Wine and Food Matcher

I'm not a big fan of wine, but I know a lot of people are. I stumbled across this site that has a wine and food matcher. It's pretty cool! Essentially, you can either put in what food you'll be eating, and it'll pair wines for you. Or, you can choose what wine you have, and it'll tell you what foods go best with it. Pretty cool!

If the link doesn't work, the physical address is: http://nataliemaclean.com/matcher/

Enjoy!

MenuPages Added More Cities!

I almost always check Menu Pages before heading to a restaurant--just to see what I can expect on the menu, and if there is a particular dish that is consistently mentioned in the reviews. I just visited it again, and found that they have added additional cities, so it is no longer just a New York City resource! The cities included are:

New York City
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
Boston
Chicago
Washington, DC
South Florida

The maps now have a cheeky hand-drawn feel (which I like), and the site seems to be better organized. Best yet, they now have a "Find-A-Food" search which will search all the restaurant menus for the particular food you specify. (I searched "Nachos," and got 515 Manhattan restaurants.)

Super cool! If you don't yet use the site, I highly recommend it!

Graffiti (Food & Wine Bar)

"One of the top five dining experiences I've had."


Ash's words, not mine, but I'd whole-heartedly agree. We went to Graffiti last Friday, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is essentially a tapas and wine bar located on E 10th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. (Look carefully--you'll probably walk right by it.) It is a tiny little place (seats about 18 total at four communal tables), and looks like it used to be someone's studio apartment. (Yes, it's that tiny--the picture shows 90% of the entire restaurant.) However, it's set up in a charming way, so the space feels intimate and has a "hidden treasure" appeal you don't get at many restaurants. Jehangir Mehta is the executive chef, so not surprisingly, the food has many indian-inspired flavors. Below is my personal list on why you should go:

Why You Should Go To Graffiti

1. The food rocks.
Be sure to order the Green Mango Paneer. Amazing. Better yet, order three. You won't want to share.

2. Every wine on the menu is just $25 a bottle.
Yes, you read that correctly.

3. Jehangir Mehta has been a pastry chef at: Jean Georges, Union Pacific, Virot, Compass, Aix and Sapa.
Hello? Do you need another reason?

4. Jehangir Mehta actually cooks all the food himself.
We saw him working away in the tiny kitchen the entire time we were there. That is, of course, except for when he was talking to the diners, since....

5. Jehangir Mehta actually comes to your table to present all of the dishes himself.
This was my favorite part. I'm in awe of great chefs--it could have been Brad Pitt coming to our table between every course--that's how excited I was. I told him his paneer was the best paneer I've ever eaten, and he was incredibly gracious and humbled. SUPER nice. A really cool experience.

6. This is his only restaurant.
Yes, I asked him. Anything to keep him at our table longer.

7. I bought his cookbook on-the-spot as soon as I tried his food.
I don't buy cookbooks on the spot. I am an Amazon junkie. But his style was so unique that I couldn't help it, and I'm quite certain there's not another cookbook like it. In case you want to purchase his cookbook and save a few dollars, feel free to click here, or on the image below. But I will say, there's something cool about buying a cookbook from the chef himself.



What We Ordered:

We ordered a lychee martini ($7, apparently it's recently been featured on the Martha Stewart show, so everyone in the restaurant had one) and three small plates. The restaurant has three price tiers, so we ordered one plate from each tier. (You can view the full menu here.) Our plates were:

- Green Mango Paneer ($7): Best. Paneer. Ever. A small dish of paneer served with a few small pieces of perfectly cooked bread. (Small sharing portion--next time I'm going to order one of these just for myself, though I actually liked it so much I could eat four of them. Don't go and not order this. It would be a HUGE mistake.)

- Zucchini Hummus Pizza ($12): Very interesting, in a good way. It didn't have too many indian flavors, but was very good. Picture a flaky pastry crust topped with hummus, sliced zucchini and wasabi peas. Don't know if I'd order it again, but definitely enjoyed it. The size of the pizza was about 5 inches or so--a perfect size for Ash and I to split.

- Tomato Tamarind Vegetable Buns ($15): Very good. They were three small buns, each one slightly smaller than the size of my palm. You could certainly taste the tamarind, and it was an interesting contrast to the tomato. Definitely more indian in flavor, but unlike anything I've eaten at any other restaurant.

When (not if) we go back, I'll be ordering a Green Mango Paneer all to myself. Additionally, I think Ash will try some of the non-veg items, and I'll ask them to tailor a few items to make them vegetarian (which they state they are happy to do on their website). Though we didn't order dessert, we were brought a complimentary taste of his homemade ice cream (amazing), and some candied carrots (better than you would think!). Ash had a shared connection with the chef, so I think this was a kind gesture more than the norm.

(Sidenote: Before you comment on my lack-of-ordering-dessert, we had plans to go to Max Brenner or Veniero's, both of which are a few blocks away. ChikaLicious is also pretty much right across the street. So don't judge too soon... Although next time, we'll probably order dessert.)

