CREMA OF THE CROP
I woke up this morning and marched to the fridge, where I quickly found what I’d hidden behind a carton of juice: My container of Mexican cultured sour cream.
I’d scored this a couple of nights ago in Bradley Beach. The first night, I used it to top a multi-layered concoction of jalapeno-corn tostadas, scrambled eggs with queso and souped-up black beans (with salsa, cilantro, onion). By last night, I was mainlining the Crema Pura Mexicana. Day three, and it’s my waking thought. This is some habit.
OK. It’s tangy and super-creamy, desirably sour and yet there’s a hint of sweetness to it. It’s far more complex than American sour cream. That’s probably why it tasted so terrific on my tostada thing: It didn’t serve as a smothering condiment, but rather as an enhancing ingredient to the other elements.
I got it at the Latino grocery, Abuelita, at 408 Main St. You’ll read more about this little market and its cookin’ customers a week from Wednesday in the Food section.
Meanwhile: Are you eating out this weekend? If so, where? Are you cooking in? If so, what?
Cheers, Andy
1.12.07
I’d scored this a couple of nights ago in Bradley Beach. The first night, I used it to top a multi-layered concoction of jalapeno-corn tostadas, scrambled eggs with queso and souped-up black beans (with salsa, cilantro, onion). By last night, I was mainlining the Crema Pura Mexicana. Day three, and it’s my waking thought. This is some habit.
OK. It’s tangy and super-creamy, desirably sour and yet there’s a hint of sweetness to it. It’s far more complex than American sour cream. That’s probably why it tasted so terrific on my tostada thing: It didn’t serve as a smothering condiment, but rather as an enhancing ingredient to the other elements.
I got it at the Latino grocery, Abuelita, at 408 Main St. You’ll read more about this little market and its cookin’ customers a week from Wednesday in the Food section.
Meanwhile: Are you eating out this weekend? If so, where? Are you cooking in? If so, what?
Cheers, Andy
1.12.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 8:48 AM
9 Comments:
I enjoy reading both your columns and reviews. You have certainly expanded my palette (as well as my waistline:).
In the past, you wrote an article highlighting some not so well known varieties of Pinot Grigio in varying price ranges. I thought I had saved the article, but cannot find it. I am also disappointed that app.com does not have an archive of your materials.
As I am tired of the usual "Santa Margharita" choice, I am hoping you may still have the article in your archives and would be willing to provide a copy.
If you are able to provide this, I would be extremely grateful (and so will my future guests).
Thanks in advance!!
I concur with the previous writer. I really enjoy your reviews and columns. In particular, I liked your column about Sarah's Tent in Deal. I don't think that I would have thought to visit there, but they were very nice, very accomodating and they had very interesting,good items.
This weekend we will be visiting Delvetto's in Neptune. It is my kids ultimate favorite, at home, neighborhood place. Always friendly, always good. Some place where you are always comfortable.
I made vodka rigatoni...nigella lawson's recipe...fantastic...
btw, did you know Mazi in Bradley Beach has closed forever?
Sad, Peter ran a wonderful place, the desserts were fantastic, and the piri-piri sauce, what will become of it?
here are some answers:
cherry ghost - good pinot grigios: less expensive: estancia about $11 per, More expensive J (jordan vineyards)about $17 per.
Dear gastronomes: I am doing some serious research to help with Cherry Ghost's wine dilemma. Cherry, what you're talking about was my old Match Point column - I wrote about several worthy pinot grigios in that. Sadly, too many these days are insipid, not worthy of your time and money. Kris makes a good one, but I'm working on finding better value-priced Italian whites for you. Stay tuned.
cheers, Andy
dear diners:
NO! No more Mazi?? That's tragic, if true.
Carmine's in A.C.? What did you eat there?
And cookin' Nigella Lawson - she does have some dandy dishes.
I made a huge stew of adzuki beans with shiitakes, ginger, sour orange, cilantro and vegetables. Sounds healthy, right? It was, but tasted awfully rich. I did a goofy thing the second night, though: I topped my adzuki stew with a dollop of the last of my Mexican crema. Sigh.
cheers, Andy
Andi,
Just where did you get the multi-layered concoction you describe here?
MARGARET,
IF YOU ARE SPEAKING OF CARMINE'S ON BAY AVE IN HIGHLANDS, NOT ATLANTIC, IT IS CLOSED AND FOR SALE.
I HOPE FOR YOU THAT THERE IS ANOTHER CARMINE'S IN ATLANTIC.
To Terry:
Where did I get the multilayered concoction? My friend, I cooked it in my home kitchen, which has exactly 36 inches of counter space and no dishwasher.
I started with dried adzuki beans, soaked them briefly, cooked them for an hour or so, then added all that other stuff. The big accent was the sour orange. I brought most of the stew to my friend Pam, who took a whiff and said she could really catch the sour orange. Sweet adzuki beans love sour orange. And ginger.
Beans are so underrated. This Sunday, soon as I get back from a few-day eating trip to NYC, I'm going to work on something with cannellini beans.
I'm thinking they need some greens, some lemon ... we'll see.
thanks for writing,
Andy
Post a Comment
<< Home