tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38757724831418799282012-02-08T04:48:13.496-08:00NudeFoodA stripped-down, frank discussion of all things food.NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.comBlogger971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-55593795315780834852011-09-18T19:08:00.000-07:002011-09-22T09:43:21.101-07:00Crispy Kale Chips
I’ve gotten a handful of kale chip questions lately. Kale chips are a snack I’ve made for years but never thought of as blog material. My mistake. They’re easy as pie to make and completely satisfy that crunchy, salty kind of craving. And if you’re someone who isn’t keen on the taste of leafy greens, this will change everything.Kale is an unsung hero of sorts. It is one of the most nutritious NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-92210377162213319612011-08-10T00:01:00.000-07:002011-08-10T00:05:52.266-07:00Chinese Sticky Ribs
During my self-appointed day of cooking on Whidbey Island, I asked if anyone had a dinner request. Without missing a beat Minh-Hai piped up, “Chinese Sticky Ribs!” I like a challenge.I’d never made sticky ribs before so I had to defer to the experts. But some of the more traditional recipes called for the likes of Chinese rose water, plum sauce and dried oysters, ingredients that the nearby NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-30098297734866792882011-08-04T23:06:00.000-07:002011-08-05T10:15:41.054-07:00Creamy Polenta with Greens, Soft-boiled Eggs and Crispy Prosciutto
About five months ago we attended a fundraiser for the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation, an incredible organization with a mission to help the developing world walk again. Our good friend Jared sits on the board and we were excited to show our support.In classic auction style, we perused the items, set our sights on one particular package, agreed on our maximum amount, and then went (well) over NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-22749699008906058902011-06-23T23:11:00.000-07:002011-06-24T11:45:57.092-07:00An Ode to Sorrel
Have you ever tasted something for the first time and thought, “Where have you been all my life!?” That was me with sorrel. I wasn’t even familiar with this leafy green until last year when Beryl suggested we plant some in our garden. It tasted so bright and lemony, and I dreamt about turning it into creamy sorrel soup once harvest time rolled around. Well, that time came and went while we were NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-46027768259523536492011-05-09T22:59:00.000-07:002011-06-23T20:30:15.371-07:00Bagna Cauda
Crudités platters tend to bore me. Quite honestly I can't imagine anyone getting very excited over sticks of supermarket vegetables and "white dip," not to mention that serving raw cruciferous vegetables should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Don't get me wrong, fresh veggies are a welcome addition to any party table but let's be honest, that same old, sorry tray just isn't bringing NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-16739196467266783452011-02-24T19:18:00.000-08:002011-02-24T19:18:02.542-08:00Homemade English Muffins
I’ve never been a morning person. While my sister managed to go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up at the crack of dawn, every morning presented itself to me with a struggle. I needed at least three wake-up calls before reluctantly rubbing the sand from my eyes and scurrying to make it out the door on time. Thank goodness for my mom. Not only was she diligent in the wake-up process, she NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-90580267016210919442011-01-30T22:48:00.000-08:002011-01-31T10:55:56.013-08:00Coconut Tapioca Pudding
If I were a superhero, my kryptonite would probably be anything custard or coconut. And if the two merged into one glorious dish (coconut cream pie, coconut crème brûlée, etc.) I’d be done for. This tapioca pudding fits snugly into that category.Tapioca seems to be one of those things that befuddles people in that it's not an actual plant but rather the extracted starch of the cassava root. NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-31465303841701471452011-01-22T12:18:00.000-08:002011-01-22T12:18:43.158-08:00Lemon Yogurt Pancakes
Every year over the holidays my mom and I watch The Sound of Music and, subsequently, get the songs stuck in our heads for weeks. I always enjoyed the scene where Maria calmed the children by singing about her favorite things, but I have to admit, my lyrics would be a heck of a lot different than whiskers on kittens and cream colored ponies:
“Thin New York pizza and dry apple NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-80446319856511979462011-01-12T23:12:00.000-08:002011-01-14T10:40:42.612-08:00A Look Back New Year's Eve dinner at Tristan's family's home in Arlington, VA
Happy New Year everyone!
I couldn't jump into 2011 without paying a bit of homage to 2010. It was an eventful year of cooking experiments, dinner parties, culinary classes, new cookbooks and a good deal of travel. But one of my favorite parts was going to New York over the holidays. Why? Because I got to spend time with my familyNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-9301996358447572292010-12-10T08:58:00.000-08:002010-12-10T13:02:21.672-08:00Butternut Squash Risotto
I teach monthly cooking classes for clients at work. Many are kitchen neophytes so my lessons tend to cover the basics and include straightforward recipes that require minimal effort. Last week, in a holiday-themed class, we discussed how to handle a butternut squash (peeling, cutting, cleaning and roasting) and since I had a demo squash left over, I was determined to make dinner out of it.
I NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-73649852010212962502010-12-05T18:14:00.000-08:002010-12-10T11:19:52.483-08:00Caraway Cabbage with Pasta
If you’re looking for a quick and delicious meal that also happens to be pretty darn healthy, have I got something for you.
