Cooking at Home - Banana Cream Pie

For a recent trip to a friend’s house, my wife and I decided to try out a new recipe we found for Banana Cream Pie.  I’ve seen various types from simple vanilla pudding to more elaborate ingredients which take a long time to put together. The recipe we went with was a happy medium. It definitely took some planning but only a few hours.

Due to time restraints, we decided to go with a store-bought Nilla Wafer crust but next time, and there will definitely be a next time, we will attempt to make our own crust. The filling is quite simple and is essentially just bananas, milk/heavy cream, egg yolks and sugar. Once the filling is poured into the shell, throw it in the refrigerator for 2 hours with some plastic wrap across the top to prevent a skin from forming.

Finally, remove the plastic wrap and whip up some whipped cream and apply liberally. The recipe calls for some shaved chocolate on the top which we skipped since we only had milk chocolate and I’m not a huge fan of milk chocolate.  Voila! A simple Banana Cream Pie that is apparently delicious…judging by the speed at which it was devoured by everyone.

Side Note:  Pie always tastes better when served out of cups or mugs.

Taim Mobile

On a recent trip to visit my buddy Frankie over at Cupcake Crew, he told me of his new friends in the truck next door; Dave and the guys at Taim Mobile. Taim offers up delicious falafel and everything to go with it. Since my introduction to falafel a few years ago, I've been trying a lot of different places to see what can really be done differently than just balling it up and frying it. I can say now, that I am an idiot. There is so much more to it that that. Some of the street vendors I have encountered just take their ice cream scoop to the vat of green stuff sitting on the side and dropping it into the fryer. It always comes out dripping of grease and is flavored by burnt oil. Taim does not follow these same rules. But let's not jump the gun just yet.

The first big option you need to decide upon is whether you want a falafel sandwich or platter. Being this was my first visit, I had to go big and get the platter which comes with falafel, hummus, quinoa salad, Israeli salad and your choice of a white or wheat pita. I placed my order and had my food in hand in under 5 minutes; which was very impressive seeing that there were 2 people in front of me waiting. I was handed my bag and set off on my hike back to work where I layed out my lunch. The guys at Taim really know the meaning of healthy portions. My eyes opened wide at the amount of food that sat in front of me as my mouth began to water. And this is when I knew these guys were not like the other falafel places I had been; set aside in their own little brown paper bag were the falafel balls. They weren't just thrown into the platter, they were kept crisp and apart like the true star of the meal waiting for their big entrance. So it was up to me if I wanted the falafel dipped in the hummus or place in the pita or just eaten plain. The platter was broken up into three sections: the large division contianed a pool of (obviously fresh) hummus, adjacent to two smalled sections of the two salads. Finally, I unwrapped my whole wheat pita and was very happy to see that this was no ordinary pita pulled off of a supermarket shelf. It was fresh and teased with some olive oil and herbs on top.

As a whole, the meal was delicious, but what made this so great is that all of the individual pieces stood strong on their own.  The hummus was so fresh and delicious and although it looks very oily, it does not taste so. The quinoa salad was also great. It has dried cranberries, chick peas, herbs & preserved lemon. All of the textures worked really well with each other. Unfortunately, my aversion to tomatos kept me away from the Israeli salad but it is tomato, cucumber, parsley & lemon mint dressing. (The cucumbers tasted good!) Last but definitely not least is the falafel itself. At first glance, you might think that they are over-cooked or burnt, but crack them open and you'll reveal a light (and vibrant) green inside. The crust adds just enough bite and chew and the flavor is great.

So go out and grab some falafel! Maybe you'll even see me there, I will definitely be going more often now that the weather is warming up a little.

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Taim Mobile

Website: www.taimmobile.com

Twitter: @TaimMobile
Facebook: Taim Mobile

M.I.A.

Hey Everyone -

Sorry I've been slacking on my posts lately.  That's what happens when you have a pregnant wife at home. :-) But this should hopefully be the start of some new posts.

Coming soon: Homemade Banana Cream Pie, Sausage Rissotto, Taqueria del Sol (Atlanta, Ga), my cousin's Low Country Boil and coming later today...my newest Food Truck visit; Taim Mobile.

Stay tuned!

Cupcake Crew

There are few people who can say they’ve never had a cupcake.  Birthday parties, bake sales or my favorite excuse…Just Because! But I can assure you, you’ve never had cupcakes like the ones from the newest food truck, Cupcake Crew.­ They may have the typical flavors like chocolate cake with vanilla icing but it is their new and unique flavor combinations that they are using to make a name for themselves.  I have made numerous trips to the Cupcake Crew truck and have had a lot of their flavors so I cannot tell you about each and every one.  But take my word and if I haven’t mentioned a specific flavor that you were hoping for, that doesn’t mean it isn’t available.

