Fresh Basil & Chive Pasta w/ Tomato Sauce

Neil bought me a pasta rolling attachment for my kitchenaide mixture a couple years ago. It was actually a gift for finally completing my financial certification. I have to admit, at first I was a little annoyed by the “gift”….I mean, isn’t it more of a gift for him? Does he expect me to make him fresh pasta on top of all the other home cooked meals I make him? Why not buy me jewelry or a designer bag? Well, Neil knew what he was doing, and he wasn’t being selfish. Any gift at all is a kind gesture, which I lost sight of. Also, he knew how much joy this would bring me. As time would tell, I became obsessed with this gadget and have been playing with it ever since….and yes, I did thank him for it :)

I often dedicate an entire day to making loads of fresh pasta and ravioli. It’s fun, relaxing, and therapeutic. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but once you do, it’s like second nature. It’s also peak tomato season, so it’s the perfect time to show off fresh pasta with a light, refreshing, uncooked tomato sauce. Recently, I made a basil/chive pasta and dressed it with a fresh tomato sauce recipe that I’ve been using for years. Neil calls it “Summer Pasta”, and rightfully so, because it’s a summertime favorite in our house. Hmm…part of me still thinks that this gift wasn’t completely selfless :)

See Fresh Basil & Chive Pasta Recipe!
See Summer Tomato Sauce Recipe!

Chocolate Cupcakes w/ White Chocolate Icing

It’s been a while since I posted something sweet. Nothing’s sweeter than a cupcake! My mom use to send a huge box full of cupcakes to school for our bdays. It’s sad to think that homemade treats aren’t even allowed in most schools these days! I remember one scorching hot May bday on which the icing on the cupcakes she sent had all melted. I was so concerned that nobody in my 3rd grade class would eat them and my bday would be ruined (yes, I can be a bit of a drama queen). But, they ended up tasting way better that way…all gooey due to the melting, moist, and yum. The cupcakes were a hit and so was I for day…but soon back to loser status :) We grew older, and somewhere along the way my mom stopped making cupcakes, and I went on to making cakes.

I’ve been getting a tired of baking cakes lately. Cupcakes are just more fun, and nothing is more nostalgic. They are also way cuter than a cake, and if you haven’t noticed, oh so trendier. So, I tried to convert some of my cake recipes to cupcakes, w/ little success. As whole cakes, the recipes were fine, but didn’t double as cupcakes. They didn’t have the soft, moist texture that a cupcake should. Some were too dense, while others were dry and flaky. I almost gave up and bought a box mix (which btw, are also great), but I held out. I did some more trial and error, and found a chocolate cake recipe that used mayo instead of eggs/butter/oil. Believe me, this recipe makes the perfect chocolate cupcake. Perfect texture and taste. Don’t get turned off by the mayo. Give it a chance! I made a creamy white chocolate icing to go on top.

This time I returned the favor and gave some to my mom to take to work. I hope she was a hit :) Next I’ll be experimenting with Red Velvet cupcakes. If you have a good one, please send my way!

See Recipe!

"Vegikopitas"

Spanakopitas have always been one of my favorite finger foods. I remember chasing down the servers at weddings and corporate events to get my hands on as many as possible...flakes falling on to my dress with every bite. I love the combination of spinach, onion, herbs and tangy feta all wrapped up in a buttery, flaky pastry. But think about the possibilities! You could do roasted peppers, squash, mushrooms, basil, brie, GOAT CHEESE, etc. This appetizer is so versatile, that I fill it with whatever veggies/cheese I have and make “vegikopitas”. I seriously feel like Rachel Ray, giving it made-up name, but I think it’s fitting. Don’t worry, you’ll never see her “naan-chos” on this blog. I do have my limits!

The most awesome thing about these is that you can make them well in advance and freeze for months. Just transfer straight to the oven when you have an unexpected guest! This is a great meze for a Mediterranean themed night as well, as I did for the Turkish feast.

See Recipe!

Zucchini Cakes

It's zucchini squash season! I love zucchini and I had the most awesome zucchini cakes while in Turkey. I tried to recreate it at home by looking up random recipes and combining what I thought was the best ingredients of the bunch. I ended up with very soft, tasty cakes, and pretty damn close to the original. I served it with a yogurt dill sauce which I made by combining greek yogurt, fresh dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt/pepper.

I used feta cheese in the recipe, but I think it would taste way better with goat cheese. Much to my dismay, Neil has a strong aversion to it, so much so that I can't even get away with sneaking it in...like I do most things that he "thinks" he dislikes ;)

See Recipe!

Turkish Feast

We’ve been craving Turkish food constantly since our return from Turkey. So, we cooked a Turkish feast complete with yummy mezes, kebabs, and fresh pita bread. Why didn’t we think of this before?!?! Our menu consisted of the following:

Hummus, Dolmades, Zucchini cakes, Mixed Vegetable Spanikopitas, Grilled Eggplant/Peppers/Onions, Kebabs, Chicken Skewers, Lamb Chops, Fresh Pita Bread, and Vermicelli Rice Pilaf. I think I got it all!! Oh and we had some Turkish Delight and Baklava for dessert, compliments of Turkey. The food took me right back. Now if only I could figure out how to recreate the incredible views in my dinky backyard.

We got all of our meat from the Lebanese Butcher in Falls Church and it was freshest quality meat (much better than gourmet grocery stores) and also very inexpensive! I bought a mixture of ground lamb and veal for making the kebabs. We bought lamb chops that we marinated in harissa sauce, red wine vinegar, oil, salt/pepper, and Turkish spices from Turkey. We also bought their prepared chicken skewers already marinated and ready to be grilled. The chicken skewers delicious, and didn’t need any altering…not even salt!

Anyhow, check out the recipes for the Lamb Kebabs and Fresh Pita Bread below. I’ll post the Zucchini Cakes, Mixed Veggies Spanikopitas, and Rice Pilaf soon.

See Kebab Recipe!
See Pita Bread Recipe!

