Dear followers,
Sorry I've taken another hiatus from my adventure food blog -- But I think you'll be excited about what I've been up to since my last post. I have created a new blog just for my own recipes and baking creations called Weekends with Allie. It's a work in progress, but it'll be up and running soon!
Keep an eye out for it at WeekendsWithAllie.blogspot.com (or click the link at the top of Eat.Chew.Love.)
Thanks!!
Allie
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
When in Paris...
As a great return from my blog hiatus (work takes up so much time!), I have finally crafted my review of what to eat in Paris. Enjoy!
To start, there is no experience like eating food in Paris. Everything from their bread to their produce simply tastes better. During my tour of France, Paris provided a well-rounded assortment of foods, both French and foreign. Frankly, my favorite dinners in Paris weren’t even really dinners – one consisted of a baguette, brie, and wine and the other full of Parisian pastries and the most amazing gyro I have ever tasted. Instead of going over each and every item I consumed in Paris, I hit the highlights of what every tourist should at least try and where to try them. Overall, Paris showed off its wonders and I will definitely return (again and again) just for the food!
PARISIAN BREAKFASTS
The French don’t eat big breakfasts – especially those living in Paris. The typical breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and a delicate croissant. This was music to my ears – I love chocolate croissants, or pain du chocolat, in French. There are as many types of pain du chocolat as there are boulangeries in Paris. I tried a new boulangerie every day and each pain du chocolat had similar qualities, but you could see and taste the difference in their recipes. They differed in their appearance, flakiness, and even the consistency of the chocolate. No matter, I will not discriminate against any chocolate croissant – they are all welcome on my plate.
PARISIAN CREPES
Crepes. My memories of Parisian crepes only say “Yum.” Perfect for the budget traveler or anyone who likes a portable meal that is quick and easy. Crepes are delicious, no matter how much money you’ve got to spend on your vacation. Just by changing what you put inside the crepe, you can make a nutritious meal or an incredible dessert. Also, luckily for young people, such as myself, most of the crepe stands in Paris are open late – meaning you can grab a late night snack on your way back to your hotel/hostel or to regain your energy for going clubbing.
There is only one crepe place that I would seek out again while in Paris. That is not to say that there aren’t any other phenomenal creperies in the city, but these crepes were worth seconds and thirds…. And fourths. Chez Nicos in the Latin Quarter (44 rue Mouffetard, 5th arr.) was a wonderful place to happen upon. Down the street from the youth hostel and in the middle of a student district, Chez Nicos caters to those who need a lot of food for a little money – and, not to forget, the great quality. This creperie is more of a take-away window stand, but it has a few tables in the back where you can sit down and enjoy your meal.
My recommendation at Chez NIcos is the self-named house crepe. Full of flavor and actually healthy, this crepe is a wonderful alternative to a sandwich for lunch or a late snack. My personal favorite flavors, overall, are 1) Nutella, banana, and hazelnuts (to add a fantastic crunch), 2) lemon and sugar (a lemon-bar-like crepe) and 3) any crepe with fresh fruits (note: jam is not the same as fresh fruit). Nutella is an incredibly popular dessert filler, but note that it may cost you more than you think because it’s so popular and people will still order it. Each creperie is different and the menus are all unique, so search out your favorite flavors and taste away!
PARISIAN SWEETS
Parisian macarons. The one essential treat that I made sure to find in Paris. Since the rest of France makes more traditional macarons, made from simple meringue with sugar and nuts folded in, you won’t find this kind of macarons too far outside of Paris. It has been said that they were invented at the famous Parisian bakery Ladurée.
