Free Cooking Classes II

TECHNIQUE CLASSES
Presented free of charge at your local Williams-Sonoma store, each hour-long-class is dedicated to a specific topic led by one of our culinary experts. Class size is limited, so reserve your space today.

Sunday, October 3
Chuck’s Classics–Celebrating Founder’s Day
For the past five decades, Williams-Sonoma has helped customers celebrate the pleasures of cooking. To commemorate our 2010 Founder’s Day, we’re pleased to present a collection of recipes personally selected by Chuck Williams. These easy-to-prepare dishes represent Chuck’s style of cooking at home–simple, interesting and delicious. You’ll learn to make crème brûlée plus many more of Chuck’s favorites.

Sunday, October 10
The World of Root Vegetables
Autumn is prime time for savoring hardy root vegetables because the cool weather transforms their starches into sugars. In this class you’ll learn how to select, store and prepare an array of roots, from potatoes, carrots and onions to celery root and leeks. Recipes will include beautifully roasted root vegetables, a warming soup and a root vegetable main course–we guarantee you won’t miss the meat!

Sunday, October 17
From Tough to Tender
Discover the secrets to transforming tough cuts of meat, such as pot roast, brisket and shoulder, into meltingly tender, full-flavored dishes that are perfect for fall and winter meals. We’ll prepare these well-priced cuts on the stovetop and in a slow cooker, as well as using the newer technique of sous vide.

Sunday, October 24
Breads & Spreads for the Holiday Table.
As you gather friends and family around your holiday table, fill your breadbasket with a bountiful selection of baked goods. In this class you’ll learn to make some easy breads and spreads to enjoy with the meal-from no-knead bread and classic dinner rolls to corn bread, focaccia and more.

Sunday &Monday, October 31 & November 1
Back to Basics – A Classic Thanksgiving
Join us as we show you how to host a memorable Thanksgiving feast-and enjoy a stress-free celebration. You’ll learn all the basics: how to roast a juicy turkey, make creamy mashed potatoes with rich homemade gravy, and prepare classic side dishes. These traditional recipes will bring the spirit of the season to your holiday table.

Foodie Events in October

Downtown Culinary Tours -- New Haven
Now through October 16, 2010
Experience a guided culinary walking tour through historic downtown New Haven with Stephen Fries, New Haven Register food columnist and professor of hospitality management. Enjoy tasty samplings along the way. Location: Tours depart from John Davenport's Restaurant at the Top of the Park (Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale). Time: 10:45 a.m. Cost: $59 per person Dates are April 24, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 25, and October 16. Information and tickets: 203-777-8550.

Tapping into Twain Oktoberfest -- Hartford, CT
October 1, 2010
This event includes live music, great food and over 20 microbreweries offering samples of the best local brewed beers. Location: Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue. Time: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Cost: $40 in advance; $45 at the door; $15 for designated drivers. Information: 860-280-3130 or visit www.marktwainhouse.org.

Oktoberfest and Chowder Cook-Off at the Beach – New London, CT
October 1, 2010
This year’s Oktoberfest will feature more than two dozen microbrew companies with over 100 domestic and imported beers. Numerous area restaurants will “battle for the chowder crown” in a competition for the best chowder in Southeastern Connecticut. Live music will be provided by The Rhythm Method. The ticket price includes 15 beer tickets and plenty of prize-winning chowder tastings. Location: Ocean Beach Park, 1225 Ocean Avenue. Time: 6-9 p.m. Cost: $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Information: 860-912-0408

Garlic Harvest Festival -- Bethlehem, CT
October 9, 2010 to October 10, 2010
Enjoy two days of cooking demonstrations, garlic growing lectures, fresh garlic, garlic food court and specialty food vendors with lots of samples, and live entertainment. Location: Bethlehem Fairgrounds, Route 63. Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: $6; children under 12, $1. Information: 203-266-7350 or visit www.garlicfestct.com.

Fall Food Stroll -- New London, CT
October 20, 2010
During this first annual "Spooky Stroll" attendees wearing costumes get a treat. Stroll through the historic waterfront district and savor samples of seasonal delights from its finest eateries. Snack and shop in specialty stores, boutiques, galleries and salons. Enjoy live music while strolling more than 40 venues. Location: Waterfront District. Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cost: $25 in advance; $30 day of. Information: 860-444-2489 or visit http://www.newlondonmainstreet.org/.

Connecticut Cheese & Wine Festival -- New Preston, CT
October 16, 2010
This celebration of artisanal handcrafted cheeses and wines, small farms, and small batch producers of all natural specialty foods will include opportunities to sample a wide variety of cheeses, wines, all natural handcrafted breads, chocolates, jams, produce, flavored butters, sauces, honey, maple syrup and more. Location: Hopkins Vineyard, 25 Hopkins Road. Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: adults, $10; children under 12, free. Information: 203 262-9390 or visit http://www.artisanmade-ne.com/.

Connecticut Tigers Octoberfest & Chili Cook Off -- Norwich, CT
October 16, 2010
The Connecticut Tigers Octoberfest; Chili Cook Off is a celebration of the Northeast's finest craft beers. Come wet your whistle at Dodd Stadium, home of the Connecticut Tigers, the Single-A New York-Penn League Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Guests will enjoy live music, local chili offerings, and many of the finest craft beers our region has to offer. Location: 14 Stott Avenue. Time: 1 - 5 p.m. Cost: $20 in advance; $25 at the gate; designated drivers, $10. Information: 860-887-7962 or visit web.minorleaguebaseball.com.

Foodie blast from the past

I just thought it would be interesting to share with you some of the photos of a place that most of you should recognize if you are familiar with driving around Hartford. These photos are of Arthur's Drugstore on Farmington Avenue at the intersection of Sigourney and Farmington Ave (diagonally across from Aetna).

And this is the view of Arthurs Drugstore when it had a lunch counter! Personally I wish we still had some decent retro lunch counters around Hartford where I could go for a BLT or something equally as fitting. Sad loss that none of these places seem to exist anymore. Nice blast from the past though.

If I have peaked your interest and you want to find more such photos, these photos are taken from the Hartford Studies project which is housed at The Hartford Public Library.

"El Sarape" in Frog Hollow

Many people that I encounter react in horror when I tell them some of the places that I traverse to in search of good eats, because they are plainly scared for my safety. Honestly speaking though, it's not the fact that I think that I am invincible and that nothing will ever happen to me, but that there is such a gross misconception about most of Hartford's neighborhoods. And those fears get encouraged and inflated by the irresponsible media who continually construes Hartford as a city where your life will be threatened at every turn. Part of the point of my blog is to dispel those myths for Hartford as well as other cities in the state. Hartford is an incredibly rich and diverse city with so many warm and friendly people and so many cuisines for the true foodie to sample.

One of the places that is definitely rich with cuisines and cultures is Frog Hollow in Hartford. If people know of Frog Hollow, they think it is named for the French population who were one of the many ethnic groups that came to Hartford in the Industrial age to work in our factories. Other groups that have and still do populate the area are; Puerto Ricans, Swedish, Danish, Greek, Irish, German and French Canadians. And the name was given to the area actually because of the Park River which used to overflow and created marshy conditions in that section of the city.

"Burritos de Pollo"

A good place to start exploring is by checking out El Sarape. It’s a smallish place with a walk up counter in the first room where you can get take out food and order one of the lavish cakes made on premise, and then there is a second room for dining with pictures by Diego Rivera gracing the colorful walls. I was taken to this restaurant years ago and it has become my go to place for authentic Mexican fare (I will not go to a Taco Bell, even if I am starving). Since I am one of those people who just gets hungry as soon as I walk into a place and smell the food cooking, I am always very happy with places that bring you things to munch on. Warm tortilla chips and salsa hit the spot!

The portions are gigantic (but then again, I have a small stomach!) and I haven't tried any appetizers yet because I know that I will have a hard enough time with my entree. Besides the Chicken Burrito (in the picture above) I have also tried the Enchiladas Poblanas which was divine! They are rolled corn tortillas that can be stuffed with cheese, chicken or beef and then they are rolled in red or green sauce and topped with sour cream. I ordered the green sauce partially cause I didn't know any better and partially cause I was feeling adventurous. Wow, did it ever pack a punch, and I loved every spicy bite of it! I would recommend a cooling drink to accompany whatever food you try. My favorite (I order it with my meal, otherwise it's gone before the food comes!) is the Orcheta which is a rice milk and cinnamon drink. They have really good Limeade as well. 

I found out on my last visit that they are also serving breakfast now from 10-1pm. Some of the selections sound mouthwatering and I can't wait to head back there to try them. 

Address: 931 Broad Street, Hartford, CT

Phone: 860-547-1884

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, Open Monday- Sunday

Foodie Deals

     

Here's a thought for foodies looking to get the most bang for their buck. Check out the half price hookup on KISS 95.7's website. The link is listed below. They sell a bunch of gift certificates for half price or even sometimes on clearance (a definate score) to area restaurants, and other businesses. Not sure what the idea was behind this creation, but I have been taking advantage of it for awhile now and have gotten to eat at some restaurants that I wouldn't generally be able to afford.

For instance, this week you can get a $50 Gift Certificate for the price of $25 to two great Italian restaurants; Cafe Mangia (excellent little spot in Colchester with good sunday brunch) and to Papacelle (upscale menu so gift cert is definately the way to go).

Website: http://wkss.halfoffdeals.com/

Will the real Drunken Noodles please stand up?!

"Drunken Noodles"

Just looking at this photograph makes me hungry all over again! This lovely creation is my current favorite food to eat and Elephant Trail in Avon is the only place that like to go to have it. I have ordered Drunken Noodles at many other restaurants and they have been a severe disappointment. At one such establishment, the server tried to dupe me into believing that the Pad Thai that they served me was really Drunken Noodles and that the only difference between the two dishes was the peanuts!! Regardless, the Elephant Trail calls itself the most authentic Thai restaurant in Connecticut and I am rapidly becoming a believer in their claim.

Some other good things about the restaurant besides the Drunken Noodles? WELL....first off, I would like to gush about how pleasingly spicy their food is. And as you may have noted from other posts of mine, I can't stand eating bland "ethnic" food. What's the point? Also, they have really good lunch specials which are between $6-$7. And whether you are there for lunch, dinner or takeout, the portions are definitely on the generous side. An added bonus, cause I am always quite happy to see that I have leftovers for lunch.

Finally, for those of us who don't really like driving over that craziness called The Avon Mountain, the owners of Elephant Trail are planning to open a second location in West Hartford this year. Yay!!!! Let's  hope that happens before the bad weather of the season starts, cause it would be a sad state of affairs to get into a car crash coming down the mountain because of a craving for drunken noodles.

Website: http://theelephanttrail.com/site/

Smoking at the Owl Shop

Ah, the cigar case with the hidden cigars on sale.

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to head down to New Haven and visit The Owl Shop. This place is one of the only bars that I know of in Connecticut (thus far) where you can still smoke indoors, since the smoking ban took place a few years ago. The Owl Shop reminds me of what I think an old fashion men's club would have been like.

                                             
It's dimly lit, smokey, filled with worn leather chairs, and has alot of heavy drapery and dark wood. The walls are filled with glass cases that are stocked with cigars for sale, an impressive collection of pipes, and smoking memorabilia. The bar is one of those impressive wooden bars that has seen it's share of history. And it's well stocked with a selection of cordials, brandies, whiskeys, scotches and other liquors that will take me years to go through and sample. But it's a task that I will gladly undertake, since everything that they have goes so well with my favorite cigarellos. Mmmm.

                                     
The Owl Shop has been in business since the 30's and is still going strong. The clientel is always very friendly and you can usually meet some locals who have been visiting the Owl Shop for years and are more than willing to impart some knowledge about smoking, New Haven, physics, CT politics, chess, local lore or a variety of other subjects. One snippet of a conversation that peaked my attention was that during happy hour (5-7pm) there are not only drink specials but also cigar specials, good tidbit to remember.

                                     
They also host events at Owl Shop such as book signings for true cigar lovers, such as the following that will be taking place Sept. 15th at 5pm. It's the "official launch of The Cigar Lover’s Compendium. The $20 admission includes a signed copy of the book, a Chivas tasting paired with a complimentary cigar, a humidor raffle, giveaways, and more."

Next time you are in New Haven, stop in for an amaretto and cigar and see who you meet!

Website: http://owlshopcigars.com/index.htm

                                                                     

Return of the Midweek Hangover: Mondays at Salute'

Just a very quick note on a happy hour for tonight. It has come to my attention that Salute' has decided to make Monday night's an all night happy hour! I am very pleased about this, and hope to check it out tonight. It starts at 3:30 pm and goes till close in the bar and patio areas. Nice. I have already reviewed Salute', so check out that blog for more details, and check out their website for the happy hour menu. Good news for my happy hour fans though!

Website: http://www.salutect.com/index.html

I did go and check it out! Highly recommend the "Choco" martini. Yum!

Pelkey's Pig Roast

Can you point me to the pig roast?

Having been a vegetarian for most of my life, the last place on earth that I would have thought I would end up was at a pig roast. However, since I decided to start expanding my palate in the past year, I jumped at the invitation extended to me by friend Katherine to attend her father's annual Pig Roast held in Madison, CT. After all, when do you ever get invited to such an event? I figured it was my responsibility my followers to go and report back. Luckily for me, Kathy is a fellow vegetarian, and so I wasn't worried about starving since she informed me that she would be bringing plenty of veggie burgers and there would be tons of side dishes to nosh on, if I wasn't ready to try a slice of the pig who had been nicknamed "Earl", evidenced by the carved apple in it's mouth. I have to admit that while I didn't taste any of the roasted pig, which weighed in at 130 pounds, I can report back that he smelled absolutely delish while cooking!  

Kathy and I

A line quickly formed when Papa Pelkey announced that "Earl" was ready to emerge from the roaster. The eager crowd who had been patiently waiting and increasing their appetite by downing beers quickly stripped the meat off of Earl and loaded up their plates on the long tables which were groaning under all of the side dishes, ranging from baked apples to salads, corn on the cob, coleslaws, potato salads and everything in between. Before you know it, the food had practically been inhaled by the masses. To wash it all down with, Kathy had played the role of mix mistress and had created an

Papa Pelkey carving up "Earl"

intoxicating summer sangria for us. Chock full of summer berries and lemon halves, it was like having desert in a glass and I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up from my glass and saw that the long tables were now magically ladden with brownies, pies and jellos that I wanted to try. Luckily there was a planned activity for the crowd to help us working through our expected lethargy. We all gathered round for a very enthusiastic game called "Cajun Horseshoes" which involved tossing 3 metal washers into a board that had 3 holes in it and represented a points system. The game is a tradition, and many of the players had 12 years of practicing under their belts. There was an officiating judge and it cost a dollar to play. The winner got to take home the winnings.  Unfortunately despite my dedicating an hour to practicing this game, I was taken out in the first round by Papa Pelkey, and didn't have a chance to showcase my new found skills. The evening ended us with roasting marshmallows over the fire pits, and both listening and commenting on some of the conversations that were going on around us. We heard one group talking about a dog who had drowned in a toilet. Another was reminiscing about clothing that was fashionable in the 80's and 90's. Hmm, that's one of the best thing about summer. You never really know what to expect when a bunch of random people get together.

The never ending quest for a real cup of coffee

La Paloma on Capitol Ave.

     After getting irritated with myself for not going to La Paloma Sabanera yet, and being in desperate need of a decent cafe con leche, I headed over. Let me first mention that parking is slightly tricky, but the owner has tried to accomodate for this situation by letting you park in the lot directly behind the building, or you can try for street parking after 9am.
     La Paloma Sabanera makes me feel like I am back in the 90's again. And that's a good thing, cause I miss that decade terribly. The atmosphere is funky and inviting. The chairs are random sizes and styles and are playfully mismatched with tables displaying colorful collages underneath the glass. One of my favorite ones was a circular homage to Freida Kahlo. The owner also told me that they offer free wireless, and it's the kind of place where you can comfortably camp out with your laptop for a few hours and not worry about the staff trying to rush you along or making hints that you purchase more than the coffee you have sitting in front of you.

     Although I have to say, you might want to eat here. The menu is pretty tasty for a coffee shop. Affordable as well. My cafe con leche with a cinnamon twist came to slightly over $3, which I was thrilled about since I had been grumbling about the $7 that I had paid the day before at Tisane for a cafe mocha and a biscotti. And I returned for lunch the same week to check it out and had a really good vegetarian panini with pesto for around $6. My lunch companion was equally pleased with her tuna salad sandwich. The menu is listed online, so you can check it out on their website.
     La Paloma Sabanera also is the home of the Kino Cafe, which is a semi underground movie group in Hartford. They host film viewings which are open to the public and cost $3 a person to attend. Quite a good deal. The films show on Tuesday nights and start up for the fall on September 14th at 7pm. Their schedule is available on La Paloma Sabanera's website as well.

Mural outside of coffeeshop

     All in all, I have decided that I will be spending a great deal of my time at La Paloma Sabanera. It's unpretentious, local, offers free water (since the owner doesn't believe in selling bottled water), has delicious and well made espresso drinks, good lunch options, a funky and artistic atmosphere and a slew of interesting patrons to start conversations with. What more could you ask for?

Address: 405 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-956-5003
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Website: http://www.lapalomacoffeehouse.com/default.htm

Food in the Movies

So, here are some random events concerning food. My favorite subject....

Real Art Ways in Hartford has a film coming up called "Kings of Pastry" As their website states "this documentary captures the never-before-filmed Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, France's highest honor in the art of patisserie." It opens November 5th, and you can check out the preview for it on their website: http://www.realartways.org/cinema.htm

And then, at Wesleyan University in Middletown there is a campus wide focus called "Feet to the Fire: Feast or Famine" which has brought two exhibits. The first is a show at the Davison Art Center called "Art and Appetite". It opens September 17th and it's focus is on how food has been depicted by artists throughout the centuries. It ranges from engravings done by Pierter Brugel the Elder to the flying pizza of Claes Oldenberg. The second is called "Food for Thought" and that focuses on resources from early cookbooks to agricultural manuals. It has opened already at the Olin Library and runs through December 10th. for more information you can check out their website: www.wesleyan.edu/dac or call (860) 685-2500.

Happy Anniversary to my parents!

The flower symbolic with my parents anniversary

Today is my parents 33rd wedding anniversary, and seeing as there would be no blog and no foodie to write it without them, I would like to take a quick second to wish them a very happy anniversary. My parents are the reasons that I am probably so obsessed with eating, food, health, local dining and exploring of the places that I call home. I fluxuate between cravings for sauerkraut and horseradish and loads of almond paste because of my background. My father is Russian, and my mom is English and Dutch and because of them, I have spent my life thus far in the Virgin Islands (where they eloped), Washington, DC (where I was born) and Connecticut (where I grew up). All very diverse places with a great smashing of cultures, flavors and inspirations. I would like to thank them for teaching me to appreciate different cultures and viewpoints, to learn to love to cook, to always try to see the good and worth in people and situations, to be open minded, to always have manners, respect other people's foods and traditions, the importance of ettiquete, to constantly improve myself, and to always try new things. Now the real challenge, is where to take them out to dinner to celebrate!