for the love of food

a goat + 2 chickens

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:33:00 -0400

our group was planning menus for the upcoming memorial day - a weekend to be spent poolside with drink in hand. but our host rick wanted goat ……..which lead us away from the pool and on our way to hayes farm - just south of fort worth.

this place is a trip. chicken, duck, pig, sheep, rabbit & goat. tejano music playing - a makeshift taco stand and all kinds of folks here to pick up some fresh meat.

along with a couple of chickens - we picked out this 45-pound goat. 45 minutes and $155 later we were walking back to the car with it in a bag ! talk about being close to your food source. i was feeling a bit too close - seriously !

the butchered pieces were marinated in harissa (a concoction of chiles-garlic -cumin-coriander & mint ) and slow cooked for almost 8 hours. ( chicken was dry rubbed with chile & fennel and spit roasted ).

so busy getting a plate - i forgot to shoot it. this succulent goat ( and tasty chicken ) was served with couscous salad with feta cheese - garden tomatoes stuffed with salsa verde & a cabbage-fennel-jalapeno slaw washed down with more rose wine and a lineup of chianti wines. thankyou goat #321. another swim anyone ?

designedesserts

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:16:53 -0400

just back from a fix of the big apple - and all it’s wonderful restaurants - i was struck by the sameness of the plated dessert. the formula must include no less that six components flavors colors & shapes - include sweet sour & savory - creamy crunchy frozen crispy - use of sousvide paco jet fryer & dehydrator….. and all topped off with torn cake ! not that i’m complaining………they were a treat.

carota. carrot sponge / cinnamon crema / candied pecan / gold raisins / carrot ginger sorbet

sformato. mandarin-kumquat / mascarpone-white chocolate crema / dark chocolate cake / rosemary caramel

bomboloni. fried donuts / zabaglione crema / espresso crumble / chocolate sauce / white espresso gelato / espresso ‘glass’

black & white sesame meringues / yuzu crema / mango thai basil sorbet

ginger freddo / pain d’epices / mandarin sorbet / lemon sponge / mandarin ‘yolk’

banana bread / caramel mousse / chocolate mousse / vietnamese cinnamon icecream

blanc manger / prickly pear coulis / pineapple / coriander-pineapple sorbet / almond croquant

desserts designed to delight !

thankyou to marea & le bernadin & boulud sud

Happy Hour Indeed

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:40:00 -0400

i love this hidden downtown gem. it’s a tiny space with a great menu & wine list & lots of personality. it’s Mulberry. it probably seats 25 - 30 inside - mostly around the bar - but we like to sit outside under the umbrellas. taylor knows what we like to drink ( yes - rose bubbly to start please) and if jacob is in the kitchen he comes out to say hello. mulberry is good anytime ( including brunch) but i love to go for happy hour.

while there’s a good menu selection ( considering the tiny kitchen ) - i have a few items that i crave and always order………..

fresh - creamy ricotta crostini with cipolline onion jam -black salt & pepper

salmon sashimi with fried capers - thinly sliced garlic & hot garlic oil

brussel sprout salad ( fried & raw ) with radish - dried shitake “bacon’ & ‘the best ever’ ranch dressing

meatballs in brodo with crusty bread

taking a tip from taylor we tried this greek wine ( when did greek wine get to be so pricey - $14 glass). worth it !

save room for dessert - it’s always a treat. this is one sophisticated s’more !

happy indeed……..thanks mulberry !

Beet It !

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:41:00 -0400

I’ve been enjoying produce from my kitchen garden for the past couple of months - and now that the weather is turning warm and thoughts of spring/summer garden arise - the pressure is on to consume the last of beets - kale & swiss chard ( and pass more on to friends & neighbors - enough already ! )

this is one of my favorite beet dishes. it is an italian recipe that was on our menu at ASTI Trattoria. it is from the veneto ( northeast region ) hence the mascarpone and poppy seeds. it is a beautiful dish rich in beet color and flavor - the whole beet and nothing but the beet ( plus a few shallots).

this is a beet risotto. start with diced shallot and the beet stems. saute a few minutes and deglaze with white wine. add carnaroli rice ( my preference of risotto rice ) and stir for a few minutes. using traditional risotto making technique - patiently add ladles of water while stirring ( i do not use stock as i want only the pure beet flavor). separately roast the beets in the oven. towards the finish - toss the beets into the risotto - along with the ‘beet juices” from roasting. add a handful of chopped beet greens. beautiful !

serve with mascarpone & poppy seeds - and a few fresh baby beet greens tossed with evoo……………

now beet it !

