Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Happy Hump Day!

(Sorry for the delay in posts - I've had a lot going on lately. Trying to get everything ready for this move, work has been extraordinarily busy, and also my dad's had some health issues as of late and has been in the hospital since the weekend. He's doing better now but please say a prayer for him!)

Some of the best things in life are also the most simple. Take, for instance, last night's dinner: roasted (whole) chicken, macaroni and cheese and peas. Nothing fancy, but it does take skill, and when prepared correctly, it's one of my all-time favorite meals. There's just something enticing about  the smell of homemade roast chicken, not to mention it's the best comfort food ever, in my opinion. Additionally, a good roasted chicken doesn't take much for it to be delicious. This one in particular was only seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and sage. Sage is KEY when making chicken - the two were just meant to be together! The skin was still crispy in some areas and had soaked up all the flavors of the spices and the chicken fat. The meat itself was tender and juicy (I think I've mentioned before that we prefer dark meat, which is why I love duck so much - it's basically all dark meat), and you could taste the flavors of the juices from the pan. My mouth is literally watering right now as I'm remembering it... mmm... moving on!

As for side dishes, we chose fairly easy ones, as well - macaroni and cheese and tiny green peas. (No, I did not intend for that to rhyme, it just happened.) Normally we go all out with our mac and cheese - I make mine the REAL way, making a roux by sauteéing onions with butter and flour, then adding milk and cheese to make the sauce. I like to use white cheese that melts easily, like Monterey Jack or mozzerella, sometimes with some Colby Jack. Occasionally I'll add breadcrumbs and pop it in the oven to brown the top and bake it all the way through. This was your basic kind that comes in a box, but it was (almost) as good. Mac and cheese is another great comfort food - how can you go wrong with pasta and cheese sauce? I'll tell you - you can't.

We only started eating a lot of peas within the last few years, but they've become a staple in our house. Baby back ribs? Have some peas with 'em. Fried chicken? How about a side of peas? They're easy to make and are a fun, tasty vegetable. They just need a little butter, salt and pepper, and they're good to go. The key is to not overcook them. If you buy the frozen peas (like we do), you only need to boil them long enough so that they thaw out, since you're going to put them back in the pot when you add your butter and spices. Of course, you can vary your seasonings if you would like, depending on your taste and preferences. Peas are pretty hard to mess up! We like the tiny green peas, which are smaller and slightly sweeter than normal peas. Personally, this was my favorite part of the meal. Everything was fabulous, of course, but for some reason the peas really hit home that night.

The quote I'll leave you with today is by Julia Child: "(But) my favorite dish remained the basic roast chicken. What a deceptively simple dish. I had come to believe that one can judge the quality of a cook by his or her roast chicken. Above all, it should taste like chicken: it should be so good that even a perfectly simple, buttery roast should be a delight." 

I believe that to be true. Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Soft Shell Crab, Eel Sauce & Duck: A Few of my Favorite Things @ The Bento Box

Happy Sunday!!!

Hope you are all doing well today! I know that I am extremely glad it's the weekend! In keeping with my Asian theme from Thursday I thought I'd write about another of my favorite local restaurants, The Bento Box. It's a sushi restaurant that opened several years ago but just underwent a makeover (and a short move) within the past few years. We've been going ever since it first opened and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is very modern and zen, the food is fantastic and the service is always exceptional. I don't go as often as I'd like, as it's not particularly close to where I live or work, but each time I've gone I've always left satisfied. My most recent visit was over the summer, when I went with my mom and Chris.

Duck Confit Spring Rolls

As I've mentioned before, if a restaurant has duck on their menu, I will always order it, regardless how it is served. As soon as I saw that they had duck spring rolls listed as an appetizer I knew we had to get some. They come filled with duck confit, Thai chili, roasted garlic, cilantro and hoisin sauce, and served with a mango-meyer lemon relish. If you're not familiar with confit, I'll go ahead and tell you that it is the most juicy and savory way to serve meat (normally poultry, like goose or duck). The meat (usually served from the leg) is cooked slowly in grease, oil, fat or sugar water at a lower temperature than what is used when deep-frying. The result is absolutely incredible, and these spring rolls were no exception. They were fried perfectly - very lightly, and the duck combined with the herbs and other ingredients melded beautifully. I was slighgtly hesitant about the relish, because, personally, I wouldn't pair lemon with duck, but the mango sweetened up the lemon flavor and complemented the duck very nicely. The only other appetizer I had ordered here before was the tuna tartare (which I also highly recommend) but these spring rolls were equally as delicious. Definitely a promising start!

