Même dans mes rêves, je rêve de la nourriture

Even in my dreams I dream of food.

I've been studying for organic chemistry which is so dry and bland I equate it to eating unflavored rice crackers in the middle of the desert. When my head is buried in the books my mind can't help but daydream about things I could be eating. After 4 hours of studying Sn2 substitutions with primary substrates and polar aprotic solvents I was sleepy so I took a mid day nap. I had this wild dream that I was in chinatown visiting a friend who was working in a bakery, which he really doesn't. I ordered steamed buns and cha siew bao to go and he gave me a bag of sweet bread filled with coconut paste. In my dreams I can taste and smell food and even feel the texture of it in my mouth. This bread was warm, soft, and sweet. After the bakery I went to get churng fun from this place my friend introduced me to which makes it the best in chinatown. I ordered 2 lbs and she yelled at me for not giving her correct change. After that I rushed to go get dao foo fah (soybean pudding/gelatin) from the doa foo fah lady but she was gone =( I felt sad. And then I was on the train going to meet my friend somewhere. I woke up with some crazy cravings after that.

I wonder how I look when I'm dreaming about food? Am I smiling? Am I chewing like a cow? Who knows. But man that bread was good!

The interesting thing about chinese bread which we call "bao" is that it's a bread but it's sweet. It's not like French baguettes or Italian bread. It's more along the lines of brioche but not as bready. It's very soft. I wouldn't consider it a pastry either because to me pastry makes me think of flakey, like a croissant, which is it not. Sometimes it is sweet and sometimes it can be slightly savory. They are many different types. Some have sweet toppings or sweet fillings, some have savory toppings, some are just strange weird like corn and dried meat floss... but I digress. I'm just babbling now. Time to get back to my date with stereocenters, R and S rotations, and enantiomers!

Best Brussel Sprouts NYC

Alta
64 W 10th Street
NY, NY 10011
212-505-7777

Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Fuji Apples, Creme Fraiche, Pistachio Nuts

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Avenue (13th Street)
NY, NY 10003

Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Fish Sauce, Mint, Spicy Rice Puffs



Brussel Sprouts has to be one of my favorite vegetables and side dishes. I never get sick of them roasted with a good sprinkling of salt. The above two places are my favorite for B sprouts. It's so good you are going to want to order one plate per person. Too bad the dish is a seasonal item on Momo's menu.

I make them at home quite often. I cut them in half, flash boil then give them a good drain, generously coat with olive oil and a good sprinkling of salt, laying them flat side down and broil or roast them in the oven depending on how much time I have and how hungry I am. I like them slightly charred and nicely browned. Momofuku does theirs with a diluted sauce of fish sauce and sugar with a sprinkling of chopped fresh mint. Alta does theirs with a sauce of balsamic and honey with apples, pistachio nuts, and creme fraiche. Both are amazing. If you find baby b sprouts or fresh ones still on the stalk get 'em because they are awesome!

Bien que ma tête est dans les livres, mon esprit est dans les nuages rêver sur les aliments

doughnuts, pizza, pho, onion rings, burger, ramen, grilled octopus, korean bbq, vietnamese spring rolls, waffles

I skipped lunch today so I'm very hungry.

Craving

Cookies

Hell Yea Daniel has THE BEST BREAD!

That's exactly what I said when I read this post on New York's Serious Eats. I was very lucky, my first fancy restaurant experience was at Daniel and it captured my heart and was the inspiration for my cooking career. Before I graduated culinary school I did my stage at Daniel and it was an amazing experience that I've written about before on my blog. Not only does Daniel have great food, the best plated dessert in NYC by my favorite pastry chef, they also make the best bread! Their breads are inventive and so tasty they can stand court on their own. It doesn't win awards as a supporting actor. It's the main f*cking star!!! I've worked at one place *ahem I don't want to name names* but it's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the US and I really thought their bread was B for boring. Not because their bread department lacked skills, they were top notch bakers, but because the owner *no longer in the kitchen* celebrity chef felt that the bread shouldn't overshadow the food in flavor. So thus that place churned out some bland bread which really makes me weep inside. Man, Daniel's bread is so good. The only problem is everything there is so good you don't want to miss a beat. The bread AMAZING, the food AMAZING, the dessert AMAZING, the madeleines at the end of the meal AMAZING! But how in the world can I fit all of that in my stomach. That is the only dilemma with Daniel. It's just too good.

Daniel's bread department is right next to the pastry department. I remember getting there early and smelling the garlic and rosemary roasting in their large bread ovens getting all caramelly and fragrant for the rosemary bread which is my favorite. Once in a while I would steak one for lunch. Sometimes I would be even luckier and be given a loaf of their delicious raisin nut bread to take home! Good for you restaurant Daniel. You guys deserve the praise! I'm always very proud when I see them in the news!

Cravings

I have a craving for a good muffin. I have a recipe in mind that I've been dying to try. When I find some time I'm going to make it. Until then I'll just have to dream.