Kitchen 452

Happy Holidays!  You may have noticed I've been a little MIA since, well, since Happy 4th of July!  And even if you didn't notice, I'm ok with that, because I've been acutely aware of my absence.  Not because I wanted to be absent.  Actually, it's quite the opposite.  I've been brimming with paragraphs on food and big, monstrous changes in my life.  However, in my pursuit of these crazy dreams and thoughts, I was hesitant to share because sometimes saying the words out loud (or in this case, typing them for my blog!) makes them more real than any lived experience can be.  So, out with it.  I quit my job.  I'm now a former educator (although, only in technical terms, I still consider myself immersed in education).  I'm pursuing my love of food and community.  I started a business.  None of this feels real.

(Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese Muffins on our catering menu)

Ok, now that it's out of the way, let me tell you about the new love in my life:  Kitchen 452.  Back in April/May a colleague and I started serious, ambitious discussions on how to spend our days.  I love being an educator and it's a large part of my identity.  So much so that I was living vicariously through the dreams and projects of my students.  Travels around the world, aspirations to change the lives of others, pursuit of projects that seemed large yet attainable, prestigious awards, break-through research, the list goes on and on.  When you are surrounded day in and day out with all of this enthusiasm, it's bound to wear off and leave you wondering, what can I do?  What SHOULD I be doing?  Am I pursuing my passions to their fullest extent?  What MORE can I do? My students and colleagues at UC, unbeknownst to them, became the inspiration for a big move that has shaken me considerably. 

With all of this in my mind and on my heart, I started dreaming about how I'd like to spend my days.  If not with kitties (I'm still pursuing this by volunteering at the Ohio Alleycat Resource), then with cooking.  But not just cooking for loved ones.  I've found that the best conversations, the ones that enlighten, emblazon, and challenge seem to take place over food.  Good food.  Food that pushes my tastes and makes me think about ingredients and origins.  Cuisine.  With this interest firmly in front of me, my colleague/business partner (her name is Jen) and I decided to apply to a series of business courses through ArtWorks, called Springboard. We knew we had the interest and love of food (and fortunately for me, Jen had some experience too!), but we also knew there was a lot we didn't know.  Primarily about business.  Fortunately for us, Springboard helped us understand so much about marketing, numbers, positioning, networking, etc.  We have met some of the most amazing people through Springboard and I can't say enough about the program.  Cincinnati is so lucky to have such a wonderful program and truly is on the cusp of launching more successful entrepreneurs.  Our Springboard class became weekly therapy for the ups and downs of starting a business.  The outcome?  Kitchen 452 -- a restaurant and catering business located in East Walnut Hills focused on fresh, seasonal, made-from-scratch food and best of all, building community. 

Without going in to many details (or pages worth of notes!), starting a business is CRA-ZY.  Truly.  It's the greatest challenge I've encountered in my 28 (ahem, nearly 29) years of life and also the only thing (next to coffee and kitties) that has made me so happily jump out of bed in the morning. I love every day for its unexpected surprises, celebrations, and even challenges.  I've also continued to see the importance of community throughout this process.  Community is really everything.  Our UC community supported us even when we decided to announce our departure.  They continue to embrace us and support us -- there really is such a thing as the UC family and I love it so much.  Then there is the community we found in Springboard.  They literally picked us up on some of our dreariest moments and have supported us through encouragement and business.  They continue to make me proud to be a Springboard graduate.  And then the East Walnut Hills community.  Wow.  From our awesome landlord (I can't say enough things about his support and true belief in our ability to make this happen), to the other business owners, and best of all, the residents, East Walnut Hills is on the cusp of something special.  I already find it to be such a special place in Cincinnati (have you seen DeSales corner at night??  I'm immediately taken back to Europe).  And finally, my family community.  My husband and family have been immediately supportive.  If roles were reversed, I don't know that I would have handled such a massive change with such grace, but my family has embraced it and supported our efforts.  Steve and Sarah help me remain brave and remind me why I wanted this in the first place.  

So, with all of these changes, you may understand why I have neglected my blog.  I want to tell you so much more about how I've spent my days, about Kitchen 452 and really all of the details that go into this kind of dream, but for those of you interested in Kitchen 452, come check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kitchen452.  I promise our website will be up soon too! And look for us to open in early 2013.

Oh, and did I mention, we talked to Polly!  

Looking back on my first post of 2012, I exclaimed that 2012 would be the year of culinary risks and adventures. I think this counts. 

Happy Holidays! 

A Little Vacation

Things in my little corner of the world have been...well...exciting.  And wonderful. And creative. And new. AND, it's all been taking me away from nuturing my little blog. All of this to say that eventually I will have more to share with you, but rather than drone on about the oddities of my life, I want to share with you a little bit about my vacation.

