Opus2Cafe

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Dog Days
tentative menu
8/29/13 thru 8/30/13
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup, Pesto Tortellini Salad, Hummus Wraps, French Onion Soup Panini
Fri. Vegetarian Chili, Cream of Tomato Basil Soup, Summer Salad with Peaches and Goat Cheese, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Calzone

Music Menu

First Day Back Blues

The low down on this week's menu - The Clinton Farmers' Market (Thursdays from 10 a.m. on) will play a part in this weeks lunches.


Jane and Frank welcome you back

News from the dark side -no news

Sunday, May 12, 2013

A la recherche du Opus 2
tentative menu
5/13/13 thru 5/17/13
Mon.     Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Black Bean Soup, Moroccan Carrot Salad, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar-Avocado Panini
Tues. Vegetarian Chili, Rosemary-Carrot Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Chevre and Pear Hero
Wed.      Vegetarian Chili, Madras Curry Tomato Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Quesadillas
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Minestrone, Moroccan Couscous Salad, Hummus Wraps, French Onion Panini
Fri.       Vegetarian Chili, Tomato Basil Soup, Edamame, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Something else

Music Menu

CBGB's

The low down on this weeks menu - Thursday's menu is very tentative. Friday's is still up in the air.

News from the dark side -

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Good Day, Sunshine
tentative menu
5/6/13 thru 5/10/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Tomato Garlic Soup, Pesto Tortellini Salad, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Hero
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, New England Corn Chowder, Ginger Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Chevre and Red Pepper Panini
Wed.     Vegetarian Chili, French Onion Soup, Kale and Chickpea Salad, Hummus Wraps, Avocado Hero
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Broccoli and Cheddar Soup, Marinated Tomato and Feta Salad, Hummus Wrap, Baked Cavatappi and Aged Cheddar Au Gratin
Fri.      Vegetarian Chili, Squash and Yam Soup, Falafel Salad, Hummus Wraps, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos

Music Menu

'Round Midnight

The low down on this week's menu - Artichoke Hero? baguette, pesto, provolone, tomato, marinated artichoke hearts, baby spinach. There's a chance that Tuesday's panini will be switched with Thursday's Mac and Cheese. Stay tuned. Avocado Hero? baguette, cheddar, cucumber, tomato, salt & pepper, avocado, pickled red onions, alfalfa sprouts, arugula and/or baby spinach. I might have to slip avocado into the burritos on Friday, as I bought way too many.

News from the dark side -no news is good news.

Last week we said goodbye to George Jones

Last week we shared a snapshot of a waning gibbous.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

May Day
tentative menu
4/29/13 thru 5/3/13
Mon.     Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Red Pepper Coconut Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar Apple Panini
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Chinese Velvet Corn Soup, Mixed Grains and Grapefruit Salad, Hummus Wraps, Quesadillas
Wed.     Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Sweet Potato and Fresh Sage Soup, French Lentil Salad, Hummus Wraps, Avocado-Tomato-White Cheddar Panini
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, West African Peanut Soup, Soba Noodle Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pizzettes
Fri.      Vegetarian Chili, Mediterranean Corn Salad, Hummus Wraps, Caesar Wrap

Music Menu
Roadskill

The low down on this week's menu -

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Good-bye To A Journalist
tentative menu
4/22/13 thru 4/26/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Acorn Squash-Roasted Garlic-Spinach Soup, Marinated Tomato Feta Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pear and Pepper Jack Panini, Cayuga Mud Cake
Tues.   Vegetarian Chili, French White Bean and Cabbage Soup, Black Bean and Corn Salad, Hummus Wraps, Chevre and Fig Hero
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Tomato Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Avocado Hero
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Cauliflower Soup, Kale and Chickpea Salad, Hummus Wraps, Caprese Calzones
Fri. Vegetarian Chili, Sherried Carrot Soup, Edamame, Hummus Wraps, Santa Fe Panini

Music Menu

Just another band from East L.A.

The low down on this week's menu - As usual, avocados are not yet ripe, but should be by Wednesday. This is why the menu is tentative. Their status will be updated. Santa Fe Panini is a new idea submitted by one of our own. Thanks, Eliza.


Lake Colden Dam [part 2] in April

News from the dark side - no news yet

Last week we shared our secret recipe for O2 Cornbread.

