The Second Supper

Yeah, that whole part about me posting the menu and letting you know and what not? *ahem*

Well, dinner was great. Here is what we ate:

Radishes w Rosemary and Cilantro Butters and Fresh Bread

Sauteed Ramps and Fiddlehead Ferns w Roasted Garlic
on Gnocchi w Shaved Pecorino

Baked Apples in a Buttery Prosecco Sauce w Cinammon

I usually hate everything I make. Total hater. Not this. This shit was the jam. It was simple. It was tasty. It wasn't too much. It wasn't too little. It was comforting. But it made you say "Wtf is this green thing? A fiddlehead fern? WTF IS THAT?" all while loving the flavor. And how.

Needless to say, the first gathering of the Uncleverly Named Eating Society went well. And, since I'm organized this time, I can officially announce this Friday's upcoming menu. You excited? Me too, cos it's GORGE!

appetizer:
grilled asparagus and fiddlehead ferns w a dijon hollandaise.

salad:
mesclun, radish, pan fried manchego and pignoli w fennel seed vinaigrette

1st plate:
mussels in a garlic wine sauce

2nd plate:
quinoa croquette, cucumber dill relish w feta and greek yogurt sauce

dessert:
rhubarb cobbler w mint ice cream

and always: bread. herbed butter. olives.

As much as possible, I'm going local. Even my gnocchi was local. So local it was from 3 blocks away. As much as I'd like it to be, I doubt that my local gnocchi was organic. You give and take. You can't have it all.

Hopefully, dinner pics will come soon. However, the midget did steal the camera in the middle of dinner, so I only have 1 picture from that night, and really, it's half a picture. If you were there, send me yr pics. I'd love some food porn.

Meanwhile, this week....it's all about foraging for the feast ahead. If you have any brilliant ingredient ideas, lemme know. I'm game....I have another dinner party in 3 weeks to think about.

xoxo.

Uncleverly Named Eating Society

I've been a little slacky. Well, not really. I've been busy!

Let's see... I got promoted, moved to a new store. (Yeay, me!)
I started working out with a personal trainer, and then, when I moved to the new store, ended up gaining 6 lbs. (Eff you, baked goods)
Most importantly and exciting though, I came up with a tremendous idea on how to keep in touch with my friends. But still cook. And be social. And drink wine.

I've created The Uncleverly Named Eating Society. No, I'm not kidding, I really named it that. Eventually, if I do find a clever name, then mayhaps I'll change it. But for now, I'm totally okay with that moniker. I've been dying to go to one of these underground supper club situations, but don't have time, and the majority, (save for 4 Course Vegan) are all a little too carcass-arrific. I figured this would be a great way to see all the friends that I have the "OMG, we need to hang out, for real. Let's do dinner/brunch. It's been too long. Yadda yadda" conversation with way too often. This, coupled with my overwhelming love of cooking and want to experiment with even more seasonal and local ingredients, allows me to kill several metaphorical birds with one stone. Just like one of the supper clubs, I send the menu out early in the week, ppl RSVP, and voila, a dinner party is born!

Wanna get all up in it? Join the Uncleverly Named Eating Society group on Facebook. If I don't know you, give me a valid reason why you should be allowed entry. Or woo me with what treats you'll bring me.

First one is this Friday. Menu comes out tomorrow. Will post it here and on the group's page. Off I go to menu plan!!

xoxo

Masquerading

you can see the rest of them here.

Tria

Yesterday, Auden and I went for a stroll in the freezing cold cos we had cabin fever.

Grabbed some coffee at Verb (which, ugh, people, how 90s are you?), bought Gerald a book by Mr. Gainsbourg at Spoonbill, popped into Whisk (ran into a super old bud from Miami, totally random), and then headed down to Tria.

