A Pastel Palette That's Delighting Me

My favorite macaroon for the longest reigned from a New Orleans bakery- McKenzie’s. They had the most simple looking and delicious chewy almond macaroon. Whenever we'd get a bag, typically holding about 10 macaroons, I could eat them all on the way home with no help from my dad or my sister. They were just that amazing!

Flash forward to an ordinary summer day as I was walking in Chelsea I past a little shop called La Maison du Macaron. The window had a certain charm and I could not stop myself from taking a look inside. Once I stepped inside, several cases full of assorted delicate macaroons were right in front of me. At this point it would have been okay for some to turn around and walk out but I thought that would be silly and would end up being a loss for me. So I stepped up to see the selection a little closer. Nothing was labeled so I just picked based on colors after confirming the flavors I wanted to try.

To this day I'm not sure exactly what I ordered but they tasted amazing! An initial crispy outside layer and the "cookie" took on a little bit of a chewy texture which is one quality I liked in my former favorite. The cream in the middle was rich with flavor- vanilla, chocolate, lavender and a champagne were the flavors I identified. Just a great little find that I can't wait to try again.

A Vacation Good for Your Health

Everyone needs a getaway once and a while and this summer a trip to Jamaica provided a really nice escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. I completely agree with the idea that you have to really be disconnected to actually have a real escape. I like the convenience of a cell phone as much as the next person, but there are times when I wish they were banned. For me, Jamaica meant a semi-voluntary ban on cell phones for 4 whole days. Aside from the lack of access to technology, the (off the beaten path) natural landscapes , hospitality and the cuisine all made this vacation. To focus on the food, there was only one indoor restaurant at our resort and that made eating a warm, not so comfortable experience but the decadent menu ( lobster night- to name one theme) and positive disposition of everyone made you question the slightest moment of crankiness that may sneak up on you. A little sampling of exotic fruits renew breakfast options!

Homemade and Hometown Mid-Summer Treats

When the weather gets hot, I normally look for a retreat from time in the kitchen. Turning to fruit, salad and lighter fare always seems like the right move. There are those occasions when you just have to fire it up. No, not the grill, just the stovetop. Potato salad and chicken salad were my latest homemade meals. So I did cheat a little since buying a pre-cooked whole chicken saves a lot of time! (I think this is a permanent change forme. I love shortcuts when the end result isn't compromised.) I was able to have everything ready in time for a late lunch. I did all the chopping, and endured the warming conditions in my apartment as the eggs and potatoes boiled for the potato salad. (Personally, I don't think potato salad photographs well but I posted this pic anyway.) I really enjoyed this version of it because there was a nice mix of celery and green onion and whipped potato. I added a little cayenne to bring some heat and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing finish.

Once the cooking started, I couldn't stop! Next were the peach pops. Inspired by a recipe from a magazine that I slightly adjusted. It's a really pretty, delicious, refreshing summer combination. It's simply grape juice, chopped peaches (not uniform), prosecco (or champagne) lemon and lemon zest (to add more of a pretty, colorful accent. )

Since I like sweet things so much, I had to add in one more. This sweet always makes me think of my grandfather. In New Orleans we have snowballs which for most of the rest of the US can be closely compared to a sno-cone. Well, Plum Street makes some great flavors. Here's what's left from my nectar snoball. It's sweet and slightly creamy syrup and a playful peachy-pink color. Everyday during the summer my grandfather would ask for a pineapple snowball. When we took him there, he'd get the largest one and usually finish it before we got home. Sometimes eating it so fast caused him to shiver and he couldn't even talk from the chill.

A little heat can get you to a cool ending!

Something Nice and Some Drops of Spice

This past weekend was quite warm in NYC and the cumbersome vertical a/c unit in my apartment does not have enough of a cooling effect for this Southern girl. (I know it's ironic but I don't handle the heat very well.) So I wondered outside in search of a cafe where I could find Arctic temps, possibly wifi, and a chair and table -not too much to ask for. I went over to 5th Ave remembering there was an art sale at the National Museum gift shop and a cafe right next door. To my horror, the cafe was dark and cavernous inside but wasn't the least bit cold. A quick turn and I headed toward Madison Ave. and a long motorcycle parade. This was the very end of the parade and was not as impressive as the beginning. (Cabs and all other cars were forced to slow down and wait for them to pass as the light changed about 4 times before the waiting cars could pass.) After this showcase, I sat down at Yura on Madison. A nice cup of cool cucumber/dill soup and chive biscuit made for a nice lunch. The cucumber was nicely pureed and horseradish was added providing a little extra bite. The biscuit was not as flavorful but had a nice texture and along with almost all the other baked goods was 2 for the price of one. (I think they were all day old goods. There's no tricking me.) As I was sitting enjoying my delicious soup, I spotted a candy from the past-spice drops! Growing up my grandmother always had these on her front room table for visitors. Occasionally, I would eat them just because it was accessible candy, but they were not exactly my favorite. I preferred the rotation of plain gum drops or jelly beans.

