Worth Seeking Out… « A Taster’s Journey

Posts Tagged ‘Worth Seeking Out…’

Saturday, February 26th, 2005

I have enjoyed some delicious ravioli lately, and I purchased them at The Ravioli Store. Although frozen, they are far superior to those found at your local supermarket. My favorites were wild mushroom with white truffle oil, and squash, sweet potato & figs. The store is at 75 Sullivan St, NYC or www.raviolistore.com
2002 was an excellent year for White Burgundy, and there should still be a decent selection at your favorite retailer. Remember that you do not need to buy a Puligny Montrachet to enjoy this great vintage.
I have been a fan of pistachio nuts since my teenage years. I would help my friend stack boxes of spaghetti in his father’s Italian grocery, and we would get paid in pistachio nuts. Today my favorite pistachios are from Bazzini, a company that has been in business for 118 years. Their website is www.bazzininuts.com

Tuesday, January 25th, 2005

Two Roman cookbooks that will help you recreate your favorite Roman dishes are: Cooking the Roman Way by David Downie and In a Roman Kitchen by Jo Bettoja.
A mixed case of wine is a great way to find some new house wines for the coming year. Ask your favorite retailer for 12 different wines in your desired price range. If your retailer does not know the types of wines you like, then find a new retailer.
It is hard to find fresh fruit in N.Y.C. this time of year, but I have found the boxes of clementines to be juicy and delicious.
Grape seed oil is an excellent choice for those dishes where a subtle oil taste is preferred. For example, coleslaw recipes often call for vegetable oil, and although more expensive, I find grape seed oil to be a better choice.

Friday, November 26th, 2004

Roasting a leg of lamb or a turkey? Then I would recommend the All Clad Roasting Pan in stainless steel. Available at Broadway Panhandler in N.Y.C. or at www.chefscatalog.com
The Museum of Modern Art in N.Y.C has just reopened after a 2 1/2 year renovation. Yoshio Taniguchi was the architect that took on this project to update and expand this museum. Although the design may be controversial, it will certainly provide an exciting environment for many new art collections.
The William Jefferson Clinton Library recently opened in Little Rock, Ark. It is the largest of all the presidential libraries, with an expansive memoir of our 42nd president.
Farmers markets are still overflowing with great root vegetables. There is nothing better than a pan of roasted potatoes, beets, celeriac, turnips and shallots.

Tuesday, October 19th, 2004

Web sites are a great resource for information as well as products. A few of my favorites are: www.nimanranch.com for high quality meats shipped fresh not frozen, www.penzys.com for herbs and spices, www.epicurious.com & www.foodtv.com for recipes, and for cheese www.murrayscheese.com.
Fresh ingredients have the best flavor, and garlic is no exception. Try to avoid the jars of minced garlic and peeled garlic cloves, they are too old. I prefer the freshest heads of garlic available, those where the cloves are hard to pry away from the head. It may take a couple minutes to mince your own garlic, but the freshness and flavor are worth the effort.
D’Artagnan makes a frozen demi glace that is ideal for stews or braised dishes. It is a concentrated duck and veal stock that will add richness and a depth of flavor to your dishes. Available at www.dartagnan.com and at specialty stores.