Best of 2010: Our Most Popular Recipes, Events, Restaurant Reviews, Parties, and Drinks

We can't believe how quickly this year has flown by!  Looking back over the posts, we've realized how lucky we've been to meet some of our idols (including Bobby Flay, Jamie Oliver, and Martha Stewart), eat fabulous meals, and travel to various parts of the country (Philly, DC, Maryland, Midwest, and San Fran) and beyond (Toronto).  But some of our most memorable moments aren't pictured - they're compiled in the lovely comments you make on the site or email to us.

To choose the "Best of 2010", we left the decision to our best judges:  our readers!  So we've compiled our most popular posts (based on page views) below.  Enjoy our look back at 2010! 

 

Most popular recipe: Oven-baked Panko and Coconut Shrimp

Runner-ups:  Summer Vegetable Gratin Inspired by Thomas Keller

 Maitake Mushrooms

Most Popular Sweet Treats post:  Macaron Tour of NYC
Runner Ups:  NYC Cookiefest
Strawberry, Lemon, and Mint popsicles

Most popular event:  Jamie Oliver event
Runner Ups:  Hester Street Fair: 1895 and Now
Le Fooding NYC vs SF

Most popular party:  Halloween Baby Shower
Runner Ups:  Yankees Birthday Party
Red and White Holiday Party

Most Popular Drink post: Beer Tour of Philly
Runner Ups: Happy Hour at DBGB
Wines and Beers for the Holiday

Most popular Restaurant review:  Flour + Water in SF
Runner Ups:  Mile End Brooklyn
Motorino NYC
Marea NYC

Most popular post:
Wine Corkboard

Happy Christmas Eve with Winter (and Christmas) Beers

It's cold outside and all we want to do is sit by the fireplace with our family and enjoy the holidays with a few good seasonal beers.

So, for the past few weeks, we have been trying a lot of Winter Warmers and Christmas beers from various breweries (for research purposes, of course!) to determine which brews we would like to share with our loved ones.

Here are some of our favorites...

Anchor Christmas Ale 2009:  We picked up a growler fill of this Winter Warmer beer made by Anchor Brewing in San Fransisco.  It has a nice spice (cinnamon and eggnog) and pairs well with both dinner and dessert.  It's a 'quaffable' Winter-style beer because of the low ABV (5%), compared to most winter beers, and the carbonation.  We have some bottles of the 2008 left at home to compare with the 2009 down the road to see how this ages.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale:  One of the best Belgian Christmas beers we've been able to find is this one from Corsendonk.  We had this on tap (which is rare) at Resto, in the Murray Hill area of Manhattan.  It seemed a little boozy at first, but as you keep drinking, the rich, deep fruit gets better and better with quite a long finish for a beer.  The bottles are widely available, so definitely treat yourself to a bottle of Coresendonk Christmas Ale at home.

The Bruery's 2 Turtle Doves: We found this special Belgian Dark-style holiday treat from California's The Bruery on pin cask at Mug's Ale House in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) at Mug's annual Belgian-style beer event.  It's definitely doesn't hold back at 12% as the alcohol is apparent on the nose.  It was a little sweet but we enjoyed it as it opened up in the snifter glass.  This high octane beer is brewed with cocoa nibs and pecans to give it a chocolate and nutty profile.  We know we'll enjoy our bottles at home as well (about $13 to $15 for a 750mL bottle).

Trader Joe's 2009 Vintage Ale:  Each year Trader Joe's puts out a vintage beer made by one of the best breweries in North America, Unibroue (Quebec).  This dark, malty and a touch sweet vintage beer is fermented on it's lees and is slightly carbonated (as evidenced by the cork enclosure).  But it is an easy ale to enjoy much like the Anchor holiday brew.  And the best part is its price - it's only about $5 for a 750mL bottle.  Cheers to that!

 If you are looking for a more readily available (and more affordable) alternative to the above, check out the 6-packs of the malty Winter Ale from Brooklyn Brewery and the Winter Lager from Samuel Adams.  They are stronger than their respective brewery's regular offerings and should be under $10 a 6-pack.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

{Wine Wednesday} Wines and Beers for the Holidays

With the Christmas holiday only a few days away and New Year's 8 days away (and my wife baking for the holiday table), I thought that I would share some wine and beer picks for your holiday celebrations.  My suggestions range from the affordable to "worth the splurge".

