dc favorites

"An empty stomach is not a good political advisor."

-Albert Einstein

Here are a couple of great spots in our Nation's Capitol - Washington, D.C.:

Heritage India
2400 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest
www.heritageindiadupont.com

Indian cuisine tops my list of favorite cuisines - not only because of its vegetarian origins, but more because it makes the most divine flavors with the most humble ingredients. Using chick peas, rice, tomatoes, raisins...its greatness has nothing to do with what it's made of, rather, who made it. Heritage India is consistently impressive, and last night's meal was no exception.

We ordered, to start, the most divine wine. It's a medium-bodied red - Lockwood Syrah from Monterey, c. 2004. It was described as having a "vanilla" finish - and true to its description, it did, and it was wonderful. Its earthy notes were a perfect compliment to the humble ingredients in our dinner, and the sweetness of the vanilla was a perfect foil to the savory spices in our sauces.

We ordered, to start, some vegetable fritters -- spinach, zucchini, potato. They were tasty, but forgettable, and we moved quickly on to our entrees. The murgh makhani, a divinely creamy, spicy, tomato sauce with grilled chicken over the saffron basmati rice is sure to please. A perennial favorite of mine is the aloo chana masala, a vegetarian dish. It uses potatoes and cauliflower in a spicy tomato based sauce. The naan at Heritage is especially nice - a bit saltier than most, which I love.

Heritage is quite a special spot - it opens its doors to those who are dressed up and dressed down. It is 5-star service at a 3-star price. The soft atmosphere -- soft colors and lighting, delicate details in the decor-- and a very helpful, speedy, and attentive waitstaff make for a wonderful dining experience.

Charlie Palmer's
1001 Constitution Avenue NW
www.charliepalmer.com or Google "Charlie Palmer's DC"

Charlie Palmer's, where the lobbyists flow as freely as the wine...yikes! Be prepared for this spot, it might take you by surprise. The food is gourmet to a fault, and so is the service. It is a nice, high-ceilinged escape from Capitol Hill, but even the waterscape in the middle of the restaurant is square (how did they do it?)...

In my opinion, they can do without the waiters-in-suits, without the waterscape, without the gigantic wine box...the food speaks for itself. Bonus, they post several of their recipies online! If you want to chef to impress...check them out.

Ciabatta Bread, Kalamata Olive Bread, Focaccia
Fresh-baked and never-ending, it's hard to turn down when it comes around, lined up, cut in half-slices, ready to be served to you from its silver platter with silver tongs.

Ceviche
This tasty morsel was brought out to taste, complements of the chef. Not something I expected to be in the mood for, but it was perfect, and perfectly refreshing. The lime juice and the salt lifted my mood and my appetite for the rest of the dinner.

Gazpacho
Mr. Palmer likes to make this room-temperature soup from local tomatoes. It is especially fresh and smooth (but not creamy!), and not over-seasoned like so many. It let the tomatoes speak out - and surprise! there was a taste of rock shrimp ceviche on top. Too tasty.

I ate the Grilled Peaches and Bigwood Farms Blue Cheese Salad which was served with mizuna leaves frisee, celery, caramelized shallot vinagrette. Oh. Wow. If there ever was a salad that ate like a meal, this was it. The mizuna leaves were just perfectly warm and went wonderfully with the blue cheese...the grilled peaches--such a surprise! I am a big fan of fruit in unexpected places, and this salad was the perfect place for an appearance. What a show-stopper! I can't say anymore, except...go try one!

For dessert, I was the lucky recipient of a little ramekin of creme brulee. This adorable dessert series comes out with five tiny ramekins - one to hold mini hazlenut biscotti, one to hold some hazlenut creme, and three(!) different little ramekins of creme brulee. There was the traditional creme brulee, the orange creme brulee, and one made with cocoa. Go ahead, eat them all! When something tastes that good, you don't have to feel bad about it.

During dessert, we sipped on some frothy lattes and cappucini...There might be nothing nicer than having a slow cup of coffee or cappuccino while eating a bit of dessert after such a nice meal. Dinner at Charlie Palmer's can turn any old day into a special occasion... just watch out for their "Golden Cadillac" margarita -- I hear it's tasty, but as much of an investment...

