I Can't Stop Eating This Stuff...

I've been making and eating chile for as long as I can remember - and I make a pretty mean chili too - and not only the traditional variety, but I have recently mastered the controversial white bean and chicken chli ("is it really chili?" chili purests may ask - yes, I say, filled with beans, tomatoes and lots of cumin and coriander...) and I have also perfected the healthy turkey chili ...

But the Green Chili - no - that's over my head I thought - green tomatillos- I can't even usually find these- a variety of chili peppers - and who knows what else.. Sure - it looked and sounded fantastic - but I hadn't yet gotten up the courage - or the energy - to try and create this delicious dish... But aha - I don't have to!

Once in a while, as many people who love to cook know, there comes along a pre-made mix, or sauce, or something, that is as good or better than you could make from scratch - I belive I have stumbled on just such a product...

Cookwell & Company makes a Green Chili Mix that is out of this world - I mean, dream about good - crave night and day good - I want to eat some right now good... Seriously.

I stumbled upon this product at my local Hannaford supermarket, thanks to my parents who first discovered it, in the "International Foods" aisle. Upon inspecting the label I learn the ingedients are all natural and include a variety of green chilies, fire-roasted green tomatillos, lime juice, cilantro, onions, garlic, and some chicken stock.

I simply had it with some seared pork and a little sour cream and was in heaven - the smokiness, the hotness, the flavor just fills your mouth and your whole body - it is sooooo comfort food - I imagine it would also be good with shrimp, chicken, or used a as a sauce over rice or fish. Not only is this stuff tasty beyond belief, turns out there's only 45 calories per serving (as is) and contains almost no fat or carbs... a culinary dream come true.

So if you love Mexican food, and appreciate the subtle flavors that different chili peppers can lend to a dish, go get yourself a jar before I clean out the Hannaford supply.. seriously..

Chez Mike Est Tres Délicieux

Who would guess such a culinary gem would be buried in an East Greenbush shopping plaza? Not me - luckily I found my way to this great new restaurant via my parents - the big guns of local culinary expertise..

After several visits to Chez Mike I have found consistently good and inventive "American" food. Case in point is that most dishes are “slow-cooked” and not merely topped with fancy sauces. Local produce is used and menus are seasonal – Chef Mike Cohen is clearly on top of things.

A summertime visit brought me to the homemade gazpacho topped with rich blue crab meat – this satisfying and flavorful soup was an entrée all on it’s own.

An attempt to eat “healthier” the day after Thanksgiving led me to try the Rice Noodle & Tofu Bowl – a wonderful dish of vegetables in sesame-soy broth with tofu and rice noodles. I had to ferociously fend off my dining companions – some of whom are hard-core carnivores – from stealing my dinner. It’s a good thing that when it comes to food, I am clearly stronger than I appear. The dish seems to be a staple on the menu that does seem to feature regular changes – and thank goodness – it truly was a fulfilling experience for the senses – perfectly balanced – light and healthy yet completely comforting.

Dining companions have sampled everything from the burgers – huge and meaty, to the short ribs – rich and saucy, to the brick pressed roast chicken - moist and homey. And fear not, desserts have not been neglected – there is a chocolate cake on the menu that is well worth trying – although I advise you have people to share it with – it is very rich and chocolatey - just like it should be .

The wine list is also very nice – if I were more of a wine expert I could expound here – I will say I have tried several reds, a cab, a pinot noir and a merlot – all were yummy.

In this age of fast food and chain restaurants it’s so nice to have this choice of fine dining prepared by knowledgeable and caring people – I encourage you to visit and support this noble (and scrumptious) cause for yourself…

I love a chain restaurant?

So chain restaurants are far from what I consider “good dining” – the mere phrase “chain restaurant” conjures up thoughts of pre-frozen, over-salted, under-seasoned and completely unhealthy excuses for food. Entrees we as a public are supposed to be happy with – even excited about if you believe certain advertising campaigns…

This is why this particular piece may be surprising to people – I know it is to myself. But everything I have had at The Cheesecake Factory is good – the ingredients seem to be high quality, and although there is not a whole lot to be considered “healthy” on the menu – there are healthy options that are equally as delicious as the more sinful choices.

