Slice of Heaven

Image from www.ottopizzaria.com (not the described pizza below)

Over the past year and change, SB and I have gotten into the tradition of going on date night once a week. Or at least we try. With our schedules being exactly the opposite schedules, and our intermittent travel, that's easier said that done. SB, being the hard worker that he is, works A LOT and I usually work when he doesn't work. See what I mean, it can get complicated. But having said that, that is pretty much everyone's story. Isn't it? Life just gets busy. And somehow as times goes by, life only gets busier, schedules get fuller, and days somehow run out of hours faster than usual.

But I strongly believe that it is important, that no matter how crazy life gets, to stop every once in a while to smell the roses. And that's what SB and I told each other when we first started dating. That no matter how far along we were in our relationship, we would never take each other for granted. We would always make each other a priority and create opportunities to show how much we truly appreciate each other, how lucky we are to have one another. Sometimes that's on a Friday, sometimes on Saturday, but if it has to be a Monday or Tuesday or any other night - so be it.

Well for our date night this week we went to Mario Batali's OTTO. I had been dying to go there forever. To top it off, my friend Linds had recently told me about this pizza there that she has been addicted to. So the decision was made - OTTO it was. I don't like being in the dark about things, especially when it comes to food. When we headed to the restaurant, I never went with the intention in mind to blog about it. Let's be honest, it's Mario Batali's place. He simply rocks. I mean he's an Iron Chef! How can it be bad right? So do we really need me to tell the world how good he is? I didn't think I needed to because it would just be stating the obvious. Well - I am going to anyway, because I can't keep it inside! It was AMAZING! Mario Batali: you're a GENIUS!!! I bow down to you. I might even kiss the ground you walk on...

This pizza that is on the special menu, is TO DIE for!!!! I wish I had brought my camera and notebook with me so I could share the details with you. I didn't bring them because I wasn't going to blog about it (!) - such an amateur move. (Never again will I go anywhere unprepared!!) I believe it has mozzarella cheese, sliced black truffle, some sort of diced cured meat and a sunny side up egg on top of it!! It is outrageously fantastic, ridiculously delicious, mind-blowingly satisfiying and every other superlative I might have left out! Pleeeeaaaasssseeee - go make yourself a reservation and get yourself a slice of HEAVEN!!!!!

Happy eating!!

J

Pappa Dukes' Famous Ham Salad

Ham salad in a sweet soft roll

So far I have brought you two hit recipes by Momma B. I am now presenting to you another family favorite: the ham salad, by none other than Pappa Dukes. If you know anything about the B-clan you know that Pappa Dukes is the resident chef in the household. Any major holiday he is your go-to guy. He cooks the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and many of the other 362 dinners a year.

I love love LOVE this ham salad. First of all, I like ham (how can I not!), but I am obsessed with pickles! Ham meets pickle, pickle falls in love with ham, ham and pickle live together happily ever after. To me this recipe is a match made in heaven! It's sweet, it's salty, it's juicy, soft and crunchy. It's perfection. Pappa Dukes serves it in a soft sweet roll but as far as I am concerned I could just spoon it out of the dish and eat it just like that. What?!? I don't see anything wrong with that!

SB actually is not a huge fan of ham but he looooooves this ham salad. It's that good.

Here we go:

• 2-3 lbs of boneless sugar (or honey, or maple) cured ham, not the sliced deli meat, get a whole chunk
• 1 (16 oz) jar of gherkin pickles
• Hellmanns mayo

Cut the ham into big cubes. Add the ham and pickles into a food processor and pulse together. Don't puree - you don't want it to be mush. You still want to know and see what you are eating. Transfer mixture into a bowl and stir in the entire jar of pickle juice (I KNOW!! How awesome!! Music to my ears!!). Stir in Hellmanns mayo until the salad is moist (about 1/4 cup). Use your judgment. You don't want the mayo to overwhelm the salad. It really is only there to bind the ham together. You want to err on the side of less rather than more. You can always add but not take away! There you go! Serve in a sweet bun and you are ready to eat! YUM!!!


This ham salad keeps for about 7 days in the fridge.

Happy eating!!

JThis entry is dedicated to executive chef Pappa Dukes

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

Vita Coco - Obsession #2

Hey guys!

Just wanted to share with you the coconut water I am positively obsessed with: Vita Coco! It is 100% pure coconut water. Besides the fact that it is delicious and refreshing it is also super healthy for you! It has less sugar and 15 times more potassium than any sports drink. It's also packed with vitamin C and all that other good stuff. SB and I buy cases of it and keep our fridge stocked with it. SB who used to be a Gatorade addict is now a Vita Coco convert. If SB can do it, so can you!

It's apparently also the choice of drink of the U.S. World Cup soccer team (according to Jozy Altidore)!

Happy drinking!!

J

P.S.: It's also great for hangovers ;)

World Cup blues + Obsession #1

Currently I am suffering from the world cup blues. Most of you know that right now the biggest sporting event in the world is happening in South Africa. I have 3 teams I’m rooting for: South Korea (I was born there), Germany (I grew up there), and the USA (I live here). Well, South Korea lost yesterday, Germany just lost now and even though that doesn’t mean they won’t advance to the next round – I’m still not happy about 2 losses in a row!

But I know just the thing that will make me feel just a little better. It’s the Melona popsicle! Who cares that it’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m eating ice cream! I am positively obsessed with this popsicle. It is fruity, creamy, milky, sweet, refreshing – it’s just a burst of flavors. It’s the best popsicle you’ll ever have in your life! Just the thing to help me get over a little bump in the world cup road to victory! I already feel the positivity flowing through my veins again (I will need it for the US match, which is up next!). I should get an IV drip with this stuff in it!! If you’ve never had it before, you have to get your hands on one! I get it at the grocery store in Korea-town (32^nd street and Broadway) here in NYC. If you live elsewhere in the country and have a little Korean store or Asian market near by, they might sell it there too.

Happy eating and GO USA!!!!

J