seeds

Pumpkin High

Warm Pumpkin Bread Pudding | Brandied Maple Sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream, Pumpkin Seeds | Balon Winebar & Bistro | 245 East 81st St. (off 2nd Ave.) | 646.641.2282 | balonwinebar.com

Okey-Dokey, Smokey!


...the mozzarella become hot and stringy, the provolone had more of a creamy melt, and the gouda was more, let's say, gooey. And the gouda's natural and aromatic earthiness and slight sharpness nicely picked up the mozzarella's mellowness, while the provolone danced nicely in between, helping the to softer and firmer cheese blend into one. The pumpernickel added richness and texture to each bite, accentuated by little burst of nutty brightness by the sunflower seeds.... [Full Post]

Oh. Mah. Jong!


....My favorites were the Spanish Breakfast (you had me at "chorizo", then kept me at "runny, poached egg"!), and the Run Forrest, with its simple prep, letting the shrimp flavor flow through the tender, only slightly toothsome dumpling skin, complimented nicely by the mellowed citrus kick of the tomato salsa, and needing only the smallest dip into the the side dipping sauce.... [Full Post]

On My Own

...As they fried, I heated a sauce of sriracha sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic powder, honey, chili powder, chili oil, sesame oil, and butter in a deep skillet, into which the wings—that had come out of the fryer and dried on some paper towels—got thrown into and tossed until fully coated... [Full post...]



White On Rice

...I started the risotto in a large, deep skillet by sautéing the white mushrooms, thinly sliced, in some olive oil salt and fresh cracked pepper. Then a cup of white rice was stirred in, making sure to coat them in the oil. Then—yes, a slow and steady process—I continued to stir the rice, spooning in some chopped garlic, then adding chicken stock, a little wine, and some water, for 15–20 minutes, finishing it with finely chopped cauliflower (earlier steamed), a little heavy cream, some shaved parmesan cheese, salt and fresh cracked pepper.... [Full post]