A Taste of Russia
January 22, 2012
Last weekend while up in Washington Heights we made a stop to a Russian specialty food shop, Moscow on the Hudson, to prepare for a dinner in celebration of the traditional Russian Old New Year. A friendly small shop, the cashier and a customer were chatting at the counter when they gave us all the insider tips needed to have a successful meal. After I explained I was going to photograph the dinner, they even gave me a traditional Russian cuisine calendar as a gift, and made sure I left with everything I needed. Top on the list was Pelmeni Sibirian, Russian style ravioli with Lithuanian sour cream, and Vareniki stuffed with cheese, similar to the Polish pierogi. They also recommended we get a side of the Russian beet salad, sausage and their milk cookies for dessert. Приятного аппетита!
Russian raviolis, ring pretzels and sausage
Pretzels and Russia's version of salsa
Beet Salad
Vareniki and sour cream
Beet salad and ring pretzels
Raviolis and pickles
Sausage
Cookies
‘Tis the Season
December 24, 2011
I’ve been meaning to share these delicious looking brunch shots from a Sunday afternoon spent at Tipsy Parson recently. Tucked in a bay window seat on a cold but sunny Sunday afternoon, a friend and I enjoyed their comfort American menu with a southern flair. If you happen to be around New York for the holidays, I highly recommend stopping in. Closed for the weekend, they re-open on Monday.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday, and I look forward to bringing you some festive feasts I’ll be partaking in throughout the week in Syracuse!
Flaxseed & nut granola, berry compote, berries
Pigs in a Poke-- stone ground grits, andouille sausage, poached eggs, toast soldiers
Side of eggs
I Heart NY
November 11, 2011
This morning was one of those, “I love NY” moments while I was walking to work. The sun was out, the fall colors at their peak, and I just finished shooting last night’s dinner. Part II of my autumn pasta is finally here. I tossed together the pasta with olive oil, some seasonal herbs and goat cheese, adding in arugula, almonds, raisins, apple chardonnay chicken sausage and topped it with asiago cheese.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Fresh arugula
Salted almonds
Pasta with Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage and Arugula
Salted almonds and raisins
Indian Summer
October 14, 2011
The afternoons of rooftop brunches may be coming to an end for the season, but we snuck one last day in with the July-like heat. My father was kind enough to prepare a brunch for my roommates and friends in the building. After a morning at Zabar’s and Fairway to get all the goods, he prepared all sorts of delicious plates. We had three styles of crepes– apple cinnamon, fresh berries and ham and cheese, scrambled eggs on rosemary toasted bread, home fries, bacon and two varieties of organic sausage– Italian herb and spinach feta. For a special dessert treat, my friend Leslie’s mother was kind enough to give us a loaf of amazing chocolate challah bread for Yom Kippur, so we took that out to enjoy.
Ham & Cheese crepes
Chocolate Challah Bread
Cinnamon Apple crepe filling and Home fries
Spinach Feta Sausage and Cinnamon Apples
Kex
September 14, 2011
Kex, unlike your traditional Icelandic dining or bar establishments, is the new and trendy place to go. Reminding me of home, and a place I’d frequent around the Lower East Side, I couldn’t resist making this my go-to place for the weekend. It’s an old biscuit factory turned hostel and bar, but more taking on the resemblance of Ace Hotel than your typical first impression of bunk beds in an old, unwelcoming building. The photos speak for themselves on the impeccably cool style of the place, as their concept is a vintage industrial feel with an eclectic, contemporary touch. The kitchen offers a range of dishes, like the Kex Platter with a sampling of meats, to the vegetable quiche, and their beer selection far surpasses the standard Viking lager that is found elsewhere.
Kex Platter with potatoes, salami and olives
Lounge area
Salad with Icelandic vegetables
French Press coffee and good books
Sitronukjuklingur med Klettasalati or simply Lemon Chicken with Ruccola
Salami on the Kex Platter
Pylsur med Kartoflumauki og Sterku Sinnepi ... aka Pan Fried Sausages with Potato puree and mustard
Eggs & Toast
March 13, 2011
For me, nothing quite beats spending a morning in the city eating eggs and toast in the comfort of a bright and sunny apartment. My friends invited me over to Roosevelt Island while they used some fresh farmer’s market ingredients to cook up breakfast.
Sausage, Eggs, Toast and Tomatoes
Italian Comfort
December 1, 2010
My father’s homemade Italian sauce, meatballs and sausage.
Spaghetti & Meatballs
a camera in the kitchen 