Jane Jetson's Kitchen

You know what? I'm actually glad I don't live in "the future" as it was seen through the eyes of 1955.

Don't get me wrong: flying cars would be cool. But it seems that everybody in the '50s was so obsessed with time-saving and efficiency that they didn't realize that maybe, we'd actually want to spend time on certain activities. Like cooking.

I've written here before about the evolution of cooking from chore to hobby - which had something to do with time-saving techniques that allowed women to get out of the kitchen at least some of the time. Based on this Popular Science slideshow of "kitchens of the future," the real attitudinal shift - when people started thinking of cooking as fun - didn't happen until well after the mid-20th century.

The kitchen above was designed in the mid-50's and it takes efficiency to a whole new level. The idea was that with the push of just one button, an entire meal - seasoned and all - will be prepared. No need for Wifey to toil away over the stove. Now she's got more time for vacuuming and hospital corners (or martinis).

Do I want it? No. Does it represent a time and a place I'm glad I don't live in? Yes. But am I so, so glad that scanners were invented so that we can preserve it? Absolutely. It's a pretty great reminder that when my grandmother was making dinner, it was a much bigger pain than it is for me today.

Plus, even if the actual technology behind the kitchen misses a few late 20th century trends, I'll tell you what I do like: that mid-century aesthetic. Look at those cabinets and all that stainless steel. Why, it looks like...my kitchen.

Going on around Town: This Week

Nearly the weekend again, and our birthday/holiday social schedule has kicked into high gear. Tomorrow night, we're having dinner at Blue Hill Tavern for Mike's birthday. His is the first in a series. Next comes Cooper, then me, then Kyle turns 30 (finally, since I will have just turned 35).

I'm looking forward to Blue Hill Tavern - I've wanted to go there forever - but am disappointed that I won't be able to make some of the other events coming up around Baltimore. On Sunday November 14th, The Dogwood is hosting a dinner to benefit the Baltimore Humane Society and on Tuesday the 16th, The Wine Market is having a dinner benefitting the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Both menus sound fabulous...and doesn't everything taste better when a good cause is involved?

UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot this, but in between Cooper and me comes the most important birthday of all: Discovery Doug. His is the day after Cooper's. Celebratory indeed.

Old School Thursday: Down with Disease Edition

There’s not much going on today in the way of history, though it is the anniversary of the death of Typhoid Mary, the infamous carrier of typhoid who was immune to the disease, but spread it wherever she worked as a household cook.

Epidemics, though important to learn from, aren’t that fun for blogging, though. Fortunately, today is also National Sundae Day (yay for sundaes!), as well as St. Menas of Egypt Day (patron of travelling merchants) and St. Martin’s Day (patron of drunkards, harvests, horses and innkeepers). And where would we be without travelling merchants, drunkards, harvests, horses and innkeepers? A whole lot more sober, hungry and cold, that’s where we’d be.

Today’s celebration? Raise a glass of something to the drunkards and dig into a sundae. And wash your hands. If there’s one other thing we should celebrate, it’s simple advancements in modern medical knowledge.

Signature Sandwich

Cheddar cheese + applewood smoked bacon + pork barbecue on slightly crusty white bread, grilled.

That was Cooper's dinner last night (he conceptualized, I implemented). It is, in fact, as good as it sounds.

Porky Weekend

I was in Severna Park on Sunday, so I picked up a whole mess of Adam's pork barbecue for Sunday night dinner. And, as it turns out, Monday night dinner. And today's lunch. And no, I am not complaining. It's not Cooper's favorite barbecue (not vinegary enough) and most of our friends prefer Andy Nelson's, but it will always be my favorite. Proof that what you grow up with is what you love.

Although, it's easy to love new things, too, especially when they're wrapped in bacon. Case in point, these lovely little delicacies that we had at my college friend Sarah's party on Saturday night:Sarah and her husband, Steve, have just come into a smoker the easy way (someone gave it to them), so they smoked a pork shoulder, along with a bunch of these jalapenos. They're halved and stuffed with a cream cheese and cheddar mixture, topped with a cocktail sausage, and wrapped in bacon. After a couple of hours in the smoker, they were crispy, gooey, smoky (obviously) and ridiculously delicious. Spicy, but not too spicy, since the smoker mellowed the pepper, and rich, but not overly so, since the jalapeno balances all the fat.

Highly, highly recommended. All of it.

Photo by Sarah.

Proudest Moments

We went to Clementine last night for a spur of the moment dinner out. It's kind of a favorite around these parts - mostly for the food (especially the charcuterie platter, which was seriously on its game last night with a balanced blue, super-smoky sausage, homemade bread and butter pickles and perfect cherry-studded chicken liver pate) but also for the comfy sofa and kids' play area. It makes eating out with Dixon so much easier.

