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Reignking

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Posts posted by Reignking

  1. I don't know many of these -- not as star-studded as last time.

    http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/02/09/top-chef-masters-season-2/

    The complete list of Top Chef Masters season 2’s 22 competing chefs:

    * — returning from season 1

    Jody Adams – Rialto Restaurant, Cambridge, Mass.

    Govind Armstrong – 8 oz Burger Bar, Los Angeles, Calif.

    Graham Elliot Bowles – Graham Elliot Restaurant, Chicago, Ill. *

    Jimmy Bradley – The Red Cat, New York, N.Y.

    David Burke – David Burke Townhouse, New York, N.Y.

    Wylie Dufresne – wd~50, New York, N.Y. *

    Susan Feniger – Street, Los Angeles, Calif.

    Debbie Gold – The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo.

    Carmen Gonzalez – Chef Consultant, New York, N.Y.

    Maria Hines – Tilth, Seattle, Wash.

    Susur Lee – Madeline’s, Toronto, Canada

    Ludo Lefebvre – Ludo Bites, Los Angeles, Calif. *

    Tony Mantuano – Spiaggia, Chicago, Ill.

    Rick Moonen – Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nev. *

    Mark Peel – Campanile, Los Angeles, Calif. *

    Monica Pope – t’afla, Houston, Texas

    Thierry Rautureau – Rover’s, Seattle, Wash.

    Marcus Samuelsson – The Red Rooster, New York, N.Y.

    Ana Sortun – Oleana, Cambridge, Mass.

    Rick Tramonto – TRU, Chicago, Ill.

    Jerry Traunfeld – Poppy, Seattle, Wash.

    Jonathan Waxman – Barbuto, New York, N.Y. *

  2. So, even McD's is trying to find a way to go local, in Italy.

    Signor Zaia may make cooing noises – "we want to give an imprint of Italian flavours to our youngsters," he said as he whipped up one of McDonald's new line of McItaly burgers, a devilish concoction of artichoke spread, Asiago cheese and lettuce, all produced in Italy including the hamburger meat and the bread - but the silence of the lambs would be more appropriate. 'An imprint of Italian flavours'! Did you ever hear such humbug? It is quite clear that Signor Zaia wouldn't let such offensive products near his own mouth unless there was a photo opportunity attached to it.

    1265661136_extras_portada_0.jpg

  3. Tater Tots always disappoint me--it's the sort of thing I have a craving for from time to time, and then when I give in to it, it's not as good as I thought it was going to be.

    That reminds me of being in Europe for a while. I had been in Spain for 4 months when I went to Lisbon for a few days. I was excited to find a TGIFriday's, because I knew they would have bad, greasy, American food. I couldn't wait for the bacon-cheese fries, and...they were awful. Such a letdown.

  4. I think seasonal eating is too difficult.

    I don't know what is seasonal, and even if I do, I can buy anything I want at the supermarket, anyway.

    Plus, I'd rather eat a "real" veggie like asparagus than a bunch of starches. Even if it is from Peru. And I can't tell a difference between asparagus from here or anywhere else.

    If I could go to a market where everything is local AND seasonal, I would change my tune. But when I'm seeing tomatoes from Canada in January, I quit.

  5. I've never tasted true orgeat (well, I know that after reading this thread).

    I'm reading that some use apricot kernals; does this result in a amaretto-like taste?

    Instead of roasting the almonds, could you use roasted almonds?

  6. I did another one for Christmas, using two different types of salmon -- farm-raised v wild. I really couldn't discern a difference, as I suspected.

    Once you have done it a few times, it's quite simple. I had to leave it in brine for an extra 36 hours as I could tell it wasn't the firmness I wanted.

    I kept it simple, just using salt/sugar and black pepper/coriander. No smoker for me, unfortunately. Went well with the homemade cream cheese :)

  7. I eat asparagus year-round -- I don't see any difference in taste.

    In fact, the only thing I can really taste a difference in are tomatoes -- because I hate them, unless they are really, really good -- and some fruit (local peaches, for example).

