Oct 27, 2010

Paper-made: Felt & Wire

As a little girl, one of my favorite fairy tales was Cinderella. This 17^th Century classic has been printed in letterpress and published by Thornwillow Press and can be found on the Felt & Wire Shop. Each copy, with six original drawings by John Hutton, is numbered and signed by the artist. Priced at $98, it is not cheap, but would make a great gift or keepsake.

Felt & Wire also carries a variety of unique and beautiful paper goods, including note cards, calendars, journals, prints and much more. It is a collective site made up of designers, artists, book binders, and printers.

… and my personal favorite, the Please and Thank You Postcards:

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Accessories, Events, Gift Idea, Personal Care, Products, Trends Tags: books, calendars, Cinderella, decor, fairy tale, Felt & Wire, gift wraps, handmade, invitations, journals, letterpress, note cards, paper, postcards, prints, stationary

Oct 25, 2010

Date Night: Taim & Sweet Revenge

Maithil and I had a date night in the West Village last night. I planned a low-key, casual night which resulted in amazing food and new finds. First stop, the sort of hidden Taim (tah-eem). I had heard rave reviews about this tiny vegetarian falafel spot and it lived up to every word. Taim undoubtedly served the best falafels Maithil and I have ever had. The menu, while it offers many different combinations, is pretty straight forward and your meal is either served in the form of a pita sandwich or a platter.

Maithil got the Sabich Platter (slice of eggplant, fried, topped with a sliced hard-boiled egg, tahini sauce, and served with Taim’s moroccan carrots and israeli salad) and I got the Mixed Falafel Platter (a sample of Taim’s three different falafel flavors, served with hummus, tabouli, and israeli salad); all platters are served with white or whole wheat pita, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and zahatar seasoning. The sampling of all three falafel flavors was an ideal choice for a first-timer. Now I know that I would get the green (traditional , with parsley, cilantro and mint) or the harissa (with Tunisian spices, spicy) over the red (with roasted red pepper) which was a little too strong in the roasted red pepper flavor. The warm and cool ingredients for each dish were fresh and all of the various flavors on the platters, from the creamy and smooth hummus to the tree distinct dipping sauces, blended together beautifully. The platter portions were just right for a fulfilling dinner.

The shop is small, with about six stools along the transparent wall which overlooks the bench seating for about three or four outside. Thankfully, we were able to get two seats since we just barely missed the dinner rush which made the space feel tight and cramped. I hope they expand their location or open up another location that is larger to accommodate the demand. Also, the counter service needs to be improved with a friendlier staff. Finally, the only other down side was that Taim is cash only. Their profits would definitely rise if they accepted credit/debit cards. Regardless of these setbacks, the food at Taim is scrumptious and this has now become our new favorite falafel place.

Taim Food Tally: $10 each + tax = $22.78.

Taim Score: 5/5 (food); 3.25/5 (service/ambiance)

Taim Address: 222 Waverly Place, near 7th Ave., NYC; www.taimfalafel.com

“Eat, Drink & Be Merry”

After dinner, we went to Sweet Revenge for dessert. It’s a cupcake, beer and wine bar located in the West Village, which, at a glance, looks like a simple, laid-back, cozy wine bar. We started by sitting at a small table in the back and then moved to the slightly more private, better lit window ledge overlooking the street, right before our treats arrived.

Every day, patrons can choose from a choice of five cupcakes, four signature flavors and one artisan, flavor of the day. Each cupcake is masterfully paired with a wine and a beer, giving the customer some choice. Maithil decided to get the Dirty Cupcake (valrhona chocolate cake with dark chocolate truffle) with the beer pairing, the Kopparberg Pear Cider, from Sweden and I opted for the Crimson & Cream (raspberry red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting) with the wine pairing, the Raspberry Bellini.

Both large cupcakes looked decadent and tasted incredible with the drink pairings. The frostings were smooth and creamy and the cake was dense and tasted more like a piece of actual cake rather than a cupcake. Of the two, I preferred Maithil’s because his cupcake as well as the entire pairing was richer in flavor and not as sweet as mine. This unique spot is perfect for a date or a gathering with friends; I can’t wait to return. The only thing that could have improved our experience is friendlier service. Sweet Revenge also offers a light, savory menu as well as a brunch menu.