Ladurée stakes its claim on the Champs-Elysées, bringing in Parisians and tourists alike. Their windows have a sense of childhood whimsy and are stacked with boxes of their famous treats delicately displayed. Most of their macarons are single-flavor, with only a few combining two flavors. The simplicity emphasized allowed Ladurée to focus on their quality and ensure each one is as imaginable as the next. http://www.laduree.fr/
One other infamous pastry store that I happened to stumble upon on my way to the Luxembourg Gardens was Dalloyau (pronounced doll-Y-oh). Dalloyau is a Paris-centered food company whose history stretches back to the Versailles Court in 1682. With their traditional pastry recipes carried through the centuries, it is apparent that they have perfected the art of pastry design. Their creations look too good to eat. Their storefront is lined with macaron trees and petit fours chess pieces on a white and black chocolate ganache game board. In need of a sweet afternoon, I purchased their most intriguing flavors of macarons – grey tea and salted caramel. With a bench in Luxembourg Gardens calling my name, I enjoyed an amazing afternoon eating delectable macarons.
To start, there is no experience like eating food in Paris. Everything from their bread to their produce simply tastes better. During my tour of France, Paris provided a well-rounded assortment of foods, both French and foreign. Frankly, my favorite dinners in Paris weren’t even really dinners – one consisted of a baguette, brie, and wine and the other full of Parisian pastries and the most amazing gyro I have ever tasted. Instead of going over each and every item I consumed in Paris, I hit the highlights of what every tourist should at least try and where to try them. Overall, Paris showed off its wonders and I will definitely return (again and again) just for the food!
PARISIAN BREAKFASTS
The French don’t eat big breakfasts – especially those living in Paris. The typical breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and a delicate croissant. This was music to my ears – I love chocolate croissants, or pain du chocolat, in French. There are as many types of pain du chocolat as there are boulangeries in Paris. I tried a new boulangerie every day and each pain du chocolat had similar qualities, but you could see and taste the difference in their recipes. They differed in their appearance, flakiness, and even the consistency of the chocolate. No matter, I will not discriminate against any chocolate croissant – they are all welcome on my plate.
PARISIAN CREPES
Crepes. My memories of Parisian crepes only say “Yum.” Perfect for the budget traveler or anyone who likes a portable meal that is quick and easy. Crepes are delicious, no matter how much money you’ve got to spend on your vacation. Just by changing what you put inside the crepe, you can make a nutritious meal or an incredible dessert. Also, luckily for young people, such as myself, most of the crepe stands in Paris are open late – meaning you can grab a late night snack on your way back to your hotel/hostel or to regain your energy for going clubbing.
There is only one crepe place that I would seek out again while in Paris. That is not to say that there aren’t any other phenomenal creperies in the city, but these crepes were worth seconds and thirds…. And fourths. Chez Nicos in the Latin Quarter (44 rue Mouffetard, 5th arr.) was a wonderful place to happen upon. Down the street from the youth hostel and in the middle of a student district, Chez Nicos caters to those who need a lot of food for a little money – and, not to forget, the great quality. This creperie is more of a take-away window stand, but it has a few tables in the back where you can sit down and enjoy your meal.
My recommendation at Chez NIcos is the self-named house crepe. Full of flavor and actually healthy, this crepe is a wonderful alternative to a sandwich for lunch or a late snack. My personal favorite flavors, overall, are 1) Nutella, banana, and hazelnuts (to add a fantastic crunch), 2) lemon and sugar (a lemon-bar-like crepe) and 3) any crepe with fresh fruits (note: jam is not the same as fresh fruit). Nutella is an incredibly popular dessert filler, but note that it may cost you more than you think because it’s so popular and people will still order it. Each creperie is different and the menus are all unique, so search out your favorite flavors and taste away!
PARISIAN SWEETS
Parisian macarons. The one essential treat that I made sure to find in Paris. Since the rest of France makes more traditional macarons, made from simple meringue with sugar and nuts folded in, you won’t find this kind of macarons too far outside of Paris. It has been said that they were invented at the famous Parisian bakery Ladurée.
