The Subway, M&M's, and Unhealthy Children

I was riding the subway home from work yesterday. It was rush hour on Friday, which may be the most unagreeable time to be a straphanger in New York City. I could compare it to other moments in history when people were made to ride trains in deplorable conditions. This would be overly dramatic, and to many, rather tasteless, so I will not head down that slippery slope. What I will say is that, without fail, riding a Friday evening rush hour 1 train will undoubtedly make you fall out of love with this city. The good news was that I captured a highly coveted end seat at the Chambers Station, allowing me the solace that comes with never having to deal with someone on one side of you. Everyone longs for the end seat, and I was the envy of an entire row. My self satisfaction was erased a few stations later when an elderly woman with a cane boarded the packed train and I was forced into gentlemanly action. Though the end seat is the subway's version of the Iron Throne, it is also the most precarious, for situations arise outside of our control, forcing one to relinquish control over the Realm. Suddenly I found myself in the unenviable position of standing, with a messenger bag and a grocery sack, for the duration of the ride. I swear I heard the elderly woman snicker, followed by a distinct "sucker" uttered from the cavernous expanse of her dark soul.

No Reservations: Is Anthony Bourdain hosting the best show on TV?

There are many people out there today who say “I don’t watch television”. It usually has nothing to do with whether they can afford television. Instead, it has become a calling card for coolness to say that you don’t. Many of these same people watch endless streams of videos on their Macbooks or iPhones, but somehow they think that this is different. People are silly. The silliest thing about this is that television has never been better. It has also never been worse, but that is the inevitable price we all pay for the infinite variety of content. The point is that there are some amazing shows on television. Game Of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Family Guy, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Charlie Rose, Bizarre Foods, Louie, Frontline, Sons Of Anarchy, Justified, and any others you care to add to the list are all great viewing. Has television ever been better? I don’t think so. In the category of non-fiction, No Reservations has officially placed itself atop the heap, a show that is now in its eighth season, and continues to get better and better. This fact, in and of itself, makes it a remarkable production.

What Are Your Favorite Things To Eat?

I find it somewhat comical that I titled a blog post in the form of a question to readers, knowing full well that I am about to answer it myself. So, what are my favorite things to eat?

-Pizza.
-Asparagus, in season, with a bit of butter.
-A delicious steak, with a nice pan sauce.
-Vanilla Ice Cream.
-Roast Chicken.
-A simple plate of pasta.
-Cured meats.
-A lightly dressed salad of ripe summer vegetables.
-A juicy peach.
-Apple Tart.
-Noodles and Cabbage.
-Really good tacos.
-Slow cooked pork, in all its myriad styles.
-A good burger.
-Chinese Stir Fry (that is pretty broad, but just go with it).
-Fresh bread with butter or olive oil.
-Oysters.
-Dumplings, either potstickers or soup dumplings.
-A perfectly ripe tomato with sea salt, and perhaps a touch of pepper.
-A delicious piece of fish grilled, fried, baked, or poached, it matters not. Simply seasoned.
-Caramelized Onions. Just put them on something, and I will probably like it. They make burgers better, pizza better, and they take tacos to the next level.
-A steaming bowl of delicious ramen.
-Chocolate Chip Cookies.
-An ear of sweet corn.
-A bacon, egg, and cheese. Deli style.

I am sure there are things that have eluded my mental faculties, escaping my memory, but sure to pop up at the most random of times. Think for a second, what is on your list? More importantly, why is it on your list? If this is your last week to eat, what is on the menu?

Cooking, Running, Tebowing, and Lin-Sanity!!!

