Confessions of a Jerk Lover and Maker

I would like to dedicate this post in loving memory of The Sweet Mango Cafe on New Hampshire Ave NW across from Georgia Ave Metro station, R.I.p. Lord, you know you been gone from your hometown too long when one of your favorite spots changes hands (ownership) for the worst and then closes down unbeknownst to you. I'm hurting! Like I lost a friend for real, a good one...whew. I'm going to be alright.

 (Image credit http://www.parkviewdc.com)

        

(Image credits for food from Sweet Mango Cafe http://www.yelp.com)

Papa Smurf and I were married at the RIU in Ocho Rios, JA in '09. It was our second time traveling out of the country and our daughter who was 6 months at the time first time. The RIU Club Hotel Ocho Rios to this day is still a beautiful all inclusive resort and sought after wedding venue. Ours was one of the only ceremonies that week to not be rained on or washed out. We frequented the Jerk Hut on the beach almost daily.

In the latest vlog we're back at the grill making one of our favorites jerk chicken. I based my standard for jerk chicken on two sources. One of them being the dearly departed Mango Cafe. The second source...shout out to the Davis family in Bowie, MD. The Mango Cafe, I first stumbled upon this gem during my undergrad years, 2006 to be exact. I was with a couple of friends for the Caribbean Carnival in D.C. Good old posterity…

The Jerk there had a perfect blend of heat and smoke. It was seasoned throughout, salted but not overly so. The bread was so pillow soft yet dense enough to soak up the flavorful juices of the jerk chicken without getting soggy. It’s been years but I can still taste the smoke flavor, the spice of the scotch bonnet, the thyme, garlic, all spice, ginger, lime and so on.

The Davis family our former neighbors invited us to several family gatherings with open arms and great food. They are a colorful and fun loving family with roots in Jamaica. They even took my younger sister home with them during a vacation once. They always had a delectable spread of goodies inspired by their culinary heritage. Their jerk chicken was chopped and spicy. Marinated in a dark and pasty marinade. Jerked meats do look “blackened” in appearance so a dark and pasty marinade didn’t surprise me. Their jerk was the second standard for how I established the way that jerk should taste. And who better? In their marinade I could taste the thyme, pimiento (all spice) and scotch bonnet are very pronounced. It’s very tasty but quite spicy.

 I have a confession to make though, at home (not events) we use a shelf staple marinade Walkerswood. This is as close to authentic as you can get. And let me tell you there are alot of imposters on the large chain store grocery shelves that just fall short of anything close to authentic let alone a hint of the actual flavor. Be careful with this one though, it’s quite spicy and most stores I have been to do not sell the mild version.

During family events and on Thanksgiving, however, we have our own marinade. It is an adapted recipe, tweaked to match the taste of my two standards for jerk. The origins of our marinade have a heavy basis here. I have alot of insights on my adaption of the recipe. Instead of a whole chicken I use leg quarters. Dark meat, especially leg quarters work best in my opinion. They are excellent candidates for grilling jerk style chicken. I use apple cider vinegar instead of white distilled, I prefer the malt in the cider vinegar. I use an orange juice that is not high in sugar or overly sweetened. If I have a small orange on hand I will use that but my favorite orange juice to use is Simply Orange. I do not use a canned concentrate or a frozen concentrate, I highly recommend avoiding canned orange juice. I also prefer to use fresh fresh ginger root because it’s alot spicier than the powder and more flavorful. I use brown sugar in place of the white sugar and ultimately end up using less sugar. My last tweak is that I use less scotch bonnet peppers, only two. They are quite spicy especially if you keep the seeds and ribs in tact; which I do, I use the whole pepper without the stem. When it comes to herbs like thyme I always opt for fresh thyme over dried. I use both Walkerswood and my homemade marinade for not only chicken but turkey, ribs, and fish.

Jerk Chicken Recipe (Marinade)

4-5 Chicken Leg Quarters
1 Small bunch of fresh thyme (about 5 sprigs/stems)
2 Scotch Bonnet peppers
2 Tablespoons of ground allspice
8 cloves of garlic (unchopped)
3 small yellow onions (chopped)
1 Tablespoon of brown sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons of kosher salt
2 teaspoons of fresh black peppercorns
2 Teaspoons of cinnamon
1-2 Teaspoons of nutmeg
1 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root peeled
1/2 Cup of olive oil
1/2 Cup of soy sauce
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup of fresh orange juice
1 cup of apple cider vinegar

Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until well blended. Next, place chicken in a large bowl, pour at least two cups of marinade over chicken. Then, using gloves rub the marinade into the chicken and under the skin. Marinade the chicken overnight. Bake or grill as usual. We grill over hot coals for at least an hour using the indirect heat method as shown in our upcoming vlog.

