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Six months ago I was a full-time student in a PhD program. And now? Now I’m pursuing a career in the food industry. I work full-time for a catering company in Brooklyn. Half of my time is spent in the office learning how to plan events; everything from contacting vendors, making floor plans, creating menus and tastings, to picking out linen and napkin colors. The rest of the week I work in the kitchen. Continue reading Working in the field If you’re looking for a romantic night out, this is not the place for you. If, however, you’re sick and tired of eating standard American-Chinese food, you might want to stop by. Hidden in a forgotten and neglected shopping center in St. Petersburg, FL lies ABC Seafood. In fact, if you didn’t know it was here, you’d probably drive past it. Continue reading ABC Seafood Birthdays are a wonderful excuse to go out with friends (as if an excuse is needed). When one of your oldest and closest friends is about to turn 25, however, there is cause for celebration. We celebrate with two-for-one margaritas. The first time I made this coffee cake was two years ago when John and I went to visit his grandparents. It’s fitting, then, that I should blog about this as we’re on our way to Cape Cod to see them. A trip to the Cape can only mean one thing: food. The busy season is over, so most of the tourists and summer regulars have left. What this means for me is less traffic and shorter waits at restaurants.
There will be fried seafood (I can almost taste the fresh oysters and scallops!), there will be lobstah, and there will undoubtedly be dessert. My fiancé’s family has a soft spot for blueberry desserts and coffee ice cream. There’s a little bakery out on the Cape (Marion’s) that has the most amazing blueberry pie I’ve ever tried. They use wild Maine blueberries, which are slightly smaller and sweeter than what you might find at the grocery store. Pick up a pie, serve it up a la mode with a scoop of coffee ice cream, and relish in the simple pleasure of good food. Today, however, is not about blueberry pie. Today is about blueberry coffee cake. The only coffee cake I ever make. It took John and I about 20 hours to drive from Manhattan to Tampa, FL. Twenty hours, which included sitting on the Jersey Turnpike for an hour and a half because of a fatal accident, a few 30-minute breaks for food and gas, and a pit stop in Orlando during rush hour to see . . . → Read More: The End of ‘Forest Hills’ Mushrooms and I haven’t always gotten along. It’s a texture thing. When they’re left whole, I find them to be spongy and rubbery – not textures I’m fond of. Over the last two years, however, I’ve come to appreciate their earthy flavor. To get around the unappealing texture, I normally chop them up or slice them very thinly. Sautéing them in butter works, too. My favorite way to serve mushrooms is with chicken marsala, and I’ve got a killer recipe to share with you! But not today. Today is about mushroom ravioli. Although… these also involve marsala wine, so the flavor combination is similar. Maybe that’s what I love these so much.
They say you either love it or you hate it. Living in a city, that is. And I love it. I love the crowded streets, the subways, the diversity. And the food. Don’t even get me started on the food. The majority of my time has been spent in Manhattan… except now I live in Queens… and I want to move to Brooklyn. Why Brooklyn? Continue reading Brooklyn, Cupcakes, and a Greenmarket Last Wednesday was not a good day. I was upset about a number of things, one of which involved getting my first NY parking ticket when I put money in the meter. I paid! I placed a quarter in the meter, ran into the store to grab some eggs, and when I came out approximately two minutes later, I had a bright orange envelope on my window. And now I have to waste my time contesting a ticket that I’ll probably end up paying for anyway. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, was to begin that evening. While our guest list was small (read: John and I), I had every intention of making a delicious meal. Being sad and mopey, however, is a recipe for disaster. I had to move on. I needed to get up off the couch, set up my mixer, snap a few photos, and make the best challah I’ve ever had in my life. And ladies and gents, that’s exactly what I did. Eating at home five or six nights a week is wonderful. It’s healthier than eating out, less expensive, and I have a willing participant who will try any dish I attempt. Saturday, however, is date night (not to be confused with our beloved “sushi night”). There are so many restaurants in New York City, it’s unfathomable that we’d ever make it to them all. For the last few years I’ve kept a running spreadsheet of restaurants we’ve been to (including ratings of dishes we’ve ordered, ambience, service, etc.) and those we hope to try. It’s a pretty intense list. I categorize by type of cuisine, location, average cost of entrées, and a few other criteria. The lucky winner for our Saturday meal out? Craftbar. Continue reading Craftbar Remember when I said I was going to post something reminiscent of fall? Something with sage? Today is your lucky day. |
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