VittlesVamp

Cooking in California: The Spanakopita Edition

My pals Amelia and Shyam just moved to Oakland and their new apartment has a great kitchen - a baller kitchen. How could I resist playing in said baller kitchen when I was lucky enough to be their houseguest this past week?

My dinner dish of choice? Spanakopita. Had I made it before? Nope. Did I consult several recipes and then toss them in a jumble to create my own take on the Greek classic? Yup. Was it delicious? Hell to the yup! Is the recipe below? Um, yeah...

Spanakopita

1 box frozen phyllo dough (defrosted)
3 10oz. boxes frozen chopped spinach (defrosted)
8 oz. good feta (diced or crumbled)
5 scallions (thinly sliced, whites and greens)
1 shallot (minced)
1 lg. garlic clove (minced)
1 cup fresh dill (chopped)
1 TBSP salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 eggs
3/4 cups ghee (melted)
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease an 8X8 pan with a bit of the ghee. Strain the spinach using cheesecloth or a dishtowel to squeeze out all of the liquid. Saute the scallions, shallot, and garlic in two tablespoons of the melted ghee in a small pan until just starting to brown - about 4 - 5 minutes. Add to the spinach. Mix in the feta, dill, salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the spinach as well. Lightly whisk the eggs and then incorporate in to the spinach mixture. Layer the phyllo at the bottom of the pan (neatness is not necessarily) and brush with melted ghee and sprinkle with breadcrumbs in between each layer. After 6 - 8 layers, place the spinach mixture in the pan and spread evenly before layering on another 6 - 8 sheets of phyllo with ghee and breadcrumbs on top. Finish with a layer of phyllo brushed with ghee. Bake for 1 hour. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving,

Croissant Curmudgeonry

It's Passover. I should be thinking about all things unleavened. Instead I am thinking about croissant. Yes, puffy, flaky, buttery croissant.

But, there is a new trend that is turning the classic croissant into a fad-riffic Instagram star -- I call it croiss-insanity. Bakeries across the country are contorting croissant dough around a never-ending merry-go-round of unorthodox ingredients. Think purple yam, cod roe, black garlic, white miso, chamomile tea, and pineapple jelly. The New York Times calls them "frankenpastries."

I have tried to be open-minded.

The croiss-insanity pictured above is called an "everything croissant" and was purchased at my local Joe's Coffee. It was so very wrong. It didn't taste bad, mind you. It just wasn't a croissant. It wasn't an everything bagel. And, in the end, it wasn't enough of either to be anything I wanted to eat.

I ventured to Supermoon Bakery on the Lower East Side, where they have a croissant described as: "dual core croissant with matcha creme patissiere and lemon curd, topped with white chocolate shards." Don't get me started on the "cruffins." Each croiss-insanity was spotlighted in a precise, highly photogenic line on the counter, like a parade of overeager models strutting down the catwalk for the paparazzi. And, oh the paparazzi arrived. They descended in the form of foreign tourists. They thrust their cell phones in front of each other to snap the odd colorful frankenpastries, grabbing at a bit of social media foodie glory.

I think it is time for me to close my mind now - snap it shut tight.

Give me a perfect plain croissant with a bit of raspberry jam and I will be more than content. A chocolate croissant also has a place in my heart (and stomach). And, an almond croissant, when made expertly, is a thing of beauty as well.

I have no need for this newfangled breed of pastry. You can keep my "everything" on a bagel, thank you very much.

Best Taco Ever? It's In Philly

I had a hard time thinking this spot was going to be a big win. A weird little taco joint in Philadelphia's Italian Market that opens a the ungodly hour of 6am to accommodate workers getting off the night shift? My friend John insisted we go and go early - and John usually is right in these things.

Right he was.

At first glance, El Compadre seems more than a bit makeshift. Ice cold agua frescas are poured outside the door, as customers line up to order tacos and tortas. As soon as you get past the doorframe you are asked to order from whatever hunks of meat the kitchen has on hand. Accompaniments? Find them on a tiny table to the right. Pile on whatever suits you.

