And back in the kitchen!  Sort of.

Here’s the weekend:

Friday night:

6:50 pm: Matt and I arrive at Feast for dinner.  I broke his heart the night before when we ate at home; he was looking forward to braised lamb neck with apricots.  We had braised rabbit shoulders with garlic alioli (I send you to Misha’s blog for photos of these gorgeous specimens) as an appetizer.  Mmmm.  I love rabbit to begin with (sorry, Mom!), and this was perfect.  The skin was caramelized, the meat was soft and falling off the bone, and the alioli (nothing more than garlic, salt and olive oil) gave enough astringency to offset the meat.  (I am a garlic fiend, so I was eating this by itself.)

Matt ordered the cassoulet for dinner, and I ordered crispy pork belly (aka foodie catnip).  My pork belly was…oooh.  So good.  Crispy skin, oozing fat right underneath that, and perfectly cooked meat.  My one quibble with the dish was the underplayed acidity from the red cabbage and apples, served as an accompaniment.  I wanted a splash more vinegar or lemon juice to help cut the richness of the pork, fat and skin.  The potato mash cake was perfectly crispy and fluffy.  Matt’s cassoulet was good, and he devoured the duck confit (I was lucky to get even a small piece).  I can’t wait to get back, especially since the restaurant took pictures of the beef necks they’re going to prepare soon.  This is the kind of place that is sorely needed in the States, a place that uses the entire animal, and is not afraid to show it off (you could see the tracheae in the photo of the beef necks).

Saturday

11:15 am: I need vinegar.  I desperately need vinegar.  My stomach was not used to the fat from the pork belly, so it was a little queasy.  I’m about as bad as I am after a long ride.  I have been known to drink pickle brine.  Matt suggested Katz’s, to which I agreed.  The pickles were good, but my burger was greasy (not a good idea), so I left it unfinished.

7:15 pm: Pasta and homemade pecorino romano sauce, using nasty cheese from Kroger.  Perfect for sitting in front of the TV, watching NCIS and Castle.

Sunday

10:30 am: Ugh.  Stupid cold.  I have Thai chicken soup starter, stock, and leftover chicken.  Tom kha gai it is! A small bowl and I feel better.

12:00 pm: Matt chose lunch yesterday, so I chose today: Niko Niko’s.  A gyros sandwich later with lots of tzaziki sauce, and I’ve got my Greek fix for the next few months.

5:00 pm: Time for a new standard meal.  Delhi-style dal, with red lentils and lots of spice.  Pretty and delicious.  Served with a little brown rice, and it’s a great meal.  Matt’s taking the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

First, congrats to the awesome K on her great announcement!

Second, my friend/college roommate/amazing musician Doug Falk is playing tomorrow with saxophonist and clarinetist Frank Gratowski and Thomas Helton from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Avant Garden, 411 Westheimer.  I’ll be there; I may even try to wrangle some people for food beforehand.  (EDIT: Matt and I decided on Feast.) You wanna join us?  Leave a message or tweet me!  My Twitter page is here.

Okay, back to dinner and a movie.  Have a great night!

Or Cylons.  Or whatever has kept me away from this blog for almost three months.

Must get back to writing.  And eating.

I have been reading Mark Bittman’s latest book, Food Matters.  It’s very interesting and realistic.  I’ve been doing it for two days now (I need to lose weight.  I will not say how much, because it’s embarassing.  What?  My five-year college reunion is this fall, and I’m on the reunion committee!)  Not only that, but I am riding in the MS150 next month.  (Think of it.  Reviews of Gu, Camelbak Elixir and bad ride food.)  Plus work is crazy, as usual.  In other words, a normal time.

BUT!  On the plus side, I found my dream dish.  Finally.  I am obsessed with a Thai beef dish that is served on the lunch buffet at Patu in Rice Village.  I have hunted for it on the regular menu, to no avail.  But finally, I found it.  I ordered it with shrimp, but it’s it!

Basically, it’s basil beef with a savory, spicy sauce and lots of basil and veggies.  The shrimp was nicely cooked, the veggies were crisp-tender (mmmm…) and the sauce has a nice balance of sweetness, saltiness (from the nam pla, no doubt) and spice from the chiles.  It starts out sweet, then turns salty and spicy that stays on your tongue and lips after you finish.  Jasmine rice is lovely for sopping up the sauce.  Matt had pad thai (of course; I can rattle off his order for him).  And cucumber salad, with carrots and red onion in a sweet sauce, served with pork-topped fried toast.  Mmmm.  Comfort food at its finest.

Also on my to-try list: Feast (NO, I haven’t been there yet.  Quiet!), the mussels at the Black Labrador, and Little Big’s.  And I may have to grab a burger after the Tour de Houston this Sunday in Discovery Green.

