Goodbye, New York

Marimekko

Posted on April 29, 2013 by sydneyohagan

I dream of having a truly stylish apartment. It would be one of those funky yet sleek yet functional apartments you used to see featured in Domino magazine. I am not there yet, and probably never will since I have two children and a husband with equal say in how I decorate, but I find plenty of inspiration at Marimekko in the Flatiron District (right next door to Eataly). This store is all about putting elements of bold design and bright color in what would otherwise be an ordinary space. I have one piece from Marimekko – a plate sitting on my foyer table that my husband has named the “clutter plate” because all of our odds and ends seem to land there (and because he views the plate itself as clutter). But, believe it or not, having that plate sitting on my otherwise boring brown table makes me happy.

Marimekko has pieces that can brighten your wardrobe, kitchen, living room, or bathroom. This is the ultimate place to find a housewarming gift.

The real reason I shop here, though, is because of the beautiful fabric they sell by the foot. The patterns are gorgeous and unique.

I once bought a few yards of a black and white pattern and sewed a couple of decorative pillows for a friend. (I borrowed this easy pattern from a fellow blogger and they really were a masterpiece.) The only downside of Marimekko is the price tag. There are no bargains to be had here, but you know what? Inspiration is free.

Posted in Flatiron District | Tagged design, fashion | 1 Comment

Elderflower Mixed Drink

Posted on April 17, 2013 by sydneyohagan

There is a lot I miss about Austria, a country I lived in while in college and have visited half a dozen times since. The architecture, the coffee shops that also serve alcohol and who expect you stay at least a few hours nursing one drink, the art, the outdoor markets, the beer…like I said, there is LOT I miss. So, imagine how excited I was to see elderflower cordial at Myers of Keswick – my favorite British specialty grocery store. Elderflower cordial has a distinct, delicious flavor that is often served in Austrian cafes mixed with various different liquids: sparkling water, lemonade, or champagne. The cordial itself is non-alcoholic so it is really nice to make something that feels fancy when you are abstaining ( I drank a LOT of elderflower sparkling water concoctions while pregnant), but now that I can imbibe, I use it to elevate my favorite mixed drink: Gin and Soda.

Recipe:

Your favorite Whiskey Glass

Ice Cubes

Your favorite Gin (or Vodka)

Sparkling Water

Elderflower Cordial

Slice of Lemon

Place 3 or 4 ice cubes in a glass. Pour in a shot of gin or vodka. Add a tbs. of elderflower cordial. Top with sparkling water. Squeeze in juice from a slice of lemon. Stir. Drink.

Posted in Cooking | Leave a comment

Fishs Eddy

Posted on April 8, 2013 by sydneyohagan

Vintage Hotel and Restaurant Ware

I loved my college boyfriend’s Mom. She was the best thing about that relationship. I remember her as this eccentric, warm, and above all hilarious woman who had a hardscrabble upbringing but had managed to pull herself up by her bootstraps, get an education, and eventually become an English professor. She had some weird habits. She used to buy mannequins and dress and stage them in her living room. The first time I stopped by her place I was greeted by a young boy who was crying into his mother’s skirt. It really scared the bejesus out of me, and at the time I thought it unforgivingly bizarre. Over time, I began to appreciate that she let her freak flag fly. Too many of us pretend we are normal when we clearly are not. One habit I picked up from her was never buying the same pattern of plates or glasses. She always said that if you bought a whole set and broke one, you would be upset. But, if you bought only one or two wine glasses, bowls, or plates at a time, you never had to worry about ruining a set. It allowed her to create memories, always have her eye out for something new, and throw dinner parties where no one accidentally drinks out of the wrong glass. I now do the same – I never buy sets of glass or plate ware, which is fantastic because it allows me to return to Fishs Eddy as often as I like. This store, located in the Flatiron District, has the perfect gift for any person on any occasion. My friend Janine once gave me a mug with little runners on it from there on the eve of a half-marathon we ran together. They have all these great glass storage jars and bottles, kitschy glasses, vintage plates from once-loved NYC restaurants that are no longer in service, and ceramic dish ware to store your eggs, berries, milk – you name it. They even have a cute NYC section that appeals to the tourist and local alike. For a city full of people with tiny kitchens and no storage space, it is amazing how many of us show up there on any given day for something we just can’t do without.

