My Favorite Kind of Onion

from Flickr - by roboppy

We went grocery shopping today, and I was inspired by an item that I buy every time we go to the grocery store. The leek! It's a part of the onion and garlic family, but it's much more mild than either of those ingredients. Leeks are generally sold in stalks that have a gradient of white (at the bottom) to dark green at the tips of the stalk. Generally, we cut off the dark green portion because the leaves are very tough. Using the light green and white parts of the leek can add a lot of flavor to so many different dishes.

Because of the way a leek is formed, it's easier to clean it once you've cut it in half. Normally, I will slice the leek down the middle, the long way, and then run cold water over each half, pulling the layers of stem apart a little bit in order to get the dirt out. You can also soak the pieces in cold water once it is sliced completely.

from Flickr - by mingfoto34

Leeks make for a great side dish if you cut them a bit thicker, and saute them in a bit of butter and salt and pepper. They make a lovely bed for a piece of salmon, and a nice thick sauce for a chicken breast as well. You can use them in place of onions in a risotto, and they make a great addition to a spaghetti carbonara. One of my favorite things to add to an omelette are leeks, too! 

Next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a few leeks...and experiment with using them for all sorts of different meals. I love when I find an ingredient that I seriously can't live without! I guarantee you if you open my fridge, you will always find at least one leek in there...unless I've eaten them already!

Worth the Trek

Today is my Sri Lankan friend, Ladali's birthday! How she gets two holidays in less than a week that require lots of hugs, I'll never know!? She's lucky I like hugging her! :)

We ventured out into the melting puddles of snow to take her to lunch at a place called Barlow's. It's a bit out of the way, and located in an area pretty secluded from other businesses, but it's well worth finding this gem! The exposed brick walls and funky modern decor add to a very "chill" atmosphere. I loved the paintings in the corner that depicted charcoal smokestacks dotted with patches of bright orange and red flames. The menu is quite upscale, but the ambiance is very relaxed. I love enjoying a great plate of food in an environment where I can kick back and enjoy my friends' company.

After perusing the menu for a few minutes, I decided on the Ricotta Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce and Garlic Toast. My friends ordered the Steak Tips with Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Spinach, and the Citrus Ginger Salmon with Tamari Brown Rice and Asian Greens. The bread that they brought to the table was a rosemary focaccia, accompanied by a delicious bean spread.We snacked on that while we waited for our main courses to arrive.

First, let me say that the bolognese was delicious, and the texture was perfect! (If you read my previous post on Bolognese Sauce, you'll see what I mean!) The gnocchis were a great size, and they must have been sauteed in a little butter before being added to the sauce, because they had a slight crunch on the surface of each piece. They were light and fluffy, but just dense enough to hold up very nicely to the richness of the sauce. The garlic toast had a wonderful, garlicky aroma without being overpowering. I was extremely happy to have that bread when it came to sopping up the rest of that delicious sauce!

My friends enjoyed their meals as well, and it was all reasonably priced. See what I said about an upscale menu, with a relaxed feel? These dishes were sophisticated and delicious, but also comforting and great for a winter's day!

In the summer, they have a nice patio for outdoor dining, one of my favorite things to do! I'll definitely be going back to Barlow's both for indoor comfort meals, and al fresco dining. I also saw a flyer posted about $1 oysters on Monday nights...and we all know how much I love oysters! Stay tuned for more from Barlow's...

Barlow's is located at 241 A Street in South Boston. For reservations, call 617-338-2142.