Goodfellas Make Good Salads

Hi friends,

Welcome to This Needs Hot Sauce (And Other Food Thoughts), a newsletter sharing something to cook, somewhere to eat out, and something to read. I'm a native New Yorker who spends far too much time thinking and reading about food. I love helping people find better things to eat and solving problems, so let me know how I can help. Let's dive in.

It's March, it's still cold, spring is coming and we all lost an hour of sleep. But I'm excited! I just ordered a bathing suit so truly anything can happen. It's a one piece, so I'm feeling very trendy.

Something to make:
Tonight I watched Goodfellas for the first time with my dear friends and neighbors. We made a thematically appropriate meal: penne alla vodka (with the addition of peas, garlic, and pancetta for some of us), garlic bread, and this salad, which merged the best of an Italian deli salad with a Smitten Kitchen take on a Caesar. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Also, the movie was SO good and the food scenes are amazing.

Goodfellas Salad
Dressing (via Smitten Kitchen Everyday):
2 tablespoons mayonnaise 
3 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper

Salad:
1 pint cherry tomatoes (or small heirloom tomatoes, that's what we had) - I got this idea from Adam Roberts, the Amateur Gourmet, who got it from Ina Garten so how bad can that be?
Black olives
1 carrot, sliced into half moons or grated
1 bunch kale
1 head iceberg lettuce
Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse tomatoes and place on a baking sheet with salt and pepper. Roast until they've collapsed and burst, about 30 minutes, depending on their size. While they roast, combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix with a fork until smooth. Wash and chop the kale into bite-size pieces. Core the iceberg lettuce and slice into shreds. Using a vegetable peeler or a knife, shave a nice pile of parmesan cheese. 
 
Assemble the salad. Massage the kale with a little extra salt and a bit of the dressing. Then add the iceberg, the olives, the roasted tomatoes (let them cool for a few) and the carrot. Add the rest of the dressing and toss, adding the parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy with quality cinema. 

This week I also made a Shredded Tofu Stirfry. Okay stay with me here, tofu, grated on a cheese grater, is really good and. It doesn't have a spongy texture and it works really well in a stirfry if you want something quick and don't have time to bake it. I used this technique as a base and stir-fried red onion, asparagus, purple cabbage and some romaine lettuce over cauliflower rice (bought the frozen one) and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Add the tofu towards the end and then stir in a sauce. I made a quick one with soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, and tahini, and it was a pretty satisfying dinner. 

Another reminder to make BuzzFeed's best cookies and save some of the dough in the freezer. They bake up perfectly straight out of the freezer, just add a sprinkle of your trusty Maldon salt before you pop them in the oven. Pairs well with the new season of Queer Eye, which I love. 

Passover is coming up (crazy!) and that means it's almost time for the best Passover dessert ever: matza crack.

This roasted carrot salad was the perfect lunch last week. I added sweet potatoes and some hard boiled eggs to bulk it up for a long workday. 

Made a batch of sweet potato broccoli bowls with miso tahini dressing for lunch this week. I prepped the quinoa, veggies, and dressing and then will combine them each day with some avocado and a sprinkle of sesame and pumpkin seeds. Kimchi is a great addition too (I need to restock). I store everything separately to avoid sogginess and cannot recommend the dressing enough. Perks up all the desk lunches.

Something to order:
I can't really recommend Made Nice or Tendergreens, two newish fast casual sort-of healthy places I tried last week. They're both SO overpriced to the point where you could probably get real waiter service for the same amount of money and the food is fine...but stuff you could probably make yourself. At Tender Greens, you build a plate, which I was shocked to realize was just three piles of food (a protein, a green, and a side) with nothing bringing them together. They also have sandwiches and a few salads. The greens were really good and well dressed which is a plus. The space is pretty, with high ceilings and friendly staff, but I won't be rushing back. My coworker liked the ahi tuna so may be worth trying if you're really craving tuna in a non-sushi setting. Made Nice has some good dishes (the curry cauliflower for sure) but is also pretty overpriced and the food can be too salty. The chefs from the Nomad are behind Made Nice, though it doesn't feel like two of the country's leading restauranteurs are that involved. I tend to agree with Pete Wells on Made Nice and Ryan Sutton on Tendergreens. 

