A Rooklicious Thanksgiving Feast

This year's Thanksgiving was one of the best. It's truly one of my favorite holidays--good food, warm fires, conversation and laughter, and eating, eating, eating. I'm still full from Thursday.

Seriously.

This year we started off in the afternoon with bowls of mulligatawny soup, meat, cheese, crackers, shrimp, and veggies as the fragrance of roast turkey and mulled wine filled the air.

When dinner was served we indulged in fennel salad, cranberry sauce with pears and oranges, ambrosia, rosemary and garlic smanging mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts with walnuts and garlic, and stuffing muffins.  

The turkey was one of my best yet--I think I've really perfected my technique. The skin of the turkey was golden and crispy after being coated in butter, sage, rosemary, and thyme (cue singing now), and the flavors of apples, onions, garlic, celery, and carrots flavored the turkey from the inside out. I also made a killer gravy from the buttery drippings to accompany the turkey.

And of course no meal is complete without a nice glass of wine. Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. Cheers!

Quote of the Week: Perfect Freedom

“Seating themselves on the greensward, they eat while the corks fly and there is talk, laughter and merriment, and perfect freedom, for the universe is their drawing room and the sun their lamp. Besides, they have appetite, Nature's special gift, which lends to such a meal a vivacity unknown indoors, however beautiful the surroundings.”

—Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Put it on the Pizza: Part III

Putting it on the pizza is always a good time, whether you're surrounded by friends or just spending a lovely summer evening in solitude. I found myself in the latter of those situations this weekend, and putting it on the pizza seemed like perfect way to further enjoy my already sublime summer day. After all, a day of lying in the sun, reading, and swimming can really take a lot out of a girl.

But what to put on the pizza? I had two ideas, so I decided to just split the pizza into two different toppings. On one side I mixed together tomato sauce with Sirracha and spread a thin layer of the dough (store-bought, if you're wondering. I was going to make my own dough but got lazy). Then I topped it with mozzarella, provolone, and veggie-sausage that I'd found in the fridge.

The other side of the pizza got a liberal helping of fresh basil and garlic pesto, covered in sliced mushrooms, grilled chicken, green peppers, red onions, tomato slices, feta, mozz, and kalamata olives.

When I placed the pizza on the grill I cracked an egg on top of the side with the Sirracha sauce. Beautiful.

Unfortunately by the time the egg was cooked the dough had burnt a bit, but otherwise it was delicious. The yolk on the Sirracha side was perfectly cooked (or not cooked, rather), and it oozed out delicately over the sauce, cheese, and dough. The other side with pesto and chicken was also delightful--nice, garlicky, and satisfying without being overly heavy. 

I sat down, enjoyed some pizza, finished re-reading Hemingway's The Garden of Eden, sipped a glass of red wine, and soaked in the late summer evening. Then the doorbell rang.


I'd been cupcaked. (To be continued...)

Nosh (or Tasting the Apocalypse)

Portland, Maine, is filled with amazing restaurants serving up superb food, creative cocktails, and delicious microbrews. One such exceptional restaurant is Nosh, located at 551 Congress Street.

We hit up Nosh the other night for some drinks and eats. Since the rapture is upon us we decided to try the Apocalypse Now burger. This ridiculous burger consists of a pork and beef patty, American cheese, crispy pork belly, bacon, foie gras, house mayo, and cherry jam, served on a brioche bun. This burger may be the most over-the-top decadent and indulgent food I’ve ever eaten. We split it three ways and that was plenty satisfying—eating the whole thing would have probably been too much, although if you’re having a hard time sleeping it might be good to just devour one of these Apocalypse Now burgers. It’ll put you right to sleep, for sure. 

Because the burgers have pork in them they need to be cooked throughout, which sounds unfortunate but the burger really doesn’t suffer much. And while I might be wary of putting jam on a burger it worked out perfectly—it wasn’t intensely sweet or anything and it added a nice flavor. You really can’t go wrong with the Apocalypse Now burger. Seriously. When a piece of foie gras falls out of your burger while you’re eating it, you know you’re in the foodie capital of the world.  

As if the Apocalypse Now burger wasn’t enough, we also ordered the Pork Belly Poutine. The poutine was a combination of fries, gravy, melted cheddar cheese curds, and strips of pork belly. How absurd is that? Think about it—you’re sitting there eating your fries, enjoying yourself immensely, when all of a sudden you pop a fry in your mouth and realize it’s actually a piece of pork belly. How can you not be happy in that situation? The fries were nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and the gravy and cheese curds tasted phenomenal and didn't load down the fries too much.

In addition to the burger and fries we each had an oyster shooter. These shooters had an oyster swimming in vodka, clam juice, bloody mary sauce, and Sriracha, with a smoked salt and pepper rim. They had a really nice spiciness (how can you go wrong with Sriracha?), but it did overshadow the flavor of the oysters and was a bit overpriced.

