yum!
A blog about food
Winter 2011
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10/07/11Cornerstone Bar and GrillCornerstone Bar and Grill, located on the corner of Main and 2nd Street in Ketchum, is an oxymoron in the making. Since it first opened its doors in May 2010, it has combined the familiarity of old west Idaho with the cosmopolitan “poshness” of big city life—exhibited not only in the diversity of the cuisine and clientele, but in the very building itself. While the exterior of the historic building, which was first constructed as a brick grocery store in 1884, is still reminiscent of the dusty downtown Ketchum days of yore (and still, mind you, upheld by the original bricks), the interior is anything but old-fashioned. Walking through the doors, it feels as though you have time-warped into the sophisticated swank of a New York... Posted at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments: 5 |
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05/17/11Tex-Mex Tamale TipsBelieve it or not, even a self-proclaimed home gourmande like myself likes to get out of the kitchen and in front of a quick, tasty plate every now and again. Recently, we’ve been hitting up the local Mexican restaurants; when I’m a bit too slow on the draw, my Texas-rooted boyfriend shoots off fast rounds of suggestions on grabbing some tostadas versus waiting for a five-course concoction from moi.In reverse effect, all of those delightful baskets of tortilla chips and salsa seem to have sparked a cooking renaissance at home. Cinco de Mayo saw us culminate a week of Mexican-themed dishes prepared by him. It would appear that just as he washes dishes and I vacuum, as he keeps things tidy and I clean the bathroom, that our cooking is finding equal departmental authority.The... Posted at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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05/05/11Wiseguy Pizza PieWhatta YOU lookin’ at? Yeah, you. Okay, I know. Poor De Niro circa Taxi Driver impression. Sorry. But what about New-York-style pizza in Ketchum, Idaho? Sweet! I haven’t actually been to New York (yet anyway), but I’m thinkin’ the pizza at Wiseguy Pizza Pie is pretty damn close to the real thing. Am I right? Or am I right? Fuggedaboutit! There are two things I do know about New York pizza however. It’s large and it’s got beautiful thin crust—like Kate Moss-thin. Hence the large slices can be easily folded and eaten while walking to the subway. Or in our case, while walking to the bike path since that’s Idaho’s version of the underground. Peter and I arrived at the Wiseguy Pizza Pie location in Ketchum (460 Sun Valley Road,... Posted at 06:26 AM | Permalink | Comments: 6 |
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04/26/11Learning to love tea in IndiaOur first precaution upon embarking on our recent trip to India was to purchase antibiotics from an airport pharmacy. My boyfriend Justin and I were that confident that our explorative palettes would send our digestion systems into major distress. It was India after all, might as well take precautions.First impressions were further heightened by the superb airplane service of Air France. Who knew you could fly from Paris to New Delhi, be served curry, raita, naan, pickle and rice while sandwiched into a standard-sized seat, and disembark feeling like you had just experienced your first round of enlightenment via airplane food and service?A couple of mosquito bites into a golden smog rooftop breakfast in New Delhi, and we were officially launched into full-body eating memory, yellow... Posted at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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04/19/11Rasberrys—Sandwiches like you’ve never hadOn a breezy, (okay, we’re in Idaho so it was downright, Winnie the Pooh-blustery) spring afternoon, my coworker Cara and I decided to treat ourselves to lunch out. We had just completed the first stage of a big project’s looming deadline, and after weeks of eating at our desks, we shook the crumbs out of our keyboards and headed to Rasberrys conveniently located at 315 South Main St. in Hailey.The Rasberry’s Ketchum location (411 5th St. East) has been in business for 5 years, doing a successful lunch and catering business. Rasberry’s Hailey is a product of the new year, and just opened its doors in January. The space is home to prior restaurants, but Rasberrys seems to be holding its own and settling in for a long winter’s stay. It has a bistro feel to... Posted at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments: 4 |
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03/30/11Rico’s Pizza—Something for EveryoneHave you ever heard the following words uttered?: “Pizza? No, thanks, I don’t really care for it.” Right? Or perhaps, “Blech. Pizza? All that bread and cheese, not my thing….” Neither have I. We are fortunate enough to have several pizza joints in the Valley, and last week (and several times before that) Peter and I went to Rico’s Pizza and Pasta, located at 200 Main Street in Ketchum. Back in the day (oh geez, how old am I anyway??). Ahem, I’ll start again. Years ago, Rico’s was conveniently located inside Whiskey Jacques. It was a great place to get some sustenance before (during and after) vast volumes of alcohol were consumed. As Ketchum grew, so did Rico’s. Now it’s a short walk across the street from... Posted at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments: 5 |