Bonus: For foodies on a budget...try Charlie Palmers' prix-fixe lunch! It's 3 courses for $20, year-round. Hooray!

beach wedding

“A married couple who enjoy the pleasures of the table have,

at least once a day, a pleasant oppurtunity to be together."

Jean-Antheleme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

This weekend's event was a beach wedding in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The couple is among this foodie's favorite people, for their devotion to not only each other, but to their kitchen...

Rehearsal dinner:
Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant
www.kellysrestaurant.com

A cute spot for a rehearsal dinner, we were placed in a private back room with plenty of room for the littlest tikes to run rampant throughout the evening, which was no problem, since the the couple was hoping for a really relaxed atmosphere for their big day.

The food was tasty, but a bit heavy. It was comfort food served buffet-style, to a large degree--sweet potato rolls with whipped butter, chicken over pasta with cream sauce, cajun shrimp skewers, mashed potatoes, sauteed mixed vegetables, you get the idea. For dessert, guests were offered cheesecake, chocolate cake, or chocolate mousse. We tried the mousse, and it was tasty -- but tummies were a bit too full to really enjoy it.

The Outer Banks, the summer getaway where one expects to find adventure-seeking fishermen, their wives and family, and beach folk in general, was pretty vacant during our October visit. Fall was in the air, and jackets were a must-have. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful escape into a more slow-paced lifestyle than DC offers...especially the amazing B&B culture they foster there...

Alright...so I must admit that I was a bit reluctant to book a weekend at a B&B...the last thing I wanted this weekend was a grumpy 70-year-old lady brewing coffee and making pancakes for me, obligating me to wake up early after a late night out (think: Something straight out of "Flirting with Disaster")...

But wow, this experience could not have been more of a treat. The youngish owner of the B&B asked what we would like to eat for breakfast, but knew we were heading out to a rehearsal dinner and thought better of it -- and offered to let us sleep in until "whenever" but to have coffee waiting whenever we did rise. It was true! (The coffee was wonderful.)

Cypress Moon Inn, (www.cypressmooninn.com) the unspeakably beautiful B&B tucked neatly into the woods and just about 5 minutes from the Wright Bridge, offered the most picturesque view of the Outer Banks. The owners were hospitable but not intrusive. They offered their newly-built suite to us for the weekend -- at the "out of season" rate of $125/night. What an escape! The room had lofted cathedral ceilings, wood floors, a king-sized sleigh bed, a real cedar(!) closet, and a beautiful view of the water from our own private balcony. It could've been a 5-star hotel...if it weren't for the nearly innavigable dirt roads leading up to it. (Thankfully, we had the aid of a satellite navigation system to find it...)

Beware, there is another B&B on the same island with the name "Cypress House" -- no comparison. Sadly, we were on the opposite side of the island than we needed to be for the wedding, so a relocation was necessary, but the owners offered their complete hospitality and a rain check to come back to use the rest of the reservation. I highly recommend this beautiful spot!

Stop & Shop Sandwich Deli
No, no...not kidding. This place was totally surprising! If you want to experience a truly local feeding post -- it's got to be the Stop & Shop deli. You'll find fishermen picking up bait and sandwiches and maybe even a keg or two...It's right on the main road that runs through Kill Devil Hills...it's a convenience store with a grade-A deli. In addition to the beer and bait, they sell all kinds of gourmet goods (spreads, sauces, pasta) -- things that I've only ever seen in a boutique kitchen store in Portsmouth, NH...go figure! Theirs is easily the most impressive, best-organized collection of hot sauces I've ever seen. They serve Boarshead deli meat -- which is always a winner -- but they have amazing specialty sandwiches, or, they'll make you whatever you want!

I had a turkey sandwich on wheat with cheddar, tomatoes and mustard. Boring? Ordinarily, yes, perhaps...but they made it to order, their ingredients were all grade A, and they toasted it! It was such a treat. I also got to try a bite of their "Fame & Fortune" sandwich -- a ciabatta sub made with turkey, ham, champagne mustard, and perhaps greyeure? It was so yummy! They sell all of their deli meats, and olives, and they have a beautiful selection of cheeses to make any palette happy. With all the yummy things surrounding you, you might even forget they advertise "LIVE BAIT" in their front window...

