Monthly Archives: February 2011

Food for Thought: An Evening with Anthony Bourdain

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Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations is currently one of my favorite shows (which means it’s a permanent staple on my DVR), so it was no surprise that when I found out he was doing a speaking engagement in LA, I jumped on the chance to get tickets to the event.

Anthony Bourdain picture via TravelChannel.com

Having read Bourdain’s books Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw, as well as watching him on No Reservations and Top Chef, I felt like I had a pretty clear idea of what he was going to be like in person.  If you don’t have a sense of humor or tolerance for f-bombs here and there Bourdain is not your guy.  I however, find the guy hilarious.

During his talk Bourdain touched upon many topics such as the mysterious disappearance of Emeril Lagasse from the Food Network and instead featuring chefs such as Paula Deen (aka the butter queen) and Rachael Ray (3o minute meals that you COULD make, but never will).  He also called out the high and low points of Top Chef.  High point – the chefs are crazy talented and the show is legit; low point – the extreme overuse of product placement in one single episode.  But what stood out to me most was when he started talking about his experiences filming No Reservations.

Let’s be honest, Bourdain is a pretty lucky guy.  He goes from working 15+ hour days in a kitchen to writing a best seller to his own tv show where he gets to travel the world and basically do whatever he wants.  And he’s quite humble about it too.  He knows that he has a gig that everyone dreams about (well at least me anyway).  But as much drinking/swearing/food indulgences there are on any episode, he also takes a look into the respective locations culture.

One of the things Bourdain emphasized is that when you travel, immerse yourself in your surroundings.  Step out of your comfort zone.  Embrace another culture even if it means trying a mystery meat dish or maybe staying in a hotel with less than stellar plumbing.  So many of us are used to our creature comforts of home that when we do travel we expect it all to be the same, and if it isn’t the same we go seeking the familiar (Exhibit A: Starbucks).  In every episode I’ve seen of No Reservations, Bourdain NEVER eats at his hotel, and will only dine at a hole in the wall type place recommended by locals.  Many times you can find him sitting at a dinner table surrounded by a family and their friends, and enjoying an authentic, home cooked meal.  If that isn’t immersing yourself in a country’s culture, then nothing is.

By the end of the evening I was ready to hop on a plane to an exotic locale and enjoy the sights, sounds, and the food.  But since I can’t hop on a plane right this second, why not take advantage of my own surroundings?  Maybe I can’t travel to Greece in the next month, but I can try an authentic Greek restaurant.  Or if I have a hankering for Pad Thai I can make my own since Thailand isn’t in the cards anytime soon.  It’s time to embrace what my own city has to offer, even if it isn’t as exciting as many of the places seen on No Reservations.

Thanks Anthony Bourdain for a delightful evening.  And I promise that the next time I travel abroad I will not wear a fanny pack, visit all the tourist traps or go to a Starbucks.  You have my word.

Carrot Cake Bites

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Sometimes I find myself in the mood for a sweet snack but not too sweet.  I stumbled upon this little gem from Oh She Glows and knew I had to make it immediately.  It’s the perfect bite sized snack with just the right amount of sweet,  salt, and of course a healthy component (carrots! raisins!).

Below is my version of the recipe with a few changes, mainly due to the fact that I did not have all of the ingredients on hand and was too lazy to go to the store.  Such is life.

Carrot Cake Bites  (adapted from Oh She Glows)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup regular oats
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots, packed
  • 1/4 cup raisins, soaked in water overnight
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

*Note: The original recipe calls for walnuts which I had to omit because I am unfortunately allergic.  I think pecans would bring a nice nutty texture to this recipe.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F and line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and oats in a large bowl. Add in the coconut, raisins, and shredded carrots. In a small bowl mix the maple syrup, agave nectar, vanilla, and ground ginger. Add this to the flour mixture and stir until combined.

Drop about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough onto lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Shape into a ball with hands. Bake for about 12 minutes and cool for 10 minutes on a baking rack.

Yield 12-15 cookies depending on how big your scoops are.

Delicious goodness in one little bite!

Devour. Eat. Repeat.

Gastronomic Delights at SideDoor

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I’m a big fan of gastropubs.  I like the warm, comforting feel of a classic English/Irish/Euro-pub infused with good eats and twists on traditional classics.  To me, a gastropub is where everyone can get together and relax and just have a good time.  When I stumbled upon the SideDoor in Corona del Mar, I found just that.

The SideDoor is a cute little gastropub located next to the famed Five Crowns Restaurant.  While the Five Crowns may be known for their classic Prime Rib dinners and impeccable service, the SideDoor is known for it’s updated daily (!) menu and warm cozy atmosphere complete with a fireplace and English literature adoring the walls.

Since the menu changes daily, you never know quite what to expect.  Of course, there are some SideDoor staples such as the Fish ‘n Chips, Cheese and Charcuterie board, the Roast Beef sandwich, and of course french fries that are fried in beef fat.

While my dining companions stuck with beer, I chose to go with “Door #2″ also known as a white wine flight:

Wines lined up on a wooden door. So precious.

The Charcuterie board with English Cheddar, Goat Cheese and Serano Ham was the perfect starter:

Delicious meats and cheeses waiting to be devoured

The main dishes included Fish ‘N Chips, Macaroni and Cheese and Chicken Pot Pie.  Check out the Great Fish ‘N Chips Challenge to see more.

The macaroni and cheese was pretty much what you would expect – cheesy, gooey, and decadent.  I don’t have macaroni and cheese much but I’d definitely have it at SideDoor again.

Look at all that delicious cheese

The chicken pot pie had a light, flaky crust and was steaming (literally) when it was placed at our table.

Steaming chicken pot pie equals poor picture quality

Then it was time for the piece de resistance aka dessert.  We decided on the shortbread cookies with lemon curd.  While the shortbread cookies topped with lemon curd were quite delicious, it wasn’t the best shortbread that I’ve ever had.  It was more of a delicious cookie than true English shortbread.  For the real deal, I highly recommend Harrods shortbread cookies.

Shortbread you are delicious but Harrods you are not

All in all it was a delightful evening.  I’d definitely come back to the SideDoor again and try some other items on the menu (and the Charcuterie board!).  Now if we could only get a few more of these gastropubs in Orange County…

SideDoor
3801 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625