Torn Croutons

I am unsure why I haven’t made my own croutons before, it is so easy and such a good use of leftover bread (compared to forgetting about it until it starts growing new mold species as what normally happens).  I made these fried bread croutons for my savory warm salad: Roasted Asparagus with Poached Egg … Continue reading

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Honey Mustard Glaze

The first time I had ever cooked lamb, it was almost 1 year ago for the first ever blog post for Food Comas: Baby Lamb Chops with Cucumber-Mint Relish.  Ahh the memories!  I found this recipe from my trusty Ad Hoc at Home cookbook.  Thomas Keller coats the rack of lamb with buttered bread crumbs … Continue reading

Pan-Roasted Halibut

Halibut is a fairly dense fish with a firm texture, which allows it to stand up well to the heat.  Thus, halibut is an ideal fish for pan-roasting, grilling, broiling, or deep frying.  This white fish has a very clean taste and requires very little seasoning.  Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home recipe for Pan-Roasted Halibut … Continue reading

Rainbow Chard with Raisins, Pine Nuts, and Serrano Ham

I was shopping at my neighborhood grocery store and noticed a stack of brilliantly colored Rainbow Chard in the produce department.  I recalled seeing a recipe for Rainbow Chard with Raisins, Pine Nuts, and Serrano Jam in Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home that have intrigued me and I decided it was go time.  I … Continue reading

Wine-Steeped Golden Raisins

Raisins are a fantastic addition to any salad, and they seem to be particularly popular with leafy vegetables of the beetroot family.  The first time I had used golden raisins in cooking was to make Roasted Beets with a Curry Vinaigrette, and later I used them in my sauteéd Rainbow Chard with Raisins, Pine Nuts, … Continue reading

Purée of Garlic Potatoes

When I first made my own mashed potatoes, I went with a Potato and Oil Purée in my attempt to avoid using fatty ingredients like heavy cream and butter that most recipes required, and instead substituting stock and olive oil.  However, I eventually caved because, well, there is clearly a reason why the majority of … Continue reading

Garlic Confit

Confit is a generic term for various foods that have been immersed and slow-cooked in a substance for both flavor and preservation.  The word comes from the French verb confiture “preserves”, which in turn comes from the Latin conficere meaning “to do, to produce, to make, to prepare.”  To confit garlic, you poach it in … Continue reading

Sautéed Chicken Breasts with Tarragon

This documents the second recipe attempt from Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home cookbook.  I love cooking chicken as it is so versatile and simple to prepare.  This recipe was extremely easy to follow and the succulent results earned it a spot in my top quick and easy chicken recipes, along with my favorite Baked … Continue reading

Marinated Feta with Olives

With my brand-spanking-new (aka no food spillage on pages yet) Ad Hoc at Home cookbook in hand, I decided to find one of the easier recipes to start with… you have to ease into these kinds of things to build confidence!  I found the winner in Marinated Feta with Olives which can be served in … Continue reading

per se, NYC

per se Chef: Thomas Keller Chef de Cuisine: Eli Kaimeh Cuisine: American Nouveau, French Neighborhood: Midtown West Price: $275 tasting menu (service included) + drinks Attire: Formal, jacket required It had always been a dream of mine to pass through those blue doors (which I discovered to be nonfunctional) and enjoy the culinary crafting of … Continue reading