Blueberry Salsa in Hilton Head

Fresh ice cold lemonade

As promised, here I am with a recipe. It's late, but rather late than never, right? The laundry has kept me busy pretty much busy all day. It's truly amazing to me how two people can produce so much laundry!!

Upon our arrival SB's parents had already prepared a huge jug of ice cold lemonade. They are just amazing. It was just so perfect and refreshing on the super hot and humid day that it was. I always thought that it was humid in NYC during the summer. Well, let me tell you something, it is nothing in comparison to the humidity in SC. I mean they just take humidity to a new level.

In addition to the lemonade Momma B made blueberry salsa for us to snack on. I know what you're thinking - blueberry salsa??? It's definitely an interesting concept - but I can tell you that is just DE-LISH!!! When I first looked at it I was expecting more of a sweet taste because it kind of looks like a berry salad mix that one would have for dessert. But this salsa is just a satisfying as your regular savory, tomato salsa. I actually think that it is a little more flavorful because the blueberries really add something special. Momma B stumbled across this recipe in an issue Southern Living magazine and thought it would be perfect because KB (SB's brother) and KG (SB's brother in law) are allergic to onions. Regardless, of whether you can or cannot eat onions, this salsa simply fantastic and really hope you all try it. We ALL loved it!

Blueberry salsa as featured in Southern Living

• 3 cups fresh blueberries (2 cups coarsely chopped, 1 cup whole)
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (use less or more depending on how spicy you like it)
• 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (add a pinch more if you like it a little saltier)
  

Mix all ingredients together and eat - or cover and let chill in fridge for 8 hours.

Prepared by Momma B

Happy eating!!

J

Exhaustion

I have returned and with me I have brought gifts for all of you: recipes!!! I have had an UNBELIEVABLE weekend with family and loved ones. As predicted it was a weekend of full of food, fun, love and little sleep. As exhaustion is setting in - I promise I will have some great stuff for you guys tomorrow.

In the meantime - happy sleeping :)

J

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Soul-connection at Apiary

Linds' skate

My roasted chicken

Beauty shot

I strongly believe that everything in life happens for a reason. I also believe that the people come in and out of your life with a purpose. Every once in a while you meet someone that you have an instant connection with - a soul connection. I recently experienced that with my friend Lindsey. We have known each other for a year through work, but never were close friends. Well, that changed in an instant this summer. Fate threw us together on our commute to work and we discovered that we have had almost identical lives, in different corners of the world. It was an instant love connection that was a year in the making. My Irish twin :).

To celebrate our new found friendship, we went to eat. Of course. I wouldn't know any other way but to celebrate with food. So Apiary it was.

Corn and shrimp gazpacho

Linds' green salad

I started off with the corn and shrimp gazpacho and she started with the green salad - both of which were ok. I think Linds liked her salad but I wasn't crazy about the gazpacho. For our entrees she had the Skate and I had the roasted chicken. Her skate was great! The fish was moist and so well seasoned and the sauce was amazing! I unfortunately, didn't get so lucky with my ordering. The gravy was the best part of the dish but there wasn't enough of it. The chicken was just dry. I didn't even finish half of it. Linds and I pretty much shared her dish.


For dessert we both had the panna cotta, which was just DE-LISH!! So creamy and yummy!!! It came with a slightly tangy but sweet raspberry sauce that was just a perfect complement to the silky panna cotta!


But the star of the dinner definitely was the dessert wine that Lindsey turned me on to: Moscato wine. I mean, where have you been all my life??? As soon as I had a sip of it, everything else became blurry and faded into the background. All of a sudden it was just me and the Moscato, all alone. I mean WHAT???? It's what I would call uh-amazing!! It's fruity, it's sweet, it's heaven. It's like sipping on a perfect grape. No wonder the Greek Gods were sipping on wine and snacking on grapes. I mean c'mon!!!

I'm in heaven: eating panna cotta and drinking Moscato wine :)

Take away message: drink Moscato wine!!!

'Til next time, happy eating!!

