February 2012
11 posts
Everything is beautiful at the ballet.
“The utterance of life is a song. The symphony of nature.” The Joffrey Ballet’s performance of Winter Fire at The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, $50.
The French Diet.
Outside of the dessert pancakes from Bongo Room in Chicago, Cafe Campagne in Seattle has the most decadent brunch menu I’ve ever experienced. I ordered a Bloody Mary ($8) and the Ouefs en Meurette ($16). The meal was a fois-gras and red wine sauce served over two poached eggs on top of garlic buttered croutons with pearl onions, champignons, bacon, and a side of pomme frites. ‘Twas...
Warm your insides, @PikePLChowder (pics).
From Pike Place Chowder: Dungeness crab roll ($12), a hot bowl of chowder ($7), and a piece of sourdough bread. See the full gallery on Posterous
All it takes is one smell at Tartine Bakery...
An open faced croque monsieur sandwich ($9.75) with the bread soaked in béchamel. Topped with smoked Niman Ranch ham gruyere, thyme, and pepper; and one rocher with toasted almonds (85 cents) for dessert. See the full gallery on Posterous
Brunch at Feed Restaurant in Humboldt Park.
Table for four, please?Egg machine (25 cents to play); Feed’s menu; macaroni + cheese with corn pudding and collard greens ($15 with chicken); mashed potatoes + gravy ($2.19) with cheese grits ($2.19); a whole rotisserie chicken; fried green tomatoes eggs Benedict with ham ($9); and the chorizo tacos ($9). See the full gallery on Posterous
28.
The 28 bus ($2) is a magical ride once it turns around on the 101.
You've come a long way, baby.
A whole Dungeness crab ($15) at Sabella & La Torre in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.
Clams, oysters, King crab, + a tail @BobChinns...
Friday night was a seafood throwdown in Wheeling, Illinois at the famous Bob Chinn’s Crab House. We ordered: one big serving of piping hot New England Clam Chowder in a bowl ($8.50); a dozen oysters ($13) with their complimentary garlic rolls; three perfectly steamed select Alaskan “red” King crab legs (20oz, $61) with fried pork rice; and three seasoned South African lobster...
Dinner + 1/2 glasses of wine @RMRestaurant with...
Ladies night dinner at Radio Maria in downtown Champaign. We ordered: broiled chevre medallions roasted in a sauce of pumpkin seeds, and spices ($7) and the torta Maria: roasted poblano peppers, mole, corn, sweet potato, goat cheese layered between flour tortillas with a vanilla bean sauce, and salsa roja ($15). See the full gallery on Posterous
Pancake + syrup by @SethFein.
Woke up to two pancakes waiting for me! Pancakes made with Bob’s Red Mill organic 7 grain pancake + waffle whole grain mix ($4 for a bag) with extra flaxseed meal ($4 a bag).
Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto.
Eating healthy is not an easy feat — especially when you have a seemingly endless penchant for fatty, cured pork. When I’m in NYC, I visit Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto every time I find myself near the Upper West Side. A quick peep at their extensive selection of thinly sliced salumi would make anyone go Pavlovian. I could go for a few nibbles of their delicately flavored spicy soppressata, the...
Proteins and greens.
Tonight’s meal: striploin steak from Laurence Mate ($8 per lb), collard greens ($4) with grilled onions and mushrooms ($3), and a farm egg ($4 a dozen).
January 2012
12 posts
El Asadero in Tulum, Mexico.
El Asadero has the finest cuts of steak in Tulum. We ordered: 500 grams of arrachera or flank steak ($140 pesos = $10.75 USD) with a grilled onion ($15 pesos = $1); and two tacos — a nopal + an arrachera with cheese ($34 = $2.50). We were given a variety of salsas with chips, too. I miss Tulum already. See the full gallery on Posterous
Cooking Indian with @FlatlanderFood.
Prepping spices, ginger, and garlic for a big Indian dinner on Saturday night. See the full gallery on Posterous
Cooking Indian with @FlatlanderFood.
Prepping spices, ginger, and garlic for a big Indian dinner on Saturday night. See the full gallery on Posterous
Diner in Williamsburg.
