Gotham Gal

Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe came from my favorite cookbook, Staff Meals.  The hersheys kisses, came from me.  This is up there with one of the easier recipes.

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 t. kosher salt
1 t. baking soda
2 large eggs
1 jar creamy peanut butter (18 ounces)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 bag of hersheys kisses

Preheat oven to 375. 

Take butter, brown and white sugar beat until creamy.  Add salt and baking soda, beat again.  Add the eggs, beat until combined.  Add the peanut butter, beat again until combined.  Add the flour, 1 cup at a time, and beat thoroughly each time.  Now the mixture is ready to bake. 

Take a small amount in your hands and roll into a ball.  Put this on the baking sheet for the oven.  Press down each ball with your fork to slightly flatten the cookie.  Bake until browned.  I generally do 12 per sheet.  Takes about 12 minutes per batch.

When they come out of the oven immediately push a hersheys kiss (unwrapped of course) into the middle of the cookie.  Let cool.

Del Posto

We came, we ate, we loved it. 

There is truly a feeling of elegance when you walk into Del Posto that has been achieved by the design.  That in itself creates an atmosphere that can not be duplicated.  It sets the tone for the entire night. 

We went the whole nine yards.  A different bottle of wine with every course, including the dessert.  Why not, right?  You only live once.

We went with 2 other couples.  We're all good friends so sharing was definitely happening.  We decided to start with 6 different appetizers.  Everyone would take a few bites and then we'd pass to the left.  This worked well although it did make me crave just reordering a few just for myself.  We had one plate of delicious prosciutto that is sliced thin and served with small puffed biscuits.  Good sharing.  Since Lupa and Babbo really have cornered the market on good salami, we went with one of those plates too.  The salami plate had about 5 different choices to pick from but the most interesting was the concoction that was in the middle of the plate.  Warm head of salami ( I think ) that was chopped and served over a special type of bread made for this particular meat.  It was really divine.  We also had the roasted fall vegetables.  The color presentation was enough to get a wow but the taste stepping it up.  They must have been roasted with honey because they were sweet and caramelized.  The vegetable Misti even had an orange in it.  Fried vegetables with a rich gooey anchovy dipping sauce.  The all time fave was the octopus grilled and served over a warm caponate with chick peas.  I could have had bowls of this.  Delicious!

Why stop there?  You can have 2 or 3 pastas shared by the table.  We did 3.  You get to choose your pastas.  I have to say that when it comes to pasta, Mario rules.  Each one was better than the next.  The first pasta we tried was a ribolitta.  Small pastas about the size of your pinky stuffed with braised meats.  It is served with out butter, oil or sauce but plain wrapped up in a warm napkin.  You take one and pass it on.  Very communal.  They were divine.  I really wanted to just grab a handful.  Ravioli stuffed with braised pork, lamb and beef was our second choice.   The ravioli was served with a browned butter sage sauce.  Not too heavy but just right.  Who ever invented browned butter was a genius.  The last was your basic bolognese over verdi tagliatelle.  Could I bring home a jar of that sauce?

Main courses were next.  We opted for a few of the ones that you can split between 2 and 3 people.  2 people had the veal chops that were served with chestnuts, shitake mushrooms and black truffles.  Large chops, cooked medium rare, full of flavor that was heightened by the accompaniments.  The other we got was the leg of lamb.  They show you the leg and then slice it up and serve it over a bed of rutabagas roasted and other root vegetables.  So good.  This really tasted like good old fashion Italian home cooking.  Someone else went with the pork but by this time, I think I forgot to try.

Then comes dessert.  I had to say I was not as awed with desserts.  We went with 2 servings of the zagabione and the warm fig pudding.  I tasted everything.  All good but a taste was enough.  The chocolate bar comes by and we also decided to have a bit of the three chocolates they were tasting.  Some were better than others.  Then there are the wonderful cookies that they give as an added bonus.  Maybe it was the dessert wine, but I would have opted for a big cheese platter if it wasn't for everybody else.  Sometimes, that just works.

