January 2012
2 posts
A Cabbage and a Chicken
i grabbed the last cabbage off the table at boggy creek farm. the beautiful leaves demanded to be stuffed! i remembered this version from a restaurant where i once worked. leaves stuffed with chicken mousse & wild rice - served en brodo.
carve up a chicken and make a chicken stock. reserve the breast meat. poach up the leg and thigh and save for a salad (or a snack for your dog - lucky...
Eat your Greens !
i can’t get enough of the fall/winter greens - swiss chard & kale & beet greens & even broccoli greens. i purchase them at the farmers market and boggy creek farm - while i patiently wait til my garden is ready to pick ….another week or two.
this is a favorite salad - a meal in itself. the lundberg farms rice mix i purchase at wheatsville co-op. it is a mix of brown...
December 2011
1 post
3 tags
Best ever Oatmeal !
i am a big fan of steel cut oatmeal. but i am finicky & do question the freshness of canned and bulk products…. am i just imagining a rancid undertone ? now i can enjoy an organically grown - heirloom grain - stone ground to order ! bowl of oatmeal. what a treat !
check out anson mills - for their product list ( polenta - rice - grits & more) and read about their...
November 2011
1 post
So Long...and Good Luck Brian Stubbs !
ASTI & FINO say So Long & Good Luck to Brian Stubbs
As many of you know, Brian has been with ASTI & FINO for over 8 years. But it’s time to say farewell, as he starts a new family (Baby Girl Stubbs is due in early December) ! Brian will be missed by us, our staffs and all of our guests.
We will be toasting Brian on his last day, November 19th at FINO with cocktails...
October 2011
1 post
3 tags
B o B
Beard on Bread. a classic cookbook - one i’ve had in my collection since 1986 ( it cost 12.95 ! ).
i like many recipes in this book - but one i have been making for these 25 years - (yikes !) - is his banana bread. it is perfectly dense ( not too ) - moist - big on banana flavor & not too sweet. ( i add chunks of chocolate ).
i wanted to say thanks to a friend & this...
August 2011
2 posts
5 tags
Beat the Heat ! Vancouver & Salt Spring Island
60 days of 100+ degree weather. it’s enough to make a girl go crazy ! august in austin is rough - and even more so this year. a 10 day - cool weather - escape was in order. destination vancouver - then a jump over to salt spring island. here i share a few favorites from our trip.
it’s been 10 years since we were last in vancouver. besides cool weather we had fond memories of...
Sprout !
i used to sprout- many years ago - and doing it again just reminds me how much i like them. my initial motivation for sprouting was the nutritional value of them - but they are also a great visual & textural addition to salads & sandwiches and as a garnish for lots of dishes.
my favorite website is sproutpeople.org. owned by a couple who started at the farmers market in madison wisconson...
July 2011
2 posts
real deal Waffles
i haven’t eaten a waffle in 20 years. why waste the calories on a tasteless flour bomb ? but….. after sampling the one served at brunch at FINO ( yeah ! i’m biased ) - i had to indulge in a double stack of my own !
chef jason’s mom shared her recipe with FINO ! thanks june ! the belgian-style waffle batter includes yeast - and is proofed...
LobsterFest 2011
11th Annual LobsterFest at ASTI Trattoria ! dinner july 7th 8th & 9th !
lobster fra diavolo with spaghetti - spicy lobster-tomato sauce & garlic fried breadcrumbs (my favorite) and lobster risotto with sweet summer corn - chives & lobster oil (of course this is delicious too).
ASTI offers a 3-course ‘family-style dinner for 2’ which starts with a local tomato caprese...
June 2011
3 posts
summer cherries
there are lots of ways to enjoy cherries. it is my favorite summer fruit - so when i bought this book last winter i bookmarked this recipe for pickled cherries. have you ever had a pickled cherry?
i am a fan of this cookbook author. skye gyngell is a chef in london. her book formats are very personal ( she has 3 ) -recipes are ingredient focused (reminders of classic dishes- nothing...
ah Vongole !
being an east coast girl - i have fond memories of vongole pie - that is - clam pizza.
and while i know most folks in the south find this unusual ( to say the least ) - i have decided after 10 years - that one should make an appearance on the ASTI pizza menu. what ? a pizza without cheese ? that’s right ! - some will add a bit of shaved pecorino but the ( perhaps...
real deal English Muffin
this recipe is from my days of line cooking - working the “way-to-early-after-saturday-night” sunday brunch. the pastry chef would make 4 or 5 sweet breads for the basket and english muffins for the benedict. i collected this recipe (yikes !) 20 years ago and it was a real treat to come across it and make it again.
yeasty & chewy with the required “nooks and...
