Red Hook Lobster Pound: Where DC Gets Its Lobster Rolls

Popping into the airport newsstand on my way to Washington, D.C., I debated whether or not to pick up the latest issue of Bon Appetit magazine. In the end, I decided it was a good way to spend my $5- and I am sure glad that I did.

Settled into my window seat, I pull out my crisp, new read and start flipping through the pages until something stoped me. The most beautiful of lobster rolls- a food I had yet to try. Looking closer at the photo's caption, I saw that this beautiful creation belonged to none other than Red Hook Lobster Pound food truck in Washington D.C.

This was obviously an act of God. Once we deplaned for our connecting flight I immediately started looking up this great food find to see how to get my hands on one.

Begun in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, the hubby and wife business owners drive to Maine weekly to bring their customers the freshest Maine lobsters and the tasty JJ Nissen buns in which they serve their catch. That is dedication you can taste!

To get your hands on one of these tasty rolls, you first have to find the truck. It helps to have your smartphone on you- Red Hook shares their latest pit stop on their Twitter account!

After getting some culture in at the American History Museum my first day in town, I decided I couldn't wait anymore- I had to have a lobster roll now! I whipped out my phone to see where the latest stop was. Alas! Precious lobster rolls stood only a mile away! The walk would be a breeze!

Or so I thought. Making our way past the Capital Building and the Washington Monument we noticed some storm clouds rolling in, but we kept on walking. And then it started to sprinkle just a little. And then... ouch! Yep, it hailed on us.

Nothing was going to come between me and my lobster roll- after all it was fate that I have one! We forged on- wet, cold and with a few dings here and there. Finally, as the sun was starting to peek from behind the clouds we found what we had been searching for.

You would think that the weather would deter customers but in fact there was a long line of equally damp patrons waiting for their piece of Maine. That means it's gonna be good.

The truck offered your traditional lobster roll Maine-style (with mayo) or Connecticut-style (with warm butter) as well as shrimp rolls, clam chowder, and whoopie pies. They also dispensed Maine Root soda from the side of the truck with flavors such as orange creme, sasparilla, and root beer. If you find it in your local Whole Foods- buy some! This all natural, handcrafted soda is really something special!

Now to the Maine event, if you will:

Big chunks of sweet lobster- including claw meat- tossed lightly in mayo, seasoned ever so slightly and complimented by a perfectly toasty, buttery bun. I practically died. If they weren't $15 I would have had another!

This was well worth taking an ice pellet to the head.

In D.C. anytime soon? Whatever you do, don't leave without tracking down this food truck. Who knows, you might even see some historic monuments in the process!

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Travel Lust: Savannah, Georgia

There is something absolutely enchanting about the South. Whether it's the buttery accent, the good food or purely the Southern charm, it is some place I have dreamed of exploring and Savannah, Georgia would have to be one of my stops.

 A short distance from the Atlantic coast, Savannah sits upon a river bearing the same name.

The city is brimming with charming squares in which to sit and soak up the Southern sun- there are over 20 in the Historic District.

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I would love to see the ancient live oak trees draped in Spanish moss- how picturesque!

 The homes here are so charming, they almost rot your teeth. I imagine you could find some very charming bed and breakfasts in which to stay.

A short distance from the city center is Tybee Island- can you imagine the wonderful seafood you could get here?

Of course I couldn't visit Savannah without heading to Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons. And I can only imagine the plethora of amazing Southern eateries that I don't know about!

 Savannah is a must do for me- have you been? Is it at charming as it looks?


Photos from: indiranac.looingforwhitman.org, igougo.com, remote-galaxy.com, iaes.com, rv-raodtrips.thefuntimesguide.com, homeaway.com, savannahvisit.com

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Spiceology: Where Tulsa Gets Its Spice On

Looking for an exotic spice to add to your collection or a hard to find herb to complete a recipe? Head to Spiceology in Tulsa's Farm Shopping Center at 51st and Sheridan!