Red Sky Cafe
www.redskycafe.com
The newlyweds chose Red Sky Cafe to cater their big day. It is a difficult thing to cater, having to tend to the tastes of a varied crowd. The red sky cafe did not disappoint. The couple chose to replace the traditional "wedding dinner" with rounds and rounds of heavy hors douvres...

Reception plates were chock-full of asiago and artichoke spread on crostini and crackers, sauteed vegetables (asparagus, red peppers), chicken and safron cream sauce over rice, shrimp cocktail, seared ahi tuna with ginger-soy sauce, and sliced pork (after all, we're in the south...). Nobody went hungry, and the melange of choices made it easy to pick and choose what to eat without feeling limited to a set menu. So nice! Everything they made was especially tasty. It was clear that they used the best, fresh ingredients and a creative mastermind to mix flavors for the couple's unique tastes.

Red Sky cafe put their asiago and artichoke dip recipe online, here it is:

Asiago Artichoke Dip
2 cups canned artichoke hearts - canned not marinated
2 cups asiago cheese grated
1/2 cup fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup Mayo

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients thoroughly in food processor. Place in clean towel and squeeze out excess liquid. Place in a greased porcelain dish. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until brown. Serve with bread or crostinis - Tip: For excellent crab dip top with lump crabmeat.

The artichoke dip was the only food item that completely disappeared from the table. One of Red Sky cafe's not-so-popular items was the mixed cheese cubes coated in pesto. It was a nice flavor, probably, on top of crostini but it wasn't clear how they were to be eaten...as a result, there was a lot of random green-ish cheese sitting around. I think a pesto mixed with goat cheese as a cracker spread might be a nice idea, but cheese cubes were too random. As for alcohol, the couple chose to serve kegs of Yuengling and Heineken at the wedding, and bottles of Shiraz and Chardonnay.

The morning after the wedding...brunch was in order. We chose to go to a local spot called Chilli Peppers (www.chilli-peppers.com). Though they sound similar, Chilli Peppers is not to be confused with Chili's...at all.

Brunch at Chilli Peppers has a good reputation among the locals, and for good reason. At noon on Sundays (local law prohibits alcohol sales before noon on Sunday) they open the Bloody Mary Bar. Here, you can find an arsenal of hot sauces, in addition to your choice of V-8, Clamato, or tomato juice. They also have tubs of cumin, crushed garlic, horseradish, celery salt, worcestershire sauce, limes, lemons, olives, celery stalks...in a word: everything.

This is like giving a shopaholic a $10,000 credit card and setting her free on M Street (please?) -- but, you would be wise to exercise some restraint at the Bloody Mary bar. I love a good Bloody Mary, and I am a very vocal critic of a bad one...so, I thought, surely my culinary prowess would guide me through the murky waters of creating a great Bloody Mary...results were only OK. I think I was in ecstasy for the first few minutes with my creation, mostly because I made it myself, and I have never done that before. In truth, it was a mistake to put garlic in a drink, even though it sounded/looked/smelled like a great idea at the time. Next time, I'll seek the advice of a bartender before I go buck-wild with the hot sauce, too. Definitely a great idea.

For brunch, one of my favorite dishes to order is eggs benedict. It's consistently filling and decadent without being so grossly huge (most of the time) that I want to go back to bed when I'm done. Chilli Peppers makes a great local version of eggs benedict -- the Crabby Eggs Benedict. They serve two poached eggs on a toasted Thomas English Muffin, with sliced ham...and crabmeat! Very yummy. Their hollandaise sauce departed from the norm, it was significantly thicker than anything I've had before (consistency was more like a sour cream than a gravy), and a little more tangy. I definitely couldn't finish it all by myself, but really, really wanted to. As a bonus, their hash-brown potatoes were great! Perfectly seasoned and sauteed, all they needed was a little of Chilli-Pepper's special "Hot Salt" (sea salt mixed with cayenne and other spices). Other brunch menu items tended towards tex-mex, I think.

