FOOD DOCUMENTARY

ROUND BARN : SUMMER

2010-08-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Pakatakan Farmer's Market is at the Round Barn in Roxbury, NY. It's every Saturday from 9am - 2pm. You have to get there first thing for the best selection. Craig Thompson and his Shandaken Bake often sells out in the first hour. It's a 30 minute drive from where we are, but totally worth it on this beautiful day.

TRAVEL

2010-08-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

I've never taken the train before and to my surprise they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining car. They even take reservations. For lunch I had the Angus Burger with Potato Chips and a Pickle. It was pretty good and sitting next to strangers allows for a moment to hear about peoples coming and going. Those moments are rare these days. I liked it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2010-08-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

We're back in the Catskills and just in time for Jason's Birthday. We brought him Prosecco and Saltwater Taffy. He made us Bruschetta on homemade Bread, Pasta with Tomato and Basil from their garden and a baked Berry Cobbler for dessert. Amazing... All of it.

THE RED INN

2010-08-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire world. I've stayed in Ptown every summer for the last four years and The Red Inn is what I look forward to the most. It's the best New American/French cuisine on the beach with an ocean breeze and sunset. We all had Kettle One Martinis, extra dry with Olives. It gets the party started. The appetizer is always the Lobster Fondue. Decadence! This time my entree was the Double Cut Pork Chop with Asparagus, Baked Mac and Cheese and a side of Mashed Potatoes. Bill had the Cod with Green Beans and Roasted Potatoes. Fredrik had the Lamb Chops with Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes. For dessert was Crème Brûlée and Pecan Pie. As usual it was a beautiful experience.

CAFE HEAVEN

2010-08-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's just that... Heaven. This place is thee destination for brunch in Ptown. There is always a wait, but well worth it to get in where the service is fast and friendly. Fredrik and I had the Eggs Benedict. I also got a side of Corn Beef Hash. Bill had the Bagel Plate. Mid Week Morning Miracle.

SEAFOOD PASTA

2010-08-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

This was the first dinner Fredrik made for us here in Ptown. He knocked it out of the park. Fresh Pasta, Heavy Cream, Dill, Lemon, Kosher Salt, Ground Pepper, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Shrimp and Scallops. To Die For.

PICNIC

2010-08-10T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the beach. Fredrik made us Bacon, Lettuce and Mozzarella Sandwiches with a side of leftover Potato Salad I made last night. Bill brought the cookies. The ocean water was warm and the sun even warmer. Lazy days are here again.

GRILLED SWORDFISH w/ GRILLED CORN & MESCLUN

2010-08-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

I skipped Akron because I'm going back again next week. This week I'm in Provincetown, Massachusetts with Bill and his friend Jack Crow. Jack is leaving tomorrow day and Fredrik is coming tomorrow night. This evening was the first of what will be a week of several great meals. Seaside food and relaxation. Much needed.

FREDRIK & I

2010-07-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

This house is now a home. Fredrik came back from Sweden with a few new recipes under his belt and he's not holding back. Lars is thrilled to still be here! The Chili Marinated Grilled Salmon was spectacular and the New Potatoes the perfect side. The Tomato, Caper, Red Onion Relish and the Wasabi Yogurt Sauce tied everything together. Gourmet all the way.

WELCOME HOME No. 2

2010-07-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

Fredrik is back for good! Summer is in full swing and home feels complete again. Our stove is temporarily out of commission, but it's too hot to cook inside, anyway. So, the grill is uncovered and we're going to put it to good use. A simple lunch on a beautiful afternoon. I'm very happy.

ROOM SERVICE

2010-07-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

I've worked 7 days a week for the last 6 weeks. It's good to be busy. Despite, I've had lot's of fabulous food with lot's of fabulous people at lot's of fabulous places. I'll have to consider it scouting, but I'll certainly return to do it all again. Now that Fredrik is back for good and running the store I'll have the energy to resume documenting. Also, I've spent so much time with my friend and new colleague Jeffrey. I need to ease him into taking out my camera at every meal. We were in NYC at the Maritime Hotel this week. Next week is Akron, Ohio. Stay tuned.

SNACK FOOD No. 2

2010-06-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Um, I got home from work today and Lars had made White Bean and Chick Pea Hummus with Tahini, Garlic, Olive Oil and Sea Salt. It's like living with a French Moroccan!

SANDWICH No. 4

2010-06-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

It's been so hot this week and we decided to not make it worse by using the stove. Lars version of a Tuna Salad Sandwich was exactly what we needed. It was so crisp, bright and refreshing while watching Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive ins and Dives.

SALAD No. 2

2010-06-25T19:14:00.001-07:00

When Lars was 19 he lived in Paris for 6 months. He said he ate this everyday. It's the most amazing thing I've had in a long time. It was simply Tomatoes, Basil, Red Onion, Kosher Salt and Olive Oil soaked with Balsamic Vinegar. It was fresh, tart and and perfection with Baguette.

RICE No. 3

2010-06-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

OMG! It was the hottest day of Spring and Lars decided to cook the spiciest Vegetable Fried Rice. We were so over heated from inside and out, but it was totally worth it! It reminded me of Thai Food on the West Coast were you can get it 5 stars!

