Magical Munchies

Um I hope Mrs. Weasley's looked tastier...

Wow, I've been slacking on this little project. I can't believe I haven't posted in almost a month. Whoopsie.  -_-

Anyway, for my first post of July, I thought it fitting to shout out one of my favorite things that is not food - Harry Potter! What with the last movie coming out in a week and July being Harry's birthday month and all, I must say my Potter fever has spiked once again.

One of the aspects of the books that always interested me was, of course, the food. Both the dishes and the preparation seem like so much fun in the Wizarding world. I have very little experience with British fare, so even some of the commonplace, more "Muggle" items - such as treacle tart - seemed exotic. I know that I am not the only one who dreams of being invited to a Hogwarts feast one day. Loads of fantastic food miraculously appearing on the table? Yes, please. Who wouldn't want to grab a pint of Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks if given the chance? And let's not forget about everything in Honeydukes'! (Well, perhaps not the cockroach clusters or acid pops.) Maybe it's a good thing that I didn't go to Hogwarts. I would have eaten myself to death.

Food is magical and I think it was very astute of J.K. Rowling to portray it as such.

Imagine the culinary creations one could produce if chopping could be done by a charmed knife, if all the prep work was as easy as a flick of the wand? Wow. No wonder Molly Weasley could produce giant Golden Snitch birthday cakes at the drop of a wand.

Sigh. Back to the real world. So does anyone know of any good (preferably casual, inexpensive) places for British food in New York? I want to knock another item off of my culinary to-do list! A few months back, I did some online hunting for an appropriate place to celebrate the release of the last film, but I didn't have too much luck. Recommendations, please!

Hmm, time to look up a recipe for that treacle tart, as well....

Boogie-Down BBQ

I'm sizzlin'.

Is there anything better than gorging on copious quantities of freshly barbequed meats? I doubt it.

Even though I've been struck down with a dreaded summer cold, I dragged myself off to my beautiful Bronx buddy's much anticipated barbeque yesterday. Worth it? Totally! Three drumsticks, a hot dog (Yes, I finally got one!), an ear of grilled corn, several globs of guac, a mountain of macaroni salad, numerous watemelon chunks and one rib later and I could still go for some more bbq. Sigh.

Living in an apartment, I rarely get the chance to grill anything. Anyone out there have any tips for getting great grill flavor in the confines of the great indoors?

Dirty Dog cont'd

Okay, I know this Anthony Weiner's wiener business is being beaten to death, but I have two more cents to add to my previous weenie post. I still haven't had that effin' hot dog yet, by the way.

Ooops! You caught me without my bun on.

Actually, these were BF's two cents and I thought they were brilliant. They happen to go very well with my business idea, too. He thinks that - should I, Mr. Weiner, or anyone ever follow through with the Weiner's Weenies hot dog/ sausage shop - there should be a special combo meal.

The "Anthony" combo: one kosher wiener sans bun, of course, and a (preferably white) Magnum*.

Genius, yes?

Honestly? Would you be too grossed out or too shy to order something like that if it were a legitimate offering at an actual place? Or would you shout out loud and proud for your wiener?




*Please note that in this case, Magnum refers to an ice cream bar, not a prophylactic device for large weenies. We're dirty, but we're not that dirty.

The Simple Joys in the Meal of Life

Hahaha! I know, I know. That title is a clunker. Apologies.

Seriously, though, I was just snacking on a bowl of instant noodle soup that really hit the spot and it struck me - no matter what other options you have available, sometimes you just want that damn bowl of instant ramen. Even after a "famous," "gourmet" burger dinner, the ramen was somehow just what I needed.

Slurpin'

...On that train of thought, the "simple" slushie treat I had today from the Kelvin Natural Slush Co. truck really hit the spot, too. Natural, grown-up flavored slush? Yes, please! I wish that there were more Kelvin trucks around. (Ahem! Queens!) My ginger slush with white peach puree mixed in was far more refreshing and satisfying than the milkshake I had with dinner. Kelvin may have convinced me that slush should be my summer treat of choice. [However, to be fair to the shakes of the world, I have to admit that I didn't think that the milkshake in question was a good representative of milkshake-kind as a whole. It was too thin and was not cold enough.]

