Clint's October Apple hang

clinthopson · September-24th-2007, 02:45 PM

As I posted in some long lost thread, we're coming to the Apple on Oct. 9 and we want to have a hang at our apartment in the East Village on Saturday, the 13th. The address is 264 E. 10th.

One and all are invited. I'll be whipping up some authentic Mexican chow, Oaxaca style.

Of course, it would help for guests to bring their beverage of choice.

I figure sixish is a good time to get started.

Please let me know if you are coming so I can kill the necessary amount of pigs.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-24th-2007, 02:49 PM

I'm there. Will bring liquid refreshments.

jazzy mary · September-24th-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

As I posted in some long lost thread, we're coming to the Apple on Oct. 9 and we want to have a hang at our apartment in the East Village on Saturday, the 13th. The address is 264 E. 10th.

One and all are invited. I'll be whipping up some authentic Mexican chow, Oaxaca style.

Of course, it would help for guests to bring their beverage of choice.

I figure sixish is a good time to get started.

Please let me know if you are coming so I can kill the necessary amount of pigs.

I wouldn't miss it for the world!!

hornplayer · September-24th-2007, 03:13 PM

I'm in, and probably Renee, too... but a little later than six cause I have a gig in Paramus that day and it takes a while to pack up and get home from there...

Shall we bring music as well as refreshments?

clinthopson · September-24th-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hornplayer

I'm in, and probably Renee, too... but a little later than six cause I have a gig in Paramus that day and it takes a while to pack up and get home from there...

Shall we bring music as well as refreshments?

Why not.

I'll have my ipod hooked up but I understand the apartment has a Victrola.

Pete C · September-24th-2007, 04:29 PM

Unfortunately I have an anniversary dinner to attend that evening.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 12:35 PM

Okay, since Pete can't make it on Saturday, I would like to propose that we get together on either Friday the 12th or Sunday the 14th. That is, if it's doable for everyone else involved. This way Pete will be able to join in. Besides, I'm pretty sure that Clint picked Saturday because it was convenient for me. I can easily change to one of the other days if it means more can attend. How about it June, Mary and Clint? Can we reschedule for either Friday or Sunday?

Pete C · September-28th-2007, 12:37 PM

And if it's a hardship for anyone, keep it Saturday--I don't want to cause a kerfuffle.

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 12:58 PM

Either day works for me. Probably Sunday would be preferable so I can kill more pigs.

But that being said, I'm sure Saturday would be better for Jimmy since he has to trek from Con-nec-ti-cut.

Ollie, come on over from N.J.!

I hope we can connect with Pete and Tip sometime during our stay. We arrive on the 9th and leave for Woodstock on the 19th.

As far as Jazz goes, we want to spend some time at the Vanguard for Marcial Solal, the Orch., and the Heaths.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Either day works for me. Probably Sunday would be preferable so I can kill more pigs.

But that being said, I'm sure Saturday would be better for Jimmy since he has to trek from Con-nec-ti-cut.

Ollie, come on over from N.J.!

I hope we can connect with Pete and Tip sometime during our stay. We arrive on the 9th and leave for Woodstock on the 19th.

As far as Jazz goes, we want to spend some time at the Vanguard for Marcial Solal, the Orch., and the Heaths.

Clint, I'm a little more than an hour away. No problem there. if it means that Pete can make it and it's okay with everyone else, Sunday is fine for me.

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 01:11 PM

I forget how close states are together back there. We have to drive for three hours just to get out of California.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 01:24 PM

I live in Fairfield County which is considered a suburb of NYC by some. It takes me less time to get to NYC than it does to get to the Connecticut casinos, which are at the other end of our tiny state closer to Rhode Island. Good thing I'm not a gambler.

Ron Thorne · September-28th-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

I forget how close states are together back there. We have to drive for three hours just to get out of California.

Ha, ha, ha, ha!

We drive three hours to get to the Kenai River for some world-class fly fishing. Three hours wouldn't even get us to the Canadian border if we were headed out of Alaska.

Sounds like a lot of fun is in store at Clint & Donna's Apple Hang. Wish we could join you. We'll be winging our way back to Alaska from California on October 9th.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 02:14 PM

I can get to either Boston or Philadelphia in less than three hours.

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Cantiello

I can get to either Boston or Philadelphia in less than three hours.

But, why, oh why would you want to go to Philadelphia

Hey, maybe you NYers can give me some leads on grocery shopping. I know there are a lot of markets in and around the East Village, are there any which you would recommend or advise me to stay away from? We usually stay in the upper West Side so I have done most of my shopping at Fairway or Zabar's. I don't think there's one any near the East Village. Butcher shops? How about the Tompkins Square farmers' market?

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

But, why, oh why would you want to go to Philadelphia

Philly's a great town. Just ask Pete. Lotsa good reasons to visit besides the fact that my son lives there.

