Tomato Soup

Halloween Traditions

Last year, I attempted, for the first time ever, to make my dad's famous chili. Every year he makes it for Halloween and I consider it an important tradition to honor.

Luckily, this year, I didn't have to slave away in the kitchen for 4 hours making it, going over the recipe a million times to make sure I didn't miss anything, and getting nervous when Andy took a bite. Because this year, Andy and I joined my parents in New Jersey for a Halloween party with close family friends, and my dad decided to make it for the costume-fest.

He slaved away in the kitchen for 4 hours instead, adding all of his little touches that are hard to express in a written recipe. Andy and I salivated as we waited around in the house for party time- we had been thinking about this chili all month:

There was a much larger pot of the stuff, but this was the small pot of extra. Andy took one bite and said "this is way better than yours."

After he saw my shocked and insulted face, he amended his comment and said, instead "it is more balanced than yours." And that, I will admit. Actually, I will admit that it's way better, and it is going to take a lot more Halloween's for me to master this recipe. It is specifically true that my dad's chili is incredibly balanced. There is a powerful, upfront spiciness that as you chew through the kidney beans, sausage, and ground beef softens, leaving you with a smooth, tomato and chili-powder finish. He even makes a great vegetarian version- which he made on this night also so my friend Cailyn could enjoy some meatless bliss.

Topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and raw onions, the chili gets even better:

I really think my dad's chili should be entered into a contest. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a devoted daughter!

O-H-I-O!

Lately, I seem to be unable to stay in one place for long. Not too long ago I was in California. Then a couple weeks later I found myself in Atlanta. And last weekend I was in Columbus, Ohio. And this weekend I was in New Jersey. But since I'm on some back-log here (there are just so many good food opportunities!) I am currently only caught up until Ohio.

I headed to Columbus to visit my cousin, Emily, who attends Ohio State. My whole family (grandma, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins) made a special weekend trip to go to a football game. My grandfather went to Ohio State, and so we went to celebrate his favorite team in his memory. But besides watching some great football (Ohio State won 24-17) we ate!

We had brunch at Hang Over Easy:

I had egg whites with cheddar cheese sprinkled on top, sausage, and hash browns! I love a place that has the option of hash browns, instead of just home fries. There is something about the grated, seasoned potatoes that really make a great brunch. This was a good, local spot and it got us all into the Buckeyes spirit.

After the exhilarating win we celebrated at another one of my cousin Emily's favorite spots, Lindey's. We luckily had a great, long table secluded in the back of the restaurant. We were a big group and my family loves to talk so we were very comfortable! We also ordered a ton of food, including a sampler platter of calamari,crab cakes, and chicken potstickers. I was pretty addicted to the calamari and the creamy remoulade and so I was very full when this arrived for me:

This was a huge piece of New York Strip Steak with mushroom and chive butter. I only managed a couple of bites both because I was very full and also because it was very, very salty. And, admittedly, I am a very big fan of salt and usually have a higher tolerance for sodium rich dishes than some people. But this was much too intense for me.

My mom had the Veal Saltimbocca:

Which she loved, but also commented on its saltiness. However, my Aunt had the scallops which she thought were too bland- and actually added salt to, so it seemed there were discrepancies in the seasonings.

We also had to try a sampling of desserts and opted for the Bananas Foster:

And the Warm Chocolate Cake:

The Bananas Foster was not good at all. The crepe tasted like a bland sheet of frozen puff pastry, and we couldn't taste the white chocolate or mascarpone cheese.

However, the warm chocolate cake was divine. It had a molten chocolate center that was piping hot and complimented the moist cake surrounding the more liquid middle.

The best part of the evening was certainly being with family, but I wish the restaurant had impressed me a little more. It was a very busy night, and we were one of the last parties (and a party of 12 at that) seated, but I don't think that should be an allowable excuse for a drop in the quality of food. 

Food for Thought

Last Thursday was the 11th Annual Food for Thought at the Roger William's Park Botanical Gardens. I had been looking forward to the event since I'd first heard about it this summer, and was also excited to check out the remodeled Botanical Gardens.

