Delicious Tuna Lunch

I opted to buy this high end quality Del Bocarte selected white tuna from Spain for my lunch today.

Served with fresh squeezed lemon juice, capers with Dean & DeLuca house baked baguette warmed up about 7 minutes in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit makes a perfect sublime easy lunch.

I made an arugula frisée, with fennel salad to accompany this treat!

Use quality products and it still won't amount to a restaurant cost of this calibre when you figure around an average of 25% for tax and gratuities.

I have the other half for tomorrow!

LOBSTER PREPARATION

For five 1-1/2lb lobsters, I simply boiled about 3/4 inch of water in a large pot to fit the lobsters.

Soon as the water boiled, I dropped the lobsters and covered the pot.  Simmer for 20 minutes then turn off heat and uncover the pot. 

Above is a female lobster.  The blue mark  like an inverted U indicates it is.

Place them in a boiling pot.

After 20 minutes, uncover the pot do the lobsters  do not over cook.

Cut the shells to remove the meat easily from the tail and claws.

I have decided to make lobster rolls so I packed them up in a plastic container after taking the meat out if the shells.

I now realize that four 1-1/2 lb lobsters fits one medium sized container - 16oz container.

GO BO Vegetarian Restaurant

I have been wanting to eat here for some time.  It's actually better than I thought. The place looks nice and I could actually have a late 2PM lunch.

I chose the Seitan entree served on top of kale, with squash, brown rice with beans, and some cucumbers.

Seitan is processed wheat whereby the carbohydrate has been extracted.  This had a texture of a meaty giant mushroom. 

The sauce was delicious but tend to be on the sweet side.  For normal people, this could be healthy.  I'm not sure if it's really healthy if you were trying to avoid sugar and carbs.

DOMINICAN MEAL

(One of the few restaurants in NYC where tax and tip are already included)

The garlicky vinegar sauce:

On our way up north of NYC, I love stopping by this authentic Dominican restaurant.

My favorite in their menu (after trying a few dishes in the past) are the grilled pork chops (which now has taken 1st place in my list) and the steak palomila.

And make sure to ask for their super garlicky vinegar concoction to use over your pork chops.

To balance my diet, I usually order their salad with avocado, corn, lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes.

LOBSTER ROLLS

Ah!  I finally perfected my lobster roll.

MUST HAVES:

Fresh lobster meat

Melted butter (2-3TB per person)

3 TB for toasting the bread in a skillet

Old Bay Seasoning

Minced chives

Top quality brioche bun or brioche bread from Sullivan bread OR

TEXAS style thick bread folded.

Toast the bread in a skillet with 3TB butter or more on one or both sides.

Combine the melted butter and chives.

Cut the lobster meat in large chunks about 1-1/2 inch size.

Place lobster meat on each lightly golden brown heated bread. Dribble with the melted butter mixture of OId Bay seasoning top or fold bread big using Texas bread and serve!!

My mist favorite way of having the lobster roll!!

CANTINE PARISIENNE

I had Blackboard Eats coupon for 30% off for Cantine Parisienne that I've been wanting to try.  The coupon was good for the table up to 6 people!

Cafe Parisienne is located inside a hotel by Little Italy bordering SoHo.  It is also called NOLITA area - short for North of Little Italy.

The place is modern, sleek ,with cafe chairs as opposed to old antique French.  The servers we've had so far were both French.  The Chef is French as well.

Dishes we ordered:

Crab Cake with a light cabbage salad and greens served with a tangy sauce.

The cod is well prepared which sits on vegetables served with a delicate sauce with mussels and rice confit.

Delicious Croque Monsieur - Rich but delicious!

I like this restaurant because it reminds me of Paris.  It's casual, it's not pretentious, and the price is reasonable.

Cantine Parisienne

40 Kenmare St. , New York, NY 10012 40.720714 -73.995381 Elizabeth St.  212-966-2740

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cantine-parisienne-new-york#hrid:Krtv_OlUwgxmqqgQ4PYrpQ

CUBAN STYLE SANDWICH

I happen to have almost all the ingredients at home except for the roast pork.  But on the way home this afternoon, I passed my favorite Italian grocery store which happened to have a scrumptious looking porchetta roast.

Porchetta is a roast pork stuffed either with herbs such as rosemary and garlic seasoned with salt and pepper.  In Orovieto, Italy, I learned they stuff their porchetta with garlic and fennel leaves.  It's a combination of pork cuts and pork belly outside wrapped around the other pieces of pork parts seasoned then tied with a string and roasted in the oven.  Sometimes, the skin could get very nice and crisp.