Mix, Match, and Reminisce for a place you’ve never been…

Mooooooo!!!!

Old School Meets New School

Friendly Pig Platters

This pretty lady came home with me.

Where It Is and Why I’ll Miss It: Manhattan, Flatiron District, 19th Street and Park Avenue; Endlessly Appealing Kitchen Stuff that Will Lighten Your Outlook.

Posted in Flatiron District | Tagged design | 1 Comment

Southwestern Brisket Tacos

Posted on April 5, 2013 by sydneyohagan

I dined solo at Jacob’s Pickles a week ago and ordered 8 (yes, 8) various pickled delicacies. I also ordered a beer, mussels and fries, a side of collard greens, and a cup of coffee. I quite proudly tell you I had no problem polishing off that meal, except that I failed to finish all those pickled vegetables. No problem, I could take them home and snack on them, but what about those pickled jalapenos? Hm….I decided they would go wonderfully with a good pulled pork taco. So, I searched the web for a good recipe and of course, as usual, stumbled upon a recipe for something even better on smittenkitchen.com – pulled brisket tacos. Luckily, I had some brisket in the freezer. The other ingredients are pretty basic and I had them in my pantry and fridge. After a quick trip to my favorite local Mexican grocery store for flour tortillas, I was ready to go. The best part? I made this in the morning in the slow cooker so dinner was ready with no prep from me at night other than warming those flour tortillas over the gas burner. So, at 7:30 there was nothing for me to do other than munch on delicious tacos while warming to the sound of my husband asking me if it would be wrong if he had a fifth taco. No, that would be so right, my dear.

Serves 4, says the recipe: (from Smittenkitchen.com (with tweeks))

3 pounds beef brisket

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

1 Spanish onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons ground coriander

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 cups water

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juices

1 to 2 whole canned chipotle chiles en adobo or a pinch of red pepper flakes

2 bay leaves

1/4 cup molasses

For serving:

Small flour tortillas along with pickled onions and/or pickled jalapeños (or any other pickled finds from Jacob’s Pickles)

Season the beef generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat just until beginning to smoke. Add the meat and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker; leave the skillet on the heat.

Add garlic, onion, chili powder, coriander, and cumin to drippings in the skillet and stir until fragrant, about one minute. Add vinegar and boil until it’s almost gone, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in water and pour the mixture over the brisket. Crush the tomatoes through your fingers into the slow cooker; add the tomato juices, chipotles or red pepper flakes, bay leaves, and molasses. Cover the cooker, set it on LOW, and cook the brisket until it pulls apart easily with a fork, about 8 to 10 hours. (mine required 10 hours).

To serve, you’ve got two options: Leave the meat in the slow cooker and use two forks to pull it apart and stir it evenly into the sauce; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove and discard bay leaves. This is the easy route.

Or, to make the sauce a little more thick and delicious, remove the meat to a plate and pour the liquid and vegetables through a colander or cone while pushing the vegetables against the holes to extract all that yummy flavor. Discard any leftover solids in the colander. Simmer liquid in a pan down to about 2/3 volume to thicken. Pour over the brisket as you pull it and save some to pour over the taco.

Posted in Cooking | 2 Comments

Jacob’s Pickles

Posted on April 1, 2013 by sydneyohagan

There is a lot to love about Jacob’s Pickles. I love that the Upper West Side has a proper gastropub that is heavy on southern influence. I love the long and eclectic beer list. I also love that when I walked by Jacob’s Pickles with two of my friends and our four kids under the age of two, I slowed to tell them I loved the place but it probably wasn’t a good idea for us to stop in since we had the kids with us. The manager saw my gesture and encouraged us to come in. I am not one of those people who thinks “oh, everyone will think my kids are so cute and won’t mind if they are loud.” I much more identify with the poor sap who happens to have the afternoon away from the kids and treats themselves to a nice lunch only to have it ruined by someone who didn’t spring for a babysitter. But, the manager was so insistent that we decided to come in. We were seated at the very back of the restaurant, which is separated somewhat from the front (which is where I sit sans kids) and we had a delicious meal.

The food here is pretty rich, and I mean that as a compliment. You should definitely order one of the southern biscuit sandwiches after fasting for a day or so. Or just fast later. Fried chicken is served on large, flaky biscuits and then smothered in gravy, or cheese, or served one of their pickled delights. On another day you can order their lighter fare, like the awesome beer and sausage mussels served with crispy belgian frites.

