Saturday, November 10, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Is anyone out there?
I can't imagine anyone is still reading this. I've been on a mini break and I am planning a major comeback the likes of which you have never seen. In the meantime a short post and a few pictures of some summer favorites.
The Lemon-Lime Posset mentioned in an earlier post.
A Dark and Stormy (as made here by the folks at Peju Club)
I'll be back soone in full force.
The Lemon-Lime Posset mentioned in an earlier post.
A Dark and Stormy (as made here by the folks at Peju Club)
I'll be back soone in full force.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Chicago Part 4: Eleven City Diner
It's been about a million years since I got back from Chicago. But I have this last post that I didn't get around to...so here it is, the final Chicago info.
A block away from Bongo Room, right near our hotel, was another great breakfast place.
Eleven City Diner
Because the restaurant claimed to be like an old school New York Jewish deli, I was hesitant. Why would I leave New York to go to Chicago to eat in at New York place. But we felt like Bongo Room back to back wasn't a good idea.
Good decision on our part. I started with a Bloody Mary. Always a good way to start a Sunday.
They made it with a bottled mix, which was fine, but the garnish of salami and cheese, along with enormous olives, bumped this cocktail up to very good.
I had a traditional bagel and lox plate. It had all the right parts and so was very good. I've had better bagels, and probably better lox, but it all worked.
The husband had corned beef hash with a fried egg. This really was excellent.
Sometimes you have to go to another city to remember why you love the city you came from.
A block away from Bongo Room, right near our hotel, was another great breakfast place.
Eleven City Diner
Because the restaurant claimed to be like an old school New York Jewish deli, I was hesitant. Why would I leave New York to go to Chicago to eat in at New York place. But we felt like Bongo Room back to back wasn't a good idea.
Good decision on our part. I started with a Bloody Mary. Always a good way to start a Sunday.
They made it with a bottled mix, which was fine, but the garnish of salami and cheese, along with enormous olives, bumped this cocktail up to very good.
I had a traditional bagel and lox plate. It had all the right parts and so was very good. I've had better bagels, and probably better lox, but it all worked.
The husband had corned beef hash with a fried egg. This really was excellent.
Sometimes you have to go to another city to remember why you love the city you came from.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Lemon-Lime Posset
Last night I made my new favorite dessert - a Lemon-Lime Posset. I have no idea what Possets are, but I love them.
I would like to say that I have turned a corner in my cooking, and that I am now at a restaurant worthy level...but in reality, it is just one of those perfect recipes.
This summer is officially the summer of Possets. I will be testing all sorts of varieties.
More on this later, with pictures (the rest of the meal wasn't bad either).
I would like to say that I have turned a corner in my cooking, and that I am now at a restaurant worthy level...but in reality, it is just one of those perfect recipes.
This summer is officially the summer of Possets. I will be testing all sorts of varieties.
More on this later, with pictures (the rest of the meal wasn't bad either).
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Chicago Part 3a: mk
I can't write much now because I am so late for work. I already missed my 1st train and now I am squeezing this in before I catch the next one. I will embellish with words later.
These are from a great restaurant in Chicago called mk. The food was better then my camera work - still haven't mastered the lowlight shot in a restaurant.
These are from a great restaurant in Chicago called mk. The food was better then my camera work - still haven't mastered the lowlight shot in a restaurant.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Chicago Part 2: Gibsons
How can you go to a Chicago and not eat steak?
The answer was obvious to us: you don't!
As mentioned in the previous post, we research all dining options before a vacation. Our search for steakhouses turned out to be a tough one. We have a pretty strict criteria with steak houses and also we are tough critics coming from New York, where steakhouses are around just about every corner.
There was no clear consensus on the Internet. So we had to go with what seemed to have the most characteristics of the the kind of place we like best: old school, big cocktails, not much on the menu but steak, the place where captains of industry have a regular table and have three martini lunches with cigars.
Gibson's was the front runner in these categories.
Our waiter made me a little angry at the start of the meal. First, when I said I was deciding what to get to drink - he said, "I'll get you a cosmo - you'll like that."
Yes, I am a girl. Yes, I did get gussied up. But still, I don't like when people assume I like girlie things - or order for me. It is a bit of the feminist in me.
I smiled nicely and said, actually I will have an Old Fashioned with Maker's Mark. I wanted to say, bring me a double whisky neat - just to really throw him off. But I wanted to remember the meal, plus I don't really like whisky without ice and some cherries, but that is besides the point. So here was my Old Fashioned which was delicious.
The menu was real steakhouse fare. The requisite cuts of meat, the one fish dish, the creamed spinach, you get the point. The waiters also bring over a platter of steaks and a lobster tail (enormous) to give you an idea of the different cuts.
This bothered me a little. I guess because it seemed unnecessary and a little gimmicky. But whatever.