PRESERVES

2010-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Christopher was up a couple weeks ago and he bought some local Apricot Preserves from the farm stand. I normally shy away from Marmalades and such, but it turns out I LOVE IT!. Every night I have toasted Jewish Rye with Butter, the Preserves and a glass of Milk. It's the best thing ever!

RICE No. 2

2010-06-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

Lars eats Brown Rice everyday. Today I made Long Grain Rice with Roast Tomatoes, Egg and a simple Amino Soy Sauce. Next time I'll do it with Chicken and add Onion, Cilantro and Scallion.The closest thing I could make to my favorite... Thai Fried Rice.

GREENS No. 2

2010-06-06T11:31:00.001-07:00

I love a dry mash up of food. Lars steamed Kale and added to it Kosher Salt, Garlic, Olive Oil over Couscous. Mix in a little Katamala Olive Hummus and it became the most savory and satisfying mush I've ever had.

SALAD

2010-06-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

The exciting thing about Lars moving Upstate is that he cooks mostly all vegetarian. I'm a Meat and Potatoes kinda guy and it's a wonderful turn of events for me. This salad was just Romaine, Avocado, Tomatoes, Capers, Sharp White Cheddar and Kosher Salt. The Salt drew out some moisture from everything and intensified the flavors. No dressing was needed. We ate it for breakfast with Scrambled Eggs and Toast.

MEMORIAL DAY

2010-05-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Lars Andersson moved up for the Summer and Martin drove up last minute. We spent most of the weekend at Jason & Jeff's laughing, relaxing, eating and drinking. The weather was perfect and hopefully the sign of a great season. There isn't much else to write since 21 pictures says 21,000 words.

LEFTOVER FOOD No. 5

2010-05-23T09:12:00.001-07:00

I went to Scott and Don's last night for dinner. I held off on shooting it till next time, but they sent me home with leftovers in a proper take out container. Don is Puerto Rican, Italian and Irish, but who knew he did Nordic flavors too! The Salmon and Lemon Dill Potato Salad was amazing last night and it's amazing this afternoon.

JEFF & JASON

2010-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

I love when a friend calls last minute for a BBQ and it turns out to be exactly what you needed. Jeff and Jason have turned a little shack on a hill into the chicest, most beautifully comfortable home. All Spring and Summer their garden is in bloom and their charcoal grill is fired up. Tonight Jeff put together a feast with whatever was left in the fridge. A Mango, Endive and Avacado Chicken Salad. Husk on Corn and Garlic Bread. A perfect Sunday evening.

PEEKAMOOSE

2010-05-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

Peekamoose is my favorite restaurant in the Catskills. To be perfectly honest the food can sometimes be inconsistent, but it doesn't matter. Nobody's perfect. I still love every minute of it. And just like Reda, Patrick, Jeffery Fulvimari and I... We might not be perfect, but we're always right!

COMFORT

2010-05-13T06:34:00.001-07:00

Richmond is a beautiful town. So many of it's neighborhoods and buildings are preserved. Lot's of brick, lot's of trees and lot's of good food. One of the best is Comfort on Broad Street. Serving Southern Classics their entrees come with 2 or 3 sides. The girls got two and I got three. It was the best Pulled Pork I've ever had. The same could be said about their Salmon and Pork Loin. The Mashed Potatoes were heavenly and all the Green Vegetables were cooked to perfection. I'm in love with this place. The RVA.

AMERICANA

2010-05-12T08:58:00.001-07:00

Americana is about revisiting all those places on the street corners of every town in this country. I haven't eaten at The International House of Pancakes since I was young and carefree living in Seattle. I'm in Richmond, Virginia this week. A tradition for Erika and her girlfriend Becky Lacy is to roll out of bed and go have breakfast at IHOP. I was very excited because it's been 15 years. The food was good and the service was excellent, but the best part is that it was just as I remembered it... Eating, laughing and being ready for a nap at 11 am.

JUICE

2010-05-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was afraid of the juicer, but today I decided to take the bull by the horns. It wasn't hard at all. There is nothing more invigorating in the morning than fresh Carrot Ginger. Zing!

CINCO DE MAYO

2010-05-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

Just because I'm all by my lonesome doesn't mean I can't celebrate. Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico's unlikely victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In cuisine, to this day, people think French cooking is superior to Mexican. Let me remind you... Béarnaise Sauce has 11 ingredients. Oaxacan Black Mole has 27.

EGG

2010-04-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Egg is proof that slow and steady wins the race. They started out just serving breakfast in the mornings out of another eatery. Soon they took the space over completely, gave it a clean, easy makeover and now there is a 20 minute wait for a table on a Thursday. I went with my younger sister (from a different mother) Erika Mihalovich. She ordered their Tater Tots and French Toast. I had the Biscuits and Gravy with a side of Eggs. Great food. Great company.

