Delectables

Funny food-related stories and interesting recipes – no steak and potatoes here.

Rue de Jean – French Cuisine in Charleston

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Wendi Nitschmann

G and I had to make a trip up to Charleston the other day to see about his Green Card. It expired this month, and although he reapplied way back in March, it seems that six months isn’t enough time for it to be processed. The employees in the immigration office are so rude and unpleasant. I feel so sorry for the people who have to deal with them.
We took advantage of being in Charleston and headed downtown to have lunch. I love walking around the city. There’s always something interesting to see.

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I thought it would be fun to try a French Restaurant, and it turned out to be a great call. Rue de Jean is, appropriately, on John Street. There is patio dining in the alley, and it was such a beautiful day we decided to eat outside.

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The menu had lots of typical French dishes – including quiche and salade Niçoise – but our waitress suggested the mussels. They were outstanding. Mine came in a fragrant garlic, white wine and basil broth and G’s came swimming in bacon and cream. We had frites on the side, and if I closed my eyes I felt like I could be sitting in a seaside restaurant on the Cote d’Azur. They were that good!

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We’ll definitely be going back again.

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The Best Potato Salad You’ll Ever Eat

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wendi Nitschmann

 

It's football season!

In honor of Labor Day Weekend – and the big kick-off to FOOTBALL SEASON – I decided to share one of my favorite recipes with you: Armenian Potato Salad. I learned how to make it from my mom – who I’m guessing learned how to make it from an Armenian friend in Saudi Arabia. I prefer it to regular, mayo-based potato salad. For one thing, it’s lighter. And if you don’t eat it right away, it gets better. Because there’s no mayo in it, it’s perfect to take on a picnic or to a tailgate party since it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

That’s a winning recipe in my book!

You will need:

  • a bag of small red potatoes
  • a couple of green onions
  • 2-3 garlic cloves
  • a handful of parley
  • 1 lemon
  • EVOO*
  • salt & pepper

Start out by boiling the red potatoes. I don’t peel them, I just rinse ’em off and, depending on how big they are, either quarter them or cut them into chunks. Put them in a pot of salted water and boil until fork tender.

 

For the dressing, squeeze a lemon into about a quarter cup of EVOO. Chop up 2-3 cloves of garlic and stir that in. Then add some freshly ground salt and pepper.

garlic, lemon and EVOO

When the potatoes are done, drain them and put them back in the pot for a few seconds and shake them around a little bit. This will dry them. Then dump them in a bowl and add the dressing, stirring so all the potatoes get a shot of yumminess. Grind some more salt and pepper over them.

dressed potatoes

Chop up the parsley and slice the green onions thinly, then add them to the potatoes.

Give the potatoes a gentle, loving stir and – this is the hardest part – set them aside for a while. As long as you can stand it. I suggest putting them in the fridge to cool, because if they’re out of sight you won’t be tempted to try them. Believe me, once you taste a forkful, it’s all over.

Armenian potato salad

I hope you like these as much as I do. If so, come back and tell me.

If not, don’t bother.

*EVOO is Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

 

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