When I was a denizen of The City, I used to go to a Yemeni place run by Israelis called Rectangles. It had lots of tasty food, including malawach, which Jewish websites have recipes for.
Malawach, for the uninitiated, is a multilayered fried bread that is horrible for you in terms of fat, but is oh so tasty. It's served with stuff on top, like a focaccia, and a little dish of chopped tomatoes and zhug (I've heard it pronounced sort of like "z-hoog," but with more European-unpronounceable glottals) on the side.
Rectangles closed before I left law school, and I was very sad. But, as I search the blogs, it turns out that food blogger The Amateur Gourmet has found a new place for malawach, with pictures! It's an Israeli restaurant called Miriam, and it's in Park Slope, which is a little far for me to go for food that's not Peter Luger's (yes, I am one for whom the Island is my whole existence, like Ewan McGregor).
I am now hungry for malawach something crazy. I don't know where I can get it in DC.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Greek Food, CPK
This weekend, The Pedant and I had 2 very different meals, one much yummier than the other.
(Well, three meals that were tasty, but I won't go into the logistics of the first on Friday night. It was a pot luck dinner and TP and I brought yummy foods. He made a cucumber salad with an "Asian" dressing, again from the Cook's Illustrated Best Vegetable Cookbook, which went pretty fast. Everyone said it was yummy, and I am fussy and don't like cucumbers so I didn't try it. I made a cabbage, orange and fennel salad which was good but not fantastic. I one-and-a-halved the recipe because I was afraid one wouldn't be enough, but I think I added too much cabbage. It was still tasty, but maybe not to be made again.)
Saturday Night:
TP and I were dog sitting for my cousin and decided to take a break from the two cute, but yippy schnauzers and go for Greek food. My cousin recommended a place which was very tasty. It was designed to look like a little Greek village and the food was tasty, tasty.
They started us with a warm, crusty bread with some olive oil dipping that had a hint of lemon. We shared an appetizer - the Imam Baildi, an eggplant baked with tomato's, onions and pine nuts and it was perfectly baked. I had the Vegetarian sample platter, with a tasty triangle of spanikopita, 2 stuffed mushrooms, a stuffed grape leaf and rice and string beans. Well done. We shared the desserts for two: ice cream, a honey walnut cake (tasty!) and baklava, one of my favorite desserts that doesn't include chocolate.
Sunday Night:
For one of our friend's birthdays, at her request, we went to The Cheesecake Factory. I never understand the excitement of the place: yes, the portions are large and the cheesecake is the only consistently tasty option, but the wait is never needed. C'mon people, try tastier places. I got a portobello sandwich, which I usually get, which was fine. The mushroom was too tough, but I can always find fault in something there (the service was slow, too). TP and I shared a "Craig's Crazy Carrot Cake Cheesecake" which was an interesting cake, but needed more cream cheese frosting (as most things in life do).
I should say I do enjoy TCF, but it's never as good as I want it to be. I much prefer big chains like CPK and Bertucci's.
(Well, three meals that were tasty, but I won't go into the logistics of the first on Friday night. It was a pot luck dinner and TP and I brought yummy foods. He made a cucumber salad with an "Asian" dressing, again from the Cook's Illustrated Best Vegetable Cookbook, which went pretty fast. Everyone said it was yummy, and I am fussy and don't like cucumbers so I didn't try it. I made a cabbage, orange and fennel salad which was good but not fantastic. I one-and-a-halved the recipe because I was afraid one wouldn't be enough, but I think I added too much cabbage. It was still tasty, but maybe not to be made again.)
Saturday Night:
TP and I were dog sitting for my cousin and decided to take a break from the two cute, but yippy schnauzers and go for Greek food. My cousin recommended a place which was very tasty. It was designed to look like a little Greek village and the food was tasty, tasty.
They started us with a warm, crusty bread with some olive oil dipping that had a hint of lemon. We shared an appetizer - the Imam Baildi, an eggplant baked with tomato's, onions and pine nuts and it was perfectly baked. I had the Vegetarian sample platter, with a tasty triangle of spanikopita, 2 stuffed mushrooms, a stuffed grape leaf and rice and string beans. Well done. We shared the desserts for two: ice cream, a honey walnut cake (tasty!) and baklava, one of my favorite desserts that doesn't include chocolate.
Sunday Night:
For one of our friend's birthdays, at her request, we went to The Cheesecake Factory. I never understand the excitement of the place: yes, the portions are large and the cheesecake is the only consistently tasty option, but the wait is never needed. C'mon people, try tastier places. I got a portobello sandwich, which I usually get, which was fine. The mushroom was too tough, but I can always find fault in something there (the service was slow, too). TP and I shared a "Craig's Crazy Carrot Cake Cheesecake" which was an interesting cake, but needed more cream cheese frosting (as most things in life do).
I should say I do enjoy TCF, but it's never as good as I want it to be. I much prefer big chains like CPK and Bertucci's.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Magazine Madness!
The Sherbs and I got our first issue from our subscription to Vegetarian Times yesterday, and it was totally awesome.
Although it's full of a lot of pseudoscientific alternative crap (unlike Dr. Drew, their doctor advocates "cleansing fasts," despite basically saying in the article that the only benefit is psychological as a spur to get your diet in order; no other scientific benefits have been shown), the recipes look delicious. There's a whole article on tartine recipes ("tartine" is the French for "crunchy open faced sandwich," see an example from Food Network), plus soups that look awesome, such as the American Indian pecan soup.