Opened at the beginning of the year, the owners of this specialty store get their herbs, spices, and seasonings straight from their sources and bottle them in the shop.

From more familiar seasonings such as anise and oregano to exotic spices that send me clamoring for Google- Ethiopian Berbere and ras el hanout- this shop has a little something for everyone with new items in frequently. Along with providing quality ingredients, the store produces its own custom blends with catchy names, such as My Big Fat Greek Seasoning and Mambo Italiano. You can also pick up a prepackaged spice box with an assortment of seasonings that play on a particular cuisine- makes a great gift!

Catching my eye was their array of flavored sea salts- rose, alderwood smoked, chipotle, and balsamic. I wonder what great things you could do with those? Maybe freshly cracked atop creamy ricotta spread on a slice of toasted French bread to really showcase their flavor!

I visited this store in search of a particular seasoning- cardamom, commonly used in Indian cuisine. I easily found what I needed but I wasn't quite sure how much I would need for my recipe (you'll hear about that later!). Expressing my concern to the shop owner, she quickly looked up a similar recipe so that I could ensure I had enough for my dish. Now that's service! The greatest part about my purchase- it was a fraction of the cost of buying it at Whole Foods!

Spiceology really has something great going on- fresh, unique products at fair prices. Since my trip into the store, Amanda Gettys, the store's Executive Manager, has informed me that they have added great seasoning accessories to their offerings such as mortar and pestles, shakers and grinders. Sadly, food samples are not an option for them right now- probably a good thing or else I might eat through all their stock! Can't wait to see what else is to come for this great little shop!

To get more information on Spiceology, you can visit their Twitter or Facebook pages! Show some love and follow them!

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Travel Lust: Rome

This week's Travel Lust is not about a place I wish to go but a place to which I wish I could go back: Rome, Italy. I am so thankful I was able to spend a semester there in college and have some of the most amazing experiences. Rome is a magical city. Enjoy some of my photos I took when I was there!

There is always something ancient lurking around every corner in Rome, like Largo Argentina. Ancient temples make a surprising appearance at the middle of this busy thoroughfare. This also happens to be where stray cats are kept- we called it the Cat Sanctuary!

The Pantheon is one of my favorite monuments in Rome. And down a nearby cobbled street you will find the best espresso granita on the planet.

Staring up at the oculus, you cannot help but be in awe of the building's perfection. And to think they accomplished that without our modern technologies!

Another Roman favorite: the Trevi Fountain. Brings to mind scenes from Roman Holiday and The Lizzie McGuire Movie La Dolce Vita.

From the Colosseum, you can walk straight into the Roman Forum.

I used to know what most of the ruins in this picture are, but it has been a long time since Art History!

Let's not forget the iconic Spanish Steps. Grab a refreshing drink from the fountain at its base and then stroll down the street ahead and window shop at fancy designer stores.

When you need a break from the big city, head to the Borghese Gardens and take a row boat out on the pond. A perfect get away.

Of course, a trip to Rome wouldn't be complete without plenty of espresso, pasta, panini, and gelato!

Have you spent time in Rome? Do you dream of some day visiting?

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Foreign Food: Fennel, Potato and Lemoned Goat Cheese Tart

My quest to broaden my culinary horizons continues. This week's foreign food: fennel.

 I know very little about fennel. I've eaten it once or twice and I can identify it in the grocery store- that's about it. When it came to choosing my next foreign food, this dish was mainly inspired by a delicious lemony goat cheese I'd had, not the fennel itself. Shame on me! Now that I've tried my hand at preparing fennel, it's coming close to knocking leeks out of the number one vegetable spot.

Fennel consists of a pearly bulb topped with fluffy green fronds and has a shocking anise, or black licorice, flavor that mellows as it cooks. It can be eaten raw, sauteed, braised, fried... even in ice cream. Even if you think you don't like the flavor of licorice, you should try this vegetable- it will surprise you.

The foundation of this recipe came from one I found published in the New York Times about five years ago. From there, I had an idea of how much of each ingredient I would need and how to get the goat cheese lovely, smooth, and into the pastry crust.

