A Spoonful of Sofrito: Go get amazing Puerto Rican food!

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

Today: The FreakinRican on W. 46th St. and 8th Avenue!

Sofrito Lovers,

The FreakinRican, Derick Lopez, sent me a tweet letting me know that he's going to be selling his amazing food, merchandise, and greeting the crowds at a festival on W. 46th St. and 8th Avenue TODAY!  IF YOU ARE A FAN OF GOOD PUERTO RICAN FOOD, THEN GET ON THE TRAIN ASAP AND VISIT HIS TABLE!

I've never met the FreakinRican or his band of incredible food artists, but I've watched all of his videos, cooked several of his recipes, and have thoroughly enjoyed his website, thefreakinrican!  I can't wait to stop by and give this amazing brother his props and get some amazing food!

I hope to see you there!  TODAY AT W. 46TH ST. AND 8TH AVENUE!  Go taste for yourself!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Sietsema's Favorite Dining Spots in East Harlem.

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

Sietsema's Favorite Dining Spots in East Harlem

 

Sofrito Lovers,

East Harlem is another uptown food Mecca often ignored, underrated, and forgotten!  When Eater.com published the article posted below I literally said, "It's about fucking time they did this!"

I think this list is awesome!  I love eating at many of the places they chose; some of them are iconic East Harlem eateries and others are amazing hidden gems throughout the neighborhood.  This list has inspired me to work on my own because I think there are a few places that deserve to be mentioned!  I'm going to publish it by the end of the summer!

Until then, check out the article below and enjoy!  Read it, choose a place, and go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Sietsema's Favorite Dining Spots in East Harlem

By Robert Sietsema Jul 21, 2016, 10:40am

 Decades ago, East Harlem was an Italian neighborhood, and only a couple of restaurants still exist from that era (including the notorious Rao’s, one of the city’s hardest reservations to get). Since that era — gentrification notwithstanding — it has been one of the city’s most prominent Latin American barrios, teeming with Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican dining establishments. Here is a rundown of some of my favorite places to eat in East Harlem, places where you can get a snack or a meal on the way to or from the Panorama Festival. For Eater's picks at the fest, head this way.

Check out the rest of this article here.

A Spoonful of Sofrito: NYC African Food Festival...

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

NYC African Food Festival is drawing some of the continent's top culinary talent

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Mark your calendars! There's going to be an African Food Festival coming to NYC the weekend of August 13-14th in Brooklyn.  African chefs from all over the world will be there with samples of their cuisines, literature, merchandise, and other amazing goodies.

Organized by Ishmael Osekre, a native of Ghana, this festival's primiary goal is to expose NYC to the incredibly delicious and diverse cuisines of Africa.  I. AM. THERE!

According to the TastingTable article posted below, there's even going to be a Jollof rice competition to see who can prepare the best rice dish.  For those who don't know, jollof rice is a common spiced rice dish made throughout West Africa; it's like an African version of paella or rice pilaf.  Many cultural anthropologists think Jollof rice was the inspiration for Cajun jambalaya.

I'm really excited!  African cuisine is extraordinarily diverse and features flavor profiles that are out of this world.  I can't wait to go; I hope you do too!  African cuisine is often overlooked and underappreciated, more people need to taste these incredible flavors!

Check out the article below for more details!  Go and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Out of Africa

The NYC African Food Festival is drawing some of the continent's top culinary talent

 

By Devra Ferst

7/19/16

 

 

When event organizer Ishmael Osekre first started planning the upcoming African Food Festival in Brooklyn, he sought out a space in Dumbo that could hold about 500 people. It quickly became clear that that simply wouldn’t be big enough. The festival, which will take place August 13 and 14 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is expected to draw between 4,000 and 6,000 guests—in addition to some of the top culinary talent from across Africa and/or living in the African diaspora, like Senegal’s Pierre Thiam, South Africa’s Coco Reinarhz and Dieuveil Malonga, who was born in Congo but currently lives and cooks in France.

Check out the rest of the article here.

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Lay's Potato Chip Election!

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

Lay's Global Flavors Potato Chips Taste Test.

Sofrito Lovers,

Once again, we're in that incredible period of time when we, as American citizens, must exercise the political power bestowed upon us by our beloved country: It's time for us to vote for a new flavor of Lay's Potato Chips.

This is not a decision to be made lightly.  The consequences of this decision will reverberate throughout the snack world for years to come.  World Economies, international commerce, and trade agreements will all be affected by what we decide as a nation.

