Mac-Off

You wouldn't dare... my mac & cheese features seven different cheeses!

All Sorts of Deliciousness

In hopes of keeping my new year's resolution to cook new dishes for le cub, I baked a savory tart for dinner today. Inspired by a Suzanne Goin recipe from the cookbook, Sunday Supper's at Lucques, (I'd read about the dish via Erin's grub-filled blog), I ventured over to Whole Foods to purchase the ingredients necessary to create my fool-proof masterpiece.

Ingredients:
1 frozen sheet of puff pastry (I bought mine at Trader Joe's, but I've read that the one sold at Whole Foods is phenomenal)
2 egg yolks
1 large bunch of chard, center ribs removed, roughly chopped
3 strips/bunches of green onion, finally chopped
1 onion, thinly sliced
5 cremini mushrooms, sliced
1/2 carton of ricotta cheese
1 tbsp. of cream cheese
3 oz of goat cheese
extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 400.

Instructions:

1) Defrost the puff pastry dough and unroll it onto a lightly-oiled baking sheet. Mix one egg yolk and and brush along the border of the dough. Chill the pastry in the freezer until ready to use.

2) Heat a large sautee pan over high heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Toss in a sliced onion and saute the onion "strands" for a few minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside.

3) Now heat the same (hopefully wiped-down) large sautee pan over high heat and add another tablespoon of olive oil and pat of butter. Add the chard. Season with salt and pepper. Watch the greens wilt. Set aside to cool.

4) Finally, heat the same (wiped down!) large sautee pan over high heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Toss in the sliced mushrooms and chopped green onion. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside...

5) Mix the ricotta cheese, remaining egg yolk, cream cheese, splash of olive oil, salt and pepper together in a bowl.

6) Spread the cheese mixture on the puff pastry while leaving a quarter-inch border. Crumble half of the goat cheese over the cottage cheese, arrange the onions, chard, mushrooms, and green onions on top. Top with the remaining goat cheese.

7) Bake the tart for 20-22 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is a golden brown. Let cool, and SERVE!

Our tummies smiled. Your's will too.

A Valentine Tradition

Pictured: Arros Negre Paella. Looks can be deceiving. This plate of grub was delicious!!!

When le cub and I first began dating, I'd told him about a trip to Barcelona thatI'd taken with my girlfriend, Tiff. Tiff and I had signed up for a cooking class while there, and seafood paella had been a part of our final menu. I'd purchased a paella pan upon my return from Spain, and told him that I would make some for him someday. Yes, someday. Anyhow, le cub got tired of waiting for the paella that was never going to happen, and ended up taking me to La Paella for Valentine's Day last year. We made the joint decision to order the Arros Negre (cuttlefish, calamari, baby shrimp, and mussels cooked with rice and squid ink) Paella not realizing that our teeth and lips would get stained throughout the meal. The squid ink paella isn't an ideal date food for those still concerned with instilling good first impressions, but it's definitely a fantastic test of individuals' true affection for one another in spite of looks. And ooh... how agreeable are you? Paellas are meant to be shared. In fact, La Paella requires a minimum order of two portions per paella. So some group work will be necessary...

The restaurant also offers a large variety of well-flavored small plates, and complementary bread... Warm, crusty, and chewy. When paired with olive pate, garlic butter, and olive oil, the bread makes my heart skip a beat. So good. But food aside, there isn't too much more about La Paella that's mention-worthy. The decor is so-so, but the lighting is pretty freakin' amazing. Everyone looks good in candle light...

A must-eat if you're into paella. Make a reservation if you're hoping to drop in on a Friday or Saturday night!

La Paella
476 S San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-0745

Butter, Cheese, and Truffles

Valentine's lunch spent at D-list celebrity hot spot, The Grove.
Le cub and I had, surprisingly, never eaten at The Grove's Farmer's Market prior to yesterday, so it was really neat to finally sit down and grub amidst the charming atmosphere.

After surveying our numerous options, we opted for tapas at Monsieur Marcel. Pictured are the small plates we ordered:
- Chef's Tart: Marcel's take on pizza? Gourmet ingredients onboard puff pastry dough = yum!
- Caprese Salad: Not so hot. I felt as if I'd been presented with taco ingredients! There wasn't enough basil, and avocado doesn't belong in a traditional Caprese, does it?
- Foie Gras with Figs: Really just a pate. There wasn't enough toast, so le cub and I ended up spreading the pate onto the complementary bread (which, by the way, wasn't as crusty and chewy as I'd hoped).
- Truffle Oil Fries. I broke my New Year's resolution having only kept it for a month and a half. But how can anyone possible turn down TRUFFLES in any form?

Overall, a fun meal, but I probably wouldn't order the same items the next time I return...

Monsieur Marcel
Farmers Market
6333 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90189

Real Simple

Don't mind dining amidst a bunch of Hollywood wannabes and UCLA students? Then hit up Literati Cafe in Brentwood. Pictured is the half-sandwich and soup combo. My favorite sandwich is the "Turkey and Asparagus Affair" and my favorite soup there is Minestrone. (Although the soup pictured is Tomato Basil). The combo makes for a really satisfying lunch. Be sure to splurge and order a Mint Lemonade while you're there as well!

Literati Cafe
12081 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-7484