nigella sativa's Profile
Best Mendiants in Greater NY?
Just had some really nice ones from Harrods which were a gift. They were studded with candied and plain nuts and raisins. Very satisfying yet hard to stop eating them! :-)
Macarons de Nancy at Financier
Hi I bought the last bag of these last night at the Chelsea location. They said they were making them special for Passover but could not tell me what was different about them other than their ganache filling. The texture is a little more dense than the other Financier macarons from what I remember. Also they taste a little like bitter almonds so maybe there's almond paste as well as regular ground almonds/almond flour added? Web searches provided some historical notes about their invention at an Abbey in Lorraine but were otherwise vague. TIA ~nigella sativa
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Financier Patisserie
688 6th Ave, New York, NY 10010
Added Sulfites in Membrilla?
I ate some of the brand sold at Whole Foods. The ingredients say it is made with quince paste, sugar and lemon juice but I detected that chlorine-like aftertaste that I associate with sulfites in salad bar fruit and other "fresh" foods. I seem to have forgotten whether or not it is required that it be on the label....Perhaps it is a question of the amount added?
Thanks!
NS
Indian Reccs in Curry Hill
I just loved nyindia's latest review of the Flushing Temple Canteen. It's informative, evocative, and absolutely hilarious!
Streits Factory on Rivington Street (NYC)
I called them and learned that Streits Bakery on Rivington is open open year-round. Sunday-Thursday till 4:30 pm. Yey!
Streits Factory on Rivington Street (NYC)
Did you happen to notice whether it domestic or imported? And whole grain or white (the matzah not the MM)? A couple of years ago I got a bonanza of Israeli spelt matzah on sale (post-pesach) at my local supermarket but have been unable to find it since. It was whole grain and incredibly delicious. : )
Amazing new Indian Glatt Kosher Meat Restaurant opened in Manhattan under OK
Thanks for the great info. Were you able to find out what they were using instead of yogurt for the condiments, sauces and marinades?
Streits Factory on Rivington Street (NYC)
Hi,
What are the shop's hours? I heard that they were only open on Sundays. Is that true? I NEED my spelt matzah!
Thank you!
NS
Why does my electric kettle leak?
Correction: I just did a search and discovered that my Dr. Weil kettle is NOT really made of glass as its design leads one to believe. So misleading. Time to look for a new electric kettle.....
Why does my electric kettle leak?
OK, just to be clear, it is one of those glass kettles that looks like pitcher and you replace it on its plastic base after you fill it with water. The leak comes from the place where the metal material that's wrapped around the bottom half meets the part that actually gets set on the heater. It does not seem to effect the electical workings of the devise (although a couple of times it has interfered with the functioning of the switch which makes the darn thing stop....). Leaks just a few seconds maybe one to a few teaspoons. I am baffled about the cause. I wouldn't care if it were just me that used it; just need to explain to friends and family who are trying to help why they should not put it down on innocuous-seeming counter!
TIA
Why does my electric kettle leak?
It's just occasionally and only after I have put it down on the counter to refill it instead of holding it up to the spout. It works quickly, retains heat well and even looks pretty good--all without that chemical smell some other appliances have. It is a mid-priced appliance part of that Dr. Weil line made by Spring; got it at Zabars about two years ago.
buying chopsticks in New York City
What is the best place to buy chopsticks (any style) in Manhattan above Houston street?
TIA
Search for Dobos Torte (or Stephanie Torte if possible)
Where is this available, preferebly in or near the Village? I already know about the Hungarian Pastry on Amsterdam. Probably can be found in Yorkville, I would guess? If so, where is good? nigella sativa
Health Food Store
Hi LA Folks, post-trip New Yorker checking in:
Thank you so much for your input. I had a wonderful trip! It was a mixture of "finds" and some disappointments but overall I so enjoyed the healthy vibe and creativity of the food scene. I had to watch my spending a lot of the time hence the comments on prices.
VP was awesome for the wheat grass. At $2.75 for 2 oz it was a steal. Is that the norm for LA prices? They dd have Bio K + but I couldn't bring myself to pay the almost $5 per dose. (Grow Bone, on the other hand, was super-cheap.) Took your suggestion about produce and hit the Hollywood farmers' market later in the week which was as awsome in terms of variety, freshness and price, as one would hope.
At the Dia de los Muertos festival downtown my brother demonstrated his (possibly inherited) chowhound radar by walking straight up to the curbside quesadilla lady spoken about previously on this board. He had a tasty chicken deal and I went for the blue corn huitlacoche. It was in a black mole that was slightly bitter. Also the thick, blue corn tortilla was slightly doughy and undercooked. It was vastly improved after I heated it up later at home. Actually, reheated it tasted pretty amazing. The experience of watching the cook form eac tortilla on the grill was almost as satisfing as eating the end-result Also had a delicious Ethiopian meal towards the end of my trip (at the place famous for dol wat) although I found the overbearing service to be annoying. Didn't make it to the Beverly Hills Juice Club. I did have a 16 oz smoothie (a somewhat generous size (for a 5'4" moderately active female) at Mani's. It was just berries and a green powder. Simple and not bad for $6. I couldn't tell if the added powder had addiional sweetener in it but if it did, it wasn't too much.
The number one 'find' was packaged Earthbound Farm salad at the 99 cent store near Wilshire. They had the largest size container in my favorite variety (the one with the mixed herbs already added). Granted they were not refrigerated but we got two and --miracle of miracles!-- they lasted for at least three days!
"I'll be back!"...
