Home Bio Catering & Cooking Classes Food Photos Recipes Top Sites

Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

« Older Entries

Be “that” girl …

Filed Under: Food, Lifeon April 19th, 2011

One of the greatest gifts came to visit me last week. My absolutely soul sister of a friend, my SAS-sy Syd. In true March style, she came in like a lion and left like a lamb. Clunking up my four flights of stairs with a suitcase that I could fit in (actually, she had more than one) and screeching uncontrollable out of excitement, it was truly a reunion. An 8 hr. reunion, again, very typical of my world-travel-buddy.

Trailing her was the lovable, reliable, and often leveling boyfriend, not dissimilar to mine … as I’m not exactly the easiest person to handle – nor is she. Hence the two-peas-in-pod tendencies of us. She’s literally the fourth Keefe sister, sorry KK and V. After drinking our body weight in alcohol and returning home two hours before their connecting flight out of Newark, I couldn’t have been sadder when she crawled into bed to say goodbye.


The reason I preface this is for two reasons. One, I whole heartedly believe that the people you eat, travel, and experience life with, change the way you eat, travel and experience. I wouldn’t be who I was if there weren’t people who lived boldly and jumped full force into life, disregarding “how it should be.” I wouldn’t love goat cheese if it wasn’t for Alexa, develop a taste for good wine without the teachings of an ex-boyfriend, be able to eat a tomato like an apple if I didn’t grow up in Jersey, be a chef if my mom wasn’t, or have the knack of being able to locate an ice cream place within a mile radius of wherever I am in the world … if it wasn’t for SAS-sy Syd.


Syd is my travel buddy since the moment we sought out an Irish pub in Southeast Asia and mutually ordered silver tequila and seltzers … and apple cobbler. It was above a hundred degrees, humid, and we were in Asia. Neither of us had seen a dessert menu in months, and we didn’t hesitate. We were haphazardly thrown together by our ship-men at the time on a vacation to Thailand. I actually didn’t like her, I remember thinking “this girl is snotty.” No coincidence, she thought the same about me. Bygones be bygones we became fast friends. It is to her I owe (and honed) my ability to find ice cream anywhere. I still swear I lived off white rice and packaged ice cream in rural China.


This brings me to point two. Last week was a bit tumultuous do to injury. Being a chef, you can’t really be injured. Injury = unemployment. Especially as a freelancer, I’m not one to say no. Chefs don’t get sick, hurt or injured. They don’t take holidays, get happy hours, or Saturday nights … you get the idea. Your physical ability to move and grind it out defines a huge portion of how successful you are. As with any job; be on time, do your best, be creative, don’t complain and most importantly, work. As a former athlete, I couldn’t ask for a better work mentality, I define this. Be a “Yes” person.

So this injury threw me off a bit. Not being able to walk, move, or work in the manner I usually do, I was bummed. One thing that cheers me (and almost every girl I know) up is ice cream. Duh. So being taught by the best, Syd, I ventured out for ice cream.

Sitting on a bench, enjoying my ice cream, two girls walk by. Side note, I live in the most fashion forward and wealthy neighborhood in Manhattan. A mecca for beautiful women. I’m not half bad, but these girls were not like me. They were of the former group. So there I am eating my ice cream, minding my own business, soothing my broken ego and Bitch #1 says “Oooh, that looks good.” I smile. Bitch #2 says “Ugh, I do not want be that girl.”

That girl? The girl eating ice cream. Alone. Get over yourselves. Yes, I missed my partner in crime, my ice cream fanatic friend Syd but hell, I was doing what I wanted. Could those girls say the same? I immediately laughed and texted her, I knew she’d be the only one who understood …

Here’s the advice for today … be that girl. Be the girl (or boy!) who treads a different path. Score the dream job. Do something to make yourself happy, live a little, even if it means just indulging in a little ice cream …

Posted in Food, Life | Comments Off

Menu Masters

Filed Under: About me, Lifeon March 13th, 2011

I’ve been blessed with having many great friends over the years, but I love learning something new about someone I’ve known forever. Kinda similar to rediscovering a recipe you haven’t used in years. There have been many times late-night in a hometown bar when someone comes up to me and starts talking about my blog or a new ice cream spot I have to try, or learning that some of ex-boyfriend(s) actually follow my blog. What’s even better is when a friend-of-a-friend OR a friend of my sister comes and says, “Hey, I love what you do, I’m doing the same thing.”