Garden Spider

The Bento Box is famous for its sushi, so choosing which roll to order is always difficult. This time, I went with the Garden Spider, which is an inside-out roll (meaning the rice is on the outside of the roll rather than the inside), consisting of soft shell crab tempura, shredded carrots and cucumber, topped with tempura crumbles, scallions, masago (fish roe, or eggs) and a spicy honey glaze. I have had Spider rolls before - generally, they have tempura soft shell crab, of which I am a huge fan. This particular Spider roll was fantastic. The crab was crispy and flavorful, the veggies were fresh and the glaze drizzled on top was phenomenal. If you have never eaten fish roe, I suggest that you try it at least once in your lifetime. The texture is surprising - the tiny eggs are firmer than you'd expect and burst in your mouth when you bite into them. I prefer the red or orange roe over the black (caviar); it's not as salty, and the flavor seems slightly less fishy. Every bite of this roll was spectacular, but my favorite part was the glaze. Equally spicy and sweet, it complemented the crab perfectly. Believe me when I say that every bite was savored.

Katsu

     Chris ordered the Katsu roll, which had eel, salmon, asparagus and cream cheese, rolled in panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs) and flash fried topped with eel sauce and scallions. We are both big fans of eel and eel sauce in sushi - they add an extra savoriness to it, and really aren't as fishy as you might think. Flash frying the roll gave it a nice, crunchy exterior texture and warmed the cream cheese just enough so that it had a soft, velvety feel. Salmon, asparagus and cream cheese are some of the most popular items combined in sushi for a reason - these three elements go extremely well together. Between the Duck Spring Rolls, the Garden Spider and the Katsu rolls, we were all quite pleased with the outcome of our lunch choices. 

I'll leave you with a quote today from Virginia Woolf: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

#TBT - Date Night @ Indochine

Happy Thursday!

Since I just did a "Throwback Tuesday" blog, I thought I would continue the theme by posting a "Throwback Thursday" one as well. I also wanted to write about my favorite restaurant in Wilmington, Indochine, and the one I will miss the most when I move. I know there are a plethora of excellent Asian restaurants in the Charlotte area, and I am definitely looking forward to trying all of them, but this one will always have a special place in my heart. Ask anyone who lives here what their favorite Asian restaurant is, and I guarantee that at least 85% of them will give the same answer - Indochine. I remember when it first opened and went with my parents - we knew it would be a hit from our very first visit, and it certainly has. It has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and has been given numerous awards by Encore, one of our local publications. Everything on their menu is equally delicious, from their sushi to their calamari to their curry dishes, and everything in between. I am going to write about my most recent experience from earlier this year, when Chris and I went for a (much-needed) date night.

Red Lotus Martini

The first thing I need to mention is Indochine's atmosphere. It is the most beautiful restaurant I have EVER been in, and I'm no stranger to nice restaurants! When you step inside, you feel as though you've been transported to a palace in Southeast Asia - it's decorated to the nines with paintings, artifacts and artwork. The best part is that they have an outside patio with secluded Thai huts around the central lotus pond, so you can sit outside when it's warm and feel like you're in zen garden. (You can see photos of both the exterior and the interior on their website here.) It was voted Encore's Best Asian and Best Atmosphere for 10 years in a row for a reason! Something else I want to acknowledge is that I've always had exceptional service each time I've visited. The servers are extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, which, after waiting tables myself for over a decade, I appreciate. Additionally, the waitresses wear Asian-inspired dresses, which adds to the overall ambiance quite nicely. 

We went on a Friday night in February, and the restaurant had little lights hung everywhere, giving it a magical feeling. It was warm inside, and busy, too, which isn't unusual - they're always packed. Since there was a wait, we decided to get some cocktails and relax until our table was ready. As I've mentioned before, we don't drink alcohol much anymore, but they have a great wine list as well as some amazing signature drinks, and it WAS a date, after all! I ordered the Red Lotus martini (see above). It contains raspberry vodka, pomegranate liquor, triple sec, cranberry, and fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juices. It was an absolutely beautiful drink (as you can see in the picture), in addition to being delicious. It was definitely strong, especially with the three different liquors, but the alcohol itself wasn't too overpowering. I squeezed the orange slice into the martini and the result was a sweet and tangy drink that I would definitely order again. (As an added bonus, I kept the decorative flower that was served with it to remember that night!) Chris ordered a Tsingtao, which is his usual order at Asian restaurants. If you've never heard of it, Tsingtao is a Chinese pilsner-style lager with a nutty, sweet taste that complements spicy and Asian food perfectly. We took our drinks outside to enjoy the crisp air and the beautiful surroundings while we waited. 

Hokkien Hot Noodles

I order the same few things whenever I go to Indochine - I know I should be more adventurous, but it's hard when I find something I really like.  The Hokkien Hot Noodles are definitely one of my favorites (see above). I have probably ordered this more times than anything else on this menu, and each time it's better than the last. This dish consists of yellow and rice noodles mixed with shrimp, chicken, pork, squid, bean sprouts, eggs, and green and caramelized onions. Everything is tossed together in a wok in a sweet and spicy sauce, and it is just outstanding. I can't even describe the multitude of flavors you get in each bite! The noodles are chewy and go perfectly with the other ingredients, and the sauce isn't too heavy where it overwhelms the other flavors. You can have them make it as spicy as you want, but I generally order it medium, so you get the heat without it being unbearable. Whenever I order this dish it's always chock full of both meat and veggies, and I always have enough to take home as leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, this dish is definitely one that is even better the second day, after the flavors have had more time to sit and develop. 

