croque madames

no calorie counting, no regrets

Last week I had the pleasure of dining with a very dear friend who I've known my entire existence.  You see, Lizzie B and Cathy grew up together with a bunch of other super awesome ladies and have remained dear friends since their teenage days (not that any of them are a day over 25!)  Cathy and her lovely family not-so-recently moved up to the city from the Jerz and I finally made the trip to the UES to have a visit with her.  Since both her girls are grown and out of the house and her hubby was away on business, we had the perfect excuse (not that we needed one,) to embrace our inner-fabulousness and go out as ladies who lunch.  After a few late afternoon hours of playing dress-up (thanks for the new wardrobe!) and getting all misty eyed over the pictures from kid sister's wedding (more on that in an upcoming post,) we headed a little further south to Matisse where we completely disregarded any kind of recommended daily calorie intake and indulged in a couple of croque monsieurs.  Now, most normal people would consider simply ordering and eating a croque monsieur an indulgence.  I mean, for heaven's sake it is fancy French grilled cheese - thick slices of white French bread smeared with loads of bechamel sauce, topped with thickly sliced ham and gooey Swiss cheese all melted together and served open-faced alongside fries and a 'petit' salad.  Not exactly part of a balanced diet but hey, it isn't every day I get to hang out with my longtime gal pal!  And because we were celebrating seeing one another, we may have gone a little overboard and ordered extra bechamel sauce and a side of homemade mayo with our fries.  Whatever, we got plenty of exercise by walking the 11 blocks to get there!  No judgement allowed.

my head looks so big! maybe that's where all the bechamel sauce went

It was an absolutely lovely day and I so enjoyed spending that time with my friend and hearing the funny stories she had about my mom and the gals when they were young.  It's also great just to hang out with another lady who's been through a completely different life than my own and who has the wisdom of a woman my mom's age but provides a different level of comfort... kind of like an aunt who likes to treat me like a fancy lady (I am so fortunate to have a few of those!)  I can't wait to get together again soon because I really do love a good lady lunch date.  Now if only we could get a few more of the original crew together so I could hear ALL the gossip about my wild child mom!  And maybe next time I'll convince Cathy to take a trip over the bridge into my borough... you hear that, Cathy?  Get your butt to Brooklyn!!!

we're going on a picnic and i'm bringing...

lobster rolls!  My summer is winding down and I came to the realization that I hadn't been on a single picnic this season.  How could that be true?  I have a beautiful picnic basket, a head full of fantastic seasonal recipes, and a pretty well-stocked kitchen.  So, on this beautiful, warm and sunny day, I packed up some snacks and trekked up to midtown for an afternoon lunch break with my honey.  Into the basket went dark russet potato chips, whiskey sour pickles, avocado and heirloom tomato salad, classic sodas, fresh berries, and whoopie pies!  Oh yeah, and buttery, toasty buns jam-packed with chunks of lobster dressed to perfection in mayo.  It was as if we were transported from the crowded, steamy streets of New York to a quaint little beachfront town in New England.  What a perfect way to start the weekend... why haven't we been doing this all summer long?  And why haven't I been blogging?  Well, I'm not quite sure why I took such a sudden hiatus but I'm back and I hope you're still here with me, beloved readers.  Check out my lovely luncheon and come back later on for some recipes and more detailed updates (oh yeah, and how about some back-posts?)  I've missed you all so much.  Let's dig in!

revuesday - Avra

If a quick and casual falafal lunch is what you're in the mood for, stick to the street vendors.  If a fancypants afternoon of beautiful, fresh Greek food is more your thing, then Avra will be right up your alley.  I joined my aunt for a lovely little nosh at this midtown restaurant last week.  Though it was much fancier than I'm used to (I've never dined among so many well-dressed suits in my life making me feel quite underdressed in my single Ked sneaker and J. Crew hand-me-downs,) I definitely saw the appeal in the experience.  Because that's exactly what it was - a dining experience.  While we stuck with a few simple shared plates, other tables were enjoying literal feasts in the middle of the afternoon.   The beautiful selection of whole, fresh fish could be perused prior to being sent off to the grill to be returned to your table charred to perfection.  For those who like it raw, shellfish was brought out shucked for indulgence.  The sides looked fresh and generous, suited for sharing like most menu items.

tzatziki, hummus, melitzanosalata & skordalia

Though tempted by those tastes of the Mediterranean, we stuck to a lighter Aegean fare with fresh, tender calamari, a sampling of traditional spreads on pitas, and the most beautiful Greek salad with fresh feta and heirloom tomatoes, a perfectly satisfying midday meal that really worked out my mouth with all the fresh flavors... but make sure you come prepared with gum because holy garlicky goodness!  Mmm and the olives and radishes provided the perfect balance of spice and salt to round out the beautiful spread.  I almost always forget how much I love radishes until they're put in front of me and then the love affair begins all over again!

