New format!

 What I’m Cooking: This week was the first time I made Chicken Tikka Masala at home in months. Due to my dad’s post-surgery diet, I had to adjust the recipe, such as substituting coconut milk for heavy cream. The result was a Tikka Masala that was a bit more thin than I’m used to but no less exciting. I also experimented with black garlic purchased from Trader Joe’s. I was quick to notice the addition of umami to the dish, which was a sort of smokiness I’d previously noticed in Chinese takeout. Although I was a bit reckless when utilizing the immersion blender to puree the fresh tomatoes. Not firmly anchoring the blender to the bottom of the pot resulted in many unnecessary splashes. But overall, it was an exciting opportunity! 

Restaurant Retrospective: The Halal Guys in Porter Square Mall is a franchise of New York restaurants specializing in the standard Middle Eastern fare. Whether it’s gyros, platters, lamb kebabs, or baklava, my personal favorite is their combo platters, which individuals can customize to a certain degree. I enjoy a blend of lamb gyro and chicken, their signature white sauce, and some occasional specialties, such as the spicy hummus. It is definitely a franchise that brings the spirit of NYC halal takeout to the suburban neighborhoods of Cambridge. They also pride themselves in making standard American desserts with a Mediterranean twist, such as the Chocolate Baklava Cheesecake, but that seems a bit too sweet for my taste. 

Ideas for the Future: I’ve always been interested in expanding my knowledge of seafood recipes. I’ve always been on the fence about experimenting with fish since I find it a genre of food that has made me a bit squeamish in the past. But I’ve wanted to try more delicate fish recipes for some time now, such as sole, flounder, and maybe even kingfish (but I don’t know how expensive that is). Perhaps a journey to Whole Foods will ignite my passion for trying something new. But then again, I don’t need to fill up my freezer any more than it currently is!