RECIPE FOR MY CUBAN STYLE SANDWICH:

Sliced good ham (I use nitrate FREE ham)
Roast pork (prefer porchetta)
Pickle (I use Grillo's Pickles - no color and preservatives added)
Yogurt Cheese
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Light baguette or I used an Italian Stratcci from  Sullivan Bread

Warm the bread for about 8 minutes at 325F.  Spread mayonnaise on one side then the mustard.  Layer on top the ham, pork, cheese and the pickle.

Serve with a vegetable on the side.  I had sauteed collard greens with onions, walnuts and mushrooms.

Red Hook Lobster Truck

Supposedly winner if the best Food Truck in the nation is Red Hook Lobster truck.

I made it to their spot today (every Tuesday) 11AM-2/30PM at 50th St between 6th and 7th Avenues.

I chose their Maine style with lemon based mayo which they make.  Next time I'll have the Connecticut version warm, and with butter.

They were out of Tuscan style Nd the chipotle pepper.

Maybe the Connecticut style will be like Luke's Lobster which is also quite good.

Good Lunch Deal at SOCARRAT

Hungry and past 3PM - late lunch!  Decided to stop by the tapas place nearby which I've had dinner at last year.

Surprise!  At lunch they have an excellent deal.  Choice of 3 of the tapas for price of 1.

LAFAYETTE CAFE BAKERY AND BISTRO

As they always say, something happens for a purpose.

After showing an apartment in the Lower East Side, it was convenient to take the subway to get tickets to a show at The Public Theater on Lafayette Street.  And that's when I stumbled upon Lafayette.  I had heard that the Chinese Brasserie which used to be in that site was going to leave.  And I've read somewhere than Andrew Carmellini was opening a new restaurant in NoHo.  So of course, I hurriedly picked up the ticket and darted to Lafayette for a quick late lunch.

This place is big and bright.  I love the decor.

As you enter, on the right is the Bakery and Pastry shop where you can grab sweets and breads.  In my case, first I ate and then grabbed extra calories to take home.

I sat at one of these smaller tables to have lunch.

The Bakery as you enter

I had a wonderful salad with a delicate dressing.  It's made with frisee, and mache.

My main course which is really an appetizer are 4 large prawns with a nice light dip.

An array of pastries on your way out.

Anyone for a tart?

On the right are canelelle - one of my favorite pastry.

LAFAYETTE

380 Lafayette St
(between 4th St & Great Jones St)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: NoHo

(212) 533-3000

http://lafayetteny.com/

LUNCH AT THE FOOT OF MT. HERMON

As we continue through my Pilgrimage in Israel, we drove north to explore the upper regions of Israel to the foot of Mount Hermon, overlooking Syria and the Road to Damascus. There was snow at the foot of Mount Hermon and here we stopped by a little place to eat.

As a foodie, I ordered something else other than a felafels for lunch.  I forget what it's called but I opted for this crepe-like bread that's made in front of you which she stuffs with cream called labne, drizzle what I think is olive oil, and sprinkle it with some condiments and spices.

The crepe-like bread is crispy and contains the labne with spices and olive oil inside.
One is free to get some pickles and vegetables on the side.  I ordered some dessert and they're tea.

This is where we stopped over to have our lunch at the foot of Mt. Hermon.

By the way, Mt. Hermon is north of Israel and where the spring water comes down to feed the River Jordan.

Peas Soup - Minted

This is definitely an all-year round healthy soup.  I've always liked peas even as a child.  You can imagine how I like this recipe without having to use any cream in it.  And without cream it will last a few days longer in your fridge.  I use Vita Mix, a blender that purees so fine you would think it was liquid in the first place.

INGREDIENTS:
1 to 1-1/2 lbs of frozen peas
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
2-3 TB of unsalted butter
3-4 cups of chicken stock
1-1/4 cups of fresh mint
Fleur de Sel (1-2 Tsp)

In a pot, melt butter and saute the chopped onion.  When translucent but not golden brown, add the frozen peas and chicken stock till it boils.  Soon as it boils, add the mint and cook only for 30 seconds more and remove from heat.

In batches, process in a food processor such as a Vita Mix.  Season with Fleur de sel, stir and serve.

Can be served hot or at room temperature.

May also dribble some heavy cream for decoration on top.  Or you could whip cream mixed with some sour cream to place a TB on top when serving.

