{Easy Entertaining} Food Brought to You By the Color Black

Aren't these tomatoes spooky? With Halloween coming up, I thought it would be fun to find dark foods that I could incorporate into a Halloween-themed dinner.  I found these Kumato tomatoes at Trader Joe's and loved their brownish-green skin.  These tomatoes are sweeter than regular tomatoes and would make a dramatic caprese salad, especially paired with purple basil.

These Black Radishes were found at my local farmers market.  They have an incredibly strong/hot taste, which can be tempered with a bit of salt. 

By heading to Chinatown, I can usually find plenty of "spooky" foods.  Growing up, I usually saw these 1000 year old eggs at my grandmother's house during special occasions like Chinese New Year.  These duck eggs have been preserved (not for a thousand years, but for a few weeks or months) in a mixture of including rice husks.  They can be served as a side dish with ginger or in congee (Chinese rice porridge).

These preserved egg look like lumps of coal.  They can be left out as decoration - inside is an egg with a dark orange, almost red, yolk.  It's salty so my parents used to add them to congee or soup.

I finally had a chance to cook up the squid ink pasta my friend sent me from Italy.  The pasta is black due to the squid ink and tastes like the sea.  I would serve it with scallops (or any other seafood).

Finally, for dessert, I thought of grass jelly - another item found in Chinatown.  It's made out of plants that are in the mint family and added with starch to make it gelatinous.  They're slightly bitter, so the grass jelly can be served with simple syrup, evaporated milk, or canned fruit (like lychee) with syrup.

And you can match your Halloween spread with this apron!  (Only $17.50 when you use code mommy50PCT for 50% off)

Reminder:  Have you entered our CSN Stores $55 giveaway?  The contest ends this Halloween!

Xi'an Famous Foods in NYC

What we love about Chinese cuisine is its diversity.  Though there's a plethora of Cantonese food in the city, we can also enjoy Sichuan's spicy foods and Hunan's fiery foods.  And this past weekend, we went with a couple of friends to Xi'an Famous Foods to try Xi'an food for the first time.

Xi'an is the capital of China's Shaanxi province and contains a minority Muslim population.  We could taste the Muslim influence through many of the cumin lamb dishes.  The new East Village location of Xi'an Famous Foods is a tight space (with seating for 12, it's more like a take-out spot).  But with deep, spicy flavors and dirt-cheap prices (we were stuffed after spending $10/person), Xi'an Famous Foods is worth the visit.

Though the space is small, we could easily find this place.  Look for the small crowd forming outside and the celebrity photos (Anthony Bourdain, Kelly Choi) and reviews plastered on the window, and you'll find Xi'an Famous Foods.

While waiting in line (there was a 10 person line on Sat at 7pm), we scanned the menu for dishes we could order and share.

With all of our spicy foods, the Sweetened Sour Hawberry Tea ($1.50) was a hit.  Hawberries are red berries with a bitter, sour, and sweet taste.  Though they reminded me of Chinese medicinal remedies (from my childhood), I like this tea because the flavor was subtle.

We all liked the Savory Cumin Lamb burger ($2.50) and the Stewed Pork Burger ($2).  I preferred the savory cumin lamb burger for its flavor (love cumin!) and texture (it's basically cumin ground lamb versus a patty).  I found the pork burger really greasy, messy, and fatty (of course, it's the fat that makes it tasty).

Special Spinach Liang Pi Cold Skin Noodles ($5.50):  We didn't find that much difference (beyond the color) between this dish and the following, non-spinach noodle dish.  Maybe it was because the "cold skin" (which isn't actually skin, but more like wheat sponges) was the star, being soaked in a flavorful, spicy broth that starts out tasty in your mouth, then you eventually feel the heat.

Liang Pi Cold Skin noodles ($4.50):  The noodles are thick and made of wheat flour. They have a silky, chewy feel to them.  And with the bean sprouts and cilantro, the dish has spicy, but almost a refreshing flavor too.

Spicy and Tingly Lamb Face Salad ($9.75):  Interesting was the operative word on this dish.  We ordered 2 plates of this dish (but ended taking one home).  The first time we had it (at the restaurant), it was not spicy.  There was more heat to the version we brought back home.  The salad part was crunchy and bright.  The "lamb face" part is composed of soft tendons and muscles that were spongy and easy to chew.   

Savory Cumin Lamb Hand-Pulled Noodles ($6):  We all loved this dish (again, the cumin and lamb combo drew us in).  The hand-pulled noodles (as we've had before) were very long, wide and thin (like ribbons).  With the bean sprouts, scallions, lamb meat, cumin, chili oil, etc, this was a very addictive dish.

