Hot off the streets: Corn on the cob and hot tamales

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Sabrina

Strolling the streets of Spanish Jackson Heights, the scents of native Spanish foods wafted over to me at various corners of the neighborhood. Awnings of Mexican cuisine and Colombian bakeries greeted me at different junctures, competing to satisfy a craving I couldn’t quite name.

It was when I saw the third person on my excursion eating something cheesy on a stick and wrapped in aluminum foil that I not only wondered aloud what they were eating, but actually exclaimed, “That’s it, I want what they’re having.”

Corn on the cob, off the grill, on the streets.

There began my quest, when I went back down a street where one woman I spotted with the food had just come from. But it led me to the same awnings and none of them offered anything of the kind. Suddenly, I turned my back to these storefronts and noticed the street vendors facing them, selling my so called mystery food: corn on the cob. A women who kindly declined pictures of herself allowed me to showcase her mouthwatering corn. I bought one for $2, digging my teeth into the kernels. It was grilled to perfection with just enough darkened spots, the evenly soft and chewy texture covered in crumbly parmesan cheese.

This vendor uncovers the plastic wrap to reveal the steaming hot tomales.

Next to this makeshift vending station set on a shopping cart was another woman selling hot tamales and steaming hot rice pudding. I didn’t buy either of these but they sold easily and quickly enough right before my eyes as I briefly waited for my corn. Having never eaten hot tamales they’re now on my back-burner. I can’t wait to return and feast on those tamales with more than my eyes, because sometimes, what you’re craving isn’t indoors at a sit down, but out and about and hot off the streets.

Posted in Food | 3 Comments

Chocolate Place: An Amusement Park… for Your Mouth

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Queen

The Teddy Bears Are So Cute!

As you walk up a sidewalk partially covered with small nicks and cracks you are overjoyed to finally get to your destination. Granted, just before opening the door there is a small, yet, inconvenient stair you have to pass before you come in. However, once you open that door and that sweet, warm, amazing aroma of chocolate hits your senses it is as if walking into the gates of heaven.

Stepping into a new world, away from the chill of a 47 degree windy day that leaves you wishing you could lose all ability to feel, the warmth inside Chocolate Place, located at 839 Morris Park Ave. in the Bronx, is a welcome to all the senses.

Next Time I Will Try a Pretzel

The glass casings served well to show off in wonderful detail the many    varieties, molds, and styles of the chocolates that were waiting to be bought. Each one different from the other with its own unique and distinctive look yelling to the customer “pick me, pick me.”

White walls also showcasing various chocolates on their shelves.

They're So Beautiful... and The Jewlery Isn't Bad Either

A look around and you would see Betty Boop purses of red and black hanging next to the Godiva, glass casings displaying jewelry and teddy bears keeping company with the candy.

Also keeping company with the candy was 57 year old Angela DaBenigno, the owner of the small shop.

Angela DaBenigno

“Because I love chocolate” she said when asked on why she opened Chocolate Place.

As roller-coasters are to Six Flags Chocolate Place is for your mouth. A look around and you can easily spot the many varieties the store has to offer.

“I have probably over 1000 molds and chocolates. Wow, we sell at least 60 varieties. We have truffles, we have pretzels, we have barks, we have turtles, and we have clusters” said DaBenigno.

Reminds Me of The Velveteen Rabbit

When asked about the amount of costumers she serves everyday she has never kept count but said it was more or less 60 to 100 people a day to 360 to 600 people a week.

Those numbers help speak to the fact many Americans are in love with chocolate.

According to Criss White, a web writer for TinyPrints.com the average American consumes 10-12 pounds of chocolate a year. She goes on to write that “Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol.”

How Many of Those Do You Think I Can Eat Before I Start To Lose My Teeth?

Anita Murtha, a 56 year old woman who lives in Manhattan is a huge chocolate lover herself. She has loved chocolate ever since she can remember.

Anita Murtha

You're Under Arrest for the Crime of Being Too Sweet!!!

One of the best memories she has concerning chocolate had to do with an old friend who worked in a candy factory. Whenever the friend had a problem with one of the candies the friend would buy them cheaper and bring them to her.

Now that she is older she is trying to watch how much chocolate she consumes. However, when she does eat chocolate she prefers dark chocolate because she says “I like it and it’s good for you.”

However, people can become addicted to this Mayan food.

YUM!!!

According to the Gothamist chocoholism actually exists. A study at Yale University found that when women saw photos of chocolate milkshakes “similar patterns of neural activation are implicated in addictive-like eating behavior and substance dependence.”

Where Are the Matching Handbags???

When asked about the effect of the recession on her business DaBenigno stated that although there might have been a slight impact it was not enough to influence the store in a negative way because “the things we sell here are not so expensive that you can’t indulge in a small piece of chocolate, two pieces of chocolate. So sometimes when people feel a little bit down they will indulge in something small so in that respect I don’t think we were so affected.”

Chocolate Caramel Apple. Really Tough to Eat.

The prices of the chocolate sold at this location go from a$.75 truffle to as high as $155. That large amount comes from the fact that the store is a seller of Godiva Chocolate.

The green apple dipped in caramel and then covered in chocolate ($5.75) gives that sweet taste with a sour punch.  Contrast that with the sweetness of strawberries covered in chocolate (1.00/each).

It Begged Me to Eat It!!! Now, What Kind of Person Am I to Deny Such a Request???

Take That Strawberry Shortcake!!!

