Yesterday, it rained… again! After so many years in the UK, this should not get to me, but I just could not help but think about when I last visited my family in Gambia. I was nicely greeted by ever-shining sun, beautiful scenery, relaxed pace of life and of course great food.

In an attempt to forget about the gloomy doomed weather, I thought to myself “if the Mountain will not come to the prophet, the prophet must go to the Mountain” and set out to make some Chicken Yassa. Before I go any further, I think it is of up most importance that I give you a short history lesson.

The Gambia, commonly known as Gambia, is the smallest country on mainland Africa. It is bordered to the North, South and East by Senegal. Originally part of the same land, Gambia and Senegal’s fate was decided by the British and the French during colonisation. This resulted in the creation of two countries with related ethnic groups, traditions and cultures. It therefore should not come as a surprise if they both share the same traditional dishes.

Chicken Yassa or Poulet Yassa (in French) is a typical dish prepared in Gambia and Senegal. It is very easy to make and requires few ingredients.

Ingredients
Serves 4

1 Chicken cut into serving pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
Pitted green olives
1 Habanero pepper (optional)
Chopped fresh chives

For the marinade
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
5 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves minced
8 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper

In a big bowl, make a marinade by combining the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well; then add the onions and chives. Add the chicken and toss well to ensure the onions and chicken are well coated with the marinade.

Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. I used to leave it in the refrigerator for an hour, but one of my good Senegalese friends pointed out that it needed to marinate for longer. I recommend you leave it in the fridge for four to five hours. If you are a very organized cook and host (unlike my sister!), you will prepare the marinade the night before and let the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight.

After the chicken has marinated, heat the olive oil in a saucepan and brown the chicken on each side. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, saute the marinated onions for about five minutes. Then add the chicken followed by the juices from the marinade and the habanero pepper.

Cover the pan and simmer over low-to-medium heat for at least 45 minutes. You may add a little water if necessary. The sauce is ready when the onions are soft and caramelized, but not mushy.

Five minutes before serving, add the olives to the sauce. Taste for salt, and adjust if needed.

Serve hot with steamed Basmati or Jasmine rice.

Bon appetit or Na re sax jamah (in Wolof)!

Good Japanese food is hard to find.  While there is an overabundance of decent places to choose from, I find it oddly difficult to come across authentic Japanese cuisine in Manhattan.

Then I discovered a restaurant on the Upper East Side, at the cusp of Midtown, called Wajima.  It’s an unassuming place — so low-key that I didn’t even know it has existed for three years in my own neighborhood.  But what surprised me was that this restaurant isn’t a typically Upper East Side Japanese joint.  In other words, Wajima is a very traditional restaurant, run by Japanese people, and full of Japanese patrons.  And you know it’s a good sign when the cognoscenti are there.

What makes Wajima great is not just its authentic cuisine, but its $9.95 lunch specials are also an amazing deal.  There are several to choose from, and all consist of a sampling of dishes that arrive on a lacquered wooden tray.  My favorite is the Sanmizen: little bowls of chirashi, tempura shrimp, cold soba noodles, steamed egg custard, and miso soup.  Each dish is delicious and distinct from the others—a veritable Japanese smorgasbord.  I love having a little bit of everything, especially when the price is right, and Wajima is the perfect place to get it.

These days it seems like everyone is trying to figure out ways to save money. When it comes to wine, sometimes it’s smart to think inside of the box. Wait, I know what you are thinking and I am not talking about Franzia White Zinfandel or the atrocious Merlot usually served at art openings. There is a number of wonderful box wines out there that are a great way to save money without sacrificing quality or taste. Here are a few of my personal favorites. They are all available at Astor Wines and Spirits.

From The Tank, 3 liters $34.99 – Jenny and Francois Selections is a wine importing company that specializes in natural wines from France. Working with the Cotes du Rhone cooperative Estezargues, they have come up with a white and a red that are really incredible. The white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Viognier. It’s a big and rich white that has a permanent place in my fridge. The red is a classic, peppery Cotes du Rhone Blend of grenache, syrah and carignan.

