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Top 10 Noms of 2009

31 Dec

What is a New Year without a Top 10?  I have been blogging for exactly 325 days and have enjoyed every moment of it.  I love food… and I’m so happy that I have some very faithful readers who have joined me on this journey (THANK YOU!). With that said, here is my top 10 Noms from 2009:

10) Disney World stands out in my mind for a very memorable eating trip in 2009.  The dinner we had at Marrakash comes up often and I still can’t remember ever having a better sundae than the Ghiradelli one I had at Downtown Disney.

9) When Mike and I took the Culinary Walking Tour of Greenwich Village, we didn’t really know what to expect. It wound up being great for both food (we have gone back to these places a few times since then) and history. 

8) I actually wound up going to Becco twice this year (Becco 1 and Becco 2).  They are awesome for having an unlimited pasta tasting from their three pastas of the day and a pretty extensive wine list for under $25.  But their Osso Bucco is what dreams are made of.

7) Every time I go to Koi it is amazing.  It’s one of the very, very few restaurants I can go to over and over again (even multiple times in the same week).  The crispy rice is amazing and I credit the Miso Glazed Cod with having started me eating fish for the first time.

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6) The short ribs at Charles were great (well… I thought so until I had #2 on this list). We first sampled them at a nice fund-raising food festival and then I won a gift certificate by bidding $60 for a $75 gift certiciate.  The braised lamb shank was exceptional and highly recommended.

5) Quality Meats had been recommended to me time and time again.  While the steak was great, but not my favorite, the corn creme brulee was so good that I dream about it.

4) Eating at Montenapo, especially on someone else’s dime so we could order multiple courses without guilt (well, except waistline guilt), was a HUGE treat.  It’s brand new and in the middle of an area that is known to wimp out on food.  The Osso Bucco was the best I’ve ever had (even though I just had a taste of someone else’s) and the desserts were sensational.  There wasn’t a bad bite in the entire meal. 

3) I have loved Keens Steakhouse since the first time I tried it, however, the bar is especially amazing and I’m so glad Lori joined me for my first time.  That potato and steak was heavenly and more restaurants should make merengue… especially if it’s that good!

2) The number two slot goes to a yet to be blogged about meal at Bottega (Michael Chiarello’s restaurant in Napa Valley).  Why was it so good? You’ll just have to read the blog to find out!

1) My birthday dinner at WD-50 was epic. It is hands down the best meal I’ve ever had.  We went whole hog and got the full tasting menu.  Each dish was a new adventure… and not just because it looked cool.  There were such wonderful flavors in everything and I really loved this place.  #1 for the year… probably lifetime #1 to date.

Runners up:

Happy New Year Nommers!

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I loves me some toffee

16 Dec

I am a HUGE fan of English toffee.  Heath/Score bars are some of my favorite candy, however, nothing beats a fresh batch from a candy store.  When I saw a recipe online for Gramercy Tavern’s homemade toffee that seamed very easy and included sea salt, I was in.  I first made this one random night at home and I just could not stop eating it.  I proceeded to make it again one night when my sister was visiting, then again for my housewarming party, and then yet again for Thanksgiving.  It was a hit every time and I honestly have to stop myself from making it out of fear of impending weight gain in massive quantities.  I have no self control for homemade toffee!

The key to good candy making is a good thermometer.  Mine was just okay.  This toffee has the love/hate quality of getting totally stuck in your teeth as you eat it (great for sucking, terrible for fillings).  I am going to try to make it with a wee bit less water next time to see if that helps with the tacky factor.

The sea salt really takes this toffee to a whole nother level.  My dad was NOT a fan but I think he’s out of his mind.  The salt is what most people loved most about the toffee. 

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RECIPE
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Chocolate-Covered Toffee With Pumpkin Seeds and Sea Salt

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. (1 1/2 sticks) butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp. water
  • 1/2 tsp. table salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • about 6 oz. semisweet or milk chocolate (works best if tempered)
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted  (I had none so I went without)
  • sea salt to taste

Instructions

Stir butter, sugar, and water over low heat to dissolve sugar. Raise heat to medium and stir constantly. Cook until a beautiful toffee color (candy thermometer should read about 295 degrees F).

Add salt and vanilla extract, carefully; the toffee sputters. Pour onto one lightly buttered sheet of parchment paper. Allow to cool.

Wipe off excess oil from the surface of the toffee with a paper towel (the excess butter fat may keep the chocolate from adhering properly).

Spread tempered chocolate over completely cooled toffee.

Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and sea salt while chocolate is still tacky (so that the seeds and salt can adhere).

Break toffee into desired-size pieces.

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Makin’ Whoopie… Pies… again

9 Dec

The whoopie pies were such a hit at the housewarming that I decided to make them for our epic Thanksgiving feast (more on THAT later).  They were a HUGE hit.  The only person that didn’t like them was the person’s whose opinion matters to me most… Dinah (the matriarch of our family and Thanksgiving).  She said they were too sweet and she likes more “simple” desserts.  SAD! But everyone else loved them… so I’ll call it a success.  The last entry has the recipe, however, I never got pics of the finished cookies nor completed cakes!  So without further ado…


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