Turkey

For the last couple weeks (July 4- July 16, 2008), we’ve been on the most fabulous vacation. Neil and I took a trip to Turkey (Antalya & Istanbul), with a short stopover in Rome (b/c Neil had to appease me). I have never been so depressed to return to the States! Turkey was the highlight of our trip and we can’t wait to return and experience more of its beauty, life, and food! Check out my slideshows below and write-ups. Rome was our first stop on the trip. Since I already posted on Rome in my Italy post, I’ll skip that part. After Rome, we next went to Antalya for 3 nights, and Istanbul for 5 nights. Sadly, the time in Turkey wasn’t enough...and of course Neil keeps pointing out that we didn't "have" to do Rome since we've done it before. I'll suck it up and admit that he's right...only on this blog :)

ANTALYA

Antalya is Turkey’s and much of Europe’s holiday getaway on the Mediterranean coast. The only place I have to compare it to is the Greek Islands, and it can definitely compete (not to mention the food is WAY better in Turkey). The coastline is an incredible site, and we had a beautiful view of it from our hotel balcony. We stayed at the Sheraton resort right near the beach, and right next door to an area called the “Beach Park”. The beach park is quite an impressive area. It’s a pedestrian walkway that is over a mile long and lined with beach nightclubs, restaurants, and spots to relax with drinks and hookha along the way. You’ll see club after club pumping euro music way into the morning hours along the beach side. On the other side you’ll see café/restaurants/hookha bars that are lined up with eclectic outside seating and hundreds of beanbags (yes beanbags!). ..it’s an area for pure relaxation and social gathering. It’s hard to describe so check out the pictures in the slideshow. The beach park is massive and I’ve never seen anything like it!
About a mile from the beach is the picturesque old town of Kaleici. It is a very quaint town with narrow winding streets, old houses, and ancient walls. This area also has a number of boutique hotels and traditional Turkish restaurants. I'd compare it to the Plaka District of Athens. This is also the area that people go for market shopping (Turkish rugs, jewelry, spices, etc). The markets are abundant, and they tend to harass you when you are walking by, but not in a bad way. They are extremely friendly and no harm is done if you don’t wish to buy their goods. Bargaining is a requirement and a part of the experience! Near Kaleici, is a beautiful marina on the Mediterranean. We took a short 1 hour cruise of the Mediterranean from this area. Again, this area is lined with restaurants and is very lively, day and night. Our days in Antalya consisted of spending the daytime in Kaleici and the Marina. We’d get a delicious doner kebab on the go for lunch. Doner is a seasoned cut of lamb/veal that they wrap in a thin pita or bread. The literal meaning of doner is ‘turning roast’. Stands can be found everywhere. Before making our trip back to the hotel, we would stop at one of the various cafés that overlook the sea for a drink. I'd get my daily ice cream fix...Micky D's ice cream cone dipped in chocolate! Now why don't they do that here? We’d then head back to our hotel and lounge at the pool or beach park. Then we’d have to figure out a dinner venue which was a big task, b/c the possibilities are endless. Dinner is an experience of pure enjoyment in Turkey. Food is a huge part of their culture, and dinner usually lasts a couple of hours, complete with an assortment of mezes and main dishes. The mezes are mostly vegetarian, but the main dishes heavily consist of lamb, veal, beef kebabs with chicken options as well. Turkish food is incredible and I’m still craving it! We ended up at the below dinner venues. Our favorite was the one we found all on our own. The other two were “safe” hotel recommendations (not as good as the one we found). But, you’re guaranteed better than average food at any Turkish restaurant. My rec is not to listen to a chain hotel like the Sheraton b/c they are very cautious of giving venues where the locals go. Boutique hotels do a better job of this.

• Taraca Restaurant- Located along the beach park. Our favorite restaurant in Antalya, and one of our best meals in Turkey! The mezes were excellent. The kebab meat was also perfectly spiced and delicious. This was one of the few places in Antalya (and Turkey), that serves fresh Turkish flatbread as well.


• 7 Mehmet Restaurant- Located past the beach park; suggested by hotel and I read about it in my own research. Beautiful views of the Mediterranean, so try to go before dark. Mezes and kebabs were decent. No Turkish bread here..just regular sliced baguette bread which you can ask them to toast.


• Kral Sofrasi Restaurant- On the marina; suggested by hotel. Again, no Turkish bread here. The mezzes and kebabs were decent. They really try to push the fish on you here since it’s on the marina. It’s very heavily priced, and when they displayed their offerings of the night to us, we weren’t very impressed.

One thing to note in Turkey, is that if you want good wine you’ll pay a very high price. This was the only downside I found, b/c I love wine. They just aren’t into wine there. All the locals drink “Raki”, which is an anise flavored liqueur, and they drink this stiff drink in large quantities!! It’s usually mixed w/ a little water and ice cubes. Definitely try it for the experience, but be prepared for the hangover. Neil had it a couple of nights, but stuck w/ the Efes Turkish beer that grew on him towards the end of our trip. Oh, and cheap/bad wine also ended up growing on me towards the end of the trip...see, I'm not high maintenance :) On to Istanbul, the climax of the trip…

ISTANBUL

We absolutely fell in love with the city of Istanbul during our short 5 nights. The city is simply magical and alive 24/7. I’ve never seen anything like it. The city will never give any indication as to the time or day of week…the streets are always packed with locals and tourists alike. And this city is lined by the Maramara and Bosphorous seas, so the views from almost every point/venue of the city are breathtaking. The people were very welcoming and extremely helpful. They love Americans (they just hate BUSH). I can write forever about our experience in Istanbul, but I’ll keep this post to the major attractions and good eats. We stayed in a boutique hotel, Hotel Niles, located in Beyazit (old town Istanbul). It was a little bit away from some of the major areas, but we were right next to Istanbul’s very efficient tram system that we used everyday. We loved the hotel and would recommend it to anyone. It’s very affordable, clean, and the staff is excellent. They entertained all of our questions in detail, and trust me Neil can get pretty annoying with questions. There was a new concierge that started the day we arrived (such a cutie 22 year old), and he was given the most challenging week ever w/ Neil. Towards the end, he pointed out that Neil taught him a few things about the city. As you can see, Neil put him to work...so embarrassing!
The hotel also has a rooftop terrace, providing a great way to unwind after touring the city. Oh, and it has an EXCELLENT kebab house right next door! That was our dinner one night. The hotel plated the food for us on the terrace. It was one of the best meals we had in Istanbul! The only negative to the hotel is that it has smaller than average rooms, but we managed just fine. Here is how we spent our trip:


Major Attractions/ To Do-

• Hagia Sofya, Cisterns, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace are all must sees. I loved the Hagia Sofia especially. Topkapi Palace was also beautiful. Topkapi palace has an additional charge to see the Harem (the actual home of the Sultan). It’s really cool and worth seeing, so pay the extra 10 Lira. You can do the Hagia Sofya, Blue Mosque, and Cisterns in one day. Save Topkapi for another long morning. If you have more time for sightseeing, check out the museums.


• Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar- Both of these markets are worth seeing. But, as I mentioned with the shopping in Antalya, be prepared to be harassed, and it’s vital to bargain! Most don’t know what a good price is for anything, and there’s almost no way to know. If bargaining’s not your style, determine what you think it’s worth and decide not to pay more than that. It can be a time consuming and draining process though, especially if you start comparison shopping. Somehow I got sucked into a two hour ordeal w/ a vendor trying to sell me a turkish rug, and mind you, I had no intention of buying! I took Neil on quite an adventure on our bazaar day!