Last night was no exception. He wasn't too hungry, so he only ate a couple of bites of his mac and cheese, but he played so quietly and nicely while Cooper and I ate our dinners. Towards the end of the meal, after he'd already fallen asleep on the sofa, a lady at the table next to ours came over and said, "You know, I work with kids all day, so when we sat down I was a little worried. I didn't want to be next to a kid at dinner, too. But he was amazing."

Now Dixon is far - FAR - from perfect. But those few words, especially coming from a stranger and especially in a restaurant? They absolutely made my day.

Also: the rest of the meal was great. I had a salad and the mussels, which were steamed in Natty Boh, garlic and shallots, and Cooper had his old favorite, the rabbit pot pie (super creamy). Since Dixon was asleep, we even had chocolate cake for dessert. And even better? On Thursdays, when you buy two entrees, you also get access to a special discounted wine list. We drank a bottle of Adelsheim pinot noir, which is usually $39, for $25. We had the same bottle at Dogwood last week for $41, which is still very reasonable. It's worth it, though.

All in all, not so bad for a random Thursday night.

Old School Thursday: All the Food Groups Edition

Halloween might be the unofficial national day of candy, but today is actually National Candy Day. It’s also the day of St. Charles Borromeo, patron of apple orchards, suggesting that maybe it’s really National Candy Apple Day. That would make sense, right? Or at least that’s a good way to celebrate?

Today’s a big patent day, too. In 1873, Anthony Iske received a patent for a meat slicing machine similar to a mandoline and six years later, in 1879, Thomas Elkins received a patent for a refrigerating machine.

Right about that time, Gerard Adriaan Heineken was probably growing up, thinking about the brewery he would one day found. Then, today, in 1923, he celebrated the birth of his grandson, Alfred, who ran the company from 1964 until 1989.

So today, to celebrate: stick a Heineken in the fridge, slice up a little meat and serve it with a candy apple. Sounds delicious, right?

Also Want: A Place to Wear This Dress

Anybody want to invite me to a fancy cocktail party? Also: Diane von Furstenburg...isn't she fantastic?

Want: Stuff for My Table

Some days, when I have too much thinking to do, I just want to look at pretty table accessories. Like this sea urchin salt cellar, by RISD alum Celia Langdon:
And this funky oyster platter, which was made in Brittany sometime around 1960:

Both would look lovely, I think, in my house. On my table. With my food.

Dinner with Dixon at The Dogwood

On Friday night, Cooper and I took a risk. A big risk. We took Dixon to dinner at The Dogwood.

It's not that it's such a super fancy restaurant - kids go there occasionally. It's not that we thought he wouldn't like the food - he's been to Clementine a bunch of times and he seems to appreciate local/fresh food at least as much as he likes Kraft mac & cheese. And it's not that we went late - our reservation was for 6 PM. It's just that he's four and, as a result, a little unpredictable. You just never know.

But he was good. And not only that, he loved it.

When he was a baby, it was fun to watch him discover new things - to see the way his face lit up when he saw grass up close or pet a dog. Watching him eat his first meal at The Dogwood was pretty much just like that. He ordered a cheeseburger ("The Natural") that's made with local beef, topped with Amish cheese and served with homemade potato chips. "Cheeseburger" isn't really outside his comfort zone, but apparently this particular cheeseburger delivered an experience unlike what he was used to.

After his first bite, his eyes went all wide and all he said was, "I love it." He said that about five more times, too, and just as he finished up the first half (it's a big burger) he said, very sincerely, "That was the best cheeseburger I've ever had."

I realize that I can't control my kid's taste buds and that his liking good food isn't actually a referendum on my ability as a mom. But still, it was a proud moment for this food blogging mom. A proud moment, indeed.

P.S. I had the daily tart - bleu cheese and caramelized onion with a side salad - and baked oysters topped with crab and Cooper had the short ribs (again). All fantastic, as usual. I'm so happy to be eating oysters again and I can't seem to say no to any sort of savory tart. Plus, it was a Friday, so noble grapes wines were 20% off. We drank a bottle of Adelsheim Pinot Noir - it was something we'd tried with Chef Galen at one of the wine dinners. Perfectly lovely.

Entertaining Friday: It's Halloween!

Sunday is Halloween, which means that around these parts, we're all Indiana Jones, all the time. Dixon has been wearing his costume for over a week now. It's easy when it mostly involves a hat, a whip and a satchel.

Today is his school party and Sunday we go to the Barger's for their annual Halloween shindig involving lots of soup and some Andy Nelson's barbecue.

Sadly, I won't be dressing up this year (except for some orange and black tights I couldn't resist from Target) but I have been doing a little Halloween blogging over at Deep Glamour. And a lot of Halloween candy shopping around here.

So Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you get lots of good candy!

Old School Thursday: Legends & Nightmares Edition

Oh, today is a big one. First off, it’s National Chocolate Day. Chocolate. Not chocolate-covered insects or chocolate popsicles or even chocolate milk. Just chocolate. Which truly does deserve it’s own day.

On top of that, today is Escoffier’s birthday! Born in 1846, Escoffier was responsible for modernizing and codifying the cuisine of France – setting the standards that would define French cuisine, well, until now (say what you will about the new French chef – Escoffier’s still running a lot of the kitchens – and culinary minds – in that country). He worked all over Europe and in New York, wrote several books and helped found the Ritz hotels.

If that wasn’t enough, today is also the 91st anniversary of the passage of the Volstead Act (aka Prohibition). Not quite as celebratory an occasion as Escoffier’s birth, but hey, at least it was overturned.
So to celebrate? Chocolate, of course. And champagne. I’d just go with champagne.

That Party We Threw: The Details

It's been a couple of weeks, but I'm still decompressing from the big, huge party we threw earlier in the month. It was a great time, but exhausting, both in terms of prep and cleanup. As it turns out, prep didn't have to be so tiring, but I of course overbought on absolutely everything (especially salad). Now I know that's not necessary.

Before I block it all out entirely, I do want to share some the menu and some of the additional plans we put into action.

First, the decor. It's an outdoor party, billed as "Fall-ish fun" and fortunately, the weather cooperated, so we had a ton of people in the yard. We didn't do much to the yard itself, but we did block off the driveway on one end with the RV (aka kids' playhouse) and we lined the driveway on one side with tables to serve as a bar and to hold hors d'oeuvres.

My original plan involved two specialty cocktails, but at go-time, I revised that down to one - a simple combination of cranberry juice and prosecco, served in a punch bowl. It was a warm day, so it worked pretty nicely.

The garage served as our primary indoor space. It was lined with tables on the left and right sides - left for main courses and right for desserts. Plus, in the middle, we stuck a table full of appetizers.

Since it is a working garage, we store a ton of stuff in there - like all of Cooper's tools, a snowblower, lots of ladders - stuff like that. We moved some of the smaller things upstairs into the loft (it's a big garage) but some of it just wasn't going anywhere, so I decided to cover it. I went down to DeBois Textiles and bought a bunch of yards of fabric in two orange and white patterns to hang from the ceiling, covering the busier parts of the space.

In this picture, Dixon (making a weird face and carrying a crossbow) and Cooper's sister Missy are sitting in front of Cooper's dirty toolbench, but you wouldn't even know it:

On the food front, my main goal was not to have to work too hard myself. It worked, except that I forgot that even if I didn't do a lot of cooking, I'd still have to do a lot of plating.

On the appetizer front, we went simple, with cheese and crackers and three types of dips from Samos (eggplant, tzatziki and red pepper dip, though I'd actually ordered hummus instead of red pepper and didn't realize until I got home that I had something different). We had pita bread and pita chips and vegetables for the dips...and more than enough of all three.

The eggplant dip was a surprising hit, actually. I didn't order too much of it because I thought it might freak people out, but it was really well-received: We also ordered tons of salad from Samos - we went through about two big tubs of it (but had six or seven). It is good stuff, but the reality is that people just went straight for the proteins.

And proteins...we had them. I coordinated the menu so that I wouldn't have to work that hard - but that doesn't mean I didn't load Cooper up with responsibilities. The day before the party, he grilled 10 London broils, which we served with his horsey sauce. Then, the morning of, he cooked about seven pork shoulders in the Caja China and made a spicy, vinegary barbecue sauce to accompany them. THEN he fired the Caja China back up to cook about eight chickens.

He hadn't cooked chickens in the box before, but even without practice, they were a huge success. All he did was rub them with Old Bay (can't go wrong) and follow the Caja China directions for timing and charcoal. They took under two hours and came out crispy and juicy:

We served them cut into big pieces - and to huge praise. We'll definitely do that again.

In addition to the salad and meats (and rolls to accompany), we had Mrs. Barger's shrimp and macaroni salad and meatballs by my friend Alison (that were delicious but so spicy that she asked me to write a warning sign). Plus, on Friday, I grilled a bunch of vegetables and just reaheated them in the oven just before serving.

Oh, and there were Chick-fil-A nuggets. "For the kids." I ate about 30 of them.

Then there was dessert. I made a bunch of chocolate chip cookies, but they definitely weren't the main attraction. Everything else was. So many people brought desserts, I couldn't even keep track - but it was great.

Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of most of the desserts - including the cupcakes that Alicia and LP brought. They were kind of hot commodities among both kids and adults (and rightly so). I did manage, however, to get a picture of two of the desserts that sat inside:

I think Missy made the pumpkin bars - they were great - but I have no idea who made the whoopie pies. They were red velvet cake and ridiculous (if they were yours, let me know! You deserve some credit!).

So that was it...the party in a nutshell. On to the planning for next year!

Parties I Want to Throw: Garden & Gun's Harvest Feast

Because this blog is basically a Garden & Gun fan site, I couldn't possibly get away without posting some photos from the magazine's Harvest Feast, a Sunday supper outside Birmingham, Alabama, benefitting the Alabama seafood town of Bayou La Batre.

The dinner was co-hosted by Land Rover, the food was by Chef Chris Hastings and his wife Idie, of the Hot and Hot Fish Club, and there was music by Greta Gaines.

Not being there, I can't report on how anything tasted or sounded, but I certainly can speak highly of how it all looked. Just check it out:

These look simple enough to make at home, even with store-bought salsa - and I love the on-the-chip presentation:

Nothing I love more than a long, long outdoor table:

Hello, pate:

Dinner was served as the sun went down:

Much of the cooking was done on-site, which is entertainment in itself, if you ask me:

Once it got dark out, the cafe lights reflected in the lake. You can't buy this sort of pretty:

And not only was it pretty, but it looks like everybody had a good time, too:

Definitely a party I'd be happy to attend...

Entertaining Friday: Rob & Ashleigh's Wedding

As previously mentioned, we spent last weekend in Charlottesville, at a place called Camp Holiday Trails, celebrating the wedding of my friend Rob (I've known him since first grade) and his fantastic new wife Ashleigh.

The camp, which is actually a summer camp for children with disabilities, isn't typically a wedding venue. Ashleigh worked there for several years, though, and always wanted to have her wedding on the grounds. She worked with the camp to make it happen and it was absolutely perfect. Probably even more so for her, since she has so many memories there.

Some guests stayed in hotels, but we opted for one of the on-site cabins. We shared the left half of this building with Matt and Amy (of wine-tasting fame) and DC Jason and his wife Angie: The cabins were rustic - they're camper cabins, after all - but they have bathrooms and electricity, which was really all I needed.

Dinner took place in the camp dining hall. With tablecloths draped over the long tables and fall-inspired florals, it didn't have any sort of mess hall vibe. The building is a wooden structure with exposed beams in the ceiling and little wheel-shaped chandeliers, so it had good bones. The ultimate result was downright elegant: The tables were set with simple linens and dishes (and a few stinkbugs) and an extra-cool touch: pieces of wood with our names burned in them:

And a few notes about the food: it was definitely not cooked by camp chefs. The caterers, who I think came down from Northern Virginia, served a lovely meal. We started with a vegetarian butternut squash soup, topped with a bit of creme fraiche (always good). Then we had a small fall salad with dried cranberries. The meal itself was a buffet, including tenderloin and - much to everyone's delight and surprise - Brussels sprouts. Everyone was also all over the mac and cheese, which was almost definitely intended for the kids. It's hard to say no to a big dish of mac and cheese, though.

After dinner and speeches, everyone was given an extra-long sparkler and we formed two lines just outside the door of the dining hall. Rob and Ashleigh walked through the sparklers to much cheering and - surprisingly - no errant fires:
Then we headed over to the camp pavilion for drinks and to hear The Black Lillies, a favorite band of Rob and Ashleigh's. Much to everyone's extreme satisfaction (especially mine), Rob took the stage with the band for a couple of songs, including a rousing rendition of his own "Marlboro Lights," which is quite the sing-along song when you've got all of us together:

After a little while, everyone moved to the big fire pit next to the pavilion, where we enjoyed a few more drinks, a lot more sentimental conversation (I am sure I said, "we are the luckiest to have such great friends!" about six hundred times) and some more low-key performing by the band. When Cooper and I finally retired, sometime around 3:30 AM, there were still a bunch of people up. In fact, when DC Jason got up in the morning and went outside at 9:30, the band was still playing and drinking wine. Hardcore.

As a result, this is what a few of us looked like in the morning:

Actually, I'm pretty sure we looked better than we felt. Are we all wearing matching t-shirts, you ask? Why yes, yes we are. They were a part of our welcome bags and were intended to be worn during Sunday's bride vs. groom kickball game. Unfortunately, we had to head back to Maryland before the game got underway (though I can't imagine that I'd have been much help anyway).

All in all, it was a great weekend and, unsurprisingly, I am sorry that it's over. As usual, spending time with my elementary and high school friends did nothing but remind me that they're amazing people - smart and funny and ridiculous - and that I'm pretty lucky that our parents chose to live in the same school district.

(All the pictures were taken by Adrienne - I stole them from her Facebook account. Did I take my camera? Yes. Did I even turn it on? No. I was having too much fun talking about how amazing my friends are.)