Hey, it took a lot of frozen treat fuel to score a shot like this, okay!?

And no, your eyes did not deceive you. I did have both a milkshake and a slush in the same evening.

That's how I roll.


But don't worry, I waddled off all the calories on the Highline. Plus, I shared with BF.

F Words Are Fun Words: Fish, Fiestas, Friends, Food

Fish

My girl and purveyor of wisdom, Trish J, was sweet enough to mention me in her latest food-themed post! Her mouthwatering pictures really got me hankering for some good fish (being the good little penguin I am). Then, I realized I've been meaning to blabber about some recent seafood meals anyway. You read my mind, Trish.


Last Friday, I finally had the pleasure of dining at Astoria seafood staple Taverna Kyclades, courtesy of my Auntie. Scratch another item off of my culinary to-do list! After passing the perpetually poppin' restaurant literally twice a day for four years of my life and also hearing tons of good things, my expectations were high.

I have to say, the food didn't disappoint. Everything was plentiful, super fresh, delicious and no-frills. Their simple preparations really let the quality of the fish shine through. I had grilled calamari and stole chunks of red snapper, broiled sole and stuffed sole from my meal mates. Yum! Plus, we happened to be fortunate enough to dine curbside on a beautiful evening. Seafood is one food that I especially associate with warm weather - I think outdoor dining and grilled seafood were meant to be. I wish there were more neighborhood seafood places of this caliber...

Is it me or is an affordable, quality seafood experience a rarity in New York? Having spent many summer vacations along the New England coast, I find myself longing for the abundant seafood shacks. Isn't it such a shame that a city whose establishment rested on the laurels of its harbor now has so few local sources for fish? The destructive powers of people are great, huh? I long for the day when we people find a way to keep up with our own destructiveness. Then, there will once again be healthy fisheries in New York's waterways and I can pig out!


Speaking of seafood and pigging out, that is just what I did with some Ethiopian shrimp tebsi this past Friday. Ethiopian cuisine is admittedly not something I'm very familiar with. In fact, this was only my second shot at it. So far, I've enjoyed it, but I can't say I'm exactly comfortable with some of the sour notes in the flavor profile yet. It's growing on me, though.

The communal manner in which the food is served on a giant platter is pretty fabulous. I know that's a bit of culture shock for many of us westerners. Unlike my friend, the aforementioned Trish J (who is a bit of a germophobe), I didn't have much trouble adjusting to eating with my hands off of one big plate. A communal plate seems natural if you're with loved ones and perfect for building bonds over the meal. Not to mention fewer dishes! Amen!


Fiestas

I know this isn't a new revelation, but I must say it just isn't a party without some kind of good food.

Celebrating my friend's birthday (with the Ethiopian food) and attending a Yelp Elite Event this past week have really brought that point home to me. While the very casual dinner we had wasn't really a "party," good food and good company meant a great time. On the other hand, the lounge opening I attended suffered quite a bit because there wasn't a lot of good food - portions were small and quality mediocre. The event could have been epic with more munchies.

Promoters and planners take note. Dancing up a storm does require fuel, after all!


Friends

(Sorry if this is starting to sound like Sesame Street.) Rounding out my "f" themed post, I have to shout out my friends and all friends the world over! Good company really does enhance a meal like no fine wine or exotic spice ever could.

Fighting the Furnace

Whew. I have been going through boxes of Magnums like whoa! (Get your mind out of the gutter! Not those Magnums - I'm talking delicious Italian ice cream bars, y'all.)

On Weiner & Wieners

So has all this Weiner's teenie weenie talk gotten anyone one else all hot and bothered?

For a hot dog, that is? I could definitely go for a nice grilled one right about now. It's a shame city living makes it so hard to grill.

I've found myself wondering if anyone out there in the wide world of wieners is already capitalizing somehow on the trials and tribulations of the hapless congressman. Will Crif Dogs come out with "The Anthony" or something? I totally would if I were in the sausage biz.