So the next thing our waiter did that made me angry was not even ask me what I wanted but say, "I know you are having the filet mignon" and then go to the husband for his order. Grrrr.
Now, there is nothing wrong with a filet, but it isn't my go to choice in a steak house. At a french restaurant with a red wine cream sauce, yes. But not at a place where the beef is on its own. I hated that he assumed I wanted the filet and even more, I hate the way he ordered it for me. Poor Elvis (that was his name) he didn't mean any harm - I spared him this rant. Instead, I smiled and I politely said I would rather have the bone in rib eye, medium rare.
The steaks came with a salad which was drowning in blue cheese. This was fine, but I didn't want to eat too much and ruin my appetite. Oh and the bread in the background was great. Wine was also very good, not spectacular, but very good. Elvis recommended something very reasonable (can't remember what it was, sorry). It was definitely a cabernet, but that is all I can recall.
We also ordered creamed spinach which was as good as any I've had. And we got a potato that looked like it ate another potato. It was huge and restuffed. Not something I would typically order, but it came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint.
The steak itself was perfectly cooked and immensely flavorful. The best part was the char on the outside of the steak. I didn't need to add any salt or pepper, which is rare for me at a SH. Even if everything else had been terrible, the steak alone was good enough to deem this meal a success. I apologize for the carcass picture, but you love it, don't you?
Here is the dessert menu. We laughed at the thought of it - and then covered our eyes in horror when we saw what people were receiving when they ordered a "piece" of carrot cake. It was about 1/2 of a total cake, I am not exaggerating. Fun at first I am sure, and then a little ridiculous.
Elvis won me over by the end and he and I were fast friends. The place had real charm, everybody was well fed and taken care of, and I would definitely recommend Gibson's if you are looking for a good old-fashioned steak house. It was worth every "overpriced in a steakhouse kind of way" penny.
That said, it didn't come close to Lugers....but I'm not sure anything will.
P.S. We also ordered a crab salad with avocado. Fine, but totally forgettable.
The answer was obvious to us: you don't!
As mentioned in the previous post, we research all dining options before a vacation. Our search for steakhouses turned out to be a tough one. We have a pretty strict criteria with steak houses and also we are tough critics coming from New York, where steakhouses are around just about every corner.
There was no clear consensus on the Internet. So we had to go with what seemed to have the most characteristics of the the kind of place we like best: old school, big cocktails, not much on the menu but steak, the place where captains of industry have a regular table and have three martini lunches with cigars.
Gibson's was the front runner in these categories.
Our waiter made me a little angry at the start of the meal. First, when I said I was deciding what to get to drink - he said, "I'll get you a cosmo - you'll like that."
Yes, I am a girl. Yes, I did get gussied up. But still, I don't like when people assume I like girlie things - or order for me. It is a bit of the feminist in me.
I smiled nicely and said, actually I will have an Old Fashioned with Maker's Mark. I wanted to say, bring me a double whisky neat - just to really throw him off. But I wanted to remember the meal, plus I don't really like whisky without ice and some cherries, but that is besides the point. So here was my Old Fashioned which was delicious.
The menu was real steakhouse fare. The requisite cuts of meat, the one fish dish, the creamed spinach, you get the point. The waiters also bring over a platter of steaks and a lobster tail (enormous) to give you an idea of the different cuts.
This bothered me a little. I guess because it seemed unnecessary and a little gimmicky. But whatever.
So the next thing our waiter did that made me angry was not even ask me what I wanted but say, "I know you are having the filet mignon" and then go to the husband for his order. Grrrr.
Now, there is nothing wrong with a filet, but it isn't my go to choice in a steak house. At a french restaurant with a red wine cream sauce, yes. But not at a place where the beef is on its own. I hated that he assumed I wanted the filet and even more, I hate the way he ordered it for me. Poor Elvis (that was his name) he didn't mean any harm - I spared him this rant. Instead, I smiled and I politely said I would rather have the bone in rib eye, medium rare.
The steaks came with a salad which was drowning in blue cheese. This was fine, but I didn't want to eat too much and ruin my appetite. Oh and the bread in the background was great. Wine was also very good, not spectacular, but very good. Elvis recommended something very reasonable (can't remember what it was, sorry). It was definitely a cabernet, but that is all I can recall.
We also ordered creamed spinach which was as good as any I've had. And we got a potato that looked like it ate another potato. It was huge and restuffed. Not something I would typically order, but it came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint.
The steak itself was perfectly cooked and immensely flavorful. The best part was the char on the outside of the steak. I didn't need to add any salt or pepper, which is rare for me at a SH. Even if everything else had been terrible, the steak alone was good enough to deem this meal a success. I apologize for the carcass picture, but you love it, don't you?
