The Summer of SOUP!

Chilled Thai Watermelon Soup

I absolutely love Soup.

Were it not for cheese, figs, crusty fresh-baked bread and heirloom tomatoes – oh oh, and olives, tuna & berries – then I could live off soup!

A steaming bowl of chicken soup sets the world back to right and I swear that butternut squash, apple soup in September brings tears to the eyes. However, come warm weather, my soul longs for chilled soups. It’s the absolute perfect Spring & Summer food. Fresh farmer’s market produce blends up into mouth-watering and body cooling soups.

Soup Fixins

What are your favorites? Gazpacho, of course. I have made Gazpacho with a Thai accent and also with an Indian accent and it always comes out a winner. But how about some more obscure chilled soups? Got any?

I have three to share and if you start drooling while reading about them, then I will send you the recipes.

The first is my touchstone chilled soup. THAI WATERMELON SOUP. (Yes, its in the book – Page 129.)
Fresh watermelon is blended with olive oil sautéed onion, Thai chili, lemongrass, ginger, garlic and basil. A splash of fresh lime juice and some fresh chopped basil and flat leaf parsley send this soup to the front of the class. Add fresh crabmeat for a heartier version and top with sliced avocado and BAM! you just made a lot of new fans.

Daily Dose of Divinity

The second is a Zucchini Mint & Basil Soup. Roasted zucchini adds a smoky rich flavor to the pureed soup that hints of fresh picked mint and basil, fresh ground pepper for a spicy note and a dollup of greek yoghurt, which gives it a backbone and creaminess. Paired with a glass of Vinho Verde and some of that previously mentioned crusty bread is guaranteed to make the ordinary lunch feel five star.

Za Za Zucchini

The third is a Green Chile Cucumber Soup. Just imagine that the cucumber patch got mixed into the green chile patch and the two fell in love under a warm Mexican sun. Roast the chiles, saute the cucumber with some tiny cipollino onions just til they sigh, not squish. Then add fresh stock, cilantro (or parsley for the cilantro haters) and a shot of tequila. Oh yes I did. Puree to perfection. Grab your sombrero, a cold Negro Modelo, some chips and guac and ole! Follow immediately with a long siesta.

Chilled Chile Cuke Soup

I have heard rumor of cantaloupe chilled soup? Anybody tried this? I am prepared to lead the charge on making this Summer, the Summer of Soup! Send me your favorite foods and let’s make chilled soup out of it! Much better than making mincemeat, no? LOL.

Gone Glamping!

I am Glamping for Easter Weekend!

What’s Glamping you ask? It’s where Glamour meets Camping! Its Sex and the City gone camping, in the mountains of Georgia. It’s all the things you love about camping with the addition of fine linens & real beds, hot running water “en tent”, plush bathrobes and chocolates on the pillow! It’s without creepy crawlies, mozzies, poison ivy on the bum and beans from a can.

The Martyn House in Ellijay GA is my Mom’s Glamping Bed & Breakfast farm. It is like no place on earth and I don’t say that just because its Mom! (I do hope I at least get to take home some extra farm made soaps & body products with this plug

My tent, Ridge Roost!

Four secluded tents are nestled into the woods on the property. Mom and I travelled to India 5 years ago to design out the tent textile patterns and interior layouts, based on traditional Rajasthan safari tents. These sleeping tents were part of the collection of tents that make up our tent company, Gypsy Faire Tents! (Yes, you too can have your very own).

We took all the best of tradition and added a whole lot more GLAMOUR! Mom added luxuries like on demand hot water showers, compost toilets, washstands with running hot water, antique furniture, European duvet covers & linens, bedside journals and luxurious rugs. It’s camping WITHOUT having to dig a hole, wake with a rock embedded in your back and coffee/tea service just an arm’s length away in your plush bathrobe.

Romantic Dinner Party Tent

The Martyn House hosts farm to table dinners 4-6 times a year (guess who is often the guest chef), hosts weddings, private parties, girls glamping weekends, honeymooners, private getaways, artist retreats and yeah, anyone looking to be in nature with a five course dinner and a golf cart to deliver you to your tent door.

Nightly bonfires ward off the cooler mountain temps and long hikes on the property ensure a good nights sleep. Evening cocktail hour around the outdoor game tent beg for a hard-core game of Baci or Croquet. Dinner is alfresco under one of the dining tents.

