What Eactly is Tofu?

I have always wondered what tofu really is. So, I figured you guys would want to know too. The word "tofu" means bean curd. It is made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks.

Tofu is low in calories and contains a relatively little amount of fat.

Speakeasy Celebration

Emily officially became damaged goods/past her prime/shriveled up yesterday when she turned 26th. Her wonderful and sneaky friends (aka Leslie and I) surprised her with dinner at "must give your right arm to get into" La Esquina in Soho to celebrate. Though hard to get a reservation and hard to find, it is NOT hard to fall in love with this Mexican speakeasy. La Esquina is located underground. You have to go into a diner, downstairs, and through a kitchen before you end up in a warm, cozy, and dark restaurant that is full of people who look like they must be important, but you have know idea who they are. Someone must have been pretty important...MTV was interviewing them at the bar.

I had Emily rank the dishes we got in order of best to worst. She did so reluctantly as she said, quote "It's as if you are asking me to compare Miu Miu to Jimmy Choo or Balenciaga to Gucci; they are all so different yet so amazing." Well said Em!

Emily's Ranking:

1. Chicken Tostadas

2. Tuna Tostadas

3. Plantains

4. Steak Tacos

5. Chocolate lava cake

*Personally, I liked the tuna over the chicken and the lava cake over the steak tacos. I give it two toasted buns!

Leslie, Emily, and I left La Esquina comfortably full, extremely satisfied, and with a clear vision that we were not half as cool as everyone in the restaurant. However, we walked back through that kitchen and out of the diner with our heads held high and our bellies low and onto the next out of our league destination...230 Fifth rooftop bar.

Frank's Last Column

My friend Bennett teed up this post perfectly, so I will let the email he sent me speak for itself.

"Hey Laur,

I don’t know if you know, but Frank Bruni, the famous food critic from the NYTimes is stepping down as food critic and wrote his last column yesterday. He answers questions he’s never had a chance to address and gives some final suggestions of his favorite meals and restaurants. Thought you would be interested…"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/reviews/26rest.html?_r=1&ref=dining

This is my favorite segment of Frank's last column:

IS THERE ANY BEST, SAFEST WAY TO NAVIGATE A MENU?
Scratch off the appetizers and entrees that are most like dishes you’ve seen in many other restaurants, because they represent this one at its most dutiful, conservative and profit-minded. The chef’s heart isn’t in them.

Scratch off the dishes that look the most aggressively fanciful. The chef’s vanity — possibly too much of it — spawned these.

Then scratch off anything that mentions truffle oil.

Choose among the remaining dishes.

Thanks to my wonderful friends who keep me in the loop on the latest foodie news!

Yours foodly,
Toasty Buns

Guac Off

While in San Fran I stumbled upon this book which must have been made for me. It consists of two of my favorite things, guacamole and competition. Guac Off has 30 guac recipes and teaches you how to start you own guacamole competition. I can't wait to give the recipes a try. Get ready friends, I could be organizing a little guac competition of my own!

On a side note, when googling "Guac Off" to find out more about the book, the top website that came up was http://www.guacoff.org/. I can't believe I never knew about this. Too bad I missed this years competition. However, I have 9 months to perfect a guac recipe!

Toasty Tip: When picking a ripe avocado, look for ones that are dark green or a brownish color. Then, press you thumb gently into the avocado and make sure it gives. Also, make sure there aren't any air pockets where the skin has separated from the inside, as those tend to create mold pockets. Ripe avocados will only last about a day or two, so pick greener ones if you will not be using it right away.

Boardwalk Binge Eating

I experienced my first trip to the Jersey Shore this weekend...destination Ocean City, NJ! I thought I was in for a weekend of fist pumping, binge drinking, and muscle shirts. Not that there's anything wrong with that. However, to my surprise it was the perfect mix of pizza, catch phrase, ladder golf, drinking, relaxing, and getting to know new people.

After two days of replacing physical activity with sangria and bud heavy, we thought it would be a great idea to top it off with a Gastro Tour. This was our made up word for trying anything and everything edible on the boardwalk. Step in my sandals as I walk you through our boardwalk binge eating Gastro Tour.

STOP 1: Mack & Manco's Pizza

So delicious even the flying rats couldn't get enough

STOP 2: Curly's Fries

All you need is a little ketchup

STOP 3: Fried Oreos

Can't go wrong...anything fried is "phenomenal"

STOP 4: Rita's

Layeres of custard and flavored water ice

STOP 5: Hospital

For a stomach pump

Aside from my new muffin top I wouldn't take anything back. I recommend everyone partake in a Gastro Tour at some point in their life!

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

My First Meal

I set a goal for myself to cook more and experiment with food in my new apartment. Enough talking...the walk has begun! My first meal consisted of grilled chicken, summer squash, and brussel sprouts. Simple, easy, delicious.

A Toasty Tip: Only dress the veggies with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Cook the summer squash in a skillet on low with a lid on top for 10 minutes to get them nice and soft.