J

East meets West in Hilton Head

After hours of delays and 3 canceled flights my Mamma finally made it to Hilton Head, 7 hours after her expected arrival. The meeting of East and West is complete...

As expected there is a lot of laughter, lost-in-translation jokes and an endless amount of food. Once I get back I'll have so many new and outstanding recipes to share with you guys. There is the blueberry salsa, the taco salad, and the ham salad. They are all phenomenal!!

On the agenda tonight is the restaurant (appropriately named) EAT, for Momma B's birthday. Can't wait! I'll definitely let you guys know how that goes, but in the meantime I have to run to join the rest of the crew.

Happy eating!!

J

Falafel Wrap on the Run

Falafel wrap

Today is all about getting ready for my upcoming trip tomorrow. SB and I are leaving at the crack of dawn to Hilton Head. It seems like there is still so much to be done and just no time to do it. Packing, laundry, cleaning, manicure and hopefully I can even fit a hair appointment in there, because things are out of control, if you know what I mean.

Clearly I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. On days like these I like to go to this little hole in the wall place near where I live, called Baba Ghanouge and get a falafel wrap on the run. The whole wheat Pita bread wraps around the crunchy but soft falafel including some lettuce, tomato, pickled veggies of sorts and a flavorful tahini sauce. Now, will this wrap rock your world? Probably not. But it is pretty tasty and has all the nutrients to get you through a busy day. If you want a Falafel sandwich that will actually rock your world I'd go to Mamoun's - but that is a whole other entry. Now back to laundry...

Happy eating!!

J

TriFFFecta: Family, Food, Fun

My Mamma and me

To my right: Pasadena sissy, to my left: the little one

The B-clan +++

I am sooooo excited to see my beautiful Mamma :)! She is coming to visit ALL the way from Germany - with a little stop-over in Cali. She's also bringing my two little sissies along with her. One of my sister's who lives in Pasadena with her lovely husband. My youngest sister, whom we call the little one, and who is not that little anymore, is traveling here all the way from Korea where she is attending a language program at a University. I haven't seen any of them in over a year so it will be a mini reunion of sorts, with some members of family missing out on the action, unfortunately.

It will also be the VERY first time that Mamma and company are meeting SB and his side of the family. I have come to love SB's family as much as my own. They are amazing and so much fun and I just can't wait for all of them to meet! It will just be a huge love fest! I imagine that there will be a lot of hand-gesturing happening, since Mamma doesn't speak English that "fluently" i.e. barely any. I kind of wish we had a camera crew following us around so we could capture all the dialogue on film. It would be so funny to watch it back with some captions underneath, and see two people having two entirely different conversations. Haha! Maybe it's just funny in my head.

Of course, there also will be lots and lots and LOTS of eating. Every member of my family LOVES food just as much as I do - and no one ever goes hungry in the B-household. Pappa Dukes (as SB likes to call him) always keeps the fridge overflowing at all times. I know there are cookouts and various restaurants on the agenda. Momma B is planning on making her famous Taco salad, which I heard is always a huge hit. I actually haven't had it yet, so I'm very excited to try it. I will make sure that I ask her for the recipe, of course, so I can share it with all of you. And I am sure my own Mamma will whip something fabulous up, too. She always has something up her magical sleeve. I love corn on the cob - so I'm thinking about making the grilled corn on the cob recipe from Cafe Habana for the get-to-know-each-other-cookout (see recipe below). It is fantastic!!! We're also planning on going to EAT in Hilton Head for Momma B's birthday, which is one of chef Robert Irvine's restaurants. As you can see there will be no lack of food, food, food - my ideal kind of world :).

I'll have plenty to report when I get back.

In the meantime: Happy eating!!

J

SoHo kind of Lunch

My favorite Cuban sandwich

Today I decided to stroll through SoHo, just because. On my walk the path led me to Cafe Habana. I love Cuban sandwiches and I happen to think that Cafe Habana has the best Cuban sandwich in NYC. A great Cuban sandwich from a Cuban restaurant, makes sense right? The bread is crispy on the outside from the panini press, the pork has that slow-cooked flavor and the cheese just oozes all throughout the sandwich. But my favorite part is biting into the crunchy pickle in the middle. It's a fabulous little surprise. The other popular item from Cafe Habana and one of my personal favorites is their grilled corn. It's sweet, spicy, cheesy and simply awesome.

