Gotham Gal

2 good side dishes

After tossing about 30 cookbooks, I narrowed my selection to classics, vintage and musts.  One of the keepers is Olive & Oranges by Sara Jenkins & Mindy Fox.  I've really enjoyed their cookbook.  Tonight, I tried two different recipes.  A cauliflower and a salad.  I changed the cauliflower a bit but I basically stuck to the salad.  Here they are.

2 small heads of cauliflower cut into tiny florets

4 sprigs of rosemary (take the leaves and chop them up)

1/4 cup tahini

4 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup cold water

kosher salt

olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350.  Toss the cauliflower, rosemary, olive oil and salt together.   Don't get too crazy on the olive oil.  Just enough to coat.  Roast for about an hour or until the dish is toasty

Whisk together the tahini, lemon juice and water.

Pour over the cauliflower and serve.  Salt for taste.  

SALAD:

2 cups of baby arugula

4 radishes thinly sliced

1 box of grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half

2 scallions thinly sliced (white parts only)

1 cucumber peeled and cut into thin slices ( preferably half moons )

kosher salt or sea salt

1 cup farro

1 cup loosely sliced basil leaves

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Make the farro first.  I took one cup of raw farro and poured it into 3 cups of salted boiling water.  Let this hang out for about 10 minutes or until the farro is just a tad crunchy.  Strain and cool to room temperature

Mix together the arugula, radishes, tomatoes, scallions and cucumber with the olive oil and vinegar.  Add salt for taste.  

Add in the farro and basil leaves, mix again.  Serve.  Nice light simple salad. 

I served these dishes with a roasted chicken on the side.  A nice Sunday night dinner. 

Paella

Dinner these days is not thrilling the kids.  Actually, it isn't thrilling me either.  Emily chimed in the other day and asked me to make Paella on Thursday night.  She was inviting a friend and Josh should invite one too.  I am glad someone finally took control of the situation.  The picture isn't great but I have posted the recipe before.  I do love Paella.  Here is the repeat of an old recipe with a few tweaks.   

3 cups of chicken broth
2 cups clam juice
large pinch of saffron ( use a little more than you think)

Take the above and bring to a boil in a covered sauce pan. Then set aside, with the top on until cooled.

2 large vidallia onions chopped
one red pepper chopped into pieces
one green pepper chopped into pieces
one yellow pepper chopped into piece
8 italian tomatoes chopped into pieces (make sure to squeeze the juice out before chopped)
Large piece of chorizo cut into round pieces (about 3/4  lb.)
3 chicken legs, 3 chicken thighs
3/4 lb of large shrimp completely unpeeled including the tail
1/2 lb of clams (about 8 or more if you really like clams)
1/2 lb of mussels
1 lb. sliced calamari ( tenacles included)
1 lb. aborrio rice
1 lb. peas

Take a large deep pot and cover the bottom with olive oil.  When hot, put in the chorizo.  Cook for a few minutes until the chorizo crispy.  Take all of the chorizo out with a slotted spoon and set aside. 

Add the chicken pieces and cover the top because the oil will splatter.  After a few minutes, take off the top and turn the chicken. The chicken should take about 10 minutes.  Don't cook it completely because the chicken will continue to cook when you take it out of the pot.  Also, you are going to put the chicken back in at one point.

Add the onions and peppers and saute on a medium heat until softened.  About 5 minutes.  Then add the rice and continue to saute for about 1 minute or so to incorporate the rice.  Take the chicken broth/clam juice mixture that you set aside and measure out 4 cups.  Pour this amount over the rice and vegetables and bring to a boil.  Once the liquid begins to boil, turn down to low to medium (simmer) and cover.  Let this hang for about 10 minutes but take a peek from time to time so the rice doesn't stick to the bottom.

Once the rice is almost ready, put in the squid and the shrimp.  It can cook in the rice. 

In a separate large sauce pan pour in the rest of the liquid and bring to a boil then bring down to medium heat.  Add the clams and cover.  I used a cover that was glass so I could watch what was happening.  When the clams opened, I immediately removed them from the pot.  Then do that with the mussels. 

Open up the paella pot and add the tomatoes and peas and stir until completely incorporated.  Now put all the seafood in, including the liquid that was left over from steaming the shellfish.  Also, add in the chicken and chorizo.  Stir everything around put the top back on or even turn up the heat and let the rest of the liquid boil down with the top off.  This will finish off the chicken and rice.  I let this sit on the stove for another 10 minutes or so on low just to make sure everything was done. 

Voila.  Sounds hard but actually it is quite easy just a lot of steps. Don't expect any left overs. 

A downtown Whitney?

There appears to be a lot of controversy coming from the Whitney board about creating a second museum in NYC.  There is no doubt that there is a major cost associated with building the actual space.  Of course there is also the underlying fear that you will build a museum and there will be no visitors or not enough to support the museum. 

