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September 25, 2005
Running with knives
I read the blogs of people who cook seared ahi tuna with lavender pepper and gorgonzola rotini, prepare antipasto salads and some spaghetti puttanesca, provide recipes for fettucine with tomato butter sauce, and are masters of unscheduled dinner parties. I feel thrilled when adding broccoli and other vegetables to mac and cheese.
This will change this year. First off, I'm definitely broadening my palate. Just last week, I had this salivatory menu at one meal:
Arancini with Osetra Caviar
Crispy Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Lobster and Truffles
Peekytoe Crab Rolls with Mint Sauce
Seared Aged Sirloin with Stilton Cookies and Grated Horseradish
Shaved Tuna Beef Tartare with Quail Eggs and American Sturgeon
Smoked Char with Tomato-Thyme Salad and Olive Oil Vinaigrette
Poached Halibut with Truffle Spaghettini and Corn Juice
Grilled Pork Belly with Clams, Apple Puree, and Bacon Broth
Sweet Curry Parfait
Honey and Clove Baked Pears with Pistachio Mousse and Chocolate Panna Cotta
Before that meal, I thought that char was what I accidentally did to most food. Now, I couldn't have cooked any of that unless I sacrificed a virgin to the Cooking Altar, but I do plan on improving my own skills.
In the next three weeks, I am going to learn how not to cut off my own fingers with a knife. I want company, and I know that someone out there is as dangerous in the kitchen as I am. I want company, so contact me if you're interested.
Posted by G at September 25, 2005 03:26 PM
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Comments
i totally need to widen the variety of what i eat as well. but i so hate cooking.
Posted by: myke at September 25, 2005 09:08 PM
uh-oh.....experimenting again are we? just keep in mind if you are cooking breakfast that roommates don't enjoy 6 am fire alarms. :)
in all reality, good for you! i've thought about taking cooking class but never have the time. i guess that's what the food network on cable is for......maybe when i come to town we could do a one day class or something like that.
Posted by: brian at September 26, 2005 09:25 AM
I can't take any credit for the cooking of that fantastic gorgonzola rotini dinner. My boyfriend did the entire thing. Well, I did buy the wine and stir various things at his instigation. I've been trying to learn to cook this year too, and I've discovered something... I am NOT a natural born chef.
I think if I were to attempt to eat that entire menu in one meal, I wouldn't be able to move for a month. This... 'Peekytoe Crab Rolls with Mint Sauce'... sounds so yummy!
Posted by: Joel at September 26, 2005 09:58 AM
Ah...if only I lived closer, I'd love to give you some cooking instructions. (Particularly on knife work, as I'm a TOTAL klutz normally, but have found that, with practice I can get through the creation of an entire meal with most of my fingers intact.)
Remember...move the food, not the knife...and keep those fingers tucked under your knuckles! :)
Posted by: Alan at September 26, 2005 02:30 PM
This is exactly what I need to get off of my Hot Pocket crutch. If you're waiting until after the 15th, I'm totally in.
Posted by: Michael at September 26, 2005 06:28 PM
Sounds like a great adventure! I wish I had the motivation to do it but I don't. And if I were back in NYC, I'd let you know.
Posted by: Lee at September 27, 2005 12:17 AM
After looking at that menu, I can see Derrick is becoming quite a chef! But, what the hell is a Stilton Cookie?
Cheers,
Posted by: Mr H.K. at September 27, 2005 07:05 AM
Actually, Derrick and I just sat there as those foods were brought to us. A chef prepared them.
I wish Derrick had those cooking skills.
Posted by: glenn at September 27, 2005 07:26 AM
That, or you could just hire a personal chef.
Posted by: palochi at September 27, 2005 12:34 PM
I'm so proud of you G. But, wouldn't it be safer to take, say, Spatula 101 first and move on from there? Please, G, for the children. . .
Posted by: Ron at September 27, 2005 08:56 PM