38 posts categorized "May 2009"

What is next?

Images In the past few weeks, life has become beyond busy.  As I am a person who never likes to have many things left on their to do list when going to sleep at night.  For so long I have been searching for something to do.  It is funny how in many ways I have fallen back on what I really enjoy.

I am spending a lot time on the network circuit.  Interesting and thought provoking yet really bad on the waistline.  I am juggling a variety of balls in the air. 

Today I talked to someone to help me redesign my blog.  Very excited about that.  I signed up to help MOUSE do a capital campaign, I am doing a fundraiser for Chris Quinn, am thinking about doing some work in her office although the Government thing makes me take pause, I am getting re-involved with the Pier 40 solution, I am getting off the school board,  I am trying to help and advise both Curbed and Ricks Pick and not as much time in the restaurant investment which is fine, I am doing a lot of work on the new apartment and building and then of course, there is the family stuff.  Making dinner, getting ready for camp, figuring out life in general.  Seeing friends some days too.  Owning my day as I see fit. 

After a meeting today at breakfast, I realized how much I truly love the deal.  I love growing something.  Listening to all the things my breakfast partner was doing got me so excited.  I wanted to jump right in.  Not as interested once something is grown but getting it there is the fun part.  I love the big picture and being involved with strategies on how to get there.  It is rewarding. 

As much as I enjoy the food thing (as I have thought about opening up a store), I think my heart belongs in exactly what I am doing now.  Many balls in the air, talking to really interesting people and hopefully seeing closure on some of these deals and then putting new things into the pipeline.

I am beginning to see a clearer light at the end of this next tunnel and it feels great.  At least today. 


Food Reviews on Foodzie

Images Palettes are a funny thing.  One person says delicious and the other person says yuck.  Once again, Foodzie, has asked me to review a few new items on their site.  I love doing this and it is really fun to get everyone's reaction.  FYI, the site is continuing to grow with new products. 

First off, Basil Oil.  My bad, we were leaving on vacation right as we got our first tasting and I spaced on the basil oil.  Got around to having it.  Absolutely fantastic.  Delicious tasty olive oil with just a hint of basil on the back end.  Great for dipping and even cooking with.  A huge hit.  Loved it.  I wish it came in a larger bottle.

This month, we have four in the queue.  We got to 3 of them, holding off on the pancake mix for the appropriate morning.

First off,  Effies Oatcakes.  These are sublime.  Think Girl Scout sugar cookie meets oats, salt and depth.  You can taste the sugar but the salt on the back end changes the entire cracker.  Good for coffee, cheese or just a snack.  A total winner.

My Husband Nuts…hilarious name.  I take a huge pass on this one.  Smoked almonds that made me feel as if I was sitting in a barbecue pit eating the almonds.  On the other hand, Fred loved them and so did our friend.  Reminded him of the Blue Diamond smoked almonds we all ate growing up ( at least we did).  Thumbs down for me, but thumbs up for Fred.

Devil in an Apron makes hand made caramels.  We tasted a few.  Good, gooey and tasty.  But, in our neck of the woods, we find caramels like this in a variety of small specialty stores that are just as tasty.  I am neutral on the caramels.  Good not great but not great enough to order and keep in the house. 

Wrap up, more Basil oil and a huge case of Effies Oatcakes.

Got a good pregnancy story?

I have many a good pregnancy story, who doesn't but to be fair, I can't enter this contest as I am an investor in Ricks Picks.  But, for anyone else out there who has a good pregnancy story, this is your moment.  I took this story from Time Out NY that ran an article on the story last week.  Jump in now, the contest ends on May 10th, and winners are announced on Memorial Day weekend.  Come on!!

Got a good pregnancy story?

slices_cropOf course you do. It wouldn’t be pregnancy without a few hilarious anecdotes–and Rick’s Picks wants to hear ‘em. The NYC-based pickle purveyor has teamed up with SMITH Magazine for a “What’s your pregnancy story?” contest. The rules are simple: Your tale must be 100 words or less and have some connection to–wait for it–pickles. Moms-to-be, veteran mamas and even dads are eligible to enter and the cutoff in May 10, Mother’s Day, of course. Seven finalists will win Rick’s Picks Pregnancy Packs and copies SMITH’s new book, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs By Writers Famous & Obscure. One grand prizewinner will be featured on a nationally distributed line of pickles, the aptly named Slices of Life—“the pickle of pregnancy.” Now that’s sweet…or dill. However you like it. For a full rundown of the contest, visit SMITH’s website.


Coffee Cake

When invited to brunch, get up early and make a coffee cake.  This coffee cake really calls for a tube pan but shocking as it may seem, I don't have one.  So, I used a bundt pan.

