Tasty Travails

It's (Almost) Winter - Time For Pizza

2012-01-27T10:43:00.002-05:00

I’ve had it with this “winter”…alleged winter, that is. You see, every year I wait with baited breath for winter to come around – and the reason for that is because when winter finally comes around, I feel like I can at last crank up my oven without fear of becoming a victim of heat stroke in my own kitchen. As much as I like to bake, it doesn’t happen much during the warmer months (which around

Lunch Special

2012-01-16T10:35:00.001-05:00

Every week after spending a 3-day weekend in NY, Significant Eater heads back down to DC, mostly via the Bolt Bus or some other similar service (i.e. not a Chinatown bus). Usually, it’s quite an easy trip, as she leaves at a time of day when traffic is fairly light; it’s also affordable at around $25, which compared to Amtrak, is a relative bargain. Yes, the Chinatown buses are cheaper, but

Acme - The Once and Future

2012-01-11T19:36:00.001-05:00

What happens when a restaurant opens in New York City, and it’s serving a cuisine about which I know practically nothing? Actually, I confess – I do know a little bit about the cuisine. After all, these cookbooks are part my collection… There’s the Time-Life book, The Cooking of Scandanavia, one of the books from the classic series of Time-Life Foods of the World books. Alongside is a book by

Going Dutch

2012-01-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

My first “real” restaurant meal of the New Year (unless you count ordering in from the Chinese noodle place as a real restaurant meal) was a return to the once white-hot Soho spot, The Dutch. The Dutch opened last April, and for a while it was deemed so hot that we didn’t even bother trying to go. Then one night we managed to snag a table, and it was good, but certainly not mind-blowing, though I

2012's First Breakfast Sandwich

2012-01-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

Do this to a pair of eggs…We'll call it the broken yolk fried egg. Top with some meltable cheese.Also do this to some delicious Fra’ Mani smoked ham…Place on a buttered bialy thusly…Watch all the religions get along in 2012.Don’t forget the weird fruit combo (so far keeping my resolution to eat healthy in the new year)…Think about what to have for lunch. Noodles bring good luck so Great NY

Buttermilk Pancakes - It's What's For Breakfast

2011-12-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

Buttermilk pancakes. What’s not to like, right? I mean, haven’t we all, at one time or another, under the influence of something or other, hopped into the car (with a designated driver, of course!) and headed to our local IHOP or Denny’s or wherever for a stack of these tasty treats? I know I have – but that was many moons ago, and at this point in my life, I’ll probably never enter an IHOP or

That’s Amore, Roman Style

2011-12-13T09:11:00.002-05:00

PIZZA!!There - do I have your attention? Pizza always gets everyone’s attention. I mean, New Yorkers will argue over who makes the best pizza as if it had some sort of greater meaning in the universe, as if it was as important as something along the lines of who was the greatest Knick of all time. Seriously. I wonder if Romans do the same thing…argue about pizza, that is. Because on our recent

The Full Monty, Roman Style - Trattoria Monti, That Is

2011-11-29T18:43:00.001-05:00

Arriving in Rome after a mid-morning flight from Palermo, Significant Eater and I found ourselves significantly hungry. It was the heart of the lunch hour, popular restaurants are pretty full at lunch and if you show up without a reservation, you take your chances. But after we checked into our apartment and got a quick tour of the pad and how to turn on the heat, we took off to a popular

Two Views and Welcome Home

2011-11-25T08:50:00.001-05:00

From our apartment yesterday... From our apartment today... It's always good to be back home because after all, where else can you get this kind of greeting?

Santa Maria dei Monti Offerta Hot and Sour Soup

2011-11-20T17:29:00.001-05:00

After over a week in Italy, Significant Eater and I were craving something just a little bit different...food wise. Now don't get me wrong; most everything we've eaten over the past week has been superb. For example, one of the meals we ate (on the night we arrived in Rome) was a 7-course pasta dinner, followed by an amazing cheese plate and finally, panna cotta. That dinner came courtesy of

Buon Viaggio!

2011-11-12T10:17:00.002-05:00

Significant Eater and I are off on a bit of a vacation; I hope to actually do a bit of blogging while we're gone. Here's where we are going to be starting tomorrow... And then, since we wanted to get away from the hordes of people in New York City, we'll end up here... Of course, if I get too far away from the city, for too long, I break out in hives, so...

Oy, Oy, Oyamel

2011-11-02T07:58:00.001-04:00

What happens when one of your favorite chefs, whose restaurants you’ve greatly enjoyed in the past, becomes more and more successful? And by successful I mean keeps opening restaurants all over the damn place. Well, I guess on the one hand you can be happy for that chef’s success and be excited to try all of those restaurants. I mean, there is a chef or two here in New York who have gone on to

Chicken Salad in a French Style

2011-10-13T14:13:00.001-04:00

First, I was going to call this post Poulet Salé aux Herbes. But it turns out that means salted chicken with herbs, and after being corrected by a fellow blogger, I decided to go with the language I sometimes understand best - English. Although when translated correctly from French, Chicken Salad with Herbs sounds nice - salade de poulet aux herbes - don't you think? The great thing about

