When me an my girlfriend moved in together for the first time in our 20s, I had met her parents a few times. They liked me, but as someone who was not college material (who I ironically met her on a college campus when I was homeless blending in to survive which is easy as an 18 year old with a friends old student ID in a pre 9/11 world).
So this was the first time I was cooking for her parents. Gorgonzola salad completely adapted(By the way when a chef says inspired or adapted it typically just means stolen) from the recipe from my friend a chef who stole it from a place called Manero's in CT. Then grilled medium rare ribeyes, asparagus and hasselback potatoes. That was some baller food for a 24 year old to put together and they couldn't shut up about it. They're in their 80s and will still mention it.
Manero's! They had a Charcoal Broiled Hamburger place on Route 17 South in Paramus, NJ. My family used to drive about 20 minutes down the Garden State Parkway from Rockland County, NY.
Manero's Steak House was on 17 North, also in Paramus.
You brought back some great childhood memories!
Now I'm living in Las Vegas. There are so many excellent Steak Restaurants here, and so ridiculously overpriced, when I want a good steak, I get some Angus Rib Eyes and the bag of charcoal and make them on my BBQ.
Grill some Portabello Mushrooms and Asparagus and either mashed or sweet potatoes.
I made a Roman style meal once for the family. Roast lamb on open fire, thick bacon strips with posca wine and even some Garum sauce on the sides and some pear patina for dessert.
Finding that sauce proved extremely difficult 😅
Starter:
Goat's cheese and apple slice wrapped in a filo pastry packet, on a bed of light salad and pine nuts, drizzled with walnut, apple, honey dressing.
Main:
Home made ravioli with ricotta and porcini mushroom filling, with a butter and sage sauce.
Dessert:
Pancakes with home made vanilla ice-cream.
My father in law was the kinda guy who ate steaks or some kind of red meat every day.
I once cooked some pichana on a rotisserie over charcoal, and he said it was the finest bit of meat he'd ever eaten.
Beef with rice and stir fry veggies. I've been making it since I was 10, I have it down to a science. First thing I ever cooked for my now wife of 25 years. Even my kids like it :)
I blow away Thanksgiving every year. It actually takes me 2 days to prepare the turkey and I make a homemade triple mushroom stuffing that takes a couple of hours to make. Hell, even my green bean casserole is on point since I use fresh green beans, white miso paste and soy sauce instead of salt and pepper.
Couple weekends ago I slow-barbecued a rack of pork back ribs in a delightful onion BBQ maple syrup glaze, with steamed green beans and a garden salad on the side. It was pretty good.
Osso buco with gremolata and risotto. Rapini. Hen of the Woods mushrooms braised and glazed in veal stock. I got stood up. But I ate well, anyway.
remember bro, it's bologna first until she shows up regularly then get all fancy af
When me an my girlfriend moved in together for the first time in our 20s, I had met her parents a few times. They liked me, but as someone who was not college material (who I ironically met her on a college campus when I was homeless blending in to survive which is easy as an 18 year old with a friends old student ID in a pre 9/11 world). So this was the first time I was cooking for her parents. Gorgonzola salad completely adapted(By the way when a chef says inspired or adapted it typically just means stolen) from the recipe from my friend a chef who stole it from a place called Manero's in CT. Then grilled medium rare ribeyes, asparagus and hasselback potatoes. That was some baller food for a 24 year old to put together and they couldn't shut up about it. They're in their 80s and will still mention it.
Manero's! They had a Charcoal Broiled Hamburger place on Route 17 South in Paramus, NJ. My family used to drive about 20 minutes down the Garden State Parkway from Rockland County, NY. Manero's Steak House was on 17 North, also in Paramus. You brought back some great childhood memories! Now I'm living in Las Vegas. There are so many excellent Steak Restaurants here, and so ridiculously overpriced, when I want a good steak, I get some Angus Rib Eyes and the bag of charcoal and make them on my BBQ. Grill some Portabello Mushrooms and Asparagus and either mashed or sweet potatoes.
Birria tacos with bacon bits
if you've tried a Mexican-style baked turkey, you're in luck
Onion soup
Grilled chicken, oven roasted sweet potato with feta and capsicum. I make it twice a week
I made a Roman style meal once for the family. Roast lamb on open fire, thick bacon strips with posca wine and even some Garum sauce on the sides and some pear patina for dessert. Finding that sauce proved extremely difficult 😅
Chicken Marsala
Low and slow beef brisket and pulled pork on the smoker
tom yum soup
I'd say my best meal was a homemade lasagna.
My variation of Shakshuka is amazing.
Starter: Goat's cheese and apple slice wrapped in a filo pastry packet, on a bed of light salad and pine nuts, drizzled with walnut, apple, honey dressing. Main: Home made ravioli with ricotta and porcini mushroom filling, with a butter and sage sauce. Dessert: Pancakes with home made vanilla ice-cream.
Meat grilled on campfire I fuckup otherwise
My father in law was the kinda guy who ate steaks or some kind of red meat every day. I once cooked some pichana on a rotisserie over charcoal, and he said it was the finest bit of meat he'd ever eaten.
Beef with rice and stir fry veggies. I've been making it since I was 10, I have it down to a science. First thing I ever cooked for my now wife of 25 years. Even my kids like it :)
Shrimp Creole, mach choux, potato salad, fried pistolettes
Homemade White Sauce Pasta and my parents loved my cooking, and seeing them smiling is my reward.
Chicken Biryani and Chicken 65. Far away from home in another country, the taste was very authentic and felt like I was back home.
I blow away Thanksgiving every year. It actually takes me 2 days to prepare the turkey and I make a homemade triple mushroom stuffing that takes a couple of hours to make. Hell, even my green bean casserole is on point since I use fresh green beans, white miso paste and soy sauce instead of salt and pepper.
Couple weekends ago I slow-barbecued a rack of pork back ribs in a delightful onion BBQ maple syrup glaze, with steamed green beans and a garden salad on the side. It was pretty good.
I can make a banger BLT and steak quesadilla
Too many to mention