Here is the dessert menu. We laughed at the thought of it - and then covered our eyes in horror when we saw what people were receiving when they ordered a "piece" of carrot cake. It was about 1/2 of a total cake, I am not exaggerating. Fun at first I am sure, and then a little ridiculous.
Elvis won me over by the end and he and I were fast friends. The place had real charm, everybody was well fed and taken care of, and I would definitely recommend Gibson's if you are looking for a good old-fashioned steak house. It was worth every "overpriced in a steakhouse kind of way" penny.
That said, it didn't come close to Lugers....but I'm not sure anything will.
P.S. We also ordered a crab salad with avocado. Fine, but totally forgettable.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Chicago Part 1: Bongo Room
There are many reasons to love Chicago. At no point before this most recent visit did I think breakfast would rank high among them.
We arrived early on Saturday morning, 8am. We had been up for 4 hours so it was essentially lunch time - a real, full meal was necessary.
A little googling before we left told us that there was a highly recommended breakfast place right by our hotel. And yes, we google, chowhound, citysearch, and blogsearch every meal before we go on vacation. Sometimes I worry that it can take the spontaneity out of a trip - but when it works, there are no regrets.
The Bongo Room was such a hit, the Husband and I both went back for our last meals before our respective flights home.
The pancakes were said to be THE thing to order. This is a good time to tell you all, that apparently, I am much smarter in Chicago. There are some cities where I turn into an idiot, I can't order well, I can't find my way around, there is just something off. But in Chicago, I was on my game - and this meal was just the beginning, more on this tomorrow.
So back to the pancakes, there were ridiculous choices to be had with chocolate sauces, and fresh berries, and vanilla creams. It was hard to choose. But our research beforehand served us well.
Though not on the menu, we were tipped off that you could order a single pancake instead of the full order, a good way to sample more then one and balance the meal off with something from the salty side of the menu.
Here was our order:
Eggs Benedict with spinach pesto, fresh spinach, and thick cut smoked bacon.
One crushed oreo cookie flapjack with warm vanilla bean cream sauce. Topped with chocolate creme anglaise.
One blueberry pancake with vanilla creme anglaise and blueberry coulis.
Really, only pictures can do this meal justice.
The spinach made this seem somewhat healthy....
They brought us a full order of the oreo-banana pancakes by accident. Yes, we felt ridiculous with all this food - my well laid plan of one pancake foiled. But it did make for a better picture and sadly we ate more then one of the pancakes.
Yes, they were as rich and silly as they looked. It was like 12 year olds created the menu...really smart 12 year olds.
On my last visit, I ordered a single oreo banana pancake - my justification for returning (other then the obvious deliciousness reason) was that as soon as I got back to NY I would eat healthier.
hahahaha.
We arrived early on Saturday morning, 8am. We had been up for 4 hours so it was essentially lunch time - a real, full meal was necessary.
A little googling before we left told us that there was a highly recommended breakfast place right by our hotel. And yes, we google, chowhound, citysearch, and blogsearch every meal before we go on vacation. Sometimes I worry that it can take the spontaneity out of a trip - but when it works, there are no regrets.
The Bongo Room was such a hit, the Husband and I both went back for our last meals before our respective flights home.
The pancakes were said to be THE thing to order. This is a good time to tell you all, that apparently, I am much smarter in Chicago. There are some cities where I turn into an idiot, I can't order well, I can't find my way around, there is just something off. But in Chicago, I was on my game - and this meal was just the beginning, more on this tomorrow.
So back to the pancakes, there were ridiculous choices to be had with chocolate sauces, and fresh berries, and vanilla creams. It was hard to choose. But our research beforehand served us well.
Though not on the menu, we were tipped off that you could order a single pancake instead of the full order, a good way to sample more then one and balance the meal off with something from the salty side of the menu.
Here was our order:
Eggs Benedict with spinach pesto, fresh spinach, and thick cut smoked bacon.
One crushed oreo cookie flapjack with warm vanilla bean cream sauce. Topped with chocolate creme anglaise.
One blueberry pancake with vanilla creme anglaise and blueberry coulis.
Really, only pictures can do this meal justice.
The spinach made this seem somewhat healthy....
They brought us a full order of the oreo-banana pancakes by accident. Yes, we felt ridiculous with all this food - my well laid plan of one pancake foiled. But it did make for a better picture and sadly we ate more then one of the pancakes.
Yes, they were as rich and silly as they looked. It was like 12 year olds created the menu...really smart 12 year olds.
On my last visit, I ordered a single oreo banana pancake - my justification for returning (other then the obvious deliciousness reason) was that as soon as I got back to NY I would eat healthier.
hahahaha.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Coming Soon
I happened to be in Chicago the past week and have just returned a little tired and a little fatter. I ate the crap out of that city and can't wait to tell you about it.
