Pipa

I always find it interesting when a new restaurant opens here in Halifax. With the endless construction that went on on Argyle within the last year or so, we have seen several restaurants come and go, menu changing, aesthetic changing, ect. When I saw that the location that previously housed the Wooden Monkey was being opened as a Brazilian restaurant, I was filled with curiosity and excitement. After all, with all the various types of cuisine in the city, no one had yet to venture to this mysterious, spicy locale- until now.

My friend and I made a date to visit Pipa last Tuesday night. I reviewed the menu during the day, and had pre-determined my meal- or so I thought... When we started asking our very knowledgeable (and accommodating) server questions, everything changed!

Carne de Caranguejo com Tapioca
Warm crab salad with tapioca crisp for scooping

I chose a light crab salad to start the meal. Tender crab was binded together with tomato, coconut milk and a touch of cilantro. With every bite, I was sad to see the pile disappearing from my plate. I could easily imagine this mix being made into fishcakes, wrapped up in a crepe or omelet or on a toasted bun.

The crab salad was served with a tapioca cracker- a flavourless, sawdust tasting cracker to be used as a tool to scoop up the crab. The concept is authentic Brazilian, but those first couple bites ruined the salad. My friend came to my rescue though, offering some baguette and elevating my dining experience to top-notch status!

Chorizo Grelhada
Chorizo sausage with caramelized onions and toasts

The chorizo appetizer consisted of a large sausage link, sweet caramelized onions and a generous portion of toasted baguette. Though my friend loved the sausage's robust, spicy flavour, something was a little lacking with the plate. Our server quickly brought out a sausage's signature sidekick- some spicy mustard, while my friend smiled their satisfaction.

For our mains, my friend went with an entree, while I went for a second appetizer. The main was a substantially-sized dish in comparison to my appey- but I didn't regret my decision for an instant. Though a smaller portion, my Empanada was just as filling.

Frango Piri Piri
A dish from Mozambique; baked chicken in a spicy chili pepper marinade

Though my friend normally tries to order something more adventurous than chicken in a restaurant, this dish generated rave reviews. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender with a piquant, veg-filled sauce. Served with a side of rice, the impressive serving size was a benefit.

Empanada del Dia- Empanada of the Day
Chorizo, olives & portobello mushrooms

I really, really didn't want this plate to end. It was a carnivore's dream with spicy chorizo paired beautifully with black and green olives and portobello mushrooms- two ingredients who's texture is equally as meaty. The amazing filling aside, the pastry was the star of the show here, as it was both slightly flaky and tender, with a lingering buttery finish.

Though we contemplated dessert, I was just too full to put in an order. I left Pipa with a belly full of warm pastry and bold red wine- a lovely end to a crisp autumn night out.

"Why Not Now?"

Myself and some other bloggers from Halifax and the surrounding areawere invited on a tour of St. Margaret's Bay by Colour, a marketing and advertising firm based in the city. The idea behind the trip was to encourage city folk to get out of town for the evening and play tourist in their own province. Using the trip tagline "Why Not Now", the concept was that we'd take some photos, write about our adventures, and display how easily one of these day trips can be accomplished.

We meet at the Colour offices at 11 am on Sunday, geared for a day of sightseeing and dining. We board a big Ambassatours bus, and head out to the Aspotogan peninsula. Our first stop is Bayswater Beach, a lovely length of sand. During the summer season, the beach is staffed by lifeguards, and families picnic in the park across the road. When we arrive, however, the beach is virtually deserted, with the seabirds being it's only occupants. Though I file away the thought of hot summer beach nights for next year, I make a mental note to pack a thermos of soup, a crusty baguette and some crisp white wine for a late-fall picnic.