Ever been? You should go. I was always a fan of Blue Canary Vintage at Artists and Fleas, because Valerie, the owner, was always so nice and had curated such a nice collection of goods, including a massive vintage Ferragamo shoe collection. With her success there, she and 2 other pals from Artists and Fleas, Georgia and Ryan, opened up their own shop. It's effing brilliant. I want it all.

I went in, because Gerald bought me a necklace from Georgia's collection, and although it's super cute, it's totally not my steez, so I wanted to exchange it. I didn't find anything just perfect, but I wasn't really interested in shopping and was more entertained talking to Ryan who is fantastic, charming and makes some of the most gorgeous hats I've ever seen. Not even kidding. I wish I had the balls to wear some of the pieces that she makes. Maybe soon. Maybe for summer.

If yr ever on Grand, pop on in there, because it's all gorgeous, reasonably priced and run by 3 amazing ladies.

Oh My Frittata

After an afternoon of play and snacks at Mamalu with Auden, I decided to pop into my fave grocery store, Urban Rustic to pick up ingredients for tonight's frittata (and what will be tomorrow's breakfast if there's leftovers.)

If you've never been, you should. Yes, I'm going to make another list. Here's why:

1. Almost everything there is local and sustainable. If it's not local, then it's at least organic and still sustainable.
2. They run on wind energy.
3. They make effing awesome sammiches, burritos and omelettes. Their omelettes are huge, come with a protein and 2 other add ins, a salad and toast and costs $6.50. All local. All yum.
4. Did I mention they deliver?
5. Did I mention they do online grocery delivery for a freaking dollar. Yes. One. Dollar.
6. Four words: French Apple Pie Granola
7. They carry the whole range of Mast Brothers chocolate. (you should be sold on just this fact alone.)
8. They have a cute little eat in cafe, and during the summer they have an outside offshoot by the dog run at McCarren where they grill sausages, both carcass and non-carcass.
9. A massive assortment of vegan desserts that do not taste vegan.
10. They sell organic vegetables grown by high school kids in a local Williamsburg school's farm.

Everyone there is always so nice, that it makes it an even better experience. It's like good karma all around.

So if you get a chance, go, cos you should support yr local food scene. If yr by the park and need a really good latte and a sammich and maybe some eggs and prosciutto for later...go. You'll thank me. Your welcome in advance.

Sugar Free Again, Day 1

Apparently, sugar free gives me mondo bitch face. I was tired. I wasn't sugared up. Everyone thought I was angry, cranky or annoyed. I was none of it, just tired.

I survived, tho.

On the menu for tonight:
Roasted local yellow zucchini and leeks
Shaved fennel salad
Baked tofu

I'll tell you how it turns out.

Oh, and my new favorite website: 101cookbooks.com . Ch-ch-check it!

Eff Cookies.

Okay, so that whole "blah blah blah, look at me, I can eat all the cookies I want and not get fat" bullshit is dunzo. This bitch has gained like 5 lbs in I don't know exactly how long, but it is unacceptable.

It's fine tho, cos it's all about health right now. Health. Health. Health. This is the Healthy New Year.

What that means: I'm going back on the sugar free diet. Oh yes. It's gonna be great though, because for Christmas, my dearest husband got me sessions with a personal trainer as a gift. Sweet, lovely husband. This also means that back fat go bye bye. This is most exciting and riveting.

My plan to lose 10-15 lbs: (Yes, I do have it to lose, it's all on my waist, I just hide it well, I promise.)

-Get the damn trainer on the phone. He's been on vacation for a week.
-Start menu planning. (I already have this week's food planned!)
-Drink less. I need to de-Proseccofy my life a bit.
-Be super supportive of my friends who are also looking to be Health. It'll help me. Sharing is caring.

I'll start posting recipes as I come across them. And if I get a little ambitious I may even take pictures of my food. But as you can see from the lack of pics on my blog, I'm a lazy bitch and the chances of that happening are slim to none.

Here's to Health. Here's to the end of back fat forever. Here's to wearing a bikini in a few months and making people very very angry. :D

Happy Health Year, betches.