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350.  In a mixed, mix together the butter and sugar for a few minutes and until really whipped.  Add in the eggs, one by one, mix.  Then add in the vanilla and sour cream.  Separately, sift the other ingredients together.  If you don't have a sifter, you can always use a wire mesh strainer or just a fork or whisk to incorporate the ingredients.  Add this to the butter mixture and mix until completely mixed. 

Pour half of the batter into a heavily buttered ( or use a spray so the cake doesn't stick ) tube pan or bundt pan. 

Streusel:

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional  (I went with the nuts)

Put this all together in a bowl and mix thoroughly with your fingers.  Then pour about 3/4 of this mixture over the top of the batter in the pan.  Then add the rest of the batter, make sure it is even and the pour the rest of the streusel over the top.  Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let it cool for about 30 minutes before taking the cake out.

Icing:

1/2 cup Confectioners sugar
4 Tbsp. maple syrup

Whisk this together.  If it is still really thick, as mine was, add a little warm water until it becomes a glaze.  Pour over the cake and voila.  I used a little confectioners sugar with a mesh strainer over the top to make the plate look nice.

Sorry for the lack of picture.  Emily seems to have borrowed my camera permanently. 

It started with brunch

3477333978_5d6cf0c7f2 As the kids get older, intellectually I know that it is sort of irrelevant if I am hanging around on Saturday but in my heart, I sort of like being there as they come in and out of the house.  Being home every night around 5pm making dinner seems to be embraced at the highest level, the rest, sort of falls in line.  So yesterday, Fred and I were invited to brunch at a friends house and I figured we should absolutely go.

Brunch was great.  Met some new people, all younger and going through the stages of life that Fred and I have already passed through.  Smart, interesting people who I look at and try to remember what I was like at that time in our lives.  Funny being the oldest too although I certainly don't feel that way, I have years of experience under the belt. 

We left brunch and went to a Derby party.  Love the idea.  Every year these friends have a party around the Kentucky Derby.  Betting takes place.  10% of the proceeds end up going to a charity.  This year, the charity was The Century for Discovery.  The event was with mostly downtown families that go to different schools that my kids to go which was nice.  Old faces and new faces.  The event brought back memories.  Growing up, my boyfriends father was a big guy in the horse racing industry.  Actually, my boyfriend followed in his fathers footsteps and is in the industry now too.  We used to go to the Preakness every year.  Sit in the infield with our friends drinking, betting and get hot, sweaty and filthy.  Then we'd go up to the owners box where everyone was decked out in hats, suits, dresses and heels.  It was a real eye opener for me to a world that I didn't grow up in.  Over the years, my boyfriend, worked for the track outside of Boston and I'd go there to see him, place a bet or two and sit up in the main office overlooking the track.  Drinking mint juleps, eating fried chicken, collard greens and pecan pie brought back a flood of great memories.

After the party, we stopped by our house to grab a bottle of wine, four glasses and went to the roof of our concrete project which I like to call our new building, to watch the sunset with friends.  It was beautiful outside.  The sun was setting and there was a nice breeze.  The picture is off our porch.

Next stop, a walk to the river to just hang out.  A few things about the river.  The city did an amazing job.  Also, it is heavily policed.  So, at 10pm at night, it is incredibly safe.  Cops on bicycles.  Park people driving buy on golf carts tugging along trash.  What was really great was one of the park people drove by us and a homeless man who was sitting a little farther down from us.  He stopped, talk to the guy, and then they both went back to what they were doing.  About 15 minutes later, the park guy came by again with a full meal for the homeless guy.  I'd love to know who is providing that meal.  Is it the city, the parks department or a non-profit organization?  So great.  I'd love to give to that group.

We walked over to a new wine bar that is still in its soft opening, real opening on Wednesday night, called Entwine.  On the corner of Washington and 12th Street.  Key to the place, right now, is they have seating outside.  Jessica has been earlier in the day and clued us in.  A long bar, then another room and then outdoor space.  Also, space downstairs that can be rented out.  Basically a wine bar with a few things to eat and some cheese.  Very European and owned by a guy from Turkey that has been here 4 years and family is in the same business back home.  Could become a regular hangout. 

Then it was time to pack it in.  A really nice long NYC day.  I felt like Fred and I were one like one moving party.  The kids, they had their own day, as they kept us posted through BBM and text.  I am pretty sure they didn't miss us one bit. 

Wrap up on the Tribeca Film Festival

There are many cool things about the Tribeca Film Festival but what I love most is that I get to see films that might never be distributed.  Also I spend a few days seeing a variety of films and then an opportunity to listen to the audience and director discuss each film.  Funny enough, there are a ton of films in the theaters right now that I can't seem to get my shit together to go see but I was able to buy tickets in advance, set aside time in my calendar to see a handful of films over a few days. 

