Finally, PERFECT BROWN RICE At Home!

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Finally, PERFECT BROWN RICE At Home!

Most of us that have tried to make a nice fluffy and moist brown rice at home have crashed and burned. It's dry or the texture is bleckh, not right.

I was making my at home favorite brown rice salad the other night (basically a chopped Romaine salad with onions, red pepper, some type of protein and brown rice with a nice dressing)
and this time I wanted the rice to be fluffy, moist, and tasty.

I did a search on line and it turns out a few folks have saved me lots of time and heartache to perfect this lovely grain!

I used a recipe from Pinch My Salt that they modified from Saveur.com and I have to say it WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!! We ate every single bite, and it was truly the brown rice that made the dish.

Without further adieu:

The PERFECT BROWN RICE at Home!

Ingredients:
*Brown Rice
*Water - at least four cups of water for every cup of rice
*Salt to taste.

To Do:
*Rinse rice in a strainer under cold running water for 30 seconds & swirl the rice around in your hand.
*Bring water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.
*When water is boiling, add the rice, stir it once
(I also salted my water)
*Turn heat to a medium boil and leave rice uncovered for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
*After 30 minutes, pour the rice into a strainer over the sink.
*Let the rice drain out the water for 10 seconds then return it to the pot and set aside OFF OF THE HEAT.
*Immediately over the pot with a tight fitting lid and set aside to allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes.
*After 10 minutes, uncover rice, fluff with a for, season to taste.

ENJOY
EAT HEALTHY, EAT LOTS
THE WILSONS!

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Thanksgiving Recipes!

Hi W.E.T Readers!:

It's the BEST time of year. Time for family, friends and holiday festivities which all leads to ONE THING. FOOD. Food, More food, and naps.

We have posted a fantastic recipe on Truffle Butter Roasted Turkey (from Ina Garten) as well as some of our famous Family Side Dishes, as well as a ton of other ideas we found trolling the Food Network websites!

We have posted all these recipes on our other blog, Conquer The Monkey, so this time, go there to check them out!!!

We would love to hear about YOUR FAMOUS FAMILY RECIPES!!!

Gobble Gobble,
THE WILSONS

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Champagne Chicken

Champagne Chicken!

I was in a pinch for dinner last week and hadn't gone to the Market - having been way too busy! I assessed my fridge and freezer. I had some raw chicken strips and I was going to make a homemade marinade, but I had nothing with acid - no lemons - nothing.

So, I pulled out my one of my favorite Salad dressings -- Girard's Champagne Salad Dressing -- that I have loved since college. I wasn't sure if this would work as a Marinade so I did a quick Google search and sure enough, the Girard's website they recommended using the dressing as a Marinade.

To Do:
* Marinade the Chicken in the dressing for a couple hours.

* Heat a saute pan to medium/medium high, drizzled a bit of good Extra Virgin Olive Oil and saute the chicken until it is golden brown all over. (about 4-5 minutes per side depending - just monitor closely)

HOW EASY IS THAT - AND it tastes much fancier than it obviously is. You could EASILY use this to serve for company because it tastes rich and complicated. The Chicken was tender & had a nice tang, slight bit of spice, and really just was one of the most delicious and easy pieces of chicken we've had in a very longtime.

Serve It With:
* Porcini Mushroom Risotto
* Green Salad with a light but creamy dressing

Let us know if you try this and what you think! If you haven't had Girard's you gotta try it. It makes a great salad dressing for a special occasion too - especially if you don't have time to make something from scratch!

Do what you do, eat what you like!
-The Wilsons

You Might Like These Posts Too!
The Donut Plant
Feeding Frenzy Newport, Rhode Island
Goat Cheese & Roasted Garlic Dip (Recipe)

Vanilla & Cinnamon Coffee

Vanilla & Cinnamon Coffee
mmmmmmmmm ;)

DELIGHTFUL & Healthy Way to Kick Start your Morning!!!
This is simple & perhaps I'm the last one to know the secret, but I have to share in the event you haven't tried this fabulous at home breakfast concoction!

Spruce up your morning jolt with a healthy dose of SWEETNESS!

