Pork Chops Agrodolce

Living in Southern California where the sun is good for growing and the farms are plentiful, I am blessed to be able to get all manner of fresh fruits and vegetables at stellar prices.  Now meat, on the other hand, is another story.  Getting quality meats (ideally hormone-free, and free-range) that are locally sourced costs me an arm and a leg, and sometimes even more than that (tack on a few extra fingers to cover tax, and you get my drift).  It is interesting, because people here are very conscious of eating well-sourced meat, but the supply of local beef/chicken/pork is low compared to other areas of the country.  This supply/demand issue makes prices higher, and in some cases, the cost can be a little prohibitive.  I find myself choosing quality over quantity, ie. eating better quality meat, but just less of it.   

Fresh thyme.

I found myself pondering this issue of the price of pork when I recently decided to make this recipe for Pork Chops Agrodolce a second and third time.  

You see, the first time I made this recipe was when I was visiting my parents in Ohio.  One morning I got an email from Williams and Sonoma, and I saw this recipe when I clicked through to their site.  I was totally intrigued since I had never heard of this Italian sweet and sour dish before, and the recipe seemed so incredibly simple.  I knew I was heading out to the Westside Market the next day, so I picked up some great thick-cut pork chops to make this for my parents.     

3/4-inch thick, bone-in pork chops.

Now I don't know why I haven't talked it up more, but the Westside Market in Cleveland is fantastic.  Even with all the farmer's markets around San Diego, I would die for a place like Westside Market here.  In my eyes, one of the things that really sets the Westside Market apart is their selection of meats.  There are tons of local farms - both small and large - outside of Cleveland, so there is a much larger supply of very high quality local meats.  Plus, the Amish country is not far away and their meats (and cheeses) are always top notch as well.  At the Westside Market, you can find any cut of meat you want, a plethora of sausages and bratwurst, and just about the best bacon ever.  But, the real kicker are the prices.  

Bacon Meatball Subs

When I was younger, it was my dad's job to do the grocery shopping, and he always went on Saturdays.  Sometimes I would tag along with him, and as I followed up and down the aisles, we would make sure to try all the free samples they were offering that weekend.  Back then, the grocery stores must have been rolling in dough or otherwise feeling generous, because they were giving away so much food that little girls like me often went home with full tummies, feeling spoiled by free treats and indulgent dads.  

Other weekends, I would stay at home with my mom while my dad did the grocery shopping, and those times he would usually make a stop at Subway on the way home to pick up lunch for us.  I remember I used to try out all different sorts of subs (I eventually decided I like the veggie sub on white bread best, boring I know), but my dad would predictably come home with the same thing each week: A meatball sub.    

When I was younger, I never really understood the appeal of the meatball sub.  I can blame that on childhood naiveté, or just plain picky eating, but now I know that my dad was a smart man.  Meatball subs are amazing.  Since I am all grown up (or so I pretend to be), I have changed my ways and fallen head over heels in love with meatballs.  Initially I slowly warmed up to them, but last year I chased after them with lust when I tried the Meatball Sammy from MIHO Gastrotruck here in San Diego.  (Seriously, check out the post, you can see me eating the meatball sub with gusto.)      

When this Meatball Sammy was on MIHO's menu, I tried it on Thursday, I went back and ordered it again on Friday, and I ate it again the following week.  I was obsessed.  Four of my co-workers tried it as well, and they agreed - MIHO's meatball sub was the best they had ever had.  Any hand-crafted meatball sub is pretty great, but I think their sub really knocked my socks off because the meatballs themselves were so intensely flavorful and juicy.  Of course, I had to have the recipe, and I found out their secrets: lots of fresh herbs and spices, shitake mushrooms, grass-fed beef... and bacon.  BACON.  Ah...it seems at the heart of every truly indulgent dish lies a core made out of bacon.    

Easy White Bean Spread, for a Celebration Lunch with Family

A few weeks ago I got an email from Renee from Kitchen Conundrum that I had won a copy of Cristina Ferrare's Big Bowl of Love cookbook.  Yahoo!  To enter her contest, she had asked readers to leave a comment about a recipe they love to make at home for their friends and family.  Here is what I said: 

I love making classic chocolate chip cookies – everyone always loves them and fresh out of the oven there is nothing better. I would love to win this cookbook for my mom!  **

Her question to readers was utterly perfect considering the "Big Bowl of Love" theme of Cristina Ferrare's new cookbook - the entire cookbook is devoted to simple, delicious recipes that you can share with family and friends.  Cristina describes each of the recipes in such a warm and genuine tone that it just makes you want to be home.  So naturally, her book and recipes made me think of my mom and how much she would love this cookbook.  Of course, when I actually won it I had a few self-indulgent moments paging through it and some more self-indulgent thoughts about keeping it, but in the end I gave it to my mom as a Mother's Day present; I knew she would appreciate it more than I would and it seemed like the perfect gift for her.  

But to make the gift even more perfect, I escaped home for two short days to surprise her and give it to her in person.  I combined a celebration of Mother's Day, my father's birthday, and my grandfather's 90th birthday (can you believe it!  Ninety years!) into a few whirlwind hours back in Ohio, and every moment of my time at home was precious and heart-warming.  Of course, we celebrated with birthday cakes and special dinners and lots of hugs and kisses, but one of the best times was a small, relaxing celebration lunch with my parents in our own backyard.  

I love my parents' antique-style knives.  I also love my mom's lilacs.

I set everything up so we could have a lunch that would be elegant enough to be 'special' but nothing that we would have to fuss over.  Life has been hectic for my parents (and for me) and I think we all really cherished time where we could relax, and just enjoy the pleasure of simple conversation and time spent together.  

