A Spoonful of Sofrito: Chowhound's Food Trends of 2018!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Chowhound's Food Trends of 2018!

Sofrito Lovers,

The culinary world is chock full of trends and fads!  Whether it's putting kale in everything or eating copious amounts of Korean BBQ, our foodie culture is always experimenting and exploring new ways to satiate our appetites and curiosities!  

Chowhound, one of my favorite foodie blog sites, has published this awesome little article predicting 2018's new food trends.  Turns out veggies and vegan meats are going to be all the rage in the upcoming year!  Check out the article posted below and see if you agree!

Read up, then go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

 

A Sneak Peek at the Food Trends of 2018

 By Emily Murawski December 27, 2017

 

 

 

2018, change looks good on you! And lucky it does, because the new year is going to be all about change, according to Andrew Freeman, CEO of restaurant and hospitality consulting firm, af&co—so much so that the company’s 2018 Hospitality Trend Report is entitled “Change is the New Black.” While we’ll be seeing some food and restaurant trends that feel familiar (you may recognize a few from our 2017 article about trends that will stick around), these will be gaining traction, and taking some twists and turns!

Check out the rest of this article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Ichiba Ramen Union Square!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Mini-Review: Ichiba Ramen 

Union Square!

Sofrito Lovers,

It's brick out there!  If you're one of those commuters that has to brave this cold to get to work, move around the city, or whatever, then I've a got an awesome suggestion for escaping the cold: Ichiban Ramen!

Ichiban Ramen is an amazing medium-sized ramen shop on University Place off of Union Square!  The service is wonderful and the clientele is a cross section of New York City!

The menu's focus is primarily on their delicious ramens, but there are appetizers, rice dishes, buns, and a few other goodies to choose from.  Check out the rest of their menu here!

I live and breathe for their Shio Ramen, because it's rich, warm, and full of deliciously fatty braised pork belly.  Usually, I order the grilled corn, Enoki mushrooms, and a side of Kimchi for additional yumminess!

I'm also a huge fan of their pork Gyoza (dumplings).  They're small, savory, and delicious.  They're the perfect little appetizer before you chow down on your soup!

Next time you're near Union Square check out Ichiba Ramen!  I'm sure you'll love it, but don't take my word for it, go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Champurrado – A Mexican Thick Hot Chocolate.

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Champurrado – A Mexican Thick Hot Chocolate!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

It's fudging cold!  The cold temps in NYC right now are record breaking and when it's this cold, then it's time for some yummy hot beverages!

Normally, I hate tea, coffee, and hot chocolate because they have a diarrhetic effect on me, but for some reason Mexican Champurrado sits well!  For those of you who don't know, Champurrado is a delicious hot chocolate drink made from corn flour, Mexican chocolate, cinnamon, and cane sugar.  

It's rich, thick, and has a unique earthy flavor.  Maybe, it's the corn flour that keeps me from pooping, I don't know, but whatever it is, I can stomach it and enjoy it thoroughly!

Check out the recipe for Champurrado, from myhumblekitchen.com, below and make yourself a cup of this amazing drink!  ¡Que viva Mexico! Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

How to make Champurrado – A Mexican Thick Hot Chocolate
by Mely | Nov 14, 2012 | 66 comments

Written by Mely of Mexico In My Kitchen

Chocolate has been called the “drink of the Gods”, and the Mexican History books will narrate how it was given to the soldiers to give strength, and how it was a drink reserved for the priests and the wealthy. Even Hernán Cortés wrote to King Carlos I of Spain telling him that he had found a “drink that builds up resistance and fights fatigue.”

 

Check out the recipe here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Sliders 10 Ways!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Sliders 10 Ways!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

The holidays are amazing and the food is always the stand out delight, but I'm pretty much over it already.  Don't get me wrong, I love the pernil, turkey, ham, and all the amazing sides, but I could use a break from all the holiday fare.

