Hoosier Mama Pie > All Its Cracked Up to Be

I don't know about you, but I'd take pie or any fruit-based dessert over the trendy cupcake any day. Lauren doesn't consider anything a dessert unless there's chocolate involved (fair point), but there's just something I love about the humble pie.

I finally got the chance to try Hoosier Mama Pie Company, bringing three huge pies home for Christmas last month. I used the excuse over the holidays to place my pre-order before they sold out for the season and the wait, and price (around $25 a pie), was still worth it. I grabbed a classic apple, coconut cream and a sour cream dutch apple, with the dutch apple being my favorite. 

The storefront is teeny tiny with two itsy tables, but it's adorable, friendly, and they offer pie flights! 

London Eats > Barrafina

Chicken thigh with romesco sauce

This is a long overdue post, but I'll keep it short since the photos do more justice than words. I went to London last month and went to the lovely Barrafina for dinner in Soho. Teresa and I sat outside and went to town on the tapas menu. Every dish was more delicious than the last, and it was made even better with never-ending glasses of wine, sitting outside and people watching. If you ever find yourself in London, Barrafina is a must!

Razor clams

Pan con tomate

Octopus with capers

Classic tortilla

Brill

Chocolate tart 

Easy Dinners > Miso Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

Ever since the juice detox I did a few weeks ago, I have been craving fish like crazy. I know, there could be worse things to crave. Like cigarettes, tater tots or poutine, for example. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I haven't had any meat but have been consuming sea bass, shrimp and salmon pretty much on a daily basis as an effect of the juice detox. As part of this fresh fish kick, I tweaked this Cooking Light salmon recipe and after making this four days in a row for dinner can safely say it is deeeeelicious. The edges get perfectly carmelized - it is the best part.

It's perfect for a weeknight meal and works well if you make it a day ahead to marinade and just grill or throw on a pan for dinner. Part of why I like it is because it tastes VERY similar to the Nobu miso black cod/sea bass recipe I am unnaturally obsessed with, only it's a more wallet-friendly weekday version! 

Ingredients:

• 6 TBS brown sugar (I used brown sugar Splenda blend)
• 6 TBS sake 
• 4 TBS low sodium soy sauce
• 2 TBS grated fresh ginger
• 2 TBS lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 6-ounce skinless salmon filets
• Thinly sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, for garnish 

Mix the first 6 ingredients in a long tupperware container. Roll salmon filets around the marinade, cover and leave in fridge for an hour, or better yet, a day before to soak up the flavors. 

When ready to cook, use a nonstick pan and spray with cooking spray. Turn heat to medium-high. Lay filets down on the pan, but don't pour the marinade over the fish in the pan as it will burn. Press the filets down a bit with a spatula so the outside of the filets get a nice sear. Don't worry if it gets a little smoky, you want that bit of char to get carmelized. Cook each side for about 4 minutes, or until preferred doneness.

When the second side has about 2 minutes left and has had its turn to get a good sear, take the remaining marinade left in your container and pour into the pan over the fish and to let the alcohol burn off and thicken a bit.

If you'd like, this is a good time to throw in spinach or green beans to cook in the marinade too. Once the veggies are done cooking, serve fish and veggies with brown rice and some spoonfuls of sauce. Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Taste Testing > Pico de Gap Food Truck

Lauren and I attended the lovely 20SB Summit held in our hometown Chicago this past weekend. On Day #2 of the Summit, Gap, a conference sponsor, provided lunch for attendees in between sessions with their cute Pico de Gap food truck! Yes, that Gap - the clothing store. In honor of their 1969 collection, the truck was waiting for us outside the Gleacher building where we got to sample their tacos: dry aged steak, chicken chorizo, queso fundido and pork belly. True to form, steak was my favorite. (If we hadn't gotten them for free, we would have paid $1.69 a taco). We also scored a coupon for a free pair of jeans!

Apparently, the menus rotate out different celebrity chefs and the truck's signs said this menu was created by Rick Gresh. The tacos were made with fresh ingredients, appropriately messy and well, free. Needless to say, my friends and I were happy campers and it was the perfect ending to a great conference.

Vancouver Taste Testing > The Japadog

Do you know what that is? Besides the most expensive hot dog you've ever seen? It's the almighty Japadog!! During Katie and my long weekend to Seattle and Vancouver a few months ago, we step outside of our hotel and what do we see? The allusive Japadog cart on the same street! Having read plenty about this mystical magic in a bun meal on my geeky and wonderful food blogs, I was very excited. 

Despite the fact that we were walking on our way to Granville Island to get lunch, Katie and I couldn't pass it up and split the above Japadog. We ate it (messily, not cute, not cute at all) on the side of the street and it. was. awesome. So not too saucy (my fear), with seawood, fried onions, a great grilled pork weinie, Japanese mayo, teriyaki sauce. "Most valuable pork in Japan!" - How can you pass that shit up?! Sounds like a lot, but it was so, so right.

We're both hot dog lovers, and this was just delicious. Apparently, there were 3 or so different Japadog stands across the lovely city of Vancouver. Given Vancouver's really high Asian population, I'm not shocked that this is so popular. I wonder if it would be as big of a hit in the midwest. Anyone ever try this? Is this only a Vancouver thing?