Chris ordered another of their specialty dishes, the Imperial Pineapple Rice. I don't have a picture of his meal, but I definitely feel that it is worth mentioning. I don't typically order rice at Asian restaurants (I prefer noodle dishes), but this was unlike any other that I've eaten. Shrimp, chicken, pork and Chinese sausage are stir-fried with eggs, peanuts, cashews, yellow beans, edamame, pineapple and mushrooms, and then all the ingredients are added to the rice. I can't even begin to describe the aroma and flavors you get as soon as the plate is set in front of you.  As for the flavor, well, suffice it to say that it is the epitome of umami. The sausage is salty and spicy, and adds a great contrast to the nuts and proteins. The pineapple sweetens and brightens up the dish as a whole, and the result is absolutely incredible. This was the first time we had ever tried it (one of my colleague's girlfriends suggested it), and we were pleasantly surprised. 

All of their entrees are of decent size, and we both had plenty of food to take home and eat the following day. One of my biggest issues with taking food home is that, more often than not, when re-heated, the food tends to dry out in the microwave. I've already mentioned how satisfying my noodles were, and the Imperial Rice was just as good. Both were still extremely flavorful, and luckily, their respective sauces prevented both dishes from becoming too dry. Chris and I have both discussed ordering these two dishes again before we move; we know that whatever we get will be just as wonderful whether we choose to dine in or take it home. Five stars all around for Indochine - keep up the spectacular work!

The quote I'll leave you with today is from J.R.R. Tolkien: "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

Couldn't agree more. :)

#TBT - Summer 2015 - The Jersey Shore

Shark River Inlet - July 2015

In honor of "Throwback Tuesday," I thought I'd blog about my fabulous vacation to the Jersey Shore. I traveled up there with Chris, my mom and my aunt for a family get-together and had the most amazing time. I used to love to visit when I was younger (my grandparents used to live there) but I hadn't been in about 15 years or so, and it was so much better than I had remembered. We went in mid-July, which is usually miserable here in Wilmington, but the weather up there was positively incredible. Sunny and warm during the day, but without the stifling humidity you get here in the South, and cooler in the evenings with a wonderful ocean breeze. The best part about the trip, as with any vacation, was eating at some of the best local restaurants. Below are some of the highlights.

Thursday - Lobster Night at The Columns

We drove up on a Thursday - left Wilmington at 7 that morning and didn't get to Avon until around 5:30... it was a really long drive! We checked into the hotel and immediately went in search of food. My aunt was staying at a hotel that was a block from the beach and right beside The Columns. I had heard numerous stories over the years about that place from my whole family, especially my uncles (suffice it to say that they were frequent patrons). Upon arriving, we learned that Thursday night is Lobster Night - talk about being in the right place at the right time! We wanted to sit outside, as it was a gorgeous night, but there was a 45-minute wait, so we decided to sit in the Grill Room, instead - that way we could order the lobster as well as items from the raw bar. We ordered whole steamed lobsters, raw and steamed oysters and clams, seafood bisque and chicken Caesar salads. Everything was perfect, especially after being cooped up in the car for 11 hours!

I had never had whole, steamed lobster before, and let me tell you, it was quite a treat! As you can see in the first picture, they were quite large, and served with real butter (a must-have when eating lobster). It was cooked perfectly, for exactly the right length of time. You can tell if lobster (or crab) is cooked properly by how tender the meat is, and how easily it comes out of the shell. These were absolutely divine. The bisque was another highlight (unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it). It was chock full of various types of seafood and potatoes, and was extremely flavorful. One of the best bisques I've ever had, especially out of a paper cup! The chicken Caesar salad was very tasty, and was, strangely enough, more expensive than the lobster! I am very particular about Caesar dressings, but this one had just the right amount of tang. You could also taste the anchovies in it, but they didn't overpower the dressing itself, which was nice. The oysters and clams were also superb, and paired quite nicely with the white wine I had chosen. Overall, the entire meal was outstanding, the atmosphere was relaxed and lively, and it was the perfect way to start the trip.

Belmar Bagel Cafe - Best Bagels at the Beach!

Some of the best things about visiting anywhere up North are the breads and pastries. Friday morning we went in search of "real" bagels before heading to the beach. We found the Belmar Bagel Cafe nestled beside a used bookstore, in what I suppose could be considered a strip mall in (you guessed it!) Belmar. My parents lived in Belmar when they were first married so my mom was familiar with the area, but not this particular joint. As you can see from the exterior, it was bright and colorful, and had a carefree, beach-like vibe. I ordered an everything egg bagel with veggie cream cheese (as did Chris) and my mom got the same bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers and red onions. I didn't photograph the bagel itself because I was starving, and it looked so delicious I couldn't wait! We sat outside underneath an umbrella, and between the gorgeous weather and the awesome breakfast, it was the ideal start to the day.