Steve and I just returned from a wonderful week in Carolina Beach in North Carolina.  This quintessential beach town with sunny skies, rolling waves, and unusual people. I loved every moment of my trip.  It was nice to literally just listen to the ocean waves, feel the prickly sand on my toes, and re-connect with my thoughts and fine a bit of peace. One of the best aspects of this trip was the time I spent cooking.  Not cooking to rush off to a meeting or cooking to fill my tummy, but cooking to enjoy the process.  To give the food that I eat the proper care and attention that I want to give every meal.  Not looking for shortcuts or easy meals, but to enjoy being in the kitchen and letting my creativity do the rest. The kitchen, much like the beach really, has become a sanctuary for me to create, and think, and share.  I wouldn't trade my kitchen experiences, both good and bad, for anything as they have shaped much of who I am.

For our week at the beach, we ate banh mi sandwiches (I can't get enough) and my summer favorite -- cold pasta salad with sausages and grilled veggies.  We drank many ice cold beers, a few lovely bottles of red wine, and indulged in nightly games of Rummikub.  All in all, I'm a relaxed and happy lady who desperately doesn't want this feeling to leave.  

Here's a recipe for the banh mi that kept our tummies full and our tastebuds wanting more:

• Pork loin, marinated for 2 hours - 2 days in the following:
  • 1/4 cup light soy sauce
  • A few squeezes of honey
  • 2 tablespoons or more of freshly grated ginger
  • A few large cloves of crushed garlic
  • Salt and Pepper
• Finely cut carrots and cucumber, pickled in the following:
  • A few tablespoons of sugar and white wine vinegar
• Cilantro
• Mayo mixed with sriracha sauce (to the heat level you like)
• Jalepeno slices (optional)
• French Baguette Bread

After the pork has marinated for a few hours, cut into round circles or long strips.  This will depend on your preferred method of cooking.  If you have the time and inclination the long strips are perfect for grilling on skewers.  Otherwise, put the pork loin rounds in a grill pan and sizzle away.  Once cooked (a few minutes a side), set aside and prepare your baguette.  I like to slather on the sauce then place the pickled veggies and jalapeno slices.  I then place the pork on top and dot with crunchy pieces of cilantro.  If I'm not in any big rush to eat, I will grill the bread.  AND, if I'm feeling fancy, these vietnamese sandwiches are often served a bit of pate. However you eat it, I promise this sandwich is addicting!  Serve with juicy and cold watermelon slices and crunchy chips for a delicious meal.

I wish there were more pictures to share (this one comes from a few months ago) but I was just too relaxed to interrupt the cooking process to capture it!

Review: Buz

A few months ago, I heard that the people of Green Dog Cafe had opened a new space, but I hadn't pursued the information further.  Between a hectic work schedule these past few weeks (I celebrated it being over with a martini), trying to get our yard manicured and looking good (I did nothing, it was all Steve), and a myriad of other exciting activities, I had neglected the local new food scene.  Fortunately for me, my sister had heard of Buz and wanted to give it a try.

If Green Dog Cafe is the veggie, feel good, healthy spot then Buz is the carnivorious, stylized, feel good hideaway. Both have their place in Cincinnati (which happens to be side-by-side), but I definitely think Buz is worth a little extra BUZZ at this point, because it's really that good. 

Our group of four couldn't resist the appetizer list to start our meal at Buz. While the pork belly confit, edamame and bourbon popcorn all sounded delicious, we opted for the cheese beignets with crab.  Sigh, I wish I could magically blink my eyes, wiggle my nose, and have these appear before me.  These little spheres of warm cheese with a lime honey glaze cannot be missed.  They were a delicious way to get started.  

We also tried the pork belly flat bread with apples.  This was a very generous serving and would make a lovely meal on it's own, but was an even better starter for our group -- we possess some very divergent palettes. This satisfied us all. I really wish I could share with you pictures of the starters, but we all gobbled them down too quickly!

Dinner was an easy decision for me.  Steak.  I'm a meat-eater, happily, but I don't often eat steak.  I'm glad I saved this occassion for this meal. The steak was a worthy competitor to the gem of all steaks sitting right down the street, Jeff Ruby's Precinct.  In fact, you'd have to offer a good steak to sit on that block without being laughed out of the neighborhood.  I found the steak to be flavorful, smokey, and perfectly complemented by the bernaise and sides.  And don't get me started on the sides.  Green beans and mashed potatoes.  The green beans were bright and fresh without being drowned in butter.  And the mashed potatoes -- wow o wow. I spent the entire meal taking a bite and trying to figure out the secret ingredient.  I finally had to ask the server who asked the chef.  Alouette Cheese!!  It adds a creamy, savory flavor that I can't wait to try in my own garlic mashed potatoes.