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03/22/11Savoring Street Life: Turkish coffee and sesame ringsVery rarely does street food disappoint. The tastes are so fresh they can seem almost raw on the tongue. A slight danger accompanies the experience: burning yourself with too much chili powder; just off the grill heat getting blown on between bites; and then the final doozy of potential stomach ailments.None but the best in European fare broke me in: Paris—the City of Lights, history and gastronomic indulgence representative of all world cuisine. (Yearly county fairs in rural Ohio had previously only dipped me into mid-western, deep-fried wonders of street fare when my parents weren’t looking).To begin my culinary trip through the streets of Paris—the requisite crêpe filled with Nutella and bananas. Then more exploration: mint tea, heavily sugared, served in... Posted at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2 |
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03/08/11Pioneer Saloon—Surviving the Test of Time“Steakhouse.” The meaty word conjures up images of Outback, Ruth’s Chris and ummm… Sizzler. What do these three eating establishments have in common? Cities—all are located in cities. And chains—all of them are national restaurant chains. So how lucky are we to have the Pioneer Saloon as our local “steakhouse?” A one-of-a-kind restaurant in our one-of-a-kind, kind of town. The Pioneer Saloon (located at 320 N. Main Street, Ketchum) has been serving up mouthwatering steaks since 1950, and has long been a dining and imbibing tradition for both locals and visitors alike. Its red leather booths, cocktail waitresses clad in denim skirts and cowboy boots, and classic menu seem to never change. The “Pio” bar is one of my... Posted at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments: 7 |
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03/04/11Tropical Winter TableAn orange tinge spreads across my palms these days, winter color induced by beta-carotene overload. Carrots and winter squash are the main culprits, though many a beet has been roasted, puréed and grated to round out the cold month color palette. I am reminded of a vegetarian girlfriend gone similarly orange limbed with fresh papaya and other tropical fruits during life in Brazil. Doctors told her to stop consuming the foods immediately . . . absolutely unfathomable advice to an expatriate coming from frigid northern climes.Tropicalia via food brightens my continence these days where fresh coats of snow have not. I’m cooking up all things reminiscent of warm, exotic places in order to mentally displace from the panorama of cold white outside. Sri Lanka provides the bulk of... |
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02/22/11Red Door Brings New Flavor to the ValleyIt is 7:30 on a mid-winter Tuesday night, and downtown Ketchum is as quiet as the flakes of falling snow, which shimmer in the street lights. I enter the new Asian fusion inspired restaurant, Red Door, located in the atrium area of the 511 building on Leadville Ave, expecting it to be relatively empty. I am, however, pleasantly surprised to see that well over two-thirds of the tables are full, and there are only a few open spaces at the expansive bar that must seat close to 20 people. Good thing my dad made a reservation. Inside, I spot my family seated at a table bordered on one side by a long booth, and on the other by two high-backed black leather chairs. The restaurant has a modern, sophisticated feel. The curving mahogany bar was constructed specifically for Red Door and... Posted at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments: 4 |
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02/15/11Après Ski TreatsMarch snowstorms are in the cards, right? Because if I’m writing about snacks to eat after skiing, I’d like to know that such a sport will continue for another couple months. The current situation has me thinking I’m sealing the fate of our collective snow load levels by writing about post-ski ideas . . .Any thoughts of skiing have been replaced by exploratory runs and hikes. Brown and bereft hillsides call me into a false-spring dance of exploration. This past weekend, a jog out Quigley Canyon had me in spring spandex (yikes!) and a short-sleeved shirt.The bacon I’d eaten for breakfast did all it could to pester my heart into heavy, frustrated beats, but the above-40 degree temperatures won out, pushing me into a tireless lope. My boyfriend kicked up the speed,... Posted at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2 |
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02/08/11The Road to Carnitas—La CabanitaI am always searching for good Mexican food. Mexican restaurants are usually affordable, fun places with a nice atmosphere, and when you find one that has amazing food, you hold onto it. I worked at Mama Inez in Ketchum for a few years, formed lasting friendships and enjoyed fantastic Mexican food. (Although my friends will say I only ate beans, lettuce and salsa, but that is another story). Since working at Mamas in the early-Nineties, wherever my husband Peter and I have moved (six cities and towns) we always find a favorite Mexican restaurant. Upon our return to the Wood River Valley (and not having Mamas around anymore, sniff, sniff), we went on our quest for our Mexican fix and found it at La Cabanita. La Cabanita (160 W. 5th St, Ketchum) serves authentic, traditional... Posted at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments: 6 |
