Back to December (and Soup)
It's cold outside
Hi friends,
Welcome to This Needs Hot Sauce, a newsletter by Abigail Koffler about cooking, dining out, and making the most of it. If you’d like to receive even more hot sauce (like a gift guide, my favorite weeknight dinners, and more), consider a paid subscription. It’s just $5 a month.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
Thanksgiving is over! I enjoyed a lovely meal with family, thank you to Tanta Susan for cooking!
The food I’ve craved since has been bright and spicy, perfect for the chilly temperatures outside.
Julia and I made tofu cabbage wraps with mango salsa and peanut sauce. This is one of our go-to recipes. It’s a lot of chopping though, so buy precut mango and cook with a friend. If you want to make a heartier dinner, there’s a rice bowl version as well.
Last night, I made a big pot of tortilla soup for lunches this week. It was my first time attempting it and I was pleased with the results. I tweaked this recipe a lot, adding more garlic and cumin, some coriander, smoked paprika, and a heavy dose of cilantro and scallions. I also threw in some spinach, used fire-roasted tomatoes, and cooked everything for longer than the recipe said. My favorite soups are all about the toppings so make sure you add extra tortilla strips, avocado, lime wedges, and some queso fresco or feta.
Spending some time in Queens was lovely this weekend, especially because I got to have my dad’s signature “fancy breakfast.” It’s poached eggs over sauteed kale on toasted English muffins, topped with shredded cheese and hot sauce. My dad has an egg poacher that fits four eggs so we can all sit down at the same time.
Before we sat down to dinner, my aunt made an appetizer spread featuring the classic sour cream and onion dip (the kind from the package). It’s a classic for a reason so keep it in mind if you need a last-minute starter or something to bring to a party. Serve with veggies and potato chips.
I had the wrong link for the rosemary cocktail in last week’s newsletter. Here’s the right one!
Something to order:
Julia and I had a pre Thanksgiving dinner at Win Son, our favorite place. We tried a new dish, the turnip cake, which comes with two hot sauces! I always love the eggplant, clams with basil, and the wonderful team there.
(I get a lot of questions about the best time to go to Win Son since it’s a small restaurant and the waits can be quite long. They take reservations for groups of five or more, so log on to Resy and gather some friends who also want to try it. If you’re fewer than five, go in a group of two and put your name down early on a weeknight (before 7). You can wait and grab a drink at Win Son Bakery or Duck Duck).
Anjali was in town from LA and I got to catch up with her, Megan, and Paola over dinner at Beebe’s in Long Island City. This is an affordable spot for a group pizza dinner (and the ricotta is amazing). The only downside: it’s at least a ten-minute walk from the subway. If you go, get the vodka sauce pie.
Dale and I got dinner at Javelina after seeing Queen and Slim. I don’t have much experience with queso since I’ve never been to Texas, but their queso blanco is really good. They also make great margs and a really good mezcal negroni. Honestly, fresh chips + queso + guac + long weekends = bliss.
Something to read:
A new wave of restaurants inspired by dinner parties
Excited for Ovenly’s next chapter (they’re coming to JFK next year)
Love this article from Christine about how we need to think more about the cheese we’re buying and how it’s made. She also has a new cheese podcast, Is this a brie, that’s lots of fun.
Alicia’s essay about martinis and changing your entire life is really beautiful.
For a Monday treat, watch Carla and 6 foot 11 DeAndre Jordan cook breakfast.
Now, let’s talk about the fun part of winter. It’s long and it’s coming (it’s literally snowing as I write this).
Leslie is doing winter right: winter rituals and foods I'm looking forward to — cinnamon rolls on thanksgiving morning, setting off the smoke alarm while making latkes, wishing for a blizzard/snow day for my January birthday, and *new this year* trying to convince my dog to go snowshoeing with me
Hilary’s winter plans sound so delicious: The onset of colder weather means dumpling season!!! I eat them all year round, but particularly love to host extensive dumpling making sessions in the winter when spending an hour to many hours around a table folding them around steaming bowls is just the way to stay warm and fed. If we must get outside at some point during the winter... snowshoeing is nice.
Julianne knows the key is preparation: I have a freezer full of soups I've already made in preparation for winter! We have tomato basil, chicken noodle, and french onion ready on deck. I will say I never find soup when I'm craving it and this is me looking out for me so. I don't repeat past mistakes of NOT satisfying my cravings. Plus you know this saved me a ton of money - prepping food in bulk is key when you're broke in New York like me! ;)
Julianne led us right into our next topic: soups! I did a soup round-up last year and am bringing it back with more links and categories. Please share your favorite soup recipes, soup restaurants (it’s very hard to find good soup at a restaurant), and even any cozy bowls you like to eat out of. I’m all ears!
Stay cozy, my friends! Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo, Abigail