A Hop and a Skip Away: Day Trip to Brandywine, Pennsylvania

New York City does not have the corner on fine dining. Some of my favorite places to visit and dine at are only about two hours away. 

Last year we visited my friend Patty in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we had the chance to try the delicious tapas of Iron Chef Garces at Chifa and a few other restaurants he owns with his brothers. 

This year I went back to visit the Brandywine area of Pennsylvania and visited the Simon Pearce Glassblowing Workshop; Restaurant located in West Chester, PA. You can learn how to blow your own glass or enjoy a tasting of wine in their beautiful riverfront restaurant. Chef Karen Nicolas (who used to work at Gramercy Tavern) does her magic with seasonal and local ingredients. The meat and vegetables are supplied by local farms and served by a knowledgeable staff. I had tender octopus salad and pan-seared striped bass with artichokes.  At the end of the night, I was given a loaf of nice warm olive bread baked right out of their kitchen. 

Festive brunch with homemade and local ingredients

The Salt Debate

It’s great that our Mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg cares about our health with his campaign to reduce salt content used in food products and restaurant chains.

Fortunately, great flavors (and health) can always be achieved with spices & herbs so that one can do with very little salt. I tweaked this fish dish from a Khmer Amok recipe I picked up in Cambodia in 1998.  It is low in sodium but nicely spiced. My Godmother Sonja, loves this dish and has had this recipe posted on her fridge since it was published in NYT’s Dining & Wine section. This delicious dish is also a great picnic and summer-time staple since it’s served at room temperature and portable.  Enjoy!

AMOK

Adapted from Irene Khin Wong, Saffron 59 Catering

Time: 45 minutes

1 pound monkfish or cod fillets (or any white fish/chicken)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon curry powder, optional

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh Thai chili pepper, seeds included

2 teaspoons Southeast Asian fish sauce

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 cup thinly sliced onion

12 baby bibb lettuce leaves

1 tablespoon shredded fresh kaffir lime leaves, if desired.

1. Cut fish into 1/2-inch chunks. Season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine coconut milk, turmeric, paprika, curry powder, ginger, garlic, chili pepper and fish sauce. Mix well. Add fish pieces, and toss until well coated. Let marinate 15 minutes.

3. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Heat oil, and add onions. Sauté onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add fish mixture, and sauté until fish is opaque, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool to room temperature.

4. Spoon into lettuce cups, and place three cups on each of 4 plates. Garnish with kaffir lime leaves, and serve with steamed red rice or brown jasmine rice, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings.

Spiked Fish with coconut and low salt

Baking with Kids

Whenever my nephews & nieces visit, we walk to the local greenmarket at Union Square and pick up what we are going to make for lunch that day. They always cook in the kitchen with me. There’s nothing as satisfying as being able to create something from scratch.

So when my nephew Sidney and his friend Josh needed to raise some money to support their soccer team for new equipment and transportation, we decided to bake a few types of simple delicious cookies for their fundraiser. So we gathered a few kids for an impromptu baking session with our pastry chef, Momo.

josh and sidney

Not only does learning a new skill boost self-esteem, it fosters a sense of worth and creativity. They also learned a few tips about running their own business: how to sell their goods, pricing, packaging, profit margin, inventory, even creating a blog with pictures.

As the smell of freshly baked goods wafts through the studio, we all happily shared a victory cookie from our cache of goodies.

Here’s one of the recipes from that day. Enjoy!

Sammi with Cookie Crumbs

Vegan Vanilla Almond Cookie

Servings: around 30 large cookies

1 cup Sugar

½ cup Vegan Butter

1/3 cup Soy Milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¾ cup white rice flour

1/3 cup coconut flour

2 tablespoons potato starch

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup almond slices

In a mixing bowl or mixer, sift all the dry ingredients together, except for the almond slices. Create a well in the dry mix and slowly incorporate all the wet ingredients. When thoroughly mixed, add almond slices. Form dough balls into desired size or use a mini ice-cream scooper like we did on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown at 350F degrees.