Vanilla & Cinnamon Coffee
*Start with your favorite breakfast blend coffee

*Mix in a couple hefty teaspoons of cinnamon & sugar (pre-mixed) (OR Splenda)

*A dash or two of Light Vanilla Soy Milk (amount depends on your preference) (Silk brand Soy is my FAVORITE)

*Stir & enjoy this fantastic mix of sweet & creamy with the cinnamon spice

Seriously, I'm addicted. A (semi) healthy addiction, this I can live with.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry.

Share your favorite morning recipe with us so we can try it out!

Cheers, The Wilsons

You Might Also Like These Posts:
The Donut Plant, NYC
Interview with a Yacht Chef!

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Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins!

Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins!

Hi everyone! Hope you enjoy Wilsons' Eating Tour's
ALL NEW FANCY PANTS LOOK!!!

We are back on the foodie wagon and hope you enjoy!

This recipe is from my mom, an expert at-home-baker!
I have been craving blueberry muffins like there is NO tomorrow.
So I made them last night for dessert, and of course they came in handy
this morning too :)

We highly recommend these muffins!

Recipe:

You'll need:
1 Stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup Sugar (set aside additional for topping)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups blueberries
1.5 tsp vanilla

To Do!
* Preheat oven to 375
* In a bowl cream the butter, sugar and beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat Well.
* Add Vanilla & Sour Cream
* Sift together flour, baking soda & salt in a separate bowl and then combine with the mixture.
* Fold in the blueberries
* Sprinkle cinnamon & sugar combo on top of muffins to your liking (I put LOTS!)
* Bake for about 25 minutes (depending on your oven)

Let cool and enjoy those muffin tops!!!

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The Donut Plant, NYC. (Review)

The Donut Plant, NYC
(Review)

It's that time of year again, the husband's birthday. And with that, comes the inevitable annual donut binge. I've never been a huge donut fan, however, there are a few exceptions, and The Donut Plant in NYC is one of them.

The Donut Plant ("TDP") is located on the lower east side. We cabbed it there early on Saturday morning having tasted their treats before and also having seen Donut shows talk about it on the Travel Channel. TDP is a small joint, no place to really sit, and not in a fancy neighborhood. You basically go get your $3.00 donut, and head home to savor every bite.

TDP boasts flavors like "Creme brulee" or "Pistachio" or "Black Out." They have a variety of cake, yeast and novelty donuts.

We got a potpourri to taste and share so we could adequately review the quality for you, our readers (that's right, we are lovingly blaming you all for our calorie binge!)

Above you will see the Glazed, Tres Leches, Chocolate Valhalla, Black Out & Creme Brulee flavors.

The breakdown:

Yeast Donuts:
(Glazed and Chocolate Valhalla)

*While the glazed and chocolate were great, I felt like they were a tad chewy (even though freshly made). Also, I found myself looking for a little more of the sweet glaze. Frankly, I think that nobody does a better glazed than Krispy Kreme, and that has really made it tough for the others to compete.

Cake Donuts:
(Black out, Tres Leche)

*The Black Out Donut is straight up the best donut I think I've ever had. It is a chocolate donut, with a very thin layer of cream in the middle, and topped off with tons of chocolate crumbs. Dipped in Coffee, or even nuked in the microwave for a few seconds, and you are in heaven.

*The tres leche also had a very thin layer of cream in the middle, and a nice, light glaze outside. It was spectacular, and a little lighter than the blackout.

*A plus for the cake donuts were they lasted until the next day and were still quite good, while the yeast donuts just seemed stale.

Overall, the cake donuts are the way to go here, you simply can't go wrong.

Novelty:
Creme Brulee

*The Creme Brulee really was similar to a creme brulee. It was filled with a cream very similar to the custard in creme brulee and the top was a scorched, crunchy sugar top. You felt like you were in fact eating a creme brulee dessert. This one was best on the first day, it's very rich and perfect to split.

If you are in New York City, and you love donuts (from what I can tell from our foodie friends, there is a closet nation of donut lovers out there!)
You will definitely want to give The Donut Plant a try.
http://www.doughnutplant.com/

Please share with us your all time favorite donuts and where we can grub them!

Cheers,
The Wilsons

Cupcakes Make Everything All Right!

