To those of us who are omnivores, it seems that the vegetarian options are limited or boring. However, that is far from the truth. We just need to be more creative. Or realize that vegetarian options extend far beyond beans or plain tofu. There is the expression, variety is the spice of life. Spice adds variety to vegetarian dishes.
I modified this recipe a ton. I cheated to make it easier for after work by using the Uncle Ben's Ready Rice microwave packets. Let's face it, I was never going to be on Top Chef and can admit to using these kitchen shortcuts.
The husband and I loved this recipe, especially the rice. The rice can be served with almost anything. I think it would taste great with a nice piece of grilled salmon. The rice is the superstar in this dish. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.
16 ounces extra firm tofu, drained, pat dry, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup whole small cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped macadamia nuts
Stir shredded coconut in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until light golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
Prepare rice according to package directions. Add to bowl with coconut.
In a blender, mix 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 teaspoon ginger, lime juice, and half of garlic. Mix into bowl with rice and coconut. Keep warm.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add tofu; stir-fry until golden, about 6 minutes. Add onions, curry, cumin, red pepper, remaining ginger and garlic. Stir-fry 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and remaining coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide rice among 4 plates, top with tofu and sprinkle with macadamia nuts.
My former college roommates have at one time given me the nickname of Flanders. I am not exactly sure how I earned this moniker, but I think it is because I would try to paint a rosier picture when it is not always warranted. Sometimes, I can call myself out on it and I notice that sometimes I apply it to some dining experiences. In the instance of a recent dining experience at The South End Buttery, I am no Flanders.
The negative experience does not apply to the food, but rather to the service. The husband and I got there a bit early in the attempt of meeting our friends, Laur and Skaz, for drinks before our reservation. Unfortunately, we were not able to get drinks due to a difficult parking situation. Please place one check mark in the negative column for Buttery, there is no parking or valet service. You are left to your own devices of attempting to capture an elusive visitor space or find a parking lot.
Should we have been able to find parking and meet our companions earlier, we would have been hard pressed to find a place at the bar, that area was tiny. The bar was crowded and there wasn’t much in the way of standing room. Place another check in the negative column. However, the Franklin Café is right down the street for a before or after dinner drink should diners chose to get a drink before or after.
When our reservation was ready, we were escorted downstairs to a cozy room with what Skaz called a nice “urban fireplace”. Our server took our drink orders after we sat down, I don’t think he took the drink orders immediately, but we were talking a bit so I didn’t notice how long we waited. The gentlemen in our party were given their drinks soon after ordering, however Laur and I waited long after the guys got their drinks. Place another check in the negative column for not brining the drinks together.
Laur and Skaz ordered a salad to start the meal. It looked big enough for two people to share and looked delicious. The husband and I ordered the mussels that came with frites. The mussels were great and broth was very garlicky, which is fine by me. The frites were double battered and came with a side of curry aioli. Curry is quickly becoming one of my favorite spices. I love the heat that it gives to dishes. Add a check to the positive column.
Our entrees came out at a great time, soon after we were done with the starters. The husband got the burger that came with a side of fries. He said that these fries were different from the ones that came with the mussels. Both the Skaz/Laur team and I ordered the pulled pork sandwich served on cornbread and with a side of coleslaw. The sandwich was great; it was open-faced and did not have an overwhelming BBQ taste. The cornbread was moist but was supposed to be poblano cornbread and I did not get that taste from it. Throw a check in the positive column for food, but throw another check in the negative column as Laur and Skaz ordered a side of fries with their sandwich and the fries did not come out until after they finished their meal.
We decided to go for dessert and selected to spilt the hazelnut semifreddo and the lemon tart with rhubarb syrup (the dessert had me at rhubarb). Desserts were great. The lemon was tart and sweet, but the semifreddo was the favorite for Laur and I. She is the ultimate ice cream fan, so that stamp of approval from her means something. Place a check in the positive column for food.
Normally, when recapping a dining experience I do not discuss the bill. We got the bill and split it down the middle. Right before signing off on the bill, Laur made sure to suggest that the husband make sure that the fries were removed, they weren’t. So, we sent the bill back to be revised. The next bill came, and the server messed up again. He split the bill evenly, and added a tip of nearly 100%. We sent that one back as well. The third time was the charm and the bill represented what it was supposed to.
