Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2012
My contribution to Christmas Eve dinner this evening is the cheese platter. I decided to go with a goat cheese, provolone and fresh ricotta. To add a bit of holiday color, I rolled the goat cheese in dried cranberries and chopped pistachios. The ricotta I placed on french baguette slices with prosciutto, honey and thyme. The provolone I kept simple, ready to be sliced with crackers. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! x
Goat cheese with cranberries and pistachios
Pistachios
Provolone
Ricotta, prosciutto, thyme and honey
Donna D. Photography Brings Us… For the love of uni
December 18, 2012
I have an obsession with those spiny little globular animal’s gonads. I can’t get enough of their creamy custard-like texture that dissolves on your tongue and tastes like a delightful ocean mist with a sweet after tone. Anytime, I hear about a restaurant serving up the best oceanic foie gras, especially one whose menu reads like a Jacque Cousteau book, a visit is a must. It took me two years to get there but Marea, and its warm sea urchin wrapped under a cashmere blanket of melted lardo, was well worth the wait.
FUNGHI acquarello risotto, wild mushrooms, parmigiano
RICCI sea urchin, lardo, sea salt
ASTICE nova scotia lobster, burrata, eggplant al funghetto, basil
SAN PIETRO new zealand john dory, sunchokes, pomegranate, brussel sprouts, hazelnuts
SPIGOLA NERA local black bass, beluga lentils, cipollini onion, trumpet royal muchrooms, red wine jus
TAGLIOLINI manila clams, calamari, white wine, hot chilies
FUSILLI durum wheat pasta, red wine braised octopus, bone marrow & SPARNOCCHI sweet main shrimp, lava salt, lemon
BOMBOLONI deep fried doughnuts, zabaglione crema, espresso crumble chocolate sauce, white espresso gelato & NOCCIOLA PRALINATO hazelnut, dark chocolate lemon, mint
New England at Christmas
December 13, 2012
It was one of those weeks that I was in need for a spontaneous adventure. I called up my best friend in Boston, told her I was venturing there, and we were going to drive up the New England coast to Maine. I’d never been this time of year, and it was rather pleasant, not having the summer tourist crowds, but instead the cozy Christmas atmosphere. Our first stop was the historical town of Newburyport, where we grabbed some cinnamon buns, ham and cheese croissants and a breakfast turnover from the Chococoa Baking Company before strolling around the cobblestone streets to do a little shopping. To warm up, we stopped at Plum Island Coffee Roasters and for very seasonal, delicious drinks– The North-Pole Mocha and the Snowflake Latte. Before long we hit the road again, driving up to Maine to hit as many antique shops as possible along Route 1 before the end of the day. At this point, I decided to retire the camera, but we finished up our daytrip in one of my favorite places– Perkins Cove– for some butternut squash soup with a smoked pork sandwich and clam chowder with bacon and chervil drop bisquits from MC Perkins Cove. The northern sun had since set, families had gone home, and we drove home along the dark windy coastal roads, being lit only by house’s Christmas lights and blaring Bruce Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
Nubble Lighthouse & Cinnamon Buns
Holiday Inspired Drink Menu
Ham & Cheese croissant
Newburyport
Breakfast turnover
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
December 5, 2012
One of the best parts of New York during the Christmas season is the markets that pop up across town. I was thrilled to hear that my favorite beef jerky boys at Field Trip were going to be setting up shop at Columbus Circle’s Holiday market, where I frequent often. I’ve already made a couple visits and certainly plan to stop by more before Christmas. The market has expanded from years past to include a more diverse aray of food options, so you can not only shop but grab a bite as well. Happy Holiday Shopping! x
Field Trip Jerky
Pepper vinegar pulled pork and green apple coleslaw from The Fat Beagle
Grilled Cheese from Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen
Central Park
Chicken from the Red Basil Thai Kitchen
A Morning Walk
November 29, 2012
Last weekend I woke up to a beautiful snowfall and decided it was the perfect morning to grab what breakfast food I could find in the kitchen and take a relaxing walk at nearby Beaver Lake in Baldwinsville, NY. Within about 5 minutes I threw together a bag of croissants, heated up some hot cocoa, and grabbed some berries, granola and yogurt. It was a great winter preview to get ready for the fun-filled skiing adventures, cozy fires and chunky knit scarves to come.
Sunday Breakfast
Blueberries
Lakeview Trail
Yogurt, dried bananas, granola and berries
Hot Cocoa
Granola & Fruit
Hot Cocoa
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 22, 2012
Wishing everyone a very wonderful and safe holiday weekend filled with celebrating everything to be thankful for! x
Apple Pie
Apple Pie & Coffee
Happy Saturday!
November 17, 2012
It’s a beautiful start to the weekend, and I’m thrilled to say that I’m staying local and enjoying the city. With the cooler season just upon us, one of my favorite ways to pass the hours on a Saturday afternoon around the Upper West Side is to take a glimpse around the Natural History Museum and go across the street to the New York Historical Society for lunch. A huge fan of the decor, they combine perfectly the look of a traditional home dining room with a modern flair. Our recent visit left us a little too full for lunch hour, but the food was just too good to not indulge.
Arancini
Salad
Artichoke Mezzaluna with porcini and parsley
Gnocchi Gratinata with black truffle fonduta
The Regis in Red Lodge
November 10, 2012
Amongst the options for a Sunday breakfast in Red Lodge, Regis Cafe is quite the popular choice. Early morning starts out quietly, but the tables soon fill up with locals and visitors alike– from churchgoers to adventure enthusiasts stopping through town. With a high concentration of sustainable and organic food, the meals are unbelievably fresh. And if you’re in the mood for some grocery shopping, the shelves against the walls resemble what you’d find down the aisles of Whole Foods, so you can always grab that box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese to make for dinner on your way out.
Pineapple French Toast
Pineapple French Toast & Coffee
Bacon, eggs, toast and fruit
Bacon
A Hiker’s Lunch
November 5, 2012
New York is still recovering in the days following Hurricane Sandy, and my heart goes out to all those less fortunate than myself as they continue to look forward. I’ve finally returned to the office, and slowly we’re getting back into the daily routine. Meanwhile, I’ve sorted through a hiking excursion from Montana in a desert area known as Weatherman Draw, containing the largest collection of Native American rock art on the continent. I recently put together a menu inspired by a hiker’s lunch. It included everything that can be prepped ahead of time, and easily transported to location. We made open grilled chicken and steak sandwiches, a side of beans and trail mix, and Ocean Spray’s sparkling cranberry juice cans for a refreshing taste to quench your thirst.
String beans and grilled chicken sandwich
Trail Mix
Sparkling Cranberry juice
One of many Pictographs
Grilled chicken
Desert landscape
Desert Landscape
Steak sandwich
Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2012
After a few days with limited access to my computer due to Hurricane Sandy, I’m finally able to get posts up and running. While the city around me is still in recovery mode, I spent my morning flashing back to a perfect Saturday autumn morning I recently spent in Syracuse, visiting a local farm for some pumpkin picking. Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween!
Pumpkins
Gourds
Pumpkins
a camera in the kitchen 