Minted Peas Soup served

PEKING DUCK HOUSE

I've been to Beijing, China and have eaten at the Peking Duck restaurant where they've taken dignitaries to.  This place in Chinatown New York can pass for the one I visited in Beijing.

They have prix-fixed Peking Duck meals which include a variety of dishes besides the Peking Duck at a very reasonable price.  But for those days where you crave for a Peking Duck without having to over eat, I am so glad that I can have it without having to travel far away.

You can actually order 1 Peking Duck, a vegetable dish and if you want something else more to eat, you can order the house fried rice.  This order will feed a party of 3 maybe up to 4 if the group are light eaters.

Above, is a video of how Peking Duck is carved to be served.  The process to prepare the duck itself is the secret.  Some blow air between the skin and the meat which makes the skin crisp when baked.

My Chinese Pediatrician told me long time ago that to prepare a Peking duck, you prick the skin and brush the entire duck liberally with Sherry or Chinese wine.  Then, you hang it a few hours before baking or roasting it in the oven, to drain all the fat out.  Would you believe that I actually tried it at home?  Although the skin became crisp, I think it's easier to eat this at a restaurant that specializes in Peking duck.

The Peking duck was served on our table with thin slices of scallions and cucumbers in a dish and some hoisin sauce to add to the duck.  Not shown is the container of warm pancakes where you put some duck, sauce, some scallions and cucumbers.  Roll  the pancake to eat it.  It's like a thin wrap.

I never complete a dinner without vegetables.  The broccoli with lots of garlic was perfect. 

Since childhood, I've always loved Chinese fried rice.  So, to make the meal perfect, we had to have some fried rice.  By the way, this fried rice is so similar to the kind I grew up with knowing.  Lesson #1, there are many ways of making fried rice.  There are some fried rice whereby the Chef adds soy sauce in it.  I prefer the clean taste of a light fried rice such as the one pictured on the right.

The duck was first shown to us and then carved.

pekingduckhousenyc.com

PEKING DUCK HOUSE:

28 Mott Street
New York
(212) 227-1810

or  in Midtown at

236 East 53rd Street
Manhattan
(212) 759-8260

THE PLAZA FOOD HALL - Todd English at the Plaza Hotel

Earlier this year, I featured The Plaza Food Hall located in the lower level (basement) of The Plaza Hotel by Central Park in New York City.  Today, the good news is some of the iconic wonderful places I go to will join the Food Court.  The following will soon be in the The Plazal Food Hall:

1) Luke's Lobster  (already featured)2) La Maison du Chocolat  (mentioned) 3) Lady M Cake Boutique - specializes in the multi layered crepe cakes in different flavors (have ordered on ocassion but have not featured)  and 4) Sushi Gari.

I can't tell you how excited I am to find all of these under one roof (err... basement).  If you haven't read my experience at The Plaza Food Hall, go check it out now below:


In the beginning of this summer 2011, in search where my favorite French little pastry shop went, I delightfully discovered The Food Hall in the lower level of the famous Plaza Hotel in New York City.  I had not realized that the Plaza Hotel actually had a little shopping mall with fine food!

Entering from 58th Street takes you directly down the escalator to the shopping concourse. Behind the perfumery is Todd English's Food Hall.  The place is enormous, and you can either eat around the counters or on tables with high stools.

The menu is very good.  The atmosphere is casual and the place was totally vibrant! They have a bakery, wine bar, cheese and mini market. We decided to sit at the counter around the seafood-oyster bar area. 



On the left above were the lobsters and oysters on ice.



The Food Hall had 2 versions of Prix-fixe lunch menus with several choice for each.  You could also order ala-carte.

Pictured on the right is the oyster board menu.

A sample of the prix-fixe lunch menu which we did not have.  We chose the other side of the fixed menu not in photo.

  

The first course was fried oysters on special cream sauce with lemon, scallions and some capers

 Main course was arugula pizza with very thin crust and light cheese. It was healthy and delicious!

Above was the pastrami sandwich served with okra, pickles and special Todd English mayo mixture

A side dish of Parmesan cheese french fries perfectly crisp and light with minced parsley

 On the right was the petite cheesecake with berry coulis for dessert.  Just a touch of sweet to end the meal.

By the way, you can sit at any counter.  They serve the same food from the menu anywhere you are.

There is also a takeout menu.  You can check it out by going to the link below.

THE PLAZA FOOD HALL

One West 59th Street (concourse level of The Plaza Hotel)

New York City

212-986-9260

HOURS: Sun – Thur 11am-10pm.

Fri & Sat 11am-11pm

http://theplazafoodhall.com/