Starving for Paris

It's 7:09 am. I'm on the shuttle to work, my stomach rumbling in this slow-moving traffic towards the tunnel. Gives me more time to salivate over the gastronomic itinerary I've made for my week in Paris.

Reservations have been made. The research has been done and the cross-referencing on NYTimes, Blackbook Mag, and Le Fooding Guide has been implemented. And some of it has been left to chance ...

But when will the eating begin?

May 27th: 7am

Food Coma!

Last weekend was truly bananas with more food than the average man or woman should ingest.

Friday: Made turkey burgers on Arnold Sandwich Thins w steamed corn.


Saturday:
Ate a grapefruit.
Went to the Tina Pearson Salon to get my hair relaxed by Aicha. Fell into a street fair.
Bought curry puffs from a vendor ($5).
Went to moms house. Met Jose.
Grandma offered me a sugar donut, ate the whole thing. Washed it down with horchata (a sort of rice based drink from Mexico).
Dad finally showed up.
We went used car shopping.
Got hungry. Ate a Angus snack wrap from mcds. Co-opted dads fries. Shared them with Jose. Mom shared her McFlurry with me, but it was so hot, it was like soup.
Fell in love with a hatchback Ford Focus, but I also liked the Honda CR-V.
Went back to moms. She made me fried chicken chunks. It's my favorite.
Parched. Had a Vitamin Water.

Went back to Jersey

Sunday:

Got on the 10:55 123 to Nyc.

Saw the food trucks pulling into port authority. This is going to be awesome.

Took photos of the trucks. There were less than nine. I guess some bailed.

Lines everywhere. Jose and I split up. He goes to Rickshaw. I head to Calexico Cart.

Jose returns with 6 pork + chive dumplings and Calamansi-Ade. ($10)

Still waiting at Calexico. Line has not moved. Lines suck.

Jose waits and I go relieve boredom and insane humidity.

I run into Blake (old college friend) near 10th.

He meets Jose who introduces himself as "the husband".

Treats truck is doling out free samples, I disappear.

I also buy 2 chocolate chippers w nuts and a pecan bar. (~$6).

We also give up on Calexico Carne Asade. Line still has not moved.

Walking back to ninth, I stop by for more treats at the Cinnamon Snail, a vegan organic outpost.

I get a live apricot bar, crunchy vanilla cheesecake cupcake, and more lemonade. ($8)

Said bye to Blake. Jose and I go to catch the bus to Hoboken, but not before he gets a $1 slice. He drinks all the lemonade. I'm pissed.

Hoboken!

Get off at 7th and Willow.

See a cute cafe called Maroon. Buy more lemonade. Mmm refreshing.

We can smell the food and the sweat.

First stop: Latin Specialties.

We grab an acapurillia, empanada, platano, cerdo frito, and tostones for dinner. ($18)
We save it for dinner.

Buy fried ravioli with tomato sauce. Sauce was spicy, but overall a bit greasy. Can't remember the restaurant name.

The Indian food huts smelled so good.

Bought jewelry and some shabby chic mirrors.

Omg. No one at Carlos Bakery (Cake Boss). I get two lobster tails, two cannoli, one chocolate cream puff.

We get ready for dinner. My 20-spice black bean chili is awesome.

The latin food was not bad, not great. Not like home.

The lobster tails were phenomenal. The cream was Lucious and a really smooth consistency.

I dream of them. I plot ways to get into Hoboken to buy more pastry.

My clothes don't fit.

A day fit for foodies!

On my way to the New York Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar at Hells Kitchen Flea Market on 39th and 9th.

Nine trucks in one place dishing out gastronomic delights for my enthused palate.


... Then off to the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival.

I Krave those Korean Tacos

I am so excited for the Food Truck Bazaar on Sunday at Hells Kitchen Flea Market. I could not believe one of the participating trucks was coming from Jersey City. So last night, I grabbed Jose and we took one of those illegal vans down to Grove Street to find the Krave Truck. The tacos reminded us of another mobile taco wagon that was featured on the Food Network.

