July 2009
37 posts
1 tag
Dos Caminos Classes
A friend mentioned taking a few classes at Dos Caminos this fall. At $65 each, the restaurant is offering a lot of bang for the buck. Check it out and then start salivating. Mmmmm, corn festival… If you just want the book, get it here.
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Where are the WAFFLES?
About three weeks ago, I got an intense craving for a waffle. I was in Sweden at the time so the craving just grew and grew. Later, in Switzerland, I sort of sated the craving at Zum Guten Gluck. The waffle was really tasty - the batter soft and sugary. But what I wanted was really something more doughy. I’ll be officially back in NYC next week and I need help. Serious help. Where can...
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Brat, Zurich
Last meal in Zurich. We had to do it. You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?
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Terrior, Zurich
Terrior, a restaurant, take-away, sundries shop, on Ramistrasse turned out to be the ideal place to stop for lunch before visiting Zurich’s fine art collection at Kunsthaus. It’s always a treat to walk through an art museum with Taylor so I wanted to be energized. Terrior’s restaurant was closed but their prepped food was available. On a whim the counter lady let us in on the...
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Hiltl, Zurich
An incredible vegetarian buffet at Hiltl in Zurich led me and Taylor to overflowing plates. Guess whose plate is whose :-) No matter your taste, very worth a visit.
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Volkshaus, Zurich
Dodging an out-of-nowhere downpour upon arriving in Zurich, Taylor and I found ourselves in Volkshaus. It’s an old school restaurant plus new school bar & lounge. It’s also a concert venue and sauna. Whatever it is, nearly everyone in the joint was attractive and we made it in to dry off fifteen minutes before the kitchen closed- niiiiice. A balsamic-doused salad with sprouts,...
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LE YUM - Bobo
Holy insano appetizers!!! Chef Patrick Connolly’s ahi tuna with crispy tofu, avocado and cilantro is… is simply… mindblowing! Jill got to sample the goods one night at a Supper Club event at Bobo, and knew instantly we had to hook this up, Le Yum style. In this exclusive video, chef Patrick walks Jill through the process of preparing his signature dish. Tasting is believing!
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Tapas Party
I was just invited, by my Spanish friend Teresa, to a tapas party! I’ll bring one of my favorite apps … easy to make and sooo delicious! Slice red, orange and yellow peppers, add some thinly sliced serrano or jalapenos on to a baking sheet. Add lots and lots and lots of crushed garlic and pour olive oil over all. Add salt and pepper to taste. Roast in a low -250- oven for a couple of...
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Skipping Stones, Sweden Edition
Something familiar? In honor of my last week helping out at Appelfabriken, I decided to treat family and guests to our signature DISH Skipping Stones. These little wafers pack a punch with espresso, cinnamon and black pepper. Looking good on the dessert table, huh?
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Greenhouse Dinner
Now doesn’t that look lovely?! A simple salad from the garden plus bruschetta. I sat next to a Green Zebra vine.
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Rosendal Trådgarden
I’ve been pretty stoked about my brother arriving to Sweden for quite some time. I just knew that any Donenfeld in his/her right mind would love this country. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and pleasantry. The people are incredibly friendly. They go heavy on the seafood. A major national dish is cinnamon buns (kanelbulle). Though I am yet to experience it, winter is all about skiing...
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The Perfect Lunch
It’s pretty tough for me to get shrimped out. Behold the perfect lunch. Baltic shrimp + sliced boiled egg + mayo + lemon + petit salad all piled on soft bread. I’ve eaten this for four meals in a row thus far. Going strong.
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The Dying Art of Recipe Cards
A while back I worked at I M P. It’s the company responsible for numerous continuity programs, the most famous of which are it’s cooking series and Wildlife Explorer- a never ending subscription to various one sheet card stock of well, wildlife. In any event, when I was working there, I headed up recipe development and adaptation for two products: Home Baking and Great American....
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Jill & Jeffzilla
Jill’s brother Jeff arrived in Sweden yesterday and they officially hit the road today. Here’s an excerpt from his blog describing the first day of their adventure. Click here for the original post with pics. Eggs and toast this morning at the Appelfabriken, then Jill and I hopped in the car, bound for Gothensburg. The first stop of the day was Drottingholm Slott, the Swedish royal...