The Chocolate Bunny ($1.00), with rainbow sprinkles on its ears, was pure chocolate on the inside. The sweetness of the chocolate makes your mouth feel as if it is a pool and the bunny is doing the butterfly and backstroke trying to showoff to Willy Wonka and it succeeded with 10’s across the board.

DaBenigno said that it was a bit of a struggle to open the shop but at the end it was well worth it: “I like working with chocolate and I really love the expression of the people when they leave they’re truly happy and they love the taste of the chocolate and they like what we make and they’re very accommodating.”

Posted in Food | 3 Comments

2011 Greenmarket Kick-Off Event Gets Outshined by Supporters

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Ellen

Greenmarket stand

A last minute call from a friend had me taking off early from work, and rushing to the subway. After a 40 minute ride on the 7 train, and an additional 18 minutes on the 6 train, I found myself wandering around city hall, trying to find 220 Vesey Street. It took me a good 20 minutes of speed walking to end up where I wanted to be.

On April 7, Brookfield Office Properties, management of the World Financial Center, presented the kickoff event for the 2011 Eat: World Financial Center. 18 vendors, mostly located near the financial district, came to support the opening of the Greenmarket located inside of the Winter Garden Plaza. The event was held between 11am-2pm.

Vendors such as Au Bon Pain, Devon and Blakely, The Grill Room, Southwest NY, Yushi, Financier Patisserie offered some of their restaurant’s famous bites for less than the original price. Most dishes ranged from $1 to $5.

Left to Right: Wasabi steak sandwich from Yushi, Pulled Pork sliders from Southwest NY, Mango Blueberry Crumb from Financier Patisserie

The stands were feet apart from each other and for some stands; lines wrapped around pillars that required ushers to guide the lines. Many who came were all suited up, a few were in casual clothing such as myself, and it made me feel like I was at a high end event. Despite everyone’s diverse styles, we all shared an unified goal within the 3 hours—FOOD!

Half way through pigging out, I almost forgot the most important aspect of the event— the Greenmarket.

The Greenmarket or #18 on the paper map provided, was supposedly the highlight of the event, was nowhere to be found. A tiny stand with display of eggs, cheese, and wines was in spot #18. Apparently, the market was located elsewhere in the building for a “more enjoyable shopping experience,” claimed one of the volunteers.

It didn’t seem like anyone cared much about the market. Many just came for the food and forgot what the event was for. An old couple who walked all the way from Chinatown said they came for the “event,” but in hindsight, it was obvious that they were here for the food. The old man commented, “My daughter said there was going to be food and so I came.”

Another attendee commented, “I was expecting a whole market to be displayed when I walked in (but) then I found myself indulging in these desserts.” A group huddled together overheard and nodded their heads in agreement.

I can see why. While walking there, there were no other signs, except for a banner at the crossing bridge above the west side highway that could have easily gone unnoticed, notifying that the event was on April 7.

The information booth located at the entrance of the door, focused more on spreading the words about foursquare rather than the event. The representative said, “The market is down the hall. Have you checked in on foursquare yet?”

The market was nothing extraordinary. It just looked like a smaller version of Whole Foods offering fruits, vegetables, jams, and flowers. It was quite disappointing. The fruit stand lady explained that this was just a small part of it and that it will start to offer more once the weather gets warmer. The stands will also be taking place outside the WFC, and will be held every Thursday from 11am-7pm until December.

Jason Gordon from Brookfield, responded, “Spring is the perfect time to kick off the event. The event has been held for more than 3 years. We support farmers everywhere, from tri state areas to come out and introduce to the public their hard work. We’re fortunate to have some of the restaurants support us in the event.”

Mesquite-smoked chicken wings ($5)

In every passing year, the event becomes more known to New Yorkers. Jordan, a financial analyst at a near-by company brought his co-worker Elisa to the event during their lunch break. Jordan said, “I was here last year but it wasn’t this crowded. I told Elisa to come since she never heard of it. I was surprised to see this many people showing up,” he chuckled and continued “maybe it’s a bad idea. Now, I have to fight for the last chicken.” (Referenced to Southwest NY’s mesquite-smoked chicken wings)

Elisa added, “I’m glad he informed me or else I would have missed out all these great food.”

A last minute call from a friend had me taking off early from work, and rushing to the subway. After a 40 minute ride on the 7 train, and an additional 18 minutes on the 6 train, I found myself wandering around city hall, trying to find 220 Vesey Street. It took me a good 20 minutes of speed walking to end up where I wanted to be.

On April 7, Brookfield Office Properties, management of the World Financial Center, presented the kickoff event for the 2011 Eat: World Financial Center. 18 vendors, mostly located near the financial district, came to support the opening of the Greenmarket located inside of the Winter Garden Plaza. The event was held between 11am-2pm.

Vendors such as Au Bon Pain, Devon and Blakely, The Grill Room, Southwest NY, Yushi, Financier Patisserie offered some of their restaurant’s famous bites for less than the original price. Most dishes ranged from $3 to $5.

The stands were feet apart from each other and for some stands; lines wrapped around pillars that required ushers to guide the lines. Many who came were all suited up, a few were in casual clothing such as myself, and it made me feel like I was at a high end event. Despite everyone’s diverse styles, we all shared a unified goal within the 3 hours—FOOD!

Half way through pigging out, I almost forgot the most important aspect of the event— the Greenmarket.

The Greenmarket or #18 on the paper map provided, was supposedly the highlight of the event, was nowhere to be found. A tiny stand with display of eggs, cheese, and wine was in spot #18. Apparently, the market was located elsewhere in the building for a “more enjoyable shopping experience,” claimed one of the volunteers.

