Archive for December, 2010
LESSONS, CAROLS, AND GINGERBREAD WITH STARS
A rich and rewarding life doesn’t just happen. You need to surround yourself with interesting people, have a sense of occasion, and know how to make your own fun. My schooling in this began when I was very young. One mentor I always think of this time of year is Aunt Eloise—in truth, a longtime friend […]
Posted: December 22nd, 2010 under Christmas, cooking, food, people + places, winter.
Comments: none
MY SHERRY AMOUR
I don’t think I’ve ever met a condiment I didn’t like. I love to get them as presents under the Christmas tree—I feel like a world traveler without getting out of my pajamas—and I love giving them—Branston pickle to a homesick Englishman, a big beautiful jar of preserved lemons or mostarda as a hostess gift, Ocracoke […]
Posted: December 16th, 2010 under cookbooks, cooking, culinary history, food, objects of desire, pantry, people + places, winter.
Comments: 4
SCRATCH SUPPER: CHESTNUT RISOTTO
The smell of nuts, smoke, and char is in the air, and steam rolls across me like incense at High Mass. I could be in northern Italy, where the chestnut vendors shake their hot pans over a wood fire and shout “Caldaaaaaroste!” when they see you coming. Or not. I’m actually on Fifth Avenue, surrounded […]
Posted: December 9th, 2010 under autumn, cooking, culinary history, food, kitchen science, scratch supper.
Comments: 2
STILL BILL—NIMAN NAILS IT
Our heritage turkey from Bill Niman’s BN Ranch was really expensive. And it was not nearly as chesty as your typical supermarket bird, the aptly named Broad-Breasted White. Sleeker and more streamlined (nice gams!), it reminded me of that great Spencer Tracy line from the picture Pat and Mike: “Not much meat on her, but […]
Posted: December 2nd, 2010 under autumn, cooking, food, people + places.
Comments: 5