Cocktail Hour - A Snack and a Fitty - Fitty

2011-10-10T09:12:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, trying to decide what you want to serve with the night’s first cocktail can be a little daunting. Of course you can be a heathen and serve nothing, which is basically what “bars” in the US do. Even at those fancy schmancy cocktail places, it’s your ($14) drink and nothing else. Oh, I’m not counting the dive bars and the special mix of pretzels, peanuts and cheddar goldfish that sit up

Dinner For One a la Alain Ducasse

2011-09-25T22:52:00.003-04:00

Cooking dinner for one's self isn't all that exciting. Oh sure, you can make yourself a beautiful salad, or a nice one-dish meal, and that's just fine. Something that'll give you leftovers the next day for lunch is always a plus. But generally, are you roasting a chicken for yourself or making a pork roast or even preparing a big, fat steak? Along with a couple of sides? My guess is no. Or at

A Real Rain. At Least I'm Cooking

2011-09-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, what the heck. A blog about nothing, although I could write about how happy I am with the torrential rain... and the change of seasons and the fact that a fairly miserable (weather wise) summer is behind us. So Significant Eater is here working, and I've already cooked 2 meals today. Breakfast... Some Flying Pigs Farm's shoulder bacon. I decided to pull out the plancha and make more use

Blogger's Block

2011-09-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

I’ve got blogger’s block. I figure I'm not really a writer, so I can’t have writer’s block. It's blogger’s block. A month or two of not really being able to put fingers to keyboard to satisfy the goal I had set for myself of 6 blog posts a month. I was good up until July, but... Hey, what are goals for? To be broken, that’s what. Anyway, after a drink (okay 2) (okay, 2 with a shot of Dickel)

Whose Favorite Pizza Is That?

2011-09-05T11:40:00.001-04:00

You know how it goes with pizza. First, you pick your favorite pizza place. And then watch the fun start. One friend says: “You’re crazy!” Another says: “What are you, nuts?” Your mother calls. Your brother disowns you. Fisticuffs fly. And on and on. Then, pick your favorite pizza place…in New York City. Take all the above and multiply it by a hundred. Or maybe even a thousand. Because if

Watch the Birdie

2011-08-30T16:17:00.001-04:00

Everybody likes chicken, don’t they? I mean, if they didn’t, why would almost everything else, when we don’t really want to know what to compare its taste to, taste “like chicken?” Ever had frog’s legs? They taste like chicken. What about ‘gator? Tastes like chicken. How about rabbit? Well, silly, of course - it tastes like chicken. Funny thing is, most other birds that we eat don’t taste

Preparing For A Hurricane (Irene) After An Earthquake (?)

2011-08-27T17:40:00.000-04:00

I feel bad. Bad for the earthquake that was epicentered in god-knows-where Virginia this past week. Up here on the 15th floor in lower Manhattan, things were shaking pretty good. And after my cat and I were done looking at each other for a good 10 seconds and thinking what the heck is going on, I realized it was a friggin’ earthquake. That comes from 18 years of living in California, and

Pletzel Pizza? Okay, Lazy Man Pizza...Yiddish Style

2011-08-09T18:05:00.002-04:00

Yes, yes, I know – Im a lazy, good-for-nothing. I've blogged about that before. But that’s only during the summer, I promise. You know, once the weather cools off, I’m back in the kitchen cooking and baking and becoming a whirling dervish of food. Strange, though, how the summer, while ostensibly offering the greatest seasonal pleasures that the garden has to offer, also makes me want to do

Frrrozen Pizza and Brunch - Two of My Favorite Things

2011-07-28T11:27:00.001-04:00

Ahhhh, the pleasures of San Francisco and the Bay Area. And boy, what I wouldn’t give to be in San Francisco during these east coast summers...because while the temperature has been above 100° here in NYC a few times, and we're looking at 90°+ coming up soon, in San Francisco it’s pushing a perfect 6 – 0. Sweater weather, to be sure. That old saying, oft attributed to Sam Clemens, comes to mind;

I Got Your Locavore Right Here

2011-07-25T16:33:00.000-04:00

Today I needed to pick up a few "healthy" things, as my fridge was getting bare. So I headed over to Whole Foods, which is where I go when I need an assortment of stuff, and don't want to go to 9 or 10 different places - at WF, it's all under one roof, and I like that. You all know that I try to shop "local" whenever I can - or at least as local as the Union Square Greenmarket allows. You know

Breakfast Before Bolt Bus Becomes Bacon

2011-07-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

Sunday - it's the day Significant Eater returns to our apartment in Washington, D. C. so she can get ready for a week at the job she loves - serving the public. That's you and me, federal taxpayers, and she serves even those who don't pay their fair share (you know, the millionaires, billionaires, oil companies and G. E., for starters). I always like to make a nice breakfast; I think it's the

That's Ssam Duck

2011-07-09T17:41:00.000-04:00

In a recent post, I waxed rhapsodic about the Peking Duck at Peking Duck House here in Chinatown. Now, while that duck may be the be-all and end-all as far as Peking Duck is concerned, it is not, by any means, the only duck in town. There are literally dozens of places where you can get a roasted duck in Chinatown, mostly under $20, and even if you head farther north, you’re bound to run into a