Ladurée stakes its claim on the Champs-Elysées, bringing in Parisians and tourists alike. Their windows have a sense of childhood whimsy and are stacked with boxes of their famous treats delicately displayed. Most of their macarons are single-flavor, with only a few combining two flavors. The simplicity emphasized allowed Ladurée to focus on their quality and ensure each one is as imaginable as the next. http://www.laduree.fr/
One other infamous pastry store that I happened to stumble upon on my way to the Luxembourg Gardens was Dalloyau (pronounced doll-Y-oh). Dalloyau is a Paris-centered food company whose history stretches back to the Versailles Court in 1682. With their traditional pastry recipes carried through the centuries, it is apparent that they have perfected the art of pastry design. Their creations look too good to eat. Their storefront is lined with macaron trees and petit fours chess pieces on a white and black chocolate ganache game board. In need of a sweet afternoon, I purchased their most intriguing flavors of macarons – grey tea and salted caramel. With a bench in Luxembourg Gardens calling my name, I enjoyed an amazing afternoon eating delectable macarons.
All in all, Paris is a power-house of delectable foods. Taste everything and bring leftovers home for later. Start every day with a chocolate croissant and end with a treat, maybe a palmier. Just savor your time in the Parisian world of food.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
When in London...
Hello Foodie Followers!
I am back from my amazing adventure through Europe this summer and have returned with much advice on what/where to eat when touring Europe's most fabulous cities! Starting with London....
When in London, I would suggest dining at places that serve more than just typical English "pub fare." Food stereotypically thought of as having an English origin tends to be hearty pub food, which is great, but that's not all that London has to offer! With a large Indian population in England, London has some great Indian food -- curry is virtually a British instiution and it isn't that difficult to find an Indian restaurant wandering the streets of London.
Another amazing culinary find in London is the Borough Market. A wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, the Borough Market is the best place to engage with locals and get a taste of London. On the weekends, the Market draws organic farmers, artisanal producers, world-class bakers, and gourmet food importers from all over the world. The best stand (in my opinion) to get in the queue for is Kappacasein, which brings in a large crowd with their Toasted Cheese Sandwiches. Poilane Sourdough bread stuffed full with Montgomery Cheddar, Onions, Leeks, and Garlic... makes my mouth water! The stand also sells a Swiss favorite, Raclette (melted Ogleshield, New Potatoes, and Spicy Baby Gherkins). If Kappacasein doesn't make you want to fly 10 hours to the UK, I don't know what will!
Of course, this is not to say that English pub food isn't popular. Fish and Chips is a delicacy, a simple British fast food. All you need them to do is fry the fish and fry the potatoes and then serve with mashed green peas (oh, and you might want to grab a nice, traditional English ale to wash it down with). My pick for traditional English fare is the Shepherd's Pie -- creamy mashed potatoes spread over ground beef and baked. No need for gravy, just take a forkful of each ingredient and you'll understand why people have been making this same dish for decades.
And for those of you on a budget, like I was in Europe, there are definitely small cafes that know how to serve good food. These cafes are generally laid back and enjoyable places to grab a coffee and people watch, too! Each cafe we visited was very health minded and ecofriendly, definitely refreshing compared to the American equivalent of these places. Our favorite stops were Pret a Manger (they are seriously on every corner! There may be more Prets than Starbucks!), Caffe Nero, and Costa Coffee.
So, when in London, don't limit yourself to any specific cuisine -- go out and taste what the locals are eating, it may surprise you!
I am back from my amazing adventure through Europe this summer and have returned with much advice on what/where to eat when touring Europe's most fabulous cities! Starting with London....
When in London, I would suggest dining at places that serve more than just typical English "pub fare." Food stereotypically thought of as having an English origin tends to be hearty pub food, which is great, but that's not all that London has to offer! With a large Indian population in England, London has some great Indian food -- curry is virtually a British instiution and it isn't that difficult to find an Indian restaurant wandering the streets of London.
Another amazing culinary find in London is the Borough Market. A wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, the Borough Market is the best place to engage with locals and get a taste of London. On the weekends, the Market draws organic farmers, artisanal producers, world-class bakers, and gourmet food importers from all over the world. The best stand (in my opinion) to get in the queue for is Kappacasein, which brings in a large crowd with their Toasted Cheese Sandwiches. Poilane Sourdough bread stuffed full with Montgomery Cheddar, Onions, Leeks, and Garlic... makes my mouth water! The stand also sells a Swiss favorite, Raclette (melted Ogleshield, New Potatoes, and Spicy Baby Gherkins). If Kappacasein doesn't make you want to fly 10 hours to the UK, I don't know what will!