Kinda like The Colbert Report, but without Stephen Colbert.  And Tek Jansen.  And sadly, Alan Colmes.

Anyhoo, Matt and I decided to honeymoon in DC!  (We are perfectly allowed to call a trip 2.5 years after our wedding a honeymoon, especially since we were so poor when we got married that we couldn’t afford it.)  Anyway, we did a lot of the touristy stuff (the Capitol, Air and Space Museum, the Mall), we saw Arlington Cemetery (every American must see it), and we ate.  We avoided a lot of the touristy places (I hope).

Thursday evening: It was Christmas night, and our hotel’s kitchen was closed.  We walked over to the Willard InterContinental and had drinks at Cafe du Parc, mainly Breton cider.  Mmmm, French alcoholic cider.  Then we ventured up to Foggy Bottom to eat Italian at the restaurant in the Embassy Suites, Trattoria Nicola’s.  This place was a desperation move, and I think we had a new waitress, and the kitchen was understaffed.  We ordered calamari fritti, which we didn’t receive until our entrees were delivered.  Matt ordered linguine pescatore, and I ordered bucatini all’Amatriciana.  My bucatini was okay, but I prefer my Amatriciana sauce; the dish felt bland.  A little salt would have helped things immensely, or some Romano cheese in the sauce versus the Parmesan they shaved on top.  I didn’t try Matt’s linguine, but it looked good; there was a lot of seafood, including mussels, calamari and shrimp.  We ordered an eight-ounce carafe of red wine to share, and they brought us two.  Ugh.  The manager was very conciliatory, which was a plus, and we got the second carafe of wine and the calamari comped.  I hate to argue, and was apologetic the whole time.  To be fair, I would try it again on a normal night, but the table next to us was having issues with the same waitress.

Friday involved breakfast at the hotel (yogurt and Cheerios!  Mmmm!), a quick trip to Union Station so Matt could buy some shaving cream at Art of Shaving, and then lunch at Cosi, which is a national chain, apparently (there’s one in San Antonio).  Not bad for a quick lunch (we were going to Arlington that afternoon, and decided to eat before we caught the Metro).  Matt ordered a buffalo bleu sandwich; I ordered a wasabi roast beef.  Mine was really good, and I’ve recreated it at home: Roast beef, wasabi mayo, soy ginger sauce, pickled ginger, and lettuce.  (Matt won’t eat tomato.  His loss.)  His was okay, if not bland: The buffalo sauce was not very hot at all, and there was no flavor to the bleu cheese dressing.

Friday dinner found us in Georgetown after a lot of walking.  We walked from Arlington Cemetery to the western Mall to Foggy Bottom to Georgetown.  We ate dinner, on the recommendation of our friend Rebecca (who lives in Rockville, so she knows where to eat), at Clyde’s.  You can tell you’re in DC when you walk into a restaurant and the TV at the bar is showing The Situation Room.  (They turned it to basketball soon after we walked in.)  I ordered the rigatoni with sausage and rapini, Matt ordered the butternut squash ravioli.  The sausage was spicy (finally! spicy food!), the rapini was bitter, and it actually worked.  Matt’s ravioli had an awesome caramelized onion cream sauce; I was eating it off his plate.  We ordered dessert – cheesecake for him, chocolate and croissant bread pudding for me.  Mmmmm.  My bread pudding was very yummy – lots of gooey chocolate and creme anglaise.  Thankfully we had to walk back to Foggy Bottom to catch the Metro!

Saturday morning found us at Market Lunch, conveniently located inside the Eastern Market.  Mmm, BLT with egg…best way to start out a morning.  The atmosphere is just as good as the food: You’re crowded at a long table with all sorts of people – locals, shoppers, Metro Police officers, market workers.  The workers behind the counter are loud and brash, and they don’t take crap from anyone.  The market isn’t anything to sneeze at, either – they had whole pig heads in a meat case.  My friend Rebecca would have had a heart attack, since she’s Jewish.  Lots of fresh meat, produce, flowers, and prepared foods.  The tamale lady didn’t understand what I meant by “Kosher” (I was debating taking some tamales to the latke party we were attending later); she thought pork was kosher.  *facepalm*  I decided against it, for several reasons.

After walking around the market, buying a brand new wool embroidered pashmina for myself and looking at all the jewelry, we walked to Capitol Hill.  Then walked around the Capitol.  Then walked back up Penn to Good Stuff Eatery.

(Those who do not like the show Top Chef, stop reading now.  I’m not kidding.  I ate there so you don’t have to.  STOP!!)

This is the burger joint that is operated by Spike Mendelsohn, who was on the Chicago season.  It’s in a good location: It’s close to Capitol Hill, surrounded by residential neighborhoods, and six blocks from the Capitol South Metro station.  (Though can you really see Congressional staffers chowing down on burgers during lunch?!)  Matt ordered the “Five-Napkin” burger (lots of mayo, cheese, bacon, and a fried egg) and I ordered a barbecue bacon cheeseburger.  We also split an order of “Village fries”.  Alas, there were no milkshakes.

