"Aggressive American" Cuisine, just my style

Ever had a meal with equal parts Asian, Italian and Jewish influences? If not, you apparently do not live in New York City for starters... I had the pleasure of sharing an interesting and delightful meal with my boyfriend at Joe Doe's in the East Village. A former client (and major foodie) recommended this place to me ages ago and I finally made it a point to wander in on Tuesday night.

Decked out in old antiques with a very “homey” feel, we found ourselves immediately at ease. The kitchen is tiny (as is typical with most amazing, hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the city) and can be seen by all patrons. The menu is limited and changes based on the season and what the farmers have available. That’s right, FARMERS; the owners have relationships with local farmers and only serve the freshest items in season! Out of 6 possible entrees, we went for the most exotic—John Fazio Rabbit, wrapped in empanada dough, tomatillo, jalapeno and onion—but were sorely disappointed to learn that the farmer was fresh out of rabbits this week (just an excuse to come back!). However the charming co-owner, Jill, gave us the rundown of the other items on the menu including appetizers such as poached duck egg and warm Turkish Lavash. It was a tough decision…but we settled on the Gin cured Scallops served nearly raw with jalapeno mayo and large homemade croutons to start. Now, I should start by saying that I am a big believer in simple dishes done extremely well. I mean it really should not take multiple hours and mounds of ingredients to get a flavorful meal. It’s simple really, and this dish hit a home run. The scallop nearly melted in your mouth, but not before it gave a citrus flavor followed by a slight bite on the tongue from the jalapeno mayo.

Instead of bread with dinner, Joe Doe’s serves fried chick peas. Sound crazy? I thought so too, but it was the perfect combination of crunchy and salty.

And for the main event…we decided on the Za’atar Spiced Stripped Bass served with red lentils, spicy yogurt and topped with pickled onion AND the Sumac Marinated Beef served with roasted potatoes, spicy steak sauce and fried pickle. Beautifully presented, I nearly didn’t want to disturb the artwork on my plate. However, my hunger pains from bikram overtook me and I had to dive in and take a bite. The fish had a warm, soft taste with a kick of spice. The yogurt sauce added a lemony flavor, but just enough to really bring out the flavor in the fish. Red lentils added a nutty undertone and the pickled onion wouldn’t seem to fit in, but it found its place in adding a sweet and sour punch to the whole bite. Each of course was tasty separately, but together it was magical. The beef was recommended rare, so of course we had to have it at its best. It was “cooked” absolutely perfectly. I can only describe the taste as having the same effect on you as a genuine kiss from someone you love…warm and buzzing all over with a zest of spice at the end. The fried pickle on the side was just plain delectable…enough said (ok, maybe not for everyone, but I am a huge fan of pickles as Kristen and my sister can attest to).

Convinced? Try it out for dinner or go for brunch and get the famous poached duck egg. That will be my next venture to the restaurant that is literally a stone’s throw away from my apartment. Oh and I need to have that rabbit at some point…
http://www.chefjoedoe.com/restaurant.html

Dark ‘n Stormy

In my opinion, the best recipe involves a road trip, home cooked meals and good company. This past weekend, some friends and I hopped in a rental car for a 7 hour trek to see our good friend Kristen and her family in upstate New York. If anyone has met the Bargars you would know that 7 hours is a minimal inconvenience compared to the amazing company and fun that awaits you. After some initial hurdles…horrible signage in New Jersey, fallen trees, and unmarked back roads… we were met with open arms and cold Corona’s upon arrival to nurse us to sleep after the long journey.

Saturday, we awoke to the smell of fresh coffee in the air. Upon wandering downstairs, a full breakfast of poached eggs (of course I added hot sauce to mine), fresh cut melon and bacon awaited us… After gobbling down this scrumptious meal and getting our daily caffeine fix, we were off to a must-do whenever I visit…Wegman’s. Most of my friends and family probably don’t know what Wegman’s is, but it is only one of the best grocery stores on the planet. You really don’t understand the meaning of a nice grocery store until you live in a place without them. It is full of fresh produce, a great mix of organic and traditional brands, neatly organized, yummy fresh bread and the best part…Bosari Salt! Kristen introduced me to this seasoning when we became roommates and I have been in love ever since. You can pretty much put it on anything from meat to salad, or even fruit and it packs a flavorful punch. As of late, you can now buy this amazing spice at Whole Foods. Before you had to truck to Lakewood, NY to get it… Not only does it taste great, it is made by friends of the Bargar family so you would be supporting the local economy.

Although I could have hung out at Wegman’s all day, it was off to the boat for some fun and relaxation. We had several pit-stops along the way to enjoy all the fun lakeside bars the town has to offer. Each venue had their own special concoction, but none topped the Dark ‘n Stormy. This drink delights the palate with a sweet, tangy flavor followed by a slight tingle on the tongue. It’s one of those drinks that make you go “how in the world did this flavor come from those ingredients?” I can’t promise you will be able to recreate the magic of the bartender at the Lenhart Hotel, or the feeling of sipping this delight while in a rocking chair overlooking the lake, but you should give it a whirl.

As if the day could not get any better, Kristen hosted a dinner party for us gals and a few close friends. She made the simplest, yet savory dish with wild caught shrimp, pineapple, and cilantro all wrapped up in a number of Thai spices. We lingered around the dinner table swapping fun stories while enjoying our wonderful meal and sips of tasty wine for hours… I could not have asked for a better day! Basically, if I had one key take away from the weekend, it would be no matter the distance, it is always worth the journey to spend time with good people and take pleasure in tasty food.