I love bagels. Plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, you name it - I could eat them all the time. Egg bagels in particular are one of my favorites, but I've noticed that it's difficult to find good ones down South. Some people think that bagels are the same everywhere, but that is just not the case. These were some of the best I've had in years - chewy, dense and with just the right amount of seasonings and spices on the outside. Apparently they boil their bagels before slow hearth baking them, and it makes a HUGE difference. We were all extremely pleased with our choices. I'll definitely be back the next time we visit the Shore, and next time I'll remember to get a dozen (or two) to bring home with me!

Last night at the Shore - Brandl, Belmar, NJ

Outside of Brandl - love the modern logo!

 Sunday night was our last night at the Shore, and trust me, we were NOT ready to leave! The whole trip had been nothing short of amazing, and I was extremely glad that I had been able to take the time off of work for this much-needed vacation. We wanted to go somewhere memorable for dinner so we decided upon Brandl, also in Belmar. We had seen their food truck at the beach and that menu alone looked incredible (you can check it out here), so we were especially excited to try their restaurant. Let me tell you, we were SO glad that we did...

Escargots and Foie Gras appetizer

We ordered two appetizers (see above): escargots and foie gras. Unusual, I know, but we love French delicacies like these. The escargots were baked in a garlic basil butter and were absolutely amazing. For those of you who have never dared to try escargots, I can assure you that they're not what you'd expect. When done correctly, they have a texture and taste similar to sauteed mushrooms. I've been a fan for several years, ever since I tried them at a local European bistro. It has since closed down, so I order excargots whenever I see them. These were exquisite - I've never had them cooked in the shells, before, but they were delicious. Tender enough so they weren't chewy, but still firm enough so they didn't just disintegrate when I bit into them. And that sauce... escargots are best in a garlic butter sauce. The two are just meant to together! The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth tender and incredibly savory. I know that a lot of people think it's cruel how ducks and geese are force-fed to get the best foie gras, but I figure, that's what they're put here for. Human beings weren't made to be vegetarians. We've lived for millions of years eating animals to survive. Foie gras and other such foods are just higher-end versions of hamburgers and hot dogs. But enough of my ranting about that. Suffice it to say that these two appetizers were definitely a promising beginning to the meal.

Lazy Lobster

In keeping with the seafood theme of the weekend, Chris ordered the Lazy Lobster. The lobster was poached in a vanilla bean butter and served over asparagus risotto. We were hoping that this lobster would be at least as good as what we had at The Columns, and we were not disappointed. It was wonderfully cooked, very tender, and the vanilla bean butter it was poached in was just fantastic. I had never thought to mix the sweet and savory when it comes to seafood, but it was an excellent compliment to the natural saltiness of the lobster. The risotto was also cooked perfectly - it still had a bite to it (al dente, that is) and the creaminess served as a nice foil to the brightness and crispness of the asparagus. All the flavors mixed very well together to create the perfect summer dish.

Short rib special

I chose the special, which consisted of a boneless short rib served over garlic mashed potatoes. I am a huge fan of short ribs - something about slow-cooking meat for long periods of time is just incredibly satisfying. These in particular were braised for 48 hours and served with garlic mashed potatoes and pickled red onions (thanks to Chris from Brandl for responding to my email inquiry so promptly with this description!). I thoroughly enjoyed it - the short rib was cooked to perfection and was juicy and tender, and the pickled onions were an excellent counterpart to the richness of the mashed potatoes. I don't know exactly what the sauce was but if I remember, it was some sort of jus, red wine perhaps? Whatever it was, it could not have been a better finish to this dish. As you can see it was visually appealing as well and, after all, we eat with our eyes first, right? 

Crème bruleé

What better way to finish a wonderful meal than with a decadent dessert? As soon as I saw they had crème bruleé on their menu, I knew I had to order it - it's my favorite dessert, hands down. (I am so lucky to have found a man who can make this dish, also!) It's essentially a custard base topped with a contrasting layer of caramelized sugar. Simple yet delicious. There are thousands of variations and I've had so many different kinds, from Grand Marnier-infused to lemon-flavored, but my favorite is just the standard vanilla base, like this was, served with fruit. Good crème bruleé doesn't need a lot of fancy flavors added; if a quality vanilla is used, that speaks volumes by itself. The texture is just as important as the flavor, and this one was perfectly smooth and creamy, not curdled at all. The berries on the side served as the perfect accompaniment, as they were tart yet sweet, and really brought out the floral vanilla notes. As full as I was from dinner, I definitely made sure I ate every last bite of this crème bruleé - it would be a shame to let something so beautiful and delicate go to waste!

Chris & me on the boardwalk, last night at the shore!

