A Full Belly and Happy Heart at Gourmex

The word "gala" has always evoked a sound from me that resembles something like "eeewwh". Eeewwh for the amount of work that goes into throwing a gala (been there, done that). Eeewwh for the awkward programs and conversations you have to sit through as you just want to eat your overcooked salmon and dry slice of sourdough (eeewwh for consuming of that plate of food).

But in reference to Gourmex 2010, the word gala was preceded by "gourmet" and followed by fragments like "appreciation of Mexico's gastronomy" and "original recipes crafted for this event" and "one-of-a-kind culinary celebration." 

Oooohhh.

Last night I witnessed, tasted, and marveled over a feast prepared by some of the most recognized Mexican chefs from the Bay Area and Mexico.  It was a feast put on by the Consulate of Mexico, designed to celebrate Mexico's Bicentennial and featuring a range of Mexican culinary products. There were multiple forms of carnitas, there was a mezcal lounge, there were chicharones and chapulines, there was aged Don Julio, Hennessy hoochies, maestras de mole, black bean towers, charming wineries, and a whole lot of overdressed hungry people. 

I will attempt to share with you some of my favorites, but I encourage you to check out this list of restaurants and keep it in your back pocket for a quick reference in the case of a enchilada/mole/bean emergency.

Pierde Almas is a small batch mezcal distillery that uses wild agave to create a devastatingly delicious shot of mezcal. So smokey you won't need a cigarette. It may have been the high alcohol content shooting to my brain, but I swear I could taste that this was a truly special drink- read more about their socially, culturally, and environmentally responsible production process. By the way, isn't the sales rep cute? And his name is Geronimo!

Michaelangelo did the David, Rodin the Age of Bronze, Aroma Buena Catering the Blossoming Watermelon. They also did some amazing tamales.

 

 Chilango holdin it down with oranges in the tacos, whoa!

A mezcal tasting platter from San Miguelito in Morelia, Michoacan. One of the owners handed me a charm with a cross and a saint and instructed me to put it around my neck- "if you pray it will bring you a good boyfriend," he said.  Why didn't anyone tell me sooner about the real power of religion?

Can't remember who they are, but aren't tomatillos pretty?

Benedicta Alejo, a mole master in the flesh. I can't believe that I would've walked by the Purhepecha Saint of 1,000 Spices had a friend not alerted me of her humble presence in the back of the room. There are youtube videos of this woman showing culinary students how to make tortillas. Forget Cancun, I'm talking Spring Break Uruapan 2011. Find her at Calle Hidalgo #88, Uruapan Michocan, Mexico. Tel. 01 452 452 12 29. And I'm not being condescending, I actually have been to Uruapan and it was probably during my spring break.

 La Hacienda de Los Morales in Mexico City. Major bean tower activities going on at this booth. I was told that they prepare meals with Huitlacoche (an exotic mexican corn fungi). That's just crazy.

 CET culinary Arts of San Jose, check them out- this is food with a cause! "The mission of CET, an economic and community development corporation is to promote human development and education by providing people with marketable skills training and supportive services that contribute to self-sufficiency." Not only are they creating skills, jobs, livelhood, etc., they are producing some  meals with big flavors on little spoons. This is a pineapple tamal inside a jamaica flower.

As the saying goes, "barriga llena, corazon contenta" (full tummy, happy heart). I left Gourmex one very happy and full woman, and I can't wait till next year.

PS-Geronimo, if you're reading this my step-dad would like me to propose to you and marry into the distillery. I'm not entirely opposed.

Got the travel bug?
List of participants here: http://www.gourmexsf.com/
Hey, how did you get in on this?! My mommy was also a vendor: http://mexicobyhand.com/

Parks Slope to Fort Greene: Brunch & a Flea Market

A good Sunday morning starts here:

1. Moutarde-Cute french bistro in Parks Slope, with no wait! The host shook his head when I tried to sweet talk him into letting us sit outside, but I didn't mind his 'tude once I bit into my smoked salmon scramble. Yummy bloody mary.