The restaurant as a whole is more upscale than most chain restaurants – the décor is extravagant and castle-like. The service I have found to be above average. There is a full bar and an extensive menu – it’s more like a book – complete with a spiral binding – it takes a good 25 minutes to get through – so sit back, order yourself a drink, and read on…

My all time favorite dish is the Seared Tuna Tataki Salad – it is amazingly good – especially for a “healthy” dish. The dinner-sized salad features a mound of mesclin greens in a Wasabi Vinaigrette dressing that is both tangy and sweet, but so light and refreshing I have to stop myself from shoving forkfuls into my mouth... The salad is surrounded by thin slices of seared tuna, the center still raw and incredibly delicious and tender. It is served with a generous helping of sliced pickled ginger, tomatoes and slices of avocado.

And oh yeah, if you happen to like cheesecake, you’re in luck.

Tapas Toujours!

This is the third time I’ve been to Rezaz Enoteca in Asheville, North Carolina – and every time I leave I can’t wait to go again.

I only get to go once a year – and literally all year long I dream about this warm, cozy, relaxed, and authentic wine bar.

My sister lives in Raleigh and during my annual visit she’s nice enough to take me to Asheville – no short trip, we’re talking 4 hours… but so worth it..

So plan our 2 day trip around eating at various restaruants. Rezaz is scheduled for day 2. As the time approaches we get excited - to take the first sip of wine and the first bite of cheese.. we cannot wait...!
So we get there, and as we enter we see our waiter, the same one we’ve always had – a youngish guy who literally ‘flits’ from table to table, black Reeboks sliding on the wood floor for added speed..

We sit at a table near the window and accept the menus - heading right for the Wine by the Glass section. We're both fans of the red - my sister starts with a Rioja, and I with a Sangiovese. Then we get to the tapas.. .ahhh… the tapas...

We choose to go with a “Create Your Own” selection and we choose 8 items (becuase 5 is just not enough). We decide on 2 cheeses served with a house made onion jam – one is a Tallegio that is out of this world, we choose 2 kinds of olives, 2 kinds of smoked meats, including a soppressata and prosciutto, roasted asparagus and Spanish roasted red peppers..

And it’s all served with fresh peasant bread that’s been cubed, drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil and warmed up.. omg… I died and went to wine and tapas heaven…

If this is how it’s done in the Mediterranean, then book me a flight – I’m ready to endure this age old tradition.. on a daily basis…

Ahhh..It's Good To Be Back

Sorry for the hiatus...

I mean, it’s not like I’ve stopped eating or anything – god forbid.. I have just been too busy to keep up with blogging about it!

So I will once again try and give this a go – look forward to a few stories about my recent trip down to Ashville, North Carolina with my sister, (hush puppies not included, can you believe it?) as well some updates regarding a few of my local favorites.

So stay tuned my hungry friends…you shall be rewarded...

What do you expect from a restaurant with a schizophrencic name?

That's what I have should been thinking before I insisted on trying Jose Malone's in Troy..

Not that it was "bad" - just not that good - First of all there were only 2 Irish dishes on the menu - and I have a hard time counting Corned Beef and Cabbage Quesedillas as one - so it's hardly a combination of Irish and Mexican fare..

Breakfast of Champions

Hungry the second you wake up? Yeah – me too…

The solution? I find a nice hearty breakfast helps silence the hunger pangs.. And at the Catskill Country Store in Windham, I can get just that – and address my shopping addiction as well – what could be better?
Right – nothing…

It’s a beautiful drive up route 23 to Windham – a nice little ski town featuring a quaint Main Street with all the must-haves: a gallery, a diner, several gift shops and realtors with pictures of “vacation” homes on their window for tourists to drool over and imagine they can afford - yeah, we’ll just quit our jobs, open a Bed & Breakfast and live in the country! Yeah.. right..

Anyway, this homey restaurant also features a country store selling everything from homemade bread and jams to crafts, candles, slippers, art work, books and more. It’s a great place to browse for gifts..