I ask that you take this seriously and take into account all points of view.  In order to ensure that you've made an informed decision, please watch the video posted below from EmmymadeinJapan and then go taste for yourself.  The future of snacking is in your hands; Good Luck and Godspeed.

As always, ¡Buen Provecho!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Soft Serve in NYC!

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

Where to find Soft Serve in NYC!

Sofrito Lovers,

Ice cream has become my secret treat to beat the heat and to calm my soul. After a grueling day of summer camp, a nice, soft, creamy vanilla cone with chocolate sprinkles makes everything better.  Yes, it's both a treat and coping mechanism these days.  I admit I should find a healthier outlet for my stress, but fuck it, ice cream is way too good!

The wonderful people of Eater.com have compiled yet another handy-dandy list to point us in the direction of some the most delicious ice cream in the city. Some of the places listed are pretty well known and awesome!  I love the ice cream at Momofuku Milk Bar, The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, and Takashi; I can't wait to try the other places on this list.  

So whether it's for stress management or pure enjoyment, get out there and try the ice cream treats at these locations!  Your tummy and taste buds will thank you!  Read it, visit, and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Where to Find Soft Serve in New York

By Tammie Teclemariam Jul 29, 2016, 1:59pm

Soft serve is special. For one thing, it's a destination dessert: It can't just be picked up at the bodega and kept for later — someone has to pull a tall swirl into a cup or cone to be eaten immediately.

And then there's the flavor. While vanilla or the classic swirl are the gold standards, plenty of oddball contenders are now available for our enjoyment. Toppings have gotten intricate, too, and move beyond the traditional — but still popular! — sprinkles and a chocolate shell. Dipped, crumb coated, sandwiched, plain, or featured in a float, here are the top places to find soft serve in NYC.

Check out the rest of the article here.

A Spoonful of Sofrito: NYC Fried Chicken!

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

NYC Fried Chicken!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

If you think good fried chicken comes from places called KFC, Popeyes, Kennedy Fried, or Texas Fried Chicken, then please put down that drumstick-which I'm sure is Pigeon-and take note!

The following article from Eater.com lists 26 restaurants in NYC, where you can taste ACTUAL delicious fried chicken and not the questionable poultry you're used to-again, I'm pretty sure you're eating flying rat meat.

I love this list's diversity!  There's Southern, Japanese, Latino, and Caribbean style fried chicken dishes that will allow you to explore the unlimited deliciousness of one of the most versatile proteins we cook with.

Read the article, find one of these places, and taste for yourself!  Real fried chicken will change your life!  ¡Buen Provecho!

NYC Fried Chicken: 26 Dishes to Try

By Robert Sietsema Jul 26, 2016, 6:35p

Golden brown and crunchy on the outside, moist and flavorsome on the inside, fried chicken is America's greatest contribution to world gastronomy. And here in New York City it's available in a dizzying array of permutations. There's frying going on in hipster fast food joints, Indian fusion restaurants, Japanese ramen parlors, effete bistros and beer halls, and in the soul food spots where it originated, or was at least reintroduced to the city nearly a century ago. (Fried chicken was also popular in colonial times.) In fact, any place that can summon a giant reservoir of bubbling fat — or a collection of well-blackened cast-iron pans — can make an exemplary batch of fried chicken. The latest fad is sandwiches, many made with proprietary composed patties of incredible scrumptiousness, some with spices built in.

Here are some of our favorite places around town to score some oil-boiled yardbird.

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Southern Style Dirty Rice.

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

Southern Style Dirty Rice!

Sofrito Lovers,

Check out my video below!

Iheartrecipes's Southern Style Dirty Rice 

recipe from:

http://www.iheartrecipes.com/dirty-rice/

Recipe:

1 cup rice

2 cups beef stock

1 lb chicken gizzards

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 lb ground beef

2-3 andouille sausage link, diced

1 small onion, diced

1/4 cup diced sweet peppers

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Rinse the rice, then place it in a rice cooker along with the beef stock. If you do not have a rice cooker, you will need to cook the rice on your stove top.

Wash the chicken gizzards, then place them into a baking dish. Drizzle the olive oil over the gizzards, then season them with the onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Place the gizzard in the oven on 375 F, for 35-40 minutes. Once the gizzards are done, place them into a food processor, and mince them up OR use a knife to dice the gizzards.

In a skillet, over medium heat, add in the ground beef. Cook the beef , and add in the diced onions and sweet peppers.

Once the meat is browned, add in the diced andouille sausage, and then the minced gizzards. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add in the rice. 

Stir the ingredients, and make sure everything is well combined, and let it cook for an additional 5 minutes…

SERVE!