Looking for Duck in Chinatown

2011-07-04T20:53:00.000-04:00

Reliability. In the restaurant biz. There’s something to be said about a restaurant that you can rely on. Especially if that something you rely upon is a particular dish that you want to be good each and every time you order it. When I was working "the line" at a hot downtown restaurant back in the mid-90s, that was something that was drilled into my head by the chef/owner over and over. Make

Coast. Commonwealth. Comstock. A Day's Work

2011-07-01T11:52:00.004-04:00

One of the things Significant Eater and I like to do when we’re visiting California is to take a nice drive; it’s a car culture after all. I mean, people drive to mail a letter, if you get my drift. So on a rare for California in June rainy Tuesday, that’s just what we did. We set out for Pescadero, a little town snuggled just off the coast somewhere between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. I

San Francisco: Open Your Golden Gate

2011-06-27T18:57:00.000-04:00

June has been a lazy blogging month for me. There have been computer issues from the time we left town, May 29th, until just recently. Actually, both Significant Eater and I had tech issues at the same time and, because we were tired of our pc’s problems, we’re now the proud parents of Mac computers for the first times in our lives. They’re beautiful children. Where was I? Last month, an old

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere - Time For Happy Hour

2011-06-16T18:17:00.007-04:00

What do you do when friends want to go out for a drink…and they want to go out really early? In other words, happy hour. Well, in our case, we try to seek out a place where the food is good (and sometimes cheap), the drinks are good (and sometimes cheap) and that also doesn't feel like the happy hours I might have attended when I was, ahem, in college and 25¢ shots were all the rage. There is

Go West, Young Man; Upper West, That Is

2011-05-28T13:29:00.010-04:00

The Upper West Side is not someplace I normally trek to for dinner. It's far from our apartment on the lower east side and…it's the Upper West Side. I mean, not to sound snooty or anything, and there is a Jacques Torres chocolate up that way, but... This past week I was up that way so I got to try the new Daniel Boulud restaurant Boulud Sud…twice. My first visit was a walk-in and the second visit

Summer in the City

2011-05-24T12:40:00.004-04:00

Well not quite, but you know the drill (and apologies to the Lovin' Spoonful). Stepping out today for a brisk 2.5 mile walk, that first blast of summer humidity hit me, and summer's here folks. What did you think, we'd have a spring? Not likely.Since it's still only in the 70s however, my crankiness has not fully ummm, cranked up just yet. It will. Even Significant Eater was sorta complaining

Bialy Wars North vs. South

2011-05-18T10:09:00.009-04:00

I have a gripe. I know what you're thinking...perhaps not my first, right? Well, it's not earth-shattering, and it's not as important as say, the debt ceiling, but still. And it's not just me; I have neighbors who say the same thing.So, what's so important that I've taken it to print? Listen, I've been writing about one of our neighborhood's institutions for at least a couple of years. I

New Toys and Great Roast Chicken

2011-05-09T08:34:00.005-04:00

Boys with toys. That's what a lot of people think about food geek guys who must have the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets. Sous-vide at home, for instance. Torches. Chemistry kits to glue meat together. You know the drill, and I'm really no different. Over the past few months, I've picked up a few new toys; one courtesy of Significant Eater and the others courtesy of well, myself.From Sig

Date Weekend

2011-05-02T11:12:00.007-04:00

We've all heard of "Date Night." You know, the one night a week that couples are supposed to set aside to spend time with their someone special. With the busy lives that everyone leads, it's one of the suggestions to help us become re-connected with the special person.With Significant Eater's job requiring her to be in Washington, D. C. a good deal (sorta like a congress person, but she works

Paella - Silly Rabbit

2011-04-24T11:27:00.010-04:00

Mmmmmmm, paella...no doubt it's one of the first dishes people think about when thinking about Spanish food. A lot of people think about seafood when thinking about paella, but seafood isn't how it all started.The first paellas were evidently made in Valencia, which is a port city, but they actually contained inland foods - think snails, chicken, rabbit - along with runner and butter beans.

The "Perfect" Whole-Wheat Bread - Almost

2011-04-12T07:50:00.004-04:00

Okay, it's time. Time again for me to try another one of those Cook's Illustrated recipes. Just like I did last December, when I tackled their "Best Pizza Ever" recipe. Without hesitation, I can say that the pizza dough I made using that recipe really came out great. Well, once this month's Cook's Illustrated arrived, how could I wait? There it was, right on the cover - "Secrets to Perfect

Psssst...They're Baaaack

2011-04-05T21:10:00.009-04:00

Oh, you know what's back. That first (for us in the northeast, at least) harbinger of spring. Yes, the vegetable that I wrote about last year when I was totally sick of them.I just happened to be at Eataly yesterday, and there they were, the divas all nice and pretty in their little basket at the front of the produce section. I had been at the Union Square farmer's market on Saturday with

Tender at the Rib - Exploring BBQ Around DC

2011-04-01T07:27:00.009-04:00

With a year and a half of traveling to DC on a fairly regular basis now under my belt, I still don't really have an opinion on what's the best barbecue anywhere in the area. So much of what I've tried is pretty bad; bad enough where I have no remembrance of the names. There was some place up on 14th St NW that sucked. Badly. It had the appearance that it might be good - big stack of logs in the

Get Happy

2011-03-23T17:48:00.005-04:00

After a great birthday weekend with Significant Eater, I was feeling a little down. So what better way to chase the blues away other than to head out and meet a friend for a drink. As it happens, that night at Death & Co. was like old times. Plenty of familiar faces on the civilian side of the bar, and Brian Miller, one of the original bartenders, behind the stick.Of course, Death & Co. is one of

You Say It's Your Birthday

2011-03-20T11:37:00.006-04:00

So...yesterday was Significant Eater's birthday, and I went all out. Well, not really all out; more like almost all out. Okay, okay, a little bit out...for instance, I made her a birthday card rather than buying one. We kinda started a new practice of no cards for the past couple of Hallmark days, but I got up early, used some web site and was able to make and print out a nice, corny card.

