Today’s challenge is:Most Exotic Food You've TriedI'm not picky when it comes to trying new food.Well if it involves okra then I'm not trying it > you can read about that in my previous post.But I'm pretty open and will give almost everything a try once.Throughout my foodie years, I've tried a lot of different things.I vividly remember trying escargot at a Yelp event a few years ago and for awhile that experience was a bit weird for me. It's mostly because of the texture. It did not sit right with me. However, I have to say it was not as weird as eating a salad full of grasshoppers (that's whats in the photo above).Back in August of 2016, I dined at a restaurant called Serenata. It's located in Chelsea here in New York City. Serenata is a Mexican restaurant and before the shade is thrown at me, I will say that Mexican food is NOT considered exotic to me. I eat Mexican cuisine often.But this particular evening, I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to order the "ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO" which I believe translates to "Salad of the Desert".The ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO contains the following:Grilled cactus, grasshoppers, roasted corn, roasted cipollini onions, wild mushrooms, grape tomatoes, avocado, dates, cilantro-sabila vinaigrette, toasted sunflower seeds, red & black lava saffron salt.I'm not sure why I ordered this but I did and it was delicious.If you know anything about me then you know that I am terrified of bugs. I hate them. I'm not a fan. No matter how big or how small, I'll freak out. So for me to eat something with grasshoppers in it was a stretch and I made it!The grasshoppers were roasted so they had a crunch to it, they were a bit salty by themselves but worked well mixed with all of the other ingredients in the salad.I would try it again if given the opportunity.I do not see myself eating any other kinds of bugs in the future but hey you never know!Readers out there, what do you consider an exotic food item? Or have you ever eaten a bug? Comment below.
Day 8 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Food That You Dislike...
Today’s challenge is:Food That You Dislike That Most People Do Like I hate okra.I do not like the taste. I do not like the texture. I do not like it's look. I do not like okra.I've made this known amongst my friends and family. It's seems that every time I mention that I hate okra the next thing I hear is: "you just haven't had it _____ this way" or "you just haven't tried it the way I make it. "People have suggested I try it fried, stewed, baked, or grilled.NOPE.I'm not going to try it any other way.I've tried it twice in my life time and I think that's enough.Once my late grandmother Maureen prepared okra as a side dish with tomatoes and peppers (known as Caribbean style) and I was not having it.The second time I tried it at a restaurant and it was fried. Nope. I did not like it that way either.I just do not like it.Also, it's way too slimy for my liking.Okra and I will never be friends.
Day 7 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Food That You Like...
Today's challenge is:Food That You Like That Most People Don't I like to eat octopus. There I said it.Whenever I'm at an Italian restaurant I order grilled octopus.I'm not ashamed.I've been out several times with different groups of people and when I order grilled octupus it goes either way.Some people join me, grab a fork and we enjoy some grilled tentacles and keep it moving.Some people freak out when the dish arrives and they do not see calamari.I can see how this can get confusing but to set the record straight a squid and an octopus are two different underwater creatures.Squids live in salt water. Usually in tropics while octopuses live in dens on the sea floor.Cooking wise, when ordering octopus it's generally char-grilled then topped w/ a little olive oil and fresh pepper top while calamari is made from squids and they are usually battered and fried.They look very different cooked and uncooked and generally taste different due to the textures.If you are adventurous give it a go! Order grilled octopus is tasty and makes for a great appetizer.
Day 5 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Meal from Mom/Dad/Grandma
Day 4 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Chef
My favorite chef is Marcus Samuelsson.If you don't know the name you may know him from popular food competition shows such as Chopped and Top Chef Masters.He's a brilliant chef and I appreciate him because he's heavily involved in preserving and celebrating black culinary history.
It seems like every other culture has food that's proudly celebrated but its seems like black food isn't celebrated as much as Italian or even Mexican food. I feel Marcus is doing a great job representing for us and showing the culinary world the importance and sophistication of black food.