Unfortunately, they were all out of the Lamb Spine dish ($5.50), so we'll have to return to try it out.  If you thought you knew Chinese food and like spicy foods, try something different and check this place out! The new Xi'an Famous Foods is located at 81 St. Mark's Place (btwn 1st and 2nd Aves) in NYC.

Food Brings the World Together: China, Portugal, and US Virgin Islands

After traveling for the month of June, it was nice to come home to a few lovely care packages in the mail.  There was a box from Portugal, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and while visiting my brother in Toronto, he gave us products from his recent trip to China.  Faithful readers of our site know that we love finding out what foodies eat around the world.  We have been lucky to exchange care packages with foodies from Australia, Italy, France, Britain, Montreal, and Arizona.  Our new packages were much anticipated because we have yet to visit China, Portugal, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  So we eagerly opened up the goods to see what sorts of treasures we got.

In addition to the mascots from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, my brother brought us Lay's potato chips in three flavors:  Breezy Blueberry, Black Pepper Rib Eye Steak, and Revitalizing Kiwi. They all smelled like their flavors but tasted very artificial (as expected, I guess).  He also brought back some pricey teas that tasted like seaweed, but was refreshing and acted as a good digestive.

Lovely Viz from the blog, Desperate Houseviz, unfortunately had to re-send her food package to me due to mail issues (I bet it was that volcano ash from Iceland!)  I'm so happy I was able to receive it this time because she sent me a myriad of wonderful items.  (I also loved the stamps!)  We received (1) a can of white fish marinated with garlic, (2) sardines, (3) shell-fish paste, (4) dried tomatoes (from Spain), (5) orange pekoe tea, (6) garlic salt, and (7) fresh oregano.

Lastly, we won this tropical package from Dave's website, My Year on the Grill.  Normally Dave writes about grilling in Kansas, but earlier this year, he and his wife temporarily moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Suffice it to say, they're living the dream!  So from one island to another (Manhattan), we got a taste of the tropics with a rum variety pack, tropical recipes playing cards, and Caribbean rum truffles.

We are also looking forward to using the spice sampler of Voodou Blackening, Island creole, Pirate's pepper, St. John jerk spice, and Cruz bay grill rub.

Thanks to my brother, Viz, and Dave for these great food packages!

(Dining Out} Favorite restaurants on the UWS

Liver, Eggplant rolls, Quattro pizza, and Halibut at Celeste

We've finally moved! It's been awhile since our last post due to all of the apartment hunting, packing, storing, moving, and unpacking but we're finally done! But before leaving my beloved UWS (home for the past 7 years), we ventured to all of our favorite neighborhood spots for one last meal.

Though Per Se, Dovetail, and Telepan were all elegant, fantastic meals, when it comes to "last meals", we delved into comfort foods (and consequently, much more affordable restaurants).  Our first dinner spot was Celeste, a perennial favorite. This cozy little cash-only Italian is the place I would take out-of-town guests staying with us, fatigued from their flights but eager to dine out in NYC, for one of their first meals.  The menu doesn't change a whole lot, but the prices are good and the food has always been satisfying. 

My favorite dessert at Celeste: Limoncello Tartufo

Our dishes of choice at Celeste? As seen from the photos above, we love the:

• Involtini Di Melanzane ($8.50): Eggplant rolls stuffed with prosciutto and pecorino cheese baked with tomato sauce
• Fegatini Di Pollo ($7): Sauteed chicken livers deglazed with balsamic vinegar on toasted bread
• Quattro Stagioni ($12): Prosciutto, mushrooms, tomato, artichokes, and mozzarella pizza
• Ippoglosso Al Limone ($15): Halibut sauteed with lemon and capers sauteed spinach & roasted potatoes
• Tartufo al Limoncello ($6): Lemon gelato surrounding a creamy, limoncello center  

And yes, we took home all of the leftovers to enjoy while continuing to pack!

Shack Burger and Shack-cago Dog with Fries

No UWS neighborhood restaurant compilation would be complete without our favorite burger joint Shake Shack. We've eaten almost everything on the menu and really, you can't go wrong with a Shack Burger with everything, Shack-cago Dog, Shroom Burger, or all out with the Shack Stack. My favorite tip though has to be:

• Go to the C-line (it's for beverages and dessert orders only, so it's quicker and shorter than the regular line) and ask for Yesterday's Pint. For $4, you can take home (or indulge at the restaurant) a pint of the previous day's Frozen Custard flavor. Since a small cup of today's flavor will run you $3.50, the pint is such a great deal!

Kale salad, Mushroom Panini, Dumplings, Egg-and-dairy-free Chocolate Chip Cookie

When I want a reprieve from greasy, meaty foods, I head to Peacefood Cafe, a nearby vegan spot. It's less expensive than Cafe Blossom (another tasty vegan place) and the food's pretty good (i.e. carnivore Jeff's willing to dine with me here).  What were our picks?