It didn’t seem like anyone cared much about the market. Many just came for the food and forgot what the event was for. An old couple who walked all the way from Chinatown said they came for the “event,” but in hindsight, it was obvious that they were here for the food. The old man commented, “My daughter said there was going to be food and so I came.”

Another attendee commented, “I was expecting a whole market to be displayed when I walked in (but) then I found myself indulging in these desserts. (Financier Patisserie’s hazelnut sacher torte and tiramisu cup)” A group huddled together overheard and nodded their heads in agreement.

I can see why. While walking there, there were no other signs, except for a banner at the crossing bridge above the west side highway that could have easily gone unnoticed, notifying that the event was today.

The information booth located at the entrance of the door, focused more on spreading the words about foursquare rather than the event. The representative said, “The market is down the hall. Have you checked in on foursquare yet?”

The market was nothing extraordinary. It just looked like a smaller version of Whole Foods offering fruits, vegetables, jams, and flowers. It was quite disappointing. The fruit stand lady explained that this was just a small part of it and that it will start to offer more once the weather gets warmer. The stands will also be taking place outside the WFC, and will be held every Thursday from 11am-7pm until December.

Jason Gordon from Brookfield, responded, “Spring is the perfect time to kick off the event. The event has been held for more than 3 years. We support farmers everywhere, from tri state areas to come out and introduce to the publ

A last minute call from a friend had me taking off early from work, and rushing to the subway. After a 40 minute ride on the 7 train, and an additional 18 minutes on the 6 train, I found myself wandering around city hall, trying to find 220 Vesey Street. It took me a good 20 minutes of speed walking to end up where I wanted to be.

On April 7, Brookfield Office Properties, management of the World Financial Center, presented the kickoff event for the 2011 Eat: World Financial Center. 18 vendors, mostly located near the financial district, came to support the opening of the Greenmarket located inside of the Winter Garden Plaza. The event was held between 11am-2pm.

Vendors such as Au Bon Pain, Devon and Blakely, The Grill Room, Southwest NY, Yushi, Financier Patisserie offered some of their restaurant’s famous bites for less than the original price. Most dishes ranged from $3 to $5.

The stands were feet apart from each other and for some stands; lines wrapped around pillars that required ushers to guide the lines. Many who came were all suited up, a few were in casual clothing such as myself, and it made me feel like I was at a high end event. Despite everyone’s diverse styles, we all shared a unified goal within the 3 hours—FOOD!

Half way through pigging out, I almost forgot the most important aspect of the event— the Greenmarket.

The Greenmarket or #18 on the paper map provided, was supposedly the highlight of the event, was nowhere to be found. A tiny stand with display of eggs, cheese, and wine was in spot #18. Apparently, the market was located elsewhere in the building for a “more enjoyable shopping experience,” claimed one of the volunteers.

It didn’t seem like anyone cared much about the market. Many just came for the food and forgot what the event was for. An old couple who walked all the way from Chinatown said they came for the “event,” but in hindsight, it was obvious that they were here for the food. The old man commented, “My daughter said there was going to be food and so I came.”

Another attendee commented, “I was expecting a whole market to be displayed when I walked in (but) then I found myself indulging in these desserts. (Financier Patisserie’s hazelnut sacher torte and tiramisu cup)” A group huddled together overheard and nodded their heads in agreement.

I can see why. While walking there, there were no other signs, except for a banner at the crossing bridge above the west side highway that could have easily gone unnoticed, notifying that the event was today.

The information booth located at the entrance of the door, focused more on spreading the words about foursquare rather than the event. The representative said, “The market is down the hall. Have you checked in on foursquare yet?”

The market was nothing extraordinary. It just looked like a smaller version of Whole Foods offering fruits, vegetables, jams, and flowers. It was quite disappointing. The fruit stand lady explained that this was just a small part of it and that it will start to offer more once the weather gets warmer. The stands will also be taking place outside the WFC, and will be held every Thursday from 11am-7pm until December.

Jason Gordon from Brookfield, responded, “Spring is the perfect time to kick off the event. The event has been held for more than 3 years. We support farmers everywhere, from tri state areas to come out and introduce to the public their hard work. We’re fortunate to have some of the restaurants support us in the event.”

In every passing year, the event becomes more known to New Yorkers. Jordan, a financial analyst at a near-by company brought his co-worker Elisa to the event during their lunch break. Jordan said, “I was here last year but it wasn’t this crowded. I told Elisa to come since she never heard of it. I was surprised to see this many people showing up,” he chuckled and continued “maybe it’s a bad idea. Now, I have to fight for the last chicken. (Referring to Southwest NY’s mesquite-smoked chicken wings)”

Elisa added, “I’m glad he informed me or else I would have missed out all these great food.

ic their hard work. We’re fortunate to have some of the restaurants support us in the event.”

In every passing year, the event becomes more known to New Yorkers. Jordan, a financial analyst at a near-by company brought his co-worker Elisa to the event during their lunch break. Jordan said, “I was here last year but it wasn’t this crowded. I told Elisa to come since she never heard of it. I was surprised to see this many people showing up,” he chuckled and continued “maybe it’s a bad idea. Now, I have to fight for the last chicken. (Referring to Southwest NY’s mesquite-smoked chicken wings)”

Elisa added, “I’m glad he informed me or else I would have missed out all these great food.

