Comfort One Pot Dish

When the first frost is about to stake a claim on the season, it's time to prepare warming, comfort food. Chicken Pot Pie is the first one-pot-dish that comes to mind. It's probably the single most popular main entrée available at your grocer’s frozen food aisle. 

Many restaurants will also feature it on their menu this time of year, and one restaurant that comes to mind that does Chicken Pot Pie real well is the Publick House in Sturbridge Massachusetts. It may be the roaring fire and New England colonial ambiance-thing they have going on, especially in Fall, that made that pie taste so good. The wine also assisted. My dear friends Shari Alexander and John Bills took us there when we were taping my TV show in MA. BTW- if visiting the Sturbridge area in Massachusetts, a wonderful place to lay your head for a night or two is The Red Maple Inn in Spencer, Mass., it's in good proximity to autumnal activities like antiquing. Ask about Dinner & A Movie, and Shari's fabulous breakfasts and afternoon tea.

But, if you can’t make it to Sturbridge, there’s nothing easier than preparing Chicken Pot Pies from scratch with a 1,2,3 pie dough, or make it semi-scratch by using pre-bought pastry. Other options include; puff pastry, biscuit dough, brioche, or top noodles Dutch-style as you'll find in Lancaster PA.

East End #1 Curry Destination

The East End of London, aka Bangla Town is a neighborhood that's receiving acclaim and popularity through it's noteworthy eateries and restaurants. You may have heard of London’s East End, through its popular BBC soap opera Eastender’s, airing on PBS TV stations in the US.

It's no wonder the popularity has spread- the curry houses of Brick Lane are known for good, cheap, vibrant diversity of foods; also luring an art and fashion vibe as a student hangout. Youth are a great indicator of birthing trends. 

Head cross the pond for the annual event in London's East End, celebrating the exotic aroma of Bangladeshi cuisine. The Brick Lane Curry Festival continues until October 10th, but you can enjoy the great Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani restaurants year round. 

Know Your Wings

So why does a classically trained chef appreciate chicken wings so much? Frankly sometimes the simplest prepared foods can be the most delicious, and even the most popular. Today it's serious business; books, TV shows and restaurant chains exist with wings at the center of the plate. BTW, my favorite spots for wings are at Rowdy Hall in East Hampton, N.Y. and Southampton Publick House in Southampton, N.Y.

So what makes a great wing? First, start with fresh chicken. Once frozen, it toughens the meat. But honestly it’s all in the finish- the magic is in the sauce. Don’t think you’ll pass along that bad hot sauce in a bottle and tell me you have good wings! It's a combination of a few flavors; a little heat, tomato, garlic, a bit sweet, but have the bite of vinegar and a touch of fruit. Wings don’t have to be fried. Lesson the fats by oven roasting or better yet fire up the grill. Oh, and adding a pint of IPA doesn’t hurt! Southampton Publick House's IPA is my personal favorite. So what about you- how do you enjoy your wings?

Rome Italy: The Big Sandwich

When In Rome, the first sights that most people want to see are the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, or the Coliseum. However, some noteworthy sights are not found in a guidebook.
I couldn't help but take a closer look when walking on Piazza Barberini, after this cleaver and inviting window display caught my eye. You don't normally think white bread sandwich with location Rome, Italy in the same sentence. Well, here's evidence that the Big Sandwhich has presence in Rome. 
It is so great to see the amount of effort and passion put into something so ordinary as a sandwich. This was just another example of Italian artistry worth a capture and maybe a little wine too.

Pepy's Bar; Corner of Piazza Barberini and Via del Tritone, Rome, Italy

Yang Sing: Dim Sum

Dim Sum is more a style of eating, than a part of a menu; usually served as a late breakfast, lunch or brunch meal. It is comprised of small, individual prepared snack plates, sort of a westernized chinese food version of tapas. Although Dim Sum can be found in all parts of the world, it's predominantly found in concentrated Asian communities. 

What to expect? It's a food frenzy of organized chaos. Dim sum people take their dim sum seriously. First rule, don't be late, seats fill up fast. Orders are usually picked very quickly off rolling carts stacked with hot steamy dishes. It's helpful to go with someone who knows the ropes the first time you dim sum. The cart pulls up, you point, they serve and stamp the card on your table noting what items you selected off their cart. Note, the small plates can add up by the end of the meal, but understand it's pretty healthy and affordable food for eating out. So what's on the menu? Plan on a variety of dishes ranging from pastry to barbecued meats and seafood to buns and dumplings served with a pot of hot jasmine tea. Oh, and some deep fried items. My favorite is called Char Siu Baos, a fluffy warm bread (bun) with honey glazed BBQ pork and dipping sauces. Some of my other favorites are Shu Mai and Har Gow; dumplings with vegetables and shrimp.

Where to find Dim Sum? One of my top stops when on the west coast, in San Francisco is Yank Sing. Doesn’t this menu description from Yank Sing get you hungry? “Peking Duck- a house-roasted Peking Duck served as a deem sum appetizer, Crispy paper thin honey-coated skin and tender slices of succulent meat stuffed in a steamed seashell bun, accompanied with finely slivered scallions and smears of tangy hoisin sauce.”

Can’t make it to SFO this week, then try Chowhound for one of the 17,000+ Dim Sum choices near you! How about you- where's your favorite dim sum?