Anyway, Matt’s burger was very messy and kinda bland (I’m noticing a trend with DC restaurants), and mine was messy and had lots of flavor (the barbecue sauce helped).  The bacon was nice and crispy.

The brioche buns were nicely baked and slightly sweet, which was a good choice versus the boisterous burger.  The fries were hand-cut and supposedly double-fried, and topped with rosemary and thyme.

I wanted more salt.  I never want more salt!  I wanted them to be crispier, too.  They were floppy and flaccid.  The mayos for dipping were good; I really loved the Sriracha mayo (can I slather this on everything?) and the chipotle mayo, though a little more heat would have been nice.  Matt liked the mango mayo (I’m not a mango fan), and both of us were confused by the Old Bay mayo.  Methinks it’s because we’re not from the area.  Spike was actually behind the counter, and commented on my hat (he supposedly liked it).  I think I turned about ten shades of red.  There was an “environmental fee” on the receipt (my guess is it’s a carbon offset), but seriously, don’t package my lunch in layers of paper AND put it all in a paper bag!  For eat-in orders, use baskets.  Or metal plates.  Or something a little more environmentally friendly!  You’re not showing me that you’re conscious of the environment when you do that.  [/soapbox rant]

Saturday night was latkes!  Lotsa latkes.  After confusion about which Metro stop to go to, my friend Rebecca and her dad picked us up and it was off to her house.  We had to help peel potatoes and I was given onion duty, since they supposedly make everyone cry.  They didn’t give me any problems.  The frying took a few hours and a tripped circuit.  They were good, if not a bit stodgy; I would have preferred sea salt versus Morton’s iodized salt (or even kosher salt would have done nicely).  I’m not a big applesauce or sour cream fan.  There was the traditional lighting of the menorahs and the prayer, and lots of chatting and meeting of people.  It’s always nice to see Rebecca, and it was cool to be included in her family’s traditions.

Sunday: We went to the National Cathedral for service.  Met Rebecca in Tenleytown for lunch at a Mexican place called Guapo’s.  Again, bland.  I had tamales.  The masa was good, the chicken was bland, the sauce was meh.  Rebecca had cheese quesadillas (again, the whole kosher dietary restrictions), and Matt had cheese enchiladas.  Next time I go to DC, I’m taking a bottle of Big Daddy’s hot sauce.  I’ll check my bag if necessary!  Dinner was at Teaism in the Penn Quarter.  I had Thai chicken curry (NOT VERY GOOD) and Matt had palak paneer (“okay”).  Rebecca had a salmon bento box, which may have been the way to go.  After dinner, Rebecca and I went up to U Street and ACKC.  Hot chocolate abounded.  I had peppermint hot chocolate, named after our President-elect, and Rebecca had a Marilyn Monroe (white chocolate with Oreos).  When I got back to the hotel (homemade s’mores from ACKC in tow, which were very good, and rich!), we were still hungry (we ate dinner at 4:30).   We were so desperate, we ordered a burger from room service.

Tomorrow (or tonight, if I’m really ambitious), I’ll post the rest of our trip.  And pictures!

This is not a good thing for the restaurant.  I wonder how long it will take for the health department to shut them down.

What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing, and there was some great tailgaiting food!

So when will the kitchens of Houston’s fine restaurants take up this challenge?  Imagine it: t’afia vs. Beaver’s.  Arcodoro vs. Dolce Vita.  Steakhouse vs. steakhouse.  I want grudge matches, dammit!

So, we have another cold front going through the area.  In fact, there are freezing rain advisories for the northern parts of Houston tonight.  Sounds like the perfect night for osso buco!

Osso buco usually describes braised veal shanks, but I was able to find beef shanks for a reasonable price at Whole Paycheck.  (I was considering Roman-style braised oxtails, but they were more expensive than the beef shanks.  What gives?!)  With these, I’m cheating: I bought pre-made braising base at Williams-Sonoma (full disclosure, as always: I am a sales associate at W-S, but all opinion regarding product is mine) and I’m cooking them in the slow cooker.  Matt will have dinner when he gets home from work, and I’ll have my dinner for Tuesday.  I’ll just need to cook up some polenta tonight when I get home.  Pictures are forthcoming.  I can’t wait for marrow.  Mmmm…marrow.

Other items I’m in the mood to make: homemade baked macaroni and cheese, and quiche.  (What?  I have French blood in me, plus it reheats well.)  I also want to roast an entire chicken (said chicken is sitting in the fridge right now, waiting for its date with some compound butter and my chicken roaster).  A batch of marinara sauce needs to be made, too, and if I get another chicken, stock. 

