The Best Wine EVER

For some reason, my dad really values my opinion on wine, even though I am a total newbie when it comes to taste. There are not many wines that I love being a newbie, but Apothic Red had me from the start. First off, you can't go wrong with the price ($9.99) and second, its taste is a blend of heaven. It came as not surprise to me then, when Valen stumbled across an article featuring it in the Projo FOOD section.  

We shared the wine with one of my friends who is studying to be a sommelier (a trained wine professional) and he was blown away by the stuff.

We needed a great meal to pair it with, so we chose two recipes from that weeks Projo Food section to honor it. 

We did a simple swiss chard salad with fresh radishes topped with pistachios and Pecorino Romano. I whipped up a little vinaigrette for that as well. Valen was responsible for the blanched almond chicken (we did not know what blanched was before the recipe) and the carrot cilantro salad. Overall a great meal to go with that great wine. Seriously, go out and buy it if you can. Rumor has it the liquor stores can't keep it on their shelves. 

A JOlly night

I wasn't planning on posting this meal. However, Valen and I had been cooking all night for a couple friends at my house and after telling us how good our meal tasted they all demanded it be posted on the blog. 

Friends enjoying food. 

This is a cool technique. We simply steamed veggies and chicken on the grill by sealing them in tin foil packets with a little bit of white wine and chicken stock. You could substitute any of the veggies and could substitute the chicken for beef or even fish.

Our little recipe consisted of chicken with a spanish olive spread, artichokes, asparagus, sweet potato, red onion, zucchini and yellow bell pepper. This recipe is also really REALLY good for you. "Cause, ya know, gotta keep that figure. 

Gluten Free Grilled Pizza

My friend Thom is an amazing cook and we have been meaning to get together and do so for a long time. It finally happened a couple weeks ago. We invited my best friend Hadley, who happens to be one a dem Gluten-Free peeps. Thom and I took that on as a challenge and grilled up some stuff on my back deck to satisfy all of Hadley's wheat-hating needs. 

Margherita pizza. The gluten-free dough stuck to the grill, so on our second attempt we really oiled that baby up and we got this nice lookin' pie. 

Simple salad of swiss chard and radishes from the Slow Food URI garden. 

 Tomatoes and fresh chives from the Slow Food URI Garden

Eggplant grilling with what looks like the national pizza of Australia. 

And 'course, its not a mid day cook out without sangria and fresh mint. 

Happy summer. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Erin Brennan and a corn muff.

AS220

So sorry. I know we have not posted in....well its been almost two months. I apologize to all of you millions of viewers out there. I know you have all been waiting anxiously and in the previous months  have found yourself at a loss due to our absence. I know, its ok. We're back. 

Anyways, this is the second restaurant post we have done on here, because a great part about great food is eating great food at great restaurants!

AS220 is definitely one of my favorite spots in RI. I lo0o0o0ove this place. First off, they are always holding concerts (Deer Tick anyone?) and cool art is always on display. There is something always going on there. Even just going to the bathroom there is fun because you get to read all the little blurbs and haikus people write on the walls. They have a fun little restaurant and bar, where the food is local and delicious but best of all SUPER CHEAP. 

So I have been working as a SNAP outreach worker this summer, which means I go around to different sites in RI and help people apply for food stamps if they qualify. I often find myself around the Providence area with about an hour to spare. So where do I go for lunch?

On this particular May day it was GORGEOUS outside so I sat out on Empire street people watching. 

My SEVEN DOLLAR sandwich and herbal iced tea (and THE CAVE by Jose Saramago, a great book if you are looking to read one).

Marinated chicken, sauteed kale, red onion, marmalade and smoked goat cheese on durum wheat. 

Valen and I went back for dinner last week before a documentary screening at Local 121 down the street. He ordered said sandwich and I ordered a tofu coconut curry dish that was delish. Then we were off to The Greenhorns an awesome and inspiring documentary about young farmers in America. 

"We are committed to bringing you food that is affordable (really), seasonal, simple and creative. I know, it's wacky. But hear me out: buying and eating locally means reducing your carbon footprint. It means you can high-five the people who grow and cook your food. It means that your afternoon snack hasn't been on a truck for eight days, and that when you eat it, it will have actual flavor not fabricated in a factory. Your food spends less time traveling and you spend less time wondering what went into that burger. You know what that means: me time to make art, more time to enjoy music and more time to relax and soak up all your little state has to offer."

-Guy Michaud, manager, AS220

HeLL to thA yeA