Look at those beautiful grill marks

Cafe Habana style Corn on the Cob Recipe:

• Corn
• Veggie oil (if you choose to grill the corn)
  
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup of mayo
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• Grated Cotija cheese
• Pinch chili powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Lime
  

If you are grilling the corn, make sure you soak the corn in water for at least a couple of hours with the husks removed. Dry off and then brush with veggie oil, and throw on the grill for about 20 minutes. Rotate frequently. In the meantime mix the mayo and sour cream together. Slather the mixture on the grilled corn. Sprinkle a pinch of the salt, chili powder and cayenne pepper on it. Roll in grated Cotija cheese and serve with a wedge or two of lime. If you're not grilling but cooking inside, you can use this recipe on cooked corn all the same.

To complete the meal, I'd serve a Corona with a slice of lemon. Which is just what I had. I prefer my Corona with lemon, not lime. I think it tastes so much more refreshing! It kind of tastes a bit like a Shandy.


To top it of I had a not-so-little and very decadent treat from Rice to Riches. I love rice pudding and Rice to Riches has perfected the art of rice pudding making (Hmmm - Julie likes rice - nothing surprising about that LOL). They have flavors for pretty much every palate, which is about 21. My favorite are Old Fashioned Romance and Man Made Mascarpone with Cherries (I just LOVE mascarpone) and I got Cinnamon Sling with Raisins for SB. They are all equally creamy, milky, sweet and delicious!!!

Cinnamon Sling with Raisins

The rather unconventional way how Rice to Riches greets you

The afterthought that they leave you with

Happy eating!!

J

How I feel about this World Cup final:

The Shake Shack Journey

Only a quarter of the line

Want some fries with that ketchup?

Just a snack

Cheese Fries

Beauty shot

Since I have started this blog I have discovered a new passion for food photography. Now, my friends might say that I have always loved taking pictures everywhere, of everything that anyone might find remotely interesting (or not). And yes, that is true. After all, I can't let my heritage down; I am Asian, you know. We love our cameras and gadgets. But really, what's so amazing to me is that something edible becomes a piece of art, something innately beautiful. I know that chefs take great pride in what they do in putting together their masterpieces, but I think photographing them gives it a whole new element. For instance, look at these burger shots that I took at the Shake Shack. Those burgers almost don't look real. And - I must add they were THAT delicious too.

I am almost afraid to admit that I had my first Shake Shack burger for the first time only the other day. Some people may say that it's a disgrace that I waited all these years to have the famous Shake Shack burger. Well, to those people I say: you are right, it is a disgrace indeed. The burger is so juicy, so perfectly cooked and seasoned with their secret, magical Shake Shack sauce. This burger is so beautiful, so desirable it will make any backyard-cookout-burger green with envy. Is it weird that in my head these burgers come to life and experience emotion such as envy? Hmmm yes, I suppose it is.

To all the Shake Shack loyalists: you would be proud of me knowing what I endured to get my fingers around that burger. SB and I had just gotten back from a long drive, I was going on about 1.5 hours of sleep, and to top it off it was a grueling, sweltering 99 degrees outside. I've got to say though, it very much felt like 5 million degrees, with the added humidity. I mean - "hot" doesn't even describe it. Nonetheless, something inside me screamed: you MUST have Shake Shack! (My suggestion is, never stand in between a hungry girl and her food) So we left the cool, safe, and AC running confines of the apartment and ventured to Madison Square Park. As we were in line and waited and waited and waited and waited, children cried, women screamed and even grown men were weeping from the agony of the suffocating heat. Ok - not quite.... But, I do think that SB was secretly and quietly cursing me (on the inside) for dragging him out in the oppressive heat. He vehemently denies it.