• Bosphorous Tour- This can be done by ferry, and most take a half day (6 hours), as they go to the Asia side where you can get off and tour. We didn’t want to spend half a day out on sea, so we found a 45 minute tourist ferry that goes from the nearby town of Ortakoy. It hits the major sites along the Bosphorous.


• Ortakoy- it’s not a must do, but we enjoyed this town. It’s very quaint and it’s where the locals go to getaway and unwind. This town has the best Potato (“Kumpir”) stands in Istanbul. It’s basically a massive potato bar with all sorts of weird toppings (cheese, sour cream, olives, peppers, couscous, spicy spreads, and even a potato salad topping!) It’s a must try. Ortakoy is also known for having the best Waffle stands. The waffles are stuffed up with any sweet fillings you desire and rolled up like a burrito. Such an awesome idea!


• Istiklal Street (“Caddesi”)- Located in the area of “Beyoglu”, this was the most amazing pedestrian street I’ve seen. Its runs from Taksim Square to the tunel square and is the pulse of the city. It’s the only place to soak up the true flavor of the city. We went almost everyday. It’s almost a mile long and lined with shops, cafes, eateries, restaurants, and side streets that reveal even more endless restaurants. It’s a wonderful place for people watching and to spend the day. You’ll find the locals stopping for Turkish tea and playing backgammon at the little tables on the walk. Backgammon and tea is a huge pastime in Turkey. There’s something for everyone on Istiklal Caddesi, and it’s pumping from the entire day and late night hours.


• Galata Bridge- This is a nice walking trip. You’ll see tons of locals fishing off of the bridge. Be sure to get a Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich) near there. Get it from one of the vendor stands and not from the restaurants directly under the bridge. It’s so much better.






• Meyhanes- You cannot visit Istanbul without experiencing a Meyhane or two for dinner. This is the local’s spot for gathering, having mezes, and drinking raki. The atmoshphere is complete with music, fun, and laughter. Don’t be surprised if the people at the table next to strikes up conversation. It’s just a big party and everyone is family. The best area for Meyhanes is on the Asmalmescit Sokak (a side street off of Istaklal Street). You can just shop around a choose one, b/c there are many, and I hear all are good. Our favorite meyhane was Yakup 2. It’s fun even if you don’t drink, and other drinks are offered besides Raki. But if you want to try Raki, a meyhane is definitely the place.


• Turkish Delight & Baklava- Can’t do Turkey without trying these. Koska Bakery had the best Turkish delight. It’s located right on Istaklal, and there’s a couple shops in Beyazit also. I didn’t even like the stuff before I tried it in Istanbul. It grows on you. Baklava was pretty incredible everywhere. We enjoyed this at the Koska bakery as well.

Istanbul Restaurants-

We ate most of our lunches from street vendors, b/c they had the best doner sandwiches and pides (Turkish pizzas!). But you can find many sit down places for lunch and cafes for drinks/snacks. Istaklal street has endless options for all cravings. Like Antalya, choosing a place for dinner is always a dilemma. This city loves to eat and it has restaurants galore. We stuck with all Turkish restaurants, although eclectic/international cuisine is abundant. Be sure to ask prices before going to a restaurant (they are use to this), and also ask if alcohol is served. There’s a minority of venues that don’t serve alcohol. But, these are usually located in more conservative sections of Istanbul. Also, be aware that any restaurant with a view of the Maramara and Bosphorous seas are going to be more expensive and sometimes not as good food as other restaurants. But, the views alone are worth it. In terms of restaurant pricing, you’ll pay quite a bit to drink alcohol, but food is generally priced fair. Here goes:

• Hamdi Restaurant (Tahmis Cad. Kalcin Sok. No:17, Eminonu; phone: 0212 528 03 90 – 512 54 24; web: www.hamdirestorant.com.tr)- Located in the old city and very popular. Make reservations in advance (even before your trip), so you can get a table on the terrace. The views are incredible and so is the food. Service is a bit rushed though due to the popularity. This place also serves fresh Turkish flatbread as opposed to just loaf bread. The pistachio and spicy kebabs are a must. Be sure to get the spicy meze made of ground nuts, cumin, and spices!


• Yakup 2- Asmali Mescit Street in Beyogul (off of Istaklal Street); This was our favorite meyhane. We didn’t even order a main course here. We just ordered a bunch of delicious mezes and raki. Must try the fried eggplant with yogurt here. Fried shrimp with peppers also delish. No fresh Turkish bread.


• Sofilya 9- Asmalmescit Sokak in Beyogu (off of Istaklal Street); Another meyhane. The food was cheaper that Yakup 2, but I didn’t find it as tasty. The boregis (cheese/meat filled Turkish pastries) were excellent though, and it was still a fun experience. No fresh Turkish bread.


• Fenir Fish Restaurant- In the Kumkapi area. This is a really fun area to dine and has all fish restaurants. It’s complete with dancing, live music, and tons of people. However, be wary that it’s very pricey for so so food. The fish wasn’t anything better than we get in the states, which I was surprised by. If you go, it’s more for the overall experience instead of the food.


• Leb-i-derya (Kumbaraci yokusu, 57/6-7 Tunel, Beyoglu; phone: 0212 293 49 89/0212 243 95 55; web: www.lebiderya.com). Right off of Istaklal, this restaurant is a must visit for a pre-dinner drink and some mezes because the views are spectacular. Be sure to go to this one and NOT the one in the nearby Richmond Hotel, b/c you won’t get the same views. It’s a very trendy place and the food is eclectic. The menu looks great, and we’ve heard great things about the food, but we decided to just do drinks and a couple apps before our real dinner. We wanted to stick to traditional Turkish cuisine on the trip. You have to get a seat on the terrace for the views….although the inside views are nice too. It is truly an amazing experience.


• 360 Istanbul- Next to St. Antoine church on Istaklal Street. The name says it all…panoramic view of Istanbul. The food is not good and pricey. So go for pre-drinks or after dinner. We went after dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the views.


• Nupera/Nutera- This is a rooftop bar/restaurant in Beyoglu off of Istaklal. Again, not great for food, but you get a beautiful view of the sunset and the city. We went for drinks.

Other restaurants that were recommended to us but didn’t have the time were Develi (kebabs, suppose to be better than Hamdi), Doga Balik (fish and nice views), Fishmekan (fish and kebabs), Kiyi (suppose to be BEST fish around), Refik (meyhane), Assk Kahve (for lunch/brunch), Hunkar (Turkish homestyle food), Sunset Bar & Grill (amazing sunset views- good for drinks, not food).

