Back in the Saddle!!

I’m starting the New Year off with a bang, and the right way!! I’m taking the inaugural Intensive Sommelier Class at the French Culinary Institute to broaden my knowledge of food and wine and meet some great new people in the meantime. The course sounds like it is going to be a LOT of work, but that only makes it more exciting for me. There will be field trips, food pairings, and tons of study (2-3 hours a night!!). I will be keeping a running journal of my adventures here on BBlog, so stay tuned..I’m sure we will learn much, laugh lots, and blaze trails!m st

South Beach Food and Wine Festival Here I Come!!

To all my dear friends form Miami, here I come!!!!!!!  I need to change a little of this wintery New York weather for some sun, and what better place to do it that than in Miami Beach!!

I’ll be doing two demos and launching my brand new book, “Daisy: Morning, Noon and Night”, so if you’re in the ‘hood, amke sure you stop by and have your copy signed by me. I’ll be doing Kids in the Kitchen on Saturday February 27th at 4:30 PM and a demo on Sunday February 28th I’ll be at The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village cooking my little heart out!

And remember, anyone who comments on this post is eligible to win a signed copy of “Daisy: Morning, Noon, and Night“. A winner will be randomly picked and announced on Thursday February  25th at 4PM (I’ll be picking names out of a hat!).

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some beachwear I have to pack! Good luck, babies!!

On Your Mark….Get Set….GO!!!

For the next three weeks, I will be giving away a copy of my new book every Saturday – starting tomorrow – to one lucky winner.
For this week’s contest, I will pose a question/recipe/comment and the 10th person to respond or post a comment will be the lucky winner.  If selected as the winner, you will have to provide your full name, telephone number and address so we can mail you an autographed copy of the book.

BOOK GIVEAWAY RULES AND REGULATIONS

Please take a few minutes to go over the rules and guidelines for the contest that starts on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010.

PRIZE
One (1) Boriqua Blog subscriber will be chosen to receive one autographed copy of the book DAISY: MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT. The recipient will be announced on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 4pm EST.

HOW TO ENTER
· No purchase necessary.
· To enter, you have to log-in to Boriqua Blog (www.boriquablog.wordpress.com) or sign-up for a free user account and leave one comment in the Official Entry by Daisy Martinez. The TENTH person to comment will be the official winner.
· Contest open to US residents only.
· To be eligible, entries must be completed and received by Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 12pm. Boriqua Blog is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or delayed entries. Entries received by telephone, fax, courier, or personal delivery will not be accepted. Boriqua Blog reserves the right to amend the rules at any time for any reason.

CONTEST RULES:
· The contest is open to US citizens 18 years old or older, as well as anyone currently subscribed to Boricua Blog.
· ONLY one comment per subscriber is valid for each contest.
· Boriqua Blog retains the rights to delete and deny the entrance to the contest to any rude, obscene, or inappropriate comments.
· The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.
· Decisions of the contest are final – no substitutions will be available.
. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which Boriqua Blog may deem appropriate.
In accepting the prize, the winner acknowledges that Boriqua Blog may not be held liable for any loss, damages, or injury associated with accepting or using this prize(s).
Boriqua Blog retains the rights, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or approximate value in the event of the unavailability of any prize or component of the prize for any reason whatsoever.
This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws.
Boriqua Blog reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice.

Daisy: Morning, Noon and Night video

Watch now!

Union Square Green Market

I was in Union Square this past Saturday, shooting B-Roll for the new episodes of Viva Daisy!, and had the opportunity to make a few new friends in the meantime. This morning, I received the sweetest email from Susan, who has a stand at the Green Market held there on Saturdays, and I really want to share it with you all. Here goes:

Hi Daisy, it was wonderful to have met you in Union Square this past weekend. I’ve met a lot of chefs that talk to me about different kinds of cooking and talk to me about cooking on Pink Himalayan salt stones. When I mention to my niece Jody about you, she was so surprised she said ” don’t you know who Daisy Martinez is”! Well I told her that I had just met you and was going to look you up on the net and on the Food Network.She was so excited that she almost burst.She told me that she has your book and how she cooks all of the Latino dishes. She – said my mom is Jewish and my dad is Puerto Rican and so is my Husband Raymond.(photo of Jody, Raymond and daughter Alyssa, 2 yrs old)  I love to cook great Latino dishes and Raymond loves to eat!!. lol She told me you have the greatest recipies and that she was going to teach me some from your book. All I could say was LET’S COOK!!  I read that you are moving to the Food Network and are going to have your own show called VIVA DAISY! Some of the comments I read from your fans were so amazing I found myself feeling lucky to have met you. I want to wish you all the best of luck on VIVA DAISY!  I’m sure you will be an asset to the Food Network. Looking forward to watching your new show. Perhaps I will see you again in the Union Square Greenmarket.