Setting the Table for Tonite!

I am about to cook up a mean pre-Easter dinner in the big farm kitchen. How about chilled asparagus &  cucumber soup from the garden? Thinking of rub a dubbing some flank steak with tandoori spice for the grill and making a mean pot of creamy rich whole grain grits with lotsa buttah and fresh ricotta! Yes? Of course I am going to have to finish the meal with a chocolate pecan pie finished with sea salt OR should I go with homemade apple pie? The stress of the choice! It’s about the most stressful choice I have had to make this Glamping Weekend.

Chilled Asparagus Soup w/Chive Flowers

I am off to get a glass of bubbly for the croquet match before dinner and then to see sunset over the mountain ridge, from the antique glider by the chiminea. Yes, yes of course I am wearing glamping stilettos and a cute sundress! Its GLAMPING!

Glamping Under the Starry Sky

2 Bridges, 1st Supper Club – Success!

The Beginning...

Last night was not just the “test run, guinea pig, oh boy let’s see what happens 1st Supper Club”, but was rather a SMASHING SUCCESS.

Two Bridges Supper Club is officially off the ground, with one fabulous dinner under belt. It might have even increased a belt size here or there. 8 Courses later

and we are off!

Shall we review?

Once this pictorial story finishes, I think you may wipe the drool from your chin and wonder …”how can I make sure, I am on the next invite list?” Simple answer is subscribe to my blog. Easy as pie.

Now, to the drooling part…

Two Antipasta nibbles during the cocktail hour. The first was a prosciutto & melon skewer. The melon, black Sicilian olives and prosciutto had been tossed in fresh mint and red wine vinegar then dotted with a balsamic reduction.

Prosciutto & Melon & then some!

That went fast. A Good start.

Then…

zucchini Bruschetta

Baby Zucchini bruschetta! Let’s look at the layers. Crispy olive oil broiled Italian bread slices topped with a honey & lavender flavored ricotta cheese, toasted pine nuts, fried capers & zucchini topped with a parmesano reggiano shaving. Oh yes it did taste better than it even looks. The teeniest girl there took the biggest serving. Always a compliment

and then…

Insalata Primavera

A bed of microgreens tossed in a champagne vinaigrette layed host to thinly sliced granny smith apple, smoked trout, a boiled quail egg topped with creme fraiche & caviar and a whole lot of flavor power!

Just getting started…

Sea Bass in Parchment

Fresh Sea Bass filet was cooked in parchment paper with tomatoes, whole garlic, olives, fig, shallots, sun-dried tomatoes and then sprinkled with fresh lemon, balsamic vinegar, black pepper and sea salt with a drizzle of olive oil. Does it get more pure than this? 8 of 8 guests agree! They also agreed that warm crusty bread to dip in the juices made the world a better place.

Then…we opened some serious red wines to greet the next course!

Beef Tenderloin on Raviolo

How about a giant homemade sweet potato ravioli topped witha perfect medium rare slice of beef tenderloin (rubbed in espresso, chocolate & red chili), then smothered in a caramelized chippolino onion, maple syrup, wild mushroom, masala, balsamic reduction sauce? Yeah, it didn’t touch the sides!

As the food coma set in…I added a sugar kick!

Chocolate Pot de Creme!

Not too sweet, not bitter…just right! I even made everyone take a turn around the table whipping the fresh creme to make the topping! Then a bit of lemon zest and ooh lala!

Karen, Whipping up our fresh creme!

We finished (yes there was more) with some gorgonzola dolce, English cheddar studded with dried apricot & lemon, spanish fennel sweet cracker, fig and a final sip of wine. It called for a final Toast!

Salut!

An amazing night and thanks so much to all who attended and braved being the first!

Two Bridges Supper Club will travel back and forth from Brooklyn to Manhattan to New Jersey with a dinner each month! You do Not want to miss the next. We will be deep into the Springs first harvests. Yum!

Aftermath. A Table of Memories!

Now, who is doing the dishes?

xo!

1st EVER Haute Supper Club!

Secret Supper Club

I feel like its Christmas Eve.

Tomorrow I am hosting my first, numero uno, primero, Underground Supper Club!

It’s not really underground, btw. That would be too claustrophobic for me lol.  But the location will only be disclosed, to those attending. (Just love that).

