Dinners In The Outer Banks

Months and months ago a plan was created between a cabal of individuals. This plan involved much planning, consideration, exchange of money and hours in a car. The end result was a week in a beach house in Corolla Beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The cabal of folks responsible for this turn of events included my cousin K. and a number of other family members. I drove down from Philly on Sunday. It's really not a bad drive and I go down through Delaware, which is such a strange state in a way. Or at least along the portions of Route 1 and 13 that I've experienced. Delaware may be slightly underrated. There is a lot of nice country out there, and the beach is never too far away. In any case, I made good time on my drive and arrived in North Carolina in the late afternoon. I got in the pool for a bit and then it was time for dinner. On this particular night my cousins K. and M. and my cuz K.'s fiancee A. wrangled some less-than-optimal camp-style grills into cooking a bunch of chicken and tilapia. It was not an easy undertaking in terms of the quantity of meat to be grilled and the quality of the grills in question, but they persevered and the results were delicious. Add roasted broccoli, cornbread and a bit of collard greens and you've got yourself a meal. Or, rather, I had myself a meal.

The next day I think I was totally lame (in some people's opinion) and didn't go to the beach for much of the day. Instead I took up residence in one of the beach house's porches. Specifically in the hammock on the second floor porch, which had a view towards the sea (though we were about three house rows back from the ocean itself). And then, when I did go to the beach late in the afternoon I was too busy lying down and going in the water and reading to bother taking out my camera and recording any photographs. But the day ended with grilled barbeque pork chops (this time on the newly arrived gas grill) along with salad and roasted potatoes.

The croutons are the buttered French rounds I enjoyed in the country.

Oh and there were peppers in the tomatoes as well.

And then another afternoon Dad and I went to a fish market to inquire about soft shell crabs (none fresh) and ended up buying a pound of shrimp, most of which I consumed for lunch.

Then there was quality time around the pool with many a balloon made and exploded.

I brought some of the coconut rum I brought back with me from the Bahamas and we made all the children their first alcoholic beverage! Just joking! The kids got virgin pina coladas while those of us over 21 had the real deal. Sweet but tasty in moderation.

And then another day featured grilled asparagus. Cuz K. and A. held down that grill.

And while they were grilling and my aunt L. and cousin M. and so many others were preparing the rest of the meal, K. and I went to the turret/bird's nest of the house at his insistence, which I was happy to do both just to enjoy the view and also to make sure he didn't fall over a railing. It was way high up. While we were 20 people consisting of 8 kids and 12 adults but a house next to us and another just across the street seemed to be totally comprised of tan college kids, some of whom jumped off a similar height into a pool. Apparently no one died but those kids did seem to be forced to leave much sooner than they wanted to...for hours they were sitting on the bumpers a wide variety of cars with their bags backed, waiting for rides away from the beach. Let that be a lesson to everyone: you jump from a deathly height into a pool, you will be kicked out of the beach house.

That's a ways down. I think the dudes across the way didn't jump from quite this high.

Inside two sisters took over Cuz K.

And then we ate grilled asparagus and tacos...or in my case a burrito.

Grilled Steak, Corn and Asparagus on the Deck

Two weekends back the weather was getting consistently lovely, which always marks a happy turn of events for me: deck and grill times. I decided that I would spend my Saturday enjoying the sunny weather and the many new plants I purchased and planted the weekend before. So I made my way to my local Whole Foods and bought corn, asparagus and a steak. I hardly ever make myself steak mainly because I usually miss the mark as far as cooking it to medium rare, going more often than not to well done. As someone who likes some pink in her steak, it always feels like a waste when I mess it up. But on this particular afternoon I was far more conscious of the temperature of the grill, the amount of time I let each side of the steak cook and the importance of letting it "rest." The result was 100% successful. I didn't fancy the steak up much, just pre-salted and peppered it and let its own juicy goodness and the gas grill do the rest. The asparagus I tossed with a little butter, garlic, lemon and truffle oil and wrapped in tin foil, throwing that packet onto the grill when I knew the steak was nearly ready. I also finally broke out the portable wine chiller that NC Catherine gave me for Christmas. It did a good job of keeping the Vinho Verde I was enjoying nice and cold.

I topped the steak with a dollop of a decent Gorgonzola. It was big enough, the steak, that I only ate half of it. It was perfect, pink but not bloody/'blue' and it was a great addition to salad on a subsequent day. A delightful day and evening on the deck.

