Brunch at The Elephant Walk

Over Labor Day weekend, Z and I took advantage of a late morning (and one of our GroupOns) by having brunch al fresco at The Elephant Walk in Cambridge. I never even knew this Cambodian/French eatery served brunch, but after perusing their menu online, I knew we were in for a fancy treat.

To start, we both ordered a Cambodian Bloody Mary ($7.95), made with Hangar One Kaffir lime vodka, tomato juice, chilies, and a touch of soy sauce. 

You could order the bloody marys mild, spicy or extra spicy - I went with spicy, while Z braved it with the extra spicy. Both of our drinks had a wonderful kick to them, and there was the perfect ratio of tomato juice to citrus to spice, which made for a refreshing morning cocktail.

Before our meals came out, Z and I also split the Fresh Fruit Plate appetizer ($5), which came with fresh kiwi, strawberries, pear and apple slices, and chunks of pineapple.

The fresh fruit was an ideal way to begin our meals. Every single piece of fruit on this plate was incredibly fresh and juicy, and it was the perfect portion size for two people to share before having a meal.

For our entrees, I ordered the Crepes Gourmandes Aux Champignons ($8.95), which consisted of French crepes filled with wild mushrooms, creme fraiche and scallions.

Z ordered the Omelette Gourmande A l'Avocat ($8.95), a French omelette filled with avocado, plum tomato and button mushrooms.

Z and I actually had a hard time picking our meals because the choices were so tempting (I couldn't decide on the crepes or French toast served with a cinnamon cider maple syrup), so we split both of our entrees. My crepe was beautifully crisp, light and airy, and the wild mushrooms provided juicy, welcomed bites of wonderful flavor. Z's omelette was also light and cooked to fluffy perfection, and I love the combination of avocado and eggs, so I was impressed even before I took my first bite. Z's omelette came with bacon, which I ate for him, and the bacon was also cooked beautifully - very crispy, without being burnt.

I also really liked how both the crepes and the omelette were served with a side salad of lightly dressed mesclun greens. This side dish, in lieu of potatoes or toast, made our dishes feel that much healthier, and forced me not to leave the restaurant overly stuffed and useless for the rest of the day.

In all honesty, The Elephant Walk's brunch menu is a little too pricey for me, but we had a GroupOn for the eatery, which ended up making our bill $0. I definitely think their brunch is worth the extra splurge, though, even if you don't have a GroupOn.

What's your favorite place for brunch in the Boston area?

Side note: Eversave is having a great deal today for Savino's Grill in Belmont. The Save is that you pay $20 for $40 worth of food and drink, and 10 percent of the proceeds go to the Foundation for Belmont Education. Savino's is an Italian/Mediterranean restaurant, with a great wine selection and a menu chocked full of fresh, local ingredients. 

Double Chocolate and Chili Cookies

If you're a regular reader of my blog, it's probably clear that I'm a big fan of spicy food - but that I'm not a huge dessert person. However, last week I decided to combine the smoky, intense heat of cayenne pepper with cocoa and chocolate chips, and the end result was luxurious. Slightly naughty, even.

I got the recipe for these Double Chocolate and Chili Cookies from Food 52 (please excuse their heinous spelling errors), and the only thing I changed was that I substituted all purpose flour for whole wheat, because that's what I had on hand. The end result was chewy, rich, extra-chocolatey cookies with an "oh-my-goodness-what-is-in-these" spicy aftertaste. Seriously - people's eyes were bugging out with surprise when the cayenne hit their throats. Priceless reactions.

If you don't want the cookies too spicy, I'd recommend adding 1/4 tsp. of cayenne, or even just a pinch. For me, though, the 1/2 tsp. was the perfect amount for a nostril-clearing heat with every morsel. 

These cookies were also very affordable to make. I had everything on hand except for the chocolate chips, so the total cost of this recipe, for me, was about $2. 

Do you like the combination of spicy/sweet? Why or why not?

Massachusetts Brewers Summerfest

Courtesy of accessrealty.net

On Friday night, Z and I attended the Massachusetts Brewers Summerfest at the World Trade Center Concourse. The event featured Massachusetts-based brewers pouring samples of their summer, fall and year-round brews for hundreds of thirsty beer lovers. Although there was quite a crowd at the event, the lines moved dangerously swiftly (lightweights like me needed to pace themselves accordingly). I also loved how the WTC Concourse was open to the outside with fairly decent views of the surrounding city, which not only allowed for some breaths of fresh air, but also dispersed the crowd enough so it didn't feel like a sardine can in the tasting area.

Some of the participating brewers included Rapscallion, Watch City, Mayflower Brewing Co., Cape Ann Brewing Co., and Haverhill Brewery. Live music and food were also provided, and the venue even had vegetarian options (i.e. veggie burgers). I was impressed by this, as many festivals like this one are normally meat-fueled, with no consideration of the meatless diners.

I did not snap any photos, because there are only so many photos of beer one blogger can take - but here is a quick recap of my favorite brews poured on Friday evening:

-Stone Cat Pumpkin Porter by Ipswich Ale Brewery: This gem was a perfectly poured, smooth porter with just a hint of sweet pumpkin flavor.

-Milk Stout by Wachusett Brewing Co.: A creamy, rich stout with subtle, yet noticeable, hints of cocoa and malt. I could easily drink this beer in place of water for the rest of my existence.

-Nitro Coffeehouse Porter by Berkshire Brewing Co.: Can you tell I'm on a porter/stout kick lately? Berkshire's Coffeehouse Porter is beautifully dark and creamy with intense notes of fresh coffee beans and a sweet, enjoyable aftertaste of chocolate. This beer would be perfect for an after dinner drink, or sipped with a thick cut, dry-rubbed steak.

-Autumn Wheat by Mayflower: Normally, I am not a fan of wheat beers, but Mayflower's autumn option was out-of-the-ordinary, as far as wheat beers go. The color was light amber, and the taste itself was crisp, hearty and refreshing, with flavors of caramel and malt present throughout.

The evening overall was a successful one, and tickets were only $29 (for the first 500 people who signed up; $35 normally). I tried many beers from various, local breweries that evening, but, despite the quick-moving lines, was able to pace myself properly over the course of the evening. I would definitely attend this event again next year - and would encourage other beer lovers out there to attend, too.

What's your favorite beer or cocktail to drink during the fall season?

Best Deal This Week: Free Dessert September 15th

Courtesy of miemo.net

Long Weekends are always so much more relaxing than short, two-day weekends. So far, I've spent the holiday weekend outside bicycling; going to a Red Sox game; spending quality time with family and friends at various barbecues; and having brunch al fresco, casually sipping on a Bloody Mary, not caring what time it is in the early afternoon. Because on holiday weekends, drinking vodka at any hour just seems OK.

Despite the unfortunate fact that long weekends are few and far between, we all deserve that sense of relaxation and the mindset that doing out-of-the-ordinary things - like drinking vodka with a late breakfast - is just fine. And having your dessert for free can be just fine, too - on September 15th, at least.

In celebration of Bravo's new show, "Top Chef's Just Desserts," many area restaurants are giving two diners per table a free dessert (with the purchase of one entree each). The catch? The participating restaurants are part of OpenTable.com, a website that allows you to make reservations online at area restaurants, and often offers discounts, such as this one, to OpenTable members only. It's free to sign-up, and all you have to do is wait for discounts to hit your mailbox - or make restaurant reservations with a few clicks on your computer. 

Some of the restaurants participating in Free Dessert Day include Alfredo's in Quincy; Savino's in Belmont; and Tryst in Arlington. For a full list of participating restaurants, click here.

How have you spent the long, holiday weekend so far?

How2heroes Hoedown at Smolak Farms

In lieu of Financial Friday, I must post a more timely recap of the how2heroes Hoedown I attended at Smolak Farms last Sunday. The event, which was held from 1 to 5 p.m., featured locally-sourced food samples from some of the area's best restaurants, as well as beer and wine from Narragansett and the Wine Connextion, a pig roast, hay rides, cooking demos, and even an amateur baking contest. The cost of admission was $25.00, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets.

Quick disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to attend the Hoedown with my cousin, Catherine, thanks to Image Unlimited Communications, Ltd. Despite their generosity, all opinions expressed in this post are 100 percent honest and my own.

Catherine and I ate more than our fair share of food on Sunday, but here's a recap of some of my favorite culinary offerings that day.

Bread & Chocolate - Sweet Corn Buns with Sage:

Bread & Chocolate's corn buns were incredibly dense, albeit incredibly delicious. The sweet, fresh, whole kernels of corn were prominent throughout each bun, and the bread itself was buttery and perfectly flavored with the sage. These buns were a great way to get started for the culinary tour to come. 

Sweet - Ginger Peach Whoopie Pies:

No pun intended - these whoopie pies were incredibly sweet. There's really no other way to describe them. Fortunately, the bright, eye-popping flavor of the ginger helped to cut the sweetness slightly, while the peach provided a refreshing, additional taste to the pies.

Orzo - Pasta Salad: 

I love pasta salad, and Orzo's sampling was top notch, as far as pasta salads go. The dish was made with tortellini, and was wonderfully dressed with a vinegar/citrus coating and fresh herbs. 

Wine Connextion - vino:

The folks at the Wine Connextion (a brother/sister team) were incredibly friendly and helpful in picking a wine each attendee would enjoy. They had plenty of red and wine options, but I had two chilled glasses of white throughout the day. After visiting their booth, I'm eager to go back to the Wine Connextion after the friendly and attentive service I received on Sunday.

Smolak Farms - Peach Crisp and Apple Cider Doughnuts:

Confession: I didn't try either of these items, but they looked amazing. By this point, I was already in sugar overload, and needed a break from eating. We decided to take a breather by going to see the pig roast - which had just ended.

As soon as we realized we missed out on the pig, we heard the tractor pull up to the parking lot, and knew the next hay ride was about to leave. With our wine glasses in hand, we caught up with the tractor and jumped in. The hay ride took us all over Smolak Farms - I had no idea how large their land is! 

The ride was beautiful, although really humid - but it did provide a much needed break from eating. After we got off the hay ride, we went back for some more samples.

How2Heroes - Zucchini Bread and Rosemary Lemonade:

This was the moistest zucchini bread I've had to date, and the bright flavors of the fresh zucchini were completely evident in each bite. At this point in the day, no lemonade was found, but the delicious zucchini bread made up for it.

Other highlights of the day: The Chilled Corn Soup with Toasted Cumin by Parsons Table, and 62 Restaurant's ribs with spicy red cabbage. There was also plenty of entertainment throughout the afternoon, including a dunk tank and “The Hoedown Throwdown Baking Contest," an amateur baking contest presented by King Arthur Flour and how2heroes using farm fresh produce as the main ingredient, as well as King Arthur Flour.

The how2heroes Hoedown was a fun, unique way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. The vibe at Smolak Farms is always inviting and relaxing, and I really enjoyed perusing their bakery and store after the Hoedown festivities. I may or may not have left with a homemade Peach and Raspberry pie from their bake shop...which I highly recommend you purchase the next time you're there.

What are you going to miss most about the summer?

Olivia's Organics Recipe Contest

Last month, Olivia's Organics ran a contest on their Facebook page where at-home cooks had to whip up something using Olivia's Organics salad greens and fresh, seasonal ingredients. The grand prize winner, who will be announced on September 10th, gets their recipe featured on Williams-Sonoma's website, as well as a $500 Williams-Sonoma gift certificate. 

I submitted my recipe for Arugula Pesto with a Kick. The peppery arugula blends beautifully with the pine nuts and tart lemon juice, while the small addition of cayenne gives every mouthful of this pesto a serious kick-in-the-pants bite. 

Arugula Pesto with a Kick

Yields about 2 cups

-2 cups packed Olivia's Organics arugula
-2 cloves garlic
-1/4 cup pine nuts
-2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
-1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or Romano cheese)
-Juice of 1/2 a lemon
-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
-Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions: Add above ingredients (except for salt and pepper) to food processor and pulse until smooth. Taste, and add salt and black pepper as necessary. Serve over whole wheat pasta, smear on French bread, or simply indulge with a spoon.

This was seriously good pesto. I'll let you know if this ends up being the winning recipe!

Second Helping Cheesy Corn Tortilla Pizzas

I am literally sticking to my couch from humidity as I type this. Probably way too much information for most of you, but the fact is, it's hot in Boston tonight. Only me and a few other, hungry wack-jobs would turn on their stoves on a night like this. But that's exactly what I did.

I'm leaving for Italy in less than five weeks, so it's really crunch time for saving every extra dollar I can. So, over the next few weeks, expect to see a lot of out-of-the-pantry recipes like this one.

Since it was so hot tonight, I wanted a quick yet delicious dinner. I had whole wheat tortillas leftover from last week's Tofu and Black Bean Quesadillas, I had corn in the freezer, and I always have cheese and a jar of sliced jalapenos in the fridge. I decided to throw them all together and made some Cheesy Corn Tortilla Pizzas.

Cheesy Corn Tortilla Pizzas

Yields: 2 servings

-2 whole wheat tortillas

-2 cups of corn

-10-12 jalapeno slices

-1 1/2-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

-1 tbsp. olive oil (plus a little extra for the tortillas and cookie sheet)

-Chili powder

-Cumin

-Cilantro

-Salt and black pepper, to taste

-Squirt of fresh lime juice

Directions: Preheat oven to 350*. On the stove top, heat up 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saute pan on low heat. Add corn, and season with chili powder, cumin, cilantro, salt and pepper. Once mixed and slightly heated, take off burner and squirt some lime juice over the corn.
Place both tortillas on a greased cookie sheet (I just rubbed some olive oil on the sheet), and brush a tiny bit of olive oil on each tortilla, to help them brown in the oven. Coat each tortilla with the shredded cheddar cheese, and pour equal amounts of the seasoned corn on top of the cheese layers. Place 5 to 6 jalapeno slices on each "pizza," and pop the sheet in the oven. Let the pizzas bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the edges of the tortillas are lightly browned and crispy.

The end result was a light, cheesy, slightly spicy dish that was perfect for a hot, humid evening. I loved how crispy the tortilla got in the oven, and how well the buttery, well seasoned corn complemented the richness of the cheddar. This was a fantastic use of leftovers.

Are you a fan of leftovers? Why or why not?