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CUPCAKE LOVE!
When you are feeling down,
or just stuck at home recovering from surgery like me
the best thing someone can do....
is bring you a big,
fat,
yummy cupcake,
OR TWO.

Thank you to my friend who did just that tonight,
If I can't drink wine,
cupcakes come in a close second!!!
I ask,
I beg,
I plead,
Please have a glass of wine on behalf of this half of Wilsons' Eating Tour,
I will be so grateful if you get a little tipsy and raise a glass for me!

Cheers!
Wilsons' Eating Tour

Top Chef, Making My Top 4 Picks. Weigh in on the Action!

Top Chef, Making My Top 4 Picks. Weigh in on the Action!

I love Top Chef, always have. It's one of the shows that made cooking seem fun and accessible. I used to watch it alone, as my husband had no interest, but slowly, he started watching it with me, and he got HOOKED! It is now one of our favorite shows.

Every week my husband and one of his co-workers bet on who will be going home that night.

I'd like to talk about who is going to WIN this series.

As I've previously stated, I think Kevin & Jennifer will be top two. But, there are some other real talents on board

Kevin Gillespie

So, here are who I pick to be in the FINAL FOUR of Top Chef. In addition to Jennifer & Kevin Above, I'm going with the Voltaggio Brothers.

Michael Voltaggio

Bryan Voltaggio

Ok, YOUR TURN TO WEIGH IN: Comment BELOW With your FINAL 4 Picks.

*to comment, simply click on the word "comment" at the bottom of this post*

Maybe we'll put a prize on the line.

Coming SOON, Our Picks for who the WINNER WILL BE.

Cheers,

The Wilsons

Italian Ice, Popsicles, and Top Chef.

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Hi Wilson Eating Tour friends,
Just a note to say,
We haven't forgotten about you,
or about food
or wine
or apps
or vodka
or even scotch,

It's just that I (the missus) who does the writing portion of this tour can't exactly eat for a couple of weeks because I got my tonsils & adenoids out. So, for now, I watch the Food Network longingly from my bed as I ice my neck, down some pain killers, and suck on sugar free popsicles.

So, please know that we'll be back with a vengeance soon, and have some exciting things in store,

but for now, it's me, a box of popsicles and some Italian Ice (which as it turns out is really good!)

As a side note, I am loving Top Chef this season, and think Kevin and Jennifer are going to make it to the finals. This season is amazing! High stakes, Vegas, and lots of food gnarliness. Anyone else have thoughts on who might make it all the way??

Interview with a Yacht Chef: From Corporate America to Yacht Chef!

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Interview With a Yacht Chef:
From the Corporate World to Yacht Chef!

We recently caught up with a young yacht chef. What was extremely interesting was that this young woman went from a very structured corporate job to becoming a chef on a yacht in pretty short order.

This is - I think - an undeniable courageous and gutsy move, and I wanted to learn more about this yacht chef and what makes her tick, as well as if she's had any run ins with Jay Z and Beyonce! (who I perpetually think of on a yacht!)

We will call our chef, Delicious Lola, because she isn't really allowed to talk about the yachts she's worked on / or is working on because the very fancy clientele likes to keep their life as anonymous as possible!

But first, check out this video titled "I'm On A Boat." If you haven't seen Andy Samberg (SNL) & T-Pain on this yacht, you gotta click here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU I was hoping Lola would tell me this is what it's like on the yachts, but you watch this and read the interview and tell me :) (and yes, I have been looking for an excuse to post this video!)

Can you give our readers a little background on yourself?
I live in Naples, Florida, but only in the interim while I'm off work. I'm 35 years old and have a background and formal training in the medical field, but have in the last 6 months taken a sabbatical from the corporate world and am working as a chef on private yachts.

What is a normal day like being a chef on a yacht?
Your day starts at 7 or 7:30 a.m. and ends when the galley closes or when your guests or owners are finished with the eating bit. But, generally speaking, it all depends on the boat and the people on board.

What are the kitchens like on a yacht?
It all depends on the boat, but the last kitchen (known as a "galley" in boat terms) that I was cooking in, was a bit like cooking in a fancy industrial restaurant kitchen complete in stainless steel and everything you need to cook pretty much whatever you want.