All in all, we have a fantastic trip - the weather was gorgeous the entire time, it was great to see all my family, and the food, oh the food! Four stars to everyone mentioned in this post. A big shout-out and THANK YOU to everyone involved in the food posted here, and again I have to especially thank Chris from Brandl for sending me the description of the short ribs. My Chris has even said he can't wait to go back, which is HUGE for a born-and-bred boy from the South like him! It was the best summer vacation I could have taken, and I am so grateful I got to spend it with my culinary partner in crime.

My food quote for the day is by Lin Yutang (a Chinese writer, translator, linguist and inventor) - I felt it very apropos for this post:

"Our lives are not in the laps of the gods, but in the laps of our cooks."

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful night!

Belly full of goodness - a culinary overview of my weekend

Happy Monday, everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine was excellent - extremely busy, but definitely one of the best I've had in awhile! Spent some time with my mom, saw my dad (who is having some medical issues - please say a prayer for him!), got some more household items for our move, and ate some amazing food! I'll just be posting the highlights, as there was so much yummy goodness it would take me days to describe every tasty morsel. I'll start with the highlights from Friday's dinner...

The potato that will change your life

 Friday night's meal consisted of a good old steakhouse dinner: medium-rare (more rare, honestly - I prefer my beef practically still mooing) porterhouses with braised cauliflower and a baked potato. Everything was highly enjoyable: the steak was cooked perfectly and the cauliflower was buttery and tender, but the real star was the potato. I love a good baked potato as much as the next person, but Chris has opened my eyes to a new way of eating them. I thought he was crazy the first time he told me about this, but I trust him when it comes to food, so I tried it. You add the normal salt, pepper and butter to your potato, but you top it off with cottage cheese and French dressing. Sounds insane, right? Believe me, it will change your life. I detested cottage cheese when I was younger, but now, this is the only way I'll eat baked potatoes! Somehow the creaminess of the cottage cheese blends with tang of the French dressing, and the result is absolutely unbelievable. We prefer Ken's Country French with Orange Blossom Honey - it has an extra layer of sweetness that is downright heavenly. I could drink that dressing all by itself and savor every drop! If you are looking for a new spin on an old favorite, try your next baked potato with cottage cheese and French dressing - your friends may look at you like you're mad, but you will NOT regret it!

Saturday Sushi with Mom

Nikkis Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Saturday was awesome because I got to spend the day with my mom, as well as run some much-needed errands, and we also had lunch at my all-time favorite local sushi restaurant, Nikki's. In addition to a wide variety of sushi, sashimi and other Asian delicacies, they also have several items on their menu for the less adventurous types out there. I normally get their sushi, although I love their Beancurd Pita Melt (sounds terribly unappetizing, I know, but it's delicious, especially for a vegetarian sandwich). This time, though, I got a seaweed salad and my mom and I split the sushi special, which consists of two special rolls for around $16 - you can't beat that deal!

Their seaweed salad is perfect - the seaweed itself is crunchy and is seasoned perfectly with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and just a dash of rice wine vinegar, and was topped lavishly with sesame seeds. I love seaweed salad, and Nikki's makes one of the best I've ever had. Unfortunately, I don't have a description of the sushi itself, as these were special rolls that change daily and therefore are not on the menu. I can tell you that the one pictured on the right was cooked tempura-style with eel sauce and Sriracha drizzled on top, and was very flavorful and spicy (not sure exactly what was inside). The one on the left had asparagus, cream cheese and crab inside, as well as more crab, tempura flakes and fish roe on top. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them, as did my mom. If you are ever in Wilmington you must check out Nikki's - they have 5 locations around Wilmington and have been voted Wilmington's Best Japanese and Sushi by Encore Magazine for several years in a row, and it's not hard to see why. I don't know of anyone who has had a bad experience there. 

Sunday dinner, Italian style

The last dish I'll share today was from last night. Chris made a pasta dish with an Italian twist - carbonara. I want to post a quick disclaimer that this is a variation on the traditional carbonara, as I was (quite rudely) told on my Instagram account that this is not a "real" Italian carbonara. I looked on Wikipedia for the definition of a carbonara and discovered that Chris' version is about as authentic as it gets, with eggs, bacon, cheese and black pepper. While spaghetti noodles are normally used, several other types of pasta (including rigatoni, which he used) can be substituted. The article also clearly states that there are many variations outside Italy which can include an assortment of other vegetables. I felt tremendously better after reading that; even though I never doubted his skills and knowledge (he's been a chef for nearly two decades), it was reassuring to have Wikipedia echo my thoughts. So that's my disclaimer, so as not to hurt any feelings: this is not a "classic" carbonara, but a variation on a theme, if you will, and an outstanding one at that. The rigatoni (one of my favorite types of pasta) was cooked perfectly al dente. The sauce was light and silky, and brought the flavors from all the other ingredients (bacon, onions, peas and mushrooms) together beautifully. To top it all off, he added a light topping of shredded Italian cheeses, which added a creaminess and richness to the sauce. Noodles are some of my all-time favorite things in the world (I could never survive on the Atkins diet!), and luckily my amazingly talented fiance can make a pasta dish like no other, ranging from Italian to Asian cuisine. This dish was hearty and satisfying, and the perfect way to end the weekend.

Here's my food-related quote of the day: "You don't need a silver fork to eat good food." - Paul Prudhomme

Hope your Monday wasn't too stressful! Thanks for reading!  

Seafood for thought

Happy Friday, readers!

Last night Chris cooked another wonderful dinner consisting of herb-crusted tilapia with a lemon-butter buerre blanc sauce over egg noodles. Another simple, healthy, delicious dish. Tilapia is one of my favorite fish to eat - it's delicate and doesn't have too much of a fishy flavor. It's also extremely versatile, and is just as tasty when it's fried, baked, broiled or pan-seared.

Preparing the fish is quite easy. You can use any type of white, flaky fish, such as flounder or grouper, if you'd rather. Make a simple egg wash in which to dip your fish fillets, then dredge them in seasoned breadcrumbs. Pan fry the fish in some olive oil until each side is golden brown. It shouldn't take very long - approximately 3-6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your fillets and how high your burner is.

As for the buerre blanc, don't let the name fool you; the name is literally French for "white butter," but it's so much more than that. I love the way Chris makes his version. He takes butter, lemon juice (the kind in the plastic lemon-shaped squeeze bottle), white wine (any kind will do, but preferably something sweet - we used the leftover Moscato), salt, pepper, garlic, and honey. First you reduce the wine down, then add your spices, butter, and finally the honey, to both thicken the sauce and add a little sweetness. You want your end result to be a thick, glossy sauce that you can pour easily.

The picture above is a little dark, so let me tell you that this was absolutely heavenly. Tilapia that's cooked properly falls apart with just the touch of a fork, no knives necessary. This fish was moist and perfectly flaky, and had a nice crust from the breadcrumbs. The sauce was tangy yet sweet and complimented the texture and delicacy of the tilapia. We used egg noodles as a base but you could use rice if you prefer. I love egg noodles with just about anything (one of my favorite comfort foods as a child), and they were especially delicious with the buerre blanc sauce drizzled over them.

My  hopes for this blog were to share some of my favorite homemade dishes, in addition to reviewing restaurants, and I hope the past two posts have inspired you to try something new. Food should be more than just sustenance, it should be something you enjoy. Here's your food-related quote of the day, from the famous Julia Child (I found it relevant because of the buerre blanc): "In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport."

Have a wonderful, safe and satisfying weekend!

Home Cooking at its Finest

Today I thought I would share a dish that my wonderful fiance made for dinner Saturday night. He is an amazing chef and has been cooking for around 17 years. I think I mentioned this in my first post but we actually met at a restaurant, the Bridge Tender, when he was running the lunch shift and I waited tables after I graduated from UNCW. Over the past 10 years he has opened my eyes to the world of food and helped me realize that it is one of my biggest passions in life. We all have to eat to survive, so why not enjoy it? This dish in particular was incredible, and also fairly simple and healthy - pork tenderloin with Jasmine rice and stir-fried squash and zucchini (see above photo).

The pork was seasoned lightly with garlic, salt and black pepper, and roasted in the oven at 350 for approximately 45 minutes (until the internal temperature reached 145-150 degrees). It was very moist and the seasonings enhanced the pork flavor beautifully. What really made it stand out was the sauce. We had a bottle of Korean BBQ sauce (you can find it in your local Asian markets, but we got ours at Harris Teeter) and it was fine all by itself, but seemed to be missing something. Chris used a cup and a half of sauce and added 1/4 cup of honey and reduced it down to make it a thick, syrupy glaze. The sweetness from the honey helped combat some of the heat and made it absolutely delectable. I could put that glaze on just about anything and it would be delicious, but I really want to try it on ribs or chicken wings (love chicken wings!).

The veggies were also quite simple. He sliced squash, zucchini and red onions and sauteed them on medium to med-high heat with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, salt, pepper and powdered ginger, and finished it off with a dash of soy sauce. (You can do this with a variety of vegetables and make a quick and healthy side dish in minutes!) I never liked squash or zucchini when I was younger but I can eat them all day long when he makes them! Be sure to cook them long enough so that they're tender but still firm - that will help with the bitterness, as will the seasonings.

If you've never had Jasmine rice, go out and buy a bag RIGHT NOW. I promise it will change your life! Since trying it we've never gone back to regular white rice. It is healthier than most normal white rices and has a sweet, fragrant aroma when it's cooking. We have a rice cooker, which makes cooking rice extremely easy, so if you like rice and want a quick side dish, invest the money and get one. They're not very expensive and you will wind up with perfectly cooked rice every time. Jasmine rice is has a flavor similar to the sushi-grade sticky rice, and all you really need to add to it is a little butter, salt and pepper. It's our go-to starch when we make dinner, so I'm sure you'll see a lot of it on here!

