Sofra.. So Delicious

The first I heard of Ana Sortun was about 4 years ago, when she won a James Beard award for Best Chef in the Northeast. I was intrigued by Oleana's Mediterranean and Turkish influenced menu. I eventually bought the chef's cookbook Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean, but it languished on the bookshelf. I was way too intimidated by the shopping list required to tackle the exotic recipes in my kitchen.

Fast forward to June 2009. I headed to Beantown for conference and finally ate at Oleana! It was such a remarkable meal, filled with wonderful new flavors. Doug & Sip also mentioned the chef has a casual cafe in Cambridge serving wonderful baked goods, mezzes and flatbreads. I tried to visit before I left Boston, but it wasn't meant to be. Doug was busy (working, of all things), the rain was endless and it seemed awfully out of my way for lunch.

I've been plotting a trip to Sofra ever since my train pulled out of the Back Bay. Last week, just in the nick of time, I convinced Chrsitine we should make a detour before heading back from KW's baby shower. We sampled 5 mezzes and the lamb schwarma with cousa squash and yogurt and washed everything a perfect glass of mint iced tea. Next time I'm going to try the iced tea with pine nuts! My favorite dish is still the Moroccan carrot salad (also on the menu at Oleana). You can buy other prepared foods to-go and more ambitous home cooks may want to pick up spice packs and try re-creating a little Oleana magic at home.

Sofra Bakery

1 Belmont St
Cambridge, MA 02138-4404
(617) 661-3161
http://www.sofrabakery.com/

Oleana
134 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02139-1421
(617) 661-0505
http://www.oleanarestaurant.com/

no blight here

This summer we got a ton of rain in June and it really set the growing season back. A lot of folks in the Northeast were struck by a tomato blight, heck even Martha's garden in Westchester NY wasn't safe!

As bumbling backyard growers, we were lucky our crop has done just fine. In this photo there are patio tomatoes from our deck, larger grape tomatoes and the lovely yellow sun sugars.

a summer treat

I think it's the second summer since Treats knocked down their ramshackle farm stand and built a big new barn as the focal point of their summer market and plant center. We've been away so much that I really haven't been there this summer even though it's just up the road! There are a lots of specialty items, and while the price is a bit higher, it's so convenient that I am thankful to have this much local produce only a few miles away.

It's a lovely shopping experience and on Saturdays there are local fish and meat purveyors as well. Get there early on Saturday, there are often limited amts of native fruits veggies, and Judies bread. Oh and don't forget those chocolate chip cookies in the jar by the register. They come with or without nuts. You can wash them down with Trinity Farm milk that comes in the old-fashioned thick glass bottles.

Robert Treat Farm

1339 New Haven Avenue
Milford, CT 06460

(203) 878-4270

http://roberttreatfarm.com/

eating your way through downtown northampton

Last weekend I went up to Northampton MA for a belated 10 yr reunion with college friends. We started things off at the rooftop beer garden at the Northampton Brewery. If it's a hot day most of the deck is in shade or under an umbrella and they provide a nice mist to keep things cool. It's a good spot for a larger group and I was pretty surprised we didn't end up coming home with a growler.





















It was a toss up, but between Spoleto and Green Street Cafe for dinner. Another foodie mentioned the College was trying to evict this long-time staple from its spot on the edge of campus and I decided we better go in case it closes! I never went to Green Street Cafe much as a poor student, was first introduced to it by an alum who hosted a reunion for our landscape trip to Japan!

I recommend ordering the duck breast with polenta entree and closing things down with a cool pineapple sorbet. The handwritten menu is a little difficult to read (those L's are tricky), but I that's part of the charm. Also there are picnic tables and a grill out back for burgers , dogs, & chicken on the patio. Sounds like a great option for lunch.

















I think there might have been a mutiny if the group didn't stop at Herrell's for ice cream. Ironically, no one wanted to get a medium (or larger) size serving required for the full smoosh-in effect. I tried their no-moo (dairy free) black raspberry and it was creamy, but of course no comparison to the real thing!



















We dropped in on my *favorite* art history professor who I haven't seen in years! She and Dan (who was really my true college advisor) introduced us to Hungry Ghost Bread. It's fabulous! If you are in Northampton I strongly recommend you stop in and get loaf of this deliciousness.

