And It Was Delicious

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Kevin and I are huge fans of Thai food, and, while I have been attempting to expand my culinary expertise in the foreign realm, there are some foods in this realm that I can't quite get right yet.  While I achieved a fantastic Pad Thai finally, I have had quite a difficult time getting my curries right.  I am not sure if it is the fact that I do not use fish sauce in them, or if somethign else is lacking, but my sauces just don't tend to have the depth that a good Thai curry should have. 
About a month ago, Kevin and I realized we had been told by numerous people about a good Thai restaurant here in Pittsburgh (Hello, Oxymoron), called The Smiling Banana Leaf.  First of all, I love the name of this restaurant.  It actually makes me smile every time I say or hear it. So we went. And it was delicious. 

As many places are in Pennsylvania (the capitol of making it hard to buy liquor of any sort), it was a BYOB.  I am actually starting to like this concept though - it means I can bring a decent bottle of wine and not pay more than double for it at the restaurant. So I stuck a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in my purse, and off we went one Friday night.  The Smiling Banana Leaf is on a corner in the East Liberty area, and quite small.  We walked in and were barely able to fit in the door near the hostess stand whiel we waited for a table.  The dozen or so tables were packed with people, and steaming plates of food came out of the small kitchen and past us as we waited, unpatiently.  Fortunately, we did not have to wait long.  About 10 minutes after walking in the door, we were seated, and our wine was opened and poured for us (not even a corkage fee!).  After skimming the menu, I quickly decided what I wanted - my go-to Thai dish of green curry with tofu. I also LOVE spring rolls (the fried ones), so ordered those as well.  Kevin, as usual, took a bit more time to decide, and then wanted to switch some things up.  The poor waitress did not speak a lot of English, and was quickly confused by Kevin's questions.  Ultimately, he ordered the pumpkin curry, as well as his own spring rolls (the raw ones). The spring rolls were good - not the best I have ever had, but certainly good. In true Kevin fashion, our table was adorned with multiple types of sauces, and I really enjoyed their peanut dipping sauce.  Our entrees came out, and we dug in.  The only complaint I really had was that I had asked for a spice level of 3 (Kevin had asked for 7), and mine was spicier than his, but that did not stop me from basking in delight of that green curry sauce, with all its depth and flavor.  Vegetables like bell pepper, broccoli, and green beans floated in the broth, and there was a LOTof tofu in there as well, which is always appreciated and not always found.  Kevin enjoyed his pumpkin curry with chicken, which was sweeter than the green, and had the flavor more like a red curry.  The vegetables in his included carrots, peas, and onions. 
And it was delicious.

The Foreign Noodle, Unveiled

What started this entire blog was my 20-some-year-in-the-making desire to create my own restaurant.  I think I was in junior high when I came up with the name The Foreign Noodle, and just by naming it, it became something semi-real to me - my ultimate Holy Grail in life, I suppose.  Now, mind you, I have never thought of the Foreign Noodle as my life's work.  I have never gone to culinary school, and while I would certainly like to, I do not know if it is written in the stars for me.  I am not sure I can justify going to school for something that I am unsure would benefit me or my family.  Mostly, I don't see myself doing well in a restaurant under someone else. This is perhaps my downfall, as restaurant experience is crucial to owning and maintaining a restaurant of one's own.  However, the thought has continued and been built in my mind.
The original thought for my restaurant was that it would strictly consist of various types of pasta dishes.  As the ultimate pasta lover, especially in elementary and junior high school where spaghetti was my go-to when anyone asked what I wanted to eat (and yes, I was known to eat it for breakfast at times), this still does not sound like an entirely bad idea. I think I would work a little more outside of strictly pasta by including salads,sides, breads, and soups, but would like to keep the theme going, overall.
When I think of the Foreign Noodle, I think of something more along the lines of the vibe from Horn o Plenty, which I spoke of in my last post - making enough of what is needed for each day, an ever changing menu, simplistic, flavorful, thoughtful... yet maybe not with that same (forgive me for actually describing something like this) "hippie-vibe".  Mix that with the Naked Cafe in Solana Beach, and you have the complete Foreign Noodle vibe. In that way I could do it as a (retirement?) project for myself.  The Foreign Noodle is not a place to go when having a fancy business meeting necessarily (though it could be), or a place that I would be willing to sell out for in order to get more business. Rather, it comes from a love of food, of cooking, and of the love of sharing it with people.  It is a creation, and more a piece of art in my mind that someday may or may not come to life. 
Over the years, I have made recipes and menus for "some day", cultivating the thought and dream for myself.  I am not sure if The Foreign Noodle would do well in Pittsburgh (though this may be my own bias shining through), though Lawrenceville is up-and-coming enough to make it a possibility.  It is definitely more of a California dream, in which I can use fresh, local produce to make home-y, filling, and tasty food. I can never decide if I would serve meat at The Foreign Noodle either.  While the restaurant would probably do better if I did, I have never cooked meat in my life, with the exception of once making an attempt at fried chicken in a past relationship. I am not sure that I would trust myself in learning. Thus, I return to thoughts of a time when I no longer have to work and have the money and time to attend culinary school and learn these sorts of things. 
Maybe someday....