One more surprise from Chilli Peppers...FREE massage at Sunday brunch! No kidding, about 3 minutes after we arrived, a certified masseuse showed up with his chair and stood by the door to offer his services, right next to the bar. I didn't partake in the massage, but I was definitely regretting that decision about 2 hours into the drive home...

In addition to the various eateries we frequented throughout the weekend, we enjoyed a day trip to Jockey's Ridge National Park - the largest sand dunes in North America -- it's really something else! You might think you're in Tunisia if it weren't for all the Westerners around. But really incredible.

We also enjoyed nightly views of the Wright Brothers Memorial, sitting on top of the hill where their famous first flight took place. A few decades later and a few hundred yards closer to the beach, a new marriage took flight!

All in all, the Outer Banks and their culinary penchants and scenic outposts offer a wonderful weekend getaway, only a few hours driving from DC...Easy!

game day the italian way

Strange to see how a good dinner

and feasting reconciles everybody.

-Samuel Pepys

Fall has fallen and football season e' arrivata finalmente! Last weekend was notable in the world of college football, with several good matchups and even an upset or two. Even if your company is cheering for the other team, these recipies are sure to bring everyone together, because everybody knows, watching football on an empty stomach is almost impossible! Here's what we tried out last weekend, as a good alternative to the standard hot wings and onion dip:

• Susan's Epic Parmesan-Artichoke Spread
  Yum. That's about all I have to say about this one. Try it, you'll see. This recipe came to me last week from Susan Morris (contributor Sarah Morris' mother.) Thanks, from the bottom of my belly!
  
• Spicy Turkey Mini-Meatballs
  These are so great for game day--they are spicy like hot wings but much less greasy and far more tasty. As a bonus, if you have leftovers (you won't) you could make a yummy meatball sub!
  
• Antipasto Salad
  One variation on a classic Italian recipe. I prefer to eat "Antipasti" in a salad, like this one. It's great to have to much on instead of chips--and as long as you've got ingredients with good flavors, it's tough to mess this one up.

Susan's Epic Parmesan-Artichoke Spread:
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Yield: +/- 2 pints (yes, a lot) of spread
This gem of a recipe cries "game-day" -- the classy way. It's sure to be a crowd-pleaser, just be sure to save room for the other things!

The original recipe calls for:
2 packages cream cheese or neufchatel (softened)
A very large dollop of mayonnaise
Another very large dollop of sour cream
1/2 container fresh grated parmesan
2 cans drained artichokes, chopped
A couple of slices of swiss cheese
Season with dried onions, cracked black pepper, some garlic powder
Mix these ingredients together and place in 350 oven for 20-30 minutes until bubbly on top. Sarah advises that crab meat may also be added to this for an upgrade from game-day to cocktail party.

I improvised some, here's the recipe I used:
1 package neufchatel cheese (softened)
1 8 oz. container sour cream
1 1/4 C. fresh grated parmesan
2 containers artichoke hearts, chopped
2 slices provolone cheese (on top)
2 tablespoons (a lot) of cracked black pepper.
I mixed these together on the stovetop, low heat, then baked in the saucepan for about 30 minutes before transferring to a serving bowl. I used a bit more laziness than the original recipe calls for, but after all, it is game day.

You can put this spread on:
Tortilla Chips
Cracked Pepper Water Crackers
Pita Chips
Bagel Chips
Triscuits
(Anything with some substance, but probably wouldn't work well with regular potato chips).

Spicy Turkey Mini-Meatballs:
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: Up to 1 hour
Yield: +/- 20 small meatballs

You'll need:
1 lb ground turkey breast
1 cup breadcrumbs (plain work best)
1/2 onion, chopped very fine
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
About 4 tbs. Olive Oil
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper
1 jar prepared red pepper pasta sauce**

** (Or you can make your own sauce, see recipe for Penne Al'Arrabiata recipe on my post, "Among Friends").

Mix together the onion, breadcrumbs, turkey, parmesan, and olive oil using your hands. Season with the cayenne, salt and pepper, then mix those in. After everything is blended completely, put a frying pan on low heat and begin to make your meatballs, by taking small amounts of the turkey mixture and rolling between your palms to make a meatball that is slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball. Sautee these in a frying pan on low heat for about 10-15 minutes, until they are a little brown. Pour the jar of pasta sauce over the meatballs, sprinkle with additional cayenne pepper, then cover. Let the meatballs simmer in the red sauce for 30 minutes or so.