Even the ads have tasty-looking recipes, including a ministrone recipe from a company that makes vegetable wash.
Although it's full of a lot of pseudoscientific alternative crap (unlike Dr. Drew, their doctor advocates "cleansing fasts," despite basically saying in the article that the only benefit is psychological as a spur to get your diet in order; no other scientific benefits have been shown), the recipes look delicious. There's a whole article on tartine recipes ("tartine" is the French for "crunchy open faced sandwich," see an example from Food Network), plus soups that look awesome, such as the American Indian pecan soup.
Even the ads have tasty-looking recipes, including a ministrone recipe from a company that makes vegetable wash.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Aubergine Victory!
Eggplant in miso glaze was a tasty success! The glaze was essentially Asian restaurant salad dressing without the ginger, and who hates that? Especially with sesame seeds!
I accompanied dinner with a pint of Black Sheep Brewery's Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale, which was like a less bitter Bass. Wasn't a perfect match for the eggplant, but it was a good ending beer for the day.
I accompanied dinner with a pint of Black Sheep Brewery's Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale, which was like a less bitter Bass. Wasn't a perfect match for the eggplant, but it was a good ending beer for the day.
Mid-Prep Blogging
I am blogging mid-cooking, waiting for my eggplant rounds (soon to become miso-glazed eggplant) to absorb the salt I sprinkled on them a while back; Cook's magazine's Best Vegetable Recipes cookbook says thirty minutes, so I'm in a lull. In the first part of the thirty, I chopped a scallion and prepared the miso sauce.
Evidently, the miso that the Teet sells comes in a cantankerous bottle. If you do anything like squeezing it, it bolts out of the bottle and sprays across the cabinets, the countertop, and your jeans. After a quick cleanup and wardrobe change, I finished the dressing, and now I am here, blogging to you.
Thirty minutes is almost up. Time to find the sesame seeds.
Evidently, the miso that the Teet sells comes in a cantankerous bottle. If you do anything like squeezing it, it bolts out of the bottle and sprays across the cabinets, the countertop, and your jeans. After a quick cleanup and wardrobe change, I finished the dressing, and now I am here, blogging to you.
Thirty minutes is almost up. Time to find the sesame seeds.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
On the political weblog The Huffington Post, a commenter satirically suggests that CNN will spice up its campaign coverage with a partnership with Food Network so that, no matter what is happening, there will be a picture-in-picture of tasty, tasty cakes.
I'd rather watch food pass by than the usual "baby rescued from well two weeks ago still piquing interest of Nancy Grace" crawl that CNN does.
I'd rather watch food pass by than the usual "baby rescued from well two weeks ago still piquing interest of Nancy Grace" crawl that CNN does.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
J'Suis Batman!
In short, I agree with The Pedant's assessments of both the Count of Monte Cristos and the Ethiopian food. I will elaborate and also comment on last nights dinner rather than working.
1) Counts of Monte Cristo
Although TP really got to the core of what we both thought of the movies (mostly Gerard Depardieu is batman and Jacabo said "bam bam bam bam bam"), I would stress that they each are just silly. I mean, even the French one with its elaborate scenery is still just Depardieu being batman.
2) Ethiopian Food
Near us, there is a block of restaurants where the Ethiopian place was located. (It was super tasty. TP got it right. And cheap! Under $20pp! And fun! I get to eat with my hands! Hooray!) We decided, except for the Subway, the main criteria is that all the cuisines must be from a peninsula. There are 2 Thai places, several Italian, the Ethiopian and Eritrean.
Speaking of countries, our new book purchase is AMAZING. So funny!
3) Dinner Last Night
I made, in the slow cooker, a Mushroom and Green Bean Strogonoff. It was:
--mushrooms browned in a bit of oil (added at the end)
--an onion and pepper sauteed and some flour added
--tomato paste
--"chicken" (from parve chickens) broth
--green beans
--paprika
--sour cream
You cook it all (minus the mushrooms and sour cream) in the crock pot and let the tastes mix together. You stir in the sour cream at the end and it gets all creamy and tasty. We had it over whole wheat spaghetti and not only was it healthy, it was amazingly delicious.
1) Counts of Monte Cristo
Although TP really got to the core of what we both thought of the movies (mostly Gerard Depardieu is batman and Jacabo said "bam bam bam bam bam"), I would stress that they each are just silly. I mean, even the French one with its elaborate scenery is still just Depardieu being batman.
2) Ethiopian Food
Near us, there is a block of restaurants where the Ethiopian place was located. (It was super tasty. TP got it right. And cheap! Under $20pp! And fun! I get to eat with my hands! Hooray!) We decided, except for the Subway, the main criteria is that all the cuisines must be from a peninsula. There are 2 Thai places, several Italian, the Ethiopian and Eritrean.
Speaking of countries, our new book purchase is AMAZING. So funny!
3) Dinner Last Night
I made, in the slow cooker, a Mushroom and Green Bean Strogonoff. It was:
--mushrooms browned in a bit of oil (added at the end)
--an onion and pepper sauteed and some flour added
--tomato paste
--"chicken" (from parve chickens) broth
--green beans
--paprika
--sour cream
You cook it all (minus the mushrooms and sour cream) in the crock pot and let the tastes mix together. You stir in the sour cream at the end and it gets all creamy and tasty. We had it over whole wheat spaghetti and not only was it healthy, it was amazingly delicious.
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