On Risotto
I’ve had a craving. For the past few days. For risotto.
Now even though I give into my cravings, I am also not crazy. It has been feeling like 100 degrees over the last week, and there is no way I would subject myself to slaving over a hot stove under those conditions.
So my craving has gone…unsatiated. Until last night that is. Finally, it cooled off enough so that I could take the heat in the kitchen.
Before my trip to Italy, I had never even tried risotto. {Yes, I live under a rock. And thank you for asking.} My first experience with the velvety goodness was at the Bar al Teatro near the La Fenice Theater in Venice. We waited an eternity, doled out a small fortune and ooohhhed and aaahhhed over every creamy bite.
So armed with our ingredients, last night we started cooking. Chris was my sous-chef and in true Hells Kitchen fashion, I as the chef repeatedly called him “Donkey” and he responded with his loudest and most forceful ‘Yes Chef!’
I threw around all the other expletives Ramsey uses, my favorite from last weeks episode being, “F#@* me senseless!” Our entire repertoire was done in our best Cockney accents to boot. It was bloody fun. A jolly good time, really. A good way to make the time pass, yea?
Instead of providing you a recipe, I will instead give you some pointers. Everyone has a risotto recipe and quite frankly, I rarely use one anymore. I’d like to think it is because I have now become an accomplished member of the culinary community who no longer needs one, but it probably boils down to the fact that I am just too lazy.
Other than the basics like arborio rice, butter, olive oil, shallot, white wine and stock…the rest is up to you. Last night, based on what was in the house, to our risotto I added peas, shrimp, parmesan cheese, parsley and tomato paste (just because when using shrimp I like to add some pinky color).
Here is the basic technique…
Heat a small pot of the stock you are using (we use vegetable stock because of the vegetarian in the house) and keep it simmering on the burner. Set up a large saucepan/skillet on the opposite burner. Heat oil and butter in the pan, add thinly sliced shallot, saute until soft. Add the dry arborio rice, stir to coat. Add the white wine. When the liquid is cooked off, you will add one ladle full of stock at a time, stir, stir, stir until the liquid is absorbed.
Then add another ladle full of stock..and so on….and so on, until the rice is done.
Here are just a few tips on making risotto.
- Leave yourself plenty of time. Some recipes say it will cook for 20-25 minutes. Sometimes mine takes up to 45 minutes
- Be patient
- Don’t walk away! You must stir your rice constantly with a wooden spoon.
- When you add the stock, don’t add room temperature or cold stock. It must be simmering on the stove.
- If you run out of stock, use simmering water
- Don’t add all of your stock at once. Add it one ladle at a time and wait until it is completely absorbed before adding another ladle full. You want the rice to release its starch little by little, that’s how it gets its creamy texture
- Just cook until al dente, sometimes you may use all the stock the recipe calls for and sometimes you may use less, just cook until the rice is done and don’t worry about the rest.
- If adding tomato paste, dissolve it into the wine first and then pour into the pan. That way you won’t have clumps of tomato paste to bite into.
- For the best risotto, only use startchy rices like arborio or carnaroli rice – no short or long grain white or brown rice.
Last nights risotto was exceptional if I do say so myself. Noises were heard as we were eating it. Chris had all he could do to hold himself back from diving in as I was trying to take the picture.
As my food stylist, he was picking the plump shrimp from the bottom, and placing them on top to make it ‘look better’. Yeah, he’s a keeper.
While we were eating, he said in his best Chef Ramsey voice…”Rubin, come eeer yea….this rizatto here yea (poking and prodding it)…very good job on the rizatto, yes..spot on..right, now keep them coming like that, yea, ok?”
To which of course I replied (barely as I had a mouthful of rice and was laughing so hard at his impression)…”YES. CHEF!”
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Fontana di trevi
Translation…the Trevi Fountain. Located of course in the beautiful Italian city of Rome. Of course it was on my list when I visited. We have all seen it in one film or another, but I saw it in La Dolce Vita.