This Little Piggy...

2011-03-10T13:16:00.012-05:00

Yesterday, my friends Judith and Jeff, of Aroma Cucina fame, joined me on an excursion to Queens. Specifically, we drove out to Elmhurst for lunch (more on that in another post), and then followed up our lunch with a drive to Ridgewood...not because we were still hungry, but because I was on a mission to check out a place I'd been hearing about for, well, let's say a long time...Yes, the

Wanna Live Forever? Ummm, That Depends

2011-03-08T09:35:00.003-05:00

Frank Bruni wrote an article recently in which he interviews an 87-year-old billionaire about said billionaire's quest to live till he's 125 years old. He's already 87, and my hat is off to him for that.Said billionaire, David Murdock, is quite an interesting character. First of all, he owns a majority stake in Dole, the world's largest producer of fruits and vegetables, according to the

Minor Annoyances #1...or What Gives Me Agita?

2011-03-03T09:18:00.008-05:00

I figured I'd start a little recurring feature about things that slightly annoy me when I go out to a restaurant or to a bar or to a restaurant with a bar. Or to a bar that serves food that isn't a restaurant. Okay, maybe these things really annoy me. Because they're friggin' annoying. See if you don't agree - and maybe add a few of your own.Last night, Significant Eater and I went out to a place

David Chang Does What? Yeah, Right...

2011-03-01T09:57:00.003-05:00

In the current issue of Food & Wine magazine, there's an article by Gisela Williams entitled David Chang Attempts to Veg Out.Now, I don't know Chang personally, but historically his restaurants have generally been more about meat, seafood and poultry - pork, for sure, but beef, lamb and veal have made the cut too. I mean, there were even notes on his menus suggesting that vegetarians might want

Say Hey, Kid

2011-02-23T21:44:00.007-05:00

Ahhh, the great Willie Mays. That was his nickname: The Say Hey Kid. You all remember him, right? The awesome Hall-of-Fame center-fielder for the New York slash San Francisco Giants, who finished his career with the New York Mets. With 660 home runs. With a .302 batting average. With a dozen Gold Gloves. Those were the days...but...don't worry; this blog has absolutely nothing to do with

Is It August Already?

2011-02-18T11:23:00.012-05:00

Often, I scoff at the whole "celebrity chef" thing. Even though often I like the restaurants of celebrity chefs. Of course, just who or what a celebrity chef is means different things to different people. To me, Eric Ripert is a celebrity chef; Tony Bourdain (with all due respect) isn't. Mario Batali is a celebrity chef; Guy Fieri (with no due respect) isn't. Remember, it's just me.So what

Look Who's Behind the Stick

2011-02-15T15:28:00.009-05:00

"Behind the stick." That's a term I have to tell you: I basically had no idea what it meant. Well, until a number of years ago that is. Isn't that when other clever terms, such as "mixologist" and "cocktalian" came into being? Whenever. Whatever. However. This past Monday night, for the first time in a long time, two excellent mixologist cocktailians were behind the stick. Yeah, yeah - there

It's All Happening...At the Zoo

2011-02-10T18:29:00.011-05:00

With apologies to Simon & Garfunkel, of course.Since it was my birthday and I'm spending the week in D.C. with Significant Eater (it was also our anniversary), I decided to treat myself to some pho. This pho was from a joint in a strip mall called Pho 88, out in Beltsville, Maryland, and it was damn good. That raw beef next to the bowl cooks up just right in the steaming broth, and it's served

Dude Cooks Cookies

2011-02-03T16:17:00.005-05:00

After yesterday's startling exposé in the New York Post (see my previous post, please), that bastion of good hard-nosed reporting, I figured I'd bake some cookies. I mean, if all those dudes are doing it, shouldn't I?I like to bake cookies because everyone else likes them. And that's me, after all - making everyone happy. I especially enjoy biscotti, those twice-baked cookies of Italian

Dudes Cook? According to the Post

2011-02-02T11:40:00.003-05:00

This was going to be a blog post about cookies. But then I saw this:"Dudes do foodMore NY guys are cooking at home (and impressing the ladies, too!)"Here's a link to the article in today's NY Post, where you can read additional gems like:"Who do women have to thank? For one, the Food Network, for making the act of filleting a fish a masculine affair"If you're learning to cook from the Food

Where You Been, Making Risotto?

