PanYa Bakery NYC

Living close to Japan town has a lot of perks including a plethora of restaurants ending with -YA, Soba-ya, Robataya, Curry-ya. One of my new favorite bakeries is Panya. What makes it so awesome? Two words….Danish loaf. It is a loaf of bread that has the buttery richness of a danish. Like picking out the soft innards of a croissant and condensing it into a loaf of break, this creation has been sustaining my stomach and clogging my arteries for the past week. I toast it lovingly in my toaster oven and then spread a healthy dose of Nutella spread. What you end up with is nothing short of a chocolate croissant experience without the crumbs. Delicious!!

Dutch oven

I finally bought a Dutch oven!! I know for shame for shame….how can I have a food blog and not own one?! It’s been a slow going process finding the right starter dutch without pluncking down the cash for a Le Creuset or Staub. Luckily I stumbled on this cutie that is just the right size and has gotten rave reviews online. Braising and stewing here I come!

Have any good Dutch oven recipes?

Coffee Cupping

My messsy tasting notes, coffee stains included

Much like wine tasting, coffee cupping is a systematic way of analyzing and appreciating coffee. In my effort to become more informed about all consumable items I attended a coffee cupping class through Intelligentsia’s NYC lab. The lab is a small work studio featuring all the gadgets and arrays of coffee you could wish for including a charming knowledgeable instructor.  The experience was eye opening and reminded me of my first time going to a tea tasting in Taiwan.  I am definitely going back for more. My only tip is to not do this on an empty stomach and to take it easy if you get the shakes with caffeine. Luckily, with my daily frenchpress with an extra shot I left the workshop unscathed.

In my basic interpretation this is what you do…

1. smell the grinds, note the aroma

2. add water….smell

3. break the crust and foam releasing a whole new world of aromas

4. skim the grinds and foam off….and finally taste, with a spoon and a giant slurping sound

Chicken, Potato, and Leek Soup

Chicken, Potato, Leek Soup
1.5 lbs Leeks (diced tender greens only)
5 cups chicken stock
3 Medium Potatoes cubed
1 small onion diced
4 boneless chicken thighs
Handful of fresh tarragon coarsely chopped
1 cup of white wine
Olive oil
1/6 cup heavy cream
3 garlic cloves peeled

1. Heat pan on high with olive oil
2. Brown chicken thighs
3. Take out thighs and set aside
4. Place leeks, garlic, and onion in pan
5. Add potatoes once leeks wilted
6. Pour in white wine
7. Sauté for few minutes
8. Pour in chicken stock and simmer until potatoes tender and soft
9. Dice chicken and add
9. Add in tarragon and heavy cream
10. Serve with crust bread

Retro Birthday Cake

So this little psychedelic number showed up on my email today and it really piqued my curiosity. It is a new item featured from FreshDirect. It is so fantastically reminiscent of my rainbow bright days. I imagine it tastes vanilla and sweet. In any case, I might have to bite the bullet and get this for myself on my birthday although buying myself a birthday cake seems lame.

Momofuku Milk Discount Cookies

You heard right! Momofuku Milk sells it’s day old cookies for 85 cents versus $1.85 for a fresh batch. At least to me the old cookies are just as deliciously rich and moist as the new ones. My favorites are the blueberry and garbage. You’ll have to go there to figure out what these flavors mean.

Luke’s Lobster

Luke’s Lobster is my closest source for a good old fashioned New England lobster roll. Sweet baby Jesus is this place good. They place thick chunks of oceany goodness on a soft toasted roll. My only compaint is that I wish I had placed more salt on my rolls and chewed more.

Delicious Cream Puffs of Joy

As coined by my good friend, Beard Papa’s is the home of truly delicious cream puffs of joy. With a perfect puffy crust of choux pastry and a deliciously smooth cream center, these puppies are addictive. The shop features a different flavor every day along with several kinds of mochi and other tasty treats. Sooooo good. I plan on making this place a habit.

Elena’s Quick Quiche

When my friend Elena made this for me, it had been days since I had eaten anything home made or truly filling. Living off of pizza and bagels due to a busy schedule left my stomach yearning for something more substantial.  This quiche really hit the spot. With bits of tender spinach, crunchy bacon, and the perfect level of fluffiness, I felt my rumbling stomach settle into happiness. There is something so comforting about eggs. The way the are aways filling but no cloying with a richness to them that always leaves you satisfied. What I love most about this recipe other than the fact that its from a close friend is that its amazingly quick and easy. When the quiche comes straight from the oven with its bubbly cheese surface you can’t help but drool. It’s versatile and easily modifiable. With finishing flourishes like a thin layer of tomatoes or delicate pattern of basil leaves on the surface this would definitely be a dish I’d be proud to bring for a brunch or potluck dinner.

Elena’s Quick Quiche

4-5 large eggs

4 tablespoons heavy cream

1 pillsbury ready made pie crust

1/2 cup of fresh baby spinach

3 pieces of bacon

1/2 cup of shredded gruyere cheese

2-3 slices of swiss cheese (enough to cover the surface area of pie pan)

1. cook bacon until crispy and chop into bite size pieces

2. whisk eggs with heavy cream until foamy

3. alternate layers of spinach, egg mixture, bacon, and cheese until pie shell filled

4. place slices of swiss cheese on top of pie for nice cheese crust (can be replaced by any other layering)

5. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes

6. Let cool for 10 minutes to solidify

Alternatives fillings are: ham, mushrooms, asparagus, brie cheese, tomatoes, sauteed onions, peppers, marinated jalepenos, feta, goat cheese, olives,  jack cheese, basil leaves, prusciutto, thin slices of cooked new potatoes…the sky is the limit! If you think it would taste good with an egg…add it! This is so easy and quick. But beware its extremely filling!

Old Moon Zinfandel 2005

At 5.99 a bottle from Trader Joe’s this bottle is a complete stand out. I always have some on hand. Plummy with a surprising depth in character and a slight coat to the tongue that hints of tannin makes this incredibly well balanced. I would say it holds up to bottles at much higher price points. I love drinking this alone or having it with pastas, pizza, bbq, anything a red can hold up to.