Doesn't sound like the makings of a gourmand fantasy - right?

Wrong.

The hunks of meat in question are glorious. Simply remarkable. In particular, the barbacoa, meltingly tender lamb, is a stand-out. And, the tortillas for the tacos? Handmade in the kitchen from masa ground from local Lancaster County corn. Warm, they emit the nose-tickling aroma of fresh corn on the cob.

Toppings range from marinated nopale leaves and bright green cilantro to chopped white onion and housemade guacamole.

These were unquestionably the best tacos of my life. Seriously. Best. Tacos. Of. My. Life.

And, El Compadre's presence in the Italian Market isn't a Mexican oddity among a sea of pasta stores and pastry shops on the strip. Slowly, but surely, the Italian Market has welcomed a new set of immigrants, becoming home to Mexican butchers and tortilla makers too. As a result, there seems to be a South of the Border vibe in the land of Rocky Balboa and cheesesteaks. And, if El Compadre's tacos are an indication of what Philadelphia has to look forward to by way of Mexican fare, I think we can confidently say - Viva La Ciudad de Amor Fraternal!

Tati Is In Town

Those in the know have primed their livers accordingly.

My pal Tati has descended upon New York, intent on drinking in every last gulp of good times this city has to offer. I am excited to see her in the morning - ready to take on a veritable whirligig of executive chefs, pastry chefs, sous chefs, bartenders, somms, ice cream makers, cheesemongers, butchers, sandwich makers, wine merchants, and more.

Not sure how to categorize my friend Peter, who owns Shelsky's, but I know she's planning on a stop there to get her fill of herring. Lots of herring. Copious amounts of herring.

Tati is one of the most gregarious gals I know - and dang if, in addition to making "all gone" with a school of herring, she can't polish off a bottle of pink champagne like a pro. Haling from Russia, she has a way around a bottle of vodka too. It's impressive. She's impressive.

I wish I could live up to her revelries, but I always fall short - needing to down glasses of water instead of a cocktail or vino, when she is imbibing. And, let me be perfectly clear, my friend stays perfectly sober. Well, maybe a buzz...

Still, she's a marvel.

In the past, unbeknownst to Miss Tati, I would bribe bartenders to give me soda water instead of another drink, garnishing it just so, as not to give up the charade that I was matching her drink for drink.

Now, I know better. And, I am coming clean.

I may admire Tati's stamina and her unbridled joy - but I am a cheaper date. That has to count for something, right?

At the very least, it should leave us a bit more moolah to hit a few of New York's hot spots this weekend. I can't wait!

A Dining Dream Come True

I am such a fan girl sometimes. I have always swooned at the notion of visiting the James Beard House for one of their gourmet dinners. Passing by the West Village townhouse I always try to steal a glance through the windows, craning my neck to get a look at the tables inside - jealous of the guests, aching to be one of them.

Well, last night I wasn't just a fan girl. I was a dinner guest.

And, it was everything it was cracked up to be - from kicking off the evening with a flute of NV Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, Brut and bits of Korean Bacon with Spicy Mustard to Steak Tartare served with addictive crispy beef tendon puffs and glasses of NV R. Geoffroy, Champagne Rose de Saignee Brut.

That was just the beginning. The food was courtesy of Cote, the new hot gourmet Korean steakhouse in Flatiron.

Let me say, the steak was freakin' sublime. We had a Vertical Tasting of Dry Aged Rib Eye. What is that, you ask? Think about a rosy red slab of seared beef aged for 28 days, next to one that was aged for 55 days, next to one aged for 110 days. Oh, yeah. They brought the funk. They brought the kimchi jam!

I could go on, but why make you even more green-eyed with jealousy than necessary?

So, fan girl no more, I might need to step up and buy tickets to a few more of these James Beard Foundation dinners. Next time I hope they seat me at the table in James' bedroom, mirrored ceiling and all. I think that'll suit me just fine.