2011-01-30T12:17:00.017-05:00

Wow...it has been over a week since my last post. What am I lazy or something? No, not really, as I've been blogging for the last week over at eGullet and we (my friends and I) did one heckuva job. I mean really blogging; taking pictures and writing about every damn thing that crossed my lips...and then some. It's hard to do. A lot of work. I'm sure glad I don't do that here.However, some of it

It's Not Nice To Fool Mother Nature

2011-01-22T12:35:00.005-05:00

I'm sure you all...okay, some of you...remember that great ad campaign which ran for almost 10 years back in the '70s. It featured Mother Nature (or an actor portraying her) getting all pissed off when she's fooled by the taste and texture of a certain product. And I'm sure you all...okay, some of you...remember a blog I wrote a while back about trying to get Significant Eater to eat her

Birthday Boyz

2011-01-14T09:19:00.002-05:00

I grew up on Long Island - and let's use that term (grew up) rather loosely, because, like all guys of a certain age, we think/hope/pray? that we're a lot younger than we really are. Be that as it may, it was a pretty good upbringing...I mean other than the funny accent, Long Island wasn't too bad a place to grow up. The beach was close (it IS a friggin' island, after all), the "city" was close,

Yes We Can

2011-01-08T16:04:00.010-05:00

Just so you know - this isn't a political discussion. After all, this is a food blog - at least most of the time. So what's the deal with the title? Well...Quimet et Quimet is a "tapas" bar in Barcelona that Significant Eater and I absolutely adored. You could walk right by and not even know it's there - it's a bit off the beaten path but worth the ride...But once you step inside...A whole

Spaetzle #1 - "Pasta" Made Easy

2011-01-04T12:30:00.009-05:00

Little sparrow. At least that's the literal translation. Of spaetzle, that is. Or spätzle. It's a love of Significant Eater's, who often orders it when we're at our favorite neighborhood eatery, Cafe Katja. There, they do a classic version with emmenthaler and fried onions (Käsespätzle) as well as a version of buckwheat spaetzle; the spaetzle sauteed with a bunch of seasonal vegetables. When

Noodles, New Year and Just Kids...

2011-01-01T08:50:00.010-05:00

Significant Eater and I have a few traditions on New Year's Eve. Just like in many (most? all?) Asian cultures, we like to eat noodles at some point during the day and/or eve, in anticipation of a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Of course, some of those Asian cultures celebrate the new year at a different point on the calendar, but for various reasons we still like December 31st -

Hey, What the F*%@, Mr. Mayor?

2010-12-30T06:59:00.007-05:00

Allright, I've heard about all of the apologies. I've even listened to some of the apologies. Saw on the news about how the storm/blizzard was apocalyptic. Etc. Etc. And yeah, I understand it was bad. As a matter of fact, at one point I was standing in our kitchen looking out the window at the snow blowing sideways and I actually saw lightning and heard thunder. Out of the ordinary, for sure,

Best. Pizza. Ever? Well, So Says Cook's Illustrated

2010-12-20T07:54:00.005-05:00

Oh, that Cook's Illustrated. I've been subscribing to Cook's Illustrated for years. And years. I like the fact that there are no ads - other than for themselves. As far as the homey schtick goes, well, that's okay too, I guess. Kimball's opening editorial brings me right back to the old farm in Vermont...if I had ever set foot on an old farm in Vermont. Be that as it may, I generally read an

Back to Barcelona - Restaurant Gelonch

2010-12-15T11:52:00.010-05:00

Yeah, yeah...I know. I have been one lazy bastard when it comes to blogging. Maybe it's the weather? Or being under the weather? Maybe it's politics? Maybe it's that I hate the fact that our vacation came and went "in the blink of a young girl's eye (with apologies to BS)...glory days?" Maybe it's a combo of everything? Anyway...back to Barcelona. At least this way I can relive our vacation

Some Paris Observations - Nombre Une

2010-11-30T11:09:00.010-05:00

Okay, it's time. We've been back from our excellent European vacation for a few days now - the jet-lag has almost worn off, and before my memory totally deserts me, I gotta get a few things down. And here, in nombre une, I want to compare our experiences at two restaurants, both of which receive their fair share of hype.First up, Le Chateaubriand. Now, Le C gets written up all over the place.

Breakfast Before Barcelona

2010-11-14T09:21:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow, breakfast in Barcelona at the Mercat de la Boqueria. Today, Significant Eater and I head off to our much anticipated Spanish/French vacation, where we'll be spending time in both Barcelona and Paris, eating and drinking too much, and taking in some culture as well.Emotionally, this has been a trying week and the time away will do us good. A loss of an old friend, who had struggled

The Worst Thing I've Eaten All Day

2010-11-08T13:20:00.005-05:00

I try, really I do. To eat properly, that is. For instance, my breakfast today was "real" oatmeal, a banana, blueberries, raisins, maple syrup (farmer's market stuff and about $14 a pint) and plain low fat yogurt - the good stuff, FAGE. Along with 2 cups of freshly brewed coffee - this week, it's Stumptown.Then, for lunch, Italian jarred tuna (ventresca) on a bed of greens with a few

I Vote...for The Gibson and the Old Pal

2010-11-02T15:50:00.006-04:00

We finally got to try out The Gibson last night, and we weren't disappointed. I'd been wanting to go since we first started our excellent DC adventure, but you know, sometimes things just don't work out the way you plan. However, it was worth the wait.Friendly and knowledgeable bartenders are always a plus, and the new fall menu had just been released. Wanting something a bit bitter (who, me?)