Christmas Dinner

For Christmas dinner NCC cooked a standing rib roast and grilled asparagus...and made rolls. I contributed slightly by mashing up some garlic mashed potatoes. It was a good holiday meal.

Weekend Walk to Rittenhouse and Eggs c/o Parc

Last Saturday I accidentally got up much earlier than I meant to and then didn't know what to do with myself. Even after lollygagging for quite some time in bed, I still found myself with many a morning hour to pass, so I rolled myself into acceptable clothing for the outside world and took myself on a walk. I didn't really have a purpose, but I figured I'd go to Rittenhouse Square and check our their weekend farmer's market before maybe sitting and having a coffee somewhere. These morning glories are pretty and on 21st Street. Somehow I feel like they are the harbinger of colder days ahead, and I hate them for that.
The market was of decent size and I saw all sorts of things I could potentially eat and love, but I had a pretty full drawer of produce at home so I managed to keep myself from purchasing anything.
The flower stalls were extremely tempting, but I managed to avoid plunking money there as well. I did this mainly by reminding myself that the apartment was in a state of great upheaval due to S. being in the process of moving out, so a nice bouquet of flowers would go .... nowhere safe. Maybe this weekend I'll buy flowers.
I love brain flowers.

After taking in all the farmers market stalls there were to take in, I noticed that Parc's outdoor seating area wasn't awash in people. I liked the idea of sitting quietly and watching the edge of the park and the people going by, so that is what I did. I ordered a cafe au lai, and was a little disappointed to find that its size didn't quite match the French bistro vibe authenticity monitor I have in my purse at all times. It was a lovely cup of cafe au lait, but not nearly right in terms of portion. Too dainty.
For my meal I ordered the poached eggs with asparagus, parmesan and a mushroom puree with a fancy name that I forget. The eggs were perfectly cooked. I was surprised by the asparagus being chopped, but wasn't grumpy about it, and the mushroom sauce was decent as well. I also learned that one of the girls at the table next to me is engaged. The man on the other side of me wasn't pleased with his meal, but when two different people came over to ask him what they could do to rectify the situation, he said nothing. I wonder if they gave him something for free. I wonder if anything was really wrong, or if he was just being grumpy.
Serious yolk action going on.
Sigh. Here is my 'woe is me' moment of the morning. So I need to find a roommate. Preferably by September 1st. I have yet to be able to do so. I had one really great prospect but lost him for reasons that are dumb and hurt my heart. Basically I was honest about something that might happen ... only to learn that it wasn't going to happen one day after the prospect signed someone else's lease. The fact that this one thing isn't happening has also made me sad. I thought I was making some small kind of progress in a direction of goodness, but now I feel like I'm entering into another year of all the same stuff with no real positive change or growth. I told you this was 'woe is me.' And to cap it off, my second 'faux 30th beach weekend' is in terrible peril because of the likelihood of Hurricane Irene. I really wanted another weekend like that, and while I am still excited about figuring out some backup activities with the folks that were going to come to the beach but who will (probably) end up in Philly instead ... well, it's just not the same. It's not pretty. It's not seafood at Fin's. It's not sitting around a fire listening to crickets. But I need to accentuate the positive. It is hanging with folks I love and haven't seen in some time. It is an opportunity to enjoy myself in Philly instead of constantly fleeing. Sigh. I am grumpy. But the breakfast above was not grumpy.

Shrimp, Scallop and Sausage Wonderland, With an Appearance by Asparagus

On that first afternoon when I went to fulfill all our seafood dreams, one dream had to not only be deferred but outright abandoned. That dream was soft shell crabs. The man behind the counter, with what I believe I could refer to as a 'handlebar mustache' (though maybe not) told me conviction and knowledge that the season down there had already been over for almost a week...he also told me that the soft shell crabs I enjoyed a few weeks back with L. and Fat T. were - regardless of what the fishmonger might have said - not from Maryland but from North Carolina. It was all very confusing and disillusioning and meant that we would be having no crabs at all ... we're purists and don't really believe in frozen soft shell crabs. So on that second night C. whipped up a garlicky, lick splickety good pile of shrimp, scallops and chicken sausage, which was served over pasta and accompanied by asparagus.
Wonderful stuff, this.

Asparagus and Parmesan Eggs

For breakfast the next morning I whipped up (scrambled more like) some eggs. I added a few of the leftover asparagus from the night before and some parmesan cheese that S. had in the fridge. I thought they turned out well.

A Soft Shell Crab Feast

After we returned from our travels across Bucks County, we had a bit of quiet time. I began prepping the soft shell crabs we would eat for dinner by soaking them in milk that I laced with ginger. Eventually the time came to get to the frying part, but first L. created a lovely salad and we set the table with nautically themed plates. Nautically? Does that apply to plates with fish on them, or would that be better suited to plates with ships on them?
The salad consisted of mixed greens, an orange pepper and garbanzo beans.

I bought seven crabs and dredged them in salted flour then milky eggs and then salted flour again. The first batch was lacking because I hadn't allowed the oil to heat up enough. The second batch was lovely.

We also cooked asparagus served with a little butter.

Fat T. and L. kept asking me if you could really eat the whole thing, and I assured them that this was so. In the end Fat T. was a trooper and gave them a shot, but wasn't altogether enamored. I think that perhaps L. had more positive feelings about the whole thing.
This is me eating one of Fat T.'s rejected crabs. Well, this is me first having the crab act as my smiling smiley face.
And I'm not exactly sure what's going on here. I may have been singing a little song about how I was going to put this crab in my belly. I may have also been making said crab do a little jig about that eventuality. But that may not be what happened at all.

Asparagus Bites and Crabbies

I had more than enough left over crab to invite L. on over for a second day of crab cakes and corn. I also haphazardly egged and panko-ed a few asparagus bites, but it was too haphazard to result in an altogether final product.
The cakes did well for themselves.
As did the corn.
And the sun.
I wish the sun would come out again; it's been raining for what feels like days.

Cheese & Wine Pairing c/o McCrossen's

So McCrossen's has started having monthly cheese/wine tastings. A guy who works at DiBruno Bros. picks the cheeses, the restaurant's new manager pairs them with wine and in this instance we also tried many small portions of the new menu. The event began with Pouilly-Fume "Les Crogloups," Domanaine Chaveau '09. I love almost all wines with "Pouilly" in the title, so that was exciting.
Paired with the wine was a Goat's cheese, the Selles-Sur-Cher. It was not your average grocery store goat. So much better.
And the menu treat was the asparagus and escargot risotto with roasted garlic, sorrel and vermouth. The escargots were nice and tender and the asparagus was mmmm.
Next up was the Zamo Bianco, Le Vigne Di Zamo. I wasn't as big a fan. Something in the finish of the wine was a little too. Erm. Something.
The cheese was a Robiola Bosina. Almost brie-like in its creaminess. I wanted to eat it all the time. All the time I tell you.
And then the smoked pork pastrami flatbread with red peppers, baked onion and crema.
L. noticed that there was really nice light going on outside during a lull between courses, so she went out and took a few photos. Then I did. Heh.
I am so glad that it's warm again. Have I mentioned that?
Next up was perhaps my favorite course. The wine was a Merlot from Lockwood in Monterey California. I liked it on my first sip, but when it was paired with the cheese and menu sample....magical things happened.
So pretty.
This cheese and I may become best friends. It was the Vacherin Fribourgeouis. Oh man. Earthy in the best possible way.
So T., the executive chef, is shaking up the menu. Adding new and exciting things and, sadly for me, raising prices. I was very glad to try a little bit of the 21 day dry aged black angus ribeye with potato gratin and truffles. So good. So very good. Really something. Maybe one day I'll splurge and actually spend the $28 to have a full plate. Until then this will have to do.
The last course started with a Cava Rose Brute by Juve Y Camps, NV. None of the photographs were worth sharing, but I do like bubbly, yes indeed. I actually ordered a second glass once everything was concluded.
The Cava was paired with La Beola cheese, which also didn't photograph terribly well. And the menu sample was the Berkshire pork cheeks with roots, snow pea leaves and black cardamom jus. Oh yeah.
As you probably know if you read the blog with any regularity, I go to McCrossen's with some frequency. And I like it there. I like the staff and I like the french fries and I generally like at least two of their beers on tap. So what I"m trying to say is that I'm already a fan of the place, but I didn't 100% expect awesomeness from the event. I was wrong not to have expected it. Rocco, the cheese guy, was good at telling us about each cheese and what made it special. L. the GM was great at conveying her excitement about the wines. And T., the chef, was properly laid back and pleased with himself.
L. took photos with her camera, thank goodness. Here is a photo of us and the Cava. I wore my new strappy sandal wedges. You can't see them, but they're cute.
After the event we continued to drink wine. Mmmm. That merlot. And a Pinot Noir was also particularly nice. G. swung by after doing his thing out in the world and hung out a bit.
Then we left and I had a Michael Jordan moment. Still can't see my shoes.