My Dear, Wonderful City

call it what you will.....the big apple. the city that never sleeps. empire city. the city so nice, they named it twice. the capital of the world. gotham. for an all to brief time, i called it "home".

it's been almost nine years since i was a resident of manhattan, but it still holds a dear and precious place in my heart. it is still home to some of my best friends. and it is still a place that i feel a comfort and kinship to. there is an energy to this city that is palpable. some find it overwhelming. i find it rejuvenating.

i've got a few weeks of vacation from work i need to burn, and as i was long overdue for a trip to my beloved city? i hoped a train north to spend some quality time there....

i find a wonderful comfort when my feet hit the pavement outside of penn station. once you learn this city? it stays with you. a familiarity that never changes. the avenues will always run north-south. the streets will always run east-west. the hudson will always be on one side, the east river will always be on the other. and the air.....will always smell faintly of urine.

this time around i stayed at a little hotel in murray hill. pod39. i love pod hotels. i know people feel claustrophobic in a room that is less than 100 sq ft. but i rather enjoy it. it's like sleeping in my own little cave. and really, do you NEED more than a bed, a shower and a toilet? it's manhattan, you shouldn't be spending your time in your hotel room.

i knew the second i walked in that i was in hipster-land. this is the lobby, and that? is a foosball table. and in the background? a taco joint/tequila bar. there were so many pairs of skinny jeans. and so many man buns.

this is my darling little hotel room! i'm actually standing in the hall to take this picture. it's just that itty bitty. but it was honestly perfect for this trip.

park avenue at spring time is positively precious. blooms of tulips everywhere!

the one "touristy" thing i wanted to do on this trip was walk highline park. an elevated walk way that extends over chelsea. it winds about 25 blocks long, and two stories high, following along the hudson. the weather this week was GORGEOUS. here's a little peek from one of the outlooks.

i love the vantage that this stretch of walkway gives. weaving through the buildings, above all the cars and buses. the gardens hadn't quite gotten their full spring blooms yet, but they were just starting to come alive this particular day.

i suppose technically this should count as a "rails to trails" project. the highline was built over part of an unused section of track that used to run train cars. here you can see where the gardens have grown around the abandoned tracks. the mix of industrial and green is striking.

for me a trip to new york isn't complete without a visit to my favorite sweet shop in all of brooklyn. and thus for me? all of the world. fortunato brothers in the neighborhood of williamsburg. i used to sublet a place two blocks from here and fell IN LOVE with the place. they have the most amazing cannolis and gelato. to sit at the window with a good book, a cannoli and a cappuccino is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. especially if you get a sighting of rocko, the resident "pest control expert". a very cranky old ginger cat that likes to steal the foam off of cappuccinos. sadly, he didn't make an appearance today for a photo....

and in the style of the beastie boys, i gotta give a shout out to white castle in brooklyn. little sliders at 3 am? yes i will, thank you very much....

this is such a silly tradition to be giddy about, but it is so particular to the city, i was embarrassed that i forgot!!! here we have an innocent looking brown paper bag. like the kind you would pack your childs lunch in. but inside?

breakfast! i always used to laugh that they put the coffee IN THE BAG. right next to the bagel and the banana. not in your hand, where you have to juggle it with everything else. but in the bag as one complete unit of breakfast. because they know, that here? you are on the move. it's all about speed. 

i did indulge in a few fancy moments while here. i met a friend at a french restaurant to enjoy a delightful crab and avocado napoleon. so fancy! i love that in this city you can have cheap and greasy burgers, or you can have high end french food. any style of cuisine you want? you can find! and usually within a few blocks walk.

to keep my street cred as someone who used to work in the world in theatre, i did have to catch a broadway show while here. i wasn't feeling anything super "jazz handsy", so opted for a play rather than a musical. i got last minute tickets to see "the humans", and was so very glad i did. it was a wonderfully written and spectacularly acted show. i highly recommend to anyone who is up in the city. it's a little painful to see with accuracy how family relations are brought to light. both the love and the bickering.

so that was pt 1 of my time off, going to new york to absorb all the wonderful energy that it has. now i'm off to sedona for pt 2, focusing that energy! next it'll be canyon hikes and yoga retreats. and of course, food!!!!!