Istanbul Nightspots-
We didn’t hit up a lot of the major afterhour venues, as we were out during late hours on our Meyhane nights. Note that alcohol is pretty pricey at all the bars. We joined some locals we met at a meyhane to an 80’s rock bar called Mojo (on Istaklal). They had a pretty comical turkish coverband singer who was singing tons of 80s and Turkish songs which the crowd went nuts for. Needless to say, it was right up my alley! For euro/techno music, you can check out 360 Istanbul. Other places are Reina, Sortie, and Angelie (Reina being the most popular). They are the trendiest, exclusive, most pretentious nightclubs in Istanbul, and drinks can cost you up to 30- 40 lira easily. They also serve dinner, but I hear the food is super expensive and horrible. These clubs are right on the water along the Bosphorous, and people say that it is a must do just for that. We never made it, b/c we were too tired to deal with the ordeal, and were having too much fun just on Istaklal street. If you decide to go to Reina, Sortie, or Angelie, make a reservation for food, and just get a few drinks/apps. Then proceed to the club. If you don’t, it'll be a pain to get into the club later. I know I missed a lot of vital info, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with specific questions. We are definitely going to return to Turkey in the future and check out some of its other magical cities such as Ankara, Izmir, and Bodrum. Turkey rocks!!!

Grilled Pizza

When we moved to our single family home last year, we wanted to immediately make use of our cozy little backyard. So, one of our first purchases was a charcoal grill. Summer Sundays are for grilling at our house! Pizza being my favorite food, I really wanted to learn how to make a grilled pizza. Turns out it’s a lot easier than I thought…although, I let Neil handle the grilling part with my supervision :)

The end result of a light, smoky, crisp, yet chewy crust is the closest you’ll have to the high end pizzerias in our area. The key is in the high heat provided by a grill. It seems like a daunting task, but if you work quickly enough, and pay attention, it’s very simple. If you do grilled pizza research on the web, you’ll find that grilling experts have 3 steps: sear the crust, add your toppings, and then cover to cook your toppings. I’ve elaborated on those steps below, but then included my own variation on the steps.

First you have to get your unbaked crust ready and toppings ready to go. That means you should have all of your toppings ready to go in small bowls right next to the grill (salt, pepper, cheese, olive oil, etc). I do all the prep work. Then Neil gets the grill to a high temperature. I gently slide the crust on to the grill off of a pizza paddle right next to the flame (but not directly on top of the flame). Neil moves it on and off the flame depending on how fast it’s bubbling and puffing up. This process is only a few minutes. Once it’s puffed up, it’s time to flip the crust over. You have to work quickly. We burned our first one pretty bad! So, if it’s your first time, make extra dough to practice. Once you do, you’ll know the limits of your grill and have the technique down.

After your crust is flipped over, move it to a cooler part of your grill (away from the flame). This will allow you some time to top it and finish the cooking without burning. Once your toppings are on, cover the grill so, the cheese can melt. Keep checking the underside of the crust though to ensure that it’s not burning. Of course if it isn’t browning enough, slide it over to the hotter part of the grill. Once toppings cooked/melted and your crust is nicely crisp and chewy, transfer to your pizza stone (or whatever you plan to cut on). Always give a nice drizzle of olive oil for taste and presentation. Slice and eat!!

So, this is the general method for grilling pizza. However, I’ve been switching up the technique lately. If you notice from the picture above, when you initially put the crust on your grill, it puffs up beautifully. But, once you flip it, those puffs and air pockets are all gone. So, I don’t flip it anymore. I just grill one side to nice pillowy puffs, remove from the grill onto a pizza stone, and top it. Then I transfer it to my broiler to cook the toppings and crust all the way through. I like the end result of this method better, but you decide what works best for you.

Btw, the pizza as pictured is topped with a homemade tomato sauce, roasted peppers, red onions, salami, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan…AKA, the “Norcia” at 2 Amys. If you missed my earlier post for pizza crust, I’ve provided the link below.


See Pizza Crust Recipe!

Guacamole

Guacamole is a summer time staple at my house. Paired with some warm tortillas, and a refreshing glass of sangria, I’ve got the perfect dinner! It’s really easy to whip up as long as you have good, ripe avocados. You can check for ripeness by gently pressing the outside of the avocado, and it should give a little. If you have rock hard avocados, speed up the ripening by placing them in a brown paper bag at room temperature. For even quicker ripening, throw in an apple or banana to the bag. Hass avocados are the most common variety, and perfect for guacamole. They’re ripe when the skin is nearly black and yields to soft pressure.

Ripe avocados taste delicious just on their own with a sprinkle of salt. So, when it comes to making the perfect guacamole, the simpler the better. But, you can easily throw in other ingredients (i.e., corn, black beans, scallions, bell peppers, cheese, etc) for unique variations. My recipe has minimal ingredients, but play around with it as you wish.


See Recipe!

Vinoteca

I’ve been spending a good part of the spring/summer hitting all the wine bars, and I still have a lot to go. Frankly, I’m starting to get a little exhausted by all of the wine venues toting small plates, charcuterie, and cheeses. U Street Corridor’s, Vinoteca is one of the same. It’s a fun place, sprawling with the young, lively atmosphere, decent food, and of course good wine. It’s also a very small, almost cramped restaurant, but they take reservations for big parties. I had a reservation for 8, which I made at the last minute.

No wait when we arrived! In fact, they seated us even though our full party wasn’t there yet. That’s a nice change! We were seated very comfortably at a round table. Talking was a little hard. Noise is definitely a big issue there. Service that night was exceptional. Our waitress was very friendly and explained the menu items very enthusiastically. She set a very nice tone for the evening. She was also very patient considering that we had a big party.

Wine list was very good, and they even have a nice champagne flight section. We went straight for the wine bottles. We ordered some very nice Malbecs and Sangioveses. No complaints.

The menu items were a little scattered. They have small plates, and just a few large plates. None of the menu items really follow a theme, but we enjoyed the variety. Everything was fairly prices as well. Here it goes:

• Cheese Plate- We got the goat cheese flight. The cheeses were semi-hard and tasty. I would have liked a soft goat though. They were out that night, so our waitress had to substitute other goats.
• Charcuterie- Prosciutto w/ crusty bread. Can’t go wrong there!
• Assorted Olives- Nice assortment of plump olives and even cornishons.
• Sliders- These are everywhere now! We got an assortment of lamb, bison, beef, and venison. I had all but the bison. They were all decent tasting. None really stood out though. I found myself needing salt. It’s very fairly priced at 3 for $9.95.
• Shrimp & Grits- My favorite of the night. It was served with habanero chili and jack cheese grits along with fried green tomatoes. Very tasty, but it would also be very easy to replicate at home, which I will definitely do.
• Panini with Cheddar, Prosciutto, Apples- This was delicious and another one that’s easy to replicate at home. I found it odd though that they used red apples instead of green….I prefer green.
• Red Snapper- Served with an ancho chili sauce that added a nice bite. Snapper was cooked perfectly too.
• Tsaziki Salmon- Cooked well, but a little on the boring side. Almost like a weeknight meal dish.

