August 2012 – Not Eating Out in New York

28 Aug 2012

Check Out Vegetopolis at Pig Island This Saturday

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Demos & Workshops, Events, My Events, NYC Events | 2

I had a special request for the organizers of Pig Island, which is holding its third annual event this Saturday on Governors Island: “Can I do a vegetarian-only tent at the festival?” It was absurd, unlikely, and frankly, bewildering given that this is an event to celebrate whole pigs from local farms, which twenty-five of the best city’s chefs carve up and portion into unique tasting bites to serve to the crowds. But they said, “Sure!” And I’m very proud … Read More

24 Aug 2012

Tangy Chicken and Plum Stir-Fry

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Meat & Poultry, Recipes | 5

No need to reach for a jar of Asian plum sauce now that the stone fruits are in season. These juicy slices cook down quickly to a jammy sauce that’s much more tangy and refreshing. Smothered on tender chunks of chicken, with a splash of soy sauce, it’s savory and satisfying, too. I’m now convinced that the old sweet-and-sour stir-fry routine must have been prompted by fresh plums.

21 Aug 2012

Eggplant Caponata, For Safekeeping

by Cathy Erway | posted in: gluten-free, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegan, vegetarian | 9

They say a photo’s the best way to capture a moment in time. But I tend to think of mason jars when it comes to keeping some of my favorite ones. Here is the moment: I’m rushing through a not-very-bustling strip of the Greenmarket in Carroll Gardens, adjacent to a park, and in the late afternoon. It’s not a market I go to often, but I’m making use of my chance location by picking up various things for various projects … Read More

17 Aug 2012

Plum Perfect: Share Your Favorite Shots on Capture

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Ruminations | 0

The sugar plum fairy has certainly arrived for the season, and I’ve been eyeing so many types of plums at the markets lately. Like heirloom tomatoes, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, each bursting with not-too-sweet juice. But what to make with these fetching stone fruit? As I come up with ideas, I wanted to invite readers to share their own photos of the same ingredient on a new app called Capture.

16 Aug 2012

Roasted Tomato Corn Soup with Yogurt & Basil

by Cathy Erway | posted in: gluten-free, Recipes, Soups & Stews, vegan, vegetarian | 5

If you have a few favorite ingredients to cook with, you’re bound to run into a moment of deja-vu pretty soon: “Did I just make the basically same thing last week?” Sometimes, you can set out to make a wholly different dish one night and find that you dined on an incredibly similar one the night before (and sometimes, this happens knowingly, like a weekly breakfast routine). But when it happens by accident, it’s a sure sign that that you … Read More

10 Aug 2012

Tabbouleh Salad with Cherry Tomatoes & Pine Nuts

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Grains, Recipes, Sides & Salads, vegan, vegetarian | 2

Most people think of tabbouleh as a grain-based salad, with bulgur (a whole wheat product) comprising the bulk of the dish. But actually, it’s more of a parsley-based salad, with lots of fresh tomatoes, lemon juice, chopped onions and other herbs, too. Its name derives from the Arabic word for “seasoning” (taabil), and purists have scolded my lack of sufficient parsley in past attempts. This got me thinking that tabbouleh is something of a chunky pesto, with some filling grains tossed … Read More

7 Aug 2012

Thai Basil Summer Squash

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Recipes, Sides & Salads | 8

I got the most interesting heirloom summer squashes the other day at the Greenmarket. Warted, striped, crook-necked, and very heavy for their size and dense in flesh, I didn’t think it too appropriate to make something just “everyday” with them. No, these specimens deserved the spotlight for a seasonal side dish of their own.

3 Aug 2012

“Shallow-Fried” Eggplant with Feta, Capers and Pickled Swiss Chard Stems

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Recipes, vegetarian | 2

I’m fond of using up kitchen “scraps.” I was working in the kitchen of a soon-to-be new restaurant in Brooklyn, when I scraped together a family meal (aka nosh for the staff) using some celery trimmings, chicken legs, and somewhat dried-up knobs of ginger after they were grated to the last stubs. Here, I’ve salvaged the stems of a leafy bunch of Swiss chard to chop finely and quick-pickle, and pair with capers and crumbles of feta cheese in a … Read More

Monthly Archives: August 2012