The indoor gardens were spectacular and were a fantastic backdrop for an elegant food and drink event. When we walked in, we were greeted by a table of The Genesis Center's cookbooks:

And then we dived right into the food! Some of the highlights included Julian's spiced pumpkin gnocchi:

CAV's lobster bisque soup with creme fraiche:

El Rancho Grande's mole:

And Gracie's parfaits sprinkled with pop rocks!:

I even ran into the winner of my Food for Thought contest!  Andy and I felt like we needed to be rolled out  of there because we obviously had to try everything (and seconds of some things). So, obviously, the event was a great success!

Rasoi

Rasoi apparently opened a year ago already- but for some reason I felt like it was only a couple of months ago. Maybe it's because recently they did a marketing push for the restaurant and put coupons in the mailboxes of East Side residents. A week ago I saw the coupons peeking out from under some takeout menus in a basket I keep in the kitchen, put them in my purse, and Andy and I made a date to go last Thursday to Blackstone Place in Pawtucket and try it out.

The restaurant is different than the other Indian restaurants in the area (India, Not Just Snacks, and Kabob and Curry) in terms of decor. The proprietor of the restaurant, Chef Sanjiv Dhar, is also the owner of Kabob and Curry- a homey, local, college hang-out type of Indian restaurant. By contrast, Rasoi feels more upscale. The decor is sleek and modern, with tables divided by intricately carved red wood panels, and a bar situated in the middle of the restaurant.

We started with the potato and pea naan:

I think I prefer just plain naan, because the stuffed naan can be a little heavy when I'm ready to indulge in my full entree. But this was delicious- there was only a thin layer of potato and pea mixture in the middle and so the texture and taste of the fluffy bread were still the forefront taste.

I had the Frontier Garlic Shrimp marinated in a mix of yogurt, spices, and red chili with basmati rice and cauliflower:

The cauliflower was exceptional. I had heard, from other reviews, that the cauliflower was a must-try. And it is! It is an addictive combination of a fairly bland vegetable with a great texture, a spicy marinade, and a perfectly golden fried breading. I was sad it was only a side because I probably could have eaten an entire plate of it with rice. Luckily, the shrimp was also delicious. I wish it had been served with more of the yogurt marinade because, by preference, the dish was too dry. The flavors of the marinade (there were pieces of the red chili, carom seeds, and turmeric) were phenomenal and I think every bite needed a little bit of the spice.

Andy had the Chicken Tikka Lababdar with brown rice and lentils:

Andy was most thrilled that Rasoi had brown rice, but the chicken most definitely lived up to the glory of the availability of brown rice in a restaurant. The tomato sauce was rich and filled with the flavors of whole-milk yogurt, cumin, ginger, and garam masala. The lentils were also good, but paled in comparison to the wonders of the cauliflower.

We also had wonderful service, and left feeling great about Rasoi. In terms of decor, service, and authenticity- Rasoi is the best Indian I have had in Providence. They also have a vast menu (including Thali) which promises I'll be returning many, many times!

Chili Verde

There are several reasons why I love the website Simply Recipes.  First, the pictures are always fantastic. They always have the perfect lighting, and the food is always placed in color-complimentary and appropriate dining ware. Also, the recipes are always terrific. I have never been disappointed by anything I've tried- and to make it even better, they are absolutely simple. Some are more complicated than others, but they are all very manageable- and you can achieve a lot of deliciousness in Elise's easy recipes. Basically, I have blog envy.

So, whenever I get the chance and the inspiration, I try a new recipe from Simply Recipes. Last week, it was the Chile Verde:

I made it with chicken breasts instead of pork, and also made it during a weeknight, so I cut down on the simmering time. I only simmered the sauce for about 20 minutes (and eliminated the chicken stock used in this recipe to cover the meat), and added large chunks of fresh tomatoes.

I was at work until 7 pm, got home and whipped this up and was sitting down to dinner by about 7:45- there was nothing difficult about it. In fact, the only thing that tripped me up was when I cut the jalapeno and then accidentally rubbed my eye- and had to take a time out until my eye stopped stinging! I also didn't use either an anaheim or a poblano chile, but will add these and increase the cooking time next time I make them because I know it will make a marked difference in the flavor of the sauce.

The Blue Elephant

During the end of the summer Andy and I were walking along Wickenden Street to go get some records. On our way to the record store, I noticed that the little house that used to be an Italian restaurant but has been vacated for quite some time, was undergoing a transformation.