For reds, a best bet is usually Columbia Crest's Grande Estates and H3 line of wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and blends - all usually under $15. Also, from Washington State is the Eroica Riesling, a collaboration between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Germany's Ernst Loosen (around $20 to $25)

Other holiday wines to pick up, some of which have wide distribution in the U.S. include:

American Sparkling Wines (non-vintage):  Gruet (NM); Roederer (CA); Schramsberg (CA); Mumm (CA); and Chateau Ste. Michelle (WA)

American Whites:  Conundrum (from makers of Caymus); King Estate Pinot Gris (OR); Chardonnay from Neyers and Newton Red Label (both CA); Pacific Rim and Kung Fu Girl Riesling (WA)

California Reds:  Joseph Swan Pinot Noir; Copain Tous Ensemble Syrah and Pinot Noir (2007 or '08 vintage); Sean Minor Pinot Noir (the '09 might be out now); and Siduri Sonoma County Pinot Noir

European Reds:  Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Villages and Vinsobres (seek out Rhone reds from '07 and '09 - skip the thin 2008's) and look for deals on juicy Cru Beaujolais (please not Nouveau!) from the hyped 2009 vintage

Most breweries release a Winter or Holiday brew each year, ranging from spiced ales to heavy Belgian strong dark ales, or they release one of their flagship beers in December.  Some of our favorites each year include the Anchor Christmas Ale, the Vintage Ale from Trader Joe's (also a great value at $5) and the delicious Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery (we're still drinking bottles of last year's).  Even Samuel Adams has released Infinium, a Biere de Champagne, which we'll be drinking at New Year's (it's pricey at nearly $20 per bottle).  Last year, The Bruery released 2 Turtle Doves and this year's the brewer's holiday offering in their series is 3 French Hens (though we personally liked the stronger 2 Turtle Doves better). 

Other seasonal beers to try are the hoppy Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (great value for a specialty beer), Troeg's Mad Elf (fruity and boozy) and of course some hearty European brews:  St. Bernardus Christmas Ale and Mikkeller's Santa's Little Helper.  For desserts, try (with pie) the Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious (an American tripel aged in Laird's apple brandy barrels) and Dogfish Head Bitches Brew (an imperial stout brewed with raw honey and gesho root) as a dessert on its own.

If you need tips on where to find some of these wines or beers, feel free to email us and we can often point you in the right direction on where they may be available.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Happy Hanukkah with He'Brew, The Chosen Beer

With Hanukkah starting tonight for our Jewish friends, we wanted to post something to commemorate the start of their festive season.

Latkes and rugelachs, though tasty, are not our expertise.  What did we know?  Beer!  So when we came across He'Brew beer, we knew it would be perfect for today's post.

We picked up a bomber (22 oz bottle) of Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13th edition), which is made by Shmaltz Brewing Company in California.  Unlike prior editions which were more of a strong ale, this year's edition is their version of an Imperial (or American Double) Stout. 

The Jewbelation is definitely a beer to sit and enjoy with friends and family. It's made with 13 malts and 13 kinds of hops -- and tips the scales at 13% ABV. The first few sips go down quick, but like most Imperial Stouts, it's made for sipping to enjoy its complexities.  If you enjoy dark and strong beers, pick up a bottle to share over the holiday.

Some of the other He'Brew beers we thought were interesting are the Origin Pomegranate Ale (the fruit is surprisingly subtle) and the Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.  Most of the He'Brew beers should be on tap and in bottle for the holidays. 

To all of our Jewish friends and readers, Happy Hanukkah!  

{Travel Tuesday} Marlowe in San Francisco, CA

One of the reasons we like to dine out is to discover new dishes we could make at home.  Last month, we discovered the airiest Brussels Sprouts chips while we were in San Francisco.  We had trekked all the way over to the SoMa district from our hotel (30 mins walk) to grab a late lunch at this relatively new bistro, Marlowe.  Though located near the AT&T Ballpark, this bistro serves anything but your average ballpark fare.

Walking inside Marlowe, we found a small, but comfortable space with an industrial decor.  My husband ordered the locally brewed Trumer Pils (Berkeley), a German-style Pilsner that made for a refreshing afternoon drink.

