Founding Farmers Restaurant in D.C. and Laico's Restaurant in New Jersey: Straw & Hay Pasta

Founding Farmers' Stray and Hay 

When I was a kid, my grandparents used to take me to eat at Laico's Italian Restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey. I would always order the "straw and hay" pasta. A ginormous dish of pasta with a creamy sauce, bacon and peas would come out and I'm pretty sure I always ate the whole thing. 

Founding Farmers Restaurant in Washington, D.C., offers a delicious version of this dish with homemade, wide noodles. They add in some vegetables for good measure: asparagus and mushrooms. While a heavy pasta dish isn't a recommended hot-summer's-day meal, it was worth a taste of childhood. 

To prepare your own Stray and Hay pasta dish, you might try Wolfgang Puck's recipe, with or without the two types of pasta (two types seems a little fussy.) I think I'll be returning to my childhood the next time I'm in New Jersey for Laico's (updated?) version of "Paglia e Fieno" with shrimp and scallops and some vodka thrown in for good measure. 

Photos from our Founding Farmers brunch:

Deviled Eggs

Super spicy Bloody Marys and Beignets with three sauces 

(raspberry, chocolate and caramel)

Eggs Benedict

Red Velvet Cake

Save Money Eating Out. And Be Cool About It.

In this economy, it is cool to save money. Why not use the web to help afford to eat out?

There are a number of sites that offer daily or regular discounts. As a (free) member of the site, you are eligible for the discount. It is usually works like this: Spend $20.00 for a $40.00 gift certificate if your table’s check is $50.00 or more. Make sense?

Here are some of my favorites:

Groupon

(New York Times article on Groupon.)

Living Social

Thrillist

Restaurant.com

Also, Facebook groups (“Fan” businesses like Georgetown Cupcake for secret, daily deals) and checking in on foursquare through your phone offers you deals.

Godó in Florence, Italy

Godó is a lovely neighborhood restaurant in Florence, Italy. It is in Piazza Edison at the bottom of the hill that goes up towards the town of Fiesole. There is a bus stop across the street, which makes it an easy location to get to.

I decided to order the pear and pecorino ravioli that were served with a zucchini flower pesto. My mother has many zucchini flowers in her garden and usually fries them in a light flower and cheese batter. I rarely see them on menus and was curious about a new manner in which they could be prepared. This pesto sauce was creamy and was a nice addition to the pecorino and pear flavors. Was it too heavy of a dish for a sweaty, July afternoon? Probably, but it was worth it.

We started with the very Tuscan sliced, cured meats with crostini (bread with liver and polenta with mushrooms) and ended with a cool cheesecake topped with a raspberry sauce. Overall, a great meal with both traditional and modern dishes on the menu. Buon appetito!

Argiero's Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan

I really like Argiero’s Restaurant in the Kerrytown section of Ann Arbor. The food reminds me of the traditional, southern Italian food (or at least an Italian-American translation of it) I grew up eating in Northern New Jersey.

The menu isn’t fussy. You’ll find all of your favorites from Garlic Toast to Veal Picatta. I’ve enjoyed the fried calamari and Fettuccine al Fredo a few times. Close to the Farmer’s Market with outdoor seating, it is an easy-to-find, comfortable spot.

It isn’t without a little controversy, however. When we first noticed the neon sign, we wondered why no one had recommended it to us. Once I started asking around, I discovered that it is not a favorite. In fact, a friend tried it on my recommendation and declared the food “inedible.”

I am a particularly difficult eater, especially of Italian food. I want dishes to be done right and well. Perhaps I’m more lenient with this restaurant because it feels New Jersey-nostalgic to me. It is a family owned business that started in 1977 that reminds me of my father’s favorite family-owned restaurant under a highway bridge in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Still, I think Argiero’s offers solid, Italian-American food. I say, “andiamo!”