I can even remember the crystal container she'd put them in which I think made me believe I would/should like these spice drops even more, since they were worthy of such fine china. When I encountered them again today, it brought a smile to my face, and a great memory back to life.

The Joys of Maine

Meredith and Erik's early summer wedding brought me back to Maine (for the first time in about eight years) and I rediscovered all the charm this area has to offer all over again. From cute little houses, spas and gift shops to a roadside clam shack and charming lighthouse. Though there was a busy schedule of wedding events and not much time to explore, everyone has to eat! Since it was a warm summer day, when I arrived, and I had a bridesmaid dress to fit into soon, I opted to have a fruit salad for lunch with a strawberry vinagrette dressing that was a nice sweet but tart accent with the goat cheese, blueberries, strawberries and slivered almonds that decorated the top. (This is an easy one to duplicate at home!)

A few hours later the rehearsal dinner started with a New England tradition-clam chowder. A little cup of creamy potato and clam heaven with salted, crispy oyster crackers really is a must-have. (Dress issue aside for this meal.)

Since the beginning and the ending are really the most memorable parts of any life event, the finishing dish was appropriate (and delightful.) There's no dessert that speaks summer tradition more than strawberries with their shortcake. It's the most consistently harmonious pairing I've ever seen.

Cheers to you, summer!

Across a bridge and beyond

A recent trip to Brooklyn to spend a little time with a good friend (Heather) and her son (Drake) set me on a path to discovery. While our intent was to start with tapas we were "sent" for a walk first. (After we peered through the front gate at La Mancha, for about 2 minutes, our bearded friend inside informed us that they were not yet open. Determined to wait for our tapas, a walk along Atlantic Avenue became our interim plan. A little window shopping discovering a few new shops that have popped up since my last visit to the area. There were many beautiful clothing distractions to help pass the time and before we knew it we made our way back to the restaurant with two prime seats in the front window awaiting our arrival. Appropriately on display, we enjoyed a few treats from the sea- including garlic shrimp that were perfectly, simply prepared and scallops in a cream sauce that was quite nice for bread dipping. (Croquetas filled with potatoes and a light white fish were the inspiration for the journey but were not captured on camera prior to consumption..oops!)

A little carafe of sangria to complete this meal and memories of the joy of trips abroad abound! My time in Spain (which was far too short) and Italy have always been on the top of my list of favorites but with those being memories from six years ago- it's time for a new journey and new memories. I’ve been bitten by a big travel bug! So, I've taken steps in researching my next journey to the land known for an esteemed boy pharaoh named Tutankamun.

(City) Springscapes in The Hunt For A Black and White Cookie

With the positive changes in the weather in NYC comes a desire to explore the world beyond your apartment walls. For me, it has led to short walks around my neighborhood with no particular destination in mind. It's just nice to enjoy the colorful variations of well-planted tulips that are scattered about town. last weekend I decided I wanted to try a neighborhood bakery that came highly recommended from a long-time New Yorker. Before setting out on my journey with a prupose, I had to know what I was going to encounter when I reached my destination (sometimes you just don't want the element of surprise.) William Greenberg Desserts is the full name of this bakery but you may also know it as Greenberg and they are known especially for a New York original -the black and white cookie. If you lived in New York for any period of time and you like sweet treats, you've likely had a few of these cookies. From the beginning, I always liked the idea of the cookie. Why sacrifice when you can have it all? Some other favorite pairings, neopolitan ice cream and pancakes and eggs. Greed is not really the idea..just harmless to have a little flavor variety when available.

I read reviews that described their version of the cookie as the best. A cake-like cookie with the split icing top. Each time I taste one there's a slight bit of improvement but Greenberg's was really the most like cake that I've had. It was dense and fresh but not particularly special looking so I forgot to take a picture! Overall- I say it's worth trying again so..time for another stroll!

A Little Southern Comfort

I think I'm one of the few people under the age of 65 living in Manhattan that actually goes to the grocery regularly (almost weekly.) I headed to the grocery this week with my little list of random items. I was in search of a few things to create a good mix of meals for the week until I was distracted in the cereal aisle. A craving for grits hit me. Without delay, I grabbed a box (not the instant stuff) checked out and went straight home to make pot of warm, lumpy grits. Yes- I love the lumps, the lumps, the lumps!! Of course, a little butter and salt are always welcome in my pot. (Sugar and syrup stay far, far away!)

Not the most beautiful food to photograph but check out my pot o' grits. There's a special lump shot for you!

(If I might suggest a great side item, one or two eggs over easy. I'm not sure breakfast can get much better.)