Sweet Revenge Food Tally: Cupcakes, $3.50 each; Beer Pairing, $11; Wine Pairing: $10; Total+tax+tip=$35.

Sweet Revenge Score: 4.25/5

Sweet Revenge Address: 62 Carmine Street, between Bedford and 7 Ave. South, NYC; www.sweetrevengenyc.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bakery, Bar, Cafe, Dinner, Food, Hoboken, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks, Trends, West Village Tags: beer, carrots, chocolate, colorful, cream cheese, cupcakes, Dinner, eggplant, eggs, falafel, frosting, hummus, NYC, raspberry, red velvet, roasted red peppers, spicy, Sweet Revenge, Taim, Vegetarian, West Village, wine

Oct 20, 2010

Vegetable Parmesan

Last night I got home in time to recreate this Vegetable Parmesan recipe. I made some variations based on the vegetables I had in my fridge and it turned out great. I used: eggplant, carrots, green bell peppers, onions, and cabbage. All of the veggies were sautéed separately in minimal olive oil, as they required different cooking times; I cooked them until they were just about done, but not fully. I also spiced up my marinara sauce with a large clove of garlic, a jalapeño and about ten leaves of basil, all finely chopped, as well as a couple of dashes of crushed red pepper. Lastly, I left out the parmesan cheese and the bread crumbs.

After greasing the pan with a tiny bit of olive oil and spreading a generous layer of sauce, I placed the eggplant rounds, followed by the carrot rounds, cabbage, peppers and onion, topped with a layer of sauce and mozzarella cheese. I made an identical second layer and then the final layer was just the left over veggies covered with sauce and cheese. I only had to let the dish bake for about 20 minutes on 375 degrees, until the sauce was bubbling and the cheese was fully melted. Dinner was very tasty with a simple salad and I had the perfect amount left for lunch for Amy and me.

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Cooking, Dinner, Food, Hoboken, Lunch, Recipes Tags: bake, basil, budget, carrots, cheese, colorful, cooking, Dinner, eggplant, mozzarella, onions, peppers, Vegetarian, veggies

Oct 15, 2010

A Southampton Village: Sagaponack

During a lunch to celebrate Eliza’s birthday, our summer intern who we recently hired, I realized that you do not necessarily have to leave the City to visit the Hamptons. Sagaponack Bar and Grill, named after a village in Southampton, NY, is a charming neighborhood spot that temporarily took us out of the city bustle. The soft, light blue and cream, beach-inspired decor made the two story, dark, hardwood floored space feel cozy.

The diverse menu has much to offer, from lots of seafood options, to tacos, to burgers. After some contemplation, Eliza ordered the Chicken Tacos (one hard and one soft shell with grilled chicken, tomatillo sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and a side of salsa, sour cream and guacamole). I opted for the vegetable entrée (grilled portobello mushroom, pearl mozzarella, arugula, quinoa, balsamic). Intrigued by the name, we also ordered a side of the pesto fries to share. The food arrived in a timely manner, just as the downstairs seating was beginning to fill with lunch patrons. We instantly began to dig in to our beautifully presented plates. Eliza, a big fan of all types of Mexican food, was very happy with her choice. She said that the flavors were interesting and slightly different than a standard taco. Eliza explained that the guacamole, although it was a rather tiny serving, was spot on and a great addition to the dish. Her portion, which was missing the side of sour cream, was very generous as she was not able to finish everything on her plate. She preferred the hard taco over the soft one mostly because it was less messy to eat.

Unlike Eliza, I had no trouble eating almost everything on my plate. My dish can best be described as a veggie stack. It started with a layer of quinoa with shredded carrots and golden raisins, topped with arugula, then grilled zucchini and eggplant and roasted red peppers, capped with a portobello mushroom; the plate was sprinkled with baby mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. The crisp, fresh veggies with a hint of balsamic were a great pairing with the sweet raisins and the hearty texture of the quinoa. However, the two thick eggplant rounds were a disappointment because they were bitter and a little tough. It was the only uneaten thing left on my plate.

The pesto fries were good but not as great as we would have hoped. The “pesto” was far too mild and could only be tasted gradually, after eating many fries in row. Overall, Eliza enjoyed her birthday lunch and while I would not go out of my way to come here, it is a place that I will visit again.

Recap: Inviting décor, good food and service, vegetarian friendly, well-priced.

