The Culinary Couple

I’ve mentioned before that no Wiley can resist the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. So what better dessert to serve after our cookout than one featuring this duo?

The whoopie pie is a Pennsylvania Amish tradition and consists of fluffy filling sandwiched between two small round cakes. My grandma has been baking these little treats for years, but recently they’ve become almost as trendy as cupcakes. In fact, there are now cookbooks totally devoted to “making whoopie.”

Also important to note: Whoopie pies are always washed down with a glass (or sippy cup) of milk.

Taking a break from regularly scheduled programming today (a.k.a. road trip recaps) to share two recipes from this past weekend. (Also debuting a new printable recipe feature! See below.)

We hosted two sisters, two nephews, and two dogs for three days.

We played Bananagrams and read books and ran around the playground and watched Avatar. Nick’s comment after our guests left on Saturday afternoon: “I’m exhausted.” My reply: “Just wait until we have kids of our own.”

We served our favorite stir fry on Thursday night and prepared traditional picnic dishes for a Friday night cookout, including burgers, sweet corn, and roasted potato salad.

We first tasted this potato salad on Memorial Day at Lake Anna. I tend to gravitate towards warm versions of the popular summer side dish made with herbs and mustards. More German than American, of course. And this recipe is right up my alley – Nick’s, too.

How do you like your potato salad?

En route from New York to Canada, we rehearsed simple French phrases like bonjour, au revoir, s’il vous plaît, and merci. And when we stopped for our first bathroom break in the province of Québec, Nick successfully asked, “Où se trouvent les toilettes?”

In fact, we were so engrossed in our French lessons that we missed our exit for Autoroute 20 east. You see, we didn’t have our GPS to reply upon because it lost service when we crossed the border. So I refocused my attention on my map reading responsibilities and soon we were cruising along in the correct direction past John Deeres plowing flat farm fields and strip malls with McDonalds and Ashley Meubles (Ashley Furnitures) and Home Depots.

After seven hours in the car, we were thankful to finally arrive in Old Quebec (which refers to the part of the city within the walls). We had just over 24 hours to explore before we headed back west to Montreal, so we dropped off our luggage in our (tiny, but comfortable) room in the Hotel Clarendon and headed along Rue Sainte-Anne towards the Lower Town.

The Lower Town is filled with streets and buildings dating back to the city’s 17th century beginnings. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608 and named it after the Algonquin word Kébec, meaning “where the river narrows” — in reference to the Saint Lawrence River.

The history of Quebec City is well preserved, and the neighborhood is vibrant and energetic and, at times, eclectic.

We walked the narrow cobblestone streets and wondered into art galleries and jewelry shops and clothing boutiques. And I furiously snapped photos of the unique French signs — both stylish and true to the history of the place.

And from every vantage point in the Lower Town, the most prominent feature in Quebec City is visible: the Château Frontenac. It opened in 1863 and is the most photographed hotel in the world (wikipedia) — thanks to plenty of help from us (more photos to come).

Next up: The crazy pig

The highlight of our July 4th was the BBQ and Dessert Festival. It was the ideal way to eat at seven restaurants in Saratoga Springs for less than $10 per person. Here’s the lineup and our reviews (out of 4 stars):

• Steamed oysters topped with BBQ sauce and bacon from Saratoga Gaming & Raceway: Sufficiently steamed, but could have used more kick. 2 stars

• BBQ meatballs from The Grey Gelding: A mix of pork, beef, veal, and lamb marinated in apricot BBQ sauce, Caribbean spices, and rum. Big and tasty and meaty and messy. 3 stars

• BBQ ribs from Cantina: Nice flavor, but poor cuts of meat. 2 stars

• Dry rubbed ribs from Saratoga Salsa & Spice Company: So moist that the meat fell right off the bone (and nearly onto the floor). And the homemade sauce (which they were selling bottled — smart entrepreneurs) was finger-lickin, literally. 3 stars

• Hickory smoked pulled pork from Seven Horse Pub: The winning BBQ entry for us! Sweet and mild meat served with a vinegar-based sauce and a hunk of cornbread. A meal to make any Southern mama proud. 4 stars

• Beef and shrimp kebabs from The Parting Glass: Our least favorite of the day. But the Irish pub redeemed itself with professionally poured pints of black and tan. 1 star

• Blueberry peach cobbler from Circus Cafe: One of three desserts we tried, and the clear favorite. In fact, I would rank this dish above the pulled pork (though I think Nick would keep the meat in the top spot). My favorite seasonal fruit may be strawberries, but this dessert tasted like pure summer. The natural sweetness of the fruits really shined, and the biscuit-like cobbler melted in my mouth. The dish was was all hot and bubbly and may have been only slightly better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 4 stars

With very full bellies, we made our way back to Congress Park for the evening’s festivities. There was live music and cotton candy and glow sticks, and even Benjamin Franklin made an appearance. The fireworks display was not the best we’ve seen, but the atmosphere felt truly American.

