Squeat Mungry

A special one more for me, Maggie. Yesterday's sad news had me, like so many others, at the bookshelves visiting the well-thumbed volumes of Julia's brilliance and wisdom. I realized I had never gotten around to acquiring The Way to Cook. Done and done. Another way she'll be with me forever. Bon appetit, Squeat

Pepin was just brilliant talking about Julia. I loved it when he said she was the "anti-snob"!

I had gin last night in honor of Julia. Specifically, Bombay martinis with Noilly Prat and olives (I'm out of orange bitters or I would have tossed some in). Cheers, Squeat

I am sure the observant Jews will have definitive answers for us after Shabbot, but it is my understanding that the corn syrup thing has to do with "kitniyot", things that resemble the "chametz" grains -- wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye -- which are forbidden during Passover if they have been leavened or processed for more than 18 minutes (which is why matzoh is produced the way it is). Ashkenazic Jews (those from Eastern Europe) avoid kitniyot (including things like corn and peas, lentils, etc.) during Passover because, since they resemble the chametz grains, the kitniyot might in theory contain undetectable amounts of those grains. Sephardic Jews, as far as I am aware, never developed this prohibition. I hope bloviatrix or someone will correct anything I have gotten wrong. Cheers, Squeat Oh, and the change in that Catholic meat/fish/Friday thing was the result of Vatican II, right?

The radishes are brilliant. Thanks! My favorite is mayo, pickles and bacon -- banana optional. Squeat Edit to add: NO creamy peanut butter and NO SUGAR in the peanut butter! Bleah!

In her honor, I'm sitting here sipping gin instead of my usual scotch (Cheers, Julia!), and soon I'll be slicing into some rare red meat. The woman knew not only how to cook, eat, teach, charm and disarm, but also how to live and bless the act of living. Bon appetit!

GG, thanks for that tribute. It looks delicious and I'm sure she would be proud. Apparently, so did she. From her August 15, 2002 appearance with Larry King:

I learned over at the Washington Post Q&A that Slate has just posted one of Julia's diary entries. Edit: There are several entries. They are quite touching and funny.

Judiu, what terrible news! My thoughts and best wishes are with you, too. And may your collection rise again like a phoenix!

Wow. I grew up watching and reading Julia and though I never met her, I feel like I have known her all my life. I will really miss her, but feel lucky to have been around while she was doing so much good work. I'll toast her memory tonight, as well. RIP Squeat

Coincidentally, I made gin and tonics just the other day at a friend's house using this gin for the first time. I was, indeed, pleasantly surprised! Cheers, Squeat

I'm probably a weirdo (probably?), but I like to make a pesto using all parsley instead of the basil. I really, really like parsley! I also make pesto with watercress.

Extra, can I ask when you made this visit to San Francisco? I ask because I'm not the only one to notice a marked improvement overall in service in recent years. From the linked article in the San Francisco Chronicle: Cheers, Squeat

Well, for me the Ferry Plaza market is a godsend, since I don't own a car. To get to the Alemany market on public transportation is nearly impossible. I would have to walk 7 blocks to the 16th St BART station, take BART all the way out to Glen Park(!), then take the 44 Muni bus all the way back around to Silver & San Bruno, THEN walk 5 more blocks under all the freeways. At least a 45-minute trip, probably more like an hour. Then I'd have to reverse all that carrying my purchases. I can take any Muni streetcar (practically at my front door) to the FPFM and be there in 15 minutes or less. I agree I could do without the double-wide strollers and the entitled attitude of the PacHeights/Marin County beautiful people, but if I get there at 8:00 I am out by 9:15, while most of them are still applying their makeup and picking out their matching sweatersets. Plus, with a little bit of searching, I am able to find reasonable prices on most things. But I don't regard you as a pariah, infidel, or blasphemer. If I could shop Alemany, I would! Cheers, Squeat

Sounds like the voice of experience (of course with the exception of the cocaine--Just Say No)... and all consumed on a Saturday night between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.? Thinking of faux RayBan Wayfarers as party favors. Well, a combination of observation and experience, but yes, I actually DID live through the 80s as a young adult. I think faux Wayfarers are a great idea (Sunglasses at Night!), and probably easier to find than those giant phones. Have fun with your party!