Thursday, I saw 2 films.  The first was called Off and Running.  A beautiful documentary focusing on a 16/17 year old African American girl, Avery, who was raised as a white Jew by 2 lesbian Mothers in Brooklyn with her 2 other adopted siblings.  Her older sibling, a boy, is of mixed race and brilliant.  Her younger brother is from Vietnam.  A United Nations family.  We follow Avery as she comes of age trying to figure out who she is, where she came from and finding the balance between being a white Jew inside and a black African American on the outside.  Moving film of a unique American family.

The next film we saw that day, isn't worth mentioning, so I won't.

On Friday, I saw a series of shorts.  Shorts are such an interesting medium.  Very few people get to see them.  I have never understood why audiences aren't treated to a short film before the main attraction at the theater vs seeing a series of ad campaigns.  I obviously get it, its about the advertising revenue but it would certainly be more interesting.  Shorts: Wake-Up Call , seven short films about lessons learned the hard way.  My favorite was Gefilte Fish.  Tradition in the family expects that when a girl gets married she needs to kill a fish and then make gefilte fish from scratch with it or her life won't be happy.  Hilarious.  Others were not so good and others were incredibly dark. 

Last, I saw a film called Handsome Harry that we should all hope comes to the big screen.  A moving film about a topic I have not really read about or ever seen on the big screen.  The story is about a group of men who are now in their mid-50's and all served together in the navy.  One night, a tragic event takes place among them which basically haunts all of them in different ways and causes them to never speak to each other again.  One of the friends is dying and calls Harry to come see him on his death bed as he is afraid that he will go to hell for what he/they did.  After his death, Harry travels down the eastern seaboard to pay a visit to each of the men involved in the event.  As the visits unfold, we learn more about what happened and about Harry.  Homosexuality of this generation was not viewed kindly or openly, sexuality was pushed into the closet.  I loved this movie.  Still thinking about it days later. 

Now, I must find time to return to the local theater. 

Ode to Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill

200px-Alfred_Portale I remember my first meal at Gotham Bar and Grill.  And I continued to return over the next 25 years.  After all, Gotham Bar and Grill opened around the time we began our life in the city.  We are all now older.  We have gone through many transformations and unfortunately, Gotham Bar and Grill has made none.  It is time for a major transformation if Portale wants his restaurant on 12th street to make it another 25 years or even another 5.

The decor is old and tired.  The large soaring ceiling lamps are oh so 80's.  It is time to change them.  The overall seating, the bar, the layout is wonderful but the colors and over all decor is primed for a move into the 21st century.  I expect to turn around and see women with big shoulder pads and bad perms. 

The food has always been delicious.  Portale became a leader in the way we eat our food with Gotham Bar and Grill.  Fresh seasonal ingredients piled high with exquisite care on how the plate should look when served.  But nothing has changed.  The menu is basically the same.  The portions are huge.  The prices are over the top.  There isn't a bottle of wine available for under $75 in the cellar.  Will people continue to embrace that?  It wasn't so hard to get a reservation so my guess is not. 

The food just wasn't what it used to be.  Everything was good but it wasn't great.  Alfred, be a leader again.  Close down for a month and put a coat of fresh paint on the walls, make a few sorely needed touches to the place.  Open with a fresh new menu that defines how people eat today.  Get your prices in order.  Auction off your wine cellar or just bring the prices in line with how people spend today.  I know it is in you.  You have been running on cruise control for awhile.  Aren't you ready to show the world that you still have it?

Let me know when you get there and I will happily return.  But until then, I will dine in places of old and new that are more in line with the realities of today from vibe to food to decor to wine list.  You've got my number. 

More gushing...Emily gets a byline too.

Emily gets a byline too.  I love it!
Racked screen shot

In times like these, designer diffusion lines for stores such as Macy's, JCPenny, and Target are more popular than ever. Last night brought the launch of yet another: Rachel Rachel Roy for Macy's. An airy space in Midtown was lined with RRR merchandise, with racks of brightly-colored trench coats, jumpers, and shorts (all $59-299) on the left and shelves of leather and suede shoes ($79-$199) and bags ($69-109) in browns and blacks, mustard yellow, and fuschia on the right. Designer Rachel Roy was there working the crowd in an oversize sweater, trousers, and white crocodile-print heels; model/DJ Alexandra Richards played pop music from the likes of Amy Winehouse while partygoers snacked on mini burgers and french fries. We spotted several in the crowd already wearing the line.

We're happy to report that the clothing appears to be good quality, and is very, very trendy (perhaps too trendy for Rachel's regular "ladies that lunch" clientele). Studs, zippers, velvet, ruffles, plaid, cropped shirts, and even overalls all make an appearance. Prepare to navigate through your local Macy's to find the line when it debuts in early fall.—Emily Wilson

Joanne Wilson Joanne Wilson loves food, books, and music. She lives in New York City. Her husband Fred and children Jessica, Emily, and Josh are bloggers too. More »

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