ForkAndPen

what the hell is baby corn

The Girl asked me last night - "what is baby corn - is it real corn?"

I had no idea but had a feeling it was not corn at all but something else. Nope - the internet has shown me that it is the same corn we all love but just a lot smaller.

(image from recipetips.com)

Check it out:

"Next time you enjoy a mini cob, think of the poor little baby corn, cut down before its prime."

also - wikipedia on baby corn.

Best litle thai grocery in new york city

I walked by (and then later into) a great thai grocery today. Bangkok Center Grocery is in chinatown (my new work area - lucky me!) and just 5 minutes walk from my office. I am so going to cook this and this and maybe even this. Yum!

Beer + Cooking = FUN

I might have to buy this book and make some beeramisu.

I think the author might be a little drunk in this picture. Good for him!

Fava Falafel

My food history sense is getting better. I try to listen, read, and learn about everything edible as a way not only to learn where the food came from but how it has morphed through the years. But sometimes it is damn easy to learn something new, someone just tells you. A friend told me last night that the wonderfuly simple dish Falafel is made with Fava beans in other countries. Wow!! I didn't know that. The venerable chickpea fried food that I know and love doesn't even always have chickpeas in it. It makes sense really. The consitency is very close and they both fry up well. Recently at Otto I had Favetta Bruschetta - tasted a lot like hummus.

Using the wonderful google you find that the original Falafels were probely made in Eygpt and were called (and still are ) Ta'miyya. And these are made with - fava beans. I think I might need to get over my deep-fry-at-home phobia and try this recipe.