A fews weeks ago a friend of my sister approached me about doing an interview for Menu Masters, a website designed to help solve the question, “What’s for dinner?” The site offers a week’s worth of menus and recipes to fit your lifestyle. Overall, a pretty smart idea.

Here’s a sneak peak at my interview. To check out the full coverage, click here.

What is your daily schedule?

No two days the same! Which is odd, because strangely enough I’m a person that craves routine. Alas, not in this lifetime. Most days I wake up super early and either answer emails or food shop – getting two of the nitty-gritty things out of the way. Then sometimes it’s cooking, meeting, menu proposals, testing recipes, doing research of running events.

So what time do you eat dinner?

Again, never the same! When I am home I try to make sure to stay on a schedule and eat at regular meal times. Sometimes I go out with people, if the expense account and schedule permits, but if it’s on site often times dinner isn’t an option, breakfast the next morning will have to do.

Do you ALWAYS enjoy cooking?

You know I do. It is crazy, but even after a long day at work or cooking I still put effort into my meals for me or entertaining for friends. I never just pour a bowl of cereal. If I make scrambled eggs I make them look good, taste good, etc. In a business that isn’t always pampering, it’s nice to treat myself with a nice meal that I put thought into, and it doesn’t have to take forever.

Tags: ,
Posted in About me, Life | Comments Off

Oscar Party Desserts

Filed Under: Life, New York City, Restauranton February 25th, 2011


Last week I was lucky enough to meet Eleni of Eleni’s New York, a cookie and cupcake boutique located in Chelsea Market (they also have another retail location on Madison Avenue). Doing a little double duty for Thirsty Girl and the New York Wine Expo this weekend and my own “sweet tooth” I ventured to Chelsea Market in hopes to chat with some movers and shakers in the food world.


If you’re looking for a oscar cookies, cupcakes, or treats this is the place to go. Eleni’s cupcakes are beautiful. Cookies include Oscar statues, movie star cookies, movie quotes, and other fun sweets ideal for your Sunday Night party.


Pop a bottle of champagne with these cookies. Cookies and cocktails, can a Sunday night (any for that matter) get any better?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Life, New York City, Restaurant | Comments Off

The Way Into a Man’s Heart

Filed Under: Chic Galleria, Food, Lifeon February 23rd, 2011

Three ways into a man’s heart: sports, beer, and food. Well, and sex, but we’ll keep this post PG. It’s not rocket science. Combine those favorites with a no-nagging policy, anti-obsessive tendencies, and the patience to tolerate massive consumptions of number one, two, and three (sports, beer, and food), and you’ve pretty much figured out how to secure yourself a man.

Luckily I’m perfect and have all these things figure out. NOT. Ha, not even close, I probably violate every single one of those above necessities for keeping your man – as do, sorry girls, my girlfriends. Ah, to be young and in love.


One thing that I do have going for me is my ability to cook. Or at least I thought I did … My ever popular “Boyfriend Chicken” post has been published by Chic Galleria. Check it out, it might inspire you to hone your skill(s). If you’re like me, I take any help I can get!

Also, a shout out to icon natural-food chef and my personal inspiration Bethenny Frankel has a similar post. Guess she learned this trick too.

Tags: ,
Posted in Chic Galleria, Food, Life | Comments Off

Vanilla is Sexier than Chocolate

Filed Under: Food, Life, Recipeson February 2nd, 2011

Coming from a chocolate fanatic, that says something …

Vanilla can be the most banal ingredient or the sexiest, right? It goes in everything, adding that little bit of flavor that every baked good need. On the flip side, vanilla plays a role in things like musky perfume or Valentine’s Day.

I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m also not a huge fan of February (ugh, the dregs of winter), so it’s not surprising I set my sights high and towards the spring. I do like dessert though, and there’s nothing sexier for Valentine’s Day desserts than vanilla. Chocolate is old hat, you can eat chocolate anytime. Who uses vanilla as the main ingredient year round?

Take this part-time player off the bench this week and whip up your honey (or yourself, in my case) a Vanilla-centric dessert, you won’t regret it.

French Vanilla Coffee Cake with Creme Anglaise
Compliments of O Magazine

Servings: Serves 6

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp. finely ground French vanilla coffee
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter , softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 1 cup half-and-half

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour 1 (8″ x 4″) loaf pan; set aside. Combine coffee, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside.

