Our Sunday Menu

Here is what will be cooking up in the Durniak-Thatcher apartment:

- Cannelini Bean puree with Basil and Parsley on toasted Italian bread
- All Herb Quinoa Salad
- Tomato and Basil Salad
- ?
- Strawberry and blueberry salad with Lemoncello and Basil

We'll take photos on our out door patio... so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the results!!

First Herb Garden Harvest!!!

Enjoy the photos! Much more to come (I'm finally getting back into the groove of using a camera to document - yippee!!)

From top to bottom: Prim Roses, Flat Leaf Parsley, Basil, Flat Leaf Parsley, Thyme

An important message from Food Democracy Now!!

This type of censorship cannot stand!

In March of this year, a university committee had selected Pollan's book, which takes a careful look at how America produces its food, and decided that it was an excellent choice for the student body of the land grant university.

Unfortunately, WSU administrators later removed the book from the required common reading program. While top WSU officials attributed removal of Pollan's book from the reading program to hard financial times, despite the fact the 4,000 copies of the book have already been purchased, some faculty members have spoken out.

End Corporate Influence and Fear at America’s Land Grant Universities

One WSU professor, quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education - anonymously, for fear of losing their job, stated that Pollan’s book was pulled “because of the politics of the agriculture industry…and that President Floyd decided that this was not a battle he wanted to wage.”
It’s time that this type of corporate control over land grant education and research end.
We believe that academic freedom and vigorous debate on all intellectual issues should be encouraged at every university, especially land grant universities charged with turning out the next generation of leaders of 21st century agriculture.

If you want university research to be free of the corruptive influence of corporate agribusiness, you need to call or write today.

Stand up for Michael Pollan and Academic Freedom!

Let WSU President Elson Floyd know that you support the university’s original decision for all incoming freshman to read The Omnivore’s Dilemma and believe he should honor that commitment.

Sustainably Yours,
Food Democracy Now!

Culinary Adventures

Lately my days have been filled with food (literally).  I can't tell if it is a hormonal shift, the change in season, or me just losing control, but every time I turn around I finding myself stuffing my mouth with food.  To give myself some credit, I have been making myself go on adventures.

Tuesday evening was the Meatball Contest and Food/Wine event for Dish Du Jour Magazine.  From the moment you entered the room it was a Queens and sister borough gastro-viganza!  

Wednesday, I took a much needed night of rest.

Thursday, I walked from my house all the way around Flushing's buzzing Main Street and tried a few of vegetarian dumplings from the Happy Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant.  Note: Authentic, but go with a friend who speaks the language.

Friday, a dear friend and previous boss took me around the Indian section of Jackson Heights.  Talk about a cultural shift!  I was just getting used to the produce and spices of the Asian markets around my home when POOF!  I had no idea what half of the fruits and veggies were, but they looked fresh and delicious.  

I enjoyed Jackson Heights so much I brought Joe back the next day and we bought chorizo from the Argentine Carnicaria, Don Franscisco's.  A - M - A - Z - I - N - G.  

Saturday evening we had dinner with our best friends, Justin and Lisa... but more to come on that evening later today.  

So, what does this week have in store for me?  Recovery from last week and tons of my own cooking!

Oy! I can't believe a whole week has passed!

Okie dokes... last week was culinary adventure heaven!  Today I'll be heading up to Yale for a graduation, however, when I return I promise to be on here plugging away on some very exciting treats.  

Here's a hint: I've finally found my comfort zone with Queens and the key is just diving in!

Weekend in review...

Friday evening was a great time at the Astor Center. I learned a lot about Balvenie Scotch and really enjoyed the Sherry Cask Scotch and Islas Scotch.

Saturday I made homemade crab cakes for my mother and enjoyed good bread, cheese, and wine out on the patio with my parents! In the evening we saw The World According to Monsanto and raised some strong points during our panel discussion after the film. **Thanks to everyone who came out and made the evening possible (Scully - you are awesome!). I'll write a longer post on this hopefully during lunch today.

Sunday, Joe and I enjoyed a lazy morning with a great brunch at Donovans (thank God for Bloody Marys) and then an espresso at Martha's Country Bakery (wow!!! what a find!). After my nap and a movie, we made homemade mac and cheese! First time ever and I think we need more cheese, but it was delicious.

All in all, a great weekend.

On the plate for this week:
- Dish Du Jour tasting event tomorrow eve
- I'm sure I'll be experimenting with an ingredient at least one night this week
- Friday night adventure in Jackson Heights for Indian Food!!

Until next time, keep munching!!!!

Childrens' Restaurant Choices

An article from Kansas City highlights the changing pallet of children and the choices presented to them at some chain restaurants.

A good article... but we still have so much further to go.

My new favorite blog...

I want to be this woman when I grow up! Looks like I need to start using a camera to snap some photos!!

www.lastnightsdinner.net

Astor Center: My Favorite Place In Manhattan

....well, pretty damn close to my favorite place, that's for sure!

I volunteered again last night for David Lombardo's Develop Your Nose class. To say it was awesome would be an understatement. The knowledge, enthusiasm, and skill this man has is inspiring and unpretentious.

The other volunteer, Claire, and I started the evening with placing wine glasses on each table. Not glasses for drinking out of, glasses for smelling out of. In each glass were different culinary aromas: rosemary, coffee, nutmeg, vanilla bean, grapefruit, kiwi, caramel, dark chocolate, etc.


This is what sets David's method above the rest. He encourages everyone to swirl their glass of wine (rose, white, or red... whichever one we are focusing on at that time), take a deep inhale, and then sample other scents from the aroma glasses!! What scents do you recognize between the wine and the food/spices? GENIUS!!!

I can now proudly say I know when I smell vanilla, I know when I smell lemon, and I know that I like it!!

