NYC Dressed in its Winter Cloak

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Here is the view from our terrace yesterday:

...and today:

A few words during today's historic storm in NYC

Living inside our Brooklyn Heights bubble

No longer tied to grand townhouse and its rubble

No dog to walk, no snow to shovel

Staying inside and out of trouble

The snow may fall outside should we choose to play

But we are staying inside -- it's a baked goods day.

Gives new meaning to: Made for Measure

Wherever you are today, 

in snowy weather or otherwise, 

don't fight mother nature,

take a moment, 

take a breath, 

and most importantly, 

be safe. 

Thankfully, we made it to Maison Kayser before they closed for snow!

The 5 Best Coffee Shops in Brooklyn Now

 Brooklyn's Best Coffee

Coffee shops are a quintessential part of Brooklyn. There are probably more places to enjoy a cup of joe than places to catch the subway in this madding metropolis.  Because most New Yorkers live in small spaces, need free wi-fi and require strong coffee to move at such a hurried pace, there is a tireless and growing need for these java shops.

The Williamsburg Bank Building, just outside
downtown Brooklyn, and across the street
from the Barclay's Center. 

Many of the newest coffee shops feel more like downtown martini bars than morning breakfast shops, making the trip out for a coffee fix a worthwhile event.  And with the quirky but thought-provoking rotating art installations appearing in many of these java houses, mostly by aspiring local artists, coffee shops seem to be the coolest place to hang.

So where in Brooklyn is the best place to get a cup of joe?









WTF Coffee Shop

Aside from winning the top prize for Best Coffee in Brooklyn, this small shop, with the surprising name, also wins the prize for most difficult to find.  It's located on a quiet street just two blocks from Fort Greene Park, in a mostly residential area famous for its historic clapboard and commanding brownstone townhouses. But don't be fooled by it's quiet location, this place is truly for the coffee connisseur. As such, it is worth the trip for both the expertly prepared coffee and the calming tree-lined surroundings.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Also, at the top of the list for best Brooklyn brews (but somewhat reluctantly bestowed since it is really just an Oakland, Californian outpost) is Blue Bottle Coffee. And since it has two locations, one in Boerum Hill (Smith and Dean Streets) and another in Williamsburg (Lorimar St), and another rumored to be opening soon in Park Slope, this shop takes two of the coffee shop prizes.

Blue Bottle custom makes all of their coffee beverages, but one of their most unique and tasty preparations uses a nel, a cheese-cloth like filter that holds the grind. But, this preparation takes time, the water cannot be too hot and the pour cannot be hurried, otherwise the coffee's complexity deteriorates.  If done right, it's absolutely superb!

Devocion

In this Colombian outpost, where beans are flown in directly from Colombia, the setting is as thrilling as the coffee.  This shop not only wins for it's rich coffee flavors and delectable treats, but also for its sprawling, open setting. Filled with trendy Williamsburg bearded folks, its green wall and huge skylight transport patrons well beyond the city limits, to Bogata perhaps.

Swallow Cafe

Swallow Cafe offers strong, bold coffee and an assortment of delicious baked goods on bustling Atlantic Avenue (Clinton Street) in Cobble Hill. And its charming, rustic location, with bright, oversized windows, provides a perfect spot to sit and linger. It's also ideal for people watching, especially since celebrities sightings are common here, particularly in the morning. 

Cafe Regular du Nord

Lastly, the classic cafe -- if you are in the mood to be delivered from leafy Brooklyn right to old world France, then check out Cafe Regular du Nord.  With two euro-styled cafes in Park Slope (Berkeley Place and 11th St), it is the most popular hangout for a perfectly balanced, smooth, classic espresso drink.  Don't be surprised to see Hemingway pass through...

