Angel Food goat cheese ($8) from Prairie Fruits Farm, crackers, apples, and a homemade sunchoke ($2) + leek ($3) soup. For dessert: a warm, roasted honey crisp apple ($1) topped a scoop of brown butter almond brittle ice cream ($9) from Jeni's.
11.27.2011
11.26.2011
A long way for ingredients to travel.
White bean ($1.50) and kale ($3) stew with roasted pork ($8 per lb) brought home from Guavate, Puerto Rico.
How it was made: sauteed an onion, an Anaheim pepper and kale stems in olive oil and chicken stock. Simmered cannellini beans with the kale.
11.22.2011
Flo
When I went to Flo Cafe this weekend, I ordered the best Huevos rancheros ($6.95) I've ever had. How it was prepared: a heaping ladle of red chile on top of enchilada filled with cheddar cheese and surrounded by two soft fried eggs, with black beans, pico de gallo, and a folded tortilla on the side.
11.20.2011
On the cerdo trail, in Guavate.
More and more, stateside Americans are learning about this small village in the Puerto Rican hills. Bourdain and Zimmern have both reported on it, and both declared it to be the best pork known to man kind.
Having eaten it today, I concur. It's simply marvelous.
What we couldn't believe was the lack of gringos around. Literally, we were two of maybe six white folks walking around. The rest were nationals. And loving every minute of it.
The town starts jumpin' around noon on weekends. You park your car in the main strip (though there are Lechoneras -- pig roasts -- all the way down HWY 184), and start in. Any one you choose will be good, but we went with El Rancho Original (the first around) and Los Pinos, which had great musc being performed live.
But that all matters little.
The food:
1/2 lb of cerdo (roasted hog)
1 oreja (pig's ear)
1/4 lb of pavo (turkey)
1/4 lb of pollo (you betta comprende)
1 piece of morcilla (blood sausage)
1 piece of longaniza (pork sausage)
1 bowl of cuajo stew (pig's innards)
1 Medalla cerveza
All that for $23. Just silly.
And then, a pina colada ($4.50), and a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink called a coquito, which is a rum and milk based cocktail akin to something like a Mexican orchata: $4
What a place. I am full.
I am going to sleep now. Bye.
11.19.2011
Mag Mile lights from the 16th floor.
Staying at the Hyatt Regency ($300 per night, compliments of United) with my aunt during her 48 hour layover on her San Diego Chargers charter flight.
Egg heaven @YolkChicago. (PIC)
Eggs Benedict ($10) is my number one choice for breakfast. These bad boys had a huge cut of Canadian bacon. I've never had so much food on one plate this early in the morning.
11.18.2011
A day in the life in Puerto Rico
On Thursday, we packed it in.
The morning found us trailing Andrew Zimmern to La Bombanera, a local's favorite pastry shop for Mallorcas, a Spanish sort-of soft yeast roll, filled with jamon y queso and jugo de acerola, a tropical fruit, freshly squeezed ($14.50 total).
We made our way over to the Coliseo to watch the Boilers pull out a heart-stopper (2 tickets were $29.56, because Old Man Fein gets a Senior discount). We sat with reserve 2 guard Terone Johnson's family and I made buddis with his Grandma, Wilma.
Next, we took th long way to Hipodromo Cameraro to watch horse racing. We bet $14 total on 9,2, and 3, boxed, for a Trifecta, and a Win/Place.
We lost.
Famished, headed to Pinones to eat at aroad side stand, where we munched on Cuedo Parrillada skewer and a ceviche of Cocha del Rey ($11.34).
Still hungry, we dined at Marisqueria Atlantico, drank wine, and ate Pulpo Churrasco y Mariscos Parrillada ($43.50 total).
A quick pit stop at the condo, and then off to the casinos for a small night of gambling. Verno walked off the blackjack tables after 2+ hrs with a rake of $45.
I broke even with him, and while waiting to play Hold 'em (never made it on), I won $65 playing roulette. Hit. 35 to 1 bet on the number 16, bet for the birth date of this blog's owner, Justina Bursonida.
A full day, indeed!
11.16.2011
Mofungo con Conejo and Arecibo Observatory
A Puerto Rican delight. Plantains are mashed and steamed and mixed with freshly stewed rabbit and peppers. $16 for two at El Traino on the road home from Arecibo Observatory.
The owner, Egna, treated us to uno cerveza local, as well.
11.09.2011
Treif in Williamsburg.
"Treif" is the Yiddish word for all things non-kosher, ritually unfit to be consumed, and forbidden by Jewish law. We ordered: 3 cheese plate: pierre robert, robiola, cabra; elderberry & cherry marmalades, marconas, figs ($9); crispy pork belly, cauliflower, peperoncini, romesco, parsley-garlic ($9); confit of moulard duck leg, beluga lentils, crab apple, red wine ($16); seared foie, fingerlings, ham chips, sunny egg, maple, hot sauce ($17); Joe’s chopped chicken livers, balsamic-bacon toasts, rosemary & shallots ($8); and BBQ, braised short rib sliders, sweet potato fries, smoked paprika aioli ($9)
11.01.2011
Another Cheesus Christ @RobertasPizza, puhleeeze! (pics)
Wood-fired pizzas at Roberta's range between $8-$10. Let me tell you — they are worth every penny. My personal favorites were the Cheesus Christ ($14) with mozzarella, taleggio, parmigiano, cream and black pepper and also the Good Girl ($15) loaded with taleggio, pork sausage, crispy kale, garlic, and chili.
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