Want: Wooden Eames Blocks

You know what these would've helped with?

This travesty of Christmas past:

And just one more shot, so we can all remember what a ridiculously overambitious pastry chef I am:

Still filing that one under "seemed like a good idea at the time..."

In any case, those blocks: aren't they cute? Wouldn't they make a fantastic baby gift for someone with designy parents?

Old School Thursday: Cheese, Light & Ice Cream Edition

In the U.S., today is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day and in the UK it is National Apple Day. Both of these make me happy. I’m looking out my bedroom window right now and it looks like a crisp, bright fall day. They’re appropriate (even if pumpkin cheesecake is a little nouveau to have its own day. I’m giving it a pass.)

In other October 21st news, today in 1422, Charles IV of France died. Charles IV was an early monarch who played a significant role in establishing France as a culinary leader. During his reign, early cookery book author and seminal French chef Taillevent was made Master of the King’s kitchens. In addition, it was Charles IV who gave sole rights of aging the cheese we think of today as Roquefort to the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon (one in a string of many, many French legal forays into food production).

Almost 500 years later, on October 21, 1879, Thomas Edison demonstrated the first commercially practically light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey. While this doesn’t sound explicitly food-related, if you try to imagine cooking without commercially practical light bulbs, their benefit becomes immediately obvious.

Finally, just 20 years ago, today in 1990. Thomas Carvel, ice cream impresario, passed away. Somehow I’ve managed to never have any Carvel ice cream cake myself, but the ads were such a prominent part of my childhood that I could probably recreate the logo from memory.

So that’s it – kind of a big day and a complicated one to celebrate. Possibly with Roquefort and ice cream apple-pumpkin cheesecake? All served under the warm glow of artificial light, bien sur.

Today is World Statistics Day

And call me a cynic, but I am a market research analyst - more of a stats-lover than most, I'm sure - and even I think this new holiday is lamer than National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day.

"Celebrating the many contributions and achievements of official statistics?" Nice tag line, people.

Beyond that, as valuable as statistics can be, they can also do a lot to harm. They're perfectly malleable, even when they're "official" (maybe especially then) and people will always use stats to support their own agendas, rather than deciding their agendas based on those stats. It's human nature.

So sure, celebrate the statistic. But let's just be realistic about it, OK?

Do I Still Exist?

I do and I am not abandoning the blog, for real. Here's what I'm planning to write about soon:

• The menu for our party last week
• The menu and all around awesomeness of my friends Rob and Ashleigh's wedding last weekend
• The vintage cookbooks I bought from Etsy a few weeks ago
• The beer can chickens Cooper cooked a few weeks ago
• A whole lot of other stuff, including some potential changes to the blog

However, thanks to two really busy, really fun weekends in a row and a whole bunch of deadlines, I don't really have time to do justice to any of the above. One day soon, though. I promise.

Our Big Party: Some Things I Learned

(That is kind of what the party looked like. Though it might not do justice to just how busy it was.)

1. Even if you put a ton of effort into making a seven hour long playlist that includes songs you know are special to particular guests, the music will not be the focus. Nobody cares about your playlist as much as you do.

2. Caja chinas are the best thing ever. Cooper cooked pork shoulders AND chickens in ours - and they were the best food we had.

3. Underbuy on salad. Even when the salad is from Samos. Trust me on this. Underbuy on cider, too, even if it's fall.

4. When it's warm out, people drink beer. Not red wine. Of course you can't predict the weather, so even though I knew this before, I still bought way too much red wine, all of which is still in the wine cellar. And we ran out of beer. Which brings me to...

5. While it always seems like a good idea to get a third keg, in reality, a few 30-packs would make a lot more sense.

6. If you need a bunch of cheap tablecloths that can be ruined, WalMart is your store.

7. You can never have too many plain white platters. As a corrollary: try to live near an IKEA.

8. People bring desserts. Which is nice.

9. When you make your day-of timeline (what, don't you make a timeline?) leave tons of time for putting food out. Otherwise, you will spend the first hour of the party with your mom, ferrying food and in and out of the house.

10. RV = playhouse. This family had the right idea. Just be sure that none of the kids have the keys (we learned the hard way on that one). And another good tip: before you let kids inside, disconnect the battery so they can't blow the horn. You'll thank me on that one.

Old School Thursday: CRUNCH Edition.

Today is National Dessert Day or, in its narrower formulation, National Chocolate Covered Insect Day. I’ll be getting right on that.

And…that’s it. I suppose that’s enough, really.

Humanity from Above

Last week, my brother sent me a link to a Boston.com feature that's actually not about Boston at all, but instead is about Florida. It's no secret that Florida real estate is a little bit crazy - since the '60s, it's been the home of massive planned development efforts, many of which never actually made it to completion.