Meals 102-108

04/11 for christmas this last year, my boo got me this cookbook: recipes and stories from the soviet union.

his travels for work have often taken him to former soviet areas, and he's developed a taste for some of the cuisine. tonight i pulled a recipe that tony has always been a fan of: borscht. this bright purple soup an be a little unsettling for someone who is unfamiliar with it. beets stewed in a broth full of root vegetables and herbs, topped with a dollop of sour cream. it's often made with beef broth, but this recipe uses vegetable broth. so it's a candidate for meatless monday! as a side i thawed some of the potato and onion pierogis we had stashed in the freezer from thanksgiving. they made for a perfect accompaniment!

04/12 tonight was a healthy, and wonderfully simple meal. shrimp sautéed with onions and garlic, served on a bed of wilted kale with cannelini beans, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. i was feeling the need for a light and healthy meal. i did a similar version of this dish earlier in the year with scallops and bacon. this particular version had a more mediterranean flavor to it. a drizzle of balsamic married well with the feta and sun dried tomatoes. a surprisingly filing low car meal!

04/13 tonights meal had a somewhat autumnal feel to it. mustard herbed chicken breast served with sides of brussels sprouts and cranberry farro. the chicken was tenderized and rubbed with a combination of dijon, sage and thyme. then coated with a thin layer of panko and parmesan. the combination made for a juicy bird with wonderful flavors! if you've never had farro, i highly recommend it. it's a type whole grain wheat berry that is prepared in a similar way to rice. it has a wonderful nutty flavor. i boiled it with a combination of vegetable broth and orange juice to add a nice citrus tone that mixed well with the dried cranberries i threw in. and of course roasted brussels sprouts are a great addition to any meal!

04/14 being raised only a  few miles from the chesapeake bay in maryland, it is part of my birth right that i know how to make a proper crab cake. a few rules that are non-negotiable. 1) always broil, never fry. 2) use old bay. and lots of it. and 3) use the cheapest white bread you can find (not bread crumbs). i use a combination of lump and backfin crab. add a little mustard, a little mayo, a little fresh parsley, two pieces of the afore mentioned white bread and the generous old bay, one beaten egg and a shake or two of worcestershire sauce. broil for 6 minutes a side. and that's it! a classic for a reason! i usually serve with a slice of lemon to be squeezed on the cakes just before consuming. and if you'd like, a little tartar sauce on the side. to complete the meal i roasted some baby potatoes with fresh garlic, rosemary and olive oil. and steamed a few green beans. makes me proud to be born in maryland!

04/15 i did a little variation of spaghetti and meatballs tonight. turkey meatballs with sundried tomatoes and feta cheese served on a bed of spaghetti squash with a light alfredo sauce. i was dubious when spaghetti squash became the popular low carb substitute for pasta. but i have to say, it's grown on me! it has a certain sweetness to it that i find very enjoyable. and these meatballs have the most amazing flavors. they're fried up in a skillet, so they get a nice crisp outside. i came across them on this website while looking for low carb recipes:

http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2013/04/sun-dried-tomato-feta-meatballs-low-carb-gluten-free.html

i had an avocado that needed to be used, so i threw it together with a few tomatoes, some mozzarella, a few pieces of fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic. such a great addition to the standard caprese salad! is there anything that isn't made better by an avocado??