Definitely sushi. Mu shu pork. Escargot. Crepes. Tab. Banana daquiris. Wine coolers. Otterpops. SlimFast or Carnation Instant Breakfast. Microwave Popcorn. Jolly Ranchers. Cocaine. I think you should track down enough of those giant, brick-sized portable phones like that guy had in American Psycho to pass out as party favors.

Okay, the croissant situation had me doing some sleuthwork, memory-wise. I just KNEW that I used to eat good croissants when I first started working downtown, [um... many...] years ago. The synapses in my brain finally connected and I made an investigatory visit this morning. I am pleased to announce that perfectly decent croissants are still to be had from Caffe Bianco in the Flatiron Building on Sutter near Market. I stopped in on the way to work and got one: the outside a uniform and pleasant crispy-flaky texture, niether too dark nor too light; the inside light and uniform throughout, moist with a great buttery flavor -- with many, many thin airy layers, tender but not doughy at all. (Be warned that lying in the case next to this perfectly competent croissant was a "cinnamon croissant" that did not look appetizing at all.) I was in a hurry and didn't have time to discuss the croissant with the guy at the counter. I don't believe they bake these on the premises, but I could be wrong about that. I'll try to find out where they get them from. Cheers, Squeat

Having never been there, I have no idea how it is pronounced by residents. However, having lived in California since 1973, I have heard PAH-so ROW-blehz 99% of the time in conversation. Next thing you know, it will be La Jolla that gets a gringo pronunciation. Edit: For clarity's sake, of course I've been THROUGH Paso Robles many times; I've just never spent any time in the town itself.

Well, I'm not sure (because I don't know too much about LDS, despite having had friends in the church when I was young -- who, by the way, drank Coke all the time), but if there is any useful analogy I was raised by Southern Baptist parents who were strict teetotalers because of their religious beliefs. Largely because of my dad's career, they were often guests at dinner in the homes of a greatly diverse set of people, many of whom, including my father's immediate and extended family (Episcopalians!), consumed alcohol in some form routinely in the course of a social meal. I don't think it would ever have occurred to either of my parents to expect their hosts to alter their usual behavior regarding alcohol (either the offering or the consumption of) because of my parents' own beliefs. Mom and Dad simply opted for whatever non-alcoholic beverage was most appealing. Conversely, when my parents hosted dinner parties (either related to my father's career or any other kind), no alcoholic beverages were offered, though of course if someone brought their own, they were made to feel comfortable partaking thereof. So Walt, what did you do and how did it go? Cheers, Squeat Edit: Pronouns drift toward ambiguity when you're talking about multiple sets of people and the ways in which "they" interact.

Digest: San Francisco Chronicle Food Section -- August 4, 2004 The Chronicle folks look for great pasta in North Beach. Tbey actually find some. Marlena's island-hopping in Greece. She finds the traditional Pretza. Olivia Wu talks to Oliveto's fishmonger, with recipes for Alaskan Halibut Cooked on the Plate With Tomato Confit and Polpettini of Local King Salmon. What's New? The Mission adds a Lounge, Sausalito a garden. Grapes, peaches, nectarines and heirloom tomatoes at the markets -- all at once! The Tasters taste frozen vegetable potstickers, so we don't have to. Corn season has everyone going simple, including Linda Furiya, who simply combines Corn, Pine Nuts & Roasted Red & Yellow Bell Peppers. There's also a great Plain & Simple Jam-Filled Butter Cake from Flo Baker. Cheers, Squeat

Tana I love your Stoplight Caprese! Do you know what variety those yellows are? Looks a lot like the Orange Oxtails I had for dinner tonight. Also, care to share the name of the olive oil?

Yes - i want to get some more shots of them too. i did a TDG piece on them a few months ago - meals on wheels Thanks for the link, Monica! Great article.

I've been fascinated by the dabbawallahs ever since I saw a PBS documentary on them. It would be very cool to see some photos of them in action.

I'll preface this with saying that I'm not a fan of Orange County in general. But I'm a Bay Area person (living in NY right now). I will say that there is wonderful sushi in CA, and I've had more consistently good AND affordable sushi in CA than I have in NY. So never fear, there is good sushi to be found in CA. And WHAT IS UP with this "the OC" business? Sounds like it came from the same place as the dreaded "San Fran" and "Cali" abbreviations. And don't even get me started on "Frisco." Word. Why on earth would your first visit to the west coast be to Orange County? Here in San Francisco we have sushi to rival Japan's.

I don't have a man. Or a woman. I cook. I am a man. I don't have a cook.