For dessert we got a chocolate lavender cake and bread pudding. The bread pudding was phenomenal…we were all fighting with our spoons. The chocolate cake almost went untouched. I think the lavender flavor was too strong and overpowered the chocolate.

Vinoteca also has an upstairs private that can be reserved for parties. It’s a pretty venue and not known to many. From what I hear, they don’t even charge for the use of the room…but, that could change.

I’ll probably return when I need a last minute reservation somewhere. For now, I need a break from wine bars.

Vinoteca
1940 11th St
NW, DC 20001
202.332.WINE

Co Co. Sala

I have been so excited for the opening of Co Co. Sala since I first read about it in the paper. It was going to be DCs first dessert bar. NY already has so many, so it’s about time that DC picked up on the trend. I was also excited because Nisha Sidhu, a former graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine (where I currently attend classes) and former chocolatier at 2941, is the executive pastry chef. From what I had read about Co Co. Sala, I truly felt that this was going to be my haven, as every detail was so “me”..the chocolate, desserts, fancy cocktails, tapas, ambiance… could it really be true? Co Co. Sala was suppose to open back on Valentine’s Day, and didn’t actually open till the first week of May (just in time for my bday!!). So, without my knowledge, Neil planned my 30th bday surprise there with 20 of my closest family and friends.

When we arrived, I was delighted to meet one of the owners, Bharet, Nisha (pastry chef), and even the executive chef (forgot his name). They were incredibly nice, welcoming, and I could feel the passion they had for their baby, Co Co. Sala. It was very inspirational. They set us up with a nice loungy area for our party to dine in. They even made me a personalized bday card, which was a very nice touch. The owner was also sure to walk by all night to make sure our party was okay. Kudos for that!

The concept is genius, and the venue absolutely sexy, stunning, and striking… very NY. There are fancy chandeliers, appetizing and romantic colors (reds and browns), an open pastry kitchen, sugar sculptures (made by Nisha herself), even TVs at the bar that show enticing chocolate images. I don’t think I’ve seen a prettier, sexier space in DC. Check it out for that alone, because my description does not do it justice!

The food can be described as trendy and innovative (maybe a little too innovative at times). There’s a heavy focus on chocolate and spice. In fact I think you can find something chocolate in almost everything you order. The chocolate didn’t always compliment, but it was subtle enough. They have a selection of fun tapas (macaroni, sliders, salads, and crabcakes) as the savory items. But, the main course is really the dessert flights. There are 4 types of dessert flights each having 5 courses (Aztec, Grown Up, Italian, Indian) for $30. You can also order a la carte or choose a 3 course dessert flight. Take a look at the menu online. Each of the dessert flights also includes a cheese course (very cool!!). It’s almost impossible to decide which flight to choose.

So, how did our group of 20 find the food? Overall, everyone enjoyed it. I have to admit that I personally enjoyed the flavors in the savory tapas more than the dessert flights though. The spicy shrimp macaroni was delicious, as were the swordfish and blue cheese burger sliders. I also tried the tandoori chicken sliders, bacon macaroni with chocolate coated bacon, goat cheese & beet salad, mini pepper cheese enchilada, and crab cakes w/ coffee crème fraiche. Each one had eclectic ingredients mixed in to it, giving it a unique flavor. Are they to rave about?..No, but, they are satisfying nibbles in such a beautiful atmosphere. The tapas are portioned very small @ $7 each, but they were pretty filling. If I had to pick my favorite savory item, it would be the mini enchilada (which is actually a cheese course in the Aztec dessert flight). The flavors of the spice, fruit, cheese all packed in a tortilla was delish.

On to the desserts: The dessert flights make you feel like a kid in a candy store, and it’s an experience to be had for sure. Again, just read the menu, and your mouth will water. Desserts are supposed to the main event, and conceptually and visually it does not disappoint. Each dessert course is presented so artistically with fun, whimsical accompaniments. I chose the “Co Co. Grown Up” flight consisting of a number of nostalgic childhood desserts from boston cream donuts to cupcakes. We all had different themes. So, I got to sample some from the Aztec and Italian flights as well. I was very impressed by the presentation and thought process that went into the dessert pairings/themes. However, some of the flavors didn’t completely deliver. Some flavors were a bit exaggerated, and had they not been, the dessert would have been almost flawless. For example, the chocolate soufflé w/ the “fiery” center was so spicy in the throat that I couldn’t take another bite. The spice was too overwhelming. The chocolate, peanut butter and banana split was overwhelmed by the taste of peanut butter. The mint chocolate chip cone was so herby and minty that I couldn’t enjoy the chocolate. I really feel that all these desserts would have been perfect had the “key” flavor not been exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong, we did have some other mouth-watering desserts. The churros with cinnamon cream dipping sauce melted in your mouth, and the texture was perfect. There were a lot of fun “shooters” that came with the different flights too that were delicious. The pop rock cheesecake was a party on my tongue and perfect consistency to the cheesecake too. After the dessert coma, Co Co. Sala even presented everyone in our party with peanut butter jelly shooters for my birthday. They were super cool (even though I don’t like PBJs).

Co Co. Sala has almost as many eclectic cocktails as it has desserts. Prices are steep at $13 a drink, but worth it. I wish I had the tolerance to try more than just two, but the two I tried were amazing. I had the Cocojito made w/ chocolate vodka, fresh mint and chocolate shavings. How can you go wrong with chocolate and mint in a drink? It was awesome! The owner also gave me a shot of coffee flavored Petron tequila for my bday. That was divine and went down nicely…I was sipping on it though (can’t do shots).

Service was very spotty, from missing silverware to drink orders. We had one waitress, and she was very overwhelmed. I can’t really fault the restaurant though. They are brand new, and all of a sudden have a party of 20 people! Had Neil included me in the birthday plans, I wouldn’t have chosen Co Co. Sala, b/c I like to give restaurants a little time to work out their kinks. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to ring in my bday at such a unique venue.

By the end of our evening ,the place got packed with the young, attractive, and trendy. It seems like Co Co. Sala is trying to do it all. I hope that they keep the emphasis going on the food and desserts though instead of “after hours”. I think this place will only get better. Some kinks need to be ironed out, but I’m confident, they will be. The owner told us that they plan to expand the restaurant to have a full dining menu and seating. I’m definitely interested in checking that out!

This place is definitely worth a visit! There’s nothing like it in DC. If it’s your first time, experiencing a dessert flight is a must. I definitely plan to go back, this time to sample more cocktails, and a la carte desserts. Did I mention they also have hot chocolate flights?