Osteria I'Tozzo di Pane's Recipes

I have many wonderful memories of eating at wooden tables in Osteria I’ Tozzo di Pane’s garden in Florence, Italy. My favorite entrée salad to have on a summer day was the Toscana: lettuce, fresh tomatoes, white beans, sliced wild boar salami and onion dressed with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. It was the first place I tried pecorino (sheep milk’s cheese) with sunflower honey. I think of their Tuscan approach to cooking – simple and fresh ingredients that highlight each other’s flavors – while cooking in my own kitchen.

Looking for a special recipe to prepare for my husband returning from a business trip, I discovered the restaurant’s online recipes. I chose the risotto with clams, asparagus, leeks and saffron. I knew it would be a proper “welcome home.”

The recipe requires a little creativity since they don't offer all of their secrets: there are no specifc measurements. Saffron can be expensive, but you only need a pinch.  Serving grated cheese on fish dishes is never allowed in Italy; we did sprinkle a few red hot pepper flakes on top.

With a glass of white wine, we ate slowly and enjoyed the dish. I don’t remember tasting this particular risotto at the restaurant, but the flavors brought back the country that I still call home.

The recipes on the website are written in Italian. This is a perfect opportunity to practice your language skills without paying for a plane ticket. When you do find yourself traveling to Florence, you can salutare the owners who are always there, Andrea and Antonio.

The name of their restaurant means, “crust of bread,” which is not to be missed dipped in their dark green olive oil. Be sure to serve some on the side in your own home.

El Azteco in East Lansing

The Blue corn Enchiladas at El Azteco restaurant in East Lansing were a delicious mix of textures and flavors. The service was less appealing, but considering the low price for a meal that would have served two, I still enjoyed the dinner.

I chose El Azteco after reading about their food on their website. After falling in love with New Mexico last summer, I knew I had to try it:


Our chiles are carefully selected and shipped from southern New Mexico. Blue Corn comes from the Indian pueblos of northern New Mexico. These fresh ingredients may lead to some seasonal variations. Corn and flour tortillas are prepared fresh daily at our local tortilleria - La India.

The Art of Eating Alone

Why must there be an art of eating alone? Unfortunately, there still seems to be a stigma, especially for women.

I’ve found myself alone in restaurants in Washington, D.C. and East Lansing recently and it seems as though the staff work to make a normal situation awkward. To begin with, I’m almost always greeted with a hostess who says quizzically, “only one?” “Yes, it’s just me. Is that a problem?”

I’ve been seated in some awkward positions. At an Indian restaurant for dinner in D.C., I was placed at a skinny table for two facing a single man at a similar table which was only inches away. It was as if we were sitting together. At a Mexican restaurant for dinner in East Lansing, I was told, “take one of the very small tables against the back wall.” A man came in behind me, alone, and was given a booth by the window. I checked and I know it isn’t because I smelled.

I could say that you should take a book, work, newspaper, Iphone, etc., with you when you eat alone so you can look busy. Maybe you really do want to read that book or you went out to dinner just to finish that pesky project. But what if you just want to sit quietly and rest while you eat your meal? Surely that’s acceptable in this day and age.

I find that I eat too quickly and often too much when I’m alone at a restaurant. I try to remind myself not to be rushed by the waiter or my over-eager desire to eat the entire oversized portion. Of course, the same happens when I re-heat too much of last night’s dinner.

Enjoy yourself when you go out to eat alone. If there's an art to it, it is the same art that applies to groups: find a good restaurant.

Shatila Bakery in Dearborn, MI

Shatila Bakery in Dearborn, MI serves “Sweets from the Middle East From the Heart of the Midwest.” Counter after counter of treats are available, including seemingly endless types of baklava, desserts with nuts (mamoul), and more, including French pastries. They also have savory pies, such as a chicken shawarma wrap.

You can order online, pick up at the counter or just plop yourself down with a coffee and enjoy them at one of their many café tables.

It can be overwhelming to see so many honey-sweetened treats that might be unfamiliar to you. The staff is incredibly helpful and there’s always the old fashioned pointing method. As in, I’ll have them all!

We love this place so much that it is included in the rounds of the Detroit area when guests come to town. It isn’t to be missed. If you go after dark, you can buy a tray to bring with you to the nearby Ford Wyoming Drive-In.