A Cabbage and a Chicken

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:05:00 -0500

i grabbed the last cabbage off the table at boggy creek farm. the beautiful leaves demanded to be stuffed! i remembered this version from a restaurant where i once worked. leaves stuffed with chicken mousse & wild rice - served en brodo.

carve up a chicken and make a chicken stock with the bones. reserve the breast meat. poach up the leg and thigh and save for a salad (or a snack for your dog - lucky roxy) !

pull the outer cabbage leaves and blanch.

cube up the raw chicken breast meat (1#) and in a food processor puree with 2 egg whites and 1 c. of heavy cream. chill. cook up wild rice ( i’m loving the lundberg farms wild mix ) with some small dice veggies and chopped remaining cabbage head. fold into the chicken mousse and season with salt-pepper & nutmeg. poach a tablespoon in boiling water to taste test the seasoning. adjust as needed.

to stuff the leaves- place the leaf in a ladle and fill with mousse mix and wrap to cover completely. chill.

poach the stuffed bundles in chicken stock. serve up and enjoy !

Eat your Greens !

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:26:00 -0500

i can’t get enough of the fall/winter greens - swiss chard & kale & beet greens & even broccoli greens. i purchase them at the farmers market and boggy creek farm - while i patiently wait til my garden is ready to pick ….another week or two.

this is a favorite salad - a meal in itself. the lundberg farms rice mix i purchase at wheatsville co-op. it is a mix of brown and red and wild - super nutty tasting & chewy. pomegranate and organic dried cranberries. pecans from natural grocer on guadalupe st. ( where they store their nuts in the refrigerator - where they’re supposed to be ! ) they are the best i have tasted this year. add raw chopped kale ( cavolo nero here) and toss with olive oil and S & P. even better if it sits overnight.

delicious & healthy ! enjoy.

Best ever Oatmeal !

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:16:00 -0500

i am a big fan of steel cut oatmeal. but i am finicky & do question the freshness of canned and bulk products…. am i just imagining a rancid undertone ? now i can enjoy an organically grown - heirloom grain - stone ground to order ! bowl of oatmeal. what a treat !

check out anson mills - for their product list ( polenta - rice - grits & more) and read about their passion & mission. they do it up right. ( we are pleased to offer the polenta at ASTI and now offer the oatmeal at FINO sunday brunch).

this slightly toasted steel cut oat is more refined - and certainly tastier -than your usual. it takes about 20 minutes to cook with the usual 4 parts water/ 1 part oats.

i like to eat oatmeal in the usual ways… cooked with chopped apples & cinnamon…..topped with sliced bananas and brown sugar……..

but my new favorite……..

bacon ( or preferred guanciale with it’s salt & pepper crust) - rendered & mixed with maple syrup ! meaty-fatty-salty-spicy & sweet !

now that’s breakfast of champions ! thank-you anson mills !

So Long...and Good Luck Brian Stubbs !

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:48:00 -0500

ASTI & FINO say So Long & Good Luck to Brian Stubbs

As many of you know, Brian has been with ASTI & FINO for over 8 years. But it’s time to say farewell, as he starts a new family (Baby Girl Stubbs is due in early December) ! Brian will be missed by us, our staffs and all of our guests.

We will be toasting Brian on his last day, November 19th at FINO with cocktails & cava !

Stop by this Saturday or anytime this week to wish him well & meet our new FINO manager, Rand Egbert.

Rand returns to Austin after a few years in some great New York City restaurants. We’re so pleased to have him on board with us.

Cheers !

Emmett & Lisa

Gift from Brian

Gift from Rand

B o B

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:52:00 -0400

Beard on Bread. a classic cookbook - one i’ve had in my collection since 1986 ( it cost 12.95 ! ).

i like many recipes in this book - but one i have been making for these 25 years - (yikes !) - is his banana bread. it is perfectly dense ( not too ) - moist - big on banana flavor & not too sweet. ( i add chunks of chocolate ).

i wanted to say thanks to a friend & this seemed just right for the occasion. (of course i made one for myself).

i make them in my vintage cake pans.

beards banana bread

in kitchen-aide with paddle - cream together:

1/2 c. butter - room temp

add:

1 c. sugar

add one at a time:

2 eggs

add:

1 c. mashed banana ( 2 ea. / * very ripe )

sift together:

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

mix together:

1/3 c.ry mix alternately with milk to the kitchen-aide on slow speed.

