Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Eataly, New York, New York


Recently, I took a trip to New York City.  While I really wanted to eat my way through the city, I'm a petite gal and I can only pack away so much food.  It's just a shame because there is so much good food in the City.  But, things are what they are and if I wanted to appreciate all of the good food planned for my day, I needed to take some breaks between bites.  On the suggestion of a good friend and fellow foodie, I scheduled some "food wanderings" in between dining venues.  On the advice of my good friend, I wandered my way from the Doughnut Plant (review to come soon) in the direction of Eataly, an Italian food and dining venue right in the Flatiron District in Midtown Manhattan.  This was the perfect spot for a respite between doughnuts and British gastropub fare.  And a great spot to pick up Italian imported arabica coffee beans for my Sicilian husband and European chocolates for my two kids.  Situated on famous Fifth Avenue, near the corner at 23rd Street, this upscale food market has everything one would need to satisfy an Italian food craving:  plump ripe vegetables and fruits, house made pasta, olives and oils, fresh baked bread, chocolates, coffee, salumi and other cured meats, hard and soft cheeses, Italian sweets and more.  And if you are an out of towner like me, unable to fill up on those perishable goods that won't survive the flight home, you can partake at eleven different cafes and restaurants for big or small bites, whatever your pleasure, all in the midst of this bustling market.  I had only thirty minutes to take it all in before heading to lunch at the Spotted Pig, but it was thirty minutes very well spent.  But don't think that Eataly is a place you can or should just quickly cruise through.  There is so much here to see and enjoy and a half hour is definitely not enough to completely appreciate all that this upscale Italian market has to offer.  It's too bad I didn't have more time.  I'm definitely going to allocate a couple of hours to this amazing marketplace the next time I have a chance to visit the Big Apple.  For now, I'm just going to have to enjoy these pics.  Hope you do too!



Cheese, cheese and more cheese!

Fresh fruit and veggies, good enough to eat right off the cart


They had me a prosciutto
Making the pasta ....
and baking the bread.  
Eataly on Urbanspoon

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Max's Harvest, Delray Beach, Florida


The best perk of traveling out of town for business is the opportunity to discover great new food finds.  Last month's meeting for the National Kidney Foundation of Florida brought me back to the Palm Beaches.  And, in the south part of the county is the city of Delray Beach.  With an attractive rejuvenated downtown area, Delray is now home to a number of new and upcoming hot spots and eateries.  One such place is Max's Harvest, located in the Pineapple Grove district.  Self-proclaimed as a "farm-to-fork" restaurant, Max's Harvest follows the latest wave of restaurants who promise seasonal dishes whose ingredients are sourced entirely from local organic farmers.  Fortuitous for me, since I have recently pledge to move toward cleaner eating.  No matter what your political persuasion, you've got to admit that clean, home-grown, all-natural food sounds a lot more delectable than processed foods chock full of preservatives.  And delicious, well-prepared dishes are exactly what I like to enjoy on a rare date night with my better half away from home.

I don't know from firsthand experience, but Pineapple Grove appears to be a popular weekend spot for the 20s to 40s crowd.  Free parking is scarce, but luckily valet parking is available for those who are willing to splurge.  Those who find themselves parking blocks away can take advantage of the free Delray Downtowner electric cart shuttle.  On cooler nights, the front patio would probably be a nice place to both dine and people watch.  But if you find the patio too cold or even too warm, the open kitchen in the front dining room is bound to provide some table-side entertainment.  While I would have preferred to see the action, our table was in the back dining room.  That would have been fine but for being under an air vent.  The lesson here?  Always bring a sweater.  Thankfully, even if a little cool air doesn't spoil my appreciation for good food.


The menu at Max's is a la carte, but any of the items can also be ordered as a part of a 3 course prix fixe option.  For our dinner, my husband opted for a steak and I for seared scallops with farro.  But all that was preceded by smoked Hereford bacon, truffle fries and burrata.  Had we known that the appetizers would be so tasty and so filling, we might have waived off on the entrees.  The housemade burrata was amazing ... so cold and fresh, paired with this great tomato relish and served with bruschetta topped with a mash of English peas and mint.  Loved it.  The bacon and truffle fries, amazing too.  Thank goodness those are menu regulars because I will definitely have to have those again.  Great flavors, cooked just right and paired perfectly with garlic aioli.