As a result, Florida looks pretty crazy from above. If you can manage to forget about all of the waste and the sheer weirdness of living in an overly-planned environment, it even looks sort of beautiful, in a graphic sort of way:

All of the maps above come from Google maps, so for a bit of perspective, I Google mapped the neighborhood where I grew up, along with the neighborhood next door. I think it's from approximately the same height:

There's planning there, obviously, but there's a major difference: my neighborhood, which was built in the 1940s and '50s, was developed over time and built to suit the geography of the land, instead of flattening the land to accommodate the building. Both Ben Oaks, where I grew up, and Pointfield Landing (next door) are built on hills, with streets circling the top of the hill. They're also both built to make the most of the waterfront, with streets following the shore. And they were obviously not built in an effort to cram in as many houses as possible.

I'm partial to the Ben Oaks version of planning, of course, and it's making it hard for me to see any benefits to the Florida-style approach. Are there any?

JK Rowling Validates My Behavior

She likes spreadsheets, too. Exhibit A, part of her handwritten spreadsheet for Order of the Phoenix:
How can you not love that mind?

(via Go Fug Yourself)

Going on around Town

It's still fall, so things around Baltimore are still busy, busy, busy. Unfortunately, since I was so busy last week, I missed announcing a ton of great stuff that took place last weekend. I don't want that to happen again this week - so here it goes (click on the links for more information about each event):

• Beer: Right now it's Baltimore Beer Week and there's a lot going on for that. Of course, if I was still in a position to go out on a regular basis, I'd be posting up at Elliott's Pour House for the week.
• Winey: Apparently it's wine season. Boordy is having its annual Autumn WineFest every Sunday in October from 1 to 5 PM. Plus, the Maryland Autumn Wine Festival is taking place next weekend, the 16th and 17th in Salisbury and the 2010 Reggae Wine Festival is on at Linganore in Mt. Airy the same weekend. Lots of choices!
• Pink: Throughout October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Sullivan's Steakhouse is offering a special "Palate in the Pink" menu - three courses for $39.95, $5 of which will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Last year the restaurant raised $170,000 for the foundation, which is pretty great.
• Bivalves: Next week is the first annual Downtown Baltimore Oyster Week - a concept that I am firmly, firmly behind. Sixteen restaurants are participating this year, offering tons of different oyster dishes.
• Famous: On October 21st, the Celebrity Chef Tour, benefiting the James Beard Foundation, will be at the restaurant in the Baltimore Renaissance Hotel. The celebrities involved include, among others, Jennifer Carroll, who was one of my favorite Top Chef contestants ever.
• Sustainable: The next "Fresh Thoughts" dinner at the National Aquarium will take place on November 16. The focus of the Fresh Thoughts series is on sustainable seafood (perfect for the Aquarium, right?) and the chef on November 16th is Tamesha Warren, of Top Chef fame.

So what are you going to do?

We Had a Party

And it was kind of great. It was very, very big and very, very busy and a lot of fun (for me at least).

More details to follow, including menu, what I learned about menu planning (note to self: no need to ever buy that much salad again), decor and tales of general hilarity.

But first, today is Monday, so I'm back to work. With a vengeance.

This Is What My Brain Looks Like Right Now

We are having a party tomorrow - a big one - so right now I'm living in the land of spreadsheets and scrawly diagrams, like a crazy person. Which explains why, instead of writing a "going on around town" post like I'd planned, I'm posting a photo of a schematic of my garage.

Old School Thursday: Brrr, It's Cold Edition

Today is National Frappe Day…she said with a sigh. While I fully condone days celebrating some of our more loved traditional foods, frappes just don’t fall in that category. Not for me, anyway.

I suppose it’s fitting, though, that the rest of today’s items of note have to do with the process of chilling. First, in 1950, Willis Haviland Carrier, inventor of the air conditioner, passed away. Six years later, he was followed by Clarence Birdseye, who is a household name thanks to his role in the early days of the frozen food industry.

Frozen veggies for everyone today!

Will Be Reading: Bill Bryson's At Home

I'm a Bill Bryson fan. I like the way he writes and I find the stuff he writes about interesting. His travel books are my favorite, but I've also learned a lot from his nonfiction, like his biography of Shakespeare and his exploration of the English language. He's smart and we seem to have the same interests.

So there's really no way to get around the fact that I'll be reading his new book, At Home: A Short History of Private Life. Bryson? Check. Anthropology? Check. History? Check. Architecture? Check.

Like it was written for me.

Designing Tuesday: Salvage

First, sorry about the light posting (as in, the lack of post yesterday). It's a busy week chez Pollard, as we continue to decompress from last week's birthday festivities and we prepare for the weekend coming up. We're having a party and that always makes me kind of crazy.

