There is a conundrum I face once in a while.
In NYC there is so much to see, and I truly love seeing it all: Museums, gardens, art exhibits, new food shops, a stroll through the park, a walk down Bleecker St, a favorite restaurant, a spice store, a fun event for my daughter, and so much more.
And yet sometimes I want to make a dish that requires time. Take this beef stew recipe, for example: it requires several hours of one’s day. But when it’s October, New York City’s most glorious month, it’s hard to stay inside with all the beauty going on.
But last Saturday it rained all morning. Heavy, heavy rain. The kind that keeps you indoors unless you have an obligation. It was perfect time to hang out in my kitchen while watching my little one paint, draw and play with Legos.
So my six and half year old daughter and I put on our rain boots and braved the monsoon happening outside our windows. One of the things I love about urban living is being in walking distance to amenities. It took only a few minutes to walk to the butcher shop, the wine store and the market that sells vegetables. In ten minutes I had everything I needed to cook.
We arrived back home, soaked, but excited. “Will I like the stew, mama?” my daughter asked. “I think you will, darling. I think you will. (And she did.)
Later in the day, the rain stopped, the gray clouds turned white and puffy and the sun began to shine. The glorious October weather that stirs all your senses had returned. We’d eaten our stew, I cleaned up and we went back out to meet friends at the playground. It was the best of both worlds.
KITCHEN NOTES
Le Creuset
One of the best investments I ever made was the Le Creuset Dutch Oven in this color. It’s my go-to pot for stews of all kinds.
Bread, a must with stew
Serve your favorite bread with the stew. I love the rustic Tourte de Meule or Epi East Side bread from Maison Kayser.
A glass of wine with your beef stew?
Oh yes. You might enjoy this: i Bastioni Chianti Classico.
Music
I always have music playing while I cook and when we eat. We listened to Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.
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