STIR THE POTS

"El Coquero" just pass me the coconut water!

Old wives tales are many, my excuse for falling for a coconut water drinking fad. In Ecuador it seems coconuts grow on trees....

During my recent trip to Ecuador, every afternoon just clearing the last breakfast tables from my wife's new restaurant venture, she would get a clear plastic glass of what I thought was water in one hand. In the other, she'd pick up a mysterious looking fleshy white and brown mottled thing in a plastic bag. When I asked her what it was, she told me agua de coco ' or coconut water.

According to my wife, it's said to help clean the kidneys. Googling,I found that it supposedly also helps strengthen the immune system. It is low in fat, no carbs, etc. Reading about it, I think of those 19th century medicine shows or 20th century New Age miracle cures.  Whatever, I started to like it, finding it refreshing. Soon I was ordering a daily cup.

Somehow I grabbed the coco water seller's attention. And to be sort of polite and semi-interested, I snapped a few shots of the fellow, his cart barely full of coconuts. Business must be good?

The next day I managed some head shots, props provided by my wife; a polo shirt and panama hat. She's so silly! And as if he didn't get enough attention, I bumped into him on the beach where the fishermen were unloading the catch. "Amigo!" he said, and smoothly pulled up his machete, posing through a fully stocked coconut patch and smiled....

Our cook, Sonia, told me later he was vanquisher of hearts a sort of mujeriero, a machete wielding Casanova, breaking coconuts and releasing nectar. You get the point, or maybe you don't. Anyway, I will miss his fresh coco water, as it is, I am now left to buy those cartons they sell at all the supermarkets for five times the price, it just ain't the same animal!

Pizza process, a redux

Pissaladiere, that French pie!

French pizza, is much ignored but always beloved by Francophilic geeks like us (moi!), aptly  noted to me by an old friend today observing dinner I cooked and posted on my Facebook page. It was a Pissaladiere.

Pissaladiere is the maligned cousin of the more common la pizza Italiana, which itself comes in so many shapes and configurations nevermind the D.O.C.G or whatever? This particular pie, comes from Nice and its environs, including my mother's childhood home of the Var.

You ought to know this onion, garlic topped oil laden dough is a one of the pre-Colombian tomato type; this pizza was introduced into what was a region in both French and Italian hands throughout history, hence good taste abounds from both sides of the border. It's especially flavorful with additions of herbs, tomatoes, olives. Mind you no sane French guy would consider cheese on this pie. On the other hand some in San Remo put mozzarella on it. Sacre bleu! My mother used to make it for us when were kids, and that flavor hasn't left my taste buds since.

Revisiting 7x7 bread

Deli rye

Deli Rye with Kalonji seeds

Faux gras, no way, it's the real thing for Memorial day!

Juste du pain, quoi d'autre?

Ficelles par moi, pour David

Just a couple of ficelles I made today...dedicated to blogger David Lebovitz.

A fig grows in Queens

A few weeks ago one of the employees was walking out with a branch that was protruding from a clear plastic gallon milk container with water and the plants roots, curious I asked what it was. A fig branch I was told, so I unabashedly asked if I could get one too, intending to plant it surreptitiously in my mothers garden. Last time I tried that,it was a strawberry bush that  I planted. My mother later  uprooted it  and translplanted into the front yard under some trees. My mother is very territorial about her jardin! Needless to say those strawberries flourished like weeds. When I mentioned my new garden project mother quickly forbade my idea, so without any other solution I dug a hole in the front of my building, where some of the neighbors had recently started a garden, bringing the country life to our city digs. Voila, a few weeks later I find some huge leaves growing, and the sweet little branch getting bigger and bigger, taking on a certain tree quality. A fig tree grows in Sunnyside! I can't wait for the fruit next year!

BBQ

 

Usually  I would make some overtly political message regarding Memorial day.Not just that I am a veteran, but it's an election year.  Rather then blow a lot of hot air, I say thanks to the women and men deployed around the world away from family and friends enjoying the beginning of summer at home.Not forgetting  those times when I was stationed overseas and I would of rather been at home.

Thanks for your service.

As is tradition every year we head out to my mom's in Connecticut for some grilled food and lots of side dishes, this year was no exception, we had friends and family and I cooked not only the food but the top of my head in the sun! Not so bad, I had cool beer and utensils at my side along with my camera for some food porn.

My meats were purchased at no other than the fabulous Sunnyside meat market from my friend Jonel,(aka Johnny) who lately has got some press in the NY Times!

Fruits de mer with Romesco sauce

Pork kebabs, sausages

 

 

Mango salsa

Smokin pork ribs

Corn on the cob

Jerk Chicken and grilled duck breast

Grilled cranberry marinated duck breast

Grilled black sea bass

Afterwards a walk on the jetty by the shore, we spied a furry little critter and a very intent admirer.