skip katchup, roast tomato for shrimp cocktail

7-31-2013 Wed. warm, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---- chicken dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- a variation of Mexican seafood cocktail (Vuelve a la Vida) : shrimp and baby squid in roasted tomato and chili sauce with lime, cilantro and green onion | basmati rice | sauteed mustard greens  | salad |  wine

 

• a good recipe for summer seafood from City Kitchen NYT,  a key ingredient is  the sauce : roasted tomato and chili, pureed and thinned by clam juice and lime juice.

steamed dumplings

7-30-2013 Tue. warm, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with fava beans 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | salad 

  

• business as usual. 

determinedly non-Chinese

7-29-2013 Mon. warm, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers ad smoked tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- golden plums 
DINNER --- goose liver pate | bread | pickled gigante and olives | oysters on shell | ceviche and lightly pickled cucumber |seasoned basmati rice with fresh fava beans | BBQ baby short ribs | fennel and radish salad | wine |  champagne grapes | tea

 

 

• for Betsy who has had enough Chinese food

Lychee

7-28-2013 Sun. warm, clouds.  



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | blue cheese and goat cheese | watermelon | grapes | cherries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- lychee | tea 
DINNER --- broiled lamb ribs | sauteed mustard greens | stir-fried garlic scape with smoked tofu | sauteed fresh corn with shallots and roasted red pepper | wine 

 

• lychee is in season, just have to eat them as soon as coming in.

from sea to mountain

7-27-2013 Sat. warm, shower.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread | Norwegian goat cheese | watermelon | champagne grape | peach
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries | tea
DINNER --- ( at Cafe Asia for a gathering) various Asian-themed food 


 

• a restaurant with a menu covering the whole continent of Asia, one cannot expect too much about the cooking.

BBQ

7-26-2013 Fri. warm, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---nectarine
DINNER --- BBQ chicken wings | caramelized carrots with onion and cilantro | fennel salad | beer

 

• not that much left in the fridge on Friday

Shanghai style short ribs and smoked tofu salsa

7-25-2013 Thu. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta and green beans 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- Shanghai style soy wine braised short ribs with fresh ginger and star anise | Shanghai salsa | sauteed snow peas | chilled tomato cucumber corn soup | rice | wine 

 

•   a quite cool day actually.

pasta withe sofrito

7-24-2013 Wed. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- sauteed new potatoes | sauteed snow peas 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  green tea 
DINNER --- pasta with sofrito sauce, sauteed mushroom, and grated cheese | sauteed green beans | fennel and cherry tomato salad | wine

 

• sofrito is versatile, roasted red pepper adds bright accent.

grilled cod with miso marinate

7-23-2013 Tue. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | sauteed snow peas and beech mushroom | pan-fried new potatoes with caramelized shallots | miso marinated grilled cod | salad | wine 

 

• cod has been marinated in white miso for two days, a little bit too long and too salty, though the texture is very good.

garlic scape

7-22-2013 Mon. warm, cloudy.  


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- pickled red steam chard | sauteed mustard greens 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
 DINNER --- stir-fried garlic scape with shiitake mushroom | sauteed Chinese eggplant with tomato and garlic sauce | steamed egg custard with seaweed seasoning | rice | salad | wine 

 

• Chinese meal

Bamya at Zaytinya

7-21-2013 Sun. hot, cloudy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | English muffin | scallion pancake | water melon | grapes  
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- lychee |tea
DINNER --- ( at Zaytinya) Hommus and puffy bread | BAMYA ( caramelized okra, fresh and crispy chickpeas,cardamom tomato stew) | ADANA KEBAB ( ground Border Springs Farm lamb, house-made harissa, grilled tomatoes, sumac, onions,pickled chilis) | TROUT SKORDALIA (ouzo battered trout, traditional potato garlic spread,lemon, almond) | MERCIMEK KÖFTESI ( traditional seared red lentil patties, preserved lemon yogurt, barberries, lettuce leaves) | Turkish coffee

 

• Bamya is so good, got to find out how to make it

pan-fried silver pomfret with sofrito

7-20-2013 Sat. hot, sunny.  



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake with raspberries and mango | orange juice | water melon | grapes
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- mojito | cheese and crackers | lychee 
DINNER ---  pan-fried silver pomfret with sofrito sauce | sauteed fresh sweet corn with roasted red pepper | short grain brown rice | sauteed young  mustard greens | fennel and cherry tomato salad | wine 

• not easy to find silver pomfret these days. 
•  

stay cool with ceviche and quinoa

7-19-2013 Fri. hot, sunny.  



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach
DINNER --- quinoa | fish ceviche with lightly pickled cucumbers and chili | smoked tofu, cilantro and roasted spicy peanuts | fennel and cherry tomato salad | wine 

• all can be in  the salad category. heat weave persists

100% farm to table

7-18-2013 Thu. very hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- paella leftovers 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- pan-fried new potatoes with fresh herbs | fresh corn fritters | sauteed green beans | salad | wine 

 

• corn is sweet, potato is creamy, beans are crisp. fresh food from farm and cooked the same day.

a Mediterranean treat

7-17-2013 Wed. hot, sunny.  