Our next stop is Northwest Cove, where I'm fascinated to learn that the tuna fishery thrives. Japanese buyers come to purchase tuna that are cultivated in pens in the little town's harbour. This area is breathtaking. Walking down the windy road, I can't help but feel as though I'm back in another fishing community- my father's home in Newfoundland. I take a couple snaps that don't nearly do the area justice and wish that I had a hard-core camera like the rest of my travelling companions!

At this point- almost 2 pm- my stomach is growling, and we head toward the Dauphinee Inn in Hubbards for lunch.

We arrive at the Dauphinee Inn and are greeted by the owner who gives us a quick history of Hubbard's, an area whose slogan claims that "It's always sunny in Hubbard's, even when it's raining." He goes on to chat about the Shore Club, "the last of the great dance halls." Opened in 1946, the Shore Club hosts a dance and a live band every Saturday night in addition to a Lobster Supper with all the trimmings.

For lunch, we're treated to some Nova Scotian favorites; homemade baked beans, a crab cake and fishcake with tomato chow and a buttery tea biscuit made from scratch. For dessert, a blueberry shortcake in a bath of sweet blueberry sauce pairs nicely with a steaming cup of tea.

After lunch and a light stroll, we head to Shining Waters Marina where Capt. Kenny Merlin takes us on a sunny tour around the opening of St. Margaret's Bay. Capt. Merlin's boat tours have been in operation since 1985, and he often finds himself host to groups from the city who come down for an evening of R 'n' R.

When we arrived at our dinner destination, Oceanstone Inn & Cottages, we are greeted by owner Ron McInnes, who proceeds to take us on a little hike of the Peggy's Cove preservation area. This is an area of land off the beaten track with great trails to hike. All that the Peggy's Cove Area staff ask is that you stick to the original trails-please don't make your own!

Arriving back at Oceanstone, I'm greeted by the most-loved sound of the clinking of a bottle's neck to a glass' lip; the sound of wine being poured. We are ushered into a lovely dining room overlooking the cove for a wine tasting, hosted by sommelier Sean Buckland of Valley Wine Tours. Sean leads us through a simple wine tasting with two reds and two whites from Nova Scotia. After a quick wine tasting lesson where he does a brief wine etiquette summary, we are invited to try Grand Pre's L'Acadie Blanc (2008) and Gaspereaux Vineyard's Seyval Blanc (2008). Sean also offers some cheese nibblies from Fox Hill Cheese, suggesting the Dill and Chive Havarti's creamy texture as the perfect compliment to the dry, crisp whites.

We then move on to the earthy reds in the form of Blomidon Estate's Baco Noir (2008) and Benjamin Bridge's Taurus (2004), which we pair with Ran-Cher Acres smoked Gouda and Fox Hill's white cheddar respectively. To finish, we're treated to an indulgent glass of Jost's Vidal Icewine- a glass of liquid gold that coats your throat on it's journey down, warming you up from the inside, out. Buckland suggests an equally flavorful pairing here, naming creme brulee as an appropriate sweet, while blue cheese is a complementary savory.

As we head down to dinner, full of lovely libations, I'm intrigued by the amuse bouche that's sitting at my place. The restaurant is the Rhubarb Grill, and head chef Paul McInnes has created a seven course tasting menu with a namesake rhubarb gelee, topped with a strawberry foam as a starter.

The third course of spinach salad tossed in a rosemary-blueberry dressing and studded with pecans blueberries, raspberries and strawberries is preceded by a light grainy slice of cornbread that I slathered with butter. I don't know what it is about a good breadbasket, but the more butter in the bread, the more I want to spread on top!

For a fourth course, we get into a slightly more substantial dish of a single Digby diver scallop in the shell, nestled next to a carrot-ginger puree. If root vegetables could be candy, this would be the dish. Aside from the exclamations as to the amazingness of the puree, the table is fairly silent for this course.

Next comes a simple dish; a piece of perfectly-cooked salmon fillet with a touch of brown sugar and simply adorned with a few spears of grilled asparagus.