If You Need Cooking Lessons - Just Phone

2010-10-26T10:57:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine asked me if I'd teach him how to "make" spareribs. Seems he and his wife were having some people to their house for dinner, and he wanted to show off his barbecuing/grilling skills. Significant Eater and I were invited, but were unfortunately unable to attend. As a side note, this lovely couple has a "

Osteria Morini - A First Visit

2010-10-08T12:47:00.004-04:00

New York City may be experiencing a rebirth of things Italian, not that Italian restaurants ever really stopped, ummmmm, birthing...and for lovers of Italian food (me!) that's a good thing.Of course I've blogged (there's that word again) about Eataly a number of times, and will probably annoy more in the future - I like the place, what can I say? It makes me happy. I love Lupa - always have

Blogger's Block? Have A Doughnut

2010-09-29T09:10:00.007-04:00

Wow. Here it is the end of September, and I'm realizing that I haven't "blogged" (god, that's a stupid word) in two weeks! Writer's block? Well, that would be true if I was a writer. Maybe just nothing really exciting to blog about? Who knows what the cause is?I could tell you all that I've been back to Eataly yet again...but what fun would that be? By the way, dinner at Manzo was great

You Go, Grill

2010-09-14T08:49:00.006-04:00

Yay - it's finally grilling season. Now, I know what you're thinking; dude, grilling season just passed - it's called "summer." You know, from Memorial Day to Labor Day in these parts. Bull, I say. In my opinion, there's actually no better time to grill than when the weather starts getting cooler; after all, do you really want to stand over a blazing grill when it's 100 degrees out? (If I did,

Significant Eater Goes to Eataly...or Eataly Part 2

2010-09-04T15:54:00.006-04:00

You know how it happens. You go somewhere without your favorite person and wish they could've been there with you. Then, you go back again...solo. Then, said favorite person starts to complain that they "never get to go to any of the good places." So, with all that in mind, I had to get back to Eataly quickly...and with Significant Eater. So we did just that, eating lunch at the seafood counter,

Eataly

2010-09-03T14:32:00.006-04:00

Okay, this is about Eataly, because like every other blogger-douche I have to get my say in. I've been twice only. I'll blog about it again in a year (maybe less).The other night, I had two delicious pastas, a sinful assortment of cured meats and cheeses, a pizza and a beer (or two). Everything was pretty damn good.Got back today at the perfect time; the espresso bar wasn't much of a zoo. The

A Wedding, A Lobster Roll and Grilled Cheese

2010-08-31T09:03:00.007-04:00

Ahhhh, wedddings. Who doesn't love a wedding? Other than me, for instance. I mean, getting dressed up in a suit, tie and "fancy" shoes isn't really my cup of joe. And then being forced onto the dance floor because, you know, you have to dance at a wedding...sign me up! And oh boy, that catering hall food - boring filet mignon and overcooked chicken breast...ooops, I mean paillard and pardon

Pasta Duo...and Lupa and DBGB Too

2010-08-23T14:14:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I was feeling kinda lonely after Significant Eater headed back to DC on the 10 AM. And since I had, with all good intention to cook, stocked up the kitchen with farmer's market goodies and then failed to cook any of them while she was here, I decided to invite some friends over for Sunday dinner - thereby forcing myself to use up that lovely produce.Oh, don't feel too bad - it's not

Almost Open

2010-08-13T06:32:00.005-04:00

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's bloggers who find a need to breathlessly post about the brand newest, most hottest places that the rest of we mere mortals haven't even figured out have opened. That's the game of the blog to many, I suppose. But not me. However, I did want to let you know about two just opened spots in the neighborhood that I got to peek into last night.Last week, I

What I Did On My Summer Vacation - DC Style

2010-07-31T15:30:00.018-04:00

Well, let's just start by saying it really wasn't a summer vacation. But I have spent the last two weeks (thanks to some seriously excellent neighbor friends) away from NYC, hanging with Significant Eater in DC. You see, we had a bit of a flood from a 60's era central air conditioning unit in our bedroom, and it leaked all over our floor. So, some of my vacation was spent dealing with the

Celebrity Chefs - Love 'em or...

2010-07-24T14:28:00.008-04:00

Celebrity chefs. Love 'em or hate 'em, I guess they're here to stay. Of course, one man's or one woman's definition of celebrity chef is probably different than another. So I'm sure mine is different than yours.For instance, to me Thomas Keller = celebrity chef. Because he's a great fucking chef. Eric Ripert = celebrity chef. Because he's a great fucking chef. Tony Bourdain = celebrity.

Global Warming is a Scam...Well, Maybe Not

2010-07-20T07:01:00.005-04:00

I know, I know. I complain a lot about the heat (just look at my last post). But you gotta admit, this summer has been unusually, ahem, warm. Actually, this year has been one of, if not the, hottest years on record, and not just in New York or DC. Globally, if you must know. Yep - the average worldwide temperature in 2010 has been about 1.25 degrees hotter than ever before. Oceans, too.

How Hot Is It?

