celebration

How funny is it that I, who (along with the handsome and wonderful Conrad) so often photographs my food in restaurants, neglects my camera most of the night on a significant evening? Ah well. Sometimes it makes for a nice evening when I don't take photos of everything.

I managed four shots last night before Bradley arrived, and only one of those is worth keeping. Once Bradley got here, I lost track of the camera, and instead we had a lovely evening catching up outside on the balcony over dinner. No Conrad - he's in Honolulu - but I wish he were here because he utterly delights in Bradley's good company as well.

In any case, I made the most of it. I stole a page from CG and made some pork earlier in the day. A tenderloin, roasted earlier so I could cool down the kitchen. I reheated it gently and served it with a very simple salad (almost the end of our delicious lime-infused olive oil from New Zealand) and a room-temperature relish of charred tomato, red onion, and mint. We started with some cheese and smoked salmon and caper berries, and finished with walnut cake and a but more cheese. A bottle of Conundrum saw us through the second half of dinner, but it was Champagne to start with. Not the priciest Champagne out there, but real stuff. And it was ever so satisfying.

Yesterday, you see, was reason to celebrate. I don't talk about work on my blog, but I'll let this one slip through: yesterday - with the start of the new academic year at my university - was my first day as a tenured faculty member. I made it through the six-year track, and I deserved a celebration. A celebration it was, and I'm glad that, in lieu of Conrad, I was able to use it as a good occasion to catch up with a friend.

Butch? Or stupid? Both?

I'll keep this short and try not to revolt you too much. As injuries go, it's fairly minor. Three stitches on my right heel, two smaller lacerations. Also (unseen) a tetanus shot.

I can't decide if last night I was very butch, very stupid, some of both, or what. In the end, though, my advice is that if you're going to kick in the glass front of the case holding the fire extinguisher, maybe wear better shoes than a pair of sandals.

the tyranny of green salads

Yes, yes, yes. Local produce, seasonal produce. Blah blah blah. Sometimes at this time of year there's just too much. And so beginneth my whining.

No, actually, what I find at this time of year is that there's all this wonderful stuff that cries out to be laid on plates and consumed. Among the things we tend to have a lot, then, are salads with all the great greens popping up. And after a while, well, I get kind of bored with them. It's a tyranny of green salad: delicate leafy things in various shades, some other fresh produce, a protein (smoked fish? cheese? nuts?), a dressing. It's tasty, but it begins to dictate my dinner planning. I blame the salad greens.

We're getting rather warm weather lately in Chicago, and I've wanted to keep my cooking as minimal as possible, another thing that pushes me toward salads. Tonight, though, I had no lettuces in my fridge. A napa cabbage, yes, but no lettuces. And that's quite fine. Time to break free and salad up some other items. And that, friends, led me to cauliflower.

This was an easy one to make. I blanched some florets and drained them, then tossed them with sliced red onion, capers, black olives, golden raisins, diced red pepper, sherry vinegar, coarse salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and olive oil. If I had anchovies, I might have tossed them in, too. As it was, it made for a nice mix to sit and marinate while we were at the pool.

Once home, it was out on the balcony with these simple marinated cauliflower salads. I also set out some smoked salmon, almonds, radishes, and a bit of feta on a plate. A very easy dinner for post-practice, and the apartment isn't any hotter because of it. Hooray!

But best of all, it was just a little different. It didn't bore me. A touch of green came from some chopped parsley, and that was good for me. No leafy stuff tonight.

And now I sit and blog while Conrad packs for Honolulu. A week and a half without him. I'll have to challenge myself to come up with another half-decent dish or two.

chanterelles

I cannot abide button mushrooms. Revolting things. I have been known to spend many minutes picking them out of otherwise perfectly reasonable food. Disgusting.

And so it is that some of my friends joke (justifiably so) about how my food snobbery kicks in and I, therefore, CAN abide expensive mushrooms. Morels? Delightful. Truffles? Certainly. Chanterelles? Ah, chanterelles.

Ever had them? Gorgeous scent to them, like apricots. No, I'm not joking. Conrad couldn't smell it tonight, but oh, I could, very much.

Earlier this week, my lovely and wonderful friend CG invited me to dinner at her place. We had intended to see a movie, too, but, ah well. Life happens, and it was too fine an evening to spoil by going to sit in a cinema. Instead, I had a fine dinner of roast pork, crisp green beans, and fresh chanterelles that she had brought back from her family's property in Indiana. Even better, she had some for me to take home.

So we ate a fine dinner in the kitchen, washed down with a modest Chilean Pinot Noir I'd brought round, and then we headed up to the roof deck to chat more, sip more, sip more. It was a very fine evening, no two ways about it.

