Wednesday, 28 December 2011
I’ve been fortunate enough to be the General Manager of FEZ Restaurant in Phoenix for 5 ½ years now. It’s been the cherry on my career. Or shall I say, strawberry? This was my first FEZ foodie crush. The fresh greens, with the intense dried blueberries, sweetness of the strawberries along with the crunch and salt of the cashews and nuttiness of the Manchego cheese tossed with this amazing Champagne-honey vinaigrette is so so delicious. Serve it for your family. Get those kids to eat their fruit and veggies. And this is quite impressive to serve to guests or take to a pot luck. This recipe serves four with extra vinaigrette for your fridge!
1 bag of field mix
¼ cup minced red onion
¾ cup cashew pieces
¾ cup dried blueberries
1 cup halved strawberries
¾ to 1 cup of Manchego cheese (similar to Parmesan...a good substitute!)
In a large bowl toss field mix, red onion, cashews and blueberries with vinaigrette (recipe below). DO NOT OVER DRESS! Not you! The salad...Plate salad on chilled plates and arrange five strawberry halves around the rim of the plate. Odd numbers in plating and decorating are always preferred over even numbers. I don’t know why I know this. I just do! Sprinkle, generously, the Manchego cheese over the top.
This salad is great for so many reason. You can increase or decrease the cheese, onions etc. as it fits the taste of your family or guests. It’s got a super food...blueberries...and is so easy on the eyes. And we all know we eat with our eyes first. Vinaigrette below...
Champagne-Honey Vinaigrette/
½ cup Champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon
¾ teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon salt
2 ½ tablesoon honey
1 ⅛ cup canola oil
Blend all ingredients except oil in blender or food processor thoroughly. Slowly drizzle in the canola oil.
Wa La! You have a delicious, nutritious and gorgeous salad for the eyes and the tummy. Grilled chicken or seared salmon would make excellent pairings to the greens and fruit. Enjoy!
Monday, 26 December 2011
Mary's Fish Camp was on my bucket list on my NYC Culinary Comedian Foodie Adventure. Below is my five star review of this charming, clean and fresh West Village landmark! Go Mary!
I know. I know. You're thinking the same thing I thought about the name of this place. Mary's Fish Camp. Hmm...must be a gay pescatarian summer camp for kids.
But. It's. Not.
It's the cutest little place in the heart of the West Village. And I went here for one reason only. Lobster roll. You see, living in the Sonoran Desert has it pluses...great weather, lots of time by the pool sipping alcoholic beverages and old people who leave in the summer.
The last $30 sandwich I had (and enjoyed) was at the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C. And that was room service priced. This $30 sandwich was the smartest culinary cash I have laid down in a long time!
Creamy with chunks of lobster in a slightly crispy buttery bun...Dang! I just actually drooled on the comma key.
I arrived early as the place is very small. Had immediate seating and service. Everything was flawless.
Can't wait for camp next year!! Oh. And Thank You Mary!!
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Below is my yelp review of Eastern Standard Located in the historic Commonwealth Hotel...where I experienced some serious mouthgasms from the silky oysters to the sweet and butter lobster, or shall I say lobstah? Keep in mind, I was in Boston!
Hanging with my besties, doesn't matter what time zone you're in or what the name of the restaurant is. But here we were. Standing by the bar, sipping cocktails ("someone" was throwing back chilled Patron like there was no tomorrow I might add...hmm...) and waiting for our table.
And because I hang with the cool kids, we were specifically waiting for a bar table as they prefer that over the dining room. Hey. I'm the new kid just lucky to hang with the "plastics". I'm happy just to be at any table.
Instantly my Bostonian Buddies started asking all the proper oyster questions...what do you have, where are they from...yadda yadda yadda....I put them in complete control and soon we had a huge iced platter of illustrious oysters and prawns. Those silky oysters were like a big stick of buttah sliding down my throat. And because my mom reads my reviews I will hold off on the sliding down my throat joke just waiting to leap from my fingertips to the keyboard.
I continued with broiled lobster with drawn butter and seared tuna. Hell. I don't even remember what the others ordered! My food was sea lishes!
Eastern Standard is located in the historic Commonwealth Hotel and has some kick ass photography on the second level where the restrooms are located. I visited the second level several times.
Damn Patron.
Picture this. South Mountain. Covered in careening white mini vans and large American cars. Children. Everywhere. Like Children of the Corn. Octogenarians with walkers complete with two yellow tennis balls. Parents scrambling to keep their brood in order. Teenagers glued to their smart phones, completely unaware of the reason for this holiday. The stealing of land from the Native Americans. Yep. We Americans sure know when to party.
Picture this. Me. My mom and my dad. Two of the cutest things I've ever seen. Walking. Slowly. Navigating the "rustic" entrance to the restaurant. It's like they're trying to imitate Tim Conway. Me? Patient. Oh so patient. You see, I was psyched to have my folks all to myself. No cooking. No cleaning. But would the food be gross? Cafeteria-like? And the worst, cold?
No. No. And no.
From our warm biscuits and Indian flat bread to our entrees (we all chose turkey with all the fixins)...it was a fantastic meal for $20 a head. Our server was efficient and delightful. If I remembered her name I would publicly apologize for my father's flirting. Heck. Maybe she liked it! She mentioned she was working from 9am to 9pm. God Bless her. Hope she's wearing sensible shoes.
They were helpful with extras (can you say "More gravy please?") and with boxing up to go treats. We skipped dessert as I was serving pumpkin pie, chocolate coffee cake and coffee at my place.
The window booth we had (thanks dad for calling ahead) had those famous sweeping views of the valley. And of the large families swallowing the picnic tables outside below, chowing down and obviously having a good time.
Other staff were energetic, friendly and helpful.
I cannot imagine the pilgrims having a finer meal and a better time then me and my folks.
Well, they did have those cute outfits. Not my folks. The pilgrims. Though mom was working her dangely Christmas tree earrings.
Oh. The. Holidays.