#ilovethisdotcom

[crushnewyork]

What: Birthday Cake 365 Days of the Year

Where: Commerce (50 Commerce Street, Greenwich Village) - For those directionally challenged (cough myself cough), it's a teeny tiny street that intersects with Barrow. Some cab drivers are unable to find, but take 7th to Barrow (towards Hudson) and you will hit Commerce.

Additional Information: Some call me the "Birthday Monster" because my birthday typically extends for the entire month of May. You will often catch me saying "but it's my birthday month!" I love my birthday for many reasons, but one of the main ones is the dessert. You can't beat birthday cake for a final course, but sadly, most restaurants do not understand this.  Fortunately, Commerce does! It's on their dessert menu every single night!

About the Cake: White on the inside, chocolate frosting on the outside and covered in sprinkles (not an inch neglected!). It even comes with a celebratory candle (to applaud you AND your excellent ordering skills). Side note: Ice cream is extra but WORTH it. I don't know if it's homemade or laced with drugs, but it's phenomenal.com.

About Commerce: Upscale American cuisine with French, Asian and Italian accents. The menu includes items such as a ragu of odd things (with oxtail and tripe), veal meatballs with creamy polenta and pecan crusted duck with quinoa. Good luck getting a reservation, because since this gem opened, it's been packed. However, if you do get a reservation, there is a strong (to quite strong) chance that you will have to wait. Commerce knows it's hot, and like an airline, overbooks because it can. That being said, there is a nice bar (with a bartender who bears an eerie resemblance to Seth Rogan) with a long list of trendy cocktails and vino. Commerce Website

Photo Credit: Holly Wentzel

[crushnewyork]

Below is the recipe for the best homemade Chili I have ever had! Created by my boyfriend's brother (a Northerner believe it or not) - you can make this mild to hot depending on what you like.

Summer Turkey Chili

 Serves 8 to 10, or halve the amounts of everything to make a smaller batch

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable/canola oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 large bell peppers, chopped (red, yellow, or orange)

Salt

4 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons grill seasoning mix (e.g. McCormick Montreal Steak/Chicken Seasoning)

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon cocoa powder (chopped dark chocolate works too; add that at the very end)

2½ #  93% lean ground turkey (usually sold in 1¼ #  packages)

2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

1 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce (depending how hot you want it)

1 cup beer (anything works, something not too light or dark)

1 14oz. can tomato sauce

½ cup barbeque sauce

1 cup corn kernels (leftover grilled corn is the best but frozen will suffice)

1 15oz. can dark red kidney beans

Optional toppings: cilantro, scallions, tortilla chips, grated cheese, more hot sauce

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat until the oil runs around the bottom of the pan easily. Add the veggies (onion, peppers, and garlic) and a big pinch of salt, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the spices (chili powder, grill seasoning, cumin, and cocoa) and stir everything together. Cover and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the veggies are softened.

Increase the heat to medium-high and add the turkey, breaking it apart in the pan. Add the Worcestershire and hot sauces and cook until the meat is browned, breaking apart the turkey as needed, but you don’t want it crumbled to finely.

Add the beer to the pan and deglaze by scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom. After a minute, add the tomato and barbeque sauces. Once it starts bubbling, add the corn and beans (and chocolate if not using powder), reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 15 minutes. Have a taste and see if it needs more salt or hot sauce. If it looks too thick add a little more beer or barbeque sauce, or if it’s too thin let it simmer a little while longer.

It can be served immediately or the chili is always very good if it’s made it advance and the flavors have a little more time to meld. Just reheat on the stove and adjust liquid levels if necessary. 

Photo Credit: Womansday.com

[crushnewyork]

B.Y.O.W (Bring your Own Wayfarers)

B.Y.O.W to the Harriman Cup.

What:  An annual polo match (i.e. a tailgate with attractive people) full of pastels, wasps and mimosas. The Harriman Cup raises money for the University of Virginia and Yale undergraduate polo teams.

Where: The Meadowbrook Polo Club, Old Westbury, New York (Previously Darien, CT)

When: Saturday, September 28, 2012 (you’ll have to wait until next year!)

Cost: $60 in advance, $90 at the gate. 

Best Pick Up Line: “I think I saw you at the Talkhouse….”

This event is a MUST.

Harriman Cup Website

Guest of a Guest Photos