When I came across this Tasty video for sliders, I nearly back flipped!  Some simple, yet delicious sliders sound AMAZING right now!  Check out this video and salivate at the Chicken Parmesan Sliders, BBQ Chicken Sliders, and the Buffalo chicken sliders!  

I'm going to try out a few of these today!  Maybe, I'll use some leftover pernil and create my own Boricua sliders!  Score!

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

Sliders 10 Ways-YouTube

 https://youtu.be/s-Ub38YwpAA

 

 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Holiday Puerto Rican Rice/Arroz con Gandules!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life!

Holiday Puerto Rican Rice/Arroz con Gandules!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

It's Navidades (Christmas) and nothing says the holidays are here like a nice steaming caldero of Arroz con gandules (Rice with green pigeon peas)!  For some reason, arroz con gandules is always served for the holidays and most special occasions!  It's the seminal party rice, no celebration is complete with out it!

Arroz con gandules is the perfect side to your turkey, pernil, duck, or lamb!  If you've never tried it, then you must make it this year's special holiday side!  I know your family will love it!

Check out Chef Daisy Martinez's recipe posted below!  She's awesome!  I love how simple, easy to follow, and fun her cooking tutorials are, I guarentee you'll love it too!

Happy Holidays and go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Making Puerto Rican Coquito (kinda like egg nog)!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Making Puerto Rican Coquito (kinda like egg nog)!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

We Boricuas celebrate Navidades (Christmas) with rich, creamy, and rummy Coquito!  This incredible concoction blends coconut milk, cinnamon, condensed milk, RUM, and other ingredients into a delicious holiday beverage.

Egg nog, hot toddies, and all those other holidays beverages can't hold a candle to coquito.  I've never met anyone who didn't like it!

Check out the DIY cooking tutorial from FreakinRican's cooking channel on YouTube.  I love this recipe; it's simple and fast!  

Have fun these holidays!  Treat yourself and make some coquito!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: ‘The Chew’ Cast Addresses Mario Batali Allegations!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

‘The Chew’ Cast Addresses Mario Batali Allegations!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

The  food world's dirty little secret is starting to come to light.  The amount of sexual harassment and sexism that many women and men face in their professional settings is staggering. 

 

The kitchen, break room, cafeteria, and all other restaurant and food related spaces should be safe spaces where creativity, fun, and enjoyment abound, not harassment and misconduct. I hope more women and men stand up and demand that the people who've created these unsafe working environments are finally held accountable for their actions. 

Check out Eater.com's article on the recent allegations against Mario Batali!

‘The Chew’ Cast Addresses Mario Batali Allegations

 

 

From left: ‘The Chew’ cast members Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael SymonABC

 

ABC removed Batali from the show following revelations of his alleged sexual misconduct by Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Dec 12, 2017, 3:51pm EST

Following an Eater NY report detailing decades of alleged sexual misconduct by Mario Batali, ABC removed the celebrity chef from his role as a host on the network’s daytime talk show, The Chew. On Tuesday, co-hosts Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon addressed Batali’s absence. Their statement aired at the beginning of the episode and was subsequently posted to The Chew’s social media channels.

 

Check out the rest of the article here!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Fast Food Recipes You Can Make At Home!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Fast Food Recipes You Can Make At Home!

Sofrito Lovers,

As you all know, I'm the enemy of all homogenized, processed, genetically altered, and mechanically rendered fast food!  But, when I came across this video on Tasty I was very intrigued!  Is it possible to make fast food at home and actually use meat, veggies, and real ingredients instead of the chemically treated garbage they use?  Yes, you can!  

Check out the post below and learn how to make some of your fast food favorites!  Imagine, KFC chicken that wasn't made in some factory 20 years ago...and made with actual chicken!  WOW!  Enjoy!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now!

Sofrito Lovers,

If you still haven't planned out your weekend, then check out the post below from Eater.com and choose a few restaurants to visit!  Foodie adventures are always fun!  I do it all the time!

