Spooky season is upon us, even if the weather in NYC has been more Hot Girl Summer than Hocus Pocus up until a few days ago. Now that we’re beginning to feel a chill in the air, I’m counting the days til Halloween. (Cue the theme song from Halloween 3!) Here’s a few suggestions for getting into the spirit of the season.
What to Cook:
Thanks, Ina!
Witches Brew Cocktail
Let’s start with a Witches Brew Cocktail. STREGA is the Italian word for witch, and also a fantastic herbal liquor containing saffron, mint, and fennel: herbal elements often used in spells and tinctures. Mix Strega with gin, lime, muddled greens (like mint and rosemary), pour over ice, and add a flower garnish!
Strega and Witches Brew Cocktail
Now what do witches eat? According to voodoo priestess Minerva from Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil:
Witches loves pork meat,” she said. “They loves rice and potatoes. They loves black-eyed peas and cornbread. Lima beans, too, and collard greens and cabbage, all cooked in pork fat. Witches is old folks, most of them. They don’t care none for low-cal.”
Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta
In that case, I think witches would love this Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta recipe by Marcella of the fabulous Marcella Cooking Stuff newsletter. Hers is an all around great food focused newsletter that always includes recipes and a little cat content (always here for some cat content!). Grab her recipe for Pumpkin Puree first, then follow the instructions from her newsletter, below!
Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta
2T Butter
2-3 Shallots, sliced
2T Finely chopped fresh sage
2C Pumpkin puree
3/4C Grated parmesan
Add butter to a large pan over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until soft.
Add the sage and stir into the butter and shallots for a minute or two until fragrant.
Add pumpkin puree and reduce heat to low. Let it get up to a light simmer and hold it there for a few minutes. Let’s say 5 minutes.
Sprinkle in the grated parmesan working in a few batches and stirring vigorously to melt and incorporate it.
Season with salt and pepper. Fold in cooked pasta!
My Favorite Fall Salad
How about a salad to go with all that cheesy pumpkin pasta goodness? Grossy Pelosi’s recipe, My Favorite Fall Salad is the ultimate squash salad. (And TBH, would it even be a Layman Chef newsletter if I don’t mention Grossy Pelosi?!).
For dessert I recommend these Salted Caramel Apple Cookies, though making them is QUITE a process that involves grating apples and hand squeezing apple juice from the puree. This seemed excessively labor intensive to me, until I discovered that this technique is actually how apple cider is made. This recipe is a project, but the results are worth the effort!
Johnny Cat agrees, the Salted Caramel Apple Cookies are worth the effort.
For something simpler, try making this Apple Fritter Bread instead. Or maybe just make a batch of this Apple Cider Syrup and add it to everything from ice cream to waffles for some big fall flavor.
Speaking of cider, the NYT’s recently published a great article on the history of cider and the many ways to drink it!
If cider is not your thing, ‘Count Pigula’ from Piggly Wiggly Hilton Head suggests Prosecco & rosé.
The Layman Chef is a weekly newsletter about cooking, cocktails, and culinary adventures with a nonprofessional cooking enthusiast.
What to Do:
New York City takes Halloween pretty seriously, with a bounty of festive activities happening in and around the city this season. These are my picks:
Pumpkin Point, Governor’s Island
Governor’s Island has brought back Pumpkin Point for the final two weekends of October. Take the eight minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan to visit the island’s pumpkin patch, including plenty of instagramable fall activities and treats. Pick a pumpkin to take home for free, but remember you’ll be carrying it on the ferry ride back to the city!
Morris- Jumel Mansion, the oldest residence in Manhattan (built in 1765!), is hosting a bevy of spooky events this season including paranormal investigations and candle lit evening tours. I didn’t see any ghosts during my investigation, but it sure got spooky! Night time is a great time to visit this historic New York home this October.
A post shared by Morris-Jumel Mansion (@morrisjumel)
My paranormal investigation crew and me detecting activity with some orbs.
Café de L’Enfer
Café de L’Enfer is a new absinthe and champagne bar in the East Village, inspired by the legendary Cabaret de L’Enfer in Victorian Paris. With flocked wallpaper, velvet banquets, and skulls du jour, Dracula would feel right at home.
If you don’t mind leaving the city for some Halloween fun, hop on a train to Tarrytown, aka Sleepy Hollow, only 50 minutes from NYC. The setting for Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow comes alive in October, with the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tours being a highlight. Take a guided tour of the final resting place of Rockafellers, Carnegies, and Washington Irving himself in day time or in the evening with lanterns to lead your way.
Sleepy Hollow Lantern Cemetery Tour
The Great Jack o’Lantern Blaze
Nearby Sleepy Hollow, at the 18th century Van Cortlandt Manor, visit the Great Jack o’Lantern Blaze, a miles long walking tour of jack o’ lanterns presented in fantastical arrangements with accompanying light show and soundtrack.
I could dedicate an entire newsletter to the magic of The Roxbury, a resort destination three hours from Manhattan in Roxbury, New York. Their themed rooms, suites, and cottages are transformative fantasies! Architectural Digest and I agree: “It’s hard to describe the brilliance, color, and magic that is the Roxbury Experience.”
Bookan evening in the Dracula’s Fangs cottage or the Addams Family themed Noir Boudoir suite and enjoy the festive decor throughout the property. The Roxbury’s rooms book up months in advance, but follow their instagram for last minute cancellations and openings!
Dracula’s Fangs Cottage and The Noir Boudoir Suite at The Roxbury (from their instagram).
What To Buy:
John Derian Flatwear
Halloween dinner party perfection! NYC artist John Derain offers festive cups and saucers perfect for serving up a howling good time.
Noble Objects literary themed candles set the mood for the month. According to their website, Dracula’s scent is Sunrise: - Top note: Mandarin, Lemon, Bergamot - Heart: Grapefruit, Oakmoss, Camphor - Base: Red Currant, Vanilla, Cedar While The Legend of Sleepy Hollowis described as a Foggy October Night: - Top note: Citrus, Cinnamon, Chrysanthemum - Heart: Apple, Berry, Green Leaves, Bourbon - Base: Pecan, Cedar, Maple
The Cohn’s Blackbook Gift Guide
When it comes to the ultimate in all things fabulously macabre look no further than Blackbook’s recently published Halloween gift guide curated by Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina Cohn, the husband and wife behind the world renowned Oddities Flea Market. I have my eye on the faux taxidermy from Animal Replicas.
Speaking of Oddities, it’s come to my attention that The House of Wax Bar, across from the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, has reopened in time for Halloween. For those that want some waxworks and curiosities with their cocktails, this is the place!
Read this fascinating account on the correlation between the work of Edward Hopper and Charles Addams.
PS: Does anyone know if they’re still doing the Boo Y’all ghost story tour at Stone Mountain, GA? I’ve been away a few years, but it was always an Atlanta Halloween tradition!