Regardless, the point, in the profound words of SB, is "we came, we saw, we conquered the Shake Shack."

FYI
The Shake Shack
SE corner of Madison Square Park
New York City
212.889.6600

Happy eating!!

J

What to do on a rainy day --> EAT

My breakfast this morning from Hampton Maid: two eggs over easy, with Canadian bacon and a side of hash browns. How could that be bad? It can't! Especially on a rainy, gloomy day like this! Hmmm so comforting...

I hope it won't be raining on Tuesday though. I am going to see the New York Philharmonic in Central Park with SB and a bunch of our friends... I'm so excited! I love picnics in the park - errrr... I mean... classical music in the park. It makes me feel so grown up :).

Happy eating!!

J

Lobster Ravioli Love Letter

No entry yesterday, as I was stricken with a serious case of the blues. The dream of another World Cup victory was shattered into a million pieces in front of my eyes. You may say obsession, I say passion. I admit, I watched the final minutes of their last game in tears, as my 3rd team (Germany) of this tournament lost to Spain. I felt the loss as though I were on the field myself. I really, truly believed that this time around they could win the much desired trophy. I really thought, this was the year. The talent was there. I thought that the obstacle of Thomas Mueller's absence could be bridged with their insatiable hunger for victory. But - it was not meant to be. I have been so distraught, that I haven't even been able to talk about it until now. Nonetheless, I am proud of all of my teams. In a World Cup that was filled with controversy and bad officiating, they all played their hearts out and never gave up - and that is true sportsmanship.

So what does SB, my amazingly wonderful boyfriend do, while I am on the couch crying, pouting, moping and staring into thin air? He does the (almost) impossible and cheers me up like no other can. He goes grocery shopping and cooks me dinner! Now, SB is good at a lot of things, but he'll be the first one to admit that cooking is not one of them. Finding his way around in the kitchen is a bit of a challenge. He's definitely a fish out of water when it comes to cooking, but it is VERY adorable to watch. It's so funny seeing a usually very confident and self-assured man so confused when it comes to pots, pans and stoves :). That does make it even more so endearing. How could that not cheer me up? He made us lobster ravioli (which for some reason don't make me sick - probably bc it's not chunky) with vodka sauce (Mario Batali's - has a bit of a kick to it. It's great!). He served it with a side of green salad and a stack of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Simple and DELISH, comforting and just what the doctor ordered! I'm such a lucky girl.

To SB: Thank you for your love and support (in everything I do - not just when it comes to soccer lol). Thanks for putting up with my mood-swings and loving me. I don't know how I got to be with you - but I'm the luckiest girl alive. I love you.

J

Food in Hampton Bays

Panera Bread:

I know, I know, it's a chain restaurant... You may look down on chain restaurants but I am a firm believer that you can find gems in some of the most unexpected places. I also think that food does not necessarily have to be complicated and fancy to taste good. Panera uses simple ingredients and good bread. When SB and I want something quick on the go, Panera is one of our go-to places. Since we don't have one in NYC I take advantage of having one in the Hamptons. When we go, I usually get the Greek salad for lunch. But really, what I am positively obsessed with (this will be #3 on my food obsession count) are the egg souffles. They have 4 different kinds - all equally delish and they only serve them in the mornings until 11am. They are uh-mazing!!! It's basically pastry with egg. But the pastry is flaky, soft, and buttery. The eggs on top of the pastry are brilliantly warm and fluffy and they are seasoned to perfection. I have now turned SB on to them as well. Typically, on our way back into NYC we will stop by Panera and get a whole bunch of souffles for "the road" (as SB likes to say), but also to have at the apartment for "the week." To tell you the truth - they never make it through the week. They are usually gone by the second day. They are THAT good!

The Hampton Maid:

Although, I am and now SB is obsessed with the egg souffles from Panera bread, we also venture to other places for breakfast. The Hampton Maid on Montauk Highway is great for a nice sit down breakfast. There is something incredibly comforting and relaxing to sit on their patio, surrounded by trees and a lot of green on a nice summer day. Because the restaurant is conveniently located on a hill you can even peek at the water. Their food tastes homemade, like mom or grandma made it, and completes the comforting ambiance of the place.