Co Co. Sala
929 F Street NW
Washington DC 20004
202.347.4265

Pistachio Ice Cream

With this scorching HOT weather, all I want is ice cream. Actually, I want ice cream in any weather :) It’s one of my favorites….right at the top with pizza. Nothing makes me smile more than pizza and ice cream! My favorite pizza place, 2 Amys, also (in my opinion) makes the best homemade ice cream in the city. I finally tweaked my recipe enough, and I think the taste and texture is almost identical. This recipe starts off with a Crème Anglaise base, which is heavenly in itself. It is then slow-churned and transformed into ice cream.

Once you have mastered this basic recipe, experiment, and create your own unique blend. The one I made above is pistachio flavored. I also mixed in some chocolate chips to a portion of the ice cream. Next time I’m going to make a crushed Samoa cookie ice cream!

Btw, I’m still searching for a good frozen yogurt recipe. If anyone has one, please send it my way!

Note that you will need an ice cream churner. Mine is a Kitchen aide attachment.

See Recipe!

Cork

We celebrated my 30th birthday over Memorial Weekend. Neil planned the celebration to be on that Saturday, so Friday night we wanted to go to a relaxing venue to have some wine and nibbles with a few friends. Cork fit the bill. It is cozy, relaxing, and the ambiance created by the dimmed lights, and brick walls clearly reflects the “wine bar” theme. The space appears to be very small when you first enter. But, you soon discover that they have a lot more seating in the back and upstairs.

When we got there, we were still waiting on a couple of friends, so we started off with some wine and cheese at the main communal bar (once the seats finally opened up). It’s a nice size bar and accommodates a large number of people comfortably. Also, there’s an extension to the bar that can accommodate a party of 5. In fact, that’s the area we got while waiting. Choosing a wine is a task...very extensive list. We ended up with a nice Sangiovese. Ordering the cheeses was equally difficult. Since it was very packed, the bartender/waitress behind the bar was less than helpful on what cheeses to choose. So, we picked at random. The cheeses come with bread and some delicious cumin spiced nuts. We especially enjoyed the aged manchego and soft goat cheeses.

Once our friends arrived, we were shortly seated at our table, which ended up being right by the semi-open kitchen. It was fun watching the kitchen staff/chefs behind the window executing their assembly line. The room we were in was also very cozy and private. Cork offers a series of wine flights, but we stuck with a couple bottles of the Sangiovese the remainder of the evening. I particularly wasn’t interested in doing a wine flight that night. I’m sure it would be fun though, and the best way to sample the offerings. For food, Cork offers a series of small cold and hot plates that are all meant for sharing. It’s not a very expansive menu in comparison to other wine bars I’ve been to, but it doesn’t need to be. The selection was decent and there’s something for everyone. We ordered the following:

- Sautéed Wild Mushrooms w/ Madeira- Everyone at the table enjoyed this dish. I thought it was tasty, but I would have liked some caramelization on the mushrooms. It would have given a greater depth to the flavor. I could taste the Madeira, though. The dish was little watery (maybe also from the lack of sautéing the mushrooms). A touch of cream would have helped that.
- Duck Confit over Polenta- The polenta was creamy and delicious. The duck was very tender to the bite. It was a little salty though. I would have preferred a sweet contrast on it.
- Potato & Leek Gratin w/ caramelized onions, gruyere, bacon- Need I say more with that combo of ingredients?
- Brioche Sandwich w/ prosciutto, fontina, egg- This was the favorite amongst our selection of dishes. It was perfectly crisp and a very tasty little sandwich. The runny egg was a nice touch.
- Lemon Pepper dusted Calamari and Rock Shrimp- It had a bit more breading than I would have liked, but it the calamari had a nice texture, and not chewy at all. And who doesn’t like fried food? I don’t recall their being on any rock shrimp on the plate.
- House Cured Trout- Refreshing and good. Nothing stood out with it though.
- Flat Iron Steak w/ brussel sprouts, pancetta- The steak was nicely seared and tender. There were minimal seasonings. The sprouts were yummy…I’m sure they were cooked in that pancetta grease!

We ended with a flourless chocolate torte. Nobody at the table really cared for it. It was a little dry, and I didn’t like the flavor of the chocolate that was used in it.

I recommend ordering about 3-4 plates per 2 people. The food comes out as it’s prepared, so it’s very staggered. We literally got each item separately. It worked out fine though. The sizes were decent enough for all 5 of us to have a good taste. The prices were also decent for what you get. I didn’t find anything to be overpriced on the menu.

The service was mediocre. Our waiter often forgot the items we ordered, but as soon as we reminded him, they were brought out shortly. He even brought out one of our dishes twice. Overall, he was just very “forgetful”, but equally apologetic for his memory lapses. However, he did manage to get the bill right!

So, my overall view of Cork…I didn’t love it, but I liked it. I’m not sure I’d go back anytime in the near future. The food was decent, some solid, some mediocre, but nothing really blew me away. It’s just not worth hiking out for since I live out in Vienna. Also, it's location is a little isolated. There isn't much around there, and the now lively U Street corridor is about a 5-10 minute walk. However, if you live in the area, it’s a wonderful neighborhood eat and drink.

Reservations are not taken, but they have a call-ahead policy, which is how we got our table so quickly. Just call 30 minutes ahead and they will tell you a wait time and put you on the list.

There is a greater emphasis on the wine than the food (understandably so). We ended up moving to the front bar after dinner for some dessert wine, which was much better than our previous dessert. Next time I go, I’ll give the wine flights a try.

Cork
1720 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.265.CORK

Summer Bread Salad "Panzanella"

Panzanella, simply defined, is a salad consisting of toasted bread tossed with vegetables and vinaigrette. Several variations of this salad exist. It’s often a first course for Tuscans, and most popular during the summer months. This concoction only tastes better as it sits, as the flavors marry and absorb into the bread. It’s the perfect side to enjoy at a picnic or barbeque, which is what I’ve made it for. The vibrant colors, crunch, and refreshing tang on your palette instantly signal that summer is right around the corner! So, I thought this would be an ideal time to post this recipe. I hope you make it to kick off your summer!

See Recipe!

Central Michel Richard

My actual birthday fell on a weeknight (Wed, May 28th), so after an insane 30th bday celebration over the weekend, we decided to take it easy. My stomach was also not feeling so hot after I abused it during the all the eating and partying. Neil had originally planned Restaurant Eve, but given my exhaustion, he suggested Michel Richard’s Central. Although, it has a major kink (service was awful), the food was absolutely delicious, and I will be returning.