"Sausage Party" - courtesy of Natalie Dee

Maybe the Weiner himself will open a sausage joint if his political career can't be salvaged?

Cupcakes of Terror?

NYMag: MI6 Hackers Replace Bomb Recipe With Cupcake Recipe in Al Qaeda Magazine

Take that, evildoers! Buttercream-bombs away!!!

...Man, there are so many directions to go with this one. A few:

• Well, guess I'm not the only one who thinks cupcakes are da bomb! (Ha ha ha.)

•  Isn't it awesome that cupcakes are an actual, effective anti-terror tool?!

• I always knew cake was the way to achieve world peace.

• I'm pretty sure that we don't have to worry about any terrorist who would go ahead and follow the "bomb" recipe after taking a gander at the ingredients.

• So, is my 2am baking habit going to be considered "suspicious activity" now?

Just starting a batch of cupcakes. Yes, at 2am. But don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds - they're for a friend's birthday...

Mmm...buttery, hand-beaten birthday batter. I know you wish you were my friend right now.

Food That Teases: Hors d'oeuvres, High Prices and Hype

Whew! Food-wise it's been a busy week. I've had the opportunity to scratch a few items off of my culinary to-do list.

Patio @ Cavo

Last Tuesday, BF and I were treated to a free evening of cocktails and Greek tidbits (courtesy of the Queens Yelp Elite Event) at Cavo in Astoria. It was my first Yelp Elite Event and I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by how nice the venue and entire evening were. Food and drink can take all the awkwardness out of lounging with strangers, especially booze and passed hors d'oeuvres.

Crowd @ C

Small bites always seem more tantalizing, in my opinion. They leave you wanting more! I got to nibble on some tender fried calamari, a skewer of chicken souvlaki, a crab cake, pita triangles with yogurt and quite a few meatballs.

Calamari, Souvlaki & Pita

This may sound ridiculous, but in my 25 years of life I don't think I've ever technically had chicken souvlaki before that evening. Yes, I've had chicken kebabs and beef souvlaki, but never chicken souvlaki. Just goes to show that I've got a lot of eating left to do as I discussed last post.

Also, I found out that watching bellydancers is quite good for one's appetite. Maybe it's all that attention on the stomachs?



Memorial Day was spent with two of my oldest, dearest friends waddling around that other NYC borough. You know the one. Anyway, after joyriding on the Staten Island ferry to catch a breeze and a view, we found ourselves at Eataly and later Shake Shack.

Oh Eataly, you hurt so good. It was painful how many things looked delicious. I can't believe it took me this long to make it there and am equally incredulous that I controlled myself and didn't walk out with any purchases. Probably my church-mouse status was a contributing factor.

I really wanted that $12 bottle of sciroppo di latte di mandorle (almond milk syrup) so I could reminisce about my Rome adventures. And the package of prosciutto, the ball of fresh mozz, the squid's ink spaghetti, the jar of crema di pistacchi e cioccolato, the absolutely flawless petite eggplants... Sigh.

Ultimately, we left with hungry tummies after determining it would be too expensive to get our proper fill at those gourmet prices. Thus, we crossed the street for some Memorial Day appropriate burgers 'n shakes instead of splurging on the paste, salumi e vino that were teasing us.

After hearing all kinds of "Shake Shack is the messiah" buzz, I was naturally eager to see what was what. It was certainly an experience. That line is no joke, but good company made it tolerable. We had to endure yet more teasing as we waited and contemplated. I loved their idea of a deep-fried, cheesey portobello mushroom on top of a burger, though I think it could be executed better than it was. Great idea, decent reality. The hype was not completely justified. Especially in the shake department. I've had way better shakes at many other places. I like mine very thick. Theirs was sweet and didn't hold up - turned liquidy quickly. A thin shake is pointless! You could just drink melted ice cream instead.

I wonder how places such as Shake Shack achieve messiah status? How do they get so insanely popular that people are willing to wait an hour for only moderately interesting food? Fascinating! Is it only possible in a big city like NY or does this phenomenon occur in small towns, too?