The final savory dish, as we move on from lighter fare to something a little richer is the juxtaposition of pork. Pork medallions are nestled in a bed of slightly sweet parsnip puree, accompanied by tender cauliflower and topped with a smokey-sweet sauce of pulled pork.

And then we come to dessert, a tiny trio of sweetness in a variety of flavours and textures. First, I go for the shooter-type dessert which reveals a silky-smooth lemon milkshake. Next, I try the creamy ginger creme brulee, with just a touch of a crust on top. I save the rich, fudgy brownie for last- the perfect way to end such an indulgent meal.

As we head out into the crisp fall night, I'm amazed at the amount of ground we've covered in one day. Beaches, hiking trails, award-wining wines and incredible food make for quite the experience when playing the tourist in Nova Scotia. The fact of the matter is though, that these experiences can all be had within an hour's drive of the city. While it's fine to plan for excursions such as these in advance, why not take a walk on the wild side and experience Nova Scotia when the mood strikes. The name of the tour was "Why Not Now?", and I can't think of a good reason "Why Not."

Big thanks to the folks at Colour, and all those involved in the planning for treating us to such a fantastic day!

Halifax Food & Drink Specials guide

There's nothing better than going out for a good meal. Spending the evening relaxing in good company while sipping a luscious glass of wine and nibbling away at a tasty dish is my favorite past time.

It's even better, when said food & drink are cheap! Therefore, I'm requesting the assistance-of all those who are of the same frame of mind- in creating a Halifax Food & Drink Specials guide. There are many restaurants, bars and pubs that provide these types of deals, but I know that there are way more out there that haven't yet crossed my path.

Help ME, help YOU! Add a comment following this post of your favorite Food & Drink specials, and I'll assemble a list that will guide you, on any night/day of the week, in your quest for gustatory satisfaction!

Happy searching, and thanks a bunch!

~Kristen

Power Organics!

I was in line at Planet Organic the other day when this bright little ball of sparkly foil caught my attention. When I looked closer to investigate, my heart sank asI realized, "Uh-oh, healthy chocolate." That only meant one thing- impulse buy!

With ingredients like malted grains and green algae, I thought that this could only be good for your health, not your chocolate craving. I'm not saying that it's the best chocolate that I've ever tasted, and I certainly wouldn't replace my Lindt dark chocolate bar, but it's not without character. The cocoa nibs and dried goji berries provided a nice little crunch, and the chocolate itself- though not creamy- was robust and flavourful.

Blue CheeseCAKE

I had a crew of my serious food friends over for some good eats not too long ago. since all of us are devout worshipers of That Dutchman, and his culinary creation, Dragon's Breath blue cheese, we were pumped when an article arrived in the Holiday 2008 edition of Occasions Magazine for Whipped Blue Cheesecake. Since the recipe was created to serve individual cheesecakes, I modified it make one big cake. I also tweaked the recipe slightly, replacing walnuts for pecans, and sauteing the pears in butter instead of poaching them in white wine.

As if the trifecta of pears, blue cheese and walnuts weren't enough, I added Belgian endive leaves for dipping in addition to some toasted baguette and multigrain and flax crackers.

Dragon's Breath Blue Cheesecake

1 c. whipping cream
1/3 c. Dragon's Breath Blue Cheese
3/4 c. chopped walnuts
1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
2 pears, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp. butter
salt & pepper to taste

Method:

1. On medium heat, saute the pears in the butter until tender, and set aside to cool.
2. Whip the cream until soft peaks form.
3. In a separate bowl, mash the basil, cheese and S&P together.
4. Fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture.
5. On a serving platter, arrange the walnuts to form a 'crust', saving 1/4 for the topping.
Cover this with the cheese mixture, then the cooled pears and sprinkle the remaining
walnuts.

