08.06.10: dinner (The Manhattan Fruit Exchange inspires another Latin dinner)

Quesadillas with Pico de Gallo, Chile-Rubbed Chicken and Avocado

[E here! As a bit of a preface, this trip came about because the truly lovely Kitchen Witch happened to be in town for BlogHer '10 a few months ago and I sent her a list of some of my favorite places to go in the city. Originally it was only meant to be a restaurant list, but as the months leading up to the event went by our ventures to restaurants were few and far between, and many were a hike from Midtown. So I also gave her a bunch of our favorite stores that would be within a reasonable subway/taxi ride for her, and she suggested meeting up on that Saturday at the Chelsea Market to wander around. We took her shopping at Buon Italia and the Manhattan Fruit Exchange; above is the result of that shopping trip. I know it seems wholly unseasonal to write about this now, but we wanted to give you guys a break from braises and stews and think happier, warmer thoughts of summertime--I know I can use them. Carry on!]

The summer is a great time to enter the Manhattan Fruit Exchange with an open mind and a pure heart and wait for the store to speak to you. The selection is constantly impressive and the prices are some of the best on the island. On a Saturday, I have no problem going there and just filling my basket with stuff until it gets too problematic to lug around. Cash only, so be prepared.

07.25.10: homemade dinner in London (spatchcocked chickens on the barbecue and a spring onion pesto).

Curry and Fra Diavolo Chickens with Grilled Tomatoes

I’ve been remiss with recounting the rest of our London escapades, what with distractions like Eataly and Coney Island diverting me too much–but no more! Our first day in London culminated with a visit to Asda, otherwise known as Walmart in the U.K., to pick up some provisions for our hosts and ourselves for dinner. I was pretty insistent on making a visit to at least one grocery store while we were in England (yes, I’m a nerd–carry on!) and so why not a visit to the Big Bad Blue Behemoth’s English cousin?

ASDA: the English Wal-Mart

This isn’t C’s primary grocery store–as we walked through the car park she mentioned that the store isn’t that great and wasn’t very big, and subsequently was floored when she saw it for the first time post-renovation. The addition of a loft-like second floor seems to have opened up the place a bit, and the produce section resembled more of Target’s PFresh rather than what you’d normally see at a Walmart here in the States (though, in all honesty, my experience with Walmart Supercenters is limited and only based off of a few visits to random ones over the years). We didn’t spend a crazy amount of money, though, and bought some pretty sweet produce–easily on par with what we’d find at Fairway with regards to selection. The only complaint I had was that my desire to replace our heavy Tesco reusable shopping back with one from Asda was all for naught because the bags were very flimsy indeed.

03.29.10: dinner (thoughts on comfort foods, braised lentils edition)

Braised Beluga Lentils with Mixed Vegetables and Greek Yogurt

While I’m one to relish the many ways to walk around New York and observe others who are traversing on foot, there are few days when that’s more undesirable than on a rainy day…and you’ve forgotten your umbrella.  I waited yesterday for the M60 with an air of patience I normally do not posses, mostly because I knew that acquiescing to any bus line other than my preferred one would have condemned me to a long walk uphill in the rain.   It was really only an encounter with a man who was content to carry on a prolonged conversation with himself that led me to raise my arm for a cab, especially as it was clear that a M60 was by no means coming anytime soon.

04.02.10: dinner and a movie (rather, antojitos with Weeds)

Hibiscus Margaritas

My company follows the holiday schedule of the NYSE, which meant that I had Good Friday off for the first time since college.  Normally, a day off like this would mean that we’d be spending it in transit to visit our parents, but because Easter falls on a Sunday and therefore requires our presence at one of their houses that day for both church services and the traditional meal, our plans ranged from Saturday until Monday…