This is the perfect replacement for hot wings! Your guests won't be disappointed (but be sure not to tell them how much healthier these meatballs are in place of hot wings). Serve with toothpicks or in a bowl with a fork. Don't forget to sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan just before eating...Buon appetito!

Antipasto Salad:
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes (may be refrigerated up to overnight).
Yield: A great big salad for 6 people, a regular-sized salad for 10.

You'll need:
1 bag of lettuce (I like "Hearts of Romaine")
2-3 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped (or, one package of cherry tomatoes, walshed and halved)
2-3 roasted red peppers, cut into strips
1/4 lb. provolone cheese (I like to get this from the deli, it is a little sharper than the packaged kind), sliced into strips
1/4 lb. genoa salami, sliced into strips
1/4 lb. sopressata or capicola, sliced into strips
6 oz. olives, drained (Try to find a nice assortment from an olive bar, I try for the ones which have the pits removed--if you can't an olive medely in a jar is also nice).
4 oz. artichoke hearts, drained, halved
1 container fresh mozzarella (I like the small balls of fresh mozzarella, but you could also cut the larger balls into smaller pieces)
3-4 pepperoncini (hot green peppers) sliced
Season with: Extra virgin Olive Oil (~5 T.), and a couple dashes of balsamic vinegar. Salt & Pepper to taste.

Mix these in a big bowl, cover, and refrigerate until you're ready to serve it! Facile!

among friends

"The most indespensable ingredient in all good home cooking:

love, for those you are cooking for."

-Sofia Loren

Recipe for a dinner party:
Prep time: Optional
Cook time: As long as you want

Ingredients:

• Friends
• Wine
• Good food

Instructions: Mix well, let sit, and enjoy! Here are a few suggestions to get things started:

• Pepperoni Ripieni (stuffed peppers)
  This is a very casual and tasty dish. It's easy and just a little bit showy.
  
• Penne Al'Arrabiata (spicy pasta)
  An Italian Staple. Pasta purists will insist that this recipe should have no more than 5 ingredients (pasta, olive oil, garlic, crushed tomatoes, red pepper). This is just as easy as making spaghetti, for the bachelors and bachelorettes, but a little more impressive!
  
• Fagioli Verdi col'Aglio (green beans with garlic)
  What's not to like?

These are some tried and true recipies I learned while I was living in Italy, altered by my own memory and imagination. This was a great, very comfortable, dinner combination -- the food was satisfying without being too heavy. There seem to be a lot of instructions for making all this food - but once you do it once, you won't need a recipe anymore! I promise! You should feel comfortable to just file these away in your mental recipe box...

Pepperoni Ripieni, also known as Stuffed Peppers (for 4-5 peppers):
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 45 min to 1 hour

• 4 or 5 large, intact, bell peppers
• 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• 1 vidalia onion, grated
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1 cup grated cheese (I like pecorino)
• Marinara sauce or crushed tomatoes (if desired)
• Season with: oregano, salt, and pepper
• Olive oil
• Aluminum foil

1. Wash the peppers, then cut off the tops (so the pepper becomes kind of a cup). You may need to rinse out the inside to remove any extra seeds.
2. Cut as many squares of aluminum foil as you have peppers.
3. Rub the outsides of the peppers with olive oil (so they don't dry up), then put them in the tinfoil, using the foil like you would use a cupcake wrapper, i.e. leave the tops open. (This helps the peppers to roast, and not just bake.)
4. Now, use your hands to mix the turkey, the onion, cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and oregano together. (Be sure the onion is grated and not chopped, it makes a big difference! Last night, I added some crushed tomatoes to the mix, to see what happened. It was good!)
5. Fill each pepper with the ground turkey mixture, then top with marinara sauce, and finally, some more grated cheese.
6. Place each stuffed pepper (in the tinfoil) upright in a baking dish. Bake in a 350 to 400 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Penne Al'Arrabiata (Spicy Pasta), serves 6
Prep time: As long as it takes for your water to boil
Cook time: 15 minutes

