Buy Nearby

Support your local farmers and buy fresh produce that has been grown close to home. Not only are you supporting your community, but you're food will have less chemicals and you are helping the environment with the reduced transportation pollution.

Find your local farmers markets at this link:

http://www.localharvest.org/

(not too bad of a picture for in a cab using my phone)

Just A Spoon Full Of Sugar

Sometimes accidents create the "sweetest" outcomes.

I was grilling vegetables at a friends' cookout and accidentally put
sugar instead of salt on the peppers. They actually were really
tasty! I still put a little salt, pepper, & olive oil on them.

Yo Quiero Gidget Back

I am saddened today by the news that the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Gidget, died at age 15 of a stroke on Tuesday. He was famous for his saying "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" which means I want Taco Bell.

Taco Bell was my favorite food growing up...I mean obsessed. I would bring it to restaurants with my family. I always ordered a bean burrito and a pinto a cheese w/lots of mild sauce of course.

My friends favorite Taco Bell story of mine:

I was about 8 yrs old and living in Surrey, a suburb about an hour outside London. It was my birthday and all I wanted to do was take the train into the city and go to the only Taco Bell in England. We make the long trip out there. When we arrive, I turn the corner about to pee in my pants from excitement...all I see is an empty building where you could still barely read the washed out letters T A C O B E L L on the facade of the building. I just stood there, looking up at the letters bauling.

Years later I asked my parents if they were cracking up at me crying over Taco Bell. They said they have never felt so bad for me and started calling information to see if there was ANY other Taco Bells in the country...unfortunatly there wasn't. Probably because no other place eats as much crap like fast food as Americans do.

So, here is a video tribute to Gidget, to Taco Bell, and to childhood memories.

Yours foodly,

Toasy Buns

Random Food Facts

• Bananas contain a natural chemical which can make a person happy. This same chemical is in Prozac.
• A hard boiled egg will spin. An uncooked or soft boiled egg will not.
• The average child will eat 1,500 PB&J's by the time he/she graduates high school.
• Real diamonds can be made from Peanut Butter
• To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it's ripe
• Ears of corn always have an even number of rows of kernels
• Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying
• There is more real lemon juice in Lemon Pledge furniture polish than in Country Time Lemonade
• Milk is heavier than cream
• To burn off one M&M you have to walk a full football field length
• Smokers eat more sugar than non-smokers
• The avocado has the most protein of all fruit
• A banana is an herb

Choppin' Shoppin'

My friend, Dien, recommends this sharpener, even for high end knives. Their website looks like an infomercial on crack, but apparently it works...RIP Billy Mays.

http://edgemakerpro.com/productpages.html

Get shoppin' and back to choppin'.

The Grill For The City

In case you don't have enough space or patience for the Weber Performer (previous post), try the Weber Q-140. This electric grill is for outdoor use only but can be plugged in. It's perfect for people that live in the city and runs around $200-$230.

Now get toastin' those buns!

You Think You Know, But You Have NO Idea

Boy do you learn a lot about what you don't know about food around chefs. I was invited over to a friend of a friends apartment for a cookout with chefs. The chefs work at the popular NYC restaurant Jean-Georges and went to the culinary school, CIA.

Among the menu was skirt and hanger steak, corn, potato salad, three bean salad, and pickled ramps. Even though the list sounds pretty traditional, it was the preparation that made it unique. The potato salad had hard boiled eggs and dill in it. The steaks were perfectly cooked and marinated in lemon, olive oil, garlic, and cilantro. They also grilled with lump charcoal instead of charcoal briquettes. Lump charcoal is harder to manage however briquettes tend to contain additives and give an unwanted flavor to the meat.

LUMP (upper)

BRIQUETTES (lower)

The pickled ramps were my favorite, even though I didn't know what they were. Shortly after my 20 questions, I learned a ramp is a wild leek that is only available in the spring season.