Avra is a ginormous and unlikely splurge for a part-time gal like myself, but it was a welcome indulgence with a generous dining companion.  I'd love to say that I'd certainly be back there to indulge in the to-die-for salad and specialties of the sea, but I think I'd be fibbing to my loyal audience; maybe one of these days for a very very very special occasion but not any time soon.  It's how the other half dines and I liked it... but not enough to trade in my $2.50 falafal pita!

as we near the end of market season

The end of market season is upon us and that makes me just a little bit sad.  Though indoor and outdoor markets run year round in the city, the biggest presence and variety of markets exists from late Spring to early Fall - Market Season.  There exists this great little book that I've considered buying about a dozen times because it details nearly all of these markets from the hidden foodie gems to the giant seasonal produce stops.  Well, whadaya know, not only does Aunt Carolyn have a copy of Markets of New York City, but they also launched a website to guide you through all of the special events occurring on any given weekend!  So I perused my late season options for lower Manhattan and came across two that I had never been to, probably because I rarely leave Brooklyn when the weekend rolls around.  

First stop was the Fulton Stall Market, a small but sweet length of gourmet stands boasting barbeque, sweet treats, teas and coffees, handmade jewelry and my personal favorite, lobster rolls.  I don't normally indulge in lobster rolls because I'm usually really poor but damnit, I have a broken leg and I deserved one this weekend!  Well, at least half of one.  So that's exactly what I got at Lots o' Lobstah!  For those of us on the cheap, they sell buttery toasted rolls jam packed with generous lumps of lightly seasoned lobster in halves and boy are they delicious.  It was the perfect little bite of lunch for a cool Autumn day near the waterfront in downtown Manhattan.  Plus, the ladies dishing it out were super nice and the line wasn't excruciatingly long like so many other lobster roll stands (delicious Luke's Lobster at the market across the street, I'm talking to you!)

After that indulgence, I made the arduously long trek across the street to the New Amsterdam Market.  Significantly larger than FSM, the New Amsterdam Market boasts similar stalls of gourmet foodie goodness alongside fresh produce stands, packaged goodies and yesterday, a hard cider tasting festival. I love a good hard cider, especially enjoyed outside on a perfect Fall day, so I was pretty bummed that it was too crowded for me to feel comfortable on my crutches to enjoy... there's always next year.  But not all was lost because just a few stalls down from the apple-holics was a taste of home.  Yay, it was the Bent Spoon all the way from Princeton, NJ!  Their natural, artisan ice creams and sorbets were one of the best and worst things that ever happened to me during my days in the jerz.  Understandably, I hobbled over to the stall, tried all three flavors and decided on two scoops of cran-crab apple and ginger sorbet, a brilliant palette cleanser that was both sweet and tart.  One of things I love most about the Bent Spoon is their use of local Jersey ingredients so I could be sure that everything I was indulging in was from the Garden State, splurging and supporting both of my homelands!

I'd say it was a pretty wonderful day to conclude a pretty wonderful weekend.  We'll see how many more markets I'll be able to cram in before October ends in a couple of weekends.  Unfortunately, not will conclude with a relaxing reading break and single bottle of hard cider with this panorama to relax with -

happy sunday

revuesday - Orchard St. Taqueria

With the growing population of taquerias and Mexican food dives, the Lower East Side is beginning to look like Southern California... not that I've been to SoCal, but it's just on top of Mexico so I imagine there are a lot of taco stands and Mexican eateries.  But seriously, there are new spots opening so frequently that there seems to be a taco joint on every corner.  With this many options it can be tough to choose where to eat lunch and make sure you get something tasty.  I've hit up a few of the more established spots like San Loco or El Sombrero but was eager to try something new.  And since my lunch dates were Alex, Kevin and Aunt Patty, I knew I had my chance since they love Mexican grub!

We headed straight up Orchard Street to the relatively new Orchard Street Taqueria since the threat of epic rain storms scared the heck out of me and my broken leg.  If you can look beyond the kind of goofy rock & roll decor and the Saturday Night Fever screenings, the tight restaurant and wrapping bar are a great place for an inexpensive meal or a few cocktails and a bite with friends.  I don't remember who got what, I just know that I took bites of everything and it was all delicious.  The steak in the bistec quesadilla was lean and tender and though the chicken flautas were a bit dry, they were perfect when topped with the spicy guacamole.  I'm not normally a fan of saucy enchiladas, but the red sauce had a touch of mole that contrasted so nicely with the creaminess of the cheese that I might actually order these on my own.  The carnitas tostada was so loaded with flavorful shredded pork that I almost wasn't able to eat the barbacoa taco that I had my heart set on.  But I suffered through my full belly, thank goodness because the gamey chunks of juicy lamb topped with spicy salsa and queso fresco was my favorite part of the meal.  Washed down with a sweet and tart hibiscus tea, the mixed Mexican meal  left me feeling so satisfied that I had to pass up a dessert order of flan which is rare for me since I lovelovelove flan!