Trying both of those spots made me realize how much I've come to like packing lunch, not only for the cost saving but also for the often better food. When I don't pack something, it's fun to try a new hole in the wall (still thinking about  Woorjip and I also love Soup Spot) or go somewhere really nice like Her Name is Han. 

For weekend lunches, brunch at Le Barricou was absolutely lovely. It's a French restaurant that's been open for over 10 years and it feels very homey. Lots of people were eating (and photographing) the pancakes which take 45 minutes and look extremely fluffy. We waited a while for food since it was busy and luckily had bloody marys to keep us busy. My egg white omelet was nicely rolled (this kind of technique that I'm always scared to attempt) and stuffed with leeks and peas and goat cheese with rosemary, which felt like a spring preview. The salad had a nice mustard dressing too. Need to come back for dinner and mussels and their cozy backroom has a fireplace where you can hang out on weekdays with drinks. 

Still a big fan of the Topaz, a well-designed cocktail bar that feels like a treat, even though the prices are reasonable. The staff is always nice and they switched out my friend's drink when she didn't like it.  The back area is good for a group but is sometimes reserved for events so call ahead. 

Spent an afternoon working at The West Brooklyn, a coffee shop by day, bar by night. I love the atmosphere on a weekend where it's a mix of friends catching up and people writing, with either coffee or a cocktail, and sometimes both.

Grab breakfast burritos at Jessi's coffeeshop and then take them home and heat them up. The cheese will get slightly meltier and it feels fancy to eat a burrito off a real plate (hack via #1 Jessi's fans Julianne and Ian). 

The cemitas at Los Tacos Mcondo are so good. Ask for the housemade hot sauce and if you're in the delivery range, they always come fast. 

No shame in admitting that I practically ran to Best Pizza at 11:55 last night to have one of their square veggie slices before they closed at midnight. 
Something to read:

A challenge for this week: put your phone away at dinner (it's extremely hard)

How to wash fewer dishes (all about this)

17 people on their favorite comfort foods

Love this feature on the 100 most Jewish foods, which has some entries I wasn't expecting

This essay from a former restaurant critic on failure, the industry, and lots more 

Fellow Maldon Salt Addicts unite 

What happened when David Lebovitz came over to make ice cream 

A thorough guide to feeling better if you have a cold that's lasted forever
 
I love the new Queer Eye and I am an unabashed Antoni fan (those eyes, those t-shirts). This interview is really moving. 

I love ginger candies and I'm happy to see a pro agrees 

Writing about Chinese Food as a Chinese Person 

Tamar Adler and the rise of the quiet cook

Last week I asked about foods that turn a bad day around and takeout got lots of love, specifically Sushi and Thai. Delivery is really a special tool to have in your back pocket, especially if you can order it on your way home. This is my one takeout rule, especially in bad weather. 
If you're in the range, Julia and Julianne both love Sage Thai. 

Also, I am pleased to report that several readers are planning to watch Sweetbitter even though it might a trainwreck. Can't wait. Check out the trailer and join us! 

This week, I have a few questions. 
First, Do you have any Boston recommendations? I'm going in 2 weeks for a bar mitzvah and haven't been since high school.

Second, what are your favorite snacks? The after lunch hours can be so brutal at a desk and I personally need a snack every day around three or I am not a happy camper. I usually bring a piece of fruit, an apple or pear and also keep a bags of mixed nuts on hand for days when lunch is too small or I just want something to nibble on. Baby carrots are good too, mostly for the crunch, and I could not have finished my thesis without pistachios. Share your desk (whether at work, home, or the library) snacking habits by replying to this email. We're all in this together. 

Third, should I order this cookbook? Seriously tempted. 

Have a great week full of sunsets, satisfying snacks, midnights, and cups of coffee. 

Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo,
Abigail