I would love to have it all to myself and have the cool water cascading down my long hair, with my gorgeous Italian prince, Marcello wading in after me…ahem…on my, sorry….got a bit lost in the moment there.
Right. Back to the fountain.
It certainly looks large on screen, but it also seems like it would be a tourist attraction, set in the middle of Roma-Disney. You know the kind. Lines of people, pushing and shoving to get to a massive fountain in the middle of nowhere.
But imagine my surprise as we wound around the little cobblestone alleyways, the peach and ocher building fitting together like old, worn puzzle pieces, laundry hanging from the balconies. We walked past a few stores and cafes…and there it was! Bam! Larger than life.
This beautifully structured piece of art, with deliciously cool azure water flowing from every statue’s eye, ear and orifice is sort of sandwiched in betwixt and between houses, shops and cafes. At best..its a work of art. At worst…it looks totally out of place.
The Baroque style fountain gets is name from its location – the junction of 3 roads (hence tre vie, 3 roads in Italian) that intersect at that very spot of one of the ancient aqueducts that provided Rome with water. Though finished in 1762, it was recently given a thorough cleaning and special pumps were installed to recirculate the water. Perfect timing. I got to see it sparkling clean and with fresh looking water. And no dizzying chlorine smell either.
The most obvious reason people come is to see the beautiful fountain itself. Neptune, the horses, the snakes..they all are so detailed and look so life-like. But the other reason is of course – the coins
People, there is gold in them thar waters! There is a constant plink, plunk (plunk being the heavier coins of course) sound that resembles the ‘cha-ching’ of an old fashioned cash register as the money keeps rolling in.
I wondered how much coin it actually amounts too. About 3.000€ ($4,038.48) a day to be exact! The coins are collected at night and the money goes to help feed the needy. What a nice way to spend a few coins, don’t ya think?
Of course when visiting the fountain, you must participate in the sport of the Roman Coin Toss (ok, maybe it is a tourist sport). There are very diverse rules and outcomes. It is a commonly known tradition that if you throw one coin over your right shoulder, into the fountain, you will seal your fate of a return trip to Rome. Other reported current trends state that two coins thrown in will mean a wedding very soon, while three coins will lead to divorce. How many coins do you think I tossed?
La Patisserie
One of the things I love most about Paris is that you can find a Patisserie just about anywhere. They display lovely confections, chocolates, tarts, and pastries. You will see such wonderful displays, rich colors and very inventive delicacies. Pierre Herme, Gerard Mulot and Lenôtre not only has shops, but even a school. (Lord knows…I would never be late to those classes!)
Laduree is famous for their delicious macaroons…
And I love their signature packaging. Tres Elegant! That French Green just whispers Paris to me…
Fauchon has lots of strawberries for color…
How can I possibly find anything that beautiful….that delicious…that French in my area? Well, it hasn’t been easy. That brings me to my latest discovery… Belgique Patisserie. We were in Connecticut and happened upon this jewel in Kent. It’s a sunny little yellow carriage house with a bright red awning. Just like a French Patisserie, they carry handmade chocolates, glistening fruit tarts, pastries, cakes, and coffee…any which way you want it. We decided on a black current mousse tart adorned with a kumquat, kiwi and blackberry and a special Belgian ice coffee. The coffee was so classy that even the ice cubes were frozen coffee, so it didn’t water down the flavor. You can imagine from the picture below, why we would not want to eat it….but that didn’t last long.
So, although my favorite Patisseries are in Paris, Belgique will do until I can get back.
Belgique
1 Bridge Street
Kent, CT 06757
860.927.3681
Melini Memories
Moons before I had even dreamed of a trip to Italy, I was out to dinner one night and enjoyed a wonderful glass of Chianti with my dinner. As I often do when I have nice wine, I asked to see the bottle so that I could buy it on my own.
It was a Melini Chianti, Borghi D’Elsa 2003. Whatever…I have a photographic memory, so I always remember the label, more-so than I remember the details. Most good restaurants are happy to oblige. The hunt began.