Here is what I have to say to the naysayers on the board.  Think out of the box.  Stop being set in your ways.  Be bold.  Set new paths.  Just do it.  You have managed to be bold in acquiring new art over the past 10 years. 

The Whitney has amassed a collection of over 18,000 pieces.  Think about that.  18,000 pieces that are being held in a relatively small building on the Upper East Side.  The Whitney is one of my favorite museums.  They are true to their mission and the exhibits for the most part are well curated.  They have collected American contemporary artists, mostly emerging that have obviously emerged since the onset.  I'd love to see the 18,000 piece collection but the majority of people have not because of the size of the institution.  It can't house that much art. 

The growth of downtown NYC is obvious.  You don't even have to read the numbers, just walk around the street.  Tourists didn't roam the Meatpacking District 10 years ago or did they walk up and down Bleeker Street.  That has all changed.  The Highline is packed daily and the Whitney would sit at one end of the Highline, basically Gansevoort Street.  I bet there are many people, like the 20 and 30 year olds, who come to NYC and never make their way uptown.  They don't have to anymore. 

The Whitney would be located south of Chelsea which is packed with galleries.  Galleries are a very different animal than a museum.  Galleries after all are in the business of selling art while helping to nurture the careers of the artists they represent.  Many people don't feel comfortable walking into galleries.  Museums make art accessible to the public.  Museum do public good after all and aren't they non-profit institutions. 

Chart new territories.  Uptown NYC is a completely different area with a different audience than downtown.  Having a downtown museum won't take away from the uptown traffic.  If the shows are fantastic and the restaurant is great, people will come.  The board of the Whitney should consider creating an advisory board, from people who understand the downtown culture.  The other museum downtown is the New Museum that has yet to put up an exhibit that is of interest to a broad audience but has put on shows that have an edge towards the eccentric.  Make sure the advisory board of the Whitney understands the fine line between opening the world of art to the pedestrian world while still having a bit of an edge.  After all, the Whitney has the art to do shows like that. 

Not building a Whitney downtown is shortsighted.  Get with the program, look at what is happening in downtown NYC and the growth of Brooklyn.  Eventually the waterfront between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn will be loaded with transportation that will make it easy to get back and forth just as quickly as jumping on a subway.  Be bold but be smart.  The opportunities are here.  Just do it. 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Whitney's High Line Doubts: Renzo Piano's Whitney Museum has been... (ny.curbed.com)
• Can the Whitney Museum Afford Its High Line Branch? (nytimes.com)
• Finding an Artful Way to Expand the Whitney (nytimes.com)

Holstee

Each generation changes the world in a different way.  Not only as a nation but the entire world is in need of a greener way to live.  Be it manufacturing, growing sustainable products, cleaner fuel or less pollution, this is a concept that is being embraced far and wide.  We are seeing innovative ways across each industry to create a greener world. 

I had the pleasure of meeting with the group behind Holstee yesterday.  They take their passion for changing the world and giving back by creating clothes with a conscious.  They are working on growing an ecommerce business, merchandise driven made with fabrics that are recycled.  For instance, the fabrics in their t-shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles.  They are also working with another fabric that is made with plastic bags that are filling up our world.  Last and certainly not least, they put their money where their mouth is.  10% of their proceeds go to KIVA which is an organization that micro-lends to entrepreneurs in developing worlds. 

Of course, like all young hip websites these days, you can also listen to their favorite tunes of the day.  There is a social media piece to create a community for other people who are interested in their concept and products.

I really liked their energy, their drive and their desire to change the world one t-shirt at a time. 

Art 21 and Jeff Koons

Image via Wikipedia

Art 21 is a non-profit organization that is coming into its 12th year.  They produce an Emmy award winning series for PBS about contemporary art.  Through their work, they have made art more accessible to the public while archiving information about current artists for future use. 

I have a friend who is involved with Art 21 and over the years I have been meaning to go to one of their salon events.  Last night was the first event we went to. Jeff Koons was interviewed by Susan Sollins, the Executive Director of Art 21.  We also saw the video that was made about him prior to their conversation.

I was particularly interested in Koons because I had the incredible opportunity to see his studio a few months ago.  His large public installations are pretty amazing.  The guy did an installation at Versailles which says it all.  His thought process on how he creates art is very Warholesque.  It might be Koon's vision but many people work on his paintings and sculptures.  Using computers and then filtering down the process to actual hands. 

Last night was interesting to hear him speak about his love of art.  He is totally into art from a historical bend.  He collects mostly old artists going back to the the second century.  He incorporates all of that in his work.  Art history is the premise for everything he does. 