Posted in Food | 2 Comments

The Illchef: A Culinary Genius

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Sherese Francis

Chef Shehu

Shehu Fitzgerald has never been an average chef. He skateboards, snowboards, paints, does ice sculpting, and has traveled to such places as Britain, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. When he is not doing those things, he is a laid-back, funny guy, who likes to play video games and be a big kid with his 2-year old daughter, Che Elizabeth, and wife, Vee. On top of having already mastered a wide range of cuisines and dishes, it is no wonder why he was picked to appear on the sixth season of Food Network’s competition show “Chopped,” airing on May 3rd at 10pm.

“My mother, my love of food and my deep hatred of paperwork and office jobs,” were some of the reasons Fitzgerald gave as to why he pursued a culinary career. Raised in Staten Island, the 36-year-old has loved cooking since he was 5 years old with the help of his mother, Saundra, who is an esoteric cook and baker.

Graduating from Johnson & Wales University‘s Culinary Arts Program in 1994, he has worked at almost every type of restaurant, including his first job as a prep cook at R.H. Tugs, a cook at T.G.I. Fridays, a “Chef de Partie Poissonier” (chef of the fish section) at Les Célébrités Restaurant at the Essex House Hotel and his current job at 2 West Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton. He has also been fortunate enough to work under the instruction of Holly Peterson Mondavi at the Culinary Institute of America, cook for Princess Ann of England and become a Sous Chef at a beachfront restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand.

Fitzgerald, whose first name means “teacher” in the Nigerian Arabic dialect, began his first web series “Culinary Genius” in 2009 and has recorded 12 episodes since then. As his name suggests, the episodes of “Culinary Genius” are meant to teach viewers about different aspects of the culinary world, from simple things like separating an egg and vanilla-flavored sugar to the more fancy Hollandaise sauce and Gnocchi.

Che Elizabeth and Vee Fitzgerald

Recorded in their Staten Island home by his wife, Vee, the appeal of the series is that it speaks to a wide demographic of viewers, from Hip-Hop heads to laypeople on a budget to high-class chefs. Watching him cook looks like fun. Vee Fitzgerald agreed, “Shehu is so talented; his passion for food is infectious and he celebrates food every day.  Life with him is never boring!”

Watching how delicate he is in preparing them is just as fascinating as eating them. Even better, his dishes are hardly ever disappointing.

Spiced Duck Breast

His spiced duck breast with French green lentils and baby turnips in an apple cider reduction sauce is a good example. The tart-sweetness and slightly syrupy feel of the apple cider sauce provides juiciness and a nice balance to the spices used in the duck and vegetables.

According to Food Network, the channel “is committed to exploring new and different ways to approach food – through pop culture, competition, adventure, and travel…”. Fitzgerald’s experience fits well with the network’s goals. With its distribution to more than 96 million U.S. households and more than seven million Web site users a month, Fitzgerald will receive plenty of attention, especially for his web series, which has reached over 3,000 viewers.

Shehu and Vee Fitzgerald together own wineLIFE, a wine shop located on 386 Van Duzer in Staten Island that opened in 2010, in addition to a catering business incorporated in 2003. Vee Fitzgerald, who is a wine consultant and president of the New York City chapter of Women for WineSense, spoke about how she combines her expertise in wine and her husband’s expertise in food.

“We have a monthly instore event called Meet the Chef where he creates foods to offer customers in the store that are paired with featured wines.  We have also done catered food and wine pairing events for private clients and he has cooked for my Women for WineSense group on several occasions.”

Fitzgerald has also provided encouragement and support to aspiring chefs. His words of advice for them: “Stay focused, travel and keep your eyes on the prize.” Those same words seemed to have worked for him. “I’m just having some fun trying to spread the word of my love and my passion.” Asked what his goals as a chef are, he jokingly replied, “To rule the world.” With all of his accomplishments, he might very well be on his way there.

Posted in Food | 5 Comments

Une petite noce @ Cafe Mogodor

Posted on April 7, 2011 by rc111646

A telephone call from my grandson sent our household into a state of nervous excitement. Sion, who now calls himself Jean-Sebastien, was stopping over in New York for 18 hours, with his bride Marie-Ange on his way back to France from Mexico. He wanted to see his grandparents for a late lunch. Thoughtfully he gave me the number of his friend in New York’s East Village, to work out the details, saying ‘I do not want anything fancy’. Sultana, my wife, wanted to ‘se mettre en quatre’ [or pull out the stops] for JS, but once her initial enthusiasm took on a reasonable cast, we agreed on eating at Café Mogodor [101 St. Mark’s Place],

‘a pioneer of Moroccan restaurants in New York City’ since 1983. Owned by a family of Moroccan Jews, originally from Mogodor [now Essaouria],

once the most Jewish of Morocco’s cities, who has not broken ties with ‘le pays [بلاد]  ou elle a vu le jour’ [the country where they were born].

Café Mogodor occupies two store fronts, with large windows which the light of day lends a homey, cozy, and unpretentious ambiance. The décor is simple: tables, chairs, and a good well-stocked bar and a good Italian-made expresso machine. In the second, smaller room, are photos of the owner’s family in Mogodor of  days long forgotten from the last century, and on a shelf glazed ‘tagine’ pots, as a reminder to the café’s patrons that that they were eating in a real Moroccan restaurant. And if anyone had any doubts, on the wall of the larger room is a photo of  King Mohammed VI, and in the small room, a portrait of his grandfatherMohammed V much revered by the Jews of Morocco, sipping a glass of traditional mint tea. Seating accommodates a hundred and in warmer weather, a terrace holds another 10 to 20.

