So...where did I find myself on the day of November the 26th in the year 2009? Surprisingly...NOT in Pennsylvania. I typically spend the turkey day holiday with my husband's family, but not this year. Don't worry. It's not a big deal, just a slight scheduling SNAFU, nothing more. I'll be honest...I was more than happy not to make the 6-hour drive south since we just did it last month. Fortunately, we didn't end up being homeless for the holiday and my cousin and his family were quite happy to take us in as +2 for dinner :) Even more fortuitous, my cousin's wife's brother, David, was the chef of Thanksgiving dinner. I had partaken of his skillful gastronomy before, so I was twice, thrice thankful!!! So, without further ado...
Appetizers: Definitely, there was a seafood theme going. Shrimp cocktail with the accompanying sauce, simple yet delicious. A tuna poke that David made. It's one of those beautiful dishes that looks complicated, but is very easy to make with minced sashimi grade tuna, soy sauce, salt, green onions , etc. and he made it even more fanciful with serving it by the biteful on endive leaves. Soooooo good. The Hawaiian girl in me was extremely happy! Finally, also some fried lumpia (courtesy of Auntie Josie)...there had to be some kind of Filipino food somewhere :)
On to the main meal!!!! This is the plate of turkey white meat, quite flavorful and juicy, served with red (skin on) mashed potatoes sprinkled with finely chopped chives :)
The plate of turkey dark meat (my favorite). Also pictured is the ever popular Thanksgiving favorite...green bean casserole! However, again David, quite the expert chef that he is...made the entire GBC from scratch! That's right! He hand cut the mushrooms. Fried onions from a can??? NO WAY! He soaked those onion rings in milk and some other kind of magical ingredient and fried them perfectly crisp! It was hands down the best GBC I've ever had!
I don't even know how he cooked these brussel sprouts. I should've been paying better attention. All I knew is that one minute, I see halved brussel sprouts on a cutting board. The next minute, they're in their bowl in perfectly browned gloriousness!!!
The side buffet of starchy sides :) David doesn't make just one, but TWO kinds of stuffing. One is the regular kind (the small bowl), but the other one, we all love (hence the bigger bowl). David makes an OYSTER stuffing! That's right folks, oyster stuffing. Yup, that sound you heard was my head popping. The disks of sweet potato were perfectly cooked...firm, but not crunchy...soft, but not mushy...and nothing but sweet, buttery deliciousness!
My final plate! Isn't it glorious? I definitely have to give it a hand to David. I watched him slave in the kitchen for hours & we nommed his hard work in minutes, minutes! I don't know if I'll be there or at my in-laws next year, but if I'm back at my cousin's house...David, I'll help you next time :)
technorati tags: Thanksgiving, holiday, dinner, turkey, stuffing, green, bean, casserole
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What I Nom Today ~ Take out Indian food! The best ever is from this little stall at the Food Connection which is the food court of the Allston Super 88. MDH seriously goes twice a week. My all time favorites? Chicken tiki masala, saag paneer & garlic naaaaaaaaaan!!! Heck yeah!
technorati tags: Indian, curry, tiki, masala, saag, paneer, naan
I have to admit...I used to think I was a foodie. I suppose like anything in life, it's all relative, isn't it? I guess I'd be considered a foodie compared to my friends who are happy to eat takeout mall food court Chinese food all day. Then one day, my friend, Aaron, invited us over to his home to eat lapin. Yes, folks, that is correct. Your 10th grade French has served you well...lapin = rabbit!
I'm no foodie...these people are FOODIES! Not just foodies, but winos also! Well, I call wine experts winos, but I mean that in the most highest of regards :) Seriously, I thought this was gonna be just a nice little dinner with newly made friends, but after several emails back and forth and a set 4-course menu with appropriate wine pairings...I was like "holy crow." These guys and girls are no joke!!! This is going to be quite the foodie dinner party to the nth degree. I tell you what though. I was very excited to try rabbit for the first time. Now, now, before you softies get into an uproar, I can thoroughly admit that I'm a carnivore. I do like soft, cuddly bunny rabbits, but I have no qualms about eating one either. I was very much looking forward to this opportunity!
Before we get to the rabbit however, there were a couple of other yummy dishes to consume first. The appetizer course was a wonderful starter of Gorgonzola on garlic toasted baguette slices drizzled with honey, paired with apple slices and a lovely rose and a sparkling wine. Oh, it was glorious! The strong stinky cheese and honey sweetness...mmmmm, it's something I will definitely be recreating :)
Next up was the first course of seared scallops in a lima bean puree with a warm salad of garlic/bacon wilted arugula. The wine pairing was an unfiltered chardonnay. Now, I'll readily admit that I.don't.like Chardonnays generally. I usually go for a Pinot Grigio or a Riesling. I have to admit though, I found this Chardonnay easily palatable, even requesting more!
At last, time for the main course...lapin a la moutarde (rabbit in mustard sauce) served on buttered egg noodles and a side dish of asparagus with leeks and pancetta. We washed it all down with a hearty Pinot Noir. So how was the rabbit? Quite delicious I must say. To be honest, the piece I had was a very firm piece of white meat. Not quite like chicken at all. In fact, doused with even more mustard gravy, you could have told me I was eating pork and wouldn't be any the wiser. So, for the squeamish who wouldn't consider eating anything more varied than chicken/pork/beef or a combo of the 3, I wouldn't worry about gaminess or chewiness or anything like that. Then again, props to the chef (Jen, Aaron's wife) for the excellent preparation!
Last up was my dish...yes, believe it, I actually baked! I made a very simple apple tart that Aaron had paired with our choice of an apple lambic or a Riesling. I had the Riesling at first, but when I caught a whiff of our host's glass of apple lambic that passed under my nose, I was intrigued! He explained it is basically a beer, but it smelled heavenly to me...the scent of green Granny apples...and the taste, oh the taste, I loved it. Bitter but sweet, sweet then bitter. It was the perfect complement to the tart.
So, what did a faux foodie such as myself learn on a night such as this? A night of pleasant and learned foodie company? A night of exotic and intriguing dishes with equally exquisite wines? Well, I learned that Gorgonzola + honey = deliciousness! I learned that rabbit is kinda like pork. I learned that you can buy a certain special German mustard, but at a minimum of 10 bottles. I learned that apple lambic is the only beer that I LIKE! I learned that kicked wine bottles are called "dead soldiers." However, what was the most important thing I learned? I learned that I need to learn more about wines!
technorati tags: 7, subs, unforgiven, sandwich, deli, lunch, Brookline
what i nom today
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lei ann
in Asian, Blogging, Blogs, Buffet, Food, Japanese, Restaurants, Seafood, What I Nom Today
What I Nom Today ~ Minado is the kind of place you maybe go twice a year. I've been twice now this week. Oh God, the humanity...it hurts, it buuuuuuuurns! At least now I'm getting more used to eating raw oysters...look, I had three...3...in one sitting!
technorati tags: Minado, sushi, buffet, all, you, can, eat, oyster, sashimi