Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

Everyday is Earth Day

Filed Under: Lifeon April 23rd, 2010

I missed the ball yesterday with all the Earth Day who-ha, but the thing is, everyday is Earth Day. Well, everyday should be Earth Day.

I come from a very conservative background. My Pop Pop will roll his eyes when he reads this post because he probably doesn’t believe that global warming is happening. But, I assure you, it is. It’s incredible that every time a natural disaster occurs, I call my Mom and say, “See, now do you believe me!?”

I might be a little “hippy” for my family but this is something that is so incredibly important to me, and it should be for everyone. You don’t like coming home to a messy house, why would you want to live on a messy planet?

The question I get asked all the time is, “Well, if I, one person recycles, or eats local, or whatever, what is that really going to do in the grand scheme of things?” Um, everything! Ever heard of the butterfly effect? What if everyone thought like that? Our planet would look like a dump!

But here are some super easy ways to lower your carbon footprint and help the Earth. They’re so easy, I bet you already did one today …

1. Eat local. Shop at the local produce stand when the weather is nice.

2. Eat less meat. Go vegetarian just one day a week and you’ve already helped tremendously.

3. Walk or bike to work. And it’s a built in work out!

4. Take a shorter shower. A 10 minute shower uses about 25 gallons of water.

5. Use energy efficient light bulbs. Your electric bill will thank you.

Tags: Earth Day
Posted in Life | 6 Comments »

If Only I Were European

Filed Under: Life, Recipeson April 20th, 2010

Lunch is my greatest indulgence. If I could spend more time, calories, and/or money on any meal it would be, without a doubt, lunch. No, not “brunch” which is basically lunch (sometimes early dinner) but with breakfast food.

I’m not talking about pancakes, waffles, and omelets, I’m talking about real authentic sink-your-teeth-into kinds of lunches. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, and yes, of course desserts. Shock! I eat desserts at lunch … I mean doesn’t everyone?

If I had unlimited funds (and no obligation to work), I would go out to a nice lunch everyday. Three courses, a glass (or two!) of wine, and a nice leisurely afternoon with company I enjoy. Too bad I picked the worst city in the world to do this because lunch for most New Yorker’s consists of a muffin and coffee (they eat at 10:30 am), or the mix-your-own salad at the nearest Cosi.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that but … in the ideal world, I would “lunch.” Lunch for me is a verb. Not to be confused with a “lady that lunches” because mine would be a culinary endeavor rather than two Vodka martinis and half a salad on the Upper East Side.

This is one of the reasons why I loved being abroad so much. The day began with a light breakfast, a huge leisurely lunch, which either turned into a nap or an early night at a bar. What could be wrong with this? I think I’d be the perfect European … French? Italian? Spanish?

But I do get the luxury of a some-what freelancer’s schedule. Which obviously means that on Friday night when the rest of the world is “out” … I’m NOT, I’m working! Ha, but lucky me, I get a leisurely Tuesday to wander through Chinatown picking out the cheapest (and freshest ironically) produce and the ability to make myself a beautiful lunch.

Sans vino, I mean I am somewhat civilized, and drinking alone, in your apartment, in the middle of the day? Well, it sounds a little more alcoholic than “fabulous.”

Today I made a chicken salad sandwich without mayo. I HATE MAYO. Gag me. I look at a tub of Hellman’s and I want to run to a bathroom. I get why people like it, its just eggs, oil, and seasoning … but, not for me.

French Chicken Salad

1 chicken breast from a Rotisserie Chicken (get at the store)

4 grapes, quartered

Toasted Pine Nuts (or any nuts you have on hand)

Fennel (thinly sliced)

French Mustard

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Salt

Pepper

Combine and add desired amount of mustard, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Tags: lunch
Posted in Life, Recipes | 8 Comments »

Mars vs. Venus?

Filed Under: Lifeon April 8th, 2010

I’m about to make a bit of a generalization: generally speaking there is a HUGE difference between the way men and women cook.

How they actually cook the meal and how they think about cooking a meal.