Chef Momo

Catering Business: To Do Or Not To Do? Event Planners/Coordinators

I get asked this question a lot: 

Should I hire an Event Planner or Day-of-Event Coordinator? Well, it depends. How much stress/time do you have to spare? For example, the services, depending on you your needs - include everything from the early planning & budgeting stages to "Day-Of” coordination.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• First, gather your ideas-think about your budget, themes, the types of food you and you target audience would like, etc. 
• Next, hire an Event Planner, if you prefer. An Event Planner has rapport and connections with vendors you might need. The role as a caterer and event planner is that of a facilitator, mediator, negotiator, artist and dream-maker… all on your behalf. 

Since Saffron 59 is a full-service event planning /catering company, we offer these services at a discounted price should you decide to use our catering services. After all, planning an event is stressful!

If you decide to go at it on your own; start researching venues, photographers/ videographers, décor, entertainment, caterers, printers, bakeries, florists, accommodations, transportation, etc. The list goes on and on.

Wedding Banquets & Their Symbolic Meanings

Earlier this year when I came back from a culinary tour of Hong Kong and Macau, I was thrilled to see an email from Judy, one of our recent brides:

“I did not get a chance to properly thank you for everything you did to make my wedding so beautifully wonderful and special...THANK YOU so very much. And it was such a relief to have your team there to take care of all the details for the evening, leaving us to simply enjoy the wedding and our guests. Thank you also for the very thoughtful addition of the macaroons at the end of the night” --Judy M. Chen

It was so great to read such a touching email after such a long flight! Judy first met me when she was helping her sister plan her own wedding with Saffron 59. When Judy got engaged, she immediately booked us to assist with her own wedding.

And since the peak of the wedding season is almost upon us, we get a lot of requests for wedding banquets. We have globally diverse couples with roots from South India to Frankfurt Germany, inspiring us to get creative and uniquely customize our menu items for them.

Our fusion of different cultures and cuisines such as our Surf & Turf for one wedding couple were:

Charred Argentinean Steak Chimichurri w/ Korean Red Paste and Pan Seared Black Cod w/ Miso Glaze & Sake Marinade; followed by Green Tea Macarons.

Some couples want their wedding banquets to be more traditional. Here are some Saffron 59 featured dinner dishes, all of which have symbolic meanings of happiness, longevity, and fertility:

• Longevity Noodle - The noodle is symbolic to long life at weddings and celebrations.
• Jewels of the Sea - The type of soup has some significance, indicates wealth because the ingredients are very luxurious.
• Roast Suckling Pig - Roasted pork is a symbol of virginity.
• Chicken and Lobster - Having chicken and lobster at the wedding indicates “dragon” and “phoenix” are living in harmony and the yin and yang elements are balanced in the family.

• Fish - Serving fish represents the hope that the couple will experience a wealthy life together with abundance because the pronunciation of fish is the same as "abundance.”
• Double Happiness Fried Rice - "Double happiness" wishes the newlyweds marital bliss and to have children soon. Xi is a symbol of fertility.
• Roast Duck - Considered as red dish, the red color signifies happiness. The dish comes with the legs and head as a symbol of completeness.

After the sumptuous cocktail reception, one of our staff, Manamie, assists with the tea ceremony to honor the wedding couple’s parents and family.

Travel: Sri Lanka: Boutique Hotels by International Architect Geoffrey Bawa

It was not until I was in Sri Lanka this past December that I noticed this internationally well known architect, Geoffrey Bawa who has a string of “Boutique Hotels”. Bawa was regarded as having been one of the most important and influential Asian architects of the twentieth century. He was ahead of his time with his style of blending the natural environment and its surrounding in his work.

Bawa was born in 1919 and came late to architecture, only qualifying in 1957 at the age of thirty-eight, but he soon established himself as Sri Lanka’s most prolific and inventive architect for buildings in a tropical Asian context. Although best known for his private houses and hotels, his portfolio also included schools and universities, public buildings as well as the new Sri Lanka Parliament. His architectural career spanned forty years and was ended in 1998 by a stroke, which left him paralyzed. He died in 2003.