You typically have walk in refrigerators and freezers that hold enough food for up to 6 months. The boat where I was cooking had an original plan to make a 7 year trip around the world prior to losing a fortune in the Madoff scandal. Upon entering the freezer for the first time, I found a huge (as long as me, but skinnier, especially after chefing) Mahi Mahi. The previous charter included Russians that spent the majority of time fishing and caught huge fish like that which were stored in the freezer.

What is the strangest request you've gotten (food) to make?
Actually, to sit back and watch the owner make his own carrot cake (while he was ten sheets to the wind) which was the most disgusting thing I've seen to date in the galley. Oh, and then to have to sterilize the entire galley after finding out that the night before, he christened the entire galley with one of his concubines.

Are you on call 24/7 to make food for the people on board?
He*% No.

What are the rooms like?
The rooms are lovely and not at all like the servant quarters some people perceive. I have stayed in very nice rooms with lavish linens and plasmas on the wall. You usually have a nice kitchen seconds from you with anything you need, and of course, I usually bring my cappuccino maker on board as well as my own wine (which I'm learning is a bit unnecessary).

What has become your most popular signature dish on the yacht?
Sea Bass (secret concoction but with Asian spices and a miso soy teriyaki glaze finished with rosemary and fresh herbs). I also love to make a tagliatelle Bolognese which is not your typical Tuscan style Bolognese. I'm not a huge chicken fan, but I have made some great roasted chicken as well as my favorite things to make including: crab deviled eggs, pan seared Ahi tuna, grilled Lobster tails, roasted brussel sprouts, crab cakes/salmon cakes/tuna cakes, Texas cowboy burgers, and of course good ole mashed potatoes or Parmesan risotto.

How did you come to be a chef on a yacht?
I pretended to be one. I have no formal culinary training, but grew up in an Italian family with an Italian mom, and most recruiters and owners/captains in yachting agree that there isn't really any difference for these purposes. I have always been an intense home chef and get so passionate with fresh herbs, organic meats, and amazing carbs ... yes, the best things in life like pasta, Naan bread, orzo, gnocchi, and risotto.

What is the interview process like to get a chef job on a yacht?
Lots of phone calls and submitting of menus or maybe menus that would work for that particular owner or guest depending on their preferences. As you can imagine, most of them have extremely specific preferences as would anyone that is spending the cash for their own yacht (up to 150 K per week to charter) and staff for a week or more. Then, you are usually on a trial period to see if you "work out" with the owner/guests, captain, and other crew members.

Have you seen Jay Z and P Diddy yet?
Jay Z and P Diddy cannot afford yachts like the ones I'm working on, and I recently saw Jay Z's boat in Ft. Lauderdale, and it is a smaller boat. I don't want to sound uppity, but I know that Jay Z does charter in the Mediterranean because his boat cannot functionally go there, and these artists don't have the cash for this. The only people chartering large boats that I know of from the musical world include Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross. Most of the large boats are privately owned and would never let P Diddy charter their boat (I have personally heard these words!)

How did you make the decision to leap from Corporate America to being a yacht chef?
I always felt that although I had been well trained for what I was doing in medical, I did somehow possess other gifts. In America and really everywhere, we sense this attachment to our careers and once we have met our goals, we lose (or at least I did) a sense as to why I was there and really not caring that I had succeeded financially in my mind.

I really do enjoy cooking and after working in a very left brain world reading clinical data, I was hoping and craving something in which to explore my creative vibe and artistry. It sounds a bit cheesey, but I cannot say more positive things about making this shift in my life, and yes it IS scary to change. We all really don't want too much change. And, when you make lots of changes, and if you have this Type A think going on, like me, you occasionally freak out. But, life is a journey and you ARE the one on this journey, but you do not always have to control everything in your life. Don't expect your happiness to come from wealth, ego or approval from your family and friends. Allow yourself to create your own individual happiness, and if this means that you need to make a career change, then don't deprive yourself of this, whatever it costs.

Thank you Delicious Lola, and happy yachting! Let Team Wilson know when you are in NYC, your signature dishes sound FAB!