SALTIE

2010-04-28T08:53:00.001-07:00

It's funny. When I shoot my dining experiences in eateries I usually do it guerilla style. I like to think I'm discreet enough for anyone to mind. This morning I went to Saltie for breakfast. This time I asked if they minded if I took a few pictures and good thing I did because they weren't having it! So, I dropped my friend Joseph Foglia's name because he designed and built all the fixtures in the place. He was the one that told me what to have there. Needless to say they relented and good thing because the Ship's Biscuit is the best Egg Sandwich I've ever had. It was simple, salty, rich and delicately light at the same time. Just like the establishment itself. I'll be back again... No camera's next time!

SANDWICH No. 3

2010-04-22T14:38:00.001-07:00

Today I decided to use my Local Farm Fresh Eggs for lunch instead of breakfast. I made Egg Salad with perfectly cooked Eggs, Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper on Jewish Rye. Never mind the 3 minute, 5 minute hard boiled nonsense. Just bring two inches of water to a simmer, put the Eggs in, turn off the heat after a minute and put the lid on it. Leave them for 15 minutes and they'll be perfectly cooked with a delicious bright yellow yolk. Also, break the shell at the tip and peel downward... It makes the hard part easier.

HANOVER FARMS : SPRING

2010-04-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hanover Farms is our local farmer's market produce stand. It's across the street from Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel and about a 10 minute walk from my house. It's not that big, but from April to November it provides a bounty of local goods. Spring is for Flowers, Tomatoes, Avocados and all sorts of Root Vegetables and Greens. Also, through every season they have everything from the best and surprisingly inexpensive Dairy to the richest Honey's, Maple Syrup and Preserves. What an inspiration!

RICE

2010-04-11T17:18:00.001-07:00

I sorely miss having cheap and amazing Spanish Food in NYC. So, tonight I made a Dirty Rice with Spanish Olives and Black Beans. Just like when I make Spanish Rice I browned the Long Grain Rice in Butter and Olive Oil first. Then I added the water, a cup of Black Beans, half a cup of chopped Spanish Olives, stirred it all together, lowered the heat and put the lid on it. 15 minutes later, the Rice was perfectly done and it was infused with the flavors of the Beans and Olives. Delicioso!

PASTA w/ ROAST GARLIC, TOMATOES & ITALIAN SAUSAGE

2010-04-09T16:52:00.001-07:00

OMG! I've been absorbing a lot from watching the Food Network. One thing I've been enjoying is roasting everything in the oven instead of frying or sauteing. I decided to do Grape Tomatoes, Garlic and Italian Sausage in the oven with just Olive Oil, Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper. The Tomatoes made the simplest and most amazing Pasta. All I added was a little more Salt, Pepper and Pecorino. For dinner I had the Sausage and Garlic on the side. For lunch tomorrow I mixed everything all together in some Tupperware. Maybe for tomorrow, maybe for a midnight snack!

MOVIE NIGHT No. 2

2010-04-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

This time I got my favorite Pizza from Brio's. It's Wild Mushroom with a Sesame Crust. Rich and Hearty! I watched the last two Harry Potter movies in preparation to read the last book. So into it!

BLUEBERRY MAPLE CHICKEN SAUSAGE

2010-04-09T14:32:00.001-07:00

I've been trying new things from the market in Boiceville. Al Fresco makes unusual, all natural Breakfast Sausages. It's a nice change since, lord knows, I can eat Bacon everyday.

LEFTOVER FOOD No. 4

2010-03-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

I added an Egg to my leftover Mashed Potatoes and made Potato Pancakes for breakfast this morning. This is something we did in my family when I was growing up and I still love it.

SANDWICH No. 2

2010-03-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

I was so pleased with my Cuban Sandwich, so I did another one with a Chicken Cutlet and White Cheddar. It was raining out side, but it was comfy inside.

PATRICK & REDA

2010-03-27T21:33:00.001-07:00

I recognized Patrick Willingham and Reda Charafeddine at the Boiceville Market the night of the Golden Globes. I invited them over, but they already had dinner plans. They stopped by the store last weekend and invited me over for dinner tonight. They recently bought a cosy cabin on top of a mountain in Westkill, NY. Reda cooked and Patrick made cocktails as we all got to know each other. I was starving when I got there and they had all sorts of salty treats to nibble on until the Burgers were done. The food was great and I got so wrapped up in the dessert that I forgot to take a picture of it. Fresh Berries and Greek Yogurt with a drizzle of Agave Nectar. It was so refreshing, good for you and a taste of great things to come... The dessert and my new friends.

SANDWICH

2010-03-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

This is my version of a Cuban. Boneless Pork Chop, Pepper Jack, Bacon and a little Mayo on toasted Peasant Bread. Yes, it tasted as good as it looks.

SHRIMP CUBANO & SMRIMP PASTA

2010-03-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I've been eating the same things over and over lately. I was in Kingston yesterday, so I decided to go to Adams to find inspiration. I remembered I used to order something called Shrimp Cubano from Teddy's in Williamsburg. It was basically Pepper Jack stuffed Shrimp wrapped in Bacon. It's about time I tried to make it at home. I bought a half pound of peeled and deveined Jumbo Shrimp. I did half as Shrimp Cubano and half as a simple Shrimp Pasta. I didn't need to season the Cubano because the Pepper Jack and Bacon add so much flavor. For the Pasta I just did what Ina said is the best way to make Roast Shrimp... I tossed them in Olive Oil, Kosher Salt and Ground Pepper and bake them at 400º for about 5 - 6 minutes. Mine took longer and I was so afraid of over cooking them that I kept taking them out to see if they were done. Don't do it! Just let them do their thing till they're a beautiful color. For being my first time, it turned out really really good. Shrimp Fest!