Yellow+Blue, 1 liter $8.99 – Yellow and Blue imports Torrontes and Malbec from Argentina made from certified organic grapes. Matthew Cain, an importer based in Pennsylvania decided that bringing wine in a TetraPak or box was not only cheaper, but also better for the environment. The white wine made of 100% Torrontes is light and floral with a pleasant acidity, perfect for spring. The Malbec is medium bodied and slightly spicy with hints of plum and orange rind.

VRAC, 3 liters $26.99 – VRAC is a light and fruity Cotes du Rhone, perfect served with a slight chill in warmer weather. VRAC is a French term referring to something bought in bulk, appropriate for this larger format wine.

These wine are all a great deal and since they come in a box they have a much longer life span than bottled wines. The sizes they come in are also a draw as three liters correspond to four bottles at well under $10 a bottle.

While living in Italy several years ago, I piled my cupboard high with authentic Tuscan cookbooks. My favorite recipe to emerge from countless pages of pastas and risottos is Penne Strascicate, a Bolognese-like sauce filled with diced vegetables, fresh tomatoes, red wine, and the best-tasting olive oil you can find. This recipe is affordable and makes enough to reheat for lunch the next day.

Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 small carrot, diced
1 stalk of celery, diced
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
2/3 lbs of ground beef
1/2 cup of a robust red wine
1 lb of fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chicken or beef broth
1 lb of Penne pasta
3/4 cup of freshly shaved Parmigiano Reggiano
6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery and parsley and stir for 4-5 minutes. Toss in the meat and stir until it begins to brown. Add the wine and let it reduce, stirring occasionally to prevent the meat from sticking together. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and stir for 4-5 minutes. Pour in the broth and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally

Cook the pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente and then, incorporate it to the sauce. Mix everything together and cook for 5 additional minutes. Add the Parmigiano Reggiano and serve immediately.

Pairs well with a young, dry red wine.

Whether you can handle sugar, flour and butter cream deep in your tummy, you know deep in your heart that you shouldn’t indulge in cupcakes.  But when you’ve got a case of the Mondays, sweets are hard to resist. Thankfully, at Babycakes, the specialty bakery on the Lower East Side, cupcakes are 1/2 off on Mondays.

Babycakes is famous among the delicate tummy set for the all natural, organic and delicious cupcakes free of evil allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs.  For those of us who happen to be able to handle allergens, but can’t handle the tooth-achingly sweet butter cream at Magnolia Bakery or at Sugar Sweet Sunshine nearby, Babycakes offers cupcakes made with responsible sweeteners, like agave nectar, used sparingly, instead of white sugar or worse, chemical sweeteners.

It’s a responsibly sweet way to start off your week!

Babycakes
248 Broome Street (Btwn Orchard & Ludlow)
New York City, NY 10002
Tel: (212) 677-5047

But their new lobster deal sounded too good to be true when I stopped by for my bivalve fix last week: a fresh, steamed pound-and-a-halfer — with all claws, legs and toes accounted for — and two side dishes for $24.  After watching several tables around me break into what I will affectionately call the Seabug Special among friends, I had to do it.  I know lobster, and that was good lobster.

As for the sides, I like the fries, but don’t pay extra to try the lobster mashed potatoes.  I’m pretty sure it’s lobster bisque spooned onto their whipped potatoes, and neither rocked my world.  The kitchen is clearly giving its attention to what matters: doing justice to its fresh seafood, which is provided by Down East Seafood.

Fish is what it is: a small, unpretentious joint with a couple of servers going as fast as they can.  If you show up during rush hour, you might have to wait for a table and/or for your order, but um, welcome to the West Village.  To pass the time, I recommend the deal across the street — a dollar off beers and wines at Blind Tiger before 8pm.