Cinebistro Magnifico and The Holidays!

Cinebistro Magnifico...!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary the Friday after the date December 10th. We ended up going to Cinebistro at The Grove in Wesley Chapel. First off, we couldn't believe that something like this actually exists and it's brilliant! WOW! We didn't have anything like this back home in Maryland while we lived there. However, I have read that they recently opened a location in Baltimore.

We got there a little late (you should arrive 30 minutes early) but they still had great seats available. We chose our seats on a touch screen. Then our fancy gold and black tickets were printed out and we were sent on our way. Upon entering service was in high gear, most guests already had their appetizers, entrees, and desserts. As soon as we entered, an usher showed us to our seats. We were both given menus (<---- you can check out the menu there) and a waitress explained how the service works. The seats...OMG! Large, extra cushion, leather (or something close to lol), you can just melt in the seats! The seating looks and feels more like someone's posh home theater than a commercial movie theater. In being explained to about the way the service works, we were informed that you receive your appetizer, entree, and dessert all at once. The wait staff does not disturb you once the movie starts or thereafter. We ordered...Mango Habanero Wings, Bistro Burger with Fries, Spareribs Stack in Cherry Coke BBQ Sauce, and the Chocolate Cinecake for dessert. Don't judge us, we're pregnant and it was our anniversary! There is a 17% gratuity that is included, it's not a cheap date but well worth the money in our opinion (at least for a change of your typical dinner and a movie pace). Our total came up to about $75 including gratuity, this did not include the movie tickets which came up to about $35. Our food was out by the time the commercials started but well before the movie itself started so they have speedy service.

The food is superb! I would rank it at 4.5-5* quality. Very artistic plating and the food looks exactly as pictured on the menu. I'm sorry I wanted to take pictures but was not sure of the rules and didn't want to get put out. Details, it's the details like a chocolate lattice around the Cinecake and chocolate filling in the fresh raspberries that accompany it that make it special and a stand out. The wait staff are neatly dressed an have a polished appearance in crisp white shirts, dark slacks, ties and bowties. Once again you are not disturbed once the show starts! Candy and popcorn are also offered along with fountain drinks, cocktails, beer, and hot beverages like coffee, espresso, hot chocolate and cappucino. I can't wait to return here for more dates, dinner and a movie will never be the same for us again!

Tips:
Get there early. Check out the menu before you arrive, they have alot of choices!



The Holidays...

Christmas went well for us this year. I decided to skip pictures of Christmas (morning) and recorded video of the kids on Christmas morning instead. They woke us up at about 7:45 am! So, the next vlog includes clips from Juliana's winter concert and Christmas morning. I really wanted to include making our prime rib roast in the Christmas mini series but it ended in a #Fail. My advice if you are cooking a prime rib roast, don't bother searing on high heat in the oven or possibly at all. However if you do decide to sear do it on your cooktop better safe than sorry! I will repost that recipe at a later time. Our vlog posting schedule is sporadic and not set yet so if you would like to keep up be sure to subscribe. Though, we are working on schedules for things. 

Anyways, New Years was very chill, we spent the night in, had a good dinner and snacks. Still no champagne for me but we did have Cranberry Ginger Ale, everyone was sold out of Martinelli's :( But I was more than content with that it took me back to my childhood days of ordering Shirley Temples whenever we went to weddings or similar venues with a bar.

Happy New Year to you all! And I hope you enjoyed your holidays!

Stonewood Tavern and Grill

The morning sickness has subsided and I am well into the second trimester. I am feeling back to normal somewhat minus this extreme fatigue I have been feeling.

Julie and Jerry surprised me! They know how to work my Nikon all footage from about 2 vlogs I wanted to post are gone including my in-laws visit. Sorry guys. There was also footage from when we made Coca Cola ribs and a Shannon's Haul. It was also replaced with a 22 minute long video of them playing and making a vlog of their own. The Nikon is hidden and high up now.

I realized that I owe you all a review on Stonewood Tavern. It's good I waited. I went a second time, which is good to see if there is consistency in service and food. The second time was also with a group which lets you know how well or not so well a restaurant handles groups and accommodates.

Spontaneous Date Night. The ambiance here is everything. There is dim lighting and its not crowded. There was no wait. It has a neighborhood restaurant feel, a little bit of a lodge feel to it too. This is definitely a place where you can get cozy with that special someone. Take your time with apps and dinner; have drinks, snuggle up and talk for hours.

