Exploring a Legend: The Fergburger

Traveling in New Zealand, I had heard whiffs of an epic burger joint whose sandwiches were both monstrous and tasty. I found the storied place in downtown Queenstown by following a long line of people spilling out onto the sidewalk. Both native New Zealanders and hungry travelers, laden with backpacks, were swarming the small store-front. Groups of people were exiting with huge, paper-wrapped bundles, smiles and half-crazed eyes plastered devilishly onto their purchases. This is Fergburger. A restaurant that elevates ordering a simple burger into a rite of passage for all Queenstown visitors.

I did not immediately indulge. Rather, I waited until my last day in Queenstown to taste the legendary food- a poetic departure from the most gorgeous place I had ever visited. As I grew closer to the front of the line, I recalled what my friends in the hostel had said about Fergburger. One man had been quite frank: "It's essentially a really big, really good burger." Another had said, "It is without a doubt one of the tastiest burgers you will ever have." And a particularly die-hard Fergburger fan described it simply as "Heaven. Gut-busting Heaven." I knew that I really had found the pearly gates when I saw there were two vegetarian options on the menu. I opted for the Holier than Thou, described as "Tempered tofu with a spicy satay, coconut and coriander sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, snow-pea shoots and aioli." It was delicious. The tofu was cooked perfectly, neither too rubbery nor soft, and the combination of Indian spices melded ideally with the coolness of the cucumber and pea shoots. And this burger was huge. Spanning well over the circumference of my whole hand. I desperately wanted to finish the entire thing in one sitting but I was barely able to nibble through half.

So is the Fergburger worth the fifteen-hour plane flight to New Zealand? Maybe not. But it's definitely worth the thirty-minute wait to get to the front of the line.

Happy trails,
Jenna Blumenfeld

Red Curry Soup with Rice and Kale

All too often, my curries, soups and sauces turn out either under or over-spiced. When following a recipe I invariably disregard the section about measuring spices, and try instead to employ my fine "palate" to discern flavor requirements. Curries are especially difficult to spice accurately without a recipe because they have such a delicate balance of sweet and spicy; each flavor playing upon each other.

Leave it to vegan chef extraordinaire Isa Chandra Moskowitz to offer up a recipe for a fool-proof curry. The following soup uses a prepared curry paste, so you only have to measure one thing. There are no enticing dry spices like cumin or cayenne to add more of, so you have a warming, flavorful stew that is perfectly seasoned.

Red Curry Soup with Rice and Kale

From The Post Punk Kitchen

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small onion, diced medium

3 cloves of minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

3/4 cups of basmati rice

6 cups of vegetable broth

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons red curry paste

1 bunch of purple kale, pulled from the stems and torn into bite size pieces

1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks

1 can of lite coconut milk

1 tablespoon agave syrup

Juice of 1 lime

Directions

In a big soup pot, saute the onion with a pinch of salt until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger and heat for a little longer. Add the rice, vegetable broth and salt. Bring to a boil.

Lower to simmer and stir in the curry paste. Add the kale and the sweet potatoes and cover, simmering until the potatoes are tender.

Add coconut milk, agave syrup and lime. Adjust salt and curry paste for your tastes.
Let sit for ten minutes to let the flavors meld together. Serve with chopped cilantro.

Many thanks to the Post Punk Kitchen (http://www.theppk.com/) for this delicious recipe!

Flat White? Sweet As!

Flat whites are such treats! I have been traveling through New Zealand for the past two weeks, and apart from the scenery, the people and the deliciously warm summer weather, I have a new favorite coffee drink!

These insanely popular drinks from New Zealand are my new love and obsession. I simply cannot go a day without sipping the espresso-milk-foam combination. What makes it different from a latte you ask? Less foam, more charm, and without fail a cute little design on top that brings a little bit of art to a morning. I must learn how to make these lovely little buggers when I arrive home. Sweet as!

Power-Up Crepes

I was thrilled to wake up to 14 inches of freshly fallen powder this morning. Every road was closed, so what better way to celebrate this lazy, snowed in morning then to whip up  delicious, healthy crepes for a day of cross country skiing.

The actual crepe recipe is from the cookbook, Vegan Brunch by vegan guru Isa Chandra Moskowitz. For the filling I used Greek yogurt, sliced bananas and a berry sauce, but honestly, the possibilities are endless. These would be great with a peanut butter and jelly filling, or for dessert, whipped cream and chocolate. 

Power-Up Crepes

1 cup soymilk

1 cup water

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 tablespoons arrowroot powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons agave nectar

Put all of the ingredients into a blender and mix for about 30 seconds. The batter will be watery and thin. Chill in the refridgerator for an hour. Preheat a crepe pan or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Quickly spray with oil. 

