A Spoonful of Sofrito: How to Properly Eat Hotpot!

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

How to Properly Eat Hotpot!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Do you know what Hot pot is?  No?  Okay, so hotpot is this amazing Chinese/Asian way of dining in which you go to a restaurant and cook your own meal in a boiling pot of stock on your table.

Some of you are thinking, "Why the hell am I going out to pay for and cook my own soup, when I can do that at home?"  Well Sofrito Lovers, hotpot is an amazing dining experience in which you pay to have access to delicious ingredients, fresh proteins, crispy veggies, and incredible dipping sauces.  

It's true, you have to cook them yourselves, but that's all part of the fun.  You get to prepare your own meal, which you should share with friends, and experiment with flavors and textures.

Sure, it's a big departure from the usual being served your own meal, but it's fun, and intimate.  Hotpot gets you out of your comfort zone and into some serious culinary exploration.  The gourmet chef in you can't help, but come out when you start mixing proteins, veggies, and sauces together. You'll be blown away at the fantastic flavor profiles you'll create when you start getting into it!

Now, before you go hotpot hopping, watch the video posted below from Offthegreatwall and learn how to do hotpot right!  Watch it and go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Jamaican Pork and Beans

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

Sunday night dinner: Jamaican Pork and Beans!

Sofrito Lovers,

Sunday night's dinner was Jamaican Pork and Beans from one of my favorite YouTube channels, CooklikeaJamaican!  

It was pretty good!  At first, I wasn't sure that I liked it, but after I let the stew sit for a while I found it delicious and enjoyed it more.  My partner David liked its simplicity and uncomplicated flavors.

Next time, I'm going to replace the Lima beans with either white kidney beans or small white beans.   Don't get me wrong Lima beans are good, but I think white beans pair better with pork.

Check out the video below from CooklikeaJamaican and try out the recipe for yourself!  Watch it, cook it, and taste it for yourself!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: La Shuk Mini-Video review

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

La Shuk: Mini-video review

Sofrito Lovers,

Check out my mini-video of La Shuk French Bistro.  I promise to bring you more little vids like this one, as I eat my way through NYC!

Watch it and go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 38 Killer Taco Spots in New York City!

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

38 Killer Taco Spots in New York City!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

The foodie geniuses of Eater.com have managed to find a place for you to find a mouth-watering taco, despite wherever you may live in!  Their lists cover all 5 boroughs and the places are reasonably priced!  I truly believe they do God's work!

Check out the list below!  I'm proud to say I have eaten at a few of these amazing places-primarily the sites in the Bronx and Washington Heights.  It's time for you to visit some of these places yourself!  

Read the article, get out there, and taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

38 Killer Taco Spots in New York City 

By Robert Sietsema Jun 24, 2016, 11:25am

Sure, there are all sorts of talented chefs involved in the taco game today, turning out a spectacular product with some wildly creative fillings. But sometimes you just want a good, unpretentious, inexpensive taco just like they make ‘em in Mexico. Here are the city’s best, organized by borough.

Note: This list favors grab-and-go places over sit-down restaurants on the premise that tacos taste better if you don’t make too much of a fuss over them. But taco trucks are not included, and most places offer some semblance of seating.

This is a revised and expanded version of the guide, originally published as "28 Killer Taco Spots in New York City" in March, 2015. 

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Fries around the world!

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

Fries around the world!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

If you're  french fry fanatic, like me, then these words probably make your mouth salivate: Poutine.  Salchipapas. Patatje Oorlog. Patatas Bravas. Curry Chips.   

A french fry by any other name would taste as delicious!  French fries are almost ubiquitous, but what makes them unique are the incredible ways they can be served. In some parts of the world, they're served with mayo, peanut sauce, covered in gravy, or dusted with various dry spices.  French fry versatility is pretty incredible!

Check out the video below, from BuzzFeedVideo, titled "Fries around the world."  It's a visual tribute to the international french fry!  I dare you to watch it and not want to drown yourself in some delicious fried potato goodness.  

Watch it and go get yourself some fried spuds!  ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Frozen Gin and Tonics Are Your New Signature Summer Drink

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

Blender, Meet G&T: Frozen Gin and Tonics Are Your New Signature Summer Drink

 

Sofrito Lovers,

As I've stated before, my summer foodie resolution is to drown my sorrows, stress, and anxiety in some righteous booze! After this reading this awesome article on Gin & Tonic, I'm totally intrigued by the idea of this amazing and delicious sounding beverage.

Check out the article below, from Serious Eats, which features a series of recipes and ideas on how to make tonic drinks even more interesting and delicious.  My curiosity is through the roof!  I'm anxious to make some of these drinks for my partner David and his friends; it's going to be a boozy summer!  If i can type after these taste tests, I'll let you know how they taste!

Cheers! Read it, make it, drink it, and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Blender, Meet G&T: Frozen Gin and Tonics Are Your New Signature Summer Drink

Maggie Hoffman

 

 

[Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

I grew up in a household with a pretty strict definition of what's proper when it comes to gin and tonics. For decades, my father marked the end of the workday with a single drink: a long pour of Tanqueray on ice and a squeezed fifth of a lime (yes, a fifth), fizzed up with Canada Dry, stirred with a single swirl of the lime-cutting knife. The piney scent is embedded in my memory. 

Check out the rest of this article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Ginger Pie with Ginger Minj

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor into your life.

Ginger Pie with Ginger Minj

Sofrito Lovers,

I spent my Sunday morning at a Drag brunch at Senor Frogs watching an incredible drag show featuring Alyssa Edwards-from the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.  It was so much fun! My partner David, her biggest fan, was on cloud nine!  He was almost on the verge of tears when he took a picture with her!

Drag Queens make the world go round! They're hilarious, talented, beautiful and wonderful cooks!  Cooking with Drag Queens, hosted by Fausto Fernos and Marc Felion, is an amazing segment featured on their YouTube channel Feastoffun.  The recipe tutorials are fun, easy to make, and delicious.  

I posted a dessert segment below, which features one of my favorite Drag Race stars Ginger Minj, for an amazing Ginger Pie!  Check it out!

Watch it, make it, taste it, and ¡Buen Provecho!