There was a time in my life when people used to tell me I couldn’t cook. More often than not, the ‘couldn’t’ was peppered with a big dose of shouldn’t. “Why would you do that”? This is one occasion where I am thoroughly happy that I paid little heed to what others told me. I never cooked as a child, but my parents brought me up in an atmosphere where food was cherished and celebrated in a working-class, un-foodie manner. This environment allowed for enjoyment, but never really included me in the practicing of the actual production. One day in my early twenties I decided to start cooking. I don’t exactly know how what happened, or what spurned it along. My guess is that it seemed practical, enjoyable, and creative at a time when these were the things I sorely needed. As a guy playing college athletics, and living the life that went along with it, cooking wasn’t exactly high on the list of activities that my friends were aching to get into. The first things I made weren’t great, but always edible. Believe me when I tell you that it was a process. I wasn’t gifted with some secret talent for the stove that allowed me to ascend to culinary greatness at break neck pace. I read books, and most of all, I practiced. I do remember the first time I made something that thoroughly surprised a detractor. It felt good, to have achieved something through repetition and resolve. Cooking remains something that I practice; never something I know or fully understand. When I moved to New York a few years ago, I found myself in a position where cooking took on a whole new light. Living in one of the most expensive cities in the world—where eating out three times a day is de rigueur for so many—with a limited budget thrust me into a position where cooking became essential. It also became fun. I cook all the time, and because of this my abilities have improved. I have answered the criticism of those who questioned why I ever wanted to learn to cook, or whether I could pull it off.

Valentine's Day Part 2: Recap, Raspberry Souffle, and Chris Matthews

Valentine's Day was both successful, and incredibly enjoyable. Heeding my own advice, I went for a menu that was easy enough to pull off, and delicious enough to make the occasion feel special. The meal was a beautiful strip steak with carmelized onions and sherry pan sauce that we split, with sides of roasted brussel sprouts and crispy roasted potatoes. Classic, not too heavy--due to the reasonable sized portions--and thoroughly satisfying. There was candles, a hand penned note, and a good deal of comfort. I think Ash enjoyed it thoroughly, and I know unequivocally that I did too.

Valentine's Day Part 1

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and it is to be spent at home with the girl I love. Staying in means that I am cooking—that’s just the way it goes down in my house. I cook, and Ash eats. She doesn’t eat nearly as much as I do—being that I am twice her size—but she does enjoy a good meal, so it is my job to produce them on a regular basis. I never complain about this arrangement because I honestly enjoy cooking. The question is, what do I cook for dinner? This is an even bigger question when you add the pressure of a ‘holiday’ that is meant to signify love between couples. Let me briefly address said holiday. I play along with Valentine’s Day, and definitely enjoy it. I like holidays in all their forms, primarily because they usually involve the gathering of loved ones and food in some form. In my mind, these are good things. With that said, I think it is important to note that if the actions of February 14th—namely the purchase of chocolate, a card, roses, or jewelry—are required to solidify the idea that the person you are with loves you, an honest assessment of your relationship might be in order. 

Andrew Carmellini, The Dutch, and How My Best Meal Of 2011 Came To Be

I ate some wonderful meals in 2011, from simple creations at home, to elaborate feasts at restaurants with friends, but one meal stands out as a very special experience. It is a story of so much more than the food on the plate, though that alone would have been memorable. For me, it was a seminal moment in both my appreciation of food, and my appreciation of the kindness of someone I admired. The story goes like this….

My love of cookbooks has been well documented and the morning of October 18^th was a big day in my world. American Flavor by Andrew Carmellini was hitting the shelves and I was incredibly excited. Growing up, I loved heading to my local record shop to buy an album that had just hit the shelves. I would eagerly head home to listen to the tape—later CD—in its entirety. I would sit, holding my guitar, eagerly listening for chord changes, yet never playing a note. It was solitude in its finest fashion. Tuesdays have remained special for me, because that is the day that music and books—two of my favorite things—are released. In many ways I treat books with the same reverence that I once held only for music. I will bring a book home and settle in to absorb every nuanced word. I do this with cookbooks, reading each recipe in much the same way I listen to a new song. American Flavor was part of a short list of cookbooks that I needed to own last year. I am not afraid to admit that I am a disciple of the joys that the New York Public Library has to offer, but some books are meant to be purchased, hopefully one day to pass on. So that Tuesday had two things on the agenda, work, and picking up a copy of American Flavor.

Last Year's Best Music.....And What To Eat With It

This is a simple list of my favorite music from last year.

These are albums that I listen to all the time.

You may disagree with many of these choices, and that is okay. It's nothing to fret over, I simply have better taste than you. (I'm just kidding........try not to take yourself and your tastes too seriously)

You may deride me for choosing bands that are popular and not underground enough. Sellouts you may say. First off, stop shopping exclusively at Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and thrift shops in order to solidify your hipster image. Next, stop listening to music you really don't like in order to establish an identity and something to talk about. Stop disliking bands because they are able to earn a really good living. And finally remember that Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Notorious B.I.G. were all popular. Incredibly popular. If you tell me there was someone out there in the 'underground' doing it better than any one of them, please let me know.