We honestly had to force ourselves not to finish the first courses just so we could have room for the rest.  And it's a good thing we did because those second courses were just as good.  My pan seared scallops were so good, served on a bed of farro and potato puree.  The flavors were rich.  My only criticism?  My plate could have used some acid, just to offset those hearty flavors.  Thankfully, my husband's steak came with an arugala salad dressed lightly in a vinaigrette - just enough acid to help me push through the rest of my dish.  And that I needed to do because my third course - dessert - was still yet to come.

And, as it should be, dessert was definitely the piece de resistance.  So simple but so very good.  Sugared doughnuts with creme anglaise and raspberry compote.  Warm, airy and sweet.  What's not to love?



How much we spent: $$$$  For the two of us, with three courses and no alcohol, we spent $150, tip included.   Yes, it's pricey, but we ordered A LOT of food.  A spending conscious diner would likely spend less.  But if I were you, I wouldn't skip dessert!

My rating:  4 1/2 spoons.  Max's Harvest is a restaurant that I will be recommending to anyone who has the pleasure of visiting Delray Beach.  Great farm-fresh local food, well made and delicious.  I'll definitely go back.  



Max's Harvest on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Anna Rose's Mini Review: Chef's Table, Stuart, Florida

Hi I'm Anna and I am a tiny food critic and today I am reviewing THE CHEF'S TABLE !!!!!! Now back to the food.  Anyway, I honestly thought that the food was ..... FANTASTIC!   I had a nice seafood soup.  The fish was nice and tender and the broth was very flavorful and the clams were elegantly cooked. What a FABULOUS  dinner.

Next was the dessert.  We had a creme brûlée.   The shell was burnt and that was not my favorite part. but I LOVVVVVVVVED the ice cream and its sugary flavor.

Next is service.  The people took a long time to get our food.  And I felt like the cooks weren't fast enough cookers.  Most people will prefer their food so slowly cooked so that it could be nice and tender.  But I prefer fast because that is what I'm used to.  I would cook at a high degree so that it will cook for less hours or minutes.  But I guess the chefs like it the other way around.  

I noticed that the waiters were walking very slowly to get to our tables.  I think they should have been walking fast because that's what you do in a restaurant when you have plenty of customers.  And I noticed that there were a lot of customers.  

And that's the end of my review!  To see my mom's review, click here!
  

Kitchen Sink Recipe #2: Quick & Easy Stir Fry


There are some recipes that a home cook needs to have in their arsenal.  And throwing together a good stir fry is something that every home cook should know how to do. Why? Because stir fry is literally something that can be thrown together with just about anything that you have in your refrigerator and pantry.  It is one of the most versatile dishes. Any meat mixed with any vegetables and in the time it takes to watch one episode of a sitcom you are done. The only musts? Sesame oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic and ginger. And these aren't even really "must haves". In a pinch any of these can be substituted. So, when I'm feeling tired and not quite enthused about cooking, stir fry is a good home cooked meal that I can throw together with minimal effort. And now you can too.

Beef Stir Fry

1 lb. flank steak
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp. grated ginger
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 c. julienned carrots
1/2 c. julienned red pepper
1/2 c. green beans cut on a bias
1/2 c. baby bella mushrooms, halved or quartered 
2 tbsp. sesame or peanut oil
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 lemon, juiced

Cut flank steak into strips of whatever length or thickness you desire and place into a bowl.  Season with salt, pepper, ginger and garlic; adjust seasoning to your taste.  Sprinkle with cornstarch.  Stir seasonings and cornstarch into the steak to coat and set the bowl aside in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.  (I serve rice with my stir fry and use this downtime to boil my rice and prepare my vegetables.  Once the steak has rested for the desired amount of time, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.  When the oil is very hot, add your steak.  Using a large spoon or spatula, spread the steak into an even layer in the pan and brown for 1 minute.  Stir or toss the steak and continue to brown for another minute.  Stir in the vegetables.  Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring or tossing occasionally.   Add soy sauce and lemon and continue to stir or toss, being sure to coat all of the meat and veggies.  Allow the liquids to thicken.  The stir fry is ready to serve when the meat has reached its desired level of doneness.  It can be served with rice or ramen noodles.  These proportions are sufficient to feed my family of four.  

