Monday, September 05, 2011
Artichoke Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Panel on “Markets 2.0 – The Resurgence of Traditional Markets in New York City”
One of my favorite things about living in New York City is the various and varied markets that exist here. I’d fallen in love with shopping for local food from small-scale vendors when I lived overseas and have been delighted that I could continue to buy that way back here. I’ve also always been a big fan of knickknacks and antiques fairs just bursting with treasures to find. Add to that all the creative and delicious things to discover at the artisan food markets. Last year, Karen Seiger put together a book called Markets of New York City about all the wonderful items that could be found at these venues in each of the five boroughs.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sausage-Tomato Pasta Dish
With Hurricane Irene rapidly approaching New York City and getting ready to dump lots of rain on us, it was bound to be an indoor weekend anyway. Then, the mayor announced that the public transportation would be shut down by noon today. With friends being told that they had to leave their homes as they live in the lowest lying areas of the city, I ended up hosting one of them to ride out the storm in my neighborhood.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
New Amsterdam Market’s Second Annual Ice Cream Sunday
For days, heck, weeks, I’ve been waiting for this particular food festival. That’s not just because, as someone else put it to me today, “Ice cream is my favorite food group.” So, of course, I planned my whole day around getting to the New Amsterdam Market‘s Second Annual Ice Cream Sunday and fundraiser. With my precious ten tasting tickets in hand, I scoped out the scene to work on my strategy. I opted for one cool sample per stand of the ten vendors who were there, although it was a tough challenge to pick just a single flavor from many of them.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wok+Wine and Foodspotting Event in New York
Last night, in the Tribeca offices of Luminary Labs, Wok+Wine teamed up with Foodspotting to host one of their dynamic, seafood-fueled events. I was one of the 40 folks who helped consume some of the “40 pounds of jumbo shrimp and 40 bottles of delicious wine” that they had laid on for us. It was definitely one of the more unique and napkin-worthy food get-togethers I’ve ever attended.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Vietnamese Spring Rolls
When people ask me about this website, I explain that the name comes from a love of eating – the Gourmand part – and a love of trying new things – the Experimental part. Both of these are combined in this post about making Vietnamese Spring Rolls. I don’t remember the first time that I ate them, but they are one of my favorite things to order at Vietnamese restaurants.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Flushing Queens Food Crawl
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
For the past few weeks, I’ve been on a big Asian food kick. It stems partly from the course that I took back in early July at the Institute of Culinary Education. The other driving factor has been the steamy weather, which hasn’t inspired me to turn on the oven to cook a huge, big meal. Quick, flavorful bites like the Coconut-Citrus Chicken Skewers have been more up my alley. These Vietnamese Summer Rolls are much the same type of small-bite meal. Cool, crisp, minimal cooking over a hot surface, and easy to prepare, they are the ideal starter or even an entire a dinner with several of them.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Smorgasburg Return Trip
Today, a friend of mine and I went to check out Smorgasburg. For me, it was a chance to meet some great new vendors. She’d never been there. She’s been my food and wine wing person on several excursions, so I knew that she’d let me drag her around the market to check out the wares on display. The pile of stuff in the top photo is an indication of what a great shopping day I had.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Coconut-Citrus Chicken Skewers
Last month, when I was at the Fancy Food Show, I had a chance to check out a few new products in Schoolhouse Kitchen‘s range. Their new Coconut Citrus Vinaigrette is a fantastic addition to their product line. It is deeply flavorful with a smooth texture from the coconut milk, a dash of spice from the curry, and a zing of citrus shining throughout. The tastes are all so well balanced and would be perfect for drizzling over a salad of seasonal summer greens. For me, this brought back memories of eating Thai Chicken Skewers when out with friends.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Dekalb Market in Brooklyn
You’ve probably never wondered what happens to the old shipping containers once they’ve outlived the uses for which they were built? For Urban Space, the organizers of several of the markets in New York City, it meant launching a design competition using shipping containers as the storefronts for its newest location, the Dekalb Market in Brooklyn. Yesterday, I dropped by to check it out and to see what was going on over there.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Food. curated with Liza De Guia - Season 2 Sneak Peek
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Ice Cream Beer Social at Jimmy’s No. 43
A rainy Monday night after a scorching weekend is the perfect excuse to visit Jimmy’s No. 43 for a free Ice Cream Beer Social (part of their Homemade Fare series). The fact that the website mentioned beer floats being served was enough of a reason to venture out in stormy weather. As an added bonus, I got to catch up with some really wonderful food folks who make great products that are usually found at the markets around town.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Carrot-Date-Almond Salad with Cumin Dressing