Although I'm bummed out by the lack of uptown selections, I will say some of the spots they chose to highlight downtown are pretty cool. I'm a long time fan of Public Kitchen (East Village) and Sorbillo Pizza (East Village); I encourage folks to check them out!

More and more, I'm realizing that I need to create my own Uptown lists for you guys!  I'm going to start working on it this weekend!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

The Hottest Restaurants in Manhattan Right Now, December 2017

These places are burning up the borough

 

by Eater Staff Updated at Dec 7, 2017, 9:53am EST

Eater editors get asked one question more than any other: Where should I eat right now? NYC dining obsessives want to know what’s new, what’s hot, and what is going to be the next big hit in the greatest dining city on earth. So here it is, a guide to the hottest restaurants in Manhattan this month. 

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Tacos are better than people!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Tacos are better than people!

Sofrito Lovers,

There's nothing more to say!  Tacos are better than people!  Read the rationale above!  It's all true!

If you're interested in learning how to make real Mexican tacos (basically the opposite of Taco Bell tacos), then check out this recipe below!  It's easy, fun, and really delicious!  And it's what I'm making for dinner this weekend!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Coquito Masters Finals!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Coquito Masters Finals!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

It's that time of the year! Yes, folks, the New York Coquito Masters competition is on!  For those of you that don't know, Coquito is a Puerto Rican holiday beverage made with condensed milk, evaporated milk, rum, coconut cream, cinnamon, and copious amounts of rum!  It's like American eggnog, except WAY better!

Every year, the International Coquito Federation hosts the Coquito Masters competition (I refer to it as the Coquito Olympics) to see who makes the best coquito in NYC!  The flavors, preparation, and creativity that go into this competition is no joke!  The competitors go in!

If you love delicious holiday beverages, rum, or coconut cream based drinks, this competition is for you!  Come out on Dec. 16th and enjoy this delicious competition!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

Description:

Come be a tasting judge at the 2017 Coquito Masters Finals where finalists from around the state compete for the title of NYS Couqito Master. Coquito is the tradtional Puerto Rican holiday drink that is made with coconut, sweetened condensed milk, spices and rum! Sometimes referred to is as a Puerto Rican egg nog, but it is so much more! Join the celebration to kick the holidays with a Caribbean flare and taste award winning coquitos. Vote for the winner and pick the NYS Coquito Master! Can Queen Rosemary Colon pull off of a three-peat win?? There is also a special Fusion Flavor competition as well. Find a coquito that you want to purchase come to the Coquito Marqueta the next day as well!

Check out the Eventbrite page here!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 6 Scrumptious Hot Dog Recipes!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

6 Scrumptious Hot Dog Recipes!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

I love hot dogs!  They get a bum rap!  People say that their made from racoon, pigeon, or rat meat.  They say their unhealthy and dangerous, but I think a hot dog from time to time is a delicious treat! And when dressed up a bit can be an amazing meal!

Check out the Tasty video (MY FAVORITE YOUTUBE CHANNEL!) below for 6 amazing hot dog recipes!  The baked chili cheese dog recipe is my favorite; I'm going to make those this weekend!

Do yourself a favor, go get a pack of hot dogs (100% beef, of course) and get to work in the kitchen!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Desserts of Nepal and Lebanon with The League of Kitchens!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Desserts of Nepal and Lebanon with The League of Kitchens!

  

Sofrito Lovers,

The Museum of Food and Drink (Yes, it exists) has an amazing calendar of events, which features an amazing assortment of tasting workshops and cooking tutorials.  It's an awesome place for a burgeoning foodie to learn about food history...and get some mouth-watering free samples!

On December 6th, the museum will be hosting, Desserts of Nepal and Lebanon with the League of Kitchens.  Two league members are going to be showing us how to prepare delicious holiday sweet treats from their homelands.  It promises to be a delicious adventure!  I hope to see you there!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

 

Desserts of Nepal and Lebanon with The League of Kitchens!

