Crispy, Addictive Eggplant Fries

Looking for a ridiculously easy and tasty side dish? Yes. Yes, you are.

I had “eggplant fries” at Hartford’s Taste of the Nation event May 6, courtesy of Joey Garlic’s Pizza. They were crispy, savory, cheesy sticks of heaven, especially with accompanying pomodoro sauce for dipping. But when fried, these can be heavy, as eggplant is a virtual sponge for oil.

At home, I improvised my own baked version. I peeled an eggplant, sliced it into skinny “fry” shapes, tossed the sticks in flour, dipped them in egg white and rolled them in seasoned panko crumbs.  Baked at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, these came out as crunchy and irresistible as their fryolator counterparts. I gave them a small drizzle of olive oil, a small shake of garlic powder and a shower of Parmesan.

A healthy and interesting alternative to potatoes, for sure. I love eggplant, but until now, I haven’t done anything with it beyond baked eggplant parmesan.

We made these last night to go with a pineapple-chipotle marinated pork tenderloin. To drink: Boutari Moschofilero, which I picked up at Table & Vine last week. It’s been seven-plus months since we arrived home from Santorini and I miss it Every. Single. Day.

P.S. Boutari loves Fun With Carbs. Though I’m not sure I’d call it a “healthy eating blog,” based on my multiple KFC Double Down posts alone.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

June 8th, 2010 | | 4 Comments »

Local Flava

Come along with me as I take baby steps toward eating more local produce.

Strawberry season is upon us in Connecticut. The crop is a couple of weeks early, due to beautiful spring sunshine.  By the end of June, they’ll be gone. So I made sure to stop by a local farmstand this afternoon. They weren’t cheap – a quart cost $4.99. But just one bite will turn you against the 2 for $4 California-born clamshell boxes at the grocery store. These berries are bursting with juicy sweetness – good enough for dessert on their own.

I also bit the bullet and finally bought a basil plant. I don’t have a yard with planting space, so any ‘crops’ of mine have to be of the potted-plant variety. And since I unintentionally murder any plant in my possession, I’ve been reluctant to do this. But I decided I’d be damned if I bought another $3 container of basil from the grocery store. (I know. I should be slapped.)

Pesto, pizza, tomato mozzarella sandwiches, salads….here I come.

June 7th, 2010 | | 3 Comments »

Connecticut’s Foodies Are Blogging

Meet some of Connecticut’s entertaining, passionate food bloggers.

My story for the Courant’s Flavor section ran June 3. I spoke to several bloggers across the state about their experiences documenting restaurant visits, cooking adventures and finds at specialty food stores and farmers’ markets.

Here are links to those mentioned in the story:

  • Emily Cahill, A Change of Eatery: Emily focuses mostly on dining experiences and food and wine events in the greater Hartford region.
  • Dave Sacerdote, Dave’s Cupboard: Original charcuterie recipes, odd food finds, local restaurant reviews.
  • Jan Ellen Spiegel, CT Food: Jan, a professional food writer, focuses on fresh food, local farming and Connecticut farmers’ markets.
  • CT Bites: A multi-author blog covering the food scene in Fairfield County: dining, cooking, kid-friendly eats. Stephanie Webster serves as editor-in-chief; ‘taco specialist’ Amy Kundrat contributes (she also authors MotoAmy)

I also spoke to Zoe of Nutmeg Kitchen and Michelle of Fun and Fearless in Beantown, but was unable to include the interviews because of space limitations. (my apologies!)

Another worthy visit: CT Museum Quest. Steve Wood has taken on the daunting task of documenting Connecticut’s museums, attractions, parks, trails and other noteworthy spots. Along the way, he eats. His archive of visits to diners, pizza places, burger joints, clam shacks, bakeries, cheesemakers, dairies, wineries, breweries is vast and extensive. He’s also making his way through two “eat before you die” lists, compiled by the Sterns of Roadfood and Connecticut Magazine.

If you’re looking to add to your blogroll, check them out. Fun, interesting, vibrant writing and some excellent photography.

June 7th, 2010 | | No Comments »
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