As luck would have it, I was able to find the Chianti in not one, but two of my local wine shops. It was more than reasonable at $6.99 a bottle.
Needless to say, it has become a staple red table wine around our house. I always have at least 2 bottles on hand for any occasion.
Fast forward several years to our first trip to Italy. We were weaving through the back roads of Tuscany in our little Smartcar from Lucca to San Gimignano. You may remember we stopped at the Castello Monsanto to sample their wares. But, imagine my surprise when we left Monsanto and somewhere between Poggibonsi and San Gimignano, I happen to look to the left and see another vineyard.
We slowed the care, just a little, to appreciate the green grapevines, and admire the view, when out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse the same logo that is gracing the front of my favorite Chianti bottle – the unmistakable golden arches of an “M“. (No, not those golden arches!)
M-e-l-i-n-i! Yep , It was one in the same.
“Stop the car! Stoooooop!!!”, I yell excitedly to Chris who almost careened off the side of the winding road.
I can’t adequately describe the feeling that came over me when I saw it, as I have never experienced that before (seeing the sign, not the feeling of careening off the road…unfortunately, that feeling I have had before).
It was surreal to say the least. Enjoying a delicious Italian wine for years in at my table in the U.S., and then realizing that you are thousands of miles from home, planted firmly and squarely in front of the magical place where that very nectar of the gods is made…all by happenstance!
We certainly didn’t plan it. I didn’t even know where in Tuscany the wine was made – but then bam! there it is. We would have stopped but it was getting late. Definitely on the list for next time.
Back home, I still enjoy that same Melini Chianti, but for some reason, it tastes so much better now. I wonder why?
Europe! You can’t afford not to go….
I am in the midst of planning another trip to Europe in September. People wonder how I can afford to go so often. I am not made out of money and I have to go on a tight budget, but it can be done. Money is one of the biggest concerns when people think about travel to Europe. "It’s too expensive" or "I can’t afford it" are some of the reasons that people don’t go (other than the ridiculous assumption that Europeans…specifically the French… don’t like Americans. But I’ll leave that for another post).
My focus when planning trips for myself, or others, is on budget. Don’t get me wrong…I have always had expensive taste. I love the finer things, but I have just learned to find wonderfully rich experiences without necessarily having to be rich to enjoy them. Believe it or not, one of the things I enjoy most is having to find things to do with a limited budget. It’s very easy to book a trip with an unlimited budget, but for me it is great deal more rewarding and challenging to work within a smaller budget.
One of the biggest, if not the biggest expense when going to Europe will be your airfare. With the gas prices being what they are and the airlines struggling….it’s hard to find the deals that used to be available. There are several things that you can do to get the best value possible.
Be flexible. If you can go anytime, you may be able to save a bundle. Just moving your travel dates by one or two days in either direction can mean lower airfare. Airline search engines like ITAsoftware, Kayak or Mobissimo allow you to search any 30 day period for the best airfare within that time frame. Travel on the dates that offer you the best fare. Generally, you will get the best rate if you travel mid-week and have a Saturday night stay. Keep in mind, these are only search engines..you still need to contact the airline directly to actually book your flight.
Should you book on line or by phone? Well. It depends. If you find a good deal on line, always call the airline directly, just to see if they can offer you anything better. Most airlines will actually charge you extra to book on the phone with a live representative vs. on-line. But, it is always worth the toll free call to check. I have had instances where I have gotten a lower rate by talking to someone at the airline directly.
Don’t travel in peak season. If you can avoid Europe in the summer…I highly recommend it! The weather tends to be very hot and if you are someone that is used to air conditioning, you may be disappointed…not every hotel has it. Lots of people travel in July and August, so airfares tend to be higher and Europe tends to be crowded! Many Europeans take their own vacations during the summer, so many places may be closed and you may not get the authentic feel of the city you were looking for. Spring and Fall are nice times to visit and if you book early enough, you should be able to find airfare within your budget.
