It's getting to the time of year when I like to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. I love books with great scenes that revolve around food, even ones that aren't billed as food novels. "The Time-Traveller's Wife," for example, is not a food novel, but it has some delicious food scenes. So what are your favorites? I'm always looking for recommendations.
Where can I find a Japanese restaurant that serves katsudon in Boston? There seems to be no shortage of sushi places, but Google has failed me when it comes to fried pork cutlet over rice.
I'll bet it would make for really interesting roast chicken, served with a cucumber and yogurt sauce on the side.
I make fresh pasta regularly, using a hand-cranked machine. As long as you're not making stuffed pasta, it's about as time-consuming as baking a cake.
I like polenta with cheese and poached eggs on bad days, but on days when I've run out of even the energy to cook, it has to be a giant bowl of plain pasta with a terrifying quantity of melted cheese.
Penne alla vodka. It's incredibly simple, but people are always impressed.
I'm with brooke29 - have yet to encounter any sausage I've disliked. I particularly like the more unusual varieties like andouillette (tripe sausage) and boudin noir (blood sausage).
Can I have multiple courses? Give me a bowl of mixed olives and some freshly grilled sardines to start. Then I'll take a mile-high sandwich on good Italian bread, spread with pesto and stuffed with roasted peppers and onions, grilled zucchini and eggplant, thick slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella, and paper-thin slices of prosciutto. Raspberries and cream for dessert. I'd also like a nice Chianti to go with the meal, and espresso to finish.
I was there in February with my sister on a Saturday afternoon. It was crowded and there was a queue out the door, but service was quick and attentive. We had chopped liver, pastrami, matzo ball soup, and fries. The fries were pretty terrible, but everything else was great.
I love pasta with tinned sardines, capers and lemon zest.
I use it on pizza instead of oregano, on salads with some olive oil as dressing, as a marinade for chicken, on eggs, on hummus... i like the focaccia idea. With some sliced tomatoes? Yum.
Oh, I love zataar! Here's a bread that's bursting with flavor. I tried it with focaccia dough for the base, but you could use anything bready.
http://noteatingoutinny.com/2008/03/10/zataar-bread-with-feta-and-parsley/
I also sprinkle zataar on fried eggs.
dip warm pita in olive oil and then za'taar, for a quick breakfast or snack or with a larger meal.
i like to spread labneh (thick yogurt cheese) over a pita, then drizzle with olive oil and za'taar.
i bet it would be good as a rub/crust for fish or chicken too.
Zataar is amazing in salad! Use it with sumac, olive oil, and lemon juice. Sooo good.
yum!! Thanks everybody for your recommendations!
I did a google search with Zataar's 500 or so spellings and came with some others too.
sprinked over oven roasted baby carrots & potatoes, sliced baby tomatoes stuffed w/ goat cheese, and zataar roasted almonds- so excited now about my new bag of zataar!
I live in Florida, and we don't have many really frigid days here. But when the mercury dips, a large bowl of well seasoned chili, with a side order of French bread with minced garlic, butter, and mozzarella... will usually give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
i love sardines right out of the can. i eat one can everyday and i savor it.
delicately picking out the bone and eating bite by slow bite... i practically lick the can.
i've discovered that in order to get good sardines you've got to pay for them. the cheap ones have more of a fishiness that i don't like. i buy norwegian brislings. mediterranean style is my favorite. i've discovered that everyday i actually feel better after i eat them. they really help me stay alert for the rest of the day. i felt an instance high after the first time i ate them, so i've been hooked every since.
i've tried doing recipes and mixing them in salads but honestly, i love em plain and that's how i only eat them from now on.
Ramen w/kim chee
Mashed potatoes in a sea of gravy
Fried egg sandwiches
Spaghetti-o's (shut up!)
Chocoalte cake with chocolate frosting. Vegetable pizza, meatloaf (not in the same meal). However, if i'm really unhappy, I seek the company of my ragdoll cat, Nermal, who often shares my comfort food. He prefers meatloaf.
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Website: http://basilqueen.blogspot.com
Location: Boston, MA
About: An unhappy law student, unabashed glutton, and aspiring chef, Adele is an avid reader of food blogs who started her own as a way to procrastinate during class.
Favorite foods: Will eat almost anything - the line is currently drawn at balut. Would really rather not eat peanut butter, tempeh, or seitan unless absolutely necessary.
Last bite on earth: Fugu.