Bratwurst, Shishito, Panzanella and Pickles - the World on My Plate

I made some food to celebrate the fantastic produce at the farmers market (can I ever get enough?? Noooo!!), and only later did I realize what I had put on a plate together had roots in various nooks around the world. Struck me as funny at the time, and boy was it all delicious.


Panzanella is one of the best - and simplest! - salads around. A great way to make use of old bread (or just bread you feel like frying up, if none old is sitting around) and incredible tomatoes, this recipe originates in Tuscany and has infinite variations. I found inspiration from The Bitten Word when I was pulling mine together, and kept it simple so the star of this show - my tomatoes - could really shine.

While shopping for meat at the Greene Grape - they buy only whole and half animals, as opposed to boxed meat, and butcher the choice cuts themselves - I discovered some delightfully plump rabbit and pork belly bratwurst. I think just hearing that combination made me drool on the spot, and I took home a bunch of sausages to grill. Bratwurst originally comes from a small town in Germany (all the way back in 1313!), but is widely available at butchers and specialty shops these days. Make sure to buy highest quality from small producers, not the run-of-the-mill at a grocery store if at all possible. It will taste better and be a healthier product to feed yourself and your family, and you will have the satisfaction of supporting another family: the small farm that takes pride in what they do.

At the farmers market, the stunning beauty of what's in the stalls pretty much guides my purchasing. Occasionally there's a list to check up on, but it's usually, "what hits me?" To that end, the Japanese-origin Shishito peppers virtually leaped into my arms last week. Their firmness, their sculptural curvy shapes and glossy-green brightness all said "take me!" So I did. From a preparation enjoyed at the Chelsea Basque restaurant Txikito, I simply blistered them in a scorching-hot skillet and seasoned with sea salt. Done, and delicious.

Please let's not forget the humble pickle. Pickles come in all varieties and flavors around the world. Their (sometimes spicy-)salty-sourness stimulate our saliva glands and make for a refreshingly bright crunch, the perfect counterpoint to any food on a plate. Left often as a garnish, but not to be underestimated if done well. Bold and bright, pickles delight.

I hope you will enjoy these flavors served together as much as I did. Recipes to follow - check back once the weekend has passed, once I've gotten more market shopping out of the way. I will be bringing forth a berry dessert to go with all this yumminess.....

In other news, a couple months back I shot a feature for AARP Magazine. It was a treat to work with the photo staff there and the project was a blast. The issue is available on newsstands now. Here is the story, and below, the shot they used -

And, a couple outtakes...

One last bit:

The wonderful Fork Magazine, another sustainable resource, featured my blog as one of their recent favorites (photo from this story). Reading their magazine cover to cover, I need to book a trip to Whales, pronto. Their take on sustainable food is completely speaking-my-language and, they are really nice people, to boot. The fact that I have Welsh blood makes whole thing even more imminent. So let's see what we can cook up. Stay tuned!

Today's New York Times -Tropical Style, and Americana Too

It's been a wonderfully busy few weeks and that has made me scant in these parts. I have a backlog of stories and photographs, each a fun and fabulous experience that I am eager to share with you all. Because it is out today - and they are supremely delicious, I can attest! - here are a couple pieces featured in today's New York Times Dining section. If you can get the printed edition the photos are just gorgeous. Full color, large, totally yummy. Here's a screenshot from the online version and some of my outtakes, below.

 

The story shares three recipes, though there is a fourth that didn't make the cut. They really are delicious, so do please explore the recipes in the Times pages and tell me what you think. I can verify that the fourth too is super tasty (love my job), and worth shopping for the ingredients and coming home to prepare. Here it is:

Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Salsa

1 1/2 lbs U16-20 shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 tsp olive oil
salt and freshly cracked pepper
1 ripe, firm avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 tbsp cumin seed
1 tbsp good-quality chile powder
1/4 lime juice, from about 2 limes
1/2 cup orange juice, preferably freshly-squeezed
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

On a stovetop grill (or on one outdoors) heat on high for about 5 minutes, then turn to medium-high. Coat the shrimp with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and thread onto skewers. Place on the grill and cook, turning once, until shrimp are just opaque throughout, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and slide off of skewers into a large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients, toss to coat well, season with additional s & p as needed, and serve. 

In other news my friend Katie has included some photographs from an Americana series I shot on her blog What Katie Ate. Lots of great contributions in this story, so sit back and enjoy the many beautiful pictures! More of my faves from that series....

Hope this story transported you to Coney Island, whisked you to the most classic classic diner, brought you to a tropical paradise, and that you've found a bit of yourself here. Things have been a blast. I can't wait to tell you more of what's been gong on. Stay tuned! ;)

Rainy Day Williamsburg

Flowers have been planted around the tree in front of my house. I am freshly back from a fantastic trip to my hometown. But, those sweet bits are not what this story is about. Just before leaving on my trip home - a nonstop week of meetings, cleaning, and packing to depart, and cooking everything left in my refrigerator - my friend Katie Quinn Davies was in town, as part of a three week whirlwind USA trip (I'm starting to think that's the only way she travels!)... and dear Valery Rizzo - another super food photographer - offered to be our tour guide around Williamsburg as we ventured for lunch and then bopped around.

I spotted a cool photo-shoot in progress as I descended the J train steps. It immediately reminded me of the work of Denis Darzacq, with the talent twirling sideways in the air, seemingly repeatable on-command. That guy did it about 12 times, and that's just when I paused to watch. This kind of thing is one of the many which I love about Brooklyn. You never know what kind of unusual and completely cool (or zany - random - surreal) thing you'll come across. :-)

It was a rainy day. We lunched at Marlow & Sons and began our sight-seeing from there. Drizzling and occasionally more, we weren't deterred. We came to some of my favorite spots, and also landed new highlights for my Billyburg destination map. (Thanks, Valery!) With the fun we had, you'd think we had the fortune to play in the sunshine....

 

 

From diners to bric-a-brac shops, late afternoon cocktails to chocolate tastings, it was a grand time.

Enjoy the rain droplets wetting your skin. Find someplace new and get lost. Go someplace familiar and re-discover it for yourself again. There is beauty in everything!