Posts Tagged ‘The Blind Tiger’

Charleston

Filed Under: Life, Travelon August 29th, 2010

The one bad thing about my job, well I guess it’s the good thing about my job too, is that it never stops. After spending a week in Charleston I had eaten and drank my body weight in pig, butter, bourbon and all things southern. All for research of course. I knew when it was time to go home.

The wonderful thing about Charleston is that everything is do-able in a week. Actually, you could do it in even less time but you’d be eating and drinking so much I hardly imagine it would be enjoyable. The culture is so rich, and the food is richer.

Craft beers and water at The Blind Tiger

The plan was to relax, eat good food, drink, and try not to melt (from heat). As much as I appreciate all the historical aspects, I learn best in bars. Quote me on that: “I learn best in bars.” Possibly my book title? That being said most of this so-called research was conducted doing just that, eating and drinking.

The first evening kicked off with seafood at S.N.O.B. which stands for “slightly north of Broad [St.]” and ended with the most delicious chocolate bread pudding. A dessert that wasn’t matched for the rest of the trip and was the last stop I made before heading home … they were out.

The next day I proposed a happy hour bar crawl, figuring this was the best way to eat and drink on a budget while getting to see everything. It’s also a great idea for someone like myself that’s hardly ever satisfied with eating everything at one spot. How often does a restaurant have a wine/drink list, excellent food, dessert, and a cool vibe? You’d be surprised, not that many.

The problem was I didn’t eat much prior in the day, which if you know me, leads to one thing, low blood sugar. That version of myself isn’t pretty. I wouldn’t be friends with her.

That being said about halfway through the bar crawl, after hitting up The Blind Tiger (had to, as homage to my neighborhood spot), Pearlz Oyster Bar, and Vendue Rooftop, my partner and crime and I stopped at Moe’s. A local joint with lots of on-tap beers and bar food. Not so classy, but it had to be done.

The following day we divulged in BBQ tacos at my favorite downtown Charleston BBQ joint and ate enough cornbread to suffice until dinner. Following meals included Cyrpress, lost hopes of bread pudding as good as the first night at High Cotton and Blossom, and an afternoon boozy lunch at Fleet Landing where we sat on the water and ate seafood.

There was hardly room for dessert as we finished up on the last day before boarding the plan. Somehow I managed a slice of key lime pie though …

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!

Back to the Grind

Filed Under: Food, French Culinary Institute, Life, New York City, Restauranton February 15th, 2010

I’ve been bad. And by bad, I mean, not posting as often as I should or could.

Last week I had SO MUCH to write about, but considering I was in a “live it” not “write it” mode, I was a little sub-par, so apologies.

Let’s say as a wrap up, I went a little crazy – all out.

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Spotted Pig burger on Tuesday night, snow day trip to Locanda Verde on Wednesday night for lamb meatballs, herbed ricotta cheese, and toffee date cake, Friday trip to Bar Farnelli with more Brooklyn Lagers than I care to admit, Saturday afternoon a trip to the

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Blind Tiger and pit-stop at Murray’s Cheese for a like ‘njua, Saturday night at Colicchio and Sons and Sunday brunch at Bubby’s.bubbys

You’d be surprised that I had time to do anything else but eat, huh? But I did, don’t worry. Although eating was a HUGE part of last week, and every minute of it was fabulous. Can’t say there was a sour note!

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In terms of finishing up plated desserts from last week, we chocolate sprayed out Mint Domes and plated a white chocolate citrus parfait, a tiramisu, an exotic fruit soup, and a goat’s yogurt panna cotta.

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The panna cotta and tiramisu were vomit-worthy. DISGUSTING. So much so, that if I actually ordered either of these at a restaurant I would have sent them back. And I don’t think soup should be next to the word “dessert” but that’s just my opinion …

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Be wary of the pictures though, these were “unpretty” desserts of our large batch.

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The unattractive pieces are used to practice plating while the immaculately clean looking ones we have to save for either the restaurant, school functions, or our “Afternoon of Desserts” where our friends and family come for a tasting.

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And since ours is tomorrow afternoon, we had to be very particular to leave all the “good” ones for them.

Hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend!

Oh and like a true nerd of food, on my day off what am I doing, cooking? You named it. Greatest find of the city thus far? Israeli grocery store downtown where a butcher hand grinds lamb for $3 a lb. Um, hello! Give me all of it and let’s see what I can do with it! Isn’t it great how the small things in life make your day?

Maybe I really am back to the grind, now that I have my meat …