Slows Bar.B.Q in Detroit

Slows, a fairly new, hipster BBQ place, was hopping last Friday at 5 pm. Without a dinner reservation, we only waited half an hour with local beers from the tap, including Shorts Brewing Company.

And then we gorged ourselves. Each dish came with two sides and the portions of not-so-light food were generous. My black eyed peas and my husband’s macaroni and cheese were authentically southern, gooey and perfectly salted. Except for the ribs, which were a bit dry, the entrees were simply delicious. The table was outfitted with a selection of BBQ sauces, which you can see above.

The restaurant, with a door fashioned to blend into the wall like an old speakeasy, is very close to the old Detroit train station, the Michigan Central Station.

Sava's Cafe in Ann Arbor, Michigan

I want Sava's Cafe on State Street in Ann Arbor to be my new favorite restaurant. With the high ceilings, spacious seating arrangement, and menu that includes fresh squeezed juices, potato pancakes and croissants with nutella, it is close.

But, it isn’t quite there yet.

While the menu is indeed NJ-diner-ish (the ultimate compliment for a breakfast spot), the food isn’t always hot or what you'd expect from the menu listing. The first time I went, I tried the potato pancakes and was surprised by their pink hue. They didn’t taste right, either. The waitress told me that they were seasoned with ketchup. Ketchup? Being allergic to the corn syrup in most commercial ketchups, I was surprised and displeased that I’d eaten some of it, since it wasn’t described in that way on the menu. Very kindly and apologetically, the waitress took away the dish. I ordered a toasted croissant spread with nutella which reminded me of Italy (another high compliment.)

Not wanting to give up on the inviting space, I returned a week later and tried one of their creative egg and hash concoctions. With a Mexican twist, it came with chorizo sausage, guacamole and sour cream. The combination of flavors, topped with an egg on top, was delicious, although not as hot as it could have been. My husband had a crepe, which was light and sweet.

Locally minded, they serve Mighty Good Coffee, which can’t be beat, and Knight’s burgers. I look forward to trying lunch or dinner there.



Thanks to the Ann Arbor Chronicle for linking to this review!

Carlyle Grill in Ann Arbor, MI

I’ve been on the hunt for good, fresh ravioli in Ann Arbor. Carlyle Grill’s mushroom ravioli were recommended to me. So, I obediently went to the restaurant and ordered them. The ravioli were alright, but not as delicious as they’d been described. The creamy sauce and the filling were too heavy for the lighter dough and enormous plate.

We started with the fried calamari. Besides good ravioli, I regularly crave fried calamari. This restaurant has transformed the dish into something unique. The calamari is tossed with lemon cream, capers & artichoke hearts. It sounded interesting, but we didn’t enjoy it as much as we would have enjoyed it the traditional manner with marinara on the side. The creamy sauce on the crisp surface of the calamari made the calamari turn mushy. There were also some cucumbers mixed in which didn’t quite match the other flavors.

My husband’s steak with French fries was the hit of the evening. The steak was perfectly cooked and the fries were crispy on the outside. I stole some of his dinner before packing up most of my dinner to take home.

Like a lot of the independently owned restaurants on the outskirts of Ann Arbor, Carlyle Grill is built to look like a chain restaurant. It was comfortable enough, although a bit loud since it attracted a number of families with children.

If you decide to try it, be sure to check the website as they offer some discounts. It is located in the same shopping center as the Quality 16 movie theater and combines a discount with the theater.



Where have you had good ravioli in Ann Arbor?

Pilar's Tamales in Ann Arbor, MI

Where I lived in northern New Jersey, you could eat almost anything cooked by someone who grew up in that country, or the culture, of the dish. I remember one student at a university where I taught bringing the class fresh empanadas that her grandmother made just for us (and her niece’s grade? Maybe, but they were delicious.) My parents brought me to an annual Cuban pig roast in the summers. In particular, there was no lack of fabulous Latin American food.

Here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of course, there’s less. After a positive article in the local Edible magazine and driving by its colorful exterior, my husband and I ate lunch at Pilar’s Tamales recently.