My only issue with last night was the conversation.  Many times, in the art world, there is an air of pretension.  Names are dropped and taken for granted that everyone knows about certain techniques.  Not easy for the average pedestrian which is in many ways unfortunate.  You can love what you see but nobody can explain the premise of the thought behind the art in simplistic terms.  The Executive Director, Susan Sollins, although certainly an art historian with a passion for what she does shouldn't be the person interviewing the artist.  I don't know her but I found the interview could have been more insightful and enlightening.  The questions from the audience were better than hers.  I found myself wondering how much longer she would go on. 

Luckily, it was a short event.  I am going to spend some time looking at the series that Art 21 has done.  I'd like to learn more about the artists but am also hoping the series is engaging and doesn't put me to sleep.  Last night, Fred was nodding off and I could have easily joined him.

Ma Peche

There are a few chefs/restaurateurs who have the golden touch.  There is a reason they have the golden touch. They are perfectionists who think strategically from the menu to the staff to the way the restaurant should look.  Regardless of sweating the details, the food has to be delicious.  David Chang not only has all of those qualities, his concept and execution of everything served from appetizer to dessert has charted new territories in a way that makes him a leader in his field. 

Ma Peche is Chang's first entry into the uptown world.  Ma Peche is located in the Chambers Hotel.  When you walk in, there is a small room that sells all the desserts from the Milk Bar.  Nice for the neighborhood to stop by and buy a cookie.  The restaurant is downstairs.  Completely transformed from the past tenant.  There is something European about the room.  Simple light wood with a communal table as well as a variety of separate tables around the room.  The design is minimal but completely works with the food being served.

Lunch is available, dinner will open soon.  It is definitely the perfect place for sharing.  My friend and I started with two plates off the raw section of the menu.  Sliced squid mixed with scallions, peanuts and lots of garlic.  A tad too garlicky for me but my friend loved it.  A simple clean fresh salad. 

The other raw dish was thinly sliced fluke with a mixture of herbs in the middle ( almost like a pesto, hidden under the greens) and tiny pieces of pineapple and crispy rice puffs on top.  Excellent.  I loved the pineapple mixed with the fish.

Our next course we had a few plates from the smaller portion cooked dishes.  Frisee with tiny pieces of crispy tripe over a poached eggs and jowl croutons.  We mixed it up and made it messy.  It is a very rich salad and delicious.  Lots of flavors happening in this dish but the tripe is clever.  Certainly not something you see on your every day menu. 

The mussels were supreme.  Would love to know where they source the mussels.  I have never seen mussels this big and plump.  Almost the size of my thumb.  Steamed in a crab paste and beer.  Full of flavor and a beautiful presentation. 

The other dish was the ribs.  Pork ribs that are cooked for who knows how many hours with ginger and a lemongrass caramel.  They are so sticky that a fork and steak knife are served on the side.  My friend took one bite and said "my ribs don't taste like this".  Wow. 


We ordered one big plate and tried to order something not too heavy because we were ordering so many other things.  We opted for the chicken.  The chicken had been pushed around the bone to create a large round pop with crispy skin wrapped around it.  Juicy and perfectly cooked served over sauteed mushrooms, green papaya and peanuts.  That part alone was simple.  I kept popping the mushrooms in my mouth.

Nice touch is that they serve coffee which you can't get in the other Chang restaurants.  The word on the street has been a resounding thumbs up.  There is a reason...the food is top. 

Cleaning the closet

I am slowly making my way through the house cleaning out every closet and drawer.  Yesterday I hit up my closet.  My friend came over to help.  That was the key.  There were things that I have kept because I thought I might wear again.  Yeah, right. Somethings were absolutely worth the keep but somethings were absolutely worth the toss.  Shoes, bags, clothes, etc.  It was fun and I could have never created this big of a pile without her.  Thank god she came!  I feel like I had a good cleanse.

Torissi

We met our friend for lunch at Torissi.  A relatively new place on Mulberry Street right off of Prince.  Been open for about six weeks.  They are now open for dinner too.  Order at the corner, grab a seat and they bring you your food.  Cash only. 

It is places like Torissi that make me love NYC even more.  The food is outrageously delicious.  If I cooked like this at home and ate like this every day, I wouldn't be able to fit through the door.  We split everything and I could have licked the plate.

Sliced turkey that has been brined for over a day in a mixture of herbs, roasted and sliced.  Wow.  Juicy, tasty and the perfect balance of herbs.  We had that with whipped ricotta and a spicy sauce.  On the side, roasted cauliflower.  Roasted to the point that the cauliflower was almost burnt with pieces of rosemary through out.  Wow.  I'm tossing rosemary in my cauliflower next time. 

The key is the sandwiches.  Soft scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, slice of cheese and red peppers in a roll.  Sloppy and incredible.  Each flavor kicked in but the combo just works.

