About Me
Butternut Squash Soup
26 Jan2010
I made this last week. The original recipe came from CookingLight.com, but I modified it to add more flavor and to accommodate what I had in my fridge. It turned out really, really good and is also a light, low-calorie way to get in a serving of vegetables!
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon salted butter
* 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
* 3 1/2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
* 2 cups cubed peeled daikon
* 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots mix
* 2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 1/4 cup skim milk
* Salt, dried thyme, dried basil leaves and powdered coriander to taste
Preparation
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, squash, daikon and peas and carrots; sauté for 12 minutes. Add chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in skim milk, salt, dried thyme, dried basil leaves and powdered coriander.
2. Place squash mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape), and secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth.
[Photo courtesy of CookingLight.com since I had company and neglected to snap my own.]
Jacques Imo’s
25 Jan2010
8324 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118 | +1.504.861.0886
Why Here?
Another New Orleans institution, this quirky little restaurant is only open 5 – 10:30PM most days and only accepts (and requires) reservations for parties of 5 or more. Otherwise, your wait is going to be at least an hour in the off season. That said, this was probably the best culinary experience I had in New Orleans.
The Good
The complimentary starters of corn bread and spinach were delish, as were the starters we ordered – Eggplant Jacques-Imo’s Oyster Dressing & Wild Mushroom Sauce and Shrimp & Alligator Sausage Cheesecake (pictured above). The cheesecake was especially memorable. This restaurant’s Fried Green Tomatoes Meets Godzilla dish was highly recommended to me as the best thing to get. This must have been true, because sadly they had sold out of this by the time we got a table around 8:30PM. Of all the entree dishes we ordered here, the Scallops with Pear and Red Wine Sauce was the winner.
The Bad
I ordered the Grilled Mahi Mahi with Pistacio Sauce, Asparagus, & Shrimp – it was passable but forgettable. I ate half of it. Warren ordered the Grilled Duck Breast with Orange Soy Glaze, Shiitake Mushrooms & Pecans, which consisted of the fattiest piece of duck I’ve ever tasted. I’ve always been pro-animal fat in dishes, but this piece was so fatty even I almost spat it back out.
The Ugly Truth
4.5/5.0 – Unfortunately we were all too full to try the dessert, but most of the things we ordered were worth the long wait.
- In: New Orleans, LA
- Tags: Food
Uomasa
25 Jan2010
3/F Big C Ekkamai (between Soi 6 and Soi 8), Sukhumvit 63, Bangkok 10110, Thailand | +662.714.2828
Why Here?
Hidden away in the shortcut between Thonglor and Ekkamai, this quiet and unpretentious Japanese restaurant is easy to get to and boasts some of the freshest, tastiest and most reasonably priced sushi in Bangkok.
The Good
The sashimi and nigiri here is delicious. The fish is fresh and well worth ordering and paying for – you’ll get reasonably priced (though not cheap) uni and toro here. The menu also features pretty good cooked teppanyaki-like dishes, though you won’t be able to sit in front of a teppanyaki chef here.
The Bad
I wouldn’t classify anything here as “bad”, though I would steer clear of the set menu items – they’re a good deal but you would really be missing out on what’s good at Uomasa.
The Ugly Truth
4.5/5.0 – It’s not a 5.0 because the ambiance is a little fast food-y, and I’m a tad spoiled.
- In: Bangkok, Thailand
- Tags: Food
Grand Sichuan
10 Jan2010
229 9th Ave #1 (at 24th Street), New York NY 10001 | +1.212.620.5200
The Good
Finally, finally had a chance to try this place out recently! I had heard so much about their authentic xiao long bao (otherwise known as “soup dumplings”) for so long, and not I’m thrilled to have discovered such good food right in my neighborhood. The xiao long bao really are very good, and the rest of the menu features some very authentic Sichuan fare.
The Bad
Luckily for me, the menu is split into “American Chinese Dishes” and “Sichuan Dishes”, making it easy for me to avoid bastardized dishes like “Beef and Broccoli”. As long as you’re not ordering anything marked “American Chinese” or opting for the lean meat option of real Asian food, I don’t see how anything could be bad here.
The Ugly Truth
5.0/5.0 – This place is authentic and so are the prices. The best part: it’s like going to the most authentic places in Chinatown without venturing through the crowded Chinatown streets!
- In: New York, NY
- Tags: Food
Cafeteria
10 Jan2010
119 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | +1.212.414.1717
Why Here?
A chain with outposts in Miami and New York, Cafeteria is a 24-hour upscale diner (complete with dressed up diner dishes) that’s great for lunch, drinks or celeb spotting. In the summer, the outdoor dining area is perfect for a sunny day and doggie treats are complementary if you bring your pooch!
The Good
Everything here is pretty good. Cafeteria boasts a $10 bagel that comes complete with lox, cream cheese, red onion slivers and capers that you can put together yourself. There’s a great mac ‘n’ cheese sampler, a good Cobb salad and delicious cocktails!
The Bad
Prices can be a little high for what you’re getting, but they’re not anything outlandish for this neighborhood. If you want brunch or dinner, go early or you’ll be faced with an hour-long wait on weekends.
The Ugly Truth
4/5 – Only because the trendiness of the place results in an annoyingly long wait.
- In: New York, NY
- Tags: Drink, Food