Sweet Blog O'Mine

Category: Food and Drink

  • The Trail of Tears

    Sunken_forest

    Slowly easing back into reality after a week’s vacation at the beach.  Highlights included several outrageously delicious meals (grass-fed beef steaks, grilled veggies, gumbo, steak tartare, paella, shrimp tacos . . .), a handful of solid runs, some major beach naps, dogs in costumes (not sure I’ll be living that one down for a while) and a rotating cast of characters throughout the week with whom to enjoy it all.  Other "highlights" include getting hot tub hickeys (not as exciting as they sound) and walking slogging to the Sunken Forest only to arrive just in time for mosquito feeding hour.  What started out as a pleasant adventure turned into a 5 hour expedition — by the time we arrived, we were in such a rush to get through it, both to make it back to civilization before the sun went down and because we were quickly turning into a mosquito buffet.  I didn’t even bother to slow down to take real pictures, as illustrated above.  A special shout out to those who had martinis and dinner waiting for us when we got home.  Another goes to Beth, who finally made it out to the beach after all these years, to Sara and Arlan, for making the most out of their day trip, despite the weather, to Jenn D., Emilia, Lauren and Frank, for being there to keep me company during my midweek stint, to John B., of course, and to everyone who helped me with my true Spanish-style dinner on Saturday night (we finally sat down for the main course at 11:00).  And, as always, to everyone who made me laugh until my abs were sore.  The pictures from the week (not that many, considering how long I was there) are here.

  • My Idiot College Friends

    Courtneyandchris

    Recently I spent a good chunk of the day with a friend and his buddies from college.  First we went out for a few drinks, then met up with them later along with another slew of his college friends.  As I listened to them joke around and watched them interact, at some point I commented that it was fun to see him hanging around with his idiot college friends.  He might have been taken aback for a second or two, but he then realized that I meant this with nothing but kindness.  As I explained to him — when I hang out with my college friends, I am super-comfortable, and we often act like a bunch of idiots (much like we did in college, or every year at OJ).  Regardless of how it came out, it was a compliment — to him, to his friends, and to my idiot college friends.  I got to spend the weekend with them, re-living many an a cappella road trip, driving a van up to Natick, Massachusetts for Chris and Courtney’s wedding, which was great fun.  Congratulations again to the fantabulous couple!  Pictures from the weekend are here.

  • Hold the Line

    Sunset

    For the record, this is the sunset from the ferry on the way home.  I didn’t get a picture of the stunning pink sunrise I saw Sunday morning.  Another great weekend, including an fantabulous Saturday night dinner from Iron Chef Joe and his sous-chef team, a rockin’ jam session on the beach, a four-mile run, and enough belly laughs to last me through the week.  I also finally remembered a song that I was trying to think of last weekend — quite a relief.  Heading to iTunes to buy it right now.  The pictures from the weekend are here.

  • Faux Fourth

    P1000639

    Although it wasn’t really the fourth, it was still a blast, and I still got to sing the Star Spangled Banner (and there was still pig . . . and beans, and yucca, and some killer hot sauce).  Pictures from the weekend are here.

  • A Wonderful, Magical Animal

    Off to the beach for the 3rd annual pig roast (here are photos from the past two years).  Speaking of pig, I loved reading about this chef who got a new pig tattoo, partially inspired by a Simpsons episode.  Don’t worry — I’m not planning on getting another one anytime soon.

  • What’s in Your Fridge?

    Fridge

    It was fun to peek in this week’s Time Out NY and see my friend Rachel standing next to her fridge, illustrating what the refrigerator of "single, professional women who live on their own" looks like.  Between that and the similar food blogger meme, I figured I’d throw mine into the mix.  Hard to see everything, but I figured I’d point out some of the highlights (and here’s an annotated version on flickr):

    • an entire jamon de bayonne that I won at this year’s Duckathlon
    • at least three varieties of Wheelhouse pickles
    • requisite bottle of rose for unexpected summer guests
    • kefir, Pom juice, flaxseeds in grinder — for smoothies
    • condiments galore — sriracha, 3 other kinds of hot sauce, green and red Thai curry paste, a squeeze tube of tomato paste, hoisin, pepperoncini spread, green olive and pistachio tapenade, and some of the more standard, like dijon mustard, soy, and ketchup
    • another bottle of wine tucked in the door (the spare)

  • Lobster Roll Wars

    2007_03_food_edslobsterroll2

    Rob (from London, sniffle) pointed out this article about Rebecca Charles, owner of Pearl Oyster Bar, who is suing Ed McFarland, her former sous chef, claiming he has stolen so many elements of her restaurant and incorporated into Ed’s Lobster Bar that it amounts to intellectual property theft.  I may have to agree with her on this one, although as Rob pointed out — it’s not the same restaurant, it’s worse.  Having been to Pearl earlier this week as a send off for Greta (also sniffle), I agree with him too.

  • Non-Beach Beach Weekend

    Pepsi

    Given that I wasn’t at the beach I spent a hell of a lot of time outside.  After Jenn’s barbecue I spent some quality time on Jimmy’s gorgeous and tranquil rooftop (I’m going to plant myself there one day and refuse to leave — it’s that comfortable).  Today I met up with Frank and Lauren for a cycling adventure from Williamsburg to Water Taxi Beach, where we lounged away the rest of the afternoon and evening.  We finished off with a seafood-fest at the Waterfront Crab House, where Tara met us for some down-n-dirty crustacean action.  Pictures are here.

  • Extra Tasty

    A few weeks ago I bought three new dresses.  Now, I’m not one of those women who’s into clothes and fashion in any significant way — all I know is that the dresses that are in the stores right now have a shape that is particuarly flattering for me, so I stocked up.  I was wearing one of my new purchases yesterday, a black sleeveless shirtdress-y type dress, with hoop earrings and a pair of rather cute peep-toe wedge heels.  I walked out of the office, wearing my sunglasses, and headed off to fetch some lunch.  I remember thinking to myself, "now this is how you want to look when you run into an ex-boyfriend," (not like this).  And lo and behold, I did.  Love it.

    I also visited my love (well, one of my loves, I suppose) last night.  Although my sister, brother and I had a lovely dinner overall, I was disappointed with the beef cheek ravioli this time around.  Perhaps it was because it wasn’t plated as a second pasta course (after the goose liver ravioli), but served at the same time, just not plated out.   This meant that it had to just sit there while we ate the other pasta, so it had dried out somewhat.  The wine we had was fantastic, but, like a moron, forgot to write it down and couldn’t find it on the wine list online.  I remember that it sounded like Sforzato, and was a blend that included nebbiolo grapes that had been treated like amarone for that extra concentrated flavor and a bit of sweetness.  Oh well — will have to go back.

  • Piggishness

    I noticed yesterday that someone got here by doing a Google search for the term "pork butt."  Now, thankfully, I’m not the number one result for this search, but I am on the first page.  I also read this fantastic article in yesterday’s NTY Dining section about the New York restaurant scene’s current fascination with fat.  Believe it or not, I have not eaten all of the dishes featured in the article, but I have managed to sample most of them over the years:  the bo ssam at Momofuku Ssam Bar, the pig extravaganza at Daisy May’s BBQ (on Valentine’s Day, no less), the lardo pizza at Otto (and the lardo spread at Del Posto), the crispy pork with pickled watermelon at Fatty Crab, the sweetbreads at Prune, the deviled eggs on top of crispy pork jowl at Resto, and the roquefort burger and chicken liver toasts at the Spotted Pig.  And, believe it or not, my cholesterol is just fine, thank you very much.