Pea Salad

You and me go together like peas and carrots...except I don't like peas and carrots.  But once I discovered how great Greek yogurt and mayonnaise could be as a dressing, I wanted to see if it could save this dish.

Once of my biggest issues with peas and carrots is that I don't really like cooked carrots.  I do, however, like raw carrots, especially when used as a vehicle for dip or dressing.  Serving peas and carrots as a cold salad turned it into something I actually enjoyed eating that took minutes to prepare.  I defrosted frozen peas and tossed them with sliced carrots, the yogurt/mayo dressing, salt and pepper, and fresh mint.  I took the dish to book club and based on how little was left, it seems I'm not the only one who prefers this version of peas and carrots.  Another great potluck/picnic dish to add to your recipe box.  You're welcome.

The Cardinal

I'd heard The Cardinal was churning out good Southern food but never made it down to 4th and B to see for myself.  Seeing a $24 BBQ plate on the dinner menu just seemed so anti-Southern I couldn't bring myself to go.  That kind of Southern food is supposed to be down and dirty and cheap.  It just didn't seem right...but that didn't stop me from wondering how the food tasted.  I found a compromise between principle and curiosity this weekend when I discovered they had a great brunch deal.

At brunch, the entrees are $13-$16 and for only $5 more you get unlimited mimosas.  That price point was much easier to swallow and I was impressed enough with the food and atmosphere that I'm now considering a return for supper, even if it is a little more expensive.  I recommend you start with brunch though because (do I need to say it again?) $5 unlimited mimosas.

I ordered the fried chicken and biscuits with sausage gravy.  It was way more food than I could handle.  The gravy could have used a little salt, but the chicken and biscuits were great.  Seriously amazing biscuits.  I also tried some of Albert's pork chops and eggs which also came with sausage gravy as well as a strip of bacon that was practically a meal in itself and a side of cheese grits.  In the South the cheese is mixed into the grits so I was a little disappointed that an order of cheese grits meant grits with a layer of cheese on top.  Then I tried it and tasted how great the grits were and didn't even care.  I've never said this about grits, but they didn't even need the cheese.  The grits were that creamy and delicious on their own that I'm assuming there's some cheese in there that they're not telling us about.  Albert was not as impressed with his first grits experience but then again, Yankees are silly.  He'll learn.

Notes:

1. It's cash only so come prepared or use the ATM they have in the restaurant. 
2. They have sweet tea and cheerwine on the menu.  Southerners know what I'm talkin about.  (Though charging $4.25 for it...no Southerner knows what that's about.)

Perk Kafe

When I moved from the UES to Murray Hill, my food options expanded.  I felt bad complaining since I had so many more cuisines at my fingertips, but there was one thing noticeably missing: the coffee shop.  Thanks to the TV show Friends, many kiddies of my generation assume groups of New York pals convene on comfy couches in coffee houses to gossip and sip coffee every weekend.  They also imagine artsy types do their writing hunched over laptops in one of those quaint coffee spots where the baristas know your name and never rush you out.  In reality, New York is filled with just as many Starcucks as any suburb.  If you want a cute coffee house, you usually have to go downtown and even then many don't have seating.  If you're reading this in a small Midwestern town and I just shattered the illusion, I apologize; but now you understand how upset I was when I realized Central Perk was not as realistic as I thought (nor are the apartments on that show, but whatevs).

It may have be harder to find good coffee houses than I imagined, but I was determined to not become a Starbucks statistic.  Thankfully, I found a coffee oasis by my old apartment and spent almost every Sunday there doing exactly what I had always pictured New Yorkers doing: sipping coffee while reading The Times or typing away on my laptop.  Sure, when I moved I could replace it with home-brewed coffee on my rooftop, but that's just not the same and doesn't help me during the cold months.  I begged the coffee gods for some help and my prayers have been answered because a new coffee house recently opened directly across the street from my apartment.

Not only does Perk Kafe have seating, they serve Stumptown, my favorite roast.  And when they hand you that delicious Stumptown coffee, they'll have taken the time to make a design in the foam, a touch that does not go unnoticed.  Coffee and seating are the most important things because, let's face it, if the brew is bad or I have nowhere to sit and enjoy it, there's no point.  But beyond those non-negotiables, Perk Kafe has established themselves as my official coffee spot with their free wifi and great decor.  It's good to have a place to sit, even better when that place is filled with distressed wood, mosaic floors, subway tile, and a neon sign behind the counter for splash effect.  The all glass facade lets the light stream in and bounce off the mostly white decor for a feeling that is simply "weekend."  And based on an interaction I witnessed last time I was in there, I could tell they recognize regulars and remember their orders.  I may have found my Gunther!

