Beer Me

About a week ago me and a friend of mine decided that we would exchange our NYC restaurant wish lists with the hopes of coming to a consensus and going out to dinner this past Friday night. After throwing around a bunch of restaurants that were probably out of the price range for this dinner, Robuchon, Le Bernardin etc. we decided on Resto, a restaurant recognized as serving the best Belgian food in the city.

I arrived a little early and started looking at the food and drink lists and was most struck by the list of beers. There were over 60 choices in several different styles, many of which I had no knowledge of whatsoever. I ended up trying a couple of different ones that went really well with the food at Resto (mostly meat and mostly fried) and left the dinner with a new goal: to learn more about beer.

Quick note on the restaurant—I liked the food, especially the deviled eggs on fried pork toasts, the butter ballen (fried pork and veal croquettes) and the tete de cochon sandwich which was pretty amazing. I was a little disappointed by the fries (too starchy, not crispy enough) and thought the kanpachi dish we had was good but a little nondescript. Overall I think Resto would be a great place for a beer and a snack or an amazing place for a late night meal thanks to all the fried stuff. I’ll probably find my way back at some point but I’m not exactly sure when.

Anyway, my cluelessness about beer had me really frustrated and yearning to learn more about it. I felt like I had done a relatively good job of learning about wine and have started to learn more about cocktails, but how could I not know about beer? I was in a frat for two years!

I found myself on Bowery on Saturday morning, strolling through the restaurant equipment stores and decided that I should hop into the Whole Foods beer shop on Bowery and Houston. One thing led to another and I took myself on a little beer shopping spree, trying to pick up a bunch of different kinds of beers that I haven’t had and treating myself to one that I have. I think I bought a 6 pack of Brooklyn Summer Ale, a mixed 12 pack of Beer from upstate New York, two different kinds of Allegash beer, two different kinds of Hitachino, one kind of beer brewed in 2003 and aged in Calvados Casks, a Norman Apple Cider, a couple of different kinds of Belgian beer and a couple of others.
Of course, I have no time or plans to drink any of this and am clearly not jumping into this learning project by myself. Anyone up for a beer dinner next Saturday?

Spring Needs to HURRY UP

Apparently spring was supposed to start on March 21st. However, I currently see no signs of Spring. When I think spring, I think green stuff and yet I went by the Greenwich street Greenmarket today and there were only three stands, two of which were selling bread. Really all I want out of this season is an abundance of new vegetables and new stuff to cook. I’ve really only had one to two greenmarket springs since I started cooking seriously so having the opportunity to work with new local ingredients and try new spring dishes is very exciting for me. I’ve been craving asparagus, fava beans and fresh peas for the last two weeks.

Yesterday I finally gave in. I couldn’t wait any longer for spring to simply happen. I was tired of seeing the same old beets, potatoes and sunchokes (even though I love sunchokes) at the Greenmarket and decided to buy some typically ‘spring’ vegetables from my local Korean deli. Usually I wait for produce to be in season before I go and cook with it but this time I couldn’t wait, I needed my vegetables.

I decided to pan roast some salmon and serve it over crisp fiore pasta with peas, carrots, asparagus and a light fennel cream sauce. I was able to cook the salmon perfectly so that the skin was crispy and salty and the flesh was firm but moist at the same time. (Side note: it makes me so happy when I can take a good ingredient and add salt and pepper and have it taste amazing by itself which is why I’m including the picture of the salmon while cooking.)

My parents loved the dish and I thought it worked really well too. The vegetables were really the focus of the plate while the salmon and the cream added a little weight and fattiness to the dish and the pasta added a nice textural element as well as a starch. Now I need to make this dish when it is actually Spring. Here’s to hoping that the wild asparagus arrives soon.

Tomorrow: The Mexico recap

A Saturday in the Life...

Being an only child, I think I enjoy my alone time more than most. With a busy work schedule and fairly hectic social life (I like to think I have lots of friends) it’s not all too often that I can be totally and completely alone.

One time every week that I truly enjoy is Saturday mornings. Regardless of what I’ve done the night before, I always like to wake up early on Saturday and have some ‘me’ time. What do I do during me time? I shop.

First I head up to the Union Square Greenmarket. I always browse through at least once before buying three cinnamon sugar apple cider donuts (they’re small) and inhaling them. I then people watch a bit, chat with some farmers and buy whatever I think I need for the week.

After finishing my Greenmarket shopping I tend to have a backpack full of food. I then walk West to 6th avenue and make my way downtown. At about 9th street I find myself by Citarella. Even if I don’t really need anything I always pop in to see if they are selling their fresh squeezed blood orange juice. I think its quickly becoming an addiction.

I then quietly meander down 6th avenue until I get to Bleecker Street. It is here that I am able to satisfy every other culinary need I might have. If I’m feeling hungry I’ll step into Bleecker Street pizza for a Nonna Maria slice, crispy and soft with real mozzarella, basil and sweet and tangy tomato chunks, it’s one of my favorite slices in New York.

I then make my way to Ottomanelli’s meat Market and talk myself into buying much more meat than I could ever use. If you are looking for a good place to buy meat, Ottomanelli’s is it. They’re meat is top notch and it can be up to 40% cheaper than Whole Foods or Citarella or any other gourmet food store. The guys also know meat, (you can tell by looking at them) love football (another quality you want to have in your butcher) and grind your meat on the spot. They even sell mini lobes of foie gras!



Once you have your meat its time to venture into another store where you can find delicious food that can make you slightly fatter—Murray’s Cheese. I love randomly tasting and trying new cheeses and I also really enjoy browsing their other offerings, even if they are overpriced. My current cheese of the moment is Fromage D’Affinois. It’s kind of like Brie but with more structure, more flavor and a silkier texture and it’s great with Champagne (hint for Valentines Day.)

Finally, I make my way over to Amy’s bread for some Brioche. I always enjoy having a nice loaf of Brioche around. Whether I’m toasting it for pate or using it for eggs in a hole or wandering into the kitchen to nibble compulsively, it’s always a nice treat to have around.

Yes I know, buying things requires social interaction and not being truly alone…But Saturdays do provide me some time to my thoughts and let me be with one of my favorite things in the world—food.

There you have it. Now go get some shopping done.