This is an Eastern European-style dish that my mom made pretty frequently when we were growing up. I used to love standing at the stove taking in the smell of onions sautéing in butter. And then, along with the shredded cabbage, she’d add the secret ingredient: caraway NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-6510964383740137852010-11-29T22:57:00.000-08:002010-12-01T14:18:41.287-08:00Classic French Baguette Épi
Thanksgiving 2010 was a success, particularly if measured in terms of overeating and unbuttoned pants. As you know, my contribution this year was a fancy artisan épi (a baguette formed to resemble a stalk of wheat), thanks to Peter Reinhart's newest cookbook Artisan Breads Every Day. So much energy is put into the turkey, stuffing and pies that the simplest form of comfort food, good bread and NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-38065451970492566502010-11-23T19:03:00.000-08:002010-11-24T11:35:47.298-08:00Roasted Butternut Squash with Citrus Compound Butter and Rosemary-Scented Sugared Pecans
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A friend recently asked if I had any special Thanksgiving recipes to share butNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-3821885422002371702010-11-18T23:35:00.000-08:002010-11-18T23:46:46.660-08:00Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal
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I recently bit the bullet and had all four wisdom teeth removed, something I NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-68201359610828915542010-11-10T16:54:00.000-08:002010-11-11T08:49:57.668-08:00Truffled Popcorn with Rosemary and Parmesan
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-78590134903979907632010-10-26T21:21:00.000-07:002010-10-27T09:30:25.767-07:00Fall-Off-the-Bone Braised Short Ribs
If you’re cooking a birthday dinner for friends and need something a bit special and positively delicious, look no further.I’ve had slow-braised short ribs on the brain ever since the weather turned chilly, so when our friend Casey’s birthday rolled around a few weekends ago, I was delighted to have an excuse to buy 6 pounds of meat.A sweet Asian-style braise was my first inclination but since INudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-84990137782583605962010-10-10T13:17:00.000-07:002010-10-12T15:07:42.620-07:00Green Herb Garlic Bread
It may be the American way but I always felt that serving plain old bread alongside spaghetti was redundant. Don’t get me wrong, if it’s there I’ll eat it but does a boiled heap of white flour really need slices of baked white flour to wash it down? In the case of garlic bread, absolutely. There’s something about a toasty loaf slathered with melted butter and chunks of real garlic that make it aNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-23661845396405986322010-10-03T21:29:00.000-07:002010-10-03T22:08:29.798-07:00Italian Wedding Soup
Back in my college days, I worked at a little Italian café in Upstate New York as a glorified barista. In addition to sandwiches and desserts, we proudly offered a homemade soup of the day, and when it was Italian Wedding, people went bananas. Nothing sold out quite as fast. So you can imagine my horror the day I saw how the sausage was actually made. I walked into the back room right as one of NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-7945698028960604722010-09-22T16:52:00.000-07:002010-09-24T12:01:13.014-07:00Sneak Peek at Madhur Jaffrey's New Cookbook: Tandoori-Style Chicken with Mint
Not only does Madhur Jaffrey have the notch of award-winning actress in her belt, she's the Julia Child of Indian cuisine. Born in Delhi, she first pursued a career on stage and on the big screen with much success. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that her culinary skills were noticed and she was catapulted into the world of cooking shows and cookbooks. Thanks to her, much of the Western world was NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-10579623282798359662010-09-20T13:05:00.000-07:002010-09-20T20:57:56.726-07:00Ricotta Spinach Pesto Pasta
My mom is an extraordinary cook so, naturally, I look forward to my trips home. This past July was one of those times. Per usual, I packed at the eleventh hour, got little to no sleep and showed up on the east coast like death warmed over. Mom, being the nurturing type that she is, made sure to have a light meal ready. Enter this pasta dish.Originally printed in the August 2004 issue of Cuisine NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-61469911545619293412010-09-12T14:05:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:16:27.620-07:00Salted Chocolate Almond Cookies
I don’t bake cookies very often, maybe three times a year at best, but Ina Garten did it again. I was at the gym watching The Barefoot Contessa when she had Kathleen King, the owner of Tate’s Bake Shop in Southampton, on as a guest. Kathleen shared her recipe for a bakery favorite: Double Chocolate Almond Cookies. I could see why they were so popular – chewy, chocolaty dough packed with chopped NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-72612410708520537962010-08-28T21:42:00.000-07:002010-08-28T21:44:40.032-07:00Mango Salsa
I can’t let summer pass us by without mentioning one of my go-to hot weather dishes, mango salsa. Not only does it take minutes to assemble, it doesn’t require any heat (other than the Jalapeño sort). The sweet-hot combination pairs beautifully with everyday proteins by adding freshness and vibrancy. Try it with grilled salmon, pan-seared cod, chicken or my personal favorite, red curry shrimp. NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-56060277033569054122010-08-24T17:39:00.000-07:002010-08-31T12:22:01.618-07:00Apricot Almond Raspberry Tart
We look forward to birthdays at work, especially since Wendy came on board. She was a pastry chef in her former life and, as you can imagine, turns out some phenomenal patisserie.
A few weeks ago she graced us with a French apricot almond raspberry tart (thank you Mike for being born). But not just any tart, this one had tangy fruit suspended in a baked almond cream over a sweet pastry crust. NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-2474045439325660142010-08-22T22:10:00.000-07:002010-08-23T15:05:58.259-07:00Luis' Gazpacho
I used to think gazpacho was just ok. Then Luis came to town. He, along with my friend Andrew, was running a language exchange program for a group of Spanish kids for a month. When they weren’t being teachers, they were exploring Seattle to its fullest (Mariners games, Mt. Rainier, the Fremont Troll, Hooters) but in my opinion, the night they threw a tapas party really beat all.
