Coming Soon
The Food Section will be on a brief hiatus this week, but stay tuned next week, when this site returns with an onslaught of words and photos celebrating the gastronomical pleasures of Montreal.
Street Fare: Duck Food, D&R Canal, Lambertville, New Jersey
August 15, 2004
Spotted along the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Agenda: 8/25 to 8/31
1. Cooking with Herbs, cooking lesson led by Nissa Pierson, Wednesday, August 25, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at Whole Foods Market, 10 Columbus Circle. $25/person. Advance registration required at customer service at the Columbus Circle store (212.823.9600).
2. Second Annual Long Island Wine Classic, featuring local wines and and dishes from Alison, Della Femina, Mirabelle, and Tierra Mar in Long Island; and Artisanal, Craft, Home, and Park Avenue Café in Manhattan, Saturday, August 28, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, 240 Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton, Long Island. $175/advance, $200/door (631.537.3177).
3. Sweet Corn Festival, including corn eating and shucking contests and “Pigtuckey Derby” pig races, Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Heaven Hill Farm, 449 Route 94, Vernon, New Jersey. $7.00/adults, $5.00/12 and under (973.764.5144).
Ongoing Events:
1. Cookin': A Sizzling Entertainment, "a fast-paced kitchen percussion show combining comedy, rhythm, and non-verbal performance," at the Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane (212.420.8000).
2. Beer Garden at the Brooklyn Historical Society, every Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., through August 27, at the Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn. The Beer Garden is part of "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," an exhibition on the history of brewing in Brooklyn, on view through October 16 (718.222.4111).
Is My Blog Burning? Potstickers
The worldwide online cooking event Is My Blog Burning? (IMBB) returns once again. As announced by Jarrett, the mind behind Food Porn Watch, the theme for the seventh installment of IMBB is "You're Just the Cutest Little Dumpling!"
Previous editions of IMBB, the spontaneously arranged worldwide online cooking event, have focused on soup, tartines, cake, rice, fish, and grilling.
I tossed around a few ideas for this edition of IMBB, considering everything from gnocchi to xiaolong bao (soup dumplings) to knishes. In the end, I decided to make guotie, or potstickers, the delicious and addicting Chinese dumplings that are steamed and pan fried to a crisp on one side.
Read More >
Agenda: 8/18 to 8/24
1. Third Annual Pig Roast, pig roast, trimmings, and live music, Saturday, August 21, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Martha Clara Vineyards, 6025 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, New York. $20/advance, $30/door. Space is limited (reservations: 631.298.0075 ext. 22).
2. Wine 101, one night wine immersion course offered by NYC Wine Class, Saturday, August 21, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., at the Midtown Executive Club, 40 West 45th Street (between 5th and 6th avenues). $90/person (212.647.1875).
3. Champagne & Oysters, sparkling wine, champagne, and oyster, Saturday, August 21, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., at The Lenz Winery, Rte. 25 - Main Road, Peconic, New York. $65/advance, $75/door (800.974.9899).
Ongoing Events:
1. Cookin': A Sizzling Entertainment, "a fast-paced kitchen percussion show combining comedy, rhythm, and non-verbal performance," at the Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane (212.420.8000).
2. Beer Garden at the Brooklyn Historical Society, every Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., through August 27, at the Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn. The Beer Garden is part of "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," an exhibition on the history of brewing in Brooklyn, on view through October 16 (718.222.4111).
Shopping List: Nutella Snack & Drink
Imagine if Kraft hired a group of Italian taste-makers and product designers to create a concept for an overhaul of its disturbing lunchables line, and there you have Nutella Snack & Drink.
Made by Ferrero, which produces Nutella, the chocolate and hazelnut confection, the cylinder-shaped Nutella Snack & Drink is divided into compartments containing a serving of Nutella, bread-sticks to scoop it out, and a splash of iced tea to wash everything down.
This product was a staple at all of the roadside Autogrills when we visited Italy two years ago. Now, you can find it stateside at Buon Italia at Chelsea Market.
For more information (in Italian only), visit the official Nutella Web site and click on "Nutella Snack and Drink," which features a very compelling commercial (download zip). While you're there, be sure to check out mynutella, the Nutella online community, where you can pledge your love for the spread and view the latest photos from Nutella "Live at the Beach."
Nutella Snack & Drink is $3.25 at Buon Italia, Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 (212.633.9090).
Agenda: 8/11 to 8/17
1. First Annual Blackout Party, candlelight dinner commemorating the 2003 blackout (BYOF: Bring Your Own Flashlight), Saturday, August 14, at Palmira’s Restaurant, 41 Clark Street, Brooklyn Heights (718.237.4100).
2. Jersey Fresh Wine & Food Festival, featuring local produce, tastings, and wine from New Jersey Vintners, Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15, noon to 5:00 p.m. at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Tickets: $20/adults, under 21/free (609.588.0085).
3. Blues, Barbecue & Fireworks, featuring music, barbecue, and a fireworks display, Sunday, August 15, 2:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Pier 54, Hudson River Park (212.627.2021).
Ongoing Events:
1. Cookin': A Sizzling Entertainment, "a fast-paced kitchen percussion show combining comedy, rhythm, and non-verbal performance," at the Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane (212.420.8000).
2. Beer Garden at the Brooklyn Historical Society, every Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., through August 27, at the Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn. The Beer Garden is part of "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," an exhibition on the history of brewing in Brooklyn, on view through October 16 (718.222.4111).
Grilled Fava Beans
A few weeks ago, while I had the opportunity to cook with a real outdoor grill, I tried my hand at grilling fava beans. I first read about the technique in an article by Regina Schrambling in the Los Angeles Times, where she detailed the method and described how it was introduced to her by Judy Rodgers of San Francisco's Zuni Café.
One of the technique's benefits, Ms. Schrambling writes, is that it renders the cumbersome beans extremely easy to prepare:
Before this revelation, I considered favas the Brazil nuts of beans. First, you have to shell them, then you have to slip a tight skin off every single one. The naked legumes are worth the struggle, but you still wind up throwing out about two-thirds of what you pay for.
Since this article was published, yet another article on grilling fava beans appeared in the August/September issue of Saveur as a sidebar to a 12-page paean to Judy Rodgers and Zuni Café.
To make the grilled fava beans, first season the raw beans generously with salt and toss with extra virgin olive oil. Place the pods on the grill and cook until blackened and soft. As the pods pop and blister on the outside, they steam within.
When they have sufficiently charred on both sides, remove the pods from the grill, let cool, and then pry them open to reveal the beans, which may be slipped from their thin skins or eaten whole, skin and all. The salty, meaty beans are as tasty as they are easy to prepare.