Plane Food Ain't So "Plain" Anymore

I could not sleep on the plane home from LA, so I splurged $5 of my companies money for Delta's "travel treats". At first, I was hesitant about the non-refrigerated salami and cheese. However, with some Top Chef Masters and a little chair reclining all my worries seemed to fade away. Half way through my Milano cookie, I realized I was actually enjoying my box of goodies. Next Delta flight I am going for the "flight delights" box with hummus and pita chips...yum!

Call me crazy, but the day after I got home from LA, I turned right around and headed back West to San Fran to visit a friend. As I was boarding my third 5hr flight in three days, I knew I had to go straight for the good stuff....mojitos. I was on vacation after all. Virgin America is the way to travel. Aside from the purple mood lighting, the ability to create your own music playlist, and chatting on your TV with people in other seats, you also order your food from your TV. Richard Branson knows what's up.

In-N-Out Burger...How Does It Measure Up?

One cannot make a trip out to the West Coast without giving this much talked about burger joint a try. Even though I was in LA for work, I easily convinced my collegues to join me for my fast food feast. My first philosopy on where their name "In-N-Out Burger" came from, was that their food is so cheap it goes right in...and right out, if you know what I mean. My whole meal with a vanilla milkshake was only $7. Not to shabby for a fast food restaurant that has been compared to 5 Guys where a burger and fries costs around $12. It seems that my second philosophy was correct...it's fast food...you're in-n-out with your burger faster than you can look up their "secret menu" on your iphone.

I heard about In-N-Out's "secret menu" (well not so secret anymore, but they still don't post it at their locations) but shied away from getting the animal fries (w/cheese, bacon, & secret sauce). My waist line says thank you.

I have to be honest and say that I prefer 5 Guys to In-N-Out. However, for the price I think it's pretty darn fantastic. Oh, and not to mention, they toast their buns!!! On a side note, I am not sure if I will ever find a fast food burger place better than Braums, which I will blog about on another day.

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

Thanks to Lisa

My friends and I were lucky enough to be invited to the Weissler's home in Waccabuc, NY this past Saturday. Whenever I hop on the Metro-North train bound for the Katonah stop, I start getting butterflies in my stomach. You would think it's because I am about to get my own room in the guest house, or the freedom to play tennis without making a reservation, or listening to Frank Sinatra while lounging by the pool. However, the butterflies come from the fact that I skipped breakfast to save up for the mouth watering food that I am about to receive. Lisa is the personal chef for the Weissler's (grandparents of my friend Daryn in picture). Typically, I over stuff my face with her delightful dishes and let it marinate in my tummy while bobbing on a noodle right before I kick Brett's butt in tennis. This time I decided to pick Lisa's brain on her "can't live without" kitchen gadgets and two recipes from my favorite items she made that day.

THANKS LISA!!!

BREAD STICKS

"One Is Never Enough" Bread Sticks:

(makes 12 bread sticks)

1 lb Pizza Dough
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Oregano chopped
1 Tbsp Rosemary chopped
1 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 1/2 tsp Pepper
1 1/2 tsp Granulated Garlic

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients aside from dough in a bowl. Roll dough flat and brush herbs and oil mixture on top. Cut dough into 1/2 inch strips (easiest with ravioli or pizza roller). Pick up both ends of a strip and twist...repeat with other strips. Place on baking sheet with parchment paper so they don't stick. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Make sure to rotate pan a few times during baking.

ICED TEA

Too Easy Tea:

Crystal Light iced tea powder mix with lemon
Orange Juice (pulp free) or frozen orange juice
Water

Directions:

For whatever amount of crystal light mix you decide to make, add 1/3 the amount of regular or frozen orange juice. Add ice and an orange slice and serve; that's it!


Aside from the usual tongs, baking sheets, etc. that are kitchen staples, Lisa can't live without the culinary gadgets shown above. You can get most of these items at any kitchen supply store.

Listed from left to right:

High temp spatula- will not melt when left in a hot pot or pan
Madeline- slices vegetables with ease
Pepper grinder- used in most dishes
Olive Pitter- takes the seeds out of olives
Peeler- no explanation needed
Round cutters- cuts pizza, cake, cookie dough into various round shapes
Reamer- releases the juice out of lemons, limes, oranges, etc.
Microplane- grates Parmesan, garlic, zests lemons

Bottles are for Babies

Before you judge me on blogging about boxed wine...put a cork in!

My ex roommate Emily introduced me to this boxed beverage. Three Thieves has created lightweight, portable, eco-smart cartons of wine and sangria called Bandit. The money they save on glass and cork they put towards making a better quality wine. The wine comes from various regions in California and each small 500ml carton (equivalent to 2/3 bottle of wine) runs about $7. You should be able to find them at most local wine stores. Plus, they're perfect to bring to the park for a picnic.

Bandit was recently featured on O Magazine!