Valencia fizz before going to Clybourne Park

7-28-2011 Thur. hot, hazy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- stew of new potato and chorizo
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine
BEFORE-THEATER-DINNER --- (at Jaleo 7th) Valencia fizz | Selection of all cheeses (six kinds of sheep and goat cheese ) | Ajo blanco con cangrejo (Chilled almond and garlic soup with crabmeat and green grapes ) | Lomo Ibérico de bellota con manzanas (Fresh loin from the legendary, acorn-fed,black-footed Ibérico pigs of Spain served with roasted apples) |Espinacas a la catalana (Sautéed spinach, pine nuts,raisins and apples) | Croquetas de Jamón Serrano (Traditional Serrano ham fritters) | Bacalao con salsa verde (Slow cooked cod loin with a parsley sauce and black garlic) | Alcachofas salteadas con ‘Tapenade’ ( Fried baby artichokes with a black olive and anchovy sauce ) | Papas arrugas (Canary Island-style wrinkled baby potatoes served with mojo verde (cilantro, cumin, garlic,Sherry vinegar and olive oil sauce) | Chistorra envuelta en patata frita (Slightly spicy chorizo wrapped in a crispy potato) | white wine

• Valencia fizz, a creamy nutty cocktail : Plymouth Gin, Benedictine, Chufra Horchata , bitters, lemon and egg white
• "Fresh loin from the legendary, acorn-fed,black-footed Ibérico pig" does not taste anything special and it is pretty tough in texture.
  
• outstanding sauces: the green sauce for baby potatoes ( cilantro, cumin,garlic, sherry vinegar and olive oil) , the black sauce for artichokes: ( black olive and anchovy )
  

the good old Jaleo

7-10-2011 Sat. hot, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Italian country bread | lychee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- ( at Jaleo ) sangría roja | watermelon tomato salad w. goat cheese & pistachio | ajo blanco con cangrejo (chilled almond and garlic soup w. crabmeat, raisins, sliced almonds, & green grapes) | chistorra envuelta en patata frita (slightly spicy chorizo wrapped in slice of crispy potato) | lomo ibérico de bellota ‘fermin’ (smoked acorn-fed cured pork loin) w. pan con tomate | erizos de mar con pipirrana (a spoonful of sea urchin w. diced peppers, tomatoes & cucumbers) | sauteed squid w. raisins in pinenut praline sauce | medium rare pork chop (black iberian pig) w. fried fingerling potatoes | raw octopus salad | smoked sausage w. mashed potatoes | arroz mediterraneo (paella w. porcini mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant, green & black olives & thyme) | flan w. whipped cream, orange fillets & mint

• this time the food is well-prepared with excellent ingredients at Jaleo, Jose Andres' first restaurant.
  

Mexican brunch at Oyamel

5-01-2011 Sun. mild, drizzle.

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | apple
AFTERNOON-BRUNCH --- ( at Oyamel ) chips and salsa | huevos ranchero | huevos motulenos ( egg, tortilla, black beans, pork belly, and peas) | ceviche veracruzana ( red snapper, olives, piparra pepper air ) | nopal agado con salsa molcajete ( grilled cactus paddles) | three tacos ( goat, fish, braised beef tongue ) | grilled skirt steak | rice milk | churros de san angel con chocolate caliente ( fried pastry in sugar and cinnamon with hot chocolate )
DINNER --- vegetable soup ( shiitake, tomato, radish sprouts, tofu)

Brunch at Oyamel, Jose Andres' take on Mexican cuisine

magnolia sieboldii in the garden near Hirshhorn

Blinky Parlemo: Retrospective (at Hirshhorn)

• Oyamel is not at the same level as Zaytinya, sorry Jose.
• the Blinky Parlemo retrospective show at Hirsshorn is superb.
  

following José to Spain

4-23-2011 Sat. warm, humid.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | baguette | Norwegian goat cheese | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- white asparagus salad with Manchego cheese and citrus dressing | piquillo stuffed with Spanish cheese | chroizo sauteed with oyster mushroom and spring onion | pan-fried baby potatoes with caramelized onion | baked whole fish with olive oil, lemon and lemon thyme | Spanish rose

• recipes and executions from José Andrés Made-in-Spain, literally following him from his " store around the corner from my house in the US" to Spain surf and turf.