3/4 c. nuts ( toasted walnuts or pecans)

3/4 c. chocolate chunks / chips

pour into greased 9 x 5 x 3 pan ( or other ) bake 350 / 45 -55 min.

’thank-you’ tastes good !

Beat the Heat ! Vancouver & Salt Spring Island

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:45:00 -0400

60 days of 100+ degree weather. it’s enough to make a girl go crazy ! august in austin is rough - and even more so this year. a 10 day - cool weather - escape was in order. destination vancouver - then a jump over to salt spring island. here i share a few favorites from our trip.

it’s been 10 years since we were last in vancouver. besides cool weather we had fond memories of the mountain & ocean landscape - cosmopolitan city vibe - ethnic neighborhoods & great seafood.

we rented a downtown condo (on homeaway ) in yaletown neighborhood. a walk to many parks-restaurants-coffee shops-markets and to the ferry - for a 5 minute ride over to granville island.

granville island is a mecca of art & culture & food. farmers market - food stalls - bakeries - a butchery and of course lots of fish. restaurants of all sizes - arts & crafts studios - high end galleries - a theatre company………and more. this is liam - he turned us on to some beautiful teas.

vancouver has a lot of public art - which i love to see in a city. the MOV is surprisingly a very small museum ( 3 exhibits). but i guess one could say the art & culture is in the streets.

our first night we met up with friends from austin ( they have the right idea - 3 months in vancouver ! ) for dinner at Vij’s. anyone who knows vancouver will recommend this indian restaurant. there is always a wait - but it’s part of the experience. we ordered a signature indian mojito and sat outside while servers circled with delicious snacks. unfortunately the restaurant was dark and my photography not a priority while we caught up with our friends - but we enjoyed dungesse crab ‘spoons’…samosas…goat curry…lamb ‘popsicles’….and spot prawns in coconut. yum.

waterfront lunch at C. modern & on the mark. fried mussels & chorizo salad … onion & almond bisque with seafood-poached egg & black truffle…scallops with grilled corn & corn/foie gras puree…..pacific oysters on the halfshell … washed down with BC rose bubbly ! we opted for the local wines from british columbia with most meals and were not disappointed.

hapa izakaya. there are three locations and they are happening little joints - bar mostly with great food. we loved the hot stone bowl. filled with rice- minced pork - spicy miso & an egg yolk. it was stirred up tableside and left to rest a few minutes while the hot stone crisps up the rice. makes for a creamy & crispy bowl of deliciousness. the pacific calamari is a real treat - very meaty & tender. also enjoyed some sashimi & rolls.

last stop on our way out of town was at meat & bread. with a name like that we had to stop and investigate. meat & bread offers 4 sandwiches - 1 soup - 1 salad & 1 dessert. beer - wine & cider. 1 long communal table & 1 long bar. everyone eats off a cutting board lined with parchment. what a concept. what a sandwich ! we enjoyed these porchetta sandwiches on the ferry ride over to salt spring island ( a 1 1/2 hour cruise ).

our first meal on salt spring island. fish & chips & beer !

bounty at the farmers market ! it was a treat to shop here knowing that most of our meals would be cooked at home. we were visiting our friend kim ( another smart austinite who owns a home here ). she is an avid salmon & halibut ‘fisherwoman’ so her freezer was stocked. we supplemented with the markets dungeness crab - sweet spot prawns & cockles. seafood never tasted so good ! seriously !

salt spring demands one to slow down & enjoy the natural beauty. this island offers many trails to hike - either along the coast or thru the pine & cedar forests. on our hikes we spotted a huge grey owl & sea lions & large fleshy purple starfish ! we also just relaxed with the views from the porch & inhaled the fresh air. salt spring is also a haven for artists. artist studio tours/open house can be spotted all over the island.

last views as we take a float plane back to vancouver ( a quick 30 minutes ) then back to austin. i carry a piece of this paradise with me back to the heat of austin !

Sprout !