    I don't even know what is seasonal. Are things grown locally in greenhouses seasonal? Should I eat root veggies in winter despite their being starches that aren't "real" veggies? It has all gotten too confusing. I'm sick of having to think so much about what I eat!

  8. After months of thinking, planning, researching and...well...procrastinating, my wife kicked me in the butt and promised to people that I would have homemade cheese at our Christmas party. I went to find the recipes which were the easiest -- those with the least equipment and ingredients. I settled on cream cheese and Ricki's 30-minute mozzarella (after I found the kit locally.

    After talking with the store owner, we were concerned about milk sourcing. I went to Whole Foods, and talked to their manager, who assured me that the whole milk was pasteurized (not ultra-pasteurized). Only one way to prove it!

    When I started mixing the curd, it started breaking up on me. I had always imagined the pieces would all stay together -- definitely not! So, I was concerned at that point. Moving on, I was stunned how much whey I was pouring off. As I did, the curds looked good -- like they were sticking together. I wasn't able to really "pull" it together -- it was more of a folding. And while one side did become smooth, it wasn't the perfect sphere or oval that I was imagining.

    18 ounces of mozzarella:

    100_1295.JPG

    So...taste? FANTASTIC! I couldn't believe it -- I would've sworn it was buffalo milk, because it was so creamy. Such a relief that 1) I was able to find "good" milk and 2) that the result was so great.

  9. Oddly enough, I'm planning on trekking to a local meat producer this Saturday, just outside Atlanta -- Patak Meat Products. I have no idea where the meat is sourced from and/or how it is raised (I plan to ask) but at least I know it is cured/smoked/stuffed/butchered here.

    They are only open one Saturday a month, which makes things difficult.

    This gets to my main point -- I think I need a dedicated freezer. When it comes to locally-produced meat, I'm going to have to go out of my way to find it. If so, I need a freezer to make it worth my while. I never freeze beef or seafood, but I do freeze other meats (poultry, sausage, pork). If I'm able to procure a large amount of meat (therefore, decreasing my effort) at a decent price, eating locally will be much easier.

  10. I love it when the "spoilers" are wrong. Now, if people would stop saying that the show is fixed because the two brothers are in the finale...seriously, do people think that there is going to be a huge ratings jump if two siblings are in the final? Or a drop if one was cut?

    I think Tom C's blog should be required reading, since he actually tasted the food.

    Did anyone see seafood at the market? I thought Jen would've naturally gone for that, if it were available. Tom's blog said that the food had to come from a 100 mile radius, which would encompass the Pacific Ocean...or Point Reyes and oysters.

  11. I'm not local at all. Farmer's Markets are few and far between in Atlanta, and just not convenient to get to. I've tried, but they just aren't worth the hassle and let-down. When I think about it, I'll look for Georgia apples in the fall, or GA/SC peaches in the summer. Tomatoes, of course, when in-season. I don't eat much fruit, though.

    I always look for Georgia shrimp, but that's still 4+ hours away. As for fish, I care more about it being wild than if it were farmed around the corner.

    Meat? I'm leaning towards buying more locally-produced meat from Your Dekalb Farmer's Market (which isn't a farmer's market in the traditional sense), because it looks great (and there is a tremendous variety) but it is pricey. No freezer space right now, anyway. I haven't been buying a lot of meat lately, though, as I have been trying to eat/cook more vegetarian and seasonally (risotto, butternut squash ravioli, etc).

    Produce? Very doubtful. Again, the farmer's markets aren't that good. YDFM has an insanely fantastic selection of produce that I've never heard of. They do a great job at labeling the source, but it rarely is Georgia. As for the other places I get food, they don't do a great job at labeling (Eastern US? Gee, thanks).

    Herbs from YDFM because they are dirt cheap there. Same with spices.

    Eggs, local. That seems easy.

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