When I arrived NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-30023995549935120762010-08-11T21:08:00.000-07:002010-08-12T15:54:01.631-07:00Crispy Zucchini Pancakes
I’d been meaning to make these for the longest time. The reviews of Barefoot Contessa’s recipe were highly favorable, plus I love anything fried and crispy. And besides, who couldn’t use a new way to prepare the ubiquitous zucchini?I’m delighted to say that the hoopla was well-deserved. These. Are. Phenomenal. But there’s no need to take my word for it. I put them to the test and made a double NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-18205729732106366292010-08-10T22:51:00.000-07:002010-08-10T22:51:55.972-07:00NudeFood Guest Post & Essence of Corn Soup
Eat, Drink and Be is one of my favorite food news websites. Check out NudeFood's guest post, where you'll also find a recipe for a luxurious Essence of Corn Soup.NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-8826869159865020372010-08-06T20:24:00.000-07:002010-08-06T20:33:16.953-07:00Fig, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Salad
I went to Whole Foods the other day with a definitive shopping list in hand and the intention of getting in and out. But, inevitably, something always distracts me. This time is was the display of fresh figs.
They immediately conjured up breakfast memories from last summer in Croatia. We were in Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula and started every morning with a sack of fresh figs, a container NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-69027345627396940852010-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:002010-07-25T22:29:40.155-07:00Shrimp Wonton Soup
If you know me at all, you probably know that I have a serious soft spot for homemade pasta. The fresher and eggier, the better. But within that category, filled pastas are probably my favorite. I can’t imagine not ordering a plate of handmade ravioli, agnolotti or tortellini at a good Italian restaurant, or Chinese dumplings, Himalayan momos or Afghan ravioli at their respective establishmentsNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-45828021024070969092010-06-29T17:03:00.000-07:002010-06-29T17:03:14.800-07:00Pappardelle with Lamb Ragù, Ricotta & Mint
The World Cup came to a screeching halt last Saturday when the U.S. lost against Ghana in overtime. We were at Bill’s Off Broadway watching with a packed house of hardcore fans, including one dressed as George Washington in an American flag cape. It was close, and I do think we got screwed, but in the end, the tragic truth was that the U.S. was out.We left Bill’s with hung heads, teary eyes and NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-6245931284478049442010-06-24T22:24:00.000-07:002010-06-25T11:25:56.047-07:00My New Addiction
I’d like to take a moment and bend your ear about one of my favorite new products: Liberté Méditerranée yogurt. I wouldn’t have even discovered it had it not been for their coconut flavor (I’m an absolute sucker for anything coconut and was powerless to resist grabbing one). ‘Twas a lucky day for them since they scored a returning customer.
I would describe it as a cross between whole milk NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-22366924937137959072010-06-01T14:47:00.000-07:002010-06-01T14:56:39.903-07:00The 36th Annual Duck Dinner
The Duck Dinner has been taking place every year, without fail, for the past 36 years, and last weekend I had the privilege of attending my third. In over three and a half decades, the multi-course feast has never repeated themes (rumor has it that a large binder containing every menu since its inception exists), although they tend to have a strong French influence.
Last year was very Julia NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-85522276541842715922010-05-19T12:03:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:03:59.161-07:00Everything Bagels with Vegetable Cream Cheese
I’m from New York and enjoy a good bagel. There are a few decent ones here in Seattle but none that get me excited. For some reason they haven’t found a way to replicate that chew. So instead of complaining, I decided to try making my own.
I’m the first to admit that baking isn’t my forte but I like a culinary challenge as much as the next guy. After some researching, it appeared that the NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-65817457093342927702010-04-23T11:43:00.000-07:002010-04-23T18:29:49.471-07:00Mexican Hot Chocolate and Churros
I think fried foods get a bad rap. As someone with a nutrition degree, you’d probably expect me to say that you should avoid them like the plague, but that’s just not the case. Their notoriety isn’t completely unwarranted (read fast food French fries, processed donuts and greasy corn dogs), but I will say that when done properly, frying can actually be a delicious, healthy addition to your NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-3861191350853021232010-04-15T21:57:00.000-07:002010-04-16T11:35:30.091-07:00Carne Asada Tacos with Avocado Cream
Back in February I made some very simple and tasty fish tacos. They went over so well that I thought they’d be a fun idea for a casual dinner party, sort of a do-it-yourself affair: a pan of spice-rubbed cod in the center of the table surrounded by stacks of warm corn tortillas and bowls of toppings. So when Erik and Emily came over for dinner on Saturday, I decided to kick it up a notch and addNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-89427522134491540212010-04-13T22:25:00.000-07:002010-04-13T22:27:47.480-07:00Coconut Cream Piephoto by TalleyI almost closed the book on our Easter dinner without mentioning the elected dessert: coconut cream pie. Using the same vein of thinking as the main course, I wanted traditional elements present without having to buy a lamb-shaped cake pan. Plus, quite honestly, I barely need an excuse to make custard.
This is an adaptation of my mom’s recipe: a classic blind-baked crust filled NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-15018010220486942352010-04-09T14:12:00.000-07:002010-04-09T14:41:09.943-07:00Aushakphoto by Talley Every April Tristan reminds me that Easter has always been his least favorite holiday, and through kids’ eyes, I can kind of see why: boring lamb dinner, mandatory dress clothes and no school holiday. I was determined to change at least two of those things.
Last Sunday was actually a big day for us. Not only were we hosting dinner, we were (finally!) planting our garden. First NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-35973590321815293452010-04-01T23:26:00.000-07:002010-04-03T18:56:25.110-07:00Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter
The fact that so many bloggers have both cooked and written extensively about this recipe didn’t dissuade me one bit from doing the same. I’m just embarrassed that it took me so long.
Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter is what I’m talking about. For years it has caused quite a stir, which isn’t surprising considering its delectable flavor. But the real draw is its simplicity. NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-75412240598252292522010-03-28T16:08:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:19:07.410-07:00Cuban Roasted Pork Sandwiches
For the first time in my adult life, I have a garden to tend. I dabbled in container gardening last year from my 3rd floor apartment window (with mixed results) but this is the real deal. We were lucky enough to inherit two garden plots smack dab in the middle of our backyard, plus a narrow strip up against the house. The next 6+ months, I hope, will be filled with all-we-can-eat, -can and –NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-38136690969244794992010-03-23T20:57:00.000-07:002010-03-24T21:12:06.341-07:00Crispy Potato Latkes
My good friend Minh-Hai is dating someone new. And he’s fabulous. Intelligent, open-minded, kind and thoughtful. But the funny thing about Ben is that he doesn’t cook. Actually, that’s an understatement. He doesn’t own a single pot, pan, knife, piece of cutlery or dish. Up until now, take-out and paper plates have kept him alive. But it’s funny what dating a foodie can do to a person. And let meNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-64996976473980359442010-02-28T16:39:00.000-08:002010-03-01T16:25:25.981-08:00White Pizza with Arugula Salad
The last time I was in LA was about 2 years ago. It was Memorial Day weekend and Tristan was going to be on the east coast so I decided to pack my bags and head south for a mini vacation. Besides seeing some of my favorite people (Shana, Tamara & Russ and Sooryun) I was looking forward to some fabulous food.
Shana had to leave town partway through my visit but left me with a thoughtful to-do NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-33169806921777598842010-02-25T21:35:00.000-08:002010-02-27T10:44:04.439-08:00Pappardelle with Spinach, Mascarpone and Lemon
Like most people, I prefer plain, soothing food when I have a troubled stomach (rice pudding and congee have saved the day many-a-time). This was my predicament a few days ago and I couldn’t bear the thought of eating anything with the suggestion of meat or spice. But all is well that ends well because that’s exactly what led me to this dish.
I adore Jamie Oliver. And when it comes to his NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-41550117265198999042010-02-22T19:48:00.000-08:002010-03-04T09:57:26.476-08:00Fish Tacos
I knew a few weeks ago that I would have last Friday off. I also knew a few weeks ago exactly what I’d do with my day of freedom: hit up Salumi’s.
Mario Batalli’s dad, Armandino Batali, owns Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, a little deli in the Pioneer Square district offering top quality Italian meats and cheeses. Since they have especially limited hours (Tues-Friday, 11am-4pm), it’s virtually NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-48106407929925500772010-02-16T22:14:00.000-08:002010-02-18T09:10:37.602-08:00Mini Soft Pretzels
Ever since I saw Deb’s post on miniature soft pretzels, I’ve been looking for a good excuse to make them. Then football season rolled around.
So when Emily and Erik came over to watch a playoff game a few weeks back, I was on it. Besides the usual suspects -- crackers and cheese, roasted peanuts in their shells, chips and salsa -- I wanted to offer a big tray of salty, hot pretzels ready to NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-15016027101880101212010-02-10T20:46:00.000-08:002010-11-02T21:27:44.829-07:00Gnocchi with Sausage, Cream and Roasted Butternut Squash
Back in October I won a $50 gift certificate to La Spiga, an Italian restaurant in Capitol Hill featuring food from the Romagna region. Life became increasingly hectic –- the big move, travel, holidays –- so we didn’t find the time to take advantage until last Saturday.
We arrived a few minutes early and had time to sip a glass of chilled white while taking in the surroundings. The space was NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-41511999850735615102010-02-09T23:02:00.000-08:002010-02-13T12:23:20.867-08:00Cevapci
As most of you know, I hit the dusty trail last summer. My first destination was New York to see family and friends, bookended by Switzerland for the same reason. But the middle was reserved for a region of the world perpetually on the receiving end of my intrigue and fascination: the Balkans.
I grew up in an immigrant church with a fair amount of Yugoslavians, so the people and culture were NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-77228489574276030712010-01-29T11:54:00.000-08:002010-01-29T11:57:48.023-08:00African Peanut Soup with Chicken
I can’t precisely remember what led me to make this peanut soup. I think I was cruising through food blog space and saw Gluten-Free Girl’s post on Marcus Samuelsson’s new book, The Soul of a New Cuisine, and that mouth-watering photo of those squash and apple fritters. Ever since I’ve had African-inspired food on the brain.
I don’t know about you but I always think peanut stews when I think NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-35014048343086596712010-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:002010-02-22T22:27:11.296-08:00Warm Roasted Pepper Salad
We don’t have cable, but if we did we’d be in trouble. Tristan for his sports addiction and me for being a cooking show junkie. We actually get by quite nicely with Netflix. But can I say thank god for PBS? Not only do they air old black and white Julia Child episodes, they have Ming Tsai, Lidia Bastianich and America’s Test Kitchen in their line-up. And in my opinion, these shows are far NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-5980105439232758582010-01-23T20:08:00.000-08:002010-02-22T21:58:37.891-08:00Shepherd's Pie with Lamb Mince
Tristan was horribly sick last week and had to fend for himself for two days straight. After one too many bowls of instant ramen and salt & vinegar potato chips, all he wanted was some home-cooked comfort food. “Something plain with meat,” he said. “What’s more comforting than Shepherd’s Pie,” I thought?Last spring I bought 2 packages of Olsen Farm’s freshly ground lamb (they claim to butcher NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-54382004707732218002010-01-20T22:35:00.000-08:002010-01-23T20:13:56.697-08:00Nude Food's Got a New Kitchen
Wow, it’s been a long time. Not only was I a.w.o.l. during the holiday season (overseas again), but I was incommunicado for a length of time beforehand. This I blame on moving. Yep, we finally said adios to the University District and heeell-o to Capitol Hill. Not only do we finally have some peace and quiet (not many drunk 19 year olds partying at 4am on a Tuesday in this neck of the woods), NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-16179593659587683632009-11-20T14:03:00.000-08:002009-11-20T14:10:11.771-08:00Thai Steak Salad
What I feel like eating is usually pretty clear to me, but last night I was fresh out of ideas. Absolutely nothing sounded good, or at least not enough to justify the effort. I was tired and uninspired. So before giving up, I shot Tristan a text and was surprised when he answered in record time with the words “Thai Steak Salad.” Hey, that sounded pretty good to me, too!
