Song of the Week: Champagne Supernova

New Year, New Food

As I wrote my hopes and dreams for 2010 at about two o’clock this morning I realized that none of my goals involve food. Perhaps this is because I know that no matter what I resolve there will always be good eating experiences in the future.

So what does the next year hold in regards to food? Last year I was determined to try raw oysters—any reader of this blog should know that I had many adventures with oysters in 2009! This year I don’t have any particular food that I want to try, though I’m open to suggestions. Instead, I’d just like to keep my mind and stomach open and see what deliciousness is out there in the world.

In the next few months I have a few trips planned that should offer some excellent culinary experiences. First up is Hawaii. There is so much I want to try in Hawaii—tropical drinks, plate lunches, and even a luau. The Asian influence on Hawaiian food is supposed to create some really delicious dishes, and I can’t wait to try all that Hawaii has to offer. After that I have a short trip to Boston, so indulging in seafood dishes is a must. New England clam chowder, oysters, and lobsters—all of it should be amazing. I’ve never had a meal in Boston that I didn’t enjoy. Next is Los Angeles. I haven’t spent time yet researching cuisine in L.A., but I imagine that a trip to Napa Valley for a wine tasting is in order. I’m sure there will other travels, but at least I know I’ve got these three destinations to look forward to in the next year.

As for cooking I’d like to continue to try new recipes in the kitchen. I want to broaden my culinary skills, perhaps by trying to make items I’ve never attempted before. Duck is definitely on the list—I’ve never cooked it and yet it’s one of my favorite foods. I also don’t bake very much, so it could be fun to try my hand at some interesting desserts this year.

I hope you’ll all continue to join me in whatever food adventures this new year will bring. Happy New Year!

A New Years Tradition

Over the last three years it has become a tradition for my boyfriend and me to go to the restaurant Provence in Albany to indulge in escargot and a martini every New Years. Provence is one of my favorite restaurants and will receive a proper review one of these days, but our New Years tradition is always one of the most pleasant ways to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new.

One of the dishes that Provence does best is their escargots à la bourguignonne. When I first tried escargot I didn’t know what to expect. I assumed it was an overrated delicacy—how good could snails be? I soon found out—so good. Of all the places I’ve tried escargot, Provence is definitely my favorite. They are Burgundy region snails cooked in a traditional style in a cast-iron dish with garlic butter and topped with a slice of brioche. The result is delicious, moist snails that have absorbed the flavorful garlicky sauce and are complemented by the lightly toasted, yet soaked in butter, bread on top. Each order of escargot comes with six snails, so it’s perfect for sharing—especially when your boyfriend always lets you eat four out of six!

Provence also makes a perfect martini, which is my cocktail of choice—Bombay Sapphire gin, straight up, on the dry side, with olives. It’s the perfect drink for the winter time with clean flavors like freshly fallen snow and hints of juniper berries. Like Frederic described in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, martinis are “so cool and clean” and make one “feel civilized,” especially when sitting at a classy restaurant like Provence.

As the holidays wind down and the new year begins, a trip to Provence is a great opportunity to sit down for an hour, relax, and indulge in a beverage and some of the best cuisine in Albany. If you’ve wanted to try Provence but don’t quite have the monetary means for a full-fledged meal, I highly recommend sitting at the lovely bar and just ordering a cocktail or glass of wine and an appetizer. If snails aren’t your thing, they have plenty of other tasty starters to try.

Bon appétit and happy New Year!

http://provence-restaurant.net/provence.html