bloviatrix

Condoms

I bought a massive cauliflower at the greenmarket on friday. I roasted some for dinner on friday night, but was still left with a considerable amount. So, I'm riffing off of an old Mark Bittman recipe in the Times for curried cauliflower. It's simmering as I type and the room is filled with the aroma of toasted cumin seed and fried onions. Yum.

There are 3 places in Vancouver: Chagall's at the JCC 950 West 41st Ave 604-263-7507 Dairy Omnitsky 5866 Cambie St 604-321-1818 Meat Sabra Bakery 3844 Oak (btw 21st and 22nd) 604-733-4912 Meat I have no idea how the food is in any of these places. Also, call for hours. Good luck.

The print edition of the Times (p.38 in the Metro section, for those of you who have it) contains a chart of "the players" to use their words. They have a photo of each chef, provide the restuarant name (with the exception of J-G and CT who haven't decided), explain the cuisine, gives the number of tables and the approximate cost of dinner for one. Costs are as follows: Per Se: $135 Jean-George steakhouse: $80 - $120 Asayoshi: $500 CT fish: $70 Cafe Gray: $55 - $75 Asiate: $65

William Grimes looks at the forthcoming "food court" the Time Warner Center in today's NY Times. Yes, It's a Mall. But a Far Cry From the Food Court

Same here. Just tonight, Blovie pointed out I haven't given him my chanukka cookbook wish-list yet.

Don't knock your plating skills, Seth. That mousse looks fabulous. Care to deliver a slice to the UWS?

I'm taking a break from my shabbat cooking. Tonight's dinner will be: Mushroom-barley soup Beef Spare-ribs in some kind of aisan influenced sauce (I cheated - I bought this at the butcher. All I need to do is toss it in the oven) Roasted Chicken with a marinade of five spices, garlic, ginger, toasted sesame oil and soy sauce Kasha Varnishkes (kasha, carmelized onions and bow tie pasta) - courtesy my husband Roasted Cauliflower Banana sorbet for dessert. Tomorrow's lunch will be smokey black bean chili. (It's cold here. I need hearty food)

I think Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking is an essential book to have in one's library. It makes a great resource. But the one I turn to most frequently is Jack Bishop's The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook. He has a recipe for a Tomato Tart with Basil-Garlic crust that's out of this world.

I bought the largest damn cauliflower I've ever seen. Now, I'm going to slice it up, toss it with some EVOO, salt and pepper and roast. Yummy. Also some more apples - I buy apples from Locust Grove, whom Dan Barber referred to in his Op-Ed piece in Wed's Times. They didn't know about the mention until I told them. Also bought some pears from them. (I plan to make an apple-pear crumble) Finally, a challah. I'm going traditional at shabbat dinner tonight.

Adam, like everyone else, I enjoyed your account. Please continue to share with us your explorations in the kitchen.

As I recall it, and I will admit my memory is faulty at times, it was a Hindu that sued McDonald's after discovering that the French fries had beef tallow in them. And again, nothing against the Hindus but I don't go into a vegetarian restaurant and order a steak. The problem is that McDonald's has to be all things to all people. Which is not possible, so you have to please most of the people most of them. Actually, the issue was one of mis-representation. When McD's changed the fat for frying they claimed it was vegetarian friendly. When in fact, even a small bit of beef tallow renders it elsewise.

I just heard about thhis on Marketplace (radioshow distributed by PRI). Oy.

In light of so many of us considering our books companions, I thought this quote from the Swedish writer Henning Mankell, in today's NY Times to be remarkably appropriate:

You're bringing back memories. We got glass bowls by dozens. We got so many bowls, that one day while making returns at Tiffany, my husband ran into my Aunt, who had given us, what else, a bowl for our engagement. Fortunately, the sales woman had already taken it into the back. We also received many vases, including a three foot tall Kosta Boda one that cost a fortune (I bought my stemware with the proceeds). And yet, not single pitcher. This is why you must register.

I thought a host should drink from the fingerbowl only if a guest makes a faux pas and drinks from theirs. In that case it's to make them feel comfortable instead of having the other guests look at them like an utter boob.

In regard to your fear of looking greedy - select items in a wide variety of price categories. This way people will have flexibility. I agree about choosing a store that will allow returns. Additionally, if you have people coming in from all over, you might want to choose a store fairly national in scope like Bloomingdales. Remember, people might buy things you have registered for from other places. Make sure you can access the registry and mark those items off as you receive them to avoid duplication.

Doesn't welsh rarbit (sp?) have worcestshire as one of the ingredients? Sounds like mom was riffing on that.

I believe in instant gratitfication. If it was me buying that ciabatta I would have torn into right then and there. How did you manage to bring it home in one piece and savor itover several meals?

And that's a bad thing? (I need a perplexed emoticon)

My husband always comments about my books being my friends. I won't lend out cookbooks. Don't trust anyone with them. But friends are more than welcome to come over and skim. As for all the other books we have (which are many), I only lend out books that were cheap and won't miss if never returned. Parents are the exception, but I make them sign a release (I'm serious, my dad misplaced one of my first editions and claims I never lent it to him. I ever since I use this method as proof) and after 6 months it has to be returned. I'll even pick it up to reclaim if I must.

Fortunately they are. Rule of thumb: meat includes all appropriate four legged animals and birds (chicken, turkey, duck, goose). Dairy is what it sounds like - milk, cheese, cream. The two should never mix. Everything else (including fish) -- neutral. But, although you can eat meat and fish in the same meal, it has to be separate courses with separate dishes and cutlery.

This doesn't mean you have to try them before we go. Just get some kind of solid rec from someone you trust. That is... if you want to participate in the full Burger Club experience. I think that Mr Broadway, a large, bustling deli, with the prerequisite surly waiters is most suitable for BC. It's on Broadway and 37th. Good pickles - they put a plate of the them on the table when you arrive. ( And if you ever have a craving for eggs and balogna - they do it well.) When I worked in mid-town this was a frequent lunch spot for me and my colleagues.

Tonight I learned that someone I know got a job at Wegmans. It seems she was so enamoured of the Manalapan store, that when they were hiring for Woodbrige, she applied. This is a woman with a masters degree and full-time job. She's working there on the weekends.

I find it amusing that people are so psyched about Rudy. But then, maybe I'm jaded. I got to hear him every day for 8+ years. Squeat, I'm loving this. I want to hop on a plane and check out the market. Sorry about the vase. Maybe you can find a replacement in a material better suited to a bathroom.