Here is a pickled ramp recipe:

http://steamykitchen.com/4241-asian-pickled-wild-leek-ramp-bulbs.html

You don't have to pickle them, but since they are only in season for a short period pickling allows you to enjoy them all year long!

NYC Italian...86 Little Italy

If you are ever in NYC and are looking for good Italian food, please steer clear of tourist infested Little Italy. I swear Mulberry St. has one massive kitchen in the back where they make the same food for all 50 restaurants. If you would rather go to a more affordable place with a local feel and better food, I have listed a few of my favorite spots.

1. Piccolo Angolo- West Village
2. Crispo- Meatpacking
3. Bread- Soho
4. Max's- East Village

I went to Bread in Soho this past Saturday and it was Yum! It is a NY Magazine's Critics Pick. We started with a meat & cheese plate and fried calamari. I went with the meatballs and potatos (pictured) as my main dish, which was the biggest hit. However, I don't think you can go wrong at this spot. We also got multiple bottles of wine and the total bill was only $40 a person with tip.

Restaurant Etiquette

Bringing coffee into a restaurant...Who Cares or Who Dares?

Strain It or Hang It

Went to brunch at Corner Bakery today. The food was good but it was their lighting that impressed me. They used strainers/colanders as light fixtures hung from the ceiling.

If you are feeling crafty this would be cool in a kitchen!

Food For Thought

What kind of food should you serve at a fundraiser?

If you are throwing a fundraiser and trying to decide what food to serve, the magic word is FREE. Go to your neighborhood restaurants and delis and ask if they would help support your cause by donating food. This way you will not have to take the cost out of what you raise. Try and pick items that will last when sitting out for a while.

Last night a group of my friends and I went on a booze cruise to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The organizer got Subway to donate platters of sandwiches and Brother Jimmy's to donate wings. It might have been the 3 hours of drinking and/or the motion of the ocean, but the combination was a hit. They ended up raising over $2,000! I don't think you can go wrong when combining food, friends, booze, charity, and a boat. Check out my statue of liberty picture I took on my phone from the boat...Leslie do you think I could take Joel Grey!?

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

If You Grill It, They Will Come

After much research and input from the Grill Master, my Dad, I settled on the Weber Performer for my first grill. Well I didn't really settle...my parents bought it for me as a housewarming gift. They are the best!

Ladies, this machine is a man magnet. It has a similar effect to when guys spray themselves with Axe or when female students linger outside the law building. If you spray it, linger around it, or grill it...they will come.

I got my name, Toasty Buns, from this grill. Whenever I would be hosting a cookout, I always walked around and asked people if they wanted their buns toasted. Everyone started calling me Toasty Buns.

Now onto the amazing specifics of this grill:

• Uses charcoal but has a gas starter
• Has a bin to hold the charcoal and a bin for the ashes to fall into
• Tabletop to set all your meats, etc. on
• Hinge on the side to put the lid when grilling
• Hooks to put all your utensils

If I had to mention any negatives:

• Expensive at $300-$400 (not including the $50 cover)
• Limited amount of grilling space
• You have to put it together (pretty simple assembly)

Alright, enough salivating...just go out and buy it!

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

Eat Your Age Away

Though I don't typically have time to watch Oprah, I had to turn to it yesterday. Oprah's BFF, Dr. Oz, talked about what we can eat to stay looking young. Here is what he said in a "nut" shell:

• Eat foods high in antioxidents (acai, blueberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, wine) The darker the fruit or vegetable the higher the antioxidents. My berry delicious smoothie recipe found on an older post would be perfect.


• Drink Green or White Tea Preferrably 4 cups a day


• Use Spices (fresh or dried)


• Eat Fiber (Steel cut oatmeal and 100% whole grain bread) 25 grams a day


• Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acids (ground flax seed and walnuts)

Get more details on how to stay wrinkle free - Oprah.com

Traveling Naked

When I am on the road for work and I need a quick snack/meal...I LOVE superfood. It is packed with fruit and 10 turbo-nutrients such as spinach and barley grass. Don't be turned away by its green color; it tastes like a smoothie and it's filling.