04/16 tonight begins my extended vacation!! i am on my way to new york for a long overdue visit to see some of my very favorite people in the world. and my absolute favorite city. i'll be taking a train out of my home town early in the am, so i'm spending the night up at the family compound.

i had dinner tonight with my parents and my sister amy. we went to a nearby italian restaurant: giovanni's. i haven't been here since i was in high school! apparently i had never been on a saturday night, because i have no recollection of the amazing people watching! tonight there was "live entertainment". and by "entertainment" i mean two guys singing along with karaoke tracks and occasionally playing some incredibly 80's style sax. the dance floor was full of elderly locals who were showing off their mad dancing skills. one particularly entertaining octogenarian was "shaking his groove thing" to the level that i was concerned i was witnessing a stroke. i could've sat all night watching the couples "bump and grind" to loungy covers of barry white and elvis presley while drinking their martinis and chiantis.

we actually did have dinner with the show. i had their "chicken joanna". a breaded chicken breast in a white wine reduction sauce served along sautéed onions and peppers. for my starters i had the house salad and seafood bisque. all of the food was good. but no food could have compared to the people watching!!!!

04/17 tonight i dined back in my precious wonderful brooklyn and with my dear friend julia. since i'm in brooklyn that means.........PIZZA!!!!!!  i refuse to engage in the "chicago vs new york" "thick vs thin crust" pizza debates. they are two different animals and cannot be debated because they cannot be compared. that being said, i have a deep and abiding love for that wonderful crisp joy that is....new york style pizza. julia took me to "saraghina's". a quaint little bakery and restaurant near her home. beautiful exposed brick interior, small intimate tables, dim lighting that forces you to squint to read your menu,  chalk board writing on the walls with the specials, waiters that are unnaturally good looking. how i have missed the understated pretentiousness of brooklyn!!!!

they had many intriguing specials on the menu, but i had my heart set on their neapolitan style pizza. brick oven baked crust so thin you could almost see through it. tomato sauce that was bright and fresh. buffalo mozzarella that was bubbly and creamy. spicy cappicola that was salty and crisp. basil that brought everything else together. tears....tears of joy and bliss. i don't know how i stopped myself from eating the entire thing. it was so wonderful!!!

*sigh* this was worth the train ride up

Meals 95-101

04/04 the theme of this week? is EASY. my week is going to be nuts at work. stressful days and working late. so i've scoured my arsenal of recipes for options that are quick and simple, but still delicious and nutritious. starting with one of my personal favorites. cheese ravioli tossed with roasted asparagus and walnuts. the sauce is embarrassingly basic. olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. that's all! top it with a little parmesan? and voila. a meatless monday meal ready to go. for a side i tossed some grape tomatoes with fresh basil and a little balsamic glaze. it's so wonderful when a meal is both palette pleasing, and easy to make!

04/05 i have very fond memories of "taco night" in the landbeck household growing up. admittedly because i used to sneak handfuls of the shredded cheddar my mom would put out as one of the toppings. i laugh when i remember that we used to put ketchup on our tacos instead of salsa. oh silly young children.....why were we so afraid of spice? tonight i made a low carb version of this meal.  instead of tortillas, i made tacos in shells of romaine lettuce leaves. from there i added all the classics that make a taco great! some seasoned lean ground beef. shredded cheddar cheese. diced tomatoes. sour cream. salsa (no ketchup).  scallion. and fresh cilantro. i was most happy with the outcome! all the great flavors of a taco, but much lighter and healthier.

04/06 i seem to be on a "mexican flavors kick" lately. tonight i continued the trend with enchilada meatloaf muffins (yay muffin shaped foods!). i came across this recipe a while ago on pinterest and was of course intrigued. it's mini meatloaf baked in muffin tins! and with a spicy twist. ground turkey, quinoa, veggies, cheese, spices and enchilada sauce. really tasty and full of protein and vitamins. for a side i made a tomato avocado salad. avocados make everything 10x better!

http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2014/03/cheesy-chicken-quinoa-enchilada-meatloaf-muffins/

04/07 i had a sheet of puff pastry (store bought, no judging) in the freezer that needed to be used. so tonight i made a seemingly fancy meal that was actually super easy. salmon en croute. a gorgeous piece of wild caught salmon wrapped in puff pastry with a thin layer of scallion and cream cheese. baked at 400F until the pastry was golden and perfect. for the sides i made some garlic mushrooms and sweet green peas. i was extremely happy with how everything turned out! a bite of the mushrooms with the salmon and pastry? was positively gourmet. and took maybe 10 minutes to throw everything together.

