Random Stuff – Page 5 – The Hungry Philosopher

Chia Seed Pudding – The Art of Recipe Testing

August 5, 2016August 8, 20162 Comments

This week one of my struggles included trying to recreate the recipe for turmeric and ginger chia seed pudding that I had in Breckenridge over the summer. I searched online to find a similar recipe and thankfully found many. My first task was sifting through all the recipes in order to find one that spoke to me. This exhausting search and rescue operation in this era of information overload is a tricky one. Most of the time I just give up and reach for a book or a trusted and vetted source. For this odd recipe, that was not an option. Partly because I wasn’t looking for an exact taste. I was looking for proportion and general direction. How much chia seed to add to how much liquid to yield a pudding consistency? Flavor is something I could play with and find with my own palate.

First try: Too much liquid, good taste. Too runny.

Second try: Unsweetened almond milk, too much turmeric, good thick consistency, wrong flavor.

Third try: Getting closer to something healthy, filling and tasty for breakfast. Now to add the best combination of fruits and granola.

Hungryphil’s Morning Chia Seed Pudding

1 cup chia seeds (course ground in coffee grinder)

4 cups sweetened almond milk

3 tablespoons agave nectar

1 teaspoon of a mix of ground cinnamon and cardamom

1/2 teaspoon turmeric (and a pinch of black pepper to help bring out its goodness)

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon rose water

Mix together with a whisk. Set overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with toppings of fresh fruit for brightness and granola for crunch.

I can see why conventional recipe testing wisdom dictates at least three. It was a philosophical task for me to notice these small differences in quantity or procedure that affect the overall taste and makes something different. It made me aware of the pungent bitter power of turmeric, the heat of ginger, the viscosity of blooming chia seeds, the lightness of almond milk, the notes of cinnamon, cardamom and rose water that sing over the soft sweetness of agave nectar. It is not the best thing I’ve ever tasted but it feels good to eat on mornings when chewing seems like such a chore. It brings me back to being on vacation, exploring coffee places in the morning with my nieces, and finding something odd and nourishing together. Am I recreating the emotional memory or the physical taste? Like most of what I cook, I suspect both.

Here is another recipe that looks promising. The yellow turmeric makes it soothing for the third solar plexus chakra (Manipura). My yogi friend Debra talks about the chakras in her blog unfold-yoga.

My recipe is still a work in progress but I am happy with the basic consistency and flavor. My dancingtiya approves. Try it, tweak it and make it your own. Notice the details on the way.

Wishing you all a fulfilling bright and yellow weekend,

Hungryphil

From Travel Eater to Home Cooker

July 26, 2016Leave a comment

Dear readers, as you know I’ve been eating out a lot lately. Summer travel is the best excuse to overindulge. And, I have.

It is time to re-enter my kitchen and get back to cooking.

First to give back a bit. Sandwiches at the Lafayette Urban Ministry Homeless Shelter last Thursday night. Turkey Sandwiches. I struggled with my choice of condiments. I put mayonnaise on the sandwiches to dress the lettuce/tomatoes, keep it moist but neutral. I also recognize a lot of people don’t enjoy mayonnaise. Is a better option to make plain sandwiches and offer jars of mayonnaise and mustard, separately?

Friday night was Brazilian “Try the World” box night that included:

Beef Churrasco : Flavorful marinated steak. I would order more of this spice mix.
Pao de queijo: Eggy, cheesy bread with a popover like consistency. Also surprisingly, gluten-free (made with tapioca and potato flour).
Romeu and Julieta: Soft cheese with guava paste.
Brigadeiro: a sweet confection made with condensed milk, chocolate and ground nuts. Has the consistency of soft, chewy caramel and tastes of fudge.
Cookies and coffee: small nutty short bread cookies with dark roasted coffee. Yum.

Back in the kitchen. I have many travel tastes to bring home! Here is my list so far:

Srilankan Khutto (NYC)
Chia seed pudding with tumeric and ginger (Breckenridge)
Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce (Santa Fe)
Black beans and rice (Cuba)
Ropa Vieja (Cuba)

Stay tuned for recipe experiments to come.

Happy eating,

Hungryphil

Ski resort in summer?

July 22, 2016July 20, 20161 Comment

Off season travel has surprising benefits. We traveled to Cuba during the low tourism rainy season and as a result suffered fewer lines, had more access and had less competition for resources. More importantly, it was easier to observe everyday rhythms and non-vacation life. If we consider every place as someone’s home then travel becomes, for me, more compassionate and more interesting. I’m visiting Breckenridge, Colorado with my sister’s family. It is July. It has been cool and raining. Not the ideal vision of a winter ski resort. The primacy of winter is apparent everywhere in the merchandising and city layout. Yet. There is something delightfully surprising about the burst of colorful flowers everywhere,the lush green that erupts from under snow-capped mountains. There is something defiant about summer here struggling against the cold and rain. The brief moments of sun feel….glorious. Getting a morning coffee we pass people biking, jogging, going to yoga despite the sprinkling rain. They may be tourists or resident, regardless they are at home. Over a 10,000 feet above sea level, we have our heads, literally in the clouds. Rain is a part of being here in summer. Being here off season. Being here when it is less than ideal. Being here when it is perhaps more, real.