Central is a French bistro, highlighting DC’s top chef, Michel Richard’s cuisine in a more informal and less expensive setting. It gives people like me (that can’t go to Citronelle every month) a viable option. The menu choices can be described as fun, comforting and elegant. There are cheese puffs, burgers, and even bangers and mash. Of course, more “gourmet” entrees, such as steak au poivre, also exist. We were started off with delicious bread having a crispy exterior and super soft interior. This is the way real French bread should be! I could have eaten the bread all night with some wine, but I saved myself. The menu is very extensive (especially the apps), and it was very difficult decide, especially since it was only the two of us. We ended up ordering a lot more than we could eat, but all worth it! Due to my stomach, we stuck w/ some of the safer options follows:

• Crab Cake w/ Leek Tartar- Absolutely perfect! It was all big chunks of crab and the leek tarter was so refreshing and tasty on its own. Neil was eating the tartar alone by the spoonful. The portion is a nice size as well, and it should be at $22.
• Mushroom Pearl Pasta Risotto- Creamy and delish. A very generous portion as well. My only criticism would be to add porcinis into the mix. I wanted a deeper mushroom flavor, but the texture was divine.
• Spinach & Goat Cheese Torte- Beautifully presented spinach and goat cheese sitting on top of a very thin, flakey crust. The spinach portion was very creamy and dense. Nice flavor combination.
• Hamburger- Definitely worth the $16. We were hesitant to order it, because after all it’s a burger. But, wow, each bite just got better and better! And the brioche that it sits inside is buttery and soft. The meat was cooked to a perfect temperature also. Get a side of mayonnaise to go with the fries!
• Macaroni & Cheese side- Not very “safe” for my stomach, but I couldn’t help it. Very creamy, tangy, and cheesy. It was made with a penne, so every bite oozed out with luscious cheese. It also had a very crisp, charred top.
  

The food is definitely worth the price, especially given the nice portion sizes. And I was surprised that they have tasty options to please a vegetarian’s palette as well. The wine list is also affordable. I had a couple glasses of Malbec at $9 a glass and only $36 for the bottle.

I wish I could be as complimentary regarding the service, but it was just terrible. Our waiter couldn’t care less. We asked him simple questions about the menu, and his one word responses obviously didn’t help. He wasn’t attentive at all, and he appeared thoroughly annoyed that we were taking a while deciding on what to order. Had he assisted, we probably wouldn’t have taken as long! I have heard of other patrons having similar experiences with the wait staff at Central. This is a major fault of the restaurant.

Neil told them it was my birthday, so they brought our dessert (not complimentary) with a candle on it. It was pretty awkward actually, because the waiter just put it on the table and quickly ran off. If I remember correctly, the candle almost blew out, because he ran away so quickly. But, when the check came, he said happy birthday to me repeatedly (for the tip of course). Anyways, we had the chocolate lava cake a la mode, which was your typical dessert, but delicious, nonetheless.

Central is a comfortable restaurant, but doesn’t offer much in terms of ambiance and décor. There wasn’t anything that stood out to me. However, I didn’t get to sit near the open kitchen. In fact, it wasn’t even visible from my table, but I hear it’s really cool. Perhaps sitting there would have changed my opinion on the ambiance. The restaurant is mostly meant for small parties. If your party is over 10, they require you to use their private room that has an up charge and minimum that you have to meet.

It’s very hard to get reservations, and even on the Wednesday night that we went, it was completely packed. The bar area is first come first serve. I may opt for that area next time to get a different experience. I hear the cocktails are really good. I plan to go back to try more adventurous dishes. Maybe the service will be better, as I can’t imagine it being worse.

Central
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW Washington, DC 20004
202.626.0015

Crepes

It’s still strawberry season, so why not highlight them with crepes! I made these for breakfast last weekend when my cousins surprised me for my 30th birthday celebration. The crepes were made in advance, because I had already planned on using them with strawberries that Neil was going to get me from the farmer’s market. Well, I “unknowingly” planned quite well for the unexpected house guests. No need to be intimidated by crepes. They are easier than pancakes and use simple, everyday ingredients. Once you have the crepes down, the possibilities for fillings are endless. Make them savory with wild mushrooms and a béchamel sauce, or make a fancy dessert with flambéed bananas and a rum sauce. Or, just eat them plain. They are delicious!! For the crepes pictured, I filled them with melted chocolate, and served with freshly sweetened whipped cream, and strawberries marinated with Grand Marnier liqueur.

See Recipe!

.....30 TODAY, but Forever 21

Yep, finally here..May 28, 2008. But, this last weekend proved that it's just a number, and life only gets better. I had quite the pre-celebration...that is, Neil and my cousins threw me quite a bash. So, here's the breakdown of all the partying:

Friday- Neil took me to Cork! Will definitely do a write up on it soon. It was a lovely, relaxing start to a very eventful weekend.

Saturday- We woke up, and Neil surprised me with fresh peach bellinis. They were delish!! I think it's going to be a summer weekend staple now. We got ready, and went to Georgetown to go dress shopping (my bday gift) and have some brunch at Bonaparte. No luck in finding "the dress", but Bonaparte was fun, and the weather was amazing. Finally, some sun!! And I was very excited about the evening. Neil had planned a dinner outing and refused to tell me where we were going and who was included. The anticipation was killing me, and how could I not be a part of choosing where to eat for my 30th !?!?! So, Neil wanted to leave Georgetown around 2:30. I was confused as to why we were leaving so early, b/c I didn't have to be ready till 7:30, but Neil said that we shoud relax and have some drinks in our backyard. Ok...I didn't think anything of it, and I was eager to start using our backyard after a terrible winter. So, we get home, drive into our garage, and the door in the garage connecting to the house is locked, and Neil didn't have the keys. He knows that I never carry the keys when we go out together! So, he starts freaking out, and says, "let's check the front door..maybe I didn't lock it". We walk to the front door, and it's unlocked! He never leaves the door unlocked! At this point, I'm totally freaking out. He opens the door, and I start walking in. I walk pass the foyer, and as I get to my kitchen, I scream like I just saw death...It was my cousins from NY!!!!!! I was in total shock. Neil had planned this surprise all along. I was so happy and thrilled. They are not only my cousins, but my best friends, and any celebration is nothing without them. So, when I finally came to, all I could think about was "What am I going to feed these fools". Well, Neil already bought tons of fun food and hid it in areas that I normally don't look. In fact, he said he had to re-hide food all week, because I was all over the place. First time that I've had house guests that I didn't have to really cook for. Somehow, I still managed to do some cooking, b/c it's my nature, and I wouldn't have it any other way. So, that afternoon, we relaxed in the back yard with more bellinis, some yummy apps, and got ready to go out for the main event...my bday party.