And that left me with a bag of fresh, fragrant chanterelles to work with - and quickly!

Conrad's travel forced us to cancel plans to head up to the UP, and while I was very sorry to miss his nephew's races, I was also a little relieved for a weekend off. I hope we can make up for it with a fall trip up there when the colours are at their peak. But for tonight, it was our first dinner together in almost a week, and I think I treated Conrad well: Pinot Noir (his favourite), some olives (in some very good and boozy martinis), cheese (to go with the olives), raspberries and chocolate for dessert, and salmon (hitting all his favourites tonight). The salmon - coho, BTW - was simply seasoned and seared. I set it alongside a smattering of lettuces dressed with a bit of lime-infused olive oil and salt and pepper and atop a pile of chanterelles - sauteed, like CG had done, with leeks and lots of butter and some sherry.

Gotta say, it was good. A very warm night, so we ate out on the balcony. And definitely, we toasted CG for her terrific gift of mushrooms this week.

I am not a snob (yes I am)

Hey, I secretly love Hamburger Helper. I throw crap together for my dinner when I'm alone. I survive at work on nutrition bars.

Ok, I am a food snob. But I'm truly not THAT bad, am I?

Don't answer.

But I think I shocked Jeph and simultaneously presented him with a delightful opportunity when I (of all people) suggested that we have our Saturday lunch at the infamous Chick-fil-A. Infamous in that Jeph talks a lot about fast food and especially that chain. Well gosh, he's being such a good host, why not indulge him.



And that was before I even knew they had waffle fries!



I've been taken to task on Facebook by friends about the anti-gayness of the chain and doubtless will be taken to task again for this post. Apologies to them, and thanks to them for informing me better of these things. At least it will serve to make me a food snob with better convictions.

size matters

Bigger is better. Or perhaps I should say that more is better. Quantity and quality. I'm insatiable. I have... cookbook envy.



Actually, I think I mostly feel jealous of Jeph that he has so darn many and that he has dedicated shelving for it in his kitchen.

I assure you, I gave Conrad many not-so-subtle hints about how many more cookbooks I would want to fit into our kitchen in place of the vintage Fiestaware there right now.

big dinner at Jeph's

It's a wonder I haven't gained pounds and pounds and started having to wear big boy pants again. No, really. You scoff? Read on...

Last weekend was our relaxing visit with Jeph and Brett. Relaxing for me and for Conrad, that is. Jeph, on the other hand, went to town on food preparation. Add to that the contributions of his friends he'd invited over, and we had mighty substantial fixings for a dinner on the back lawn for about 16 of us.

I posted a couple of teaser shots the other night. I should add this: the theme was local. We shared the wine we'd purchased earlier that day. Most of the vegetables were from Jeph's garden, and what wasn't came from friends' gardens or local producers. And Jeph, bless him, even butchered his own chickens at a farm in New York - not too far away. Impressive. Hence the tart and salad I blogged a few nights ago in brief. With very minor assistance from me, Jeph put together two of these stunning and delicious squash and leek tarts. I stayed away from his stove and managed a caprese-style salad that we left unadorned with any oils or vinegars.
I also chopped up the veggie mix that Jeph put into a grill pan - I kept going back for more of that mix. Heck, he even had his own little eggplants in it!

What else? Oh the chickens, very tender and well-seasoned.
Brisket he smoked himself. Corn on the cob a friend brought over and shucked (and then she and Jeph argued over who would get the husks for compost!).

As you can see from what Sharon, Jeph, and I set out,

we had plenty. Jeph and I, meanwhile, turned the husbands to the duty of setting up the table (Jeph cut flowers from his garden).
Finally, somewhere around 6 or so, I think, we all got to gather and dine.

Now then, do you see why I worry about my waistline?



More importantly, though, all of this just goes to show how utterly amazing the NBF is in his own right, leaving aside whatever I think of the cute/hot factor of his husband. Jeph put on a remarkable evening for us all, and he deserves much praise and thanks.

awww, cute!

No, really, isn't he adorable?

Ooops, no, wait, I meant to put a picture of Doogie here. Doogie. Lovely, rambunctious, handsome, friendly dog. Sorry about that...


;-)

Ohio wine

I was trying to think last night about all the states in which Conrad and I have visited wineries. Michigan, New Mexico, Hawaii, Texas, Missouri. The usual suspects, right?

Add Ohio to the list.

This was fun, truly. Brett and Jeph took us to a winery not far from where they live. Viking Vineyards is the name, and you know what? We found some lovely wines for our big dinner that night. Success!

I think a lot of non-California wineries are like this: buying grapes from California to make wines locally. Of course, we all think that makes the wines less than good, but as we learned in New Zealand, a lot of grapes get shipped around, and yet decent wine is being made for the table. Having said that, however, I would say that though we thought well of all we tasted (well, maybe except the Cabernet Sauvignon), Viking's best wines are made with local grapes. In our opinion.