My two favorite brands are Odwalla and Naked and you can find them at most rest stops and at Starbucks. It is only 170 calories for 10 fl oz.

In this case, please drink and drive!

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

Expensive Experience

I know we are in a recession, but does anyone have an extra $1400 they would like to give me? You see, The French Culinary Institute is having their 2nd annual New York Culinary Experience on October 3-4th. I would get to spend a weekend learning cooking techniques from some of the worlds most renowned chefs. I promise to whip you up something I learn free of charge if you sponsor me ;).

However, if you would rather be greedy and give yourself this amazing opportunity, you can purchase tickets on their website. Just remember who told you about this when Jean-Georges is whispering sweet culinary nothings into your ear.

It's Not Always A Boat the Food

If you are in Manhattan looking for a place to watch the sunset and enjoy a Corona on a stationary boat, the Frying Pan is the perfect spot. This past Friday was my second time making my way to this docked boat on 26th St. & The Hudson River. Once again it didn't dissapoint. I wouldn't go there for the food as it is mediocre bar food at best. However, it still gets the job done when the munchies kick in after a few cocktails.

A couple recommendations...

1. Get ready to throw some bows to get a seat...first come first serve

2. Order two beer buckets at a time...bar service only

3. Bring dramamine...you are on a boat

4. Bring dancing shoes if you plan to stay past the sunset...the DJ comes out then

iPhone Apps for Foodies

Everyone clogs up their iphones with games, music, and entertainment applications. However, for those of us that prefer a cookbook over facebook or barbecue over sudoku here are some of my favorite food related iPhone apps.

Make reservations on your iphone for multiple restaurants in your area by just the tap of a few buttons. Also, collect points for each reservation and then redeem them for restaurant gift certificates.

Regardless of where you are, the Good Food app will find healthy eating options near your current location. No more forced fast food stops while on the road.

Pick your neighborhood, cuisine, and price point....shake the iPhone...and voila, a restaurant suggestion that meets your criteria. Don't like what they picked?...just give it another shake. You can also read reviews, ratings, and map the location.

Never be caught at the grocery store empty handed again. If they don't have what you are looking for, this app will give you substitute suggestions.




One of my personal favorite apps is called Loseit! You can set and track weight loss goals, log your daily food intake, and even track your workouts.

Blender with a Buzz

I recently purchased The Magic Bullet because a colleague of mine was raving about this little blender. I've had it only a week and have fallen in gadget heaven.

I only can comment on his smoothie making abilities. However, you can do anything from chopping a onion to making an iced frappachino. I refer to it as a "he" because of it's power. I call mine Thomas, like Thomas the Tank Engine!

You can purchase this little engine that could online or in stores for around $45-$60 depending on if you get the kit with multiple attachments (I got the 17 piece set and it's worth it!). The best part is that there is little clean up and no mess.

With or without this gizmo, here is a Toasty Buns' (a.k.a me) original recipe:

Berry Delicious Smoothie

Ingredients: (one serving)

• 5 ice cubes
• 4 large spoonfuls of 0% fat free greek yogurt
• Handful of fresh blueberries
• Palmful of fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup of Peach Juice (I used Tropicana Peach Punch)
• 2 small Splenda packets

Directions:

It's as easy as combine and blend. Add more ice for thicker consistency.

Nutrition:
200-250 calories
Almost no fat

Batali brings Eataly to Manhattan

What isn't Mario Batali dabbling into these days?

His most recent endeavor is opening up an Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in the world, in the Flatiron District of New York City. He is teaming up with the Eataly founder, Oscar Farinetti, and Lidia and Joe Bastianich to bring this 45,000 sqare foot marketplace to Gotham City by Spring 2010. That's 45,000 times larger than my NYC apartment.