Saturday Evening- As I mentioned above, I had NO idea where our dinner venue was. We all get ready and go towards DC. We were near Metro Center, and I couldn't figure out where Neil could possibly take me. All the fun restaurants are in the Chinatown area. We keep walking, and I see Co Co Sala...the brand new dessert bar. I knew right away, that was it! What a striking venue...absolutely gorgeous! We had such a blast, and Neil did a great job with the organization of guests. There were about 20 of my closest friends that came out to celebrate. The Co Co Sala review will come in time. You have to check it out!

Saturday Late Night: I don't know where I got the energy, nor can I remember the last time I went out in DC after dinner, but Neil had something in store. He reserved a table at the Lotus lounge. On our way there we decided to go to the newer lounge, Park. Big mistake...it was beyond crowded, impossible to get a drink, and impossible to dance. We left Park and were on our way to Lotus, but saw Tattoo Bar across the street. It's an "upscale" biker bar that plays 80s!! So, that's where we ended up, and we had a total blast. We danced the night away! The music was right up my alley, and they even show all the music videos for the songs they play. Was I celebrating my 30th or 21st??

Saturday LATE LATE Night- You would think that after a night of Co Co Sala and Tattoo Bar, my cousins would be ready for bed. Instead, because we are a "classy" and "mature" bunch, we decided to hit up Taco Bell! Let me tell you, it saved all of us from any hangover! Those of you that are wondering how we got around, don't worry...one of my cousins doesn't drink, and was kind enough to put up with us kids.

Sunday Morning - I woke up totally fine! In fact, I was ready to go all over again...I didn't want the wkd to end. I got up and made pancakes, crepes w/ grand marnier marinated strawberries and fresh whipped cream for the crew. We also had bagels/lox, madeleines, bacon, and chocolate bread that Neil had planned. So, Neil proceeds tells me the itinerary for Sunday...my local cousin in Alexandria would be hosting all of us for a bbq! Yay!! She and her fiance have a beautiful back yard and brand new deck. I could hardly wait. Let the next party begin!!

Sunday Evening: I love bbqs and the weather couldn't be better. So, we (me, Neil, cousins) relaxed until 4 until it was time to go. On the way to the bbq, we stopped over at Grape & Bean in Old Town. It's such a cute wine store, and Neil bought me a salt set. It's a beautiful wooden case with 5 different salts. Now I have to research how to use them. We proceeded to my cousins, and were presented with quite a fancy feast!! Wonderful assortment of appetizers, a super tender roast, macaroni, pastas, and the list goes on. Then, they brought out an mazing birthday cake from Alexandria's Hollin Hall bakery, which I'm now starting to consider one of the best bakeries in our DC/metro area. I can't thank them enough for such an awesome evening! Does the fun ever end??? Not yet...

Sunday Late Night- After all that fun at the bbq, we came home pretty exhausted. Did we actually go to bed? Hell NO!! We had poker night. I rarely play cards, but turns out that I have quite the "poker" face, and I cleared the table on a nice majority of the hands.

Monday Morning: This time, waking up was a little more difficult, but I still didn't want it to end. We planned to take my cousins to lunch to Indigo Landing, or somewhere outdoors, before their trip back to NY. But, I decided to make a light lunch of egg salad sandwiches. It was great to hang out and talk about all the wkd events, poke fun at each other, and just enjoy each other's company. It seems, the older we get, the more we enjoy life and each other. I love it!!! It was already time for my cousins to leave :(

Monday Afternoon: Neil took me shopping again for a dress. I found a gorgeous one at Bloomingdales! Now I have to figure out where to wear it.

Today: I'm working, but leaving early!! Neil's taking me to the wax museum, and then we're gonna walk over to Central for dinner! I still haven't been there yet. Can't wait!!

This has been the most amazing birthday ever!! And I have the most amazing husband. Thank you Neil for everything you do for me. I love you!!

Strawberry Pie

Strawberry season is finally here! So go to your local farmer’s market and buy the best of the bunch. When picking your strawberries, try to choose those with a vibrant red color, as these will be the sweetest. Don’t choose those that are partially white. This simple and delicious strawberry pizza pie is incredibly light, refreshing, and the perfect way to make use of all of those plump, juicy, red strawberries. I started making this pie during my early years of baking, and I still consider it to be one of easiest and delicious dessert recipes I have. I made the one pictured for a barbeque. Blueberries were looking good that day, so I added some for color. Just cut it up in small squares and enjoy!

See Recipe!

Grilled Caesar Salad

Last week I posted a recipe for a chicken roulade that I made for out of town guests. As a first course, I served a grilled caesar salad. It seems that the grilled caesar is a growing trend amongst many restaurants. Neil loves the grilled caesar at Mark & Orlando’s and has me replicate it at home quite often. It’s very easy to make, and I love all things that can be made in advance! The dressing, croutons, parmesan tuile can all be done in advance. The only component that needs to be prepared at the last minute is grilling of the lettuce, which only takes a few minutes to do. The bitterness developed by charring the lettuce gives a really nice depth to the flavors of the salad. And, needless to say, the presentation is quite impressive. Making the parmesan tuile is a little tricky at first attempt, so practice a few times to get the hang of it. I hope you try this one!

As seen in pictures below, I grilled my lettuce on a normal stovetop grill. Also, the tuile is made by simply scattering fresh parmesan on a small skillet. Once it bubbles and starts to brown on the bottom you have to quickly remove and shape.

See Recipe!

Chicken Roulade

About a month ago, we had some really good friends from Richmond visit our new house for the first time. They were due to arrive on a Friday afternoon. So, what to feed them? Going out to eat wasn’t really an option since they have a 1 year old. I really wanted to cook something nice for them since it was their first time over. But that can be a hard task on Friday evening after work! So, I had to get into food planning mode and figure out what I could prepare in advance. Well, luckily my cooking techniques chef, Patrice Olivon, just recently taught us the technique of making a stuffed chicken roulade, or as Neil likes to call it, “chicken swirls". It worked out perfectly, because the chicken roulade is stuffed, rolled, and frozen in advance. All you have to do the day of is: thaw slightly, bread, and cook. Make a quick sauce, a side of pasta, crusty bread, and you have a fabulous meal. I even chopped up all the ingredients for the mushroom marsala sauce that I served alongside well in advance. I’ve learned that chopping is half the battle when you cook.

The roulade as pictured is stuffed with a spinach paste, prosciutto, and provolone cheese. The other picture has it stuffed with just prosciutto, provolone, and herbs. You can stuff with anything you desire. In class we stuffed it with pesto, proscuitto, sundried tomatoes, cheese and herbs. Try stuffing with goat cheese, or making this with veal instead! You can serve it with any sauce that compliments the stuffing, or no sauce at all. It’s a tasty nibble all on its own.

With this dinner, I also made risotto cakes, grilled caesar salad, and crème brulee. Again, most of the preparation for every component was done well in advance. I’ll post those recipes in the near future. For now, I hope you enjoy this one!

See Recipe!