Food Talk: My Dining Experience;Rijsttafel

Our Signature Freshly Baked Mini Caneles

This year, I am featuring Rijsttafel for the holiday season for my friends and family gatherings and I hope for you too. It is the Dutch interpretation of exotic Indonesian cuisine eaten in a communal dinning.  Laced with unique, distinctive flavors including Asian herbs and spices, with beautiful presentation.

I spent a significant portion of a four year sabbatical in Asia searching Indonesia for old textiles with my Dutch godmother. Many times over the course of that search I sat down to delicious Rijsttafel meals in Java and one of the most memorable experiences was having multiple dishes in Bali and cooking with ingredients such as lemongrass, galangal, candle nuts, and palm sugar.

When I returned from my sabbatical I was asked to cater a big 50th birthday bash in Holland, where I discovered that Rijsttafel is found everywhere, from the smallest hamlet to the largest city. Since my Indonesian Rijsttafel experiences were fresh in my mind, I was able to create a wonderful, authentic feast for the celebration.

 Fresh Prawns with Habanero Chili Dipping Sauce  

Various Dishes from our Rijsttafel "Rice Table" Holiday Party

From our kitchen to your table:
Heirloom Squash/Pumpkin Ravioli with Coconut Kashmiri red curry dip
Lump Crabmeat Slaw with Mint Chutney and Mustard Seeds
Mekong Style Meatballs with coriander roots and minced spring onion
Indonesian origin Beef Rendang with spicy slow cooked beef stew
Roast Lemongrass Chicken with Caramelized Onion
Vegetable Ratatouille as featured on The Occasional Vegetarian
Our Signature Panthay Noodle with Vegetables  and red onion relish

Food Talk: Holy Basil!

I often get my brain picked on for my expertise with exotic drinks from various Asian regions;  whether with modern-global touches or with traditional roots.  This time, I asked two renowned bars and their mixologists for their favorite herbal concoctions.

One of my favorite spots when I am in Bangkok is the Q Bar.  This recipe is courtesy of "Travelin Matt".

Thai Basil by Travelin Matt
4 lime wedges
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 oz vodka
Fresh watermelon
Fresh Basil (4-5 Leaves)
Ice Cubes
Sprite to top off

1 Muddle Brown Sugar and lime first
2 Muddle watermelon
3 Add basil leaves (no muddle)
4 Add vodka
5 Add ice cubes
6 Top off with sprite or 7-up
7 stir strongly (Mojito Style)
8 Garnish with basil leaf and watermelon wedge
9 ENJOY!

Private VIP Lounge of Q Bar

Food Talk: Away from the Big Apple; From Farm to Table

When my friend Alan Adelson invited me to his house in the Catskills for dinner to talk about his new documentary film project, we didn't hesitate.    
                                     

  Gallery and Art Studio of Turquoise barn

Thursday night after work on MTA train to Poughkeepsie takes me and my partner to the heart of the Hudson Valley, where we picked up a rental car. For the next three days, we had enjoyed very much being vegan with the abundance of fresh farm grown vegetables to varieties of melons in the rolling hills by the Hudson Valley. 

Travel: Top 5 Favorite Hotels From My Traveling Years

Haggling at a market in Baños, Ecuador

Luna Runtun (Ecuador) 

Located at the entrance to the Amazon. The rooms are on a bluff seemingly floating in the cloud banks. Waking up to the sounds of Toucans and parrots in misty rainforest surroundings. After a 10-hour bus ride from Quito, this is a real treat.

Gorgeous view from the top

King of Flowers

What I love about the month of May, besides it being the month of my birthday; are all the blooming plants and flowers.There are lots of exciting cheerful blossoms starting to show, as April showers bring May flowers!  My favorite May flowers are Peonies.  As spring approaches, I love watching the shoots sprout in my garden and always it amazes me when their delicate petals are in full bloom.

Orchid and Peony Bouquet by Saffron59

Just a hop on the subway or a train ride can put you in the feeling of a country side as the Brooklyn Botanical Garden or another outing favorite of mine that we do annually is to go to the Chanticleer Garden in Pa.  Our weekend trips to the Berkshires is botanical garden with full of different shapes and shades of peonies - from striking velvety burgundy to soft petal pink blossoms that just lift everyone’s spirits.  I love to create bridal bouquets with peonies, since this exquisite flower is a

Saffron Baby!

Announcing our very own Saffron Baby!
One of our client loves Saffron 59 so much they named their baby Saffron.
Congrats to the newest member of the family.

Signature Dishes: Asian Tapas

With the weather turning chilly and the leaves changing to beautiful fall colors, we at Saffron 59 were inspired to create cozy, delicious tasting dishes featuring Asian Tapas for our friends and clients. Because of their small size, tapas are a great way to provide your guests with a multitude of different flavors & textures - all in one sitting! You can adjust the ingredients to suit everyone’s taste or preferences.

Let the fall foliage inspire your table setting using any small plates (even dessert plates) you may have or mix and match for a more eclectic vibe. It’s also a great time to break out those antiques or flea market finds you never use & show them off.

Complement your dishes by pairing them with a selection of hearty wines like a full-bodied Cote Du Rhone or a spicy Shiraz for a perfect ending to your night.

Here are some examples of our signature dishes. Enjoy!

Asian Tapas Dishes
Soup Dumpling with crabmeat and minced meat with Asian Chives
(served individually with ceramic spoons)

Macanese Chicken with winter melon and black mushroom
(with Portuguese and Chinese flavor influences)

Seared Kobe Steak with Orange Peel and braised mustard greens in lettuce wrap

Roast Berkshire Pork with Star Anise with Hoisin glaze
(bedded with Roasted Leeks and Korean Potato Noodle)

Seared Black Cod Marinated with Sake and Mirin with Soba and Dashi

Braised Halibut with Scallion Ginger with Asian Broccoli Rabe