In any case, watching the queue was very entertaining. It always seemed to remain approximately the same length until nearly closing time. My friends and I couldn't help wondering if they try to keep the line long by slowing down if it gets shorter. I certainly noticed that the pace at which we moved when in line was not constant. We would sometimes move a lot at once and then not move a step for ages. Do you think an establishment would stoop so low to create hype? I'm cynical, so I think it's a definite possibility. Hey, bars and clubs do it so why not, right? But don't take my word for it - I don't want to be blamed for starting culinary conspiracy theories!

What's your favorite taste that teases?

Hmm... so I didn't even end up having a pre-rapture dessert after my pre-rapture dinner on Friday. Shame on me! I could have died without a last embrace of chocolate on my lips. I did have a nice sushi dinner with my main squeeze, at least.

What a morbid subject, but it really is fascinating to try and decide what my last meal would be. I think I'd die before I could decide. I'm terribly indecisive. This may sound really jaded, but I don't even know if I've yet eaten anything "worthy" of being my last meal. I'm not hesitant or scared of dying, I don't feel my life has been boring or that I haven't experienced enough. However, when it comes down to the idea of having to eat only one more meal I start to feel my life hasn't truly begun. Weird, huh? I suppose it's all in the details. If we look at any dish too closely then it seems it could use another dash of salt or pepper, right?

Today, post-rapture, I've been a busy culinary beaver. I cooked up some pasta topped with chicken sausages and a plum tomato sauce for dinner. Then, I steamed some chorizo tamales for mañana. Been on a real Mexican comfort food jaunt recently.

What cuisine are you into at the moment?

Last full day on earth? What the eff to eat for dinner!? Too many choices. I think I'd go for something light(ish) and leave plenty of space for dessert. You?

Getting to know me

I'm sure you couldn't really care less about me if you're just stumbling into my fledgling project. Still, if you're going to be reading I suppose it's only fair that you know a little of my background and motivation. Let's set the stage, then.

Hello, world!

I recently got a (fairly useless in the "real world") grad school degree and am now back home with mom in good 'ol Queens, NY. Like a lot of other people my age I find that I don't quite know in which direction to next aim myself.

Meanwhile, I've been left with a fair amount of free time when I'm not involved with my ailing grandmother. Other than sleep, that free time has been filled largely with food - cooking, baking, grocery shopping, eating out, ordering in, Yelping, playing Restaurant Story, etc. No, that's probably not "healthy." I know.

CHOMP!

However, I've always liked to cook and eat. I've always liked making things, arts and crafts. I've always liked to write. It's only natural that I'd eventually turn to writing about food and creativity.

People in my life keep telling me to "do something with food." This is my answer to them. This is how I hope to find out if that's remotely the right direction for me. Thinking about food actively every day - can I do it and will I enjoy doing it?

So maybe this blog is somehow going to help me "find myself" in some way. Hahaha. Probably not! Honestly, I can't really tell you what exactly I'm going to blog about. I'm not sure. I can tell you it's certainly not going to be a blog about fine dining or whatever. Too broke! And of course Manhattan may appear, but it won't dominate. Because I'm 100% Queens, thanks. It's also not going to be heavy on detailed recipes. I'm more of a make-it-up-on-the-fly cook (and if you can get recipes from the likes of Jacques and Julia you really needn't rely on me).

Well, as far as I'm concerned, if it's about food how bad could it really be? ; )

Hello World!

Let the record show, if this blog ends up well (in other words with it's author rich and famous), then I have my lovely gentleman friend and Yelp to thank...

You see, after BF noticed that my reviews were featured for a couple of weeks straight in the Yelp newsletter, he joked that I should be some sort of critic. This blog is my reaction. So if it turns out that this sucks down the road, you can blame him.

I've "blogged" before, but only angsty personal stuff as a wee high-schooler. Since I'm no longer a silly school girl, I'm going to try to focus this blog loosely on food and "lifestyle" posts. I'll try and keep weepy, love-sick drama to a minimum. Except maybe when it comes to sweets and potatoes. ...Mmmm. (Okay, okay! Yes, I am still silly, but I'm not lying about being done with school!)

Here goes nuffin' y'all...