The great thing about this recipe is that many components can be substituted, which is why I consider this to be a "kitchen sink" recipe.  With each variation, a whole new meal is born.  While beef is my stir fry mainstay, you can easily substitute chicken or pork.  And most any cut of meat works too as long as you can slice it into strips.  The veggies can be any of your choice.  Don't like red peppers or carrots?  That's fine.  I've made this at various times with broccoli florets, cauliflower, snow peas, onions, scallions zucchini and and squash.  I'm sure at one time I even used shredded brussel sprouts.  Now you can see why this recipe comes in really handy when you want to use up vegetables that are taking up space.  Don't have fresh ginger?  That's okay.  Substitute with half as much ground ginger or omit it altogether.  Don't have cornstarch?  Use double the amount of flour.  (Just don't leave this out because the cornstarch or flour is a key ingredient.  This is what thickens the sauce.)  No sesame or peanut oil?  Vegetable oil works too.  Just make sure it's really hot when you start to cook.  Not a fan of soy?  Chicken or beef broth works in a pinch.  Just eliminate the lemon juice and adjust your seasonings if the broth is bland.  Now it does occur to me that there may be vegetarians among you.  Don't worry, you can omit the meat and double up on the veggies.  But since my recipe contemplates the addition of seasoning and thickener directly to the meat, you will need to adjust by adding your seasoning to the veggies and stirring your thickener into the cold soy or broth before adding it to the hot pan.  In that case, you can skip the marinating time.  

This is a really good recipe for the beginning or apprehensive cook because it is really hard to ruin.  It is amenable to experimentation and good for those who want to develop the instinct to cook creatively (i.e. without a recipe).  As long as you bear in mind the basic components - hot oil, meat (for all of you carnivores), thickener, veggies and sauce - you really can't go wrong.




Saturday, October 12, 2013

Der Dutchman, Sarasota, Florida

Candied Yams at Der Dutchman, Sarasota, Florida

Ever since my first visit to the Pinecraft area of Sarasota this past August, I've been dying to go back.  The Amish-Mennonite community has a certain charm.  And, they of course have pie.  Everyone who has kept up with my blog and Facebook page knows how much I love the pie.  So, after my last post about Yoder's, a friend and Sarasota native told me about another Amish favorite.  Dutch Heritage, now called Der Dutchman, is also situated on Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota.  Although only a few blocks down from Yoder's, its ambiance is entirely different.  Der Dutchman is no small restaurant.  As soon as you drive into the lot, you realize that this restaurant is made for visitors.  The large wrap around porch and wooden rocking chairs seem reminiscent of the Cracker Barrel.  And when you go through the front doors into the large gift and pastry shop, you can't help but think Der Dutchman is indeed the Amish version of the popular country store.  So, it makes me wonder, which came first?  Kind of like the proverbial chicken and the egg.  But now I am digressing and this blog is supposed to be about the food, so ...

What I loved:  Just like its cousin down the road, Der Dutchman is quite popular and diners may also find themselves confronted with a line.  But thankfully the line at Der Dutchman is a lot more tolerable.  This restaurant's dining room is quite large and clearly accommodates many more diners.  Large parties will definitely be more comfortable.  In fact, during this visit I found signs clearly marking seating for members of organizations and businesses who were meeting at Der Dutchman that day.  It's rather comforting to know that this restaurant welcomes large groups because my family, when all together, can be pretty big.  

Another great feature of the Der Dutchman dining room is its large buffet service.  Although Der Dutchman provides diners with a traditional menu, a visitor would be crazy not to partake of the buffet which is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  This is no skimpy buffet and for $14 it is also a great deal.  There are a multitude of offerings on the buffet, nearly guaranteeing that every diner is going to find something to their liking.  And, although it does not include pie, this buffet does include various desserts.  During this visit with my children, sister, brother-in-law and toddler niece, each of us did indeed find something to our liking.  Not an easy feat for a group with diverse tastes.  (The only one who ordered anything from the menu is my burger-obsessed son.)

Some of my buffet favorites include the broccoli salad (yum), three bean salad, macaroni and cheese and candied yams.  The green beans were a surprise.  Clearly they are made from fresh legumes (these are a vibrant crisp green) but they taste nearly like the ones that come from the can.  (I know I'm not the only one who has wondered how and why canned green beans seem to "taste" good; nothing else from a can really does.)  Yes, it's a mystery but I don't care.  These are good.


My biggest surprise favorite?   The fried chicken.  I know what you are thinking.  Didn't I frown a bit the last time I bit into Amish fried chicken?  Didn't I go on and on about the Amish being light on seasoning?  Wasn't I a hair away from daring to call Amish fried chicken bland?  Well, I take it all back.  I don't know what they do different at Der Dutchman that they don't do down the road at Yoder's but Der Dutchman definitely has the fried chicken I've been looking for.  Still lean and not fatty, Der Dutchman's fried chicken has all the flavor that its cousin down the road lacks.  And the fact that they serve it buffet style means that I can select the pieces (the wings) that I like best.  Score!

