Coffee and free food
Yes, once again I am way way way late on the haiku. Hey, sometimes you gotta enjoy your weekend you know? This week the haiku is from... someone. It was there on the fridge when I got home on Sunday, and it was awesome. Not gonna lie, I barely drink coffee even though I love the taste. You notice how coffee addicts behave when there's no coffee around for a whole day? Craaaazy. No sir, I don't wanna be like that at all. Sometimes all you need is a jolt in the morning to wake you up. There's nothing like being half asleep in the morning and sipping coffee to wake up. Ah... I gotta learn to love it.
Last night I sold my soul to corporate America. Yes, that's right. I took some free food sponsored by Visa Signature. Basically they asked me if I wanted to attend a dinner (along with other bloggers) and I said do I need to put on lipstick? Luckily no lipstick was involved and the meal was still free.
We ate at The Green Table and Mary Cleaver, the proprietor, was there on hand to talk about the food. She's really passionate about the green market and sustainable food. On the dining table, there were these little things called 'ground cherries.' Super interesting. If you have never had one, you have to try it simply because it's so cool. Descriptions ranged from persimmon to gooseberry to pineapple to passion fruit. What does that mean? Food bloggers have no friggin idea WTF this thing tastes like. Seriously, go try some and come back and tell me it taste like a cross between strawberries and bitter melon. I believe you.
The heirloom tomato salad with crispy fried okra was a refreshing appetizer. There's something about cornmeal encrusted fried stuff that just make me happy. It's like they kiss your taste bud with crunchy delight. And who doesn't like fried okra? I've never actually had heirloom tomatoes before and never really had green tomatoes in a salad. I have to try more of them.
For the entree, I had wild yellowfin tuna with saffron aioli. The fish was fresh and went very well with the aioli. I thought perhaps it might have been cooked closer to well-done than they really wanted. Still, it wasn't dry and the aioli really helped. The thing about free food is that it really skews your perception of the food.
Dessert was fallen chocolate souffle with earl grey ice cream. Mmmmm... That ice cream seemed subdued at first. But the earl grey flavor intensifies as the ice cream melts in your mouth. Cool and refreshing as you put it in your mouth, then it ends with a bang and you're hit with strong tea flavor. It was also a good contrast to the chocolate souffle.
What can I say about my experience at The Green Table? It was quite nice to be invited and very cool to meet other bloggers. And my allegiance is like a chia pet. Just water it, and watch it grow. Instead of water, offer free food. There's really no price too high or low for my soul. Really. I'll sell out! Promise!
The Green Table
75 9th Ave.
New York, NY 10011
212-741-9174
That all looks so delicious. Lovely pictures. And those tomatoes are so pretty! My dad has always grown heirloom tomatoes but as a kid I never appreciated them, now I do ;)
Aubrey
September 9, 2008 2:12 pm
Yep, free is almost always good. Ah well :) looks good too. Were all the food bloggers jockeying for photo position? Who did you meet? Why the complete lack of detail here yo?!
PS I heart Earl Grey ice cream.
Yvo
September 9, 2008 2:53 pm
So many food bloggers in one room. I wonder what everyone talked about?
Jonathan
September 9, 2008 5:40 pm
How about "they taste like ground cherries."? No? Yeah, if you don't give us some deets, I'm cutting you off from roast pork bun pron!
Blondie
September 9, 2008 9:20 pm
Aubrey,
Thanks, glad you like the pictures. And I agree with you, heirloom tomatoes are definitely worth appreciating!
Yvo,
oooh yea, I left out some details. The bloggers from Cravings, We Are Never Full, Monah's Apple, and The Wandering Eater were in attendance. I actually only saw Tina take pictures of her food, the other bloggers seemed to be more seasoned with these type of things. No biggie for them and they did not take pictures.
Jonathan,
Yup, we talked about nucular proliferation. Important stuff.
Blondie,
Hmmm.. good point, they are all their own. It's like sports stars who come into the league and say, 'I am not the next Michael Jordan, I am the first so-and-so.' And yes, deets! I want roast pork buns!
Danny
September 9, 2008 11:26 pm
what, you couldn't find a clever link for "ground cherry"?
Ang
September 10, 2008 12:36 am
I think that "earl grey" should have a link to this: http://picard.ytmnd.com/
Eric
September 11, 2008 10:26 am
Ang,
You're right, I'm not on my A-game with links. I will train harder and get better.
Eric,
Too late... maybe next time...
Danny
September 11, 2008 10:37 am