Grilled Lobster (WARNING: graphic content)

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, beverages, Boston, celebrations, fish, herbs and spices, insects, lactose free, New York, recipe, seafood, snacks

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I’m in Cape Cod for the week and it’s a tradition to make lobster rolls and take them to the beach (along with a bottle of rosé and some Cape Cod chips). This year, we decided to grill the fresh lobster instead of boiling it.

Even though lobsters don’t have a central nervous system or central cortex (and are unlikely to register pain), I plunged a sharp knife between its eyes in order to kill the lobster quickly and humanely. After the jump, you will see some very GRAPHIC IMAGES of the butchering of the fresh lobster, along with a recipe… CLICK HERE FOR GRAPHIC LOBSTER PHOTOS

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2013 Balut Eating Contest in NYC

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by dark locks in allium, American, Asian, bucket list, celebrations, Filipino, herbs and spices, Malaysian, meat, New York, snacks, Williamsburg

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The 2013 Balut Eating Contest will be held at the Hester Street Fair on August 3, 2013. The contest is run by the awesome people at Maharlika. I came in second place last year and I am so honored to have been invited back again this year!

Balut eggs are delicious fertilized duck eggs that are cooked and eaten with salt and vinegar. If you’re lucky sometimes you will find a bit of beak, bones, and feathers! This year I am going to bring a little garlic and chili, if they allow condiments again like they did last year.

(images via All That Shnazz and NYC loves NYC)

Cowgirl Creamery Contest

30 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, California, celebrations, cheese, dairy, goat milk, herbs and spices, New York, organic, snacks, Uncategorized

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Some of my absolute favorite artisan cheeses are made by Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes, California. You can find these excellent cheeses in New York City at almost every Whole Foods location.

A few weeks ago I entered a contest on the creamery’s Facebook page to win some of their cheeses! I had to submit a video of myself singing a song about cheese to the tune of Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics.

It goes like this: “Sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am I to diss a Brie? I cheddar the world and the feta cheese, everybody’s looking for Stilton.”

Here is my video:

I guess people on Facebook liked the video because I just found out that I won the contest! I am so excited to try the cheeses that they’re going to send! I will post pictures of the package when it arrives!

Thanks, Cowgirl Creamery!

Chapulines

22 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in allium, American, autochthonous, BBQ, celebrations, education, foraging, herbs and spices, insects, lactose free, meat, Mexican, Queens, snacks, spicy

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Chapulines are a variety of grasshopper commonly eaten in some parts of Mexico. They are typically fried on a comal with garlic, lime juice, and salt flavored with agave worm extract. This tangy, aromatic snack can occasionally be found at delis and groceries in Corona, Queens.

I was able to sample some excellent chapulines this week when a student brought them in to share with the class. I expected them to be crispy but they were definitely of the juicy side, especially the plump abdomens.

First Look Inside M. Wells Steak House

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, Brooklyn, bucket list, celebrations, education, fish, French, herbs and spices, Japanese, Korean, meat, New York, Québécois, Queens, seafood, snacks, urban, Williamsburg

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Here is a first look at the new M. Wells Steak House in LIC! Is that the cement trout trough there on the left?

matcha green tea Kit Kats and Crunch bars at Mitsuwa

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, Asian, bakeries, celebrations, chocolate, dairy, herbs and spices, Japanese, New Jersey, sweets, tea, wagashi

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Mitsuwa in New Jersey is the largest Japanese grocery store in the United States. They have an amazing food court that includes ramen, tempura, soba, and gyoza shops. You can also find incredible wagashi at the Minamoto Kitchoan counter.

The summer Umaimono food festival vendors are starting to set up inside Mitsuwa and one of the first ones I saw was this matcha green tea frozen yogurt stand. There is one combo that includes a mini slice of matcha cheesecake!

If you walk down the candy aisle, you will find a giant wall of green tea Crunch bars and Kit Kats!

Mamak

15 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in Asian, BBQ, bucket list, celebrations, fish, halal, herbs and spices, Malaysian, meat, New York, Queens, seafood, snacks, spicy, urban

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I had one of the top ten meals of my entire life last night at Mamak, a brand new Malaysian restaurant that serves authentic Penang style halal cuisine! It’s the only place in New York City that exclusively features this delectably complex culinary tradition on their menu.

Mamak is a colloquial term used in Malaysia to refer to Tamil Muslims who operate roadside food stalls, mamak stalls. Above is the udang nasi kandar, a generous portion of succulent shrimp with a spicy mamak style sauce.

Murtabak is a stuffed and folded savory crêpe. The name comes from the Arabic word “مطبق” (folded). At Mamak murtabak is stuffed with minced beef and egg, and served with pickled red onions. We were blown away by the subtly complex flavors of the beef inside. There was definitely a hint of cumin — and maybe aniseed, clove, coriander, and cinnamon?

You must try the lamb satay. The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth! Cubes of rice, cucumber, and red onion are served on the side, along with a bit of the most delicious peanut sauce I have ever tasted!

We got to meet the amazing owner and chef, Nani Yusof Hughie! Thank you, Nani, for such amazing meal! We will be back soon!

Mamak
35-20 Farrington
Flushing NY 11355
(718) 886-4828

chorizo caramel ice cream at OddFellows

10 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, dairy, herbs and spices, ibérico, ice cream, New York, snacks, Spanish, spicy, sweets, urban, Williamsburg

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OddFellows Ice Cream Co. is serving chorizo caramel ice cream! The smoky chorizo flavor isn’t immediately present but after you let it melt in your mouth a bit, it is unmistakable! Maybe they’ll come up with calamares en su tinta with fudge like Heladería Islandia in Xixón!

Victory Garden’s herbal ice cream

10 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by dark locks in American, bakeries, beverages, chocolate, dairy, French, fruit, goat milk, herbs and spices, New York, snacks, sweets

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I just had the best ice cream of my life at Victory Garden! Their goat’s milk herbal ice cream (shown below) and their chocolate rosemary blend were both incredibly delicious, it was like a dream come true! I added cacao nibs, my favorite ice cream topping. They have other toppings, too, like mastic wafers and honeycomb candy.

Victory Garden
31 Carmine
New York NY 10014