Le Grand Dakar

So far my experiences trying African cuisine in NYC restaurants have not been pleasurable. Muted flavors that lead to bland taste. However I have been hearing wonderful things about Le Grand Dakar in the Clinton-Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn so I decided to give it a try.
A wonderfully diverse menu with dishes from all over the African continent, although with a concentration on Senegalese cuisine. I was pleasantly surprised. We were a party of 8 and not a one of us were disappointed with what we ordered-appetizers of. shrimp and sweet potato fritters or shrimp and mango salad were the first course highlights. Very large portions so that most of us had problems finishing our main course.
Flavorful okra stew, Deliciously seasoned lamb chops served with carmelized sweet plantains or the amazing roasted blue fish in a tangy tomato based sauce served with cassava and red rice were some of the main course highlights.
Desserts had to be shared since no one had room left in their full bellies. Everyone loved the warm coconut rice pudding with roasted mango.
The menu also includes a variety of traditionally made beverages including ginger and bisap. Bisap is what Caribbeans call Sorrel so it was familiar to me although the Caribbean version is sweeter and spicier, made with cloves, ginger and cinnamon, but this version was still good.
Beautiful presentations, friendly staff, authentic African setting, African music playing in the background but low enough to still be able to enjoy conversation, delicious food-there is every reason to make the trip to Clinton Hill to enjoy authentic African cuisine.




Chef Mireille
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You Never Know What You'll Find in a Mussel

The most surprising things happen naturally. Culinary surprises always amaze me.
Last night I was in a local Aussie pub in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is a great neighborhood place with really friendly local people. One of the guys at the next table had ordered the plate of mussels and he was extremely surprised when upon opening one of the mussels, he found a baby crab instead. Of course, I had to take a photo!!!
The next time you order mussels - Be careful - Who Knows What Will Be Inside!!!




Chef Mireille
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Squid Ink Pasta with Seafood

After shopping on Arthur Avenue, the NYC Cooking & Dining Meetup Group aka Group Cuisine cooked an Italian Feast on Sunday. For more info on Arthur Avenue shopping, check out this blog by one of our members. Facebook members can see all the photos here.

Sunday's menu included a variety of dishes including Proscuitto Wrapped Asparagus, Zucchini and Onion Stuffed Focaccia, Fresh Butternut Squash Raviolis in Butter Sage Sauce and the hit of the night was the Squid Ink Pasta with Mussels, Sepia and Shrimp.

You can purchase the squid ink and make the pasta yourself but we took the easy route and bought the premade Squid Ink Pasta from Borgatis Pasta Shop on Arthur Avenue. Here is the recipe for this amazing dish:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 pounds mussels
1 pound shrimp, cleaned and shelled
1 pound sepia, diced
2 12 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 pound squid ink pasta
3 salted anchovies, diced
2 teaspoons fresh salted capers
1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino cheese

In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook squid ink pasta al dente.

In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add anchovies and fry for one minute. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add capers, sepia and shrimp. When half way cooked, about 3-4 minutes, add mussels and cover to steam. Once mussels have opened, turn off flame and stir in parsley and cheese.

Toss seafood sauce with cooked squid ink pasta and serve immediately.

For more photos from Group Cuisine's Italian cooking event, see here.



Chef Mireille
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Little Italy

Most New Yorkers think of the little neighborhood blended with Chinatown in lower Manhattan when you think of Little Italy, myself included. However, I have been hearing for a long time that the place to visit the real Little Italy in New York is up in the Bronx, so I finally made the trip up North. Only 1 1/2 hour public transportation commute from Brooklyn, for me another world - only going to the Bronx previously on school trips to the Bronx Zoo, as a child.

My trip up North was well worth the commute. I have now discovered that the little neighborhood in Manhattan is a sad duplicate with a handful of stores with limited selections. Although only about 6 blocks, the Bronx neighborhood has variety so that you are able to practice comparative shopping. A variety of shops selling cheese, cured meats, imported Italian grocery items, fish markets, bakeries and seafood.

The best thing to do is take the #2 or #5 train uptown to 174th Street and then the B19 bus to 187th Street (about a 5-10 minute bus ride). Walk down 187th street and stop in all the places of interest and then turn on Arthur Avenue and that is the rest of it. However, I will give you the highlights of must stop places:

Madonia Brothers, Bakery - tons of biscotti varieties and other baked goods. The must have item is the Amaretto cookies - deliciously soft and moist - it feels like the amaretto is bursting out of the cookie as you bite into it - HEAVENLY!!!

Teitel Brothers - fresh olives, nuts, dried fruits, cured meats, cheeses, Italian grocery items. EXCELLENT customer service - tell them you have never been there before - and they will bring out all kinds of things for you to try.

Randazzo Seafood - As soon as I walked in, I stopped dead in my tracks - the best smelling fish market I have ever been to. If you walked me in there blindfolded, there is no way I would have known it was a fish market.

Modern Grocery - just the local supermarket - but the best tasting tomatoes I have ever had in America. Sweet and juicy - not tart and acidic. Even better than the Farmers Market tomatoes I buy at Union Square!!

Have lunch at Full Moon Pizza - traditional Sicilian slices - not the huge monstrosities available at most NYC pizzerias - much thinner with a variety of toppings - tomatoes and portabello mushrooms in photo here.

I will definitely be making the trip up to the Bronx;s Little Italy more often!!!


Chef Mireille
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Beware Caribbean Spice

My regular readers will remember me advocating the street carts on 46th Street last week for their variety of available cuisines. I am going to have to rescind my recommendation for one of them. The Jamaican food cart - Caribbean Spice.
I was so looking forward 2 my favorite Caribbean meal of Curry Goat - something usually only available in the outer burroughs. It looked so delicious with the rice and peas and steamed cabbage. Looks can be deceiving. I tasted a piece of meat and it was great - flavorfull and falling off the bone tender. But then I tasted the rice and peas. It smelled and tasted funny. I tried a few more bites just to be sure. Then I decided to follow one of the major culinary rules I learned in cooking school - When in doubt, throw it out!!!
I still found myself in the bathroom a half hour later and managed I hope to flush the rest of the little bit I ate with water. The rice was obviously left out too long at room temperature. And in this heat, a very BAD idea!!!
I regretfully must say Stay Away from Caribbean Spice to avoid getting sick.



Chef Mireille
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