• 1 Box Penne (I like Barilla whole wheat pasta)
• 1 Can Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 Clove Garlic, chopped.
• 1 Tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• Olive Oil, Salt

1. Boil water. When the water is boiling, add 2 tablespoons of salt (it's kind of a lot). THEN add pasta. Should take about 8-9 minutes for penne to be al dente.
2. While the water is boiling, or the pasta is cooking, make the arrabiata sauce (this process is kind of tricky, requires constant attention, but only for about 4 minutes, then you can let it just simmer):
3. Put about 1/4 cup olive oil in a saucepan, turn on low heat.
4. After the oil has been on the heat for one minute, put the chopped garlic in--cook the garlic until it gets golden, but not brown.
5. Add the red pepper flakes (this is important - add the pepper, then the crushed tomatoes, the heat of the pepper will be more effectively transferred throughout the sauce).
6. Remove the oil and garlic and pepper from the stove for 1 minute to let it cool.
7. After letting the oil cool off a bit, add the entire can of crushed tomatoes. Stir with a fork to mix the oil in.
8. Let simmer until water has boiled and pasta is done, or about 15 minutes.
9. Drain Pasta when it is al dente (al dente = when you bite it, it should be chewy, not hard, or soft).
10. Mix pasta and sauce together, serve family style.
11. Top with cheese if you like!

**Crushed tomatoes are the easiest and tastiest way to make your own sauce because virtually nothing has been added to the base. Don't forget to add your own seasoning or the sauce will be pretty blah. My favorite things to add to this sauce: red wine, salt.

Fagioli col'Aglio (or, green beans with garlic):
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

• 1-2 lbs fresh green beans (there never seem to be enough!)
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• Olive oil

1. Snap off the ends of green beans.
2. Dice garlic.
3. Wash beans.
4. Put diced garlic and still-damp green beans in skillet.
5. Drizzle olive oil over beans and garlic, place lid on skillet.
6. Turn on medium heat, keep covered, stir occasionally.
7. Add salt after about 10 minutes.
8. Serve hot, enjoy!

Wine suggestions (These are only suggestions!):
Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Italian, Red
Description: bright, light, very fruity and a little sweet.

Syrah/Shiraz
Californian/Australian [same grape, different region] Red
Description: dry, earthy, dusty, very yummy

Pinot Noir
Wilamette Valley, Oregon would be best
Description: Pinots can be too light/bright, but the Oregon wines are lovely -- still light but satisfying, a little sweet.

nyc favorites

"Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected

by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table."

Charles Pierre Monselet

Ciao ragazzi! I have just returned to the District after an extended holiday weekend in New York City. Here's a list of some of my favorite tables:

Serafina
www.serafinarestaurant.com
(1022 Madison Avenue)

This sunny spot is right next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art - a perfect stop pre- or post-visit. The restaurant has a rustic and distinctly Italian feel to it - with stucco walls, painted yellow, you may as well be dining al fresco in bella Italia! The 1st floor (which is one flight up from street level) offers views of Madison Avenue shoppers, and the 2nd floor, a converted greenhouse, offers a high glass ceiling, and lots of bright sunlight. They have a reputation for being family-friendly--which could put a little damper on a date--but when there aren't loads of bambini running around, this is a pretty chic spot to kick back and enjoy some antipasti.

Their featured menu item is their pizzas, though I've never had one, consistently opting for lighter fare. This time I tried a spinach and goat cheese salad ($12). It was just lovely - offering a honey-balsamic dressing with pine nuts and as promised, warm goat cheese topping three thin slices of baguette. Their presentation is elegantly simple - they do not garnish their plates, rather, they let the food showcase itself.

Other plates to try:
Prosciutto e buffaline ($15): Imported prosciutto sliced to perfection, served with little fior de latte. It may seem a little pricey, but don't forget that imported prosciutto sells for about $25/lb in any given grocery store. The mozzarell' is not to be looked over either - it's so fresh it could fall apart on the plate.

