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!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: All-Avocado Restaurant Invades Manhattan!

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

All-Avocado Restaurant Invades Manhattan!

Sofrito Lovers,

Just the other day I was thinking that I need to add more avocados into my life, then, BAM!  I received this article from Eater.com about a new all avocado restaurant opening in Manhattan.

I'm not going to waste any time belaboring the obvious health benefits of avocados, but what I will say is that this super food is often ignored and under valued.  As ridiculous as it may sound, avocados do get out shined by fancier and cooler veggies and fruits like Kale, Cauliflower, and Dragon fruit. Maybe the international movement to open all avocado restaurants will put this green little miracle back in the limelight it deserves.

I'm going to check out Avocado Appetit one of these days!  Look out for that blog!  Read the post below and then go taste for yourself.  ¡Buen provecho!

All-Avocado Restaurant Invades Manhattan
Everything on Avocado Appetit’s menu contains the trendy fruit by Megan McGibney Feb 9, 2018, 3:28pm EST 

 

Following the smash success of Brooklyn avocado restaurant Avocaderia, an all-avocado restaurant has opened in Manhattan. Avocado Appetit is now open in Chinatown at 114 Eldridge St., between Broome and Grand streets, from lifelong neighborhood residents James Mai and Vincent Lin.

Inspired by other avocado cafes The Avocado Show in Amsterdam, Good Fat in Sydney (now closed), and Guac & Go in Singapore, Lin and Mai wanted to bring a healthy restaurant to the neighborhood, which they felt was missing. Thus, avocado became their focus, for a counter-service menu with dishes that all incorporate the fruit, such as four types of toast, sandwiches, and even avocado fries. Smoothies also include avocado, notably the coffee avocado smoothie that combines a Toby’s Estate espresso shot, iced avocado, condensed milk, and chocolate syrup. The full menu — still in progress, with tacos and salads on the way — is below, with beer and wine also to come.

As for the space, cushioned benches seat about 20 in a colorful, tropically decorated room filled with green imagery, photos of avocados, and lots of plants.

When Brooklyn’s Avocaderia opened, it debuted to bonkers lines, selling out of avocados a mere three hours after opening its doors. The craze prompted owners to start scouting locations in Manhattan, but Avocado Appetit has beat them to the punch. Avocado Appetit is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more amazing foodie related content go to Eater.com

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Bo Ky, one of Chinatown's interesting restaurants!

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

Bo Ky, one of Chinatown's interesting restaurants!

 Sofrito Lovers,

Are you in the mood for a culinary adventure this weekend?  I know I am and if you are too then check out Bo Ky in Chinatown!

I've never visited, but I've read a lot about it and when Eater.com posted this article (see below) about this popular Chinatown eatery, I knew I had to get my ass down town.

Bo Ky serves Teochew cuisine, which is a fusion of eastern Chinese cuisine with South Asian culinary influences.  This ancient fare brings together amazing Asian flavor profiles to produce some of the most unique Chinese dishes you'll ever taste.

Check out the article below and do what I am going to do this weekend: Go taste for myself!  ¡Buen provecho!

What to Order at Bo Ky, One of Chinatown’s Most Interesting Restaurants It serves Teochew cuisine, a reflection of Cantonese, Fujianese, and Vietnamese fare.

by Robert Sietsema Jan 17, 2018, 2:39pm EST
Photos by Robert Sietsema

 

 The braised Teochew duck at Bo Ky with dipping sauce

 
Late in the last century, Chinatown abounded with Teochew restaurants. Also spelled Chaozhou and Chiuchow, this cuisine represented the cooking of the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong. For centuries, members of this group have traded with Southeast Asia and immigrated there too, and their unique cuisine reflects this diaspora. Signs on Teochew restaurants are often in both Chinese and Vietnamese, and Southeast Asian dishes populate the menus, next to recognizably Cantonese and Fujianese stuff.

 

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Jamaican Cold Remedy!

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

Jamaican Cold Remedy!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

As I write this, thousands of home remedies are being brewed, steeped, and poured into mugs to bring some comfort this winter's cold and flu victims.  On one of my Youtube searches, I came across this Jamaican cold remedy that looked delicious and sounds righteous!

Before I begin, I'm feeling great...for now, but I know any minute now one of those little booger bags at my school will be infecting me.  I believe in being prepared, so I've started stocking up on certain medicines and learning how to brew some homemade miracle cures.  I think the video posted below from OkayAfrica is brilliant.  Tumeric, lemon, honey, and ginger are all powerful curatives and the idea of combining them is a stroke of genius.

Check out the video below and brace yourself...we've got another month and a half of winter left.  Stay warm, safe, and healthy!  If you're sick, then go taste this for yourself! ¡Buen provecho!