If you visit Jacob’s Pickles though, you might think that having ordered a delicious beer and gluttonous lunch, you shouldn’t spring for the pickled sides. That would be a mistake. My favorites are the pickled beets, carrots, and green tomatoes. They somehow refresh your palate, almost making you feel virtuous after that feast. And if you can’t finish them at the restaurant you can take them home and snack on them over the next week or so. They won’t go bad, they are pickled after all.

Posted in Upper West Side | Tagged restaurant, southern | 1 Comment

Fish

Posted on March 26, 2013 by sydneyohagan

I am what you would call a red-meat-eating kind of girl. I was raised in the landlocked state of Wyoming where nearly all bodies of water were man-made. Sure, there was the occasional creek or mountain lake, but by far most were reservoirs occasionally drained during dry seasons to irrigate local farmlands. So, suffice it to say there wasn’t a whole lot of good, fresh fish around when I was growing up. As a result, I am not much of a fish eater. I would take a steak over a piece of fish any day of the week, unless on that day I happen to be at Fish, my favorite seafood restaurant in NYC. Yes, I have been to Nobu. And yes, it is awesome, But, nothing has the laid-back charm of Fish, with incredibly fresh dishes that never let you leave feeling anything other than stuffed when you leave (don’t even get me started on Japonais – spent $150 on dinner and then had to stop for a slice of pizza on the way home). I digress.

My favorite thing on the menu is the oyster special – 6 blue point oysters, a red or white wine or PBR for $8. You can even watch them shuck your oysters behind the bar.

After slurping down a couple of those bad boys, move onto one of their amazing fish sandwiches that never resemble the fried, flattened fish sandwiches you might be served elsewhere. They are huge, flaky fish sandwiches made with the softest bread and accompanied by delicious tomatoes even in the dead of winter. Or you could have their “Down East Lobster Feast” – 1 1/4 lb lobster with awesome sides, a Pot O’Bass, the Lobster Mac and Cheese, pan roasted red snapper with cheese grits and barbecued shrimp…I could go on an on.

If you happen to pass by when the weather is warm, I highly recommend sitting on the outdoor stools and having an oyster special. You can sip your wine or your PBR and people watch on the ever-cool Bleecker Street before slipping off and heading to one of the other amazing food havens in that neighborhood.

Where It Is and Why I’ll Miss It: 280 Bleecker Street, off of 7th Avenue; Always delicious fresh fish at amazing prices.

Posted in West Village | Tagged restaurant | Leave a comment

Westsider Books

Posted on March 14, 2013 by sydneyohagan

One day I hope to inherit a crumbling manor from a long-lost relative in England. I will build big fires in the stone hearth overtaking the living room, take my girls on romps through the green and dewy grounds, and explore the shelves of dusty books in the library. The fact that I have no English ancestry does not deter me from this fantasy. Sometimes you gotta do what you can to get through another winter afternoon in your two bedroom apartment that you share with two small children. When I tire of merely dreaming of this unlikely scenario and desire some visual confirmation that it exists, I head to Westside Rare Books.

This shop is small and cramped. It has the beyond cool ladder that attaches to and glides over bookshelves that reach the ceiling.

Books are everywhere: piled on the staircase that cuts through the center of the store, on the stand out front, and even on the floor (along with some vinyl records that I won’t tell my husband about).

If I’d written this post 5 years ago I would tell you to visit here before the giant Barnes and Nobles on 83rd and Broadway runs it out of business. Now, I would say visit here before everyone starts reading on their kindles. Then again, the shop seems to be thriving despite all modern convenience has thrown its way, so maybe the best advice is to visit it not because you are trying to save a shop that seems out-of-place in modern times, but simply because it is worth seeing. Especially if you need to collect some books to display in your manor (or beach house, or cabin in the woods, or other dream space).