But fear not my little sweet tooths, I still got my dessert.  After crutching along for a few blocks and chatting with the boys about their new school year I felt that I had burned enough calories and made room in my belly for a little sugar.  And since it was revealed to me that the dudes had never enjoyed a doughnut from the Doughnut Plant, I knew exactly where we needed to go!  Classic glazed for the guys, carrot cake for Aunt Patty and pistachio for yours truly.  They were immediately sold on the awesomeness of that Lower East Side fried dough and finished the sticky sweet rings before we made it back to the apartment - which we entered just as the rain started coming down.

doughnut converts

All in all, it was a perfect pre-stormy weather meal with some of my favorite people.  I will definitely head back to the Taqueria for drinks and food once my leg is healed for a little foodie fiesta!  And I might just head over for a doughnut right now.

life's a carnival!

My husband loves carnivals.  Well, sort of.  He loves the rickety, death-trap rides that cost $5 and make you regret your overindulgence in carnival food.  He loves the greasy, pricey, bad-for-you snacks served up on paper plates from rolling kitchens with smoke billowing out of their lacking ventilation systems.  The smells and sounds of funnel cake, smudged paper bags of fried Oreos, cheese fries and corn dogs are enough to turn anyone into a gluttonous rat like Templeton.  My husband's favorite carnival treat has got to be the Italian Sausage sandwich; he loves them.  You know, the kind with sausage and peppers and onions on a soft roll, all fried up on a griddle that hooks up to the back of a pickup truck.  We've tried to find them elsewhere, venturing to every Italian sub shop in the hood, buying the ingredients and trying to make them ourselves, but nothing lives up to his very high standards.  The only sandwiches that will satisfy him are those from the carnival.  This is my husband at North Brunswick's annual Carnivale Italiano:

overwhelmed by the awesomeness of a Central Jersey fair

He's obviously really excited about our near-death experiences on the Himalaya followed by tasty Sausage sandwiches.  It's a pre-sandwich shot so he's still pretty skeptical.  I wish I'd had the camera ready while he was indulging but he scarfed the hoagie down too quickly for me to capture it on film.  Like I mentioned, for his sake I've tried to recreate the awesomeness of the carnival creation at home to no avail.  But as luck would have it my fridge is still overrun with veggies and I'm trying to find new and creative ways to get rid of them everyday... especially those damn peppers.  So another kitchen puzzle began to unfold itself - I opened the freezer and what is staring back at me?  Italian sausage!  To the staples cupboard where I always have a stash of onions and potatoes.  Back to the fridge for what's left of the eggs before I pulled out my hand-me-down cast iron skillet (one of my prized possessions.)  


By now I'm sure you see where I'm going with this but first I'll let you in on something that I love.  I love eggs and I love things that can be served in slices.  But I don't love quiche; well, my Aunt Kathryn's quiche is pretty awesome and my mom made a tasty one this weekend but usually I'm not a huge fan.  So what's a girl to do when she wants a slice of eggs without the crust of a quiche?  Frittata!  They are quick, simple, cheap and creative.  You can put anything in a frittata and that certainly includes sandwich stuffings.


So what happens when you mix my love of breakfast slices with my husband's love of carnival sandwiches together in a cast iron skillet?  You get the Carnival Frittata - minus the long lines, hiked up prices, and inevitable nausea felt after riding something wacky and fast and possibly dangerous called the El Diablo.

Carnival Frittata
ingredients
5 eggs
2 tbsp half & half
1 lb sliced Italian sausage
1 small diced onion
1 c chopped peppers
1 c diced potatoes
salt & pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
directions
1.  Turn oven to broil.  While oven is warming up, heat oil & balsamic vinegar in oven-safe skillet (preferably a cast iron skillet) on a medium heat.  Toss in onions, peppers and potatoes with salt & pepper to taste.  Fry up until tender.  Add sausage and stir with veggies until fully cooked.
2.  In a separate bowl, whisk eggs an half & half until mixed thoroughly.  Lower skillet heat to low and pour in eggs, stirring constantly.  Let eggs cook around veggies and sausage almost completely, mixing to keep from sticking to sides of the pan.  
3.  When eggs are nearly cooked, place pan on highest rack of heated oven and bake until top starts to brown.  Remove from oven an let finish cooking as it cools.  Serve in slices with a side of greens and a slice of fresh mozzarella.  

You know the meal was good and worth trying out yourself because husbo willingly ate four slices and loved it!  Finally, an at home sausage sandwich success story.