Dark 'n Stormy
2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
5 oz Barrett's Ginger Beer
1 squeeze of fresh lime
1 pinch fresh nutmeg (optional)
A couple shakes of bitters (optional, but Kristen’s mom swears by the bitters)
Ice
Mix and enjoy!
NOTE: Add rocking chair and lake view for most enjoyment

Shrimp & Pineapple Curry
One half fresh pineapple (cut into bite size chunks)
1 3/4 cups coconut cream (comes in a can)
2 tbsp Thai red curry paste (more if you like it spicy)
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp sugar
12 oz/350g jumbo shrimp (caught in the wild are yummy!)
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
cooked jasmine or white rice
Directions: Peel the pineapple and chop the flesh. Heat the coconut cream, pineapple, curry paste, fish sauce, and sugar in a wok until almost boiling. Shell and de-vein the shrimp. Add the shrimp and cilantro to the wok and simmer for 3 minutes, or until the shrimp have turned a bright pink color. Serve the shrimp with steamed rice.

Life Choices

Yesterday morning I went to a breakfast event hosted by an organization I am actively involved in called AWNY (Advertising Women of New York). Gina Garrubbo, Executive Vice President of BlogHer, Inc. was the speaker. The focus of the discussion was about mentoring and how to use it effectively to get ahead in your career and in life. I was inspired by everything she had to say, but mostly by her seeming philosophy about living... Here is a woman who has taken a pay cut three times in order to gain the experience she knew she needed down the road, raised a child on her own amid her busy career (her daughter was a platinum American Airlines member at age 3) and has started her own skincare line. Having “done it all” isn’t even the half of it. Her comment on life management was something like “If you want to do something, then just do it” (nod to Nike for that lovely, truthful line). Oh and organization, determination an optimistic outlook on life doesn’t hurt either...

She also spoke a lot about surrounding yourself with good people who care about you and want to see you do well not only in your career, but in all aspects of your life. This really hit home with me, because I have been thinking a lot about what makes me happy... and ultimately what work and people bring me the most enjoyment. If we encircle ourselves with compassionate and caring people, we can do the things we love without stress or hesitation. A great support system whether at work, at home, or in relationships is the foundation to success. Being young and currently a bit short on life experience surely does not make me an expert, but I have definitely come to some sort of self realization about this... Life is too short to work at being friends or lovers with someone who doesn’t care about you or doesn’t put as much effort into it as you do. Likewise, working with people who are too concerned with their own accomplishments and an organization that doesn’t put people first is a waste of time and effort. All in all it comes down to taking control of your life. I think it is best put in the final lines of a poem written by William Ernest Henley and often referenced by the great Nelson Mandela:

“…I am the master of my own fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

Can't beat fresh salsa

I am a huge fan of everything spicy and I like to try new salsa brands all the time. However, when I am feeling domestic, I enjoy making my own. This weekend, I made my favorite recipe for a BBQ I attended and thought it would be fun to share. Try making it yourself and add or substitute ingredients at will, according to your tastes. I personally like to add lots of hot sauce to give it a nice kick!

Ingredients:
- fresh tomatoes (make sure they are big and juicy)
- corn (avoid sweet corn if you can, unless you like it on the sweeter side)
- bell peppers - chopped (I use green and orange for color)
- cilantro (just use the leaves, no stems) - I like a LOT of cilantro
- red onion - chopped
- fresh garlic - minced
- Fresh lime juice (use more than you think you should, helps bring the flavors together)
- Black-eyed peas OR Black beans (both are yummy...or choose your favorite bean)
- salt & pepper
- garlic salt (if you are a big fan of garlic, you can add a little of this in addition tot he garlic, use sparingly though)
- your favorite hot sauce (I prefer Cholula or Louisiana hot sauce)
- olive oil

Directions: Just chop your vegetables and combine all together. Put in a little or a lot of hot sauce, depending on the spice factor you are going for. Jalapenos might be a nice addition too, but I haven't tried that yet. Go easy on the olive oil, it is mostly used to preserve the vegetables, not for taste. Cilantro and lime juice amp up the flavors of everything, so don't use them lightly!

If anyone has suggestions or comments, please post them. Also, do you have a favorite salsa recipe?

New Beginnings

As I sit down at work this fine Monday, I realize that I have somehow had this blog for over a year and never written a thing. It was one of those spur of the moment ideas when I returned home from a wonderful trip to Thailand last spring. That trip really made me realize how much of the world I have yet to experience and along with that all the tasty treats that await me. I actually made a pact with myself to take 2 weeks off every year to leave the U.S. and totally immerse myself in something new. This year my journey will lead me to Paris, Munich for Oktoberfest, Amsterdam and possibly London. I am extremely excited to see what new things await me.

In the meantime, I have been trying all sorts of new foods recently which also sparked me to start writing in this blog. Lucky for me, living in New York, I have access to all sorts of interesting food choices. For instance, my Sunday breakfast/lunch included the following:

• Home made banana pancakes made by yours truly
• Eggs with peppers, red onion and spicy sauce
• French baguette with slices of cured pork
• Mussels in a spicy vinegar sauce
• Escargot with garlic butter and pesto

Now, this may sound like a lot, but we had bits and pieces of everything. I guess this is the type of meal that results in a small town girl from Illinois dating an Eastern European...but I wouldn't have it any other way. And if you are looking for these types of tasty foods, check out the market we got our treats from on the upper east side in Manhattan:

http://www.agatavalentina.com/

Anyone else into interesting food choices? What is your favorite Manhattan market?