This is yet another NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-873892288918260342009-11-17T19:00:00.000-08:002009-11-20T09:15:36.772-08:00Beer Can Chicken
I had a good time with this one. As a matter of fact, I still chuckle every time I picture it coming out of the oven. But more on that in a minute.Sunday. It’s one of the only days of the week when things slow down enough to have a nice, leisurely dinner. And when I think Sunday dinner, I think roast chicken. Now I have to admit, my classic roast chicken is pretty fine but it has gotten a bit NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-80694274269934045302009-11-15T13:12:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:51:42.347-08:00Soba Noodles with Coconut Peanut Sauce and Boiled Greens
I'm sad to report that we've entered the dark and rainy season in Seattle. Besides feeling covetous toward my neighbors to the south, these atmospheric changes have made something quite evident: my food moods are entirely dictated by the weather.
Of course this is nothing new. I have a hard time getting enough Caprese salad during the hot summer months, or roast chicken and polenta in the NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-71135528717208253482009-11-01T13:03:00.000-08:002009-11-15T13:22:07.660-08:00Rustic Apple Tart
I admit, my mind is still on that raclette dinner we had a few nights ago. Something about it is just so… intoxicating. But I’m here to talk about one of my favorite desserts, the rustic apple tart, which, incidentally, was served that very night.
After a decadent dinner of cheese and potatoes, the last thing I wanted to dish up was a slice of chocolate sludge or caramel stickiness. Enter NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-50516100834753450932009-10-29T14:26:00.000-07:002010-10-03T19:59:16.897-07:00Raclette
I’ll never forget the first time I had raclette. We were introduced to this interactive meal (involving individual pans, wooden scrapers and melted cheese) years ago while visiting family in Switzerland. I also remember declaring on the spot that it was my favorite dish ever.
Since then, I’ve enjoyed raclette a million times over. While the novelty has worn off, the deliciousness hasn’t.
NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-27627917265752435772009-10-21T20:53:00.000-07:002009-11-15T13:23:18.856-08:00Cookie Swap
Julia Usher, author of the new book Cookie Swap, was in town this week as part of her whirlwind book tour. I saw her speak at a private food blogging event at the recently unveiled Sur la Table at The Bravern in Bellevue. (It’s really beautiful, by the way. Lots of space to move, unlike its sister at Pike Place Market).
The book itself is impressive with over 50 charming recipes, gorgeous NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-64575252422164359492009-10-13T17:39:00.000-07:002009-11-15T13:23:32.437-08:00Really Good Banana Bread
It never crosses my mind to make banana bread, probably because I’m not the world’s biggest fan of cake-y things. But how many time-tested ways are there to use almost rotten bananas? Slim pickins as far as I’m concerned. So when I noticed 4 very brown bananas on the counter this weekend, I knew that Tristan (who has a real soft spot for banana bread) would appreciate a loaf.
Banana/zucchini NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-47184669500782530682009-10-12T19:03:00.000-07:002009-11-15T13:23:46.173-08:00Beer and Chocolate Braised Short Ribs
I went to the farmers’ market on Saturday with a specific purpose: fresh, raw cream. Unfortunately, my love of leisurely weekend mornings got the better of me… again. La Boucherie was sold out by 10am. Damn! Next weekend calls for an alarm.
So I walked around for a bit, determined to go home with something delicious. And that’s when the sign from The Beef Shop caught my eye: grass-fed beef NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-32043609614870305582009-10-09T16:09:00.000-07:002009-11-15T13:23:58.975-08:00Baba Ganoush
As I’ve mentioned before, whipping up some homemade Baba ganoush, or Eggplant Caviar, has been on my to-do list for quite some time. Ever since discovering Zoey Catering's Melitzanosalata at Madison Market -- so creamy with whole roasted cloves of garlic -- I’ve had a one-track mind. Unfortunately, my good intentions haven’t lead to anything other than the discovery of rotten eggplants in the NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-28584309679078555592009-10-06T17:25:00.000-07:002009-11-15T13:24:13.924-08:00Strawberry Cream Tart
Our good friends Casey and Jen, who have the most adorable little boy Phineas, invited us over for dinner the other night. Even though I’m not a baker, I somehow always get assigned dessert duty, which is surprising since the last time we were there, I brought a complicated, from-scratch butterscotch pudding that was so über-sweet, our teeth practically fell out. I saw this as a chance to NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-86318488334934762872009-10-05T17:17:00.000-07:002009-10-29T14:35:45.761-07:00Broiled Eggplant Sandwiches
Before delving into remembrances of vacations past, I’d like to share this sandwich with you. After weeks of European indulgences, Tristan and I were in the mood for veggies. Something no-fuss but warm. So before heading off to the University District Farmers’ Market, we frantically flipped through 2 back issues of Gourmet for inspiration. The Grilled Eggplant Parmigiana Heros started waving NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-83361905851559056482009-10-04T11:42:00.000-07:002009-10-06T09:07:51.243-07:00Brunch at TilthWhile I've been back from my vacation for over a week, I left little slivers of my heart in each place we visited. For over a month, my biggest questions involved what to eat, whether to go swimming and red or white. Needless to say, the transition back to the real world was inevitable bus nonetheless challenging.In an attempt to lessen the blow, we treated ourselves to brunch at Tilth, an NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-84952536593397735432009-08-24T12:03:00.000-07:002009-09-25T17:32:26.510-07:00On the RoadI would like to let my lovely readers know that NudeFood will be on sabbatical until late September. In about 1 hour, I will be en route to the airport to take a flight to my paternal