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02/01/11How Now Brown Cow: How to cook half a heifer[Vegetarians never fear, recipes and thoughts herein can make do without the beef.]I believe the conversation went something like:Him: “Honey, guess what? (no pause) I got us a half a cow today! It really was a deal.”Setting: boyfriend and boss lady are on a work trip, and have met with a partner, who happens to be a rancher.Me: “Um, wow. I mean, um, awesome. Wait, where will we put it? Should I carve out some of our north-facing snowbank?” Oh the optimism of January! Particularly when the sun shines and the temperature smacks you awake by taking your breath away. One overcast, diligent moment several weekends ago, we sat down and put in the work of writing up a household budget. Major conclusions: neither of us is allowed to get sick or miss one hour of... Posted at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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01/25/11And That’s a Wrap!Sun Valley’s famous dazzling sun shining through my window slowly wakes me. Yawning sleepily, I layer up in my fleece Hot Chillys and brew a pot of coffee. Five minutes later my brother, Bryce, stumbles downstairs still half-asleep and I pass him a steaming mug. Soon we are on our way to carve turns on Baldy. After a few bone-chilling chairlift rides and two hot chocolate breaks, we surrender to the icy weather and head into Ketchum to grab lunch. Without argument, we quickly agree on Wrapcity Cafe. There we are guaranteed a sunny seat, a quick, fresh lunch, and chances are good that we will run into at least one familiar face. Owned by Dotty Sarchett, Wrapcity is located 180 S. Main Street next to the Kentwood Lodge. Wrapcity has been one of the most popular lunch... Posted at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments: 5 |
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01/18/11Got your GoatThe doors to my house have frosted over, giving home-life the crunchy nature of a meat locker. The morning coffee ritual of my home-based contract work simmers along peacefully in the anticipatory blue light. The sun will come, eventually.Appetite warms in accordance with the light, and cookbooks clutter rapidly around the 10 a.m. hour, my body eager to craft things warm and savory. Longing for hearty red meat, I stave off my resident anemia with concentrated bouts of slow cooking. Idaho’s Bounty provides the inspiring selection of meat: beef, salmon, lamb, pork and goat fill my freezer to capacity.Visions of spring meadow glow and bucolic hooved cuties trotting up to be milked led me to select goat this past week. This being my second time of ever cooking it, I took the advice of... Posted at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments: 4 |
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01/12/11The Sweet Aroma of Big Wood BreadWalking into the Bigwood Bread and Café, the sweet aroma of freshly baked chocolate croissants, the yeasty smell of sourdough bread rising, and the faint background scent of roasted coffee fills my nose. Inside it is warm and welcoming, and the impressive assortment of baked goods on the counter are enough to entice anyone’s sweet tooth.Bigwood Bread has been around for 15 years, and is well known by most local residents of the Valley. Located in the industrial part of Ketchum, at 270 Northwood Way, Bigwood Bread and Café is close, yet situated conveniently away from the rush of town.Current owners and managers, Carly and Bryan Tempest, re-opened the café three and a half years ago. The café is positioned in front of the bakery and from behind the... Posted at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments: 10 |
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01/04/11Chess, Big Wines and Chocolate: A perfect winter eveningJust a couple days into the New Year and I’m getting my butt kicked on the resolutions.Number One: play chess. With about 10 games under my belt, it is still somewhat aggravating when my boyfriend checkmates me and jumps out of his chair in a victory leap, arms raised overhead like a World Cup goal scorer. “Hiya!” Now you see what I mean. But persist I will. I’ve realized that small allowances for childishness are part and parcel of life, but one must rise above these moments in search of greatness and checkmates, whatever the playing board.Of a sub-zero temperatured evening, in our non-televisioned home, the chess board sits encircled by wine glasses and chocolate bars. Not so bad, eh? Resolution 2 and 3: develop a palate for wine and chocolate. I wish I could... Posted at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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12/29/10Moose Girls Café & BarOn a snowy Saturday, my husband Peter and I wander over to Moose Girls Café (360 East Ave., Ketchum) for a late lunch. I make it sound like we’ve never done this…. we actually wander over to Moose Girls almost every Saturday for a late lunch. Moose Girls is our “Cheers-like” hangout where everyone knows our name (or at least our faces and orders). Moose Girls Café is owned by two sisters, Marlene and Maxine, who have been in the restaurant business in the Wood River Valley for over a decade—and it shows—they know their stuff. It’s a casual restaurant with an open dining room and bar area, including two big screen TV’s (excellent for watching sports like football, but not intrusive if you don’t want to... Posted at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments: 6 |
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12/22/10Love in the Time of CookiesContrary to modern nutritional knowledge, good old white sugar, white flour and butter nourish me in ways inexplicable except to the human heart.This particular combo worked my mixing arms and rolling hands thoroughly last Christmas season. My recipe for holidays presents included mending a bruised heart by baking seasonal cookies for loved ones. I can’t say that rolling out batch after batch led me to any particular enlightenment, but the pleasures of sharing and re-affirming meaningful relationships stoked the embers of an as yet unlit but loving soul.I researched the history of Christmas cookies before writing this blog, and found many a reference to tradition, passing wholesome hours baking with others, and recipes for spiced oddities that form no part of my own tradition.... |
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12/14/10Challah for Hanukkahcelebrating with tradition |
