is a time for family.....
for food....
and fingers.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
We have decided
Farida and I, to be women of leisure. We'd like to open a brothel-minus the men, of course. That way we could lie around on velvet and eat delicious food and watch Step Up on repeat and not feel guilty or useless. Karin, Sil, Arthi - you are more than welcome to join us.
We need some financial backing, however. So we are going to fundraise in the form of a bake sale. I will be making my gingersnaps and F will make her famous "straight-from-the-box" brownies. She may also make an apple pie, depending on the altitude.
Date/Time: TBD
Location: Our Apt.
We need some financial backing, however. So we are going to fundraise in the form of a bake sale. I will be making my gingersnaps and F will make her famous "straight-from-the-box" brownies. She may also make an apple pie, depending on the altitude.
Date/Time: TBD
Location: Our Apt.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Last night
Silvia and I went to see Damien Rice at the Beacon. He makes me think that maybe depressed little Irish men might be my type. It was a great concert, at times angsty and very rocked-out. The sound and lights challenged my baseline anxiety level just a bit. All in all, however, it was a great show, especially seeing how sweet and funny a man who writes such depressing songs can actually be. One of his lyrics goes "I love your depression, and I love your double-chin". He's a such a sweet-talker.
I had masala dosa at hampton chutney beforehand. For an indian food place run by Americans, I was pleasantly surprised at how good their food was. And their mango chutney was fantastic. I'm going to try to make it at home. (http://www.hamptonchutney.com/)
I had masala dosa at hampton chutney beforehand. For an indian food place run by Americans, I was pleasantly surprised at how good their food was. And their mango chutney was fantastic. I'm going to try to make it at home. (http://www.hamptonchutney.com/)
Friday, December 08, 2006
Muffins
A muffin is just a guise for having cake in the morning (minus the frosting). Regardless, I deserve a little cake on my birthday.
BTW, I tried the aztec spicy hot chocolate (see item #2 of entry from 12/5/06). It was pretty good but a little on the rich side. I think I can only drink about 1 oz at a time. Not to mention that you'd die of a massive heart attack if you try to drink any more than that (something like 10 gm sat fat per serving - 50% RDA - geezaloo!)
What I really want to try is kee's chocolates. I went by the store after work a couple of days ago, and there was a sign on the door that said "all sold out for today". Can you imagine?? It was only 3:00. It makes me want them even more. Oh, how will I ever get my hands on a batch??
I will have to be crafty.
BTW, I tried the aztec spicy hot chocolate (see item #2 of entry from 12/5/06). It was pretty good but a little on the rich side. I think I can only drink about 1 oz at a time. Not to mention that you'd die of a massive heart attack if you try to drink any more than that (something like 10 gm sat fat per serving - 50% RDA - geezaloo!)
What I really want to try is kee's chocolates. I went by the store after work a couple of days ago, and there was a sign on the door that said "all sold out for today". Can you imagine?? It was only 3:00. It makes me want them even more. Oh, how will I ever get my hands on a batch??
I will have to be crafty.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Doesn't this make you drool?
Top Ten Chocolates according to NYTimes (feel free to send any of these my way)
1. Kee’s Chocolates, 80 Thompson Street. Kee Ling Tong does it all by hand, fresh, every day. Best passion-fruit bonbon extant. The black sesame, blood orange and blended pepper are merely extraordinary. Hands down, the best chocolates in New York. Maybe the world. $11 for a box of six.
2. MarieBelle, 484 Broome Street. Hand-painted chocolates so photogenic you might not want to eat any of them. Force yourself. Kickin’-hot chocolate mix, Aztec Spicy, made with great Colombian chocolate, as well as ancho and chipotle chilies. There’s a delightful tea room in the back to fritter away some calories. $17 for a 1-ounce tin.
3. Richart Design et Chocolat, 7 East 55th Street. A stage-lighted gallery where the micro-mini chocolates covered with Kandinsky-like scrawls are divided into flights of fanciful taste: roasted, balsamic, fruity, spiced. Richart uses only criollo chocolate and creates seasonal goodies that could be framed. It also carries its own chocolate spread, which the store manager calls “Nutella in a tuxedo.” $15 for 12.3 ounces.
4. La Maison du Chocolat, 1018 Madison Avenue. A Belgian friend and I divided up 14 bonbons and voted Traviata — almond and hazelnut praline topped with caramelized almonds — the winner. But then there was Bresilien, coffee-infused ganache, and Cannelle, all cinnamony, and Romeo, with fresh coffee mousse inside. $70 for 50 pieces.
5. Debauve & Gallais, 20 East 69th Street. Chocolatier to the Bourbons, Proust and now the Samurai Shopper. The prices are as egregious as its former devotee Marie Antoinette. (Let them eat Hershey’s.) But try the aiguillettes, candied ginger enrobed in dark chocolate. They’ll take your breath away. $40 for a quarter pound.
6. Recchiuti Confections, Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco; http://www.recchiuticonfections.com/. Michael Recchiuti is an Italian guy from Philly, a self-taught chocolate master and the king of the world, as far as I know. He makes big, bold, seditiously decadent chocolates. Get the 32-piece Burgundy box ($75) and experience nirvana.