 

          All The Best Susan Isaacs

photo taken 3/28/09 in Union Square Park

Daisy and Susan Isaacs

Raymond, Jody, and Alyssa

Isn’t that block of Himalayan salt absolutely gorgeous? I saw chef and friend Fortunato Nicotra (Felidia) use them as serving pieces for his crudo course on Iron Chef America. Susan was generous enough to gift me with a beautiful sphere of the pink salt. I can’t wait to go back when I’m not working, to buy some of her pieces!

Cookstr! Cooking at Home and Keepin’ it Real

The Cookstr 10 Ten Recession-Friendly Meals In This Issue Elvis Burger w/ Chopped Salad & Pickled Gherkin Marinated Pork Loin Tortilla Espanola Big Quesadillas w/ Refried Beans, Spinach & Avocado Curry in a Hurry Chinese Chili Stir-Fry Bucatini w/ Onions, Bacon & Tomato Chicken Adobo Mushroom Barley “Risotto” Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts Quick Links Cookstr Recipes Chefs and Authors Cookstr News Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito recently opened their second Baked store in Charleston, NC! Also – make sure to tune in or set your DVR’s, to Viva Daisy! hosted by Cookstr chef Daisy Martinez  which airs on the Food Network, Saturday mornings at 9:30 AM Eastern. Pass it Around Greetings! And Happy Day After Inauguration Day! Welcome back to The Cookstr 10, Cookstr.com’s newsletter. In each newsletter we will highlight ten chefs and authors, recipes, books, tips & techniques, or other selections we think you’ll enjoy. Very few things are recession proof, but clearly one is cooking at home.  There are so many amazing meals to make that don’t dent your bank account, and we plan to add new budget-friendly recipes every week.  Here are ten dinners under 10 bucks that won’t leave you feeling nickled and dimed in the satisfaction department. 1. Elvis Burger w/ Chopped Salad & Pickled Gherkin   Jamie Oliver There are burgers, and there are Burgers. This is a Burger.  And Elvis’s birthday was just last week. Click here for Jamie’s Elvis Burger Recipe 2. Marinated Pork Loin   Penelope Casas Pork loin is a serious centerpiece roast, and so much less costly than other meats.  This one sports a Spanish heritage. Click here for Penelope’s Marinated Pork Loin Recipe   3. Tortilla Espanola   Mario Batali Four simple ingredients are transformed into a classic Spanish dish, and one that is equally welcome at breakfast, lunch or dinner.  (And vegetarian-friendly!)   Click here for Mario’s Tortilla Espanola Recipe 4. Big Quesadillas with Refried Beans, Spinach, and Avocado Nava Atlas For all you vegans out there…hearty, inexpensive, and ready in half an hour. Click here for Nava’s Big Quesadilla Recipe 5. Curry in a Hurry   Nigella Lawson This Thai curry relies on chicken thighs which are arguably the most flavorful part of the chicken. (Not that we’re being argumentative.) Click here for Nigella’s Curry in a Hurry Recipe   6. Chinese Chili Beef Stir-Fry   Victoria Blashford-Snell and Brigitte Hafner Spicy, with a drizzle of fragrant sesame oil to finish it off.  You can also make this with chicken. Click here for Victoria and Brigitte’s Chinese Chili Beef Stir-Fry Recipe   7. Bucatini with Onion, Bacon and Tomato (Bucatini All’amatricina)   Lidia Bastianich This is the Roman version of a dish usually associated with the Abruzzi region of Italy.  Long, slurpable noodles make this a kid favorite, too. Click here for Lidia’s Bucatini All’amatriciana Recipe   8. Chicken Adobo   Amy Besa  and Romy Dorotan The coconut milk in the Philippine dish keeps the chicken moist, and also makes a rich and fragrant sauce. Click here for Amy and Romy’s Chicken Adobo   9. Mushroom-Barley “Risotto”   Jay Weinstein A riff on risotto with barley as the star grain.  Purists may scoff, but the rest of us have a new whole grain vegetarian dish to embrace. Click here for Jay’s Mushroom-Barley “Risotto” Recipe   10. Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts   Art Smith Honey + mustard + chicken = fast, cheap family-friendly dinner. Click here for Art’s Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts Recipe   And Just a Few More Things…   We hope you find tons of great recipes on Cookstr.com. As you know, Cookstr.com shares great recipes from cookbooks, written by trusted and acclaimed chefs and authors. This weekly newsletter, The Cookstr 10, will feature tips and recipes from the chefs and authors you love, sneak peeks at new recipes BEFORE they go live on the site, and announcements of new Cookstr.com features as we develop them. If have friends who are always eager for great new recipes, we hope you will forward The Cookstr 10 to them.  And thank you once again for being one of our earliest visitors and subscribers!  We’re working on new features, and adding new recipes every day – and always appreciative of your feedback! All best, The Editors at Cookstr.com You are receiving this newsletter because you registered with Cookstr.com. If this issue was forwarded to you and you would like to begin receiving a copy of your own, please visit our site at http://www.cookstr.com and sign up for free membership.

