Serious Eats: coffeeandapieceofpie's Profile

Marcella Hazan's instructions on rolling out pasta by hand have been very helpful to me. It is a specific technique, where you first roll out the dough to a flat round without worrying about how thin it is. Then you gather one edge of the dough and wrap it around your roller, just so the end is tucked under (as if you were to roll the whole piece up on your pin). Next you use your fingertips to roll the pin back and forth, while at the same time exerting pressure on the dough to stretch it out towards the ends of the pin. It sounds awkward, or like chewing gum and walking at the same time, but once you get the hang of it, it works pretty well and is a fairly quick process. Plus, by stretching out the dough in this manner, I have never torn a hole in it, as you might by repeatedly trying to roll it flat. You will have to unroll the pasta sheet, turn it, and roll it again from another angle a couple times in order to get it as thin and even as you want. I found this technique in Hazan's Classic Italian Cook Book, but I am sure it is repeated in some of her other books.

coffeeandapieceofpie at 11:58AM on 08/04/09

From Serious Eats

The 'Veggie Reeltor,' a Broker for Vegetarians in the Bay Area

I'm also a native Palo Altan, and I don't really see how this is emblematic of the hometown I used to know and love--but it has changed immeasurably since I last lived there in 1992. Maybe this qualifies as the the type of service available to the newcomers to the area, who have lots of money and need new ways to spend it. Or maybe it just qualifies as someone trying to find a market niche to fill in a tough market for real estate agents, where there is still a lot of housing stock that is being held off the market until prices go back up. I have seen agents in the East Bay marketing themselves as the dog-friendly agent, though I guess if you're going to stereotype a neighborhood, you would wonder why this vegetarian agent is not working the market in Berkeley.

coffeeandapieceofpie at 1:20PM on 08/03/09

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'Tacos'

My best taco experience was on a fishing boat in the Sea of Cortez. We all took our turn catching a couple fish (don't remember what kind, but it was smallish with white flesh, maybe a type of rockfish), then the guide quickly filleted them, flipping the fish on its side, neatly slicing off one meaty fillet (the fish was still moving at this point), then he flipped the fish over to its other side and sliced off the other. The remains were then flicked back into the water with the tip of the knife. The fillets were quickly dipped in lime juice then fried and placed on a tortilla, and then went straight into our hands with a squeeze bottle of salsa passed around the boat. Incredibly fresh and tasty. This happened ten years ago on a trip to attend a friend's wedding, and I still think back on it, hoping I may get to replicate the experience someday...

coffeeandapieceofpie at 2:52PM on 04/29/09

From Serious Eats

Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' in Chicago Missed the Ramova Grill

There is a link to footage from the Ramova Grill on the show's website--guess they ran out of room on the show.
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/ci.No_Reservations_in_Chicago.show?vgnextfmt=show

coffeeandapieceofpie at 6:58PM on 02/06/09

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'Osteria'

Chili, chicken or turkey pot pie, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, beef stew....

coffeeandapieceofpie at 6:13PM on 02/03/09

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook

I brought one of my favorite salads to an anniversary party for my parents, and everyone was knocked out by my salad. I mean, it was a SALAD. But even the caterers--who grilled the meat and fish, as well as served the rest of food we had prepared--were raving about it. So now I am known for my salads. Some day, I will come up with something more impressive. I do like salad, though.

coffeeandapieceofpie at 7:36PM on 12/22/08

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks

Flatiron

coffeeandapieceofpie at 7:21PM on 12/22/08

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Edible Chocolate Box from Charles Chocolates

I second the chocolate souffle nomination--with some thick whipped cream and/or some raspberry sauce.

coffeeandapieceofpie at 3:19PM on 12/18/08

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Food Giveaway: Russ & Daughters

bagels and lox, dittto

coffeeandapieceofpie at 4:55PM on 12/17/08

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Zingerman's Praise the Lard Gift Box

Picking up a pound of Justin Severino's delicious bacon from Severino's Community Butcher, hauling it back to a cabin in the mountains and frying it up, then constructing The World's Most Perfect BLT with glorious summer tomatoes and inhaling the BLT while sitting on a redwood deck overlooking the San Lorenzo River.

coffeeandapieceofpie at 6:37PM on 12/15/08

From Serious Eats