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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

HIGHLY Suspect

MUSIC:

Rocking Hard, Fresh Out of Brooklyn
HIGHLY 
Suspect



And, there is more from this new band, with a fast start out of the gate. Listen to this.






HIGHLY Suspect is unsigned, but probably not for long.

ROCK ON!

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

Monday, May 27, 2013

Happy Memorial Day!


           BBQ                           
                            BEACH 

PINIC                            
                                                              SUN
Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

photo: wbj

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Cinco de Mayo : Black Bean + Corn Salad

FOOD:
Black Bean Salad is a perennial Cooking Lounge favorite.

Mixed up a batch of this quick and easy recipe, then realized the serendipity of the Black Bean + Corn Salad, a perfect dish for Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican and Southwestern flavors of this colorful, easy recipe.

Here's a link to a preparation guide:
Cooking Lounge's Black Bean Salad + Corn Salad with Lime Vinaigrette.

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

photo:wbj

Friday, April 26, 2013

La Slowteria...All About the Duck

FOOD:
La Slowteria was an unexpected journey into elevated, earthy Mexican cuisine with two duck dishes as stars. The menu may redefine what many think of Mexican food. Located near the formerly toxic, now gentrifying Gowanus Canal in Carroll Gardens at 548 Court St (9th St & Garnet St) Brooklyn, NY 11231, big windows, benches, sun drenched charm, and views into the open kitchen greet you at the door.

The F and G Train return to the Smith-9th Street subway stop when it reopens on April 26, 2013. This will make getting to La Slowteria a stroll rather than a hike.

Chef Hugo Orozco Carrillo started the concept of La Slowteria in a "small eco-friendly town in the Mayan Rivera called Tulum" where he met his wife and co-owner, Stephanie Heinegg. Hugo and Stephanie's approach to the menu is rooted in the Slow Food Movement.

The clean open design with,an abudance of beams and wood with tropical Mexican details through-out, is a breath of fresh air on the edges of the Gowanus. La Slowteria is building out the backyard garden for warm weather dining and leisurely afternoons with fresh juices, coffee and wi fi.

The whole vibe of the restaurant team is upbeat and engaged with a luxury tropical resort ambiance, unusual for NYC for sure. 

Duck is the hard to find, forgotten poultry unless eating at an Asian or French restaurant. On La Slowteria's menu, duck makes an appearance as a hearty appetizer and as a substantial, innovative entree.
La Maceta, pulled drunken duck sandwich 
The La Maceta, is an appetizer that easily doubles as a small entree, paired with another appetizer, like La Slowteria's Long Island oysters served with Mezcal worm salt and a slow-burn green habanero chili sauce, you are on the way to a memorable meal. The La Maceta is a slow cooked pulled duck sandwich with cabbage salad and crisply sauteed potatoes. It's served in a rich consomme broth. Might be even better with the broth on side, frech dip style, but never the less the combination of flavors and textures is fantastic.
El Negrito, deconstructed black mole sauce with duck
The El Negrito is a recipe that Chef Hugo has been perfecting for several years.  El Negrito is a meaty confit style leg braised to falling off the bone topped with a sliver of toast garnish (throwing in another texture). The dish has numerous combos for every bite, because of the composed presentation of the El Negrito - a bite of this and a bite of that mixing and matching - a new treat with each fork full.  The flavors, together on the tongue, create an incredible mole experience with rich, succulent duck . The hearty, El Negrito is beautifully presented as are all dishes sampled and seen from the small open kitchen. 

Hugo's high-end skill and artistry is evident before taking the first bite - beautiful plating. The kitchen is truly center stage with no fourth wall and an unobstructed view of much of the dining area and cozy bar. Stephanie and Hugo keep things flowing, moving seamlessly from kitchen to dining room. 


The smoky Mezcal margarita with a chile pepper worm salt rim is dry and refreshing. Made simply with fresh squeezed juices. Sip. Imagine sitting on the beach in Tulum.

La Slowteria is the perfect tropical oasis for a get-away-in-the-city.
La Slowteria
548 Court St, New York, NY 11231
Tue - Sun
11 am - 3 pm (sunny cafe, with fresh juices and wifi)
5 pm - 10 pm (dinner - with outdoor dining starting May 2013)
Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

photos: wbj

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Quick Breads

FOOD:

Quick Breads- photo: wbj
Tested some new Cooking Lounge recipes for an assortment of Quick Breads.

Banana Walnut Bread and Banana Bread with mix of whole wheat and unbleached flour and a mix of coconut oil, olive oil and butter


Flax Corn Muffins with flax seeds, flax seed meal and olive oil


Orange Zest Cranberry Bread with mix of whole wheat and unbleached flour and a mix of coconut oil, olive oil and butter

Rosemary Cornbread with creamed corn and olive oil


The consensus was all were pretty tasty with the Banana Walnut Bread getting raves but the Flax Corn Muffins were a bit dry. 


Note: Flax seeds absorb moisture. So, next test will increase the wet ingredients...the joys of testing.

Experiment. Play with ingredients in the kitchen.


Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge


Saturday, March 16, 2013

Erin Go Bragh! - Sheperds Pie for St. Patrick's Day

FOOD:

Shepherds Pie is a perfect St. Patrick's Day meal. A hearty and filling crowd pleaser to fuel more shenanigans. For the Cooking Lounge preparation guide and more photos, click here.

Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

Monday, February 25, 2013

Roast Chicken and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

FOOD:

A Whole Roast Chicken is a good food benchmark for many people around the world
The crisp, slightly salty skin, the slick chicken fat, juicy meat, herbs and spices add gravy and mashed potatoes, for so many a sigh inducing combination (familiar, satisfying). 

The Daily Mail ran a huge airy, winding piece on Nigella Lawson, breaking into the U.S. market and promoting her new book, "Nigellissima: Instant Italian Inspiration.The DM article is an entertaining read for a lazy Sunday morning, with the right mix of food, drama, and plain old common sense. It is understandable why, posh, wealthy and yet relatable, Nigella is revered as a goddess in the U.K. As her parting comment, sexy Nigella served up some knowledge with no-nonsense advice about the lusciousness of a classic simple meal. 
"...‘Comfort food is comfort food wherever you are and it always comes down to roast chicken and mashed potatoes in the end." Nigella Lawson
There are infinite tasty ways to roast chicken and prepare potatoes. Once you have the basics mastered, experiment with flavors, tailor recipes to your taste or even a theme.


Inspired by Nigella Lawson, Cooking Lounge pulled together an impromptu dinner party: Roast Chicken, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Sauteed Green Beans.

Called friends. Popped into the butcher. Picked up veges at the produce stand.  Gathered in Brooklyn, at a Dumbo loft near the East River. It all seemed to fall into place effortlessly, the perfect meal to wind down the weekend, with the potluck additions of red wine and craft beer, cheese, cupcakes, Italian chocolate, and a Latin mother's holiday concoction - rum, coconut milk and condensed milk - shared with good friends. A sumptuous dinner party pulled together without much fuss or expense. 
Whole Roast Chicken was the very first Cooking Lounge post
Click here for a Cooking Lounge guide for the classic comfort food dish in our launch post.

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge
photos:wbj