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Hey, maybe you NYers can give me some leads on grocery shopping. I know there are a lot of markets in and around the East Village, are there any which you would recommend or advise me to stay away from? We usually stay in the upper West Side so I have done most of my shopping at Fairway or Zabar's. I don't think there's one any near the East Village. Butcher shops? How about the Tompkins Square farmers' market?

Why don't you give Faicco's a try? It's right there in the Village at 260 Bleecker St.

Pete C · September-28th-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Cantiello

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Hey, maybe you NYers can give me some leads on grocery shopping. I know there are a lot of markets in and around the East Village, are there any which you would recommend or advise me to stay away from? We usually stay in the upper West Side so I have done most of my shopping at Fairway or Zabar's. I don't think there's one any near the East Village. Butcher shops? How about the Tompkins Square farmers' market?

Why don't you give Faicco's a try? It's right there in the Village at 260 Bleecker St.

That's the "other" side of town.

I don't know about the Tompkins Square Greenmarket--it might not be as good as Union Square.

There are Whole Foods (4 Union Square E. & 95 E. Houston) and Trader Joe's (142 E. 14th) in the neighborhood.

You might also want to check out the few remaining Polish & Ukrainian butchers and delis in the neighborhood (mostly 1st Ave between 4th & 9th).

Let me know if you need any restaurant rec's.

I plan to do Solal too, so we can possibly hook up at the Vanguard.

Also, I plan to see the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at Symphony Space on Thursday the 18th. They have apparently left Lincoln Center for a residency at Symphony Space, and more reasonable prices ($25-30).

And don't diss Philly! Great museum, great food, great historical city center.

jazzy mary · September-28th-2007, 03:28 PM

I just realized that I'm out of town (a long standing engagement). Darn. How long will you be in NYC, Clint? I'm free the weekend before & after!

Jimmy Cantiello · September-28th-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

That's the "other" side of town.

Mere blocks, my friend. I think when it comes to pork Faicco's could hook him up with the "real thing". Matter of fact, Clint should check out Faicco's if only for a snack.

Mike Schwartz · September-28th-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

That's the "other" side of town.

I don't know about the Tompkins Square Greenmarket--it might not be as good as Union Square.

There are Whole Foods (4 Union Square E. & 95 E. Houston) and Trader Joe's (142 E. 14th) in the neighborhood.

You might also want to check out the few remaining Polish & Ukrainian butchers and delis in the neighborhood (mostly 1st Ave between 4th & 9th).

Let me know if you need any restaurant rec's.

I plan to do Solal too, so we can possibly hook up at the Vanguard.

Also, I plan to see the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at Symphony Space on Thursday the 18th. They have apparently left Lincoln Center for a residency at Symphony Space, and more reasonable prices ($25-30).

And don't diss Philly! Great museum, great food, great historical city center.

I had Arturo O'Farrill on the program a few weeks ago.

They're happy to be out of J@LC as they are receiving more support from other sources on education/outreach and bringing the music to public schools, receiving grants and such, and they're so far able to book more dates under the new organization.

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 04:12 PM

Pete,

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm not a fan of Whole Foods, way overpriced. Now Trader Joe's is my local market of choice. I plan on checking it out to compare. Out here, it's the primo place for dairy products, cheese, artesian bread and cheap French wine. Of course they have Two Buck Chuck, but I won't comment. I think we'll have to check out Faiicos when were on the west side of town.

We're thinking about Solal on either Thursday or Friday, any preferences? Should I make reservations? I can make them on the net.

Since we're leaving the morning of the 19th, we'll probably keep a low profile on Thursday the 18th.

As far as restaurants go, what was that Italian place that we enjoyed so much? Our other dining plans include Piccolo Angelo, Keen's and Momofuku (pork rules!).

Any thoughts?

Pete C · September-28th-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Pete,

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm not a fan of Whole Foods, way overpriced. Now Trader Joe's is my local market of choice. I plan on checking it out to compare. Out here, it's the primo place for dairy products, cheese, artesian bread and cheap French wine. Of course they have Two Buck Chuck, but I won't comment. I think we'll have to check out Faiicos when were on the west side of town.

We're thinking about Solal on either Thursday or Friday, any preferences? Should I make reservations? I can make them on the net.

Since we're leaving the morning of the 19th, we'll probably keep a low profile on Thursday the 18th.

As far as restaurants go, what was that Italian place that we enjoyed so much? Our other dining plans include Piccolo Angelo, Keen's and Momofuku (pork rules!).

Any thoughts?

Thursday is probably better for Solal--less crowded.

I think you went to Roberto Passon without me. As long as you're downtown, I'd recommend Bianca.

I'd avoid Momofuku--uncomfortable, overpriced and overrated. Al in NYC agrees.

It's Piccolo Angolo (little corner, not little Angelo).

