October 31, 2011
Visiting Stratford and Toronto: Recommendations?
Maple leaves photographed by William Warby.
I am writing to you from Canada, where I am spending two weeks at the Stratford Chefs School outside of Toronto: I've been invited as their Gastronomic Writer In Residence (I know, right?), and I'll be devoting my time to working with the students on various assignments to hone their food writing skills.
I will also be hosting a few public lectures and events in Stratford and Toronto; please see the ...
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October 28, 2011
Three Very Good Things: Color-Coded Sandwiches, Persimmons, and Gianduja Sablés
{This is part of a new series in which I share three delicious things from the past week. Please feel free to tell me about your own 3VGT in the comments below, or to post them on your blog.}
My three very good things for the week are as follows:
~ Color-coded sandwiches from Gontran Cherrier's bakery. I've already told you about Gontran, who's both a talented baker and a friend of ours, and who runs a wonderful bakery in my neighborhood.
Ever...
"Three Very Good Things: Color-Coded Sandwiches, Persimmons, and Gianduja Sablés" continues »
October 25, 2011
Bi-Rite Market's Eat Good Food
I am of the mind that the process of learning how to cook should always begin with learning how to shop.
If you know how to select the highest-quality, freshest ingredients you can afford, and if you can organize your life so there's time to stock your fridge and pantry with those, you've really won half the battle.
First in terms of cooking motivation -- we all know the magical inspirational powers of vibrant produce -- but also in terms of ...
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October 21, 2011
Three Very Good Things: Buckwheat Praliné, Pasta with Hokkaido Squash, and a Red Collapsible Lunch Box
I recently had the opportunity to meet the lovely Stephanie -- the no less lovely Aran introduced us -- and I am therefore a new reader of her blog, "where practical meets pretty." She wrote about gratitude lists in a recent post, and the first comment underneath that post was by Mary, who talked about her weekly round-up of Three Beautiful Things.
I loved the idea, as I am definitely one to find gratitude and joy in small things. In a flash I d...
October 18, 2011
Homemade Natural Deodorant
Today's recipe is for something you'll make in your kitchen with ingredients you would normally use for cooking, but that you shouldn't actually eat. (Or you could, but you'd be missing the point.)
Today's recipe is for a natural deodorant. I realize personal hygiene isn't an altogether food-friendly subject, but making your own cosmetics is not so different from making your own dinner, and I am so enthused by this one I thought I'd share.
I'...
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October 13, 2011
[Edible Idiom] Se vendre comme des petits pains
Photography by J. Annie Wang.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Se vendre comme des petits pains."
Literally translated as, "selling like small breads," it means selling like hotcakes, i.e. selling quickly, effortlessly, and in large numbers. It is very commonly used.
Example: "Les exemplaires signés par l'artiste se sont vendus...
"[Edible Idiom] Se vendre comme des petits pains" continues »
October 11, 2011
Cooking For One (Zucchini and Chickpeas)
This is what dinner looks like when I eat on my own.
I am endlessly curious to know what cooks cook when they cook for one: some can't see the point if there is no audience, others fall back on no-cook comfort foods, some take it as their opportunity to indulge in the foods they love but their family despises, and others yet take pleasure in treating themselves to the precise meal their appetite calls for.
I'm in the latter camp. Breakfast ce...
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October 6, 2011
C&Z Anniversary Get-Together: Important Update, Now Oct 21!
Due to an unforeseen administrative snag, the C&Z Anniversary Get-Together has been rescheduled to Friday, October 21. The venue has not changed: it will be held at Verjus, the wine bar that my friends Braden and Laura (of Hidden Kitchen fame) are just about to open. We'll be there from 8pm, but feel free to drop by whenever you like. I apologize for this change of date, and hope to meet you there!
Verjus, 47 rue Montpensier, Paris 1er, +33 (0...
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October 4, 2011
Custom Labels for Homemade Goodies
Chef's medallions
I've always had a major thing for stationery. When I was a child, I would spend a large portion of my allowance at the neighborhood stationery shop, which my family refered to as ta papeterie chérie, and to this day I go weak in the knee for smooth-paged notebooks and well-designed greeting cards. And stickers. Oh, stickers.
So when the good people at Felix Doolittle got in touch and offered to send me samples of their person...
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October 1, 2011
October 2011 Desktop Calendar
At the beginning of every month, I am offering C&Z readers a new wallpaper to apply on the desktop of your computer, with a food-related picture and a calendar of the current month.
Our calendar for October is a picture of the patty pan squash and pesto soup I like to make with larger patty pan squashes. It's perfect for the transition between summer and fall. (The smaller patty pan squashes I will roast and combine with chickpeas in this warm...
"October 2011 Desktop Calendar" continues »