I prefer direct flights, but if you don’t mind a connection, you could save some serious money. For my area, I know that British Airways offers flights from NYC to Paris, via London. Lufthansa flies from NYC to Rome and Venice with a connection thru Frankfurt. Do some research and find out which carriers offer these ‘legs’ and go with the least expensive option that gets you to your final destination.
Check with a consolidator. One of my favorites is 1-800-Fly-Europe. I have used them a number of times with great success. I find them extremely friendly and helpful. Each airline has a certain number of seats that it sells to consolidators, and then the consolidator sets the price for the tickets. For this reason, you can find seats cheaper than some of the airline’s sale prices. They also offer some fly and drive programs. I have used them to book air and car rental for the same trip, with ease and deep discounts.
Speaking of packages. Typically, I don’t like them. For myself and clients, I design individual trips and like to have some control over the flights and hotels that I recommend. But, if budget is your concern, some package deals are too good to pass up. Go-today and Sherman’s Travel are two sites to check. My only advice here is to read the fine print. Often times the hotel is very far from the city center, in a less than desirable area and with no public transportation in sight. This is how they keep costs down. Check some travel forums like Fodor’s or Virtualtourist for unbiased reviews on the hotel that comes with the package. Factor in your travel time to and from the city center before making your decision. Keep in mind that although an inch on a map may seem close, it can translate into 15 minutes each way on public transportation. This can mean spending an extra hour a day back and forth, not to mention the added cost of purchasing your bus or metro pass, which adds to your budget. It may or may not be worth it..it’s your call.
Let your email do all the work! Sit back and let the deals come rolling in. Sign up for every travel alert you find. Airfare Watchdog and Travelzoo are two of my favorites. They send you the best deals right to your email on a weekly basis. This option is also available directly through some of the airline carriers, especially if you are involved in their frequent flyer programs. Carriers will send you an email notifying you of their fare specials. Be aware that these are always limited time specials that sell out quickly, so if you see something you can afford, don’t wait! React quickly and you’ll reap the rewards. If you snooze…you loose!
Now that we found some airfare to fit your budget, the next step is finding a seat to fit your derriere. Hey, I didn’t promise you a comfortable seat…just a seat. I mean really, if these airplane seats get any smaller, I’ll have to spring for a ticket to bring my chiropractor along!
The Little Sparrow
There is a song that always gets me daydreaming of Paris when I hear it. It melts my heart. As it plays, images of Paris flood my mind….lovers strolling along the banks of the Seine, hand in hand, stealing a kiss; couples sitting outside at a cafe, watching life pass by; or flinging open the floor length windows in my hotel, gazing at people in the cobblestoned street below or the rooftops above. That song is Le Vie en Rose. And no rendition can compare to Edith Piaf’s (although Louis Armstrong’s trumpet can definitely tug at my heartstrings). When I was planning my first trip to Paris, this was the song I would listen to to ‘put me in the mood’. Whether I was booking a hotel, looking for restaurants or surfing the web for airfare…I would play this song over and over. You can listen right here…
Fast forward to June 2007. Imagine how excited I was to finally get to see the movie, La Vie en Rose, which is based on the life of the woman behind the song. So excited in fact that my heart was beating as fast as the TGV from Nice to Paris at 500 kph! The film was fantastic, and Marion Cotillard poured her heart, body and soul into playing Ms. Piaf….I really felt as if I was hearing Edith herself and that I was watching her…not just an actress. What a wonderful, heartfelt, tribute to the talented little sparrow (Piaf means sparrow in French). In my opinion, Marion deserves the Academy Award for Best Actress for the next ten years running! Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren…eat your hearts out! But I digress.
I feel so privileged to have been able to learn about her life through this film and not just through her songs. She was born with passion and a gift for song; She struggled to make something of herself and did just that. She was born into nothing and became something! She knew nothing of love at a young age. No loving parents or family to speak of, yet in the end it was the love of song, her fans and her country that kept her going. She performed until the very end, because that was all she had. She wove herself deeply into the fabric of France…she is, was and always will be part of French culture. Watch the trailer for La Vie en Rose here..