• Kale Salad ($13.50): kale leaves, diced seasoned tofu, tempeh bacon, pumpkin seeds and raisins tossed with dressing
• Pan-seared French horn mushroom Panini ($11.95): with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, artichoke aioli, mint & basil pesto
• Pan-seared Shanghai-style dumplings ($7.95):  homemade dumplings filled with chinese chives,
  shitake & wood ear mushrooms, marinated tofu and vegetarian protein, served with a ginger balsamic
  dipping sauce. Granted, these weren't the best dumplings we've ever had and the wrapper was a tad too thick for our taste, but for a vegan variation, the filling was very hearty and filled with umami
• Chickpea fries ($7.95): Though we were too full for these fries, I've had them before and definitely recommend them. With a hint of indian spices, they're served with a house dipping sauce.
• Chocolate Chip cookie ($1.35 ea): All desserts are baked in their kitchen without dairy, egg, or refined sugar. Though they have a gluten-free version, we went with the cookies made with spelt flour. It's the perfect sweet ending to our refreshing meal.

Peruvian-Chinese food. Before I moved to NYC, I never knew this cuisine existed. It makes sense though considering there is a Chinese population in Latin America. And it makes for a delicious combination. And when it comes to good value and satisfying meals, Flor de Mayo is the casual spot we've taken our visiting families.

• Dish of choice: Peruvian roast chicken or Pollo a la Brasa ($11.75) with Cilantro rice substituted as the side. It's juicy and full of flavor. This dish is more than enough for 2-3 people to share - which makes it a great deal at under $12.

Brunch and Barney Greengrass

One of the benefits of moving is that you finally make time to check out the nearby places you've always meant to try but never did. Though I had been to historic Barney Greengrass before, Jeff strangely had not.  If you know my husband's traditional tastes - Russ & Daughters being one of his favorite spots - you know that he enjoys classic, old-school dishes. What did we enjoy for a very savory brunch at Barney Greengrass?

• Combination of Sturgeon and Nova Scotia Salmon Scrambled with Eggs & Onions ($19.75) with a Bialy (a cross between a bagel and an English muffin)
• Sturgeon on Rye ($19.25) with capers (though you will be charged for any extras on the fish)
• Herring Salad and Whitefish Salad to go - both were stellar. Jeff even thought that the whitefish salad was on par with his favorite version from Russ & Daughters

Kefi salad, Sheep's milk dumplings, Meatballs

From its prior tiny 79th street location through to its move to Columbus Ave, Greek restaurant Kefi has been a part of our UWS experience ever since I first moved to the neighborhood from Toronto 7 years ago. Though the menu has changed (both the moussaka and the original sweetbread recipe has sadly been removed from the new menu), there are still a few favorites left that we keep ordering over and over again;

• Kefi Salad ($6.75): Shredded Lettuce & Fennel, Tomato, Cucumber, Olives, Peppers, Onions, Feta. Despite replicating a similar tasty salad at home, I will still order this bright, crisp, refreshing salad whenever we return.
• Sheep Milk Ravioli ($9.95): with Brown Butter and Sage
• Meatballs ($6.95): with Roasted Garlic, Olives, and Tomato
• Grilled Octopus with White Bean Salad ($9.95): We both prefer the meatiness of grilled octopus over fried calamari any day
• For pasta dishes, we've previously also enjoyed the Flat Pasta with Pulled Braised Rabbit and Graviera Cheese ($12.95) as well as the Shrimp Orzo ($14.95) with  Spinach, Tomato, Feta
• Our friends always seem to opt for the Chicken Souvlaki ($12.50) with Tzatziki and Pita Bread which comes with a small Kefi salad and house-made chips.

The last place we should mention is Jeff's neighborhood bar - George Keeley's. With great craft beers always on tap, friendly staff, free popcorn, and a darn-good Frikadelle burger (that I love having with an added runny egg on top), I think this spot is the one Jeff will miss the most!

We love the Upper West Side and with friends still living in the area, will likely return to visit our old favorite neighborhood spots. We're eager to check out what downtown Manhattan has to offer, so please leave us any recommendations in the comments below!

{Dining Out} SHO Shaun Hergatt $33 Lunch Deal

Have you ever wanted to dine like a Wall Street executive but wished you had their expense account? After hearing about SHO Shaun Hergatt's lunch prix fixe meal special (appetizer and entree $27, 3-course including dessert $33), we were excited to dine in style at only a fraction of the cost.  The interior and atmosphere is sleek and austere, but the food and service is warm and decadent.

The formative wine cellar fortress was the apple of my husband's eye while I loved the design of the double espresso shot glass.