A must have is the chicken parmigiana.  Don't remember the last time I had chicken parm but I forgot how good it can be.  Lightly fried chicken that was juicy inside coated with oozing mozzarella in a roll with a few other things mixed in. 

We also had a side of big white beans that had been made with big chunks of bacon.  The beans had probably been braised with the bacon for hours.  A caponata that had some golden raisins, eggplant, tomatoes and perhaps a hint of cinnamon.  Put that on a piece of bread and you are set for the day.

By the time we got our food, the line began.  My guess is that line will go on all the way through dinner.  What a find.  Loved that I could wash it down with a diet Dr. Browns Cream soda. 

Perry Street

Perry Street is a walk from my home.  I have been back a few times but have always been disappointed.  I had read that Jean-Georges son, who Jean-Georges did not want to go into the family business, did by taking over the kitchen at Perry Street.  I figured we should give it another try.  I am so glad we did, dinner last night was fantastic. 

Fred and I walked over to watch the sun set over the river.  You can't beat the location for that.  Perry Street sits at the end of Perry Street over the Westside Highway.  We grabbed two seats at the bar. 

They began the meal with an amuse bouche from the chef.  A pureed broccoli soup in a small white cup served with a creme fraiche on top.  The soup had a serious zing of chili pepper and the creme fraiche was thick.  The whole thing was delicious. 

We each had an appetizer and shared.  Sesame crusted rare tuna with a whipped emulsion on the side seasoned with a spicy Sriracha sauce.  Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and the sauce had the perfect zing. 

Our other dish was calamari.  Light crispy deep fried calamari served with a yuzu dipping sauce mixed with sesame seeds.  I really liked how the spices were used in every dish.  Some spicy and others with herbs.  A good combo and the right amount.  Nothing was overwhelming but the right balance.

For dinner, Fred ordered the lobster poached in butter.  Seriously rich and incredibly decadent.  The butter was seasoned with a lemongrass and kaffir limes.  On the side were a few potato stuffed ravioli.  Subtle. 

I went with the lamb chops.  Two lamb chops coated with chili spiced panko.  So good.  The side was braised peas and artichokes hearts.  A nice twist on the perfect spring dish.

The lobster put Fred over the top for having any desire for dessert which was fine with me.  My options for dinner on the fly have just opened up for not leaving the neighborhood.  A few places to eat at the bar including some couches to relaxand watch the sun set.  Simple modern setting and the food....Perry Street finally found their sweet spot.   

Henri Cartier-Bresson

This week I was having a conversation with my brother about the concept that a picture paints a thousand words.  The question we were debating is what is more important; people leaving their personal history through words or people leaving their personal history through photographs.  There is a place for both and certainly this generation will obviously been geared towards the latter.  Yet, after walking the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit at the MOMA on Saturday, I might lean towards saying a picture can capture it all. 

Jessica was in town with her photography class and I met her at the MOMA to walk the exhibit.  Both of us have actually been to the Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson  located inside the Montparnasse section of Paris in a very cool glass building.  They curate new exhibits like a museum, every few months.  If you are in Paris, it is worth the trip.

The current Henri Cartier- Bresson exhibit at the MOMA is fantastic.  Cartier-Bresson's photos capture people, time, cultures and travel like no other.  A 35 millimeter around his neck and off he went.  An incredible eye that allowed him the unique ability to take photos that read like a book.  For instance, his photos taken in the US during the early 1960s show greed, racism and a under current of vulgarity.  He saw what was happening, he was seeing the future.  There is a quote, taken from him in 1952, which describes his look on life.  He said,  " It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us."  In his photographs, he has done just that. 

One section is devoted to portraits.  He took people's portraits in their own personal settings.  Someone asked him how long it took to capture someones likeness, his answer was, "longer than the dentist but shorter than the psychoanalyst."  An incredible array of historical photos from Madame Lanvin, Truman Capote, Coco Chanel, Giacometti, John Huston, William Faulkner, Carl Jung, Louis Kahn to name a few.  A serious range. 

At one point in our history, companies started to hire photographers to come in and shoot what was happening in the day to day of their companies.  He was hired to do a series for Bankers Trust in 1960.  It is like watching Mad Men in stills.  

He had traveled to Indonesia, Japan, China, England, Russia, Paris, Africa and more.  After Stalin died, he was the first Western photographer allowed in to photograph Russia.  The pictures are fascinating and enlightening as he returned to Russia 20 years later to publish pictures that were overwhelmingly grim and depressing.

From his photographs it is apparent what a brilliant man he was.  His photos show his thoughts as he captures what he sees on film.  It speaks to the viewer more than he probably could have if he had written down what he was witnessing. 

Quite an incredible show, wonderfully curated.  Something absolutely worth seeing.  There wasn't a photo in the whole show that I wouldn't have been thrilled to bring home and hang on my wall.  They are all that good.