For drinks I ordered a glass of Malbec, Sonya went for a Tempranillo, and Pat got Allagash Black. Allagash Brewery is located in Portland, Maine, and they make fantastic beer. The Allagash Black is a Belgium strong dark ale that is malty and chocolaty. I was perfectly satisfied with my Malbec, but after I had a taste of the Allagash I was a bit jeally—it was quite delicious.

Whether you are in the mood for tasting the apocalypse or just want some pork belly with your fries, Nosh is a great spot to hit up for on a night out. It’s one of the many must-eat-at restaurants in Portland that you’ve got to try if you’re in the area.

Wine and Cheese

...and pork belly? Yes. When I throw a wine and cheese party, you know I'll also be serving a pork product of some sort. On a recent, impromptu visit to Albany I held a small gathering of friends to enjoy wine and tasty food to celebrate my upcoming birthday. 

Good times were had by all.

Malbec and French Table Wine

Just Look at those Sexy Veggies

Crackas

Apple-Smoked Gouda

Champignon German Brie with Mushrooms

Pork Belly Braised in Fig Tahini Marinade

Extreme Closeup!!

Sippin' on Red Wine

Blast Off with some Space Shuttle Wine

Kate's Baked Brie

Tara's Homemade Baguettes 

Slicin' it Up

Veggies and Mom's Tea Eggs

Ce N'est Pas Un Jambon

On a recent trip to the Museum of Modern Art, I discovered my new favorite Rene Magritte painting. It's called "The Portrait," and it was painted in Brussels in 1935.


I think it's pretty clear why I enjoy it so much.

 

Just a Taste

Looking for good tapas and wine in Ithaca, New York? Then Just a Taste is the place to be. This casual little restaurant is serving up delicious tapas from a menu that changes often, keeping the dining experience interesting and innovative. Just a Taste also uses products from local farms, which means the food is not only fresh but also supports other local businesses.

I recently headed to Just a Taste while visiting my friend Lara in Ithaca. To start off we were offered three wines to taste, which were all delicious. Lara opted for the Chardonnay that we sampled, but I decided to try out one of their wine flights. 

A wine flight is an excellent way to try out a few wines if you can’t make up your mind, and Just a Taste offers a wide array of wines and wine flights. I ordered the Spanish flight. First up was the Cercavins—a nice light, acidic white wine called “Guillamina” from Costers del Segre. The three reds were all much richer in flavor and absolutely delicious. The first red was the Tempranillo—a fruity, spicy Rioja wine called “Glorioso Reserva” from the winery Bodegas Palacio. La Mano Mencia Roble from Bierzo came next, and the flight finished with a Garnacha from the winery Mas Sorrer in Montsant. 

While the wine was flowing, we still needed to pair it with some tasty tapas. First up were seared scallops in chili-lime butter with daikon salsa and sticky rice. It was an amazing way to start off dinner. The scallops had a beautiful sear on the outside, and the inside flesh was soft and tender. The sticky rice was cooked perfectly and the daikon salsa was a great accompaniment to the scallops. And this was only the beginning.

Next up were local Brussels sprouts sautéed in brown butter with garlic, pecans, and Romano cheese. Lara said these were one of the dishes that Just a Taste is known for, and I could see why. The Brussels sprouts were cooked just right—crispy on the outside from being sautéed and soft in the center. And what’s better than some garlic and cheese?  

The garlic braised greens with tomatoes, walnuts, stilton blue cheese, and sherry vinegar—another Just a Taste classic—was also amazing. I never thought braised greens could make a lady swoon, but this dish is pretty powerful with its decadent flavors. 

Clams steamed in white wine with lemon, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and bay leaves came next. The clams were plump and juicy, and the accompanying garlic and onions did not overshadow their clean, fresh flavors. Everything was perfectly balanced.

Next came the eggplant braised in coconut curry, fried papadam, cilantro, lime, goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds. The papadam—a crispy Indian flatbread—was great for picking up the curried eggplant, and the pomegranate seeds offered a whimsical pop of sweet and tart flavor. 

The five spice pork belly with sautéed Chinese cabbage and snow peas and sweet soy blew everything else out of the water. Lara had never tried pork belly before, so I insisted she try it. The pork belly was prepared in a way I haven’t experienced yet. I’ve usually had it braised and served in a sauce, but these thick, tender hunks of pork belly were just lightly seasoned with five spice and served with a nice and crispy exterior. The sautéed Chinese cabbage with snow peas was absolutely divine—a superb rendition of Chinese cuisine. 

I doubt that it’s possible to go wrong at Just a Taste. Everything was delicious and exquisitely prepared. Whether you’re in the mood for a glass of wine, a snack, or a complete meal, Just a Taste in Ithaca will satisfy your cravings.