For starters I stuck to the pretzel bread sticks. They tasted like a homemade soft pretzels, not too much salt and as though they had been brushed down with pure butter. Light crunch on the outside but pillowy soft goodness on the inside.

I ordered a salad and prime rib with a loaded baked potato. The prime rib was PERFECT! The medium rare steak was perfectly seared, tender, beautiful color on the inside. The seasonings were simple but flavorful. The grill marks are there but you won't bite into any charred bits. Instead your palette is greeted by a rich smokey flavor that has reached the steak through and through. 

Girls Night Out. The second time around our group of 9 was accommodated and well cared for. Though we never made it to that party room. We were there for quite a few hours but not once did I feel rushed. I opted for an appetizer that night. I had the fried calamari. I remember telling the girls I just hope it doesn't look like frozen (onion) rings. They were great and also had jalapeño chips as an accompaniment. The calamari was lightly dusted and flash fried. Perfectly seasoned with salt and perhaps a peppercorn meddly; its served with a marinara and the calamari presented in the traditional way of rings and little squids with tentacles. It's one of my favorite apps and I was quite pleased. I also indulged in the pretzel bread again which hadn't changed a bit.

On our way out we were greeted by the General Manager and told that our group was welcome to return any time and anything we needed esp a reservation to let him know. I can't wait to go back for more pretzel bread and to try the buffalo shrimp!

A Trip to Kuchi Sushi

“What’s in a name that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell just as sweet” –Juliet from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. A name like “Kuchi Sushi” from an average American with no Japanese language/linguistic background it’s enough to make an eyebrow raise. Don’t feel alone. Even a Latino gentleman seated behind us had some joking wordplay that he exchanged with his table mates “Kuchi Sushi…what did you come here for hmm…?” “Well at least you know what you came here for…” *smhis you can’t take some people anywhere! He used a long “u” by the way, so phonetically speaking there was the rub/ punch-line.

Anyways, on to the review. We arrived well after 8 pm on a Saturday night on Valentine’s. There was a 35-45 minute wait. The worst was to be expected and honestly that was nowhere near as bad as what we expected. The whole sushi side of the restaurant is open, often the door was opening and closing or propped open easily making a chilly night in the 50s-40s uncomfortable. By the way, bring patience on a busy night as they still seat by pen and pad. Mix ups may occur as to sushi vs hibachi side. Don’t think of asking to be moved once seated, it will be an issue. They could benefit from creating a vestibule or sectioning off the waiting area. There is ample seating on the hibachi side. I counted about 10 hibachi tables. Honestly, I think that they should take out at least 2 possibly 3 of those to accommodate their sushi side. Or give guests the option to sit at the rear tables that does not have a hibachi grill attached. I would say that the sushi side of the restaurant has at least 4 tables possibly 5. There are two bars though. I usually am not so petty to get into seating however it was an issue during our visit.

Our waitress was attentive but new. However, she was soon traded off, we had made a couple of requests and she seemed unsure of herself. I guess they figured with things being so busy they couldn’t afford a mistake or oversight. The other seemed more seasoned. We started with the shrimp tempura. The tempura was very light, crunchy, fluffy and flaky. Very light on the salt, but you don’t miss it because of the natural flavor. The sweet potato and potato were a surprise. Though I preferred the lighter and less starchy vegetables like broccoli, squash and zucchini. There were only two extra large shrimp perfectly cooked, butterflied, and formed into perfect sticks.

It took us a while to decide because there are several rolls to choose from. And I mean several! Ultimately, we chose the Painted Lady Roll and the Sunshine Roll. It took a long time (well...seemingly so) as each roll was hand crafted. The sushi chefs look more like surgeons, they even wear plastic shield masks working quietly and meticulously with sharp knives and raw fish among other tools and ingredients. (I have been to quite a few sushi restaurants but seeing that was a first). Despite the wait you have to respect the craft, art, and how meticulous they are at what they do. With sushi presentation is a very important component as well. Likewise, the presentation, plating and taste are all A+/ 5*. Besides, as far as the wait is concerned that is what appetizers are for lol. So of course one of my tips is to know what you want  but be prepared to wait.
As for the rolls, both rolls were good. However the Painted Lady Roll was more cohesive and complimentary in overall taste, flavor, and texture. The Painted Lady Roll was made up of spicy lobster, mango, asparagus inside topped with spicy tuna, avocado with a spicy mango sauce. The spicy tuna is a standout and the spicy lobster is rich but subtle. The avocado is smooth and creamy, it counteracts the spice giving it balance so the spiciness does not overtake the whole roll. The mango has a subtle sweetness, it’s sweet but not overtly so. The asparagus helps give the roll a crisp fresh taste. The Sunshine Roll was made up of salmon tempura, avocado, topped with salmon (raw), tempura flakes and spicy sauce. It was good, fresh, looked great plated even had a decent flavor but was a bit of a clash for me. The components in the middle of the roll seemed to clash. It just was not as cohesive as the Painted Lady Roll. There was something missing and there was something that had to go and I think it was the salmon tempura. Papa Smurf didn’t care for it as much as the other roll, though we continued to share each. (In the title picture: The painted Lady Roll is in the front, the Sunshine Roll in the back).