And if that isn't enough cheese- we had Fox Hill's Fennugreek, an old cheddar that tasted like stinky feet, a divine white cheddar w/ apricots, and the rest of the Dragon's Breath with a lovely bit of prosciutto. For dessert, we had a dark chocolate fondue with fresh fruit. However, for the most part, I ended up dipping the toasted baguette into the pot. Never underestimate the tremor-inducing power of crunchy, buttery toasted baguette dripping with silky smooth bittersweet chocolate.

Bacon+Chocolate= Euphoria

I've often found myself in the middle of the salty vs. sweet debate. Some people are all about salty chips, while others prefer creamy chocolate. My thoughts on the matter have been "why can't we all just get along??" Well, here is a product that exemplifies my equal-opportunity outlook: Vosges Haute Chocolat. Mo's Bacon Bar is a chocolate bar marrying the flavours of Applewood smoked bacon, Alder wood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate!

Founder and chocolatier Katrina Markoff writes about her love for chocolate and bacon together, summing it up succinctly when she states that, "Everything's better with bacon." I couldn't have said it better myself!

Check out the website above if you're looking to buy a treat for a serious chocoholic. With flavour combinations such as sweet Indian curry, coconut and milk chocolate or ginger, wasabi, black sesame seeds and dark chocolate, you're sure to find something for both the tame tenacious tastebuds!

FYI- For creative chocolate combos here in Halifax, check out Sugah! on the HFX waterfront. My favorite is dark chocolate w/ lemon zest and black peppercorns!

Yuppy Supper Club #8

This was a fairly serendipitous YSC because the bulk of the meal was free! A friend of mine, new to Halifax, and the newest member of YSC is starting his residency at the QEII. A couple of weeks ago, he was working the ER when fisherman from Cape Breton came in with a jigger hooked into his hand. Ewwwwwww! As my friend was removing said obstruction, he mentioned that he was from NL and the fisherman said that he would bring in some fish the next time he was in town....

Well, he was true to his word and brought in at least 6 halibut steaks and 7 haddock fillets! For supper club, these were front and centre, along with some salmon steaks that another friend brought over. I baked the halibut and salmon, simply dressed, while I pan-fried the haddock sprinkled with Cajun seasoning.

True to my bean dip-experimental phase, I made a Romano bean dip, served with w/ cucumber slices and multigrain & flax tortilla chips for company to munch on while I finished supper. It's a pretty cookie-cutter recipe; can of drained beans, 1/2 a lemon, clove of garlic and some S&P, all whirled up in the food processor. This time, I added a few hot chilies as well. By the time I got my camera, they were already well into it!

Halibut steaks and Cajun Haddock fillets

and...Salmon Steaks

Quark-stuffed Roasted Red Peppers

For some veg to go with our seafood buffet, I made some quark-stuffed roasted red peppers. - another simple side. Halve some red peppers and toss in olive oil & S&P and roast for 15-20 minutes until tender. In the meantime, mix a container of Fox Hill's quark (or ricotta, or cream cheese) w/ 1 tsp Italian Seasoning, 1tsp. lemon zest, a dash of salt and plenty of fresh cracked black pepper. Fill the peppers w/ the quark mixture and put them under the broiler -watch them closely- and broil until the cheese is warmed through.

Back in June, I made a batch of applesauce to freeze for a rainy day- or in this case, an impromptu dessert. I defrosted the applesauce and served it over Vanilla Fro Yo w/ a drizzle of pure Nova Scotian maple syrup. An easy dessert to assemble, especially after several bottles of wine have been consumed!

Bearable Bear...

I was really excited for my my meal at Bear Reatuarant. Some friends of mine, who had lived in Hali until last year were in town and they had missed the opening of Bear. They were pumped for their last meal in the city and decided that it would be at Bear.

When we arrived, we were seated in a comfy booth and started to make some decisions. My favorite way to eat is to get a selection of small plates, or in this case, appys. I love the anticipation of getting one savory dish, all the while knowing that another is on its way! We placed our orders and waited for dinner to arrive. While we waited, they brought over a selection of breads to choose from- I went with the tea biscuit- one that would put up a fair fight vs. Craig Flynn's at Chives....actually, I'll be honest- I had two!