Everything in Café Mogodor serves one purpose: the enjoyment of food. I met Ariela, a Moroccan Israeli, who is the manager to settle on the menu.  Strikingly beautiful, in her mid-30s, she has finely chiseled features, dark, knowing and laughing eyes, and jet-black hair nestling gently on her shoulders; her voice has the quality of summer and smoke of a sultry mid-summer’s afternoon in the shade of Essaouira’s ramparts overlooking a lazy Atlantic Ocean,  and her smile parts sensual lips favoring pearly white teeth devoted to food. Regal in bearing, olive complected, her voice has the ring of silky plausibility. She is a true Jewish Arab beauty. Raised on a kibbutz not far from Haifa, her parents chose well her name: for the archangel Ariel, in Jewish mysticism, is known, among other things, for warmth and betrays a soupcon of unrestrained. And the warmth and joy she exudes is quite palpable and she embodies the spirit of the earth [הארץ].

She knows no Arab, but her French is good enough so that when she’s visiting Morocco she has no trouble finding her way. And, she does know her Moroccan cooking thanks to her mother’s influence. No doubt, the owners of Cafe Mogodor have found a gem in her.

Still, a doubt kept nagging me. I did not care if Café Mogodor was not kosher, but I did worry that the kitchen staff was not Moroccan. ‘Have no fear!’ Ariela chimed in. The owner and his family have trained them in the art of Moroccan cuisine. Still, my worry subsisted until I ate my first bite of food.

Mogodor is known for its Cous-Cous, Merguez, Bastilla, and Tagines.

For a setting of 10 for the ‘wedding party’, she suggested a combination Cous-Cous [$12 to $17,50] with lamb and merguez. I proposed a Bastilla [$15], a pie of layers of pastry with chicken, eggs, and almonds. ‘Wouldn’t that be heavy on the stomach?’ she asked. I demurred, and then wondered whether a lamb tagine [stew] [$16,50]would be preferable.

Planning a menu does not seem as simple as it sounds: picture us in ‘souk [bazaar]-like’ fashion, haggling not too finely over the dishes as though we were at an open public market, which made the exercise all the merrier, the more especially since in bartering you never give in easily. For more than 40 minutes, Ariela and I exercised seasoned habits to trump the other, more in play than ego thumping.

Finally there would be a more ample simple Merguez Cous-Cous, steamed semolina over a bouillon of highly seasoned beef sausages and vegetables and chickpeas and onions, two Bastilla, and a larger Lamb Tagine with apricots and prunes. We would skip appetizers and soup –for the plain and simple reason they were more Middle Eastern [$4.75] and it would take too long to prepare a ‘harerah’ soup — but wouldn’t scant on the salad [$6.50 to $9.50]. Since no Moroccan wine was available and Algerian wines do not travel well, a good Bordeaux would do, which Ariela would buy.

Sultana argued for an appetizer or two, to which I agreed. She thought there was too much food, and she was probably right. I, donning my best Philadelphia lawyer robes, and with the fire of a proselytizer, argued that Marie-Ange and Jean-Sebastien’s friends, were worthy of a variety of dishes, the better to appreciate Moroccan cooking.

The menu agreed on, Ariela suggested eating in the second room under the family photos and one picture of a Jew in traditional djellaba [robe] and babouches[slippers] and another in a black-dyed silhm [wool cape] and on his head a white turban, suggesting his Berber origin. She thought that it would be an appropriate touch in recalling our family’s origins. And a wedding meal binds family closer to one another, she added.

JS and MA and friends showed up for an early dinner. Ariela was on hand to welcome the newlyweds and, trouper that she is, described the dishes and had the wine opened.  After toasting them, we began eating ‘a la bonne franquette’, meaning simply and without much fuss. Ariela, in the best of Arab tradition, ‘regaled’ us with stories, as we ate, until she was called away to take care of other customers. We did learn that Woody Allen, Demi Moore, and Kofi Anan ate at Café Mogodor.  Once, the owners personally awaited the arrival of a visit of a Saudi princess, who, alas, cancelled at the very last minute.

No one complained of the food and ate heartedly and if she did not like the Bordeaux, he kept his or own counsel. JS seemed happy and MA is very blonde and buxom, but somewhat reserved. Generally the conversation was animated in the way only the French can do with a relaxed degree of formality. Sultana was in her element, but quietly confided to me, she should have prepared the food. Saying this, she did her best to taste all the dishes and still had room for dessert . Ariela had the kitchen prepare the traditional ‘the a la menthe’ [mint tea],

which was not very sugary at my request. Everyone sipped it, but instead preferred an expresso ‘bien tire’.

As JS and MA and friends took leave of us, JS thanked me for choosing a restaurant which brought back memories of growing up in Morocco and the warmth of family gathering. Unspoken was his feeling that with a French wife they would fade and would not be passed on. Sultana broke up a set of  her gold bracelets, giving two to MA who, my wife thought, was ‘unmoved’. However, I know my wife was already looking forward to the birth of her first great grandchild and the next generation. I was not as sanguine as she, since MA would bear JS children; they, however, would enter a world long denied us. Nonetheless, we are not so selfish as to deny our progeny their happiness.

In leaving the restaurant, we thanked Ariela very much for her kindness and help. And although it did not need saying, we would recommend Café Mogodor to friends and families and anyone else who wanted to eat good Moroccan like food at fair prices. We thanked the staff for efficient service.

Taking Ariela on the side, I slipped her an unmarked white envelope. Knowing it was a ‘tip’ for her, she at first refused it, but I pushed her hand away, quickly reciting in pray-bead fashion, time-honored formula of appreciation. Were it not for her tasteful and tactful suggestions, the wedding party might not have gone off as well as it did. To Sultana and me, time and distance have long separated us from Sion, but the food and the bonhomie of the moment brought us closer again. And, Ariela had no small hand in that!