There’s a series of gloppy, mayonnaise-laden salads which date from my 1970s childhood (separate from the sequence of equally disliked Jello salads) which still haunt my culinary memories. Ambrosia Salad, Waldorf Salad, and the one that I probably despise most of all, although it is tough to pick just one, Carrot Salad. Part of my dislike is that I’m not a big fan of raisins in things, which I now know is not that uncommon. Then, there’s the whole globs of industrial mayonnaise, which I also can’t stand as I’ve mentioned previously. So, put those two things together alone and the dish is not likely to be a hit with me. Carrots, I think, are the innocent bystander in all of this, as I like those raw or cooked.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Fairway Grocery opens on the Upper East Side
I know, you’re asking, “Seriously? Really? The opening of a grocery store is worthy of a blog post?” My response is, “You betcha!” Living in New York has its culinary benefits, no doubt, especially when it comes to being able to eat at the top, most innovative restaurants or find the latest hot whatever cuisine. The most recent food fad either starts here or makes its way here very soon. Turn the conversation to where folks actually go to by the food that they keep at home, however, and you’ve opened a whole other can of worms.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Visit to Northside Market in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Thursday, July 07, 2011
“Liguria: Flavors between Sea and Sky” at The International Culinary Center
This photo is a bit faded, as it is more than a decade old, but the sentiment it represents, the beauty of Italy and the culinary riches of one of its provinces, Liguria, are registered in my memories forever. A couple of weeks ago, I was able to attend a seminar called “Liguria: Flavors between the Sea and Sky” about this region sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission and the Regione Liguria. For a few short hours, as the speakers walked us through the history of the area and gave us olive and olive oil tastings, I was transported back to this stunningly beautiful land where the sea rolls out its welcoming deep aqua carpet while the mountains snuggly embrace the towns along the coastline.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Baked Zucchini & Orzo or Courgette & Orzo Baked Dish
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Fulton Stall Market Visit
This summer has not only meant the reopening of the New Amsterdam Market on a weekly basis, it has also given us the revived Fulton Stall Market. I’d written about this historic market (there’s been a version of it more or less in the same place since the 1820s) back in 2009. Last summer, I noticed that the area where it usually took place was empty. I don’t really know the whole story behind its absence, but I’m glad to see this market back in action again.
The juices from Red Jacket Orchards were perfect to combat the heat from a day walking around the markets.
as were these gorgeous strawberries
They also sell these yummy jams and preserves
Sisterhands Syrups was another beverage option
Brewla Bars (at Smorgasburg too) had several refreshing options to cool you down
I went with the Root Beer Pop – sort of like a really great root beer float in frozen form
Another option would have been to go with Coolhaus and their ice cream sandwiches
Eating choices included this collaboration between two of the market’s vendors:
NY Farm 2 Door‘s meats and cheeses
plus Sour Puss Pickles wonderful preserved items
There were also sandwiches by GranDaisy Bakery
and these great-tasting, flavorful pizza squares, which I’ve enjoyed on several occasions.
To keep you going on your visit, Yummy Coffee had samples to try.
Before you leave, however, don’t forget to grab a jar of hearty-tangy, delicious Sunday Gravy
They had this great meal pack, pasta and cheese included, on offer today
Perhaps to pair with a salad or some veggies from Migliorelli Farm
Accompanied by a bottle of wine from Brooklyn Winery‘s own label, maybe?
and finished up with some sweet treats from The Groovy Baker
Don’t forget this cute bag (there are others, too) from Bugged Out in which to take it all home!
Buon appetito!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Arugula Salad with Cremini Mushrooms and Grana Padano
Saturday, June 18, 2011
A Visit to The Brooklyn Flea’s Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg!
It was a long overdue trip, I know, but I’ve either been out of town or just plain busy every Saturday since Smorgasburg, the food fair put together by the folks who also run the Brooklyn Flea, kicked off. Knowing several vendors who sell at this Williamsburg, Brooklyn waterfront location, I was keen to get out there to support their efforts at this new market venture. Today, with sunny skies and the free ferry service running between Manhattan and the landing dock right near Smorgasburg, I didn’t have any more excuses not to visit it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sweet Potato Cakes from Ottolenghi’s “Plenty”
After I made the Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream a
week ago, I still had one uncooked sweet potato left over. So, I cracked
open Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook “Plenty”,
for which I’d been at a book signing last week, and started reading the
directions. I had the pleasure of eating at his Notting Hill restaurant when I was in London
earlier this year, thoroughly enjoyed it, and wanted to try my hand at making one of his recipes at home.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Hester Street Fair Sunday Picnic and Egg Rolls & Egg Creams
This year, the Hester Street Fair is only on Saturdays, so the Sunday Picnic theme of today’s event was built around local food, games (ping pong, badminton), and lively music, with tables down the center of the market space to encourage hanging out and enjoying being outside while eating some great treats.