Last week's personalities were Jonathan Winters. All.

The little criminals of last week are gaining speed.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Patriots Day
"Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch"
tentative menu
4/15/13 thru 4/19/13
Mon.     Vegetarian Chili, Cuban Red Bean Soup with Rice, Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Swiss Melt, Something Chocolate for Natalia, again
Tues.     Vegetarian Chili, Southwest Corn and Potato Chowder, Sesame Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Fontina Hero
Wed.     Vegetarian Chili, Curried Spinach Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Portobello Croque Monsieur
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Black Bean Soup, French Carrot Salad, Hummus Wraps, Baked Cavatappi and Aged Cheddar Au Gratin
Fri.    Vegetarian Chili, Onion Cheese Bisque, Wasabi Coleslaw, Hummus Wraps, BBQ with Cornbread Baked Beans and Slaw, Black Bottom Cupcakes - as requested

Music Menu

Patriots' Day

The low down on this week's menu - the fontina hero is a repeat with sun dried tomato pesto, fontina, pickled red onions, arugula/spinach, and something else-I-hope-I-can-remember-what.

News from the dark side - 'This week saw the celebration of Sophie Racine's 22nd year -- the real question is, who won the cake-off: Nancy or Sarah Song? (Looked like a tie to me.) -The dawning of warm weather means the new sliding door outside Opus 1 will soon be put to use -- hoorah for spring breezes!'

Last week's personalities were Steph and Sophie, for reasons obvious to anyone who knows them.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Cruelest Month
tentative menu
4/8/13 thru 4/12/13
Mon.     Vegetarian Chili, Sophie's Tomato Basil Soup, Ginger Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Hero
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, West African Peanut Soup, Moroccan Couscous Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pizzettes, Something Chocolate for Natalia
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup, Asian Succotash, Hummus Wraps, Spinach-Feta-Sun Dried Tomato Quiche
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Moroccan Potato Bean Soup, Greek Salad, Hummus Wraps, Quesadillas, Something else Chocolate
Fri.    [ totally tentative] Vegetarian Chili, Masala Root Soup, Pesto Tortellini Salad, Hummus Wraps, menu change - Cheddar-Tomato-Red Onion Pickle Panini Portobello Croque Monsieur

Music Menu

Beyond Cool; Past Perfect

The low down on this week's menu - Quesadillas on Thursday will be chipotle black bean, baby spinach, and maybe - sweet potato. Friday's Croque Monsieur, traditionally made with ham and Gruyere, won't be traditional.

Spring

News from the dark side - 'Opus employee Dan Knishkowy and his friend Anna Paikert organized Sunday April 7th's live original music and readings in Opus 1. Local talent abounds! Next Sunday: This semester's second HUM Storytelling session in Opus 1 at 5:30 pm -- we hope to see you there.

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New Dish of the Week Profile -Acorn Squash with Roasted Garlic Soup - so o.k., this isn't very new to us here, but it hasn't been profiled yet. Do we have any curious cooks in the house? Both the squash and the garlic are roasted. The shallots and celery are sauteed. The spinach is tossed in raw. Dry sherry and whatever extra dribs and drabs of milk we have are added towards the end. Seasonings are exactly what you'd expect. Mom approved. nutritional info per 8 oz. serving, based on the assumption that I'm going to find mainly skim milk dribs and 1% drabs -cal. 197, fat - 8.7g, carbs - 27g, pro - 4.3g, choles. - 22mg, sodium - 135mg

Here's the Opus 2 recipe for clumping granola - melt 1/2 c butter, stir in 1/4 c honey and a splash of vanilla, set aside. In a large bowl, mix 4 c rolled oats with 1/2 c sunflower seeds and 2 cups almonds (whole or sliced). Toss butter/honey mix with oat mix. Add a bit of water if it seems too crumbly. Spread granola out on a parchment lined half sheet pan. Press firmly. Seriously. Cover with foil and bake at 250 degrees for about 70 minutes, or until you can smell the granola. Remove the foil and continue baking until desired shade of medium brown, anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan, and when totally cool, break up into clumps. Mix in some dried cranberries or raisins. Some times we add wheat germ and/or pepitas,