2. Walk down 5th Ave to get the full cuteness experience of Parks Slope (lotta strollers!) and end up at the Flea at Skylight One Hanson-

What a sight! The tallest building in Brooklyn (built in 1929) becomes a flea market playground on Sundays and every nook and cranny of the ground floor, mezzanine and basement is filled with goodies (eh... slightly overpriced goodies). Between the mosaics on the floors and ceilings and the array of vintage clothes, jewelry, and accessories, it's a beautiful place to walk off a Sunday morning food coma/hangover. Food stations in the basement.

Afterward I would recommend walking through Fort Green- maybe pick up a cheap record off the street on Dekalb Ave (yes, my friend Flannery got this for only $2!), and get some coffee at Tillie's. 

Got the travel bug?

Moutarde

Flea Market: http://brooklynflea.com/

Coffee: http://www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com/

Upper West Side: Bacon Waffle!

Think about the flavors of strawberry ice cream, waffle cone, and maple bacon in the form of breakfast. When I get married, I would like to serve this instead of cake. It's really a waffle with strips of bacon in the batter. High quality bacon. The best bacon my friend Agustina ever had (and the girl has had a lot of bacon!) The waffle, topped with a delightful strawberry butter and maple syrup was a magical combination of sweet and savory, swine and sugar, buttery and crispy. 

On Good Enough to Eat's website, the chef and owner, Carrie Levin says the mission of the restaurant is to satisfy the hunger for wholesome, authentic, traditional American food. I would call this meal otherworldly, but if she calls it traditional American, then this may be my favorite bite of America yet. 

In the Upper West Side- go here before hitting the Natural History Museum or Central Park, or just go. You need no excuse.

Got the travel bug?
http://www.goodenoughtoeat.com/

NYC Day 2: Street Food, Antiques, and a Photo Tribute to NY Pizza

Hungover? Hungry? The perfect remedy according to Ferronlandia: Roll out of bed, grab a coffee, and head to the nearest street food festival for breakfast.

1. Grub Street Food Festival- Stay tuned for upcoming Street Food Festival Survival Rules based on our experience at this packed fair. Organizers estimated that 12,000 hungry people came through the gates, Agustina and I probably cut about half of them in line. All worth it for this.

The Ditch Dog:

Macaroni and Cheese on top of a hot dog. Ditch Plains, you made macaroni and cheese a condiment. God bless you.

Patacon Pisao: And here I thought I knew about the infinite possibilities of plantain-related snacks. But these crafty Venezuelans made tortillas out of plantains and then stuffed them with pork and chicken. Bravo!

Georgia's Eastside BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich:

 We walked by their restaurant and saw this.

Then we walked by their stand at the fair and had this. 

Then I understood.

2. Walk it off at the West 25th Street Market

This indoor antique gallery is not for the penny pinchers, but if you're after well-kept antiques with style this would be the place.  I would imagine it would be a sweet shopping destination when hiding from the winter. Across the street there’s a lower-end flea market. 

3. Casa Mezcal

A Mezcal bar? For real? Owned by David, a Jew from Long Island. Obviously. The place looks like my dream kitchen and the drinks were the best mezcal drinks I’ve ever had. Yea, yea he gave us some free shit cause it was my birthday. 

 4. Drinks and dancing in Williamsburg

Dram Bar-Looks like a fancy Tahoe cabin, smells like cedar, tastes like a tequila/mezcal old fashioned. Weird and cool. Use the bathroom here.

Bembe- World music all night, crowded as hell, drummers, touchy latino men, it’s somewhere in between Baobab and Brazil. At the end of the night the DJ did a mashup of "three little birds" and "let's get it on," and I liked it! 

5. Pizza at Anna Maria Pizza

Ever notice how New York pizza brings out the freak in all of us? The top pics are from this recent trip, when we made a very satisfying pit-stop for a slice of pie, but I noticed they were alarmingly similar to the photos from my last visit to NY.

Pizza photo session 2010:

Pizza photo session 2009:

It's just so wide and foldable, we can't help it!  