As for location, the restaurant shares the same lot as Veteran’s movie theater, a bunch of other restaurants and a Cold Stone Creamery. So it’s a great venue for a typical dinner and a movie date night. Green Gator’s is right next door for those who still like to drink, party, cut a rug and lose a glass slipper, as for myself I am long retired from that lol.

Overall, everything was fresh. Although they were very busy and made a seating mistake, they were polite and attentive. They gave apologies a few times for the wait and asked if we wanted or needed anything to make the wait less bothersome though we weren’t that bothered by it. We will definitely go again. probably on a day that is not as busy as Valentine’s. I would order the painted Lady Roll again and again. It was definitely our favorite of the two. I have to say this was one of my best experiences. To my Maryland readers if you are ever in the area, definitely check out Kuchi Sushi and Hibachi. If you are looking for a good local spot check out Sushi King in Columbia, MD. Sushi King was also one of my BEST sushi experiences "pre-food- blogging" days and the ratings are still really good to this day!

Get Her To (Eat) Greek…

I had been on a mission to find a “gyro place” here. The first place I tried, I struck out at, since it gave me some tummy issues. I won’t reveal the name of the culprit unless asked. Last week, well now a little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of trying out “The Hungry Greek” in Seven Oaks/ Wesley Chapel. Let me tell you, that I loved it so much I went twice in one week! I love a good gyro with pillow soft warm pita bread, fresh crisp lettuce, chopped onions, warm gyro (shaved lamb) meat, creamy rich tzatziki sauce, and feta. On my first visit I had “The Hungry Pita”. You have options as follows with this item, chicken, gyro, or falafel; the pita comes loaded with hummus, lettuce, plum tomatoes, feta, olives (had to be kalamata), and tzatziki. There motto is “Authentic Greek food. Made fresh.” Truthful advertising that reigned true for both visits.
They give large and generous portions. The pita came with  a generous amount of gyro meat (no skimping or stinginess here). The lettuce does not overpower nor is it over abundant but just enough. The hummus is subtle, it’s there but you won’t notice it much unless you are looking for its distinctive texture. It gets lost with the feta and creamy tzatziki sauce. However, all married together and the union of both textures and flavors is near perfect. The bite of the onion is just enough to compliment the flavor of the gyro meat. The crispy lettuce and tomato gives it the freshness. The tzatziki has the perfect balanced mix of cucumber, dill and Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt and dill are the stars of the sauce show. The pita is large enough to split with someone or enough for one hungry pita eater.
On our second visit, we ordered a large Greek salad. It was “GINORMOUS” and more than enough for Papa Smurf and I to share with our dinner. On the second trip, the scene on Saturday was starkly different from the lull of midweek late afternoon. On Saturday night, the place was jam packed, and there was a wait. I highly recommend calling ahead on the weekend in order to beat the rush or lessen your wait time. Anyways, the large Greek salad by itself was enough for a family of 4 to each have a side portion. The salad comes with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, beets, pepperoncinis, green peppers and potato salad topped with feta. Yes! I said potato salad lol. In the midst of the “veggie dump” you almost get lost in it and forget about the potato salad. But then it appears almost out of nowhere at the bottom of your scoops, a pleasant surprise. It’s a real filler! I added grilled chicken to our salad, which was very juicy and tender with a perfectly grilled taste. Not over salted or bland. I loved the creamy Greek dressing, Papa Smurf preferred the vinaigrette. My favorite standouts in the salad were the pepperoncinis and kalamata olives. I would say the salad is probably the best confirmation of their motto. Everything tasted so fresh! So I think I have found my gyro place now; and Papa Smurf loves a good salad so he plans to return for the salad. It’s a win-win for the Taylors!
You can check out The Hungry Greek Here:
http://www.thehungrygreek.com/
~~Stay tuned for my next post on Kuchi Sushi~~