Granted, I have man-friends (love that!) that love cooking, reading recipes, grocery shopping, preparing a dinner party and eating as much as I do. And they’re not gay. But generally speaking men and women think about preparing a meal in a very different manner. Then again, men tend to think about all things differently than women …

When it comes to cooking, men are very black and white. I think the person who thought of the slogan “meat and potatoes,” must have been a man. The woman would ask, “What kind of meat?” “How are the potatoes cooked?” Women think about every little possible detail from a tablespoon of salt, to the type of candle they’re burning at the table. This probably accounts for why women tend to freak out if one of these unimportant details goes wrong …

Don’t worry I’ve never been guilty of that …

Alas, here are some opinionated ideas that I have about the differences between male and female cooking … I’m sure you’ll agree …

FYI: This does NOT include trained chefs (both male and female). These people are PROFESSIONALS and a different breed, my findings are about your average at-home cooks.

1. Women agonize over recipe after recipe, grocery shop to find the exact ingredients, freak out if they can’t make it the “way the picture looks,” while men don’t usually follow a recipe, improvise their menus and rarely care WHAT the food actually looks like.

2. Women use every possible dish, spoon, plate, and utensil in the kitchen. Men would use one bowl and one spoon if he could make it work. Actually many of them make it work, simply because that’s how they function.

3. Women enjoy napkins, wine glasses, candles, ambiance gentlemen. Do guys my age even know what a placemat is? Possibly. But kitchen tables are hard to come by in a 20-something male household. Tables are beaten up beer stained coffee tables, ping pong tables, or laps … in front of the TV.

4. At the end of the cooking process, regardless of how the meal actually taste, men are going to eat it either way. Probably out of the same bowl they made it in. This isn’t mean, it’s SO TRUE! Women, will pick at it, probably mope about how it “didn’t turn out right” and watch as the guy they made it for eats it all … either to please her and not start a fight, or simply because it’s food.

5. The “cook” always expects the “eater” to clean up, male or female. But if driving solo, the chance of a man cleaning up his mess the moment dinner’s done is highly unlikely. Women on the other hand will isolate themselves from the dinner party, clear and clean the table, pots/pans, and kitchen … while still moping about what went wrong …

Granted these are just my experiences …

Posted in Life | 5 Comments »

Happy Easter

Filed Under: Life, Recipeson April 3rd, 2010

Easter means the start of spring. My fondest memories of Easter from childhood were mornings spent squeezing into the back pew at Catholic masses, either in Florida or in New Jersey, and wanting to wear my new spring clothes when it wasn’t exactly warm enough yet.

Now Easter means something a little different. Obviously the religious aspect still reigns number one in priority, but eggs and baskets have been replaced by mimosas, leisurely afternoon in my parent’s house, and on a weekend such as this … maybe a little sunbathing?

Oh, and cooking. Because God knows (yes, he does know, this isn’t in vain) that I love cooking. Hell (sorry, I know it’s Easter), he’s the one that gave me this crazy gift. And since my kitchen in New York isn’t fit for much hardcore cooking, and my budget hardly allows for me to buy eggs AND milk AND cream AND butter, I save a lot of my baking for my mother’s kitchen. Ha, she HATES this.

I also know that I haven’t given you a recipe in a long time, and I’m well overdue. Here is my basic bread pudding recipe. For me, nothing says comfort food like bread pudding. If the idea freaks you out, it’s literally liquored-up French Toast, topped with ice cream. How bad can it be? Taste wise, not health wise, that is.

It’s the perfect brunch dessert.

Basic Bread Pudding Recipe (makes 6 ramekins or one 9″ casserole dish)

From here the recipe can be changed or modified. I always add a fruit, whether it be berries in season or ripe peaches in the summer. Nuts are a great addition, as are chocolate chips. I usually add a pinch of liquor to compliment the nut/fruit/chocolate.