But I digress. Today is about salvage. On Friday, I wrote a Houzz ideabook that seemed to resonate. It was all about salvage-hunting and how much fun it can be. The description and comments are here and here's the book itself:

Weekend Fun: Hit the Salvage Spots

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Home Design and Decorating Ideas:

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Going on around Town: October 7th

It's fall (finally) and with that comes a whole bunch of social activities, including a couple that are taking place next Wednesday, October 7th.

On the higher end, Morton's is hosting a Mondavi wine dinner and charity auction for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The dinner will pair four courses with wines from Charles Krug, Continuum Estate, and Folio Wine Partners and one of the charity auction items will be a super-fancy red produced by "the extended Mondavi family," called The Legendary Primat. Kind of a big name, right? Sets expectations high. Tickets to the event are $175 per person (including tax and gratuity) and can be purchased by phone (410-547-8255) or online (click here).

If that sort of dinner isn't in your budget, you might want to opt for a free happy hour at Miss Shirleys (downtown or on Cold Spring). The event is from 5 to 7:30 (in the PM) and will include mimosas, bloody marys and delicious, delicious Miss Shirley's food. It's a Facebook-centric event, billed as a thank you to FB fans of the restaurant, so to RSVP (and you have to RSVP and also be one of the first 100 people to arrive), become a fan.

Old School Thursday: Angels, Arrows & Beer Edition (aka "College Edition")

Today is National Mulled Cider Day and on a (very) rainy day closing out an unseasonably warm September, it feels pretty appropriate. It might not be cold outside, but it is miserable. Today is also St. Jerome Day – he is the patron saint of librarians and students, which makes it seem like a good day to visit the library café.

In historical news, today is the birthday of William Wrigley, Jr (1861). Wrigley is best known for his chewing gums and his advertising (and his field). I also think of Wrigley in one other context: his wife were in the same sorority as I am (Pi Beta Phi) and our symbol, the arrow, became the Wrigley logo. Supposedly, at least.

Also today, in 1982, the TV show Cheers debuted. I don’t remember the debut, since I was six, but I do remember watching the very last episode, which aired my senior year in high school (1993).

So today, chew a little gum, have a beer for Norm and Cliff, and stay inside with some mulled cider. Seriously. It is a mess out there.

Artsy: IKEA Cooks

My friend Joyce just alerted me to this: IKEA has released a baking book, available only at its Swedish stores, called Hembakat är Bäst ("Homemade is Best"). The book is in Swedish and I don't really bake anyway, but I would love to get my hands on one just for the ingredients styling. Check it out:

Gorgeous, no? More pictures here and here...I could look at them all day.

Dogwood Wine Dinner Recap: Bandol

Last night was the monthly wine club dinner at Dogwood and, as usual, we had a blast. The region was Bandol, a tiny spot in Provence, where the wine is often pink and the food is earthy. This month, unlike in the past, I even took notes, so I can actually remember what I ate. Here's the menu:

Leek and Artichoke Tart paired with Triennes Viognier Sainte Fleur 2008

Baby Beets and Chevre paired with Mas de la Dame Rose du Mas 2009

Bourride with laughing bird shrimp, Cape May sea scallop and North Carolina trout paired with Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Rose 2009 and Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose 2009

Smoked Pulled Pork with Grilled Vegetables Provencale paired with Saint Andre de Figuiere Francois Cuvee Signature 2009

Braised Lamb Shoulder with fresh thyme polenta and roasted garlic jus paired with Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvee Classique 2007

It was outrageous.

The highlights, food-wise, were the beets, which were sliced super thin and served on a bed of frisee with a dressing of honey and lemon, the scallop in the bourride, which could not have been cooked more perfectly, and the pulled pork, which was served on a gougere - a super inspired touch. Which is not to say that everything else wasn't excellent - the Chez Panisse-inspired leek and artichoke tart had a refreshing citrusy flavor and an awesomely flaky crust, and the braised lamb shoulder was full of flavor and might have been my favorite dish if I hadn't been so full at that point of the night.

As for the wine, our favorites were the viognier we started with and the very last bottle we drank. The viognier was completely refreshing and paired nicely with the tart, as well as with the chicken liver pate that was served as pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres. As for the last wine, my only note is, "delicious." That's it. Again, I was kind of food coma-y at that point.

While the bookend wines were our favorites, the roses in the middle sparked the most discussion. The Mas de la Dame was a gorgeous color - almost shocking pink - and very easy to drink. One of our tablemates called it a "front porch wine" - which lead into speculation about what kind of wines are more back porchy. Obviously.
The wines paired with the bourride were the hottest topic, mostly because in his wine column, Jay McInerney described Domaine Ott as the rose of choice for people who wear Prada. Based on that description I was not inclined to like it - at all. At close to $50 a bottle, it's kind of pricey for a rose, too. (Well, actually, I'm assuming that's why the Prada set likes it. That and for its pretty bottle which, according to one guest, is "thin and shallow - like the people who drink it.")