After that, a few short blocks away, the folks at the Museum at Eldridge Street were holding their annual Egg Rolls & Egg Creams festival, which celebrates the cultural diversity of the neighborhood. Chinese and Jewish foods, games, and activities were available for families along with tours of the museum itself. Seeing an egg cream on the side of a table of folks who were playing Mah Jong, just reinforced how amazing it is that all of these groups of various immigrants were thrown together over time and have created their own traditions.
Friday, June 10, 2011
“The Food of Spain” by Claudia Roden
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream
One of the sponsors at the Eat, Write, Retreat conference I attended last month in Washington, DC, was the Discover Endive! folks. At the reception that opened this weekend event, they served tasty bites of Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream. These were a delicious balance of crunchy, chewy, sweet, salty, meaty, and creamy. With the hand-held leaf serving as an edible platter, they were a perfectly sized nibble and easy-to-serve appetizer.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Shortbread, Strawberries, and Cream for Teatime
This was said to me in response to an email that I’d sent to a friend in England, after telling him that I’d made my first-ever batch of shortbread. Last night, I’d met up with a friend who now lives in New Jersey at a Greek restaurant in Midtown for wine and mezze. As we were parting ways after said eats and drinks, I invited her for tea today to continue our catch-up session. The crazier part of this story is that I also had a former roommate coming in for a visit this afternoon. What would I serve everyone?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Granola-Yogurt Parfaits
I almost clicked on the “Weeknight Suppers” category for this post featuring Granola-Yogurt
Parfaits because, to be completely honest, this is one of those
breakfast meals that I’ve had more than a few times for dinner. It is
light, refreshing, and reasonably healthy so it makes a quick evening meal.
Of course, it is a wonderful breakfast, too, especially with all the
gorgeous, ripe summertime fruit and berries coming into season.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Madison Square Eats
On a tiny sliver of pavement and park between Fifth Avenue and Broadway near 24th Street, about a dozen and half food vendors and a few craft stalls have been making their home and feeding the hungry local hoards for about the past month. I stopped by Madison Square Eats yesterday to check out some of the delicious treats being sold there. It wraps up this coming Friday, June 3rd, in time for Madison Square Park to turn itself over to the masses for the 9th annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party next weekend.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Eat, Write, Retreat 2011 Conference Recap
Friday, May 20, 2011
“Tanzen Dame” Label from Bloomer Creek Wines
While I’m Washington, DC for the “Eat, Write, Retreat” food bloggers conference, I wanted to share with you an article I wrote last September about a great New York State wine that I discovered at their label release party. Recently, I was reintroduced to it at a wine tasting.
Just moments prior to the massive storm that ripped through the New York area last Thursday evening, I was speaking to Kim Engle of Bloomer Creek Wines in the Finger Lakes region about his new wine label Tanzen Dame (“Dance, Lady?”) while at a tasting on the Lower East Side. The Rieslings and Gerwürtraminer that we had the opportunity to sample that evening were ones he had created as an homage to the wines of Germany and Alsace. With just one sip of the refreshing and semi-sweet 2008 Second Harvest Riesling, I was transported away from the steamy city.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Product Spotlight – Nuts+Nuts – Farm-direct Gourmet Cashews
Cashews
are one of those things that I grew up with as a luxury item. I like
them so much that I usually pick them out of the mixed nuts tray, leaving behind the peanuts, walnuts, and Brazil nuts for everyone else.