1 day old French baguette

2 cups dairy (this can mean either 2 cups milk (any % you have on hand), heavy cream (for very rich dessert), half and half, a combination, 1 cup milk and 1 cup Greek Yogurt, the sky is the limit, and so is your waistline)

1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract (I use less when I’m using an addition of liquor, you don’t want the flavors to compete but compliment each other)

1 tablespoon liquor (I like bourbon the best, but rum is a great option for summer time as well)

2 eggs

1 cup sugar (this can also be more or less depending on diet and/or how sweet your fruit addition is)

Chocolate Chips (optional)

Nuts (optional)

Fruit (optional)

Butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut bread into one inch cubes and allow to soak in dairy, vanilla, and liquor for five minutes. Whisk eggs and sugar together and add to bread mixture, stir to combine. Mix in fruits, nuts, chocolate and place in greased ramekins or dish. Dot top with butter and bake for 45 minutes. If top starts to brown before the custard is cooked through, cover with tinfoil.

Tags: bread pudding, Easter, spring
Posted in Life, Recipes | 11 Comments »

Special Thanks

Filed Under: Lifeon April 1st, 2010

I want to thank everyone who has read, supported and passed on my blog. To those people who both love and loathe sweets, ditto about me, or just need something to read at work.

More than anything I’d like to thank my family, my grandparents, and my close friends, because these are the people that continue to read my blog despite my long stretches of non-posts or lack of material.

I think it’s important to thank those who not only taught me how to cook but gave me the support to follow this less than ordinary path through life. I think everyone knew when I popped out of the womb I was going to be a little odd.

Please continue to pass on the blog, throw out my name at dinner parties, ask me advice, and propel this idea …

The best is yet to come!

Posted in Life | 2 Comments »

I’m Officially a Chef

Filed Under: French Culinary Institute, Life, New York Cityon March 28th, 2010

For my one-hundredth and one post, I’m entering a new era … as a legitimate Chef. A classically trained culinary star … well kind of, but yes, it’s official.

The last week was the most grueling and intense experience of my life. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Instead of changing one aspect of my life with the transition from “pretend chef” to real chef, I also indulged in too much drinking, eating, and drama. But again, that’s my extreme personality.

So after the wedding cake. After the four days of finals and the wrath of blog haters, I finished on Thursday afternoon, and promptly treated myself to the mani/pedi/massage I needed. And then to champagne.

One of the reason I love my friends so much is because they share the same extreme traits I do, the edge-0f-your-seat, no-judgement fun zone we encompass ourselves with on a daily basis in New York.

So after I became official, a few friends and I had a midnight dinner at the new restaurant Kenmare in my hood (same owners at The Little Owl) and preceded to order almost everything on the menu and drink more than our body weights. The gnocchi, the lamb, the meatballs (obvi) and the halibut were all phenomenal.

By the end of the evening, I was causing drama and my girlfriend was running away from her date … literally. So after pulling a fast one of her date while he was in the bathroom (no joke), we realized that our idea of “getting crazy” that night would be nothing more than a good story … that we’d hope to forget. Suffice to say, the restaurant, the food, and the company (for most of the evening) were fantastic.

Friday was graduation, and the thought of drinking a champagne toast upon commencement was nauseating. With my parents in full support, and my mother’s obsession with ground beef leading the way we headed to the old-time Bar Farnelli down the block from me and indulged in burgers and beers to cure hangovers and celebrate being official.

If the hangover wasn’t bad enough round one, it wasn’t better round two, especially after the ideal thought occurred to take Tylenol PM before passing out drunk, so that I could “sleep later than 6 am.” Suffice to say it did NOT work.

Saturday lead to a Num Pang stop, afternoon drinks and Easter bar crawl spotting at The Blind Tiger and dinner at my favorite Italian hole in the wall, with my favorite guy in tote. A spot I won’t even reveal because I like that it’s my spot and unfound. Sorry …

For the third year in a row my girlfriends have thrown their legendary birthday bash. It usually involves very drunk (ex)sorority girls, lots of dancing, and fabulous outfits. Check, check, and check, and this added to yet another night of celebration that left me emaciated in the morning.

Suffice to say, I celebrated. I mean, I deserved it!

All I can say to everyone who reads my blog, is a sincere “thank you.” Thank you for being part of my daily life while at school and for giving me an outlet to vent and share. This blog is NOT over, stay tuned for things to come, it’s only going to get BIGGER and BETTER. Only thing that’s different is that I’m warranted to give out these “insightful” tidbits …

Take it or leave it. Now go get yourself a piece of cake already!