Wild Grape Pie
We at O2 spent a pleasant day making a wild grape pie. Here's the recipe.
Harvest at least 2 pounds worth of wild grapes. Wash and dry them carefully. Measure out 6 cups worth, and gently peel them. Put the skins in a bowl, the pulp and seeds into a saucepan. This will take a couple of hours if you have help, but it'll be a fun couple of hours.
Bring the saucepan of pulp to a full, rolling boil, and boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Strain the seeds away from the pulp, discarding the seeds. Mix the pulp in with the skins, and between 1 and 3 tablespoons of tapioca. Place this mix of skins and rapidly thickening pulp into a refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours. While this is chilling, make a pie dough recipe of your choosing. We are fond of a basic pate brisee, heavy on the butter.
When the pie dough has relaxed sufficiently, roll it out and fit it into an 8 or 9 inch pie pan. Remove the grape filling from refrigeration, and stir into it about a cup's worth of sugar. Scrape this filling into the bottom crust, top with a full or latticed top crust. Bake as any fruit pie, making sure you have a pan underneath it in your oven. Enjoy cool.

O2 Onion Cheese Bisque.
really.
Cook up a big bunch of onions in butter over a low flame. When they are just starting to caramelize, stir in some flour. Cook off the raw flour taste, and add in milk. Lots of milk. We use an assortment of fat levels. Add in some grated cheese. We use an assortment of types. Stir, taste, season. Add in some vegetarian worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard. Partially puree with your wand of chaos.
nutritional facts based on 2% milk and medium sharp cheddar - calories for a 12 oz serving - 315.4, fat - 21.2 g, carbs - 19.1 g, protein - 13.5 g

Dear Charlotte [crispy];
Thank you for being such a loyal customer. I hope that this will help.
1. Acorn Squash, Roasted Garlic and Spinach Soup -
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut 2 acorn squash in half, scoop seeds out. Roast squash, cut side down for about 45 minutes, until it feels tender. Roast 4 heads of garlic at the same time. In a pot, saute 2 onions in butter until starting to brown. Add 4 cups of water or vegetable broth and 2/3 c dry sherry. Add in the flesh from the squash and the roasted garlic. Puree. Add in 1 bunch of clean, chopped spinach. Heat and add salt, pepper, a little bit of fresh nutmeg, and 2/3 cup half and half or heavy cream.

2. Chinese Velvet Corn Soup
In a splash of oil, saute 4 cups of diced onions. Cook until caramelized, then add 6 cups of corn kernels and 8 cups of water. Cook a bit, then add 1 teaspoon of szechuan peppercorns, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1/2 cup dry sherry, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 4 teaspoons sugar, a good dollop of sambal oeleek, and some chopped chives. Remove about a third of the soup and with an immersion blender, coarsely puree what's left in the pot. Add the unpureed soup back. Dissolve 1/2 c of cornstarch in about 1/3 cup of cold water. Pour this into the hot - but not boiling- soup. Taste for and add salt.

3. Chipotle Sweet Potato and Fresh Sage
4. Masala Root Soup
5. Onion Cheese Bisque
6. Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup
7. Roasted Cauliflower Soup
8. Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup
9. Sherried Carrot Soup
10. West African Peanut Soup.
Let me know if something really important to you is missing.

Pesky Wild Violet Invasion
It's that time of the year again, wild violets marring the new lawn. Spraying is so politically incorrect.
'Violets contain rutin, a phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help strengthen capillary walls'. Eat them.
Clean violets carefully. Dry thoroughly.
Beat a couple of egg whites, then strain into a small bowl.
Work with one violet at a time.
Using a clean paintbrush, paint egg white on all surfaces of the violet. Don't get excessive, egg shouldn't be dripping.
Immediately sprinkle superfine sugar over all coated surfaces.
Place violet on a wax paper covered wire rack to dry.
Repeat process.
Flowers are extremely perishable and should generally be served fresh. Candied flowers like these wild violets will last up to a year. Do not store in the refrigerator.
Today's important [p.c.] disclaimer here;
Introduce flowers slowly to your diet to avoid any potential upset or allergic reaction, especially important if you have allergies to pollen.
Next week - dandelion jelly.

Opus2Cafe

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sunday, April 7, 2013

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