Marlowe Burger with Brussels Sprouts chips ($12): My husband ordered this juicy, rare burger and quickly devoured it.  With caramelized onions, bacon, melted cheddar cheese, and horseradish aioli, this burger had a nice balance between spicy and salt.  The burger itself has 80/20 ground beef with some mild lamb mixed into it and it's held together by an Acme bun.

But what I loved about the dish was that the kitchen let us substitute the side of fries with Brussels Sprouts chips  These chips were wafer-thin and crispy.  To make them, the chef takes the outer layers of Brussels sprouts and fries them in rice oil.  The chips are finished off with sea salt and freshly-squeezed Meyer lemon juice.

Little Gem Salad ($8):  I ordered this colorful plate of various shaved radishes, pickled onion, and avocado laid on top of bibb lettuce and dressed with a light citrus vinaigrette.  Though too small for a complete entree, the salad was bright and light.

After the salad, I definitely had room for dessert.  Believe it or not, this dessert was their version of Pumpkin Whoopie Pie. The Pumpkin Whoopie in a Jar ($6) had a very strong bourbon ice cream, bourbon caramel, vanilla bean, pumpkin spice, and pecans.  As excited as I was for this dessert, the bourbon flavor was too overwhelming for me (I was hoping for more pumpkin and vanilla).  My husband, however, enjoyed it and emptied out the jar.

Marlowe is located at 330 Townsend St in San Francisco, CA.

What to Do in NYC This Weekend: Holiday Market Time, Beer/Wine Tastings, and a Few Holiday Gifting ideas

With the holidays fast approaching (we still cannot believe it's December already!), we bring you a couple of places to go (and a few gift ideas) for holiday shopping this weekend.  Whether you're looking for homemade gifts or liquid hostess gifts, we show you the Gifted from Brooklyn Flea in Manhattan, Union Square Holiday Market, and a few beer and wine events happening this weekend.

 

Though the Brooklyn Flea Gifted pop-up store has little food items, we did spot these ingredients that would be perfect for the homebrewer on your list.  Brooklyn Brew Shop sells a home brewing kit that features a glass gallon jug, a three-piece air lock, and an auto siphon for pouring the beer into bottles.  The kit also includes your choice of grain, yeast, hops and sugar in a variety of flavors ($40) so you can get started right away.

Other food items at the store (that were so good, they never had a chance to be photographed!) included beautiful mini cupcakes from Kumquat Cupcakes, sweet treats from Liddabit Sweets, spicy garlic pickles from McClure's Pickles.

The Gifted by Brooklyn Flea pop up store is located at 20 E. 4th St. (at Lafayette St.) in NYC.  It continues until Dec 13th, and then runs again from Dec 16-Dec 24.

Then we were off to the Union Square for the Holiday Market.  We spotted these lovely wine carriers ($28) from The Vintage Box (booth #C2) by Advah Shani.  We think these would make lovely hostess gifts and would be beautiful as part of a table centerpiece.  If you are interested in her creations but cannot make it to the market, she can be emailed at advashani@gmail.com. 

 

Holiday shopping can take its toll, so happily there are a few vendors on hand to satisfy our hunger pangs. We were intrigued by the helmet-wearing vendors of Viking Cuisine.  We ordered the aebelskiver ($6, warm danish pastry) with chocolate sauce on top.  It was piping hot and rich because it was made out of buttermilk.  Not the most graceful small bite to eat (yes, we had chocolate syrup all over our mouths), but a good hot quick bite on a cool day.     

Walking around with the crowds, we also spotted Vendy winner Wafels & Dinges, a few coffee spots, a number of German sausage kiosks, a delectable brownie chocolate bar, and this creperie stall which was making both sweet (nutella was on hand, of course!) and savory (sausages were grilling on a nearby pan) crepes.

The Union Square Holiday Market is located at Union Square Park (Broadway to 4th Avenue, East 14th Street to East 17th Street) and runs until Christmas Eve (Dec 24).

Though we found these charms recently at an artisan event, we thought our fellow foodies would appreciate these designs by Californian artist Jack Incherdchai of Chicztudio.  Some of his designs are available online or you can email him at jack@chicztudio.com.

And if you're looking for a liquid gift for a party host or hostess, taste-test the goods beforehand at these events:

All this weekend, Rattle n Hum is celebrating its 1st anniversary with over 20 craft beers (domestic $5, imported $7).  Rattle n Hum is located at 14 E 33rd St (btwn 5th Ave and Madison Ave).

