recipe: grandma’s pot roast

no one ever really talks about (or seems to make) pot roast anymore. when i was a little kid, one of my favorite memories was driving over to my grandma’s house for her classic pot roast and gravy. she hasn’t been able to cook in a couple of years, and when i last visited her, my cousin and i couldn’t stop thinking of our memories surrounding her delicious pot roast dinners. the pot roast was always so incredibly moist and tender, and the gravy was the most flavorful i’ve had in my life. i needed to recreate this meal, pronto. i love this dish served with some buttery mashed potatoes (perfect for soaking up the gravy) and a side salad. this roast came out wonderfully, with the same flavors and juices that i remember, only i don’t know if it could ever be the same as the one i used to eat at her house.

recipe: grandma’s pot roast

ingredients:

- a 2.5-3.5 lb beef roast

- 4 cloves of garlic

- 1 onion, sliced

- 2 tsp. cornstarch

- salt and freshly grated black pepper

directions:

preheat the oven to 425 degrees. place the sliced garlic,  sliced onion, salt and black pepper in the bottom of the pot.  stand the roast in the middle of the pot & rub top with olive oil and pour salt and black pepper all around & on top of the roast.

brown  the meat (this takes about 25 minutes). then pour 1 cup of water, cover and lower the tempetaure at 350 degrees.

mix in ¼ of water and about 2 tsp. of cornstarch (you may need more, but you can add until you reach the thickness you desire).

when the roast is done, take the “drippings” from the roaster and make gravy separately on top of the stove, adding the cornstarch mixture. serve with whatever sides you like (my choice? mashed potatoes that soak up the gravy, and a nice green salad.

ippudo

it’s taken me over a year to visit ippudo, because every single time i try to go, the wait is over two hours long! finally, one of my friends (thank you, sami) decided to run in, put our names in, and head next door for a drink while we waited the standard two hours. under most circumstances, i would be so annoyed about the long wait that i wouldn’t even be able to enjoy the food, but when it came to ippudo, i will say….it was worth it.

our hungry selves practically ran to our table in the back of the larger than expected, jam packed, minimally decorated restaurant.  we started with three appetizers: the shishito (deep-fried japanese peppers with yuzu salt), yamitsuki goma kyuri (cucumber mixed with sesame oil dressing) and one of the nightly appetizer specials, pork and mushrooms with lime jelly. all were delicious, but the cucumber and sesame oil dressing was, by far, my favorite. it was so clean and refreshing, and the toasted sesame topping and the dipping sauce that accompanied the dish were both packed with so much flavor and texture. i also must note how absolutely amazing the mushrooms in the pork dish were – they were some of the best, most memorablel mushrooms i’ve tasted.

our entrees: the ramen noodles. they.were.the.best.i’ve.ever.had.

i ordered the miso ramen, which was soy bean paste flavored ramen noodles in tonkotsu soup with pork belly chashu, cabbage, spinach, manma, ginger & scallions. not spicy at all, and a slightly sweet, perfect, delicate broth.

the karaka miso ramen, which was quite spicier than the rest, but not at all overpowering.

and finally, the shoyu ramen, which is soy flavored ramen noodle soup in a chicken and tonkotsu soup with pork loin chashu, menma, spinach, narto, nori & scallions.  the broth was so rich and full, yet the soup did not seem at all greasy or heavy.

ippudo is located at 65 4th ave, between 9th and 10th st.

phone: (212) 388-0088 (totally worth calling before you go. they’ll tell you the wait time.)

a thanksgiving feast

the time between the day before thanksgiving and christmas day is my favorite time of year. i guess it is for a lot of people, but here’s why it is so magical to me.  a) it is a state of pure joy. i love spending time with family and friends, being hectic, listening to music, and feeling cozy. b) i get to obsessively watch home alone two-three times a week without seeming crazy. c) i obsess over recipes. what to make? what to eat? what to bring to people’s apartments, houses, and holiday parties? the food options are endless this time of year! and it kicks off with thanksgiving.