Posted in Upper West Side | Tagged book store, vinyl | Leave a comment

Bangers and Mash

Posted on March 7, 2013 by sydneyohagan

If you are going to cook some of those cumberland sausages you picked up from Myers of Keswick, I highly recommend you follow this recipe. I didn’t create this recipe myself – if you are going to cook some “proper” English pub food, you should consult an English chef. My favorite: Jamie Oliver, also known as the Naked Chef. He has never led me astray, and I own five of his cookbooks. This one I borrowed, with a few tweeks, from his cookbook “family dinners”. Every single time I make it I get rave reviews. True perfection would mean serving it with an Old Speckled Hen or Boddingtons…

(Serves 4)

1.5 lbs cumberland sausages

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced

a bunch of fresh sage, leaves picked

olive oil

a bunch of fresh rosemary, leaves picked

5 medium potatoes (yukon golds work great)

1 1/4 cups milk

8 tbs butter

4 tbs freshly grated horseradish (this makes a big difference), or you can used jarred

3 medium red onions, peeled and finely sliced.

5 tbs balsamic or red wine vinegar

2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes (yes, Jamie recommends bouillon – I used some homemade beef stock, but I’ve made it both ways and you can’t go wrong)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Untwist sausage links and squeeze them though, rolling them in a tight circle. Tuck the sage leaves and garlic between the layers of sausage. You can run a couple of rosemary stocks through them to keep them together, or just let them be. Place on an oiled sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with rosemary leaves. Cook in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until crisp and golden. A few minutes before sausages are ready, throw a few sage leaves next to the sausage after drizzling in oil. They will become crispy and delicious.

Chop of potatoes. Boil them in salted water until cooked. Drain, add milk, 5 tbs butter, and horseradish. Keep warm at back of the stove.

Make onion gravy by frying onions very slowly in a little oil, covered, for about 15 minutes (until soft). Remove the lid, turn up the heat and brown the onions. Pour in vinegar and boil until it almost disappears.

Turn heat down, add 3 tbs butter, bouillon cubes, and 2 and a half cups water or same amount of stock. Simmer until you have a nice gravy consistency.

Serve sausages on top of potatoes and spoon onion gravy over the top. Scatter with crispy sage leaves. Eat. Then immediately return to Myers of Keswick for more sausages.

Posted in Cooking, West Village | Leave a comment

Myers of Keswick

Posted on March 4, 2013 by sydneyohagan

Have you ever been homesick for a place you’ve never lived? I have because I have been to Myers of Keswick. This is where all British ex-pats currently living in New York do their shopping, their eating, their mourning for what they miss back home. The first time I went to the shop I had not yet visited England and I was so intrigued by the products I saw there. Chicken flavored potato chips! A scotch egg!?!?! Vegemite???? Now, after spending some time in Great Britain and even more time at Myers of Keswick, I know these British delicacies should be stored in my cupboards, fridge, and freezer at all times.

What makes this place so unique is that it sells snacks, candy, grocery and drug store items, freshly baked goods, and homemade sausages all in one small, quaint shop. In one trip you can buy crisps (chips to us), toffee, gooseberry jam, baked pork pies, and fresh Cumberland sausages. Most people with a British accent leave the store with about 7 bags of goods, all the while complaining that the store is out of mushy peas.

I try to limit myself to a few pounds of their amazing cumberland and chipolata sausages, but always break down at the last minute and buy some pork and stilton pies and sausage rolls. Then, I nab a homemade scone which sits on a stand near the register (how could you resist!). I recommend eating the scone on the bench out front. Munch on some funny-flavored chips on the subway ride home. Save the rest for snacks and dinner later. I can promise you that before long you will be missing England whether you’ve been there before or not.

Posted in West Village | Tagged food store | 3 Comments

Tabata Noodle Restaurant

Posted on February 27, 2013 by sydneyohagan

Listen, I don’t know anything about Japan and less about ramen, but I do know the ramen at Tabata Noodle Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen tastes really good. Tabata Noodle is an incredibly unassuming place that blends in with the dozens of other small restaurants lining the streets of Hells Kitchen, but if you are lucky enough to step inside you will soon learn that it sets itself apart. To the right of the entrance is a long counter where people can sit on stool, drink a Sapporo (the only beer on draft) and eat ramen while watching the chefs cook. Giant flames leap from the burner under mammoth woks, sometimes singeing the heavily-scarred arms of the chefs. We usually head to the back of the restaurant with our kids, who are treated like royalty.

Our favorite: Tan Tan Men: A spicy sesame ground pork ramen soup.

Perfect with a draft of Sapporo when you need to cut the heat of the spice in the soup. We let the kids suffer. They don’t seem to mind.

A repeat customer

Posted in Hell's Kitchen | Tagged Japanese, ramen | 3 Comments

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