Kitchensurfing Afternoon

Fantastic day sharing inspired food, herbaceous cocktails, and good company with Kitchensurfing's Chefs + Photographers at Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center. Visit Cooking Lounge again soon for more about the event.

Enjoy!

Cooking Lounge

Spring NYC

Even hectic, gritty Midtown New York City is refreshing in spring.

New post soon. In the mean time, go outside, shake off winter, till some soil, and relish the season.

Spring Midtown NYC photo:wbj

Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

Zuchinni Provencal

FOOD:

Try Cooking Lounge's quick, versatile zuchinni provencal recipe, for a satisfying and refreshing side dish.

A recipe found, while comparing various versions, suggested adding pasta to make the zuchinni provencal a budget friendly main dish. Good idea. 

Simple, versatile, and economical is a winning combination.

seared pork loin, low flame and slow simmered zuchinni provencal, brown rice

zuchinni

plum tomato

sweet red peppers

fresh thyme

olive oil

onion

garlic

salt * pepper 

low flame and slow simmered zuchinni provencal 

• Quickly brown onions and zuchinni in olive oil over medium heat. 
• Add fresh thyme and chopped garlic. Mix a few times.  
• Toss in diced plum tomatoes.
• Salt and pepper to taste. Other fresh herbs like rosemary or parsley, if you like.
• Lower flame to simmer and cover. 
• Cook 10 minutes, a couple of minutes less if you prefer. 
• Top with fresh thyme before serving. 

chilled, marinated zuchinni provencal salad

• Will need fresh lemon juice or your favorite vinegar.
• Thinly slice, shred, julienne, or dice zuchinni.
• Toss the above ingredients together.
• Make a dressing by thoroughly mixing the olive oil with lemon juice or vinegar.
• Pour over vegetables. Stir and coat all with dressing.
• Chill for at least one hour. Marinate in fridge overnight for lots more flavor. Will keep fresh for days.
• Top with fresh thyme before serving.  

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs - Valentine's Day + Carnival

MUSIC:

Valentine's Day and Carnival are bright spots in wintery February. Valentine's Day is a centuries old, heartwarming tradition celebrating romance. Carnival is a centuries old tradition too of bacchanalian parties and parades, that herald Lent, the pious period before Easter. In America, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in New Orleans is a famous Carnival celebration. The massive, world renowned Carnival parade in Rio de Janiero is steeped in passion, from exuberant samba to sexy costumes. Brazilian music oozes sensuality and romance.

Cooking Lounge invited DJ Greg Caz to select 10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs to celebrate Valentine's Day and Carnival. 

Greg Caz garnered international acclaim with Brazilian Beats Brooklyn, co-founded with Sean Marquand. The Brazilian Beats DJ Sessions at Black Betty, a pioneering music venue in Williamsburg Brooklyn, are legend. Now, Brazilian Beats is an roving, occasional event. Greg Caz is a sought-after international DJ and a great writer too; so, we are jazzed to have him contribute to Cooking Lounge.

You can find music from Greg Caz here: 

Brazilian Beats Brooklyn CD

Baile Funk 2: Agora e Moda - Various Artists

Greg Caz presents The Soul of Samba-Rock by Various Artists

At the end of this post, there are a few bonus links.

****************************

GREG CAZ

...now, you must realize of course that "super sexy Brazilian songs" is a bit redundant, most people need only hear any music with someone singing in Portuguese and they're immediately thinking "sex," so I literally could put ANYTHING on this list and it would be all good. Right or wrong? But here goes anyway...

1. Marcos has been exploring different aspects of music and the sexiness thereof since the 60s, and this quiet-storm slow-burner from the early 80s is ideal for feeding each other grapes.
Marcos Valle "Fogo Do Sol"

2. Brazilians are sexy even when singing about Jesus, as on this late-90s gem from an all-Afro-Brazilian female gospel vocal group.
Grupo Ebano "Pe No Chao"

3. Pianist, composer, vocalist and Bossa Nova precursor Johnny Alf charms the pants off us with this 1971 beauty (with Os Tres Morais on backing vocals) about a lovely young lady named Anabela who keeps him awake at night thinking about her.
Johnny Alf "Anabela"

4. Doris is well-known for her understated, intimate and veeeerrry sexy singing style, as heard on this Caetano Veloso cover.
Doris Monteiro "De Noite Na Cama"

5. Donato is a giant and a myth and a legend, a pianist/composer who has made his mark in bossa nova, jazz, Latin music and all things funky. This is a collaboration with Gilberto Gil who also sings on this track.
Joao Donato "Tudo Tem"

6. The Marcos Valle and João Donato influences are clear on this very sexy number from the always-amazing Ed Motta.
Ed Motta "Coisas Naturais"

