Sweet Blog O'Mine

Tag: Hurricane Irene

  • Food You Can Use: Let Us Eat Local & Dine Out Irene

    Those of us in NYC were spared by Hurricane Irene (although we may have gained a pound or two from all the cooking), but many of the farmers upstate who provide us with amazing local produce weren't as lucky. In case you were wondering what you can do to help, here are some ideas:

    Justfood One of my favorite organizations, Just Food, is hosting their annual Let Us Eat Local event on Wednesday, September 21st at The Altman Building. This event honors local eating and those who support it. This year's honorees include Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm (you may have heard of him if you've read The Omnivore's Dilemma), and Deb Kavakos of Stoneledge Farm. A portion of the proceeds will go to farmers who were impacted by Hurricane Irene; other proceeds will benefit the other work of Just Food.  Tickets are $175 and are available online. I'll see you there!

    If you're going to eat out in NYC, make sure you do so on Sunday, September 25th, when an ever-growing list of restaurants will be participating in Dine Out Irene.  They will donate up to 10% of their sales that night to Just Food and GrowNYC to benefit NY area farmers hard hit by the hurricane. The only tough decision is where to go!

  • Cooking Up A Storm

    Lobsters 
    I was supposed to go to Maine this past weekend, but was foiled by Hurricane Tropical Storm Irene. That said, I had serious lobster on the brain, and between that and Mark Bittman's timely piece on lobster in the Sunday NYT magazine, I decided that lobster bisque was just what I needed to make it through the storm. I stockpiled everything I needed, but as Saturday morning arrived, I realized I needed a tomato, so headed to my local natural foods market, where I picked up a bunch of tomatoes, corn, and an artichoke. As of about 2 p.m. on Saturday, after a workout, I hunkered down and started to cook, thinking that friends within walking distance might come over that night. After brunch (egg, Flying Pigs Farm bacon, skim latte), I made lobster stock from some shells I had in the freezer, cooked the two lobsters I had bought the night before, then proceeded to make bisque, corn and tomato salad, and a steamed artichoke. As I was taking out the garbage, I ran into my next door neighbors, and we arranged for an impromptu dinner party later that evening. In addition to the bisque, I whipped up some brownies (using my favorite recipe, but substituting some espresso-laced chocolate), and we feasted — Arturo's pizza;  tomato, corn, shallot & arugula salad; bisque and brownies.

    Day two of the storm seemed a little calmer, and true to our nature, my fellow New Yorkers were ansty from being inside all day and night on Saturday. Roopa, Karen, Enzo, Noel, Caroline & Kevin came over and we feasted on a hodgepodge of canned goods (pickled herring, anyone?), made Ramos Gin Fizzes and Bloody Marys/Red Snappers and a killer batch of fried rice, spearheaded by Noel. We followed that up with A Fish Called Wanda and truffle-parmesan popcorn. 

    Almost everyone I talked to ate and drank their way through the storm. Wonder if that's just a reflection of my friends and family or if people generally find it comforting?

  • Rock You Like a Hurricane

    I couldn't help myself.

    Pre-Irene shopping list/prep includes: C batteries for flashlight/radio, bottle of rosé, new rainboots, carrots/onion/celery for making lobster & chicken stock, milk for coffee, bottled water, battery-powered cell charger, & cash (learned my lesson during the blackout). Am I forgetting anything? I've got a well-stocked pantry and bar, and as long as I can light my stove w/a match I should be ok if the power goes out . . .