Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Reason Number 1,299 Why I Hate Toronto

Does this look appetizing to you? Is this really what you want to see when you hit up an out-of-the-way Ukrainian/Polish street fair? Shame on you, food vendors of Toronto! I want a good, fresh sausage on a kaiser with hot mustard. And real sauerkraut. Not some cabbage strands and dried out kielbasa floating around a bain marie and then slopped onto a wonderbun with French's.
Come December, I'll be eating the legendary chorizo sausage sandwich on a crusty white bun with tons of spicy rocket and a smear of good mustard, thanks to London's Burough Market. Cheerio!
http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/index.php

Cruising for a Bloomin

The caloric content alone makes the bloomin' onion sin on a plate, weighing in at a whopping 2,710 calories per serving. And there is nothing greasier, or more satisfying, than a blossoming battered and fried vidalia served alongside dressing for a meal fit for the terribly hungover. Check out other food sins below:

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/04/taking_stock_of_the_calorie_co_1.html

Monday, September 29, 2008

I'm Baaaccckkkk!!!!!!

Alright,
so I haven't really been blogging this summer because, well, who the hell blogs anymore? This being a food blog, and today being the Jewish New Year, let's consider this a fresh start. I made wicked tagine the other night with the help of a Mrs. Roden that I though you might all enjoy now that the weather has turned. Have it with a bottle of the Lan Rioja, 100% tempranillo and absolutley delicious.
Okay, here it goes, with a little shopping guide for the two of you reading this:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, grated or chopped very finely
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed saffron threads or saffron powder *I like to use threads and soak them in a teaspoon of warm water for a few mintues before adding it to a dish
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 chicken, jointed
salt and black pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons chopped corriander
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
peel of 1 large or 2 small preserved lemons
*For all of the above, check out Arz Bakery and Fine Foods, 1909 Lawrence Ave. East (at Warden), 416-755-5084
12-16 green or voilet olives

In a wide casserole or heavy-bottomed pan that can hold all the chicken pieces in one layer, heat the oil and put in the onions. Saute, stiring over low heat, until they soften, then stir in the garlic, saffron and ginger.
Put in the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper and pour in about 300ml of water. Simmer, covered, turning the pieces over a few times and adding a little more water if it becomes too dry. Lift out the breasts after about 20 minutes and put them to one side. Continue to cook the remaining pieces for another 25 minutes or so, after which time return the breasts to the pan.
Stir into the sauce the lemon juice, the chopped corriander and parsley, the preserved lemon peel cut into quarters or strips, and the olives. Simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes, until the reduced sauce is thick an unctuous. If there is too much liquid, lift out the chicken pieces and keep them to on one sode while you reduce the sauce further, then return the chicken to the pan and heat through.
Present the chicken on a serving dish witht he olives and lemon peel on top of the meat.
Enjoy!