 

 

With the holiday season in full swing, Rachana and Jeanette from The League of Kitchens will expand your dessert horizons by introducing you to sweet treats from their home countries, Nepal and Lebanon, respectively.

 

Check out the rest of this announcement here!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Street Food Recipes From Around The World!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Street Food Recipes From Around The World!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Street food is an underappreciated, underrated, and misunderstood genre of food-how many more times can I use the word under? If you're as adventurous as I am, then you've experimented with street food and probably have found that some of it can be INCREDIBLE!

The good people of Tasty (one of my favorite YouTube channels) have produced an amazing video tutorial to help us all bring street food from the outside and into our kitchens!  Who knew chicken gyros were so easy to make?  Did you know that churros only take a few minutes to prepare?

Watch, learn, cook, and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Mini-Review of Sexy Taco!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Mini-Review of Sexy Taco in Harlem!

Sofrito Lovers,

This weekend, I had these amazing tacos at a place called Sexy Taco/Dirty Cash in Harlem and I was so impressed with the food I thought I'd write up a quick mini-review for you all!

Sexy Taco/ Dirty Cash is a fun spot with awesome food, a laid back atmosphere, and moderately priced! Check out some more details below, but don’t take my word for it, go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho! 

Where: 

Sexy Taco/Dirty Cash 

161 Malcolm X Blvd. 

New York, NY, 10026

212-280-4700 

Website: https://www.sexytacodirtycash.com

HOURS: 

M — Th, 3pm — 12am

Friday, 3pm — 2am
Saturday, 11am — 2am
Sunday, 11am — 12 pm

 

ATMOSPHERE: 

Casual and laid back!

SERVICE:

Attentive and friendly.

 

SOUND

LEVEL:

Conversational.
 

RECOMMENDED

DISHES: 

Spicy Steak Tacos, Maduros, and Guacamole and chips.

PRICE RANGE: Check out the menu here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Yummy Bazaar Unboxing!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Yummy Bazaar Unboxing!

Sofrito Lovers,

Check out my first unboxing video for the Sofritoinmysoul YouTube Channel!  I'm unboxing my November Yummy Bazaar Box, a subscription box service that sends me amazing treats and snacks from all over the world.

Check out Yummy Bazaar and like, comment, subscribe, turn on notifications, and share! 

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!
 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 5 Grilled Cheese Recipes!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

5 Grilled Cheese Recipes!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Another one of my cold weather go to comfort foods is the delicious, creamy, and gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich!  I'm talking about a gold brown grilled to perfection melted cheese sandwich that when paired with Lipton Soup (Sorry, tomato soup makes me gag) transports me back to childhood.  I loved it when my Mami made me grilled cheeses with soup; it was simple, fast, and delicious!

The geniuses at Tasty Videos have compiled an awesome little cooking tutorial of different types of grilled cheeses.  I love the little grilled cheese roll ups and that Bread bowl idea-not with Tomato soup though!  Check out the video below to see what I'm referencing!  Watch the video, then go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho! 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Settepani Mini-Review VLog!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Settepani Mini-Review!

Sofrito Lovers,

Check out my mini-review vlog of Settepani, a medium sized Italian/Medterranean restaurant in Central Harlem.  With friendly ambiance, excellent service, and delicious food, make Settapani your next culinary adventure in Harlem!

Watch, then go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 5 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in NYC!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

5 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in NYC!

  

Sofrito Lovers,

If you're scrambling around for last minute plans, then check out the post below from Eater.com and check out some of great places to eat!

I might be visiting Veselka (one of the eateries mentioned) tonight because I'm going to be near the East Village around dinner time!  I'll let you know how it is! Try one of these spots and have some fun!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

5 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in NYC
 
Weekly inspiration for last-minute dining by Eater Staff Nov 17, 2017, 10:13am EST

 

 

Welcome to your weekend planner, where Eater editors recommend restaurants, cafes, and bars — whether they’re new and hot or the old standbys. As always, please let us know if you’d like to see something specific.
 

