Dining Out

April 15, 2011

Friendly Emails and Falafels

Some people aren’t afraid to ask for things. You know who I’m talking about. That person who sends you their holiday wish list in May. That roommate who always seems to be too busy to pick up their own dry cleaning. And that friend who always orders the BLT sandwich but then requests that the lettuce be switched out for spinach, the tomato be served on the side, and the bacon be replaced by a freshly butchered and fried chicken. No bread, of course. You know those people. I know those people. And I definitely don’t judge them. I just [...]

April 13, 2011

Low Sodium Questions and Answers

Today we are going to take a slight departure from our normal Wednesdays and I’m going to tell you about all the things I love. I love the rain. I like the sound of it. I like the way the air smells after it. I particularly like it when I am not wearing shoes. I don’t necessarily love the rain – achem – when it comes in April. April is supposed to be about flowers, spring cleaning, and candy. Which I love to eat after dinner and for breakfast. But I like the rain – ok, I’ll say I love [...]

September 27, 2010

Counter Talk

It’s funny how restaurants treat sitting at the counter like a second-class experience – Don’t have reservations? Well, we can seat you at the counter, if you’d like? – but the reality is that counter seating is the hottest spot in the house, especially if you are dealing with low sodium needs or any dietary restriction. Because when you sit at the counter, you have direct access to the kitchen, which means direct translation to really great, low sodium cuisine. For example, sushi. Thank goodness for fresh, sauce-free slices of sashimi, or else I would be banned from the many [...]

August 25, 2010

Buy Me Some Peanut and Cracker Jacks

Hot dogs, burgers, and garlic fries – these were the treats that lured me to stadium seats when I was younger. I longed for the glutinous, processed, and salty flavors of ballpark fare and as such, I happily accompanied my father to any game that was accompanied by ketchup and squirt bottle of nacho “cheese.” My affair with these lip-smacking snacks, however, did not last forever. When my kidneys quit seven years ago, so did my fast-food addiction. But my love for a sports outing on a sunny (or recently, foggy) day? That remained strong. It was easy for me [...]

July 19, 2010

The Pot Luckiest

This Sunday, I spent the afternoon gallivanting at Filoli and Edgewood Park, all in the name of celebrating a very special lady’s birthday. And while there were – of course! – cupcakes and candles and birthday wishes galore, this summer festivity was equally filled with the delights of Filoli’s gorgeous gardens (did someone say white pigeons and pear trees? Yes, I just did) as well as a picnic feast filled with low sodium treats. And while it wasn’t my day of birth, boy oh boy, did I eat like it was. We consumed a feast of perfect picnic proportions, and, [...]

July 12, 2010

Big Food, Small People

Today, we’re talking baby. Not because I’m having one – although I’m sure I just gave my parents and fiance a brief heart attack – but because babies know a lot about low sodium food. Feast your eyes on the picture above – a bowl full of creamy puree of sweet potato, corn, and apple, enhanced with a few shakes of Herbs de Provence, red pepper flakes, chili oil, and sliced scallions. All of this flavor (except for the enhancements) came from one, simple package that I bought in a store. And not just any store, nor your run of [...]

June 14, 2010

Salads, Dressed Up

Here’s the thing about salads. On the most basic level, I find them boring. I’d much rather order (and eat) a large bowl of steamed chard than graze upon a bed of butter lettuce. But I have to apologize, for this is a gross stereotype. Not all salads are made equal. And as I’ve learned from watching various episodes of Top Chef, making an outstanding salad is one of the most difficult accomplishments on the cooking scale. So why do I bring up this leafy subject? Well, there are two salads in my life that have almost brought tears to [...]

March 12, 2010

Cater to Me

So it’s true. I’m getting hitched this fall to a wonderful guy who not only doesn’t mind that I often smell like onions and garlic, but is equally enthusiastic about exploring the possibilities of low sodium cooking. I’m not a typical bride and I definitely did not grow up dreaming of the details of this very special day. But I will admit, there are two things that I have always said are an important part of making my nuptials ideal: (1) I do not want to wear shoes and (2) I want the reception to be filled with lots of [...]

February 26, 2010

Let's Do Lunch

Imagine this: it has been a busy week of working late and stressful deadlines. You barely have the minutes to fit in friends, phone calls, not to mention laundry and the less pressing tasks of working out and brushing your teeth. You barely have the energy to pull off your boots before you crash into your comfy bed (which never felt so good) and the last thing you have time or energy to accomplish is preparing a hearty, low sodium meal for your lunch the next day. So what is one to do when noon thirty rolls around, the brain [...]

February 2, 2010

The Maverick Challenge

Maverick Restaurant sits quietly on 17th street, just off the busy, foodie-trodden path of Valencia. Unless you know it is there, you might just pass by the banner, with its dashing red “M” emblem, that hangs modestly above the entry way. But this is a restaurant that no one, dietary restriction or not, wants to miss. Co-owners Scott Youkilis and Mike Pierce make a killer team with Mike manning the front of the house and the extraordinary wine list and Scott preparing the dazzling regional cuisine in the back. I made my first trip to Maverick in the spring of [...]

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