mamagotcha

She was incredibly funny, smart, and generous. I was lucky enough to get to share several meals and some planning sessions for that eGullet event with her, and there was never a dull moment. I can't believe she's gone... what a terrible loss. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?pid=174614215 Rest in peace, Judy. Deepest condolences, Nick. Kansas City is going to miss her for a long, long time.

What a terrible loss. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet him at a Kansas City Heartland gathering. A bright light of the culinary world has been extinguished. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Fat Guy. You did good.

Being someone who loves to bake and cook, deciding to try an anti-candida diet to battle some long-term inflammatory damage has been a challenge at best. I'd also like to hear more from others who are dealing with similar issues. Thanks for the Wrangham reference... that article/interview was terrific, and I've already place his book on hold. Regarding weight issues: I'd like to highly recommend Dr. Linda Bacon's "Health at Every Size," which neatly sums up a lot of the most recent obesity studies. The bad news: other than normal weigh fluctuations (different for everyone, but around 30lbs), it's really really hard to lose weight... and could cause not only damage to your body but even worse weight issues in the long run. The good news: being obese isn't necessarily a death sentence. It IS possible to live well when you're living large! Thanks... looking forward to hearing more from other EG members!

Joiei, you were sorely missed! The tomatoes were what was left at the Brookside Farmers Market Tomato Festival, once we finally staggered down that direction (maybe 11 or so?). Judy may have a better idea of what was actually purchased; she did the selecting, I was merely the sherpa. I do know the yellow tomato with the reddish stripes on the skin was called a pineapple tomato. When she wakes from her food coma, she might chime in with some more info...

As per Edsel's request: Kerry's chocolate cups, unfilled ... and with filling (Strawberry-Rhubarb Mousse, iirc)

The 2009 eG Gathering: Sunday Brunch at the Crum Heirloom Farm, Bonner Springs KS (Link goes to a Flickr set with notes) Deb & Jim Crum were terrific hosts, Dave and his crew created an incredible brunch, and the gardens were magnificent. What an amazing finale to a fantastic weekend!

Here's a link to my Flickr photoset from the Gathering dinner. My apologies for the poor image quality and lack of knowledge of eG names. Also, I didn't take notes on the courses... please, help! But I just wanted to get some pix up for those who are playing along at home...

I'm a little surprised nobody else has posted photos or anything from bluestem... there were certainly enough cameras going off all over the room! I took no notes or pictures, so I'll use the menu to share the meal... others who were there, please chime in with your own memories! We got there a little early, to indulge in one of their cocktails. The gazpacho martini Judy ordered sounded perfect for a hot evening, and it was... you almost felt virtuous, drinking something that obviously was so good for you. Right on time, we were ushered into the dining room, which had been set with two long tables in a sort of T arrangement. A third long table was filled with wine and glassware, and there was a lovely sense of anticipation and excitement in the room. Soon we each were given a little spoon with a cube of compressed watermelon topped with a Crum cherry tomato, Murray River flake salt, and a little fennel blossom (at first I thought it was dill). A very refreshing and delightful bite of summery flavors! Next up was a tender and sweet bay scallop, with a few of Crum's heirloom beets, Prairie Birthday arugula, and coriander champagne vinaigrette. The smear of beet juice on the long white plate was especially dramatic. Jeremy paired this with Folomari pinot grigio (2007 Venezie, Italy). This was followed by a chilled tomato gazpacho (deja vu!) with cucumber, onion, and white gazpacho emulsion. (Do I remember some white grapes in there? Did anyone else notice something crunchy... perhaps a few soynuts?) This was paired with a very subtle Coy sake from Japan, which was, as described, very "light & fruity." Walu (a Hawaiian butterfish) was served with some really wonderful Rancho Gordo vaquero beans, bits of artichoke, and bortarga (described as fish innards that were dried and shaved) with a light and delicate lemon verbena broth. This was paired with Les Domaniers rosé (2008 Cotes de Provence, France). Then we had what to me was the apex of the evening: Peidmontese beef with rapini, white asparagus, wild local chanterelles, and thin slice of laquercia coppa, with mashed potato foam (seemed a little more substantial than a foam to me), a little dot of reduced wine/balsamic sauce, and a pour of a veal-red wine jus (did I remember that right, fellow diners? Please correct me if I goobered it up). This was perfectly paired with a Banfi Rosso di Montalcino (2006, Tuscany, Italy). The sous vide peaches with oatmeal struesel cake, cream fraiche, ginger gelee, caramel peach foam and a flavorful gingersnap wafer was definitely improved with the pour of Casali rossa di Banca (Malvasia Dell'emilia, Italy). The peaches were a little disappointing... at least, mine had very little peach flavor, and cooking them didn't improve them any. There was too much cake and it was too dry, making me wish I could have about twice as much of the sweet Casali, which was light and fruity and fizzy. Bill thought it tasted like lychees. The tiny letdown of the dessert was lifted somewhat by the petit fours: a cute little "burger" of malted buttercream between two tiny chewy chocolate cookies, a crisp little triangle of coconut cookie that tasted a little like shortbread to me, and a super-intense and tangy cube of sugared, jellied passionfruit, far and away my favorite bit of the entire dessert course. Colby came out to say hi to us, and seemed pleased by the torrential ovation he received. When we stopped by to thank him and say goodnight in the bar, we heard that he and Megan had just found out that the Garralts family will increase to four sometime early next year. Congratulations!