7. Chocolate Deities, http://www.chocolatedeities.com/. Speaking of nirvana, here’s a Christmas shout-out to the Buddha, and to the sound of one lip smacking. You can order him (from $28) in milk, dark or gold-painted chocolate. Also try my favorite chocolate Celtic bad girl, Sheela Na Gig; she’s a real showstopper.
8. Christopher Elbow, 118 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.; http://www.christopherelbowchocolates.com/. If you’re not going to Kansas City for Stroud’s fried chicken, at least make some Elbow room for Chris’s 21-piece artisanal chocolate ($38): espresso with lemon, boozy Champagne bonbons and caramel with fleur de sel — that’s right, salt in chocolate — mixed perfect clarity and harmony.
9. Garrison Confections, 815 Hope Street, Providence, R.I.; http://www.garrisonconfections.com/ confections.com. Andrew Shotts left La Côte Basque and the Russian Tea Room, and eventually found himself less rent-poor in Providence. You can sample his wares locally at Bierkraft, on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, or be brave and order a box directly. The cranberry orange and fig anise from his Autumn Equinox collection were outstanding, and I can’t wait to sing the “Hallelujah” chorus when he unveils his Christmas goodies. $20 for a 12-piece box.
10. L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates, http://www.burdickchococlate.com/. Straight from Walpole, N.H., to you; mice with long tails ($29 for nine), mousse-stuffed penguins ($32 for nine) and crystalline pâte de fruit (chocolate-dipped orange peel, $8.50 for a quarter pound) to throw back with your beans.
1. Kee’s Chocolates, 80 Thompson Street. Kee Ling Tong does it all by hand, fresh, every day. Best passion-fruit bonbon extant. The black sesame, blood orange and blended pepper are merely extraordinary. Hands down, the best chocolates in New York. Maybe the world. $11 for a box of six.
2. MarieBelle, 484 Broome Street. Hand-painted chocolates so photogenic you might not want to eat any of them. Force yourself. Kickin’-hot chocolate mix, Aztec Spicy, made with great Colombian chocolate, as well as ancho and chipotle chilies. There’s a delightful tea room in the back to fritter away some calories. $17 for a 1-ounce tin.
3. Richart Design et Chocolat, 7 East 55th Street. A stage-lighted gallery where the micro-mini chocolates covered with Kandinsky-like scrawls are divided into flights of fanciful taste: roasted, balsamic, fruity, spiced. Richart uses only criollo chocolate and creates seasonal goodies that could be framed. It also carries its own chocolate spread, which the store manager calls “Nutella in a tuxedo.” $15 for 12.3 ounces.
4. La Maison du Chocolat, 1018 Madison Avenue. A Belgian friend and I divided up 14 bonbons and voted Traviata — almond and hazelnut praline topped with caramelized almonds — the winner. But then there was Bresilien, coffee-infused ganache, and Cannelle, all cinnamony, and Romeo, with fresh coffee mousse inside. $70 for 50 pieces.
5. Debauve & Gallais, 20 East 69th Street. Chocolatier to the Bourbons, Proust and now the Samurai Shopper. The prices are as egregious as its former devotee Marie Antoinette. (Let them eat Hershey’s.) But try the aiguillettes, candied ginger enrobed in dark chocolate. They’ll take your breath away. $40 for a quarter pound.
6. Recchiuti Confections, Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco; http://www.recchiuticonfections.com/. Michael Recchiuti is an Italian guy from Philly, a self-taught chocolate master and the king of the world, as far as I know. He makes big, bold, seditiously decadent chocolates. Get the 32-piece Burgundy box ($75) and experience nirvana.
7. Chocolate Deities, http://www.chocolatedeities.com/. Speaking of nirvana, here’s a Christmas shout-out to the Buddha, and to the sound of one lip smacking. You can order him (from $28) in milk, dark or gold-painted chocolate. Also try my favorite chocolate Celtic bad girl, Sheela Na Gig; she’s a real showstopper.
8. Christopher Elbow, 118 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.; http://www.christopherelbowchocolates.com/. If you’re not going to Kansas City for Stroud’s fried chicken, at least make some Elbow room for Chris’s 21-piece artisanal chocolate ($38): espresso with lemon, boozy Champagne bonbons and caramel with fleur de sel — that’s right, salt in chocolate — mixed perfect clarity and harmony.
9. Garrison Confections, 815 Hope Street, Providence, R.I.; http://www.garrisonconfections.com/ confections.com. Andrew Shotts left La Côte Basque and the Russian Tea Room, and eventually found himself less rent-poor in Providence. You can sample his wares locally at Bierkraft, on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, or be brave and order a box directly. The cranberry orange and fig anise from his Autumn Equinox collection were outstanding, and I can’t wait to sing the “Hallelujah” chorus when he unveils his Christmas goodies. $20 for a 12-piece box.
10. L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates, http://www.burdickchococlate.com/. Straight from Walpole, N.H., to you; mice with long tails ($29 for nine), mousse-stuffed penguins ($32 for nine) and crystalline pâte de fruit (chocolate-dipped orange peel, $8.50 for a quarter pound) to throw back with your beans.
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