Daisy
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Summertime…and the Livin’ is Easy
Posted by daisy on 20 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy
It’s no secret that I love to entertain, but with my friends’ busy schedules, it’s not often that I can get the girls over on a Sunday afternoon. That said and done, there is no way I want to spend the entire day in the kitchen preparing for company…it’s sunny and hot outside, perfect weather for a dip in the pool and a cool drink. What to do…?
I have a great idea! Let me make all the food in the morning, before the sun gets hot, and then I’ll be free to splish splash, and chill with my girls.
Maybe it’s Just Me…
Posted by daisy on 19 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy, Restaurants
This past week I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about a place in the West Village called Panca, in the space where Pardo’s of rotisserie chicken fame was. With the heat wave that we’re experiencing in the Baked Apple these last few days, it was the perfect excuse I needed to head on over, and try some of the ceviche that everyone is talking about.
We were greeted outside (there have cute little cafe type tables set outside for alfresco dining) by a lovely hostess who showed us to our table (inside, where it was airconditioned!). We had a waiter bring us menus and ask us for our water preference. He left us to peruse the menu which is not overwhelming, but offers a nice variety of ceviches and starters in Tapas and Appetizer size portions. We opted for the taps portions, leaving us free to sample more dishes.
Our waiter came back and asked us if we wanted a cocktail…I ordered my usual, although was sorely tempted to try a libation called a Cholotini. I actually tried to convince Jerry to try it, but he was craving a beer, and so went with the Cuzquena. Note to self: The day that I open my restaurant, the waitstaff will be drilled with the understanding that if a customer has to wait more than 10 minutes for their drink, they (the waitstaff!) will suffer a slow and torturous death. I could maybe understand if the place was packed, but it was us and two other couples inside! But ok, I was about to forgive all when they brought me (finally!) a martini that was big enough to swim in…and it was perfect. The bottled sparkling water, on the other hand, was room temp warm, and I needed to ask for ice.
I thought we’d start with the ceviches, and follow that up with a couple of appetizers before going on to the entrees. I ordered the Tiradito Mosaico, while Jerry decided on the Green Mango-Shrimp Ceviche. For our Appetizer course, I ordered the Jalea and the Yuquita Frita, and the Grilled Octopus. The waiter brought all the plates at once.
The Best Laid Plans….and Happy 4th of July
Posted by daisy on 05 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy
As my children have gotten older, it is increasingly difficult to make entertainment plans that include them because, as young men are wont to do, they have their own varied social schedules. Although they often hang out together, one of them lives in Philly, all three of them work, and holidays are not often what they used to be, where I could take for granted that we would all be together. I might have also mentioned, that because I am a chef, I usually don’t get invited to anyone’s home because they feel (or at least that’s what they tell me!) because they feel too intimidated to cook for me (try me, please!).I should day that for the record, Miggy’s mom is the exception to this rule!
Earlier this week, the unthinkable happened, and my happy go lucky friend, Violette, invited me to an all day beach/bbq that was being hosted at a friend’s home. Wow! I’m immediately thinking, “What can I bring?” As it turned out, the weather here in NYC was a bit iffy, and I opted to stay close to home, thinking that maybe Jerry and I would go out to dinner (maybe the River Cafe to watch the fireworks?), or just stay home a watch a couple of movies. I’m in the backyard, having a cup of coffee yesterday morning, when in saunters Marc from Philly, with his childhood buddy, Sean, and he says, “So Mom, are you cooking today? Not that I want to be any trouble….”.
