Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Seventeen

Babette's Cafe was discovered by yours truly, when I was seeking a a job in a really awesome book store called Atlanta Book Exchange. They buy and sell used books. Every wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with used, stinky books. It was fantastic. It looks a little bit like this.....


Room after room is filled to the brim with books owned by strangers, with strangers' finger prints, strangers' notes, and even stranger odors. I feel like I could work in a place like this, breathing in poems, prose, and expositions day in and day out. Submerged in the great words of the great works of the great writers before me. I just think a book store is the absolute best place for an aspiring writer to become inspired....sucks that they weren't hiring......... fantasy kill.

So I walked out towards my car, and saw directly in front of me, Babette's Cafe. "I'll just grab a menu togo, and I'll come back another day when I have more than $20 in my wallet," said the thrifty, thin girl in my head. After I shut her up, I told David the bartender that I'd like to sit down at one of the white-clothed tables. I already knew that I was going to order. Two small plates.... the half order of steamed mussels ($5) and the mushroom and squash risotto ($6).

Preceding my mussels and risotto, my model-esque waiter, who says things like "would you like something to drink while you peruse the menu?", brings me a baguette in a linen-lined bucket with a ramekin of homemade butter. I love you, I want to say, but, instead, I tear into the crunchy, warm bread. They've got me! 

The mussels were in front of me 5 minutes later, swimming in a strawberry-serrano pepper sauce. The sweetness of the sauce was an interesting and  yummy contrast to the salty mussels. I particularly enjoyed sopping up the sauce with the remainder of my baguette. Mmmmm. The risotto appeared to me as a shiny, hot blob topped with cheese.  It was definitely filling. I didn't finish it. I wish I had saved room (and cash) for dessert.

I had a great experience at Babette's. I'll definitely be back to try dessert, and possibly even an entree. But if I find myself back there in a cash crisis again, I find comfort in the prices of the small plates! God Bless appetizers. 


    
  

Friday, January 23, 2009

Sixteen

SO. Fried green tomatoes.  a twist on A CLASSIC
This recipe was designed using 2 green tomatoes.
Yields 12 servings.

1 c. all purpose flour
1/8 c. uncooked grits
1 t. baking powder
2 t. granulated garlic
1 t. cinnamon
1 1/4 t. salt
1 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. black pepper

2 eggs
1 T. half'n'half
2 t. hot sauce

6 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. butter

Heat the oil.
Mix all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat the eggs, half&half, and hot sauce in a separate bowl.  Cut the tomato in 1/4 inch slices and place in egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture.
Fry 3 slices of tomatoes at one time for approximately 2 minutes on each side, or until crisp and brown. 

For topping:
3T. Cream Cheese
3T. Honey.
1 t. fennel seeds
1t. lemon juice

Mix honey fennel seeds, and lemon juice together.
Place a nickel-sized dollop of cream cheese on each tomato. Drizzle honey-fennel mixture over top. ENJOY!


Sunday, January 11, 2009

Fifteen

Field trip to the Farmer's market with grandma. Need I say more? All I could think was ... score, groceries!! She told me to get anything I wanted, and I imagined a refrigerator full of fresh produce, meat, and fruits!! O, the glory and bounty of the International Farmer's Market! I could imagine all the dishes made with love that I would serve to the ones I love, hot and steaming, and all I managed to come away with was a bag of grapes, and some green tomatoes. You'd think I would have filled the basket or two, if you could see the dire condition of my fridge. This was no time for selfish gain, however, I was too busy letting my 85-year-old grandmother attempt to steer a basket she could barely see over.  I did, though, grab the tomatoes out of ambition. I've been wanting to cook new items for myself more, and Fried Green Tomatoes seem simple enough.... plus they're deeeeelish!!! Fried green tomatoes are a staple of the south, and I want to add them to my repertoire of "Things I can make with my eyes closed" So when I obtain what I deem a worthy (and simple) recipe, I will post it, along with a picture of my creation......