Dim Sum Sunday

There is something celebratory about hitting one of New York City's dim sum palaces at high noon on a Sunday. The mad crush of people, the clattering of the carts, children darting around the room, the never-ending pots of tea -- all of it contributes to a rollicking good time.

In Manhattan, one of the finest spots for traditional dim sum is Jing Fong. Its massive dining room is a sight to behold -- bright red, decorated with gold flourishes and over-the-top crystal chandeliers, and packed to the gils with Chinese-American families and friends. A few tables here and there host diners who are visiting from neighborhoods other than Chinatown, but this place is seriously popular with locals. It is the real deal.

Watching the cart ladies do their thing is quite the entertainment. Whether they are hawking platters of crispy duck with hoisin for dipping, or ready to pour out piping hot bowls of savory congee, or are piling bamboo steamers one atop the other filled with gelatinous chicken feet and steamed pork riblets, I am entranced. My go-to's are the sticky rice in lotus leaf, har gow, and the classic siu-mai...

I have a hard time deciding if dim sum is the ultimate New York Sunday brunch or if that award should go the Judaic combo of bagels and smoked fish. Either way, this gal is happy to have either one next Sunday.

Who wants to join me?

Bún Love

Most of the Vietnamese food fans in my life fit squarely into two camps: pho devotees and bánh mì aficionados.

While I appreciate both in their finest forms, I typically look at another part of the menu when I'm lucky enough to be dining on Vietnamese fare -- I am transfixed by the búns.

For those of you not familiar, a bún is a bowl stuffed with cool rice vermicelli, chopped lettuce, mint leaves, pickled carrots and daikon, sliced cucumbers, scallion, flash-fried shallots, and peanuts -- then topped with a variety of different lemongrass-scented, grilled meats and/or a crisp spring roll. Douse it with a vinaigrette spiked with fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and hot chiles, toss it about, and grab a pair of chopsticks.

Yum doesn't come close to describing it.

Have yet to find a New York City go-to when I need to get a fix, so I've been counting on trips to Philadelphia and San Francisco to get my bún on. The superb specimen pictured above is from one of fave spots in SF called Tin.

Already dreaming of a January visit to Philly, and one in February to San Francisco.

If rail and air miles are necessary to get me my bún bliss, so be it!

A Gratuitous Cocktail Post

This is a completely unnecessary post intended make you green-eyed with jealously. In short: I went to D.C.'s barmini and had many genius cocktails and had quite a glorious time imbibing each and every one.

That is all.

Chyn & The Chips

My friend Chyn is obsessed. Seriously obsessed. I do like a potato chip now and then - especially if I am able to plunk a bit of creme fraiche, caviar, and snipped chives atop - but Chyn is the Queen of the Chips.

She cannot resist a new flavor, texture, or brand.

I took her to Shelsky's for a smoked fish fiesta, and although she was enchanted by her first bialy and downed two different sorts of herring, it was their selection of potato chips that had her swooning. All three pictured above were purchased - Iberian ham, black truffle, and caviar. Then she bought a different brand's white truffle chips to round things out.

The other night, walking home after being mightily stuffed on brilliant Thai food at Brooklyn's Ugly Baby, she stopped short when she spied some Korean BBQ-flavored potato chips in a bodega. It took some persuading to get her to agree to keep moving and not buy a bag.

Right now, Chyn is somewhere in deepest darkest Montreal. I imagine she has a bag of foie gras-flavored potato chips by her side. Or maybe they are poutine-flavored. Then again, perhaps they are smoked meat-flavored.

Any which way, I am sure she's happy. Or should I say chipper?

Portugal & Porco

Most people think of Spain when they think jamón. Admittedly it is a country that can boast a museum devoted to the the glory of dry-cured ham. But, Portugal can lay claim to porky genius as well.