2010-07-13T11:14:00.004-04:00

Restaurateurs - listen up. I have one word for you...Friedrich.Allright, admittedly, I'm a grouch...just ask Significant Eater, our friends, family, anyone I come into contact with, whomever. But, something happens every summer, and it doesn't make me happy. That is, either restaurants in the city are not turning their air conditioners on at all or they're greatly lowering the amount of

Otto

2010-07-03T08:50:00.007-04:00

For the first time in a long time, I ate at Otto last night. Otto is a restaurant owned by one of my favorite chefs, Mario Batali, along with Joe Bastianich, and they are two of NYC's most successful restaurateurs, if ever there were. Otto is modeled after an Italian train station, and if you've ever been to an Italian train station, it captures the feeling fairly well...well, except that

When It's Hot, You Gotta Wing It

2010-06-26T09:01:00.010-04:00

Yesterday was a rare full Friday that Significant Eater and I got to spend together in NYC. I had been in DC earlier in the week, and because it was about 1,000 degrees there, I decided to drive us both back to NY Thursday night, because, you know, it's so much cooler in Manhattan.I don't know if I've mentioned that I'm really cranky in the heat...oh yeah, I have...but I am. And I cook much

Coney Island...Baby

2010-06-19T11:22:00.010-04:00

With apologies to the Excellents and Lou Reed too, I took a quick drive out to Coney the other day, for the sights and for the pizza. Yes, the pizza; after all, it's Coney that's home to the highly lauded Totonno's, at one time or another considered to be one of the top pizzerias in NYC...pizza of the New York style, that is.Surprisingly, Coney Island and the boardwalk were kinda hopping,

Scarpariello - Say What?

2010-06-04T09:51:00.005-04:00

Chicken scarpariello. It's one of those seminal Little Italy dishes, or at least an Italian-American restaurant dish, no matter where the restaurant is. Except that the restaurant can't be in Italy, because I'm sure no one there has heard of it.I think the first time I tried scarpariello, it was at one of the classic joints on Mulberry St. Maybe at Benito 1...or was it Benito 2? Maybe

Ramps! Love 'em or...

2010-05-20T10:23:00.004-04:00

Be glad the friggin' season is over, like I am. About time. Wednesday, at the Union Square green market, I finally spotted the sign I've been waiting for all season...ramp season, that is. Yes kids, they're done. Through for the year. Gone. Kaputski. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. And so on. So here's what caused my brief happiness at all things seasonal...Whew. Now,

Weekend in DC

2010-05-17T17:18:00.007-04:00

Now that we're settled into our DC apartment part of the time, it's fun to spend time down there on weekends every now and then. 'Stead of in the city - you know - New York City. Significant Eater and I always love weekends during the summer in the city - well, except for the parts that I can't stand, like the heat, humidity and smell. But it's a fact that when a lot of New Yorkers leave town

Attack of the Killer Strawberries

2010-05-13T09:34:00.006-04:00

You know, as much as I respect and admire and have stuck up for Alice Waters, I'm not exactly what you'd call dogmatic when it comes to buying our edibles only from local "producers." After all, if you wanna use Spanish olive oil, or Greek feta cheese, or French mustard, or Italian prosciutto or any of a million other delicious products, you're basically throwing the whole locavore schtick under

Painkiller Opens - Trader Vic Lives On

2010-05-08T11:08:00.011-04:00

Welcome to the neighborhood our new tiki bar, called Painkiller. Located right next to the Pickle Guys on Essex Street, in a space formerly occupied by the East Side Company Bar, Painkiller will help you do just that. Kill the pain, that is. Especially if you love tiki drinks...and who doesn't? For now, the menu is a simple placemat, no prices listed and picturing some tiki classics...Even if

Happy As A Clam

2010-05-02T13:35:00.007-04:00

The other day, for the first time this year (bows head in shame), I got over to the green market at Union Square, one of my favorite food shopping destinations. As a matter of fact, I even walked both ways, combining exercise (a not favorite thing) with food shopping (a favorite).While the market is not yet in full-speed ahead spring vegetable mode, there was plenty to be had...ramps (duh),

Are You Going to Hester Street Fair?

2010-04-26T08:51:00.006-04:00

As if Significant Eater and I aren't lucky enough to live in the 2nd most desirable neighborhood in NYC, there is now a fabulous new addition to our 'hood - The Hester Street Fair.I say "our hood" because I can. Significant Eater and I actually live in the corporation (yes, a co-op is a corporation) known as Seward Park Cooperative, that owns the Hester Street property upon which the fair is

Does Anyone Still Cook Pasta Salad?

2010-04-20T17:55:00.012-04:00

Raise your hand (s). Pasta salad? One of those things that makes you wonder:"Does anyone make pasta salad anymore?Did they ever? Isn't that so...1980s? " Well, yeah, I do. I did. And, no - I find it quite 2010s as a matter of fact. Why, you ask? Well, because it's good and I like it and even more importantly, Significant Eater likes it - so there. Especially when it's made properly. After all,

What Has DC Got That NYC Doesn't?

2010-04-16T11:23:00.010-04:00

You know, as a dyed-in-the-wool, jaded and especially annoying New Yorker - born in Brooklyn, even - there isn't much that impresses me, especially when it comes to restaurants, chefs and food. I mean, we've got it all here, under one roof. Access to the best seafood and produce (try the green market some day if you think I'm kidding), a bajillion restaurants (lots of them good, some great),

Who Likes Vacuuming?