The thing is, I had these lofty goals to blog on the road and even brought my camera and a laptop. But wouldn't you know that I forgot to bring the connector thingy.
I tried to shove and smoosh the camera into the computer, I even tried my best negotiating skills, but the pictures just wouldn't cooperate and held fort firmly in the camera.
This weekend though, is the first weekend in over a month that I am not working or away so the blogfest will begin. Stay tuned.
The thing is, I had these lofty goals to blog on the road and even brought my camera and a laptop. But wouldn't you know that I forgot to bring the connector thingy.
I tried to shove and smoosh the camera into the computer, I even tried my best negotiating skills, but the pictures just wouldn't cooperate and held fort firmly in the camera.
This weekend though, is the first weekend in over a month that I am not working or away so the blogfest will begin. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Yankee Game
Just got back from the Boogie Down Bronx, thanks SIL for the tix!
Yankees win - good.
Stomach after bag of Cracker Jacks - bad.
I haven't had a bag of CJ in probably 25 years. I have no idea what persuaded me tonight. Just read the back of the bag, have eaten 7 servings. Go me.
Yankees win - good.
Stomach after bag of Cracker Jacks - bad.
I haven't had a bag of CJ in probably 25 years. I have no idea what persuaded me tonight. Just read the back of the bag, have eaten 7 servings. Go me.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Something Healthy
Here is a peek into the 4pm conversation that happens with the Husband just about every afternoon.
Husband: "What should we do for dinner?" "Do you feel like cooking?"
Me: "I guess so - what do you feel like eating?"
Husband: "I don't know, what do you feel like?"
Me: "I don't know, just pick something"
Husband: "Fine, something healthy"
Me: "Hmmm, I'll pick something up on my way home"
(There are usually a few more "I don't know, what do you feel like" thrown in there - but I didn't want to bore you.)
Cue about 30 minutes of internet research for something more interesting then a boring salad or steamed vegetables and then off to the market.
By the way, why is it so much easier, more interesting, and usually tastier, to cook unhealthy dinners. Loading something with cheese or butter for example is just better don't you think? Does anyone really like a salad more then say french fries? I know people prefer healthy sometimes and yes, it can be refreshing and taste good. But, when pressed, and I mean "lie detector tested" pressed, can people actually say they enjoy healthy food more then unhealthy food?
But I digress...back to "Something Healthy"
So last week was no different but this was one of my more favorite healthy nights - and puts a check in the healthy food is better column (still a pretty lonely check mind you).
I had about 1/3 of a box of orzo that had been taking up highly prized real estate in my cupboard. Eviction was around the corner when the next food delivery came, so it was go time. I found a recipe and adapted slightly.
To the cooked orzo (about 1 cup or so dry maybe) I added a package of halved cherry tomatoes, about 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, minced lemon peel, and one seeded and chopped cucumber.
The dressing was a touch of white wine vinegar, olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, the juice from one lemon (and then some) and about 1 tbsp of lemon zest. Salt and pepper of course to taste.
The result was a fresh tasting, zesty summer salad. A definite repeat. And it made enough for a small army or lots of good lunches for the rest of the week.
Fish is almost a prerequisite for "healthy nights" and because of its relative cheapness, tilapia is a regular presence on our table. I've had this fancy hazelnut oil (J. LeBlanc) that we bought in Paris and I am always looking for new uses so Hazelnut Tilapia was born.
Super easy. I made a tin foil boat for each piece of fish and placed them on a cookie sheet. I sprinkled both with a bit of the oil, salted and peppered both sides, sqeezed some lemon juice on both and topped with chopped hazelnuts that I happened to have left over from a cake I made the night before (will post about that soon - husband has deemed it the best cake I have ever made). I closed the top of each tin foil boat to make a little packet. Popped the pan in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes and voila!
Not bad if I do say so myself.
Husband: "What should we do for dinner?" "Do you feel like cooking?"
Me: "I guess so - what do you feel like eating?"
Husband: "I don't know, what do you feel like?"
Me: "I don't know, just pick something"
Husband: "Fine, something healthy"
Me: "Hmmm, I'll pick something up on my way home"
(There are usually a few more "I don't know, what do you feel like" thrown in there - but I didn't want to bore you.)
Cue about 30 minutes of internet research for something more interesting then a boring salad or steamed vegetables and then off to the market.
By the way, why is it so much easier, more interesting, and usually tastier, to cook unhealthy dinners. Loading something with cheese or butter for example is just better don't you think? Does anyone really like a salad more then say french fries? I know people prefer healthy sometimes and yes, it can be refreshing and taste good. But, when pressed, and I mean "lie detector tested" pressed, can people actually say they enjoy healthy food more then unhealthy food?
But I digress...back to "Something Healthy"
So last week was no different but this was one of my more favorite healthy nights - and puts a check in the healthy food is better column (still a pretty lonely check mind you).