Cheers,
The Wilsons

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Nice Matin, An Upper West Side Gem

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Nice Matin, An Upper West Side Gem

Now that it is cooling down a bit (knock on wood) it is much more appealing to walk around on Sunday afternoon looking for a great neighborhood restaurant to get a late afternoon or early evening dinner (in NYC)

Nice Matin is a fabulous restaurant, with a lovely patio for people watching and nice wine list, on the Upper West Side. If you live here, you no doubt already know this, but if you are going to be in NYC and in the neighborhood, Nice Matin is worth checking out.

Last night was particularly entertaining because there was a street fair going on right in front of the restaurant which made for great people watching. On top of that, there was a fun "law enforcement situation!" The guy at the table next to us, who seemed a little creepy, got arrested! It appeared to be the Feds (FBI) as they were in suits, but we later realized it could have been NYPD Detectives.

Sadly, I missed all of the action when I left the table for a mere couple of minutes. The husband was giddy at the action, even though the wait staff and hostess tried to downplay it, and most of the passersby didn't notice a thing (typical NYC), we thought it made for a great Sunday evening story!

We recommend:
The 5 Napkin Burger with Fries
Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich
http://nicematinnyc.com/

College Football Season is upon us meaning the Wilsons will be needing to make some fabulous game day meals. Stay tuned!

Have a great and food filled Week! Cheers The Wilsons

Feeding Frenzy: Newport Rhode Island, Part II

Moving onto Part II of the Wilsons' feeding frenzy in Newport, RI (and yes, we both gained 3 lbs to prove it!)

The Coffee Grinder
So, to get a jump start on our day, we headed over to the Coffee Grinder down on the piers. All of the tasty treats, brownies, scones, muffins, are made from scratch by the really buff owner! I suppose if I ran a busy coffee shop and then baked all night, I'd be buff from stirring (and not eating) batter myself! I got an iced mocha that was made using hot chocolate mix, it was delish.

From there, we moved onto our morning breakfast spot, as recommended by our waiter from the night before.

Franklin Spa

*hole in the wall
*quality grub
*locals joint
*great prices

Franklin Spa is an unassuming little hole in the wall just a few blocks from all the action at the piers. The wait staff is incredibly friendly, and the prices are fabulous. There is a wide variety of comfort food, scrambles, omelets, and so on. The food isn't over the moon good, but it's worth the visit to get some tasty grub before heading out for the day.

After Franklin Spa, we walked up to the Tennis Hall of Fame, which hosts the only public grass courts in the US. We like to dabble in tennis, so this was a fun and worthwhile tour, and I picked up some gifts for my tennis fanatic family too.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum & Club
* Do the tour
* Eat at the restaurant
* Order the Lobster roll!

After the tour of the grounds and museum, we ventured to the attached restaurant. We had heard from our pretend friend Giada de Laurentis (Food Network) that the the Lobster Rolls here were the way to go.

Giada. You might not eat all that food you cook, and I both love and hate you (love your food, jealous of your rad life), but damn lady, that was a GREAT call! Meanwhile, let's be honest. I ate the entire roll, and Giada probably took one bite but whatever! (photo above)

Sailing & Liquor
We signed up for the "Dark & Stormy" (named after a ginger beer and rum concoction that sailors drink) sailing trip for an hour & a half starting at 5 pm.

This was a highlight of the trip. There are lots of options on times and types of sails, but our crew was particularly helpful pointing out great stuff including where Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis grew up and the 1800 square foot play house that she designed and her father built!

**(I think Jackie O's parent's home was 30,000 sq. feet, enormous, some dude from Goldman Sachs owns it now. Jackie's play house is for sale for about 1.7 million, but even if you bought it, you'd have no right to cross over the Goldman Sachs guy's property to get to it, you'd need an easement!) (Also, according to our guide, Jackie & JFK got married and had their reception at this house, I had no idea!!!) (Don't worry, I have not given away the entire tour, plus the guy on the boat has that wicked smaht nor eastern accent, it just sounds better coming from him than me!)

You can see it all from the water. Also, Our guide told us about the Newport music festival early in August, apparently because it is a "dry" venue (what is that about?) The best way to check it out is to find a pal with a boat, or pay for a ride, and cruise around in the water just off the grounds to hear the music, and drink your own cocktails.

