Sandrines

"Hallacas"

If you ever spent some time in Venezuela during the month of December, you probably know what an "Hallaca" is : a small envelope made of plantain leaves protecting a very delightful dish made of pureed corn, a stew of beef and chicken with vegetables, raisins, olives... dropdead excellent!

During all the month of December, Nathalie Cohen, native from Venezuela and trained in the most renowned kitchens of France (Alain Ducasse, La Duree), and the United States (Daniel Boulud in NY, and many more...), is preparing "hallacas" for all her Venezuelan fellows and gourmet foodies from everywhere. You shouldn't miss the opportunity to try this delicacy!

For more information, call Nathalie Cohen at:

(917) 941-5715

Pick-up your "hallacas" at 150 NW 27th avenue, Miami, Fl, 33125

Prepared meals

Dear friends,

It's been a long while since my last post on this blog, and many of you have contacted us to know when we would be preparing "vacuum-packed" meals again. To make a long story short, we discovered that we were actually the first "sous-vide" (the French words for "vacuum-packed") project in Florida, and being such pioneers we have to go through a process of investigations and establishment of procedures with the inspectors of the Department of Agriculture. Nothing impossible, but it takes time.

In the meantime, we will provide you with prepared meals packaged traditionally, with a shelf life of 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. The following menu is available to you, we accept orders for 4 portions or more of each dish, since we cannot vacuum-pack it, it is all fresh and made to order. You are actually time-sharing a private chef!You can freeze the portions you are not going to eat in the next days, or talk to your neighbourghs or collegues to share the orders. We can pack the meals individually if you wish so.

We are also setting up programs with several condos on West avenue in South Beach, in order to share and eventually suppress the delivery charge. But as long as not fully in place, our delivery policy remains the same (post named: Delivery charges). Call to order: 786-444-0396

MENU

Main courses

Chicken with green olives and aromatic herbs, Ratatouille and Pilaf Rice. $12.00

Moroccan dinner: Keftas meatballs, veggie stew and couscous with raisin. $14.00

Grilled filet mignon, green peppercorn sauce on the side, mashed potatoes, French green beens with garlic and parsley. $23.00

Salmon filet with bell pepper coulis, rosemary roasted potatoes, steamed veggies. $13.00

Lamb and vegetable Indian curry, Basmati rice with almonds. $16.00

Chinese Chicken stir-fried with Asian Vegetables - waterchestnuts, bamboo shoots, Bok Choi-, jasmine rice. $12.00

Turkey Kibbe with herbal yoghurt dip, Tabouleh salad, Hummus and Babaganouj with pita wedges. $13.00

Gourmet Burger: Caramelized onions, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, lettuce and cheddar, baked potato and garden salad. $15.00

Traditionnal lasagna, Hip spinach, pine nuts, olives and parmesan salad. $12.00

Jumbo sea scallops, wild rice pilaf style, leek and truffle oil mousseline $20.00

First course and sides

Garden or caesar salad $3.50

Tomato filled with almond tapeade and herbs: $3.50

Soup of the day: $1.99-$3.50

Menu "Plat du jour" November 5 to November 11, 2007

Menu "Plat du Jour" November 5 to November 11, 2007

Monday: Provencal pork stew, with plums and sage, served with ratatouille and basmati rice

             Soup of the day: Zucchini and potatoes with fresh basil

Tuesday: Sea Bass in miso glaze, eggplant in spicy sesame caramel, yaki soba (whole wheat noodles) with Asian herbs.

Soup of the day: Tomato and basil

Wednesday: Thai Beef with citrus accents, curried zucchinis in coconut milk, glutineous rice  with scallion butter.

Soup of the day: Miso soup

Thursday: Osso Bucco, dried mushrooms risotto with truffle oil.

Soup of the day: Cream of spinach

Friday: Turkey Kibbe, Middle-eastern veggie stew, lime and cilantro cabbage salad.

Soup of the day: Harira Soup

Saturday: Morrocan Keftas, couscous grain, ratatouille.

Soup of the day: Cauliflower soup with chopped eggs and parsley

Sunday: Venezuelan "Pabellon Criollo" with shredded beef, arepa with cheese, scrambled eggs with onions and tomato and black beans.

