Saturday, October 24, 2009

Mojitos For Steve

So my buddy Steve the Tortilla Guy loves Mojitos - I decided to make this video in honor of him...

To make a Mojito you will need...

4 mint leaves
1 lime, juiced
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces white rum
2 ounces club soda
1 sprig of mint, for a garnish if you wish
ice

Juice the lime into your glass, add the mint and simple syrup. Muddle the mixture in the bottom of the glass. If you do it with a piece of ice down there it will really mix up the mint which is nice... Add the rum, top with the soda, garnish with a slice of lime and the mint - Drink & Enjoy!

Bon Appetit...

~Nikko

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Friday, October 23, 2009

Cipriani Tagliolini - The best out of the box pasta you will ever eat. I beg you to prove me wrong.


It's my dad's birthday and when I asked him what he wanted to eat he said pasta. I said I would make it from scratch but as always he said don't go to the trouble. There's something very therapeutic to me about making my own pasta. Even though I can make it in my sleep now I'm still mesmerized every time I see my grandmother make pasta (she doesn't even measure anything and it all comes out perfect every time). Anyhow, I was at the market to get some nice bread and cheese for the meal and just happened to look in the pasta isle. The Cipriani pasta box stood right out at me for some reason and after reading the back of the box (see below) I had to try it. Even in the box it looks wonderful.

From this point forward, when I don't have time to make the pasta myself - Cipriani Tagliolini is my go to boxed pasta. It always will be until someone can prove me wrong. Go ahead I challenge you. I triple dog dare you too... I am man enough to say that it is every bit as good as mine is - it's not exactly the same, but it's really close. When it comes to pasta in a box it's freaking amazing!


The box says that it will give you 5 servings - it's not kidding. I had 5 people around the table tonight and I made two boxes just to be sure, we all ate like Kings and Queens and only ate half of the pasta... It only takes a few minutes to cook - You will spend more time bring the water to a boil than you will making the pasta and heating the sauce...


Here's the finished product - I'll admit I was a total slacker tonight - the pasta was out of a box, and I even used sauce out of a jar - If you've never tried Ragu's Organic sauce you're missing out. It's perfect right out of the jar. I had someone once try and doctor it up and to be honest she should have left it well alone - her messing with it made it not as good. Anyway - I'm all for making your own sauce but give the organic version a try and let me know what you think...

Bon Appetit...

~Nikko

From the back of the box!

What makes the Cipriani Pasta Special:
- Seven whole grade A fresh eggs are used for ever kg. of the best durum wheat.
- One hundred times the dough is processed through the press and the cylinders. No other pasta is produced with the same care which makes its thin, delicate but compact texture grow more than any other.
- Sixteen hours the length of time we keep it in a low temperature dryer

In 1931, a long-sought dream became reality. Giuseppe Cipriani opened the doors to Harry's Bar. In a discreet stone building perched along the canal just off Piazza San Marco in Venice, he created a timeless and impeccably appointed establishment. His concept was to serve others like you would want to be served yourself. His vision of luxury in simplicity would touch the soul of people all over the world. At Harry's Bar in Venice, and Italian National Landmark since 2001, all clients are treated like royalty. The secret of Cipriani isn't about what can be seen or touched, but what can be flet and sensed. It's intangible but palpable. It can't be patented, but even after seventy-five years it hasn't been duplicated by others.

I needed a cigarette after I read all that...


Thursday, October 22, 2009

Foodie Thoughts...

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety. - Aesop

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch


Not much to say today but I liked how this photo came out so I thought I would share...

Bon Appetit...

~Nikko

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

New York Deli - Orlando Florida


I had to have passed this place 50 times before I had the chance to go in and give it a try. I had always wanted to stop, but time was never on my side... It's located in Orlando snuggled amongst a few of my clients, and I live outside of Jacksonville (a few hours away)...

I finally got the chance when I was on my way to a meeting and the client called to push it off for a few hours. I'm really glad they did because the people were friendly, and the food was fantastic!















I'm a huge gyro fan - let me state that again for the record, I'm a huge gyro fan - as you can see from the photos my only option was to get one and see how it was... It looked amazing - it smelled amazing - and it was 100% perfect! The pita was nice and warm, the meat was juicy and tasty, the tzatziki sauce was your standard variety but good, the lettuce, tomatoes and onions were all fresh - and most of al,l it all came together well...

Everything I saw them make looked really good as well, but if you're going to go I highly suggest trying one of their gyros fist...






New York Deli
693 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801-1342
(407) 649-4900


Bon Appetit...

~Nikko

Monday, October 19, 2009

Lamb Burgers

These lamb burgers will make you happy...

1 lb ground lamb
1 small onion diced
1 tsp mint
1 Tbsp Penzeys Greek seasoning
2 Tbsp soda water
Salt
Pepper

Arugula
Tzatziki sauce
Baguette


You will need a large enough bowl to handle a pound of meat, a grill or grill pan (can use a broiler if you want, I've done it and it works just fine), and a set of hands (or a spoon)...

In a large bowl add everything but the arugula, tzatziki sauce, and the baguette. Mix with a large spoon or your hands until everything is well incorporated. Form into long thinner patties. Grill your lamb burgers until they are cooked to your preferred temperature. Like I said you can do this on a grill, on the stove in a pan, or under the broiler - I've used them all and they all work well...

Build - Cut the baguette into pieces that will accommodate the burgers (if you really want to get crazy you can toast the baguette before use). Spread the tzatziki sauce on both sides of the baguette. Put some of the arugula down on the bottom of the baguette, top with the burger then put on the top piece - Eat & Enjoy!

Bon Appetit...

~Nikko

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