Skimming Through Some Old Stuff (Blue Ribbon '06)

I was going through some of the old posts I've made about food here and there over the last handful of years.  I've done A LOT of eating.  Reading this one from '06 is made me really want to make another trip to Blue Ribbon.  That's got to happen sometime in the near future.  On to the show...

Lucky me, the weekend dinners have begun again. And the return of Adrienne to the eating ranks made me happy. This week was a Brooklyn joint called Blue Ribbon in Park Slope. Before I even get started here let me say this...I loved this place. My favorite place we've tried so far. The decor was kind of subdued and it was loud enough in the dining room so you knew it was casual but not so loud that you had to scream at each other. When Adrienne asked the waiter if they had mojitos, the waiter's answer was that they didn't make specialty drinks because blenders and such make too much noise. From there on, I knew this was the place for me. Then he recommended a different drink to go with her meal. She didn't really like the drink, I did, but she didn't. So the waiter took it back and performed a lil surgery on it and brought back an improved version for her. The waiter was very attentive and not annoying while he did it, I was very appreciative.

Of course, no matter how good the ambiance and the service are, the true measure of a restaurant is the food. No disappointment there at all. I can't wait to go back and eat more of the menu. First we had appetizers because we're slobs and have to do it. Doreen had fried oysters that were yummy. Age had a chilled half lobster that she seemed to enjoy as she ripped it meat from shell like a savage...it was great to watch. I had grilled shrimp remoulade which was tasty and came with a bunch of fried zucchini laces...I love me some zucchini. For dinner we were all pretty damned impressed, at least I was, and I ate a lil bit of everything that was on the table. I had some of Doreen's grilled waboo (some kind of fish) that was seriously good. I had some of Age's paella (one of 3 different one's they had to offer) which was really excellent. And there was a ton of it. Usually when I get paella everything is OK but the chicken. That's just annoying, overcooked and in the way. I just want to get to the good stuff like the shrimp, mussels and clams. I tried the chicken in this...it was GOOD! I had a spicy grilled flank steak that was absolutely perfect. It came with mashed potatoes, fried onions, and apples and cabbage that were seared in something sweet and yummy. We even managed to get to dessert where we split 2 orders of chocolate bruno (a flourless chocolate mousse on graham crackers with ice cream on the sides). Age and Dor split one and I almost got through one on my own. This thing was just sooooo rich. It was really, really, really, really good but a bit too much for me. Next time I get the banana split or the root beer float...and oh yes, there will be a next time. Just writing all this stuff is making me hungry...I can't wait to go back.

Blue Ribbon Brooklyn

280 5^th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY, 11215

718-840-0404

Blue Ribbon Brooklyn

Ask and Ye Shall Receive.

Chef Moi

I couldn't remember which recipes I was asked for.  So I'm giving you these 3 hoping at least one of them was the one that was requested.

Honey Chipotle Compound Butter
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 chipotle pepper, and just a little bit of the adobo sauce the chipotle is packed in
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt

Combine everything in a food processor until it's nice and smooth.  This butter is fantastic for everything you'd normally use butter for.  I cook eggs in it.  Cook grilled cheese in it, that was amazing.  Especially if the cheese you use is the pimento cheese below.

Pimento Cheese
1/2 lb grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 lb grated pepper jack cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 cup lite mayo
1 jalapeno, diced
A squirt or two of Sriracha, if you're so inclined.  (I was)

Combine everything in a bowl and chill for an hour or so.

Hummus
15 oz can of chickpeas, drained reserve liquid
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup tahini
juice from 1 lemon
2 tbsp liquid from chickpeas can
1/2 tsp red pepper flake
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp olive oil

I generally put the chickpeas in the food processor with the olive oil first and pulse it a few times.  Then I start adding the other ingredients one at a time, pulsing until incorporated.  Throw a chipotle pepper in there for a nice kick.  A couple of kalamata olive are good.  Roasted red pepper.  Toasted pine nuts. A tbsp or Parmesan cheese might be kind of good too but that idea just popped into my head and I haven't tried it yet.

Good eating folks!!!

Laughter Before Libations

I went my friend Amy to see “Ted”, which was flat-out hysterical. I don't think I've laughed that hard at a movie since “The Hangover”. After the flick was over Amy and I went looking for a bar so we could catch up over a couple of libations. Amy's on the perennial search for free shit (you can check out her blog about her hunt free stuff at Free Is Not a Four Letter Word), so she knew of some deal from some website for a free drink at a place called Little Town NYC. 

The I Love NY Platter

 I liked the place. Lots of dark wood.  A very pleasant bartender.  Quick service.  Easy view of the TV's to watch the All-Star Game on.  All good things if you're going to get me to come back to your bar.  

Little Town has quite an extensive beer menu, which is always a plus. I'm not exactly a beer “connisseur” but it's nice to have options. I wound up going with the Brooklyn Brown Ale.  Amy drank something that came in a giant bottle.  I don't really know what it was.  They also have a pretty good food menu. There's something called the “garbage plate” that had both Amy and I quite intrigued. It consisted of a burger, sliced sausage, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and fried onions served over tater tots. I can't tell you how tempted I was. But I voted it down because Amy's a lil lady and I knew I'd wind up eating the majority of that behemoth myself. And there's no way that can be good for you. Instead we got some garlic fries that were tasty but I wish were of a thicker variety. We also got the “I Love NY” platter. Which was knishes, pigs in blankets and pretzel nuggets served with melted cheese and mustard. The knishes were just slightly oily in the corners, which are the best parts of knishes, but still very good.

In all, I liked Little Town. If I find myself near Union Square and I'm in need of grazing I'll definitely stop there for it. And if anyone beats me to trying that “garbage plate” let me know how it is. It's definitely on my agenda.

Little Town NYC

118 East 15^th Street

212-677-6300

http://unionsq.littletown.com/index.php

National Chocolate Day

Today's National Chocolate Day.  This is how I intend to celebrate.  I'm hoping I don't melt in this 100 degree heat before my ice does.

National Fried Chicken Day

Happy National Fried Chicken Day, Folks.  Go out and celebrate.

Top 38 Essential Places to Eat in NY

Eater.com's Top 38 Essential Places to Eat in NY

I would love to get a group of say 5 or 6 together and try all of these places.

A New Go-To Place for Me to Order Sushi From in Bay Ridge

Found a new sushi place in Bay Ridge recently.  Annie and I went to Shobu Sushi on 94th Street and 5th Avenue last week and were very surprised.  Everything was fresh and tasty.  I'm terrible at remembering which rolls are which so I couldn't tell you which were the best.  I can say that we tried 4 of the special rolls and really liked all 4.  We also really liked the Japanese pizza, the Dragon Ball (which is some lobster salad hidden in a cool little beehive looking thing made out of avocado) and I really liked the Crab Tartar.  The only bad thing I have to say about the place is that there are mosquitoes everywhere out on the patio, so don't sit outside.  If they have some candles going or something that might have helped.

I ordered from there tonight to see if the food held up for delivery.  OK, that's not really why I ordered from there.  It was because I'm absolutely wiped out and couldn't deal with the thought of a hot kitchen.  But seeing if the food held up was a happy bonus.    The tako su (octopus) was tasty as was the Ninja Roll.  They were here in about 30 minutes from when I placed the order on GrubHub.  So far I'm impressed.  I'll definitely be using Shobu Sushi on a regular basis.

Shobu Sushi
9427 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY, 11209
718-833-8345

http://www.shobusushiny.com/