Simplifying

Hi all,

Well, this past weekend I received some very difficult news, and my world has been turned upside down a bit.  I'm actually going to take a week or two off from blogging; I really need to focus on myself and my family for the time being.  But I am hoping that inspiration still strikes during that time period; in which case, I might stop by here for a quick picture or two.

In spite of everything going on in our lives, Adam, Bug, and I rallied together and had a lovely day yesterday.  After six years of living in New York City, we finally - finally! - went on the Staten Island Ferry.  And we decided to take the trip for no particular reason...we had never done it before and the weather is incredible...what better reason is that?

Then I came home and made a very simple dinner: sauteed Chanterelle mushrooms, a salad, and some cheese and bread.  It took me all of 15 minutes to make and it was incredibly satisfying and grounding.

The cheese is incredible.  It's called Rush Creek Reserve Farmstead Cheese from Wisconsin's Uplands Cheese.  I got it at Murray's Cheese - it was recommended by the staff person there as a better alternative, both in cost and flavor, to Vacherin.  Even then, the wheel above cost a whopping, painful $30!  BUT we've been eating it for more than a week.  It's so rich and creamy that we really are eating it in extreme moderation.  And worth the splurge - it tastes incredible.  

For the salad, I tossed together spinach, toasted walnuts (sorry, Marjorie!  But I think it would taste just as good with pecans, if that's a possibility for you), dried cranberries, and blue cheese.  I made a light dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, kosher salt, and pepper.

The Chanterelles were so good; these mushrooms are so delicately flavorful that the simplest preparation will do: splash of olive oil, tablespoon or so of butter, kosher salt, and pepper.  Saute until just cooked through but not completely soft.

I poured a glass of Prosecco and the whole thing was just heartwarming and refreshing.

I'll be back soon, I promise.  You know I can't stay away long.

Love, Laura

  

Buvette's Brussels Sprout Salad

The Soul Twin (a.k.a. my best friend, Andrea) recently celebrated a birthday.  It's the first birthday I've actually shared with her in person in...years and years.  Maybe even since we graduated college?  So I was incredibly excited to take her out to Buvette for lunch this year to celebrate live and in-person.  I'd heard amazing things about Buvette, but I just never had the chance to go...it's in the West Village after all and, like most Manhattanites, I cry and whine about having to go to the opposite side of the island.

Anyway, Buvette surpassed every expectation I had and more.  The ST and I nibbled and drank for three hours.  The restaurant folks didn't seem to care; it truly is the sort of place you can sit and enjoy as long as you want.  We had sandwiches...we had a gorgeous selection of cheeses...we had a bottle of wine...but the stand-out for us were the Brussels sprouts.  We ordered them on a bit of a whim - they were "just" a side dish and, even though we're deep into winter, we're still obsessed with trying everyone's variation on Brussels sprouts.

Buvette's were heavenly.  They were sliced very thin and tossed with walnuts and cheese.  The taste was so fresh and so light, and we desperately wanted to be able to recreate them at home.  So we asked the server how they were prepared: Brussels sprouts, Pecorino, walnuts, olive oil, salt, and pepper.  That. Is. It.  To quote Ina Garten, "how easy is that?"

So my variation is below.  Make sure to use a very dry, crumbly Pecorino, and you also want to salt liberally.  The key, though?  You need to keep tasting, tasting, tasting to make sure you have the seasoning right.  And don't skimp on the olive oil!

BUVETTE'S BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Serves 4 as a side dish


1 pound Brussels sprouts, sliced thinly
1/2 pound aged Pecorino, grated
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted 
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper


1. Trim off the dry ends of the Brussels sprouts and run them under some water.  The best way to slice them very thin is to use the slicing attachment on a food processor: feed the Brussels sprouts into the processor and they'll be finished in about a minute.  You could use a mandoline, but be careful of those fingers.  And I suppose you could slice them by hand but that'll be a long process.  Once finished, empty Brussels sprouts into a large bowl.


2. Add the grating attachment to your food processor.  Add Pecorino to grate.  Again, you can do this with a hand grater too.  Add cheese to Brussels Sprouts in the bowl.


3. Using a dry pan, toast walnuts over medium heat until fragrant and slightly darker.  Add to bowl.


4. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to the bowl and toss well to coat.  Taste for seasoning; add more olive oil, salt, and/or pepper, as needed.  Serve.


KID-FRIENDLINESS: Who are we kidding?  Bug would never eat this.


WINE NOTES: Usually, a crisp white is the way to go with Brussels sprouts, but the Pecorino makes them a bit more red wine friendly.  I had the Foris Pinot Noir with this and liked it.  


Eat, drink, and recreate your favorite restaurant dishes.