04/08 tonight's meal was a version of "bourbon chicken". you know, the sticky sweet dish you can only find at the food court of most malls?  but a lighter version. chicken breasts marinated in soy sauce, orange juice, cider vinegar and spices left to cook on low in a crock pot. served with brown rice and steamed broccoli.

04/09 meal 100!! only 266 more to go.

somehow i ended up with a half a dozen lemons hanging around my kitchen. so i needed to figure out a way to use them. when life hands you lemons? you make.....flounder francaise with a side of lemon basil spaghetti. flounder isn't the most excited of fishes. but its mild flavor makes an excellent vehicle for sauces that have a stronger flavor (this dish is usually made with chicken for the same reasons). i tried to lighten up the dish by skipping the breading on the fish. it's pan seared in olive oil. and topped with the standard francaise (french style) sauce of white wine, lemon juice and butter. tossed with a handful of parsley and a few capers? the result is slightly bitter and tart. but in a pleasant way, not an overwhelming way. the creamy and garlicky lemon spaghetti on the side nicely balanced the flavors of the fish. i love this pasta! the fresh lemon zest and basil give it a wonderfully refreshing flavor. to complete the plate i made a side of ginger glazed carrots. always one of my favorites!

04/10 holy food coma. tonight we met with a group of friends to try a korean bbq place they recommended. "iron age". all the wonderful flavors of korean bbq, and all the great kpop music of honey pig, but served in an all you can eat fashion like a brazilian steak house. the waiters bring endless amounts of seasoned meat to the grill at the table. pork belly, spare ribs and bulgogi. and lots of it! if you come here? come hungry! and...don't bring a vegetarian. the options are pretty much meat, more meat or even more meat.

Meals 88-94 (and shotguns. and llamas.)

03/28 i spent some of my best "poor and starving artist" years in atlanta. which is a wonderful city to be in if you love to eat! one of the best places my friends and i would go to was neuvo laredo cantina. a hole in the wall mexican place in the middle of an industrial park. and this hole in the wall? had the best damn mexican food i have ever had. period. and that counts the two weeks i spent in mexico. we never waited less than an hour for a table, but we were happy to do so, knowing the fantastic meals that awaited us. this was during my stint as a vegetarian, and my favorite things to order were the mole vegetable enchiladas. if the only purpose my being a vegetarian was to introduce me to this dish? WORTH IT. i still dream about those delicious enchiladas, filled with vegetables and smothered with the thick dark sauce of chilies and chocolate.

that was over a decade ago, and i am still haunted by the memories of this beautiful dish. so tonight i decided to be brave, and try to pay homage to this precious memory. it wasn't quite as good as the original? but it was pretty damn close. enchiladas stuffed with corn, spinach and cheese. a spicy rich mole sauce. a side of avocado and tomato salad with a sprinkling of queso fresco. now i'll be honest. i didn't go full authentic and buy a million different chilies and spend an entire day of cooking to make this sauce. it took some hunting, but i was actually able to find a jar of "dona maria" pre-made mole sauce at a local mercado. it needed a little doctoring. some vegetable broth. some brown sugar. a hint of pureed chipotles. and in the end? i was very pleased with the outcome!

03/29 i had some ham leftover from our easter brunch, so decided to make a modified "chicken cordon bleu" tonight. tenderized chicken breasts stuffed with swiss and ham. rolled and baked with a sauce of dijon, lemon, and a touch of mayonnaise. i didn't bread the chicken (per the standard recipe) but instead put just a hint of parmesan on the outside for texture. a much lighter and lower carb version. and just as tasty! for a side i made cauliflower "muffins" (natch). mashed cauliflower mixed with beaten egg and cheese. baked to create a sort of soufflé. a nice twist on the usual mashed cauliflower i make! and to add a little green to the plate? some simple steamed green beans!