On Sunday, City Winery is hosting an afternoon of New York wines (from more than 35 wineries), New York foods (like cheeses and ice cream) , and live jazz music.  Tickets are $45, which includes a souvenir tasting glass, and are available online.  City Winery is located at 155 Varick Street (between Spring and Vandam Streets).

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

This week was filled with celebrations for us - In addition to Thanksgiving, it was also my husband's birthday.

He's not a dessert-guy (which works out well when we order fixed-price meals and I get to have 2 desserts!), but I think every birthday (especially a milestone one) deserves a cake.

So I decided to make cupcakes with one of his favorite ingredients:  Guinness beer!

I used Nigella Lawson's Guinness Chocolate cake recipe and poured the batter into muffin tins to make cupcakes.

They came out rich and dark, like the stout, with cream cheese frosting acting as the foam or beer head. 

Ingredients:

For the cake:

1 cup Guinness ( I used the Extra Stout)
¾ cup sour cream
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa   
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar (Nigella's recipe calls for superfine sugar, but I just used regular sugar)
2 ½ teaspoons baking soda

For the Frosting:
8oz Philadelphia cream cheese
½ cup heavy cream
1 ¼ cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F

2. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.  (If making a cake, butter a 9-inch springform pan instead)

3. Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan.

 

4. Add the butter – in spoons or slices – and heat until the butter's melted

 

5.  When butter is melted, you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar.

 

6.  In a bowl, beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla.

 

7. Pour into the brown, buttery, beery pan.

 

8. Finally whisk in the flour and baking soda.

 

9. Pour the cake batter into the muffin tins (or greased and lined pan).

10. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

11.  Leave to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.

12.  When the cake's cold, sit it on a flat platter or cake stand and get on with the frosting.

 

13.  Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sift over the confectioners' sugar and then beat them both together. Add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. 

 

14.   Ice the top of the black cake so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint.

My husband loved the cupcakes - especially paired with his Guinness and other stout beers.  The cupcake was rich, chocolatey, with only a hint of Guinness taste.  I think the cake instead of the cupcakes would have been even more moist, but the cupcakes were fun and easy to share with his family. I'll definitely make these again - I think they'd be perfect for St. Patrick's Day with a Guinness milk shake or ice cream float!

The Breslin Just Opened for Lunch - NYC

The Breslin is finally open!  (At least for lunch, anyway)

The much-hyped gastropub is run by Chef April Bloomfield, famous for her restaurant The Spotted Pig, and is one of the most anticipated new openings this year. 

She's known for using every part of the animal in her cooking which to us shows both much respect for the animal as well as some innovative and interesting dishes.

So we decided to splurge...and after seeing the menu and the tables of business lunches around us, definitely wished for a corporate card!

 

The decor was very woodsy, with dark woodwork and wildlife motifs throughout the space.

Breslin Aberdeen ($9): We started off with The Breslin's house cask beer.  It was a scotch ale type of beer. It was also malty and mellow with subtle hints of smoke. It was a good beer - not too strong nor overpowering - to pair with the meal.

 

While waiting for our courses,we kept watching the kitchen and Chef Bloomfield (left) in action.  We noticed that she would check each meal and sometimes send plates back when they were not up to her liking.  She also told the staff that they needed to work faster.  It was evident that she was still working out the kinks in the kitchen before they open for dinner (date to be determined).

 

Onion and Bone Marrow Soup with Parmesan Toast ($10):  This was a good take on the traditional French Onion Soup.  It was rich, salty, and satisfying.

 

Beef Tongue Sandwich with Lentil Soup ($17):  The char-grilled sandwich was fantastic - the meat was so tender, it melted in our mouths.  There was a nice rich tarragon butter or aioli that gave the sandwich a rich flavor.  The lentil soup was not too savory so it balanced the sandwich; however, we felt the soup was a little too oily for our liking.

Other items on the menu included the Lamb Burger with a large side of fries ($17), which was devoured by the business men beside us, and the Terrine Board of guinea hen with morels, rustic pork, rabbit and prune, and head cheese (small $25, large $42).  For lunch, we could not spend almost $50 for a dish.




We'll definitely check out The Breslin when it is open for dinner (after the kinks are worked out) and the entrees would justify the higher pricing (similar to The Spotted Pig). 




The Breslin is located at The Ace Hotel at 16 W 29th St (btwn Broadway and 5th Aves.) in NYC.