PINEVIEW BAKERY

2010-03-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

I was feeling lonely last night, so I went to Jason and Jeff's for a last minute BBQ and shop talk. In the morning we decided to go to breakfast before I went to work. Just outside of the Town of Shokan is the Pineview Bakery. Simple, Bountiful and Delicious. We all got Eggs, Homefries and Toast. I had Sausage too. Jeff said we have all the best food on this side of the reservoir. True.

CAKE No. 5

2010-03-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

Now serving Kardemummakaka. Traditional Swedish Cardamom Coffee Cake.

MACARONI & CHEESE

2010-03-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

Today felt like the first day of Spring. There was hardly anything to eat in the house, but where there is a will there is a way. I just made the easiest, most delicious Mac and Cheese. I cooked Cellentani Pasta in salted water until al dente. I drained it, put it back in the hot pot and mixed in some Butter, fresh Ground Pepper, a bunch of grated Sharp White Cheddar and Pecorino Romano. It was salty, tangy and filling. Time for a nap!

MOVIE NIGHT

2010-03-13T17:23:00.000-08:00

It rained all day which makes it the perfect scenario for ordering food and renting movies. Luckily Phoenicia provides both. Brio's makes really good Brick Oven Pizza. I ordered half Sausage, half Pepperoni. Over the coarse of two terrible movies (the new Fame and Couples Retreat) the whole thing disappeared.

OSCARS

2010-03-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

A Chinese Take Out Feast and the Academy Awards. I'm so happy.

BREAD ALONE

2010-03-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

Christopher came Upstate this weekend to keep me company and work on drawings. We ate lot's of yummy food and this morning was no different. Bread Alone has the monopoly as a Bakery in the Catskills and it's main hub is on the way to the store. Christopher kept it simple with a Sesame Bagel and Veggie Cream Cheese. I had the Mushroom Frittata with Swiss and Herb Mayo on a Multi Grain Baguette. Carbs!

CAKE No. 4

2010-03-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Fredrik is back in Sweden and I'm back to baking. I haven't lost the touch!

GRILLED CHEESE

2010-03-02T15:00:00.001-08:00

Sometimes (usually) the simplest things are the most satisfying (comforting). A Grilled Cheese with Sour Dough, Sharp White Cheddar and Plum Tomatoes. OMG! I'm gonna go make another one!

LEFTOVER FOOD No. 3

2010-03-02T14:56:00.001-08:00

Garlic Roast Potatoes from last nights dinner became a Scramble this morning with a little Parmesan and Paprika. I loved it. Fredrik hated it. He doesn't like Garlic in Breakfast Food. Sad.

BLIZZARD No. 2

2010-02-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

So, we had just enough things in the house to have a Big Breakfast. My favorite! Dinner, however, was the problem. The power was out in Boiceville, so the market was closed. Our only hope was the convenient store in Phoenicia. It's a dusty, trashy little place that had little more than a gas station mini mart. We were determined to avoid all the prefab packaged food. So, we ended up with Boar's Head Bacon, Kraft 100% Real Grated Parmesan, an Onion and Luigi Vitelli Semolina Pasta to make a poor man's version of Spaghetti Carbonara. Keeps meat on our bones for this long Winter.

LEFTOVER FOOD No. 2

2010-02-18T15:58:00.001-08:00

In Swedish Pyttipanna means Small Pieces in a Pan. It's leftover Meat, Potato and Onion cut up into cubes, fried into a hash and served with a fried egg or raw yolk on top. It's super common food in Sweden, but I've even had a 5 star version of it called Biff Rydberg at Teater Grillen in Stockholm. Uptown. Downtown. Good is good.

SNACK FOOD

2010-02-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

When I lived in Seattle my friend Joel Metzger made Homemade Popcorn one night when we were going to watch a dvd. I never knew you could make it with just some oil and a pot. It was the best Popcorn I'd ever had and I've made it this way ever since. I use enough Canola Oil to just cover the bottom of the pot. I place one kernel in, turn the flame to high and as soon as the kernel pops it's ready to add the rest. I pour in an equal amount of kernels as I did oil and put the lid on. I shake the contents while keeping the pot on the burner until the popping stops. Add Sea Salt to taste. I think Canola Oil and Sea Salt add enough flavor, but for extra decadence you can pour on some melted Butter. Bam!

BLIZZARD

2010-02-10T14:20:00.001-08:00

Blizzard 2010! It usually takes 2 hours to get from NYC to our house Upstate. In a snow storm it takes twice as long. We didn't eat before we left, so by the time we got half way we were starving. There isn't much to choose from, but Uno Chicago Grill is near Woodbury Commons and it's a better choice than T.G.I. Fridays. Due to the storm we were the only one's in the restaurant which was kinda weird and kinda fun. We got all you can eat soup with our lunch special. Fredrik had like 3 bowls and 5 bags of Oyster Crackers. Just in case we got stranded and weren't rescued for a week.