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LE YUM - Vutera
Back in April, Jill & I had our worlds rocked by Vutera’s almond panna cotta. Soon after, Jill managed to sweet talk chef Molly Del Monte, the dessert’s creator, into giving us a peek backstage where the magic happens. Better than a lady sawed in half, this week’s Le Yum features exclusive video of Molly teaching Jill how to conjure up this divine dessert, step by step! or...
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TV Dinner
With Lars & Katarina gone to Spain, it’s been me + my three housemates/coworkers at Appelfabriken the passed week. We’ve been managing everything from weeding to watering the greenhouse, from baking 10 rhubarb crumbles for the weekend to meticulously labeling all of the new vinegars, saft and jam produced. We’ve also been running the house- meals, cleaning (the Russian girl...
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Elderflower Part II
Those elderflowers I picked were put to good use. After soaking them with lemon, sugar and water for days, we strained them and boiled the reserved water down to saft (a light syrup/juice) and a very limited run of syrup. Check out the sweet bottles in the shop! Fläderbloms = Elderflowers :-)
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IKEA retrospective
Sure it may not really have to do with food… But the Ikea, 69 Years exhibit at Liljevalch Konsthall was complete with many a dining surface. The retrospective recapped Ikea history from it’s 1950 inception up through the present day. It was fun to learn about when my catelogue favorites came into existence and to pick out coveted discontinued/limited edition pieces. In typical Ikea...
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A Berry Good Idea
At the height of blueberry season, the prices are low so now is the time to freeze all of your favorite berries for wintertime smoothies! I love the way my smoothies taste and my good friend - a gastrointerologist - loves all the fiber in them. I squeeze a cup of fresh orange juice every morning, but on the mornings that I want a vitamin rich breakfast in a cup to go, I make a smoothie. I take my...
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Props from Lucky!
Kendall Herbst, Fashion News Editor over at Lucky Mag, hooks it up! You rock Kendall!
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Late Night Snacks
My new neighbor, Gary, is one of the most fabulous men you’ll ever meet. Not only does he dress like he owns Bergdorf’s (in fact, he did a stint there as a personal shopper) but the man can cook. Last week, Read and I went out for a night on the town with our new neighbor. We crawled back to Gary’s third floor apartment around 3am, all of us starving and nothing worth eating open...
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Pimm’s (is) No. 1
Pimm’s No. 1 Cup is the popular British liquor behind the iconic Pimm’s Cup cocktail served at stodgy events such as Wimbledon. In the bottle, the liquor shines with such an otherworldly shade of dark ruby red that one immediately wonders “What is this stuff distilled from?” Unfortunately, the label primly refuses to divulge this secret leaving curious drinkers to consult the Internet to...
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Changes in Latitude, Attitude
Last week, I had plans to eat out with my pals John & Sarah. Where to go? We wanted something local, something interesting, and hmm… maybe spicy? A few minutes of online research had me curious about a Pan-Ecudorian joint nearby called Zero Latitude. My shiny LCD screen reflected back to me a menu that was loaded with killer options. The name of the place sounded a little Jimmy...
Jill makes OJ fun!
Jill’s nickname when she was little was “silly Jilly.” And she still knows how to make almost anything fun. Including a glass of orange juice. When she mentioned her ORANGE JILLIUS idea to our local coffee shop, Coffee Emporium, not only did they love the idea, but customers have made it the number one drink (I have to admit - outselling the Beryl Mocha by a little). Make your...
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A Waste of Space?
Due to infamous only in NYC kitchen space constraints, most of my appliances and tools are multi-purpose. I do not have a garlic press, a tomato peeler, or cheese knives. But tucked between my plates and the corner of the cupboard is a milk frother. A frother looks like a French press with a more complex mesh/strainer apparatus that magically transforms a generous splash of milk into luscious...
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Speaking of Tomatoes ...
I had an interesting and very delicious appetizer at a funky little “joint” across the street from the Ohio River… Since you probably won’t be coming to Cincinnati soon, you can make this at home in a flash! Slice a tomato. Add a dollop or two of guacamole. Top with a few slices of seared tuna! I could make that dinner!
