A Manhattan Foodie Tradiiton Is Gone-Balducci's Closes

Manhattan foodies will no doubt be sad these days. A great tradition, Balducci's is closing it's one Chelsea's store (however the suburbans ones will remain open). This means the end of an era for generations of New York gourmets. True, there are smaller stores but none can rival the great Balducci's

The store started in 1916 in Brooklyn but it was in 1947 that Louis Balducci introduced gourmet food to post war Manhattanites. It had several locations and the Greenwich Village location (closed in 2003) was frequently mentioned on the TV show Will & Grace. Balducci's introduced new Yorkers of all nationalities to good international ingredients such as goat cheese and fresh made pastas. I visited the Chelsea one a few years ago and marveled at their selection of cheeses and breads.It was a bit daunting, kind of like being in the Bloomingdales or Saks Fifth Avenue of food stores but interesting nonetheless. Luckily for suburbanites there will be Balducci's in the suburbs.

For people living in Chelsea , there's still D'Agastino's and Greenwich Village does offer Gourmet Garage (who has the best Parker House rolls in the area) and Jefferson Market. Both are on 6th Ave and offer a wide array of different cheese, meats and hot foods. They also have splendid cakes, rolls and fresh made bread and bagels (for visitors to New York this summer, stop at these two place for a lunch and a soda. They may not fill in what Balducci's left but they're still well stocked groceries.

It's the end of an era for new York foodies however there are many other shops and stores that can sort of replace Balducci's. It not there's the suburbs and the train trip out. It may be worth a ride to get your favorite gourmet goodies and treats.

The Heat Is On!!

You're probably roasting right now if you live in the New York metro area. We're undergoing a rare late April heat wave that's making everyone lethargic and full of beach fever. It's nice to have the hot weather after a rainy cold, spring however with it comes problems. The main one is wanting to cook when you're as hot as an oven

What to do?

Chill out. Literally. Start putting yourself in a summer cooking mode. This means use the microwave more than the oven and create easy simple meals that are both fresh and tasty.

Salads are a good hot weather meal. You can create a true Nicoise with tuna, olives, fresh sliced peppers and tomatoes. Mix all of this with a head of Romaine, olive oil and red wine vinegar. For more added protein and body toss in a few sliced hard boiled eggs. Serve this up with sliced French or Italian baguettes . Another easy meal is a microwaved version of a stir fry. Cook up fresh (preferably) or frozen vegetables, with some sliced garlic, sesame (or olive oil) and some freshly cut ginger.Cook for all of two minutes and serve with microwaved brown rice. You can add almonds for nutrition and crunch too. You can also throw in any leftover grilled chicken or steak from last night barbecue.

Sandwiches are a foodie's best Friend d in the summer. Use whole wheat bread (or baguettes) and fresh veggies for a tasty quick lunch that can be brought to the office or on a picnic. You can do a quick roast of peppers and toss these on along with sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Another quick , summer sandwich is chicken or ham salad on a roll. You can chop up any leftover chicken or ham as well as using the deviled kind and then mix with mayo and herbs .You can also put this blend into hollowed out peppers and tomatoes and serve with a small tossed salads. As sides you can have anything from fresh salad (such as onion and three bean) to raw veggies and dip. These are a snap to make and give some zip and zest to lunch and dinner.

Don;t panic if the heat is on. A Spring heat wave is a time to get ready for summer- and that includes cooking. Just chill out with easy to make dishes.

Mayonnaise A Sandwich’s Best Friend

Now that it’s picnic season , it ‘s time to look at that hot weather staple -mayonnaise. It’s been used to liven up sandwiches and add creaminess to all sorts of salads for a long time now. Surprisingly enough it’s easy to make and one of our oldest condiments. Mayo has been around for over 250 years and let’s face, it’s here to stay.

It was the Duc of Richelieu ‘s chef who created mayonnaise in 1756 to celebrate the victory of the French in Mahon.in Minorca. It could also come from moyounaise form the old French word moyeu which means egg yolk. The creamy sauce, a mix of mustard , egg yolks and olive oil, was served with cold meat such as chicken. In 1912it was mass produced from Richard Hellman’s New York deli and a variation Miracle Whip was introduced in 1932. Mayo can be easily made at home. It requires yolks some mustard and oil to be whisked to a creaminess in a bowl.

Store bought mayo is good too and you can add to it. After all French , Thousand Island, Ranch and Russian dressing all have mayo as a base. If you’re craving a thick dressing, then add two tablespoons of ketchup to mayo and voila you have French dressing. Throw in some minced pickles, relish, some herbs and a dash of mustard and you have Russian. Looking for something for your sandwiches? Add some garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil and you have aioli sauce, perfect for a tomato and cheese on a baguette. My favorite is mayo mixed with dried tarragon and then added to chicken chunks or deviled chicken.
It‘s soon to be the season for Mayonnaise. You can make your own or buy it for some added dash to your outdoor feasts this summer of 2009. It gives an added smoothness and moistness to any food, from salads to sandwiches.

Good Morning Breakfast

What's the first thing we're told from almost our birth?

Eat a good breakfast. yet what constitutes a good breakfast? For the first almost eighteen years of our lives we wind up eating these sugary plastic morsels as opposed to as decent breakfast full of taste and nutrition. Then as we either head off to higher education , it's usually last night's dinner for that first feast of the day. Later we just grab and nibble. All of these do not a good breakfast make.