I had about 1/3 of a box of orzo that had been taking up highly prized real estate in my cupboard. Eviction was around the corner when the next food delivery came, so it was go time. I found a recipe and adapted slightly.
To the cooked orzo (about 1 cup or so dry maybe) I added a package of halved cherry tomatoes, about 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, minced lemon peel, and one seeded and chopped cucumber.
The dressing was a touch of white wine vinegar, olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, the juice from one lemon (and then some) and about 1 tbsp of lemon zest. Salt and pepper of course to taste.
The result was a fresh tasting, zesty summer salad. A definite repeat. And it made enough for a small army or lots of good lunches for the rest of the week.
Fish is almost a prerequisite for "healthy nights" and because of its relative cheapness, tilapia is a regular presence on our table. I've had this fancy hazelnut oil (J. LeBlanc) that we bought in Paris and I am always looking for new uses so Hazelnut Tilapia was born.
Super easy. I made a tin foil boat for each piece of fish and placed them on a cookie sheet. I sprinkled both with a bit of the oil, salted and peppered both sides, sqeezed some lemon juice on both and topped with chopped hazelnuts that I happened to have left over from a cake I made the night before (will post about that soon - husband has deemed it the best cake I have ever made). I closed the top of each tin foil boat to make a little packet. Popped the pan in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes and voila!
Not bad if I do say so myself.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Restaurant Review: Bianca
The husband and I went for one of those perfect New York meals. The kind that you can only get in this city. It isn't just about the food - it is that feeling that you are in an amazing place, and everyone else in the room feels it too. The energy isn't really quantifiable or tangible - it's just there. It has something to do with the lighting, the people you pass on the way in, the weather, the noise, but again I couldn't really describe what makes it great.
So I will stick with describing the food. The said meal took place at Bianca, an Italian restaurant specializing in delicacies from Emiglia-Romagna. (Blogger doesn't work well with macs so no link function - here is a link to menupages - http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=2&restaurantid=6230&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=35).
5 Bleecker St, New York, 10012
We had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table - time easily passed at the bar next door, Von. The host (owner?) George was pretty amazing. You don't usually see someone that attentive at these little places. We don't like waiting for tables as a rule, but George could probably have made us wait for more then an hour and we still would have been smiling when we were seated.
We started the meal with gnocco fritto, fried puffs of dough served with a cheese that appeared to be a type of mascarpone. The husband indulged me by ordering these - he isn't often up for fried foods - but they were pretty fantastic. The dough was light and the cheese was just tangy enough.
We also split a salad of shredded artichokes dressed in a lemon vinaigrette and topped with slivers of Parmigianno Reggiano. Any guilt from the previous appetizer was wiped clean with the fresh, clean, flavors of this salad. I've never had artichokes quite like this, they were crispy - even crunchy - and I loved the way the dish didn't taste quite finished unless eaten with the sharp parm.
On to entrees, I had the lasagna with a bechamel and meat sauce. Rich doesn't quite describe this dish. I am pretty sure the pasta was fresh, it was those super thin sheets that mush into one another when you cut it with a fork. No slippery lasagna sheets that spread apart when you try to eat it. The sauce was tomatoey and meaty and cheesy all at once. I ate the second half of it yesterday for lunch and it was almost as good as the first time around.
The husband had pasta with broccoli rabe, sausage, and olive oil. No bitterness in the broccoli rabe. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was light but packed with flavor. This was one of their specials that night.
Finally, for dessert we shared the tiramisu. I usually order a tiramisu at every new Italian restaurant I try - it is sort of a litmus test for me. There are so many Italian restaurants that are great, I feel like I need something by which to rate them. Well, Bianca gets high marks here. It was sort of a deconstructed tiramisu. There was a big layer of whipped topping, then a layer of what seemed to be espresso powder and chocolate chunks, and on the bottom - the coffee soaked ladyfingers. Not watery at all and the proportions of each ingredient were just right.
Add a bottle of red wine to the mix, a warm night, and that indescribable New York thing and it reminds me why I live here.
So I will stick with describing the food. The said meal took place at Bianca, an Italian restaurant specializing in delicacies from Emiglia-Romagna. (Blogger doesn't work well with macs so no link function - here is a link to menupages - http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=2&restaurantid=6230&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=35).
5 Bleecker St, New York, 10012
We had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table - time easily passed at the bar next door, Von. The host (owner?) George was pretty amazing. You don't usually see someone that attentive at these little places. We don't like waiting for tables as a rule, but George could probably have made us wait for more then an hour and we still would have been smiling when we were seated.
We started the meal with gnocco fritto, fried puffs of dough served with a cheese that appeared to be a type of mascarpone. The husband indulged me by ordering these - he isn't often up for fried foods - but they were pretty fantastic. The dough was light and the cheese was just tangy enough.
