Peaches to Apples

Bhatti

By: tkonter May 3, 2016May 3, 2016

Indian, New York, Restaurants/BarsDating, Holidays, Murray Hill, PassoverLeave a Comment

This whole lifting of the ban on kitniyot is a GAME CHANGER. Basically, for the last 800 years a whole bunch of foods were considered no-nos during Passover (corn, rice, beans), but now they are a-ok. True, I had pretty much relaxed my observance of that rule in recent years because I didn’t agree with it,…

Book Review: One More Thing

By: tkonter May 2, 2016April 26, 2016

Book Reviews, Food for Thought, UncategorizedEssays, FictionLeave a Comment

BJ Novak is goofy. Each of the short stories in this book elicits a chuckle. “How does he come up with this stuff?!” is something I bemused after almost every story. Novak chooses a different, random situation for each story. There’s the one about a woman on a date with a warlord, the roast of Nelsen…

Sweet & Sour

By: tkonter April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

Bits & Bites, Sweet & SourLeave a Comment

The high and low from the week of 4/25

Salad with Salmon, Peas, and Rice

By: tkonter April 29, 2016April 26, 2016

Cooking, Mains, Recipe Index, Salads/SoupsFish, Original Recipes, Salmon, SeafoodLeave a Comment

After a tough workout I usually want a supper that’s literally thrown together. My favorite way to do this is by making what my Mom and I have long called the Kitchen Sink Salad. The ingredients change every time, based on what’s lying around. This week’s version included some new ingredients so I felt it…

3 on Thursday

By: tkonter April 28, 2016April 25, 2016

3 on Thursday, Bits & BitesLeave a Comment

We’re in the home stretch of Passover. Ugh. I hate this holiday. I just have to get myself to Saturday night and then it’s pizza time! Last week Lindsay planned a pretty fabulous girl date for us. She found out Ruth Reichl was speaking at the JCC and let me know, knowing I loved her…

Matzah Crack

By: tkonter April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

Cooking, Desserts, SnacksHolidays, PassoverLeave a Comment

For the last…forever, Passover-keeping Jews have dealt with the same gross desserts during the holiday. The only options were boxed cakes, and we’re not talkin funfetti. Think about it: when you can’t use flour can a cake really be that good? No, no it can’t. But then a few years ago everyone stated talking about…

At the Table: Passover 2016

By: tkonter April 26, 2016April 26, 2016

At the Table, Bits & BitesDecor, Holidays, Passover, TablescapeLeave a Comment

I went simple for Passover this year. I didn’t have the time to work on an elaborate floral centerpiece or place settings. I ended up doing all the cooking in one day instead of splitting it up into two, so I didn’t want to stress about having a fancy tablescape on top of all that.…

Playa Betty’s

By: tkonter April 25, 2016April 21, 2016

Mexican/Latin American, New York, Restaurants/BarsCalifornia, Mexican, TacosLeave a Comment

The last thing I think of when I imagine Upper West restaurants is a chill California vibe, but there goes Playa Betty’s, dropping a beachy restaurant on 75th and Amsterdam. It’s all tacos and margs here, with wood paneling and cafe lights so you feel like you could just step inside and prop your imaginary…