Our server provided us with an amuse bouche, tender duck confit w/ tangy goat cheese and blueberry on a baguette slice.

For a first course, my friend and I both ordered the calamari, deep fried and served with Chef Ray Bear's own BBQ sauce. This dish looked great; a big pile of calamari for a hungry girl. Chef Bear's BBQ sauce paired perfect;y with it's deep, smokey flavour. However, I was a little bummed when I realized that the calamari was getting chewier with every bite.

For my next course, I had the Bacon-Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese. Now here was a dish that I could get excited about! Though I don't normally order pasta in restaurants, there was no way that I could let this dish pass me by! A creamy mac 'n' cheese, ramped up with tender lobster and salty bacon? Yes please. You can imagine my disappointment when I realized that this dish was not gonna cut it.

The dish looked delicious - I could tell from first glance that I would be experiencing a rich, cheesy sauce with just a slight crunch from the breadcrumbs on top. Unfortunately, the bacon and lobster- the stars of the dish- really fell flat. It took several chews to determine whether I was actually eating bacon OR lobster, and another 20 to be able to swallow. The pasta would have been incredible by itself, but I was so disheartened at that point that I didn't really want to finish it.

Altogether, this night out fell flat. Though I was pumped to spend the night w/ my gals, I was less than thrilled as to the mediocre meal. I was even less impressed when I mentioned our expeirence to the manager and his response was "We'll take care of you next time." After this experience, I'm fairly certain, there won't be a next time.

Breakfast feed at Athens Restaurant

So picture this...

It's Sunday morning. You've only just gotten to bed when your stomach growls with the need for food. In your state, however, you want no civilized brunch. No, you want a great big feed of grease. Where to go for such a feast? Athens Restaurant on Quinpool Rd.

I went with a friend of mine after a particularly messy Saturday night and indulged in the The Standard; 2 eggs with choice of bacon, smoked country ham, sausage or perogies, with toast, hand-cut spiced home fries and coffee, all for the music to my ears price of $4.99. Pennies, for a pick-me-up such as this!

Yuppie Supper Club #7- A tribute to Julia Child!

Just before my recent NY trip, my friend Mela and I decided to go see Julie & Julia. I had read the book itself and was super pumped to see a movie set in NY. Mel, however, an enthusiastic cook and one of the founding members of Yuppie Supper Club, was entering into the world of Julia Child w/out warning, and it was great to watch the results!

After the movie, we decided that our next YSC would be a tribute to Mrs. Julia Child, and that we would make her Boeuf Bourgingnon. I went online and found the recipe (courtesy of Oprah.com) from JC's book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. On Friday, Mel bought some organic beef, wine and some root vegetables and set to work, while I waited with baited breath to get off work at 4:30- womp, womp!

I did, however have time to contribute our appy; a white bean dip w/ crudites...slightly French, though not a JC recipe! I adapted this recipe slightly from Lauren Chattman's Cool Kitchen, a cookbook that's the perfect antidote to cooking in 30 degree weather!

White Bean Dip:

1 can of white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
juice of half a lemon
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 large clove of garlic, minced
S & P to taste.

Method:

Throw it all together in a blender or food processor and puree. That's it. I love simple recipes!

I timed my arrival perfectly, as it allowed for a mere twenty minutes wait until the stew was ready, by which time I was practically begging Mel to let me have some! However, it allowed me the opportunity to take shots of the dish in progress - there are many steps to a Julia Child recipe.

Beef, simmering in a bath of red wine and beef stock...

Then, add in the onions and carrots...

And the meal is complete with tender beef, sweet carrots, caramelized pearl onions and soft potatoes in a rich, flavorful broth.