I don't normally imbibe but I bought a bottle of Moscato by the Naked Grape and figured it would be a perfect compliment to the pork. Moscato is a wine made from Muscat grapes that is generally labeled as a dessert wine. It can range from dry to sweet and can be paired with fish, chicken, spicy cuisines or light desserts. I have been drinking Moscato wines for several years but this is one of the best that I've tried, and it's not too pricey, either. The spiciness of this glaze was the perfect foil to the sweetness of this particular Moscato, and the pork itself was the ideal food with which to pair a wine like this. All in all this was one of the best meals I've had in a long time, and that's saying something (since every meal Chris makes is better than the last). If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

I'll leave you all with this quote: "Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul." - Dorothy Day

Happy eating!

Best Pho ever - Pho real!

Pho Ginseng - Huntersville, NC

Happy Hump Day everyone! I thought I would continue my trip down memory lane by telling you about this amazing restaurant in Huntersville called Pho Ginseng. Being Korean, I particularly love Asian food, but one of my all-time favorite things to eat is Pho. It's extremely hard to find someplace that serves real, authentic Pho around here - a few places do it well, but not GREAT. So I was especially excited to find this little gem tucked away in the Rosedale Shopping Center in Huntersville!

(For those of you who don't know, Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, noodles, herbs and meat. They simmer the bones for hours with various spices. It's served with condiments such as bean sprouts, hot peppers, green onions and a variety of dipping sauces. It's like the American equivalent of chicken noodle soup - but much, much better.)

The outside of the restaurant is nothing spectacular, but I've learned not to be fooled by that - some of the best places I've eaten at have been barely larger than my bedroom, The first thing that gets your attention is the smell. I've been in several Asian markets and the odor that hits you the second you open the door is unforgettable, and walking in the door was just like that. Aromas of spices and broth filled the air as we walked to our table. The restaurant was almost empty, but then again it was also later in the afternoon on a Saturday. We ordered our drinks and turned our attention to the menus, which were big and laminated (good in case of spilled soup), with lots of descriptions and pictures. We both ordered the same thing - PHỞ ĐẶC BIỆT - which consists of their amazing beef broth (which I could drink straight all by itself) with rare steak, beef meatballs and rice noodles. I also added quail eggs to mine, at a low price of $0.50 for two.

Let me tell you, the broth alone deserves recognition. They do it RIGHT, cooking the bones using the low-and-slow method, and it works. As you can see in the picture, the broth is perfectly clear (which you want) but the spices you get with every spoonful are just amazing: Saigon cinnamon, five spice, garlic, ginger... the perfect blend of sweet and savory. They serve the Pho with the proper accouterments: Thai basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges, cilantro and chili peppers. Soy sauce, Sriracha and Hoisin sauce were also readily available on the table.

To say that this soup was delicious doesn't do it justice. It was decidedly the best Pho either of us have ever tasted. The combination and ratio of spices were impeccable. The noodles and meat were cooked exactly right (the beef was rare, and only cooked when the broth was poured over it). The quail egg was cooked but, when I bit into it, still had a delectable runny yolk. As the broth was so delicate, I didn't want to overwhelm it with too many other flavors, so I only added a few bean sprouts and very light Hoisin and Sriracha, which only intensified that umami flavor that I crave. Chris was equally as happy with his bowl and for about 15 minutes, all you could hear was the sound of satisfied slurping. What made it that much better is that it was a chilly, rainy day - what's better than a warm bowl of goodness on days like that?

One thing I do need to mention is that we both got SMALLS - that bowl was huge! We could have easily gotten one bowl and split it! As it was we ended up having leftovers, which were just as good a few days later, save for the fact that the noodles broke down and got a little squishy (for lack of a better word). Believe me when I say that that was the only bad thing about it, and it wasn't even technically bad. Chris and I have both said that we will be eating there all the time once we move to that area. To the guys at Pho Ginseng, you are doing an awesome job - this is truly food porn at its finest! What I have written here doesn't do your food justice. In the infamous words of the Terminator, "I'll be back."

A fun Thursday evening at Killington's in Huntersville

Killingtons Restaurant & Pub - Huntersville, NC

I am relocating to the Charlotte area soon for work and I was given a wonderful opportunity by my future boss to come out and visit the area, as well as work in what will be my new office/warehouse for a few days! During that trip, he also took us out to eat at Killingtons in Huntersville. I was especially excited to try their food as Chris (my fiance) had read several positive reviews (we always look for the best local restaurants/bakeries/etc. whenever we go out of town). I thought it was appropriate to begin my foray into both food blogging as well as my new work experience by writing about this place.