Tags: Bar Farnelli, graduation, ground beef, Kenmare, The Blind Tiger, The Little Owl
Posted in French Culinary Institute, Life, New York City | 5 Comments »

Stirring the Pot … Is almost over

Filed Under: French Culinary Institute, Life, New York Cityon March 24th, 2010

Yes, it’s almost time. Instead of a cap and gown I’ll be dressed head to toe in chef’s whites and steel toed clogs. Sexy huh? Almost as good as a flowing gown and tassel hat, but I guess I’ve been there, done that …

This last week has by far been the hardest experience of my last six months, both physically and emotionally. Tempers are on edge and everyone’s emotions are not only on the table, in the ovens, AND in their final pieces but flying around in the air. We all look exhausted.

Suffice to say, my blog posts have gotten a lot of heat. And granted, I’m confronted about this when many things (other than school) are weighing down on my mind. But, hey that’s Murphy’s Law, right? I wish I could say that I was sorry for what I’ve said, but I’m not, take it or leave it. I’m sorry if people took things I’ve said wrong, as I never meant to hurt anyone, but this is what the blog is for! Getting down and dirty and yes, a lot of it is dirty, and I’m not just talking about the chocolate units.

But as hump day closes, I’m starting to feel a little less stressed about the week and a little more nostalgic. This has been an incredible experience that has taught me more than words can express in a blog … and more than my pieces can show. Everything I made, I only made ONCE. Technique wise, we repeated ideas, but actual showpieces, pies, cakes, etc. were only done once. So I’m just getting started in my artistic and culinary capabilities!

Tomorrow we must be done by 11:30 am and then will be judged by four unknown food people. Writers, bakers, wedding cake decorators, chefs, are selected to judge us anonymously. The verdicts still out but I have a feeling (unless maybe Gael Greene or Ruth Reichl) is there I won’t care very much how the judging goes, more that it’s over.

And there is no question where I will be tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 pm. I’m thinking a massage, a much needed manicure and pedicure, and a large bottle of Veuve Clicquot … that I will most likely pop, brown-bag, and suck out of a straw as I walk home along the beautiful streets of Soho to my apartment. After all isn’t this why I’m here to begin with?

Posted in French Culinary Institute, Life, New York City | 3 Comments »

Feature!

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

Fashion inevitably runs into beauty, which runs into style, which runs into … well, in my case food.

I think food is fashionable, not that it looks good on everyone, I actually DON’T think that’s true even for me, but with today’s pop-culture of Food Network, celebrity chefs, and restaurant openings being bigger deals than political acts, food is most defiantly fashionable.

As much as I wish I was a little more stylish, I’d rather spend money on gourmet grocery store finds than lip gloss and purses. But my friends don’t …

Thus, I must thank Alison Brod PR and my good friend Meg Young for featuring me as a “read blog” and connecting the lines of beauty and PR. So for those of you readers who enjoy the fashionable side of food rather than the cooking side … give it a whirl …

Tags: ABPR
Posted in Life, New York City | 2 Comments »

When it Rains, it Pours

Filed Under: French Culinary Institute, Life, New York Cityon March 20th, 2010

This week has been insane to say the least. I operate on two speeds, lightening or snail. It’s either all day 5 am to 2 am or in bed at 8 pm. I’m not good at moderation. This theme reigns true for everything from work, to travel, to boys.

And when it rains it pours. As the infamous Carrie Bradshaw says, “The only thing a girl needs to get a date, is another date.” And it couldn’t be more true. And for someone with an obsessive personality, it takes its toll.

One of the skills of a good ballet dancer is the ability to keep their eyes focused on a steady point. Without it, they lose their balance and fall of kilter … hardly graceful. And since I’ve been blessed with such amazing grace … errr … I have trouble and lack a steady point. As a 20-something girl living in Manhattan on a limited budget, the notion of a “home base” is as elusive as Prince Charming.

So this week, my second to last of school, crunch time began. Attitudes are flying, tempers are roaring, and more cuts, bruises and scrapes have occurred in four days than in the last 5 1/2 months. And with the conclusion of school nearing, the hunt and interviews for jobs piling up, and my inability to do anything in moderation, what did I do? I went out every night, barely slept, ran way too man miles, spent way too much money, and thought about nothing.

