After disliking scallops through most of my childhood, I found them on my birthday dinner plate a few years ago. My friend had whipped up a warm scallop salad for my big day, and it was insanely delicious. Now, of course, I love the things. They're very tasty, pretty versatile, and are ridiculously simple to prepare.
Over the last few weeks, I wanted to use up the last of the big scallops hanging out in my freezer. First, I made the above -- a warm salad to get back to the roots of my scallop love. The key is to have a creamy sauce/dressing, and vegetables that are warm and almost limp (but still holding some firmness). This one had tomatoes, peppers, green beans, basil, and feta.
Toronto is a great city, but it's even better when you discover the myriad of great beer bars in the city. All of my favorites are on there, although Abbot on the Hill should've gotten more than just an honorable mention.
Last week I wrote about Rameniac, a guide to all things ramen so detailed and descriptive that it left me jonesing for a hot bowl of the stuff. As promised, I did indeed trek from my native Queens to Manhattan's East Village that same afternoon to satisfy my urge.
Rather than head to one of the neighborhood's longstanding ramenyas, I decided to try out Ramen Setagaya, a new spot that opened in mid-June amid much fanfare and accompanying long lines. Part of the reason for all the buzz surrounding Setagaya's opening lies in the fact that it's the first U.S. restaurant of a popular Tokyo chain. And a large part lies in the fact that they make one kickass bowl of soup.
I used to be afraid of scallops. Like few other things for which there is no explanation other than "maybe I was traumatized by it so badly in my childhood that I can't remember it, but I know I hate it," scallops were deep down in there with roast beef, rice krispies treats, cherry-flavored cough syrup, and the entire cuisine of Vietnam. However, in recent months, I have slowly been facing these fears head on.
Okay, so I am pretty sure that I still can't eat roast beef and rice krispies treats, but I have had some awesome experiences with scallops.
A friend of mine made a dinner of seared scallops that had been seasoned with just basic spices and exotic mushrooms that were sauteed in nothing but butter. Sometimes, the most delicious things are just that uncomplicated.
This might be just because I'm not a big seafood fan in the first place (except for some fish, clams, and scallops), but I find oysters a rather odd food to even think about eating. The way it must feel when it's going down your throat...gah. I wouldn't eat one for a million dollars.*
But I know that a lot of you out there love them, and Esquire has everything you need to know about buying and eating them: what they are, the difference between East Coast and West Coast oysters, how to shuck them (including the equipment you'll need), and a few companies where you can buy the best oysters in the country.
Oyster lovers, rejoice!
* This is a lie. I actually would eat one for a million dollars.
The web's first Japanese pizza page, as this web site proclaims itself, shows your the truly odd pies they're creating over there. Now, I'm all one for a little adventure in food, but come on, mayonnaise and octopus on a pizza? Gah.
I also love the design of the site. I said to myself, "wow, that's very 1996," and then I scrolled to the bottom of the page and found out that the page was created in 1995. OK, so I was a year off. I love how it looks like they haven't changed it since then (no kidding here, I'm actually serious).
But that still doesn't mean I'm going to throw scallops or crab legs on top of my pizza.
Marmalade seems to be flavour of the moment in a couple of corners of the UK food blog scene.
Lime and Dried Fig
Marmalade pops up at Fiordizucca which is recommended with bread and cheese, looks great too. Baking For
Britain provides a more indepth description and attempts - successfully I might add - a 17th century recipe for Quince Marmalade. More a jelly, really a
little like the Spanish Membillo. It's a great post and well worth reading.
English Patis has a recipe for Beansprout Spicy Rolls which sounds much more exotic as Lumpiang Togue. Sounds
really tasty so I have printed out the instructions/ingredients in anticipation of trying this one out. Roasted Cauilflower is on the
table at Nami-Nami and Pertelote has been joining in the world-wide fun of Sugar High Friday with Chestnut Rice Pudding with Cocoa
Nibs.
We've been making our way around the sushi bar here at slashfood, and preparation for Valentine's Day simply begs for a study in bivalves - clams, scallops, and those ever-so-aphrodisiac-al oysters.
"Gai" is a general Japanese term that refer to most of the clams. I very rarely see the kind of smaller clams that we put into chowders or batter and fry on a sushi menu. However, mirugai and hokkigai are regular offerings. Oysters are called "kaki."
A big selection of 
Sheryl Julian and Julie Riven 
This might be just because I'm not a big seafood fan in the first place (except for some fish, clams, and scallops), but I find oysters a rather odd food to even think about eating. The way it must feel when it's going down your throat...gah. I wouldn't eat one for a million dollars.*
Let them eat cake! 
The web's first Japanese pizza page, as 
We've been making our way around the sushi bar here at 
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