For me breakfast has always been on a back burner I'm not much of a morning person so bacon and eggs or even something as simple as a bowl of Cheerios is just not doable. It's only been in recent months that I can swallow something down before 9 AM (OK , let's really make that 10). It's usually a bowl of instant flavored oatmeal with a cup of Lady Grey tea. If I'm going out on weekends I tend to have my breakfast - now brunch- at noon. there I can enjoy a farmer's omelet washed down with a mimosa or an iced tea. I should have a larger breakfast to carry me through the day. I know . I've heard that all my life.

Maybe other foodies out there share my dilemma (is it really?) What do you eat in the morning?Waffles, eggs and bacon? Or just a roll and coffee from your local Dunkin Donuts. Let us know here

Twitter Fdie Pnty

I just saw a new phenomenon in yesterdays' NY Times food section. it was about twittering recipes , just fragments of words to get it out to the masses. In other words you can have recipes for Irish stew or ice cream sent directly to your phone. This is fine of you want some recipe for your best friend's cousin's mother in law's pasta or you want to decipher what grenbns are (green beans by the way).

Don;t get me wrong. I love this new modern age with its' downloads and texting. I love the fact I can cyber order any ingredient from any part of the globe and have it on my doorstep within two weeks. However recipes are sacred . They should be written out in full so you can grasp what the ingredients are and fully understand the direction. They should be passed down from generation to generation (not sent out en masse) or expertly written in a book with a full illustration. They should not be twittered to tweeted. (unless you're a blue jay with a good worm recipe)

To be honest if people want recipes there are so many places to get them these days. The web is a veritable encyclopedia of recipes both by manufacturers and the everyday kitchen cook. Libraries and bookstores abound with cookbooks ranging from old fashioned barbecue to gluten free vegan cupcakes. All the recipes are written out , some even with suggestions. These are the e ones you can bring to your table and use as you're preparing . You can curl up with late at night as you prepare your next big dinner party or barbecue.


Should you use Twitter?Yes, for letting people know you just brushed your teeth or shopped at Target. It's great for letting people know about your accomplishments big and small . However should you use it as a means to acquire recipes. No. Stick to the old fashioned methods for that.

Celebrate Earth Day

Today is Earth Day and it's a time to not only recognize our planet but remember her gifts to us. It's also a time to treat her right. After all she gives us harvests and we should repay her with kindness.

Earth Day is a good day to think about all those fruits and vegetables we've eaten over the years. So many farms nowadays are being sold and housing developments are springing up (at least here in Jersey. If there's one in your area support it. Buy your produce and garden supplies from it. There's nothing like the taste of fresh corn or apples or enjoying the treats that the farm's bakery and kitchen offers. Another idea is to write to your town council and push for a communal vegetable garden where everyone can pitch in and grow their own veggies and herbs. It's a great way to turn barren areas into green spots. It also keeps another ugly strip mall out of your neighborhood.

Another act of kindness is tidying up after yourself. Of course you can use old veggies and egg shells as compost. that's a given however remember to put all those plastic containers in your recycling bins. Remember to flatten your cereal and snack boxes too and put them out with your papers (throw the interior safety sealed bags in with the regular garbage). Don;t litter if you're on a picnic. it's tempting to just leave empty soda cans and sandwich wrappings in a pile some where but restrain yourself from doing this. Most parks and beaches now have recycling cans so use them. Don't dirty up whatever park and beachfront we have left.

This Earth Day treat Mother Earth as you would yourself - with care and concern. Don;t mess her . Above all thank her for all those years of good harvests that have made their way to your table.

Spring Time Means Diet Time

Now that the warmer weather is here it's time to shed the heavy clothing and with that those heavy pounds.The problem is changing over a calorie rich diet for lighter fare. Can it be done? Especially in time for bikini and shorts season? Yes, but it has to be done wisely.



The first items to be dropped are sodas. Nix Coke and Pepsi from your lunches and dinners and lose pounds fast. These are the worst culprits and they're more calorie rich than even a malted . Let's face it, how many times have we slogged through a hot, sticky day and sought solace with a supersized icy carbonated drink? As hard as it is, substitute with water or even iced tea. If you're looking for a caffeine buzz then try Fyxx Water. This is spring water with a jolt of the stuff added. This is good at lunchtime when you need something to keep you awake on a hot , sleepy afternoon. As healthy as they sound, some fruit juices are nothing but pure sugar.If you want to drink them, then cut them with water. My German cousins do this with apple juice and it's a really refreshing beverage, especially during the warmer months.



Snacking was always a must during the winter months. The problem is all those bowls of popcorn and Skittles added pounds. It's time to munch on fresh fruit such as strawberries or melon. If you want something salty and crunchy, then pick up a bag of Pirate's Booty or any veggie and soy based snacks. You can even make your own by drying peas or pepper slices in your oven. Add natural spices as opposed to salt for flavor. If you are craving regular snack foods like chips and pretzels, buy the baked and low sodium kind (although pretzels are low in calories to begin with)

If you want to look good for summer, it's time to get in shape now. Even if you make little changes to your daily diet you can still lose weight. Just watch what you eat and cut down on the tasty stuff. You'll see the pounds coming off.