Yes, that's the name, and you are bang-on about the pita. The bakery is actually in a separate part of the little defunct strip mall it lives in, behind the 7-Eleven that faces Bannister at James A. Reed Rd. There's both carry-out and a little bit of seating, plus a great little international market area you can wander whilst awaiting your falafels.

Pangea is closed. I guess that was announced in the Pitch already, but I just noticed it the other day. I hope Martin and Wendy are doing okay. I feel awful... we've been so broke, and eating out is really not happening for us these days, but I know these talented folks need our patronage. At least we're moving back into the city (Hyde Park) from the boonies (south-east KC... the only decent grub I've found out here is an amazing Middle Eastern deli, behind the 7-Eleven at the corner of Bannister and James A. Reed).

Well, pooh. I'll be in Northern California for most of January. Enjoy, and I'm looking forward to hearing about your visit!

We have an old Krups coffee grinder that's done well for us. I picked up a new one recently for spice grinding, but it has a larger reservoir and is quieter than the old one... my husband would like to use it for the coffee and swap the old one to be the spice grinder. I know you're supposed to have separate grinders for the two things. Once you've used a grinder for coffee, can it be cleaned and used for spices? What would I use? I was thinking I'd grind up a bunch of rice or something I can just toss out, and it might knock loose all the old coffee bits. I did a quick search and didn't find this topic elsewhere; my apologies if it's already been covered, and my sincere thanks for a pointer!

I was stopping by Whole Foods on Metcalf the other evening, and noticed that the Masalas Diner was open (in the same parking lot as WF). As soon as I got out of the car, the delicious smells wafting from their doors picked me up by the nose and dragged me in. It's actually a bit more upscale than the word "diner" lets on, but the prices are still fairly casual. Lunches offer a buffet; evenings seem to be more of a sit-down deal, although it appears from their website (http://www.kcmasalas.com) that they'll have evening buffets for certain events. The place was absolutely packed (and at least 3/4 of the clientele were Indian, which probably bodes well), yet I was seated quickly and my food came within a reasonable amount of time. Perhaps that sense of alacrity was aided by the complementary cup of tomato soup I was offered? It wasn't fabulous soup, but it wasn't bad either. The vegetarian chickpea dumplings in a mild creamy yellow sauce over rice with snips of cilantro were fresh, hot, and delicious... nothing terribly spicy, just several light flavors melding together (I don't have a memory of the name of the dish; I asked the server to choose something they make that wasn't just regular run-of-the-mill Indian fare, based on things I told him I already liked. He did a fine job). Total was $11, although I didn't have anything but water to drink or any of the breads... really, this was unplanned. Next time, I want to try a bunch of things; either by going with a group and ordering many entrees to share, or doing the buffet (which looked huge). Anyway... it's a pretty central spot that I'm sure many of you drive past often. I just wanted to put it onto your radar, and hear what kind of experience you had if you've been there.

Oh, Joe! Say it ain't so! Actually, I'm thrilled for you, but couldn't resist the timely phrase. I know you are going to have a fabulous adventure, and that I'll someday be seated at one of your tables again. Can you tell us more about where/when you're going and what you'll be doing there? (Like you have nothing else to do but read eG!) Maybe we can get you to start blogging again, so we can keep track of you. Pretty please?

Wasn't the third thing a tiny tomato tart? With arugula oil that made the puff pastry bright green? Very pretty. The third hors d'oeuvre was a nummy little mini-BLT. I don't have my menu in front of me... but I think the next thing was a salad featuring string beans (one kind had a cool name... provider beans?), gypsy peppers and a dressing with just a smidge of blue cheese? Bright, colorful, and fresh. I don't wanna mess up... I'll find my menu and if nobody's picked up the ball, I'll type it in...