Published by mel on August 25, 2008 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
I had a perfect birthday. This year, it was on a Sunday and I was on vacation. I slept in, watched some Olympics, ate a Japanese hot dog, went shopping, toured the Vancouver Aquarium, took a nap and was taken out to a most fabulous dinner at Parkside. As with most meals on our Pacific Northwest adventure, Parkside is all about fresh, seasonal ingredients. Everything, including the wine, was responsibly farmed and delicious. The dishes themselves were simple, but interesting. For my appetizer, I had a very memorable chilled fennel soup topped with Dungeness crab, avocado and grapefruit. I knew I had to try to imitate it and noted as many ingredients as I could identify on my trusty iPhone.
I think I did an admirable job, though I definitely suffered from a lack of awesomely fresh crab. It’s just the wrong coast, I suppose. Next time, I think a juicy hunk of Florida Lobster tail will make a nice substitute for the crab, and is much more appropriate for the area. But the soup itself was Miami perfection. Light, refreshing and chilly enough to cool you off after a long, hot day on the beach.
Note: Where’s the crab in the picture? It sunk. I recommend using more shallow bowls if you’re trying for a nice presentation…
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Published by mel on May 30, 2008 in entree and recipe.
Nothing says comfort food like a big bowl of slurpy noodles. Surprisingly, I don’t miss living in New York as much as I thought I would. I’ve adjusted well to the tropical weather and the beach across the street from my home. And the flip flops. But one of the things I really miss is the delicious and plentiful Asian food. It’s sorely lacking here in Miami, so I’ve taken to making much more of it at home than I ever did in New York.
Lately, the craving has been for a big bowl of Udon noodles with pork, dumplings, fish cakes (they’re delicious - I swear!), shrimp tempura and a poached egg. A bit weird since it’s full-blown summer here and that’s definitely a winter meal. But I craved it nonetheless. And it’s nowhere to be found. (If anyone has a recommendation, please please please leave a comment!)
Where was I? Oh yeah - so I made some Udon soup to calm the craving. It’s not really authentic, and doesn’t have the shrimp tempura or the fish cakes, but it’s still a big comfy bowl of noodle soup. And it’s delicious!
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Published by mel on February 20, 2008 in entree and recipe.
I didn’t make it home until late last night, but I was cold and hungry when I got there. I know I live in Miami, but my office and most indoor spaces blast the a/c all day long. Unless I wear pants and a jacket, I shiver all day. Yesterday, fashion took precedence and I wore a dress. By the time I got home, all I wanted was a big bowl of soup. Preferably, one that would be ready in 15 minutes.
I had some hot Spanish chorizo, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, stock, limes and blue corn tortilla chips. A quick sautee and a simmer and we were eating our tortilla soup 20 minutes after I walked in the door. I garnished it with some cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, sour cream and more tortilla chips. It was spicy and hearty, but still tasted fresh and vibrant from the lime and cilantro. This may just become my go-to recipe when I’m pressed for time because frankly, I’m getting a little sick of omelettes.
Please note how pretty my fancy new lens makes everything look. Thanks to my awesome hub!
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