This is a must do event.
Don't miss this: www.sail-newport.com

The Mooring Restaurant
Super popular spot at the piers.

This spot is a little fuzzy after a couple of martinis (it was my birthday, I have a great excuse!), but it's right on the water and a definite "must."

Don't Miss: The Bag of Doughnuts (really a fried ball of yummy seafood with some sugar involved, it's wildly good, comes in a brown bag like some donuts might.
Don't Miss: The Mac n Cheese side.
www.mooringrestaurant.com

I'm sure there is more that I have missed, if so I have a feeling the husband will weigh in with his two cents!

Happy Eating.
Please share your best Food Coma Story or Recipe with us here by clicking "comment" below this post!

Coming soon, our interview with a Yacht Chef!

Cheers,
The Wilsons

Food Frenzy Newport, Rhode Island (Part I)

It's been a week or so since we posted any tasty thoughts. I think we've been recovering from our attack on Newport, RI for a food frenzy. Below are a couple of mini restaurant reviews along with some tips on our favorite dishes.

I realize that lots of our California friends would not necessary think of going to Newport, RI, because frankly in my wildest dreams, as a west coast girl, I never imagined going there, but I have to say, Newport was a pleasant surprise. Even though it was a little tourist heavy down at the piers (it was August after all), there was much fun to be had between the restaurants, the cliff walks, mansions, sailing (it is the sailing capital of the US I believe), and tennis hall of fame (TBD next post!)

First Stop:

22 Bowen's Wine Bar & Grille
Overall, Great first stop. Indoor and outdoor seating. We ordered the Lobster Roll and the Burger special of the day. If you go, I'd say pass on the Lobster Roll, because there are much better options in town, and go for the burger.

The burger was packed with a smokey flavor thanks to the smoked Gouda, bacon, caramelized shallots and a garlic aioli. It was a top 5 burger ever.

Also a great spot to go for drinks or even eat at the nice air conditioned bar on the hot summer days.

Only complaint:
For Bowen's and the other restaurants down on the piers, it didn't seem like there were many options of spots to just sit out and have cocktails on the water. It seemed like you had to order food if you wanted to be outside with a good view.

Second Stop:

Cold Fusion Gelato
Definitely a stand out Gelato joint. I had the cake batter, and it tasted exactly like the frosting from my favorite cake in the world back in Pasadena, California (by Federico's). Husband got coffee heath bar and some type of caramel cream. We each ordered a small, and honestly, I only took a few bites. It was so rich and satisfying, but there was no way I could finish it (I'm ashamed to admit this, and wish I could have it back now!!!)

Third Stop:
Asterisk Restaurant
A fabulous casual indoor / outdoor restaurant with steaks, seafood, and even a little pizza & pasta. Great service and ambiance. Seemed like it was converted from funky old garage. They had a good martini and vodka list.

The appetizer was the stand out here.
*Shrimp stuffed with crab and wrapped in prosciutto served inside some crazy Parmeasan wrap over home made salsa. (photo above) Say no more. It was spectacular and frankly, it out shined the entrees.

The entrees were pretty good, we got a Steak Domenico style with the peppercorn sauce and Crispy Salmon over a orzo risotto in a Cabernet sauce. Both were unique and apparently locals favorites, but we wouldn't necessarily get them again.

Only complaints:
It seemed kind of secluded and parking was a real pain in the "As*terisk."

*Also our server was very helpful and told us about the best locals spot to go for breakfast the next day, Franklin Spa. A hole in the wall with good prices, friendly service and good eats. To be discussed in Newport Part II!

Have you been to Newport? Did you have a feeding frenzy on your summer vaca, tell us about it!!!

To Comment, click on the title and scroll down to click on "comment" and write up a storm!

LONG LIVE THE FOOD FRENZY!
The Wilsons

Lunching & Drinking With the Ladies

It's been a little quiet here over at Wilsons' Eating Tour. That is because we have had some fabulous friends in town, so there was much food and wine to consume.

