Saturday, March 28, 2009
Food Quote of the Day!!!!!!
Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress. ------Charles Pierre Monselet
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Honey Glazed Sweet Potato!!!!!
I use this recipe for parties. It’s great served as tapas or a hearty appetizer. It’s never failed me and my family loves it! Add your favorite garnish and give this recipe your own twist. It’s fun and easy and you’ll be enjoying it in no time!
Tip for this recipe: While American grocery stores use the terms interchangeably, what they are always referring to is actually a sweet potato, not a yam. Garnet Yams and Jewel Yams, for instance, aren’t yams at all — they’re sweet potatoes! Candied Yams? Nope, sweet potatoes. Confused yet?
In fact, chances are that you’ll never accidentally buy an actual yam instead of a sweet potato at your local grocery. You can find “true” yams as well as other varieties of sweet potatoes in Caribbean and Asian specialty grocery stores.
Note: all ingredients are organic for the best outcome
3 Garnet Yams (oops, I mean sweet potatoes!)
3 Tbsp. Melted Butter
2 Tbsp. Canola Oil
3-4 Tbsp. Organic Amber Honey
Dried Black Currants
Toasted Pecan Halves
Peel, wash and dice sweet potatoes into 1 ½ inch cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess water. Spread potatoes flat in a very shallow and wide roasting pan.
Pour canola oil and 2 Tbsp. melted butter on sweet potatoes and toss until completely coated. Roast uncovered in a 400° (preheated of course) oven turning and tossing every so often until potatoes are golden and fork tender, all the way through.
Remove potatoes from the oven and with a wooden spatula toss hot potatoes with remaining melted butter and honey until completely coated. Once they are coated, return them to the oven for about 2-3 minutes or until honey has glazed over.
Remove potatoes from the oven and turn them out into a ceramic plate. Garnish with dried black currants and toasted pecan halves – or any delicious garnishes that float your boat! Serve hot.
Tip for this recipe: While American grocery stores use the terms interchangeably, what they are always referring to is actually a sweet potato, not a yam. Garnet Yams and Jewel Yams, for instance, aren’t yams at all — they’re sweet potatoes! Candied Yams? Nope, sweet potatoes. Confused yet?
In fact, chances are that you’ll never accidentally buy an actual yam instead of a sweet potato at your local grocery. You can find “true” yams as well as other varieties of sweet potatoes in Caribbean and Asian specialty grocery stores.
Note: all ingredients are organic for the best outcome
3 Garnet Yams (oops, I mean sweet potatoes!)
3 Tbsp. Melted Butter
2 Tbsp. Canola Oil
3-4 Tbsp. Organic Amber Honey
Dried Black Currants
Toasted Pecan Halves
Peel, wash and dice sweet potatoes into 1 ½ inch cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess water. Spread potatoes flat in a very shallow and wide roasting pan.
Pour canola oil and 2 Tbsp. melted butter on sweet potatoes and toss until completely coated. Roast uncovered in a 400° (preheated of course) oven turning and tossing every so often until potatoes are golden and fork tender, all the way through.
Remove potatoes from the oven and with a wooden spatula toss hot potatoes with remaining melted butter and honey until completely coated. Once they are coated, return them to the oven for about 2-3 minutes or until honey has glazed over.
Remove potatoes from the oven and turn them out into a ceramic plate. Garnish with dried black currants and toasted pecan halves – or any delicious garnishes that float your boat! Serve hot.
Food Quote For the Day...
We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.
Adelle Davis
Adelle Davis
Miss Pearls in Oakland -- Last Night!
Okay, okay...so I admit...I was a little bit starry eyed my last visit to Miss Pearls.
The drinks are actually a bit expensive and we never got around to dinner this time (we were full). We had two appetizers that were really good; the plantain with chili spice was great and piping hot--not too sweet and not too savory though we both admitted to liking our plantain on the sweet side; and the 'Crunchy Calamari Radicchio Lettuce Cups' where awesome and sweet with that je ne sais quoi--very delightful and quite tasty (now I know why everyone was ordering them).
Whatever happens, you cannot deny the ambiance; I mean this place is decorated with sea shells and cheesy light fixtures and mosaic tiled tables with menus that match. It is quite charming in an 80s retro, secondhand store kind of way.
Same waitress, not as patient with our constant talking during menu review this time; but pulled through none the less.
The Mojito was very strong and took me the entire time we were there to finish (I mean very strong). My dining companion didn' t quite like the Margarita and refused to re-order (not sure why) but I said not to go with Sauza Tequila--listen next time!
Overall it was a great-time and I'm looking forward to the next adventure--hopefully a fresh new one!
The drinks are actually a bit expensive and we never got around to dinner this time (we were full). We had two appetizers that were really good; the plantain with chili spice was great and piping hot--not too sweet and not too savory though we both admitted to liking our plantain on the sweet side; and the 'Crunchy Calamari Radicchio Lettuce Cups' where awesome and sweet with that je ne sais quoi--very delightful and quite tasty (now I know why everyone was ordering them).
Whatever happens, you cannot deny the ambiance; I mean this place is decorated with sea shells and cheesy light fixtures and mosaic tiled tables with menus that match. It is quite charming in an 80s retro, secondhand store kind of way.
Same waitress, not as patient with our constant talking during menu review this time; but pulled through none the less.
