The truth about grocery shopping

I may or may not have strange grocery shopping habits. For example, I like to shop for groceries late at night, 9:30 - 10:00pm or early in the morning before work, 7:30 - 8:00am. There's something really enjoyable about being either among the first or last ones to shop. No one is pushing you around. You can take your time to browse, smelling and feeling the produce one at a time, with no one glaring over your shoulder to 'just get on with it' or making you feel bad for picking the last good-looking eggplant - sorry, I had a crush on it first.

Crowded shopping situations intimidate me. There's a certain bestiality that emanates from otherwise (at least I hope) sane and civilized people. After all, there are no fines for jamming your cart into someone's foot, or cutting in the line to the register. You would think it's common sense and decency not to do those things, but there are some people who have no shame (similarly to NYC subway).

Back to my grocery shopping habits... I like to go to my local store when I'm hungry. Usually, I'd stay away from shopping for food on an empty stomach - I always buy way more than I should. However, my local store ALWAYS has sampling. Cheese, guacamole, fresh baguette, catering specials, cookies - a feast! It's pretty convenient because I get to sample items I don't usually buy (or I'd eat all in one sitting - especially cheese).

Here are my favorite summer food shopping spots, in order of quality and importance:

Union Square Farmer's Market : Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8AM-6PM
Union Market (Park Slope & Cobble Hill in Brooklyn)
Forager's (Dumbo in Brooklyn)

Burger Heaven - Watty & Meg

I'm not the biggest fan of burgers. I tend to veer towards seafood entrées. I'm a FISH person. That said, the grass-fed burger at Watty & Meg leaves me with my heart in my stomach. The meat is chockfull of taste and richness. The brioche roll compliments the beef and cheese - sweet, yet not too much. The hand-cut fries actually taste like potatoes. AND I love that this place has bbq sauce to serve with fries - MY FAVE.



Watty & Meg is located in Cobble Hill and although it's new, its mahogany shelving, oak bar, and chalkboard convey warmth and neighborhood feel.

248 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6434
(718) 643-0007

Glen Hansard & Swell Season - Low rising

Namasté - French musical gem

Les Petits Cannelés de Marica

I was having coffee in L.A. Burdick's last Friday and glanced (just glanced; otherwise, I would have bought and inhaled everything!) the display of baked goods. I noticed a few pretty cannelés lined up in neat little rows and immediately became nostalgic. My mother loved to bake cannelés on Sundays. Her recipe is divine and so, I thought I would take the time to share it with you!

Ingredients:
1 liter 2% milk
500 g. butter
300 g. flour
4 egg yolks
½ cup of rum
1 vanilla bean



Directions:
1) Bring butter and ¾ milk to a boil. Remove from stove and add the rest of the cold milk. Gently whisk in egg yolks until blended. Set aside to cool.
2) Add sugar, flour, rum, and scraped vanilla bean. Mix well. Place the mixture to rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
3) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour mixture into cannelé mold, filling it up to ¾. Bake in oven for 1 hour.

Bon appétit!

[image thanks to LJ42 according to this license]