Brewsters Seafood Market:

We recently discovered Brewsters Seafood Market which is also on Montauk Highway and it's a great place for seafood lovers. SB and I love our seafood! You can pick up fresh seafood there for your cookout but I like to go there for lunch. There is nothing fancy about this place, and that's probably what I love about it. It's all about the fresh seafood. The food really is the star of the show. SB usually gets the lobster roll, which he says is fantastic and I get the crab legs (which you order by weight) and dip them in melted butter - how could that be bad?? It can't!!! A bucket of steamers will somehow also find its way to our table. The thing about steamers is that they can sometimes be a bit gritty from the sand. Well, we found out that Brewsters has a de-sanding machine. So when you bite into them steamers there will be no unexpected crunch!

Oakland's Restaurant & Marina:

A local friend of mine suggested Oakland's to me. This past weekend SB and I went there for the first time and we loved it! It is nestled in between the bay and the beach. There isn't a bad view in the house. I'd suggest going during the day so you can take advantage of the beautiful view. SB had the tuna wrap, which was very flavorful and had a bit of an Asian flair to it. It was savory and sweet at the same time. Love that!! I could taste soy sauce, ginger, some nutty sesame oil and also a hint of honey. Had a little of everything: Salty, sweet, soft, crunchy. I had the crab cakes. I have found that crab cakes at times have too much of everything BUT crab in them. That wasn't the case with these. These were truly lump crab cakes. When I put my fork into it, it kind of fell apart. Heavenly! It came with a spicy aioli and a fruity corn salsa! YUM!! Makes me salivate just thinking about it!!!

Happy eating!!

J

Triple digits in NYC

It's 101 degrees today in NYC but feels like 107. With the heat wave all over the States make sure you keep yourselves, your kids, your pets HYDRATED!!! You guys probably already know what I'm going to say but..... Vita Coco really IS the best and healthiest way to do so!!

Stay cool and happy!

J

Beach, SPF and Tully's

The many purposes of Vita Coco - keeps you hydrated AND keeps your towel down on the beach

SB's Lobster Roll Plate

Can you see the butter on the lobster??? YUM!!!

Saturday was such a beautiful day! Perfect beach weather. There was not a cloud in the sky and the breeze from the Atlantic was pretty darn incredible. I brought some Australian Gold for myself and SB slathered some SPF on, I guzzled my Vita Coco and SB sipped on some chilled white wine while we both enjoyed the gorgeous view.

After such a "tough" day, we worked up a serious appetite and decided to stop for some food. On our way back to the house we drove to Tully's Lobster Company (right past the Ponquogue bridge). I love love LOVE lobster - but unfortunately I cannot eat it anymore. Recently, I have developed an allergy toward lobster, which I am truly and deeply saddened by. I know - tragic. But I get to watch SB enjoy it and live vicariously through him.

The lobster roll at Tully's isn't made the way it is traditionally. Lobster purists would prefer it though because it is simply steamed and very chunky. It was stuffed in what looked like a skinny brioche roll and served with a side of melted butter, chipotle mayo and fries. It looked delish! Even though SB is a fan of the classic (with the mayo already mixed together) he gives the Tully's lobster roll "1 1/2" thumbs up!!

If you find yourself in the area, definitely give it a try!

Tully's Lobster Company
78 Foster Avenue
Hampton Bays, NY 11946-3226
631.728.9043

Happy eating!!

J

Our July 4th Weekend

Happy belated July 4th guys and happy 234th birthday America!!!

I hope all of you had an amazing weekend! SB and I spent ours in the Hamptons. Our very first July 4th weekend together :) (everybody, say "aawwww"). We both missed our families but with his being in South Carolina and mine in California, it was just him and me. Our weekend was filled with sun, beach, lots and lots of food. Oh my goodness, so much food to report on, such little time....

Talk to you guys soon!

J