here are a few photos:

the turkey (after years of being a white meat eater, i have started to absolutely crave dark meat)

brussels sprouts with bacon

cranberry sauce with dried cherries (recipe from everyday food)

cauliflower au gratin (recipe from barefoot in paris, by ina garten)

thinly sliced, roasted sweet and white potatoes with butter, salt and pepper

the stuffing! my uncle’s stuffing was excellent, and super flavorful

we took a quick breather before we hit the dessert table…pumpkin pie (without the added toppings, apple pie, chocolate crackle cookies, and almond cake (which i have no other photo of, but i LOVED)

bobby flay’s pumpkin pie with cinnamon crunch (the “crunch” gave some great added texture to the creamy pie)

my aunt and cousin’s traditional apple pie (with picture-perfect crust!)

an always-requested hit, chocolate crackle cookies

abc kitchen

abc kitchen, the newly opened farm-to-table jean-georges vongerichten restaurant in the flatiron/union square area (it’s on the side entrance of abc carpet & home) promises to deliver only the freshest, local and organic fare prepared with the jean-georges touch. and it delivers.

the plates? all handmade by local artisans. the silverware? all vintage silver. the floors? whitewashed wood that created the farmhouse feel that makes the restaurant seems miles away from a bustling city. the staff uniforms? thrift store purchases. the food? excellent.

we started with these two appetizers, the white bean toast and the cauliflower soup. the white bean toast was as decadent enough that it didn’t even feel like a “bean toast.” it was smothered in a creamy puree of white beans, parsley, olive oil and herbs, and laid atop a crisp piece of grilled bread.  the cauliflower soup was also just as creamy, and was topped with delicious garlic croutons and a few splashes of olive oil.

next came the entrees. we had the artic char and the grilled portabello sandwich. the char was not under or overcooked at all, and still soft and moist inside. it was served over carrot puree and roasted root vegetables that melted in our mouths. the portabello sandwich was served on a ciabatta roll with arugula, lemon mayo, parmesan and jalepeno. the sandwich itself was good, but not great; however, the fries that came with it were wonderful (definitely double cooked – so crisp!). 

last stop: the desserts. the salted caramel ice cream sundae was superb (and so beautiful)! two scoops of super creamy, salted caramel gelato topped with caramel popcorn, whipped cream and bathing in a pool of chocolate caramel sauce. heaven! the concord grape tart was slightly less invigorating. the grape flavor was so muted, and the crust lacked that buttery flakiness that i thought was guaranteed with a tart that looked this great. still, the overall meal and dessert experience was excellent, and abc kitchen definitely deserves a trip for dinner.

- abc kitchen: 35 E 18th St (between broadway and park ave), New York NY 10003

- reservations can be made through open table

austin: part 2

day two of austin was filled with just as much food goodness as day one. we went downtown to south congress street where most of the awesome food trucks set up shop. the food trucks are parked in the same location each day, so they’re basically like brick and mortar shops with wheels. later in the day, we stopped for dessert at chez-zee. evidence below..

crepes mille:

from top to bottom: pork floss crepe (pork confit, sweet/spicy sauce), chicken burgundy crepe, pepperoni pizza crepe.

unfortunately, this little breakfast truck, “the local yolk,” was closed when we visited, but look how cute it is!

finally, some desserts from chez zee. each one was excellent, although my personal favorite was the highly recommended lemon rosemary cake (far left). also pictured, the coco leches cake and the double chocolate gooey cake.

austin: part 1

i can’t even begin to describe how much i loved the food in austin, but i will try my best to show it. below are some photos from our eating adventures.

tacos from taco deli:

it sickens me that we don’t have breakfast tacos in new york. richard and i seriously considered opening up a breakfast taco truck when we got back…

taco #1 is the “otto” (eggs, black beans, bacon, avocado and cheese) and taco #2 is the “vaquero” (eggs, grilled corn, roasted poblano and red peppers and monterrey jack cheese)

salt lick bar-b-que:

this bar-b-que was so good, and so far beyond any bar-b-que i’ve ever had, it made me question if i had ever actually had bar-b-que before. the meat was unbelievably moist and tender, the sauce divine and the pecan pie the best i’ve ever tasted (the secret ingredient: butterscotch).