Its Supper in 8 Courses for 8 Lucky Attendees (or suckers or dear friends) at 8PM.

Its My Dream.

Its Coming True.

Should I wear glass slippers?

Want a glimpse inside the magic crystal menu ball?

Haute n the Kitchen Presents

“Two Bridges Supper Club”

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Baby Zucchini & Brooklyn Ricotta Bruschetta

Squash Blossom Bites (filled with Carroll Gardens homemade Mozzarella & Prosciutto)

Prosciutto & Basil Wrapped cantaloupe (Italiano) w/ Mozzarella dressed in Mint & Blood Orange Vinegarette

Amuse Buche (because we all love secrets and little bites)

Sea Bass in Parchment, ala Capri

Espresso Rubbed Beef Tenderloin on a Wild Mushroom Ravioli topped with a Caramelized Onion Fig Reduction

Chocolate Pots de Creme

Gorgonzola & Port

Yes its a heavily Italian influenced menu. Certo! A wise business coach once told me “Grow Where You are Planted”. I think my guests will appreciate this perspective. If not, well, I guess its more for me lol.

Are you green with envy right now that you are not attending? Well you should be! Hey, its easy. Subscribe to my blog. You are now on the VIP list. It’s gonna get really Haute this Summer, so join now! Can’t wait to cook for you!

Secret Ingredients

Spring Chicken

Oh Spring, where art Thou?

Spring, for all her glorious qualities, seems to be lacking in the “showing up on time” department. Its April 13th and the high for today was 54 degrees. There was a constant “Irish mist” and where there were smiles, just a few days ago on all the sidewalk faces, now there are only drooping heads.

I have tried to channel her in a myriad of unsuccessful ways – I bought a bounty of colorful tulips, I filled pots with heady purple lilacs, bought strappy sandals, drank iced coffee, ordered a chilled cucumber soup and even tried skipping. Spring was not responsive. Oh yeah, there was that one day where she just teased a bit with a blue sunny sky, a 70 degree temp and a gentle breeze for the daffodils to dance in. But it was fleeting. I feel its time for more drastic measures to summon her, into her own Season!

Lilac Love

So, I am going to COOK Spring. I am hopeful that the aromas of those divine spring vegetables, sprouting herbs and tender meats will lure her in. I feel sure once she gets a bite of her own seasonal gifts, she will stick around until Summer comes barreling down the road. No?

Another good reason to cook these recipes would be Easter, just a week and a bit away. This is an easy full proof menu, that scales well, and really celebrates the freshness of the Season. It’s a delightful menu for Easter lunch after the big hunt! You can even add a frittata, fresh berries and some blood orange muffins to make it a great Brunch as well. Don’t forget the bubbly and mimosas! Spring loves these.

Roasted Spring Hen

Spring Lunch

Chilled Prosecco, certo!

Prosciutto Wrapped Honeydew (with a mint & honey drizzle)

Roast Hen with a Lavender Honey Glaze

Roast Potatoes, cooked in Duck Fat (oh yes we did)

Baby Carrots in a Thyme Vinegarette

Dessert – well, should we go Cadbury Egg or Speckled Malt Eggs or Marshmallow Bunnies? (I vote for Cadbury)

In case you feel more homemade, try a strawberry tiramisu…

For any or all of these recipes, please send me a comment and I will post them under my recipes page!

Perfume Necklaces

 

PS …IT WORKED! I woke up to sunny blue skies this morning! Thank you Spring! You made my day.

Saturday Night in a Sari

Dusk in Jodhpur

Its Saturday Night! Let’s hit the town, wherever you, or the nearest town, may be!

 

Happy Hour

Me, I am home in Brooklyn and completely wiped out after almost two full months of being on the road. My big Saturday night plans include a quiet homemade dinner with some wine, a bit of work on the new book (oh yes I did say that) and then hitting the …pillow! lol.

But a few weeks ago I hit the town, in one of my favorite little BIG towns…Jodhpur, in Rajasthan India.

Wanna reminisce with me? Let’s go…

One Stop Briches Shop

Our night started out by getting fitted for some new fancy briches and a sparkly new sari! Can’t go out on the town without the latest local fashions!

Clocktower Market

Then it was off to the historic clocktower market, where the action is non-stop!