My girlfriends and I went to Mercer Kitchen in SOHO on Saturday for "Lunch." It was a bit of a mini-reunion with two of my college friends that I hadn't seen in awhile, we'll call them Rabbit & Fealey.

I showed up with our "agenda" for the day all typed up, starting with Mercer Kitchen at 1 pm. Naturally, we started off with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and then spent awhile trying to decide what we should order, each of us afraid to be "out ordered."

We started off with a shrimp cocktail, flanked by 3 sauces (which lead to a conversation on sauces. I think Fealey will be writing a guest post devoted to sauces). It was pretty good, nothing to write home about.

Instead of ordering 3 entrees like good healthy girls should, we ordered a fourth entree (pizza) for the "Duck." The Duck being a recently published children's book by Rabbit's little sister. ( We will be reviewing the Duck With No Legs soon on www.conquerthemonkey.com, stay tuned!) The waiter probably thought it odd that a cartoon duck needed a pizza, but some how it made us feel "justified." Duck's gotta eat, no?

Lunch was pretty good, the food was ok, the service a little slow and they tried to keep our wine bottled chilled at a location away from our table (we rectified that). A bottle of wine and champagne later we missed out on shopping and barely made it to Bliss spa for part II of our day (loving Bliss Spa's newest tag line for their "Gorilla Marketing" seen above). Then onto more wine at Chez Wilson, and more food up in our hood (Nice Matin) for burgers at 10:30 PM.

This was one of those days that food served a purpose, but the main event was the laughter with my two dear friends. I am so thankful that they came to play in the Big Apple -- I haven't laughed that hard in a really long time. There were many hilarious quotes from the weekend, but one of my favorites was from Rabbit who - when talking about her dog's personality (a Chihuahua) said she "had the balls of a burglar." I still giggle thinking about that.

Now, the husband and I are gearing up for a weekend in Newport RI. We plan to follow Giada de Laurentis weekend get away guide and hit up all the spots she suggested. We will have much more to post next week!

Have a great week and weekend, please email us some tips, recipes, or foodie experiences, or ask us anything you want!

Cheers!
The Wilsons

The Paella Virgin. (Socarrat Paella Bar NYC, Restaurant Review)

If you read our review about Raines Law Room (a NYC speakeasy/lounge) then you are up to speed. If you didn't, I'll cut to the chase. Our friend, who I have decided to call "San Diego," (much to his chagrin), was in town from San Diego. He took us to a killer place for drinks called Raines, then onto the truly spectacular, Socarrat Paella Bar.

Let's get this out on the table. I was a Paella Virgin until last night. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I just never met a Paella I was interested in. I figured some day I'd go to Spain and really go for it (inspired by Mario Batalli and the annoying Gwenyth Paltrow' show "On the Road Again" on PBS) (on a side note, why is Mario traveling to Spain with Gwenyth? Is he trying to mess with my head? It should be me for chrissake, I mean, she's on a freaking macrobiotic diet - she is so annoying on that show, I can't get inspired by her and her soy latte, non meat eating ways. I digress....)

Where was I. Oh yeah, Socarrat Paella Bar. As their website says, "Socarrat, the quintessence of the perfect paella and for which the restaurant is named, is the delectable, sensuous crust that forms on the bottom of the paella pan when the liquid is rendered and the rice reaches its peak of succulence."

I could easily leave it at that but, here is a bit more and the quicky review:

The Lo Down:

• You can't make reservations, so just show up, put your name it and then head to the bar on the corner for a cocktail (just past "Nasty Pig" on the south side of the street. You are right, I just wanted to point out there is a store there called Nasty Pig)
• The paella takes at least 30-40 minutes to cook, so keep that in mind, we ordered it before we were even seated so they get it going.
  
• The joint is pretty narrow and long, like a bar, but it really doesn't matter.
• The prices are reasonable $20 or so for Paella ($6-12 for tapas)- you have to order a 2 person minimum paella. We got 2 paellas (enough for 4) plus two tapas, and .. we. ate. every. last. bite. period. and we also polished off a bottle of wine. (I thought husband would die in the cab home from fullness, or at the very least, loose his "lunch" as it were. I on the other hand felt enlightened and fannnntastic!)