below: pork ribs, brisket, turkey, sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, pecan pie

paul’s da burger joint

paul’s “da burger” joint was into burgers before they were cool. since 1989, paul’s has had its cozy, family run, no frills burger joint near st. marks place in the east village, and there is no sign of slowing down.

the burgers here at paul’s are thick and juicy, with 1/2 lb. of beef (or turkey) grilled and placed on a classic sesame seed bun. we ordered the cheeseburger deluxe, which comes with fries and a drink – a mere bargain at $7.90 ($4.90 without the combo)! the burgers are not quite my favorite, although they did satisfy the craving. (the grease-soaked bun and overload of toppings sort of made me  panic when more grease and tomatoes were landing on my lap than in my mouth, but richard saw the fatty drippings and extra goodies on top as a major perk.) the cheeseburger was topped with a simple slice of american cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and caramelized onions. there is, of course the option to add tons of other toppings (mushrooms, various cheeses, a fried egg), or order something other than a burger (chicken sandwich, tuna salad, an omelette), but we stuck to the basics. i will, however, note that the fries were the flat, uncrispy diner fries that i’m not crazy about, so next time i might opt for the sweet potato or shoestring fries instead.

all in all, i like paul’s. i love the simple, unpretentious, red-checkered tablecloth and basic approach that paul’s takes to its burger place. it’s much unchanged since its opening, and that’s a good thing. it hits the spot, fills you up, and you’re in and out pretty quickly..and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

paul’s da burger joint: 131 2nd ave. between 7th st. and st. mark’s place

swoon (under the stars)

when we arrived at swoon kitchenbar at the noon hour a few saturdays ago, the energy of the room came entirely from the sunshine, bright wild bouquets, and luscious still life and nude paintings. there was no one in the place aside from 2 servers, my mom, my sister and me, leaving us to peruse the brunch menus in idyllic peace. an empty restaurant isn’t always a comforting sign, but we were the early-bird tourists invading hudson for the day; it would make sense that everyone else was rousing at a more leisurely pace.

coincidentally, things picked up once this cascade of shoestring fries arrived at the table: our conversation got a little more lively, other patrons started arriving.

these are perfectly crisp salty treats. i love diving into a dish like this, everything spilling over the sides, onto the table.

i studied the menu (several times) prior to our arrival and was set to order the short rib hash. but swoon relies on local, seasonal produce–they emphasize on their website that the menu changes according to what is available. on that day, no short ribs. of all the appealing alternatives–grilled lamb sausage, house cured gravlax, smoke salmon cake, duck confit hash (which my mom ordered), and the steamed P.E.I. mussels (which my sister chose)–i opted for the house cured pastrami reuben.

this is unlike any reuben i’ve had before. the pastrami is delicately seasoned and very tender. if you’re craving the aggressive salt and smokiness of a traditional pastrami reuben from your favorite diner, you won’t find it here. i missed that at first–the sharpness of the meat– but there’s no arguing with the quality of the beef they serve. theirs doesn’t need to be overpowered by curing spices. and the balance of sauerkraut and dressing–perfect. but there was one, true egregious thing about the sandwich–someone neglected to drain the beef from its bath or something, and the bottom layer of the sandwich was soaked through. it was a positive mess to handle. (upside: they have the most fragrant olive oil soap in the loo.)

there was one other slight disappointment, which i bring up only as a note to those of you who might seek something sweet to end the midday meal. the dessert chef may not be there until dinnertime, so don’t get to attached to the idea of crispy sugared churros, vanilla thyme honey panna cotta, or (sigh) dark chocolate pistachio fondant after your brunch.

but again, on the bright side, we were offered a fresh plum tart (on the house) and the opportunity to share an excellent chocolate chip cookie…

they are generous with the chocolate,  hazelnuts and pecans. this cookie made me hopeful for dessert on a future trip.

***

have a look at the menu (note that they kindly introduce you to their “sources”) and dream the promise of meals where the ingredients are the stars, and the chefs, the producer/directors. the purveyors are the folks behind the scenes who should rightly be thanked in the credits. they are as much a key to swoon’s very good performance.

