The Rat's Year in the Sun

Happy Chinese New Year!










It's the year of the Rat. Time for our furry friends to enjoy a year of luck, prosperity, and love (hopefully anyway).

Here's what you should be eating to secure said luck, prosperity and love:

*Whole Fish: for togetherness in the family

*Whole Chickens: for prosperity & completeness ("whole" means heads, feet, and tails)

*Uncut long noodles: for a long life

*Lotus Seeds: for many healthy children (traditionally this if for many healthy "sons" not children in general, but I think we have all embraced feminism enough to move past that right?)

*Dried Bean curd for wealth and happiness (not fresh white tofu which is unlucky and represents death during New year! GOOD TO KNOW!)

*Sticky Rice Pudding Cake (to advance one's positions and prosperity one step at a time, or grain by grain)

*Spring Rolls: represent Spring and a fresh start (this can also be various foods wrapped in lettuce leaves)

So I dunno about you, but I'm going to Chinatown this weekend. There are always wonderful parades, street performances, and foods they only serve during New Year. Remember when in Chinatown, eat as the Chinese do, and if you're a Rat, I wish you good fortune, luck, and great meals!

Malbec and Mushroom Bulgur

I went out dinner last night with one of my best and oldest friends (we either met in 3rd or 4th grade depending on who you're asking), and her Mother (my second Mommy). We wanted something light, having been little piggies since New Year and I suggested Kashkaval. Kashkaval on 9th Avenue, started out as a Mediterranean Deli and a few years back opened up a little Wine Bar and Restaurant in the back.
I had certainly been to the Deli (and I use the very term loosely, it's more of a mini Gourmet Market with homemade dips, salads, sandwiches, breads etc), to get some great sliced meats, and amazing Taramasolata (a whipped caviar dip that is out of this world), but had yet to ever actually sit down and eat there. I am so glad I did.
This is the type of place you're really glad you know about. It’s charming, all exposed brick and wood, lit by candles, and easy-going atmosphere. The kind of place where the wait staff wear what they want, and the service is friendly if not 100% on-the-ball. They serve what they sell upfront mostly, with the lovely addition of 3 kinds of fondue and homemade soups. We had different dips and salads, amazing Turkey Meatballs and Chicken Caponata, and Bulgur with Mushrooms -- it was all excellent and exactly what we wanted.
Now I have a confession to make. For all of my "expertise," for all of my foodie-knowledge, I am a complete dummy with wine. I know nothing. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it, I just have no idea what to choose or how to choose it. So when confronted with the very large wine list (THANKFULLY with descriptions for the wine inept such as myself) I chose something that I know I usually like -- a Malbec. Malbec is a grape from South America, and wine made in Argentina. This specific one, Malbec Punto Final 2006, was excellent. It was rich and smooth and really drinkable. On the menu it was $25 a bottle, which is completely reasonable, and happily I found it on wine.com for $11.99 and it even made the top 100 wines of 2007. Maybe I'm not such a wine-loser after all!
Bottom line is, check out Kashkaval (which by the by is a kind of cheese), and try a little of everything at lunch. Then, go for dinner (the earlier the better it gets crowded) for some good Wine and Fondue, or Meat and Cheese Platters, or Soups, or homemade Halvah, or or or...