Of course, this is not to say that English pub food isn't popular. Fish and Chips is a delicacy, a simple British fast food. All you need them to do is fry the fish and fry the potatoes and then serve with mashed green peas (oh, and you might want to grab a nice, traditional English ale to wash it down with). My pick for traditional English fare is the Shepherd's Pie -- creamy mashed potatoes spread over ground beef and baked. No need for gravy, just take a forkful of each ingredient and you'll understand why people have been making this same dish for decades.
And for those of you on a budget, like I was in Europe, there are definitely small cafes that know how to serve good food. These cafes are generally laid back and enjoyable places to grab a coffee and people watch, too! Each cafe we visited was very health minded and ecofriendly, definitely refreshing compared to the American equivalent of these places. Our favorite stops were Pret a Manger (they are seriously on every corner! There may be more Prets than Starbucks!), Caffe Nero, and Costa Coffee.
So, when in London, don't limit yourself to any specific cuisine -- go out and taste what the locals are eating, it may surprise you!
(Note to readers: an update from the Kappacasein stand -- it has moved locations, see website for details: Kappacasein Website)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Be Right Back!!
To my dear followers:
I will be taking a short break from my food blogging extravaganza to backpack through Europe! But no worries -- I will be taking pictures of food while on the road and deliver short tips on what to eat "When in Rome... and Paris/Amsterdam/etc."
Plus when I return, I will also be coming back with true favorites like The Cheeseboard Collective and Top Dog (I finally had one!) Thank you for your patience and bon voyage!
Your Foodie Adventure Leader,
Allie
PS - In the meantime, keep an eye on my favorite food blog Grilled Cheese Social
.
I will be taking a short break from my food blogging extravaganza to backpack through Europe! But no worries -- I will be taking pictures of food while on the road and deliver short tips on what to eat "When in Rome... and Paris/Amsterdam/etc."
Plus when I return, I will also be coming back with true favorites like The Cheeseboard Collective and Top Dog (I finally had one!) Thank you for your patience and bon voyage!
Your Foodie Adventure Leader,
Allie
PS - In the meantime, keep an eye on my favorite food blog Grilled Cheese Social
.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tartine Bakery
So, third time's a charm -- I have visited Tartine Bakery three separate times this month in search of their famous double pain au chocolat (double chocolate croissant, $4.25); yet, each time I reached the counter, it seemed like they were always out of the delectable pastry. Good thing their chocolate croissant isn't the only delectable item on the menu.
In the Mission district, down 18th from the heart of the Castro and right around the corner from Dolores Park and Bi Rite Creamery, Tartine is one popular bakery. There is typically a line stretching around the corner of the bakery and down the street. Timing is everything. In the afternoons and evenings, Tartine is less crowded but they may be out of their morning pastries. But no worries if you end up in line, it moves fairly quickly and you can catch a glimpse of their kitchen in action through the side window.
Once at the counter, it is a good idea to know what you would like to order, but since the bakery receives so many tourists from around the world daily coming to try their amazing food, they are more than willing to lead your order in the right direction. My first two encounters, after hearing they were clear out of chocolate croissants, I enlisted in some help from my servers. I ordered the Seasonal Brioche Bread Pudding on one occasion, and a Shortbread Cookie and a Chocolate Friand on the other.
The Brioche Bread Pudding was nothing to rave about, especially after trying their other pastries. As far as bread puddings go, they did a wonderful job balancing the sugary sweetness with a tartness from the peaches. Their brioche was sliced into thick pieces for the bread pudding, giving it a fantastic texture. Unfortunately, bread pudding isn't my favorite (I thought Tartine could change that), but it is still too mushy for my liking and I wish there was an extra granola crunch on top.