There are many life lessons embedded in her story. Now, every time I hear her songs, not only will I be happily daydreaming of Paris, but I will feel an underlying sadness for her with a bit of inspiration mixed in. Her songs will serve as a constant reminder that everyone is born with a gift and even though you may be faced with obstacles along the way, you too can make your dreams come true, if you believe in yourself and work hard enough. She certainly did.
A Father’s Favorite Things
One of the things I remember most about my Dad is that he was always involved in or working on cars. Not fancy cars mind you, but our run of the mill family cars. He is not a mechanic by trade, yet one of his odd jobs when he was a young boy was working in a gas station. Not only did he get to pump gas, but he watched the mechanics work on cars…and then learned on his own to work on his cars. As kids we would always hear him tinkering in the garage. He would change his own oil, fix his own brakes, do tune ups..even pound out dents when he accidentally missed the driveway in a blinding snowstorm and grazed the rock wall instead. Oops! It’s funny now…not so funny when you heard the swearing coming from the garage that night. Somehow we knew to stay away.
To this day he reminds us that he had a classic ’57 Chevy, aqua and white, that he could kick himself for getting rid of. Whenever I see him, he is always on ‘autospeak’. "How is your car running?", "How often do you have your oil changed?", "How many car payments do you have left?", "You know, I was reading about what kind of antifreeze is the best for your car…" Always the helpful Dad.
When I was little, about 10, he would let me "shift" the car into gear when I rode in the front seat with him. We had a little 4 speed, standard shift Opel, and I would watch as he pushed the clutch to the floor..and that was my cue the shift to the next gear. That was the coolest thing for a kid who didn’t drive yet…
He also loves boats. Rowboats, sailboats, tall ships..any boat really. And he loves the water. He was in the US Coast Guard. As a very young boy of around 13, he built his very own rowboat from scratch. He said he was so proud and excited the first time he took it out for a test run in the Long Island Sound. It floated and it held water! Many years later he purchased a 19 foot motor boat. He looooved that boat. We used to go out on the Hudson River almost every weekend. Once, I remember the weather looked daunting, but he insisted that everything would be OK. Well..the thunderstorm came and went…and we got stuck out in the middle of the Rondout Creek…holding onto a dock for dear life as the boat rose and fell in 3 foot swells and we got soaked from head to toe! I learned to water ski on that boat…and I actually stayed up! We had alot of fun on his boat.
Dad has since sold the boat, but he still likes being a Cap’n. He went to sailing school in Florida and often sails with different groups in New York and Connecticut. He has also given up working on cars….now that computer technology has replaced old fashioned mechanics.
In whatever he did, my Dad always took such good care of things. He taught us to have respect for things and for people. On Father’s Day, as I look back, I see him taking meticulous care of his cars and his boat..the material things that money could buy. Just like he took care of his family, the people he loved and cared for the most….the way he knew best. Like a good father should.
A short visit
While we were at the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market, we decided to go into the village of New Milford. It is a cute little historic town, with lots of shops, places to eat, an apothecary pharmacy and a even a farmers market on the green on Saturdays. One of my favorite shops is called Homeward Bound. It is a home interior store and they carry a variety of things I adore. Red Flower candles, Bella Notte linens, Juliska ceramic and glassware..just to name a few. Needless to say, since I am a bargain hunter, I can’t afford the majority of priceless items in the store…but I love to get decorating ideas and just browse. I especially love to visit after my trip to the flea market…maybe I’ll find the perfect way to use those one of a kind treasures I just unearthed!
We also wanted to try a new spot for lunch called Forsythia right on Bank Street. We didn’t realize it, but the chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Yes, the one I constantly tell everyone I live 5 minutes from. But their best claim to fame is that it’s the home of the $3 Cosmo. Nope, not a typo. Three bucks! Uhh…I can’t even get water for $3 at the movies…so this quickly becomes my new favorite place in New Milford. The Cosmos were not even watered down…they were full strength. They were served with homemade potato chips that were light and crispy!