7. It would be a crime to leave out one of Brazilian music's most notoriously sexy singers. Her early records were a favorite around my house in my childhood, when I didn't know what "sex" was, but Fafa's voice and album covers definitely began to clue me in! Beautiful Milton Nascimento composition. "Seduction," indeed.
Fafa de Belem "Seducao"

8. If this classic song from Brazil's all-time iconic female singer doesn't put you in mind of a romantic dinner, romance and lovemaking, NOTHING will.
Elis Regina "Dois Pra La, Dois Pra Ca" 

9. Cravo & Canela only made one album in 1977 (not 1976 like it says on the video) but what a classic it is. "Iboru Iboyá" oozes sexiness and classiness from the first note to the last.
Cravo & Canela "Iboru Iboya"

10. "Come Sleep At My Place, so I can give you my dreams and my love." I love playing this at the end of a night DJing, when "deals" are being "closed"
Tim  Maia "Venha Dormir en Casa" (Come Sleep At My Place)

****************************

If you like DJ Greg Caz's selections, check-out his YouTube Channel.

Cooking Lounge created a YouTube Playlist of the 10 Super Sexy Brazilian Songs, with over 30 minutes of 'getting busy' music for you.

FOOD:

Sexy Sweet Recipe: Strawberry Dipped in Dark Chocolate with Grand Marnier

Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

What to Eat? - Super Bowl Recipes - Top 10 Websites

 

Clock is ticking, countdown to the Super Bowl: New York Giants vs New England Patriots.

By 6:30pm the streets of New York City, and pretty much every city in the U.S., will be deserted, for the Super Bowl. The subway trains will trace the tracks with near empty cars. The city that never sleeps hits pause and roots for the hometown team, the NY Giants. Screams and cheers, and hopefully no bawling, will emanate from bars, apartments and brownstones, echoing down the empty streets, as taxis idle.

Once you have decided how to watch the game, usually the next question is 'What to Eat?.' If at bar, no problem, order off the menu or order delivery. The hassle comes when you have to bring food to a Super Bowl party where a bag of Doritos or a 6 pack of beer will not do. Or even more stressful, you are hosting a party with foodie friends. Need to prepare some tasty munchies that probably will not make it onto any healthy eating list? Go for it. It's the Super Bowl. Indulge! Have fun. Cook.

To make it a little easier to decide, 'What to Eat?'; here's Cooking Lounge's Top 10 sites for Super Bowl Recipes.

Cooking Lounge's Top 10 Websites for Super Bowl Recipes

Bon Appetit - Super Bowl Game Plan

Country Living - Super Bowl Sunday Recipes

 

Delish - Football Feast: 100+ Super Bowl Party Recipes

Food & Wine - Super Bowl Recipes

Food.com - Super Bowl Recipes

Gawker - Super Bowl Recipes for the Already Drunk

Huffington Post - Super Bowl Recipes Roundup

My Recipes - Super Bowl Recipes

PBS Food - Best Super Bowl Dips Recipes

Village Voice - Buffalo Chicken Wings for Super Bowl Sunday. Picture Recipe in 8 Easy Steps

Please Note: The websites are not ranked. The websites are the Top 10 picks from over 50 sites, featuring the best Super Bowl recipes, listed in alphabetical order.


Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

Soul Train - In Memory of Don Cornelius

Love, Peace and Soul!

Dallas - Fire Pits, Cocktails and Beef

FOOD + LIFESTYLE:

Photo: Flickr - HeidiLore

 In December, Cooking Lounge checked-out a freezing cold Dallas. Dallas was a week of surprises. 

Jumped right in with Lee Harvey's. Found great reviews on Yelp. Picnic tables and a large fire pit greet you in the huge front yard beer garden. Was hungry for some charred Texas beef and wanted to check-out an authentic locals' spot. Phoned Lee Harvey's before leaving BUT got there as the kitchen closed at 10pm. The bar staff was sooo no problem; we got ya!  Fries were finished. The oil was dumped. But, the grill was still HOT. Got a perfectly charred-to-a-crunch, juicy pink medium rare Angus burger with thick cut bacon and a smoked jalapeno on the side. Topped off with a Texas Lonestar beer.

The sweet introduction kept getting better.  Sitting next to me at Lee Harvey's was well noted chef, Katherine Clapner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate. She gave the 411 on Dallas restaurants (see list below). Katherine did even more; she steered us (...we followed, winding through side streets filled with low slung, shootgun buildings and warehouses) to The Cedars Social.

Welcome to Dallas.

The Cedars Social was an instant home away from home. Unpretentious, comfy with a nod to mid century and reclaimed urban design. The menu is seasonal and local comfort food, kicked up mega notches. Ex NFL Linebacker and Super Bowl veteran, Brian Williams, an owner of the gastro den, was gracious and welcoming. He suggested The Cedars Social award-winning Old Fashioned, a balanced mix of bourbon, sours and sweet floral flavors, for a twist on the classic cocktail. Mixologist and owner Michael Martensen created an extensive drinks list of carefully crafted cocktails that curates vintage recipes, going back to the 1850's.