As you can see from the photos, we ordered entirely too much: mixed plate of tamales (beef, pork and beans with cheese), one pork tamale, pork papusa and fried plantains. We shared an imported Coca-Cola made with real sugar instead of corn syrup. Needless to say, we were stuffed. As the menu describes, menu, almost everything is made there and they use many natural ingredients.

It is a small space that seems designed to mostly serve take-out. Since we were the only ones there, we comfortably ate at the counter. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed eating something not only authentic, but less common for this town. We look forward to going back and trying the other dishes.

Chicago’s Paterno’s Pizza: Great Pizza, Pasta and an Incredible place to de-vegginize

Thank you to JoAnne Pavin for today’s post. She is a Chicago area holistic health practicioner, educator and writer. Her mission os to inform people that who we eat with and how we eat is just as important as what we eat. Check out her company Solutions to Health and her food blog A Table To Eat At.


***
After the last ten years of struggling with my vegetarian lifestyle, I found nothing more worthy of de-veggi-nizing myself than an Incredible Beef sandwich from Paterno’s Pizza in Chicago! Now, let me set the record straight, I am a true herbivore; but it was love at first bite when I sunk into this juicy meat delight. I stopped eating red meat over 20 years ago, but the Incredible Beef is a reason to start again.

You might think, what’s the big deal about beef and bread? It starts with the choice of ingredients and the people behind the recipe. John Paterno, a long time family friend and owner, says it comes from knowing how to choose quality beef, and what cuts are tender and tastiest. He explains “it starts with the shoulder or chuck and moves into the rib... you want the part (of the cattle) that provides the most flavor.” I don’t know if it is the flavor of the beef, the juice, or the soft buttery garlic bread it comes on that I love the most, or the fine melted mozzarella cheese, sweet roasted green peppers, and Giardiniera that grace the top! All the fine ingredients in the world can make a sandwich, but I personally believe it is the energy of the people behind it that make it so good.

Paterno’s is a family owned business since 1954. Josephine and Santo Paterno came to the United States from Sicily in 1938 with their two sons, John and Paul. They originally opened a liquor store, one of the largest in Chicago, but food was in their Italian roots and so the evolution began. They made a small carry out area in their store for pizza and sandwiches which eventually grew into a full size kitchen and restaurant. Today a full menu includes Santo and Josephine’s homemade recipes consisting of pizza, pasta, beef, sausage, meatballs, soups and much more. Since Santo’s passing in 2000, John and Paul and their daughters run the business, with Josephine, in her 90’s, still there every day making the soups and sauces.

My dad and John are grade school classmates, and long time friends. Dad and I recently went to pay John a visit and of course to eat some great food. It may be the retro 60’s P A T E R N O sign or the 70’s style bar that makes you feel like you’re in a time warp, but when food speaks for itself, who needs fancy ambience?! It certainly is a place where they’re not judging you on looks and you better not be judging them. After all it’s good food and good prices that keep you in business for over 50 years!

I am there for the Incredible Beef again, but decide I can’t pass up the pizza. With homemade dough and sauces, you are certain to welcome something new to your taste buds. In other words, it’s not just your run of the mill pizza. The thin crust is flavorful, with added crisps that make an extra crunch. The oregano, basil and a hint of garlic are apparent in the sauce, which is neither too salty, nor too tangy, and used in ample amounts, there is nothing worse than a pizza without enough sauce! The topping ingredients are fresh, not canned, or overcooked. If you are a meat lover, they have homemade meat balls, fresh sausage and pepperoni. Finally, real grated Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh red peppers make the cake! Or in this case, the pizza pie.

And to make the best of this feasting visit, I decide to stuff in a little linguini and clams with red sauce, which my Dad was having. It certainly is “all in the sauce”. A perfect consistency, neither too thick nor too watery, the marinara sauce is mixed with a perfect balance of clams which were obviously sautéed in butter and garlic before being tossed on top of perfectly cooked linguini. To accompany your meal, they offer many Italian wines, bottled and draft beers, or full liquor bar. The Sam Adams I had partnered well with the pizza.