BILL

2010-02-07T11:59:00.000-08:00

So, tonight we all trotted over the hills and through the woods to Bill Hovard's beautiful home in South Kortright, NY. Bill prepared a delicious Mediterranean inspired menu of Roast Chickens, Spinach Pie, Sauteed Whole Red Potatoes, Roast Garlic and Baked Fennel. Before dinner we nibbled on Jalapeno and Lime Glazed Salmon, Olives and Salami courtesy of Michael and his Bill. After dinner we enjoyed a spread of the finest French Cheeses brought by Bill's fine French friend Alexis Gamblin. Michael and Bill's friends and neighbors Michel Dionne and Tim LaFontaine brought a homemade, beautifully decadent chocolate cake. Fredrik and I brought Wesley and Adam who entertained us all night with their love/hate shenanigans. Ha! We spent the night and said our goodbyes over coffee and last minute stories of ventures in real estate and trips to India. It was like the shortest, most fabulous vacation ever.

SWEET SUE'S

2010-02-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

Wesley O'Meara and Adam came up for a visit this weekend. We were up late and by the time Martin and Kimberly Christianson showed up were drunk as skunks. As you can tell this morning at Sweet Sue's we were quite hung over. But nothing makes all things better like a Country Breakfast at this Phoenicia Hot Spot. Buttermilk and Corn Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, Veggie Sausage, Homefries, Huevos Rancheros, Biscuits and Gravy, Baked Tofu and Polenta. As always, it was a euphoric experience.

SOUP No. 3

2010-02-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

Whenever Fredrik says he's making soup for dinner my immediate reaction is "Boring!" But then I taste it and I'm so happy. Soup is greatly underestimated and surprisingly satisfying. This was a quick combo between the other two soups on here. It's an Asian style Chicken and Rice Soup.

LASAGNA

2010-02-05T14:51:00.001-08:00

Fredrik made this on on Tuesday. I ate it on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It was that big and that good.

GRAMMYS

2010-01-31T16:30:00.001-08:00

The menu for the Grammys was Steak Frites with Dijon Au Jus, Popcorn and Lay's Potato Chips. Salty!

MARTIN CHRISTOPHER

2010-01-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

Martin Christopher Harper has clients who have an amazing house in Boiceville, NY about 5 minutes from ours. He comes up from time to time and when he does there is sure to be a lot of great food and even more great fun. He was host to Jeff, Jason, Thomas Baber, Eli Schmidt, Chris Stone, Fredrik and I. Eli and Chris are new to the Catskills, but they were right at home in a big country kitchen. The result was Macaroni and Cheese, Sausage and Peppers and a Grapefruit, Hazel Nut and Goat Cheese Salad. It was perfect and as usual I ate the most.

QUICHE No. 2

2010-01-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

Quiche of the Day is Peppers, Broccoli and Black Olives.

POTATOES No. 4

2010-01-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

I never liked traditional Scalloped Potatoes because they're usually soupy with a weird texture. I call these Dry Scalloped Potatoes. No Cream. Sliced Russet Potatoes and Onion tossed in Canola Oil, Sea Salt, Ground Pepper, topped with Sharp White Cheddar Cheese. Bake at 400˚ until the Potatoes are golden brown, the Onions are caramelized and the Cheese is bubbly. To die for.

KINGSTON INDIAN RESTAURANT

2010-01-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

I was happy to hear that the New Paltz Indian Restaurant opened a location in Kingston. They have a lunch buffet during the week for $8.95 and a dinner buffet on Saturday nights for $12.95. Buffets are usually a bad idea. Not here. They replenish the food in small batches so it doesn't sit there for hours. Coming here also solves my problem of being a creature of habit and always ordering the same thing. Always. Every time I've been here they've served something different. This buffet is a lesson in Indian Cuisine.

FLYGANDE JAKOB

2010-01-24T16:48:00.001-08:00

It was my turn to work in the store and I came home to the weirdest and most amazing meal I've had in a long time. It's called Flygande Jakob (Flying Jacob) and it's old school Swedish Comfort Food. Chicken, Bacon, Banana, Chili Sauce, Sea Salt, Ground Pepper, Whipped Heavy Cream and Peanuts. What!? Saute the Chicken with Salt and Pepper till browned. Fry the Bacon and set aside. Whip the Heavy Cream and fold in Chili Sauce. Then add the Chicken, Bacon, Bananas to a large oven dish, pour the Cream Chili Sauce over everything and top with Peanuts. Bake for 15 minutes at 400˚ and serve over rice. Sweet, savory and so satisfying.

