Sunday, November 15, 2009

Thanksgiving Market at Rooftop



This Sunday, November 22 is the Thanksgiving Market at Rooftop Farm!

Go! And give thanks a little early... There will be carrots, mustards, purple broccoli, parsley and spinach (to name a few). In partnership with upstate's Liberty View Farms, there will be 100% organically grown apples. There will also be t-shirts and harvest bags. 100% of the proceeds fund next year's seed supplies.

See you there!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Diamond, A Gem

The Diamond Bar on Franklin Street is a gem. It might not be your everyday watering hole, but it's nice to have a nice (but not too nice) little place around the corner. They serve a selection of wines and beers that changes often (nothing hard) along with pickles, cheese plates, and savory pies. Art hangs on the walls and there are games to play like tabletop shuffle board. And the backyard is adorable for cool afternoons and warm nights.

Recently consumed with 2 glasses of wine...


1/2 cheese plate, perfect for one: 3 kinds of cheese, 1 meat, almonds, honey, croutons


yummy olives and pickles from the pickle guys

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Soba-Ya



Soba-Ya is a haven on 9th Street. There is something very comforting about house-made soba noodles in a bowl of steaming hot sweet/sour/savory broth. (I discovered on their website that the broth is generally made from soy sauce, mirin, specially selected seaweed, dried fish flakes and sugar.) And the place itself is just lovely from the dining room to the waitstaff to the plates and bowls. When we walked in, soba noodles were being rolled and cut in the front of the restaurant. It was a subdued spectacle and I was entranced by the graceful movement of the dough across the counter top and the extra long rolling pin gliding across the dough. With a final flourish, skilled hands maneuvered an incredibly large knife, pressing and cutting perfect noodles with machine-like precision. Then we ate...


Hijiki salad


Tuesday's special: Chirashi fried bean curd & fish cake, tiny shrimp tempura, egg omelet, shiitake (hot)


Cold soba with hot duck dipping sauce

I found this really nice step-by-step soba noodle making illustration. Check it out!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Rava Dosas


Toasted coconut and chopped cilantro are the final addition

Dinner last night was Gourmet magazine's Rava Dosas with Potato Chickpea Masala. Part homage - this is Gourmet's last issue ever; part perfect use for ingredients I had at home, this meal was delicious. It's a little bit complicated, but well worth it - rich, spicy, coconut, cilantro, cumin seeds, and it's vegetarian! I don't even normally like chickpeas or peas, but somehow they're perfect here.


Flipping a dosa, simmering away


Rava dosa with potato chickpea marsala

Monday, November 2, 2009

Shadowplay

I just think these Shadowplay necklaces are so beautiful. I especially can't resist a knitted object, but these are really over the top. Like dreamy.





About Shadowplay: "With the desire to create beautiful, one of a kind, hand-crafted pieces with consciousness to materials and their origin in mind, Heather set out to find the best suited materials for her necklaces. This led to sourcing organic + naturally dyed yarns + Crystallized Swarovski Elements + Certified Fair Trade black silver closures that are hand-made by the Hill Tribe of Karen Village in Northern Thailand."

Amazing and she's based in my hometown which I love.

Images via Shadowplay.
Also thanks to Daily Candy for the hot tip.