May 2011
2 posts
4 tags
destination INDIA
it’s where we celebrate every month ( or two ) with our friends chris and celia - inviting another couple ( or two ) to join us. we embarked on this journey last year when we shared our excitement for phaidons latest cookbook - INDIA. it’s our supperclub - celebrating cuisine of india !
this is not our first go at a supperclub (see archives / august / silver spoon). supperclubs...
8 tags
Top 10 from Paris & Provence
3 days in paris with emmett & our friends rick & kim. what a treat ! it’s my first visit to paris so i am excited to see the city and practice my french. we drop our luggage at hotel therese ( **recommended ) and hit the road running…..to lunch ….and our first of many many bottles of rose wine.
1. dinner our first night at l’aoc offered classic bistro...
April 2011
3 posts
Stay Tuned..........
off to france…..stay tuned for reports from paris & provence !
Inspired Supper
it’s always a treat when emmett gets inspired to cook (who doesn’t like being cooked for). this time it was a monday night supper - the inspiration from the cookbook ‘Cook Italy’ with a recipe for boned chicken stuffed with rosemary & garlic. yum.
a chicken version of porchetta - chichetta ?
a technique that seems forgotten for chicken. bone out the entire...
Spring Strawberries
always a fan of boggy creek farm - i love to hit the saturday market and see what they have to offer and purchase my weekly produce. i chat it up with carol ann - get some local gossip from larry - and say hello to the avid chef shoppers.
knowing i couldn’t go saturday - i hit the wednesday market. it was bustling ! i wasn’t wasting anytime getting the last of the spinach. eric...
March 2011
1 post
best ever Granola
FINO has a most delicious granola on the sunday brunch menu. when i am in the kitchen there i like to sneak a jar of the stuff to have at home. it is far more delicious than anything store bought. finally i just asked the pastry chef for the recipe. so courtesy of erin - here it is. it is so simple - you can custom make it any way you like - and with far less sugar than the boxed / bulk...
February 2011
2 posts
Easy as Apple Pie
i love a good kitchen gadget. a practical one that is efficient and enhances the task at hand. i do not typically like gadgets that replace a job one should really relish doing by hand. like an apple peeler. i would not consider such a thing……..until my mom’s VSO ( very significant other) used one to practice making his “award winning apple pie” ( seriously - he won...
Brunch Special
brunch in our house is usually one of a few ‘go-to’ favorites. iron skillet pancake souffle with fruit & honey……omelettes ( * with strawberry jam )…….or this moroccan diddy. it’s a classic recipe that we took from saveur magazine years ago. so last sunday - as we were settling in with the NYTimes with nowhere to go - i decided to make moroccan brunch...
January 2011
2 posts
Easy Riser
you’ve heard all about it…..the no-knead bread. the recipe that rocked the world of home bread bakers across the country. the NKB recipe created by jim lahey - of sullivan street bakery fame - in NYC. certainly you have heard of it - but have you tried it ?
we finally did - sometime last year - and were addicted to the ease of having a truly artisan quality loaf of bread...
Cheers ! to Tamales
when the idea of having a tamale making party came up - i immediately offered up my kitchen. i would love to learn to make an authentic tamale. then new years day became the date - what was i thinking !
well - you start by serving up a big batch of ‘recovery’ tequila punch. silver + gold tequila - orange+grapefruit+lime juices - lots of fruit - topped off with champagne....
December 2010
2 posts
Oeufs!?
when asked to bring a dessert to christmas dinner - i thought back to my repetoire of desserts from my catering days. and one of my favorites to make - and a real crowd pleaser - was a french delight called ‘oeufs a la neige’ ( eggs in snow ) - better known to us as floating islands.
so i got out my favorite book from my catering years - yes ! ‘entertaining’ by...
Cool Comfort
another chilly day……..another quick soup. this time of year - there are always winter greens in the fridge ( soon to be in the garden ).
favorites are swiss chard - kale & escarole. along with a good stock from the freezer and parmesan cheese = winter greens & dumpling soup.
to make the dumplings: 2 c grated parmesan / 1 c breadcrumbs / 1/2 tsp salt / a few( or more )...
November 2010
5 posts
3 tags
Just Desserts
it was a small gathering of 10. dad was in town for his annual visit from florida…. and a few good friends with their children. there was turkey on the table ( with emmett’s most delicious gravy ) and all the usual fixin’s. this year i decided to farm out the appetizers instead of desserts.
this year i was inspired to make dessert after hearing that dai due was offering up...