Add butter to the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Slowly add 1 cup sugar until blended, scraping down the sides. Increase to high, and beat for 2 minutes. Reduce to low, and add eggs one at a time, then beat in 2 tablespoons vanilla extract.

With mixer on low, alternately add coffee-flour mixture and sour cream to bowl in several parts (ending with dry mixture) until smooth and blended.

Spoon into prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then run a knife around edges to loosen cake and invert onto a plate. Cool completely.

Make crème anglaise by whisking 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks in a medium bowl until combined. Prepare an ice bath by placing a medium bowl in a shallow bowl of ice water; set aside. Split vanilla bean and scrape out seeds; add seeds and pod to a saucepan with half-and-half. Cook on low until small bubbles form around rim, 3 to 5 minutes.

Whisk half of hot half-and-half into sugar-egg mixture in a thin stream, then pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sauce has thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately strain sauce into bowl of prepared ice bath to stop the cooking (discard pod). Add 1 teaspoon extract; stir to combine. Serve right away or refrigerate until chilled.

Cut cake into thick slices or cubes. Pour crème anglaise on top, or pass it around in a bowl as a dipping sauce.


Compliments of O Magazine

Tags: , ,
Posted in Food, Life, Recipes | 1 Comment »

Boyfriend Chicken Part Deux

Filed Under: From the Kitchen, Lifeon January 10th, 2011

Week after week my most popular post is Boyfriend Chicken. Since I was born with the perfectionist gene, I thought it fitting to do the same chicken, almost a year later, the right way. The wonderful thing is I did it with the boyfriend. He stood guard to make sure the chicken went in the pan breast-side up, as if I’d ever make that mistake again.

I also wasn’t a bottle of wine in …


Same chicken, assortment of winter vegetables roasted in a different pan this time (crisper and less soggy), wonderful bourbon cocktails, great bottle of French Bordeaux, and a chicken that was perfect. One of those meals that really makes you love cooking and eating in.

Here is the biggest tip I can offer to create the moistest chicken possible:

- Do NOT cook your chicken roast to 170 degrees F as the FDA recommends. I promise, this will do nothing except yield a dry roast. Pull your chicken out at about 160 degrees and let it sit for 10-15 minutes tented with tin foil.

- Here’s my second thing, buy a good chicken. Buy something that is organic, raised on a pasture (not in a cage), and doesn’t eat corn, if you choose your chicken well you will not get salmonella.

Tags: , ,
Posted in From the Kitchen, Life | 1 Comment »

Busy Week

Filed Under: About me, French Culinary Institute, Life, Workon November 16th, 2010

Until Thanksgiving (gobble, gobble!) I’m a little busy. But “busy” is a bit of an understatement. Here’s my piece of advice for anyone who wants to learn how to cook, get better at cooking, or find an outlet to relax: buy onions.

Yeah I bet that sounds weird …


I was told by a chef during my first weeks at school that to perfect your knife skills buy onions, sharpen your knife, and go at it. Peel, slice, dice, do whatever you please. Perfect your craft.

TIP: The sharper your knife the less you’ll cry; a sharp knife cuts straight through the onion and less juice is released, no onion eye. OR, you can buy goggles and make the whole experience just that much more hilarious.

I don’t know if I was “perfecting my craft” last night so much as “releasing tension.” So now, on my list of “stress relievers” I consider myself a “sweet tooth, runner, vino, and … onion cutter.”

It can help that after a few, onions can make your eyes water, but maybe you need a good cry? At least it’ll distract you.


Then I indulged in City Bakery’s Bourbon Apple Sauce Cake (which only appears once in a blue moon, RUN and get one before they’re gone) and read O Magazine which features my former boss, and dessert sensation Amy Atlas. (Fun Fact: I was part of the team who put the dessert table together behind her.)

Onions, sweets, what more could you ask for to relieve some stress??

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in About me, French Culinary Institute, Life, Work | 1 Comment »

Euphoria

Filed Under: Lifeon November 7th, 2010

There are few places I feel as euphoric as I do in the kitchen. That blissful state in which you don’t care about anything, you’re just happy.

I feel like that when I cook, when I’m with friends/family, at the shore, running, listening to Bruce, and … at The Hunt.

The pivotal “Fall” event for all those yuppy Northeasterners. I think enough time has passed that I’m not going to be “one of those” posting pictures the day after the event, I have to indulge a bit.