Bliss: A Get Away Weekend and New Favorite

Kevin and I decided to take a weekend and run away from jobs, chores, phones, and everything else last weekend.  We ran to Bedford Springs Resort, where I completely fell in love with the good life.  I got a huge kick out of asking for random things to be sent to our room, including champagne flutes and robes.  We went on a long hike Saturday morning, and spent the rest of our time napping, playing checkers by the fire, and sitting by (or in) the gorgeous pool they have (see below).

I had done my research and found a farm-to-table restaurant that I was excited to try out for dinner. I had reason to be excited.  Horn O Plenty is my new favorite restaurant, at least on the East coast. 

It was a BYOB, so Kevin and I took a bottle of wine and walked in to what looked like a two-story log cabin. We were told we could sit anywhere, so we cosied up in a booth near the large stone fireplace.  The restaurant is one open room, and has a somewhat rustic, natural feel to it.  All the tables and chairs were simple wood, there was the stone fireplace and a stone wall, and large wooden beams overhead.  The menus, which change daily according to the produce season and what is available from local farms, are on tablets, which we were able to scroll through and look at every mouth-watering dish.  While it is definitely a slow-kitchen, I enjoyed the wait before our food arrived.  I watched who we were later told was the owner cook our food in the kitchen, made to order.  A man and 2 boys came in, their arms filled with boxes of fresh eggs and dropped them off in the kitchen. It was all so pleasant and cozy, so I ordered a vegan Black Bean and Pumpkin Stew, and a Grilled Cheese.

The cheese was made at a local dairy, and was the perfect melty-ness, and the stew, with chunks of pumpkin was incredibly flavorful. So.Good.  Kevin ordered a burger, beef from a local farm, with beets and feta, and homemade mustard. He said it was fantastic.  He also went to their salad bar, which, while small, boasts an array of warm dishes in addition to the fresh veggies and greens.  He filled his plate with dark molasses baked beans, dill potato salad, a root vegetable concoction that was delicious (and which I helped him eat), and more.  It was delicious.  Kevin and I left feeling full but not gluttonous, and went back to the hotel to take a nap. 
The next morning, we decided to go back for Sunday brunch.  I have never in my life had polenta taste like it did in my Polenta and Poached Egg with Kale Pesto.

It was so creamy, and the kale pesto was amazing, adding just the right kick to my tastebuds. So much so that I forgot to take a picture until it was gone.  Kevin ordered a Cornbread Stack, which was homemade cornbread stacked with cheese, eggs, and either bacon or sausage. He asked if they would be willing to put a side of the baked beans he'd had the day before on there too, and was told yes, and that the owner liked the idea so much, she was going to start doing it regularly.

We left the restaurant again, full and feeling good about the meal, helping a restaurant such as this one survive, and yearning to open our own. 
Eating at places like Horn O Plenty makes me want my own restaurant. It makes me feel like I could actually do it. Who knows? Maybe someday The Foreign Noodle will happen.  Until then, I'll just keep collecting recipes and enjoying food.