Diner is so cool they write the daily menu on the table. Vikki and I shared a beet salad with yogurt and grapefruit slices ($10) and the best damn fried chicken sandwich topped with chili lime aioli + a pickled egg on sweet potato focaccia ($14). We both agreed that there’s nothing quite like this perfectly arranged chicken. See the full gallery on Posterous
Midday aliment @GrazeMadison.
One and a half deviled eggs with mustard + smoked paprika aioli ($3); a selection of house pickles from beets to squash ($6); BLT ($11); and ramen noodle bowl with braised pork shoulder and pork belly ($10). See the full gallery on Posterous
Mateo's en Tulum. (pics)
Tacos de pescado y fresco de coco ($7). See the full gallery on Posterous
@Le_Barricou? Oui, s'il vous plaît! (pics)
A vegetarian, egg white omelet with sauteed vegetables, chipotle peppers + goat cheese ($9.50) for both me and Drew. The Bloody Mary was for Monika ($8). See the full gallery on Posterous
Not how I like it.
Wanting to sink my teeth into some fresh seafood, I chose the mayo-based lobster roll ($18) from Fish in NYC. After my first bite, I quickly learned that I happen to prefer butter only. Oh, well. Call me a purist.
Mile End (pics from @mileendbrooklyn).
Smoked meat sandwich ($12) and matzoh ball soup ($8) in Boerum Hill. See the full gallery on Posterous
Grilled lobster tails.
Spinach, radish, and grapefruit salad with a split, grilled lobster tail ($14 on accidental sale). See the full gallery on Posterous
Starting off on the right foot: lamb ragu.
Homemade pasta noodles ($5) + braised lamb ($15). Happy new year epicureans!
December 2011
13 posts
Vesta
Best meal of 2011: Vesta in Astoria, NY. Started with housemade bocconcini di mozzarella, greens + crostini ($10); slow braised meatballs, parmigiano cheese + tomato sauce ($12); vintage Bavette steak, sweet potato puree + asparagus ($24); penne pasta with butternut squash, brown butter, and sage ($14); cavatappi with cauliflower, mint, seasoned breadcrumbs & shaved parmigiano ($13); lasagna...
@SweetMandyBs sugar rush.
Every day needs a quick cupcake and milk fix; $4.50.
A Rio Madre Rioja kinda Christmas Eve.
Bottle of wine with friends at Buvons; $15.
Holly days.
Various homemade pates and foie gras ($20) by Laurence Mate; assorted cheeses from Art Mart ($20); organic egg nog ($4); and fresh lemon juice ($9) for a real Old Fashioned. See the full gallery on Posterous
Brunchin' @LongmanAndEagle. (pics)
Market scramble: Werp Farms arugula, mushrooms, fromage blanc and served over a croissant with a side mixed greens ($12) and an excellent croque madame ($12). See the full gallery on Posterous
Long time coming @BigStarChicago. (pics)
Al pastor + 2 tacos de panza ($9), sonoran hot dog ($7), vegetables en escabeche ($1), an old fashioned + a Bakersfield Buck ($7), and late, but, piping hot queso fundido ($7). See the full gallery on Posterous
@firstavenue stars.
Outside: a wall full of past performers. Inside: the big star for Prince’s Purple Rain. See the full gallery on Posterous
5-8 Club in Minneapolis.
A juicy lucy is unique to Minneapolis. It is a half pound burger stuffed with cheese. Basically, it is a cheeseburger and not all that special, $6; and a bowl of chicken noodle soup, $4. Not impressed, Minneapolis. See the full gallery on Posterous
Preparations.
Mise en place with house made maraschino cherries and candied ginger for cocktails, knives, and a homemade mozzarella with braised pork and arugula pizza; $40 for six. See the full gallery on Posterous
Earrings from @WolfbaitBGirls.
Stones, unicorns, and black feathers on long earrings from Wolfbait & B-girls by The Hunters Kiss, $40.
Giving thanks.
Glenlivet, pumpkin pies, turkey, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, Sunday gravy + mostaccioli, and a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape ($37). See the full gallery on Posterous
Bears!
Tickets to the Bears game for Caleb’s 30th birthday; $175.
Las Palmas (@laspalmasdining) on North Avenue.