Jacques Torres (side mention)

Ok, so Jacques Torres may not be known for its coffee, but it is known for something close to it -- chocolate.  If it's chilly outside, and you've had enough coffee for the day, head to DUMBO and get an extra large, extra rich Wicked Spicy Hot Chocolate.  This delectable beverage is flavored with ground ancho and chipolte chile peppers and loved by everyone, including Giada De Laurentis, of The Food Network. 

Delicious bread centerpiece at Maison Kayser, which just opened in downtown Brooklyn.  Jury is still out on how well the coffee is prepared here.  

Speaking of Lattes and Cappuccinos...

I have a quick bone to pick.  There needs to be a clearer delineation between a latte and a cappuccino.  A cappuccino should be mostly foam with only a touch of milk mixed with the coffee.  If there is too much milk in a cappuccino, well then it is simply a Latte. Often when I order a cappuccino, I get a latte. Enough said!

5 Interesting Gifts For a Host

Gifts that any host will enjoy..

...other than wine!

Have you ever gone to a holiday party with a carefully selected premium bottle of wine and soon after giving it to the host discover that your gift was plopped dismissively in a back corner (behind a heaping pile of coats) with 25 other festively wrapped (but, cheaper) bottles? This happened to me a few years ago, and from that point on, I vowed that I would always try to bring personable, long-lasting gifts that the host will appreciate and remember long after the party has ended.

If you are stumped with what to bring to your next holiday party, consider the following:

Gift ideas that are suitable for any host:

Holiday Ornaments

Holiday Ornaments can be enjoyed immediately, throughout the holiday season and hopefully, for years to come.  And if you are still bent on bringing a bottle of wine, a holiday bulb pairs nicely, and can even charmingly hang from the bottle!

Holiday Bulbs -- so easy, so memorable. 

Air plants

Arriving at a party with a large bouquet of flowers always leaves a lasting impression.  

Recently, however, I changed it up a bit, and brought two delicate small glass jars of air plants (below) to a host of a party that I did not know that well at that time.  Air plants are incredibly whimsical plants that do not need soil, just some water every now and then.  It was a huge hit, sparked all kinds of conversation, was placed at the center of the table, and are still thriving at the home of the host.  Home Run!

Tea

Without repeating myself from previous posts, teas are all the rage!  They combine natural, earthy goodness with exceptional varities of flavor to form a perfect healthy gift. 

 Earlier this week, I was invited to the opening of a new tea shop, T2. This shop, popular in Australia, 

 just opened here in the United States, with one of its first shops here in Brooklyn. I found upbeat, colorful teapots and teaware, infusers and delectable tea leaves in every flavor combination imaginable at this Moroccan inspired shop. Anything from T2 would be suitable to bring to a party --  and will be appreciated for some time.  You can find them online at:

http://www.t2tea.com/tea

Herb Jar

If your host is a cook, consider bringing something for the kitchen. A few months ago, friends brought me a tasteful  box of Herbs of Provence that they had purchased on a recent trip to France. I think of them each time I use the herbs.  

But if you haven't been to France lately, consider an ingenious Herb Jar.  These self-watering kits in adorable jars are a stylish, yet easy, way to grow herbs. The jars utilize "wicking," a passive hydroponics technique, to bring water up to plant roots. The vintage mason jars are outfitted with a net pot, a soilless grow medium, plant nutrients, polypro wick, and organic seeds. To start growing, simply add water and set in a sunny window.

Herb gift set includes 4 herb planters: basil, parsley, oregano, and cilantro. You can find them here:

Herb Jars

Personalized Baked Good

We have all done it -- made a promise to whip something up but inadvertently run out of time and end up  buying treats at the local bakery. But, this does not mean that the treat can't be personalized.  I enjoy baking pies (and make a killer pie crust), but rarely have time for it.  The three berry pie (below) is from Briermere's Farms in Riverhead NY and is absolutely delectable.  Whenever I bring this to a party, I personlize it.  I take it out of the cheap, flimsy tin and put it into a more suitably elegant french ceramic pan that can be used by the host for years.  
Looks like I spent hours making it!

