Kumo with the Californians

After hours of trying to figure out transportation options, Alex and Shannon made it away from Long Island and into Brooklyn to spend at least a little time outside of the suburbs during their trip.  Originally we had big goals of going into Manhattan and seeing some of their friends, but the piled snow, blocked roads, and poor train service quickly changed things.  We decided to keep it local and visit one of our favorite spots: Kumo Sushi!

As always, everyone at Kumo was so nice.  They let us share the bottle of Shannon Ridge wine that the Californians brought to commemorate their visit - corkage free! 

 

After that, we sampled some of their best dishes and sake, and there was happy dancing all around the table.  :)

Mel got her favorite ramen noodles;

Shannon and Dave tried the scallops;

Elim savored a sushi roll (The Phoenix);

Alex enjoyed the cod; 

and DJ tried the bento box.

 So glad Alex and Shannon could be in New York this year!!

 (did we mention there are two apartments open on our floor?  hint hint)

Blizzard of 2010 = Desperation Mac and Cheese

Soooooo, we were snowed in!  Thanks to the Blizzard of 2010, all subways were suspended and folks were encouraged to stay home. 

On the plus side, yay for staying home.  On the minus side, we hadn't been to the grocery store due to all the holiday bustle.  This situation called for:

SNOW DAY DESPERATION MAC AND CHEESE!

(Otherwise known as, we take whatever is edible in the apartment and make the most of it.)

List of ingredients: pasta, provolone cheese slices, shredded mozzarella cheese, leftover cream of corn soup, leftover acorn squash mango soup, leftover fresh spinach, a splash of almond milk, a dash of pepper, and breadcrumbs.  

Process:  melt the cheeses into the combined soups, throw in the spinach to cook a bit, add a splash of almond milk and the pepper to liven things up, mix with the boiled pasta and some breadcrumbs to give it some body, put in dish with cheese and breadcrumbs on top and bake until brown.

The result?  Not too shabby!  Good comfort food for a cold day.

Christmas 2010 - Our *100th Blog Entry*!

It was a wonderful holiday weekend!  We got to see both of our families and share lots of Christmas love.  

On Christmas Eve, we had an awesome meal of salmon, chicken casserole, potatoes, and biscuits in Fairfield.  Oh, and let's not forget the awesome desserts!

Then Mel trekked out to Long Island in time to spend Christmas morning with her family.  And on Christmas Night it was DJ's turn to hop on Metro North and head to New Rochelle for some White Elephant gift swapping and dessert noshing at the Bradshaw's.  The rum cake, apple pie, and hermit cookies were divine, and DJ and Mel were extra surprised when everyone broke out the champagne to toast our engagement.  We were really touched.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Holiday Monthiversary at Buttermilk Channel

December 22nd was a perfect day for an early quiet holiday and monthiversary celebration.  We had been wanting to try Buttermilk Channel ever since reading about it in Time Out NY, so this seemed like a great occasion!

The restaurant is quite unassuming from the outside.  Located in a quiet section of Court Street in Brooklyn, it has a simple brick exterior and no noticeable sign.  But as soon as you enter, it feels like you're visiting a classic restaurant from Old New York.  The brick walls, aged wood, and steel chandeliers were like a scene out of "Gangs of New York."  And if you read about the history of the place (and the reason for its name) on their website, that decor choice makes a lot of sense!

As for the food?  AWESOME!!  Mel warmed up with a Hot Rum Punch that was like a delicious cup of tea with some kick.  :)

Then we had a few bites of spice-rubbed baby back ribs.  The meat practically fell off the bone!

For a main course, Mel tried the ham-wrapped trout - delicious, but extremely savory.  The grits helped to balance the flavor nicely though.

DJ opted for the evening's special: swordfish.  The seasoning was superb, and the serving size was perfect.  The dish came with some sort of cheese crisps that were tasty but a bit overpowering in terms of saltiness.

Overall Buttermilk Channel is fabulous, and their savory dishes pack a strong punch.  Probably the best thing would be to share one dish and pair the meal with a good wine that would really marry all the rich flavors.

Chillin' with Chili (Steelers vs. Jets)

The BIG GAME arrived!  

DJ's Steelers vs. Sean's Jets

So Nilda and Sean had us over to their place for some good ol' fashioned football, beers, and chili.  Absolutely delicious!  To quote DJ: "I could eat this all day!"  Especially the corn fritters on top.  We'll definitely have to snag the recipe.

Oh, and the game?  The Jets won, though the Steelers had made an admirable comeback.  But we all left feeling okay because both teams seem to be in good shape for the rest of the season.  :)

Dinner in a Christmas Tree: Panna 2

It was time to catch up with Antoine, Lula, Dipali, Liz, Shana and Colin.  So Antoine planned a Friday night gathering at an Indian restaurant his coworker suggested: Panna 2.

This place was an experience for the senses.  About as small as a narrow living room, they maximize the space by squeezing as many people around a table as possible.  Once you're settled in to your spot, distractions abound as you look up at the millions of tiny lights hanging from the ceiling.  Truly felt like dining inside a Christmas tree.

(if one bulb goes out in this place, do they really have to go through and test each one?  could that be considered a form of torture?)

DJ tried the shrimp, and Mel tried the sag paneer.

 The food itself was pretty run of the mill Indian cuisine, but the overall sensory-overload experience of this place was worth trying once.  :)

Afterward we went to a bar up the block (since Panna is BYOB), and Mel ordered a Red Stripe.  Surprise: came in a can!  Who knew they came in anything but bottles?  

Cafe Henri (Part Deux) for a Frenchie Birthday

It was time to return to Long Island City for a visit to Cafe Henri in honor of Carole's birthday!  