Posted in Independent Film | 1 Comment

Amber is all Ambiance

Posted on April 5, 2011 by dospino

Sometimes who you eat with at a restaurant can make or break the experience, but even loving your company won’t help Amber.

Despite its misleading height of three floors, Amber is a relatively small asian restaurant on the second floor of its Gramercy location. The third floor is mostly unused, except for private parties, and gives the restaurant lofty high ceilings. The first is primarily “a bar area for young people,” in the area according to Wi Pam, the assistant manager. It’s long electric blue bar is modern looking and complimented by the neon orange of the stairs that clashes nicely with the brick facade hiding behind a curtain.

The space fits roughly 50 hungry people pressed together during the busy lunch hours in a closely spaced tables. It has two long leather couches on either of the exposed brick walls, but those stuck in the aisle’s wooden chairs will be surprised at how comfortably you sink in to them. The tables are an elegant dark mahogany that in the candle lit dinner atmosphere is almost romantic; I say almost because the Katy Perry blaring on the sound system is anything but.

Before you place an order the wait staff is patient, practically invisible. The same is true for when you get thirsty or need a fork if you’re not trained in the art of chopsticks. They begin to test your patience after a while but the giant Buddha surrounded by a small pond of fish by the kitchen remind you to keep your inner peace.

Once the food arrives, faster than the slow service might initially indicate, you realize the reason for the diner like prices. The portions are immense, but the food is disappointingly simple in flavor. Buddhist delight ($9.00), a combination of squash, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and noodles were so drenched in soy sauce that the smell and taste was uniform. The texture of the vegetables also varied from hard huge chunks of the broccoli and cauliflower to smushy squash in your mouth, something I was unprepared for. The side of sticky white rice it came with reminded me of a cheap Chinatown restaurant and did not effectively compliment the dish in any way, even to soak up some of the soy sauce.

The pineapple fried rice ($9.00) was a little better, but that’s not saying much. It comes in an empty pineapple shell, which is nice, but just like the Buddhist delight, the combination of pineapple, cashews, an array of vegetables and shrimp did not combine well to bring out any of the flavor. The pineapple for example had a sharp sweetness that didn’t allow anything else in the bite to be tasted. If you tried each individual element with just the rice however, it fared better in the taste buds.

“I want to just eat the cashews alone, I’d be disloyal to them if I combined them with the shrimp,” said Jessica Rozario, who left a third of her food untouched.

Needless to say, we decided not to take remainder of her meal home. It was nice to sit there though. If you eat there on a weekday night only a few people downstairs silently drink their cocktails, the second floor plays poppy music giving it a lounge feel and no one, especially not the wait staff, bothers you. Just makes sure not to get your hair stuck on the gum stuck on the wall. If you want good Asian cuisine you would probably have better luck eating at any of the other 18 restaurants in the area.


Posted in Food, restaurant reviews | 2 Comments

Eating With the Small Bees

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Queen

Délicieux! Magnifique! Je ne vais certainement revenir à cet endroit encore une fois et pas seulement à cause de la classe !

In case any of you are confused it means : Delicious ! Magnificent! I am definitely going back to that place again, and not just because of class!

If you want a scrumptious breakfast that leaves you wanting more, then Petite Abeille is where to go. Located on 401 East 20th Street this restaurant, even though it is small in size, carries a big punch.

I Love You Jon Stewart!!!

On the outside of the restaurant they have seating. This served me well since I sat there waiting for Sabrina and Ashley, also on assignment with me, to arrive. Even though it was somewhat warm, when you are sitting in one spot with the wind blowing, reading Jon Stewart’s book “Earth: The Book”, it gets pretty cold.

After they finally arrived, and apologized, we went in; but before we went in I noticed the big blue A staring at me through the window. I have to say seeing that made it a lot easier to eat there. If it would have been lower than a B I would not have eaten and instead watched them eat.

Made Me Feel A lot Better About Going In

We entered and a waiter showed us to our seats. As we sat there I kept asking Ashley what certain items were; she’s the foodie of the group.  I ordered a croissant ($3.00), a Gaufre de Liège waffle ($4.00), and hot Belgian chocolate ($4.00).

The waiter was kind enough to put the croissant and waffle on different plates because I don’t like my food touching.

When the croissant came it was so soft, flaky, warm and awesome. Biting into it felt like my whole mouth was skipping through a soft fluffy cloud. I ate all of it.

On Cloud Nine!!!

The waffle was sweet inside which was ok with me. Just to think I was about to ask for syrup! Every one of its square shaped craters tasted as if filled with Aunt Jemima every time I chewed.

Next Time I Will Ask For Milk

The greatest part of the breakfast was the delicious, scrumptious, lip smacking, tasty Belgian hot chocolate. Take Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream and heat it up until it is fully liquefied and you get that amazing chocolate. As soon as I took my first sip of the chocolate I was in a chocolate trance. My biggest disappointment as far as the breakfast goes happened when I finished my hot chocolate. If it wasn’t for my nutritionist I would’ve ordered at least another.

YUM Is An Understatement!!!

However, I must say that they do breakfast better than lunch. First, my lunch and those of my colleges took what felt like forever to arrive. When it finally did it was not worth the wait.

The Petite Abeille Burger ($13.50), a 9 oz. burger that comes with fries, is made with BLT with cheddar on a brioche bun and their special sauce. Since I don’t like anything that remotely seems healthy I specifically asked that there be no L or T or any other veggie on my plate.

