Famous Parisian breads

In keeping with the name of our blog, Lisa and I roved on over to France last week. We split our time between Paris and Bordeaux, gobbling up delicious treats and sipping on fine wines in both spots. I'm sure there will be several more posts covering the trip, but let's lead off with a discussion of bread.

One of our first stops in Paris was Eric Kayser. We purchased two baguettes, one regular and one sesame, and several croissant ones. The regular baguette was terrific - crisp crust with a soft inside. The sesame one was less successful for us, but still good. The croissants were excellent.

Later in the week, K and I made our way to Poilane. It's a very small and unassuming shop but the shelves are lined with delicious breads, rolls, and cookies. Their famous round loaf of sour dough bread is HUGE, so we decided to go for half a loaf. I added a small box of butter cookies to the order because I can never turn down a good butter cookie. After picking up some cheese and meat, we headed back to our apartment to sample the spoils. The bread is absolutely out of this world! The outside is very dark and yet not burnt. The crust has just the right amount of chewiness and toughness. The inside is airy and full of flavor. We loved it.

In fact, we loved it so much that I ended up carrying about a quarter of the loaf home with me the following day. The Poilane lived on for two more days as I was able to use it on Monday to make tartine sandwiches with basil, mozzarella, and prosicutto and on Tuesday to make panzanella. Each reincarnation was delicious. For those who won't be in Paris anytime soon, Poilane's website allows you to order all of their products and have them delivered to your home. If you're having a fancy dinner party, need a special foodie gift, or just want some darn good bread, check it out.

Beantown Reviews: Persephone and Rialto

It's been awhile but I'm back in the foodie saddle! I've got some recipe updates but I thought I'd share two restaurant reviews first.

Persephone is a new spot located in the up and coming Fort Point Channel area, just a short walk from South Station. The premise of the place is a bit too hip for me - it's a restaurant located inside a clothing boutique. But, in reality you just walk past the clothes to get to the restaurant and it's not a huge deal. I guess you're supposed to be lured into dropping $300 on those designer jeans that you won't be able to fit into after you eat, but whatev. We were seated promptly at a lovely table by the windows. The space has an industrial, modern feel to it but still maintains some warmth and liveliness. On our way to the table, we walked through the bar/lounge area which looks like a terrific spot for the after-work crowd. In addition to several flat screens showing the Sox game, there are also two screen connected to Wii's. Patrons can try their skills at Wii bowling or any other number of games - all while sipping delish cocktails and nibbling yummy bites.
Alright, back to the food. The menu is set up, rather annoying I might add, by size. We had to ask what would be an appropriate amount to order. Luckily, our server must get the question a lot because she had the answers down pat. We decided to do several appetizers and then split an "extra large" entree. Anyone who knows my husband knows there is no way he'll pass up the chance at a 34 oz. sirloin steak! The apps were terrific. K's raw bar selection was fresh and good; the red curry wings were a terrific update to your average buffalo wing; and the Duck egg/mushroom/toast dish was tasty enough. I'd highly recommend the wings if you visit. The gigantic steak arrived next, with a delicious basket of fries and a side of creamed spinach. The meat was well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. We devoured most of it, and took the rest home for the yummiest steak and egg breakfast sandwiches ever the next morning. The wine list was reasonably priced and had a few interesting bottles. Cocktails were superb. Service was friendly and efficient. The bill ended up being more than we had figured - the steak was probably overpriced by $20 but it was so delicious that we quickly came to terms with the extra dough being shelled out. Can you tell I really loved the vibe of Persephone? It was cool, but not too cool for an almost-30 something who has left the scene behind. Two thumbs up, highly recommend.

And then there was our trip to Rialto. I had been longing to give this restaurant a try since we moved to Cambridge but K had been before and hadn't been terribly wowed so it fell to the bottom of our list of restaurants. And frankly, it could have stayed there. Our dinner was good, but not great. My pasta was rich and delicious, but seriously involved like six pieces of gnocci. My stuffed veal was dry and a bit bland. K enjoyed his little neck appetizer and his steak but thought the one we got at Persephone's was better. Full disclosure: I wasn't a huge fan of the wine we ordered, which certainly isn't Rialto's fault, but it probably had an impact on my opinion of the food. Dessert was banana fritters that tasted little like banana. Luckily there was some homemade chocolate ice cream that accompanied them which was delicious. Service was attentive and excellent. The decor is beautiful. And the food is good, but I doubt we'll be back. Mixed thumbs, recommended with reservation.

The Bane of My Culinary Existence...

is cake. Yes, this simple baked good has troubled me for years. I strive to make a beautiful cake. I have many many delicious cakes but I have never really make anything worth of taking pictures. Yesterday I made a birthday cake for a coworker and once again I was unable to get the cakes cleanly out of their pans (despite lots of crisco and flour) and was forced to use frosting to hide the flaws. My attempt reminded me of my one flirtation with fondant at Amy's bachelorette party in Vermont. As you can see from the picture, it was not exactly a beautiful creation either. I have decided that springform pans will be the answer to my prayers. Anyone else have any suggestions? Help me finally realize my dream!