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- marinated gigante beans and olives | sauteed zucchini | paella ( bomba rice, sofrito, clam juice, garlic scape, pork shoulder, shiitake mushroom, quail eggs, shrimp ) | salad | wine 

 

• a small scale Mediterranean feast, with Shawn visiting

golden cherry tomatoes

7-16-2013 Tue. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with bitter melon and chard 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | salad of golden cherry tomatoes and fennel  | wine 

• self-supply golden cherry tomatoes this summer

bitter melon and bitter chard

7-15-2013 Mon. hot, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---soba
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach
DINNER --- sauteed bitter melon | scrambled eggs with tomato | sauteed red stem chard | salad | rice | wine 

 

•  back to routine. heat wave coming this way.

soba, corn and steamed buns

7-14-2013 Sun. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | pate | water melon | raspberries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  beer | simmered fresh peanuts 
DINNER --- Chinese taco buns with pork and caramelized onion | soba noddles with cucumber and dashi | sauteed fresh corn with onion and roasted red pepper | salad if cherry tomatoes and fennel | wine 

 

• soba noddles are of good quality with green tea flavor and right amount of firmness, made in Australia

zucchini and ravioli

7-13-2013 Sat. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | French toast | gyoza | water melon | mango 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- oysters with lemon | Italian bread | beet and walnut spread | ravioli ( spinach, portobello, grilled asparagus and roasted red pepper) with broth of zucchini, shallot, garlic, egg and herbs | tomato and fennel salad | wine 

 

•   recall a  ravioli dinner with zucchini blossom in the hills of Tuscany.

sushi from the shop around the corner

7-12-2013 Fri. cool, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potato and cream sauce chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- sushi | green tea soba with threaded cucumber | white miso soup 


 

• another farewell dinner in the week,  a beautiful sushi spread and excellent soba

creamy sauce chicken

7-11-2013 Thu. hot, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach
DINNER --- curried cauliflowers | sauteed chicken with creamy sauce | pan-fried potato and onion | Gigante bean  salad | wine 

•   yogurt replaced sour cream this time for the old-day creamy sauce

Thai style hot&sour squid

7-10-2013 Wed. hot, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- Afghan rice and lamb 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- Thai-style sauteed baby squid with celery | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | rice | wine 

• too much rain these summer

along the silk road

7-09-2013 Tue. hot, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- crepes | plum
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach
DINNER --- ( with S. & G.)  guacamole and chips | champagne || Shanghai salsa: smoked tofu, roasted peanuts, cilantro with spicy sesame oil dressing | steamed Chinese taco: steamed lotus buns with twice-cooked pork shoulder, onion marmalade and fresh shiso | baked beets with garlic walnut sauce | qabili pilau: baked Afghan rice with lamb shank, carrots and raisins | wine 

 

 

• for friends' farewell 
 

 

a bowl of udon

7-08-2013 Mon. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---pasta with sauteed greens
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---plum
DINNER --- udon noodles with shrimp, tofu,  egg, beech mushroom, onion and seaweed | salad cherry tomatoes, fennel and lettuce | wine 

 

• one bowl holds all

whole foods

7-07-2013 Sun. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | watermelon | blueberries | peach   
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- grapes
DINNER --- sauteed Chinese greens | boiled new potatoes | duck confit | salad of cherry tomato, radish, lettuce and avocado | wine 

• the kid eats a whole tomato, a whole cucumber and a whole duck leg confit, primitive hand-held style.

American pie

7-06-2013 Sat. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | watermelon | raspberries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Vipiano ) cappuccino 
DINNER --- Guacamole and chips | ceviche | beet and walnut salad | duck confit | sauteed asparagus | rice | raspberry pie with whipped cream | wine 

 

• Homemade pie, fresh raspberries 

latin Jazz party

7-05-2013 Fri. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake with mango and chocolate | watermelon | grapes 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- (at Drew's party) coconut jello | Chinese taco with BBQ pork and onion marmalade | Cuban party food : beans, rice, chicken wings, avocado and pineapple salad with watercress, pork, fried plantain, flat bread with vegetable topping | drinks 





 

• kids had an open-fire-pit for marshmallows

July 4th BBQ

7-04-2013 Thu. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | watermelon | raspberries | bread and cheese | grapes
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- American BBQ : hot dog | shrimp on skewers | chicken wings | fresh corn | beer 

 

• hot dog rocks with real BBQ

paella

7-03-2013 Wed. warm, rain. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pizza 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- paella ( shrimp, beech mushroom, green beans, clam, sausage, quail eggs, sofrito sauce ) | wine 

• a clown face made from paella.

sushi and udon

7-02-2013 Tue. warm, clouds and rain.  


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- pasta with pesto sauce | sauteed mustard green
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---plum
 DINNER --- ( at H. Japanese restaurant ) sushi | udon 


 

•   two kids entertained themselves greatly with sushi and udon.

fast and fresh sauce: pesto

7-01-2013 Mon. warm, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ceviche with chayote  and pickled ginger
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum | peach 
DINNER --- steamed artichoke with lemon butter dipping | pasta with pesto sauce | salad of cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella |  marinated gigante beans and olives | wine 

 

• fresh basil from farmer's market for  homemade pesto