Carciofi e parmiggiano ($15): I love this idea. This is such a fresh salad (it's chopped artichoke hearts, hearts of romaine, endive, and parmesan) and served with three endive "shells" (I stuffed the salad inside the endive shells to eat this instead of using a fork). They used fresh lemon juice and olive oil for dressing - complimented with curls of parmesan and freshly ground black pepper, this is delighfully fresh combination. The artichoke hearts were less apparent than the menu would have it seem, but still a wonderful salad.

Searafina's cocktails (I've had both a bloody mary, and a bellini) leave something to be desired. At $10 a drink, your best bet is probably a glass of sparkling water with a twist of lemon.

Sarabeth's
www.sarabethscps.com
(40 Central Park South, Between 5th and 6th)

A posh brunch spot right next to the Plaza apartments - Sarabeth's was certainly the place to be on Saturday morning in NYC. It looks deceptively tiny from the front, but a hallway leads to the back where there are groups of tables for as far as the eye can see. The service was excellent, and the coffee was rich. A truly decadent experience.

Spinach & Goat Cheese Omelet (sense a theme yet?): Eggs were unbelievably fluffy, the flavors of spinach and goat cheese were delicious in this omelet. The end! Encore!

Farmer's Omelet (with leeks, ham, chunks of potato and gruyere): The fluffy eggs were delightful but the rest of the ingredients left something to be desired. The gruyere and ham must have been smoked, which didn't suit this taster much. I'm not sure that I'd order this again.

I ordered the omelet with an english muffin: Sarabeth's makes their own. I was less impressed with their muffin (which was more like a corn muffin than an english muffin), but it was nice to know that it was fresh and homemade.

Sarabeth's Pickled Bloody Mary: Not so much. This was the alcoholic equivalent of a poodle, with some kind of colorful vegetable confetti sticking out the top - which made this a very difficult cocktail to drink (pieces of it ended up decorating not only my drink, but my face). It wasn't spicy, the flavor was more bitter than anything. It was underwhelming, at best.

With the exception of the bloody mary, this was a really pleasant experience. If you want to brunch to impress--Sarabeth's is your spot!

The Best Halal
(53rd And 6th)

Alright. This has to be one of my favorites. This street vendor goes by the name "Best Halal" for good reason. I don't know how they do it! There are imposters on every corner boasting their Halal, but they can't compare to this place. The Halal I tried was with chicken - I have no idea what they used to season their chicken or their rice, but it was wonderful.

For $5, they give you an aluminum container chock full of fluffy seasoned rice, and perfectly grilled, seasoned, chopped chicken. They serve it with a white sauce (sort of tahini-esque), and a spicy sauce (which I tried because everyone else was eating it) - absolutely wonderful. This has to be one of the best "street meat" experiences around.

The first time I tried this, it was mid-afternoon, and there were only a few people ahead of me in line. I liked it so much, I went back about 12 hours later -- at 2 AM -- and there was an epic line that would've probably taken about 40 minutes to get served there. In my haste at that hour, I went to an adjacent stand where there was no line. The imposter halal vendor definitely appreciated the business, but it was no comparison to the Best Halal. (This rice was dry and underseasoned, where the Best Halal rice was moist and fluffy and salty and spicy and...) Run, don't walk to this corner to check it out!

Maria Pia
www.mariapianyc.com
(319 West 51st Street)

Hail Mary! Maria Pia is pure romance. This might have been the restaurant where "Lady and the Tramp" dined when they fell in love. Outside dining on one of the last nights of summer with just a hint of fall in the air. Exposed brick walls inside. Low lighting. Wonderful music. The folks at Maria Pia have mastered the candlelit dinner.

2001 Chianti Classico (Tuscany) ($40): Delicious! This 2001 bottle took almost no coaxing to find the sweet, dark, and rich notes that were such a delight that evening. As a point of interest, most wine from Tuscany from 2001 are wonderful, and often they are more affordable than the rest of the list, which can be daunting. Don't miss them on your next menu! Perfecto!

Caprese salad ($11): Pure mozzarella and ripe vine tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil = absolutely heavenly. This is a classic dish that insists on good ingredients, and Maria Pia didn't skimp on the quality.