Dan and Dana offered such a nice late morning snack and as we chatted in their screened porch, Luna the cat occasionally wandered through. I also don't want to forget about lime zest on top of the smoked salmon. What a nice citrus surprise!

The good news is the Vistas dvd/website has been taken on by a university press and will hopefully be published next year.


















We all stayed together in a B&B in Hatfield which meant a few trips in and out of Northampton along Rt 5. I finally got curious about the River Valley Market up on the hillside along I-91 and I discovered it's a new co-op (non-members are welcome) that has been open for about a year. I wish we had something like this nearby in Connecticut!
















Unforuntately, I ate way too much at dinner to even consider drinking beer at the Dirty Truth. We had a few hard core beer connoisseurs in our group and they had read about this beer hall on the Blind Tiger blog so we decided this was our best best for after dinner. They have quite a beer selection- you can start to see how much they have on tap in this photo!



















Last but not least, I insisted on eating lunch at Amanouz Cafe. I chose the highly recommended herbed eggs which are actually steamed and wonderfully light under the dill-rich gravy. Photographed here is my friend's Bastilla, chicken and almonds topped with filo and dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. I heard the same proprietors also own Mosaic Cafe which is reported to have nicer ambiance and an outdoor patio. I'm definitely checking it out next time.

As always, here's my list "next time" list for Northampton:

Woodstar Cafe 60 Masonic St # B (inside a firehouse and recommended for lunch)
Mosaic Cafe 78 Masonic St (same owners as Amanouz)
Hugo's Pleasant St. (a true dive? recommended for some local valley flavor after dinner)
Local Burgers and Fries 16 Main St # 1(like five guys, but for locavores?)

Mashing with Snoop and Martha

The juxtaposition of Martha and Snoop is just priceless. When is SnoopDog Fatherhood coming back to E! anyway?

sloppy's

Sloppy's is the closest restaurant to our house. It's definitely a local neighborhood spot and it has the lumpiest booths ever, but that's part of its charm! Despite the seating, we still enjoy dropping in for a quick, convenient bite of Mexican food.

On the weekends they breakout some unhealthy specialties for dessert. I never would have tried the fried oreos, but a friend ordered them and it's basically a doughnut around an oreo and you really can't go wrong there. Need an extra dollop of trouble? Add some vanilla ice cream.

Usually I stick to ordering the steak tacos al carbon or the tamales.

Sloppy Jose's Mexican Restaurant
186 Hillside Avenue
Milford, CT 06460
(203)-878-9847
http://www.sloppyjoses.com/

return to the golden lamb

The Golden Lamb Buttery is a unique dining experience in Brooklyn, CT and we celebrated my birthday here a few years ago. While there was a hayride accompanied by strumming and singing musicians before dinner, I really enjoyed our recent 1 pm lunch on the farm. We practically had the entire deck (and sweeping vista to the lake) all to ourselves. You'll want to have a reservation, but chances are you aren't wandering through this area by accident...






















The Golden Lamb Buttery
499 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, CT 06234
(860) 774-4423
http://www.thegoldenlamb.com/

strawberry delight

I've been waiting for the first strawberries of the season and apparently we were the first paying customers at this farmstand in beautiful Pomfret, Connecticut.

Lapsley Orchard
403 Orchard Hill Road (Route 169)
Pomfret Center, CT 06259
(860) 928-9186

kyo ya

We read about Kyo Ya in Tasting Table and the New Yorker and decided to check it out last week. When D called for reservations, they answered in Japanese! We decided not to do the kaiseki and just wander our way through the menu on our own. For our first sashimi course (pictured above) we had striped jack and salmon trout. My favorite was the pressed sushi with eel, but we also are pretty curious about the most expensive thing on the dinner menu, $40 seasonal kamadaki rice dish cooked for an hour in a clay pot. Our server assured us it was delicious. Maybe next time! The only other serious Japanese restaurant I've tried in NYC is Kai above the Ito En tea shop on the Upper East Side. I found this hidden spot a little less intimidating. It's small and filled with Japanese nationals and has jazz standards tinkling quietly in the background. You'll definitely need a reservation.

After finishing dinner, we fell in love with the soba tea. In fact we heard you can purchase it at Sunrise Mart on 3rd Ave and St Marks. We will be hunting this down the next time we are in the East Village, it has a wonderful nutty taste and aroma.