My dinner companions dined on short ribs over mashed potatoes and scallops over risotto. The short ribs were fall-apart delicious and full of bright flavors.  The scallops were a good size and perfectly carmelized.  I would try either dish the next time I visit.

Finally, while I was in a meat and potato coma, our table (rather, one person who was generous to share bites) ordered the chocolate cake. There was probably a much more sophisticated description rather than chocolate cake, but I was drowning in potatoes and didn't notice.  Regardless, the dessert was generous and fun with two little milkshakes next to the slice. 

Overall, the atmosphere at Buz is relaxed and intimate.  The dark wood, shades of grey, and exposed brick are the perfect contrast to the friendly servers and a menu that begs for return visits.  I look forward to returning to Buz! 

What's for Dinner?: Carnitas with Green Onion Rajas

What's a Raja?  Other than Princess Jasmine's adorable tiger-kitty, that is. Rajas means stips and in this case, it's a lovely mix of peppers, green onions, and cheese to top an easy serving of carnitas.  Rajas are a great way to say, you've cooked vibrant veggies with care and love and a little sass.  Rajas are delicious and a must for this easy carnitas recipe.

I've seen carnitas on menus before and really wondered what makes a carnita.  Quite literally, carnitas are 'little meats' and in this case, they are braised, pulled pork.  With a little bit of time, the pork becomes the perfect vehicle for rajas and any other topping your heart desire.  But don't be fooled, the carnitas alone are a lovely meal amped up by the rajas.  And who doesn't love saying rajas?  RAJAS!

I used a variation of this recipe on epicurious.  The ingredients I used:

• 2 pounds boneless pork butt or shoulder, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
• Cayenne Pepper, Aleppo Pepper, Smoked Paprika, or any combination of the three (go light on the cayenne)
• Garlic salt
• 1 can chicken broth
• 2 cups (about) water

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 2 red bell peppers, cut into1/4-inch-thick strips
• 1 poblano chile and 1 anaheim chile, seeded, cut into  strips
• 4 green onions, cut into strips
• One beer, your favorite
• 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• coarsely chopped cilantro
• flour or corn tortillas

Place pork in heavy large pot. Add broth and water to cover pork. Add enough water to cover pork by 1/2 inch. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cover partially; simmer until meat is very tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.  This process took me about one hour or so.  After the meat is cooled, shred it.  It's amazing how easily the meat just falls apart with little effort.  No knife needed here folks.  Just a fork.  Once you are finished shredding, place the meat back in a small pot to keep warm.  

Now, here's the fun part.  Pop open a beer and add 4 to 6 ounces to the meat as it's keeping warm on low. Drink the rest! 

While the meat is warming, melt your butter in a pan and saute the garlic.  After a minute or so, add in your peppers and saute until they are tender and easy to bite.  Add yout rgreen unions and saute for a few more minutes.  Finally, add your cream and cheese and stir vigorously until a sauce forms. Then, stand back and bask in the goodness of your rajas.  

If you have the time and interest, grill your tortillas and get to topping.  OR, if you are like me, just get to the eating part.  

Happy Cooking! 

Mother's Day Culinary Gift Ideas

Not all moms would appreciate kitchen-related gifts on Mother's Day -- sometimes they need a break from cooking for their families -- but for the mom who finds cooking to be fun, relaxing, or is just generally interested in upping her culinary game, these gifts are for her (and road tested by me!):

These whisks, by Anthropologie, are an inexpensive gift that brighten the kitchen and makes beating egg yolks more colorul and fun. For $8, you can beat this gift (hehe).

What says love better than the sweet treat of ice cream? This gift, priced around $80, is one of those appliances that your mom probably won't buy for herself, but will love. It's easy to use (the machine does all of the work for you) and more importantly -- easy to clean!

The Cuisinart smart stick is a little gadget that I use often and LOVE. Beyond helping to make soups and sauces, this immersion blender is so much easier than trying to blend hot liquid, in batches, through the food processer.  This is one of those gifts that you may have good intentions of giving to someone else, but should find its way into your cabinet! For $30, on Amazon, buy two! 

Finally, for the mom who wants to really try something new, consider going in on this with a sibling and buying the KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachment set.  Coming in just under $200, this pasta roller set hooks onto the front of a stand mixer and makes homemade pasta easy and fun!  I promise, once you've had fresh pasta, your taste buds will be forever changed! Be like me and snag a Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupon for a significant discount!  

Finally, if you are low on cash, consider making your mom brunch -- nothing says 'I appreciate you' better than a homecooked meal.  Happy Mother's Day!