Posts categorized as Food

Doctors and self-professed health experts have touted the benefits of a Mediterranean diet. People living in Greece or Italy are suspected of living with more fresh fruits and vegetables, along with an abundance of extra virgin olive oil. This, along with siestas and lots of good red wine seem to contribute to their longevity — and admirable lifestyles. More than fifty years ago my Italian family lived this fabulous diet without even knowing how smart they were. The genius behind the food eaten at my mother’s table was her father, [...]

We attended the first Ridgewood Market last month and it was pretty neat. Held at our favorite bar Gottscheer Hall, the market showcased vendors ranging from jewelry designers, to soap makers to food vendors. New to the bill this month is O live Brooklyn and Sabbas Spicery. These are of particular interest to us and will be our first visits – the more food vendors the better! What sets this market apart from the others? You can drink while shopping. We know, this is awesome (!!!) but it gets better. Catch brunch with your friends in the tap room [...]

Last Saturday we ran into Patrick Flibotte co-owner of the new wine bar Sayra’s, soon to open on 91-11 Rockaway Beach Blvd. “Want to take a look?” Patrick asked, offering an unexpected invitation which we immediately accepted. Susanne and I were thrilled to get a first peak inside the much-anticipated, first-ever wine bar in Rockaway. My reaction when walking in was… this place is really special. After talking with Patrick it all made sense. He’s an artist with a concentration in sculpture and welding. From the handmade bar stools to the [...]

On our fig tree!  

We recently caught up with Scott Edwards and Tim Keenan, owners of Surfside Bagels in Rockaway Beach. We chatted about Hurricane Sandy, their grand re-opening, and of course, bagels. The guys were stretched  thin the weeks after the storm.  As host to his displaced family and working at his firehouse, Tim was running in circles. Scott and his firehouse, Engine 234 were sent to Sandy-ravaged neighborhoods including the Rockaways and Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brighton Beach, leaving little time to focus on the bagel shop. But thanks to the overwhelming generosity of FrontStreet Facility Solutions, Scott and Tim were able to [...]

Never before released, this is Granny Martha’s meatball recipe. There’s something about Grandma’s just knowing how to make a delicious Meatball, am I right? I guess it’s the years of practice and finesse that lead to the perfect combination of ingredients. Granny Martha’s Meatballs Makes about 64 Ingredients – Meatballs: 4 – 4 1/2 lbs chuck chopped  80% lean ground beef 1 medium loaf of soft white bread-, discard heels 1 large onion finely chopped 5 cloves garlic finely choppped or minced 1/4 c. salt 1 tablespoon of black pepper Large bowl [...]

I love to watch the cooking shows with chefs who refuse to divulge the “secret” to their recipes. It seems kind of snobby. Most people can usually tell the “mystery” ingredients just by tasting, although the amount can be way off. And what’s so sacred about a secret? We all know what’s in the secret sauce on Big Macs — and billions of people still eat there. I have been baking brownies for years. I will make trays of them for birthdays, parties,house-warmings, school events or just a dinner.  With incredible [...]

This Sunday will be hoppin! Two super fun, food centric events happening in Ridgewood: 1. The first ever Ridgewood Market is happening at Gottscheer Hall – starts at 11am. I love the idea of strolling around with a cocktail and shopping –  two of my favorite things! From the looks of it, some neat stuff  will be for sale, including food items.  Photos via ridgewoodmarket.com Bunker!  Rudy’s Bakery will be there! Norma’s will sell as well! Clean Plate Co. These look fantastic! And last but not least, Amelia will debut Sweet Treats! It gets [...]

I love to cook during the week. It’s hard because I am getting home later and need some quick meals. If you can get a protein together, this is a great side. Ingredients: 1 head of broccoli 3 cloves of garlic 3 tbps of olive oil 1/2 – 3/4 cups of water * My mom puts in salt, but I don’t, tastes just as good. Directions: Heat olive oil on medium heat. When hot, add in the garlic. Let the garlic fry for about a minute, be careful not to [...]

I started my eggshell pieces a few years ago. One morning I was cooking breakfast for my father (I didn’t eat eggs at the time because I was vegan). I cracked an egg into the frying pan and part of the shell fell in. I noticed that the cracks made a really neat design. So I asked my mother to save the eggshells that week, bought a canvas and tried out designs. Since then I’ve explored many combinations. I’ve tried emu egg, which is very thick, like porcelain. I’ve tried [...]