Kyo Ya
94 E. Seventh St., downstairs (1st Ave.)
NY, NY 10003
(212) 982-4140

No diet Coke, no skim milk, no decaf coffee—Just good food

Usually there's no time for breakfast when I'm inside Grand Central, but that's about to change now that I found a place with good coffee and good eats on the lower level of the station. Give yourself an extra 15 min and you sit at the counter and have toast with nutella or eggs with proscuitto or spinach. It's all cooked to order and served quickly so you can dash off to your train or to your next destination in Manhattan.

Caffe Pepe Rosso
lower concourse
Grand Central Terminal
New York, NY

the best blueberry pancakes

A friend on FB asked about the best blueberry pancakes in CT and my vote goes to Little Lasse's on Naugatuck Ave in Milford CT. Phil makes the best pancakes, they are slightly crispy on the edges and the only other ones that come close in my book are at Downeyflake in Nantucket, MA.

We also to happen to like the scrambled eggs and diced ham.

Little Lasse's
268 Naugatuck Ave.
Milford, CT 06460
203-878-7577

aldo's: closed is the new open

Deterred by the lack of lights and the prominently placed CLOSED (Nishiki brand) sign in the window, I almost caused us to miss Aldo's in Greenport, NY. If you are lucky enough to get the 'good' macchiato be sure to at least taste it before adding any sugar. And note when ordering two cups, the plural is cappuccini.

We watched this white-haired propiertor rummage around in his pile of bills and coins on the back counter (who needs a cash register?) and noticed that it doesn't quite seem like he's moved in to this space yet. Apparently a few others are scratching their head as well, but it doesn't matter, if you see Aldo and the door's unlocked, go in and get a serious cup of coffee.

More on Aldo Maiorana

Aldo's
136 Front St
Greenport, NY 11944
(631) 477-6300

breakfast on broadway

When traveling with others, I try to remain flexible because you can't always set your own agenda. Sunday was our last day in Newport and I was excited to call my own shots. I wanted to try Norey's for breakfast. It was closed. We saw the Hungry Monkey already looked quite full so we went across the street to Jack and Josie's. it looks more like an internet cafe, but we were quite happy with our meal and the quiet ambience. I had hot cakes stuffed with lemon zest and ricotta with a bit of cool sour cream on the side.























I was glad we wandered futher afield from downtown to check out the Broadway restaurants. I fell in love with the Gulf sign inside Salvation Cafe and noticed Tucker's Bistro where I had hoped to eat on Thursday, but alas we didn't make it to Newport early enough.

Jack & Josie's
111 Broadway
http://www.jackandjosies.com/

Norey's
156 Broadway

Hungry Monkey
124 Broadway
http://thehungrymonkeycafe.com/

Salvation Cafe
140 Broadway
http://www.salvationcafe.com/

Tucker's Bistro
150 Broadway
http://www.tuckersbistro.com/


For more dining recommendations here's a great place to start:
http://www.bestofnewport.com/newport-rhode-island-restaurants.htm

scales & shells

Friends of ours have a second home in Narragansett and we were lucky that they know Newport well enough to recommend Scales for our dinner. It's all seafood and it's nothing fancy inside, but had a lovely meal. We began with clams and oysters on the half shell. D had a skate wing piccata and I had a toro tuna, cooked medium rare over a wood grill. It was simply the best fish I've eaten since we were at Fore Street in Portland. I also enjoyed their grilled veggie kebab that even has a mini corn-on-the-cob jammed on the end!

A few things to note: Scales does not take reservations (luckily it was off-season and we walked right in around 7PM) and they do not take credit cards. I'm also told there is a fancier version above, called Upscales, but I was would be perfectly happy to return to the same spot.

Scales and Shells
527 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 846-FISH (3474)
http://www.scalesandshells.com/

After dinner we headed to Cafe Zelda for dark and stormies, but the bar also serves food and we had alternately planned to go there first for apps there if we had to wait for a table at Scales.

every cheese has a story

Usually we go to the Villa Gourmet in Milford for our cheese, but we were running Derby Day errands in New Haven and stopped off at Caseus, another favorite shop (and restaurant) for some provisions. Unfortunately it was way too crowded to eat lunch upstairs and I find the lower level a bit too cave-like on a nice day, so we went to Pot au Pho for lunch instead.


















