by Paula D.
on December 31, 2020 1:08 pm in Food
I’m hungry and I open the fridge but I know it’s empty. I’m too cold and lazy to drag my starved body out the door to Key Food. My eyes scan the shelves and I pull out what I can find. Baby arugula, slightly wilted, edamame unopened, queso fresco (white cheese) – it’s been in there for a while but seems to smell fine. On the side of the fridge door I find black oil-cured olives (my favorite olive).
“This will do!”
I add all the ingredients into a bowl with salt, pepper, garlic powder, extra virgin olive oil and a splash of white vinegar.
Out of necessity, I invented a fantastic, unorthodox salad. It’s simple with minimal ingredients and that’s what makes it so tasty and easy to whip up.
The edamame gives the salad a hardiness. The flavor is basic which works well with the bold flavor of the cured olives. I’ve been really into edamame lately. The name translates to “stem beans.” Edamame are immature soybeans. Soy is naturally rich in protein and contains amino acids. It’s also rich in plant fats which is why you feel full after eating soy and that’s perfect for salads and dieting.
I’ve been using black oil-cured olives for at least a decade as my secret ingredient in many dishes. The olives are rich, salty and full bodied in flavor. This is why they’re ideal as a meat substitute in sauces and soups or for a pop of flavor in a salad. The Moroccan variety is the best by far, if you can find them. I buy mine around town (mostly not labeled as Moroccan ) but still good. Sorrentino’s Market ( 99-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.) sells oil-cured olives regularly as does Bon Appétit (418 Beach 129th St.). Sometimes I see them in Key Food on 87th and the Blvd. but not always.
I’ve only started buying queso fresco. I picked it up for a layered bean dip I was making recently. The price is right, it’s only XX for XX oz. Since then I’ve been using it on everything – eggs, salads, over grilled vegetables. The creamy texture and mild flavor works for many dishes. There are several varieties of this Latin American cheese based on the region. The soft cheese with the rich punch of the black oil-cured olives is what makes this salad fantastic.
Try my newly invented salad and let me know what you think…
Paula’s Edamame Olive Salad
Ingredients (All equal parts):
Baby arugula
Edamame
Queso fresco
Extra virgin olive oil
White vinegar
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Directions: Pit the cured black olives. Combine all the ingredients. Use your discretion as far as the measurements. If you’re making in advance, wait to dress the salad before you serve it. After adding the oil and vinegar, give it a good mix so the cheese breaks down and becomes part of the dressing.
As an aside, I love the idea that this salad includes, Asian soy beans, Spanish white cheese and Morrocan cured olives, a cultural mix!
I took a dip in the ocean last Sunday. As one would guess, it was quite cold. The temperature read 41 degrees. It was windy. I loved it.
Artist Riitta Ikonen is the organizer of Sea Changes, the Rockaway winter swim initiative I participated in. Sea Changes is part of a global program curated by FLOCK to connect friends, family, community and strangers during our global pause. It is offered with support from the arts and cultural organization, Nordic Culture Fund and Nordic Culture Point, a cultural arts grant program. The FLOCK website reads:
“Ikonen started regular winter swimming in 2018 as part of a pact to connect with her collaborators across the Atlantic. During the global pause, the surf at Rockaway Peninsula is as near as Ikonen has been able to get to her Nordic roots. By setting just a date and a time: 2 PM on Sundays, Ikonen invites individuals worldwide to metaphorically swim together at the edges of the same water. Such mental and physical training is conceived as a way to connect with one another, with known or unknown neighbours, beach creatures, and the weather to challenge one’s personal limits.”
Riitta (left), Rob (right)
I became friends with Riitta and her wife Elisa through a mutual friend. I watched from the sand the first time I was invited to the event. When everyone came running back to shore, invigorated and cheering, I knew I had to join the following week. Riitta was the last out of the water. She floated calmly for about a minute in the wintry sea. Riitta is Finnish! So that explains her adaptation. Ice swimming is very common among the happiest people in the world.
My goal is to winter swim every Sunday. I felt awake and free! All are welcome to join – swimming or spectating. No your limits and take personal responsibility! Meet on the beach at 91st Street ever Sunday at 2pm until May. Or plunge at a body of water near you and share your swim videos and photos to @seachanges_rockaways on instagram or email mail[at]riittaikonen.com.
Sea Changes is one of many creative ventures Riitta Ikonen is involved with. She is a visual artist. Riitta and her artist partner across the globe, Karoline Hjorth have a new book slated for spring 2021. It’s called Eyes As Big As Plates. The book is a collection of living sculptures captured on analog film, resulting in stunning photographic works. This project is in its 10th year of exploration. It began as an imaginative study of Nordic folklore. It has transformed into a study of modern human’s connection to nature. For more information on Riitta’s artistry visit eyesasbigasplates.com
by Paula D.
on December 31, 2020 12:40 pm in Food
So many Rockawayites have connections to Puerto Rico. “Am I the only person on the whole peninsula that hasn’t been?” I thought. I don’t suffer FOMO well, so back when things were pretty calm with Covid-19, we booked a trip, and I ended up spending my first Thanksgiving in a bathing suit drinking a pina colada, which, incidentally, is the national drink of PR.
With the current Covid uptick, I did have second thoughts about the trip, but sitting on the beach in the open air seems much safer than sitting indoors around a Thanksgiving table. Definitely safer for my mental health. And we were tested beforehand and afterwards, and followed the guidelines in between. (They are very serious about masks in PR, incidentally.)