FRIED CHICKEN W/ NUTMEG MASHED POTATOES

2010-01-23T17:05:00.001-08:00

I made the Fried Chicken. All I do is season the Chicken first with Sea Salt, Fresh Ground Pepper, Garlic Powder and Cayenne Pepper. I add a tablespoon of Water and as much Sriracha Chili Sauce as you can handle to four Eggs and beat it all together. I dip to coat the Chicken in the Egg mixture then dust each piece lightly with Flour. I fry the Chicken in half an inch of hot Peanut Oil till golden brown on one side and then the other. Fredrik made the Mashed Potatoes. He added fresh ground Nutmeg, Sea Salt, Ground Pepper and Butter to peeled, cooked Red Potatoes. He whipped it all together in the blender because he likes his Potatoes silky smooth. The mild, slightly sweet Mashed Potatoes were a great balance to the spicy Fried Chicken. That's what we're going for. Balance. Um, this is all starting to sound like a metaphor.

BACON CHEESEBURGER DELUXE

2010-01-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

I was in a terrible mood this evening. I was going to do Fried Chicken, but I was "over it." Fredrik left me in the car, went into the market and bought everything necessary to make one of my favorite things to eat. His thoughtfulness pulled me out of my funk and his cooking inspired 216 photos edited down to these 7. I'm not kidding. Good Food is Magic.

QUICHE

2010-01-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Quiche of the Day is Spinach & Bacon with a Homemade Crust.

ROAST CHICKEN W/ GARLIC, ONION & POTATOES

2010-01-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

This is Fredrik's version of One Pot Chicken and Potatoes. He added a base of Chicken Stock, Whole Garlic Cloves with rough cut Onion and Russet Potatoes. The thing I've learned from Fredrik is that you can rarely over season food, especially something as bland as Chicken and Potatoes. He used Sea Salt, Ground Pepper, Italian Herbs, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika and baked it in a covered pot at 350˚ for an hour. When it was done the Potatoes had absorbed the stock, the Garlic and Onions were like butter and the Chicken fell off the bone. So good.

LEFTOVER FOOD

2010-01-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Don put this together before he left last night and told me to just heat it up today. Spanish Rice, Tomatoes, Onion, Cilantro, Sour Cream and Cheddar Cheese. I warmed it in the oven at 350º for 20 minutes. He was right, it was so delicious.

GOLDEN GLOBES

2010-01-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

The great thing about having our store is that we can make friends in an instant. Last minute we invited Donald DiMartini and Scott Huber to our house for our First Annual Golden Globes Party. Jason and Jeff came too. It was truly a special event for all since we live here full time and therefore have cable. Don and Scott brought over what they already had planned for dinner... Cheese Ravioli, Meat Balls and Sausages. I prepared Nachos, Chicken Tacos and Spanish Rice. Everything turned out great, so it was food, fun, more food and lot's of yelling at the TV. Viva Italia! Viva México!

RIB ROAST W/ POTATOES, CARROTS & BROCCOLI

2010-01-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

So, I'm in the living room minding my own business, catching up on different music media's Best of 2009 lists online while Fredrik is fiddling around in the kitchen. The next thing I know he's yelling, "Dinner is served!" What the hell? Don't be jealous.

EGGS No. 2

2010-01-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Friends of ours who have chickens and ducks often share their bounty and drop off eggs to us at the store. Duck Eggs are larger and more dense than chicken eggs. They taste richer and have a higher nutritional value. They also have a longer shelf life because the shells are so thick. With a side of Bacon and Collard Greens this was the perfect meal after the gym!

SOUP No. 2

2010-01-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

From some distant inspiration we happen to have lots of Thai ingredients gathering dust in our cupboards. Fearing their expiration Renate and Fredrik through together the most fabulous Seafood Soup. First they sauteed Carrots, Peppers, Onion, Mushrooms and Ginger in Butter and Canola Oil. They marinated Tilapia and Shrimp in Hoisin Sauce, Fish Sauce, Lemongrass and Chili Peppers. Then they combined everything together with Green Curry Paste, Tom Yum Paste, Lemon Juice, Sweet Chili Sauce and Glass Noodles in Water and Coconut Milk. After simmering for 15 minutes everything was done cooking and ready to serve. It was better than any soup I've had in any Thai restaurant anywhere.

UNGS PANNKAKA

2010-01-13T15:28:00.001-08:00

Ungs Pannkaka means Oven Pancake in Swedish. Fredrik made it for breakfast this morning. It's basically a Swedish Pancake with Bacon added that is baked instead of fried on a skillet. You're supposed to top it with some Lingonberry, but I loved it plain. I love savory, but for a little sweet I also had a bowl of Trader Joe's Honey Nut O's cereal.

CHAI

2010-01-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Thai is one of my favorite cuisines. Unfortunately, up in the country it's not as readily available as in NYC. To be specific some would consider Williamsburg to be little Bangkok. There are so many places and you can get delivery in about 15 minutes. Before I left to go back Upstate I decided to have a little feast at one of my favorites. Chai is housed in a tiny little building on the corner of Berry and N 5th. They recently renovated and expanded into the 2nd floor. The food is great and it's less hectic than Sea and Planet Thailand. Since it was lunch time they had their $5.95 special which includes a starter and an entree. I ordered two and I'm about to pass out.

