Who needs cable....

...when you work in television. Not to mention food tv.


Here is the set of Anne Burrell's Secret's of a Restaurant Chef. I probably shouldn't be admitting this but she makes the best food.

No lunch? No problem! Yesterday I had an unbelievable fruit salad, baked chicken fingers, and herb roasted red skin potatoes. I normally don't eat chicken, but I trust our ingredients. So healthy and soooo good!

Yummy Sunday

Yesterday was quite the adventure...

We started the day off right with a delightful brunch at Tom's. Lisa was up visiting Brooklyn for the first time and after a night of drinking wine - pancakes, waffles, sausage, and coffee were greatly needed.

Mike and I then ventured to the indoor farmers market in Park Slope. GO!!!! Every Sunday from 11am to 5pm (I think) this indoor market has live music, artisenal food, clothing, jewelry, and other fun sites. We purchased a variety of cheese (young gouda, gouda with thistle netty, pecorino toscano, and manchego), some olives and pickled tomatos from Doc Pickles (YUM!!!), Motley Cru wine from BOE, and a few sweet potatoes. We even had a cup of soul warming tomato soup!

Seriously, go if you can.

Then we decided a cold day was deserving of a brisk walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Once we got into Manhattan we found a cigar bar and settled up to the leather bar with an "Astor" torpedo. I think I finally have figured out the basic art of cigar smoking: don't inhale!

The evening was rounded out with a little Iron Chef America Super Chef Battle. Thank you, WPIX 11!

Ciao!

Bombay Masala!

I think the best Indian restaurant is in my neighborhood: Bombay Masala.

Only two small blocks away from my home is a the sweet, unassuming joint where we feasted for an hour on palaka soup (lentil & spinach), chana masala, chana shaag, and dumpkaht (with lamb).

Seriously, not only are the spices blended and stewed together to perfection, but everything is fresh. We had a to wait a little bit for our nan but when it came to the table hot and fluffy, every second was worth it!

I have leftovers for lunch and cannot wait for 12pm!

2 Great Food Books

Being both a self proclaimed foodie and writer, I happen to adore books about food (surprised, right?!). Well, two of the coolest gifts I have ever received from two extremely generous and cool gents are food books.

Last summer, upon my return from France, I had a hefty package from my friend Panini Pete called The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine. This book is full of all these Louisiana. Recipes, stories, photos, history, ideas... you name it, it's in there.

Then on Tuesday, came another weighted Fed Ex! This time from my friend Chef Kyle at the Food Group. He sent Thomas Keller's new ad hoc at home. WHAT!?

Two extrememly generous gifts that I appreciate and love! Food stories are honest documentations of what a society felt and believed at that time of recording. Trust me, these will be passed down to my kids and I will insist that they are passed down to theirs. Super special... now, I have to start making some of these recipes!

The Pulp & The Bean

Having a local coffee spot is a wonderful thing. I had never been within walking distance to one, until I moved to Brooklyn.

Not far from my home and conveniently placed by the subway is my little cafe: The Pulp & The Bean. I bring in my re-usable GROUNDED mug and for $.75 I get a full cup of hot house roast with a shot of soy milk. It's a smooth, full flavor with an undertone of bitterness - resembling, but not as strong as that which I had out west.

I am a firm believer in making your own joe to save $$, but for the price and the ambiance, you can't beat it. Thanks, Pulp & Bean!

Sunday Brunch in Brooklyn

Brunch at Rebecca and Johnny's new apartment was everything brunch should be! We kicked off the cold day with mimosas, the men started cooking while Reba and I set the table. After, we drank wine and played my new favorite game, Apples To Apples. Tons of fun and the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend full of friends and great food!

Menu:
Sweet Potatoes fried with onions, garlic, thyme, cyanne, salt & pepper
Breakfast Burritos (from the Cali guy himself!) - cheese eggs, fresh guacamole, mushrooms, onions, lettuce, and HOT sauce

DELICIOUS!

2010: The 1st Through The 3rd

2009 was a year full of growth for me and just about everyone I know. Hardships were had, obstacles sometimes stumbled over, love moved on, and the FOOD was both good and not-so-good. But, alas, we made it! We can turn that chapter marked 2009 in our books of life and reflect when need be.

I rang in the New Year with Mike. We made a lovely dinner of pesto raviolis and tomato sauce (in the beautiful new Le Creuset he gave me for Christmas). We watched Werner Herzog's film, My Best Friend, and fell asleep at 11pm. It was calm. It was relaxing. It was just about everything the previous year was not.

On January 1st, I went somewhere I hadn't expected I ever really go back: Lori Belilove's! We got dressed up, wrapped a bottle of champagne and headed over to a house party at the Isadora Duncan Dance Studio. I still wasn't able to drink wine (after a nasty stint of food poisoning on December 30th) so I sipped on several LOVELY cups of mint tea and lemon water.

Incredible homemade hummus, sharp cheeses, cured meats, hearty crackers, and delectable desserts scattered the table. In the kitchen was a brilliant pot of lovingly blended carrot, ginger, potato, leek soup! All company, except the warm hosts, were new. Is there a better way to welcome in 2010 than with new friends and fresh (not to mention inspiring) conversations?!

That evening we went to Caffe Vivaldi between Bleecker & West 4th St. Live acoustic music in a caffe/bar? Perfect, fun, and warm.

January 2cd: Tom's Restaurant. After being kissed on the cheek at the door by Tom himself, we were seated promptly regardless the line of large parties. I love this restaurant. This was the first place I went to when I moved to Brooklyn. I brought my parents here when they came to visit for the first time. Love, love, LOVE all this luncheonette stands for and represents.

I will be writing a full article about Tom's, but I'll leave you with this: I had the sweet potato pancakes and my only regret is that I could not finish them!



Today, January 3rd, is brunch with Rebecca and Johnny in their new apartment! I'm bringing potatoes and a bottle of wine.

So, here we go. Ready or not, this is the first weekend of 2010 and it's already 9:18am. May you and your loved ones have a healthy, happy, and YUMMY year!