 

We have been there once before with Carole just to try it out, and we loved it.  The second time around did not disappoint.  DJ went with the Eggs Benedict - a known crowd-pleaser.  To switch things up a bit, Mel tried the Quiche Lorraine and it was fabulous.  Carole's roommate, Laurence (also a Frenchie), said it was almost as good as her mother's, which is quite the compliment! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAROLE!

Josephina and The Nutcracker

One of Mel's students is starring as The Prince in the NYC Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker this year, so she really wanted to go see it.  Since DJ had never been to a ballet before, it was quite the memorable night!  Not only his first ballet, but also his first visit to any type of theater in NYC.

To get the night started off right, we dined at Josephina - right across the street from Lincoln Center.  It is the sister restaurant to Josie's, one of our favorite places in Midtown, so we had very high expectations.  Unfortunately the food didn't quite live up to what we were used to from Josie's, but the ambiance was quite nice.  We were surrounded by other theater-goers, so there was a buzz of excitement in the room.   Mel tried the scallops (tasty sauce) and DJ went for a prix fixe meal of corn-tortilla soup (unexpectedly pureed rather thank chunky), pork (a bit dry), and rum raisin cake (very beautiful presentation).  

 scallops

corn tortilla soup... without chunks? :-/

pork

dessert!

 Then we headed across the street to Lincoln Center to enjoy The Nutcracker.  Mel admitted that she remembered it being a bit more exciting (perhaps because she last saw it when she was quite young), and DJ admitted that this might be his first and last ballet.  lol   But Mel's student did a great job, the music was classic, and it was a nice holiday experience in NYC!

Sake Bar Hagi

There's nothing like a great meal with great friends to make a weekday a bit brighter.  Brandon recommended an awesome sake bar, and next thing you know he was leading DJ, Mel, and LaDell (a.k.a. Toats) through midtown crowds and down a narrow stairway to a little piece of Japanese cuisine heaven.  

Sake Bar Hagi is hardly noticeable from the street, but apparently it's the place to be!  Past 6pm, the line to get in goes all the way back up the stairs and onto the sidewalk!  Understandable: the food is delicious.  We turned it into a family style feast and sampled a bit of everything: chicken gizzard, squid, udon, sweet potato tempura, dumplings, and edamame.  

And the sake?  Sweet and strooooooong.  Totally snuck up on all of us!  End result?  Mel doing a happy dance on the corner outside as we parted ways.  lol

We Really Should Have Stock in The Farm

We simply can't get enough of The Farm on Adderley!  Anytime friends visit Brooklyn for the first time, it's our go-to spot.  So when Nik and Kristen came by to see our neighborhood on Friday, where to eat was a no-brainer!

Nik and DJ tried the skate, Kristen went for the chicken, and Mel tried the tagliatelle (photos in that order).  Smiles all around!  And gotta love it - we got the same window table as the day of our engagement/birthday brunch.  :)

Chillin at The Castello Plan

After a hectic Thanksgiving weekend filled with family time and travel, we were ready for a very quiet and lazy Sunday.  So we decided to try a quaint new restaurant right on Cortelyou Road -

The Castello Plan.

We watched as this place was constructed throughout the start of the year, and have been curious about it for a while.  We heard that they don't have an actual kitchen, so we were a bit wary of their menu.  But today seemed right for an adventure.  :)  And we were pleasantly surprised!  The decor is so homey and relaxed, and the menu is limited but appetizing.  They make all the dishes in pans on a range at the bar, so the whole place is filled with the aroma of whatever was just ordered.  DJ tried the duck confit and Mel had a tomato/goat cheese omelet - both delicious!  

 We're glad we finally got around to giving The Castello Plan a chance; we'll definitely try to go back for one of their live jazz nights!

Thanksgiving - Turkey Triumph!

SUCCESS!!!!

Last month, DJ saw a turkey recipe in Bon Appetit that he said we absolutely must try for Thanksgiving - a bird brined in a mix of Guinness beer and salt water, then basted with a barley malt concoction.  

 

He researched, he refined, and on the big day he made the best turkey ever!  The meat was extremely tasty and juicy, and the skin was browned to perfection.  It looked just like the picture in the magazine.  Even Mel, who usually avoids turkey on Thanksgiving Day, couldn't resist seconds (and sneaky snack bites from the fridge later in the day).  

Quite a proud cooking day.  :-D

Monthiversary Munchies

Just when Mel thought DJ couldn't surprise her any more... SURPRISE!  lol  In the midst of all the holiday excitement, he remembered that the 22nd marks a Monthiversary (term coined by Mel; definition self-explanatory; contract with Webster's Dictionary pending).  So we splurged on some delicious Scandinavian food and drink at Aquavit, Marcus Samuelsson's restaurant in Midtown.

Aquavit is known for its homemade vodka (and therefore extremely well-mixed cocktails), as well as excellent food pairings.  So we tried the Smorgasbord plate to taste a little bit of everything: smoked salmon, venison, potato pancake, shrimp salad, Swedish meatball - all fabulous! 

Riingo Brunch

Manny and Hirut were in the city for a Broadway show, so we had a chance to meet up with them for a nice Sunday brunch at Riingo.

The decor is quite modern and cozy, and the wait staff is extremely friendly.  We didn't feel rushed at all, which says a lot for a Sunday brunch time (which tends to be a quite hectic).  The girls went for savory dishes: Mel had a ham and gruyere sandwich and Hirut tried the lobster pasta.  Both delicious.

The guys went for sweeter plates: Manny opted for French toast and DJ had the pancakes.  We all agreed the pancakes were among the best we've tasted. 

Such a great way to start the Thanksgiving week!!  :)