Don't limit the carnival atmosphere to the menu.  Turn your kitchen into a fun house by stringing up some lights, playing loud music and indulging in some Oreos for dessert, your call whether they're fried or straight-up.  Find a good video of fireworks online and all of a sudden you're transported to the Carnivale Italiano.  Plus you're eating breakfast for supper and who doesn't love that? 

a sojourn to so bruns

This past weekend, the husbo and I made a trip to my hometown of South Brunswick, NJ to visit some family and run a few errands.  After a quick trip to the dentist (no cavities!) we decided to take my kid sis out for lunch at one of the town's oldest establishments - Burrito Royale.  The place has been there since 1975 and has been a part of local lore since the day it opened; my mom went there when she was in high school, so did my cousins, so did I.  This place may look like a dive on the Southbound side of Route 1 next to a gas station, but visit it and you'll soon realize it's truly a tiny little one room Mexican food oasis.  

New sign, same satisfying food.

Now, there's definitely nothing fancy about this spot, but it's guaranteed to be an inexpensive and delicious quickie lunch in the SoBro area.  Husbo, sis and I delighted in a classic burrito, a chili enchilada, and chicken burritos slathered with guacamole.  Simple and fresh food that hit the spot and cured Justin's week-long burrito crave-fest.  

Before this visit I hadn't been to Burrito Royale in about as many years as it's been since I went to the dentist.  But no matter how often or infrequently you pull into the gravel parking lot and grab some grub to eat on the wobbly picnic tables or bring home to your own casa, this place is guaranteed to leave you totally pleased with the few bucks you spent.  The menu hasn't changed since the first time I visited and it doesn't seem like the prices have changed much either.  Be sure to check it out next time you're driving down the suburban stretch of the Atlantic Highway in central Jersey.

All this for less than a Taco Bell date night!

Stuffed and satisfied we headed down to TCNJ to see my fab sister-in-law perform as Gloria in the college's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.  She's awesome and the jazz hands were out of this world!  Later on, we strolled through Princeton grabbing a few drinks with the wacky alums in their orange and black regalia.  No joke, those Princeton U folks are funky fly when the P-rade rolls around.  But no matter how exciting the fancy kilts and bow ties were, the simplicity of tasty Mexican grub at Burrito Royale was the highlight of our visit to the jerz! 

He'll learn to love NJ even if it takes the rest of our lives!

wednesday smörgåsbord

How about a quick midweek note about some goodies that have come my way over the past couple of days? Sounds good to me!

New York is full of free samples.  People are always standing around handing out granola bars or tastes from the new dumpling shop or froyo joint.  Just last week there were three food trucks giving out treats to advertise new tv shows.  Well yesterday, as I was walking by the Flatiron, there were some folks giving out little bottles of the newest flavor of coconut water.  It was chocolate!  Coconut water is awesome for a lot of reasons: it's tasty, hydrating, full of potassium, cures hangovers.  Add a little chocolate and creamy coconut and what do you get?  A healthy liquid Mounds bar!  It was awesome and I think the Easter Bunny needs to put a case of it in my basket.

Have you seen the latest issue of Saveur?  It's the sandwich issue.  Sandwiches are pretty high up on my favorite foods list and I pride myself on making a damn good turkey club.  They're really the perfect food (portable,versatile, share-able) and are certainly deserving of their own post.  But for now I'll just chat up the coverage they get in the magazine.  The editors give readers recipes for all kinds of goodness on a roll: international sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches, stacked sandwiches, dessert sandwiches... you get the idea.  Plus there are beer and soda pairings for a bunch of the recipes, too!  One of the standout things about the sandwich is that it is the perfect picnic food.  Going on a picnic is such a treat and this year my outdoor eating experiences will be extra special since I get to break in the new picnic basket that Nick and Jenessa gave us for our wedding!  I really enjoy planning themed menus and picnic themes are always fun.  With all the ideas Saveur is giving me, I'll be able to plan many menus for the upcoming months of alfresco dining.  Bahn Mi on the beach anyone?  I sense a beautiful friendship blooming between me, the sandwich issue, and the picnic basket.



best wedding present ever!

Speaking of themed meals, I've started working on my menus for Passover and Easter.  They're gonna be delicious.

And speaking of sandwiches (or at least sandwich-like foods,) does Iceland really have the world's best hot dog?  As a hot dog connoisseur, someone who was born of a mother who craved nothing but hot dogs throughout her entire pregnancy, I feel that it is my duty to find out.  I suppose I've found my next vacation destination.

An elderly French man whispered 'tres jolie' as I passed him.  It could have been creepy but I'm in a good mood so I'll think it was sweet instead.  Perhaps something French for dinner?  Or better yet, a French 75 after work!  A stop on the way home at The Richardson or a detour to sip at Madam Geneva?  Tough call.

Happy Wednesday!