For dessert, Mel prepared one of her favorites, and mine too; Chocolate Lava Cakes. She switched this dessert up from the last time, swapping the fresh raspberries and raspberry puree for balsamic marinated strawberries. The rich and tangy berries struck an effortless balance with the cake's fudgy texture.

Fish & finger food at the Foggy Goggle

Last Sunday, I had a visitor from Newfieland! My momma stopped into Halifax en-route to visit my sissy in NYC, and we spent the day strolling around the city; taking in some of the last rays of summer before September hit.

We walked along Spring Garden, did the quintessential summer activity of ice cream in the Public Gardens, and then took in some of the shops down on the Waterfront. Thankfully, the wind down there was blowing in the right direction!

Eventually, we ended up on Argyle St. for a mid-afternoon snack. In my efforts to branch out to new-to-me restos, we decided to plop ourselves down on the Foggy Goggle patio. We ordered some cool white wine and decided to split a couple dishes.

We started with the Seafood Bowl for $14; scallops, salmon, mussels and haddock in a bowl of garlic cream and white wine broth. Though the staff stressed that this isn't a "seafood chowder", I'd describe it as a de-constructed seafood chowder. Save for onions and potato, it had all the elements. Though the mussels were pretty puny, the scallops and fish were lovely, cooked just right to remain tender and flaky.

When we finished our seafood bowl, we wanted something cheesy and crunchy- the nacho dip seemed like just the thing! The menu describes this dish as a "Party in your mouth!" It consisted of layers of refried beans, black beans, mixed cheese, red onion, mixed peppers, salsa, cream cheese, jalapenos and lime sour cream. For $12, the dip is served warm with salty oven baked corn tortilla chips.

Up close and personal. I'm really diggin' the close up food shots. Seriously wish that Internet scratch 'n' sniff existed, and was not just an object of my fantasy. Womp, womp! Anyhow, the the chips were the best resto tortilla chips that I've had in a resto, but the dip itself was a little underwhelming.

I took a photo of the special board, as it was much easier than writing them all down! I love taking note of spots that have good deals on food an drink. Someday, I'll do up a list of good food deals in the city...someday.

Eat Atlantic Challenge!

Hey NS! Join me in the Eat Atlantic Challenge on Friday, September 4th! The Eat Atlantic Challenge is a promotion aimed at encouraging Atlantic Canadians to eat only food produced in Atlantic Canada for one day. The primary goal is to promote the economic, health and environmental benefits of eating food that is produced here in Atlantic Canada.

Make a pledge here for a chance to win a $250 gift basket, filled with made-in-Atlantic products. Challenge yourself and your friends, family and colleagues to eat locally and support your province's farmers and producers!

"I pledge to eat only foods produced in Atlantic Canada for the day- for our economy, our environment, and our future!"

The World's BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie!

Day 5 in NYC started off pretty much the same as ever, with the first thought in my head being bfast. We got ready for the day and headed down a few subway stops to 74th & B'way for some fantastic baked goods at Margot Patisserie ; a lovely little french bakery and one of Angela's favorites. Once I decided that I would go with the cream cheese turnover, Angie got food envy and changed her order...which subsequently made me change MY order to another drool-inducing treat; an apple and walnut scone.

Angie's turnover had a light and flaky, cloud-like texture of which I've grown quite fond! The interior was filled with a tangy cream cheese filling that moistened the inside and created a wonderful character contrast with the crisp exterior.

My sweet was equally delicious with chunks of sweet apple and crunchy walnuts studding the scone's tender crumb. The sugar crust on top added not only a nice touch of sweetness to the scone, but a lovely crunch as well.

Once we had fulled up for the morning, we powershopped around the 70's, making up for time lost from the previous day's debauchery. After several hours of such rigorous activity, we had worked up a serious appetite (surprise, surprise) we got some lunch at Chipotle, a Mexican fast food chain with a whole lotta freshness. We decided on a burrito bowl; rice, black beans, chicken, corn, tomatoes, peppers and lettuce with two salsas, hot sauce and sour cream. At $2 a bag, this spot also offers a nice size serving of corn tortilla chips for dipping.

