Happy Friday!
March 9, 2012
With spring-like temperatures, daylight savings beginning and the weekend arriving, it’s the perfect day to get out the vegetables. Prepared by my roommate, she whipped up this tofu salad spread and alfalfa sprouts on spelt bread with a side of vegetarian stuffed grape leaves. Have a great weekend!
Vegetarian stuffed grape leaves and a tofu salad sandwich
Tofu salad sandwich
FIELD Beef Jerky
March 5, 2012
A few months back I introduced you to my friends’ new all-natural beef jerky, FIELD. In the months following, they’ve grown tremendously, distributing nationwide and becoming ever more popular. Saturday afternoon we all met in Williamsburg at Moon River Chattel, an enchanting antique shop near the waterfront that is filled with inspiring treasures and the perfect backdrop for our shoot. Capturing not only the uncut beef jerky, it was fun to shoot the other ingredients and spices used in their three flavors, Original No. 3, Honey Spice No. 11 and Teriyaki No. 23. To keep up with their latest news visit their facebook page, website or get yourself to the grocery store for a taste!
Original No. 3
Ginger root and other ingredients
Jerky and spices
No preservatives, added MSG or nitrates
Ginger root
Original No. 3
Garlic and Dube Putz homemade red pepper flakes
Honey Spice No. 11
Beef jerky
Jerky and spices
Photo Montage of the day
Ski Scene
February 24, 2012
For a local New York ski escape, Hunter Mountain isn’t too bad of an option. I recently hit the slopes for a taste of winter– and a taste of Scottie’s Summit Lodge’s delicious chili, chicken noodle soup and grilled turkey and cheese sandwich. Housed in a circular lodge boasting beautiful views of the Catskills below, I could very easily curl up by the fireplace amongst all the antique skis displayed from various years. With outdoor seating for warmer days, it’s a great change of pace from the lively base lodges and perfect to warm up before that next run. Happy Friday! x
Snacks & Scenery Combo
Grilled Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chili
A Winter Afternoon in Cold Spring
February 17, 2012
Last weekend, my friend and I took the train an hour up the river to the little town of Cold Spring. It was a bit chilly, but nothing beats the fresh air. After checking out a few different cafes and dining establishments, we opted for the Hudson House River Inn, a historical home built back in 1832, serving as a small hotel since. Having a two course meal full of soups, fruits, eggs and steak, we worked off the calories with a bit of antique shopping around town before catching the train home.
Onion Soup Au Gratin
Strawberry Butter
Accommodations at the Hudson House
Grilled Marinated Flank Steak topped with caramelized onions and maytag bleu cheese, horseradish mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables
Poached eggs and thinly sliced filet mignon on english muffin
Popovers
Onion Soup Au Gratin
Fruit with vanilla yogurt, raspberry sauce and granola
From Donna D: Frostbite & Freaks
February 14, 2012
A little over 2 ½ months ago I started drinking the CrossFit cool-aid and decided to participate in LIC’s CrossFit 2nd Annual Frostbite Competition. Most of my friends thought I was coo coo for cocoa puffs to want to spend a Saturday freezing my tuches off while performing a variety of exercises in a muddy half-frozen abandoned lot outside. I sure do love me a good challenge. The workouts were HARD and the cold made them that much HARDER. But I survived and really appreciated all the support and camaraderie of the other athletes, coaches, judges, and spectators. Everyone was wicked awesome but let’s not forget about the food. Yes I am that girl that shows up to a fitness competition eager to check-out the food and FOODfreaks couldn’t have been a more fitting food truck. They were serving up warm and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, chillis, and side-dishes like crispy fried brussel sprouts. I definitely need to pay them a visit (perhaps when it is a tad warmer out) at their FortGreenePark location in Brooklyn.
Double unders & Food Freak Chili
Hungry crossfitters lining up at the Food Freak truck
Short rib grilled cheese sandwhich & Ground to overhead with dumbbell
Short ribs, gruyere, pickled red onions, balckberry jam, and watercress on sourdough
“The Human Snowflake” (Workout 3) & Chilli topped with cilantro
A fairytale afternoon – Prague Part 5
January 31, 2012
As the clock struck 1, two Jewish princesses from New York City stared at the Old Town Hall’s astronomical clock and tightly gripped their Nikons as they sped off to the Francouzska Restaurace. Gold chandeliers, sparkling crystal glasses, and fresh flowers embellished the interior of the most beautiful Art Nouveau building in all of Europe. As the piano played in the background, they dined on smoked duck, veal tenderloin carpaccio, roasted scallops, and grilled beef tenderloin. The afternoon ended with warm molten chocolate cake and two white knights a AAA cab, driving the princesses back to their castle the Czech Inn.
