We fell in love with masala chai in India. How could we not? Tiny thimbles of the milky tea are dolled out on almost every street corner, the makeshift cups warm in your hands, a creamy film — the telltale sign of good milk (likely from the cow lolling beside you!) — forming across the top before even touching your lips. Nowhere have we experienced … Continue reading masala chai.
We’ve just returned from three weeks in India: mostly in Rajasthan, the desert lands of Kings, with a brief interlude for a spectacular wedding, followed by a much needed respite in Kerala, God’s own Country, as they say. Ah, India. When I close my eyes, I see it still, patterned against my eyelids, red and vibrant as if I’d stared too long into the sun. … Continue reading india.
We know there’s nothing in the repertoire of Hanukkah treats that calls for either white chocolate or green tea, but here’s the thing: we had matcha white chocolate on the brain. On Dan’s latest trip to Japan, he brought back an amazing, never-before-seen-in-New York treat: green tea kit kats. And, a package of beautiful, earthy, matcha powder. And, we had a Hanukkah party coming up. … Continue reading gelt.
We planted hot peppers on the fire escape this summer – fiery scotch bonnets and smoky paprika peppers – and were unprepared for their prolific production. The paprika peppers have found their way into many a dish, but the scotch bonnets — which clock in at 100,000–350,000 Scoville Units, a good 12 to 40 times hotter than the hottest jalapeño — are, shall we say, … Continue reading (hot!) scotch bonnet hot sauce.
Our love letter to autumn and its apples and its apple cider continues….with caramels. Apple cider caramels. The essence of fall, distilled into one, perfect, burnt-leaf-colored square. This recipe needs no introduction. It’s just perfect. No corn syrup! And a manageable yield! Surprisingly easy to make! And really, it’s genius. Reducing the apple cider to its essence is inspired: the scent of apples lingers in … Continue reading apple cider caramels.
The unseasonable 80 degree days that dragged dangerously close to October have finally given way to my favorite kind of days: crisp fall ones. In recent years, fall has become synonymous with trips upstate to Rokeby, and the moment I walk outside and find the cracked sidewalks of Brooklyn dressed in soft yellows and red, find the air’s cold enough to nip at my nose, … Continue reading apple cider donuts & puppets, oh my.
vvitalny hosted a little art party this past week, and with an eye towards curating imersive experiences, we thought it would be fun to create a vvitalny cocktail for the occasion. There were a few options. We could find something that touched on the Polish-ness and Argentinean-ness of our pairing, or chose spirits that we liked personally, or create something pink and blue, colors which … Continue reading the “all summer”, or “the vvitalny”.
Jesse brought an unusual salami to a recent house party — cognac and green peppercorn — and the moment we tried it we knew we had to go see its makers ourselves. We’re glad we did because Morscher’s — a butcher in Ridgewood, Queens — is a fascinating place. Read all about it over on Serious Eats! Continue reading morscher’s.
Alphabet City might not be the first place you’d think to look for ingredients from the Philippines. Nevertheless, that’s where you’ll find the Filipino market Johnny Air Mart. From banana ketchup to whole roast lechón, this place has you covered. Read all about it over on Serious Eats. Continue reading johnny air mart.
There are few things we relish as much as super sweet corn on a hot day in July. Often, when the corn is good enough (and in New York in July it’s always good enough) we’ll eat an ear, raw, before heading home from the Greenmaket — standing in the park, our bags of produce propped against our legs, the kernels cold and crunchy, sweet … Continue reading corn butter.
