STORY Last night after a day of wandering through Manhattan, Sean and I were hungry. We stopped at Eatly, a glorious (yet crowded) Italian-styled marketplace, full of restaurants, and lovely stalls spilling over with meats, cheese, bread, vegetables, and fish. […]
STORY A few weeks ago, I came across a Thomas Keller recipe that was so simple I couldn’t believe that it could possibly be delicious. Man oh man, was I wrong! Three simple ingredients, chicken, salt and a sprinkling of […]
When I was sick with the flu my friend Matt, a former chef, showed up with a vat of homemade chicken soup lovingly prepared. He and his wife, Nadia had cut the shapes of hearts and stars into the carrots. That soup was love, man.
STORY Couscous is often my go-to side dish because it takes minutes to prepare (about 10-15 minutes), and it soaks up ingredients so beautifully. I like sprinkle pistachios (or almonds), dried fruit, and chopped vegetables with cilantro over the couscous […]
Because I am not a wealthy girl, I’ve been quite sensitive to the drastic increase in dairy prices. A half gallon carton of organic milk in my area costs $3.99. And I soon noticed that my favorite smoothie was $2.25 instead of $1.50. I know it’s just $.75, but toward the end of the week $.75 a day added up. (That was more than the cost of a burger or a glass of wine!) This seemed unjust to me, and so I made the decision that I could make my own yogurt, and that would make my smoothies a lot cheaper. When I don’t have time to make my own yogurt, I use Stonyfield Farm’s. Either way, I still save enough to enjoy a glass of wine with friends at the end of the week.
I have a favorite restaurant. It’s not only my favorite restaurant in Jersey City, but I think it might be my favorite restaurant in the world. For 11 years I’ve eaten at Saigon Cafe, brought all of my friends to Saigon Cafe, ordered in on dateless Friday nights from Saigon Cafe, and have been inspired by Saigon Cafe. Why do I love Saigon Cafe so much? Consistently great family-style food. Their dishes are authentic, affordable, and absolutely delicious. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Lee family can consider themselves adored.
I am always looking for a quick side dish that will balance rich, spicy dishes. This cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, is crisp, cool and tangy, but also has sweet overtones that off-set even the most fiery of cuisine. It’s also perfect for a quick mid-day snack.
This Christmas, I entertained very few carnivores, so I needed to prepare dishes that appealed to vegans and meat-lovers alike. Behold, the citrus, mint, and cilantro salad! A hybrid of Eastern and Western cuisine, this recipes marries flavors from Florida to South Asia. Citrus is at the peak of it’s season in the winter months, and when you combine mint, cilantro, peppers, and Mirin (a sweet rice wine, used as a condiment in Japanese cuisine) it makes for a fresh, mouth-watering, and spicy treat.