We flew into San Juan and stayed one night in the old part of the city, which was unbelievably picturesque. I wish we had more time there. The city has so much to offer in the way of history and beauty. Next time I may spend a week just exploring the capital.
Our Airbnb was a five minute drive from the center of Rincón. What I noticed most about the rural areas was the random animals – dogs, cats, cows, horses, chickens, roosters and the coquí frogs (heard, not seen). Between the frogs and the roosters, the mornings were very “musical.” As I layed in bed awake at 5am, I had the thought that to the locals, these sounds must blend in, just how the planes in Rockaway don’t even phase us.
The food… delicious. The prices weren’t cheap but not tourist expensive, fair. The highlight was mofongo! This was my first time eating Puerto Rico’s famous dish. Mofongo is pickled green fried plantains topped with chicken or fish usually, and pickled onions or cracked pork. We ordered mofongo at fancy restaurants and at beach side shacks. The best we thought was served at El Ancla, a little beach side place at the marina right outside the main town in Rincón. It started raining as it does randomly in Puerto Rico and we took cover there, not expecting a decadent comfort food experience.
Also to note is the fresh fish in general. I think I ate fish everyday. Not sure if it’s that most everything is caught the day of, or it’s the Caribbean waters but the fish is fantastic in PR.
Of course we had to check out Uma’s Playa Jobos (Isabela 00662, Puerto Rico). The first time I tagged Conrad on instagram (@umas_restaurants) and said “Oh hi, we’re here!” He wasn’t around. We ended up in Isabela again. Conrad Karl and his wife Umida (Chef and co-owner) treated us wonderfully. Stiff drinks, great conversation and a special-made coffee by Conrad himself. The coffee he uses is made from beans grown in the center of Puerto Rico. A seriously delicious cup. Besides the fanatic food and hospitality, the beach vibe at Umas is sooooo chill.
Some shops were closed due to Covid, but I have to mention my friend Meredith’s new boutique in Rincón is open and ready for business! You may know the brand from pop-ups on the boardwalk – Del La Mer (@delamer1981). We visited the shop a few times during our stay. I played dress up in her beautiful designer clothing, so much fun and I treated myself to a beachy jumper!! Del La Mer also carries other familiar brands – Goldie’s Soap and items from The Swellife. If you’re “snow-birding” to Rincón after the holiday be sure to check out the shop and support local business from afar! Del La Mer is located at Carretera 115, KM 14.1 Bo. Ensenada Rincón.
Lastly, I have to mention the natural geographic diversity on the island. There are beautiful beaches with aqua blue waters, mountainous rainforest with waterfalls, one being Gozalandia Falls and other-world white limestone rock formations and red sharp cliffs 200 feet above the sea at Cabo Rojo Lighthouse. I couldn’t tell you which is more breathtaking. I had know idea the landscape in PR was so diverse. I love being outside in nature, I could explore the natural world of Puerto Rico indefinitely.
There’s so much more I want to share but I will have to leave it at that for now!
by Paula D.
on November 29, 2020 11:16 am in Rockaway
This time of year we reflect on all that we are thankful for. While 2020 has been a nightmare, I’m sure we can all find the little moments of appreciation that were afforded to us.
For me, I’m thankful for the fascinating nature that surrounds us in Rockaway and our public parks. These spaces have been an outlet for me to cope through the pandemic. In the past 8 months, I’ve spent more time on the beach and on my bike exploring and at National and NYC Parks than ever before. And all of this right on the peninsula. I feel grateful to have the beauty of the coast and the ocean steps away, available for me to escape to, at any moment.
Many friends of mine living in apartments in Brooklyn commented on my IG stories during the early days of Covid, saying how lucky I was to live by the Beach, and that’s when it really clicked, how fortunate I am.
Recently I discovered two outdoor gems. They are both worthy of visitation. The first is under the el at 59th Street in Far Rockaway. The outdoor installation and mural is a collaboration with The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, (RISE), NYC Dot, NACTO and Underhill Walls (A Street Artist Group @underhillwalls). The art is described by RISE as a statement on the environmental impacts of our technology driven, consumerist society.
It felt liberating to walk slowly in the middle of the street, no cars, viewing the bold mural on the asphalt under my feet. And walking under what I call the “plastic brain” (Sonic Constellation sculpture), looking up at the colored plastic bottle caps into the sky was an impressive experience.
The second place I suggest visiting is the Historic Arverne Fishing and Recreation Area, located on 69th Street and the bay. The Wave recently wrote about it’s refurbishment in an article titled Lifting Up Arverne. After reading, I knew I’d go the following weekend.
My first thought was, “Wow, this is a forgotten New York spot.” There aren’t any signs pointing to its location. The park is tucked always on a residential block. It feels like a local secret. The Rockaway Bay Coastal Association (RBCA), Ladies of Business of Rockaway (LBRB), The Heart of Rockaway Civic (THOR) and Assembly member-elect Khaleel Anderson, along with other community members did a fantastic job sprucing up the bayside recreation area. The new planters, inspirational signs, paintings and picnic tables are welcoming and provide a space to sit and relax. There are upgraded fishing stations too! The best time to visit is right before sunset for the colorful views over the bay.
I’ve always thought the bay side of Rockaway is underutilized. It has so much potential as public park land. I’m glad to see things are mobilizing and I hope to be a part of the volunteerism next time. It’s important now more than ever to support local efforts to continue the beautification and environmental preservation of the peninsula.
Rockaway is a natural wonderland and I’m so thankful to be immersed in it.