Not Happy 🙁

The burger, stated as Black Angus ground in house, tasted great. Think of a hot summer day where you are in the park having a BBQ and you watch that hot juicy burger being cooked over the coals and then you eat it. On the other hand I couldn’t fully enjoy it because even though I asked for no veggies there was a curl of purple onion on my bread. Safe to say I didn’t eat the bread.  Also my food was touching which I didn’t like!

The fries were blah. I could’ve taken McDonald’s French fries dipped them in water and they would have tasted better.

Add to that that my experienced was rushed because I had to make it to class on time. All in all there is a HUGE chance I will go back again for breakfast, lunch not so much.

The Group

The Group

Posted in restaurant reviews | 2 Comments

Blending the ingredients for a career as a pastry chef

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Sabrina

Segufta Amin neatly slices a strawberry to make a simple smoothie.

Carefully selecting the right knife to delicately slice the ripe strawberries she picked up at the supermarket earlier that day, Segufta Amin brings the blade to the chopping board with a gentle and knowing touch. Preparing a simple smoothie, she quickly drops the slices into a blender, adds a handful of fresh blueberries and spoonfuls of sugar she doesn’t quite measure in order to concoct the sweet beverage. While my cousin may not look like the pros on the Food Network, she definitely knows what she’s doing. And it’s exactly what she has set out to do with her life: cook.

Growing up helping her mom prepare Bengali meals for the Muslim holidays, Amin discovered a passion for cooking early in her childhood and decided to make it her life’s career.

“When it came time in high school, when they ask you that question, ‘what do you want to do with your life?’ I couldn’t find any answer that made me happy except cooking,” Amin said.

To that end, the 19 year old is currently completing her Associates degree in Baking and Pastry at Monroe College’s School of Hospitality Management & the Culinary Arts, for a $25,000 education.  Under scholarship and financial aid, the aspiring chef feels fortunate to scrape by.

However, feeling that she was embarking on an expensive career with an uncertain future, Amin’s parents were not immediately supportive of her ambitions. But they’re increasingly warming up to it.

“I want that she does whatever makes her happy and I wish her success,” her mom, Gulshan Amin, said.

Nevertheless, Amin understands her parents’ concerns. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pastry chef’s annual income is only about $21,000.

“Parents want you to have a stable future. They want you to have a career where they know you can always support yourself, that you can do fine on your own, when I guess, they’re thinking about the times that they’re not gonna be there,” she explains.

To both alleviate their worries and realize her dream to one day run her own restaurant, Amin is aiming for a Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management after graduation this month. Business knowledge from this degree is a key ingredient to realizing her dreams of opening an eclectic “bar slash restaurant, just a very relaxed place with really good music and really good food.” But experience in the real world of the food industry is another.

A recent stint as a baking intern at Tribeca Treats, where she prepared cakes and frostings and sometimes decorated the goods, provided that experience. Amin says the internship allowed her to apply her education outside the classroom and see the business side of the kitchen.

“I learned a lot more about supply and demand because they would do things differently for special holidays. They would make things in advance, and they had a good gist of everything they needed.”

She exhibits that notion in her own recipes now. Her culinary arts professor Margaret Wong describes Amin to have ”that dreamy like quality about her [though] she is more comfortable and requires less supervision when executing a recipe,” than when she first started.

Amin's homemade almond tart.

Taking a bite out of a freshly baked almond pear tart she later prepares for me, I experience the labor of that execution. Made out of almond frangipane, topped with poached pears and almonds and brushed with apricot jam, it took her an hour to poach the pears alone, and another to prepare the tart dough and frangipane.

The crunchy pie crust crumbled on my lips, meeting with a contrast from the both creamy and nutty frangipane, while the soft pears melted in my mouth. The tart delivered a sweet burst of flavors from varying textures, especially with the tart glaze on top. The desert’s only flaw was that the dough could’ve been a baked through a bit more; it was a tad soft. Though the tart was scrumptious, I can tell that the young culinary student is still learning how to perfect the recipe to her career.

Likewise, Amin says she wants to train more, especially in high end cake decorating, sugar decorations, “and the stuff that it takes the real masters to do.”

Chef Wong seconds that, for “the culinary/pastry field is very competitive and can be very rough. Segufta will need to constantly push herself in the field of pastry,” she says.

“I think I have a lot more to learn,” Amin agrees, “I really enjoy that learning, it’s gonna take hard work to get to where I want but I’m willing to do it.”

Posted in Food | 5 Comments

Barbecue HAM!

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Gabrielle Ouaknine

“Can we eat outside?” were the first words out of my mouth as soon as I encountered the hostess at Blue Smoke, that unseasonably warm Friday afternoon. It was near 70 degrees, and I couldn’t even fathom stuffing my face with barbecue food let alone having to do it inside the dimly lit restaurant. “I’m sorry, but the outside dining area is only open after five thirty,” the hostess explained. Of course it is, I thought.

Joe and I ready to eat!

Chris and Laura posing before the meal

The hostess led my group and I to a spacious booth with a great view of the outdoors, where we would not be dining. The restaurant was dimly lit, with a large bar running from the front door all the way to the back of the restaurant, where a couple early drinkers were already mingling. The bar was lined with bottles of wine all the way to the ceiling, despite the generous amounts of taps lining the wooden bar top. The waitress was very knowledgeable in helping us select beers to go with our meals, although our underage group member (who shall remain nameless) stuck to a soda.

Cheers!

