Monday, March 29, 2010

Bagels


Okay, since my last trip home to NYC was mostly about the nephew, I was able to squeeze in a few favorites. My true NYC love, well, one of them is Bagels. This was from one of my old time haunts Ess-a-bagel. Real NYC bagels have no fruit in them. You could eat this for meal. Before H&H started Fed-exing their goods to Denver, I used to bring a suitcase full of bagels with me on each trip. My sister and I hti Ess-a-bagel on way to get the another family member, it was our lunch.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Birthday Dinner-Rice, rice and more rice.


My little friend L. wanted to make her big sister E. a very special dinner for the once in a life time event of turning 14. Here is the menu written out complete with artist rendition of the main course, Chicken Yakatori with peppers, we started the meal with Sushi, and ended a rice crispy cake decorated to look like a track and field track. L. made almost everything herself (I did the cooking), it was really sweet and touching. E. loves rice and L. went with the theme.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Opening of Grilling Season

So, the weather has been warm (a little wet) but I have opened grilling season. This is a super easy flank steak that takes about 10 minutes to grill and maybe 20 minutes to marinade.

1 lb Flank Steak
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 clove garlic crushed
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Mix together all ingredients except steak. Score the steak and cover with marinade. Heat grill to high, cook on each side for 5 minutes. Let rest another 5 minutes off the grill. Cut diagonally serve.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Chinese Buns-Pork and Chicken


I have been traveling back to NYC to visit my new nephew. I take the bus between Boston and NYC (the cheapest way to travel). On my last trip, I had a small mix-up, so I missed my regular bus, so I went with the Chinatown-Chinatown bus, well more like the Boston Bus Station to NYC Chinatown bus. The good news, I got to go to NYC Chinatown and get one of my all time favorite foods, Chinese Pork Buns (they now have Chicken Buns as well). Cha Siu Bao was introduced to me by a college buddy from NYC, but we were in school in Cleveland and he asked if I would bring some back from a trip. I had to try one before I made my purchase and I was hooked. For some reason, I can't turn this photo, so tilt your head to the left. I grabbed a honeydew juice make with fresh fruit (and some unknown powder). This was the perfect welcome home snack. The sweet bread is covering up the spicy filling.

Afternoon Delight

So, I went to my favorite afternoon spot Sofra
Bakery. Here is liquid heaven, Salep and a pear
brioche. Salep is steamed milk with orchid, it was sweet and silky on my tongue. I read my book and it was a mini-vacation.