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:14:00 -0400

i used to sprout- many years ago - and doing it again just reminds me how much i like them. my initial motivation for sprouting was the nutritional value of them - but they are also a great visual & textural addition to salads & sandwiches and as a garnish for lots of dishes.

my favorite website is sproutpeople.org. owned by a couple who started at the farmers market in madison wisconson in 1993 and still going strong. their site is personal and very informative - offering advice & instruction. they sell lots of sprouting supplies and (mostly organic) seed & seed mixes.

easy ways to sprout. glass jars / flat trays / ‘soil free blanket’

sunflower seeds sprouted on a fabric ‘blanket’

tiny radish seeds sprouted in flat trays

*beyond the leafy sprouts - there are the nut - grain & legume sprouts. what you may not realize is that the soaking and/or sprouting of these removes enzyme inhibitors and makes the amino acids & enzymes readily available for digestion & absorption. it transforms a dormant seed into a living seed. knowing this -why bother eating them without an easy soak or sprout. ? it’s a huge nutritional jump.

a favorite is the ‘madison market mix’ which includes sunflower, peanut, almond & pumpkin seeds.

everything tastes ( and looks ) better with a few sprouts !

real deal Waffles

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:59:03 -0400

i haven’t eaten a waffle in 20 years. why waste the calories on a tasteless flour bomb ? but….. after sampling the one served at brunch at FINO ( yeah ! i’m biased ) - i had to indulge in a double stack of my own !

chef jason’s mom shared her recipe with FINO ! thanks june ! the belgian-style waffle batter includes yeast - and is proofed overnight. the result is an incredibly light & airy interior - rich flavor & crispy crust. it comes smothered with whipped orange butter - topped with marcona almonds & served with maple syrup. well worth every calorie !

…or skip the butter & syrup and top with a side order of yogurt-fresh fruit-pistachio & honey

of course these waffles taste great sitting on the patio at FINO - sipping a pomegranate mimosa. but if brunching at home is your thing…….we happily pass on the recipe:

Goodnight Waffles

The night before:

Combine and let stand 10 minutes…

½ cup warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 packet active dry yeast

Stir in…

2 cups warm whole milk

½ cup melted butter

1 teaspoon salt

Beat in~~ until smooth…

2 cups flour

Wrap bowl tightly with plastic wrap, let stand out on the counter overnight.

~Smiling happily the next morning~

Turn on waffle iron and stir into mixture…

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

¼ teaspoon baking soda

Cook until golden brown and delicious.

~Enjoy~

check out full brunch menu at finoaustin.com. see you at FINO !

LobsterFest 2011

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:53:25 -0400

11th Annual LobsterFest at ASTI Trattoria ! dinner july 7th 8th & 9th !

lobster fra diavolo with spaghetti - spicy lobster-tomato sauce & garlic fried breadcrumbs (my favorite) and lobster risotto with sweet summer corn - chives & lobster oil (of course this is delicious too).

ASTI offers a 3-course ‘family-style dinner for 2’ which starts with a local tomato caprese with housemade mozzarella / choice of spag or rizzo / strawberry-watermelon granita.

350 lbs. of maine lobster shipping out tonight. the lively crustaceans will be picked up at the airport tomorrow - then steamed & picked & ready for LobsterFest starting thursday july 7th and while supply lasts !

check out astiaustin.com for pricing & reservations or call 4 5 1 . 1 2 1 8 and say “lobster please” !

summer cherries

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:54:00 -0400

there are lots of ways to enjoy cherries. it is my favorite summer fruit - so when i bought this book last winter i bookmarked this recipe for pickled cherries. have you ever had a pickled cherry?

i am a fan of this cookbook author. skye gyngell is a chef in london. her book formats are very personal ( she has 3 ) -recipes are ingredient focused (reminders of classic dishes- nothing cutting edge ) and food presentation is attractive. a book i would easily cook my way thru.

anyway ! it’s a classic pickling mixture ( red wine vinegar - sugar - bay leaf - peppercorns & clove ) boiled & poured over cherries.

i’m thinking pickled cherries with……..soft fresh goat cheese…….grilled quail or pork chops …….perhaps even in a cocktail ? for now i am happy just eating them out of the jar !

ah Vongole !