Also, if you are able to bring homemade treats, it helps to put them onto a newly purchased dish that can be left with the host.  At the end of the party, no one has to fret over washing  the dish and returning it to you. 

For more gift ideas, check out Sur La Table. 

Enjoying the incredible tea selections at
T2 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
Happy Holidays!

Back to School 30 Minute Meal

Thai Chicken Curry with Haricot Verts and Sweet Peppers

...in just 30 Minutes!

With the school year beginning, gone are days with enough leisure to properly lay the table, to artfully arrange the appetizers, to bring the cheeses to room temperature without haste, and to stretch the bedtimes.  Now, it's all about the 30 minute meal, the one that can be quickly prepared while simultaneously helping with homework, cleaning out lunch boxes and ensuring piano is practiced. This is the meal that must be cleaned up before everyone is to bath and bed, that is, before 8:00.  Autumn -- welcome back!

If you are looking for a fresh idea that everyone in the family will enjoy and can also be done quickly,  consider this easy, but delectable fave -- Thai Chicken Curry. Oh, by the way, this dish only uses one pan, for quick clean up!

Here is how to do it:

What you will need:

First, you will need a quality curry paste.  I prefer Kanokwan (to the left).  In my house, one package lasts months. It is very spicy and therefore, not much is needed. If you cannot find it in you local grocer, you can get it online:

http://www.amazon.com/Kanokwan-Green-Curry-Paste-Pack/dp/B00AUGN6TG

1-3 teaspoons of Curry Paste (above)

1.5 cups Basmati Rice

2 Red Peppers

5 shiitake mushrooms

6-8 chicken cutlets

1/2 lb green beens

2 cans of Coconut milk

1/8 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

3 limes 

basil

Since the rice and the preparation of this dish take about the same time, go ahead and cook the rice (bring 3 cups of water to a boil, add 1 1/2 cups of rice with some olive oil and salt, and simmer for 20 minutes)

In a large saucepan, sauté the cutlets in some vegetable oil. Olive oil can be used as well, but it tends to have a low smoke point, causing food to brown or burn more quickly. Therefore, vegetable oil is more ideal.

If the cutlets aren't too thick, time them for 3 minutes on each side.  For thicker cuts, do at least 4 minutes on each side.

While the cutlets are cooking, slice the pepper into thin strips and do the same for the mushrooms. Take the ends off the green beans.

Once the cutlets are done, take them out of the pan and set them aside.  Leave all the juices in the pan. 

 Into the same pan that was used for the cutlets, add the peppers and green beans, and some salt/pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.

Add in the mushrooms and cook for another 2 minutes.  Add in 1 teaspoon of curry paste.  If you prefer more kick, and if the dish is not being shared with children, add in more!  More curry paste can also be added into the pan after the children's portion has been plated.

 Stir in soy sauce and brown sugar.

Sauté for 3 more minutes. 

Cube chicken and add to sauté pan.  Squeeze 2 limes over the curry and serve with rice.
Garnish with some fresh basil. 

Everyone is going to love it!


If you have been following this site, you know that I am devoted to my All Clad cookware.  I saw that many of my faves are on sale at Sur La Table. If you need new pots, check them out here:

http://www.surlatable.com/browse/index.jsp?N=13554&No=48&Nrpp=48&pCat=cat360431

I also treasure my Staub cast iron pots, and while cyber-oogling the Sur La Table site,  I found these gorgeous creatures on sale in a beautiful deep, autumnal green (perfect for cleaning). Gorgeous! I think you'll be seeing them soon in some of my cooking posts.

Check them out here:

http://www.surlatable.com/product/prod1410087/


Also, if you would like another family favorite, 30 minute meal, check out a post that I did this summer -- it's delicious:

http://www.thenattydad.com/2015/06/kid-approved-pasta-with-squash.html

Shopping the Farmer's Markets in East Hampton.
The summer season is about to close!