My very good friend Will Schwalbe and a crew (Chris Styler, Katie Workman, Mary Goodbody) are rocking a new website that launched this past November called Cookstr which merits a looksee. You can find recipes from any published cookbook author. They have menus, tips and great recipes, so stop by and take a peek.

Daisy in Food & Beverage Underground

Daisy in Food and Beverage Underground

Be sure to check out this great post on Daisy’s recent appearance at the French Culinary Institute at Food & Beverage Underground.

Oops! They Did It, Again!

This past Monday, April 14, Mrs. Karen Silverman and I worked in tandem with the James Beard Foundation to host the Spoons Across America Dinner Party Project at Mark Twain I.S. 239 in Brooklyn for the second time in two years. I must say that although last years class left some pretty big shoes to fill, I had an immeasurable feeling of satisfaction, not just as a teacher, but also as a parent, because my daughter Angela is one of Mrs. Silverman’s students in this class. I was also accompanied by a team of volunteer chefs who came to help execute the mission, which was to host a formal dinner party for 120 guests that evening. The day started (for the students) at 8:00 AM with groups assigned to specific recipes.

Our menu was pretty ambitious, for a group of 7th graders, but with my team in place, I was confident that the kids would pull through. I can say in all honesty, that I was not prepared for the the terrific job they did. Chef Alejandro worked with Group 6 on the Pork Loin Roulades Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers and Sweet Plantain Mash, Chef Pete worked with Groups 1 and 2 on the Chicken Kiev, Chef Gabriela worked with Group 3 on the Tiger Eye Rolls, the Pink Flamingo Sauce and the Caesar Salad, Chef Yamaris worked with Group 4 on the Catalan Spinach, and Coconut Panna Cotta with Tropical Fruit Brunoise, I manned the station on Group 5 to execute Julia Child’s recipe for Pomme Dauphinois, and Mrs Silverman went from group to group, helping the class wherever it was needed.

While it was no small task that was put in front of them, the kids faced their work with enthusiasm and good cheer, and everyone was well engrossed in their respective assignments in no time flat.

Daisy TODAY!

I was invited to do a segment on the Today Show for their “Spice Up Your Winter” series, and made a Mariscada en Salsa Verde, which never fails to delight. We served it with my notorious Arroz Amarillo (yellow rice) and an Ensalada Valenciana.

Daisy and segment Producer Alicia Ybarbo

Security Officers (and rabid fans!) Joe LaSala and Rick Fosorile

Miggy documented it from her vantage point!

Ensalada Valenciana

Al Roker, Daisy, Ann Curry and Maria Menounos

The hosts were all very gracious, and right before the segment ended,  Hoda Kotb rushed in, following the fragrant aromas that were eminating from the kitchen. Everybody loved it and the food looked gorgeous!

Al Roker, Daisy, Ann Curry, Maria Menounos, and Hoda Kotb on the TODAY Show

I can’t wait for my next visit with this incredibly fun crew!

I Left My Heart….in Buenos Aires!

Whoa! Where to start? As I have mentioned previously, I spent the major part of Las Navidades with most of my family and some friends (both old and new!), in Buenos Aires this past year. Let me just say, that my sons have threatened to move to BA…..that’s how great the experience was! The weather, the country, the people, the food…there really aren’t enough adjectives in the dictionary to explain how wonderful our experience was in the country where El Tango was born.

We arrived in Buenos Aires on the early afternoon of Christmas Eve, where we were met by friends Paul and Paula Scharff, who were spending the holidays with Paula’s family (they all live in BA). So as not to waste any time, they whisked us off to the El Mercado restaurant in the Faena+ Universe Hotel in the Puerto Madero section of BA( where the Scharffs keep a lovely apartment) where we enjoyed our first encounter with the Argentine marvel known as the empanada.

Marc, Dave, Angie and Lola in Mercado courtyard

Empanada platter (left) and Beef Picadillo Empanada (right)

Blue Cheese and Onion Empanada and Chorizo Empanada

An Humita (Creamed Corn Empanada)