There was a small sign, in the menu placard on the outside, that said "The Blue Elephant- coming soon!" With a picture of, well, a blue elephant. I was curious about the restaurant, and decided to keep it in the back of my mind so I could ask around about it and the opening. But, like so many things that get pushed to the back of my mind, at some point I forgot all about The Blue Elephant, and it wasn't until a coworker mentioned she went there during the grand-opening week that I remembered walking by it this summer. Andy and I decided to check it out for our Sunday Brunch last weekend, because we are always looking for good, inexpensive breakfast/lunch places.

The place is adorable on the inside. It is very homey, and broken up into smaller, intimate dining rooms. It is bright and cheery, and the walls in one room are adorned with hand-made jewelery for sale, while another features photographs by a local artist.

Andy had the Rivera omelette with egg whites:

The omelette was filled with chili, black beans, jalapenos, and topped with slices of avocado. I didn't try the omelette, but since this is a new place, I wanted Andy to give his own review. So, in Andy's words, this is how the Rivera omelette was: "Overall, I thought the omelette was good, pretty basic but solid.  I was kind of expecting something a bit more extravagant flavor-wise, because that's what going out to eat has led me to expect a lot of the time, but Blue Elephant just doesn't seem to be that kind of place.  It's more straightforward.  If you order sausage, red peppers, onion and american cheese in an omelette, that's what you get."

I had two slices of french toast:

The french toast was disappointing. I was encouraged at first by the nice browned sides, but the skillet must have been too hot because the inside was very, very mushy. I also think the soft texture could be the fault of too much batter- the taste of buttermilk was so strong that each bite was overwhelmingly sour. The thickness of the challah toast was perfect though, and that is sometimes a big gripe I have with french toast.

Despite the french toast setback (something that is an easy fix), I do like The Blue Elephant. It was only the second week they were open, and I think restaurants deserve a grace period to work out the kinks and establish their cooks, dishes, etc. We had a fantastic waitress also who comped our drinks (an orange juice and a latte) because we waited awhile for them to arrive- but it was a wait we barely even noticed. I'm going to give the restaurant a couple more weeks, and I look forward to trying it again. I signed up for their email list so that I can receive their dinner menu which changes weekly, and it looks very promising (Maple-Mustard Chicken and Lavender and Basil Scallops)!

Brussels Sprouts

When I was younger, I only ever ate brussels sprouts steamed, sprinkled with Molly McButter. Butter flavored sprinkles may be a frightening image, but those little flakes got me to like a rather unappreciated vegetable.

Then, recently, the brusssels sprout gained fame again when they were roasted in the oven. They became crispy and delicious, and drizzled with olive oil, salt, and pepper- they became a little more popular out on the table. I was certainly thrilled to ditch the Molly McButter in favor of a slightly classier way of eating the brussels sprout, and am always happy when I can turn someone into a fan of the vegetable.

And I am also happy when I find new ways to prepare brussels sprouts, like in the newest edition of Bon Appetit.

This particular recipe can be found here, and is called Brussels Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots.

What leaps and bounds away from Molly McButter this dish is! The caramelized shallots truly do the brussels sprout justice. The splash of apple cider vinegar and pinch of sugar enhanced the sweetness of the shallots, And were perfectly paired with the green vegetable. Along with the butter, this was a decadent way to enjoy brussels sprouts! This would be a great dish to add to your Thanksgiving feast!

Vietnamese

The Shaw's Plaza off North Main Street is a very strange place. Now that the Shaw's is out of business, the place is desolate and a little eerie. With no cars in the parking lot, and few shops doing business, it is a strange place for a good restaurant.

And yet, there is one.

Pho Horn is a Providence favorite. I have received numerous emails and comments mentioning this unassuming Vietnamese restaurant in the plaza, and last weekend, when Andy and I were trying to think of somewhere to get lunch, all of those emails and comments rang loud and clear in my memory and it seemed the perfect day to try it.

We had Thai Iced Tea:

This was the first Thai Iced Tea I've ever had, so I don't have anything to compare it with, but based on the delicious taste of this, it is going to be a new favorite of mine. You can just taste the fresh, almost bitter taste of the tea (a taste which I happen to love) under the sweet creaminess of the sweetened condensed milk. This is a very addictive drink!