Caseus
93 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 624-3373
www.caseusnewhaven.com

cranberry beans

Last weekend I looked for spring peas for Easter, but I couldn't find fresh peas anywhere. We stopped at M&M farms in Milford and I saw these cranberry beans, I thought they were so beautiful with their speckled beans tucked inside the thick mottled pink and green shells. I was so disappointed when the pink specks faded as the beans cook. I used them in a cold salad with edamame, asparagus and mint, courtesy of Mark Bittman's vegetarian cookbook.

All of my Easter weekend photos are taken with the new Canon G10, I haven't exactly read the manual yet and I think it shows!!

mashed potato pizza

Our friends came all the way from New York for mashed potato pizza at BAR in New Haven. I have heard good things about this combo, but have always been dubious. Today I became a believer. I love the buttery mashed potatoes on the white pie with the hints of rosemary and garlic.

BAR

254 Crown St
New Haven
(203) 495-1111

charming wall

Last weekend we were in the West Village for lunch at Blind Tiger. I wanted to find a bakery in the area and Patisserie Claude gets high praise on the food boards. I didn't buy the famous croissants, but did love the plum tart and the mini hazelnut macaroons. The interior's not much to look at, but the sweets took me back to the streets of Paris.

A few doors up from the patisserie, this print from by Doug Morrison caught my eye. Charming Wall sells a varied selection of affordable prints ($20 print, $40 with mat, $80 framed) and I loved the quirky selection of prints.

Patisserie Claude
187 W 4th Street
(between Barrow St & Jones St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-5911

Charming Wall
191 West 4th Street
(between 6th and 7th)
New York, NY 10014
212-206-8235
open 12-7pm

blog: http://charmingwall.typepad.com/

Life's a garden, Dig it..

Growing a garden is one of the last things on this green earth that I thought I would allocate time to. Why would I spend precious time digging in the dirt when I could be golfing? We planted a meager little veggie garden last year and got quite a bit of yield. I must admit it was flat out rewarding on many levels.

Victory gardens of the 1940's were a nationwide effort to fight food shortages. A similar effort seems to be written about now with slightly different benefits. This week's Economist reports on several such ventures.

No winter lasts forever, get your seeds now.

no time to tarry

There was a lot of chatter when Mario Batali & Joe Bastianich came to Port Chester, NY last fall. I was curious, but thought the new restaurant would be crowded during the holiday season and might need some time to settle in. Months later the Tarry Lodge website is still non-existent, but you can get the lowdown in their press kit pdf and easily see they have a strong brand going. From the pizza box to the wonderful round business cards... I love the black, white & goldenrod that is is dead-on consistent everywhere you look. I declared that our leftovers were packed up in the most appealing pizza box ever, but my husband corrected me. The flimsy pizza box from Pepe's in New Haven is a beautiful sight to behold.


















But I digress...
We had an 8:30 reservation (try opentable) for 4 on a Friday night. After leaving the parking to the valet and any cumbersome layers to coat-check, the hostess dispatched us to the bar for a cramped (standing room only) 20 min wait. Everything improved dramatically once we were seated at a corner table on the elevated level behind the bar. The waitstaff rewarded with a complimentary round of "Fleur" champagne for our troubles. Tarry Lodge has a very comfortable, warm & inviting atmosphere. It was full up at 9 PM which I partially attribute to the chef's reputation and the pizza and pasta dinner options for under $20. In this economy, it's great to sample a wider variety sharable food without having to ordering a full dinner entree.

Some of our table favorites were the pizza with goat cheese, sliced potato and pancetta, the calamari paired with isreali couscous and a pappardelle bolognese. Ordinarily I would never order such a simple pasta dish, but our waiter wisely steered us in the right direction.

What's still on my mind?
Fusilli alla crazy bastard which Food + Wine revealed was inspired by the New Yorker cartoon. I can't explain why, but I've always loved this rigatoni (on the telephone) so much that I frequently repeat the caption out loud whenever I see spiral shaped pasta.


"Fusilli, you crazy bastard! How are you?"


Tarry Lodge
18 Mill Street
Port Chester, NY 10573
914.939.3111
tarrylodge.com