I never thought about it before moving to Israel, but different countries butcher animals in different ways. I’ve already talked about what a struggle it was to find brisket. Luckily in response to that post someone told me about Shiri. Then Arnaud from Chez Eugene told me about Shiri. I knew I had to get to Shiri. Continue reading “Sumac Skirt Steak with Port-Pomegranate Reduction”
I had bacon in the fridge that needed to be used. I had frozen peas in the freezer leftover from samosas. I had, as always, pasta. I even had a few tablespoons of heavy cream leftover from a ganache that I’ll tell you about later. Have you ever been to a less-than-authentic Italian restaurant and ordered Spaghetti Carbonara? Well, for some reason these places tend to insist that Carbonara is a heavy cream-based sauce with bacon or ham and peas. Not always terrible, but disappointing when you know what good Carbonara tastes like. And for some reason, that dish became my inspiration for the evening. But I wanted to make it good. Continue reading “Pasta with Peas and Bacon”
Now that I’ve bored you with the details of our trials, tribulations, and family reunion in Budapest, it’s time to get to the important stuff: the food. Since we were there such a short time and met with so many complications I have a much shorter list of places worth eating than in Berlin or Prague. I can’t in good conscience tell you to go to the crappy Italian restaurant we succumbed to because apparently we can’t go two weeks without carbonara. This isn’t to say that Budapest doesn’t have good food – we had some great food – we just weren’t at the top of our game. Continue reading “Restaurants, Baths and a Market: Budapest, Part II”
Budapest was both the first and last stop on our 10-day tour of Central Europe as we started with an entire day’s layover there before continuing on to Berlin. We heard mixed reviews of Budapest before embarking; many people love it, but so many shrugged their shoulders and said, ‘it was ok.’ It is definitely a little rough around the edges, a shiny renovated building standing next to a dilapidated one that only hints at its former grandeur. But that’s part of what made me fall in love with this city with its wide avenues and homey cuisine. Continue reading “Missed Connections: Budapest, Part I”
I’ve been missing leafy green vegetables here. I haven’t been able to find kale, and while beets are ubiquitous beet greens are elusive. When I noticed bok choy at the market I snatched it right up. A member of the cabbage family, bok choy is a powerhouse of vitamins. It is low in fat, calories, and carbs and high in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, calcium and dietary fiber. There’s also some potassium and B6 in there. Plus I happen to think it tastes great. I prepared it in a super simple, garlicky stir fry with tofu and served it with steamed Jasmine rice for a complete meal. Continue reading “Garlicky Bok Choy and tofu”
I’ve already mentioned what a delinquent blogger I’ve been. Well, I went on Israel Food Tours‘ culinary tour of the Negev with Ben Brewer over a month ago and I’m just now writing about it. Blame it on Pesach, if you like. Regardless, it’s as fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday. Continue reading “A Culinary Tour of the Negev”
I’ve been a delinquent blogger. I haven’t quite managed to get back on track since returning from our Central European vacation. There was catching up to do, articles to write, an apartment to clean, holidays to celebrate, and a slight malaise to top it all off. Evan has had off this week which means all we want to do is play. The beach was calling. Even now I am coated in sunscreen, ready to hit the shores of Ashkelon despite a looming deadline. Continue reading “15 Pounds of Garlic Later…”
It is Yom Ha’atzmaut, or Israeli Independence day, and as I write this fireworks are exploding outside my window. For Israelis this is a major day, something they still remember and actively fight for. Sure the Fourth of July is big in the US, but there’s no one alive who remembers the American Revolution; that’s the stuff of history books. Israel is only 63 years old today. Continue reading “Health Salad, A Second Avenue Deli Favorite”
Maybe it’s the cobblestone streets and abundance of castles, or perhaps it’s the throngs of tourists at every turn, but Prague – and restaurants in Prague – feel a bit like Disneyland at times. That being said, it’s a stunningly beautiful city with gorgeous old buildings that retains the feel of an older, nostalgic Europe. And if you can manage to get away from the touristy areas you’ll be rewarded with good food, great beer, and excellent deals. Here, a very abbreviated guide to restaurants in Prague – and cafes, and bars, and even a place to do karaoke. Continue reading “Restaurants in Prague: An Abbreviated Guide”
I’ve struggled with my oven in Israel. It’s electric, it’s in Celsius, but more than anything it’s uneven. A cake comes out perfectly cooked on the outside, and completely raw in the middle. I can produce good banana bread, and I’ve even managed to pump out a decent cake, but for the most part my oven is unreliable. So I’ve been trying to expand my dessert repertoire beyond baked goods. Continue reading “Poached Pears, An Elegant Treat”