Paterno’s Pizza, a place rich in history and in flavor, you’ll find a warm atmosphere, good people and great food. Leave your fancy attire at home. You’ll be more comfortable, especially after you stuff yourself with pizza, pasta and of course the Incredible Beef ! (sorry there is no picture of the beef I ate it too fast!)

Visit Paterno's Pizza, 5303 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, Illinois.

Best Brunch in Ann Arbor

My husband and I love going out for brunch on the weekend. While we are often too busy to indulge, we do have two favorite places that are reasonably priced: Afternoon Delight and The Broken Egg.

Afternoon Delight, at 251 East Liberty Street, has a great menu. Pancakes with real maple syrup, homemade muffins and breads, and my very favorite: Potato Pancake Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict. There is a serious lack of potato pancakes in this town, but Afternoon Delight fulfills this northeasterner’s cravings. I’ve eaten here a few times and I’ve never been disappointed. There is often a line when you arrive, but it moves quickly.

This weekend we had eggs at The Broken Egg at 223 N. Main Street. It was noisy, maybe even too noisy for reading the newspaper, but we enjoyed our generous omelets and toast. Mine, with artichokes and spinach, was fluffy and light. My husband’s special hash had a mix of spicy sausages that I’d never seen mixed together under eggs before. I think our side potatoes could have been crispier, but perhaps I should learn to order them extra crispy. There were bowls of eggs with cowboy fixings on the menu that reminded me of some cafes in Santa Fe.

For a fancier brunch, we enjoy Café Zola. For the opposite, we love the Fleetwood Diner. I still haven’t found the equivalent of a Jersey diner, if anyone has any recommendations.

Asian Legends in Ann Arbor, MI

Deana Kim Dalrymple, who teaches Chinese at Washtenaw Community College, recently met me at Asian Legends in Ann Arbor for lunch.

As someone who usually orders Lo Mein and other less adventurous Chinese dishes, this was an opportunity to try something new. With some description help from Kim, here are the Taiwanese dishes we had:

Pig ear, seaweed, and dried tofu. (For the pig ear, the exact Chinese translation is "pig silk" because the pig ear is cut into long strips like silk. The pig ear portion of the dish is in the upper right-hand corner, the seaweed is in the upper left-hand corner, and the dried tofu is down below.)

Stinky bean curd (upper left-hand corner) and Chinese cabbage (lower right-hand corner).

Taiwanese pork pan-fried dumplings (another name for "pan-fried dumplings" is "pot-stickers.")

Pepper Salt Pork Chop


Enjoy!

Asian Legends (no website)
516 East William Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2418
(734) 622-0750

Petite Provence in Portland, Oregon

If there is a choice, I’ll choose something savory over sweet. When I saw my husband’s “savory French Toast,” at Petite Provence Alberta in Portland, Oregon, I was smitten with a breakfast idea I hadn’t encountered before. I tend to put salt on my French toast or pancakes instead of maple syrup. I know, weird, right? But if there is already asparagus, ham and cheese and on your French toast, it seems justified.

I ordered an arugula omelet with avocado on top. My side potato pancake had some other vegetables mixed in (carrots and leeks.) I’m a purist on some things and I didn’t like it as much as my husband’s order. (Good thing he is open to sharing.)

We drove by this very French Boulangerie and Patisserie on Alberta Street and decided to try it for brunch. It was bustling with business, breads and pastries. With wood panels, cappuccino foam that matched the décor, it was simply adorable. Sometimes you can tell a book from its cover.

Stumptown Coffee

Ever since living in Florence, Italy, I crave the perfect coffee. It isn’t an easy craving to satisfy.

My husband suggested that we go to Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Oregon. He’d read about it and thought it sounded like something I’d appreciate. He knows that a happy marriage includes good eats and drinks!

I used to regularly drink a “macchiato” when I was in Italy, but it can be hard to find stateside. The word means “stained” and a macchiato is just that: an espresso stained with frothy milk. You know you are somewhere special when the barista can pour the milk so it combines with the coffee below to form a lovely design. Take that, Starbucks!

