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Spice Hunting: Curry Leaves

Thank you - great article, thought I'd venture to curry leaves are essential in most regions of South Asia - certainly in Bengal and Gujarat, as well in Hydrerabad and the North. Very true re: flavoring the oils; it's a completely different flavor from curry powder.

I would warn that the leaves can splatter a lot when put into hot oil, so it's good to be careful at that stage (I'm a total wuss, I usually do it at arms-length and with a towel over my face).

gingerngin at 11:17PM on 08/04/11

The Vegetarian Option: Banjara

Agreed that Banjara is the best on that block. It's seriously worth the subway ride to get up to Murray Hill, where the food is of much better quality.

gingerngin at 9:00PM on 07/07/11

Behind The Scenes At One Girl Cookies

The only reason I am not a daily customer at One Girl is because it closes before I get home from work. The Lucia and the Sadie are favorites - I really loved this ginger one that they had once, which had a really delectable hit of salt. I do wish they did a little bit more with caramel or toffee, but it's a great place if you favor the shortbread type of cookies. . And the inside is really pretty, and the staff has always been very nice.

gingerngin at 2:55PM on 04/06/11

Win Tickets to Housing Works 'A Taste of Home' Celebrity Chef Benefit

April Bloomfield - intense but in a good way.

gingerngin at 10:37PM on 03/16/11

Baristas Have the Best Job in the World

@ Sudenveri: Said like someone who has never had the opportunity to enjoy a good cafe. It's a good thing you're not actually a customer, it probably saves the baristas some serious unpleasantness. Hope you don't dine out either...

I hope that all the baristas out there who work hard (and all those work in service, for that matter) know that they're appreciated and add value.

gingerngin at 1:57PM on 02/07/11

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Win a Chocolate Truffles Box from Gail Ambrosius

The amazing chocolate souffle at La Grenouille; homemade chocolate s'mores with chocolate marshmallows and really good dark chocolate, with the graham crackers dipped in melted chocolate. What, me, overkill? : )

gingerngin at 1:37PM on 02/04/11

Spice Hunting: Kodampuli

We travelled around Kerala and Goa last year, and it's nice to finally find out what made the curries there so distinctive - I think it must be used in a wide range of dishes, as we kept tasting that sour note in so many of the dishes. So good - wish there was more Keralan food here, especially 'cause it was wicked spicy.

gingerngin at 1:49PM on 02/03/11

Best Oxtail Dish in NYC?

Yerba Buena - really great oxtail dish - can't remember the name but it was spicy, tender and rich, and came in a clay terrine. .

gingerngin at 1:33PM on 02/01/11

From Recipes

Cook the Book: Kashmiri Chicken

Mmm, can't wait to get some chicken legs and make this for dinner - looks delicious!

gingerngin at 8:58PM on 01/20/11

Cook the Book: 'Street Food of India'

Pav Bhaji and hot jalebis in Calcutta - it was amazing how the vendor put together this dish on the spot with the simplest of cookware it was so savory and complex.

In Peru, roasted corn and anticuchos - I am not an adventurous meat-eater, but was SO glad I tried them.

gingerngin at 11:55PM on 10/05/10

Cook the Book: 'Canal House Cooking Volume 4: Farm Markets & Gardens'

New Amsterdam Market in Manhattan; the farmer's market on Hudson Street where I work; my parents garden...that basil plant has been provided a lot of deliciousness this summer.

gingerngin at 6:05PM on 08/27/10

what is the best cocoa powder?

I really like Hershey's Special Dark as an all-purpose cocoa (and it makes great hot cocoa). For certain items e.g. homemade Oreo cookies, I have been using Valrhona, which I find more intense. I haven't noticed any difference in the final product in anything but taste, so it doesn't seem to affect any other aspects of baking, with the caveat that my recipes are pretty ordinary.

@lemonfair: thanks for mentioning the King Arthur's (and for the warning!), will have to try it.

gingerngin at 2:15PM on 08/19/10

School Lunch in India

Actually, appearances are deceiving: its really filling and delicious; I . The curry on the lower right hand looks like vegetable shuktho, a kind of dry vegetable curry. The upper right hand side is paneer, a kind of cheese, with peas.

The real advantage is that tiffins don't suffer the fate of so many ham and cheese and PB&J sandwiches: being crushed in one's locker or bookbag, which is a hell of a lot more unappetizing than what's pictured, IMO.

gingerngin at 2:01PM on 08/19/10

Poll: Would You Eat at a 'C' Restaurant?

I know that if you're going to eat out, you may as well accept that most kitchens are far from pristine, and that sanitary practices aren't necessarily followed. I think that for most people it's more the "ick" factor than actually getting sick (though hepatitis is a serious concern for anyone, I guess). There are incidents and practices that one hears about that are beyond disgusting, and there are some restaurants/areas where the smells and general appearance of the visible area are so off-putting that eating there just isn't a possibility. Instinct is probably the best guide...

gingerngin at 2:23PM on 08/10/10

Best Indian in New York

Dosa Place in Queens. Also Amma and Utsav, and Pongal for vegetarian food.

gingerngin at 2:21PM on 08/03/10

Sugar Rush: First Look at Takahachi Bakery

The pastries are good, and authentic, and I like the yuzu macaron. Just a warning: they don't post drink prices and it's kind of expensive - 4.36 for iced tea.

gingerngin at 1:28PM on 07/28/10

Looking For The Best Cholados in Queens

This is awesome. I had no idea these even existed, but I love icy summer treats,and these fit the bill! Does anyone know of a place in Manhattan that makes them? Not that I'm averse to going out to Queens, but I'm hoping for one near work...

gingerngin at 2:03PM on 07/27/10

Solo Celebratory Dinner?

I took the bar last year (NY and NJ - the latter is awful not because it's difficult but because it's 7 essays and therefore 7 hours of nonstop writing.). You should go all out and celebrate - I am female and dine out along quite frequently, and I haven't found a place that makes me feel like I need be with another person; even "romantic" places seem to deal just fine with solo diners. That's very subjective, of course.
One thing that might matter to you is noise level - after the exam, you may not (or may?) want a really boisterous place. In that case, Ssam or Momofuku Noodle Bar might not be great - they can get really loud, and are not great places if you're feeling contemplative.
I'd try WD-50 if you want unique food - on one hand, it might be nice to devote your focus to something aside Commercial Paper, on the other, it might not be great if you think you'll be too tired to enjoy it. Also, Del Posto's tasting menu is fantastic. If you enjoy sushi, the counter at Yasuda would be a great experience. If price is truly, truly no object, Per Se. I've heard good things about Corton, and have really enjoyed Locanda Verde (but noise/groups might be an issue).

Best of luck and have a great time after you finish! And don't forget a timer...I forgot we weren't allowed to have cell phones, and had been planning to use that as my timer. Oops.

gingerngin at 2:00PM on 07/26/10

Cook the Book: 'Farm to Fork'

Cucumber out of our garden in the back. Coconut water, drunk straight out off green coconuts knocked off the tree in Calcutta.

gingerngin at 2:00PM on 07/21/10

Guerrilla Ice Cream: A New Cart With Flavors Inspired by Social Movements

These flavors sound mouthwatering...

gingerngin at 5:46PM on 06/29/10

An Introduction to South African Cuisine

Thank you for this, especially for the links on how to prepare some of the dishes - nothing like see one, do one, teach one : )

gingerngin at 4:48PM on 06/29/10