Because if I thought about anything I’d have to think about decisions. More than think about decisions, make decisions. How to decorate a cake? What job to take? etc. And if you just keep ignoring the decisions you have to make, they eventually make themselves …

or … the cake bakes itself, shapes itself, and gets build, you get through it, and in the end it doesn’t turn out half bad.

Excuse the pictures they’re from my phone, better ones to come later.

Our wedding cake was due today at 1:30 pm. The theme: nautical, the outcome … hmm fishy? No, wait, that was the methods behind the cake’s construction …

Cheating? You bet.

I hate short cuts, back cuts, and people who take them when it comes to producing an “original” product. Grow a sack, make your own shit. (Pardon the language, but yes I was that mad inside).

If I could explain how incredibly ODD everyone in my class is, I would. Let’s just say this, some cheated, one burnt caramel (did I mention we weren’t even making caramel? or sugar? why someone was making sugar I haven’t the slightest clue), another swore she pulled a muscle in her forearm and used a cake mold (from the freezer) as an ice pack on her arm WHILE decorating her cake, and the list goes on …

Some cakes were good, all were okay, and none were bad. Mine … was okay. Instead of a classy yacht club wedding, my cake looked more like a 1st grade Sponge Bob birthday party cake. My sugar paste flowers were good though.

So on top of constructing the cake, half the battle was taking the cake home. The cake was bigger than my Soho kitchen … So I had to give away some tiers. So on the one day New York decides to be 75 and HOT, I wear a wool blazer and Timberland boots. Carrying my 25 lb cake up Broadway in broad day light to my friend’s office at BroBible to drop off a layer … I looked like an idiot.

To give you a visual. I had a large J. Crew dress on. The kind that can be either a beach cover up or a boho dress. I was (trying to) pull the latter. Carrying two large cake tiers, and wearing sunglasses that my sister Kellie would think were way to big for my tiny head. Suffice to say Broadway was packed at 4 pm on the sunniest day we’ve had in weeks. Walking in any piece of sidewalk I could, I was struggling to mingle through the crowd.

Now generally speaking I hate walking over grates. Maybe it’s a fear of falling through, or maybe just because I’m usually wearing heels and the thought of ruining shoes or getting stuck is embarrassing enough. Oh, and because it’s not classy to pull a Marilyn Monroe pose …

Yep, full skirt around my hips, hands full with cakes. Thank GOD I was wearing underwear. Boy-shorts, phew, even better. Yep, panties out for Broadway. Best part, no one even turned a head.

No wonder I love New York so much, everyone is as fucked up and self obsessed as myself, not even a little afternoon butt cheek shocks anyone …

Then I went to the new Bowery hot spot Pulino’s for pizza and bubbly, enjoyed the sun and well you know “life,” because as confusing as life is, there’s always cake, there’s always sun, and there’s alway champagne, even if there are job-problems, school-drama, or boy-confusion.

Happy first day of spring!!

Tags: Pulino's, wedding cakes
Posted in French Culinary Institute, Life, New York City | 2 Comments »

Good People

Filed Under: Life, New York City, Workon March 15th, 2010

I’m like a solider when it comes to gut reaction. Literally. My ability to predict the next move and act on instinct was probably one of the largest factors in my past athleticism … most likely compensating for the fact that I’m an absolute klutz. But, none the less, this skill had come in hand time and time again, and is now helping me pick my future job.

When I meet someone I can tell almost instantaneously if I’m going to get along with them. It works for friends, teachers, bosses, and boyfriends. Stop, pass go, collect $200. Or don’t collect $200. I know. Harsh, brutal, but true, I won’t pretend to be anyone’s friend if I’m not.

Chemistry isn’t everything, but for me, and for a kitchen, it’s about 90% of the battle. That’s why when I first met my boss Kimerbly Belle and Erin Fritch of The Dinner Belle, I knew I was meant to work for and with them.

So giving credit where credit is due, these two make catering seem fashionable, fun, beautiful, and of course delicious. Tonight I’m heading uptown to help them cater at the Park Avenue Armory.

Tags: Kimberly Belle, The Dinner Belle
Posted in Life, New York City, Work | Comments Off