A Spoonful of Sofrito: Harlem Chicken Spot nominated for major award!

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

Harlem Chicken Spot nominated for major award!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Most people have no idea what the James Beard Foundation is and why it's so important to the foodie world.  To keep it simple, the foundation is like the Academy Awards of the culinary world and their Beards are the Oscars.

Usually, their nominations list is full of bougie shi shi foo foo downtown eateries, but this year they chose Chef Charles Gabriel, of Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken in Harlem, to be on their Best Chef: New York Semifinalist list.  

This is incredible! I think this nomination is an amazing boon to the uptown culinary food scene.  Could some folks at the foundation finally be open minded to food north of 96th St.?  Maybe!  I've never been to Charles, but I've heard about it for a long time!  I think I'm going to have to check it out for myself!  They deserve a hearty congratulations!  Check out the Eater.com below for more on their nomination!

I hope to see you there!  Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!

James Beard Awards Surprises Include a Low-Key Harlem Fried Chicken Destination 

Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken is not like past JBF award nominees by Serena Dai Feb 15, 2018, 1:27pm EST

The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its restaurant and chef awards on Thursday, and per usual, New York had a fairly strong showing of candidates. Most of the nominees — like Alex Stupak of Empellon and Jody Williams at Buvette — are repeat contenders on the long list, but the 2018 nominees for New York had a few wild cards, too.

For one, Harlem destination Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken and its chef Charles Gabriel landed on the Best Chef: New York City semifinalist list. 

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Dim Sum: A Culinary Odyssey!

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

Dim Sum: A Culinary Odyssey!

Sofrito Lovers,

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year!  Happy New Year to all my Sofrito Lovers who celebrate Lunar New year!  I hope it's a day full of hope, fun, and amazing food!  I know many Chinese Americans are going to start their day with some delicious Dim Sum!  

For those of you not in the know, Dim Sum is an incredible delicacy consisting of different bite size portions of dumplings, stewed meats, and other goodies served in steam baskets or small plates.  Usually, Dim Sum is served with tea and is enjoyed for breakfast, but can be served for lunch and dinner.

Check out the article below from Chowhound.com for a more in-depth introduction into the amazing world of Dim Sum!  Once again, Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year!  Start the new year off right and go taste some Dim Sum for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

Dim Sum: A Culinary Odyssey 

 

By Jessica Neary January 26, 2018

 

 

More than just a Chinese cuisine, dim sum is a complete sensory experience and a journey back home.

The second upon entering a dim sum restaurant, you are baptized by a diffusion of savory aromas. The smell of soy sauce, pork, shrimp, and fry oil infuses each droplet of steam rising up in clouds from rolling metal carts. From one white linen clothed dining table to the next, the carts whoosh this way and that, like compact steam engines pushed about by stern, on-a-mission conductors. If you make eye contact with one of these apron-wearing Chinese aunties quickly enough, she will stop at your table and swiftly lift the lids of the steamer baskets, revealing their inner contents to you. With your quick nod of approval, she will swiftly plunk your chosen steamer baskets of dim sum on your table’s lazy susan, rubber stamp your meal ticket, and roll on by.

 

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Cooking projects for you and your Valetine!

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

Cooking projects for you and your Valentine!

 

Sofrito Lovers, 

Wednesday is Valentine's Day!  Yes, it's one of those made up bullshit Hallmark holidays far more geared towards consumerism then actual romance, but still it's sweet.  Unfortunately,  my bearbear is still on tour with On Your Feet so I'll be giving him Facetime smoochies instead of real ones.  But, you might have your boo with you, and what better way can you express your love then cooking something together!

Check out the post below from SeriousEats.com and find a recipe you both can bond over.  Reignite that romantic spark over your stove!  Have fun!  Go cook and then taste for yourselves! ¡Buen Provecho!

It Takes Two: Cooking Projects for You and Your Valentine
Miranda Kaplan

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik, Shao Z.]

Let's make one thing clear right out of the gate: Cooking as a couple isn't for everyone. (Two years ago, we published a whole essay about this, albeit with a happy ending.) Maybe neither of you has Daniel's sky-high standards in the kitchen, but successfully assembling a dinner together is one of those projects that tend to pull the veil off a relationship, exposing the tender spots of tension therein: needs for control or approval, tiny currents of judginess or thin competitive streaks. Even absent the complexity introduced by romance, deeply intertwined lives, and intimate knowledge of each other's foibles, suddenly teaming up on a task that you're used to doing alone can be a tough row to hoe—think of workplace collaboration, or The Amazing Race. You've been warned, is what we're saying.

Check out the rest of this article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 25 Mac 'N' Cheese Recipes

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

25 Mac 'N' Cheese Recipes!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

25 Mac'n'Cheese recipes! I don't know if you can fathom the depths of this deliciousness!  Once again, 25 Mac'n'Cheese recipes! Are there any other words in the English language more beautiful? No. Never! 

When I came across this Tasty video I nearly shit my pants.  Twenty-five ways to make one of my favorite southern dishes, hell yeah!  How can any of this go wrong? It can't!

Check out the video below and then run to your kitchen!  Any recipe you make will be pure brilliance!  I'm salivating to try the Butter Chicken Mac'n' Cheese and the Ultimate recipe!  I'll let you know what I think!

Go taste for yourself!  I know I am!  ¡Buen provecho!