Our Favorite Meal of 2014: Breakfast at Cafe Privato in Istanbul

Turkish breakfast was always a mystery to us. We'd never been to Turkey, but heard from more than one source on more than one occasion that the morning meal there was an unrivaled one. We spent a week in Turkey, in Istanbul, in the hip and beautiful Beyoğlu neighborhood. One overcast morning, after a 15 minute walk up and down narrow streets lined with skinny sidewalks, past dozens of cats and fresh pomegranate juice stands, we stepped onto a small platform that stuck out from a green storefront. Large accordian doors were folded open. Above them, written in wood, was "Privato."

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We Make Lidia Bastianich's Goulash

With the unseasonably warm weather this week, we've almost forgotten the cold winter that waits around the corner. No matter. As summer turned to fall, and September to October, a familiar chill started to surface. Seventy degree days became fifty degree days, and that, according to us, is the perfect time to test cold weather recipes. So as we dust off sweaters and start wearing pajamas to bed, let's also get the oven on, rearrange the kitchen, and make way for braises, stews, roasts, dark beer, red wine, squash, pumpkins, gords of all shapes and sizes, cauliflower, cardoons, brussel sprouts, and the bounty of other veggies that turn a cold shoulder to freezing soil.

After the fun and success we had with Lidia Bastianich's Malloreddus al Ragu, we thought we'd try another recipe of her's: Goulash. The dish is centuries-old, and of Hungarian origin, but is enjoyed in Friuli because the region was once part of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Because of this eastern European influence, Friuli is the only region in Italy where you'll find paprika, and that's what gives this dish its unique, signature smokiness.

We made the recipe last week, when it still felt like fall, and highly recommend you do the same when it gets cold out again. It's cheap, easy, and deeply satisfying. Here's what you'll need.

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Donde Dinner? - 2344 Arthur Ave

Donde Dinner? aims to make your next dining experience an adventure. So every Friday we pick a restaurant and post its address for you. The catch is, that's all the information you get. No name, no type of cuisine, and no Googling. Before we post this week's address, here's last week's:

107 1st Avenue = Huertas

In typical Donde Dinner? fashion, price, quality, and accessibility have all been taken into account. You won't be waiting at the bar for two hours with $16 cocktails and you never have to worry about a dress code. Just hop on the train, or your feet, or your bike, and head to:

2344 Arthur Ave (map)

Heirloom vs. Hybrid: A Fight We All Win

I wrote an article for Serious Eats recently about heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. Summer's nearing its end, but no matter how you slice it, any tomatoe is a culinary delight. But what are the differences between heirlooms and hybrids? Is one variety better than the other, and Are Heirloom Tomatoes Always Worth the Price?

Donde Dinner? - 107 1st Avenue

Donde Dinner? aims to make your next dining experience an adventure. So every Friday we pick a restaurant and post its address for you. The catch is, that's all the information you get. No name, no type of cuisine, and no Googling. Before we post this week's address, here's last week's:

1563 Decatur Street = Houdini Kitchen

In typical Donde Dinner? fashion, price, quality, and accessibility have all been taken into account. You won't be waiting at the bar for two hours with $16 cocktails and you never have to worry about a dress code. Just hop on the train, or your feet, or your bike, and head to:

107 1st Avenue

Brunch at Le Sésame in Paris

All of our meals in Paris were memorable, but our brunch at Le Sésame is one we look back on fondly. Rain storm, Canal Saint-Martin, and apricot smoothie is not a combination we'll likely come across again anytime soon.

An article in the Times Magazine, penned by Lindsey Tramuta in June 2012, steered us to Le Sésame on Quai de Valmy in Paris's 10th Arrondissement. If you draw an analogy between Paris and Brooklyn (one well on its way to becoming a reality), you might call the 10th Arrondissement the Bushwick to the 11th's, adjacent to the southeast, Williamsburg. Both neighborhoods, thanks to a creative, vibrant, and youthful energy, have become sites for highly sought after addresses by Parisians and people moving to the city. But, like Bushwick, the 10th is still playing catchup, cosmetically speaking.

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Donde Dinner? - 1563 Decatur Street

Donde Dinner? aims to make your next dining experience an adventure. So every Friday we pick a restaurant and post its address for you. The catch is, that's all the information you get. No name, no type of cuisine, and no Googling. Before we post this week's address, here's last week's:

1136 Broadway = Abidjan

In typical Donde Dinner? fashion, price, quality, and accessibility have all been taken into account. You won't be waiting at the bar for two hours with $16 cocktails and you never have to worry about a dress code. Just hop on the train, or your feet, or your bike, and head to:

1563 Decatur Street (map)

Our First Dinner in Paris

We took an impromptu trip to Paris last month. We spent a week there and, though it wasn't enough time, managed to pack a lot in. As summer turns to August, we'll be posting every now and then about some of our favorite moments/meals/pictures from across the pond. Let's start with dinner our first night there.

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