We wanted something light, not too filling. We each ordered a salad. I had the Chinese Chicken Salad, which was delicious, though a bit disappointing. The waitress had told me it came with red peppers..which I love, but out it came…sans red pepper, with zucchini in its place. (Did I happen to mention that I don’t really like zucchini?) But it was still very good..the dressing was one of the best Asian style dressing’s ever…I could really taste the sesame oil.
Chris had a Crab Cake Salad, which was perfectly cooked, light and crispy on the outside and loaded with real crabmeat. It even came with a side of lemon, smartly wrapped and tied with cheesecloth so your seeds would not wind up in your salad. Very clever!
We were so full and for $37 for 3 cosmos, 2 very large salads, tax and tip…it was a great bargain! We will most certainly be back.
PS…did I mention the $3 cosmos?
Homeward Bound
20 Bank Street
New Milford CT 06776
860.350.0060
Thomas Morans Forsythia
31 Bank Street
New Milford CT 06776
860.355.3266
The Perfect Rose
The French are famous for their wonderful gardens and flowers. The roses at the Rodin Gardens are especially beautiful and fragrant. I would find them hard to replicate…but I have something that comes in a close second.
Drummer-boy (aka Chris) grew up in a house with rosebushes that climbed up the side of his house. Every late spring, he recalls how he would run over, every chance he got, and sniff to his heart’s content. He would always get cut by the thorns. "They were the perfect roses" he always said, as he described them to me. I had always heard about these wonderful roses as part of his childhood memories…which some would think a bit odd. It is funny what a man would still remember as a young boy. Roses aren’t generally at the top of the list with football, baseball, frogs and Spiderman comics.
A few years ago, I asked him to drive by and visit his Mom, who still lives there, and to check if the infamous roses were still living and breathing. Sure enough, they were. When he returned home, I gasped in amazement. He was not kidding. They were the perfect roses. Not pink, but not white either. Not really peach. It was a combination of all three…and it depends on the light and how open they are. Pinker when they are closed…and whiter when they are open, with a sunshine center. And the smell. Now I know why he still remembers, some 30 odd years later. I can only describe them as lightly scented. They are not overpowering, like some roses can be. More like the smell of a spring rain…with a little bit of Bellini cocktail mixed in. So subtle that you have to really get up close and personal to get the full bouquet. The same kind of subtleness that you want when wearing perfume. Not like you took a bath in it…but just enough so that your someone special can tell your wearing it when they whisper in our ear.
Ever since that day, every spring, he stops by his Mom’s at least once a week to pick a bouquet. Though they don’t last very long, they are a beautifully fragrant reminder. For him…of his childhood and for me…of French Gardens.
Photos: Bouquet of roses blooming in my Grandmother’s antique crystal vase. Her name just happened to be Rose.
Paris Je t’aime
Update:
The movie was absolute heaven! What a wonderful tribute to one of the cities I love. I will not give anything away to those who haven’t seen it yet….but you really should get your derriere to a theater to see this. I am sure it comes as no surprise that some of the 18 vignettes were just OK, but there were a few that quickly emerged as my favorites. They are:
- Pere Lachaise
- Faubourg Saint-Denis
- Bastille
- Quartier Latin
- Quais de Seine
- Tour Eiffel
- Pigalle
- 14th Arrondissement
In my opinion, they saved the best for last. I totally related to this women, since my first trip was solo and I found myself feeling exactly the way she felt about the city. I was this women(minus the bad accent, the attire and her fanny pack!) I could almost recite the words that came out of her mouth…as if they were my own. I fell in love all over again. Paris Je t’aime….C’est vrai!
After long anticipation….it has come to a theater near me. I will be watching tonight. There is nothing else to say but……Paris Je t’aime….Paris Je t’aime…..Paris Je t’aime…