Pan-seared tiger shrimp over creamy chipotle sauce with sautéed spinach, baby carrots & saffron rice.
November 2011
9 posts
A whimsical Midwestern supper.
Angel Food goat cheese ($8) from Prairie Fruits Farm, crackers, apples, and a homemade sunchoke ($2) + leek ($3) soup. For dessert: a warm, roasted honey crisp apple ($1) topped a scoop of brown butter almond brittle ice cream ($9) from Jeni’s. See the full gallery on Posterous
A long way for ingredients to travel.
White bean ($1.50) and kale ($3) stew with roasted pork ($8 per lb) brought home from Guavate, Puerto Rico. How it was made: sauteed an onion, an Anaheim pepper and kale stems in olive oil and chicken stock. Simmered cannellini beans with the kale. See the full gallery on Posterous
Flo
When I went to Flo Cafe this weekend, I ordered the best Huevos rancheros ($6.95) I’ve ever had. How it was prepared: a heaping ladle of red chile on top of enchilada filled with cheddar cheese and surrounded by two soft fried eggs, with black beans, pico de gallo, and a folded tortilla on the side. See the full gallery on Posterous
On the cerdo trail, in Guavate.
More and more, stateside Americans are learning about this small village in the Puerto Rican hills. Bourdain and Zimmern have both reported on it, and both declared it to be the best pork known to man kind. Having eaten it today, I concur. It’s simply marvelous. What we couldn’t believe was the lack of gringos around. Literally, we were two of maybe six white folks walking around. The...
Mag Mile lights from the 16th floor.
Staying at the Hyatt Regency ($300 per night, compliments of United) with my aunt during her 48 hour layover on her San Diego Chargers charter flight.
Egg heaven @YolkChicago. (PIC)
Eggs Benedict ($10) is my number one choice for breakfast. These bad boys had a huge cut of Canadian bacon. I’ve never had so much food on one plate this early in the morning.
A day in the life in Puerto Rico
On Thursday, we packed it in. The morning found us trailing Andrew Zimmern to La Bombanera, a local’s favorite pastry shop for Mallorcas, a Spanish sort-of soft yeast roll, filled with jamon y queso and jugo de acerola, a tropical fruit, freshly squeezed ($14.50 total). We made our way over to the Coliseo to watch the Boilers pull out a heart-stopper (2 tickets were $29.56, because Old Man...
Mofungo con Conejo and Arecibo Observatory
A Puerto Rican delight. Plantains are mashed and steamed and mixed with freshly stewed rabbit and peppers. $16 for two at El Traino on the road home from Arecibo Observatory. The owner, Egna, treated us to uno cerveza local, as well. See the full gallery on Posterous
Cubans.
Made Cuban sandwiches for dinner yesterday from all the leftover hog we had. Ham from Triple S, $6 and lentil salad from the co-op, $5.
September 2011
13 posts
Deluxe vittles @CarmonsBistro in @dtChampaign....
Carmon’s Bistro is about to open their doors to the public. Tonight was day two of their soft opening — and we had a preview of what’s to come. We ordered: pumpkin soup with wild mushroom + caramelized onions and a crostini, $8; charcuterie plate with pork terrine, chicken liver mousse, pork rillettes, mostarda and pickles, $9; 1/2 dozen Malpeque oysters with horseradish, orange and...
The menu + more at Spence Farm Dinner Harvest...
This is only a teaser of the other photos to come from the dinner at Spence Farm in Fairbury, Illinois. So, if you’re looking to take a peek at what we ate, click here to link to my blog and see more photos. I even made an animated GIF of Old Town Social’s Jared Van Camp slicing up salumi and you know you wanna see that action. See the full gallery on Posterous
Polaroid of @cutcopy. @pygmusicfest #pyg2011
Mitchell, Dan, Tim and Ben.
Posole by Don. #pyg2011
Green room chow by the greatest bartender around!
Post-Pyg dinner at 2am. #pyg2011
Had enough energy in us to stay up another hour after we drove Explosions to their hotel. Salmon ($14 per lb) and onions ($2) and poblano peppers (from the garden) in white vinegar. See the full gallery on Posterous