I was very fortunate to get a private tour of his home and office, which now a foundation. One of his most astonishing work is his own garden at Lunuganga which is 1.5 hours away from the capital, Colombo. Not a typical garden of colourful flowers, neat borders and gurgling fountains but with an abundance of lush wilderness and assemblage of tropical plants of different scale and texture. It requires days to explore its every corner and appreciate its changing moods.With each exploration you can find many different discoveries depending on the time of day.

In Sri Lanka his imprint is everywhere: in Montessori schools, farm orphanages, convents, universities, factories, hotels, parliament buildings and private homes.

Interior Photos of Bawa's Home in Colombo

Travel: Sri Lanka: The Kingdom of Ceylon Tea

Irene Khin & Kirchhayn Plantation Tea Plucker

While traveling in Sri Lanka, we stayed at the Kirchhayn Bungalow in Bandarawela after spending a few days in the Cultural Triangle. From there, we began our drive toward Nuwara Eliya where the roads twisted and winded through the hills 1400 meter above sea level--to the home of endless tea estates and where Lipton gets their tea. Some plantations date back to 1847, with tea varieties ranging from Ceylon orange pekoe, green tea, silver needle...the highest quality teas in the world.

The property has been owned by three generations of the Bostock family dating back to 1884. At the estate, Butler Mohamad brought out a beautiful basket of fresh fruits grown from the plantation, warm baskets of roti, a variety of Sri Lankan traditional dishes and jam with apple wood. He garnished and adorned our trays with cloves of cinnamon and fragrant Camilias plucked straight from the garden.

The estate has 50 acres of tea plantation with two female pluckers assigned to each hectre with an average basic salary 400 rupees; a day’s worth of work for the equivalent of $4.00 US. They pick an average of 2,000 kilo a day, while male workers attend to pruning & checking the acidity of soil and magnesium sulfate levels; adjusting and replanting if necessary.

Recently after returning to New York, my good friend Sebatian Beckwith, a frequent travel companion to Asia from In Pursuit of Tea, explained to me the techniques of proper tea brewing and that the tea grown in Sri Lanka is the Assam varietal.

Early Morning Tea Picking

Silver Tip Tea Leaf

Travel: Sri Lanka: Colombo Breakfast - Hoppers!

Jet lagged, after flying over the Pacific and arriving in Colombo, Sri Lanka at 2am, we

slept for a few hours at the Colonial Galle Face Hotel by Indian Ocean.

Much surprised, when we sat down for breakfast, we immediately got an

eye opener, as we were brought Hoppers with Fish Curry by a young waiter in a colorful sarong.

Hoppers are made from a fermented batter of rice flour, coconut milk and a dash of palm toddy, which lends a sour flavor and fermentation ability. If toddy is not available, yeast is often used. The batter is left to rise, then cooked in a hemispherical wok-like pan.

According to my Indonesian office manager, Leili, there are many types of hoppers including egg, milk and even sweeter varieties, originally introduced by the Dutch during Sri Lanka's trade with Indonesia.

Travel: Sri Lanka: Lizards, Beaches & Tea!

When my sweetheart and I were looking through some travel books and trying to decide which Asian country we should visit that we hadn't been to, we spotted Sri Lanka (Ceylon), located off the Indian Ocean and about the size of Virginia. 

Being an aficionado of tea, I was fascinated by the abundance of fauna, lush tropical climate and rich culture of this island. Sri Lanka’s landscapes range from wild jungles, endless untouched beaches to immaculately manicured tea plantations. The food and cultural influences of this precious gem-laden island from Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers was another motivating factor for my visit.

For the next several blog posts, I will be sharing some exciting traveling tips, traditional recipes and pictures of my recent trip to Sri Lanka. Keep checking back for updates!

Tea Plucker on Plantation & Banana Bushels

Recipe: Simple Cauliflower or Root Vegetable Preparation

Most people are familiar with common root vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots and the like, but aren't as knowledgeable about turnips, rutabagas, and parsnips abundant in your local market. 

