A Feast
Scallops, Pickled Huckleberries, Grapefruit, Vanilla Oil
Potato Gnocchi, Onion, Black Pepper, Egg
Halibut, Chanterelles, Swiss Chard, Champagne Vinaigrette
Crostata, Seckel Pear, Thyme, Honey
This was my first dinner party in my new house. After cooking a professional kitchen all summer, I found cooking at home a bit jarring. I am not used to the burners on my range, I took for granted having multiple food processors and endless supplies of olive oil. But, I loved getting to create my own menu, making mistakes without getting made fun of, and not be told what to do.
Ling Cod, Green Lentils, Parsley Puree
Yes. Hello. It is actually me. You are not dreaming. I am now back to work as a ballerina, ‘Staging’ one day a week at the restaurant, and finally cooking in my kitchen. Well, at least this current kitchen.
It has been months, it feels, since I have cooked a proper meal. I’ve changed so much this summer, I can hardly recognize myself in the mirror. And, no, I am not talking about my chubby cheeks (and ass) from too many Peroni’s and Tequila Sunrises. That is a whole different issue. I am a triple-grande-Americano drinking, soon-to-be-downtown dweller, that stays up later than midnight, and runs three miles pretty frequently. I am not the same person I was at the beginning of this summer when all of this madness started.
And thank goodness. I like myself better now. Read the rest of this entry »
Hamachi Crudo, Marinated Mission Figs, Lavender, Prosciutto
I thought this recipe was doomed for failure after the morning I had today. It was one of those mornings were plans change, the dog doesn’t want to pee but needs to, I am late for work because my muscles are so achy that I cannot get out of bed, and Napolean White Balsamic Vinegar spills all over my duvet cover, feather bed, and soaks into my 1000 thread count sheets and memory foam mattress because the cap is broken.
It was that kind of morning. Read the rest of this entry »
Seared Scallops, Gnocchi, Kale, Fava Beans
This is the first meal I have cooked since working at The Restaurant, and this is by far the best meal I have ever made. Hands down.
Maybe it is the Mise en Place so carefully prepared with white ramekins, a sharp mandoline, and newly developed knife skills? Maybe it is the homemade gnocchi I prepared yesterday? Maybe it is the hours, and hours, of training that have been grilled into me recently from my internship? No matter what it is, Erik is smitten by my meal, enthusiastically gives me six out of five stars with tears in his eyes (and I hardly ever get five stars!), and tells me he thinks I should become a Chef. Read the rest of this entry »
Creme Fraiche Potato Salad with Garlic Spears and Pancetta
As you already know: I hate despise mayonnaise. The texture. The flavor. The consistency. Therefore, my entire life has been spent avoiding delicious foods such as potato salad, California Rolls, Salmon with aioli, or tuna salad sandwiches (well, actually ANY sandwich that mayonnaise has touched).
It is a despairing situation, but mayonnaise has RUINED the first twenty-something years of my life. It has inundated foods that I should love, but can’t because they are coated with that nasty substance. Well, I think I have found a solution for all the mayonnaise haters out there. Read the rest of this entry »
Amanda Hesser’s Olive Oil Poached Halibut with Basil Pesto
Sometimes, a recipe seems to just speak for itself.
Or, maybe I just not in the mood to write about it tonight. Or, maybe it is because I have another blog that is hoarding my mental time and attention. Probably the latter. Read the rest of this entry »
Cafe Lago’s Pomodoro al Forno
Cafe Lago kept presenting itself to me in many ways. First, the owner’s brother works as one of our stage crew at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Everyone at the ballet knows that I am a foodie, so I had been told many times about the restaurant by many of the stage crew. I just never got around to going there.
Second, I read about the restaurant in the most recent issue of Bon Appetit. And, the most important is that my favorite blogger, Molly Wizenberg, at Orangette, wrote about it and her favorite recipe on her blog today. Well, I guess that was not much of a coincidence because she was also the one who wrote the article in Bon Appetit.
So, when I went last week, I had to try the recipe that Molly had raved about in her monthly column. It was stunning, just as promised, but that was not all. The food and wine was out of this world. Our waitress even recommended a wine that came specifically from her Grandmother’s small Italian town.
And, I had been resisting for so long….
Here is my attempt at Cafe Lago’s recipe. I will have to go back soon to see if I am even in the ballpark.
