Sassy Radish

This is that time of the year when we are all searching for the perfect gift for our friends and family, but find ourselves constrained by time, the weather, and if, like me, you live in a city, having to carry everything by yourself running from one store to the other. Me – I’m not a schlepper of things. I am an online orderer, though I do like to browse some shops from time to time.

As far as gifts go, there are many considerations to make, nevermind minding your budget as these things add up quickly. Each year I get excited for the guides from Design*Sponge among many others. This year, I absolutely loved Luisa’s guide which turned me onto the Amco lemon squeezer. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite non-kitchen related things that you might like. I’ll have the kitchen one ready for you in the next few days. Until then – enjoy these!

Red Flower Candles – I first fell in love with Red Flower products over six years ago when a friend gifted me a candle. It was Moroccan Rose and to this day it remains my favorite candle fragrance. I randomly wound up sitting next to the founder, the beautiful and elegant Yael Alkalay, on a train one day and told her just how much I loved her products. Red Flower candles use sustainably sourced, natural ingredients, and burn for 50 (!) hours (that’s a bang for your buck!), filling your home with a very pure, natural scent. I’ve tried just about every luxury candle brand out there and this is my favorite one hands down. And while candles are sort of a “general” gift given out to hostesses and such, these candles are different – not a single scent that smells overwhelming or overly perfumey. Each is lovely. Whoever receives this will thank you for introducing them to the brand.

High Street Market – I love the vintage products such as this milk glass bowl from High Street Market, one of my favorite Etsy shops. Each item is beautiful, striking, unique. Last year, I shopped here for a bunch of holiday gifts. I found an antique horse-head letter opener for my friend Brita and a beautiful silver fruit bowl for Jennie. This bowl, among so many things in this store, would make a wonderful and thoughtful gift. Just imagine how beautiful citrus will look in it!

Dear Fieldbinder, – Sigh. I want everything from this boutique. Each. And. Every. Thing. Every item that makes it into the store is carefully curated and selected with a keen eye and precision. Not only is the stuff great, but consistent in their feel from one piece to the next. My most coveted items, besides their Madison Marcus dresses, are their stunning jewelry items such as the earrings above. And while many of the items at the store aren’t exactly a bargain, this is a place for a thoughtful splurge-worthy kind of a gift.

Shlomit Ofir – So here is another Etsy favorite of mine – Israeli jewelry designer, Shlomit Ofir. Last year besides High Street Market, I was besotted with her entire line. So much so that pretty much many of the ladies in my life got necklaces and earrings from her fabulous line. And I’ve picked up a few items this year – the bird necklace above is simple, elegant and while offering a vintage feel, does it in a modern, clean style.

I think these bowls from Heath Ceramics are lovely. As is everything else they offer in their store from tableware to houseware. I’m always blown away by people’s ability to “curate” their stores, and not just sell objects, but works of art that are consistent with their vision of aesthetic. These bowls are not just items for your home – they’re handmade with expertise and meticulous attention to quality. If you give one to your mom – she’ll proudly display it at every family gathering!

Brooklyn Tailors Shirt – is what I’d give my boyfriend as a gift had I not gone and splurged already for him on an iPad and a cloud and airplane themed tie (two things he loves!). But I’m keeping an eye on this amazing Brooklyn-based husband and wife team that makes stunning bespoke shirts for men (and ladies) using crisp, classic fabrics. I know Andrew would look stunning in one!

Hannukah starts tomorrow – can you believe it? Not even a week after Thanksgiving, this year, the holiday starts early. While I am not featuring any new Hannukah posts her at Sassy Radish, I managed to eke out a few for Serious Eats!

Maple Vanilla Apple Sauce
Pumpkin Potato Latkes
Sweet and Sour Brisket with Pomegranate Molasses
Potato Kugel
Cider Donuts

So head on over there for your traditional Hannukah favorites, with a few fun twists to keep the menu fresh. I hope you like it, and I hope your holiday is full of light and joy!

I wanted to give you a recipe for an early 2010 before I left for the Dominican Republic (whee!), but my time management skills are lacking. Instead, what you get is a vision of me in my Princess Leia hat, a picture of the one of the cutest kids ever (with whom I’ll be spending some time in DR over the New Year’s holiday) and what I had for lunch the other day. Why my recent lunch? Because I hope that 2010 is a lovely, wholesome and nurturing year for you all, much like this chicken soup I had made earlier in the month and froze for those days when it’s far too cold to go outside.

