Summertime,
and the livin’ is BUSY! I’ve been
running all over the place, from city to sea to mountain, collecting fun things
to share with you. Here’s the
latest…
Cheese of the Week: Ricotta
Salata, with Recipe
This is a
firm, white, slightly salty and milky sheep’s milk cheese, similar in texture
to Feta cheese. And like Feta, it is just as versatile and can be used in a
similar fashion. Cube or crumble
it up and toss with salads, or grate or shave it over grilled veggies. Heck, it even tastes great with
watermelon and mint!
I recently
used it in a grilled corn recipe that takes your taste buds way beyond butter.
Fabulous
Fiesta Corn
8 ears of
corn, husks and silk removed
½ pound
Ricotta Salata, grated
1 cup
mayonnaise
1/2
Tablespoon of chipotle pepper powder (or use half this amount if you prefer
less spice)
3-4 limes,
halved and juiced (with extra limes for garnish)
Salt &
pepper to taste
1)
Combine
mayonnaise, chipotle powder, lime juice, salt & pepper in a bowl and set
aside (this can be done a few hours before use, but be sure to keep it chilled
if not using right away).
2)
Pre-heat
the grill.
3)
Using
a basting or pastry brush, coat the ears of corn with the chipotle-lime mayo
and place on the grill. Grill,
turning frequently, until the corn is lightly charred.
4)
Remove
the corn from the grill and, while corn is still warm, brush on more of the
mayonnaise mixture.
5)
Then,
roll the corn in the grated Ricotta Salata.
6)
Garnish
with extra lime wedges and serve immediately!
Young @ Heart Chorus
What do you get when you throw a bunch of musically inclined nursing home residents together with a rock band? Pure magic people, pure magic! I had the supreme pleasure of seeing this group at The Beacon recently, and the memory of it still brings a smile to my face. The chorus members ranged in age from 73 to 92 and performed with a feisty, ironic spirit that turned rock songs inside out to reveal an alternative perspective.
“I went down to the Chelsea drugstore to get my prescription filled…”
Songs like the Ramones chestnut “I Wanna be Sedated” take on a whole new meaning when sung by an elderly man with a cane in a wheelchair, as does the Bee Gees dance hit “Staying Alive” sung by a man connected to an oxygen tank. Surprising. Even more surprising was their edginess, humor, agility, professionalism, poignancy and pure joy. They were all having a blast up there!
Directed by Bob Cilman, the chorus came together in a nursing home in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1982 and has since gone on to thrill audiences around the world.
I have to make sure I retire in Northampton so I can be in that chorus!
Stay tuned for news of the release of their documentary on DVD this September, available on Netflix.
An Appetite Grows in Brooklyn
I spent a
recent summer Sunday with my friend Kit Kat exploring the culinary delights of
Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Fort Greene
has had quite a bit of buzz about it lately, reaching beyond BAM's
performing arts charms with a unique and soulful food culture. Here is a highly
selective sampling of what we devoured:
Cake
Man Raven: first stop on the food tour was a visit
to Cake Man Raven, famous for his version of the classic southern Red Velvet
cake. We shared a huge hunk of luscious, moist cake with a decadent cream
cheese frosting. Cake Man
Raven: 708-a Fulton St. Brooklyn,
718.694.CAKE (2253)
Habana
Outpost – Eco Eatery: Not only can you get your drink on in
the form of icy, tangy margaritas, you can munch away on classic Tex-Mex fare
with a guilt-free conscience, knowing that they, in their own words, “use
earth-friendly practices in their design, construction, and day-to-day
operations. Habana Outpost aims to reduce wasteful consumption and promote
sustainable solutions.” Well gosh, thank goodness for that. Hey waiter, can we get another round
over here? And please bring us
some of that famous grilled corn I heard about. Hey Mr. DJ, turn it up, I love this song. Kit Kat, I think we’re gonna be here
for a while…
Habana
Outpost: 757 Fulton Street Brooklyn, 718.858.9500
Brooklyn
Flea: this
fantastic and slightly controversial new flea market features the usual
collection of antique and vintage house wares, furniture and clothes. But what makes it exciting is the
young, innovative local artisans selling hand-crafted and unique furniture,
jewelry, clothing - and delectable foods!
And since food is my focus, here’s who was there that day:
Kumquat Cupcakery: This little bakery creates mini cupcake creations
for delivery or pick-up when they are in residence at the Brooklyn Flea.
Be sure to try the chocolate peanut
butter cupcake – pretty petite and pretty amazing, a one-bite flavor bomb. Bet ya can’t stop at just one!
Crop to Cup - Family Farmed Coffee: Basically, this is a coffee farmer representative who buys
high quality Arabica beans directly from farmers and then sells to us, but they
also reinvest 10% of their profits back into farm family communities.
Sure, that’s all well and good,
but how does it taste?
I enjoyed a small cup of “Uganda Bugisu” created by the
contributions of 300 farm families in Buginyanya Sub-County, Sironko District,
Uganda. It was an exceptionally
smooth, naturally sweet brew, no sugar or milk needed. So I bought a bag! Coffee with a
conscience does a body good.
Whimsy & Spice: founded and run by a husband and wife team (he’s a
pastry chef, she’s a graphic artist) they offer treats inspired by the spices
and flavors of India and the Middle East.
For example, I picked-up a sack of their Rose & Black Pepper
Thumbprint cookies, which were meltingly tender and sweet with a subtle bite
from the black pepper. A fascinating flavor combination for a cookie that
tasted great.
Salvatore Bklyn, Handmade Goodness: “If cheese were a rock star, it’d be Salvatore Bklyn.” They’re talking about their fresh and
creamy whole milk ricotta cheese, and I have to say I agree. Try a spoonful over fresh berries and
toasted almonds drizzled with honey
- a special summertime treat.
Blue Marble Ice Cream: Their
shop is based in the Boerum Hill neighborhood, they source their milk from the
Hudson Valley, and the vanilla ice cream they were scooping up at the Brooklyn
Flea was fresh, creamy and true.
Brooklyn
Flea: located at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn,
on Lafayette Ave. between Clermont and Vanderbilt Ave. Takes place every Sunday
from 10am to 5pm.
Fort Greene
is a proud, deeply entrenched, food-loving community with a funky, artsy twist
that’s just another thing to love about living in NYC.
Photo Credits: Ricotta Salata (Mary Connolly); [email protected] Heart Chorus ([email protected] Photo Archives); Fort Greene (danomyte.blogspot.com); Brooklyn Flea (brownstoner.com); Rose & Black Pepper Thumbprint Cookies (Whimsey & Spice)