A few days later had dinner at Cedars Social. Sampled and shared small plates. The beet salad with red, yellow and candy striped beets with strips of speck and greens was an all-star. Much of the featured produce comes from Tom Spicer's FM 1410, organic, urban garden. Tom Spicer is legend in Dallas food circles. Cedars Social's lamb chops were simply grilled with herbs and so succulent and so good. Went caveman, fingers and all. The beef short rib tacos were not tex-mex authentic, too NY foodie; but, the beef was braised to melt in your mouth perfection. The menu is adventurous and changes often. The atmosphere is the icing. Walled-in outdoor seating with fire pits (fire pits are everywhere in Dallas), candle lit dining area, with industrial mid century pieces scattered throughout, and a library nook for more private cocktails and small plates with a group. Low key, sexy and sophisticated with some of the best music mixes I have heard anywhere.

Dallas is spread out but it never seems to take more than 15-20 minutes to drive to places in the city.

Uptown along McKinney is chocked full of bars and restaurants with glitz, sheen and valet parking. Kept hearing from Texans - Dallas is going to be the new L.A. Okay. Huuum is that because of the reboot of the "Dallas" TV series? Or Kardashians and their camera crews popping up? The Uptown place that a cross section of people recommended was Sfuzzi. Sfuzzi has several different feels - red walls and plush banquets, lots of alcoves, bistro seating, and a covered outdoor dining area with...yes, fire pits. The music was very Top 40 ho-hum and thumping. There is no real dance floor but folks were shaking it anyway. The place attracts a fairly diverse and slick crowd.

Knox-Henderson dates back to the 1920's and exudes laid back, old Dallas charm. Lots of restaurants and shops on leafy, verdant streets. Missed out on Victor Tango's. Heard several raves about the food. Suggest going early since Victor Tango's seems to close whenever they want. The Candleroom is a "progressive urban lounge" that brings a sequined, nightlife pulse to Knox-Henderson. One of those places where you need to be a member or know someone.

Deep Ellum is a story of Blues, Nightlife, Gentrification and Downturn. Music venues, bars and restaurants line the dark, quiet streets. Deep Ellum's heydays stretched from Blind Lemon Jefferson to locals' the Butthole Surfers to BIG indie and alternative bands. Deep Ellum hit its peak in the 90's and gradually declined while maintaining a mythic bohemian allure. In the shadows, you can imagine - people huddled, waiting to get into a show, folks scoring and hustling, and Punks reveling in the seamy facets that shaped Deep Ellum.

 Bishop Arts in Oak Cliff is home to Dude Sweet, Chocolate. Katherine Clapner was so cool on arrival; had to stop by before returning to New York. The shop is more like an artist studio/lab than a kitchen. The combos and treatments of chocolate was a wow moment. The dark-haired rockabillyesque woman at the counter was a sommelier of chocolate...poetic and encyclopedic. Picked up a new concoction, FM 1410 Toffee that's made with marfa tomato jam, smoked jalapeno and soft fudge like dark chocolate. The flavor is subtle and rich with a hint of smoke and heat with little crunchy, salty, crystals in the confection.


For the last night in Dallas, was set on having some Texas style barbecue. Many of the places people talked up make trendy, world class food, which was great to experience in Dallas. Total disservice to the state if Cooking Lounge did not eat some beef brisket at a down home kinda place. Stumbled upon Lockhart in Bishop Arts. No plates,  No sauce, dig in. Smoked meat served up in butcher paper. Beef brisket is the taste of Texas. When Texans say barbecue they mean smoke house brisket. The ribs, the chicken and everything else are supporting cast. Kreuz Market is the in house specialty sausage. The smokey and meaty Original sausage is from a 100 year old recipe with a secret mix of pork, herbs and spices. The Kreuz Market jalapeno sausage is meaty and spicy with sharp aged cheddar to boot. And, the baked beans way good, studded with meat in thick sweet sauce, not to be missed.

 Blew me away that Lockhart features Texas Pete, the North Carolina hot sauce I grew up with in Southeastern Virginia.

Met the Lockhart Pitmaster, Tim McLaughlin. He schooled us on the East Texas roots of Lockhart. Before leaving, Tim showed us a funny sign on the kitchen door.


Big shout out to my friend, Carlos, for the invite to Dallas, to help wrap up a project. Dallas was unexpectedly cool and subtly hip.

Downtown Dallas has a chance to create a fresh, vibrant, 24/7 urban living hub filled with the Arts, nightlife and good food.

List of Recommended Dallas Restaurants
All Good
Bistro 31
Bolsa
Campo
Cane Russo 
Cindy's Deli
Eno's Pizza
Hattie's

Lucia
Oddfellows
Smoke
Stephan Pyles
Sweet Georgia Brown
Wingfield's Breakfast and Burgers
(btw some cool websites too)

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge