8.31.2011

Cape Cod

We knew Hurricane Irene was coming but we also knew that we couldn't cancel our long-awaited weekend at Cape Cod where friends were coming from around the country for a college reunion.  Even 65-mph wind gusts couldn't stop us.




Pre-Hurricane Irene


Trying to read (Spoiled) while the winds picked up


And we lost power. Not only lights but running water.  Right on, right on...


After a sleepless night of wind and exfoliating flying sand, we awoke to a gorgeous day...


Jeff and his son on the Cape


Ahi tuna tacos at Finbars





8.25.2011

David Chang's Roasted Corn

I've been rushing to get this damn post done because you've gotta try this dish before summer is over and fresh corn is gone for the season.  My friend Eric (of Moscow Mule fame) sent me a Facebook message back in July, and here's what he told me:

Have been thinking about your butter-sauteed corn with cilantro. Am sitting at the bar at Momofuku Noodle; Chang's doing the same thing with roasted corn, bacon, cotija, scallions, parsley. Superb. I LOVE summer. (Though as a jersey boy, I can say, still too soon for corn)

Um, yes, please.  Naturally, I was excited for anything involving corn and bacon but, more importantly, this was a corn dish I could make for MC (my mother-in-law) that didn't involve cilantro.  No one hates cilantro like MC, believe me.  So I made this first while at her place in Oregon, throwing in everything, measuring nothing.  Then I came home and came up with a recipe.

It manages to be hearty yet light, subtle yet flavorful.  I have to confess that if I didn't have a family to cook for and I was making something for just myself, I'd probably make this dish, put it in a bowl, and that would be it.  Drunk with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc in front of Downton Abbey...


David Chang's Roasted Corn* **
Serves 4 as a side dish
Ingredients:
5 ears of corn, shucked 
4 slices of bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium shallot, medium diced
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
1/2 c. cotija cheese, crumbled (substitute with ricotta salata or feta, if needed/desired)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Heat a stovetop castiron grill (or for you lucky people in the 'burbs, heat your outdoor barbecue) on medium-high heat.  Rub corn lightly with olive oil.  Place on grill.
  • Heat medium stainless saute pan over medium-high heat.  Chop bacon and add to pan.  Cook until just-crisp and browned.  With a slotted spoon, remove bacon from pan onto a plate lined with paper towels.  Lower flame to medium-low heat.
  • Leaving the bacon fat in the pan, add shallots.  Saute until tender - be careful not to burn them.  Take off the heat.
  • Meanwhile, once corn is browned and has a slight sheen to it, remove from the grill and let cool.  Using a sharp chef's knife, cut kernels from the cob and add to a large bowl.
  • Add reserved bacon, scallions, parsley, shallots, lime juice, and cheese to the bowl.  Toss.  Taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper as needed.


So easy, right?  We served this alongside seared tuna dusted with sweet paprika (recipe).


I'm seriously planning on making this two or three more times before the summer's over.  And I don't mean to be bossy, but so should you.

Eat, drink, and who needs a fancy restaurant?


(NOTE: After posting this, I found an actual recipe for Momofuku's corn: Corn with Bacon and Miso Butter. I'll try the miso butter next time, for certain...but I have to admit that I like my addition of lime.  And Eric was specific in Momofuku's use of cotija.  So, in summation, this is absolutely one of those recipes you can adapt to your own tastes and change up as you please!  Try anything - this is damn near foolproof.)


* That's what it has become known as in my house.  Better than those ridiculously long titles that everyone's using now that list every single one of the ingredients, right?  Can you imagine?  "Roasted Corn with Bacon, Shallots, Parsley, and Scallions"?  Um, no.

** This is officially the first recipe I've ever made up on my own, including all the notations and measurements.  So I'm a little nervous.  If you notice anything off here, let me know.  I'll use you as my official recipe testers!

8.23.2011

Bear with me...

...I'm playing around with new formatting.  Things are likely to get ca-raaaaazy around here for a bit!

Full Circle

Thanks, everyone, for hanging around while I take part in August Break and adjust to life without a full-time office job.

I just had an amazing weekend, celebrating the wedding of two friends and connecting with friends from high school I grew apart from before I even graduated.  But it was moments like this...




...that made me consider that, while I did grow apart from them at one point in my life, I still need them.  And I feel like I've come full circle.  In the best way.

Overall, a really wonderful weekend.

8.18.2011

Simple Things

It was one of those serendipitous meals.  I had leeks I needed to use.  I needed breakfast.  Bug was asking for bacon.  Did I have eggs?  Yep.

A quick saute of the leeks in olive oil.  Fried up the egg in the same pan.  Fried the bacon.  Chopped lemon thyme over the whole thing.


I splurged and had a glass of Prosecco with it.  Lovely.


8.15.2011

Great Gourmands

Dear Avis:

Just a short note, to acknowledge yours which came in this morning.  I'm about to rush out to do my marketing, and then settle down to my soups.  I can't tell you my emotions of love and gratitude for all your interest and hard work in the behalf of our book; you display the true marks of a Great Gourmande...which always includes the warmest and most generous of natures...and is why people who love to eat are always the best people.*










* Excerpt from As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child & Avis DeVoto, edited by Joan Reardon (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010).  Italics and boldface type are my own.

8.14.2011

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Adam recently had a once-in-a-lifetime, out-of-this-world opportunity to brew beer with none other than Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head...more on that soon.  In the meantime, I was thrilled to benefit from his trip to the brewery in Delaware:



The very first batch of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale of the season.  It's Autumn in a Glass.

I've been in bed sick all day, watching Anne of Green Gables.  But it's slightly chilly and very rainy and gloomy out, and I can't help but feel like autumn is right around the corner.  So I opened up one of the Punkin Ales as a promise of things to come.


8.11.2011

Summer of Riesling

A couple of girlfriends and I are doing the Summer of Riesling Crawl, hosted by Chairman Grieco of Hearth Restaurant and Terroir Wine Bar (see the Riesling tasting from last year).  Last night was our first night out, and here's a photo from City Winery:


They have wine taps!!!!  This is the tap handle.  Pretty cool, right?

8.09.2011

Big Gay Ice Cream

I finally, FINALLY went to the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck last night with my pals Jen, Jack, and Chris (Note: I probably don't need to even tell you this, but the pics were taken with a phone camera...):









I ordered the vanilla with fig balsamic syrup.  The syrup was delicious but Jen, Jack, and Chris had the right idea getting the Monday Sundae (twist ice cream, Nutella-lined waffle cone, dulce de leche, sea salt, and whipped cream).


8.05.2011

Not My Moving Day...

...but the Soul Twin's Moving Day!  She and Brian are moving to NYC TODAY!!!!  They're moving to Brooklyn and, despite my disappointment that they're not moving into the apartment next to ours, I couldn't be happier!









Note: my posts this month are part of the August Break 2011 started by Susannah Conway.

8.04.2011

Photographic Ode to a Kitchen

My parents recently moved out of their beloved home, and I'm so glad I got to spend a little more time in the kitchen with my family.