lonb

As a food blogger I sometimes get caught up in the excitement of new restaurant openings, which happens enough in NY to always keep you on your toes.  As a result, occasionally the value of writing about old places is overlooked.  What’s more valuable than a tried and true place or product that my family has been eating for almost two decades? I have so many memories of Yeh’s Bakery 5725 Main Street , Flushing , NY 11355 , a no frills Chinese bake shop outside of the main traffic... Read Full Story

Anyone who loves to cook has heard of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) . It is the premier culinary school of the United States and according to Paul Bocuse, “the best culinary school in the world.” What you may not know — I sadly did not — is that it is also the best food-lovers vacation as well! The CIA campus is best described as Hogwarts for chefs: from the buzz of food talk down every hall and corridor, the cathedral ceilings of their dining hall, to the scents that waft in every... Read Full Story

It’s taken a very long time for winter to come this year and I’m not complaining.  However I have been waiting for my noodle soups; they are one of my favorite categories of food. (Have you ever thought about what your favorite food categories are, as opposed to favorite foods?) Credited for getting me through the freezing cold days, I just love wrapping my hands around steamy bowls bigger than my head. I slurp away my chills with Wonton Noodle Soup, Ramen, Pho, any noodle soup, I love them... Read Full Story

Those who know me know that I’m sort of a produce geek: especially after recently winning second place in a produce identification contest at The New York Produce Show . My love of new or exotic fruits and vegetables paid off! We’re always looking to diversify our meals with new items or interesting preparations or just tweaking with new varieties of the recipes we grew up with. Discovering new products happens everywhere including Chinese supermarkets ( Ling Jow , Tatsoi , Korean melons... Read Full Story

Wow, 2011 has been a huge year for us because of one special ingredient: Cayenne . It felt like just yesterday that we were chatting on Twitter about #babymayhem the day I went into labor. Now, she’s already 10 1/2 months old! From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for so much support that day and since. Despite my favorite distraction, I’ve continued to feel included in the wonderful food blogger community and that’s why it’s a truly special group of which I am proud to be part. Caya... Read Full Story

Lon and I headed up to Poughkeepsie, NY for a nearly impromptu press trip this past Sunday. The plan was really to begin our tour on Monday morning and since we wanted to avoid Monday morning traffic we were on our own for Sunday.  We didn’t have super high expectations for restaurants in a small, suburban, not-so-wealthy city, even though Brasserie 292 292 Main Street , Poughkeepsie , NY 12601 was named one of the best new restaurants in Hudson Valley 2011 by Hudson Valley Magazine... Read Full Story

I couldn’t decide what to make for #NYCookieSwap 2011. It’s a big deal with cookie greats like Dorie Greenspan attending! Lon saved the day and came up with an idea I loved: a way to combine three classic cookies that everyone loves. What’s better than your favorite cookie? Three of your favorite cookies in one! It’s a Chocolate Chip Cookie in the center with a ring of Chocolate Cookie around it, with another ring of Peanut Butter Cookie around that. The Bullseye Cookie is a compilation... Read Full Story

Sometimes sous chefs at fancy, expensive restaurants decide to become executive chefs at smaller, more casual restaurants. It’s a choice for life-style and freedom. When it happens, we (the customers) win! We get that same talented chef cooking for us at a fraction of the cost; plus no six-month wait for reservations. Finding these situations are like discovering gems. That’s the story at Fat Goose 125 Wythe Avenue , Brooklyn , NY 11249 , where the atmosphere is warm and understated... Read Full Story

Perhaps I was subconsciously still thinking of that Pumpkin Cider Cocktail . Consciously, however, it hadn’t occurred to me until completing this pumpkin muffin recipe, tasting the muffins a few times, and even editing the photos, that there are notable similarities, yet important differences. One is a cocktail, perfect for an evening affair. The other, a muffin, perfect to start your morning. If you like to use seasonal ingredients, pumpkins and apples are going to dominate right now. And... Read Full Story

A family that foods together stays together… or something.  This is our first year celebrating Halloween with Cayenne and probably the last time (before she starts talking) where we can do whatever we want with her for the dressing up portion.  We took that opportunity to play on her name, and hence you’re a pepper, I’m a pepper wouldn’t you want to be a pepper too? (Cayenne was a pepper). In an ironic twist, she made us: Jessica was Sriracha (she’s Asian) and I was Tabasco (I’m white... Read Full Story