Menu "Plat du jour" October 22 to October 28, 2007

Menu "Plat du Jour", October 22 to October 28, 2007

Monday: Aromatic chicken stuffed with bell pepper, Primavera risotto

Tuesday: Provencal pork stew perfmed with sage, Ratatouille, brown rice pilaf

              Soup: New England Clam chowder

Wednesday:Morrocan Couscous

              Soup: Carrot and potato

Thursday: Salmon filet "unilateral style", minted green peas, baked potatoes

              Soup: Latin chicken chowder, "Chupe de Pollo"

Friday: Moussaka, Greek dish with lamb, eggplants, tomatoes and oregano

                Soup: Tomato basil

Saturday: Beef stogonoff, buttered noodles

Sunday: Venezuelan- style brunch, with Arepas and grilled cheese, black beans, scrambled eggs and "carne mechada"

And remember our beautiful catering platters for our business lunches and private gatherings. Call us for more info at :          305-642-8642      

Menu "Plat du jour" and menu "Pouches", October 15 to October 21, 2007

MENU "Plat du Jour", October 15 to October 21

$7.99 Everyday!

Monday: Turkey loaf with four spices, Wild mushrooms in ginger-soy reduction, brown rice

Tuesday: Morrocan Couscous

Wednesday: Meatballs in slow cooked tomato sauce, spaguettis

Thursday: "Veal blanquette", carrots and leek, rice

Friday: Stir-fried chicken with veggies and Thai Basil, jasmine rice

And also our very good desserts! Call us for today's suggestions at          305-642-8642      

Menu "Plat du jour" and menu "Pouches", October 8 to October 14, 2007

At Sandrine’s Bakey+Cafe, we like variety in food.It prevents boredom, it is more pleasurable and it is actually good for you! Consequently our “Plat du Jour” menu and “Pouches” menu change weekly.That is also why this blog is so convenient. By subscribing to it, you will have a direct link to our menu on your desktop and with just a quick call to 305-642 8642you will pass your order!

Here are the “Plat du Jour” (Hot Lunch of the day) and ‘Pouches” menu for this week.  Aside those options, we also offer a fixed menu, available at all times.

          October 8 to October 14

Menu“Plat du jour” (Hot Lunch of the day, Almuerzo caliente)

$7.99 everyday!

Monday: Moussaka, Greek eggplant and ground lamb stew, with tomatoes and herbs, served with organic quinoa.

Tuesday: "Chili con carne": Red beans, carrots, tomato and beef stew, served with rice.

Wednesday: Stir-fried chicken with veggies and Thai basil, jasmine rice.

Thursday: Rotini pasta with shrimps and mushrooms, and a great ginger-sake-orange sauce, Asian salad with peanut dressing.

Friday: Portuguese style cod , with potato, bacon and egg, caramelized zucchini.

Saturday: Morrocan couscous.

Sunday: Latin Breakfast Venezuelan with “carne mechada”, arepa, black beans and scrambled eggs with onion and tomatoes.

Menu “Pouches”

Soup Pouches

• Conch Chowder $5.99
• Roasted butter squash, coconut milk and lemongrass soup $5.49
• Oxtail soup $5.49
• Baby (and grown ups!) soup: leek and potatoes in chicken broth $4.99
• “Chupe de pollo”, Latin chicken chowder $5.99
• Seabass fish soup, with veggies and saffron $5.99

Rices and Pastas Pouches

• Vietnamese rice $3.99
• Wild rice $3.99
• Moroccan semolina (Couscous) with chick peas, raisins and bell pepper $5.99

Main Course

• “Confit de poulet” preserved chicken in olive oil and rosemary $9.99
• Moroccan Spicy Lamb Sausages (Merguez) $9.99
• Moroccan meat &veggie stewed (Moroccan couscous stew) $9.99
• Lamb Curry $9.99
• Caramel Pork $6.99
• Veal Blanquette $9.99
• Beef meatball in tomato sauce $6.99
• Cod Loin $9.99
• Steamed salmon filet, with dill and preservd lemons
• Veal “Splendido” sauteed in lemon and rosemary $9.99
• Moussaka,lamb and eggplant Greek stew $9.99

• Spicy spicy Mexican baby back ribs $6.99

• Four spices Turkey loaf $5.99

• "Carne mechada": pulled beef meat, cooked with onion, tomato and bel pepper

Veggies

• Ratatouille 4.99
• Citrus Carrots with caraway seeds $4.99
• Seasoned Black beans $4.99
• Onions in red wine jam $7.99
• Creamy Spinach $6.99
• African spiced lentils $5.99
• Snow peas sesame $5.99
• Scalloped potatoes in nutmeg cream $3.99
• Roasted potatoes $2.99
• Asian veggies (sow peas, black mushrooms, celeri, bamboo shoots, onion, oyster sauce, soy sauce)
• Pumpkin and spinach mash
• Sauteed eggplants

Desserts

• Candied Strawberries with peppercorns $6.99
• Chocolate custard $8.99
• Candied grapefruit skin $3.49
• Honeydew Raspberry Soup $9.99
• Pears in spiced Wine $9.99
• Saffron pears with honey $6.99
• Kiwi and Lemon Compote $3.49
• Arroz con leche
• Papos de anjo

Our first Sunday Brunch!

