weinoo

Plan the next meal? As people used to do in places like France and Italy? Interestingly, about 8" of snow fell on the second day we were there. But on the first day. we drove up to Freeport, which is the home of LL Bean, since she needed some stuff to wear in the snow. Freeport is basically one big LL Bean store, along with outlets to every other brand you can imagine (Patagonia, North Face, J. Crew, et al.) So we did retail therapy on day 2. And on the following day, I did some local retail shopping at one of the many dispensaries, where cannabis is half the price it is in NYC. Our plans to go to museums and lighthouses were sadly undoable because of the snow. But there's plenty to see and do...on one of our more gorgeous coastlines. Last time, we were lucky enough to visit Winslow Homer's studio at Proust's Neck.

Another trip to Portland, even though part of our trip (to Montreal leading to Portland) had to get cancelled. We ended up driving up to Portland, instead of down to Portland, from Montreal. We padded the Portland portion with an extra night, and stayed at the Portland Harbor Hotel - a pretty nice property for the price. Then again, it's off season, so all the hotels were very reasonable. We did some damage to oysters, mostly within the same restaurant group since I didn't want to take any chances, and they do the best job...in my opinion. We'd never eaten at Street & Co., so on our first night we ate here - like a 2-minute walk from our hotel. The six on top are Pemaquids, from the Damariscotta River. The bottom six - Wolfe Necks, from Yarmouth. (no complaints). A really nice linguini with clam sauce couldn't be passed up. Night Two - it had to be Scales, at the bar. An excellent local halibut ceviché. Significant Eater was all in... While I opted for something a little different... A whole fluke, which could've fed 3 people. We did stop at a new bar, located right around the corner from our AirBnB, for a nightcap... Lovely little place. We did veer off-course, to check out Leeward, on our 3rd night in Portland... No pix, but excellent pastas, all made in-house. Night four, back to our old fave, Fore Street... Clockwise from top: Wet Smacks, Bombazines, Cora Cressy (4 each). We followed up dinner with... And dessert. I still contend that Portland, ME is the best city in the country for devouring excellent oysters and other seafood!

Another classic joint. I also like https://pinosprimemeat.com/

Went for a little shop at one of my favorite places yesterday. Mortadella from Italy - so large it has to be cut in half to fit on the slicer. Above it is a pork sausage, mildly cured, from Emilia; sadly, I forgot what it is called. But it's cured for a minimal amount of time, so it's a bit softer than a long cured salami, as well as mildly spiced. And there probably is no place left that still adds up your purchases (and gives you a taste of everything) manually. Indeed - Di Palo Fine Foods.

Sure seems to be an ample amount of Greek feta at the local Trader Joe's. And plenty of Israeli, as well.

You need Urnex! (eG-friendly Amazon.com link)! -

I don’t, if it’s farmed like that. There was a place in the Hudson River Valley, called Eco Shrimp Farm, that was doing similar, and selling their product at the green market. I tried it a couple of times, and didn’t think it compared to some of the wild product I can get. And they now appear to have closed permanently. Another place, called Hudson Valley Fishery, farms steelhead trout with recirculating aquaculture, and it’s good stuff. The shrimp I avoid is farmed far away, and probably not that great when one thinks of its environmental footprint. And it tastes like crap, so there’s that. I’ll stick to my guns and only use wild seafood when at home. And I try hard to do the same when dining out. For example, I’m not buying tilapia to cook at home. and I’m not ordering it in a restaurant either.

Of course, though I do avoid using farmed shrimp at home. And ab is not something I see really at all. Oyster farming is a net positive for the environment, and we’re in Portland, ME right now, enjoying that bounty. I believe Trader Joe’s sells some wild salmon.

I’m pretty sure that Thurston Howell (the third, I believe) was eating nothing but wild fish on that isle. You may, but it seems like everything I mention in my post is stuff that gets discussed here, so I don’t agree with that assessment. Great Alaska Seafood…https://www.great-alaska-seafood.com

Well, it was kind of a rhetorical question. But if people (here) are buying fancy steam ovens, fancy induction burners and ranges, multiple InstaPots and Cuisinart steam girls, Vitamixes, Bamixs, Japanese knives, etc. etc., then buy wild salmon. I’ll add fancy indoor smokers to the above!

Eat wild salmon from Alaska. Why anyone buys farmed salmon is beyond me.

Make a turkey meatloaf, and all your problems are solved.

I like to go right through those types of closures with the worm; don't even bother trying to cut through that stuff.

Hi Paul - what a story and glad to see how well you've dealt with your issues. I think you can do real well with delivery services...there are a number of eG-ers who do. Check out Wild Fork - their prices are some of the most reasonable, and their selection is deep (though much, as you mention, from Australia). My favorite lamb available commercially tends to come from Colorado...https://wildforkfoods.com/collections/lamb/ D'artagnan has lovely stuff, and charges for it...https://www.dartagnan.com/leg-of-lamb-bone-in-american/product/FLDLE002-1.html?bcgid=lamb But you can often do well on a first order. I'm surprised your butcher in Madison can't get Colorado lamb. What about at your Whole Foods?

Paella for Thanksgiving in New York City! Basically, with what was on hand. I always have frozen peas, so peas and carrots became the side dish. Had to cancel our planned trip to Montreal due to catching a hellish cold (but not covid, so that's worthy of being thankful for).

Honestly, I think they are just producing so many of these different newer tomato varieties. All these corner fruit and vegetable stands most likely get their stuff from the Hunts Point Produce market, the same distributors that stock many restaurants and stores...they just get what the stores and restaurants haven't taken at the end of the day. Tomatoes seem especially cheap; apples, pears, strawberries, etc. are almost the same price as at a place like Trader Joe's or the brand new LIDL which recently opened across the street from TJs.

Today!

I’d have to look away.

A large chicken meatball maybe?

Interesting play on the traditional Sicilian pesto known as Pesto Alla Trapanese, which is made with fresh tomatoes, almonds, garlic, cheese, olive oil, basil, and mint. Traditionally, the pasta used is busiate, a special pasta from, yes, Trapani. Good stuff, though I prefer my Brussels sprouts on the side. Why ruin a perfectly fine pasta dish?! 😉

Not to bust your bubble or anything, but my corner fruit/vegetable stand guy has been selling various tomato packs (including the newer "varietals" I'm seeing at Trader Joe's for $4.99, as well as Camparis) for $1 a pack. The varietals are proliferating like crazy...https://www.sunsetgrown.com/our-produce/tomatoes/

Last three dinners: Pan-roasted pork chop with pan sauce of mushrooms, shallots, white wine, chicken stock. Brussels sprouts. Maryland-style crab cake. Kenji's oven-roasted potatoes. House cocktail sauce. Baked rigationi w/four cheeses (Mozzarella, Muenster, Parmesan, Pecorino) and tomato sauce with sausage. Big salad.

Here's how Joan Didion did it: Joan Didion’s Thanksgiving: Dinner for 75, Reams of Notes

Wow, down below 30% here already, but the (dry) heat's been on constantly since the temps outside dropped below 60℉.

That's Kanoyama. I was surprised at the quantity and variety of fish on the chirashi, and the rice was perfect. Better deal than the sushi special, I think.