Life's simple luxuries

I believe that luxury is a state of mind.

For example, I've decided to start using olive oil soap. I make myself wake up early and run/walk. Yoga (my own version of it) has become part of my daily routine. I enjoy breakfast (fruit, bread, cheese and coffee) and demand myself to take my lunch break (1 hour). When I get home from work I go for another run/walk and make dinner with a new, in season ingredient (most of the time with a glass of wine). I sit down at my kitchen table, use a cloth napkin and silverware and listen to the radio.

While most people think this can be pretentious, I beg to differ. Days in TV land (any job, for that matter) can be filled with unnecessary stress. These little "luxuries" are cheap, if not free, and offer peace amongst chaos.

Article

I read this article yesterday on the train ride home.  I usually don't print these out, but I'm going to highlight some of the points during the Monsanto discussion on Saturday evening at the Acme. 

This piece is about Smithfield Foods, the American hog giant.  They moved to Eastern Europe and are shutting down the smaller, family run hog farmers who cannot compete with their low prices.  They are also eating up farming subsidies thought not entirely abiding local laws by not attaining all permits before building the large slaughter houses.  (Not to mention, Smithfield also put out thousands of American farms when they entered the South).

There are tons of topics in here which I speak of often, but the inhumane treatment of animals is appalling.  Imagine within 300 days of being born, you live 24/7 under florescent lights in an overcrowded pen, eat "food" that is rich in hormones and antibiotics (maybe even some omega 3s), and reach a size up to 270 lbs that means you are ready for slaughter.  

The slaughter isn't pretty either.  Don't think they don't feel a thing.  Most of the time the poor hog isn't even completely dead when it reaches the grinder.  

I know this is gruesome, but I am a firm believer in knowing where your food comes from.  

Week in review and what is to come

I have been quite a busy bee so here is last weeks notable notes:

1. Cooked with Ramps for the first time - a little sweeter and softer than leeks. I particularly enjoy the leaves lightly sauteed.
2. Had dinner with some friends. The food was ok, but the company was incredible!
3. Friday night I watched episodes of Spain On the Road Again (one of my FAVORITE shows) while having a glass of wine from Tomasello Winery in Jersey.
4. Mothers Day breakfast and dinner with Joe. I woke up early Sunday morning and whipped up a fresh fruit salad, bread spread, and Sunday potatoes for breakfast. In return, he took me to My Kitchen in Forrest Hills for dinner and because I am a God-Mother I'll be receiving a cooking class with the head chef. SO EXCITED!!

What's to come this week...
3/13 - Wine class at Astor
3/15 - Banvenie class at Astor
3/16 - Monsanto Forum at Acme in Lambertville
3/19 - Dish Du Jour food/wine fest and meatball contest!

Phew! That's all I have for right now... though I'm cooking up more exciting food stories!

Holy Cow!!

I'm sure you've heard the story of the cow, Molly, who escaped a slaughter house in Jamaica, Queens the other day. Well, she has a new home! I think this is a great story, especially since the owners of the farm are vegetarian!!

More to come... it's been an exciting week in food (just too busy to write about it!).

Cheers!

Cinco De Mayo!

I'm sure everyone is writing about this today and yadda, yadda, yadda, BUT, my post is a little different.

This morning, while taking my boxer, Jacob, for a walk around the neighborhood, I realized how beautiful the spring really is. Amidst the rain for the past several days, I have been enjoying nothing more than throwing on my old sneakers and trekking the wet streets with my muddy dog. Everything is green with hues of purple, red, white, and yellow... unbelievably amazing.

Another thing I think about this time of year are vegetables... yup, delicious, crisp, fresh veggies! During our walks I contemplate what to eat when I get home and it usually includes greens, beans, and usually a sweet potato. However, I've been noticing ramps and fiddle head ferns popping up in the produce exchange and think I'll have to try these. Anyone know any good recipes?

So there you have it, my cinco de mayo. Today I'm having lunch with Ryan and think we'll have to go to Benny's for a veggie burrito!

Cheers!

Saturday's Dinner Party

While the weather was a bit too nippy to set the table out in the garden Saturday evening, we had a fantastic time with family and friends. Here is the menu Joe and I prepared for his cousin, Lauren, and her husband, Carlo.

Starters...
Caprese Salad
Olive Pate with Fresh Semolina Bread

Entree...
Homemade Pizza with fresh tomato sauce, fresh mozz from Strawberry Farm, prosciutto di parma (if you are a carnivore), arugula, portebella, and artichokes
Arugula, strawberry, and artichoke salad

Wine...
Chianti Reserve (Ruffino - I was actually VERY surprised by the quality)

Dessert...
Homemade chocolate chip cookies

We ate, we drank, we laughed, and all by candle light.

FOOD2!!!

Ok, I'm not just saying this because I work here, but the Food Network Interactive team has developed this really, REALLY cool site: www.food2.com. It's totally different from foodnetwork.com and includes recipes for hangovers, munchies, comfort food, and so-on-and-so-forth. There are also fun blogs that chronicle different foodie-wino movements.

If you are interested in pop culture and underground art, food, drinks, etc, etc, then this is a site you should set with your favorites.

Let me know what you think!

My first volunteering gig!!

It felt amazing to be back in a commercial kitchen.

Last night, the Astor Center hosted a fundraising event for the LES Girls Club and the theme was Cinco De Mayo! Sue Torres served an incredible four course meal that included of guac, chicken enchiladas, grouper and plantains, and churros. There was a tequila tasting and the Junior Merino team served up the cocktails (note: dehydrated cactus salt is out of this world!).

I cannot express the excitement that rushed through us all night. Everyone was super awesome and we all had a blast. Can't wait to go back!