homeland, Switzerland, where I will see lots of family and eat loads of delicious food. Tristan and I will also spend time traveling through Slovenia, Croatia and France. I promise to take copious amounts of photos NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-4191058147848943422009-08-15T14:10:00.000-07:002009-10-06T17:48:54.387-07:00Friday Fish FryI apologize for being incommunicado but I've been on the road. Before embarking on a 4-week European adventure, I went back to upstate New York to spend some time with my family. By and large, these annual visits take place during December when it's cold and snowy so it was a complete treat to experience a hot, humid New York summer again.I can't write about this leg of my journey without payingNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-29049651966814709782009-08-06T09:32:00.001-07:002009-08-13T07:50:28.431-07:00Creamy Rice PuddingAs you know, I had a run-in with some greasy Tex-Mex the other night. While it was tasty enough, my stomach revolted. I can't blame it solely on those enchiladas though. We've been doing a lot of heavy, celebratory eating and I think it simply added up. When I have agida (Italian-American slang for indigestion), I crave poached eggs with buttered toast and, oftentimes, rice pudding. Well, last NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-83181273769048778362009-08-05T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-08T10:56:05.969-07:00Mama's Mexican KitchenI'm originally from upstate New York, meaning that my idea of Mexican food was somewhat limited to chain restaurants serving cheesy, greasy, gooey glop with sour cream on top. It never sat well and, for most of my life, I thought Mexican food and I just didn't mix. Of course now I know better after having experienced the fresh, citrusy Mexican dishes of the west coast. My favorite joint in NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-47155451273197745682009-08-03T09:35:00.000-07:002009-08-08T10:50:03.266-07:00The HerbfarmThere are places like Chez Panisse and The French Laundry that I only dream of patronizing. They're not simply restaurants but events for which one saves and plans. And The Herbfarm in Woodinville, Washington is no exception.A few months ago we were informed that Tristan's godfather, who lives and works in Switzerland, would be visiting and, in honor of the big law school graduation, planned to NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-53720396263080109342009-08-02T14:26:00.000-07:002009-08-03T18:48:35.739-07:00MaximilienLast Friday was the first day in, I don't know, MONTHS, that Tristan and I had to ourselves. No studying, no work, no visitors, just us. So we set off for downtown to have a leisurely lunch, walk around in the sunshine and shop. As expected, Pike Place Market was bursting at the seams with tourists. We considered grabbing lunch at one of the popular stands (for me, a falafel from Mr. D's Greek NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-56201042976304931892009-07-29T08:09:00.001-07:002009-08-04T09:02:26.583-07:00Asian Broccoli Chicken Salad I asked Tristan what he would like for dinner after the first day of the monstrous BAR exam. Without a moment's hesitation he answered, "broccoli and chicken salad with an Asian dressing." He was a bit cloudy on the details but was clearly craving some clean-tasting brain food. What began as a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants experiment lead to fortuitous results: crunchy, bright green broccoli, NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-6329567261797138222009-07-28T07:55:00.000-07:002009-08-01T11:17:43.662-07:00Heirloom PanzanellaI know I sound like a broken record but man, it's hot in Seattle! To the point where even when hungry, it's too much of a bother to eat. The most I feel like attempting is opening a bag of tortilla chips and dumping my favorite salsa into a bowl. But the BAR exam has begun and Tristan needs to be well-nourished.So I decided to make Panzanella, the perfect hot weather food. It's a Tuscan bread NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-42855923653255321922009-07-27T18:48:00.000-07:002009-07-29T19:58:32.209-07:00Island-Style ChickenThe picture doesn't do it justice. But it was late and we were tired, hot and hungry so the plated version, ever so carefully drizzled with citrus sauce, never made it to the digital realm. So you'll just have to trust me on this one. Tristan's sister, Cecily, is in town partaking in all sorts of familial, outdoorsy adventures before heading off to Paris. The past 2 weeks have been wild and crazyNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-10803297485130754242009-07-20T14:39:00.001-07:002009-07-24T14:23:45.302-07:00Shrimp Ravioli and Red Vodka SauceI've been waiting for this moment - when my pasta-making adventures would bring me face to face with the queen bee herself, ravioli - for a very long time. As you may already know, I get weak in the knees around the stuff. It's what I order anytime I go back to New York. It's what I dream about when I'm not in New York. I've got it bad. I find store-bought ravioli incredibly uninteresting. And NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-89124443788389356412009-07-17T10:41:00.001-07:002009-07-21T18:58:52.787-07:00LicorousFor quite some time I've been meaning to sit down and write a post about Licorous, a wonderful little restaurant/bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. I recently went there for happy hour and was most pleasantly surprised. Actually, I knew it would be good since my friend Jane, who takes cooking and eating very seriously, vouched for it. Not only was the atmosphere warm and enchanting,NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-84032035445365304092009-07-12T17:45:00.000-07:002009-07-19T16:53:01.439-07:00Fresh Pasta with English Peas, Pancetta & Goat CheeseMy good friend Martha, who is spending a few months back in New York City, generously lent me her old-school pasta machine for the summer, which is really exciting. I've wanted a pasta machine for years but as a perpetually poor student, could never muster the courage to part with a few hundred bones. I think it's been a subconscious decision to hold out for that second-hand deal of the century, NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-73146146318541714852009-07-09T15:20:00.000-07:002009-07-12T19:11:39.781-07:00Marination MobileSeattle street food is making a resurgence. Hungry nightlifers no longer have to choose between a cream cheese hot dog from a corner cart or the Taco Bell drive thru; serious options have arrived.First, there's Skillet, an old airstream trailer that has been transformed into a gourmet kitchen on wheels. They offer high-end comfort food at incredibly reasonable prices. Their menus change but have NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-13962644020442429972009-07-06T17:25:00.000-07:002009-07-06T18:22:38.369-07:00Old School Frozen CustardThis post has me pretty excited. Number one: I'm from New York. Number two: I extol the deliciousness of custard, in all its forms, on a regular basis. So when Old School Frozen Custard opened the doors of their new Capitol Hill location, I was delirious with joy. This creamier, smoother, eggier version of ice cream originated on Coney Island in the 1920's and, like corn dogs, gained popularity NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-21265191957221161242009-06-21T14:53:00.000-07:002009-06-24T21:26:59.865-07:00Garlic Scape OmeletWhen I saw the first bunches of garlic scapes this year, I quickly thought of all the wonderful things I couldn't wait to make. I knew the season was short so I'd have to act fast. But life got really busy and time whizzed by. I was crestfallen when I realized that the window had closed and I'd have to wait another year for those garlicky shoots with that asparagus crunch.Or so I thought. There NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-27082725991579180472009-06-20T21:19:00.001-07:002009-06-24T18:32:23.652-07:00Shrimp and Avocado Spring RollsSince moving to Seattle, I've come to appreciate (and crave) a wide array of Asian cuisines. There aren't many other cities offering first-rate Laotian, Indonesian and Malaysian food within a 1 mile radius, not to mention hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurants and Vietnamese Pho shops on just about every corner. So when I get a hankering for crispy fried egg rolls, I don't have to go far. And when NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-21360169196428406532009-06-15T15:14:00.000-07:002009-06-21T14:44:46.110-07:00Chez SheaLast weekend marked a momentous occasion: Tristan graduated from law school (and perhaps even more momentous, I survived three years of Tristan being in law school). Despite the fact that it's not quite over -- he has about a month and a half to prepare for the dreaded BAR exam -- we stopped everything and took the weekend to celebrate. And what better way than a luxurious dinner (thanks to very NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-65354575897144868602009-06-08T11:52:00.000-07:002009-06-15T12:43:24.895-07:00Whipped Cauliflower and Watercress with Goat CheeseI recently finished the book Julie and Julia, a wacky tale of an unsatisfied secretary who, in an attempt to bring meaning back to her life, vows to cook all 524 recipes in julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1, in one year's time. As you can imagine, the book is chock-full of buttery, creamy dishes, not to mention the occassional eggs/chicken in aspic. But one recipe in NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-38195122408325917322009-06-07T15:17:00.000-07:002009-06-11T13:14:06.504-07:00French Baked EggsIf you want to get my goat, tell me that you have egg substitute in your refrigerator. Just writing it makes me shake my head in despair. Why on earth would anyone choose colored, preserved egg whites from a carton over nature's most perfect food? Are we that obsessed with cholesterol points? Have we forgotten that mother nature is a crafty engineer and put some lecithin in the yolks to NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-86997900424341133522009-06-06T12:41:00.000-07:002009-06-07T19:20:29.458-07:00Country PatéI can't remember the first time I had paté or foie gras, but it seems that I've always loved it. That smooth, moussey texture with an intense mineral-rich taste. Then last year at Cremant, a French restaurant in Seattle's Madrona neighborhood, I had the opportunity to try a much more rustic, courser paté: Paté de Campagne, or Country Paté. To me, it seemed like the perfect picnic food, meant to NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-51370052809136784662009-06-04T21:09:00.000-07:002009-06-12T09:45:05.033-07:00Panna Cotta with Rhubarb Coulis "Pudding" is one of my least favorite words, especially when the "g" is dropped. Such an awful mixture of letters for such a delightful concoction. Regardless, I'd take custard or pudding over cake any day, even on my birthday. And panna cotta! That just might be my absolute favorite.I remember the very first time I had it. It was summertime in Switzerland and I was at a friend's house for NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-60419000930594189052009-06-01T10:53:00.000-07:002009-06-04T23:18:56.565-07:00Tea and CrumpetsWe had company this weekend. Tristan's cousin Kate flew up from Oakland to check out Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA and then made her way north to hang out with us. It was a fabulous night with dinner, drinks and good conversation until the wee hours. She was leaving the next day and after very little thought, we knew just where to take her for breakfast: The Crumpet Shop, located in NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-89044852187308961102009-05-31T11:56:00.000-07:002009-06-12T09:51:40.800-07:00The Italian Store SandwichI enjoy a good sandwich. But they're not always easy to come by. Don't get me wrong, Seattle certainly has a few "not to be missed" establishments, including Mario Batalli's father's meat shop, Salumi. Here you can get a sandwich carefully layered with hand-cured artisan salami, house-made mozzarella and fresh figs - simple, good ingredients without a lot of bells and whistles. There's also the NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-17031060039263232452009-05-26T20:43:00.000-07:002009-06-12T10:01:56.119-07:00The 35th Annual Duck DinnerLast weekend I had the distinct honor of attending my 2nd duck dinner. And let me tell you, there's nothing like it.The tradition began in 1974 in upstate NY when a University of Buffalo PhD student