We also split a salad of shredded artichokes dressed in a lemon vinaigrette and topped with slivers of Parmigianno Reggiano. Any guilt from the previous appetizer was wiped clean with the fresh, clean, flavors of this salad. I've never had artichokes quite like this, they were crispy - even crunchy - and I loved the way the dish didn't taste quite finished unless eaten with the sharp parm.
On to entrees, I had the lasagna with a bechamel and meat sauce. Rich doesn't quite describe this dish. I am pretty sure the pasta was fresh, it was those super thin sheets that mush into one another when you cut it with a fork. No slippery lasagna sheets that spread apart when you try to eat it. The sauce was tomatoey and meaty and cheesy all at once. I ate the second half of it yesterday for lunch and it was almost as good as the first time around.
The husband had pasta with broccoli rabe, sausage, and olive oil. No bitterness in the broccoli rabe. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was light but packed with flavor. This was one of their specials that night.
Finally, for dessert we shared the tiramisu. I usually order a tiramisu at every new Italian restaurant I try - it is sort of a litmus test for me. There are so many Italian restaurants that are great, I feel like I need something by which to rate them. Well, Bianca gets high marks here. It was sort of a deconstructed tiramisu. There was a big layer of whipped topping, then a layer of what seemed to be espresso powder and chocolate chunks, and on the bottom - the coffee soaked ladyfingers. Not watery at all and the proportions of each ingredient were just right.
Add a bottle of red wine to the mix, a warm night, and that indescribable New York thing and it reminds me why I live here.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Is it summer yet?
To say I have been uninspired lately by my eating and cooking experiences is a bit of an understatement. Hence the lack of blogging. I think it has something to do with one day wanting to curl up on the couch with a bowl of soup because buckets of rain are being dumped from the sky and the next day wanting an ice cold salad because it is 80 degrees and my air conditioner doesn't work. As soon as I decided to cook a winter meal, the weather changes and I am all thrown off. The result has been bad takeout.
Damn this global warming.
The good news is that the husband isn't uninspired when it comes to cocktails.
Last weekend started off with a mint julep. I will get the exact proportions, but the ingredients are mint, sugar, and bourbon. How can you mess that up?!? The answer is you can't. This was delicious and I love that you don't have to stop drinking bourbon just because it is summer.
When you are outside at a baseball game all day, enjoying the spring/summer weather it is almost impossible to resist the offer of a summer cocktail.
Say hello to Mr. Mint Mojito.
Again, I will get all of the proportions for this one and post soon. But it was as refreshing as it looks.
One other mention - my new summer drink has been elected. The proud winner is a gin and soda with a twist of lime. So good. As much as I tried, the G & T never worked for me - but the soda mellows it out and makes for what I think is a perfect cocktail.
Ok, back to work.
Damn this global warming.
The good news is that the husband isn't uninspired when it comes to cocktails.
Last weekend started off with a mint julep. I will get the exact proportions, but the ingredients are mint, sugar, and bourbon. How can you mess that up?!? The answer is you can't. This was delicious and I love that you don't have to stop drinking bourbon just because it is summer.
When you are outside at a baseball game all day, enjoying the spring/summer weather it is almost impossible to resist the offer of a summer cocktail.
Say hello to Mr. Mint Mojito.
Again, I will get all of the proportions for this one and post soon. But it was as refreshing as it looks.
One other mention - my new summer drink has been elected. The proud winner is a gin and soda with a twist of lime. So good. As much as I tried, the G & T never worked for me - but the soda mellows it out and makes for what I think is a perfect cocktail.
Ok, back to work.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Purple Potatoes?!?
In the same trip to the market that resulted in cipollini onions, a bag of fingerling purple potatoes made its way to my kitchen - mostly because how often do you get the chance to eat purple potatoes?
I first browned the cipollini's in olive oil and then covered and braised with sage, vinegar and water. I loved the way they looked, but I think I should have cut the sweetness and added some more vinegar to the braising liquid and finished it with some sea salt.
For the potatoes, i boiled them and then peeled them and fork mashed them with thyme, a little salt, and olive oil. I wanted to really taste the potatoes so I kept it simple. They were a little dry so I think I would maybe add some sourcream or milk - but the flavor was great.
I also roasted a chicken. This recipe is my favorite for chicken - I got it from the Tribece Grill cookbook.
Stud an onion with about 10 cloves. Put in inside the cavity of the chicken with 1/2 a lemon and 1/2 an orange. Make a mix of minced garlic, sage, tarragon, and thyme (about 2 tbsp of each). Stuff it between the skin and the meat of the chicken. Rub the skin of the chicken with a liberal amount of room temperature butter. Put chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and put about 1 inch of water in the pan. Then cook for suggested time (our chicken was 3.5 pounds, and I think I cooked it for 1 1/2 hours or so). Baste every 10 minutes or so. The oven should be preheated to 450 and then reduced to 350 as soon as the chicken is put into the oven.
