I thought I should post some shots of some dishes from my past dinner parties. This may be a good way for some of you to familiarize yourselves with my cooking style. I really do aim to please, and the most important thing to me is that the food tastes good, more so than looks good (a misfortune for the food shots). I think my dishes are comfort food in the best sense of the term. My cooking is definitely Italian-inspired in flavors, and I always try to practice the philosophy of letting the ingredients shine by keeping it simple. Really it's all about a table full of happy and satisfied company, and the following shots are some examples that:
Ok, I know I know, I cook a lot of Italian food, luckily people REALLY like it! Clockwise from the top left: Italian sushi (risotto sticky rice and parma seaweed), a Duck Ragu with gemmelli, Olive Pizza with an onion sauce, Baked vegetable and mozzerella stuffed paccheri, Shrimp and homemade fettucini tossed with pistachio pesto, and lastly, Shrimp risotto with winter vegetables.
In keeping with the Italian theme, these are Butternut Squash and Fried sage Arancini, I love making rice balls and coming up with interesting fillings for them, major crowd pleaser, extremely time consuming!
This is sea bass cooked en papillote (in parchment), and when I learned the technique during my awesome month at the French Culinary Institute, I had to go home and make it again. Of course, I served it over pappardelle:)
These are "chimay" style eggs, I like to describe them as the best deviled eggs you can ever have, and boy are they devilish. First they are hard boiled, their filling is the yolk, sauteed mushroom and shallots and bechamel sauce. Then turn your bechamel into mornay by whisking in gruyere, coat each egg, sprinkle some more gruyere and broil the top. Everyone has the same reaction to them (if they like eggs): they pop it in their mouths and with two full cheeks their eyes pop out of their heads. Something else I have FCI to thank for.
This is from my last dinner party for a friend's birthday. She wanted some french food, so I made her some crudites and mayonnaise to start, followed by my rendition of a dish I ate in Paris, basically a duck shepherd's pie (picture does not do it justice-bottom right) moving on to steak frites and mayonnaise (I triple frited the frites), and we finished with cinnamon french toast stuffed with apricot jam and brie with local honey drizzled on top.
So there you have it, I think this will familiarize you with what I do. Hmmm, it actually looks like I can only cook Italian or French food. I swear I can do other cuisines too! I live in Astoria, I've learned a lot of different tricks from different cuisines over the past 7 years, I promise! You'll just have to come see for yourselves.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Black Bread and Honey and Meat Pie Oh My
I've decided that a great first book would be Game of Thrones. You can't go anywhere without seeing a person reading it, and with good reason: it's a great book. Food plays a huge roll in the book, and the food alone has become wildly popular almost on a cult-like level. There are books and websites a plenty based on it. When the HBO show aired (awesome) Tom Colicchio sent food trucks throughout the city with his own rendition of Game of Thrones inspired foods. So, I've been reading the book and writing down all the foods mentioned. Tyrion eats crab legs when he visits the wall, Eddard and Co. dine on garlic and herb crusted ribs at King's landing. They are always eating black bread and honey, lemon tarts, stews and rashers of bacon. The possibilities are endless! I haven't checked out the recipes others have created, at this point I'm wanting to come up with my own and not get influenced by others. We'll see, the food list is ever-growing and there are so many directions I could take this in.
As of right now, the date of this meal will be Saturday, March 24th, people are welcome to come at 7:30, dinner will be served at 8:00. If you would like to get your geek on @ Game of Thrones feast-night, email me to grab a seat to this: Leeya448@gmail.com
I will post a menu ASAP, but heads up, there will definitely be "too much"meat and cheese for those with dietary restrictions!
As of right now, the date of this meal will be Saturday, March 24th, people are welcome to come at 7:30, dinner will be served at 8:00. If you would like to get your geek on @ Game of Thrones feast-night, email me to grab a seat to this: Leeya448@gmail.com
I will post a menu ASAP, but heads up, there will definitely be "too much"meat and cheese for those with dietary restrictions!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Join The Club...
There are all types of people in this world, sometimes I think we're all different, then there are times I think we're all the same. I do know that many of my favorite people share a few things in common, and are all in search of the answers to life's greatest questions:
When is my next meal, and what's it gonna be?
When can I have my next glass of wine?
Who has read this book, I need to talk to someone about it!?
For the past few years, I have been part of a book club with some of my best friends. When we meet, the four of us cook a feast inspired by our book. We consume lots of wine and food and discuss our book until we're ready to burst. Many people have shown interest in our book club, mainly because it's one they would actually enjoy being a part of. Let's face it folks, when you add wine and good food to anything, fun ensues, every time....
When is my next meal, and what's it gonna be?
When can I have my next glass of wine?
Who has read this book, I need to talk to someone about it!?
For the past few years, I have been part of a book club with some of my best friends. When we meet, the four of us cook a feast inspired by our book. We consume lots of wine and food and discuss our book until we're ready to burst. Many people have shown interest in our book club, mainly because it's one they would actually enjoy being a part of. Let's face it folks, when you add wine and good food to anything, fun ensues, every time....
I love cooking and throwing dinner parties, and nothing makes me happier than seeing my guests happy and full. I've decided the time has come to open my door to those in search of the answers to the aforementioned questions (you should also live in or frequent Astoria!).
The Plan:
1.) The Astoria Book and Supper Club will meet on Saturday nights, every five weeks or so, giving everyone time to read the book and decide if they want to attend the meal
1.) The Astoria Book and Supper Club will meet on Saturday nights, every five weeks or so, giving everyone time to read the book and decide if they want to attend the meal
2.) I post the Book shortly followed by a Menu inspired by the book, along with the donation price of admission, based on my menu ($35-50)
3.) You decide if you want to come to that meeting-ie: eat the food, discuss the book, donate the $
if yes: EMAIL me and I'll reserve you a seat at the table! I can comfortably (by NYC standards) fit 8-10 people at the table(s).
4.) You show up on the scheduled night starving, with your drink of choice in hand. You've read the book and you're ready to discuss it and you have your meal "donation".
5.) If you're a serial killer, you get full from an appetizer or you're allergic to cats-this is probably not going to work out for one of us.
I'm very open to any suggestions on future books, I would love to hear from all of you!
5.) If you're a serial killer, you get full from an appetizer or you're allergic to cats-this is probably not going to work out for one of us.
I'm very open to any suggestions on future books, I would love to hear from all of you!
The Astoria Book and Supper Club is a long time coming, and I'm looking very forward to welcoming you into my home and cooking you a memorable meal!
Lisa Commisso
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