Since Blue Smoke is a barbecue spot, (verified by the huge neon BARBECUE sign posted out front) I decided to be traditional and order the baby back ribs, which the waitress raved about. Now, I can’t vouch for my barbecue tasting skills, but when I took my first bite of those delicious looking hunks of meat, I was sorely disappointed. I had to stop mid-chew and decipher what in fact I was feeling. The ribs were dry and pretty tasteless, especially for a restaurant that boasted to have the best barbecue in New York City! Not quite.

I made sure all my group members tried to ribs to make sure I wasn’t just having an off day with my taste buds, but they all agreed with me. The ribs were a disappointment. I ended up letting Joe finish them up, which he gladly did, after slathering them in a baptism of barbecue sauce.

don't be deceived.. NOT as good as it looks.

There is one redeeming factor in any movie with a sucky lead: a great supporting cast. And I definitely picked the best supporting cast! The baked macaroni and cheese was the best food on the table by far. I swear when I had my first taste, I almost cried in happiness. Finally, I wanted to scream, someone has done macaroni and cheese justice! There was no wateriness, it wasn’t too crunchy, it was absolute perfection. Heaven smothered in cheese.

really excited about the food!

What’s a good meal without an even more amazing dessert? Luckily at Blue Smoke they have an amazing dessert platter, which allows you to sample their apple fritters, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate layer cake, and their key lime pie. I was mostly indifferent about most of these desserts; I’ve seen them done before, and usually better. The apple fritters however, was amazing. it was topped with a cinnamon ice cream and was just the right balance or tart and sweet to top off the beginning of my impending food coma.

delicious!

Blue Smoke may boast the best “barbecue” in New York City, but if you ask me they should stick to sides, dessert, and drinks and leave the grilling to someone else.

Posted in Food, restaurant reviews | 4 Comments

Baluchi’s is meat lover friendly

Posted on March 29, 2011 by thatnewyorker

Normally I don’t eat at Indian restaurants. It isn’t because I’m a picky person or anything like that, it’s just because I usually don’t eat very often. I eat Latino food at home and if I do buy anything outside, it’s usually fast food from a local pizzeria or food cart. So when I arrived at Baluchi’s to dine with a group of students from class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I know that Indian food is spicy but that isn’t a problem to me at all. As for what I had to expect in terms of taste and texture, I had no clue.

Small, quaint with Indian décor, Baluchi’s certainly sets the tone, making you feel as if you traveled to the east though I was a little disappointed there was no Indian music playing. Well there wasn’t any music at all for that matter. Another disappointment came when I tried to order Tandoori Quail. Too often, I find that restaurants advertise an exotic meat on their menu and when you try to order it, it turns out they don’t have it. That’s what happened at Baluchi’s, when I went there. To be honest, I’m not going to fault them for it; I don’t think many New Yorkers regularly enjoy quail to begin with. I just make it a point to order the most exotic looking meal on the menu of any restaurant I go to, just to see if they actually have it. Usually they don’t. Noticing my disappointment, the waiter suggested another meal I might like. He suggested to me, the Combination Platter for my entrée.

The appetizer arrived quickly. I had ordered Boti Kebab which is a cube of lamb marinated, cooked in a clay oven. Sounds tasty, yes? Indeed it was. Often, the lamb I eat comes from street vendors and has a warm, bold flavor and a texture that varies from spongy to gritty. This is where Baluchi’s threw me off. The Boti felt like chicken. Though it was not some dry poultry but rather a meat overflowing with the warm and bold flavor I had expected along with a pleasant mild spiciness that won’t have your tongue causing house fires. The brown meat holds itself together well and requires some chewing before it goes down, each clamp of the jaw releasing saliva producing agents upon your tongue. Also there was a lemon, tomatoes, cucumbers and some kind of herb to go along with it. The plants weren’t bad but average; nothing special. That was just the appetizer.

Next, it was time to feast upon the friendly waiter’s suggestion. Despite the fact that I was the last person to join the table and thus the last person to order, I surprisingly was the first one to receive his entrée. I liked that but did find it a bit strange until I saw the difference between my meal and the meals of my classmates. They had ordered food that was mostly non-meat. Now, I assume the waiter based his suggestion on my size and the enormous amount of masculinity I exude. I say this because as one of my fellow classmates pointed out to me when my plate landed on the table, it was just mainly meat. The combination platter is a large assortment of lamb, chicken and salmon. No rice, few vegetables, no herbivores allowed. Fortunately for my waiter, he was right on his assumption of me. Baluchi’s cooked animals do not disappoint. This lamb was prepared in a different style from my appetizer lamb. It was slightly sausage like in appearance with the soft, spongy texture I had expected earlier. The taste brought me back to familiar places. The fish, hot pink on the outside, was so tender; I had difficulty picking it up with my fork, it would fall to pieces. Once in my mouth, it unleashed bursts of tangy, salty goodness that tickles the tip of the tongue. The chicken filled up an impressive portion of the meal. A pretty shade of pink on the outside with a brilliant glowing white inside, the chicken doesn’t stand out much in terms of taste. It isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination but it just doesn’t “wow” you. It tastes like chicken marinated with Indian spices. If you don’t know what to make of my vague description of it just keep this in mind: it’s satisfying but not exciting.

As I launched my meal into the event horizon of my mouth, I remembered something. I remembered that I was eating during Baluchi’s lunch special hours and that the entire meal is half off. Considering the quality of the meat that’s brought to the table, it’s incredible that you could spend just as much money on a single fulfilling entrée there as you would at McDonald’s which offers significantly lower quality food. This alone makes Baluchi’s worth visiting at least once. Other than price value, the food itself is great, at least on the carnivorous side of the menu.


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