April 2009 – Not Eating Out in New York

30 Apr 2009

Reason for Not Eating Out #31: Because Supper Clubs are Blowing Up

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Reason of the Month | 28

Last week, I received half a dozen emails from various supper clubs I’d signed up for the mailing lists of. Each dinner sounded more delectable than the one before: roasted local grass-fed goat loin chops with farro-spinach salad and sweet onion soubise, kombu cured fluke with yuzu, brown butter, wakame and preserved nori, a dinner with a puppetry theatre accompaniment, an Argentinian asado of grilled offal, a backyard barbecue of grilled flank steak with chimicurri and chorizo. And the list … Read More

28 Apr 2009

Ginger-Glazed Grilled Carrot and Pea Shoot Salad

by Cathy Erway | posted in: gluten-free, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegan, vegetarian | 17

I love roasting carrots, in just a coat of olive oil and pinch of sea salt. But now that it’s reached almost ninety degrees in New York City, cranking up the oven to 400 degrees seems less than appropriate. On the contrary, goading your friend with a rooftop patio to throw an impromptu barbecue absolutely does. So after a day spent lazing on Brighton Beach, on the first truly hot day of spring, last Saturday, I found myself successfully planted … Read More

26 Apr 2009

From Gardening to Farming: A Glimpse at Long Island’s Garden of Eve Farm

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Farms, Ruminations | 14

Not so long ago, I tended to associate Long Island with being stuck in squawking traffic on the LIE and guys in wifebeaters who wouldn’t think to eat an apple if the tree plopped one in his hand. True, the eastern trail of New York City never exactly conjured an agrarian idyll, replete with rustic farmstands and coastal pastures producing everything from grass-fed beef to tasty wines. But perhaps that’s just the Jersey in me speaking (ironic as it may … Read More

22 Apr 2009

Eco-friendly prizes aplenty at the Risotto Challenge

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Cook-Offs, Events, NYC Events | 8

It’s been fun trawling the Internet today for Earth Day-related articles and blog posts. There’s a lot of positive energy out there, and I’ve been seeing much murmering about how to eat more green, or garden more green, how to drink, or not drink, more green, even date more green. Even the prophet Pollan has spoken on this national holiday, with some urgent calls to action and praise for the rise in home gardening. But I thought I’d mention another … Read More

21 Apr 2009

Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser)

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Events, gluten-free, My Events, NYC Events, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegetarian | 31

Guac and corn chips it is not. Plain-old hummus and pita it’s neither. Just as munchable as either of the above, I’d say definitely, as well as easy to prepare. It’s edamame, or soy beans, cooked and mashed up just like chickpea hummus (minus the tahini), and eggy wonton wrappers baked with a coating of oil and sesame seeds. And — with a little modification — it’s one of the four canapés that will precede the five-course dinner on May … Read More

20 Apr 2009

Peppercress and Poached Egg Salad

by Cathy Erway | posted in: gluten-free, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegan, vegetarian | 11

I showed a photo of a gooey, poached egg like this once to a friend who thought it was “obscene.” So if this offends, then my apologizes. But having seen many eggs cooked like this growing up, it calls to mind only the homiest, cleanest of thoughts to me.

15 Apr 2009

Seared Turnips with Leftover Vegetable Stir-Fry

by Cathy Erway | posted in: gluten-free, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegan, vegetarian | 6

There is a dish in Cantonese cuisine called turnip cake. Then there is a dish with turnip cake, chopped into cubes, and stir-fried with bean sprouts, scallions, some other veggies and often peanuts. I’m quite certain this latter dish was a leftover invention. The very best turnip cake (which is actually made from radish but I’ll get to that later) in my opinion is seared to a beautiful crisped surface, and is soft and mushy on the inside, like glutinous … Read More

13 Apr 2009

Deviled (Easter) Eggs, Three Ways

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Breakfast & Eggs, gluten-free, Recipes | 15

It’s an Easter egg hunt of an entirely new brand: guess the country of inspiration! When I was describing my idea for three variations on deviled eggs, it occurred to me that I was pinning three East Asian cuisines to each version: China for the one with five-spice and scallions, Japan for the one with wasabi mayonnaise, and Thailand for the red curry and lime juice one. “Are you going to stick flags in them?” my friend asked, nonchalantly. Nah, … Read More

11 Apr 2009

Introducing Hapa Kitchen and May Day benefit at Queens County Farm Museum

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Events, NYC Events | 11

It’s been a busy spring, and this holiday weekend I’m excited to finally share two projects that I’ve been cooking up. (When it rains, it pours!) First up is the Hapa Kitchen, a supper club and collaborative cooking project co-founded with my friend and frequent kitchen comrade, chef Akiko Moorman. To kick off its launch, we’re proud to be working with Queens County Farm Museum for a local lamb-based benefit dinner on May 1st, or May Day.

9 Apr 2009

A Trip to Apple Pond Farm

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Eating Excursions, Farms, Ruminations | 6

It was only a matter of time before my love affair with small, sustainable farming would take me outside of New York City (yes, Melissa, I hope to visit Garden of Eve sometime!). No matter the rain, cold or wind we’ve been having lately. No matter the ice and snow that laced the rocky cliffs of the Catskills on the drive upstate — and up some 1,200 feet in elevation. It’s spring, at least on paper! And so I went … Read More

Monthly Archives: April 2009