The restaurant itself is very aesthetically appealing (I don't have any photos of the exterior as it was raining that night, and once inside I was more focused on the food itself) and VERY busy, especially for a Thursday night! The interior had a lot of bold colors and dark wood, along with some beautiful artwork on the wall. We sat in the bar area which, for a bar, wasn't as loud as one would expect. We did have to wait on our server for awhile to get our drinks, but we were waiting on someone, so it wasn't too big of a deal. The last member of our party arrived just as the server was taking our drink order, and it only took about five minutes to get them, which honestly wasn't too bad, considering that both the restaurant and the bar were packed. Adam (my boss-to-be) suggested we order the Loaded Chips as an appetizer - homemade chips topped with cheddar cheese, bacon and banana peppers served with ranch. I didn't take any photos of these as they were gone within about 5 minutes of arriving! They were obviously fresh, which was nice, and the combination of the banana peppers with all the other toppings AND the ranch dressing was delicious and not too spicy. The chips themselves were also cooked perfectly and weren't greasy at all. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could see these being the perfect munchie food when you're craving something salty and cheesy (which I always am).

I ordered the smoked duck wrap as my entree, because, just so you know, I will ALWAYS order duck if it's on the menu! The wrap included jicama slaw, fried onions, pickles and a molasses dijon BBQ sauce, and I ordered the baked gouda macaroni and cheese as a side (see first photo). I have to say that the mac 'n cheese there is a MUST-ORDER if you like macaroni and cheese at all. It was hands-down the best I've ever had, and I make a mean mac and cheese (so does Chris)! It was almost like a soufflé, light and fluffy, and the sauce was absolutely divine. It was creamy and gooey and seasoned just right. My mouth is literally watering as I'm remembering it! The duck wrap was also good, if not slightly disappointing. The pickles and the slaw overpowered the duck, and the sauce had a little too much mustard for my liking. That being said, the duck itself was cooked perfectly. I would definitely order the mac and cheese again, but perhaps with a different main course.

Chris ordered the "Steak in the Grass," which was an open-faced sandwich on garlic French bread with a six ounce beef tenderloin topped with sauteed spinach and provolone cheese, with their caramelized shallot risotto as a side (see second photo). This was an unusual combination for a sandwich but it turned out beautifully! The bread was nice and crunchy, and was a great contrast to the steak, which was cooked to a perfect medium-rare (as requested). However, the star of this dish was also the side of risotto - it was amazing! I know it doesn't look so appetizing in the picture but it was truly delicious - creamy, not too overwhelmingly onion-flavored, and the rice itself was perfectly al dente.

Neither of our dishes (nor the appetizer) seemed like they had sat under the heat lamps for long at all - everything was nice and hot and cooked perfectly! We had a wonderful experience with great food, atmosphere and company; once I get settled I will definitely be going back to try some more of their apps and sandwiches! Thank you to everyone at Killingtons for an awesome night!

Welcome to Food, Glorious Food!

Hello all! My name is Kate and welcome to my blog. =)

I am a thirty-something female in the southeastern US who loves FOOD. Who doesn't, right? Some of my first memories include baking cookies with my mom at Christmastime, creating crazy edible concoctions with my dad (from spicy virgin Bloody Marys and Pina Coladas to insane cookie sandwiches) and eating at our favorite local Chinese restaurant. I took that love and went on to work in several restaurants around our area, starting out as an ice cream girl at Swensen's and eventually waiting tables at one of the best fine dining seafood restaurants here, the Bridge Tender - which is also where I met my fiance, Chris! Now he and I do a lot of home cooking, but we also enjoy going out to eat at both new and old restaurants and trying anything and everything that sounds appetizing. I can't wait to share my experiences with all of you, since food is really what brings people together, don't you agree?

This blog will not only share my experiences visiting restaurants but also my favorite home-cooked meals. I will try to be as explicit as possible so you can truly get the full effect and will be able to imagine that you are right there with me, savoring every delicious mouthful. I'll also include tips on how to prepare these dishes so you can make them at home. I will be sure to post photos as well, as everyone knows a picture speaks a thousand words.

This is a new experience for me so I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way... please just bear with me and hopefully it will all come together in a fantastic experience for everyone! Any and all comments are welcome in hopes of bettering this for all parties involved.

George Bernard Shaw said it best: "There is no sincerer love than the love of food."

I couldn't agree more.

Thank you SO much for reading - enjoy!



I want to include a few acknowledgements:

To my wonderful fiance, Chris - you are my heart and my main inspiration for doing this. You have always told me I can do whatever I set my mind to, and you have also showed me just how much I love food. I always knew it, you've just opened my eyes to all the different epicurean pleasures the world has to offer. Thank you for that and so much more. To quote OITNB: "We're gonna eat the world." Can't wait. :) I love you!!

To Kate, my spirit twin - you have given me so much insight on the world ever since I met you! This would NOT be possible without you. You are such a beautiful, strong, amazing woman and I'm so honored to know you. I can't wait to start working together with you in person on a daily basis - WVS better watch out for K2!

To Mom and Dad - it was you two who first showed me the simple pleasures in life regarding the world of food. I would not be where I am today without you. Thank you for that and so much more - you'll never know how much it means to me.  I love you both!