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:46:00 -0400

being an east coast girl - i have fond memories of vongole pie - that is - clam pizza.

and while i know most folks in the south find this unusual ( to say the least ) - i have decided after 10 years - that one should make an appearance on the ASTI pizza menu. what ? a pizza without cheese ? that’s right ! - some will add a bit of shaved pecorino but the ( perhaps snobby ? ) rule of italian cuisine - no cheese with seafood. it throws off the flavor of seafood.

what you will find is a thin crust pizza - topped with a dozen ( shelled) clams that have been steamed in lots of garlic & white wine & olive oil - poured over the dough with some chopped tomatoes- finished with a little of the intense dried sicilian oregano. ( add red chile flakes at your discretion ).

just say “vongole pie please” !

real deal English Muffin

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:24:59 -0400

this recipe is from my days of line cooking - working the “way-to-early-after-saturday-night” sunday brunch. the pastry chef would make 4 or 5 sweet breads for the basket and english muffins for the benedict. i collected this recipe (yikes !) 20 years ago and it was a real treat to come across it and make it again.

yeasty & chewy with the required “nooks and crannies” ! these are made in a coffee can “loaf” and sliced - which i prefer to the individual skillet muffins.

recipe: yield 2-coffee cans

sift:

3 3/4 c. flour

1 1/4 tsp. salt

mix & cool:

1 1/4 c. + 2 T. scalded milk

1/4 c. cornmeal

proof til foamy:

1 T. + 1 1/2 tsp. yeast

1 T. + 1 1/2 tsp. sugar

3/4 c. warm water

add the flour alternately with the cornmeal/milk mix to the proofed yeast.

using a paddle or dough hook -mix 5 minutes til smooth and elastic.

let proof til double in bulk.

dissolve:

heaping 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 T. water

using the paddle or hook - add this mix to the risen dough & mix 5 minutes. hand knead a bit with additional flour so it’s not too sticky. divide into 2 buttered coffee cans ( halfway). let rise til double again. preheat oven 375.

dough will proof over the can a bit - trim edges with scissors if it goes too far. place cans in oven and drop temp to 350. bake til golden brown - about 30-40 minutes. when cooled remove from cans. slice & toast as needed. enjoy !

makes for a special sunday brunch !

destination INDIA

Mon, 30 May 2011 16:11:19 -0400

it’s where we celebrate every month ( or two ) with our friends chris and celia - inviting another couple ( or two ) to join us. we embarked on this journey last year when we shared our excitement for phaidons latest cookbook - INDIA. it’s our supperclub - celebrating cuisine of india !

this is not our first go at a supperclub (see archives / august / silver spoon). supperclubs are a good excuse to explore a type of cuisine - sometimes to explore a single cookbook. we are fans of the phaidon cookbooks - but the problem with these compilations of a 1000 ( or more) recipes - is that something really does get lost in translation. and it’s rampant in this book ( 1 T. of water mixed with 4 cups of rice flour will not form a pliable dough ! really ?! ) unfortunately we’ve come to use this book as a guideline - having to use other cookbooks for reference.

cooking indian food is fun for us because we know little about it’s ingredients - flavor combinations & techniques. just procuring the spices and making spice blends has been a treat. thankfully we have savory spice shop here in austin to supply even the hard to find stuff like the stinky ! asafetida. we’ve put our mortars & pestles to work !

what to drink with indian food ? there’s always riesling & gewurztraminer & rose. we made up this starter cocktail - granita of hibiscus & rose petal & pomegranate molasses - topped with a shot of tequila. yum !

bengali samosa stuffed with potato -cauliflower - peas & chiles served with a ginger-tamarind sauce. ( i skipped that crazy dough recipe and googled one ). these are delish. spicy filling with tart sweet dipping sauce. also served were garam masala spiced cashews - addictive ! a couple of favorites were grilled ground lamb skewers & mint with pineapple raita (yogurt condiment ) and a classic dish -peas with paneer ( easy to make cheese curd ) with cinnamon & cumin. also we made a pulao ( a rice dish ) with coconut & shrimp….and beets with lots of smashed ginger & garlic.

pistachio kulfi - (indian icecream ) frozen mixture - not churned - made with reduced milk - cream & cardamom. i love this spice.

we look forward to our supperclub dinners - it’s always fun to “visit” INDIA !

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Top 10 from Paris & Provence

Mon, 09 May 2011 12:16:00 -0400

3 days in paris with emmett & our friends rick & kim. what a treat ! it’s my first visit to paris so i am excited to see the city and practice my french. we drop our luggage at hotel therese ( **recommended ) and hit the road running…..to lunch ….and our first of many many bottles of rose wine.

1. dinner our first night at l’aoc offered classic bistro favorites - foie gras - lyonnaise salad- bone marrow - somehow all tastes better here. a good intro into our next weeks consumption of french food.