2010-04-07T09:17:00.003-04:00

I know, I know, it's a loaded question. But we're not talking about vacuuming the apartment here (or, if you're lucky enough to have one, vacuuming the house). Actually, just the other day, Significant Eater was complaining to me about having to vacuum the apartment down in DC. She was mentioning that she had to take the vacuum out of the closet, plug it in, turn it on...etc., etc. Basically

Warm Kugelettes - Hey, It's Passover

2010-04-01T00:15:00.005-04:00

I'll start by saying I've never made potato kugel. Never. Not once. Oh, I've made potato pancakes plenty of times, and sometimes they've even come out great. But potato kugel...nah.Kugel, for those who don't know, is a type of pudding or casserole that's baked in the oven. Most are served warm, but they may be served at room temperature as well. Here's the wiki on kugel.So the other night (

Pulino's Bar & Pizzeria

2010-03-21T11:27:00.014-04:00

It was Significant Eater's birthday this past Friday, and what better way to celebrate than to have Saturday brunch at the newly opened Keith McNally spot, Pulino's? Well, just so you don't think I'm a classless sort, I did cook late dinner on Friday night, so once the birthday gal arrived home we had Champagne cocktails along with bucatini all'amatriciana...and it was good.But back to Pulino's.

Gourmet Ghetto Grows on Grand

2010-03-18T19:32:00.012-04:00

Yep, I know what you're thinking. Gourmet ghetto on Grand Street? Grand Street on the lower east side? Of Manhattan?! What could this possibly have to do with the "original" gourmet ghetto, the term given to the neighborhood around the stretch of Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, California, way back in the early 70's, when pain in the ass bloggers didn't exist (but organic gardens did, cause I had

Mmmm...Motorino

2010-03-12T14:30:00.004-05:00

I know, I know, Motorino has been written about - a lot. As a matter of fact, the NY Times has even declared it the best pizza in NYC, which I find hilarious, unless the Times has tried about a thousand different pizzerias. On any given day, if you're lucky, it might be the best pizza in NYC. But there are quite a few variables with pizza which make that pronouncement a little hard to agree

Lazy (and Cheap) Man Roast Pig

2010-03-03T11:55:00.005-05:00

Following along in the footsteps of Lazy Man Roast Chicken and Lazy Man Pizza, it's time to check into my dealings with pig and one of my favorite cuts from that delicious animal, the shoulder. Don't get me wrong - if I had my druthers, I'd be roasting a whole suckling pig, but those suckers are expensive, I'm cooking for one a lot of the time, and who the hell can eat 10 -15 pounds of swine, no

Start Me Up

2010-02-28T18:26:00.002-05:00

Back in "the day," I posted about how sourdough drives me crazy. Sourdough bread is a bit of a touchy process (especially if you don't bake every day), and as of late, I've been baking a fair amount of pizza/focaccia and using that old standby, instant yeast. Just makes my life easier, as does baking pizza and focaccia, since they're pretty friggin' easy compared to say, baguettes, or other

Say It Ain't So, Joe

2010-02-19T16:16:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite places in "the city" for a slice has always been Joe's, on Carmine Street, right where it runs into 6th Avenue, or Avenue of the Americas for those from another planet. We're talking SLICE here, and the dearth of good slice places is pretty much common knowledge, certainly on the island of Manhattan. Oh sure, you can schlep up to Patsy's and hope that the slice you get is

Mama Mia, That's A Spicy Meatball

2010-02-16T15:29:00.006-05:00

I'm sure some of you remember that great ad campaign from the 70's, featuring the title line of this blog post as its dialogue. Over and over, tasting the fictional Magdalini's Meatballs, and never getting the line right. Poor guy.So I'm happy to report that you most likely won't be needing the advertised product I refer to above when you finally do get to try The Meatball Shop's meatballs...

Lazy Man Pizza - Oh, Make That Focaccia

2010-02-10T17:59:00.007-05:00

Say what? Lazy man chicken is one thing, but lazy man pizza- that's a whole other category!But it's why I make focaccia and just call it pizza - they're both flatbreads, after all. My main problems when I make (real) pizza are the whole shaping of it and then getting it onto and off of the peel and onto my pizza stone which has been heating for an hour at 550+ degrees...I usually end up with

The Algonquin Cocktail

2010-02-09T09:02:00.006-05:00

Looking for something a bit different to drink last night, I came across the Algonquin Cocktail in one of my favorite cocktail books - Dr. Cocktail's (aka Ted Haigh) Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails. Back in the 1930s, New York City's Algonquin Hotel hosted any number of "renowned literati of the time," where the group became known as the Round Table, though according to the good Dr., they

Lazy Man Roast Chicken

2010-02-05T09:01:00.007-05:00

I know what you're thinking: "lazy man roast chicken, who's he kidding?" Because, you know, roasting a whole chicken, if done properly, is a bit of a pain. There's the cleaning of the bird, the trussing (if you truss), the seasoning, the clean up, etc. etc. To say nothing about properly cooking the breast meat (i.e. not overcooked) at the same time as properly cooking the legs and thighs (i.e.