Mr Steamy.

So, unfortunately, if you haven't seen the informercial product the subtle hilarity of this title is lost on you. My family celebrated Christmas at my sister's apt in BK. She prepared a delicious spread and I felt full for days. My Mom, my sister, and I all have different approaches to food which is brilliant because I always pick up some new ideas when we spend time together. {food is a regular subject.} One of the stand out, "ah that's a good idea," dishes was steamed salmon. I found myself thinking, wait why don't I have a steamer? It would certainly make shit easier and healthier. I think it's also a merit badge on my Food Nerd Merit Badge Sash. {Shit, now I actually want one of them.}

As you can imagine, I've been steaming veggies like crazy. First bunches upon bunches of broccoli then I moved onto every kid's favorite, brussel sprouts.

Meet the newest addition to the kitchen gadget family.

Gorgeous!

I sliced the piping hot brussels in half then sauteed them in a 

pan with butter, red onions, chopped garlic, and sea salt. 

So f'n good!

Just An FYI . . .

This is my new bitch and my new theme song.

Somewhere btwn Frankfurt & New York

September 2009

2010 Fav Flix!

So last year I composed a list of 25 movies I loved and recommended to people just starting to get into the film world. I watched so many many flix in 2010, what was life before Netflix, and therefore felt compelled to make a new list of my top favs. You can always email me for the complete rundown. Here are my top five. Wait, let me just say the first three a brilliant for the score alone. Alright, now look:

1.  Umberto D. (1952) It's a very simple premise, an old Italian pensioner is struggling to pay his rent. There is something about the feel of this movie that makes you fall in love with it. For me it's the score, Carlo Battisti's subtle yet emotive performance, and the gorgeous shots of an Italian town in a state of decay. Oh Umberto, you've got my heart. Here's a clip:



2. A very, very close second is Fellini's I Vitelloni (1953). Watch the trailer. I'd say Scorsese's quote captures the film best.




3. Elevator to the Gallows (1958), is about the coolest suspense movie you will ever see. Miles Davis is the soundtrack which gives this film noir/French New Wave Masterpiece a warm breezy flow.  Peep the trailer and don't even try to tell me it's not some sexy shit!



4. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) - So we'll stay in Paris, because it's wonderful there and the French make brilliant movies. Charlie is a piano player who's swept back into his criminal family's drama without warning. We learn about his professional career, past loves, and regrets in two days of his life. The trailer's a bit funky but the movie is grand!




5. A Prophet (2009) Whoaaaaa, wait 2009? Ms Christiana doesn't only watch old movies? Answer to that, sometimes. And films like this made me realize there is some really good shit out there now that I'm missing out on. Netflix threw this movie my way and honestly, I only watched it because it's French. And let me tell you something friends, it is no joke. Tahar Rahim plays Malik, a young North African new to the French prison system. He is muscled into working for the Corsican gang which places him at odds with the Arab community. That's just a basic synopsis, it goes really deep from there. The directing and cinematography is bold, inventive, and exhilarating. And hey, it's in color!

All That Glitters . . .

     May be my golden photo wall! My photo wall is a major part of my gallery like uptown apt. I got the idea late last year to create a grid of 36 photos that visitors can re-arrange to their liking. And then about a year later I firmly decided to paint my massive 10'X17' wall gold. I get these romantic visions in my head and I'm telling ya, I just go for it. The first attempt was extremely disappointing. DO NOT USE Ralph Lauren Metallics! The paint is heavy and very hard to apply well. My bright apt became so dark and I literally ripped all the paint off the wall. The photo wall was in a state of chaotic limbo. 

About a week later I was fortunate enough to meet two warm and helpful interior designers. {Huge shoutout to Tim & Stuart!} The suggested checking out metallic colors at Benjamin Moore, which worked out brilliantly. One of my neighbors, who is a contractor, painted the base and first coat {shoutout to Ant}. I put on the final coat while watching Muppets Take Manhattan on a chilly Monday morning. I adore it! The photo wall is just as I envisioned it. 

Later that evening, I framed, arranged, and nailed 38 new photos from 2010. One of my resolutions for the past year was to take 10,000 photos. The ones featured on the wall reflect some of the people, moments, and changes that impacted me. 

It took several gallons of paint, hundreds of dollars, and oodles of time, but I finally struck gold.

Don't Call it a Comeback!

First and foremost, Happy 2011 peeps! To put it frankly, 2010 was a shitty year for a lot of people. But hey, we got through it right? One of my last dishes of the year was courtesy of Mark Bitman once again. I'm not the biggest fan of gnocchi, but there was something about Bitman's Ricotta Gnocchi recipe that appealed to me. Here's how it went down:

Scoop out pasta dough, I used a tablespoon and fingers. Add the dough to a large pot of boiling water.

Then transfer to a small pan and sautee in a pan with fresh sage. 

So you'll notice my gnocchi is darker than Mr. Bitman's. There is an awful lot of multi-tasking involved with this dish. I got distracted and the gnocchi started to brown. I thought they looked even more beautiful and it added another texture to the dish.  

I diced some campari tomatoes then simmered them in a pan for a few minutes. The lightness and sweetness of the tomatoes were a perfect contrast to the saltiness of the cheese. 

Superb!

First Photo of the Week of 2011.

M Train btwn BK & Manhattan