We ordered:

Large Sesame Chicken Platter - $10

Taco Sampler (kalbi beef, sesame chicken, tangy pork) - $7.5

Extra Kalbi Taco for Jose. $2.5

Total: $20 Beans...

Plus a Tiramisu Crepe from Lucinda Mobile Creperie... $6

Look at that beautful kimchi filling and onion-cilantro relish. Next time, I will try the kimchidilla and sliders.

Cocoa-Covered Confundus Charm

(only true die-hard Harry Potter Fan are going to understand that title)

So once you have spent all your money on macarons, you can save some money and make your own truffles with a bag of semi-sweet chips and heavy cream. A good truffle might usually be made with good (ie., expensive) belgian chocolate, but when your pockets are tight and the sweet tooth is aching for its next fix, you can try making these.

Low-Budget Chocolate Truffles

• 1 c. Heavy Cream
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1 12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (I prefer Ghirardelli)
• 2.5 tbs. Unsalted Butter
• 2 tbs. Brandy (optional, but definitely recommended).

Bring the cream to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Beat in the egg yolk and then add the chocolate chips. Stir until melted and the consistency is even throughout. Finally, stir in the butter and the brandy. Pour mixture into bowl, cover, and refridgerate for 6-8 hours.

Once your patience has run out, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Find a very small ice cream scooper (about 1 in. diameter) to start forming the chocolate mixture into balls and placing on parchment. And if you're like me and don't have this tool, I recommend buying one because I used two teaspoons and it wasn't easy. The recipe will yeild about 30-35 truffles.

Optional Coatings: Cocoa Powder, Chopped Hazelnuts, your choice.
Place cocoa/hazelnuts into a small bowl. Throw in the truffles one at a time and roll around in the bowl until well-coated. Now you are ready to dazzle friends or storing the truffles in the refridgerator to have as a snack after your work-out.

Pretty impressive?

MacarOn: Ma Petite Mervielle

(photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

When I get my breakfast in the morning, I pray the macarons have not been put out yet. They tease me from the display case. They know I am attracted to their colorful, round physiques. Little high pitched voices squeak, "buy me..." and I do... I buy THREE or FOUR at a time. The lady behind the counter knows by now I can't help myself. She apologizes, but quickly makes change of my money.

There is so much debate around the source of the Macaron, their delicacy perplexing even the most astute chef. Who wouldn't want to take credit for these small nuanced confections?

They are complete perfection in my small humble world. The play of contrasting textures on the palate while enjoying the first bite into the crisp meringue shell followed by the sweet almond paste in the center of each well-shaped dome. I am caught off-guard by the unexpected fillings and the richness of the color. They are my afternoon delight, a moment where hope seems attainable.

There are available (second-hand) at Frame Cafe, the closest thing to gourmet we have at 34th and 10th, but you can purchase them directly from MacarOn Cafe on 36th and 7th.

Purple: Lavender Honey

Pink: Rose Litchi

Tan: Creme Brulee

But beware, they are wonderfully addictive and cost a pretty penny.

($1.95-$2.25 ... each)

La Isla Restaurant (Hoboken)

After watching Bobby Flay throwdown with the owner of La Isla, I had to try the stuffed French toast that was amazing enough for Flay to admit defeat before actual judging. Algo and I shared the French toast, side of chorizo, and pan con lechon.

Those gooey bits are a guava cream cheese with strawberries. This was one of the best brunch items I've had. It is has a light and crispy cornflake and almond crust. The bread is soaked in a cinnamon "custard" bath. Despite it's sticky sweet appearance, it's actually well balanced. I don't eat very much, so one slice was more than sufficient, but if you're a big man like my husband, then you'll probably finish it off.
 

Pan con lechon, loosely translated, means perfectly toasted bread with shreads of pork and garlic mojo. I was so nasal I sadly couldn't get the full effect of the garlic.

The chorizo was cut thin and grilled, which I didn't mind because it cuts the grease. Annie prefers her fat globules and moisture.

The damage (barely): $24.08 w a batida.