So, when I first saw this display of different cashew flavor combinations, I picked up one of each to try. I first got to know Cyrilla Suwarsa, co-founder of Nuts+Nuts, at the New Amsterdam Holiday Market back in December. She
was there selling the farm-direct gourmet cashews that her company imports
from farmers in Indonesia, her home country. Cyrilla met me for a coffee
a few months back to talk to me about her company and the inspiration behind it and its product line.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
9th Avenue International Food Festival
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Asparagus and Scrambled Eggs with Tarragon-Shallot Butter
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Brooklyn Uncorked 2011 by Edible Magazine
So much wine, so little time. That’s a bit what it felt like walking in to the Brooklyn Academy of Music last night for the Brooklyn Uncorked festival put together by Edible Magazine (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and East End). With 26 tables of wines and 14 food options (according to the website), this was a cornucopia of eating and drinking options showcasing the variety of Long Island wines as well as displaying culinary talents from Brooklyn and Manhattan. My friend who went with me and I did our best to try to sample something from everyone, with apologies to those whom we missed.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Hester Street Fair Lower Feast Side Food Festival
Today was opening day for the Hester Street Fair which featured a Lower Feast Side Food Festival in conjunction with the other events going on for the New Museum’s Festival of Ideas, which wrapped further west on the Lower East Side around the Bowery. In a slender space at the intersection of Hester Streets and Essex Streets was a varied collection of crafts vendors with adorable stuffed toys, handmade purses, terrariums, and bath and beauty products as well as some terrific food vendors. Bringing a bright ray of sunshine into the lives of New Yorkers after a particularly brutal winter this year, people came out with dogs, strollers, babies, and friends to chat with the merchants, pick up some things, and enjoy a sunshine-filled day outdoors.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Colonie Restaurant in Brooklyn
Colonie, a newish restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, has been on the radar of my friends and I since before it even opened, due to the fact that one of them lives around the corner from the spot and had seen it under construction. Last night, we paid another visit there after hitting a few wine tastings in the neighborhood (checking out Heights Chateau and Brooklyn Wine Exchange). Interestingly enough, it had also been on Sam Sifton’s radar and profiled in The New York Times this week.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
New Amsterdam Market Floralia Celebration
Sunday, on a glorious, bright sunshiny day, the New Amsterdam Market held a celebration for May Day called Floralia, complete with Maypole (above). I’ve never been much for recognizing this pagan feast day or the communist-era counterpart. I’ve always been envious, however, of my European friends when they had this day off, as it seemed a bit random. Of course, we have our Labor Day in September instead, so I guess that counts.
This was a great chance to catch up with vendors that I hadn’t seen in a while (Liddabit Sweets, Nordic Breads), discover some new delicious treats (Pie Corps), and even to run into a friend and her husband (Karen of Markets of NYC). Everyone seemed to be enjoying checking out the different products, eating the offerings from the prepared food vendors, and generally just hanging out in the city on a really nice day. As I told Robert LaValva, the market manager, I’d seen several food folks over the course of the previous week who had chimed, “See you at the market on Sunday,” when we all realized we’d be convening at the event, so there was definitely buzz about the day.
Here’s a photo tour of some of what was available in the market today:
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Now at www.theexperimentalgourmand.com
The Experimental Gourmand has moved! After more than 5 years on Blogger, I decided to move to its own domain name. Please save this bookmark: http://www.theexperimentalgourmand.com to keep up with all the Food Events, Market Trips, and Recipes that are the features of this site.
Please update your RSS feed to the new site. What about liking The Experimental Gourmand on Facebook to keep up with the latest posts news and about events? You can also follow me on Twitter.
Buon appetito!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Rolling in Dough or No at The Brooklyn Brewery
On Wednesday night, I crossed the river again to head to the Brooklyn Brewery for an event organized by Brooklyn Based, a website and newsletter about the borough and its activities, called "Rolling in the Dough or No?". Featuring several favorite and well-known local food entrepreneurs, the setting for the evening was a panel about what it is like to start a food business in the city and what might be some of the pitfalls, hurdles, and aspects that anyone who is interested in pursuing this should consider. There were also some tasty treats to try as well.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
A Royal Wedding Tea Party
I've always loved tea parties. When I was little, my aunt gave me a miniature tea set in porcelain, and I played with it for hours. I had to hide it from my younger siblings to keep it from being destroyed. My mom and I used to make a slot in our travels to have tea and for my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, we kids surprised them with a formal tea to welcome them home from their trip to Paris.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter Brunch 2011
Ah, the gentle hum of the dishwasher. What a great sound. I had a few friends over for Easter Brunch today. I really enjoy entertaining, but what I also like is that satisfying feeling after putting my home back in order when it is all done. Thankfully, too, I have friends who are willing to trek all the way to the Upper East Side on a weekend when the MTA has decided that the one subway line to my neighborhood has to be completely re-configured for repairs. I hope that the food I served was worth it.
