ChristinaM
(Hungry in Asheville, NC (still plenty to offer tourists post Hurricane))
81
Last night was crispy chicken cutlets, green salad, TJ’s butternut squash pasta with brown butter, cream, and sage, and a saute of turnip and fennel. A gross TJ’s French viognier - WAY too oak-y.
I got the inspiration from some Bouillabaisse recipes cooked with pastis, so I guess if the anise flavour works with the fish soup, it should work with scallops too, as fenouil is a good match with scallops.
So what did you think of using buttermilk? I’ve never considered it, but it would be healthier. Was it tangy? Or did the flavor fade away behind all the eggs and chunky things?
Serious Eats’ super easy Chicken Chile Verde in the IP, perfect comfort food on a cold day. Tomatillos and three kinds of chilies, but it was really very mild. I fried up 2 tortillas and cut them into wedges, letting them soften and almost fall apart, just to get some of that corny flavor we love. Swirled in Mexican crema, and topped with a bit of Monterey Jack and scallions. Very enchilada-ish without any of the fuss.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness” Oscar Wilde. Just what I was craving and the plating was so pretty, how could I not. No wine so I used a Serious Eats recipe using vermouth and added a Caesar salad. Asparagus was from Mexico. Apertivo was a Fiero and tonic.
One of those meals that doesn’t look like much but packs a wallop of flavor. Made use of what I had on hand: boneless skinless thighs marinated with Adobo, Sazon, and Jamon flavoring, and yellow rice, gandules, and green olives. Some grilled buttered tortillas on the side for good measure.
It does give it a slightly tangy flavor overall. Not overwhelmingly so, however. I enjoyed it. It almost has the body of heavy cream, but not quite the calories, but gives the added creaminess for a quiche. I’m sold - if I have it for future quiches, I’ll use it again!
And I LOVE this coaster! (Website reads a bit differently being located in France. )
Having looked it up, it looks like a beautiful place!
“Harry’s Bar was born on November 26, 1911 on Thanksgiving Day, (a sacred sign for an American bar).
It is a bar literally dismantled from the 7th avenue of Manhattan (pre-prohibition 9 dry states) and reassembled rue Daunou in Paris.”
Freshly caught striper, “marinated” with turmeric. Served with a coconut onion sauce based on a recipe from 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer, one of my favorite books. The sauce was a little thin for my taste so I added some coconut milk and since I had some kale to be used up, added that as well.