Smokin'
one of my favorite ways to cook salmon - is in one of my favorite pieces of cookware - a camerons stove top smoker. tonight we pulled our last piece of king salmon from the freezer - ( portions cryovac’ed from a whole salmon earlier this year when in season).
alder wood chips give the best balance of smoke for fish & seafood.
10 -12 minutes cooking time ( +5 minute rest) = the...
3 tags
I Heart Paella
i really do. but how much paella can one girl eat ?
apparently - a lot. as a ‘judge’ at the 8th annual “paella lovers united” cook-off - i tasted 16 paella’s. from the ‘traditional’ to the ‘keeping it weird’ - there was a lot of great paella to be had.
the stoking of the fire pits started early - carrying hot embers to eight...
2 tags
Cool Comfort
i am not a fan of cold weather ( i gave it up when i left new england). but…….. i do love that it makes me want to cook up a big pot of soup. so with today’s chilly cold snap i got to thinking about a squash soup. not butternut…..but kabocha. super sweet and an incredibly silky smooth texture. also referred to as japanese pumpkin. i scored a few at wheatsville co-op.
...
2 tags
BCF & GCP
of course i’m talking about boggy creek farm- but you knew that. if you didn’t - you should - if you are interested in one of austin’s most beautiful farms (5 acres with historic home from 1800’s ) - and a couple of austin’s most beloved-involved-dedicated-generous-spirited-talented-open-hearted and story-tellin’ farmers - carol ann sayles and larry butler....
October 2010
3 posts
8 tags
Basque Country Top 10
enough about spain already i know. but i am going to detour from my usual food-centric focus and list a few other things ( ok 10 ! ) we did on this trip to basque country - as we use this blog as a resource for traveling friends & customers - and is also used as a personal travelogue. a word about the place where we stayed. this little town named ea - nestled in the mountains not far...
3 tags
Etxebarri
well - i won’t say it’s THE reason for going to this area of spain - but i will say that the 6 of us revolved the trip around our reservation at this restaurant. etxebarri ( etchebarri in basque) seems to be on the radar of foodies everywhere - destination restaurant……. in the middle of nowhere !
thanks to betty - our gps co-pilot - we arrived without problem in...
4 tags
Swine Divine
we’re back !
after an incredible trip to basque region in spain - 2 weeks with 6 friends - lots of food wine & laughs. mountains ocean & adventures. but where do i begin with the food ?
well i guess at the beginning with our first meal -
in the magical hilltop city of segovia (marked by this 2000 yr old roman aqueduct - contructed without mortar. fascinating ).
ok....
September 2010
3 posts
Stay Tuned
off to spain……………….stay tuned for reports from bilbao and san sebastian !
Mother Nature
is amazing. every september for the past 11 years - mother has gifted us with a chicken mushroom.
it grows on the oak tree by our patio and pops up right after labor day. regardless of a rainy or dry season….there it is. i usually anticipate it but this year forgot - so i was delighted to walk out and spot it. it is not large - but enough for breakfast for two.
chicken mushroom...
2 tags
Take Out
one of the benefits of owning a restaurant is that there is always a menu of delicious lunch or dinner available to you - even when you are already home and feeling too lazy to cook ( well- really there wasn’t much in the fridge ). so last night i called emmett to request he bring home dinner from FINO.
seafood paella ( saffron rice with shrimp - calamari - mussels & chorizo with...
August 2010
4 posts
2 tags
Real Deal Pesto
i love pesto. arugula / cilanto / mint / parsley. almond / walnut / pistachio. mushroom / sun-dried tomato / olive. it can be just about any sauce that is pounded or crushed - and that lends itself to all kinds of intensely flavored ‘pesto’.
my all time favorite though - is a traditional genovese basil pesto - made with a mortar & pestle. i understand the need to make pesto...
3 tags
Silver Spoon
italy’s version of mom’s ‘joy of cooking’ …….. the bible of authentic italian cooking ( every italian bride is gifted a copy)………italy’s best selling cookbook for over 50 years…………the silver spoon cookbook. it was first published in the states in 2005 and we immediately purchased - as did a few of our friends. all...
2 tags
Labor of Love
some foods require a bit of labor to get to their essence - and fava beans are one of them.
favas were not well represented in the austin farmers markets this year. i know they went quickly at boggy creek farm. i was away at the time and missed them completely. now out of season - i still can’t resist when i see some beauties at central market - from mexico.
i know - but i...