Food: Chicken Tacos, $10; Veggie Stack, $10; Pesto Fries, $5; Total+tax+tip=$32.22

Score: 3.75/5

Address: 4 West 22nd Street (between 5^th and 6^th), NYC; www.sagaponacknyc.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Bar, Dinner, Events, Flatiron/Chelsea, Food, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant Tags: Flatiron, guacomole, lunch, mozzarella, mushrooms, NYC, roasted red peppers, Sagaponack, salsa, tacos, vegetables, Vegetarian, zucchini

Oct 14, 2010

The Wooden Box: L.A. Burdick

I first discovered the handmade chocolates by L.A. Burdick when my friend, Ben, gifted me their custom wooden box one Valentine’s Day in college. I’ve been wowed by this native New Hampshire, Swiss and French inspired establishment ever since. Their gourmet flavor combinations are intense and wonderfully complimentary, blending an array of herbs, spices, fruits, coffees and teas. Burdick’s creativity also comes across in their custom shapes, namely the penguin, honeybee, bunny, and my personal favorite, the mice, all of whom have almond ears and silk tails. Each fresh bonbon is hand-cut, without molds, and the seemingly small portion is the perfect bite. That’s not to say that one bite won’t leave you craving for more. Some of my favorite flavors include the Honey Caramel Truffle (caramelized honey with herbs and vanilla, dusted in cocoa powder), Ginger (dark chocolate and fresh ginger root ganache with a hint of candied ginger) and the Milk Mouse Mice (milk and dark chocolate ganache with espresso, covered with milk chocolate).

The New York City location also functions as a café, serving a variety of drinks, teas, coffees, and pastries. They have the most decadent hot chocolate I’ve ever had, made with your choice of freshly shaved dark, milk, or white chocolate.

I also love their packaging. The elegant wooden box adds a special touch to the decadent treats. L.A. Burdick is the ideal place for something special.

Score: 5/5

Address: 5 East 20^th Street (Between 5^th and Broadway); www.burdickchocolate.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: Bakery, Cafe, Events, Flatiron/Chelsea, Food, Gift Idea, New York City, Products, Snacks Tags: bakery, chocolate, Flatiron, flavors, gifts, gourmet, handmade, hot chocolate, NYC, spices, treat

Oct 12, 2010

A Simple Staple

Weeks ago, after having worked an exhausting twelve hour day, I was craving a pasta dinner. I began to make dinner at 10pm and quickly threw together a dish. To my surprise, it was one of the best plates of pasta I’d ever had! Anything would have tasted great that night but, I’ve since made it a few more times and it’s been a hit each time. This simple, impromptu pasta has now become one of my staple dishes.

Ingredients:

- Thin Spaghetti/Angel Hair (whole wheat or regular)

- One large tomato for two servings

- A quarter of a small onion per serving

- Olive oil

- A generous dash of crushed basil (or a blend of Italian spices; fresh, if you have them), crushed red pepper, black pepper, and salt (to taste)

- A few cloves of garlic

- A handful of roasted red peppers

- A handful of capers

- Goat cheese

- Mushrooms (optional)

- Your favorite basic pasta sauce (optional)

- Your favorite white wine (very optional)

1. Finely grate about four cloves of garlic in four tablespoons of olive oil (approximately, for two servings) and set aside.

2. Chop the tomatoes into chunks; chop the onions into about half inch pieces; chop the garlic, about one clove per serving, into thin rounds.

3. Boil water, add a pinch of salt and half of a teaspoon of garlic-infused oil, and cook the pasta. Drain when ready (I like it a little al dente).

4. Heat olive oil (a little less than enough for the tomatoes/onion/garlic) and mix in the chopped onions. Add in the generous dash of crushed basil or blended Italian spices, crushed red pepper, black pepper, and salt (to taste). Cook for about three minutes and add the garlic rounds. Cook until the onions are a little soft.

5. Add in the mushrooms, thinly sliced, and cook until they begin to cook down (optional). Then, add the tomato chunks, roughly chopped roasted red peppers and capers. Mix in the garlic-infused olive oil and let it simmer for about ten minutes; the mixture will become very aromatic. This is when you can add about two tablespoons of your favorite basic pasta sauce and a splash of your favorite white wine (or whatever you will be drinking with dinner) and let it cook for another five minutes. The sauce is just as delicious with or without this addition.