The sommelier did a great job for us picking different wines for each course.  All and all a really memorable night.  Fun and tasty.  Will they get the 5 stars?  That is the big question.  The ambiance and the food is really special.  The food will get better as the months go on too.  I will most definitely go back.  Maybe sit at the bar and have a few noshes.  The bar is lovely and long.  But going to Del Posto is a really special treat.  Make reservations!

Podcast is up..

New podcast is up for the week.  To listen live, click here.  For more info, go to Fred's blog to figure out the iTunes download, etc.

Enjoy.

Great Jones Spa

It is quite incredible how spas have become a huge business.  Destination vacations all have them.  Places to go for a few days and just have facials and massages.  It has seriously become a way of life.  A big profession and a nice addition to the economy.

I, for one, have never been a big massage person although this past summer I found a guy at Naturopathica in the Hamptons that could not be beat.  But then after the summer ended, so did the massages.  I just didn't have enough passion for it to keep it up.  I have a bunch of friends that are diligent about getting their massage every week or every other week.  Not me.

But, this past week, I went with my best pal to have massages for her birthday.  This spa is a true gem.  It is called the Great Jones Spa, located of course on Great Jones Street downtown between Layfayette and the Bowery. 

I believe it has been open for about a year.   The architecture is very modern and soothing.  The best part is that you don't feel like you are in NYC.  The bathroom and changing rooms are small.  The treatment rooms are nice and simple.   But the most impressive is the basement of this place.  There is water running down the walls into a modest sized water area that is warm and bubble.  All co-ed so you must wear a bathing suit.  There is a big sky light that shines down in the pool.  The steam room is right off that area.  The steam room is the size of a studio apartment.  Smells like cedar and steams up really nice.  Honestly, 30 people could easily fit into the room. 

Definitely a spot to return to.  If you are looking for a spa downtown, check out Great Jones Spa.  It is a winner. 

Blue Hill

We had theater tickets last night but Jessica's thrilling basketball game kept us from making the curtain.  They won with 2 seconds left on the shot clock.  It was a nail biter.  So, we bagged the theater and had dinner in the neighborhood.

We walked over to Blue Hill and there were 2 seats at the bar just calling out our name.  First of all, the atmosphere in the restaurant is so warm and inviting.  Low ceiling.  Banquettes surrounding the walls.  Colors are all muted and neutral.  Even their logo and menu is beautiful.  Someone has incredible taste in the organization.  I have yet to get up to the Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico but I will eventually.

We started with 2 killer martinis.  They guy next to us was drinking one and it just looked so good.   The right kick off.

The menu is small.  There are maybe 5 appetizers and 7 main courses.  You can also do a tasting menu.  We chose our dinner.  I started with a warm mushroom salad.  The bottom of the plate was layered with large thin slices of a poached mushroom.  It might have been a portobello.  It was very clever and delicious.  On top of that was a mixture of greens with a variety of smaller mushrooms through out and toasted pine nuts.   This was served warm with a pine nut vinaigrette.  Yum.  Fred had a seasonal vegetable plate.  The combination of different root vegetables was really good except for the beets ( he doesn't like them ). 

For dinner we both went for the same thing.  The lamb.  Slices of lamb served with cooked chick peas and a wilted warmed lettuce.  The broth at the bottom of the bowl wasn't too rich but heightened the flavor of the lamb. 

Dessert, of course.  Chocolate bread pudding.  Sliced in a square with caramel ice cream. 

I am so glad we went back to Blue Hill.  This is probably our third or fourth time there.  The bar is small, only 8 seats so it isn't always open.  Last night was our night.

What's up with the Dog?

I grew up with a dog.  I love dogs.  But, I am fascinated with people's dog obsessions.  What is up with that?  My parents never took us shopping with dog in tow.  Certainly not with the dog in a baby bjorn made for a dog.

