So Many Recipes, So Little Time
For a while, I have been craving congee, an Asian version of rice kasha. As much as I dislike the sweet form of cooked rice known as rice pudding — painful memories of Soviet kindergarten breakfast — that much I love its savory one. Especially with meatballs. And spinach. And especially with Nam Pla Prik….
On a ground meat streak. That’s my cold weather comfort zone. Found this great one pan meatloaf variation in Classic Lebanese Cuisine cookbook by Chef Kamal Al-Faquih. Tweaked it a bit adding more vegetables and lemon juice for potatoes to keep their shape better. WHAT WENT IN— a few baking potatoes, peeled and cut lengthwise…
Once a high school teacher told our class that most true long lasting friendships form in high school:— The older you get, the harder it is to find like minded people and make connections. True, the older we get, the more we set in our ways, the less we’re willing to budge. And every relationship…
Summer has never been my time of the year. Demi-seasons are my favorite. But this year, for the first time I’ve seen other people doing actual countdowns to fall — hang in there, people, only a few days left. My daughter’s reaction to my this longing for cooler days manifestation was:— You know what, mom,…
Astoria, Queens, is known for its Greek neighborhood. But once off the W train and a little east along Astoria Boulevard, there are three blocks of Steinway Street known as Little Egypt with large Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Moroccan, Tunisian, and Algerian population, their stores, restaurants, hookah lounges, and that specific smell of sweet smoke. This is…
Reunions after some time has gone by make me cautious. People change, I change. Passing time creates awareness of significance of good memories. Should they be challenged, even sacrificed, to an attempt to revisit and make them relevant? Like in that movie, an exchange between a British sixty-something couple returning to Paris after thirty years…
As I rarely cook something twice, rarely we go twice to the same restaurant. Our state is one of the most diverse and inclusive ones. Plus, the city is close and, in the city, there is Queens, the most ethnically diverse urban area on the planet. To choose a place to go to is a…
There used to be a Greek restaurant next to my studio. A new family took over it and now it’s… Greek. But what a difference a family makes. You walk into Aegean Estiatorio like a friend and leave like a family. Amazing how two people can change the vibe of the place and make it…
Our annual pilgrimage to Coney Island. You’d think I am drawn there by things I miss. Nope. On the contrary, things I don’t miss pull me here. Sort of an affirmation that it was the right decision.  The words “Coney Island” do not revoke any nostalgia at all besides that of watching good bootlegged…
Good jerk hurts — smoke gets in your eyes, scotch bonnets burn from within. Good jerk is hard — hard to find, hard to recreate, hard to photograph. Good jerk takes time — days of marinating, hours of smoking. Good jerk can be so good! When you find a good jerk, try not to lose…