I also made a porcini gravy. Essentially, I browned some onions, then I made a roux with butter and flour, added chicken stock, chopped porcini mushrooms that had been reconstituted, then added the liquid from the mushrooms. Oh, and I put some white wine in as well and of course some salt and pepper.
The finished product.
Pretty good farmers market meal for the middle of winter. Yes, it was March - and I didn't realize it at the time - but March is apparently now the middle of winter.
Off to Florida to escape the rain that has already delayed my flight by 3 hours (hence the multitude of posts). I'll bring my camera - hopefully I will make some good food finds.
I first browned the cipollini's in olive oil and then covered and braised with sage, vinegar and water. I loved the way they looked, but I think I should have cut the sweetness and added some more vinegar to the braising liquid and finished it with some sea salt.
For the potatoes, i boiled them and then peeled them and fork mashed them with thyme, a little salt, and olive oil. I wanted to really taste the potatoes so I kept it simple. They were a little dry so I think I would maybe add some sourcream or milk - but the flavor was great.
I also roasted a chicken. This recipe is my favorite for chicken - I got it from the Tribece Grill cookbook.
Stud an onion with about 10 cloves. Put in inside the cavity of the chicken with 1/2 a lemon and 1/2 an orange. Make a mix of minced garlic, sage, tarragon, and thyme (about 2 tbsp of each). Stuff it between the skin and the meat of the chicken. Rub the skin of the chicken with a liberal amount of room temperature butter. Put chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and put about 1 inch of water in the pan. Then cook for suggested time (our chicken was 3.5 pounds, and I think I cooked it for 1 1/2 hours or so). Baste every 10 minutes or so. The oven should be preheated to 450 and then reduced to 350 as soon as the chicken is put into the oven.
I also made a porcini gravy. Essentially, I browned some onions, then I made a roux with butter and flour, added chicken stock, chopped porcini mushrooms that had been reconstituted, then added the liquid from the mushrooms. Oh, and I put some white wine in as well and of course some salt and pepper.
The finished product.
Pretty good farmers market meal for the middle of winter. Yes, it was March - and I didn't realize it at the time - but March is apparently now the middle of winter.
Off to Florida to escape the rain that has already delayed my flight by 3 hours (hence the multitude of posts). I'll bring my camera - hopefully I will make some good food finds.
Blackberries Two Ways
I rarely buy expensive berries because, well, they are expensive. But these blackberries were calling out at me.
We used them on top of vanilla gelato and the husband repurposed them for a delicous blackberry mojito sans mint.
With different lighting to get a better sense of the rich purple color.
The mojito included white rum, some sugar, and of course the muddled blackberries. I need to ask the husband if there was anything else in the mix, I don't remember.
We used them on top of vanilla gelato and the husband repurposed them for a delicous blackberry mojito sans mint.
With different lighting to get a better sense of the rich purple color.
The mojito included white rum, some sugar, and of course the muddled blackberries. I need to ask the husband if there was anything else in the mix, I don't remember.
The Perfect Onion
I really love the flavor and versatility of onions. And in the winter when so few vegetables are reason for excitement, the onion gets its day in the sun, or snow as the case may be.
A visit to the Farmers Market a few weeks back resulted in a bagful of cipollini onions for me.
Look how pretty this one was - almost too pretty to eat.
A visit to the Farmers Market a few weeks back resulted in a bagful of cipollini onions for me.
Look how pretty this one was - almost too pretty to eat.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Sunday Supper
I'm back.
Sorry for being gone for so long. I have many posts ready to go, so I am hoping to be pretty prolific this week.
I'm going to start with a quick post about the husband. Yesterday, Sunday, I had to work all day. That is never good. But I came home to a clean apartment!?!?! And a home cooked Sunday Supper, one of my favorite meals of the week.
First up, a Gin Side Car made with Hendricks gin, lemon juice, and cointreau.
I was a fan, the husband wasn't. I think we will keep working on this drink before posting the recipe.
Then we opened a bottle of delicious $10 Tempranillo.
Dinner was a beautifully constructed tomato salad with fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinager, and sea salt. Orechietti (little ear pasta) with crumbled sausage, broccoli rabe, red pepper, olive oil, and Parmesan completed the meal.
The broccoli rabe was boiled first for a few minutes to get rid of some of the bitterness and the sausage was minimal so that it didn't overwhelm the dish. Very well made.
And did I mention that I also was treated to an Easter basket? There was vanilla gelato in the basket which we ate after dinner. Tomorrow night I am using the root beer and the rest of the gelato to make an ice cream float....actually, is that bad to eat for breakfast?