In summary, the food at Buttery was great. However, the service was bad. There was the delay with getting the drinks, the side that did not come out with the meal; we had to flag down the server to get another drink, and the bill mishap. Lucky for us, the company was great. There are enough restaurants in the South End to visit upon another visit and Buttery will likely not be visited again. There is no Flanders gloss to the experience here.
There is a saying, "you can never go home again". I suppose it means that things will never be the same as they were when you left. In some ways it is true, while in others specifically food related, it is the furthest thing from true. The great city of New York was my home for five years. While in NYC, I made so many great friends, got to do some really cool things, and experienced some of the best dining.
I recently revisited the city with Kakes and Wixon to see Lea. While Wixon and I were discussing the trip, we made several comments related to food, "We have to get cupcakes, we have to get pizza, etc...". There are some foods that you can not get anywhere else but in New York. While you can certainly get pizza and bagels anywhere, they taste better in NYC.
One of the first stops for food, was to Lou's Cafe in Midtown. Lou's is likely not listed in any guidebook, however it is a great little spot to grab a quick bite to eat. It was located halfway in between where Lea and I used to work and we would meet there several times for lunch. When she and I used to go there I would usually get the chicken soup or the ham and cheese on a croissant. This time, I opted for the smoked salmon with chive cream cheese on a toasted bagel. It was delicious. Wixon got a BLT, while Kakes and Lea each got the salad sampler. One thing that I love about Lou's, is that you can get great sandwiches that are served with either pasta salad or a mixed green salad. There are no french fries. YUM!
For dinner, we chose to go to Rosa Mexicanos in Lincoln Center. I think that my love for Mexican food has been confirmed several times on this blog. You can never go wrong with this cuisine. The restaurant is lively which is great for a girl's night in which we would be anything but quiet. Of course, we had to start with the guacamole that is made tableside. Miss Lea had the duck with blackberry sauce, Kakes had the salmon, Wixon had the enchiladas, and I had the steak and shrimp stew. While I did not taste the entrees that the girls had, they all seemed to enjoy theirs. Mine was perfect! The steak was so tender and the sauce that the shrimp and steak were in had the right amount of heat. I devoured my plate. A great thing about Rosa Mexicano's is that the portions are just right. You walk out satisfied, but not too full. We chose not to get dessert at Rosa's, and chose to go elsewhere. We were delighted with the small little bites of chocolate that came with our bill.
We tried something new for dessert and ventured further up the west side to Cafe Lalo. It was a Wixon discovery when she was exploring options for after dinner. This crowded cafe reminded me of the cafes in Buenos Aires as they have great desserts and a great drink menu. Cocktails and desserts are a great way to end the evening. I sample the apple crumb pie with a glass of Champagne. The pie was good, but I think mine is better. Lea's dessert was to die for! She selected the Oreo cheesecake. I managed to get a few bites and loved it. It is so rich and delicious!
Let's fast forward to the following morning and breakfast. When Wixon first starting to work in the city, she worked in the West Village and encountered a delightful little coffee/breakfast/lunch place that she so kindly introduced me to. I love the Grey Dog Cafe and their grilled cheeses. While a grilled cheese may not seem like it is hard to mess up, I appreciate those who concoct a mean grilled cheese. Alas, we came here for breakfast and I have the Challah bread french toast, with eggs, and potatoes. It was so very filling which was great that we didn't have to stop for lunch on the way back home.
It should be of no surprise to my loyal readers that a stop to get cupcakes was the dessert to our trip. Magnolia Bakery is one of my favorites and the favorite of several other people. Kakes, Wixon, and I had to get some to bring home to our loved ones. These cupcakes have the right homemade taste in the cake portion as well as the icing. I LOVE this place. During our visit, we somehow managed to beat the crowd and not wait in line. It was the perfect ending to a great girls' weekend.
p.s. I had half a cupcake for breakfast the day after I got back. During birthday week, calories and fat do not count.
I am a thirtysomething aspiring foodie. I love to try new recipes, foods, and restaurants. My favorite part of the food experience is sharing with friends and family over good conversation.
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