Municipal House & Roasted scallop with fine Bourdin noir, caper-raisin jam and sauce of sparkling apple cider
Smoked duck breast
Bridge of Legions
Alfons Mucha painting & Veal tenderloin carpaccio with foie gras shavings and hazelnut oil
Green field salad with smoked duck breast, orange dressing and Comté shavings
Grilled beef tenderloin with potato confit in thyme flavored olive oil and black truffle sauce
Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral
Chocolate cake with melted chocolate, mango coulis and cacao sorbet & Stained glass
Kicking the cold at Kampa – Prague Part 3
January 26, 2012
More from Donna D…
Having gone to school in upstate New York and growing up in Massachusetts cold temperatures had always been a way of life for me. So when I saw that it was 23 degrees outside I figured NBD. But after about 15 minutes of being outside without any gloves I quickly remembered how much I disliked winter so I opted to spend the day “site-seeing” from a heated interior, Kampa Park. The restaurant is located on Kampa Island and overlooks Certovka canal, the Vltava River and Charles Bridge. I spent hours staring outside watching the city go by while feasting on Rudolf I mean reindeer, halibut (best I’ve ever had and cooked absolutely perfectly), and chocolate fondant. The food was pricey but nonetheless amazing and the view was magical.
Saddle of reindeer with pumpkin soufflé, topinambur, cranberries and cardamom sauce
Marek Raditsch - Executive Chef of entire Kampa Group
Reindeer
Vltava River
Olive oil poached halibut with black truffles, crispy bacon, potato mash with French mustard, and vegetable foam
Charles Bridge
Pumpkin soufflé
Chocolate fondant with beetroot sorbet, dark bread ice cream, and toffee espuma
Donna D. A Vegetarian No More – Prague Part 1
January 24, 2012
Another feature story from Donna D. Read about her week of travels as she ate her way through Prague…
After 15 years of vegetarianism I decided to relinquish my duties as a plant eater and jump face first into the land of Beer and Meat – Prague. I started my journey at Lokál for some traditional Czech cuisine and made on-site beer. The interior was reminiscent of the 80’s, long wooden cafeteria benches and child-like doodles sketched onto the walls. The food and unpasteurized beer was tasty, filling, and cheap. It was the perfect spot to kick-off my 5 day meat eating and beer drinking gluttonousness adventure in Prague.
Prazdroj Beer
Homemade Bread & Wall Art
Goulash from Beef Cheeks
Prague Ham
Lokál
All You Can Eat Potato Dumplings
Saint Vitus Cathedral
Special "Talián" Sausage by the Dolejší Family, Horseradish, and Mustard
Tacombi at Fonda Nolita
January 10, 2012
My friend and I recently checked out the Carsten Holler exhibit at the New Museum (which I recommend), and finished off our afternoon with tacos from the nearby Tacombi at Fonda Nolita. This city loves its food trucks, but even more when it’s a vintage Volkswagon parked inside an industrial garage, with decor to make you feel as though your someplace much more tropical than Manhattan. Still in the brunch hour, I opted for the chorizo and egg breakfast taco, and my friend went with Mexico City’s favorite– the Al Pastor, marinated pork with roasted pineapple.
Al Pastor- Mexico City's favorite taco with marinated pork and roast pineapple
Huevos Con Chorizo Breakfast taco with homemade chorizo, potatoes, eggs and avocado
Homestyle beans flavored with epazote
A side of chips
Olives Eatery
December 29, 2011
A perfect way to spend a lazy winter afternoon while on holiday is at Olives Eatery in Baldwinsville, NY with good company. The welcoming front porch of an old home is enough to draw you in, but then the aroma of the eatery and the beautiful selection of Mackenzie-Childs homegoods in the giftshop makes it that much better. We had multiple courses starting with spinach artichoke and chicken dip, followed by soups, salads and ending with delicious paninis. Unfortunately too full for dessert, we’ll have to save that for the next visit.
French Onion Soup
Tomato cannelini bean soup with kale
The dining area
Smoked turkey, swiss, bacon, spinach and mayo panini with a side of orzo du jour
Greens, oranges, walnuts, cranberries and feta salad
Spinach artichoke dip and hot shredded chicken dip with chips and toasted bread
Tomato cannelini bean soup with kale
Greens, oranges, walnuts, cranberries and feta salad
a camera in the kitchen 