One thing that really helps Cupcake Crew stand apart is their offering of both regular and mini size cupcakes.  The minis are the perfect bite of cupcake; well balanced with the perfect amount of icing to cake.  And just to stress how good these cupcakes are, I don’t just pop it in my mouth to enjoy.  I take my time.  At least 2 or three bites to really let all of the flavors soak in.  Don’t even get me started on how long it takes me to eat a regular size cupcake.  The flavors are so delicate but also spot on.  I honestly have not had a cupcake that I haven’t enjoyed.  And if I haven’t given you enough reasons yet to hunt down the truck, I just hosted a party at my office which was catered with 3 dozen minis from Cupcake Crew.  Every single one of my coworkers fell instantly in love and can’t wait to find the truck and introduce their friends and family to them.

The Cupcakes:

Banana Hummingbird, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Almond Joy, Fluffernutter, Cookies N’ Cream, Boston Cream and who could forget Cousin Vinny.  This list doesn’t even begin to do the overwhelming menu justice.  I make sure that I check Twitter every day to see what new flavors are available.  Of course there are the standards like Chocolate w/ Vanilla icing or Red Velvet (and these are also deliciously amazing) but that is not why I go back over and over. 

I can’t go into describing the intricate nature of each cupcake but take my word, I know cupcakes….and these are amazing.  If you get to the truck and any of the options for that day contain the peanut butter icing, GET IT.  This isn’t a fake, over-processed flavoring.  This is the real deal.  My absolute favorite cupcake to date is the Fluffernutter: Vanilla cake with PB icing.  But it doesn’t end there.  You’re asking where’s the fluff?  It is injected INTO the cupcake.  I know! I can’t believe it either!  One of my other suggestions would be the Cookies N’ Cream.  Bits of Oreo cookies mixed into the cake batter become soft to the bite but filled with great flavor.  Interested in the Cousin Vinny?  I was too…but what is the fun in giving away all of the fun secrets.  Track down the truck and check it out!  I’ll give you a hint…Think cannoli.

And to make the whole experience even better is that the man behind all of these delicious cupcakes, Frankie, is so friendly and so excited to be handing out these treats that you really feel great about the whole transaction.  Sure, you’re paying him, but I can guarantee that if you ran into him on the street you’d receive the same reaction.  There is truly a passion and you can taste it.

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Cupcake Crew

Website: www.CupcakeCrew.com

Twitter: @CupcakeCrewNYC
Facebook: Cupcake Crew

Swich Wholesome Sandwich Company

A quick plug before we start because I would never have found this place without the Scoutmob iPhone app. Scoutmob is a great website offering so many amazing deals at locations throughout the city. The deal that drew me into Swich was 50% Off! Check out www.scoutmob.com and start saving!



Swich Wholesome Sandwich Co is located in Chelsea on 8th Ave. I know what you're thinking though, Another sandwich shop?! But my answer to you is No…this is not just another whole in the wall that has some coldcuts behind the counter with day old vegetables. Swich is all about fresh, healthy, and most importantly, delicious sandwiches. I have been there twice so far and each sandwich has been satisfying and doesn't leave me walking away with that "I shouldn't have eaten that" feeling.



Picture a Subway that only had fresh ingredients. There are no paper cups of precut "meat" sitting on the counter hoping somebody picks them. But much like Subway, the ordering is an assembly line. First, choose your bread. (Ciabatta [reg or lg], 7-grain baguette [reg or lg] or Sliced whole wheat) Next, chose your protein or select one of their pre-arranged sandwich selections. Finally, you can add a variety of vegetables; some of which are slightly more money.




On my first visit, I selected The Hippie: Grilled Chicken, avocado, sprouts and a Citrus Vinaigrette. The chicken is pulled from it's steamy bath of broth and goodness and arranged on my large ciabatta. This is real, juicy pieces of chicken; nothing frozen…nothing unrecognizable. That alone, looked ready to devour, but they weren't done. When slicing the avocado, there was a sensation of caring. They didn't just throw 2 slices on the bread and continue on. Each, of the numerous, slices were carefully arranged on the bread to guarantee each bite would be equally delicious. I also chose to add some lettuce and red onion. The mound of sprouts that followed added the perfect balance of green to the unsaturated sandwich. Finished with a squeeze of the citrus vinaigrette and my sandwich was ready to consume. You can make it a combo by adding chips and a drink or throw some soup in to enjoy.

The Hippie was delicious. You can really taste all of the fresh, natural ingredients. The flavors all combine perfectly to really make you feel like you're eating something healthy. All orders are served with a complimentary offering of lemon-mint edamame.


If you're a fan of edamame like I am, these are a must eat! If you've never had or don't like edamame…these are a MUST EAT! I like to save mine to the end as a crisp palette cleanser.




My next visit led me to The Mexicana: Roast Beef, Avocado, Cilantro, Jalepeños and Citrus Vinaigrette. (Once again on a large ciabatta.) the roast beef was taken out from where it is stored dry and dunked and submerged into a hot bath of jus and deliciousness. After a minute or so, it comes out of it's bath and is piled upon the bread. The jalepeños are arranges with such perfection that there is a spicy blanket on top of the roast beef. As with the Hippie, the avocado is next up. Because I loved them so much on my first sandwich, I added some sprouts next. Finally, a few pieces of cilantro top the sandwich.