CANDY

2010-01-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

I believe that in the pursuit of a happy and healthy life you must not give up all vices. I do not have a sweet tooth, but ever since I was a kid Peanut M&M's was my favorite candy. I think it's because they are each a whole peanut wrapped in just enough chocolate and an aesthetically beautiful candy coated shell. Of all the colors Blue and Green are my favorite. Yellow, Orange and Red are good too. I don't like Brown.

ZAMARI

2010-01-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was spoiled today. I woke up this morning to breakfast and came home this evening to dinner. Zamari, my beautiful hostess for the weekend, was a little inspired by this blog and whipped up two great meals for us. The funny thing is I also eat out twice during the day. I met up with two different friends who ask, "Have you eaten?" I replied, "Yes, but I can eat again." I forgot to document these meals, but I had Mac and Cheese at Blackbird Parlour in Williamsburg with Adam Pedersen-Doherty and the Norwegian Benedict at Fat Hippo in the Lower East Side with Gabriel Roman and his darling new boyfriend Jon Cody Garwacke. The food at these places was just okay. The company was excellent.

FIVE LEAVES

2010-01-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Five Leaves is a little place on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Owner Judd Mongell and Heath Ledger were best mates. Heath died before it was open, but his investment into the place was released by the family and now it's a beautiful neighborhood institution with an hour wait for a table. It was the perfect place to catch up with old friends and new. Bill Gentle, Fanny Boström, Victor Rassback, Zamari Graham-Smith and I talked fashion, Sweden, England and work visas over our Big Brekkie brunch. Delicious in every way.

CHIPS

2010-01-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

Honestly, good White Corn Chips and Sharp White Cheddar in the broiler for a few minutes topped with Salsa Verde is all you need to make the tastiest Nachos ever.

NEW YEARS DAY No. 2

2010-01-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

We called Jeff Madalena and Jason Gnewikow to see if they would be Upstate this evening. We brought over a bunch of treats we got from Trader Joe's and the Boeuf Bourguignon we made this morning. Their home in Samsonville, NY is so beautiful, cozy and the perfect place for French Comfort Food.

NEW YEARS DAY No. 1

2010-01-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

We decided to spend the day making Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. Well, I peeled the pearl onions. Fredrik did the rest.

NEW YEARS EVE

2009-12-31T20:50:00.001-08:00

We opted out of a party in NYC and decided to do dinner at Cucina. It proved to be a good decision. Snow on the ground. Full moon. A prefix menu. We ended up sitting next to a hilarious couple from Kingston. He's a hair dresser. She's an actress. We mostly talked about food, how modern Chef Gianni Scappin's preparations are and all the other fabulous places we've eaten. To over simplify, tonight we had Pizza, Squid, Lamb, Short Ribs, Chocolate Cake, Ice Cream, Panacotta and Biscotti. It was perfection and I'm stuffed.

CHRISTMAS DAY

2009-12-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

The day started early at the new home of Karl Åberg and Johnny Roberson in Phoenicia, NY. Lynne Hiriak, Creighton Bowman, Daniel Umlauf and Aude Tabet were their guests for the weekend and we arrived about 2 p.m. Renate, Roger and Paco Blancas arrived later. The food was fantastic... Salmon, White Fish, Beef Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Swedish Meatballs, Green Beans and Baked Ham. And, of course, in this crowd the Prosecco and Red Wine flowed like the Esopus River.

CHRISTMAS EVE

2009-12-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

Tonight I experienced my first Julbord at the home of Catarina Lundgren Åström in Hobart, NY. This Swedish Christmas smörgåsbord consisted of several Herring dishes, Cured Salmon, Boiled Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Caviar, Ham, Meatballs, Ribs and a Baked Egg Omelet. There was also something called Jansson's Temptation and Santa's Porridge. It was the perfect scenario to taste classic dishes for the first time. Catarina has cooked, photographed and published two Swedish Home cooking books of her family recipes. It was a wonderful evening and we got to meet some of her lovely friends and family. God Jul!

SIRLOIN STEAK W/ CAULIFLOWER & BROCCOLI

2009-12-20T18:32:00.000-08:00

A fabulous meal can be thrown together in no time and cost very little. This was a $7 Steak seasoned with lots of Salt and Pepper and a little Oil in a cast iron skillet then seared, let to rest and thin sliced. Fredrik sauteed Cauliflower and Broccoli in the same pan browning it in the drippings and topped it with a little Pecorino Romano. I ate it all wrapped in Corn Tortillas. Amazing textures. Absolutely delicious.

MICHAEL & BILL

2009-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of food and fun at the home of Michael J Gould and Bill McElyea. They have a big country house in Roxbury, NY. Comfort was on the menu with Meatloaf wrapped in Bacon, Mac and Cheese and Roasted Cauliflower. It was delicious and so was the company. Fredrik and I woke up this morning in one of their guest rooms. It was beautiful to sit in their kitchen drinking Coffee watching the Sun come up over the snow covered hill behind their property. We didn't want to leave.

