The Best Food Blog

P2's friend Ying Zhu has just published a great interview she did with world famous chef Jacques Torres, and just in time for mothers day!!! It is a great article, so I wanted to pass it along. http://www.notesontheroad.com/jacques-torres.html . Enjoy! XO -P

I recently had the pleasure of meeting some of the people behind the new gourmet market about to open by the amazing Daniel Boulud . It will be called Épicerie Boulud , and will be located perfectly right next to Bar Boulud and 2 doors down from the other new venture by Chef Boulud called Boulud Sud. That is right on Broadway directly across from Lincoln Center. The concept is genius and simple at the same time. Think Etaly but not as massive, much more high end, and filled with French delights specific only to this store. Épicerie Boulud will be the only place in America to carry their products and in some cases the only place in the world. I assume it will be quite expensive, but worth it. It is scheduled to open in May, but there is still no date on their web site. I have read that it may be as soon as this Tuesday. Right now I do know that the staff is going through extensive training. There will be separate sections such a patisserie and a cheese counter like ...

A couple of years ago we were sitting at the bar in one of our favorite restaurants Cookshop , and we saw someone eating a bowl of peppers. Intrigued, we ordered some, and it was love at first bite! Since then I order them from anywhere that has them on the menu. Most recently and maybe my favorite was at another one of our favorite spots,  B.E.S. I am not sure how neither P2 or myself had gone our whole lives without these little peppers is beyond either of us! They are called Shishito Peppers and they originate from Japan. A whole other reason to love our friends over there! They have lots of vitamins A and C, a little heat, and lots of flavor. Not to mention they are the easiest things to cook. Anyone who can turn the stove on and make them. Here is what I do; Heat up a grill pan super hot. While that is heating up, lightly coat the peppers with olive oil and a little salt. When the pan is hot, put the peppers on and just let them go. Move them around a bit as they cook...

Grammy night snuck up on us and we needed a meal while we sat in front of the TV judging the famous people we don't know. Our good friend Liz was on her way over, and on our way home to meet her we hopped into Trader Joe's  to get some food to cook. We ended up making a few small dished to keep us all snacking through the show. P2  decided to try making a shrimp fritter. They were AWESOME!!!! A while back while walking around a Chinese market in Long Island we picked up an all purpose vegetable pancake mix that P2 has used quite a bit. Up until this last time my favorite recipe he's come up with was the Sweet Potato pancake. As everyone knows, any way I can eat a Sweet Potato I will. So we quickly gathered up all the other ingredients we needed and headed home to cook! When we got home we realized that we didn't have enough oil to fry the fritters in, and we would have to see if Coconut oil would work. It was our only choice...... It worked perfectly! The C...

P2 went to Long Island to do his taxes and I stayed home because I have agreed to watch my friend Chris' dog in March, but was doing a trial night to see how 'Teeny' got along with my dogs. While the dogs sat around pretty much ignoring each other I made myself a dinner that not only tasted amazing, but it looked damn good to! Not to mention it was also pretty inexpensive too! What tastes better than saving cash?! Chicken meatloaf, Crushed sweet potatoes, and herb gravy! They are predicting it to be so cold tonight in NYC. Doesn't this sound perfect for a cold night in? Here is what to get and what to do; 1 pound or ground chicken 1 Medium can of stewed tomatoes 1 egg 3/4 cup of seasoned bread crumbs 2 handfulls of chopped parsley 1/2 a small onion diced 1 tablespoon of diced scallions 1 cup of chicken stock or broth About 1 stick of butter 4 or 5 medium sized sweet potatoes. (Use your judgment here. Think about one good sized sweet potato per person. I...

Hello readers! This is a quick note to let you know about a great web site where I will be featured from time to time with some other friends! It's www.melissaamyers.com . You can read all about all things in pop culture today. From Chinese New Year Dumpling recipes to who's looking busted on the red carpet! It's a great read, and fun place to check out everyday! Please check it out and show some love to Melissa!! XO -P P.S. - You might find this familiar :)  http://melissaamyers.com/2011/02/introducing-a-new-food-writer-paul-petersen/

Last night to my surprise P2  asked me if we could go to Il Bagatto. This happens to be my FAVORITE little corner of the planet. I said "yes". I said "yes" loud and I said it clear. I said "yes"! To me there is no place better to go for dinner. The best part of dinner there is the special that they offer every night. The grilled Calamari. It's marinated in lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley. Then grilled to perfection! I really could eat this every day of my life. Whenever you go, the room is full of people eating it. The people who aren't just haven't ordered yet. Located on 2nd St. between Aves A&B, Il Bagatto is on the quintessential East Village block. It's got a psychic, a laundromat, a tattoo place, and a bar that I used to go to that has long since been shut down, and is now covered in graffiti. In the summer the front of the restaurant openes up which allows for side walk seating. On a winter night, like last night,...