The Review:

• Tapas: We got the garlic shrimp & the fried artichoke. Both were simple but refined, fresh and bursting with flavor. Score: A

• Paella: We got the Carne with chicken, chorizo, duck, (and magic) and the Arroz Negro that was awesome and black because of the squid ink and filled with scallop, shrimp and even more magic. Score: A+++++ (I think all 3 of us were in full agreement)

*Why, you ask, was the Paella so magical? It was kinda like a fine wine. It started of really good, and then the more it sat there and the rice crusted on the bottom, and we scraped it onto our little plates, the better and bolder the flavors got. At the end, when down to the final bites of crispy bottom, the only sounds from our seats were, "mmmm, mmm, oh man, oh god, did you get that crunchy," and more mms and ahhs. You could taste the freshness of the ingredients and the true passion and love behind the dishes and the process of making them.

We can't wait to go back.
I have a feeling that Socarrat Paella Bar is a little bit like one's first love. While I may try other Paella, especially if in Spain, I will always have a special place in my heart for Socarrat.

Still in the food coma, but nearly ready for more! The Wilsons

Review of The Raines Law Room - (A NYC Speakeasy)

Sometimes the best way to get to know your town is to let your out of town guests show you around.......Ok, this requires an explanation!

Our friend, we'll call him Mr. San Diego (aka Rob), was in town for work and wanted to grab some drinks and a bite. We suggested some of our favorite neighborhood haunts, but San Diego had a better idea.

San Diego, originally from New York, is definitely one of our "foodie" friends. We have known San Diego for 7-8 years and every time we see him (and his girlfriend) the main event is consuming copious amounts of good food and wine! What's not to love - as we said in our profile, we only want to be friends with people who get their eat and drink on!

San Diego suggested maybe we meet for a drink at a NY speakeasy called Raines Law Room (Flatiron). Naturally, we were intrigued by the idea - a speakeasy -- so a little taste of the old world Prohibition years, good booz, good company with a funky name, we signed right up!

For you history buffs: The menu explained the name: "The Raines law was passed on March 23, 1896, by the New York State Legislature. It was nominally a liquor tax, but its intention was to curb the consumption of alcohol by imposing regulations."

The Review!
Raines is located in the Flatiron area of NYC. It takes you back to the days of prohibition, residing at the bottom of the stairs under and unmarked black awning. To get in you have to ring a doorbell and are greeted by a young, uber hip 20 something, who coyly peers out at you and tells you it'll be a minute, then shuts the door. When she opens the door back up, we tell her we are "meeting someone inside," and with that, we were ushered into the dark, swanky speakeasy.

San Diego was sitting at the table waiting for us. The chairs were covered in velvet, the walls dark, lights dim, and a doorbell (seen above) is on the wall next to me - this is how you get the waitress attention to order a drink. The ceiling is covered with antique looking shiny silver tiles and there are dark throw rugs all over the floor. There is a cute and "homey" patio out back, but if you want to be transported in time, stay inside & enjoy the hipster, old world vibe.

My husband and San Diego get a couple of special "gold rush" drinks, served "down" (meaning, on the rocks), and I get some frisky champagne concoction in a fabulously vintage glass (all above).

The drinks were tasty, but pretty small for what you get. After quickly polishing off my Champagne number, I volunteered to "help" my husband finish his second gold rush (not sure he appreciated that!)

I had read stories about the sexually explicit wall paper in the bathrooms, and while they definitely had a kamasutra vibe, they weren't nearly as obscene as what I expected.

What I loved the most was the converted "kitchen." When you make your way through the lounge area toward the patio / or restrooms, you walk through what at first glance looks like it could be some person's swanky kitchen. But there are no stoves, or oven, instead just a boozers version of heaven with every possibly option organized ever so stylishly.

Overall, Raines gets an A, and we would definitely go back. The only down side is that the drinks are pretty pricey considering they are not ample with the pour. Probably the best idea is to stop in for a cocktail on your way some place, or after dinner could be the perfect finishing touch on a night out. If you are on a date and you want to impress - this is a must do.

Neighborhood: Flatiron
48 West 17th St
(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10011

Long live drinking a fabulous cocktail out of a vintage glass while sitting on velvet, we could get used to this.

The Wilsons