I was starving, so I had to get the steamed Saigon Ravioli appetizer:

I love these dumplings filled with a mixture of chicken, pork, and vegetables. These were served with a nice ginger dipping sauce and definitely helped my raging hunger!

The main dishes came out shortly after (there were only 4 other people in the restaurant).

I had the Lemongrass Tofu:

Andy had the Chicken Curry (is anyone surprised!?):

Unfortunately, both of these dishes (that look a lot alike) were swimming in sauces that were much too salty. Then, they were both topped with peanuts, which made the dish even saltier. When I got a bite of tofu or vegetable that had only a splash of sauce on it, I was happy with the flavor. The lemongrass really came through, but then I would take another bite and all I could taste was salt. Andy had a similar experience with his curry, and neither of us could finish our plates.

I was disappointed by our main dish experience, because I had really expected a lot from Pho Horn. Perhaps I ordered the wrong things- and I considered this as I made my order. I'm sure the Pho is the winner at this restaurant, but neither Andy nor I like beef noodle soup very much.

For those of you who are fans of Pho Horn- what dishes do you generally order? I am not giving up on this place, because I don't believe that from all of the people who mentioned this restaurant to me (including some very serious foodies!), this restaurant deserves a bad review. I am willing to give it another chance, but I want to walk into Pho Horn feeling a little more confident about what to order!

Z Bar

Over a year ago, Andy and I went to Z Bar and Grille on Wickenden Street. We enjoyed our food, but we had an unpleasant experience with the host/owner/manager (I am not quite sure which) and so never wanted to return back. The host had been rude to Andy because he was wearing a hat (we didn't realize that the place was a little more high-end, and Andy gladly would have taken his hat off but was very, very rudely asked by this man). Anyway, Z Bar left a sort of sour taste in our mouth so it wasn't until last week that we finally decided to return. Also, I want to say that I am sorry for the very poor quality of these photos. I left my camera at home, but wanted to capture the experience- so I did so with my phone.

I was immediately glad we returned when this delicious olive oil (along with warm bread) was served to our table:

It had garlic, thick flakes of red pepper, and parmesan cheese in the middle. I really like little touches like this (like the oil at Providence Oyster Bar). It is a refreshing change from butter or plain olive oil, that speaks to the level of detail for a restaurant.

I had the bowties with smoked salmon, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, garlic butter, and reggiano cheese, which actually came with penne instead of bowties:

I liked the lightness of the garlic butter sauce. The dish wasn't swimming in butter, and the noodles weren't all covered in a thick layer of shiny grease. Everything was just lightly tossed and served with a nice, fragrant sprinkle of parsley. I do think the dish could use more smoked salmon- I felt that this was mostly all noodles.

Andy had the same thing he had gotten last time- the burger:

While it's true that Andy loves to order burgers, I do have to give him credit because this burger is different than most you'll find. First, it is served wrapped in fresh baked pizza dough, and the tenderloin burger is wood grilled and served with potatoes and a small salad on the side. Andy really loved it, although he had thought that the burger was served in a pita not on pizza dough. Either way, it's tasty- but I think the burger is a bit too thick for the more delicate pizza dough.

We avoided the host/owner/manager, and Andy made sure not to wear his hat, so it was all around a better experience. I'm not sure it is on the top of my list of restaurants, even though it is close by, but it does promise a satisfactory American bistro dining experience.

The Official Drawing!

My official one year blog anniversary was October 9th- and it completely slipped my mind to dedicate an entire post to it, maybe with a picture of a nice slice of cake or something. But here is a picture of a bottle of champagne (a recycled picture from my sister's wedding in Paris actually!):

Anyway,I got some great responses to my post about the contest I am holding to celebrate it!

I asked my readers to simply leave a comment on the post and tell me what their favorite restaurant in Rhode Island is for a chance to win a ticket to the 11th Annual Food for Thought hosted by The Genesis Center, and a cookbook put together by the staff and students of the Center.

And the lucky and fantastic winner is...

Jane!

Jane's favorite restaurant depends on the day, and I have to agree that is how I usually feel! Plus, with so many great restaurants in the area, it is so hard to choose!

Congratulations, Jane! If you could send me an email to tomatosoupblog@yahoo.com, with your first and last name, the ticket and the cookbook will be waiting for you on October 25th at the Food for Thought Event!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to post, and I am so glad you've been enjoying the blog!