Their Chocolate Friands take the cake -- a small chocolate ganache covered cake that is. They are served up in perfectly small portions and can easily satisfy any chocolate lover's craving. The cake is dense and rich, while the ganache topping is smooth and creamy. This is a delightful treat for an after-lunch snack.
On my third visit, after waiting in line and memorizing my order in hopes that everything I wanted would be fresh and waiting for me, I finally got what I had been looking for -- their famous double chocolate croissant. These were definitely worth the wait. The croissant had a flakey, buttery crust that was cooked to golden perfection. The inside dough was airy and warm, yet there was still plenty of subtance to the dough. The chocolate, spread through every bite, left me speechless -- an amazing bittersweet chocolate melted into the fabric of the croissant and brought all of the flavors together. There was also no extreme buttery aftertaste, which to me means that this bakery knows what they are doing and don't have to slather their pastries in butter to make them taste amazing.
To decribe a bite: the croissant crumbles, flakes, and gives you a mouthful of bittersweet chocolate with the sweet-salty dough. It only leaves you with a slight buttery sheen on your hands and the extreme urge to take another bite.
My three times at Tartine will not be the last, as there are still things on the menu I long to try -- like the Humbolt Fog Goat Cheese Sandwich, freshly pressed and warm when ordered, or the gougeres, a perfect combination of crusty on the outside and soft, eggy dough on the inside. Yes, yes, I will be back for more...
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Love at First Bite
Next on the cupcake taste test is my personal favorite: North Berkeley's Love at First Bite Bakery. A great place for any sweet tooth to visit after eating lunch at Gregoire's or Cheeseboard, Love at First Bite will have you falling in love with every bite.
Tucked away in a quaint alcove of the Gourmet Ghetto, Love at First Bite initially hides from the public eye. Once found, however, you will continually go back for more. The store itself is small with tables outside in a cozy courtyard. Inside you feel as if you have stepped into someone's personal bakery, with a charmingly cute display of cupcake flavors and other goodies on cake pedestals under glass domes and a view right into the kitchen. The cupcake selection process is unique compared to other bakeries I have visited -- the employees come out from behind the counter and hand select each cupcake you choose from under its protective glass dome and place it on a tray. They will also give you personal opinions about the cupcake flavors, of course all positive, if you are having a hard time selecting which of their delectable cupcakes to take home.
At my most recent visit, we decided to buy a few mini cupcakes and a sampling of 8 regular-sized cupcakes. The minis you can select daily are their most famous and basic flavors: red velvet, pretty in pink (strawberry), lemon kiss, vanilla, and chocolate. For immediate taste testing, we got two mini red velvet cupcakes.
Their red velvet cupcake is what keeps bringing me back to Love at First Bite. The moist cake has a wonderful texture and is never dry. The cream cheese frosting has the best consistency of all red velvets I have consumed to this date -- it's sweet, but not overly rich, with a cream cheese punch. Plus, mini or regular, their red velvet always has the perfect frosting to cake ratio.
In our variety pack, we selected eight different flavors: (from top to bottom, left to right) mud pie, chocolate maltball, matcha green tea, red velvet, pretty in pink, PB affair, pumpkin bliss, and ginger babycakes. In brief, here was the general consensus on each of these flavors...
Mud Pie: a deep devil's food cake with a mocha frosting topped with oreo crumbs, wonderful combination and great texture on top
Chocolate Maltball: the ultimate milky chocolate cupcake with Guittard cake and a malted milk frosting, cute decoration
Matcha Green Tea: made with ceremonial matcha green tea, unique, the flavor grows on you with each bite and ends in a love story
Red Velvet: as stated above, amazing and, hands down, my favorite
Pretty in Pink: a local favorite, uses fresh strawberries, could have more strawberry flavor
PB Affair: well decorated, wonderful balance of chocolate and peanut butter, not overwhelming, another one that I always buy
Pumpkin Bliss: great pumpkin flavor, moist, not too heavy, topped with their amazing cream cheese frosting
Ginger Babycakes: delicate gingerbread flavor, topped with a delectable limoncello-cream cheese frosting
For an amazing taste, cheap price for gourmet cupcakes ($2-3), and a range of sizes, Love at First Bite delivers. The lines are always relatively short, probably due to their hidden location, and they are open for most of the day, except Mondays, on which they are closed. Make use of this bakery for both personal enjoyment and gift-giving (they have cute little boxes you can decorate). You will fall in love with every bite :)
[Other flavors not mentioned above that are worth mentioning: Lemon Kiss, Hummingbird, and Monkey Love -- all wonderful, popular flavors!]