Long Overdue

This is my review of the luxurious brunch that Sean & I had at Nineteen restaurant in the Hyatt here in Philadelphia. Though this was not a meal for the faint of wallet at $46 a head, the location alone was worthy of the pricetag. While the giant pearls strung from the ceiling might seem like a strange touch, the opulence in the room was done very elegantly. On the nineteeth floor, the restaurant had great views of the city and had the weather been a bit warmer, it would have been nice to sit outside. The brunch was unique in that it was not a straight buffet but had buffet stations accompanied by a served entree. To begin, there was a continential breakfast like station that had delicious pastries and fresh fruit. The croissants were my favorite part and they had multiple options from the traditional butter to a strawberry filled. Sean's favorite station was the dim sum/sushi table. While there were not many sushi options they were fresh and plentiful and Sean got his fill. Along with the sushi, there were dumplings, a lo mein like stir fry and vietnamese spring rolls. Though none of these were spectacular they were all better than your average buffet fare. The station that might intrigue others but was not our #1 choice was the raw bar/salad station which had four types of oysters and a variety of salads. The Caesar was the only one that I tried and it was quite tasty however. For our entrees, I had the seafood omelet which consisted of crab, boursin cheese and roasted red peppers. It was good but nothing special. Sean had a biscuit breakfast sandwich that was a bit of a brick in his stomach, particularly following all the fresh fish. Although we would certainly return, we would definitely try other entrees next time. Usually my favorite part of a buffet would be the dessert table but sadly this time, there was very little room in my tummy for more food. I did have a delicious cookie and a bite of citrus mousse, orange creme brulee, and a passion fruit tidbit. I can't wait until I have another one of those cookies!

Rachel's Yogurt

In my ongoing quest to get healthier, I've been trying to incorporate more yogurt into my diet. Usually the texture or tangy taste of yogurt manages to turn me off by the second spoonful, but a friend recently recommended trying Rachel's Yogurt (available at Whole Foods) and now I'm a devoted fan. The flavors are not your everyday blueberry or strawberry/banana. Try pink grapefruit lychee, plum honey lavender, or pomegranate blueberry. The texture is smooth and silky. The levels of sweetness and acidity are nicely balanced. Give it a try!

http://www.rachelsdairy.com/index.php

Mashed potatoes

If there is one food that I'd really like to master, I'd say it's mashed potatoes. I've never had much luck making them - they always turn out lumpy or gluey or lacking in flavor despite dumping a ton of melted butter and milk in. This weekend I attempted truffled potato puree, which really just turned out to be my normal lumpy potatoes with some delicious truffle oil mixed in for good measure. It tasted alright but nowhere near what I was hoping for. I guess I'll keep working on it.

As not to be a total downer on the potato front, I will share my favorite "smashed potatoes" recipe, which celebrates the lumps and bumps I often find myself cursing.

Barefoot Contessa's Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Boil 3 lbs of small red unpeeled potatoes in a large pot with a tablespoon of salt for 30-45 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. In a mixer using the paddle attachment, mix the potatoes for a few seconds to begin to break them up. Next, heat1 cup of half and half and 1/4 pound of unsalted butter in a small sauce pan. When the butter is melted, begin pouring into the potato mixture with the mixer going. Add 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (or more if you like!), and finally season with salt and pepper.

The True Test

Last weekend my parents were in town and I spent a long time stressing about where to take them to eat while they were here. There are so many new places that Sean & I want to try but I didn't want to risk it. So now the decision was which of the restaurants that we have enjoyed are worthy of a second trip? And a trip with the added pressure of visitors?

For Thursday night, I decided upon yet another French Thai restaurant, Nan. I had been to Nan with my colleagues for a work party and it was a delicious BYOB in West Philadelphia, an area that we would have otherwise not seen during my parents' visit. Although I will admit that the designation French Thai eludes me, the food was delicious the first time....and the second time. I had the crab cakes and they were some of the best that I have had, with a delicious lime citrus sauce that made the crab almost melt in my mouth. Both Sean and my mother went with the filet, which I had recommended from my previous visit, and it was also delicious. My father went with a Thai lemongrass crusted salmon filet that luckily was not too spicy for his taste and was good enough to earn him the clean plate award.

On Friday night, we went to Bistro Romano, a cute Italian restaurant in Old City with a cave-like romantic basement dining room. Although this was also a hit with the group, I will admit that I was less impressed with my second experience here. Sean and I both had the Caesar salad which was prepared tableside in an impressive demonstration. The salad had a bit too much dressing for my taste but it would please most palates. Sadly, my main course fell a bit short of the mark. I went with the chicken ravioli and filling inside was quite dry and pasty. The sauce was good but not great. I will say that the rest of the group enjoyed their meals and we will probably return again. I am hoping this one entree just isn't their best and I will have better luck next time.