I highly recommend Itzocan Cafe while you're in the neighborhood. The huitlacoche corn souffle cake is amazing:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete on Word of Mouth

The restaurant is quite small, seating 14 with a minuscule kitchen that miraculously holds two cooks and turns out some pretty good and interesting food. The scale of the place reminds me of a Lyonnais bouchon. The chef/owners are Mexicans from Puebla (I believe New York’s Mexican community is majority Poblano) who had previously worked in the kitchens of French restaurants. They decided to strike out on their own with a fusion menu. Now as you know I’m a fusion skeptic, but somehow cuisines of the Americas fuse with European ones more successfully than do Asian cuisines, perhaps because most western hemisphere cuisines already have a European basis at the core. Ultimately, I’d describe the food at Itzocan as Mexican-accented French, rather than vice versa.

The most rewarding item we tried was the sweet corn and huitlacoche souffle cake with truffle oil. This dish was incredibly sensual (bordering on erotic) in both taste and texture. A forkful, or a spoonful, of this light, custardy, but lighter than custard, moist, foamy concoction caresses the entirety of the mouth and gullet as it makes its inevitable way to the digestive tract. Its bouquet is at once complex and subtle, its mix of flavors a stroke of culinary genius, the sweet corn base providing a cozy bed upon which the aromatic huitlacoche and truffle flavors are allowed to have their way with each other. Huitlacoche, by the way, is a kind of fungus that grows on corn, and is a Mexican delicacy. So the dish is even a marriage of new and old world fungi.

Also wonderful, if not nearly so transcendent, was the grilled asparagus salad with Oaxacan cheese (a mozzarella-like white cheese) and mango, served with mesclun greens in a passion fruit vinaigrette.

The least successful appetizer was the queso fundido, a fondue of melted cheese, mushrooms, poblano peppers, and chorizo. Howard’s wife Pat hit the nail on the head when she described it as pizza topping without the crust.

For my main course I ordered the braised flank steak in Burgundy, with pasilla chiles, served with semolina epazote dumplings. Basically, we’re talking about a spin on boeuf Bourguinon, with only the subtlest chile influence. Epazote is a Mexican herb that if used liberally can have a musty taste, but used sparingly added an interesting, aromatic accent to the hearty, doughy dumplings. The serving was enormous, and though I quite enjoyed it, the heimish solidity was a bit of culture shock after the lithe souffle and asparagus appetizers. Next time I think I’ll try the shrimp sauteed with aged tequila, lime juice and guajillo chiles.

Pete C · September-28th-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

They're happy to be out of J@LC as they are receiving more support from other sources on education/outreach and bringing the music to public schools, receiving grants and such, and they're so far able to book more dates under the new organization.

That's great. And people who want to hear the music, instead of JALC sheep, can afford tickets.

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 04:39 PM

I'll take your advice to heart about Momofuku.

That Mexican place sounds interesting. We may give it a shot. We don't get that much Poblano style out here, it's mostly Sonoran and Michoacan.

Most of my Mexican cooking these days is Oaxacan, Poblano and Yucatecan.

BTW, epazote is the secret to fartless beans, and that's the truth.

I always get Piccolo Angolo's name wrong. We had a wondeful dinner there a couple of years ago with our kids.

Of course, we will be strolling down to Katz' for some pastrami, probably the first day in town. The tragedy is that both of our appetites have diminished with old age so we'll probably split one of the huge sandwiches.

Pete C · September-28th-2007, 04:52 PM

Clint, why don't you keep the hang for Saturday, and we can catch up at the Vanguard, and maybe dinner before.

Itzocan, as I mentioned, isn't really traditional Poblano, but Poblano-French fusion. There's a good Poblano hole in the wall in Hell's Kitchen called Tulcingo del Valle (the name of a town).

clinthopson · September-28th-2007, 08:04 PM

OK, we'll keep it Saturday.

Thursday at the Vanguard it is.

Dinner before sounds fine. Pete, your call.

clinthopson · September-29th-2007, 01:11 PM

Pete, I made reservations for two for Solal on Thursday (they charge four bucks a head extra on line) figuring you didn't want to spend the extra bread.

How about Piccolo Angolo for dinner? It's pretty close to the Vanguard. I know they book up pretty early so if you want, we should make reservations soon.

Pete C · September-29th-2007, 01:56 PM

Clint, I PM'd ya.

hornplayer · September-30th-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

But, why, oh why would you want to go to Philadelphia

Hey, maybe you NYers can give me some leads on grocery shopping. I know there are a lot of markets in and around the East Village, are there any which you would recommend or advise me to stay away from? We usually stay in the upper West Side so I have done most of my shopping at Fairway or Zabar's. I don't think there's one any near the East Village. Butcher shops? How about the Tompkins Square farmers' market?

Saturday's the only day I can make it. I have to prep my gig on Friday night, and already made other plans for sunday.

As for shopping, Clint, I'd suggest the Union Square Greenmarket on Saturday morning. It's just chock full of fabulous everything, including pig... My friend Ted Blew has the green and white tents on 17th street, and his pork is the best in the tri state area! Then, there's Whole foods across 14th street, and Trader Joe's down the street from Whole Foods, to complete what you can't find at the Greenmarket. imho the combo backs Fairway off the map.....