November 17, 2017

For stylish Sichuan in Flushing: There are a raft of new Sichuan restaurants in Flushing more expensive and stylish than their predecessors. Szechuan Mountain House and DaXi are examples of this phenomenon, and now we also have Alley 41. Located on 41st Avenue, it’s not really an alley, but a place that looks like an underground rock club from the ’90s, with concrete floors, rec room light fixtures, and tables and chairs scattered seemingly at random. The core of Sichuan standards is impressive, but there are also many invented dishes, including a wacky plate of mashed potatoes with spicy meat sauce, and another of sautéed cauliflower with whole Sichuan peppercorns — but skip the steamed okra with peanut butter. 136-45 41st Avenue, Flushing — Robert Sietsema

For an unfussy Brooklyn date night: If you’re a fan of restaurant/wine bar hybrids like Wildair, Four Horsemen, and Estela, I can safely say you’ll love Otway. Aside from the space being wildly aesthetically pleasing, and the staff so lovely you’ll want to move in, the food stands on its own as a reason to visit any day of the week. Snack on aged beef fat chickpeas throughout your entire meal, which should also include the carrots, raw venison, and most certainly a cocktail to start. If the kitchen is running anything special, just get it. 930 Fulton Street, Clinton Hill — Patty Diez

For Ukrainian comfort food in a classic setting: Open since 1954, Veselka is a true New York treasure. The Ukrainian diner serves up rib-sticking fare like pierogis, beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage, and potato pancakes — the kind of food that feels just perfect come winter. Warm up and support a classic spot all at the same time, at any hour of the day, since it’s open all 24. 144 Second Avenue, East Village — Stefanie Tuder

 

Check out the rest of this article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Op Ed piece about abuse in Restaurants!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Op Ed piece about abuse in Restaurants!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Today's post isn't one of my cheesy, campy, or corny lighthearted little fluff foodie pieces.  Today, I share this incredibly powerful, poignant, timely, and NECESSARY piece on sexual abuse, racism, and sexism in the restaurant industry.  

Originally posted on ChefsFeed.com, this OP Ed piece by Richie Nakano brings to light a dangerous hypocrisy and inexcusable culture of silence that is hurting many people in the food industry.

Read, think, and act.  ¡Buen Provecho!

 

OPINION: Our Track Record On Speaking Up Sucks, And It Shouldn’t

We braced for a wave of accusations and none came. Why?
November 14, 2017

By Richie Nakano | Image via iStock

The restaurant industry is touted as a place of sanctuary. And yeah, at its best, it can be a place to escape, to start anew. 

In the heat of the kitchen, what you do in the moment matters more than some murky moment in your past. Being locked up on a drug charge last year doesn't matter to any of your coworkers, as long as you can hold down your station tonight. Some of the culinary world's biggest names tell tales about how the restaurant industry saved them from themselves, and because we love stories about redemption and second chances, we forget the darkness that brought them and only remember the fable.

And we’re fickle with who we forgive. We accept a station-crushing alcoholic, a misogynist, an abuser; but we can't quite accept Guy Fieri because he has frosted tips. There are whisper networks about who the creeps are, and direct messages sent about who not to hire, but rarely, if ever, do we call anyone out in public. That silence trickles down and infects a restaurant’s culture and its employees.

When the flood of accusations came out against Harvey Weinstein, James Toback, Kevin Spacey, and on and on and on, everyone in the famously ill-behaved restaurant industry held their breath and thought, HERE IT COMES. Then came the news about John Besh, which kicked off a small wave of essays and hand-wringing about how broken our industry is. And then? Nothing. The tidal wave never happened. Everyone went about their business.

Check out the rest of this powerful article on ChefsFeed