The Roux

In Bloom

It's Spring! And this is exactly why we love our neighborhood: charming homes with green grass and flower beds, enormous Sycamore trees lining the streets, and a small town feel. 

Tuxedo Kitty

As I walked to work this morning around 7 am, this little kitty stood directly in my path, a very narrowly shoveled path between 18 inch snow banks. His coloring against the pristine white snow would have been a perfect picture. This is what I got. 

Fennel

I picked up fennel and carrots from our neighborhood farmer's market last week. I braised them in safflower oil for high heat cooking (I've officially stopped sauteing with olive oil -- gotta avoid those free radicals!), salt, pepper and a little lemon juice. I did the same with the tilapia. On a bed of peppery arugula, it's the perfect summer dinner when your sixth floor apartment is 90 degrees with the oven off. 

Local Yokel

Mast Brothers dropped off a jar of their fine cocoa nibs a few weeks ago as a gift of congratulations for our new little shop. I brought the jar home and thought, gee, I'll never use these. Since then, they've graced vanilla bean ice cream, pancakes dressed with pomegranate molasses and these gorgeous oat muffins. AND our store now carries them. If you're in Brooklyn, stop by! I'd love to hear how other people are using these.  

On the lathe

I picked up a few blue potatoes at the local farmer's market on Sunday. They just looked so darn autumnal in their little wooden crate. Who doesn't love a farmer's market? I want everything there. 

Out came the mandoline we got as a wedding gift two years ago. I preheated the oven to 400 and swiftly passed the potatoes over the grate. To be honest, there was some jamming involved -- I like quick results. After a toss in olive oil, I arranged them on a baking sheet. A little sea salt. 10 minutes each side.

Aren't they gorgeous? 

Lady Luck

My cousin came to visit me in NYC this past week. I hadn't seen him since he was a teenager and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to spend time together and get to know each other as adults. We caught up, laughed and were downright giddy over the fact that -- here we were drinking beers together in Brooklyn. And while walking home, a black cat meowed at us, looking for some attention. My cousin said it's always a good idea to make friends with a black cat that has crossed your path. 

Herbal Tonic for the Soul

I've finally visited the new local apothecary, Sacred Vibes, where Karen, a master herbalist and store owner, points you in the right direction for personal wellness. I am LOVING it. I'm pretty sure I'll be there at least once a week for the vibe alone. I just love walking out of there with my little paper bags of herbs - a customized potion; my own little arsenal. And once home, I begin a peaceful ritual of boiling, steeping, cooling and settling down to a cup of earthy tea. Ahhhh.... 

les Fleurs

How cool is an establishment that is one part florist, one part bar? We're still lovin' our new neighborhood! Jim brought me these last week along with some herbal tea for allergies from a new local apothecary. What a lovely surprise on a sort of blah day! And we're still enjoying them. It's hard to find flowers that last longer than a few days. I'll never buy bodega flowers again.

I ♥ Ditmas Park

So, working back a bit, we went to Pomme de Terre almost immediately after the movers left last Wed. We were exhausted and hungry. That alluring warm glow only a block away from our new place was irresistible. Our kind waiter, Todd, surprised us with the warm chocolate cake with passionfruit compote. And OH BOY... simply devine. Since then, I casually walk by at least twice a day because its on the way to everything I have to do. I have a little anxiety because I SO want to go back, regularly, and just have the cake with a glass of Sancerre, and chat with Todd. But I don't really know Todd and he'd probably think I had a problem. 

Amid Boxes, A Respite

On our second night in the new apartment, we dined at our cafe table by candlelight. Earlier that day, I had to return to Park Slope with Charlie for a visit to the vet. He had scraped his little toe. After the vet, as shops were locking their doors, I raced around with Charlie balanced on one arm in the rain collecting food and wine from our old haunts. Our menu: Russo's homemade chicken and lemon ravioli in a butter sauce, goat cheese and soppressata on the side and a delicious Gruner Veltliner from my favorite Park Slope wine shop, Big Nose Full Body. For dessert, a few squares of Green & Blacks organic dark chocolate, 70% cocoa content of course.

When you move, you label boxes so the movers know where to put things. And when you get to your new place, you have no idea which box holds what. With about 12 boxes labeled "kitchen," we were lucky dishes and wine glasses were close at hand. In the old place, we rarely reached for our funky, flat-bottom wine glasses and look - they're lovely! There are still MANY boxes to unpack, but we already feel that "fresh start" feeling of settling in to a new home.