What I didn't love:  Now, as you all know, I rarely walk away from a restaurant with a 100% scorecard.  Der Dutchman did not meet my challenge without some marks.  I will be blunt and say I won't dare have the brussel sprouts again.  Some of you may not be surprised.  After all, we are talking about brussel sprouts here.  But I happen to like this rather unappreciated vegetable.  I just think that they should be cooked in only one way:  roasted with olive oil, salt and butter.  Apparently the Amish eat them old school - steamed - and, let's face it, steamed brussel sprouts just taste like ...

I also did not love the german chocolate cake, at least I think it was german chocolate cake.  Maybe it was a carrot cake.  It may have had nuts.  All I know is that it had a coconut frosting.  Whatever it was it was overloaded with allspice.  Hmmm... maybe it was a spice cake.  Who cares.  Even Anna did not venture past her first bite.  Crossing that off the list when I make my next trip to the buffet.

How much I spent:   $$.  For myself and my two kids, my bill came to about $45 with soft drinks and tip.  

My overall rating:  3 3/4 spoons.  Tried and true fans of Yoder's may scoff at Der Dutchman, since it is now part of an Amish restaurant chain that includes locations near other Amish communities in Ohio.  But that fact that it is part of an "English-style" commercial enterprise doesn't bother me.  Der Dutchman is a perfect complement to its Amish cousin, Yoder's. Yes, the latter has a pie to die for and I will always be willing to drive 100 miles for that pie.  But, Der Dutchman has a fried chicken that that will always keep me coming back.  My plan for my next trip to Sarasota is already clear.  Dinner at the Dutchman and dessert at Yoder's.  I think I've found utopia.



Der Dutchman Restaurant & Bakery on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Cafe Chic, Venetian Village, Naples, Florida

French press sandwich
Remember what I said about restaurants with nice web pages?  You know, that a really cool web page must mean that the restaurant must be decent and have it all together.  Forget about it.  Cafe Chic sounds chic, but that's about it.  Honestly if you look at the website and the menu, the place sounds really promising.  A little french cafe in the middle of an upscale shopping district right by the water.   I just wish it was as cute as I had hoped.  Since in this case it makes the most sense, let's start with ...

Normandie sandwich (made with brie)
and french cherry syrup water
What I didn't like:  I planned a midday lunch break with a friend who is also a follower of my blog.  So, I wanted to treat her to a blog-worthy experience by trying a new find.  But as my friend now knows, some of my dining experiences are not always pleasurable.  Don't get me wrong, the food was nice.  We had sandwiches on baguettes served on cute black slates.  The bread and its fillings were good.  But I should have taken the hint when the server behind the counter handed me the menu and promptly cautioned me that it was quite possible they may not have all the ingredients for anything I might order. And, true enough, there was no Camembert cheese for a Normandie sandwich (and no french onion soup either).   Luckily they had brie and the staff was willing enough to take my suggestion for the substitution.  I also ordered french syrup water, because I've never heard of it before and it sounded good.  It would have been much easier for me - and for them - if I had just stuck with soda.  They knew they had syrup and 10 kinds of it, but no one could tell me what flavors without physically handling each bottle.


My friend had a bit of an easier time with her order.  For one, she ordered soda.  (Good idea.)  She also ordered a french press sandwich.  It normally comes with tomatoes - which they promptly told her they did not have (kind of weird because my sandwich had tomatoes ...) - but luckily my friend was just about to ixnay the tomatoes anyway.   Well, not so lucky for my friend because it took a really, really, really long time for my friend to get her sandwich.  Now I don't know about you, but 20 minutes is quite a long time to wait for a sandwich.  Except when they burn your sandwich in the press the first time around.  As late as it may have been, at least she did enjoy that sandwich when she eventually got it - not burned, of course.

What I did like:  I don't mean to suggest that Cafe Chic is a complete mess.  It is a quaint little spot, with a nice selection of herbs, salts and spreads bottled for sale.  Now I know where to go when I'm looking for pink Himalayan sea salt.  And the little cafe tables are cute, good for a lunch between friends or dining solo.  Oh, and the cherry french syrup water was tasty.

How much I spent:  $12 for a sandwich and a drink.  Not bad.

My rating:  2 spoons.  Yes, I'm trying hard to think about something good to say because I don't think that this restaurant is necessarily horrible.  I just don't think this restaurant is really ready to be open.  With the missing ingredients and minimally stocked pastry case, it really did feel like we came two weeks ahead of opening day.  Maybe I should come back when they get their act together.  If they get their act together.


Cafe Chic on Urbanspoon