Archive for Food and other Fun Stuff

 As I tweeted last night @reGeezer:

Celebrated anniversary at Del Posto in Meat Packing District. Had 7 course tasting menu- local ingredients paired w/Italian EVOO+wine. Wow!

 Below is the menu from Del Posto’s site. Our favorites were the ostrich and the 100 Layer lasagne!

                                                                  Menu Tradizionale

ASSAGGI
Champagne “Fleur de L’Europe,” Fleury Brut NV France

Del Posto CRUDO with Homegrown Herbs & Burrata
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ROI: Cru Riva Gianca, Riviera dei Fiori DOP 2009/ 2010 Liguria
Cinque Terre “Marea,” Bisson 2008 Liguria

Apician Spiced OSTRICH, Date Conserva, Lovage & Barley Crisps
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, La Mola, Sabina DOP 2009/2010 Lazio
Copper Ale “Spring Fling,” Blue Point Brewing Co. New York

Sheep’s Milk Ricotta NUDI di Uovo, Bird’s Nest Style
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lungarotti, Umbria Colli Martani DOP 2010/2011 Umbria
Friulano, Meroi 2007 Friuli

100 Layer LASAGNE alla Piastra
Butter, Beppino Occelli April 2011 Piemonte
Morellino di Scansano “I Perazzi,” La Mozza 2008 Toscana

VEAL Braciole, Roasted Porcini alla Cacciatore & Broccoli Blossoms
Extra Virgin Olive OIl, Zamparelli 2010/2011 Campania
Barolo “Rocchettevino,” Bovio 1999 Piemonte

PECORINO Fresco with Warm Eucalyptus Honey and Saffron
“TOCAI PLUS,” Bastianich 2006 Friuli

Nectarine ARROSTO, Basil Gelato & Grilled Lemon Cake
Extra Virgin Olive OIl, Mondranova 2010/2011 Sicilia
Passito di Pantelleria, “Ben Rye,” Donnafugata 2008 Sicilia

 

While checking out the food blogs this morning, I saw this wonderful little video on the Chow.com The “sous vide” style low boil described in the video is a simplistic, yet effective variation on the much more precise method used by some professional chefs. (I tried it  and the eggs poached that way-but for a little less time- are really excellent!)

Sous vide literally means under pressure vacuum (thanks to Addélice’s comment) and refers to a cooking technique in which the chef seals food into an airtight plastic bag with a vacuum-packer (like a food saver or Seal-A-Meal) and then simmers it in water at a low and precise temperature.

The sous vide cooking method is memorialized in the book Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide by Thomas Keller, famed chef-proprietor of  Per Se in the Time Warner building in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle and The French Laundry in Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley. The book includes commercial preparation of receipts like Compressed Watermelon and Hayden Mango “Yolk”Salad of Heirloom Beets, Anjou Pear, Mache with Candied Walnuts and Blue Goat Cheese Coulis;   Air-cured Waygu, Treviso Leaves, Compressed Asian Pear and Whipped Pine Nut Oil.

The secret to sous vide is discovering the exact temperature required to achieve the most sublime results. My wife and I discovered these sublime results when we celebrated our anniversary last august at Per Se.

Midori Spider Kiss Coctail for Halloween

Midori Spider Kiss Coctail for Halloween

Americans spend an estimated $7 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday.   And in recent years, more adults have taken to the holiday by dressing up and celebrating at parties.  This year, after all the little superheroes, pirates, witches and bumble bees have tucked into bed, make a grownup toast to ghosts with this new Midori Spider’s Kiss.

Created by award-winning Mixologist Victoria D’Amato-Moran, this festive cocktail not only stands as a refreshment, but decor as well.  “The colors and details of the Spider’s Kiss add a dramatic flair to the occasion,” says D’Amato-Moran who suggests using frosted glasses for an added ghostly feel or grenadine for a bloody spider bite effect.

Midori Spider’s Kiss

1 oz. Midori® Melon Liqueur

1 oz. SKYY® Vodka

Fresh Lemon

Garnish with an orange slice

Draw a chocolate web into a martini glass. Place in freezer and chill for a ghostly effect. Shake all ingredients and strain into glass.  For a blood effect, drizzle grenadine down the side of the glass. Garnish with a chocolate dipped orange slice.

For information on Midori and additional cocktail recipes, please visit their website.