Beignets at the Lost Cajun is comforting on a rainy cool day.

Navigating Brooklyn’s Food Mecca as a Broke, Millennial Foodie – Guest Post

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016Leave a comment

Immediately after accepting an internship offer in Manhattan last April, I started to fantasize about how fabulous my summer would be. The first thing on my mind was not the crazy nightlife, the many free summer concerts, or the various world-renowned art museums – it was Smorgasburg, an outdoor ‘flea’ market that hosts dozens of vendors selling the trendiest and most Instagram-worthy food.

Since getting to NYC, I’ve been to Smorgasburg twice, giving me ample opportunity to sample the spread that this market has to offer, convincing my companions to split dishes with me to maximize the diversity of dishes we could try. Mostly serving as a guide for when HungryPhil visits me in a few weeks, here’s a rundown of my Smorgasburg highlights:

Grilled Summer Corn from Bisska

Seemingly simple, this corn was definitely one of my most favorite things I’ve had since getting to city. Cooked to order on a charcoal grill in front of you, this charred corn is topped with a mayo and paprika based sauce and served in a paper boat. The sweetness of the corn, the smokiness of the paprika complimented by the charcoal, and the creamy mayo tying it all together made this an unforgettable summery eat.

Chamoyada from La Newyorkina

This beverage had a lot going on, and I was incredibly intrigued with how this sweet/spicy/salty combination would turn out. Somehow, it all blended together perfectly, and served as a refreshing, cold respite from the 90 degree weather. So many of these flavors were familiar to me individually in a South Asian context, but this Mexican slush combined these to create a whole new, unique experience.

Shaved Ice from People’s Pops

Although my first thought, when seeing them chisel ice on-the-spot, was that they were trying too hard, this hand-shaved ice definitely added a layer of complexity to a usually mundane summer treat. Each flake was shaped differently, and melted differently on your tongue, allowing the Arnold Palmer flavoring to absorb at different rates. It served as a good, refreshing palate cleanser.

Mozzarella Sticks from Big Mozz

Again, another seemingly mundane food has a ‘foodie’ makeover, and comes out beautifully. Lactose-intolerance be damned. These mozzarella sticks had nothing fancy going on, just quality, hand-pulled mozzarella deep-fried to order with some fresh marinara sauce on the side. Simplicity won in this round.

The Ramen Burger

This was my second foray into the famous Ramen Burger territory. The burger consists of a small beef patty, sandwiched in between two disks of compressed, spongy ramen, and covered with a soy-sauce based dressing, arugula, and scallions.

As with many things that are hyped up, the burger (on both occasions) failed to live up to my expectations. There’s no denying that it was delicious, with the bun melting in your mouth as you bit into it. It was, however, very one-noted – there didn’t seem to be the complexity of flavors that I usually expect in a burger, something to balance the super-savory meatiness of the patty. Something like a spicy kimchi slaw would really elevate this burger – perhaps I just need to make my own DIY version at home.

Spicy Mayo Salmon Poke from East Coast Poke

This quite possibly was my favorite dish out of everything I’ve tried at Smorgasburg. Kind of like deconstructed sushi, poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish. This version was served on a bed of seaweed salad and soft, sticky sushi rice. A creamy Sriracha mayo pulled everything together. Although semi-skeptical of eating raw fish that was being served outside in the summer weather, I really enjoyed how simultaneously refreshing and substantial the poke was.

Hopefully with throughout the rest of the summer, I’ll be able to expand this list, but for now, I think I’ve done some decent damage to exploring the 75+ vendors at Smorgasburg.

Tasting the L.E.S

July 14, 2016July 14, 2016Leave a comment

Hungryphil reporting from NYC this week. I’m visiting my daughter interning on the Lower East Side. Here is what I have tasted so far:

Katz’s Deli: Respect. Just has to be done. Due to my late night arrival, we opted for the latkes and matzo soup. I know, I know, the pastrami sandwich is glorious. Another day.
Dominique Ansel: Cronut. Flaky, fried, jelly-filled, sugar dusted, glazed…it is everything. For me…. a lot. The cannele are my favorite. Great spot to chart out a day wandering through the SoHo galleries.
From Rice to Riches: All shades of rice pudding. I had the mango with shredded coconut on top. Very nice. I think, I might like the containers even more.
Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli: Warm crusty bread, tasty fillings. A lot of food. I still have a half in my hotel refrigerator.
Eataly : An elaborate and decadent celebration of Italian eats. The cannelloni was so delicate and the marinara was light and happy.
Indikitch: A fast food, less intimidating version of Indian food. Choose your base and meat…easy. And, spicy tasty. The tea made me feel at home.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House: Best lunch for five bucks. Hot, steamy dumplings. Didn’t get a picture. I gobbled the dumplings down between tours at the Tenement Museum. LOVED the museum. Worth a day of exploration. Urban history and immigrant stories combine to offer a living evolutionary picture of how we live with each other. All the fears, hopes, the moments of unity and disparity. Fascinating. Is there an immigrant who doesn’t love and respect NYC?
Il Laboratorio del Gelato: Unusual gelato combinations for the gastronomically curious. I tried black pepper and avocado gelato. Perfect snack on a hot city day…..noisy jackhammers, smells of steamy asphalt, pee, passing perfume, dripping high-rise A/C units, alterations of tree and building shade, hot sun….everything happening…and then this strangeness melts in your mouth. It makes sense. Here.
Xian Foods: Hot spicy noodles. Slurpy. Got delicious red chili oil all over my dress. Well worth it. Spinach dumplings in spicy chili sauce would be a satisfying vegetarian meal any day….look at the size of the dumplings! The lamb cumin noodles reminded me of Indian curries, Moroccan tagines, and Mexican stews…. a warm comforting spicy almost universal taste.
Mcnally Jackson Books: So civilized. Books, coffee, and baked treats. What could be better? This might be my new favorite bookstore in NYC (Sorry Strand). Rosemary currant scone with butter and jelly, people watching, day planning, book browsing…..these are a few of my favorite things…..

There is still so much to explore… in a five block radius! The diversity is humbling. Today Srilankan and Moroccan food are on the menu. And, maybe an indie movie if it rains. If not, let the wandering and wondering continue.

Wishing you happy tastings wherever you may be,

Hungryphil

Arts of Oliver Winery – Summer 2016

June 3, 2016Leave a comment

Check out my article in the summer issue of Edible Indy Magazine about Oliver Winery’s unique art labels. You don’t have to go to a museum for the best of local art!

Kevin Pope and Ken Bucklew are masters in painting the cultural and natural landscapes of Indiana. Conversations like these make such short pieces well worth the effort. Even if you don’t get a chance to read the article please look up their work. You’ll laugh, you’ll relax, most of all you’ll find Indiana to be much more interesting than corduroy corn fields (although that too is quite mesmerizing!)

Mary Oliver’s Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way

May 3, 2016Leave a comment

If you have trouble finding “the right place for yourself,” like me, this poem might help. I seem to crave both city excitement and natural calmness. The two don’t often pair well but like the two flavors of sweet and spicy, when the experiences do work well, its magic…like Central Park in NYC or Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. What would be the geographical equivalent of a red curry with pineapple, or tandoori chicken with raita?

Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way: A Poem

If you're John Muir you want trees to 
live among. If you're Emily, a garden
will do. 
Try to find the right place for yourself. 
If you can't find it, at least dream of it. 

                                             •

When one is alone and lonely, the body
gladly lingers in the wind or the rain, 
or splashes into the cold river, or
pushes through the ice-crusted snow. 

Anything that touches. 

                                             •

God, or the gods, are invisible, quite
understandable. But holiness is visible, 
entirely. 

                                             •

Some words will never leave God's mouth, 
no matter how hard you listen.  

                                             •

In all the works of Beethoven, you will 
not find a single lie.

                                             •

All important ideas must include the trees,
the mountains, and the rivers. 

                                             •

To understand many things you must reach out 
of your own condition. 

                                             •

For how many years did I wander slowly 
through the forest. What wonder and 
glory I would have missed had I ever been
in a hurry!

                                             •

Beauty can both shout and whisper, and still
it explains nothing. 

                                             •

The point is, you're you, and that's for keeps.

from http://www.onbeing.org/blog/leaves-and-blossoms-along-the-way/8042

Sam Kaplan builds with candy, cookies and gum

April 8, 2016April 8, 2016Leave a comment

Photographer Sam Kaplan builds majestic architectural monuments out of small edibles. His work shows us the beauty and possibility in a stick of gum. Play with your food and find out what unusual art may be hidden on your plate.

sam-kaplan-pits-pyramids-food-art-designboom-05

sam-kaplan-pits-pyramids-food-art-designboom-06

sam-kaplan-unwrapped-gum-architecture-designboom-02

For more images check out these Design Boom articles:

http://www.designboom.com/art/sam-kaplan-pits-pyramids-orgianized-food-art-09-18-2015/

sam kaplan forms sweet architectural arrangements with slices of gum

Thai Tea Experience – Try the World

March 29, 2016Leave a comment

Jim got me a subscription of Try the World treat boxes. Yay…thank you, my beloved one! The first two to arrive were Thailand and France. The boxes are beautiful and the contents are nestled in gourmet worthy fancy packaging. Just beautiful. Unpacking the box is like revealing a wonderful layered and shareable gift. Each box offers “three taste experiences.” If anything, the boxes are effective enticements to travel and experience the authentic versions of the packaged offerings. As you can see in the image, the tea experience included lemongrass tea, seasoned and spicy rice cracker, waferlike crispy “cookies”, shredded dried coconut and honey-sweet coconut flower nectar. Loved the gently sweet, salty and spicy experience. Lemongrass tea is so soothing and bright. I’m hooked and need more. Thailand is very high on my wanderlust list. Yes…very high.