Just a simple pictoral tribute to a delicious meal and family fun...

Taking it to the Streets

Weekends can bring a sense of excitement and joy for many reasons- the end of the work week, special plans, or just a little time to relax all can bring a little happiness to a Friday evening. This past weekend the arrival of family and plans for a feast were highly anticipated events. Not to mention NYC was emerging from a rainy, windy weather week that gave few hints that Spring was on the way. The weekend forecast was looking good and I had a double-sided list of things to do and see -just looking at the list got me a little exhausted. A little tip came late in the day Friday from New Orleans that called for revisions. That event was a New Orleans second line in NYC across the Brooklyn Bridge. Well, I hadn't heard of such a great blending of cultures with one of the most amazing backdrops and structures in the U.S. Thanks Elizabeth for keeping me in the know from N.O.

Relax and enjoy.....

Twilight Trick

I used to pride myself on being one of the few people to know little or nothing about Harry Potter, Star Trek or Star Wars (and until last month- the Twilight series.) It was kind of fun to get a freakish reaction when you tell someone that you've never seen a movie, watched a show or read a book about them. Then, one day I was going to what I believed to be an innocent dinner party and I was tricked! This was no ordinary dinner party with delicious food, good friends and conversation. This was a Twilight themed dinner. Since I pride myself on also being a relatively polite person I couldn't just walk out so I sat down and settled in for two of the movies in the Twilight series. There were several very carefully planned courses to go along with the entertainment for the evening. The blood orange cocktails and some snackins' were starters. As you may imagine, garlic was a predominant ingredient- turned decorating accent (look on either side of the TV). I don't think I've ever watched two feature length films back to back before that night!! Midway through the first film, my wandering mind led me to consider the question-Do I now have to pick a team-(Edward or Jacob)? Now I get all the water bottles, t-shirts and talk. I'm not going to be forced into making that kind of alliance. No way, no how. No backing down on that. My garlic chicken entree came just in time to distract me from all this serious contemplation. After that, the most delicious moist red velvet cake and mini cheesecake with a little cherry on top almost made me tune out parts of the second movie all together. I can't say that I won't see the next movie (no trick needed.) I have to admit that this trick was an unexpected treat!

Tampa and The Bay

Work took me south again this winter. An escape to warmer weather mid -February is always welcome! Though the 3 days I was visiting Tampa happened to be the coldest days they'd had in quite a while. Though not the sunny, warm destination I'd hoped for there was still reason to be happy-NO SNOW! The people of Tampa were really very nice and I learned the population is pretty young and there are some big efforts underway to revitalize parts of downtown. I didn't get to venture too far aside from two trips to CVS (just couldn't resists) and a dinner at Rusty Pelican which had a great view and mediocre seafood. (I expected better from a restaurant on the Bay!) I have to say I did enjoy a mighty fine cuban sandwich and chili con carne from a street vendor outside the hotel (and down the street from the CVS.)

I missed out on trying the devil crab sandwich was was the "cart speciality." By the time I arrived for late lunch everyone had taken ordered the supply for the day. The cuban sandwich had nice crispy bread and slightly melted cheese and some little pickle slivers and mayo/mustard combo. It was rich and delicious! Half was plenty for me. The chili might have been Hormel. It wasn't too flavorful but since it was the soup of the day and came highly recommended I imagined it tasted better than it did!

The visit was short and didn't allow for much food or attraction exploration but I made due. At the end of the day a nice little reminder, you don't see a sunset like this in Manhattan!

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans

All because it's Carnival Time! My first time home for Mardi Gras in more than 7 years proved to be filled with excitement and revelry to get me through this mid-winter slump. This year the weather was not so reliable so it ended up disrupting the parade schedule which meant four parades in one night and so we layered up and took to the streets for several hours of parades. The evening started with Hermes and a broken down float meant an early delay but lucky for us the flamboux carriers were stopped right near us and the bands and crowd huddled around them for warmth. (I think the flamboux carriers are an indispensable parade element -given the cooler temps during Mardi Gras in the past couple years. I sure hope they get paid for their work and are not just collecting the coins thrown at them during the parade.) After Hermes starting rolling we caught a few more floats (designed by my uncle-seen above in the window) and then made our way indoors for a king size meal at Zea's. I ventured off my seafood track and had a rack of ribs, grits with roasted corn, broccoli and delicious hummus with feta, sundried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes. Though the food sounds very basic it was the most delicious huge meal I'd had in a long time. As I ate, I watched the second parade roll by and began to regret overeating with several more hours before I got to roll into my bed for the night, so I took some sips of my coke and we ventured into the streets again. The Krewe of Muses (the final parade) is known for their shoe themed throws and all female riders.We ended the night with bows and arrows, beads, cups, shoes and stuffed animals and literally ran for the car!!

