Splurge Night

This blog is about how to eat delicious meals on a tight budget and although I have taken a small hiatus, I would still like that to be the message of the blog. Now that being said, I think everyone should budget in splurge nights with friends. Everyone.  For the good of your soul and sanity you should give yourself this night.

This evenings splurge night was spent in the company of my wonderful, loving, hysterically funny friend Ms. Cory. We went to Bar Six on the Avenue of America's.  A fun, low key restaurant within walking distance of many wonderful attractions.

My drink of choice was their Moroccan. It was a light, refreshing lemon vodka drink that was not sweet.  For appetizers, we split their Moutabelle, Hummus and White Bean Brandade with toasted pita bread.  For dinner I had Bar Six's Bisteeya which was a chicken pie served over ratatouille.

Although the dinner was an impressive display of craftsmanship, I enjoyed the appetizer and drink much more! If you were going to visit Bar Six I would recommend trying a few different apps and having a few cocktails.  In total I spent $40 for a drink, an appetizer,  an entree and tip. Although that could be my entire budget for a week of groceries I live by the motto one splurge night every so often should be allowed!

Enjoy the beautiful work by the chefs at Bar Six.

Foodie's of the World Unite

About a week and a half ago I was asked to attempt something that I never dreamed I would be comfortable doing. About a week and a half ago I consumed oysters for the first time. Now, before I start into the story, and my opinion on these slimy creatures, I will first explain my fear.

Have you ever seen Bizarre Food with Andrew Zimmern? Most people watch it and are grossed out about his consumption of bugs, blood stew, and other strange proteins.  Well, I can sit there and watch him digest any of a number of different parts of an animal. However, oysters are consumed and I instantaneously became sick to my stomach. Why? I am not positive. It may have been all the different rumors about them being gritty. Some have even compared it to falling face first into the ocean bottom.   Or that fun fact about them still being alive. That's right, alive. Creepy, crawly, still breathing and producing different bodily functions; ALIVE!

A week and a half ago, there I sat at the tiniest little table. My anxiety filling my stomach and chasing my appetite away. I was sweating and about ready to either cry or throw up when they brought the first two oysters to the table. What made it better? Why the other food lovers around me! My adventure seeking companion across the table from me and, to both of our surprise, the two daredevils at the next table.Two gentlemen to our right were attempting the same thing!

 At first, my oyster did not want to stay on my fork. It was as if the oyster was alive. All the anxiety came rushing back. This little baby oyster wanted to run away. It deserved a chance to live a happy life at the bottom of the ocean or clinging to a rock while the waves playful crashed against it. I wanted that for this little oyster. But one after one my three fellow adventures slurped down those tiny oysters. I waited. For what? Possibly for an "Alien" moment. I waited. Nothing. Well, HERE WE GO!

Quickly and without thinking I slurped. Well, it was slimy, similar to a mussel, and salty but delicious! Yes, delicious. Without thinking we turned to the waiter and asked for a dozen.

My recommendation: If you are eating something for the first time go with an adventure seeking companion. It truly makes the experience.

Beebo Seafood

The Feast of Nemo

When you name a storm after a fish it is only sensible to serve surf n' turf for dinner, right?

When I was young and my parents and I used to go to the local chinese restaurant for some chicken and broccoli, I always requested to sit near the fish. I figured I was safe, ethically at least,  for I was not eating fish while looking at fish. However, in my five year old mind, those sitting around me eating things clearly involving fish while commenting on how beautiful the fish look swimming were all doomed to spend eternity in a boiling fish tank. It only seemed fitting at the time.

Now that my mind is more mature and I understand that just because a storm is named Nemo does not mean giant clown fish in the sky are jumping on the clouds and making it snow, I feel very safe that I will not end up in a boiling fish tank for all eternity.

Our Chef : Dan Quigley
Ingrediants: Tuna, Onion, Lobster Tail, Lettuce, Seafood Salad, Avocado, Tomato, Feta Cheese, Baby Portobello Mushroom caps, Filet Mignon,  Pepper, Salt, Zucchini.
Number of Cours top es: 2
First Course: Seafood Napoleon- A Seafood Salad base with avocado and tomato slices and then a Ahi Tuna Tartare on top. Finally, sesame seeds to dress it. This dish was a light, yet flavorful and contained so many different, complimentary flavors. For example the zest of the ahi tuna tartare combined with the smooth rich texture of the avocado was simple delightful.
Second Course: Surf n' Turf- Filet Mignon and lobster tails were pan roasted. The portobello mushroom caps were baked in a class baking pan. What can I say? It was filet mignon and lobster tail surf n'turf in a blizzard. My five year old fears of being sent to a gastronomical eternal punishment were non existant while my twenty two year old taste buds were having a party.

The finished product is below.

In total it cost: $0.

Ingredients:                         Cooking for Four:                                 Per Person:
Filet Mignon                           $7.99 a lb,                         $ 2 dollars per person 1/4 lb.
Lobster Tails                         $4.99 per tail                                     *Sale*
Seafood Salad                         $5.99 a lb                                  $1.50 per person
Avocado                                 2 for $4,                                        $1 per person
Tomato                                     $1.50                                                 $0.38
Total:                                      $39.44                                               $18.48

"Human Beings do not eat nutrients, they eat food."

"Human beings do not eat nutrients, they eat food."- Mary Catherine Bateson

What a wonderful point Bateson makes in only nine simple words. Although we need nutrients to continue our adventures on this planet should we not also look at each bite we take as it's own adventure. Adventure; a theme my life has taken on recently and this theme has created such joy in my life.

As an avid Anthony Bourdain : No Reservation, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, and Man vs Food fan I have received some slack for being sucked into the "hipster" version of being a Foodie. However, in my head, anyone who is willing to try different recipes, who appreciates different cultural food, and who enjoys a great meal should never be dismissed so easily. Food is not only fuel but a window into cultures that you have never experienced. Each bite is its own adventure into another world! Enjoy it.

According to Urbandictionary.com, the definition of a foodie is as follows:

1. A person that spends a keen amount of attention and energy on knowing the ingredients of food, the proper preparation of food, and finds great enjoyment in top-notch ingredients and exemplary preparation. 
   A foodie is not necessarily a food snob, only enjoying delicacies and/or food items difficult to obtain and/or expensive foods; though, that is a variety of foodie
2. A douchebag who likes food.
3. A dumbed-down term used by corporate marketing forces to infantilize and increase consumerism in an increasingly simple-minded American magazine reading audience. The addition of the long "e" sound on the end of a common word is used to create the sensation of being part of a group in isolationist urban society, while also feminizing the term to subconsciously foster submission to ever-present market sources.  The terms "gastronome" and "epicure" define the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure, these words are perceived by the modern American consumer as elitist due to their latin root forms and polysyllabic pronunciations. 

While there is significant truth to definition number three and some humor to definition number two, I will be focusing on definition number one. Specifically on knowing the ingredients, the preparation and enjoying the finished product. 

Now, what makes this blog so much fun is the financial restraint I must show when creating or experiencing great food. I plan to use a lot of fresh ingredients and try and stretch my ingredients as far as they will go without completely distorting their taste. Also, you will find a lot of experiences thanks to such websites as Groupon and Living Social. 

I hope you all enjoy this adventure with me!