Ravioli alla Vodka ($14): My favorite combination (spinach and goat cheese) makes an appearance again in my weekend -- this time, in homemade ravioli with a creamy red sauce. These yummy pasta pockets were made to impress. Fresh ingredients in the sauce and the pasta made the difference again with this one.

Tortellini Alla Nonna ($14): This is a variation on a southern Italian classic - spaghetti al carbonara. This combination uses parmesan, peas, and prosciutto in a sauce that won't disappoint. Again, Maria Pia uses homemade stuffed pasta in a fresh cream sauce. I enjoyed this tasty dish immensely - complimented perfectly by the wine - but ultimately preferred the spinach/goat cheese ravioli in the vodka sauce.

Satsko
(202 East 7th Street, Between Avenues B & C)

This hip, bohemian place has had me daydreaming about it since the first time I tried it. Its dim lighting and intimate atmosphere don't draw the typical monied NYC crowd, instead it's a tuly bohemian grove. I'm not kidding when I say that it's intimate seating -- the whole place might seat 16 people.

They've decorated the place with random Asian curios, and wallpapered with polaroid pictures (presumably, of their loyal customers). I've never seen such a place that is so...cool. To me, it felt like kind of an organic NYC experience -- organic in the literal sense, that my experience was derived from the surroundings (nobody was putting on a show).

But the real reason to go to Satsko? The dumplings. Are. To die for.

Gyoza ($9): Homemade dumplings stuffed with pork, pan seared and served with some wonderful soy/chive/teriyaki dipping sauce.

Vegetable dumplings ($9): Made and prepared just like their gyoza, but no meat. These are served with a slightly spicy tomato-based sauce.

If you're looking for a cool spot to hang out with a few friends over some dinner and drinks, Satsko's got you covered. They make their own flavored sake, if you like that sort of thing. Their lychee flavor was nice, but a the sweetness of it was overpowering--I'll stick to straight-up sake and gyoza at this spot.

Morning Star Cafe
(949 2nd Avenue)

Classic diner.

Eggs benedict ($6): Top 5 I've tried, less the sliced, packaged ham they included. They didn't skimp on the rich hollandaise here! The eggs were perfectly poached, the english muffin was chewy and nicely toasted. Hearty and no-frills, just good diner food.

Italian Omelet ($8): Sausage, pepper, mushrooms, and mozzarella. Yum. Vegetables and sausages were mixed wtih the eggs, not stuffed inside. Really nice, satisfying breakfast for not too many greenbacks.

Skip: Morningstar's breakfast potatoes, which were largely unseasoned (gross) and mushy (also, gross); the grapefruit juice, which tasted like bitter Kool-Aid.

comfort food

"Bachelor's fare: bread and cheese, and kisses." - Jonathan Swift

One of my all-time favorite comfort foods is the grilled cheese sandwich. Like most comfort foods, it can be served bare-bones (white bread and orange cheese) or it can be dressed up to put on a show.

First, the proper method of making a grilled cheese involves butter, a hot skillet, and whole-fat cheese. Do not compromise the integrity of this classic by using a toaster and a microwave (you'll zap the goodness out of your poor sandwich).

Here are a few combinations I've tried with great success:

The Bachelor:
Pepperidge farm "English Muffin Bread" and Cabot "Seriously Sharp" cheddar cheese.

Staffer Special:
Mild rye bread, American Cheese, and three thin slices of fresh tomato.

The Keeper:
Sourdough bread with Fontina (add tomato for extra tang).

They are ready when they are golden and gooey! Pair this sandwich with your favorite soup (I like creamy tomato) and an ice cold beer, you won't be disappointed.

xo, k

who i am

This blog will serve as the manifest forum for my many observations pertaining to the modern culinary experience.

I recently earned a B.A. in Art History from Boston University, and am gainfully employed on Capitol Hill. As part of the requirements for my degree, I spent four months in Rome, Italy, where I was supposed to be studying. Instead, I spent most of my time exploring regional kitchens, wine, and culture.

About this blog: Food is such a unique medium for expression; its an art by essence. I'll explore regional and foreign favorites in restaurants and in our own kitchens. I'm not a professional - I am an enthusiast. I hope you'll enjoy my musings. Bon appetit/buon appetito!

bienvenue a petit poule!