Cayenne chile and sweet carrots!

Small puffs of French style gnocchi (made with Pate a Choux, NO potato) candy-sweet peas, Tasso ham, and a sweet carrot broth laced with cayenne chile. The “sweet heat” that I am so found of was done to perfection in this dish at Hungry Mother in Cambridge, MA. The potato-less gnocchi were so light they hovered over the sauce but soaked just enough up to make each bite heaven. The Tasso ham added a smoky Louisiana style spice and my tongue was blanketed with a fine coating of the sweet carrot and cayenne after each bite. I am going to roast some rustic cut carrots with agave, butter and cayenne powder when I get home.

I am here shooting season two of United Tastes of America and slipped away for a delicious two hours at the bar of this incredible local eatery. Paper-thin slices of tender cow tongue on toasted baguette with Dijon and Swiss was the best take on a roast beef sandwich I have ever had. Smoked trout salad lightly dressed in buttermilk with pea shoots and candied walnuts. The list goes on including the amazing one-man show mixologist Ned.

I had a glass of my favorite food wine, a rose from the Rhone Valley in France. Bone dry with plenty of dried red fruit and acidity to work with salad yet just enough tannin (the stuff that makes your lips stick to your teeth) to work with meat. When in doubt it is hard to lose with a chilled bottle of rose.

I miss my family dearly, I love my “job”, I am so grateful for you! Have a delicious day and do something nice for yourself. Cheers.

Eat well, Enjoy life, Be happy!