That was at 10:30. By 12:30 I had Pork Spare Ribs in the smoker, and I was busy grilling vegetables that I had pulled out of my produce drawer (thank God for Costco!). Further searching produced a bag of haricot vert, red potatoes, and plenty of romaine lettuce (a staple at my house). Here’s what the menu looked like: 
Hickory smoked pork ribs with a passion fruit-chipotle mop
Red Potato Haricot Vert Salad with white wine/mustard vinagrette
Wheat berry Salad with Grilled Vegetables in a Balsamic Glaze
Caesar Salad Continue Reading »
Received This Today, Serendipitously
Posted by daisy on 04 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy
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If you’re Puerto Rican, most, if not all, applied to you at one time or another…. ******************************************** |
From the “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Department
Posted by daisy on 01 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy, Friends, Uncategorized
I review a lot of restaurants here, and I love to take you guys on trips that I take, but I’ve decided that I’d also like to share things that help make my life easier as well. I dare any girl out there to say that she has never been in the position where she is wearing a button down blouse/shirt, or a wrap dress, etc., and you have a gap between the buttons or the “V” is too low on that dress…or how about when guys lose a cuff button or drop a hem? The usual quick fix for this malady is to use a safety pin, right? Except, you usually end up with the unsightly silver pin peeking through the fabric. Enter
Violette’s Pin Ups, different colored little safety pins (no silver peeking!) that come in several color “collections” that will help you out of that fashion emergency in a pinch! These three are but three of her collections, and I have it on good authority that she’s coming out with a line for Guys, so nobody feels left out! Tucked in a purse or a briefcase, feel free to tempt fashion fate anyday of the week!
Hope the weather holds out Babies!“The Life and Times of Daisy Martinez”…Through my Children’s Eyes
Posted by boriquablog on 28 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy, Friends
The Life of Daisy Martinez from Daisy Martinez on Vimeo.
This video was created by my children for my 50th birthday party.
Tinto? I Find it Rather Pale…
Posted by daisy on 22 May 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy
Last Friday May 16th, I had the pride and pleasure of watching my son Marc graduate from Arcadia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The grounds were decorated beautifully, but the ceremony had to transferred inside to the gymnasium because of the pouring rain. I’d say they dressed the gym up real nice.
Is that a killer smile, or what? As the proud Mom, I planned to take Marc out for a fabulous lunch after the ceremonies, and decided on Tinto, Jose Garces restaurant in Philly. I had visited his other restaurant, Amada, and had such a great experience that I was eager to try Tinto.
You know how when you were a little kid your mom told you, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything it all?” Well, that’s as much as I am going to say about Tinto. Here is what we ate:
Queso Mixto
Chorizo, Lomo and Jamon Serrano
Happy Birthday to Me!
Posted by daisy on 17 May 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy, Friends
I had the most fantabulous birthday party in the history of birthday parties last weekend to celebrate my turning 50 years old. This is not me gushing or exaggerating (I know I’ve been known to do this), I assure you. I was surrounded by my family and friends, we sang karaoke, laughed, drank and ate the whole night through.
One of the highlights of the evening had to be my multi-talented friend Sam Velez, who brought down the house with his rendition of Marc Anthony’s “You Sang to Me”.
Sam Velez channels Marc Anthony
As per this month’s newsletter…
Posted by daisy on 02 May 2008 | Tagged as: Daisy, Friends, Newsletters
April Showers, Bring May Flowers
After an incredibly beautiful month of April here in NYC this year, I am giddy with excitement at the arrival of the merry month of May. As lovely as April was, with three of my home girls’ birthdays (Violette on 4/12 and Migui on 4/25, Jennifer on 4/30), the birthdays of two of my children (Angela on the 3rd and Marc on the 6th), the Spoons Across America Dinner Party Project , and the rapturously beautiful weather, this May is special because I am approaching a monumental milestone.See for yourself:
It’s official! I have passed my Papi in age (he’s been 39 for quite some time, now)! I can’t believe it! Jerry is finally throwing me a party, Mami, Papi, Tia Nery, and tons of friends and family are going to join me to celebrate my semi centennial… and I’m gonna party, like it’s my birthday!My birthday is actually on the 6th of May, but we’re celebrating on the 9th, because I thought it would be a good ruse to get Mami out of Florida for Mother’s Day on the 11th. My fabulous friend Loni’s mom, the ever-fabulous Edith is celebrating her 80th birthday on May 10, so we’ll be celebrating all weekend long! Don’t forget lovely Esmeralda Santiago’s birthday on May 17, rounding out the month’s festivities. I can’t wait!A special thanks to my sweeties Sammy Velez and Brian Connor for designing my fabulous invitation and poor long suffering Miguelina for all her hard work executing the preliminaries and the RSVPs.