Moo Bar

A cow cruises a vegetable stand for some veggie tapas…

Bar Snacks

We get a few party snacks for late night munchies…

Hey Hey

Are you flirting with me?

From here, it got a bit crazy. I warn you – do not watch this if you have been drinking heavily or do not like roller coaster rides!

We jumped in a rickshaw and hit the town in fashion. As we bumped along, the rickshaw making sure to seek out every pothole; I documented what could basically be called “a drunk drive”. haha. It’s not pretty but its a slice of life, on a Saturday, at the night market! Who needs cocktails when you can just watch life pass you by from a rickshaw!?

Buckle up!

M4H02226

►

The next morning…village hangover.

Pass the Chai and 2 Aspirin

Meat, Malbec & a Metalsmith

Jose Thenee Drawings

Its been a much much better week!

My grandmother is on the mend and thank you so much to everyone who sent their well wishes, prayers and warm fuzzies. It worked!

I am working on BIG news (stay tuned for May posts) and have been spending alot of time recipe planning, for some upcoming events. The events both have a strong Southern theme by coincidence, so I have been consulting with various farms in GA about what is locally grown, organic and coming up in May! Looks like lots of Spring veggies and well…a few pigs and cows. That, in turn, means fresh cheeses and yup, bacon!

The events are for some rather larger crowds so I have decided to go with grass-fed local beef for the entrée and given the number of mouths to feed, flank steak is the cut of choice! Guess that tells you that the Trumps are not my clients. Rather I am working on a budget provided by a Tourism board. We will leave the beef tournedos for another event.

Test Run Dinner

Just so turns out my friend, Rafael, has a secret recipe for the BEST flank steak north of Buenos Aires, where he heralds from. I have taken good notes over many dinners and am going to attempt to come close to his dee-lish grilled flank steak. There was a test run this past week and I don’t think I am going to come up short. The tricky thing is, and I know you are already thinking it, grass-fed beef is much leaner than regular beef so it will have to be flawlessly grilled, in order for it not to be overcooked and tough. I accept the challenge! Chanelling my Argentinian friend as my guide and guru for the dinner. In other words, Rafael – send me your recipe!

Mmm Malbec

This week has also caught my lips on a few glasses of Malbec quite coincidentally. I am a fan. Turns out it goes swimmingly with flank steak, as is the order in the all the best Argentinian restaurants, no?  I am hoping to convince the tourism board that Malbec should be the nectar of choice for the dinner. Anyone have a great suggestion for a Malbec around $10 that drinks like a $20 bottle? Please let me know.

All roads were pointing South and then even more Southern, to Argentina,  and then came the 3rd. Yeah, you know, everything comes in 3′s right? So we had Argentine Meat, Malbec and then there was Jose Thenee.

Our showroom entrance

The High Point Furniture Show started on Saturday and well, duh, of course I was there. Our showroom, Bobo Intriguing Objects, looked incredible as always. However, there was a special exhibition this market that had everyone talking. At Bobo (Bohemian Bourgeoise) we always have over 10,000 sq. ft of vintage finds and antiques, for buyers to fight over. It’s a tradition. Buyers roll up at 6am Saturday morning to get in line, to be the first in the doors, to buy up the unique and exquisite finds. Hot coffee and gooey Krispy Kreme donuts keep them fat and happy til the doors open at 8am. This time buyers and Heather’s alike were blown away by a collection of drawings, that Mark had procured on an antique buying trip in…yup Argentina.

A lifetime of drawings

Jose Thenee is said to be the greatest blacksmith in history. Little is known about his private life other than he rarely slept and liked his dogs. He won top blacksmith awards at the Philadelphia Worlds Fair and his work was prolific throughout Buenos Aires. His reach did extend to the US even. We had is life’s works in our showroom! Some we had framed, most were just out on massive brickmaker tables for buyers to peruse and purchase. This little buyer found herself hand carrying 7 drawings home. They are truly amazing. All hand drawn with his notes and calculations; often enough a cigar burn or red wine stain. Many still have the original client workorder with them, are stamped and dated. Some have heavy stock paper templates for the finer details of the drawing. A little Argentinian treasure chest that we had the chance to open and offer.

Did I buy it?

So a great week full of Meat, Malbec and Metalsmith drawings. Almost like I had one toe in Buenos Aires this week no?

 

Bella Bobo