 

Got the travel bug?
Food: Ditch Plains, Patacon Pisao, Georgia's Eastside BBQ, Anna Maria Pizza
Drinks & Dancing: Casa Mezcal, Dram Bar, Bembe
Shopping: Hells Kitchen Flea Markets

Ferronlandia in NYC! Day 1: Lower East Side to West Village

I can't think of a better place to spend my birthday. I've never had a bad time in New York. I've snuck into the planetarium for a private showing, raided a TISH party for their beer, smiled and nodded as my friend told the cops I was French and didn't understand that public drinking was illegal in America, and eaten more than I thought was humanly possible- but no, I've never had a bad time.

So here I am again, right off the red-eye and into my first day with my partner in crime Agustina, who lives in the lower east side. The highlights:
1. Brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co. It smells like banana walnut in here. Fluffy pancakes to balance out the southern breakfast of eggs, cheesy grits and fried green tomatoes. Service was fast and everything at neighboring tables also looked delicious.

2. Walk around east village vintage shops, we scored at Buffalo Exchange, the prices are super fair and there are great finds. Walk down E 9th and you'll find a bunch more.

3. Dumplings in chinatown. $1 for five pork dumplings. $10 for 80. In case you were having a dumpling party. You'll get them and devour them faster than you can say... "is this wrong?"

4. Falafel at Mamoun's. Yes, I know every NYU kid alive knows about this place, but every time I come to New York I have to have it, and everyone who I visit loves an excuse to get it.
"Where's that place again, with the good fa-"
"Mamoun's. Let's go."

5. Les Nubians at the Le Poisson Rouge.

We came up on this show while browsing for nightime activities on the google and what a good find! I've been listening to these two since high school and they sounded beautiful live. The best part of the show may have been the preaching: "To all my sisters! Be masters of your pussy... cross your legs until you get what you want." Followed by frowns and shrugged shoulders from the men in the room, a collective "damn, now I'm definitely not gonna get any tonight." The venue was also dope, intimate yet lots of space and a chill crowd.
After that  it was officially my birthday and it gets a little blurry from then on. Blurry in a good way.

Got the travel bug?
Brunch: http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/
Shopping: Buffalo Exchange
Other stores
Prosperity Dumpling: 46 Eldridge St
Falafel: http://mamouns.com/
Concert: http://lepoissonrouge.com/
http://www.lesnubians.com/

Notes from a Chez Panisse Groupie

Every foodie has an opinion about Chez Panisse. Some of you love it, some of you hate it. Some of you think Alice is a loopy-doopy diva with a fake British accent, and for some of you she's your asparagus queen and slow food movement champion.  In my mind, there's no question that organic and local food should be enjoyed by all, sans the high price tag. I've had the privilege to eat an entirely homegrown meal sitting on a log in my dusty cutoffs in the backwoods of central chile, and I've been lucky enough to enjoy several wonderful meals at Chez Panisse. Both had great value. So putting aside the social and economic contexts of both, I would like to note the most important common thread of those meals: pure love for making a beautiful and delicious plate of food with fresh ingredients. I felt the love the other day when I made a pasta with squash and squash blossoms straight from my garden, but hats off to the people who do it a million times better- the folks at Chez P. give me a food orgasm every time without fail and always surprise me with how exquisite a plate of fresh greens (with baked goat cheese) can really be.

I get to eat my way to a blissful state of fullness at Chez Panisse because my best friend works there, making me an official groupie. Which also means I get to go to the staff parties. By now you may have realized that I'm using this post to brag about an awesome farm party I went to. All I can say is yes, I am, but I hope you enjoy the photos.  I also hope you get a little inspired to visit a local farm and get a feel for where your food is coming from (links below). 

Got the travel bug?
Chez Panisse: http://www.chezpanisse.com/about/
Green String Farm (one of the Chez Panisse parties was here): http://www.greenstringfarm.com/
Resources for local farms: http://www.wisefoodways.com/bay/produce.php
http://www.localharvest.org/

Saturday Artist Market in the Mission (with drinks yall!)