Next up: Bonjour, Canada!

As part of the July 4th celebration in Saratoga Springs, the city offered a free historic tour. And so following our coffees and pastries, we congregated in Congress Park.

Most people believe fame arrived in Saratoga Springs on horseback. But before the races and the casinos, it was the area’s natural mineral springs that attracted crowds.

During the 19th century, wealthy Americans (like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers) spent their summers in Saratoga. They took up residency in one of the many luxurious resorts and indulged in the healing powers of the springs (from curing skin ailments to improving digestion to strengthening the blood).

{source}

In its day the Grand Union Hotel was the largest in the world. Visitors enjoyed golf and polo, orchestras and balls. And neighboring Congress Hall boasted the most expensive restaurant in the world (also where the club sandwich originated).

In 1863 the horses came to town, along with many more visitors with lots of money to spend — and so emerged the casinos and the gambling facilities.

Unfortunately Saratoga Springs lost some prestige during the 1940s when two of its most grandiose hotels burned to the ground. But the city revived itself in the 1960s and it remains a popular destination today.

{Adelphi Hotel}

We weren’t in town during race season, but we did taste that famous water.

There are 17 public springs in Saratoga. Each one is naturally carbonated and has a unique taste, depending on the depth of the well. For example, Congress Spring is just slightly salty, but Hathorn Spring smells strongly of sulfur. I sipped the Congress water, but only Nick was brave enough to sample from Hathorn.

And, yes, we did see several people filling gallon jugs to take home.

We also sampled less holistic (but arguably more tasty) cocktails that afternoon: an espresso martini for me and a Saratoga lager for Nick (from the Adelphi Hotel, pictured above).

Next up: BBQ and cobbler and fireworks

I believe a fraternity invaded our modest motel on Saturday night. We awoke after just after midnight to the all too familiar intoxicated conversation and clicking heels, and the next morning we followed a trail of crushed Miller Lite cans from our doorstep, down the stairs, and into the parking lot.

We needed coffee in a big way. And sweets. And so off to Mrs. London’s Bakery we went.

The charming café on Broadway offers a vast selection of gourmet danishes, scones, croissants, tarts, cakes, and more.

After much deliberation, I chose a chocolate croissant, and Nick selected a cranberry cream scone. I could have used more nuggets of dark chocolate in my croissant (when is that not the case), but the pastry itself was perfectly buttery and flaky — and it was nearly as large as my head.

Nick’s choice was also a smart one. It was dense and slightly sweet — just as a scone should be.

We scored a tiny table near the window and contentedly sipped our coffee while watching patrons filter in and out the door. Women with ponytails and belly bumps or trendy slings with sleeping infants snuggled inside. Men wearing ball caps and Sperrys and pushing strollers. Toddlers with curls and rosy cheeks. It was tough not to contract baby fever in the corner of that café — for both genders of this young newlywed couple.

Not only are the wide sidewalks of Saratoga Springs ideal for pushing strollers, they’re also convenient for walking dogs. We saw dogs of every color, size, and breed — including a Bernese Mountain Dog that Nick promptly chased down the street.

We wondered in and out of art galleries and card shops and, of course, we found a store stocked with kitchen goodies.

And then we stumbled upon Putnam Market — another gem in Saratoga Springs. They promote themselves as “the best food and wine between Manhattan and Montreal.” Unfortunately, we arrived a bit too early to fully take advantage of the free sniffs and samples (a la our favorite Ann Arbor establishment: Zingermans).

Mrs. London’s Bakery
464 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY

Putnam Market
435 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY

Next up: The water that put Saratoga on the map

The Friday before our road trip was a frantic one. There was work to do (from home, fortunately), last minute items to purchase (walking shoes for him and walking shoes for her), suitcases to pack, and — believe it or not — beer to bottle.

That’s right, we realized only hours before we were due to leave the country for a week that the bucket of yeast and hops brewing in our garage had to be carbonated and bottled — like, yesterday.

Begrudgingly, we started the process at 10:30pm and finished by midnight, but let’s leave the details for another post by the brewmaster, himself, shall we? Moving on to Saturday morning.

We departed D-ville early with a tank full of gas and mugs of hot hazelnut coffee. We opted for the scenic route to upstate New York, which took us through state forests and farm fields and past roadside BBQs.

Before arriving at our final destination, we stopped in Clifton Park — the old stomping grounds of the Wiley family. Nick lived there between the ages of 1 and 4, and his former neighbors were thrilled to see him (and his beautiful bride).