(Ooooh, the chicken stock I made a few weeks ago is wonderful!  I used it to cook rice this weekend and it was so delicious!)

I also need to bake some cookies and freeze them.  Or bring them to the office and the store.  Or send them with Matt to his office.  Or all of the above.

So with the advent of our cold weather (trust me, this is not very normal for Houston), what is everyone making?

I needed to clean the pantry today.  So I’m baking some chicken breasts in barbecue sauce.  I also made this quick sauce, which could also be described as a sugo.

Mmmm...tomato sugo.

2 T. olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1 28-oz can diced tomatoes

Crushed red pepper, oregano, other herbs as desired

Salt and pepper to taste

Warm the oil over medium heat.  Saute the garlic until fragrant.  Add the tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper and simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Serve over pasta, or with some fresh basil and mozzarella as a bruschetta topping.

Classes, work, work trips, family visiting, the holidays, SNOW(!!!), a life…I need to write more! 

Some links:

• Congrats to the lovely K over at She Eats, who, in addition to writing at Houstonist and her own blog, is now writing for the Houston Press!  She is most deserving and will give everyone over there hell (and I see collaborations between her and fellow Chowhound Jay Francis in the future).
• MC, at the blog Shibooya, is dealing with the economic woes and general angst of a 20-something the best way I know how: By baking sugar cookies.  Trust me when I say I’m right there with her.  Except for the baking part.  I need to do that more.
• Shannon at Shabak’s Kitchen puts me to shame.  Everything she makes and photographs looks so yummy!  Plus, she’s very sweet, so you need to pay her blog a visit.
• SOUP!!  Lots and lots of SOUP!!  (Can you tell I like soup, too?)

What have I been working on recently….  I am playing with a recipe for chicken meatballs with spaghetti.  I’m thisclose to perfecting it.  Plus, I am growing little basil seedlings right now, and they are so cute!  I have pictures to post.  I made Thanksgiving dinner, to the raves of my in-laws.  A couple of reviews of places (including Rice University’s Cohen House) and some obsessions du jour.  Oh, and planning a trip to Washington, DC for the end of the month.  Got any restaurant recommendations?

…Or is it the long recession?

In any case, people are not going out as much as they used to.  They’re not spending as much as they used to on goods.  People are discovering the joys of cooking at home again.  Including me!

I cooked over the weekend.  I had chicken bones in the freezer, which I used to make a stock on Sunday night.  I also made a pasta bake; these would get me through a week of grad school without cooking.  Add a salad, maybe a glass of wine and you’re done!  (Matt made fun of my and my large amounts of pasta in the freezer when he first moved in with me.)  The pasta was a complete hit with Matt; he never eats tomato sauce and he willingly did with this.  The secret was to mix in some ricotta cheese.  I also added fresh sauteed spinach and mushrooms to the mix.  It keeps well in the fridge and can be frozen and microwaved for a quick meal.

Here’s the recipe:

1 lb. pasta, such as bow-tie, wagon wheels, or rigatoni

2 cups pasta sauce (I used jarred, because I had none made); if you like extra sauce, add more

1 container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 package hot turkey Italian sausage

8-10 oz fresh baby spinach

8 oz. fresh cremini mushrooms

1 ball fresh mozzarella, sliced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook the pasta until slightly firm; you do not want to go completely to al dente.  Drain. 

While the pasta is cooking, mix the sauce and ricotta together and let warm on the stovetop.  If the sausage is in casings, remove the casings; cook until no longer pink.  Drain and add to the sauce.  Saute the spinach; add to the sauce.  Saute the mushrooms; add to the sauce.  Stir the pasta into the sauce and pour into a baking dish; I use a 9×13″ Pyrex dish.  Place the slices of mozzarella on top. 

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned.  Let sit for 10 minutes, cut into slices and serve, topped with pasta sauce if desired.  Makes 8-10 servings.

My problem is that I like to pick the melted mozzarella off the top, so it looks worse when I heat it up.  It’s healthier than getting a big plate of lasagna (no vast amounts of cheese and fatty sausage), and a small slice usually fills me up.  Whole-wheat pasta would be a great addition.  I like the turkey sausage, but chicken sausage would be really good in this, too.  I think next time I’m going to add broccoli to it, and possibly zucchini and peppers.  There are lots of possibilities to this dish, and you can really load it up with fresh veggies so it’s healthier.  Plus, by using fresh mozzarella and ricotta, you limit your salt content (I find the shredded mozzarella tastes salty).  And if you get a dried-out piece, you can add a little extra sauce on top and get the feeling of eating a big slice of Nonna’s famous lasagna.  (I never had an Italian grandmother, so I’m completely guessing here; both my grandmothers are Irish.)