2. un dimanche a paris. this fairly new restaurant was getting rave reviews. we liked the contemporary notion of pairing chocolate with savory. excellent choice ! we recognized owner pierre cluizel as he entered the restaurant and flagged him to our table to give kudos. the son of a well regarded chocolatiere - he left the family biz to open this dream restaurant ( and adjoining lounge /salon/bar - exhibition kitchen and fine chocolate boutique)- which he proceeded to tell us about. the restaurant was built around this two story tower from the 1200’s - we looked down at our table in the meals aftermath.

3. musee de l’orangerie. monet’s famous water lily ( and willow tree) paintings (8) are showcased 360 degrees in four panels each - in two oval rooms. these paintings are his final 12 years work which he painted for this space. ( you are silenced upon entering these rooms) it is magical !

downstairs houses the impressionist / post impressionist collection of paul guillaume. cezanne…renoir…rousseau…soutine….matisse….modigliani…picasso….some of my longtime favorite artists. this museum is such a treat. rodin’s ‘kiss’ sculpture stands barely noticeable at the entrance of this museum.

4. sights of the city. ( no i did not climb the tower). the louvre at night was spectacular - a stroll thru tuileries gardens. so much to see - so little time.

5. racines wine bar. (no website ) this restaurant was on our ‘list’ - then confirmed ‘a must ’ by our friend greg - who we were meeting for dinner. ( i love it when friends from the states can meet up in another country for dinner ) ! this place is well known for it’s organic-only french wine list ( or wine wall i should say - as you peruse it with the wine guru to choose your bottles). the food is local organic also. white asparagus was everywhere as it was in season. this dish of cod with leek & spinach i barely shared because it was so delicious. the vegetables were insanely flavorful. the kitchen crew of two worked just above us in this tiny restaurant. we gave kudos to them & our server & wine guru !

6. eygalieres. we bid adieu to paris and took the TGV to avignon in southern france -where we rented a car. our friend rented this property in the lovely village of eygalieres and invited 10 ( grateful ! ) friends to join him. merci brian !

door & windowscapes in town.

location location location ! this village was a 5 minute walk from our house. butchershop - produce shop - cheese & charcuterie - a handful of great restaurants & bars - wine shops -a patisserie & boulangerie. they knew our group well by day 2 ! market day on friday - though we followed it around to neighboring villages. we day-tripped to avignon - st. remy - les baux & aix. the lavender was not in bloom but the landscape was full of olive & vineyards - wild purple iris & red poppy - rosemary & bay - fig trees & fields of artichokes.

some of our best meals were cooked ( and drunk ) ! at home.

9. town of cassis. a drive to the coast for bouillabaisse. we opted for this small town vs the big city of marseille. there is a ‘marseille bouillabaisse chapter’ detailing the traditional bouillabaisse recipe including how to make the soup base - the correct number (7) & specific types of fish and of course the crouton & rouille (which i could slather on just about everything). also delish was this mackerel over ratatouille & rocket.

9. roussillon. this cliff town is one of the picturesque villages in the luberon. it boasts 17 shades of orange - pink - red & yellow from the ochre quarry nearby.

10. arles. here are 2 of the 9 locations on the van gogh walk - another of my favorites ! we headed out on this tour - but got side tracked with shopping ( go kim ! ) and of course lunch. here he painted ‘cafe at night’ and here is the hospital he stayed at and also painted. (it was in arles that gauguin visited him for 2 months only to leave quickly after vincent went crazy and cut off his ear.)

11. ok ! one extra ! i had to picture a few of my favorite desserts. i have never eaten so many desserts - but hey - it’s france ! merci et au revoir !

Stay Tuned..........

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:51:37 -0400

off to france…..stay tuned for reports from paris & provence !

Inspired Supper

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:11:00 -0400

it’s always a treat when emmett gets inspired to cook (who doesn’t like being cooked for). this time it was a monday night supper - the inspiration from the cookbook ‘Cook Italy’ with a recipe for boned chicken stuffed with rosemary & garlic. yum.

a chicken version of porchetta - chichetta ?

a technique that seems forgotten for chicken. bone out the entire chicken & season liberally. at this point you could stuff with anything ! emmett opted to keep with the recipe with garlic & rosemary - rolled and tied. he made a pan sauce from the bones.

pan seared and oven roasted over veggies for about 1 hour 15 min.

this is a recipe we’ll “practice” for a while. who says chicken is boring ?!