03/30 i saw this recipe for asian stuffed cabbage rolls and knew i had to try it. tony loves asian flavors. tony loves stuffed cabbage rolls. so i figured this was the perfect combination for him! it has all the wonderful flavors of ginger, garlic, scallion and cilantro. and a sauce this is absolutely phenomenal. and so simple. hoison mixed with rice vinegar. i added a bit of thai chili paste for some heat. i will be putting this sauce on everything from now on. sweet, tangy and spicy. what's not to love! here's a copy of the recipe:

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/asian-style-cabbage-rolls/

03/31 a friend of mine who lives overseas was in town tonight, so we had a mini-reunion at one of my all time favorite sushi restaurants. miyagi's. it is hidden in the basement of a strip of offices. you would never think to look for it if you didn't know it was there. i'm actually glad it's so hidden. otherwise i'd never be able to get a seat! their nigiri is always fresh, and their rolls are creative and delicious. we feasted on spicy tuna, yellow tail with avocado, salmon and eel. it was a great evening of catching up and laughing with good friends and great food. and really, is there anything better?

04/01 i'm spending the weekend up at the family compound. my mom just had surgery, and i promised her at christmas that my gift would be stocking her table and freezer with recovery meals! tonight i made my parents a vegetarian version of my stuffed peppers. i replaced my usual brown rice and ground beef with pearl barley and mushrooms. the flavors were earthy and hearty. for sides i made ginger glazed carrots and "smashed" potatoes. the meal was high in fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C and D. All of which should help the body to heal!

04/02 another night of feeding the 'rents! i made a meal that i saw served at an onsen (japanese hot spring) in nagano japan.  salmon with a ginger garlic glazed served with soba noodles. i added some scallion and edamame to bring some green to the plate. a very healthy meal full of all the amino acids, antioxidants and nutrients the body needs to be at it's best! and soba noodles. seriously. i love me some soba noodles.....

sidebar, i haven't spent this entire weekend in the kitchen. i got out this afternoon to spend time with a friend of my dad's who is an amazing firearms instructor. we went to another family friend's home, where he has set up his own private "firing range" to test out some weapons! just to be clear....when i say  "firing range"? this is literally a pile of dirt set up in the back of a llama enclosure. yes. i said llama.  here i am about to shoot a shot gun for the first time, and you can see my wooly peruvian friend milling about in the background. please don't worry, no llamas were injured in the making of this blog. my shoulder though? oof.....that kickback packs a wallop!

the shotgun was fun. but not as fun as the M4...i feel this is a natural look for me.

04/03 we had all the local family over the folks house this afternoon for a belated easter dinner. mom had a ham to serve, and i put out sides of roasted asparagus and macaroni and cheese. it was a beautiful afternoon of wonderful conversation with loved ones!

i have a deep and abiding love for macaroni and cheese. if i had to choose my last meal on earth? it would be mac and cheese. i have made many batches over the years, but my go-to standard recipe remains the same:

Macaroni and Cheese:

1 lb elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)

1 qt milk

8 Tblsp butter (divided 6T/2T)

1/2 c flour

12 oz shredded gruyere cheese

8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 c unseasoned tomato sauce

3 Tblsp sugar

2 c French's Fried Onions

-Heat oven to 375F

-Heat milk in saucepan to steaming NOT boiling.

-Melt 6 Tblsp butter in large pot over medium.  

-Add flour to butter. Turn heat to low and whisk for two minutes.

-Continue whisking flour/butter "roux" and slowly add hot milk. Whisk one minute.

-Turn off heat and add cheeses, and seasonings.

-Add macaroni and stir to coat.

-Pour into 13x9 baking dish.

-Combine fried onions with 2 Tbslp melted butter. Sprinkle on top of macaroni.

-Bake 30-35 minutes.  

***Experiment with different cheese combinations....but always add up to 20 ounces.  I like to use smoked gouda, or bleu. Depends on taste!