The Mojito was very strong and took me the entire time we were there to finish (I mean very strong). My dining companion didn' t quite like the Margarita and refused to re-order (not sure why) but I said not to go with Sauza Tequila--listen next time!
Overall it was a great-time and I'm looking forward to the next adventure--hopefully a fresh new one!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Cafe Colucci
I thought the food was awesome at Cafe Colucci at the Oakland/Berkeley border but the service left much to be desired.
Thus, my never returning to this lovely African eatery (west, I believe). I loved the raw beef minced and tossed in warm clarified spiced butter...like a twist on carpacio with some "umph" to it!
I also really enjoyed sitting outside with one of my best buds, Star, and sharing a great meal together. He had a salad that looked awesome and was too "hot" for my palate, but boy did I keep eying it the whole time he ate (lol).
I'd say give it a try...it could have been a simple miss on the service...but the food was really good!
Thus, my never returning to this lovely African eatery (west, I believe). I loved the raw beef minced and tossed in warm clarified spiced butter...like a twist on carpacio with some "umph" to it!
I also really enjoyed sitting outside with one of my best buds, Star, and sharing a great meal together. He had a salad that looked awesome and was too "hot" for my palate, but boy did I keep eying it the whole time he ate (lol).
I'd say give it a try...it could have been a simple miss on the service...but the food was really good!
The Red Sea
Did I say how much I LOVE this restaurant? Okay, let me say it: I love this restaurant!
I stumbled across this gem while dating the sweetest Somali man (Muhammad) here in Oakland some time ago. He took me to Red Sea and told me they had the best African Food in the Bay Area. Very bold statement to make and I've been to some really good ones.
But you know; when I really think about it--he was right! Blue Nile, Cafe Eritrea d'Afrique and Asmara don't really hold a candle to Red Sea. The service is always friendly and the food always fresh and oh-so-good!
It is a great first date restaurant or first anything...and OMG the vegetarian options are soooooo gooood! The yellow lentils are my fav and the red lentils are perfectly spiced and cooked. Collard greens chopped fine, red sauce with Serrano chillies, lightly dressed salad with fresh injera, and oh, did I mentioned the lamb pieces cooked in spiced butter and chillies (Kilwa Begee) melts in your mouth.
A truly religious experience. Be prepared to wait a while; perfection takes time and have some honey wine and meat samosas/sambosas (though I really wish they would bring back the homemade honey wine)! The music coming from their bar next door adds a pleasant accompaniment to the meal. You will leave with a smile on your face!
Big-Ups to East Africa!!!!
I stumbled across this gem while dating the sweetest Somali man (Muhammad) here in Oakland some time ago. He took me to Red Sea and told me they had the best African Food in the Bay Area. Very bold statement to make and I've been to some really good ones.
But you know; when I really think about it--he was right! Blue Nile, Cafe Eritrea d'Afrique and Asmara don't really hold a candle to Red Sea. The service is always friendly and the food always fresh and oh-so-good!
It is a great first date restaurant or first anything...and OMG the vegetarian options are soooooo gooood! The yellow lentils are my fav and the red lentils are perfectly spiced and cooked. Collard greens chopped fine, red sauce with Serrano chillies, lightly dressed salad with fresh injera, and oh, did I mentioned the lamb pieces cooked in spiced butter and chillies (Kilwa Begee) melts in your mouth.
A truly religious experience. Be prepared to wait a while; perfection takes time and have some honey wine and meat samosas/sambosas (though I really wish they would bring back the homemade honey wine)! The music coming from their bar next door adds a pleasant accompaniment to the meal. You will leave with a smile on your face!
Big-Ups to East Africa!!!!
Bakesale Betty
Okay...now I haven't had a restaurant experience like this in a long time. I know, I know, it's not a restaurant---but OMG! I only have a limted number of reviews out in the cyberverse and considering that I've been to almost every major eating institution in the Bay Area, none compelled me to write about it the same night! Though I Yelped! first; here's the story on my blogspot.
The service was tip top and friendly with a little sass and pizass! So it made the already delicous fried chicken sandwich really incredible! Soft bun, lean chicken (stll juicy-not sure how they do that), and a lightly dressed slaw that I thought was amazing and could eat on its own!
A free cookie and lemon icee after disclosing I was a Bakesale Betty virgin and it was off to an eclectic ironing board (which I have to say made me chuckle more than once). I sat on the corner of Telegraph and 51st Street, in the town I grew up in, and where I'd have never done that in a million years; it really made my night!
So generous (not just the free items but generous of spirit) and I could feel what the owner and staff were trying to create--a fun lighthearted atmoshpere that gave you a smile, made your tastebuds do a jitterbug and gave you a full tummy!
Yummy
The service was tip top and friendly with a little sass and pizass! So it made the already delicous fried chicken sandwich really incredible! Soft bun, lean chicken (stll juicy-not sure how they do that), and a lightly dressed slaw that I thought was amazing and could eat on its own!
A free cookie and lemon icee after disclosing I was a Bakesale Betty virgin and it was off to an eclectic ironing board (which I have to say made me chuckle more than once). I sat on the corner of Telegraph and 51st Street, in the town I grew up in, and where I'd have never done that in a million years; it really made my night!
So generous (not just the free items but generous of spirit) and I could feel what the owner and staff were trying to create--a fun lighthearted atmoshpere that gave you a smile, made your tastebuds do a jitterbug and gave you a full tummy!
Yummy
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