Okay - back to the food..
The Catskill Country Store serves lunch and breakfast – and both are good – but going out for breakfast, to me, is one of the greatest joys in life.. And with menu items like “Gimme Smores” (pancakes with chocolate chips and marshmallows), and “Eggs in Purgatory” (poached eggs in salsa, served over pepper parmesan bread) – who wouldn’t love breakfast?

So I headout to breakfast – and upon my arrival I was seated and given a very large menu. As I took on the task of trying to decide what to get – it all sounds great – I overhear the inevitable “downstate” contingent – just in from their ski condos down the road, donning the latest in fashionable ski wear, filling up before they hit the slopes. Thankfully they are not interested in taking in the ambiance and manage to ingest their food at lightning speed and leave so as not to miss a precious moment on the slopes..

Back to me – so I decide to go as healthy as I can tolerate – 2 scrambled eggs, and rye toast, with a side of lean Canadian bacon.

So I tried to be good – you saw what I ordered.. and yet out comes my dish along with a sizable helping of well-done home fries, all nice and crispy, fragrant with caramelized onions and soft, sautéed red peppers .. I didn’t ask for home fries – they come with the eggs - but you can bet I wasn’t sending them back! Not only are my home fries delicious, but so is the side of marble-rye toast – homemade and addictive.. and the Canadian bacon was yummy too – Breakfast also comes with fresh berries, and a slice of cantaloupe and orange. The coffee isn’t bad either – and features an “endless cup”.

Ahhhh… now I’m all fueled up and ready to hit the slopes!
Wait.. I don’t ski.. Back to the treadmill...

Score! Or Should I say "Voila!"

So here's the scoop:
Don't wait! Get to the Mountain View Brasserie in Greenville, while you can - before the 'food gossip flood gates' open and the masses invade... Mountain View Brasserie IS as good as I hoped... as good as it's predecessor, the Freehold Country Inn... In a nutshell, the food was delicious, the menu was innovative, yet familiar - the presentation beautiful, thoughtful and appetizing.

So here’s the deal - I went, and met the parents there, on a miserably cold night that featured both wind and freezing rain – but you can bet nothing kept us all from going...
Finding the place was easy enough – right on Route 32, near enough to the road to be easy to spot on such an awful night..

Walking in from the cold and rain we found an atmosphere that was warm and inviting, not stuffy or formal. The four of us sat at a table near the window, adjacent to the gas fireplace. The décor is slightly reminiscent of the Freehold Country Inn – country-chic I’ll call it - although the interior is much more modern, as the building is much newer.

So onto the good stuff.. the food!
The menu was a nice size, not overwhelming, yet something for everyone, and there were several specials. We all toyed with the idea of appetizers, but skipped them, not wanting to take anything away from the main course – and possibly dessert.. Although with choices like Smoked Salmon with Dill Cucumber Salad and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach– it was not easy!

As we enjoyed a basket of fresh baguette slices our choice of salad or soup arrived. Three of us opted for the salad, one got the soup – a nice hearty looking cream of mushroom. The salads were delicious and fresh, and the house dressing, a balsamic vinaigrette, was fine.

At this point we decided on a wine - Stormhoek 2005, a South African Pinotage, very tasty – nice, fruity and very drinkable!

And then dinner – the main attraction – arrived! For me - there was no choice – I went right for the Vegetable Risotto with Roasted Shrimp – something I heard was a great dish here – I agree 100%. It was a battle trying not to eat it all - !
And sharing with everyone else at the table was not even an option – everyone wanted some. The rice was perfectly done, and lighter and less “pasty” than other risottos I’ve tried. The vegetables were a nice complement, making the dish less rich. The shrimp were incredibly large and fresh and delicious.

The other dishes were equally good: Crab Cakes with Lobster Sauce and Grilled Center Cut Loin of Pork served with Roasted Apples with Calvados Sauce – yummmm.

Uhhh – so we’re all full – but who can pass up the chance to try dessert? Not us..

We shared: French chocolate mousse – amazingly rich and dark, not too sweet.. And an apple strudel with French vanilla ice cream – not a bite remained on anyone’s plate – enough said..

The service was nice, no one was rushed. The atmosphere pleasant and comfortable. And best of all the food – very good. I know we’ll be back!