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eggplant
Posted: Eggplant Bruschetta Video for iReport CNN
Last week, a reporter from iReport at CNN wrote with a "Weekend Assignment" story request for a video of a signature dish. Eggplant Bruschetta is one of my classic dishes, and today Paul and I visited the same stall at the Maitland Farmer's Market where we picked up our first eggplant. You can check out the video of making Baked Eggplant Bruschetta and learn the recipe at ireport.com.
Bon Appetit March 2010
The weather has been mostly lovely in Orlando. And that's been quite appreciated as we have needed to get out and get fresh air. Sometimes, we get out and exercise. Other times, we bundle up a tad and sit by the pool and nap. However, yesterday I was too excited about my latest foodie mag, and Paul and Nora slept while I read it cover-to-cover.
I started getting Bon Appetit in January after Gourmet closed its doors. At first I wasn't very pleased with the switch, but I am learning to accept and appreciate the information my new mag has to offer. For example, I loved the January issue with its play-by-play tips on picking out and cutting fennel. I intend to take it with me on my next trip to the Maitland Farmer's Market in hopes of adding another "something new" to my diet.
Eat Local at Infusion Tea-College Park
We dined at Infusion Tea tonight even though it wasn't as early as I had planned. Even at 5 and 6 o'clock, there was a nice stream of diners at the restaurant, which is always encouraging. Generally a full restaurant suggests a good restaurant.
I don't think I've ever been disappointed by Infusion Tea. Tonight was no different. They even offered a Prix Fixe menu in honor of Eat Local Week, hosted by SlowFood Orlando. Paul ordered the Prix Fixe option, which I passed on because we're pretty sure blue cheese isn't recommended on the diet of pregnant women. Although the restaurant is all vegetarian, there are some vegan options that are clearly marked on the menu. The clear details make ordering carefully much less stressful.
Nigella Lawson Encourages Vegetarianism in the Summer
My day pretty much started by listening to Nigella Lawson's interview by Steve Inskeep. I was most amused by the interview, especially just before 7 on a Tuesday morning. Incidentally, if you've got the 7 minutes, the radio recording is much more entertaining than the written article.
Nigella is proud to be a carnivore, and her cookbooks often highlight that fact. However, in the summer, she's all for taking advantage of the summer vegetables in season and making her veggie dishes the center of a meal. Feta cheese is a big part of those recipes, so if that's a favorite of yours, she's got great recommendations.
At the new NPR.org, you can access a zucchini and feta fritter recipe, a rolled/stuffed eggplant recipe, and a dessert recipe. All vegetarian and all with the ease of a lazy summer--albeit the end of it--in mind.
Metro Espresso-Orlando, Florida
Metro is very special to us. It is the restaurant where we ate just after Paul proposed. One thing I love about Metro is that it is in a building with its back to Lake Eola. You can't see the lake while dining, only the street, which can be entertaining enough. But, I love to park half way around the lake and walk to Metro to take in the beautiful sights of the fountain, swans, and owners walking their dogs.
I was nervous that Metro would be feeling the crunch of the economy. I don't think we have been to Metro this year because we no longer live downtown, but five exits or so up from the street leading to the lake and to the restaurant. But, I was happy to see that, if anything, the economy has not hurt the family-owned-and-operated restaurant. In fact, I think it was the busiest I had ever seen it. There wasn't even room for us to eat at the tables outside.
PARIS-Le Potager du Marais
Le Potager du Marais
22, Rue Rambuteau
75005 Paris
Tel: 01 42 74 24 66
Certified Organic Vegetarian and Vegan
PARIS-L'As du Falafel
At the corner of Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue des Rosiers is a restaurant with attached street stand painted in red that boasts "Best Falafel in the World." A block down the road at 34, Rue Rosiers, 75004 Paris, is another restaurant with a street stand painted in green and another message saying "Best Falafel in the World." Read a few reviews in English and in French for each restaurant and you'll see.
Ratatouille on Couscous
Our friends, Frank and Emily had seen the movie, Ratatouille, enough that they wanted to see what ratatouille<
Lakeside Cafe-Florida Hospital Orlando (South)
Hospitals are rarely known for having good food. Even with an employee discount, it's not always worth spending your lunch break on the main floor of an establishment. My favorite hospital cafeteria idea comes from the VA Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last time I was there, the cafeteria space had actually been rented out and it looked like a food court in a mall with a small variety of about four fast food chain restaurants.
Metro Espresso-Orlando, Florida
This could very likely be my favorite restaurant in all of Orlando. It sits on Central right next to Lake Eola and has a very special place in my heart because it is where we had dinner with my parents and Garrett Nudd after Paul tricked me into a photo shoot/wedding proposal. The food is consistently fabulous, and the staff is always kind, smiling, and fun.
Buca di Beppo, Maitland, Florida
This has got to be one of our favorite restaurants in Orlando. The format is "family-style." Dishes are served from the middle of the table. It's a good thing we visit with other vegetarians. The restaurant is very good about special-request orders, including vegan and gluten-free.
Ethos Vegan Kitchen-Again
This was the first time we took Paul's parents, sister and brother-in-law to Ethos. I decided to try the pesto pasta with vegetables and pumpkin seeds. Paul chose the Pecan Encrusted Eggplant served with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy and asparagus. The eggplant was drizzled with a berry sauce. Both meals were served hot and appealing to the eyes.
Stuffed Eggplant Bruschetta Recipe
At work one day, I was mentioning to a fellow coworker who loves to cook that I had purchased a beautiful eggplant at the Maitland Farmer's Market the previous day and hadn't a clue what to do with it now that I had acquired it. A patient in my room overheard me and gave me a recipe that has been a success with my family and that has been passed around the office. I've already sent my thank-you letter, but again, I say THANK YOU!
The original recipe called for diced chicken. I have not tried adding soy-chicken to the dish. I'm quite happy as it is. This can be a nice supper all its own, but we have also served it as an appetizer with a light pasta dish for a fancier meal.
Recipe for Stuffing Eggplant
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut eggplant in half, and carve out insides of eggplant leaving shell in tact.
- Dice insides of eggplant and put into mixing bowl.
- Add a can (drained) of diced tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, 1 cup diced onion, and olive oil to coat mixture.
- Mix thoroughly adding salt and pepper to taste.(Remember, you can always add more of this at the table.)
- Stuff mixture back into eggplant shells.
- Top with sliced Mozzarella or Jarlsberg Cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Place shells in center of jelly roll pan and place pan in oven.
- Cook until cheese is browned, about 30 minutes.
- Top with fresh chopped basil just before removing from oven.
- Serve with fresh French bread, olive oil, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Wagamama, Boston, Massachusetts-Trip 2
Wagamama's moto is "positive eating + positive living". "Positive" explains our opinion about the restaurant. Paul was able to eat at Wagamama with some coworkers while he finished out his week of meetings. He brought back the following report:
Tempura
Sorry, we were too excited and hungry to take a picture of this one.
I chose the easiest recipe I could find for Tempura on foodnetwork.tv. I battered frozen green beans, fresh julienned carrots, fresh eggplant, and frozen broccoli. Obviously, I defrosted the frozen veggies slightly. I used the sauce from Moosewood Restaurant's Pad Thai recipe and served it with brown rice.
The result of the first concoction was so delicious, I was afraid it was a mistake. For my parents, I made the recipe again replacing the green beans and eggplant with zucchini and onion rings. The result was the same. However, my mother did turn up her nose when she saw me mixing the sauce. Upon trying it with the meal, she decided it was good.