Lombardi Gras it was..

It was a cold three hour wait filled with a lots of people watching and a "cameo" appearance on the Fox local affiliate tv station. Waiting for the Saints Superbowl parade will definitely be one of the most outrageous things I'll ever do in my life (especially in the name of sports celebrations.) Armed with a cup a cup of tea to keep me warm and a white chocolate raspberry scone as an afternoon parade route snack. the music was a welcome distraction and i think this team has more songs than any other I know of. Here's a short list: when the saints go marching in, bless you boys, saints go all the way( oh, I believe), stand up get krunck, black and gold to the superbowl and that's just some of them. I know somebody has to have put all these hits on a cd and is selling it somewhere..

It was a really special experience and the time of year -backed up against the other big celebration made it a little more festive. This parade wasn't even about the beads or any of the other plastic throws usually so prized during this time of year.

Just a lot of singing and dancing and celebrating..being happy about this big achievement! And to sum it all up many of the locals renamed this Mardi Gras- Lombardi Gras.

Lemme Hear Ya Say Go, Saints, Go!!

Well it's time to take a little trip back in time, and into the Superdome. For me and my sister this was where we were first exposed to professional sports. New Orleans, when we were growing up, didn't have much success keeping professional sports teams (the Jazz-basketball team-Gone, the Brass-hockey team-Gone.) So no matter how bad, and things often were really bad, we all stuck with the Saints.

But let me be honest here, I mostly enjoyed going to see the Saints because it was something fun to do on Sunday. A day usually reserved for hibernating inside trying to do the last of the homework due Monday. Once in the Superdome, no game was complete without

soggy nachos! (We'd intentionally let the cheese sit on them until they were no longer crunchy and then fight over who gets the most cheese covered chip.) The occasional cheering always caught me by surprise because unless there was the possibility of a touchdown I had the binoculars in my hands and I was looking for the mascot (Zero- (Yes, that was a mascot for a while) or my grandparents (in their seats behind the goal post. )

Well, fast forward to today since I'm not twelve anymore. The Saints have won the Superbowl!! It was a long journey and through much of it I tuned out since it got to be a bit ridiculous and I was convinced it was never really going to happen. I'm so happy for every true die hard fan that watched every game (or almost every game) hoping and knowing the day would come.

As for me, I wasn't in Miami or New Orleans for this very special game but I managed to keep my snacks simple and my focus on the game this time.

(Stay tuned for pictures from the victory parade...NO here I come!)

Almonds and chocolate-a girl's new best friends

The cutest little addition to Grand Central Station is a patisserie called Financier. This patisserie has a few locations around NYC but this location just happened to be the only one I pass on a fairly regular basis. I stepped inside unsure of what I really wanted. Eager to try anything -since everything looked so great and it was evident much time and energy went into the displays and the decor and I would guess the food should be just as delightful.

After some browsing, and an employee's persistent efforts to move me along in my purchasing decision, I selected the florentine. The chocolate on one side had a rough finish like little mountain peaks and it reflected light like chards of glass. The other side was like a whole other world with roasted, honey-glazed almond slices. It was much more substantial in weight and taste then any other florentine I'd allow to graze my lips. The texture was both chewy and crunchy. Two perfectly delicious ingredients combined to make a most perfect sweet treat! I have to say Financier did not disappoint. Now I'll test their version of a Galette de Rois...

NOLA Holiday Bites

So I went home for Christmas and, as usual, was overwhelmed by all the restaurants (and relatives) I had to visit during my short stay. I began my hunt almost for food the moment I hit the ground with a (half and half) shrimp and oyster po-boy on the way home from the airport which has become a delicious tradition. After my last bite of the sandwich, I was left thinking what will dinner behold. Things started to take a turn in an unanticipated, troubling direction once my sister arrived from Atlanta a few hours later. She was hungry from the long drive and wanted soup or a salad for dinner. Now, I was sure none of the restaurants on my list were known for their soups or salads. I could only begin to think -she's going to waste one of my meals on something like french onion soup or ceasar salad! This was all very troubling as she and my mom started to list off different restaurants none of which caught my attention. They settled on a local middle eastern place that had a nice selection and I agreed to join them. To my surprise it was a delight and the shock and panic of their choice wore off once I got inside.

The rest of my time at home left me with a few more critical restaurant choices but none proved to come near the joy that came from the Patton's hot sausage poboy. I'm not sure if time made my taste buds grow fonder but everything about the sandwich was perfect! The flaky bread, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato and perfect amount of mayo. (This is the only way I'll have my hot sausage poboy dressed.) Of all places, I found it at the Tastee Donut shop. It's the most simple sandwich but the perfect combination of ingredients make it so divine! This proves the phrase .. In New Orleans we live to eat!