Finally, to wrap us this post, a few bits of advice if you decide to go:

If You Go To Graffiti...

1. Make reservations.
We saw several people get turned away, as there was no availability for the remainder of the night. (We were there at 7:15.)

2. Request seats against the wall.
If you are a party of two, you will be sharing your table with one or two other couples. The seats against the wall are the only ones where people will not consistently be brushing against your back throughout your meal, as it is a very tight space. It's not unbearable--but if the food wasn't as good as it was, we probably would have gotten annoyed.

3. Don't bring a bunch of shopping bags.
When I say tiny, I mean tiny.

4. Order the Green Mango Paneer.
Did I mention this already? Ah well. It's important.

Enjoy!

Cold Coffee

Everytime we go to India, we're offered "cold coffee." Let's face it, it's usually close to 100 degrees Farenheit, and most of the food and beverages don't sit well with our stomach, so there is not much we can be offered. Our family knows us (and our digestive systems) well enough to boil water and place it in the fridge before we arrive, as well as often make ice cubes with the boiled water. After all, you never can be too careful! (Ash was sick for 4 days because a lime soda he ordered at a four-star restaurant had some carbonated tap water in it...)

Back to cold coffee. No, this is not brewed coffee that's sat out for too long. Instead, it tastes more like an iced coffee frap, but with less ice. I absolutely love it. Last time we were in New Delhi, my lovely cousins took us to this amazing coffee place called Barista. The vibe was very similar to a Starbucks, but you could order at your table, and it went WAY beyond just coffee. (Personally, I'd trade a Starbucks for a Barista anyday!) If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it. I still think about a Brrrrista Blast I had over there, described as "our finest cold coffee, loaded with choco fudge, ice cream and whipped cream." (You can look at their cold coffee menu here.) When Ash and I returned home, I went to work on figuring out how to make one.

There are two recipes below--the first is for a "plain" cold coffee, and the second is more in line with the Brrrista Blast. I always use my magic bullet, but you can also use a regular or an immersion blender.

(Note: I've made it before with brewed coffee, and have found it to be too watery. However, if you use a cooled espresso shot, that would probably work, but I haven't tried it...)


"Plain" Cold Coffee (with a Magic Bullet)

2 ice cubes
Approx. 1 cup of milk (You know I don't measure...the beverage bullet container is about one-third full--I use 1% milk)
1 heaping teaspoon of the instant coffee of your choice (I like Nescafe, Ash uses International House French Vanilla)
Sugar to taste (I use 1 tsp.)

Dump it all into the Magic Bullet, and blend! I blend until I can no longer hear the ice cubes--but if you blend it too long, the froth turns thick, so be careful! (The milk will froth and increase in size, so be sure there is space left in the container.) You can also use a blender, but I find it easier to customize drinks in the bullet, as you make each one individually.

Also, if we're using it as a dessert, we'll omit the sugar and throw in a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream. (If using vanilla, throw in an extra bit of coffee.) If you're looking for more of the Brrrrrrista Blast drink, here's what I came up with:


Cold Coffee Dessert (with a Magic Bullet)

Few spoons of chocolate sauce (syrup is a bit runny, hot fudge is a bit thick--something in the middle)
1 cup of 1% milk
1.5 heaping teaspoons of instant coffee
2 scoops of vanilla or coffee ice cream
2 ice cubes
Sugar to taste (I don't use any)
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

Blend the ice cubes, instant coffee, milk and sugar in the bullet until you can no longer hear the ice. Drizzle the chocolate sauce at the bottom and on the sides of a tall glass. (something you would serve a milkshake in.) Place the remaining scoop of ice cream into the glass, and pour in the cold coffee. Add whipped cream, drizzle the last of the chocolate sauce and garnish with chocolate shavings. Serve with a straw and a long spoon.

(Note: You can probably subsitute chocolate sauce for caramel, hence the Barista picture up top, but I am more of a chocolate fan.)

Enjoy!

A slightly different look

Yes, no more dots! I was getting really sick of looking at the generic template of my blog, so I am finally getting around to creating a custom header. Since I'm not so great with the fancy schmancy computer stuff, so far this is the best I could do. But hey, it's certainly better than looking at all those dots...

Finally--a teapot warmer!

I love tea. LOVE tea. A few years ago I bought a Bodum tea pot, and I've used it a bunch of times. However, Ash and I like different kinds of tea, so brewing a pot has always seemed excessive. (Though I secretly feel all grown up everytime I use it.)