rescued a handful of baby ducks from an imprint study. Having escaped their destiny in a fiery furnace, they were given a home in the basement of a student house. Before long, the fluffy chicks turnedNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-80793520842230616852009-05-18T12:18:00.000-07:002009-06-04T23:28:06.435-07:00Ruth Reichl's Last MealI can't believe it. I met Ruth Reichl. Knowing what an immense Ruth Reichl fan I am, my amazing friend Minh-Hai pulled all sorts of connection strings to get me a spot at a Seattle food blogging event with the diva herself on Friday. On a nationwide book tour, she made time to talk to a roomful of devout foodies about her newest book, "Not Becoming My Mother."Finding out who her mother really wasNudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-50262943446323742162009-05-18T10:35:00.000-07:002009-05-18T13:12:30.568-07:00Olivar Hosts Ruth ReichlThat's right, the queen herself was in town. On a nationwide tour promoting her new book, "Not Becoming My Mother," Ruth Reichl made time in her busy schedule to chat with a small food blogging network this past Friday. The event took place at Olivar, a quaint Spanish-themed restaurant in Capitol Hill's beautiful Loveless building.Drinks were furnished by Michaela's Vineyard, located at Vin du NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-30508630092911086952009-05-11T20:51:00.000-07:002009-06-01T10:53:24.457-07:00Pancake Batter in a CanI didn't plan on blogging about this, but I can't resist. Did you know that they now sell pancake batter in a SPRAY CAN? And it's organic! I was walking through the store minding my own business when it popped up on my radar. I took a classic double-take, then stood there and stared with my jaw on the floor. Have we really come to this? Is it officially too difficult to mix a few simple NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-38616659706994490272009-05-09T18:42:00.000-07:002009-06-01T15:29:27.961-07:00Crispy Fried Brown Rice with LentilsThe other day I pulled two lovely links of basil garlic chicken sausage out of the freezer to defrost - they were to accompany a purple potato dish I was making for the first time. Unfortunately, my plans fell through. I was terribly busy that day and didn't return to the kitchen until 9pm that night, too tired to cook, much less find the energy to chew and digest a sausage. I decided they would NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-63798368701716915042009-05-04T11:01:00.000-07:002009-05-10T16:40:21.371-07:00Strawberry Rhubarb CompoteMy mom should be in the running for the title of "Best Pie Baker in the U.S. of A." I'm not kidding. I've eaten homemade slices all over this country and nary a one has held a candle to Mom's pastry perfection. I know, I know. Lots of people think their moms' pies are the best but this is for reals. I've seen complete strangers look up in utter disbelief after taking a bite. The secret is in her NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-49078585526825831322009-05-04T09:46:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:11:15.811-07:00Collard Green PureeWhen I was living in Winterthur, Switzerland, my favorite street vendor was a man by the name of Hansueli. He was tall and trim with a long mane of thick curly hair. His impeccable language skills indicated that he was well traveled, as did his earthy garments. He operated a very popular crêpe stand: vegetarian, all organic, both sweet and savory. No matter the time of year, there was always a NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-89034615120899756722009-04-27T17:36:00.000-07:002010-11-28T21:56:09.609-08:00Manna from Heaven
Certain things come to mind when I picture a Thanksgiving spread, the most obvious being the bird, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. I look forward to eating each and every one of those traditional dishes with absolute fervor but I kid you not, the unexpected star of last Thanksgiving dinner was a loaf of bread. Our friend Talley made Jim Lahey's celebrated No-Knead Bread that NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-83901305783979879782009-04-27T11:24:00.000-07:002009-04-28T13:45:51.387-07:00The First Taste of SpringTristan and I went to the University District farmers market on Saturday with the simple intentions of getting breakfast (buckwheat crepes) and buying a dozen free range eggs. Good thing I brought two bags because we filled them both. Not only did we get three types of lettuce and two parsley starters for our urban garden window boxes, we filled the kitchen counters with curly fiddle heads, NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-62074271386562547692009-04-20T22:22:00.000-07:002010-11-18T21:43:07.731-08:00Breakfast of ChampionsI was five years old when I performed my first cooking demonstration. It was back in New York at the old Clockville courthouse, which doubled as our voting hall. I practiced for weeks under the tutelage of my parents ("don't say 'you,'" "make eye contact," "smile") until it was flawless, by 5 year old standards anyway.
The big day finally came. When my name was called, I got up, stuck out my NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-8545622228947231382009-04-19T13:33:00.000-07:002010-09-26T12:10:50.046-07:00Stock Options
One thing a pantry shouldn't be without is stock. I always have a few cartons on hand for a quick potato leek soup, creamy risotto, or one of my favorite wintertime dishes, Italian beans and greens. All of these come together in a snap with the magic of store-bought broth. But lately I'm feeling haunted by the army of vegetable skins and nubs I throw away without a second thought. Oh sure, I've NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875772483141879928.post-70373459780534708472009-04-13T20:14:00.000-07:002010-09-26T12:06:38.906-07:00Roasted Roots
It's April in Seattle. This means a few tantalizing, sunny days sandwiched between 25 days of umbrellas and rain boots. This year, just for kicks, Mother Nature decided to play a cruel joke on us sun-starved Seattleites: she let it snow on April 1st. Ha ha, good one. Now I get April Fool's.
As long as this chilly, damp weather remains, I'll continue craving me some stick-to-your-ribs comfort NudeFoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233896667673679769noreply@blogger.com0