Sunday, September 23, will be our first Sunday opened!  A Latin Breakfast Venezuelan style will be waiting for you, from 8:30am to 2:00pm (last order time). For those who prefer it American style, omelets, muffins and bagels will be of the party. Not to mention our ample selection of French croissants, "pains au chocolat", "chaussons aux pommes"-Apple turnovers, and on the lighter side, fruits, yoghurt and trail mix, and a new line of protein shakes from Nature Swiss.

Address: 150 NW 27th avenue, Miami, Fl, 33125

Tel: (305) 642-8642

We are now officially opened!

Thank you all very much for coming at our tasting and inaugural party last night. It was very rewarding for us to finally get to expose our new project and see your enthousiastic reactions. Our little pouches flew away, which was very nice to see. Don't hesitate to call me if you have any question or comment.

Sandrine's Bakery + Cafe is opened Monday to Saturday, from 8:30am to 7:00pm, and Sunday from 8:30am to 2:00pm. In the morning we propose a Latin breakfast -Arepa with grilled cheese, scrambled eggs with onions and tomatoes, and black beans,  French croissants and pastries, omelets, bagels,fruits etc... At lunch time, you will be able to enjoy our fresh made "Plat du Jour"- hot meal of the day, a selection of salads and sandwiches, and of course any pouch you want us to plate for you! A few desserts... Roasted chicken with rosemary and Moroccan preserved lemons... We will post our full menu very shortly, and update our list of pouches daily.

Deliveries are available with a minimum order of $50.00, at a charge of $10.00. Deliveries will be free for  orders of $100.00 and up. Please call us -Tel: (305) 642-8642 at your earliest convenience as we can only accept so many deliveries a day at this point.

Tasting at Sandrine’s Bakery + Café

Sandrine Klock Serna and all the team of The Fairy’s Treats and Hip Gourmet Trip are glad to invite you to the tasting of their new line of delicious and nutritious vacuum-packed meals that will take place at recently opened Sandrine’s Bakery + Café.

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
From 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Sandrine’s Bakery + Café
150 NW 27th Avenue
Miami, Fl, 33125

R.S.V.P.: 786-444-0382 Attire: Freestyle

Vacuum Packaging Food

Vacuum packaging of food is nothing new. Restaurants of all types, even very upscale ones, have been using this method to keep their preparations at their best for a longer period of time.

How it works is simple. What makes the food turn bad is mostly the reaction of the food to the contact of the oxygen in the air, reaction known as oxidation. By isolating the food from the oxygen, in a sealed container from which all or almost all the air has been removed, the food keeps fresh for much longer. There is no need to use any preservative. The fabulous thing is that it stays absolutely the same in texture and taste as if just made. And it remains that way for 3 weeks, refrigerated. Hence the massive use of this technique by high class professionals.

Today, I am offering you to fill up your fridge with our handmade dishes prepared by our chefs and myself, conveniently vacuum packed in little pouches of approximately one pint. It was only a matter of finding the right packaging.

From the fridge to the plate, it is really easy: cut the pouch open, pour the content in a bowl or a saucepan, and warm it up in the microwave or on the stove. It couldn’t be easier. And within a couple of minutes, you will be able to enjoy foods that have been prepared from all natural ingredients strictly selected with all our cooking expertise, and immeasurable quantity of TLC –Tenderness, Love and Care!

Finally, you will be able to enjoy whenever you want our soups (Tomato basil, Thai Coconut chicken noodle, Pumpkin-lemongrass, “Chupe de Pollo”…) stews (“Blanquette de veau”, Beef Paprika, Chili con carne, Mahi-Mahi Colombo…), vegetarian specialties (Ratatouille, Black beans made-from-scratch Venezuelan style, Asian stir-fried veggies with oyster sauce, Leek puree with truffle oil, Carrots cooked in orange juice with cumin…) and even desserts (Pear in spiced wine, Kiwi and lemon compote, “Arroz con leche”, Bourbon vanilla custard etc…).

Since we all need to shed a pound or two once in a while, we will also have dietetic options, like my green soup, made with an intense chicken broth, all fat removed, and all the green vegetables and herbs I can find in our fridges. Yummy, and really sensible. We will also accept orders for meals prepared with organic ingredients only.