I hope that your celebrations are sparkling and joyous, that champagne is flowing and the laughter is without a pause. I hope that the year is full of the same joy and exuberance your parties are and that wherever you find yourself next year, you feel loved and cared for. That is my wish for all of you and I can’t wait to share some January-perfect recipes with you in 2010!

Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of my world and allowing me to be a part of yours!

Slowly, steadily, we’re unveiling Gourmet, Unbound to you bit by bit. Only a few more weeks until we have our official launch, but for now, here’s a teaser for you. A lovely mushroom and farro pie from last year’s November issue of Gourmet. So head on over to Gourmet, Unbound – and check it out. I’m pretty sure, you’re gonna love it. I am now doubly regretting that I made this pie a year after I book marked it and the kept delaying. I have much time to make up for my omission – and I wouldn’t want you to make the same mistake I did.

To be current with all the teasers and updates, you can follow us on Twitter – @gourmetunbound.

Last Monday, much to everyone’s surprise, Conde Nast announced that it was shutting down Gourmet magazine.

I don’t really know what to say about this because I have written and rewritten my thoughts on this over and over. I thought how ironic it was that my last recipe and the next one are both recipes from the October issue. I never found the magazine boring or stale – it always offered me recipes I wanted to try.

By now, we’re all read about a dozen op/ed pieces on Gourmet’s demise and its unexpected shutdown. I don’t think I can say anything really substantive other than it was more than just a magazine for those of us who subscribed and couldn’t wait for the next issue to arrive in the mail. It wasn’t just a publication, telling us how to sear scallops, or make delicate genoise, or raise awareness about the plight of tomato workers.

Gourmet, to me at least, was something iconic – the very first magazine I subscribed to at the age of 14. Gourmet is my time-capsule; it holds my memories, my transition to college, and to a college graduate. I’ve cooked many a Thanksgiving dinner armed with nothing more than a trusty Gourmet at my side. And while we could :talk about ad revenue and costs for days on end, I guarantee you this: not one of the McKinsey consultants who made this recommendation had a subscription to the magazine. Nor did they read issue after issue, saving recipes, clipping meaningful articles, discussing the content with friends. To try and sum up Gourmet’s importance on its readers, the food community and general history (of how we eat, live, think, dream – because it was a reflection of that too and so much can be gleaned about a people, a nation, from its eating habits) would be like trying to sum up someone in an elegy. You just cannot. Gourmet’s impact on my life cannot be described or measured. It simply was. And I’ll treasure it forever.

Well – a few friends and I were so dismayed by the shuttering of the magazine, that a couple of folks and I have decided put something together – a cooking and writing project, so to speak, to honor Gourmet’s 68 year legacy. Certainly, a publisher can shut down magazines, fire its staff and deprive us of getting that glossy in the mail. But – they can’t stop us from cooking; and they can’t stop us from keeping Gourmet’s memory and spirit alive. They can kick us out of their offices, but they can’t kick us out of our kitchens.

If you’re curious to know more, or to get involved, shoot me an email (on my About page) and I’ll add you to the distribution list. While this isn’t a resurrection per se, consider it an homage, a way for us to all come together and celebrate something we all loved and will continue to relish.

As usual, things here at Sassy Radish take a wee bit longer than elsewhere and I’m quite late with my offering for the fifth annual MENU FOR HOPE, but I will contribute shortly – please check back shortly!!

For those of you new to Menu For Hope – it was started by Pim of the fantastic Chez Pim five years ago, hence the 5th annual Menu for Hope fund-raising effort (I’m pretty sharp, aren’t I?).

The money collected from this year’s raffle will go to the UN World Food Programme to the Lesotho School Lunch Program in Africa.

To give you scope, last year, Menu for Hope raised over $90,000 for the lunch program in Lesotho. And this year, despite the recession and all, we are hoping to do the same and maybe even surpass that.

All it takes is a $10 ticket per entry and you could try your luck and some pretty amazing gifts this year from bloggers all around the world. I hope you participate in this and help a great cause.

LONG OVERDUE CONTRIBUTION ANNOUCEMENT! Sorry about the delays folks – I’m giving away a fabulous 7-cup KitchenAid food processor.

I have a 12-cup KitchenAid and it is by far - the best food processor I have ever used.
It is easier to manipulate than the Cuisinart with which in the past I’ve had some issues. I really marvel at how awesome it is every time I use it.

