why Make the Trip?
If you’re a fan of Buc-ee’s and looking to add a little extra to your trip, Christian and Jake’s Bistro is the perfect stop. It’s just one exit north and .6 miles west of Buc-ee’s, making it a convenient and tasty road food option. Open weekdays from 11 AM to 3 PM, it’s a must-visit for anyone passing through. So, next time the family craves a Buc-ee’s fix, this 2-for-1 bonus is a great reason to say, “Why not?”

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The menu said “23 Years of Quince,” but the dish I kept thinking about wasn’t on it: four ravioli that looked like sunflowers weathered by a summer without rain, sitting in a shallow but potent pool of corn jus, with its foam gathered around them. Then the chef Michael Tusk lays a flattened husk over the pasta, christening it with one last charge of corn.

The ceremony of it all might have seemed a bit much if the ravioli hadn’t been so good.

But they were. Their flavors built steadily: dark caramel first, then something toastier — likely the browned edge of a cob — before settling into the milky sweetness of raw kernels followed by aroma so relentlessly buttery it recalled the popcorn stand at a state fair.

I can count on one hand the corn dishes that have moved me as a food writer. The first cob I ate in Hokkaido, hot enough to melt the cold butter I kept pressing onto it; Cosme’s corn-husk meringue; Jean-Georges’s sweet-corn ravioli in basil fondue; and now these four, which evaded both the printed menu and my camera as I ate them quickly, without ceremony.

My dinner that began in their renovated dining room before it moved to the kitchen felt at times like a brisk overture of their greatest hits, including the (rightfully) vaunted beetroot spaghetti, stained red to its core and carrying a generous mound of caviar. It’s through this sequence that the prologues, a smoked almond custard brightened with slivered coins of kumquat and geoduck clam crowned over a mound of carosello melon — the cleanest and most precious of the dishes — stand in contrast with the later dishes, which more loudly trumpet Tusk’s style. Because as dinner progressed, so too did his rustic instincts, deepening into dishes like asparagus fished tableside from a cauldron of herbed bouillon (a revelation) and that hypnotically aromatic Watson Farm lamb, cooked at the hearth.

Yes, old signatures will always arrive with their reputations intact, but the better news is that Tusk does not seem especially interested in dining out on them.

Thank you @theandrewcheng for paving the way, @michaeltusk for the meal (to remember), and @davidefra86 for the hospitality.

📍@quince_sf
🍽️ June ‘26 Less