Family, friends from high school, friends from college, virgin Hunt-ers, an engagement, lots of booze, SUN (one of the few times), and of course blissful euphoria.

Oh and there were horses too.

Posted in Life | Comments Off

I’m officially a year old!

Filed Under: About me, Life, New York Cityon October 6th, 2010

Plus one week and one day … guilty, I forgot.

I think I’m probably the only female in the history of the world to forget a birthday and anniversary. Eh, I can make croissants, I know not every girl can do that.

I’ve rounded up my five favorite stories of the past year (all are equal, I couldn’t decide!):

  • The comedy of my everyday life. While I was still living down in Financial District I ran into some cops, watching me, rather than being on “high alert.”
  • When pastry gets dirty. Cannot tell you how incredibly hilarious this moment at school was, yet only one other person got it.
  • Not your mamma’s burger. No one on this planet loves burgers more than my mother, before they became part of pop culture. This is my favorite NYC (and all time) burger.
  • Because this is the point. Go get something sweet.
  • It’s official. How could I not include this one?

There are many, many more, including, “Boyfriend Chicken” which now has left my “boy” referred to by people as “You’re boyfriend chicken?!” at bars. As well as, “New York Moments,” “I Heart NY” and “Hangover Cures.”

Now I must warn you, and to give you a window into what my life is like on a random Saturday. This picture is me, eating my favorite ice cream, after eating brunch at my favorite spot and too many beers, attempting to sober up in order to cook for an unexpected catering gig that night.

I’m not sure ice cream can cure a buzz, but hell, it sure tastes good. And I was raring to go in the kitchen.

I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the past year and for all the experiences and skills I’ve been taught including the faculty and staff at The French Culinary Institute with special consideration of Gina Novak, MaryKate Roberts, and Phil Gutensohn. Kimberly Belle, Erin Fritch, Amy Atlas, the test kitchen and editorial staff at “Everday with Rachael Ray,” Sarah Pease at Brilliant Event Planning, Chef Jeff Starr and the team at Sutter Home Winery, Lauren Braun Costello and Erin Merhar, and Leslie Sbrocco and fellow Thirsty Girls.

Thank you to my family and friends for being constant readers and supporters!

Be serious and efficient in the kitchen and at work, learn to laugh at yourself when things go wrong. As you can see from below, I haven’t lost my love of working … or sweets …

Posted in About me, Life, New York City | 2 Comments »

It’s Fall

Filed Under: Life, New York Cityon September 22nd, 2010

I’m finally ready to embrace the new season; something I wasn’t too keen about doing three weeks ago as I drove across my seaside bridge separating summer and reality, i.e. the beach and the city. But now I’m getting into all things fall, cooking up a storm, and finding myself quite happy eating scores of apples and wearing light jackets to work.

Beach at sunrise

For me, fall always represents transitioning.

In high school, innocent afternoons were spent playing field hockey, attending pasta parties, (attempting) to look cute at Friday night football games for the player-of-the-week, baking with girlfriends (and trying to keep each of them in check at the same time), horse races and starting school again.

In college, the activities of late-night diner hangs and making-out in my boyfriend’s car were replaced with sundresses, summer weather (I went to school in the south), binge drinking tailgates (complete with dunkeroos, dizzy bats, and various other games), theme parties, and immense amounts of reading.

Moving into the city last year created an entirely new pleather of “fall activities” including walking anywhere and everywhere, enjoying the day as a human being  (hangover-free), walking through the farmers market, and getting oommpah-pahhed at a Biergarten. The fall is truly a wonderful season in the city. The sky is strikingly blue and cloudless, the tourists die down, New Yorkers come back and things begin to take motion again. Weekdays and weekends become bookended with parties, meetings, and obligations, but that’s okay because the collective New York seems (almost) glad to be back.

I find myself “fully booked” until my birthday. Hell, I even decided to take a gig on my birthday … well the day after, but my birthday weekend. Luckily my job is something that I love doing, and in essence, is basically eating, drinking, cooking, and traveling. I can’t complain one bit.

But take a moment, smell the air, I promise it smells different. Stop and realize the beauty today. The last day of summer and the first day of fall.

West Side walk along the water, hello beautiful NJ!

Okay, I promise my Oprah moment is done, get back to work.

Posted in Life, New York City | 3 Comments »

« Older Entries