Jack's Wife Freda

I have to admit, Jewish food is never top of my list.  I didn't grow up around it so not only are items like bagels, deli sandwiches, and matzah ball soup far from my top cravings, I am usually turned off by those foods.  However, there's only so much protesting you can do when a restaurant consistently receives great reviews like Jack's Wife Freda does.  I would never describe Jewish food as trendy, but the crowd in the SoHo café would beg to differ, considering the lively, posh crowd I saw on Thursday night.

Richard, always ready to try something new, was good to go without hesitation and when I realized the menu was influenced as much by Israeli/Mediterranean cuisine as it is by traditional Jewish food, I was much more intrigued.  Drawn to that Mediterranean food, I went straight for the Haloumi appetizer.  The salty cheese was topped with sweet grapes for a light start to the meal.  It was gone way too quickly.  I followed it up with the kefta kebab, meatballs served with hummus, tahini, and pita slices.  It was fabulous and reminded me how amazing hummus can be when prepared by people who know how to do it.  Richard loved his catch of the day (whole branzino with cous cous) and slurped down his matzah ball soup.

Jack's Wife Freda is completely separate from what I think of Jewish food to be - and I mean that in the best possible way.  Old world tradition has fallen into trendy SoHo and adapted.

 

Potato Salad with Yogurt, Arugula, and Dill

As a child, I watched in horror as people would pile grocery store potato salad on their plates at grill outs.  It looked like a gross mess and even made a weird "squirslop" sound as it plunked onto the plastic dinnerware.  In recent years, however, I've become a fan of potato salad when it's homemade with good ingredients and not overdressed.  In most cases, this means if I want the kind of potato salad I like, I need to make it myself.

I've found a new favorite recipe that is practically as easy to make as it is to buy that weird slop from the grocery store that I refuse to eat.  The best part is that it incorporates better ingredients not usually found in potato salad so I guarantee your fellow picnic goers will thank you for taking the initiative to change it up.

Cut up small red potatoes into bite size portions and boil til fork tender.  While they're boiling, take a few moments to exert the only real [minimal] effort this dish requires: cut shallots super thin and mix your dressing.  The dressing is just 2 parts greek yogurt to 1 part low fat mayo and salt/pepper to taste.  It's so simple but when these two ingredients come together, you have a tangy sauce that seems like it has more layers than it actually does.  Drain your potato chunks and run them under cool water to bring them closer to room temp.  Toss the potatoes with the shallots, dressing, fresh dill, and roughly chopped arugula.

If we work together, we can make sure this is the only kind of potato salad served at summer parties.  I have faith in us.

3 on Thursday

Tomorrow I'm headed to Baton Rouge for Patricia's wedding.  Knowing Patricia, this will be an extravaganza and I can't wait!

I finally saw what all the fuss was about at Beekman Beer Garden.  All the way down at the South Street Seaport is an outdoor space that's fun in the daytime (ping pong) and breathtaking at night (amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge).  Great spot for summer socializing. 

A good cocktail on top of a whimsical, illustrated menu is a great mid-week treat.

I'm always in the Thomkins Square Park area at night on my way to Alphabet City bars, when it's a little to sketchy to walk around in the park.  Last weekend I happened to be in the area in the daytime and simply strolled.  They've got some amazing flora in there that served as the perfect backdrop for my dog park and street hocky creeping.

Book Review: When She Woke

In this re-imagining of "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne becomes Hannah Payne and instead of a simple letter sewn onto her clothes her public shame takes the form of chroming, where a criminal's skin is altered to match the color of their crime and then they are released into the world.  Needless to say, this is a futuristic adaptation of the novel, but the themes are as relevant as ever.

We have moved West, leaving the puritanical Boston of the original behind for a modern, evangelical Texas. When Hannah is released from prison, her red skin (for murder) is a target for harassment.  She must navigate a world where it is impossible to fade into a crowd and dueling organizations (one reminiscent of the KKK, the other of the underground railroad) let her know just how prevalent racial tensions are.  Between the existence of crazy date rape drugs and a raging war on abortion, the theme of women's rights is at the forefront of this novel.

Adaptations of such lauded works often turn cheesy, but I found Hillary Jordan's novel to be an inspired take on a classic.  Though set in the future, it still manages to feel very realistic and would certainly inspire conversation.

4 out of 5 stars.