***

swoon kitchenbar: 340 warren street, hudson, ny

they are open, thursday to monday.  (closed: tuesday and wednesday.)

lunch is served only on friday, saturday, and sunday.

dinner is served: 5pm-10pm monday, thursday, sunday; 5pm-11pm friday, saturday

reservations by telephone only: 518.822.8938

(got that?)

a southern feast

planning for a recent family birthday party quickly turned into a “what recipes have we been dying to try” gathering, as my sister-in-law and i reviewed all of the recent magazine clippings and dvr’d food network segments that we had stored. we settled on a southern theme and decided we’d need amped up versions of the classics: baked beans, pulled pork sliders, cole slaw, peach pie and a lemon pavlova (ok, that’s not southern, but we were all salivating at the thought of it).

all of the recipes were a success on their own, but together, they resulted in a divine southern feast. nothing hits the spot like a tangy, sweet, slow-cooked pulled pork, and tyler florence’s easy recipe certainly didn’t fail. we topped each toasted potato roll with a mound of pulled pork and a thin slice of cheddar cheese. also, i’ve never made pulled pork before, and i couldn’t believe how economical it was! the 7-lb shoulder only cost $8, and it easily fed 6 (plus leftovers)! 

the root beer baked beans from bon appetit were a little plain, but definitely hit the spot; however, next time i would use only half of the root beer, since the dish wasn’t as thick as i would have liked. the sweet and spicy cole slaw, on the other hand, took the sometimes too-mayonnaisey dish to an entirely new level! the recipe came from the blackberry farm cookbook, which was developed on the blackberry farm estate, a beautiful farm in tennessee famous for it’s award-winning food, cooking classes, and almost unimaginable picturesque setting.  their sweet and spicy foothills coleslaw carried far more flavor than it did mayo, and the kick from the spicy mustard, the sweetness from the brown sugar, and the tanginess from the malt vinegar just gave this dish so much life. and using both kinds of cabbage just made it look so beautiful!

as stuffed as we were from this feast, we all must have saved some space for dessert, since we each seemingly pretty decent sized slices of the lemon pavlova and the peach pie. the peach pie is a family recipe from my sister-in-law, jen, and the crust is just perfect! it’s salty, sweet and crumbly all at once, and can really be paired with any fruit. the lemon pavlova recipe she made, though, looked like it has been bought for sixty euros at a french bakery or something — it was gorgeous, and equally delicious! thin layers of lemon meringue over creamy lemon curd custard. the best dessert for any lemon lover. this photo does not even do the dessert justice.

now, i’m just wondering what the text themed dinner should be! any suggestions? greek? indian?

colicchio and sons

my budget had prohibited me from visiting colicchio & sons since its opening this past winter, but when i heard the news of the $25 tap room lunch special, i heard my name being called! tom colicchio’s newest restaurant has replaced his old steakhouse, craftsteak, in a gargantuan space on 10th avenue, with a more friendly, cozy (logs are stacked high on shelves, there is a quilted rug on the floor) and rustic (exposed steel beams, etc.) restaurant that serves up seasonal, yet comforting dishes.

to start, we ordered the romaine with anchovy vinaigrette and parmesan and fried egg, and the chilled corn soup with smoked bacon and creme fraiche. neither mike nor i are huge fans of bold anchovy flavor, but the salad showcased anchovies at their best! the egg was crisply fried, the dressing was lightly tossed, and the croutons were radiating garlicky goodness. it was an excellent salad. however, once we tried the chilled corn soup, we couldn’t think of anything else! we both declared the simple, creamy, refreshing soup the winner of the lunch. the smoked bacon was ever-so-slightly flavoring the soup, along with a creamy, cool creme fraiche, and the texture of the soup wasn’t too grainy or too smooth – it was the perfect balance of summer corn kernals and an ultra-creamy broth smoothed out with olive oil.

i would definitely return to colicchio & sons for a tap room dinner or even another lunch! my dream lunch would probably be the chilled corn soup, braised rabbit, and peach tatin, although i would love to try the lamb sandwich – i saw someone else get it and wanted to grab it off of their table…