When we had finished our lunch and were ready to walk it off, we headed down a few blocks only to sit and laze again in the AC. What? It was 35 degrees and we needed some AC! Angie had the stellar idea to pop into Barnes & Noble and peruse the culinary section. She's a smart one! I discovered a number of books that I've never seen in Hali bookstores, adding them all to my list of books to request from Halifax Public Libraries! I don't buy books you see...I don't have anywhere to keep them. God bless my local library for feeding my mind on a loaner basis.

Anyhow, on our way back uptown, we came across a little spot I like to call heaven; Jacques Torres Chocolatier. I'd been all over this website and had decided in advance to my trip that I would pick up a few truffles to sample. I had it all planned out; the Chai Tea truffle, the PB & J, the Champagne Kiss, to name a few...

This plan when out the window when I arrived, however, and saw the in-freakin-credible chocolate chip cookies on display. Angie and I decided that these were too good to pass up, so we bought one to share. The icing on top was when the clerk asked if we wanted one that was fresh out of the oven. Um...hells yes!

Up close and personal.
I had to get a close-up shot to truly showcase all those crevices of ooey-gooey delight!

Aside from the rich cookie base, there was something interesting about the chocolate within this cookie as well. I'm constantly trying to figure out the ins and outs of recipes. I find those from restaurants particularly intriguing, deconstructing every flavour layer to figure out the secret method, or that mysterious spice; the secret of the Caramilk bar baffled me as a child. But this was different. What, besides the intense bittersweet chocolate, and delectable dough made this cookie so unique? Then I snapped this shot and I had my answer. Jacques Torres doesn't use chocolate chips, nor chocolate chunks, but chocolate slabs, layering them one over the other like tectonic plates so that each bite contains a mouth-filling deposit of chocolate. CRAZY!

Once we had recovered from the shiver-inducing effect of that much chocolaty pleasure, we headed back uptown. We sat on the patio drinking Greyhounds- vodka and pink grapefruit juice- and played a game of Scrabble. Normally, this would not have made it into my blog, but my letters were so laughable that I had to take a photo! Clearly, I was not the winner of this match!

For supper, we decided to order in, and what an incredibly insightful decision that was! We got take-out from Indus Valley on B'way, cracked a bottle of red and threw on some Bill Evans jazz. If Angie had been an man, it would have been the perfect date night in NYC!!

We decided to get a couple of dishes to split, and by a couple, I mean far too much food for two!! Angie let me choose a curry, while she went with a standby favorite; the Vegetarian Delight. This dish had a couple components; a mushroom, red bell pepper and potato stuffed with delicately spiced mixed veg and cream cheese and served with homemade peanut sauce. The red pepper was by far my fave. The stuffing mixture itself had almost a minced consistency, and the cream cheese added depth and tang.

We also shared the Dal Taka; yellow lentils cooked with tomatoes and seasoned with a plethora of spices including green chillies, ginger, garlic, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin and mustard seeds. Served with a Jasmine rice, this mild, yet flavorful curry also came with nice chunks of zucchini and eggplant.

And how could you get Indian food w/out an order of naan? We upped the ante a notch with the Paneer Kulcha; whole wheat bread stuffed with homemade cottage cheese. This stuff would beat garlic cheese bread any day of the week!

And, yet, there's more. I have an affinity for the crisp-crunch of Pappadams, so we got an order of those, which came with three dipping sauces: red pepper chutney, cilantro puree and pomegranate molasses.

And so ended another great day in NYC. As darkness fell, I had that crappy trip revelation that tomorrow would be my last day to hang with sis, eat good food and take in this amazing city before I had to get back to real life. But we still had one more day to go, and I'd had 5 great days already, so I counted my blessings, gritted my teeth, and tried to make a word with 7 vowels.