My first meal in Lisbon was at a unassuming taberna called Zé dos Cornos, where I was greeted with a wide variety of gorgeous pig parts in the form of a dish called Espetada de Porco Preto -- skewers of black pork tenderloin alternating with peppers and thin slices of blood sausage and chorizo.

What is "black pork," you ask? Black pig is a breed native to the Iberian peninsula, raised in the Alentejo region of Portugal, famous for its vineyards, cork and acorn trees, and its incredible pork.

And, when you let pigs eat those acorns in Alentejo?

You get dry-cured hams that are marbled, with a sublime melt-in-your-mouth texture. Called pata negra de bellota, it is pure piggy bliss. I couldn't help but buy one too many paper-thin slices at Manteigaria Silva, while similarly indulging in the purchase of dried-cured sausages such as linguiças and salpicões.

Unsurprisingly, all of this pork goodness didn't last too long in my apartment over the course of two weeks, so more pork had to be had off-premises...

This platter of pork goodness was enjoyed at Taberna da Baixa, another unassuming spot in Lisbon that knows its way around a pig.

So, am I Team Portugal or Team Spain when it comes to the pork crown?

I'm going to withhold judgement here. This is a longstanding rivalry. The only Portugal vs. Spain rivalry that is more contentious is over fútbol -- and, I will leave that to the FIFA referees.

Céu Do Marisco Em Portugal

It was a classic Portuguese sight: Fishermen in the seaside town of Cascais hauling back lobster traps and trawl nets after bringing in their catch. This coastal tableau confirmed what I had already known for several days.

Portugal is quite simply seafood nirvana.

The realization began to dawn on me on my very first night in Lisbon, At a late night dinner at the Time Out Market, I sidled up to the counter at Marisquiera Azul and joyously tucked into a bowl of insanely fresh clams, doused in garlic butter...

They went down so easy. And, sopping up all the sauce with a hunk of crusty bread just added further glee to my evening repast. Fork down, I suddenly spied the kitchen's myriad of crustaceans, all kept on ice and at-the-ready. Tempting. Should I order up more? Giant head-on prawns perhaps?

It was a close call, but ultimately I abstained. It was only my first night, after all. Quite literally, I thought to myself that there are more fish in the sea.

Boy, was I right.

There was a business lunch in the swank Chiado district at Aprazivel, where I laid waste to a mighty helping of a traditional Portuguese dish called Bacalhau à Brás...

...fluffy scrambled eggs with chunks of silky bacalhau - salted codfish - and matchstick potatoes.

Then there were the stores filled, top to bottom, with cans of sardines. And, there was a trip to the headlands beach mecca of Peniche, which allowed for a memorable lunch, featuring the most delectable grilled octopus that I've ever encountered...

...in this case a whole octopus, tentacles charred to perfection, plated alongside migas - a delicious cornbread stuffing perfumed with garlic, tossed with hearty white beans and herbs.

But the ultimate seafood experience was had at the end of my stay. At the suggestion of a local colleague, I snagged a reservation at a Belem district restaurant called Nunes Real Marisqueira. I think this picture says it all...

Tiger shrimp, gamba do Algarve, oysters, crab, and so much more.

It was a pescetarian dream come true - no lobster traps or trawling nets necessary. Thankfully, though, I had a credit card handy and the restaurant was kind enough to provide a bib, as well as a seafood mallet.

So, it should come as no surprise that I stand by the name of this post - which loosely translates to "Portugal is Seafood Heaven."

If heaven is real, the angels are most certainly hanging out by the pearly gates, indulging in a platter of shellfish from Nunes. And then, the next logical question for me has to be: Where do I get my hands on a halo? Or, at the very least, when can I get my sweet self back to Portugal?

Landing in Lisbon

If all goes well, I should be in Lisbon, Portugal right now. Ensconced in a lovely apartment in the Baixa District, I'll be here for two weeks of work and merriment. Needless to say, I look forward to sipping glasses of fine Port, listening to the strains of Fado, and enjoying one too many Pasteis de Nata (aka Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts).