Olive Vine January 29, 2009

For lunch the other day, I had a craving for falafel!  Now, why the sudden craving?  The boyfriend and I were watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  He was doing a falafel throwdown against the owner of Taim.  It was painful to watch.  After watching falafels being made for a half an hour, I was ready to ask the boyfriend to drive me to Mamouns on MacDougal to get me a falafel (They’re open till 3AM).  Why painful?  I was having hunger pains since I wanted falafels that bad.   But we waited till the next day.  It must have been cold, because that’s the only reason why I wouldn’t go and get food. 

 

So the next day, I woke up…and off to get falafels we went.  The boyfriend and I headed over to Olive Vine on 7th Ave and 15th St. Yum! The last time I was there I had ordered the salad platter to go and went to Prospect Park to watch a rendition of Fahrenheit 151.  I wasn’t too big a fan of the show, but the salad platter paired with a nice red wine and I was in heaven. 

 

The nice thing about the salad platter is you get to choose five items from a list of about ten that you want.  This time I opted for the tabbouleh, a double babbaganoush, rice wrapped in grape leaves, and hummus.  This was shared between the boyfriend and me. 

 

 

For our mains, he ordered a grilled chicken gyro and I ordered a falafel sandwich.  I ate half of it already before I remembered to take a picture.

 

 

All was yummy.  The owner was kind enough to give us a free slice of an almond type cake.  It was very rich but delicious.  I’ve been here a few times, and I’ve always been happy with the food.  The restaurant is also BYOB, and conveniently enough there is a wine store right across the street.   Although, it was 11 o’clock when we went, so I didn’t want to seem like a lush.  Also, I love, love the pita bread.  They arn’t the kind that come in a package.  They are made to order pita.  So pillowy and soft.  They are a must have. What a delicious way to start the day.

 

Bento #8 – 2009.01.27 January 27, 2009

Bento #8 – 2009.01.27Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

This was yummy, although I think I packed way too much food. However, I did have all these items in my fridge/freezer/pantry believe it or not. Its amazing how a little challenge would force you to use up your pantry items.

I was quite upset that a bottle of truffles my brother gave me were spoiled. I had to throw it out.  I don’t know if its the Asianess in me, but I hate wasting food.  I really do.  I rather eat it all up then have food go to waste.  Especially when I’m cooking too.  If I had a backyard, I would have a compost bin to throw all the veggy and fruit cuttings into. 

-Braised Miso Turnip

-Roasted Miso Kobacha and Butternut Squash

-Kinpira Broccoli

-Sliced Pan Fried Egg Tofu

-Udon with Shitake Mushroom and Sliced Fish Cake

-Kumquats with Almond Tofu (Made for Chinese New Year!!)

-Kimchi Furikake Onigiri

Bento #7 – 2009.01.21 January 21, 2009

Bento #7 – 2009.01.21

Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

I’m really liking the bento challenge. As you can see I like variety in my lunch box. The meatballs came out great. I just threw in a bunch of things like mushrooms, scallions and Cilantro with some Pork and the staple chinese ingredients and they came out delicious.

The spam masubi was a first. I need a little bit more practice with that. But all in all I can’t wait for lunch.

- Tamagokai with Black Sesame Seeds
- Pork and Mushroom meatballs
- Half a spam masubi
- Braised cabbage with Black Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil

- Sweet Red Pepper
- Picked Daikon with Black Sesame Seeds
- 2 Clementines
- Onigiri with Red Caviar

Bento #6 – 2009.01.16 January 17, 2009

Bento #6 – 2009.01.16

Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

- Pork & Chive dumplings
- Broccoli
- Carrot Salad
- broccoli & carrot kinpira
- spicy eggplant & pork, brown rice onigiri w. Nori

I did well this week. I brought lunch 4 out of 5 days. Pretty good. I actually like the home food better. I’m better able to control the portions and I don’t feel overstuffed.

Shadman Restaurant January 16, 2009

Shadman Restaurant - Storefront

After being transplanted from my midtown office building to the Jersey City office building, I experienced a bit of food shock.  No more could I simply walk downstairs, and eat what ever my tummy desired.  Instead, I was faced with looking at the Hudson, and all the yummy food that was just a hop, skip and a jump across the river.  No more delicious street cart man, with his yummy lamb and rice.  No more ramen noodles.  As you can see, this made me quite depressed.

After working in the JC office for so many years, you learn the local spots and “good” places to eat.  Although there are not that many, the ones I have found satisfy my palate and my tummy.  I should also mention, that I used to work long hours, so work used to pay my dinner.  A nice way to try out all the local restaurants.

One such place is Shadman Restaurant.  Although a little bit of a walk from my office, it has some of the better Indian food that I’ve had.  Jersey City and the surrounding areas have a nice Southeast Asian population, so the food is good.  I haven’t tried any of the main courses, but instead opt for the buffet.  The buffet at $6.95, comprises of a nice vegetarian and meat selection and is a steal. 

Shadman Restaurant - Clockwise from top - Pea and Paneer curry, lentils, green beans, salad with raita, basamati rice

It has a very mom and pop type of feel.  You walk in, and self seat yourself.  Then let the gluttony begin.  Everything is self serve for the buffet unless you are going to order from the regular menu.  Also, a nice thing is the naan.  The naan is brought out fresh to the tables.  I’m not usually a naan eater, but theirs is delicious.  Very airy and not greasy.  Its not sitting in a heating pan waiting to be eaten, but comes straight out of the kitchen.  Want some water?  Water is in the refrigerator case in the back.

I like the fact that the food is not overly greasy and creamy.  Some places when you get Indian food has so much grease, it kind of pools up on the top.

Its hard not to leave this place busting at the seam.  I guess the 10 minute walk to the restaurant is a hidden blessing.  (You don’t feel so bad for eating as much because you’re walking it off…. well that’s what I tell myself anyway.)

Bento #5 2009.01.15 January 15, 2009

Bento #5 2009.01.15

Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

- two brown rice onigiri w. nori & red caviar
- carrot salad
- blanched broccoli
- spicy eggplant and pork
- green pea & chick pea burgers
- tamagoyaki w. nori furikake
- carrot and broccoli stalk kinpira

Bento #4 – 2009.01.14

Bento #4 – 2009.01.14

Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

Bento #4 – Its a leftover week. Leftover beef chow fun, corn with cracked black pepper, celery, tomato and yellow pepper, mozzarella salad.

Just Bento, Bento Challenge – Bento #3 January 14, 2009

Bento #3

Originally uploaded by CutieBunnie

So to start off the bento challenge I took left over tacos and stuck it in my bento box. Also packed a side of tabboulleh. It was quite messy to put together, but oh so delicious.

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My love/hate relationship with a little animal called the lamb January 6, 2009

Lambs are cute when they are still alive.  When not so alive, they can be prepared all these different extravagant ways that makes it look darn tasty.  No matter how many times I try a dish made with lamb, I want to spit it back up. 

My mom made this roasted rack of lamb for Christmas dinner.  It looked so damn good.  So good I had to try a piece.  Then there was that unmistakable taste of lamb.  You’d think by now I would have liked it… just a little bit.  But no.  The gaminess and taste is too strong for me.  I know right.  I rather eat Chinese dried fish than lamb.  I like gyros.  But maybe because it has all those other spices.  

Why bring this up?   

I love spinach.  I also love Indian food.  So anything Paneer is right up my ally.  Expect when its Lamb Paneer.  I went to Indian buffet today thinking it will be okay.  You like spinach.  Spinach > Lamb.  Wrong.  After I got it on my plate and started to smell that lamby smell.  Ick.  But I took it so I had to try it.  Yuck, Yuck, Yuck.  I tried it at least. 

My mom did this trick where she wanted my brother and me to eat Chinese parsley (cilantro).  She put it in everything.  I mean EVERYTHING.  Ever have spaghetti with tomato sauce and cilantro?  How about beef stir fry with rice and cilantro.  Her thought was if it was in everything eventually you’ll grow to like it.  I can’t imagine doing that with lamb.  I’d probably starve.  I just don’t like the taste of lamb that much.

So to all you lamb lovers out there.  Lamb, live or not so alive.  Go be happy with your lamb.  I think I’ll stick to chicken.