A Toast to December

Hey friends! I took a little break from blogging this holiday season and focused on living in the present. And by living in the present I mean experiencing a bunch a great festive foodie adventures! I've done a little recap of my favorite endeavors so I hope you enjoy!

A most delightful grilled cheese @ Birch Coffee to start off the month

A very French Pinot with B at Whynot: a genius cafe that serves coffee AND vino

Tasty Mint Julep at the uber hip Maison Premiere in BK

Christmas tree outside NYSE

Wonderful friends' Christmas dinner at Rosemary's with S & G. So festive!

Holiday happy hour with my two E's at Terroir

ESB all lit up for the holidays!

Discovered this in midtown while traipsing around the city with P & E

Wine chiller: so cool! Literally!

Christmas Eve in front of the fire

Christmas dinner table all set!

Stuffed peppers at Vino's with "mafia" wine glasses

Beautiful sun across the snow in Delaware Park

...and ESB again all dressed last night for NYE

Hope you all had as wonderful a holiday season as I did filled with food, family, friends and love all around. For sure I will be detoxing a bit this January so you'll have more recipes to look forward to.Thank you for taking the time to read Lauribeth Loves and here's to a delicious 2014!

A Sunday Smorgasburg!

DUMBO waterfront

Today I spent a most lovely Sunday with two Fordham pals of mine, G & C, checking out the weekly food fair that is Smorgasburg in DUMBO, just below the Brooklyn Bridge. We braved the almost-oppressive humidity and strange fog that descended the boroughs in search of tasty cuisine along the Brooklyn waterfront. And we were certainly not disappointed!


There were approximately 60 different food stands at Smorgasburg today, so we had quite the decision0(s) to make. C and I were very hungry we couldn't initially decide so we each got a cheesy cornbread square from Jack's Chedbread . Mmm deliciously cheesy and perfectly moist! I would definitely be tempted to go back to Smorgasburg simply for Chedbread! Following our little stomach quellers, we each split up in  search of the main course. C chose Indian from Dosa Royal; G went for a very authentic Mexican; and I went for some inventive hash from the Hash Bar. We reconvened and sat on wooden crates set up to indulge in a true smorgasbord.

We were all very happy with our choices and definitely needed a walk after so we headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge. This was the first time I had explored the Brooklyn waterfront and I was really impressed! It was also great to see so many families and people around, despite the odd weather. By the time we reached the foot of the bridge, we were ready for a sweet treat so headed to Jacques Torres Ice Cream shop. It was quite spontaneous but I am so glad we stopped because not only was the ice cream delicious, but the area around Water Street was adorable! I can't wait to head back!

To cap off our afternoon (and burn off some of the calories!) we walked the bridge, another first for myself and G! It was a wonderful afternoon spent with great friends, great food and great fun. A true treasure!

Ice cream & cookies from Jacques Torres

The original JT in my life!

Therapeutic Lasagna

This whole move back to NYC has been quite the process and a tad more challenging than I had planned. "DUH Lauren, you've moved back across an ocean after 4+ years from one of the most amiable and livable cities to one of the toughest and largest (see: isolated) cities in the world*," you must be thinking. Well guess what dear reader? When the going gets tough, Lauren gets a'cookin'! 

*Yes, New York is astoundingly amazing too.

So one sunny Saturday, instead of wallowing the day away, I perused Pinterest for some cookinspiration and made my comfort food selection: Zucchini Lasagna. Then I gathered my eco-friendly bags, wrote a very large shopping list and hopped on the 4 to the Boerum Hill Trader Joe's. As this was my first venture into actually employing a Pinterest recipe, I was skeptical. I was more determined, however, to beat my Gotham blues and make a masterpiece of taste!

The recipe detailed below originates from the SkinnyTaste.com website by way of RecipeByPhoto.com

I would definitely recommend grilling or broiling your zucchini slices prior to layering. If grilling, do til charred and if broiling, go for about 10-15 minutes on each side. You can prep everything else while broiling.

My lovely friendmate (friend + roomie!) attested that it was a success (because I am biased to my own cooking of course!) and even better this was dinner for a week! I don't think I'll ever make lasagna again with pasta as it really turned out delicious. Try it out for yourself and let me know how it works! At the very least, the cooking can serve as cheap and delicious therapy for whatever ails you :-)

Broiling the Zukes: Essential!

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb lean beef
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 onion
• 1 tsp olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 3 medium zucchini, sliced 1/8" thick
• 15 oz ricotta (skim or full)
• 16 oz part-skin mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup Parmesan 
• 1 large egg

I added mushrooms to jazz up the meat!

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan, brown meat and season with salt. When cooked drain in colander to remove any fat. Add olive oil to the pan and saute garlic and onions about 2 minutes. Return the meat to the pan, add tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer on low for at least 30-40minutes, covered. Do not add extra water, the sauce should be thick.

Meanwhile, slice zucchini into 1/8" thick slices, add lightly salt and set aside or 10 minutes. Zucchini has a lot of water when cooked, salting it takes out a lot of moisture. After 10 minutes, blot excess moisture with a paper towel.

On a gas grill or grill pan, grill zucchini on each side, until cooked, about 1-2 minutes per side. Place on paper towels to soak any excess moisture.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Ricotta bellisima!

In a medium bowl mix ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and egg. Stir well.