Sparkling Wine with Lemon Thyme Sorbet

I know what you're thinking.  

Mother's Day was yesterday... Easter is long gone... and sadly, the weekend is over...so why in the world am I sharing this elegant fizzy beverage on a plebeian Monday?  

The truth is, I couldn't resist.  

I made this lovely drink over the weekend to share with friends and to honor my wonderful mother (whom I missed dearly on Mother's Day - too bad we can't share a hug over Skype!).  I figured if it turned out well, I would just keep it as an ace in my pocket to share with you for the next holiday or celebration.  But then I started making the Lemon Thyme Sorbet...and it was fresh and sweet and tart all at the same time.  Once the first frozen spoonful hit my tongue, the corners of my mouth turned up in a smile - the flavor was just somehow happy.

Then I got a little inspired and decided to put some sorbet in lemon 'cups,' and well, it was all downhill from there.  I was completely smitten by the taste, but the overall cuteness factor was just too much for me - and I hadn't even gotten to the wine yet.   

Lemon Thyme Sorbet, in lemon cups. 

Garnished with a little thyme, this would be the perfect special-occasion dessert.

Speaking of wine, I don't mean to brag, but I made an excellent choice - La Marca Prosecco. (Shh... I was actually helped by the recommendation of an awesome saleslady, but we'll just say I have good good taste.)  La Marca Prosecco got a rating of 90 points by Wine Spectator, and they describe it as such: 

Classic Mussels with Shallots and Thyme

Welcome to the 100th post here on The Cilantropist!  

Over the last year this blog has grown and developed, and I am relishing in every moment of it.  I can barely believe that I have shared 100 posts with you!  I am committed to bringing you fresh, seasonal, and delicious food (plus cakes and cookies, we can't forget those!) and I do my best to only share things that I think are excellent.  Compared to when I first started, The Cilantropist is so much more like what I dreamed it would be, and it is still evolving.  Keep your eyes peeled for a few changes and additions in the weeks and months to come, but be assured that you will still always be able to find great food over at this corner of the web.  

I also want to give a big shout out to YOU!  Each and every one of my readers, please know that I love love love having you here and it means the world to me knowing that you appreciate food, family, and friends.  I also adore your comments and emails - they make me smile and laugh, and they brighten my day each time I read one.  (And I read all of them!)   I truly appreciate that you share my blog and recipes with family and friends, since feeling connected to people is really at the heart of my cooking.  I hope you will continue to follow along with me as I create another 100 recipes and share stories from my adventures in the kitchen.  

I can also say that over the last year my passion for food and cooking has increased exponentially, and everything about it brings me so much happiness. I am more conscious of what I eat now, and more committed than ever to eating sustainably and locally, and working more towards living a hand-crafted life.  This doesn't mean eating only organic or natural foods - that is just not realistic for me right now - but it does mean shopping at the farmers market as often as possible and making dishes from quality well-sourced ingredients.  Very simply, I think it is a healthier way to live and eat.   

So I thought, for this 100th post, that I should share one of my favorite dishes with you since I can source all the raw ingredients from my farmers market.      

Are you able to find fresh bay leaves?  I think they are just beautiful. 

This classic dish of Mussels with Shallots and Thyme has its roots in traditional French cooking since it uses a broth made with cream, wine, shallots and herbs, to steam open fresh mussels.  I made this dish for the first time almost four years ago, when my boyfriend and I discovered we could get fresh Carlsbad mussels at the farmers market near my apartment.  Nowadays, I can get everything else I need to make it from the farmers market as well, including fragrant thyme and beautiful green bay leaves.   

Gratin Dauphinois

So today I had planned to share a recipe with you that features my favorite ingredient of the moment: yep, you guessed it, Berries.  Ripe, fresh, jewel-toned, bursting with flavor berries.  I have two things that I am just dying to share with you... But I'm not really feeling it today.  You know how that goes?  (Just be patient, give me few more days; the sun will come out and we can all be in berry heaven.  I promise.)  Today, I am taking issue with this crappy weather we have been having.   


(Disclaimer: if you are from the Northwest, Midwest, or East Coast, and will be offended by a So Cal girl's petty complaints skip to the end and just make the gratin.)


All day today, all day Saturday, and all Sunday, the sun did not come out.  A dreary cover of clouds blocked any beautiful rays of sun from peeking through the haze.  I know, I know... this might be a description of daily life in other cities, but it is a rare occurrence here in sunny San Diego.  Sure, those of us from Southern California know that "June gloom" is right around the corner, but do the gray skies we experience while the rest of the country heads into summer have to come so soon?  I mean really Mother Nature, get your act together, it is only May!  I know you are probably shaking your head right now, or rolling your eyes (or likely doing both).  Trust me, I am well aware that I am utterly and completely spoiled by the climate here.  I grew up in Northern Ohio, so I am no stranger to bad weather, but that is why I moved to San Diego.  Having lived here for almost five years now, my blood has thinned, and I have apparently become a pansy when it comes to tolerating cold temperatures.  It happens.  So can I order up a little sun here?

So back to the food issue, this gloomy day put me in no mood for sharing bright, summery berries as I had planned.  Rather, I am craving something warm, creamy, and comforting.  I want a dish that will make me feel like it is wrapping a warm blanket around me when I eat it.  And this gratin is it.  This recipe for Gratin Dauphinois is from My French Kitchen, by Joanne Harris and Fran Warde, and it is packed with cream and butter and loads of cheese.  I also added some minced thyme and garlic for a little flavor undertone.  Mmmm... all these things make food taste wonderful.  When you pull this out of the oven, the golden gruyere crust and the bubbling filling underneath is so satisfying.  A bite of this is rich and filling, and just the cure for gray skies and cool days.