Daily Juice
for those who can not get up and immediately think about eating breakfast - juice can be the perfect option.
i’m not talking a glass of carbo-sugar laden orange juice - the kind of cheap imported citrus being labeled “florida-squeezed” or “natural” juice from concentrates ( half apple blend ) that are reconstituted with well water. even the organic 100% juices are...
July 2010
1 post
2 tags
LobsterFest
it was that time again. july LobsterFest at ASTI Trattoria!
2010 marks the 10th annual LobsterFest which was even more exciting for us all. chef jason brought in 315 pounds ! of maine lobster for our 3 day event. chef and the crew made it look simple as they unloaded the feisty crustaceans and took to “preparing” them to be cooked. bodies cooked separately from claws- heads...
June 2010
2 posts
2 tags
Cool SF
what a relief ! from a month of 95+ degree weather here in austin texas to a cool 75+ in san francisco ! we started our trip with a few days in the lovely town of san luis obispo ( a family birthday celebration ) then drove up A1 along the coast ( highly recommended) for a few days in san fran.
one of the country’s great drives with views of the rugged pacific on one side...
3 tags
Celebrity BS
Brad Sorenson ……………is a line cook at ASTI Trattoria.
but his celebrity status is about to unfold on national television. he is one of 12 competing chefs for this seasons “The Next Food Network Star”.
newly arrived in austin texas - from columbus ohio - brad casually attended a casting audition for food network. following additional interviews and a trip to NY– brad...
May 2010
2 posts
2 tags
N'YO-kee
the italian dumpling……. gnocchi. if you don’t like them it’s probably because you’ve never had a well made one. made from potato ( my favorite ) or semolina or ricotta & spinach or sweet potato - they should be airy and light pillows of loveliness.
but let’s stick to the classic potato gnocchi.
to master making them looks impressive - but it is...
3 tags
NY gluttony
every may we take a trip to NY city to dine at the newest restaurants (and to catch a broadway matinee….visit NY’s finest museums…. walk the bustling streets….. ). this year our friends asked to come along. yes-all the more menu to share !
cohorts in our gluttonous adventures. emmett with friends kim & rick.
our schedule had us enjoying four days of...
April 2010
3 posts
2 tags
S U P P E R C L U B
it’s the best ticket in town ! if you can get one.
you better be quick - or have a friend who buys four and then invites you to join him. as was the case last night when our friend brian invited us to a Dai Due Supper Club at Boggy Creek Farm. lucky us !
the talented and gracious owners of Dai Due are jesse griffiths & tamara mayfield. their menus are dictated by the...
3 tags
s a y C H E E S E
well there’s a new kid on our block at 43rd & duval in the hyde park neighborhood - and there’s gonna be a rumble.
Antonelli’s - a temple to cheese ! has opened recently to rave reviews and much ado about fromaggi.
we at ASTI Trattoria were all too excited to meet our new neighbors john & kendall - two cheese “nerds” ( i mean cheesemongers ) with...
2 tags
M O R E L S again
as a follow up to last week - we did forage around again in search of that motherload of morels. and actually came pretty close.
enough to bring in to our place FINO and asked the chefs to put something fab on the menu.
asparagus salad with morels & poached farm egg.
and to follow were a few more wonderful morel treats from the kitchen.
bruschetta with morels, smoked bacon &...
March 2010
2 posts
3 tags
F O R A G I N G
i am a forager of mushrooms. so i await spring with hopes of finding morels.
if the winter is cold enough and wet enough - the spring will produce the beautiful and delicious morel. and for those in the know- the first sighting of the texas bluebonnet signals the time to start looking for that tasty mushroom.
excited to spot the tbb - emmett and i gathered our pocket knives and paper bags- and...
3 tags
L.A. E A T S
ok !
i admit i am a big fan of mario batali.
when in new york i must eat at his restaurants. so it was only natural that i have been wanting to check out his collaboration with the talented nancy silverton at Mozza pizzeria.
what a great excuse for a long weekend in L.A.
upon arrival at LAX we hop in our prius and head straight for lunch at Mozza.
we order Prosecco at the bar and are...
February 2010
3 posts
1 tag
I N S P I R E D
often i am asked the questions- when did you start cooking ? how did you become interested in cooking ?
and it goes way back to when my mother gave me a kids cookbook at age 12. my family endured so many dinners of ‘surprise meatloaf’ - you know the one with the hard boiled egg in the middle !
i wish i still had that book.
but i do have the second cookbook i ever...