In a 9x12 casserole spread some sauce on the bottom and layer the zucchini to cover. Then place some of the ricotta cheese mixture, then top with the mozzarella cheese and repeat the process until all your ingredients are used up. Top with sauce and mozzarella and cover with foil.

Bake 45 minutes covered at 375°, then uncovered 15 minutes. Let stand about 5 - 10 minutes before serving. 

Layering

Time for the oven oh yes!

Brooklyn Winery: Putting the WIN in Winery

Wine Bar at Brooklyn Winery

One day during some down time at work, I was inspired to research some vineyards "downstate". To my delight, the Googler machine brought me a result very close to Manhattan: the Brooklyn Winery! Located just a 10 minute subway ride from Union Square to Williamsburg, I was impressed by the uber-cool and laidback vibe of the website. Not only is the year-old urban vineyard accessible, you can even bring home a growler of some Brooklyn-made vino! There is also a loyalty card program with very good rewards, so I signed my name and address up and bingo-bango four days later had my card ready to go! Now only to find an occasion and corresponding outfit to fit in hipster-central.

K & A happy & hip

Coincidentally, two dear friends K & A from Buffalo had planned an extended weekend trip, so off to Willyburg we ventured on a very rainy Friday evening in June, kitted out in ironic prints and smudged eyeliner. We found the unassuming front of the winery on North 8^th by noticing a group of suits outside, which we felt oddly placed on W-burg.  We soon discovered they were attending a wedding reception at the Winery, interesante! 

We entered to the bar/restaurant area and the hostess asked would we prefer bar or table? Obviously our cooler-than-school ensembles had fooled her into thinking we belonged at the bar. We chose the table however as we were ready to EAT. The dining section is leisurely laid out with appox 6 longish tables for a communal dining experience. We sat at the end of ours and a very friendly mustached man in plaid came over with menus. He asked if we had been before (score point #2 for fitting in!) and then took us through the wine list. BK Winery offers 6 varieties made on site plus a decent selection of NYS and domestic wines. Plus there is a sample of cocktails and craft beers for the grape-haters. Myself and A "the curator" (fake profession) chose a flight each which range from $14-20 for three ample tastings. I chose to choose my three poisons while Alex chose the NYS white flight. K "the taxidermist" chose a delicious looking rose cocktail. We then moved to the food and ordered cheese board, charcuterie, and olives for round one. We were blown away. Everything was outstanding, even down to the simple toasted baguette slices (to which we were even topped up by our mustached amigo!) the organic honey, apricot chutney, a healthy selection of creamy delicious  cheeses and meets. Wow. Our palates craved more and we ordered another round of wine plus the baked goat cheese and the fluke ceviche. Taste buds in absolute ecstasy. I moved on from my flight to a delicious Pinot Noir. Also to note, the water was kept flowing, which is a small thing but really means a lot for the dining experience. We intended to only stay for a round of nibbles, maybe two drinks and ended with two rounds of food and 3-4round of wine. Our bellies sated and cheeks rosier than the rose, we left off to part two of hipster night extremely happy. 

Signature Cabernet Rose

Mixed plates and beakers for carafes!

More-ish charcuterie

I've since returned to the winery for a tour and three more dinners, each exemplary! Plus now I've earned enough points for two free wine classes - score! You best believe there will be a separate post on that experience. In conclusion, you’d be a square if you didn’t check out this urban gem! Viva la Williamsburg!

skylight in the reception room

Brooklyn Winery 

213 N. 8th ST

Brooklyn, NY 11211

347-763-1506

Staycation 2013: Spot Coffee

The inside of the Hertal Ave Spot

 

 

A Western New York staple, Spot Coffee was one of the first green shoots that sprouted back in 1996 as a sign of regrowth in the area. For me, Spot has been the birthplace of my caffeine addiction and has honed my taste for a good roasted bean. When I was twelve, all I wanted to do was be a barista in their original Chippewa St location because everyone there seemed so hip and friendly.

 

So you can imagine my delight when Spot opened a location very close to my family home in North Buffalo on Hertal Avenue a few years back (yes this was the REAL reason for moving back stateside;-) So over the span of my eight day stay at home, I managed to frequent Spot three times: for breakfast, lunch and dessert.

 

They have such a delicious array of  hot and cold beverages, baked goods and pastries, breakfast sandwiches, Panini (including their famously good grilled cheese), pastas and salads. With such a variety, you really cannot go wrong at Spot. All of their food is made fresh and their coffee… it’s just the bee's  knees! The staff and baristas remain ultra cool and always with a welcome smile, beckoning you to "park it" and stay a while.

 

So I did. Three times. First visit, I chose the Mike's Breakfast Sandwich accompanied by a perfectly blended mocha for breakfast. Next visit, the grilled cheese and CINCO shake (a must-try, legit on of the best things I have ever tasted). And lastly, an iced coffee with a bite of wonderfully moist carrot cake.

 

Every morsel and every sip was morish as they say across the pond and well worth the calorie intake! I highly recommend if you're in Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto, and now even in Florida, to check out Spot. It'll sure to be the bright spot* of your day.

 

Spot's famous grilled cheese & Cinco Shake - Bliss!!

*apologies for that terribly corny joke, I just couldn't help myself!

 

Spot Coffee

Various locations

(Hertal Ave & Elmwood Ave are my fav!)