Brief description of the prize:
Food processor with touch-pad controls, pulse option, and powerful induction motor 7-cup-capacity work bowl; multipurpose stainless-steel blade; large feed tube and pusher. Reversible stainless-steel slicing/shredding disc; 3-cup mini bowl for smaller tasks Base wipes clean easily; dishwasher-safe bowls, blades, and discs. I use this for everything from making dough to creating quick sauces and emulsions – the mini prep bowl is brilliant – it’s like having 2 processors in 1 — and saves on space too!!

To donate/enter to win:

1. Go to First Giving, the site that manages this campaign, and make your donation. Every $10 donation, gets you one entry. $20 gets you 2 entries. And so on.

2. If you’re interested in winning this prize, please enter code UE35. Additionally, if you want it in a color, other than white. It comes in RED or BLACK, though I am a huge fan of the white one. Please enter a note (should you win) if you want it in RED or BLACK.

3. Meh – I already have a food processor, give me something else! Go and check out all the other awesome prizes being offered this time around.

4. Lastly, be sure to check off the box that says “happy for the page owner to see my email address” because we’ll need to get in touch with you should you win!

5. One very last note, because of various shipping / import complications, taxes, etc, I am happy to ship this anywhere in the United States – but must apologize to foreign readers as I won’t be able to accommodate this time.

The good folks at Bon Appetit have put together a slide show called Blog Envy featuring holiday recipes from some of their favorite bloggers, including yours truly. That’s me on Slide 6 – with the potato latkes I waxed so poetic about. It is an honor to be featured among so many amazing bloggers: Deb, Lisa, Luisa, David, Dorie Greenspan, Clotilde, Shauna, Matt, Elise, Heidi and Nicky & Oliver. I’m delighted to have met and gotten to know a few of them – I am delighted to be included in their number! And of course, I am excited to get to know the other blogs featured – as their pictures and dishes looked amazing!

So go and check out the slide show — and happy holiday season! I’ll be back tomorrow with regular posting.

Dear readers, I’ve got some good entries sitting on the back burner that I just can’t seem to finish up at this point in time. The kitchen has been somewhat abandoned lately, in favor or trying to soak in the summer nights, friends, wine and the ever-addictive spin classes. And on top of everything, there’s been some bumps on the road, a bit of turmoil here and there that is increasingly needing more of my attention, which, sadly, comes at the cost of cooking and writing.

I’m taking a short’ish break and hope that you all will be here when I return. I’m sorry to just up and disappear, but I need some bandwidth to tend to more pressing matters at the moment.

I leave you with two pictures (and I must apologize for their quality as they were taken with my blackberry!) that I took while wading around a Chinatown grocery store. I found them pretty humorous and hope you do as well. I think they speak for themselves and any commentary, witty or otherwise, would detract from them. So enjoy.

Now, I might just go ahead and post a recipe in the next few days (proving myself wrong), but I wanted to at least partly explain my radio silence.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summers and taking advantage of all the bounty that’s currently in season!

I’ve talked a lot about starting a food blog. The first dish I ever cooked was a salad. I was five. My mother gave me a small kitchen knife and entrusted me to slice up radishes into the salad bowl. I was hooked from that moment on. On radishes and cooking, that is.

But it wasn’t until I was eleven years old that I started to cook regularly. And as a teenager, I grew into a full-fledge food junkie. And so it only made sense, albeit a bit late in the game, to start a food blog.

However, in my quest to create a blog about food, I realised I also wanted to maintain some focus on things like knitting, sewing and other general crafty projects. Hopefully this site will keep me more diligent about my projects which I tend to start and then abandon. Reading other people’s blogs and seeing their finished projects has served as a certain inspiration.

I cannot write my first entry without thanking the person who made this site look as cool as it does, and who’ll help me tweak it in the next few weeks to make it look even cooler – the Shoestring Decorator! A fantastic friend, a fellow blogger, a crafty woman with limitless talent and creativity, and a web designer extraordinaire, SD has made this site look fun and funky. For which I’m tremendously grateful.

Since I’m keeping this site fairly anonymous, only my alias ‘radish’ will be used. But to decrease the opacity a bit, I’m female in my late twenties, living in New York and working in finance. My interests are as diverse as they get – you might find me on a couch with a book on a Saturday night or watching a football game with friends at a bar, beer in hand. I considered and rejected a career in the food industry – as a chef – because I realised that I only like cooking for the people I love. Which would exclude paying customers – since they are perfect strangers. However, my love and passion for cooking and eating as no less strong than for those in the industry.

So this is my official “Hello, World” equivalent in the universe of food/crafts blogging.