POTATOES No. 3

2009-12-19T09:45:00.001-08:00

When I lived in Seattle, WA I would wait up to 2 hours for a table at Glo's. It was a whole in the wall with a Brunch menu that is still my gold standard. Their hash browns were legendary. I attempted to make them today. I grated Red Potatoes and used a tea towel to get some of the moisture out. I seasoned with Sea Salt, Ground Pepper and fried a pile of them in some Canola Oil on medium heat. I left them alone until crisp brown. They were pretty good, but not as light as Glo's. Maybe I should use Butter instead of Oil. Maybe I should use a different kinda Potato too. Next time I'll mix it up.

CAKE No. 3

2009-12-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

Cardamom Pound Cake. It was delicious with fresh Whipped Cream and a cup of Hot Chocolate. Happy Holidays!

TILAPIA W/ GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

2009-12-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

OMG! I've never cooked Fish before. I've never made Garlic Mashed Potatoes before. Tonight I made both. I browned Whole Garlic Cloves in Olive Oil and added both to Red Potatoes I boiled with the skins on. I also added Sea Salt, Ground Pepper, Butter, Milk and mashed them all together. Damn! So good! I cooked the Tilapia in Butter, Lemon Juice, Salt and Pepper. After the fish was cooked I removed it and added more Butter, Capers and deglazed the pan to make a little sauce for the Fish. I was a little stressed out when I was done, but it was all so flavorful. I'm proud.

SOUP

2009-12-10T12:04:00.001-08:00

It's snowing out and it's a perfect day for some slow cooking. Fredrik put together this hearty Chicken Soup. Instead of Noodles he used Indian Basmatic Long Grain Brown Rice with Chicken Breast, Celery, Carrots, Sweet Corn and Chicken Stock. We say no to MSG, but buying enough good Chicken Stock for a big pot of soup and such can be pricey. We are going to try and make our own Stock next time. Ina Garten says to always use the best ingredients and make homemade broth if you can. Yes ma'am!

APPLES

2009-12-08T19:49:00.001-08:00

Apple season is amazing. The farm stands have like 20 different types and they find their way into everything. Favorites are the Cider Donuts! Tonight Fredrik threw together his warm and delicious Swedish Apple Pie. It's just Apples, Flour, Oats, Butter, Sugar and Cinnamon. If we have it he'll also add Almond Paste. Next level!

CATAMOUNT

2009-12-06T14:11:00.001-08:00

Renate and I went to the tasting for the reopening of the Catamount Restaurant at the Emerson Lodge. Besides a few kids we were the youngest ones there. It was a riot! Most of the food was served as a buffet that was, well, a buffet. Enough said. What was great were the Buffalo Wings and BBQ Ribs they had out on the bar and the Salmon and Beef Brisket hors d'oeuvres they were passing around. Both were topped with a dollop of Parsley Mashed Potatoes. Yum! The place is perfect to get cozy and have Country Comfort Food.

WELCOME HOME

2009-12-04T18:48:00.001-08:00

Fredrik is back! I wanted to impress him with things I've learned about cooking. I Roasted Chicken over Baby Red Potatoes and Shallots. It was all cooked perfectly, but I could have seasoned everything better. Next time. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Tonight was about Fredrik and being in the company of his best friends.

POTATOES No. 2

2009-12-01T17:09:00.001-08:00

This time I Roasted New Potatoes with Shallots. I'm really inspired by Chef Academy on Bravo. Chef Novelli said he never fusses with peeling and chopping things like Garlic or Herbs. He just smashes the Garlic whole, tears off some Herbs and tosses them in the pan. I love the idea of not being precious and over prepping food. It makes things hearty, rustic and saves time! I simply cut the Potatoes and Shallots in two and tossed it all together with lots of Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Coarse Ground Pepper. After about 40 minutes in the oven at 400º they were perfect. My favorite Potato preparation so far.

ROUDIGANS

2009-11-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

Roudigans is a tacky little place connected to the Quality Inn & Suites and was voted best steakhouse in Hudson Valley. Believe it. When I was coming Upstate just on the weekends this is where I always wanted to stop for dinner. It's right off 87 in Kingston and 20 minutes before home. It's the ultimate in Comfort Food. Well made and large portions. Tonight it was particularly good. The Garlic Mashed Potatoes were chunky and not over pureed. My medium rare Prime Rib didn't have too much fat. They were both the perfect temperature when they arrived. The salad bar comes with the entree. It's my favorite part of the experience. Iceberg Lettuce, Red Onion, Black Olives, whole Radishes, Cottage Cheese, Peppercinis, Bacon Bits and Ranch Dressing. The soup was New England Clam Chowder. I added Oyster Crackers. All this food was only $17.95

CUCINA

2009-11-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

Cucina is the chicest restaurant in Woodstock and the Catskills at large. They serve a contemporary Italian menu based on seasonal and local ingredients. I had the Crispy Squid with a Creamy Citrus Sauce. I love Calamari and theirs is perfection... light, crisp and tender. My entree was the Rigatoni with Peas, Sausage, a bit of Cream, Red Pepper Flakes and Parmesan. I don't like wet, soupy food. This dish was not... the sauce wrapped itself around the al dente Noodles. I ate them one at a time. Cucina is owned by Lois Freedman. She's also the general manager for Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants in NYC including the Mercer Kitchen. Her staff at Cucina is amazing... cute, friendly and on top of everything. I will come here as often as possible.