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Herman's in Stockholm
I met a friend in Stockholm yesterday for a run in Djuragarden but on and off rain showers derailed our plans. Luckily Stockholm is a city in which plan B is always just as good. We decided to grab a bite at Herman’s in Södermalm. Herman’s is a buffet style restaurant that looks out onto the water offering a fantastic view of Gamla Stan as well as myriad ships of all makes and sizes...
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Tomato Season Means Gazpacho
What could be an easier and more delicious dinner than gazpacho! Last night, I put an onion, red pepper, cucumber and serrano pepper in the cuisinart and coarsely chopped and removed to a bowl. Next I threw in 4 huge tomatoes and chopped. I put all of that into a bowl and added 3/4 cup of tomato juice, salt & pepper AND … my garlic scapes that I put in a jar with olive oil last week. I...
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Glacial Mochas Renamed for Beryl ... Jill's Mom!
A couple of years ago, I noticed that the “Glacial Mochas” at our neighborhood coffee shop, Coffee Emporium, were the purist version of other shops’ Frappachinos. And the way I ordered it - skim milk, pure cocoa instead of frappe mix- the drink was actually low calorie! We figured out that the 16oz. drink that looks like a coffee milkshake has only 100 calories (compared to...
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Are The Cows in Ohio Different?
As a New York native, it never fails to amaze me that I’ve been living in Ohio for over 30 years. Shopping for clothes here is terrible, but when it comes to cows, corn or tomatoes, it’s a different story! I came across Snowville Creamery first at our neighborhood coffee shop and then at our local farmer’s market. Being lactose intolerant, I was very hesitant to taste...
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A Day on Möja
After traveling to Möja, a far off island of Stockholms archipelago, I’m officially in love with this country. The Swedish archipelago is like Martha’s Vineyard x Bar Harbour Maine. Blueberries line numerous trails tempting forest walks. Old wooden houses feature little old ladies picking roses in their gardens. Sail boats dot the horizon. My German travel buddy Judith and I...
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Sick Day
I woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather. Whenever I get sick, there’s only one food that fixes me up right away—Chinese rice soup, also known as jook or congee. My mom takes the left over rice from the night before and boils it with homemade chicken broth for hours until the starch breaks down and it becomes the consistancy of a thick soup. Little bits of chicken that...
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Rhubarb Coconut Crumble
A rhubarb coconut crumble might just be the perfect dessert to mix things up this 4th… I know it is here in Sweden. Simply mix 4 cups of chopped rhubarb with 2 tbsps potato starch and 1/3 cup sugar. Pour the dusted fruit into a springform pan lined with parchment paper. In a food processor mix 4 tbsps butter, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 2/3 cup coconut shavings and 1/3 cup agave. Give it a...
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Elderflower Syrup
Disclaimer: this post is a tease. We aren’t finished with the entire process of making elderflower syrup but today we began…. By pulling over on the side of the road and pillaging a field of elderflower trees. Because of mans law in Sweden, what’s on the road is ours for the taking. We picked 6 grocery bags of flowers. When returned to Appelfabriken, we washed them and covered...
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Tabbouleh
A simple tabbouleh salad for dinner tonight. Simply cook bulgar for ten minutes. Add chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, tons of parsely, a little mint, a red onion, a chile and salt and pepper. Top it off with lemon and olive oil! Dine a fresco of course!
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Garlic Scapes in Ohio
Greetings from Cincinnati which is not quite a farm town, but we do have some wonderful local farmer’s markets. My current obsession is garlic scapes - long, green, tubular stalks with a curly end that have a very fresh, mildly garlicky taste. My favorite preparation is to cut them into pieces about 1/4 inch long and sautee them in olive oil. They are delicious by themselves, but I have...
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Classic or Seedless?
While heirloom tomatoes, peas, and apples appear regularly in the gardens and kitchens of serious eaters, the designer engineered Pureheart watermelon, prized for its lack of seeds and small dimensions (3-6 lbs), overshadows old-fashioned varieties, such as the moon and stars watermelon, as well as classic melons with black seeds. [caption id=”attachment_2740”...