Friday, April 22, 2011
How to Tell A Good Egg vs. A Bad Egg
Eggs. Eaten at this time of year, they symbolize rebirth, the Resurrection, spring, fertility, and one of the most basic human foods. We use terms like, "Last one in is a rotten egg" and "He/she is a 'Good Egg'" to describe people. Eggs, in many forms, are a fundamental part our life and vocabulary. When I looked at my Recipes, I have more posts about Brunch than I do about almost any other single food category aside from Desserts and Vegetable Dishes, and most of those are egg dishes like the ones that will be on my table this Sunday afternoon.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
We Have a Royal Wedding Giveaway Winner!!!
No, Hogwarts was not the answer to where Prince William and Catherine Middleton first met, no matter how many of you wanted it to be that way. They met at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, founded in 1413. It is the third oldest university in the English-speaking world, according to their website. It is also the alma mater of some of my friends, so I was glad to give the school a chance to make an appearance on this website.
It was great to see the enthusiasm for this prize pack. Thank you so much to Schoolhouse Kitchen, Lush Candy, Sugar Flower Cake Shop, and MitchMallows for their generosity in providing these items. You can reach their websites by clicking on the links above to find out how to order these great products for yourself or to see where you can buy them at your local markets, where available.
The Royal Wedding Week will continue next week after Easter with some new recipes and some more ideas for hosting your own viewing party.
Buon appetito
Monday, April 18, 2011
Product Giveaways - William & Kate Royal Wedding Edition
All the press has been aflutter with the preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, especially as we are now 11 days away from their nuptials. Knowing how crazy the UK souvenir hawkers and general public can get about these big events, I sort of wish I was there to see how all this will unfold. When I was in London a couple of months back, there were only a few items that I could see picking up to commemorate this occasion.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Product Spotlight - MitchMallows
I have to confess, I'm not a fan of marshmallows. To me, they are overly sugary, powdery dense blobs of fluff with little flavor. That's why it was such a revelation to come across MitchMallows by Mitch Greenberg one Sunday at the Foodshed Market at the Brooklyn Commons. One taste of his Maple Syrup Pancake creation with its lighter-than-air texture and rich, sweet, buttery flavor and I was hooked.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Starving the South" at the Culinary Historians of New York
On the day 150 years ago when the Battle of Fort Sumter started, kicking off the conflict that almost ripped the United States into shreds, Andrew F. Smith introduced his book "Starving the South: How the North Won the Civil War" at an event hosted by the Culinary Historians of New York. Appropriately, this gathering was held with dishes featuring foods of the South provided by the members of the organization. 61 Local, which opened fairly recently in Brooklyn, was the meeting site.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Duck-off at Jimmy’s No. 43 to Benefit Food Systems Network NYC
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Tasting Brooklyn Event by Brooklyn Exposed
Last night I ventured over the river to a loft in DUMBO for the first Tasting Brooklyn event by Brooklyn Exposed to try specialities prepared by more than 20 food and drink vendors. The evening was sponsored by Bao Fresh Kombucha and Fairway Market (opening this summer on the Upper East Side!). This was a great opportunity to try dishes from some places I've never visited as well as to see some food folks whom I hadn't run into in a while.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Bakesale for Japan at the Brooklyn Flea
Friday, April 01, 2011
Mussels in Spicy Thai Coconut Broth
Mother Nature has decided that Winter gets to have one last blow at us before Spring can take over again. This change in the weather, combined with a stint baby-sitting my nieces and nephews, prompted a return of the cold I'd had back in November. Fortunately, I'd been given a recipe last week for Mussels in Spicy Thai Coconut Broth in the cooking class* that I took at the Institute of Culinary Education that could chase the chill and the sniffles away.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Great American Bake Sale to benefit Food Bank for New York at Grand Central Terminal
This afternoon I had to run an errand in the area around Grand Central Terminal. How convenient, I thought, now, I can find an excuse to check out Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale taking place today to benefit the Food Bank for New York. I checked out on their Facebook page just before watching the evening news, and the GCT folks announced 50 minutes ago that the bake sale, which was supposed to go on until 7:00 p.m. tonight, was all sold out and had shut down. I managed to get over there around 1:30 p.m. and at least two places had already been wiped out with several other vendors not far behind. What a great result for a fundraiser for such a worthy cause. Hopefully, our sweet tooths (teeth?) will assist many families to put food on the table, especially during these tough times.