Social Harlem

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The crowd was sociable at Corner Social, 321 Malcolm X Boulevard or Lenox Avenue, Harlem.

AB: It was a very active social scene in Harlem last night. And with the popping up of new restaurants, bars and lounges, the scene is likely to be popping every night of the week. The crowds are…diverse to say the least. Even the grandmas in wheelchairs come rolling up to the side entrance of Marcus Samuelsson’s , Red Rooster. This was not Soho, but Soha! At Corner Social, a recently established Harlem eatery and drinkery, a private function ended early, letting in the masses of revelers seeking to profile and be profiled. Well dressed individuals of all colors, shapes, and sizes, were busy escaping their husbands but more likely their wives considering the number of men there. The scene was a mix of something reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance and a Benny Boom music video. Getting a drink at the bar was an exercise in getting felt up in the most platonic of ways of course, by an array of modern men who are distinctly more touchy than the men of yester generations. The crowds were so divergent in fact, it felt like some girl named Rachel was getting married. Or rather, that she was jumping the broom; I was in Harlem after all.

Spring Tarts

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Spring Tart with Goat Cheese and asparagus.

AB: No, I am not talking about the girls in short skirts and the boys in short shorts. I was trying to strategize for making something light and heavenly for the Spring while still being prepared just in case to make something heftier for the implications of how environmental climate change might result in global cooling. The solution; Goat Cheese Tart.

1, 8 inch  store bought pie crust

1 bundle of asparagus

4 spring onions or 8 scallions

4 oz goat cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tbs minced parsley or cilantro

1tbs minced chives

2tbs mince tarragon

2 eggs

olive oil

salt and pepper for seasoning

Layer the bottom of the pie shell with the sauteed aspargus and pour over the goat cheese mixture.

Bake pie crust and let cool separately. Then preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut off tips of asparagus and quarter the bulbs or white parts of the spring onions. Season with salt and pepper and toss in olive oil and roast in the oven for 15 minutes and set aside to cool. Cut the rest of the asparagus and onions into 1/4 inch dice. Saute in a pan with some olive oil and season with salt and pepper until onions are soft and asparagus is bright green. Set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, mix the goat cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, eggs, and herbs together. Season with salt and pepper. Retrieve the pie shell and layer the bottom with the sauteed onions and asparagus. Pour over top the wet mixture of goat cheese until the sauteed onion and asparagus is completely covered. Place the roasted onion bulbs and asparagus tops at random on the surface of the tart. Put back into the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until tart is set. Let cool and serve warm or at room temperature. You’re left eating a rich, tangy, savory tart that feels light and frothy but has some substance and can keep you holding your head up high. No walk of shame here.

Mob Pies.

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Try the Four Cheese Pizza at Patricia's, 1082 Morris Park Avenue, Morris Park, The Bronx

AB: If you should be visiting the Bronx for whatever reason, a Yankees game perhaps or the a tour of the Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens, or a late night rendez-vous with a street walker…you should know that there is some good Italian American eating up there. The Bronx boasts Arthur Avenue, the other Little Italy of New York. It also has the second largest Columbus Day parade in America outside of the 5th Avenue parade in Manhanttan, the de facto celebration of Italian America; that and The Sopranos. The parade actually takes place in the Morris Park section of the Bronx where you will also find good Italian American eating, including at, Patricia’s Restaurant. Patricia’s can remind you of eating in a suburban restaurant in the 50′s where one might discuss marriages, graduations, and unsavory activities. With its array of uniformed male waiters who are polite and amicable and can seem like a crew when standing all together towards the front to the familiar if comfortably large and open layout where one can easily view who’s coming in and going out. This is something like a classic Italian American restaurant. With little twists, ofcourse. THe menu purports to be Italian with classic french infused in some of the dishes.  Try the menu, eat the pizza. The pizzas are freshly made, Neapolitan style pies, miniature and big that have great taste and crusts that are crunchy and chewy and the same time. The four cheese pizza, a pizza topped with gorgonzola, pecorino, parmigiana, and mozzarella is a bold, creamy, and salty pie that should fill you up nicely with a nice glass of table red. You’ll be taking that in and all the muzzarell and gabba goo in the room. I heard Big Ange, from Mob Wives was up the street the other week…

Jay Z Walker

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What I am Wearing: Supreme Big Polka Dot T-shirt, LL Bean Navy Chinos, Burberry Trench Coat, Uniqlo Puce socks, Vintage Bally Sandals.

AB: Perhaps its my roots in the Bx or my tendency to brush my shoulders off not, mind you, for fear of dandruff; I love mixing in some loud, one could argue, hip hop oriented motifs and street style in my everyday look. And Loud prints; garish sunglasses; funky shoes. All of these items make me feel, when I’m standing on the corner where everyone seems to have “swagger” these days, where  concrete dreams are made of, like I’m a big pimpin, roc boy and I gotta make this song cry and smoke that lalalala.

BUI’S BONANZE IS BACK!

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What I'm wearing: Vintage Pajama Jumpsuit, Uniqlo Cardigan, Vintage Escada Box Purse, Marc Jacobs Studded pumps. At Japanese Restaurant, Kyo Ya.

TB: I had a magnificent dinner with my brother Andrew and comrade Lynn the other night and it was so memorable, I just wanted to take something to go with me. It’s the reason I carry around a purse around for…and tupperware. It should be a seamless move, putting food in your purse. That’s why I carry around vintage designer purses, like the vintage Escada Maritime themed box purse pictured, to add some social appeal to the whole transaction. I use the purse as my lunch box. Speaking of vintage designer goods, BUIS BONANZE: VINTAGE DESIGNER CLOTHING SALE is back at the Hester Street Flea Market, Saturday May 12 at Hester Street and Essex Street in the LES. Come by and peruse through wondrously selected and curated vintage designer clothing and accessories for men and for women. And there may be some surprises too like stow away biscotti from one of those fancy restaurants my brother likes to eat at.