Fried Jalapenos and Zucchini

I had some fresh vegetables from my garden (an eggplant, some zucchini, and some jalapenos) and was trying to think of new ways to eat them. I made a pasta with zucchini, eggplant, garlic, bacon, and tomatoes, but I wanted to try a new an hors d'oeuvres as well. I sliced the smallest zucchini into very thin discs with a mandolin, tossed them with flower, and quickly shallow fried them. I then did the same thing with a few jalapenos. So good! I don't know why this isn't a regular bar option. The fried jalapenos were so tasty - they were spicy, but not overwhelmingly so, and had a great crunch. Mixed with the little zucchini discs (which were crispy and a little sweet) it made such an amazing snack. I definitely want to make this next time I have people over. Also, it's so cheap! A couple zucchini and a couple of jalapenos will cost like $2 tops. Can't wait to make it again!

Ingredients:
One (or more) small and firm zucchini, sliced into very thin rounds
2 (or more) jalapenos, sliced into very thin rounds

Lamb Kofte with Yogurt Sauce and Muhammara

I wanted to make a healthy dinner as Jamie and I have been going out a lot lately (baseball games, concerts, etc). I can't complain, because we had an awesome weekend/week, but I wanted some veggies. I searched Epicurious for a healthy main course and this came up. Not so heavy on veggies, but I served it with a Greek salad at the end. It was super tasty and not too difficult. A little more labor intensive than a regular week night meal, but all in all it took about an hour, so not bad. And it was delicious! (So were the leftovers I had for lunch.) The yogurt sauce is mild, but a nice, cool accompaniment. I like the way the tahini makes the yogurt thicker and more earthy. The muhammara (first time making it) was really tasty. I'll probably add more red pepper flakes next time. And I would probably roast my own peppers - the jarred peppers make it a little acidic. Also, it made me buy pomegranate molasses which I can't wait to experiment with. It taste like a sour candy, and I love sour candies! I want to make drinks with it. More on that later! Here's the recipe for these tasty kofte and their delectable sauces.

Muhammara (from this recipe on Epicurious)

Salmon Carpaccio and Tomato Tarte Tatin

Yes, it sounds like an odd mix, and kind of was, but both were super tasty (next time I'll use two different plates and just suck it up and wash two extra dishes). The nice thing about them is they both bring out fresh summery flavors but you can make them in the winter. The carpaccio recipe I found in the New York Times, and I'd seen tomato tarte tatin recipes and researched a few before landing on this New York Times recipe. The carpaccio was so fresh and the lemon zest and chives perfectly balanced out the richness of the fish. The tomato tarte was flavorful and rich and also looks so pretty with different colored tomatoes! I got these red and yellow grape tomatoes at the farmers market, but Trader Joe's also has great colorful grape and cherry tomato packs. Both dishes aren't terribly hard, but are impressive - good for a special at home date. Especially the individual tarte tatins.


Salmon Carpaccio (for 2)
Ingredients:
8 ounces salmon, preferably wild (if you can't find wild, I try to get the deepest orange color of the other options)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing

Mary's Fish Camp

I'd heard Mary's Fish Camp had the best lobster roll in the city, and now I think I can confirm it. I was never a huge lobster person - I would eat it, but never go out of my way. That has changed this summer and I've become a lobster fiend. This lobster roll looked a little mayonnaise-heavy so I was suspicious, but it was light and tasty and full of big chunks of lobster meat. The potato roll was buttery and soft and such a good accompaniment to the lobster. I highly recommend it. Also, we tried the fish tacos. They were pretty tasty, but the lobster roll was the star for sure.

Dim Sum at Chinatown Brasserie

I had a lovely dinner with my friend Kara last night at Chinatown Brasserie. I'd walked by the columned building on Great Jones a hundred times and always wanted to try it, then it came up on Savored so I booked right away. (If you book with Savored, you pay $10 for the reservation but then you get 30% off your meal.) The restaurant was huge! It seemed like a different era of New York restaurants because everything now is small and cozy. This was a big space with high ceilings and several different areas, a bar, a lounge, a downstairs with a big koi pond...

We felt very fancy in this big, grand spot. The menu is pretty big with lots of Chinese dishes, but we stuck to dim sum. We got beef satay with coconut curry sauce, roasted pork buns, pork and shrimp dumplings, and vegetable spring rolls. All very tasty! Also, about half way through, the waiter asked if we wanted chili sauce and brought over a really hot red oil and a chili paste. I love chili sauce, so this was a great addition. The sweet and fluffy pork buns were great with a few drops of red oil. Also, the dumplings came with the most delicious dipping sauce and there were these awesome roasted onions in it. The satay was caramelized and came with a healthy dose of cilantro, which Kara and I both love. The spring rolls were crispy and tasty. All great, and I love dim sum because you can try a bunch of different things.

Since it was a really warm September night, we ordered rosé to toast the end of summer. It was a really delicious rosé! Triennes. Of course, didn't get the year, but highly recommended!

And when the bill came, we saved $20. Not bad.

Hudson Clearwater

Now that we're all back in the city for the fall, it's time to enjoy the beautiful September weather. All summer I would hear, "Let's go out for drinks - where can we be outside?" I don't think the outdoor seating needs to end yet. A few weeks ago I went to Hudson Clearwater. This hidden spot (the very attractive owners have shunned PR, don't advertise, and have no signage) has the cutest outdoor patio and lots of tasty cocktails. The lights strung above and the ivy create such a fun, pretty atmosphere to escape the city. They have a full menu, although we only sampled a few appetizers (the spinach empenada was flaky and salty and the perfect thing to nibble on with cocktails).

This beautiful concoction was a beet margarita with jalapeno. It sounds odd, but was actually pretty good, and the most striking color! Bright magenta. The first sip seemed a little off, but the earthiness of the beet juice, the spice of the jalapeno, and the zing of the lime actually go together quite well. I also felt healthy having the beet juice (even though there was plenty of tequila as well). The dark and stormy (a personal drink favorite) was also tasty. Definitely a good spot to go - get there early because it fills up!

Hudson Clearwater
NW corner of Morton and Hudson, walk a few doors down on Morton and into the courtyard.

At my sister's request, I'm going to try to start putting up more restaurant review. Stay tuned!

Fatty Cue Style Ribs

After an amazing dinner at the new Fatty Cue in the West Village, I couldn't wait to have another savory and sweet rib. I tweeted about it the next day asking for a recipe and was directed here. I'd already bought some baby back ribs from Faicco's that morning, so I decided to adapt the recipe to baby backs. I had a trip to Kalustyan's for the more exotic ingredients. They were a big hit! So juicy and tender, and the meat really shines through, so make sure to get some meaty ribs. (If you live in Manhattan, it's worth a trip to Faicco's - their baby back ribs are the meatiest and juiciest I've ever had.) Don't be scared of all the fish sauce - you really don't notice it in the final product. It just gives the ribs a great umami flavor.

Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
2 racks of baby back ribs
2 cups fish sauce
6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 medium shallot, peeled and sliced
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup sugar