Thursday, October 07, 2010

New Fall Menu at B&O American Brasserie

I got an e-mail about the new Fall menu at B&O and some of the offerings sound so good, I think another visit to the restaurant should be in my not-too-distant future.

What sounds most enticing? Some of the new starters, like the Spice Cured Hamachi with peppadew chili puree, freekah (parched green wheat) salad, blood orange, and micro shiso, and the Foie Gras & Oxtail Terrine with duck rillette, cranberry marmalade and toasted brioche. Also this season’s Market Flatbread with celery root, braised kale, egg, and truffle cheese. And this new cocktail caught my eye as well: Axel Grease Beer with 42 Below Manuka Honey Vodka, Youngs Double Chocolate Stout Syrup, Chambord, Angostura Bitters, Gunniess.

Check out the full menu here.

Also, From October 1 to World AIDS Day on December 1, B&O is helping guests feel good about having a cocktail or two with the launch of “Cocktails for a Cure,” to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Each time a guest purchases any of three hand-crafted Red Ribbon Cocktails, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will donate $1 to Chase Brexton Health Services.

ETA - more news from B&O: B&O American Brasserie is pleased to announce that they have won the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and Nation’s Restaurant News 2010 SPIRIT Award for their commitment to their workforce and a strong understanding of how their staff impacts the organization’s overall success.

Time Flies


It's hard to believe that Mr Minx and I are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary today. Already! It seems like just yesterday we were wondering if Nelson Coleman would ever call us back with news on my engagement ring.

Happy anniversary, sweetie!

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Michelin Stars

While Baltimore doesn't have a Michelin guide (and never will), New York does. The 2011 version has been released and 57 NY restaurants have been awarded stars.

Inclusion in the Michelin guide is a sign of excellence no matter what the star tally or category. In fact, 715 restaurants were selected for inclusion this year.

SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTEEN. In New York.

Sheesh. They have a lot of restaurants.

A quick look at the 57 star recipients shows that I haven't eaten at a single one of them, although I have WD-50, Per Se, Le Bernardin, The Modern, Eleven Madison Park, and the Spotted Pig on my bucket list.

Check out the list and press release here.

Thai Party Recipes

Here are a few of the recipes I created for my recent Thai party.


Three Dips

8oz light or "neufchatel" cream cheese, softened
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Thai chili basil paste
Thai sweet chili sauce
Coconut milk powder
Nam pla wan (Thai fruit dip paste)
Sriracha
Minced jalapeno
Minced shallot
Chopped green onions
Cilantro
baby carrots, bell pepper and cucumber strips, tortilla chips, and pretzels for dipping

Place softened cream cheese, yogurt, and mayonnaise in a bowl, stirring well to combine. Divide into three equally-sized portions.

Dip 1: mix in a heaping tablespoonful of the chili basil paste and a teaspoon or so of Sriracha. Stir in a tablespoonful or so of chopped green onions.

Dip 2: mix in 2 tablespoonsful of nam pla wan and a squirt of sriracha. Stir in some minced shallot and jalapeno.

Dip 3: mix in 2 tablespoonsful of sweet chili sauce and an equal amount of coconut powder. Stir in some minced jalapeno and shallot or green onion.
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Thai Deviled Eggs

1 dozen large eggs
Thai red curry paste
Thai chili basil paste
mayonnaise
sliced shallots and jalapenos
chopped scallions

Place eggs in one layer in a large pot and fill with cold water to cover by about one inch. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat. As soon as water starts boiling, cover pot and remove from heat. Allow to sit in the water for 15-20 minutes. Remove eggs to a bowl of ice water. Allow to cool for at least an hour, or refrigerate them until ready to use.

When ready to use, crack and remove shells from eggs. Slice each in half lengthwise and remove yolks to a medium bowl. Some of the whites will tear and be unusable - that's ok, put them in the bowl with the yolks. Mash the yolks and broken whites with enough mayonnaise to make the mixture spreadable but not runny. Divide in half and add to taste chili basil paste to one batch and red curry paste to the other. (If you use supermarket curry paste, like Thai Kitchen, you can use quite a bit. Be more judicious with the real stuff, as it's extremely spicy.)

Use a piping bag or a spoon to fill egg whites. Garnish with shallots, jalapenos, or scallions.
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Tod Mun Mu for a Party

2.5 lb ground pork
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1/4 lb green beans, sliced into 1/4" bits
1/4 cup finely minced Kaffir lime leaves
1 teaspoon salt

Mix together all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to overnight to allow flavors to blend. Form slider-sized patties (about 3" diameter). Fry over medium-high heat in a dry non-stick pan (they will ooze a ton of fat) until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain for a few moments before serving.

Serves 8-16, depending on how much other food is available. :)

Serve each burger on a small slider- or dinner roll-sized potato roll. Top with sprigs of cilantro and marinated cucumbers.

Marinated Cucumbers

1 cup cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon minced shallot
1 teaspoon minced jalapeno
1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a small saucepan or in the microwave, heat vinegar, sugar, and salt until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool, then pour liquid over cucumbers. Stir in jalapeno and shallot. Let rest for about 20 minutes before serving.

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