I love underground music, and am constantly seeking new artists to enjoy, but the fact that no one else knows about a band doesn't make their art more special.

If you only like one 'genre' of music, you are probably a boring person.

Best Kale Chips.......Ever!!

Crunchy and delicious

I have proclaimed the virtues of kale chips in the best, but it is time to get people producing these morsels of joy. Whatever you do, please do not pay $8.99 for a tiny container of disgusting packaged kale chips that have been smothered in ‘vegan cheese’, whatever that might be. You can buy a basket full of kale for less than that, and don’t even get me started on ‘vegan cheese’, which is an oxymoron that only someone with a marketing degree and too much time on their hands could ever come up with. Unfortunately we live in a silly world where people (especially silly vegans, who are characterized by their propensity for processed garbage that falls under the all-mighty vegan label) fall for this type of stuff. I digress.

Paula Deen And The Epidemic Of Obesity

Every voice in the world of food has seen fit to add their two cents to the drama surrounding Paula Deen's decision to first hide her diabetes diagnosis, then capitalize on it, all the while pushing food that can directly lead to the diagnosis in the first place. So, being the opinionated person that I am, I decided to loft my pennies into the wishing well too.

The population of the United States is currently eating themselves to an early grave. This is the undeniable truth of what is happening in our country, and people seem to want to avoid the subject. Suddenly Paula Deen makes millions off of endorsing a medication to help people 'live with' diabetes, and the world comes down on her from the perch of their high horse. There are several things that are going on here, and I believe that all of them deserve attention. First off, if someone offered me millions to endorse a product, I would have a tough time turning that down. Barring some extreme examples, I wouldn't even think about it, the only response would be "where do I sign?" The difference between myself and many other people is that I have the capacity to be honest with you, and with myself. Paula Deen has diabetes, and someone offered her and her sons generational money to be celebrity spokespeople. She took it, essentially because she isn't an idiot. After all, money talks in a big way.

2011 Food, Music, Film, Comedy, etc. Part 2

The Year Of The Rabbit

What were the exciting things in food that happened during the last revolution of our planet around the sun? What were the things that I could have done without? There are so many candidates for exploration that I am almost at a loss for where to begin. Always remember that my perspective is decidedly shaped by the fact that I live in New York City, and therefore have access to things that many people simply don’t. With that said, I think most ideas are universal, and simply take longer to filter out to other regions.

The economy continues to struggle, and with this simple fact, the food world continues to be shaped in many ways. From my standpoint, the greatest benefit and also the most negative consequence comes with people cooking at home more regularly. Being a home cook who is constantly extolling the virtues of this basic activity, I am thrilled that people are eating out less. Many people would be stunned to discover that they can cook food that is not only healthier, but far more delicious as well. In my experience, these benefits also come with the undeniable reality that it is far cheaper to produce things in the home. Simple meals constructed with basic ingredients can be incredibly satisfying, both in taste, and in the sense of accomplishment. There is a certain sense of spiritual connectedness that comes with the exercise of a well put together meal. These things are all wonderful, and if we are finally returning to our kitchens, I couldn’t be happier. The negative side of all this is that many people are resorting to processed food as an integral part of cooking at home.

2011 Food, Music, Film, Comedy, etc. Part 1

2011 was a great year, like any other that we are still alive to experience. There will always be amazing things that sprout out of a particular calendar cycle, just like there will be things to leave behind. What mattered to me? I'm about to tell you.....

Andrew Carmellini is the coolest celebrity chef, who somehow isn't a celebrity, and therefore the Food Man Of The Year! Outside of New York City it is a safe bet that people don't know about him, or his incredible range, but he had a huge 2011. He is a chef's chef, having made his name at Lespinasse, the helm of Cafe Boulud and A Voce, then finding his stride as chef-owner of both Locanda Verde and The Dutch, which was named 2011 Best New Restaurant by former New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/dining/sam-siftons-top-10-new-restaurants-of-2011.html