What: Fifty plus rotating artists slanging their goods. Racey greeting cards to locket necklaces to screen printed sweatshirts (no, screen print sweatshirts?? In the Bay? How unusual!) But seriously, I think this market has major potential, list of artists here.
When: Saturdays from 12-6 pm. 
Where: The Blue Macaw, which means $5 bloody marys and mimosas! 2565 Mission St.
Warning: It can be dangerous to shop and drink at the same time. One starry night in Greece, after putting a few back at the bar, my sister and I decided to wander down the strip to shop for jeans and I left the island with a bootleg, rhinestone-studded pair of flares that said "D & G" on the ass in bright orange. Beware of the drunkin judgment calls.


Got the travel bug?
More info here: http://www.market-sf.com/

Ode to La Taqueria

It's 10 a.m. and I'm running to deposit a grant check at the bank before my morning staff meeting (ugh). As I hustle past the taco truck on Sansome St, I overhear a man in a business suit come up to the window and ask for a burrito. The truck isn't even open yet. Homie in the back is still cleaning and none of the food is out. I'm not even awake enough to register that I'm not in my bed and this fool is ready for lunch?? Not only is he three hours ahead of me (and looking all sharp and professional) he's probably hungover too. Or maybe he went for a really exhausting morning run. Why else would you crave a burrito that early? Normally I would find someone who doesn't respect opening hours annoying, but through our common bond of love for some quick Mexican food, I had to sympathize.

You see, last weekend I was working in the mission with my photographer friend Laila and we ate at my favorite taqueria, La Taqueria. Talk about it and my boys Danny and Raul will get all jealous as if they didn't just go last week. The chicken is always tender. The flour quesadilla is greasy and fried (that's a good thing). The line moves fast. The tacos (ask for guacamole) are the perfect size- that happy medium between tiny taco truck and oversized American. The point is, one stop at La Taqueria will make you smile at anyone else having inappropriate, public cravings for Mexican food, kinda like how you feel about PDA when you're also in love...Lard is in the air?


Got the travel bug?
La Taqueria: 2889 Mission (and 25th)

Recipe for a Good First Friday in Oakland

On the first Friday of every month Oakland's art galleries open their doors and hold receptions- I love the idea and it always makes me happy to see so many souls wandering around downtown. But if you find massive crowds of hipsters irritating (it's natural), here's a recipe for a good first Friday in Oakland:
1. Start at Chaparral City- Seraphina and Hugh opened this gallery space on 9th and Washington St. just recently. Featuring rotating local artisits and some of Hugh's work. Tucked away from most of the Art Murmur happenings. Lil space, lotta love. 

2. Boot and Shoe for a snack-  Go to the bar in the back. It's cozy and charming and feels secret. Beware, the fancy pizza smell is intoxicating, we had the rapini with homemade sausage even though we weren't hungry and we couldn't remember what rapini was exactly (uh... some kind of green, right yo?) I could've had five of the Sister Sarah cocktails (it has tequila and rum, why would you tempt me with such a a drink??)

3. Bar 355 for more drinkin- Just opened a month ago, the newness doesn't imply that you won't run into old scenes from high school, but we can live with that. Classy beer and wall paper, nice lighting, strong drinks.

The only problem I had with 355 was the bad Mexican banda music at the end of the night- I know this music well, I have indulged in it at various cantinas, and I don't understand why it's trendy all of a sudden. It's not salsa. You don't dance salsa to it. You jump around like this:

You can't replicate it Oakland, stick to your chillness- that's why I love you.

Got the travel bug?
Chaparral City Gallery: http://www.chaparralcity.com/Home_Page.html Open first Fridays of the month from 7 pm on and Friday farmers markets from 10-2.
Boot and Shoe Service: http://bootandshoeservice.com/
Bar 355: 355 19th st (and Franklin)

Lunch of the week: Out The Door

Slanted door quality without breaking your wallet! Quick, fresh, and grubalicious. Several rice/noddle bowl options, salads and rolls galore. I hit the one at Westfield Centre (bottom floor), making this bowl of stir-fried beef over vermicelli the best mall food I've ever had. Although I do have a secret love for those nasty pretzels...

Got the travel bug?
Out the Door: http://www.outthedoors.com/ $8-$10 for lunch