We then continued 20 miles north to Saratoga Springs and arrived at our humble motel just outside of Congress Park. The accommodations left much to be desired, but we chose it for its location and affordability.

We may have settled for an uncomfortable double bed and paper thin walls, but we splurged on dinner. (That’s usually how we roll.)

Chianti Il Ristorante came highly recommended by a few ladies (not to mention this one), and it did not disappoint.

We opted to sit in the comfortable, cool indoor space despite the allure of the alleyway turned elegant Italian sidewalk bistro. (There was just not enough breeze to make the curtains dance and the candles flicker.)

The first sight upon entering Chianti is an open kitchen where chefs dressed in their whites produce a delightful aroma of seafood and sauces.

We were escorted into the main dining space where small round tables placed side-by-side evoke the ambiance of a intimate Italian café. Wine racks line the warm red walls, and rustic Mediterranean decor is scattered throughout. It was bustling, but not overwhelmingly so.

A charming waiter took our cocktail orders: a mojito for Nick and a caipirinha for me. The muddled mint leaves and lime juice of Nick’s choice was refreshing, but I had hoped for a stronger strawberry taste in mine. (Because you know I love strawberries.)

Onto the main event.

We started with the house antipasto: sautéed zucchini and spinach, roasted fennel, stacks of tomato and mozzarella, beef kebabs, grilled shrimp, eggplant wrapped around chunks of Gorgonzola, and bruschetta. Each bite was unique and flavorful, but the star of the plate, for us, was the fennel. It was sweet and delicate and melted on our tongues.

Next we shared the featured appetizer: calamari steamed in its own ink and served with polenta. Now we have both eaten and enjoyed a variety of calamari — battered and breaded, deep fried and grilled — but never in its own black ink. But it is a common Mediterranean method of preparation, so we gave it a try.

The ink sauce was slightly bitter, but surprisingly tasty. (Of course, garlic and wine and butter has the power to make any dish a good one.)

Finally, the main course. We knew we’d be full from our smorgasbord of appetizers, so we shared the featured pasta dish: fettuccine with radicchio and porcini mushrooms sautéed in red wine with crumbles of prosciutto in a white wine sauce topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

The duo of wines gave the dish an incredible depth of flavor, and I believe I could have eaten an entire bowl of just the radicchio and porcinis.

After dinner we strolled along Caroline Street, though we were too satiated to partake in any of the nightlife. But before retreating to our motel, we did take our first taste of Saratoga’s famous mineral water.

Chianti Il Ristorante
18 Division Street
Saratoga Springs, NY

Next up: Croissants and coffees

Dear Canada,

We thank you for your hospitality.

For leading us along the cobblestone streets of Quebec City and into its quaint bistros and boutiques.

For forgiving our feeble French accents when ordering crevettes and croissants and crepes.

For providing pints of your microbrasseries: blondes, rousses, and lagers au miel (with honey).

For offering relief from the sweltering sun along the St. Lawrence River.

For sharing with us a spectacular natural wonder.

And for introducing us to a quintessential British village just five hours north of our Pennsylvania home.

Jusqu’à ce que nous nous reverrons. (Until we meet again.)

Emily and Nick

Stay tuned for a full road trip recap and many, many more photos!

Thanks to the lovely ladies who participated in last week’s giveaway. You made my heart warm and my mouth water! From Sarah’s black bean salsa to Maggie’s backyard pig roast to Emily’s butter cookies to Alyssa’s seafood linguine to Stephanie’s cinnamon rolls to Melissa’s chicken noodle soup to Beth’s Yankee doodle bake to Gcroft’s spicy crabs. You and your families obviously share my passion for food!

And now onto the winners. Random.org helped me to select the two winning entries:

Congratulations, Kelly! Kelly is a fellow runner and is planning a fall wedding full of homemade, rustic details I love oh so much. Her favorite food memory is “homemade donuts my mom would make on snow days. They were the best!”

Congratulations, Kathleen! Kathleen is a newlywed who honeymooned in Quebec City and Montreal and shared plenty of good tips before our own trip. Her current favorite family recipe is her dad’s french toast. “It’s not like you get at restaurants — after you batter the bread and griddle it, you coat the whole piece of bread in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. SO DELICIOUS.”

I’ll email you both about your prizes. And I hope you enjoy glimpses into our family histories and recipes from our kitchen!

P.S. I apologize to those of you whose comments did not show up until tonight! For some unknown reason, they were flagged as spam, and I was not able to approve them until I returned home from vacation. I promise to resolve the issue!

A few weeks ago, we hosted our first cookout in our new home. We served burgers and brats and a variety of sides, including this sweet, crunchy slaw.

I never would have thought to pair carrots with pineapples and raisins, but the trio makes quite a tasty combination.

What’s your favorite summer slaw recipe?

Ingredients