Pour a spoonful of batter into the hot pan, take off the heat and swirl to thinly coat the bottom of the pan. Cook until the batter has dried, around 30 seconds. With a thin spatula, peel the crepe off the pan, (this should be relatively easy), and flip it over. Cook for another 30 seconds. Slide onto plate. Fill with whatever you desire. 

Berry Sauce

1/2 package of frozen berries

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon arrowroot 

Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and stir. Heat to medium. When the berries have broken down for the most part, and the mixture is thick, (around 10 minutes), let cool off the heat. Serve at room temperature. 

And for your personal snow-day inspiration, a photograph of the winter wonderland. This ain't Aspen folks, its Connecticut. 

Navigating the Gas Station Landscape

It is well known that American gas stations are bounties of the most despicable, offensive junk foods on the continent. Where else can you find pork rinds, highly processed packaged cotton candy and Doritos 1st Degree Burn Blazin' Jalapeno Chips all in one place?

To the cross-country traveler, gas stations can either be a bane or a blessing. Snacking is an inevitable part of driving and road trippers can fall in the junk food trap, (and emerge at their destination bloated and significantly more cushy), or struggle to find healthier options. But despite the façade that gas stations only stock the most disgusting of snacks, looking closely reveals gut-reducing items for the road.

Pretzels are vital in the snacking world because they have zero fat. Their salty coating is satiating to any driver and they deliver an optimal crunch. Try Snyders Thin Pretzels rather than the Nugget size so you can feel fancy and delicate.  

Gas stations will try to tempt you into a deal with their 40 oz soda cups for 60 cents. But don’t be swayed. Stay away from the sodas to steer clear of bloating into next year and to avoid severely impeding your drive by numerous bathroom trips. Opt instead for a Naked Juice. The Superfood flavor is packed with antioxidants, fruit juice and algae that restores both your body and your sanity. Can it prevent cabin fever? Perhaps. But it also just tastes delicious.

Amazingly, some gas stations have allowed several health-minded food companies to enter their sacred cathedral of salt, fat and sugar. Cliff Bars can be found nestled between the Hershey bars and Amy’s Burritos could be lurking in the fridge. One great snack product that is found near the pork rinds is Rocky Mountain Popcorn. Made in Colorado, the popcorn comes in a variety of flavors and has limited amounts of unpronounceable ingredients. Cheddar flavor tricks snackers into thinking they are being naughty. What is more, popcorn is the perfect size to throw a handful into hungry mouths.

And lastly, any substantial gas station will have a small basket of bananas and apples. Usually found near the register, the basic fruit is a no-frills way to fill the void of fresh, unadulterated sustenance. A welcome diversion from packaged foods…unless you count the banana skin as a package of course. 

Country Fair Findings

I give you a few pictures from a great country fair that took place this past weekend in Connecticut. Enjoy!

4-H club kids showing off their calves.

The lucky winner!

Cute little piglets, (not for eating!)

Perfect vegetable contests.

Blue ribbon brussel sprouts.

A tough judge inspects an entry for apple pies.

Some bunnies...

...and chickens, (again not for eating).

Beautiful nature artwork for your home or office.

And finally... a grilled white pizza. It sounded like a good idea but was actually quite inedible. Hmmm, maybe I should have stuck to the blue ribbon veggies!

Mushroom Foraging

While walking after a recent rainstorm I spotted a peculiar object on the side of the road- a crazy looking mushroom... a giant puffball! And by giant I mean the size of my head. So intrigued was I with this object that I took a picture of it.

Imagine my surprise when later that day, I came across a New York Times article titled, "Fungus on the Lawn? Let's Eat!" The article encouraged readers to gather the mushrooms growing naturally on their property, and transform them into tasty dishes. Says author Ava Chin, "When I discovered a little softball-size beauty with a pure-white center last week at the College of Staten Island, I turned it into a stir-fry in garlic sauce. Once peeled, edible puffballs resemble buffalo mozzarella, and are rather pleasant."

As the locavore movement steadily grows, people have expressed interest in homesteading: caring for honeybees, gardening... cheesemaking. And while there is a certain type of panache to eating the gifts from the earth that sprout on your own property, frankly, mushrooms can be poisonous. A simple research of mushrooms reveals that while many are edible, there are just as many similar-looking ones that are deadly to eat.

So what's the lesson? Mushrooms are fun to find and look at. They are amusing. But try taking a Mushroom Foraging class before throwing lawn fungus into your soup.