I warn you, there do seem to be a lot of steps in this recipe but the result is delicious and elegant! Remembering to preheat your oven will save you some time, too... oops!

To get started, begin thawing your puff pastry dough and slice up all of your veggies. Because the fennel bulb has so many layers, it can be kinda tricky to slice. I recommend using a mandolin if you have  one! If not, start by cutting the bulb in half, make your thin slices and then cut those slices in half. Much easier than quartering it first!

Isn't it pretty??

Next, the vegetables get cooked. After sauteing the fennel in olive oil, it becomes soft and the anise flavor is no longer bright and bold but warm and mellow. You could just stop here and have a delicious side dish!

The potatoes are first boiled until tender then they are browned on both sides to add to both their texture and flavor. I did try one tart without browning the potatoes- it really is worth it!

While the vegetable are cooking, the pastry gets rolled out and prepared to become a tart. The edges are folded in to create a rim, holes are poked on the bottom to prevent it from rising, and it's given an egg wash. I love store-bought puff pastry- so easy!

To make the luscious goat cheese filling, the cheese gets beaten with some eggs and lemon zest. The eggs with help the filling set up when it's baked. This is a great place to play around with different cheeses and flavorings!

After the pastry crusts get baked to golden brown, the goat cheese mixture is poured into the crusts and back into the oven it goes.

Once the filling is set up, the tart gets topped with the yummy vegetables. First, a layer of potatoes, then the tender fennel and for a little extra something- a sprinkling of pine nuts and crumbled goat cheese. Back into the oven to warm everything through!

After the tart is warm, you'll notice it is a little monochromatic. Grab those fennel stalks and top the tarts with the wispy fennel fronds for a pop of color and flavor.

Isn't that gorgeous?

Serve this tart along side a fresh salad (using the leftover lemons for dressing) for a light meal or serve it as an elegant appetizer. It's also very good cold out of the fridge...

Want some other ideas for what to do with this vegetable? Check these out:

• Blood orange fennel salad from Evil Chef Mom. Looks so fresh and flavorful!
• Cauliflower, fennel, and white bean winter salad from The Kitchn. Wonderfully creamy!
• Simple but delicious braised fennel from the Gluten Free Girl.
• And for the brave- fennel ice cream from Gourmet Magazine. Intriguing!

What are your favorite fennel recipes? Please share!


Fennel, Potato and Lemoned Goat Cheese Tart
Serves 8-10 people

1 fennel bulb
3-4 medium yellow potatoes
8oz goat cheese, 2 oz reserved
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/4 c pine nuts, toasted
Puff pastry, one sheet

1. Preheat oven at 400 degrees. Thaw pastry dough per package instructions.
2. Slice off top and bottom of fennel, reserving fronds. Slice thinly into quaters.
3. Wash potatoes and slice into 1/8" rounds. Put in pot and cover with cold water. Bring to boil and simmer 4-5 minutes until tender. Drain and place on towel to dry. Be careful not to break rounds.
4. Melt 1-2 tbs butter into 1-2 tbs olive oil over medium heat. Saute fennel until soft but not browned, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan.
5. Melt 1-2 tbs butter in pan and turn heat to high. Cook potatoes in small batches until browned, approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towel.
6. Roll out pastry to 10"x14" and slice in half lengthwise.
7. Beat egg to use as wash. Apply wash to outer edges and fold in pastry dough to form 1/4" border. Prick bottom of pastry with fork and apply egg wash to entire pasty. Bake 10 minutes until pale brown.
8. Combine 8oz cheese, lemon zest, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper with electric mixer.
9. When pastry is cooked, pour cheese mixture into each pastry shell and bake 4 minutes until set.
10. Layer potato slices on top of filling, top with fennel, crumbled goat cheese, and pine nuts.
11. Return to oven and broil on low 2-3 minutes until it's warmed through.
12. Top with fennel fronds and serve immediately.

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