Monday, April 11, 2011
Meal Ticket
Inspired by the Food Network, our next stop was Meal Ticket, a small restaurant off San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. In a place that looks like it used to be someone's home, this local restaurant serves up great food with a homemade feel. With a menu packed full of savory and sweet options for both breakfast and lunch, it is hard to choose what to order at Meal Ticket. They have their set menu and a specials menu, written out on a chalkboard to the left of the counter. Be sure to read both -- there are wonderfully creative options on each menu.
After long deliberation, I ordered the Oyster Po'Boy Sandwich. On a mission to try new things, I had never tasted oysters, raw or cooked, until I ate this sandwich. The sandwich comes to you open-face with a side of their fresh cole slaw and a cut lemon -- I suggest putting both on your sandwich. The oysters are lightly battered and fried, not too heavy, and are perfectly tender and juicy on the inside. They come on top of thickly sliced bread slathered in a spicy chipotle mayo that compliments the oysters and slaw perfectly. The bread is toothsome with a dense, chewy crumb, which is great for open-faced sandwiches. I would love to see what other amazing Po'Boy sandwiches this kitchen could create.
After long deliberation, I ordered the Oyster Po'Boy Sandwich. On a mission to try new things, I had never tasted oysters, raw or cooked, until I ate this sandwich. The sandwich comes to you open-face with a side of their fresh cole slaw and a cut lemon -- I suggest putting both on your sandwich. The oysters are lightly battered and fried, not too heavy, and are perfectly tender and juicy on the inside. They come on top of thickly sliced bread slathered in a spicy chipotle mayo that compliments the oysters and slaw perfectly. The bread is toothsome with a dense, chewy crumb, which is great for open-faced sandwiches. I would love to see what other amazing Po'Boy sandwiches this kitchen could create.
Also ordered was the Slow Roasted Pork with Coconut Curry Sauce, Corn Tortillas, and Fresh Tomato Salsa over Basmati Rice. This menu item, a delicious do-it-yourself plate showcased by Guy Fieri, combines culturally unique flavors and creates a mouth-watering aroma that will leave your tablemates asking to try a bite.
I could not leave Meal Ticket without trying their famous Apple-Grape pie with their homemade vanilla bean whipping cream. As a pie-lover, I am always willing to try different fruit fillings. The unique apple and grape combination was amazing, with a great texture and perfect balance of sweet and tart. The crumb topping almost melts when they heat it up for you and has a taste similar to dutch crumb toppings commonly on apple pies. I loved this pie so much, I got a piece to go -- and it was just as good heated up later! The pie is not the prettiest, but you won't be thinking about that for long! [I promise to take a better picture next time I visit Meal Ticket]
One warning: they only make so many pies during the day and once they run out, that's it for the day... so if you plan to make the trip to Meal Ticket for the pie, go early or call ahead to ensure they haven't run out!
Another thing to keep in mind when visiting Meal Ticket is that they are CASH only, like many places in Berkeley. Also, order your food at the counter before grabbing a table, even if it is crowded, as they have been known to call people out for "line jumping." One last tip, the lady at the counter doesn't seem to enjoy people modifying ingredients in their order -- just remember that this place is famous for a reason and the food will taste amazing no matter what comes on it!
As seen on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri on the Sweet 'n Savory episode
Meal Ticket chefs graciously shared their recipe for the Slow Roasted Pork (see above) with the Food Network -- Recipe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)