I'm strolling on upper Madison this afternoon and walked into a very high end store.  There is a woman in there, with her child running around and a HUGE dog on a leash that she is not exactly controlling.  What's with that?  She couldn't leave the dog at home?  Did she ever consider that while she is trying on shoes and her dog is slobbering all over the place that someone might be allergic to the dog? 

What can I say....fascinating.

Paul Auster, The Brooklyn Follies

I am a big fan of Paul Auster.  He is an incredibly prolific guy.  He has written novels both fiction and non-fiction.  He has written plays too.  His writing is fluid.  His stories are clever. 

I read The Brooklyn Follies  yesterday from cover to cover.   A wonderful book about life.  The story is about a retired insurance salesman who is moved to Brooklyn for the final stages of his life.  He finds himself reconnecting with old family, making new friends and actually enjoying life, in some ways, for the first time ever.  The book takes a variety of turns, as Auster's book generally do, but the underlying theme is really about the human spirit.  I really enjoyed this book.  Actually, there hasn't been an Auster book that I have not enjoyed. 

If you have never read any of his books, pick one up.  He is one of the few authors where I feel like a kid, reading every book that he has ever published. 

Truffle French Fries

So sorry no picture to show.  One of the most incredible tastes I had this past weekend is served at the Ajax Tavern at the Aspen base near Little Nell's. 

Crispy french fries, smothered with truffle oil and shaved parmesean over the top.  Truly divine. 

After a day at the slopes, there is nothing like hearty food to fill the soul.  The french fries, do the trick.  I might just have to go back to have another bowl of these babies.

Aspen Highlands

To ski or to board? 

This past weekend we were in Aspen, Colorado.  The weather was perfect.  Our kids know how to ski and board.  Perhaps I should have kept them in skis longer than I did but they really wanted to board.  I totally get it.  I decided to join in their efforts.  But, everytime we take a ski vacation, I can't help but strap on a pair of skis for a few days once I see the moguls.  Can't help it. 

This year, I strapped on a pair of skis and walked up the Aspen  Highlands bowls.  12,000 vertical feet.  It is the small inset on the trail map to the left.  You walk up, on the edge of the bowl, with skis strapped to your back.  Once you get there, you literally feel like you are on top of the world.  The bowl is basically untouched powder where avalanche shots go off in the morning so people can ski there safetly.  It is gorgeous.  The walk is not so great.  Litttle did I know that as I was hauling my skis up the mountain and having a terrible time huffing and puffing, that I had a massive bronchial infection.  Even if I wanted to, there is nowhere to bail once you start the walk up the bowl.  This was a skiiers dream. 

Sunday dumped snow.  Monday morning, I grabbed my board and 2 of our 3 kids and hit the slopes.  Now I know why I ride.  There is nothing better than boarding through fresh cut powder that is up to your knees.  The freedom of the board allows you to almost float through the snow.  It was truly an epic morning.

I am trying to convince my kids to take up skiing at least a few days per vacation so that they too will have the ability to ride or ski.  I am glad that I sucked it up years ago and  learned to ride.  I think Monday might go down as one of my top 10 days of my life on the slopes.

Devi

I went back to Devi last night for a second time.  If you like Indian food, this is the place to go.  Incredible tastes, artfully done, great flavor, spices that zing.  A total wow.  Everything around us was raving too so I am not sure you can go wrong with what you order. 

We started with the two appetizers.  Both were wrapped in a crispy thin dough and deep fried.  One was a selection of different samosas with 2 dipping sauces.  One was heavy on the cilantro which I love.  My favorite samosa had peas in it.  The other appetizer was chicken stuffed with lamb.  This was incredible.  The flavor of the lamb came through but not too heavy.  There was a zip of spice.  It was awesome.

For dinner we had two main courses. One was 4 large prawns grilled tandoori style paired with a mint rice.  The other was a chicken curry.  This curry was spicy and delicious.  The sauce was rich yet delicate at the same time. We dabbed everything up with naam.

I can't stay enough good things.  The food was absolutely delicious!  I rarely give these praises.  Check out Devi.