The jalepeños added a strong kick that is kept under control by the cooling avocado. there isn't much to say about this sandwich other than, I can't wait to go back. The creators of these sandwiches have really found a happy balance of their ingredients and offer up such a large selection that it will be a long time before I have to repeat a lunch.

As I was finishing up my sandwich and licking my lips I saw signs for their "famous" banana lemonade. You heard me right…but it sounded like something I couldn't get anywhere else so I opted for a cup to go.


Wow! Sweet and tart but neither of which is more powerful than the other. It was the perfect drink for the unnaturally warm day.

The biggest regret I have about Swich is that it took too long for me to discover it! It is really too far for me to walk to on my lunch breaks so once the weather gets bad and the rollerblades go away, so will my sandwiches; I'm just out of delivery range. But rest assured, I will be taking full advantage for as long as I can.

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Swich Wholesome Sandwich Co.
Address: 104 8th Ave (@ 15th St), New York, NY
Website: www.SwichWholesome.com

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

I had been hearing all about the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck since I got interested in the NYC food trucks. My biggest problem was that he never came close enough to work for me to realistically eat lunch, get there and back on my 1 hour lunch break. So I always just hoped that one day I would magically come across it. But then I learned on Twitter that the BGICT shuts down for the Winter months. I know I shouldn't have been so surprised but it made me realize that if I was going to try this ice cream, I needed to make it happen.

It was a gorgeous day so I put my rollerblades on at work. I didn't really have any plans that day for lunch but I flew downtown on Broadway. I reluctantly grabbed a small sandwich at some little shop not worth mentioning and sat down at one of the little tables facing the beautiful Flatiron building. With my sandwich done and time to kill, I popped open my Twitter and much to my surprise, the BGICT was just a fee blocks away on Broadway & 17th Street!! That wasn't going to be a problem, especially on my rollerblades. I've been hearing stories and tweets about this truck and expected a big extravagant vehicle with rainbows and unicorns and jelly beans dancing with lollipops. I have no idea why…at all! I turned the corner and there it was; a small white ice cream truck like you have seen since childhood. The only difference was the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck logo on the side panel.





The line wasn't too bad, with 3 people in front of me, I had time to take in all of the amazing and unique menu items. Varying from olive oil & sea salt to blood orange infused balsamic syrup, I had a big decision to make. I had one shot at greatness for the next day was closing day! Without notice, I was next! Scanning all of the different pictures along the side of the truck I finally see something that I cannot say no to: Vanilla ice cream with Dulce de Leche & ground Nilla wafers. "I'd like a Bea Arthur, please!"





A squeeze bottle of Dulce de Leche starts off the party inside of the cone. Next, a swirling tower of vanilla ice cream grows. Now everyone pay attention, this is where the magic happens.


The squeeze bottle makes another appearance; shoved into the ice cream and slowly drawn out and up creating pinstripes of deliciousness. This process is used around the entire circumference of the cone with such random precision. The whole thing then gets a bath in ground Nilla Wafers and placed into my eagerly awaiting hands. I find a spot across the street to sit down and partake in this coned creation.



Let me tell you, words cannot describe how incredible this ice cream was. The Nilla wafers were so light and packed with vanilla flavor. The dusting also created such a great texture in my mouth when mixed with the rich and creamy ice cream. Don't think I forgot about the pinstripes of joy! The Dulce de Leche was thick and sweet and sticky and the perfect balance to the wafers and ice cream.


You don't hear this very often but Bea Arthur had totally made my day! Unfortunately, Bea Arthur also made me late for work! But it was worth it.

Let it be known now, the day the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck rolls out into the city next year, you will be sure to find me in line; waiting to try the newest creation.

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The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
Website: www.BigGayIceCreamTruck.com
Twitter: @biggayicecream
Facebook: The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

Rice Pudding from Frites 'N' Meats

By now, especially if you follow me on Twitter, you know my love of the guys and food at Frites 'N' Meats. My weekly burgers have only gotten better since I have been sampling the Burger of the Week. But as amazing as the burgers have been, there is another hidden gem within the yellow truck. Typically I am not one to get dessert after lunch. Usually just after dinner…or breakfast. :-) But when I learned that there was rice pudding available, I could not resist.

Offered with and without a dusting of cinnamon, the generous portion of rice pudding is the perfect way to cleanse your palette after a Frites 'N' Meats burger.



The pudding is thick and creamy and the cinnamon adds a powerful punch to make sure the sweetness doesn't get out of control.


The rice is cooked perfectly; not mushy but not too firm that you're picking it out of your teeth. Now I usually don't talk about price but this beautiful dessert is only $3.00! This isn't a little tasting portion either. When it comes to Frites 'N' Meats, there is no holding back. I highly recommend tracking down this truck and grab a burger, fries and of course a container of rice pudding.

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Frites 'N' Meats
Website: www.fritesnmeats.com
Twitter: @Fritesnmeats