Now is the peak season for root vegetables, which generally like the cooler months of the year (January to March and October to December). Root vegetables are a great source of nutrients and are so versatile you can make practically any course of the meal with them. 

An easy way to use whatever root vegetables look fresh at the market or just rolling around your crisper drawer is to peel & chop into 2-inch chunks, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, onion & fresh rosemary, sage or thyme. 

Roast in oven at 450 degrees for about 45 minutes or until tender, stir occasionally & serve. 

My local market here in Union Square has the most gorgeous colored cauliflower. Cook it the same way you do with the root vegetables; simply cut off the florets and roast. It also makes a great side dish for your holiday dinners.

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

Travel: Paris Recommendations & Day Trips

Being in Paris, you can’t miss the exciting colorful neighborhood of The Marais; reminded me of the East Village, New York City, with talented artists and one of a kind shops. In the vicinity, you must stop for lunch at my all-time favorite classic place, Mariages Frères, which offers more than 400 different teas, ranging from Cameron Highland, Malaysia to Darjeerling Mountains of India. 

                                                                                                            Mariage Frères at Marais

In between the visits to incredible museums, a few afternoon delights that one should not missed. The well-known  pastry shop le Nôtre where you can find succulent kouglof. Or stop by your local fromagerie and have a picnic with a slice of Poilâne, a famous bread  manufacturer who bake his bread like an old tradition. During my visits, I enjoyed the lively restaurant Chez Omar; if you like Moroccan food, they make succulent lamb shanks, great tagine and couscous. 

If you have a sweet tooth, Berthillon at L'ile St Louis is one of the must-vist Parisian spots for great gelato and a stroll around the charming island.

If you want to travel beyond Paris, there are many excursions within a day’s trip. Some of my favorites: 

• Versailles's glass palace and his beautiful gardens, where Marie Antoinette resided.

                                                                                                           Marie-antoinette at Versailles

• La Normandie - walk on the beaches of Deauville and lunch at restaurant Les Vapeurs in Trouville.
  
• Other well known places such as the house of Jean Monet in Giverny.You can visit the garden which inspired him for his famous paintings.
  
• If you like wine, do visit the beautiful wine road with region like Val de Loire and the castle of Tourraine, only at 1 hour from Paris by train, with its enormous chateaux.
  
• One can also take a break in Bourgogne to taste Macon wine. One of the most famous roads is Champagne, near Reims, which is only 45 min by train.

Travel: September in Paris: Favorite Pastry Shops

This blog is not for those who are watching their waist lines!

Since I have been to Paris several times, I skipped all the major tourist sites except the Louvre, of course. This time my fascination is to visit and taste different boulangeries and new patisseries since I was here four years ago.  I can feel my heart beats faster as I walked into these beatifully arranged  shops.

I was overwhelmed by La Grande Epicerie de Paris, a part of Le Bon Marché department store, an entire floor with shelves stocked with black sea salt from North Africa, to pink fresh shrimp from Deauville, France. There I picked up a few bags of my favorite galette de beurre and  lavender soaps from Marseille, then headed out for lunch at Ladurée, known for its legendary macarons and others pastries. One afternoon, I was invited for lunch at Madame Depuis in the 16th arrondissement and I wanted to buy these delicious macarons as gift.

A friend of mine suggests to go to “La Carette” at Trocadero  (www.carette-paris.com), an old classic. But then my film maker friend Joanne disagreed  that I  must go to the new hip “Pierre Herme“ (www.pierreherme.com), the eponymous shop from the former pastry chef at Fauchon. One of his famous pastries is Le Deux Mille Feuilles and for his tiny macarons. 

At last I opt for Eric Kayser patisserie (www.maison-kayser.com), since my hotel is near this rustic, artisan shop. I picked up a few rows of delicious caramel and hazelnut chocolate macarons, while indulging in a few madeleines on site. It`s one of oldest bakeries in Paris, recognized for its seasonal  flavorful fruit tarts, which recently opened a chain of shops in high traffic neighborhoods.

A week in Paris is just not enough!

 La Carette, Trocadero, Paris    

Pierre Herme, Saint-Germain, Paris