We ended up coming home with five bottles: two of the Traminette, two of the Lemberger, and one of the wine infused with chocolate. This last one didn't get consumed that night, but the gathered guests made easy work of the others. I especially liked the Traminette. It was full of fruit on the nose and in the mouth. A great wine to have chilled with friends outside. Fun, but a little serious just the same.



Conrad rather liked the red - it was light and full of berries. A shame the winery won't try it again because of heavy loss of vines over the winter. Ah well.


Once again, though, we learn that the occasion, the situation, enhances the wine. Tasting with the guys was simply fun, and even better, we found some bottles that the guests that night liked a lot as well. Well done Ohio, well done.

Rootstown quickie

I shan't bore you with the details of how I thrillingly updated my iPhone tonight. Yes, while Conrad is out of town, I have too too much fun, I know.

And now it's late. Plus, I'm awaiting Conrad's call. Content yourselves, then, with a food porn shot or two from the weekend that was with a promise to write more in days ahead.

Food porn that I wished I'd done. Darn was this good.

Food porn I did do. I didn't eat any, to be honest, but Conrad liked it.

Enough for now. More food - of course! - to come...

relief

I've been tracking the weather back home in BC. Poor sister of mine, sweltering in that condo without air conditioning. Who knew that after an abysmal winter on the coast they'd turn around and have record setting temperatures. Vancouver hit an all-time high of 34.4 degrees Celsius today. My hometown, Terrace (just below the Alaskan panhandle, FYI) hit 37.1 yesterday. That's about 98-99 Fahrenheit degrees, warm by anyone's standards, I should think.

Meanwhile we pluck along in Chicago without a 90+ temperature all July. It's warmer in the building I work in than outside.

Still, I am not insensitive. I feel for my friends and family. And so, in sympathy, Conrad and drank to their very good health with lovely chilled martinis tonight. North Shore Distillery #11 gin and a good whack of vermouth - none of this "bone dry" business for us.



So there, BC folk, know that we are with you in [ahem] spirits...

happy birthday to ME!

I love it when a restaurant surprises me.

Tonight we celebrated my birthday at Sola, and what a lovely, relaxed meal it was. Better still, there were dishes that exceeded expectations. Best of all, we had service that was ever so friendly and winning.

Let's back up. In case you don't know already, today, the 27th, is my 39th birthday. It's really not a big deal. I've loved getting a ton of FB messages, but despite my joking, I'm NOT anxious about my age. I'm 39. I can live with it.

Conrad has a ticket to Hawaii for me for my gift, so it was somehow appropriate that we opted for 1000 points (and the use of a gift certificate) at Sola, owned.operated by a chef who has a deep connection with that tropical state. We haven't dined there in ages, and even then it was brunch. Time to head back west over to it.

We'd barely ordered cocktails when a summer shower blew through. That drove us inside, but eventually we made it back outside, practically the only people sitting out on a pleasantly warm evening. Conrad had a martini (with Hendryck's - thanks Dale!) and I had Champagne. I HAD to celebrate!

We opted for sharing six appetizers to get a good selection of foods, then dessert, then cheese. We also enjoyed a half bottle of an Oregon Pinot Gris and a half bottle of a California Pinot Noir before a glass each of Pedro Ximenez with the cheese course.

The food started fine with an amuse then a dish of raw kampachi, but it blew us away when the tempura squash blossoms arrived, filled with shellfish and served with a housemade kimchi. Really? Awesome! We were tempted to reorder this very seasonal dish.

The artichoke fritters were fine, as was the tuna poke. It was when the cod with fava bean risotto came out (and the potstickers) that we were jolted again. All of the food was good, but these were the exceptional dishes that made us shake our heads in happy wonder.

Family called throughout dinner. I hadn't talked with Bella since we were up for Dad's funeral, so that was nice.


I ordered Conrad the chocolate dessert, and it was fine, but mine was the third stunner of the evening: a tart of beets and a miso creme fraiche filling. Beets. Miso. Dessert. Good gosh, was that a show-stopper. Not the first time that night we sent compliments back with the wait staff.

The wait staff, I must add, were fun. Truffles with a candle came out, but no singing (THANK YOU!). We got to discuss the food and the wine a bunch, and we really appreciate that. A vital part of an exceptional dinner.

Cheeses were last, the best being the Louisiana cheese (who would've guessed that?) in the middle of the plate.

And now? We're home. Decompressing before bed. But gosh - and big thanks to Conrad - a wonderful meal that prompts us already to find time to go back, preferably with friends.

In short: happy birthday to me! :-)