Talde: Criminally Good

When Talde first opened in Park Slope, the menu did not have that much for vegetarians. There was a whole fish, and vegetable buns, and a kale salad, but too many things had pork.

Then my Kosher friends went there and said that even with the limited choices, the place was amazing. And it was.

Now, it is even more so. The new menu has a number of vegetarian dishes, and as long as you can snag a table (2 hour waits are not uncommon; reservations are not accepted) you will be extremely happy.

From the new menu, we ha the golden beet and tofu salad, with kale. Fantastic. The Saigon crepes, with smoked shrimp (hold the bacon) didn't need the pork to wow us.

The Hawaiian bread buns were a nod to Passover; we had to eat bread the night before we were giving it up for a week. You get three in an order, and you can have all vegetable (changes nightly; last night was shiitake mushrooms) or fluke. Or pork, of course. Both the shiitake and fluke were spicy and delicious.

New to the menu, a soft shell crab bahn mi was messy and fabulous. The crispy soft shell crab was nestled on pickled vegetables. The spicy red sauce should be bottled; I was tempted to scoop up the extra and bring it home. And again, there was bread.

We also had the Pad Thai, with fried oysters (hold the bacon). This was the weakest dish, but it was the best Pad Thai of my life.

We didn't have room for the whole fish, the fluke with black bean butter, the shrimp fried rice or stir fried vegetables.

Or the roasted corn ramen with smoked tofu or lobster soup.

Luckily for Park Slope and the rest of NYC, Talde will be around for a long time.

Fitness Challenge: Day 55

Longtime Park Slope residents remember years-long discussions about the Park Slope Armory, which finally opened with a variety of fitness activities 2 years ago.

The Armory, run by the nearby Prospect Park Y, offers a variety of exercise classes in barebones classrooms. The shining feature of the Armory is the indoor track, a 6 lane, state-of-the-art 200 meter track.

The track surrounds a full-size basketball court that is also used for soccer.

The Armory doesn't have showers, but it does have communal dressing rooms. It also doesn't provide towels, so if you are the type who drips sweat during a step class, bring your own.

Fitness Challenge: Day 54

Captain Quinn's Fitness Boot Camp promises to move outdoors soon, and today, a sunny day in the 60s, seemed ideal.

Alas, we were still inside. Avoiding allegens?

The nearby Brooklyn park where we are going soon is under construction, that may account for our indoor class.

But the class was completely different from the last one, with 30 second routines alternated with other routines, each repeated 8 times to the point of exhaustion. Squat jumps on a step then upright rows, bicep curls on the TRX or plank jumps. By the end, my whole body ached.

and with a mile or so run to and from class, it added up to a complete cardio and strength workout.

Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup

Why is this matzo ball soup different from other matzo ball soups?
Every year, millions of Jews around the world celebrate Passover, and many celebrate with traditional foods like matzo ball soup.

But vegetarians won't eat the usual chicken broth. I always make a rich vegetarian matzo ball soup, making broth, then using that broth to make vegetable soup.

The winner of this year's Manischewitz Cook-Off made a 'Mod’ Matzo Ball Soup, using vegetable broth and roasted veggies.

'Mod’ Matzo Ball Soup

6 medium carrots, sliced into 1-inch pieces

2 medium turnips, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 large onion, diced

4 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided

1 box Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mix (reduced sodium)

2 large eggs

½ tsp. ground cumin + pinch

14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (unflavored)

6 cups Manischewitz All Natural Vegetable Broth

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:


1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place carrots, turnips and onion in mixing bowl .Toss well with 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, a pinch of cumin, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Spread evenly on a metal sheet pan.

2. Roast in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until brown, mixing halfway to ensure even browning.

3. While vegetables are roasting, prepare matzo balls according to package directions with a few “secret” changes. Crack 2 eggs, into one mixing bowl, but instead of beating everything together right away, tilt the bowl and try to beat some of the whites separately until frothy, and once done, place the bowl back on the counter and incorporate the yolks as well. Add remaining 2 tbsp vegetable oil and whip again until fully incorporated and bubbly. Add packet of matzo ball mix and stir just until combined. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

4. Combine 4 cups vegetable broth, ½ tsp kosher salt and ½ tsp ground cumin in a 4 quart pot, bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

5. Remove matzo ball mix from fridge. Form into balls with hands, just under the size of ping pong balls; makes about 8.

6. Drop matzo balls into broth, cover and lower heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes. When vegetables are finished roasting, remove from oven and set aside briefly. Remove cover from pot and add remaining 2 cups vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Add vegetables and bring soup to boil over medium-high heat. Cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 more minutes. Uncover and add salt, pepper or cumin to taste.

Fitness Challenge: iPhone vs HTC Rhyme

A fitness challenge motivates many to work out more. I started my fitness challenge not just to stay in shape, but also to justify the cost of an iPhone.

The phone itself isn't so expensive; it's the monthly data plan. So I was challenging myself not just to work out regularly, but also to find free or inexpensive ways to do so.

While carrying an iPhone.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my iPhone. But I pretty much stopped carrying a camera, and the iPhone's camera is not it's strongest suit.

Then I met the HTC Rhyme. This smartphone is really an amazing camera - with a built-in smartphone.

You can edit photos right on the Rhyme, changing settings for low or bright light, action shots, panorama.

The camera - er, phone - also comes with a docking station that you can use as an alarm clock.

Note that the Rhyme only comes in purple, so guys might be reluctant to carry it.

Disclaimer: HTC loaned Rhyme smartphones to TravelingMom bloggers on the recent retreat aboard Disney's Fantasy cruise ship. Photos, taken with the Rhyme, are from the cruise.

Fitness Challenge: Day 53

The Prospect Park YMCA attracts a wide range of Park Slope residents. With programs for preschoolers to seniors, it seems the whole neighborhood, including local writer Jane Brody, belongs.

Except us.

The Y is across the street from the gym I went to daily for 10 years, and it's cheaper. And it has a pool.

But it is also where I took an adult 'learn to swim' class before I had kids, and I never learned to swim. A group of us adults clutched the side of the pool and resolutely refused to put our faces in the water.

With signs warning against swimming with open sores, it was not the most inviting place.

But I recent visit surprised me. It has new aerobic equipment, with more channels than the other gym. It has a wider variety of classes, throughout the day.

It has fairly clean locker rooms.

It still has a pool. And a new one is being built, with a retractable roof. Maybe it's time to overcome my fear and aversion.

Gastronomie 491 Satisfies a Wide Range of Hungry New Yorkers

The new Gastronomie 491, on the Upper West Side, offers take out and sit down meals, at a counter or small seating area in the rear.

The specialty market/cafe is perfect for families looking for a quick meal, and looking to satisfy a variety of tastes. There are paninis, Mediterranean sanwiches called pan bagnats, and entrees like a spice encrusted wild salmon and shrimp with a chickpea puree. Lighter appetites can have tapas or mezze plates.

The chef, Steven Gutterman, is sensitive to special food needs. Many of the dishes are gluten free, and vegetarians can find satisfying fare like a vegetable trio of braised feel, peperonata and broccoli rabe, or one with an orange date salad, Israeli couscous and brussels sprouts. Salads are fresh and filling.

Produce is local and organic, and the cheese selection focuses on small producers. You can also shop for a well-curated selection of jams, chocolates and coffee and tea.

Equal care has gone into the selection of craft beers, which can be drunk in the café or taken home. There are even 2 beers on tap. And a gluten free beer.

Now that spring is here, you cam take food from Gastronomie 491 to Central Park and dine al fresco.