Combine all of this with new episodes of Entourage and Soprano's and this is not a bad night at all.
Sorry for being gone for so long. I have many posts ready to go, so I am hoping to be pretty prolific this week.
I'm going to start with a quick post about the husband. Yesterday, Sunday, I had to work all day. That is never good. But I came home to a clean apartment!?!?! And a home cooked Sunday Supper, one of my favorite meals of the week.
First up, a Gin Side Car made with Hendricks gin, lemon juice, and cointreau.
I was a fan, the husband wasn't. I think we will keep working on this drink before posting the recipe.
Then we opened a bottle of delicious $10 Tempranillo.
Dinner was a beautifully constructed tomato salad with fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinager, and sea salt. Orechietti (little ear pasta) with crumbled sausage, broccoli rabe, red pepper, olive oil, and Parmesan completed the meal.
The broccoli rabe was boiled first for a few minutes to get rid of some of the bitterness and the sausage was minimal so that it didn't overwhelm the dish. Very well made.
And did I mention that I also was treated to an Easter basket? There was vanilla gelato in the basket which we ate after dinner. Tomorrow night I am using the root beer and the rest of the gelato to make an ice cream float....actually, is that bad to eat for breakfast?
Combine all of this with new episodes of Entourage and Soprano's and this is not a bad night at all.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Still Eating
I am still eating in case my loyal readers were worried about the lack of posts recently. I have been swamped with non-eating responsibilities that have kept me from the computer. I am hoping to be back next week.
If anyone has an amazing meal they want to talk about, by all means - send it along.
If anyone has an amazing meal they want to talk about, by all means - send it along.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Can You Actually Kill a Computer?!?
I just spent my lunch hour writing the best post ever. Well it was alright, but still - I put pretty pictures and links and poured my soul into it. And the f$*!*%ing computer just ate it. At least he had a good lunch, I just ate a crappy egg and cheese sandwich and am nursing my mediocre coffee wishing it had bourbon in it to ease the pain.
Oh well, I will try to remember what I wrote and do it again later.
Back to work now.
Oh well, I will try to remember what I wrote and do it again later.
Back to work now.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Blanquette de veau
Last night I defrosted veal stew meat that I bought on my Arthur Avenue trip....remember that trip? Actually, I was quite impressed with myself because I remembered to do this when I got home Saturday night after the aforementioned Guinness, dirty Martini et. al. That's Irish for you...
Anyway, the veal was in the fridge Sunday morning and I needed a recipe. I did a quick Google search and Blanquette de veau popped up over and over again - so out to the market to pick up a few ingredients and we were good to go. I varied the recipe slightly from what I found and would actually recommend a few changes still.
I started by peeling about 10 small white onions and chopping 3 carrots. These got tossed in the crockpot along with about 15 small crimini mushrooms. I would add more of all these veggies.
While I was chopping, I browned the veal quickly in some butter.
Browned veal say hello to carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
A little chicken stock (about 1 cup), 2 bay leaves, and about 4 sprigs of thyme went into the pot. The timer was set to 5 hours on high and nap time began.
When the beeper went off, I went back to the pot, added 1/2 cup cream that was mixed with 2 tbsp. flour. Back on high for 20 minutes and voila.
I served the stew with some rice and fresh parsley.
Not bad. I added a bunch of salt before serving and some lemon juice. Next time I will add more thyme early on. Also more lemon juice. I also think some saffron would go nicely. All in all a very hearty meal that dutifully earned the descriptor "satisfying."
I forgot to bring the leftovers to work with me but am looking forward to them tomorrow. I just wrote a note on my hand so I won't forget.
Anyway, the veal was in the fridge Sunday morning and I needed a recipe. I did a quick Google search and Blanquette de veau popped up over and over again - so out to the market to pick up a few ingredients and we were good to go. I varied the recipe slightly from what I found and would actually recommend a few changes still.
I started by peeling about 10 small white onions and chopping 3 carrots. These got tossed in the crockpot along with about 15 small crimini mushrooms. I would add more of all these veggies.
While I was chopping, I browned the veal quickly in some butter.
Browned veal say hello to carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
A little chicken stock (about 1 cup), 2 bay leaves, and about 4 sprigs of thyme went into the pot. The timer was set to 5 hours on high and nap time began.
When the beeper went off, I went back to the pot, added 1/2 cup cream that was mixed with 2 tbsp. flour. Back on high for 20 minutes and voila.
I served the stew with some rice and fresh parsley.
Not bad. I added a bunch of salt before serving and some lemon juice. Next time I will add more thyme early on. Also more lemon juice. I also think some saffron would go nicely. All in all a very hearty meal that dutifully earned the descriptor "satisfying."
I forgot to bring the leftovers to work with me but am looking forward to them tomorrow. I just wrote a note on my hand so I won't forget.
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