I've always thought if there was a good way to keep my tea warm for a few hours, I could enjoy using my teapot more often. (We have a stainless steel coffee pot that will keep coffee warm, but tea, not so much.) Since my teapot only cost $25ish, I didn't want to spend another $25ish on a tea warmer. Then, this morning, I saw one on Crate and Barrel's website for $9.95! (It's on sale, so I don't know how long that price will last...) It uses a tea light, and says it can be used with any teapot. (It is a Bodum product, and my pot is the one on the picture, so I am fairly certain it will work with mine.) I was holding onto some credit to Crate and Barrel, so I quickly placed an order. Just thought I'd pass it along, since I know many of you enjoy a good cup of tea as well... :-)

On a side note, those Valhrona Chocolate Pearls (from this post) came in--I'll post on them as soon as I fully test them out!

Neither Paper Nor Plastic

First things first--happy new year!

A lot of people have been talking about resolutions for 2009. I thought about it, and I don't have a "real" resolution, but there are a lot of things I want to do this year. Some are new things, some are old habits I want to break, and some are a few things I started doing in 2008 that I want to be sure I continue. (All you OE people--stop laughing at the start, stop, continue...it's obviously permanently ingrained into my brain.)

To highlight one, a while ago I got my first reusable bag, and unexpectedly, found that I felt good about myself everytime I used it. I felt that in my own tiny way, I was doing something to help save the environment. So, this year I've decided to actually keep track of how many bags I save. I think it will become increasingly rewarding as my number goes up, and the intrinsic reward will increase the frequency of the behavior. (Notice the counter on the left. Or actually, the lack of a counter-- it's just a text box. If someone wants to build me a counter, that would be AWESOME. But I can't figure out how to do it. So until then, I'll manually update the text box.)

The first reusable bag I got was by accident. JetBlue was running a promotion, and so we all got a goody bag of products that would help the environment. My first bag was a Chico Bag in red--I always kept it in my purse, and whenever I could remember, I used it at the grocery store. Though it is super convenient to carry around all the time, it looks wrinkled when you use it, and it isn't very sturdy (at least it felt like it wasn't sturdy). So, I was on the hunt to find a better bag. I needed something sturdy that could carry a gallon of milk without me worrying it was going to rip. Also, my wrists were starting to hurt--I wanted something I could throw over my shoulder.

Bring It In A Bag had just what I was looking for. (Full disclosure- a great friend of mine owns and runs the company, but I would buy the bags even if she didn't! The bags have been featured in Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show...go check them out!) This site sells jute bags, so not only are you saving plastic bags, but you are purchasing something that is eco-friendly. I have the super cute one that says "green is the new brown". It has held 2 gallons of milk, along with a bunch of other groceries, and I've never worried about it breaking. Also, the inside is lined so that if something spills, I can just take a wet paper towel and wipe it right off. LOVE it. This bag alone has probably saved a couple hundred plastic bags already--the baggers at Associated Supermarkets now know I never need a bag for my groceries. (Although one of them once said-- "I get it, save a tree, right?" Um, sure. Since plastic bags are made from trees. But whatever.)

So, that bag solves my grocery store problem, which is where I get the most plastic bags. However, I still needed a bag that I could keep in my purse, for when I might pick up things on-the-go. For this, I used to use my Chico bag. However, I've recently discovered Rume Reusable Shopping Totes, which I absolutely love. I now almost always have one in my bag at all times, and Ash even uses a mini one to take food to work everyday. They aren't cheap, but I love the designs (I have the "Fall In NY" collection), and they roll-up into the perfect size to take with me. (About three of the large ones roll up to the size of a grande coffee cup at Starbucks.) I highly recommend them! You can check out their website here.

If you're not convinced that carrying a reusable bag is worth it, here are a few benefits we've found...

- Have you ever opened up your cabinet only to find plastic bags sticking out? Yeah, our cabinet is not overflowing with plastic bags anymore. We still have enough plastic bags to use for the garbage (the few times we forget to bring a bag is enough to carry us over), but we don't feel like we're swimming in them.

- When it's raining or snowing, you don't have to worry about your paper bag ripping and all of your groceries falling onto the sidewalk. (No, it hasn't happened to me, but I've had several close calls. I call it the hold-the-bag-like-a-baby-and-pray walk.)

- Reusable bags (specifically the Bring It In A Bag and the RuMe bags) can hold a TON more weight. So, instead of struggling with five bags, I just have one thrown over my shoulder. My wrists thank me. As will yours. (Bonus: on those rainy or snowy days, with your groceries casually slung across your shoulder, you actually have a hand to hold your umbrella!)

- Glass bottles stay upright. Both the Bring It In A Bag and the RuMe bags have a flat bottom, like a paper bag. So, instead of your jars rattling around, they actually stay upright and in place. Who knew?

So, if you don't yet use reusable shopping bags--I highly recommend them. We've used them to carry groceries, carry Christmas presents, carry heavy things that will certainly rip a plastic bag (like an AeroBed), carry food to Central Park...the uses are endless! If you don't get one yourself, at least yell at me if you see me carrying a plastic bag. I'm on my way to saving the world...one (less) bag at a time. Also, if you want to join in, I'll happily add your name as well--just keep me updated, and I'll update the numbers. (And maybe then someone will actually build me a counter.)

Happy New Year!