My husband had a French Roast, which he enjoyed. If you are interested in recreating the perfect French Roast experience at home, they have a Brewing Guide on their website.

They also have a location in NYC. I look forward to visiting the next time I’m in town.

Ann Arbor German Restaurant: Metzger's

I’d been eyeing the German restaurant Metzger’s for a while. It is on Zeeb Road, close to Baxter’s, a liquor store with a great selection and reasonable prices.

We’d heard good things about the restaurant from locals and even from one of the ferry workers on Mackinac Island. I checked that they had potato pancakes (a hard dish to find in Ann Arbor, even at Zingerman’s during Chanukah!) and we had dinner with a friend.

There are ornate wooden clocks on the wall along with rows of larger beer steins. The interior is warm and inviting. Unlike a lot of the restaurants that seem to mimic chain-restaurant interiors, this felt sincere and authentic.

My husband and our friend had the sauerbraten (slow roasted beef marinated in wine, vinegar, and spices served with a sour cream gravy) with potato pancakes on the side. I tried the Rheinischer Sampler: wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten served with spatzle and red cabbage. Both dishes are pictured above. Neither dish, when it was served, was particularly pleasing to the eye. They weren’t steaming with heat and the colors were dull. Maybe we should have tried one of the sausage dishes?

I was taken by the beer I had, a dark Warsteiner. I don’t usually drink beer, but this one had a soft spice under the bubbles. It wasn’t as dark as I was expecting, but the flavor was still quite full.

Most people tend to focus on the restaurants closer to the University of Michigan. I enjoy exploring the outskirts a bit and eating where the long-term locals eat. This one, though, didn’t excite me enough to return in the future. At least we had a coupon!

Particular Plates: An Amazing Meal in Venice

My husband and I always say that we ate the best meal of our lives in Venice, summer 2008.

Having had over-priced and mediocre meals in Venice in the past, I was armed with online research, recommendations from friends and notes from guidebooks. Our plan was to get off the train from Florence, rush to check into our hotel and then go immediately to lunch. We had priorities, right? Unfortunately, when we arrived at the famed, well-researched restaurant, they said they were closing.

We were too late.

Speaking in Italian, I tried to chat with the waiter. I explained that we had our heart set on eating there. If we couldn’t, where would he recommend? Leaning against the door frame, he was quiet and stared out the door. My friendliness wasn’t taking. I was disappointed and wanted to have the perfect Italian vacation. I tried being a little flirtatious. Finally, with a few more questions about where he would eat, he casually suggested a place with “particular plates.”

His directions included going up and down some bridges and then turning on a side street for a restaurant called “la cantina.” With all of his quick hand gestures and the vague restaurant name, I was skeptical.

We followed his directions, laughing as we went up and down the many short bridges over the canals, and discovered a tiny restaurant just as he described. With brick ceilings, a long wooden bar, we were immediately taken by the casual comfort of the restaurant. We were certain we were in the right place when he showed up a bit later at the bar asking for a coffee.

Seated at a perfectly square wooden table, we were asked to choose: vegetables, fish, poultry or meat. We decided to share one vegetable and one fish plate, followed by cookies. The waitress helped us choose a complementary wine and then a sweet verduzzo wine for dessert.

We ate slowly and savored every bite. The vegetables were perfectly cooked. I remember the grilled zucchini were slightly smoky, but still retained their crispness. The seafood was the highpoint. I am a fairly casual seafood eater, but this was outstanding and set the bar for future dishes. Salty, seasoned with lemon juice and rosemary, each piece offered something new.

The final cost didn’t suggest that we were sharing two plates, but rather that we ordered four. Regardless of the high cost, we left knowing that we had treated ourselves to a perfect afternoon of eating.

Of course, we weren’t the first Americans to “discover” this restaurant. Here is a review from Travel & Leisure.





Restaurant information:

la cantina

Venezia, Strada Nuova

Cannaregio, 3689

0415228258