Miso Glazed Black Cod and an Escape

     My favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh is called Umi.  We typically go only once a year to keep that anticipation high (plus it is a bit pricey but worth it).  We opt to sit in the traditional but updated sitting area - which means, we are sitting on the floor on tatami mats but given that we are Americans and not Japanese - instead of sitting cross legged for hours (which at my age, I could not do), they have carved out areas for your legs to dangle - so it looks like you are sitting cross legged on the floor when in fact, your legs are dangling beneath.  Hope that makes sense.

     We always order the 7 course Omakase menu which means we get seven small courses.  Over the time we have been going, the courses never change, but that it what we love about it.  There is the course of fried rock shrimp that has a bit of spice, always a course of sushi and then our favorite, Miso Glazed Black Cod.  The fish is so buttery, the glaze subtle but not so subtle.  Honestly, it is just divine.

     So, we save the restaurant for a yearly special occasion.  It would have been our choice for Cate's graduation dinner, but with COVID, the restaurant has been closed and has not announced its reopening.  But recently, Cate and I were in the Strip District (Pittsburgh's Food District), celebrating our first meal in a restaurant in 3 months when we found that our favorite fishmonger was selling black cod.  I didn't think twice - bought a pound and when I returned home, starting Googling recipes that would be relatively the same as Umi's.  That wasn't hard.

     On June 12th, we escaped Pennsylvania.  After "x" amount of weeks at home, it was time to work from a different location.  Since my sister moved to Savannah a while back, I have visited several times and really love the historic part of the city.  I found a perfect rental, two blocks from Forsythe Park.  We arrived and set up shop in our three story home.  While our schedules did not differ much from Pennsylvania and we took great care to continue to social distance and wear masks while out in public, we had the Park.  We had the ability to walk to a grocery store for provisions.  We had the ability to walk to several restaurants and get take out and on one occasion, we had the ability to have a delightful dinner.  It took a bit of strain off of us and we had the added benefit of seeing my sister.  Leftovers from take out became lunch the next day.  The salad greens I brought from home were mixed with a protein for dinner.  We did very little actual cooking but when we did...we made the Black Cod.  Wow!  It was so easy and so delicious.  I had brought Tatsoi with me from home and served it as a nice cold salad to accompany the fish.  I was so happy to have leftovers for a last afternoon lunch.

     Here is the recipe that I used:  https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-nobu-miso-marinated-black-cod-117238

     And if your CSA ever gives you Tatsoi and you do what I did..."What is Tatsoi?" - here is a great introductory recipe:  https://kalynskitchen.com/chilled-wilted-tatsoi-salad-recipe-with/

     We were sad yesterday to leave Savannah.  However, we haven't started for home yet.  Having an 18 year old with us, we decided that the second week should have a bit more excitement or activity.  So we headed to Tybee Island, a short drive away.  We have rented a cottage for this second week that includes a small pool.  The front porch is a bit of heaven - lovely, comfortable chairs, a huge hanging bench that is large enough to actually sleep on if you can keep the mosquitoes away!  It seems that many families had the same idea but it still is quiet and bucolic.  Work starts again tomorrow but I am looking forward to early morning walks on the beach and late afternoon splashes in the pool.

     It is easy to social distance here when you aren't spending your time at the beach and many of the restaurants are not open to in-house dining.  I doubt; however, that we will be eating out much.  Cate and I headed to a seafood market this afternoon on the edge of the island and watched the fishmonger pinch off heads of shrimp in lightening speed that had come off the boat 30 minutes before our arrival.  Our intention was to buy three pounds, but that quickly changed to 4...and then a pound of fresh grouper and I had to be dragged away before buying something called Silk Snapper and listening to the fishmonger's explanation of the fish and how to cook it.  Maybe that will be later in the week.  But tonight, we sit on the front porch, spread a newspaper over a table and have a good old Low Country Boil.

     My sister was over earlier.  We did our three mile walk in weather that I am not yet acclimated to, then chatted on the porch before she left for the evening.  Jamie, Cate and I have splashed in the pool, donned bug spray and are now spread across the front porch.  At the far end is Cate, on the bench swing enjoying some show on her computer.  Jamie, in the middle on a sofa, has made us low strength cocktails and is probably playing backgammon on his IPad and I sit at the table on the far end, writing this post.  The humidity has dropped but the overhead fans keep us cool in any respect.  The biggest mode of transportation here seems to be bikes and golf carts - we have neither.  But it doesn't matter.  It is quite, peaceful and another venue from which to work.

     I will let you know how the Low Country Boil goes...

Chicken Cutlets with Caprese Salad

     Making lunch and dinner every day for nearly four months...it can get a little old...even for someone who loves to cook.  I try not to plan lunch...we typically make salads, eat leftovers or rummage through the freezer.  But in four months, we have only had take-out about four times.  So, there is still a lot of cooking.

     Yesterday, I wanted something fast, something tasty and something fun.  Rummaging around the freezer, I found Parmesan breaded chicken cutlets that I had purchased at Whole Foods at the beginning of the pandemic.  Sure, I could have made my own - but this was easier.  In the refrigerator, I found some Bocconcini, little mozzarella mouthfuls and on the counter was a bowl of sweet cherry tomatoes.  The night before I had made a basil pesto and there was just a little bit left.  Perfect - there was dinner.

     I heated oil in a pan and cooked the chicken.  While this was happening, I diced the Bocconcini, halved the tomatoes and placed them in a bowl.  I mixed the pesto with a bit more olive oil to make it more creamy and threw that in with the cheese and tomatoes.

     Within 10 minutes, dinner was done.  It was nice, tasty and more importantly fast and simple.  We dined al-fresco on the deck and it made for a very enjoyable evening.

     It doesn't have to be complicated.  But it does have to be good.