Run, swim, do whatever you do — just get yourself to Fish.  My server didn’t know when the special will end, but we all know that one day, the ship will sail.

Fish
280 Bleecker Street (at Jones)
New York, NY 10014
Tel: (212) 727-2879
Open Sunday-Thursday noon-11pm
Open Friday-Saturday noon-midnight

Photos from gonyc.about.com

Curious to try a Douro wine? PALESTRA Douro 2006 is a nice budget-friendly one to start with ­ — dry with a mercifully moderated alcohol level (13%). I served this cheap and lovely wine with a pureed potato, green bean and mint soup along with a roasted chicken rubbed with pimentao and garlic, and stuffed with an onion, pork and pimentao stuffing.

Tasting Notes

Eye: Very saturated purple/garnet color with dark rose at the rim.
Nose: Broad nose of licorice, cherry, red currants, tar, briar and a touch of brown spices.
Palate: Nicely balanced, fresh, but in no way simple. The acidity is right and with a hint of minerals and supple flavors of strawberry preserves.
Finish: Lingering truly “dry” finish.

The price tag of $7-ish makes Palestra Douro 2006 an excellent value!

If you find yourself in Atlanta, Georgia with a craving to try some great southern BBQ, Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is not to be missed. The restaurant serves tender ribs dripping with barbeque sauce that can be pulled straight off the bone and sandwiched between slices of white bread or licked off your fingers alone.

A full slab brings twelve thick ribs, more than enough for two hungry people, but you also have the option to order half a slab. Other items on the menu that regulars rave about are the chicken and chopped pork. Sides include potato salad (creamy, crunchy, just tart enough), “rum” baked beans, and the southern specialty, Brunswick Stew.

The restaurant is casual with a hole-in-the-wall appeal, and the staff are as friendly and charming as only southerners can be. Local bands play live blues nightly, and the locally-brewed beers available, along with the usual stuff, contribute to the casually-festive atmosphere. Try Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale. A meal for two that included a full slab, a beer, a lemonade and four sides was only $36, and there were plenty of leftovers to be taken home for later.

A good friend of mine recently introduced me to what has become our new favorite ritual — happy hour margaritas and tacos.  Finding a decent margarita isn’t too hard, but a place that serves two-for-one margaritas everyday from 3 until 6 p.m. can’t be found everywhere.  Add the amazing tacos from Tacos Nuevo Mexico in Park Slope, and you have one of the best, and cheapest happy hours around.

The first time we went, I ordered a green chicken tamale, grilled pork and roasted pork tacos while my companion had tongue and grilled beef tacos.  Each hefty item ran from $2 to $2.75.  Combined with chips and salsa, the meal filled us up to the gills, and, despite wanting more, I couldn’t eat another bite.  But, while our bellies were full of Mexican food goodness, we still managed to down four salt-rimmed margaritas on the rocks each.

Amazing, of course it didn’t hit until we stood up two and a half hours later.  I realized I was well on my way to an afternoon nap if I could manage to stumble out of there.  The check came and it was under $40 for the two of us.  As my friend steadied me, we walked out, smiles on our faces, satisfied, and not broke.

Tacos Nuevo Mexico

489-491 5th Avenue
(btwn 11th and 12th Sts.)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Tel: (718) 832-0050

Visitors can attend cooking demonstrations by the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Gary Rhodes and Tom Aikens, and wine tastings with top wine journalists, and there’s a chance to get your hands dirty in the kitchen with interactive cooking classes. You can also indulge in a Champagne masterclass before grabbing a glass of Pimms and touring the stalls for a gourmet extravaganza.

The London festival runs from June 18-21, while Edinburgh hosts its event from May 29-31. Birmingham, an hour’s train ride from London, has a festival from July 9-12.

Taste Festivals now take place all over the world, so check out their website to see if there’s one happening during your next vacation – or why not plan a vacation around it?