I've had the pleasure of eating at Red Rooster which is one of Marcus' restaurants here in Harlem - New York City. Harlem is a historically black neighborhood so I can see the significance of why he chose to open the restaurant there. Once you step into Red Rooster it's like a party. The people are friendly, the bar is lively, there's a band playing live music and the smell of delicious food hits you as soon as you walk in.
While I was at the restaurant I had a chance to meet Marcus. I completely fangirled and as you can see from my photo I was really excited to meet him. He was extremely humble. He was even open to suggestions about the food. Which I thought was really thoughtful and just plain real. He made sure he went to every table and checked to see if everyone was happy with the menu and the dishes they ordered.
A few years back I started reading his James Beard Foundation award winning memoir titled Yes Chef. It's a great read about his life growing up Ethiopian in Sweden, his family and how his passion for food made him who he is today. I highly recommend it if you like good memoirs or foodie related books.
To keep up with Marcus I now follow him on Instagram and you should too!
Day 3 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Memory
Before I reveal my favorite food memory. I have to say that I was blessed to have a mother who knew the importance of exposing their offsprings to other cultures through food. I'm also very lucky to have a father who studied culinary arts. I believe this helped mold me into the foodie that I am today.Back to my favorite food memory. I was about 12 or 13 years old and my mother decided it was time to introduce me to Japanese cuisine because I would always see pretty pictures of sashimi on menus and I would always ask her about it.There was one afternoon after school my mother took me to this cute little Japanese restaurant near Union Square in Manhattan (here in NYC). It wasn't too fancy it was just right for a first experience. Not too stuffy, just right. At that time this was a huge deal for be cause it was time! Time to try the pretty food! I was so excited to try out the chopsticks. I will say I did a good job (you can confirm this with my mama).She started off by ordering California rolls for me. Don't give me side eye reader. I think that was a great introduction for a youngin'.I LOVED every bit of the rolls.Little did I know many years later I would be dining at the hippest Japanese restaurants in New York and Las Vegas.At this time I was "living my best life". I was trying the pretty food and I wanted more. We tried another roll. I can't remember which one but it may have been spicy tuna but I'm not sure about that. But on the second roll before my mother could explain what the wasabi and ginger was for. I plopped the piece of wasabi in my mouth.Allow me to explain.Growing up Caribbean you tend to eat avocados on the regular. The California roll contained a small piece and I don't know why my brain connected this but I figured oh the chef was so nice to put a piece of avocado on the side for maybe a palate cleanser. Boy was I wrong.The fire in my nose and my entire face spoke volumes. Tears were rolling my face. My mother tried to stop me but I was too fast. And my friends reading this, from that day forward I either ask what certain items are or I smell my food before I put it in my mouth.It is my favorite memory because I learned to take it easy when it comes to new foods and it was my first time trying one of my now favorite cuisines.
Day 2 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Restaurant
This took some time for me to answer because it's tough being in New York City with so many diverse, michelin star, easily accessible restaurants and simply labeling one restaurant as ones "favorite".But if I have to pick one I will say off of the top of my head: Burger and Lobster.I know some of you out there reading this may be giving me some serious side-eye but hear me out.I really like seafood. To clarify I love lobsters. I love the taste, the consistency does not bother me and it's just so rich!I'm a big fan of simplicity. I like things to be straight forward. It may not seem that way but it's the truth.Burger and Lobster is a restaurant with two main dishes and every single time I've eaten there the food, the drinks, and the staff have been consistently on point. I have not been disappointed by them yet.I've tried all of the different varieties of lobsters (grilled, steamed) as well as the burgers and I've always left satisfied.If you find yourself at Burger and Lobster I recommend getting the mini burger and grilled lobster combo (seen in the above photo). Be sure to ask for at the garlic butter sauce on the side.ProTip: Lobster rolls are great but if you come here get a whole lobster. I promise you it's not hard to eat. It may look intimidating but it's not. The chefs open the lobsters in a way that makes it easy for anyone to eat.Just from seeing the photos of this place one would think it's very pricey but it's actually not. The prices are very reasonable and the environment is not stuffy at all. The Chelsea location just so happens to be walking distance from my day job.It's a win-win for me!
What's your favorite restaurant?! Comment Below.