In addition to the prix fixe meal, you can also order the "Endless" wines by the glass deal.  For an extra $10, you can choose between a refillable glass of red or white wine. The white wine option was a Muscadet (a French white wine) Guindon '08, Coteaux de la Loire sur Lie. My husband opted for the red wine option - a Saumur-Champigny, '05, Thierry Germain, Loire Valley. Over the course of the lunch, he was able to have 3-4 glasses of the pretty, food-friendly Cabernet Franc (13% ABV) - a steal at only $10. Meanwhile, I was enjoying the multi-grain bread with hummus.

Appetizer course:  Shavings of Iberico Ham with young mache and quail eggs. The usually pricey and formerly illegal Iberico ham was why we ordered this dish.  (Iberico ham was also illegal in the U.S. until July 2007 when a Spanish slaughterhouse had won USDA approval).  This delicate, salty, melt-in-your mouth was so good it should be illegal (but we're glad it's not!).

Appetizer course: Green Asparagus Spears with crushed hazelnuts and green asparagus sorbet. We loved this fresh dish with tons of crunchy hazelnuts, cool asparagus sorbet, salty shaved Parmesan cheese discs, and thick but tender asparagus.

Entree: Char Siu Pork with pickled apple, scallion soubise, micro cilantro. This dish is an elegant take on a traditional Chinese dish. It brought back memories of the tasty and fatty pork dish that my grandmother would make for family get-togethers.  The pork belly is slow-cooked with a variety of spices and seasonings making it tender and flavorful. I loved how this dish came served with crispy rice (our favorite part of cooking rice in a rice cooker or hot stone pot).

Entree: Crispy Skin Salmon with fiddleheads, favas, arugula puree. We ordered this dish because fiddleheads (those pretty curled vegetables), though rich in nutrients, need to be properly prepared and cooked in order to remove bitterness and toxins.  Overall, this dish is light and very appropriate for Spring.

Petit Fours:  The round Pink champagne truffle was milky and the apricot fruit jelly was sweet and fruity.

Dessert: Caramello Chocolate biscuit, crunchy toffee ice cream.  Decadent, sweet, and sinfully good - this dessert is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Dessert: Australian Pavlova passion fruit, jackfruit sorbet. The meringue Pavlova was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. I especially loved the beautiful fruit flavors from the thinly sliced strawberries, passion fruit, and jackfruit sorbet.  It tasted like Summer.

If you find yourself in the Financial District - perhaps after taking out-of-towners to Wall Street or the Statue of Liberty - treat yourself to an elegant lunch at SHO Shaun Hergatt.

{Easy Recipes} Chinese New Year Baked Red Bean Sticky Cake (Nian Gao)

Chinese New Year was on Feb 3rd and we were lucky that the celebration continued for us.  Yesterday, lovely food bloggers Jackie and Ken hosted a Chinese New Year pot luck (if you follow us on Twitter, you saw the #CNYPL tweets detailing the event).  From pot stickers to red cooked pork to banh mi (with homemade pate!), there was an abundance of Asian dishes that left no one hungry. 

  

Being nostalgic for food my mom and grandmother make, I decided to make Baked Nian Gao, or Chinese Sticky Cake.  The cake has a texture similar to mochi.  My grandmother would make a traditional steamed version for family gatherings (Kian from Red Cook has a great recipe and includes a good explanation as to why it's part of New Year celebrations), while my mom makes one that is baked.  My recipe is based on my mom's baked version (it's easier than the steamed version), but I add red bean paste and incorporate Chinese brown sugar (which my grandmother uses in her version).

(To print or download the complete recipe, click here)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Heat the water on the stovetop (medium-high heat) in a small pot. Add the Chinese brown sugar bars to it.  Reduce the heat, then stir and melt the brown sugar.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour and the butter. Add the melted sugar (it will help melt the butter). Mix together, ensuring that there are no lumps in the mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together.
5. Once the flour mixture is cooled (so that the eggs aren’t “cooked” by the hot sugar), add the milk and eggs mixture.
6. Lightly spray a 9-inch square pan with the canola oil spray. Add half of the batter into the pan.
7. Spoon the red bean paste onto the batter.
8. Add the rest of the batter to cover the red bean.
9. Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes, or until the cake is done. (Test the center with a chopstick or fork. If it comes out clean, it’s done)
10. Cool, serve, and enjoy!
(To print or download the complete recipe, click here)

I love the browned edges so much that I may have to get this brownie pan just to make my next batch of Sticky Cake!

For the pot luck lunch, I cut the cake into smaller squares and placed them in individual baking cups.

And of course, I couldn't end this post without photos from the pot luck lunch itself!

For even more photos, click here to check out this slideshow by @urbanblitz