Health Food Store
Hi, I am a New Yorker and first-time visitor to LA staying in WeHo near Erwhon and the Farmers Market. I was told Erwhon was expensive so I would like some suggestions/alternatives or advice about what is good to get there. In New York I like to shop at the Natural Frontier stores, Integral Yoga Natural Foods and IYI's apothocary mostly. In particular I need to find a source for buying Vital K + and bulk foods. A place to get reasonably priced organic produce would be awesome too. Also where is the best juice bar in LA? For example, I love Liquiteria in Manhattan's East Village....
TIA
Nigella Sativa
bhindi masala and papadam question
Thanks this looks great, I am going to try this soon but with the bhindi pods kept whole!
bhindi masala and papadam question
hi all.
1--i need a good recipe for okra prepared "wet" style.
2--what is the best way to prepare papadams so they don't come out greasy. Toasting them over a flame is just not practical and they come out very oily when i fry them in a couple of tablespoons of oil in a skillet. i hope that deep frying is not the only answer!
thank you in advance.
ns
Vegan Baked Tofu Spread Needs its Counterpart
Hi,
I have this wonderful, somewhat sweet, baked tofu applesauce spread. It's like a combination between tofu 'cheesecake' and baked farmers cheese. I am planning to serve it at a food demonstration and need a way to present the recipe to the Latino women who come to a health clinic for nutrition education. The recipe is geared toward expecting mothers though all in attendance will partake including the children. Obviously nothing fried or too heavy would be appropriate. I thought of making it a filling for alfajores only the women are mostly from the Caribbean or Meso-America so that's not really up their alley. One colleague/recipe tester said she really liked it on the leftover Passover matzah I served it on today. Maybe spread it on a matzah-like cracker? The spread has cinnamon and nutmeg so it is almost charoset like.... Oooh maybe stuff celery with it?
All ideas appreciated.
Thanks!
NS
Bronx Farmers' Markets List
Am returning to that project now. It's voluntary. thanks for your interest! In the meantime, please do post any Bronx Farmers Market 'finds' as mentioned above.
Nigella S
Gluten Free Alfajores Recipe?
Has anyone gone all the way and tried eliminating the wheat flour entirely from this South American dulche de leche sandwich cookie (the pastry part is usually cornstarch-based)?
TIA
Nigella S.
Crembo in NYC
Thanks whitewater, I did go to Holy Land before the holiday and had some individual Crembos. They had the mocha and chocolate but no vanilla. Anyway, these examples were not quite as good as the ones I used to get years ago at the now-expired Village Shwarma which used to be next to the IFC. Perhaps not the best place for them--not refrigerated and a dry to stale texture-wize. Still, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the scruffy shop right down to the apathetic help.
Please Update Me on Curry Hill South Indian Options
Sikh/Punjabi place (Curry Express???) is still a bargain but caution advised:
The staff is quite nice here and while still an amazing value for the block--less than 5 dollars for vegetarian thalli--the quality has been a little uneven last two tries--at least for vegetarian options. Nevertheless, some of the subzies at this place are really, really good; of a quality not found too often even at the 'table cloth establishments"! Today there was a dull chenna curry offered which was just mashed up chenna in an otherwise unexciting tomato/onion gravy. It was little eye appeal + it was rather bland and the texture was too 'broken-down'. My main choices were the mixed vege which was good although marred by too many soggy frozen carrots and oily pieces of sauteed onion, shagg with chickpeas which was fantastico--not too oily and interestingly seasoned with heat and more than a hint of cloves in the garm mix--and, okra. I should have known better than to ask for okra which looked a little sad and was held in a smaller pan on the steam table. Can't comment on the non-vegtarian offereings but I would suggest limiting your choices to what is in the large pans in the vegetarian section of the steam table and avoiding anything that looks like it might have been reheated.
Crembo in NYC
Where can I purchase Crembo, the fluffy Israeli marshmallow/chocolate cookie candy, in New York City? Also does anyone know whether their production is seasonal, for example its sister (American) marshmallow cookie is only produced 9 months per year?
Nirvana Cafe & Bar: Sri Lankan nr Gramercy Pk
Oh that's too bad. Thanks for the report though. Guess I will have to check out the sole alternative, Sigiri: Has anyone been lately?
Please Update Me on Curry Hill South Indian Options
But Tiffin Wallah owner told me he owns Chennai! That was about a year ago--it's possible he's sold it. If it's all about the decor well apparently TW was a new concept / high concept spin-off restaurant of chennai. Regardless, he seems to be struggling. Soundtrack no longer hip and no line at lunch. My guess this could be due to competition from the newer (also "high-concept") "Dhaba" around the corner. I stopped in for buffet two days in a row after an absense of a year. Many of the dishes were to heavy on fat but still had more clarity of flavor than you find at most buffets or Indian restaurants in general. I still love this place even though I prefer the subzi at the sikh hole in the wall on the north east side of 29th street.
Heeeelp! I have Gingko Nuts from Central Park
I collected some last week but after boiling them (skinned) they were mushy and not very tasty. So, how long should they be boiled. Is roasting them an option? If so, how? I know they're great in chowamushi but that's really not an option for me....any other tips for preparing the shelled contents of the stinking gingko, as well as hints to avoid toxic side-effects, much appreciated.
nigella s.
Bronx Farmers' Markets List
Hi, I am compiling a list of Farmers' Markets located in upper Manhattan and the Bronx for a community health center/organization based in those areas. List will include numerous other market organizers besides Greenmarket (such as Community Markets, NYC Economic Development Corporation, etc.) Would like to know which markets stand out for carrying traditional produce and/or other food items of interest to recent immigrants, particularly those from Dominican Republic and elsewhere in Latin America. Also looking to include comments in this chart about farmers originally from Latin America (or elsewhere) as well as tents which have notably Spanish language-friendly employees.
TIA
Nigella