In the glass, it's the palest of pale pinks and our first sips suggested that true to its color, the wine is all about restraint. Interesting, but super subtle. Cooper said, "it's like a delicate little flower on my palate" and that description was just about right. That all changed, though, when we took a bite of the smoky bourride. The wine immediately opened right up and it might have still been flowery, but it wasn't so delicate.

But it closed back down when the soup was gone, which was a disappointment. Or maybe not - I'm glad I wasn't tempted to buy a $50 bottle of rose.

As usual, the food and wine were really, really good and the pairings were smart - Chef Galen does a fantastic job illustrating how food and wine can complement one another. But also as usual, we had a blast because everybody at Dogwood is just so fun. Knowledgeable, too - we walked away last night with a solid recommendation as to which smoker we should buy and also with some great inside information about where to go in Hampden on gameday. Seems that one of the local bars is like the neighborhood living room - everybody brings food to share and spends the afternoon drinking $1.50 Natty Bohs.

So that was Bandol. Next up: Burgundy. I love Burgundy.

Volcanoes, Army Guys & Superheroes

Dixon's fourth birthday is Wednesday, so we celebrated yesterday afternoon with a superhero/army guy/volcano party. Obviously. It was a little bit of a zoo, with 20 kids making their own superhero capes in the basement, then retreating to the yard to play (we were very, very lucky that the weather cleared up for the afternoon).

Dixon had an absolute blast and we actually had fun, too. Right now, he is playing with multiple gifts at once - showing an Iron Man action figure how to play a video game on his Leapfrog Explorer.

We kept the party food simple - just pizza from Fortunato's - but went all out with two cakes. Volcano cakes. On Saturday night, Alicia and Mike came over to bake and decorate the volcanoes. Prior to baking, Dixon had already decided on one Icelandic volcano: And one Hawaiian version:

The pictures really don't do the cakes justice. Per Dixon's instructions, Iceland was dormant and Hawaii was active - those Twizzlers are lava and the red hots are hot lava rock. Both volcanoes are being stormed by army guys and (not exactly to scale) superheroes. They were a mess.

A mess, but a total hit with the kids, who couldn't keep their hands off the cakes, even while I was cutting them. I think the biggest triumph of the party was that I didn't accidentally cut off any tiny fingers.

All in all, it was a huge success and a ton of fun. And I have an almost four year old, which is so hard to believe.

How the Irish Celebrate (Sometimes)

By the time I met Mike and Alicia, they were already engaged, so I didn't go to their engagement party. In the years since, though, I've heard (more than a few times) about what they drank to celebrate: black velvets.

Interestingly, the drink was originally created to mourn the passing of Prince Albert, so it's not exactly a celebratory beverage. But still, it's Irish and it involves champagne, which makes it celebratory enough for me.

After our Dom Perignon debacle on Sunday, Cooper was feeling inspired, so on Tuesday he brought home a six-pack of Guinness. I rooted around in the basement and found a bottle of California sparkling wine (possibly left over from one of Kyle and Mary's wedding events) that would fit our champagne needs, and we started pouring.

Pouring too fast, actually. Instead of looking up how to make the drink, Cooper just started mixing and we ended up with a murky, fizzy mess of Guinness and champagne - not the carefully constructed layered creation the drink is supposed to be.

Plus, while the black velvet was certainly interesting texturally - the smooth Guinness provides a nice contrast to the fizzy champagne - the flavor was a little weirdly bitter for me. I like both pieces separately, but together they just weren't my cup of tea, so to speak.

Does that mean I'm not sufficiently Irish to appreciate it? Or did our shoddy construction influence the taste? Or is it just that it's not supposed to be drunk on a random Tuesday night?

Old School Thursday: Pancakes & Typhoid Edition

Today, in addition to being the first full day of autumn and Dining Out for Life, is National Pancake Day. Which probably has something to do with the fact that today is the 87th anniversary of the death of Nancy Green, aka the Pancake Queen aka Aunt Jemima.

Today has a bit of notoriety, too, in that it is the birthday of Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary (1869). Though she was immune to typhoid, she was a carrier, and she was also a cook in homes in New York City around the turn of the last century. Several major outbreaks of typhoid originated in homes where she worked and can be traced back to her.

So, today, to celebrate? Well, just dine out for life. And try not to think about typhoid while you eat.

Designing: Trends vs. Classics

Late last week, I did a little opining on Houzz re: the role of classics vs. trends in home design and lots of commenters weighed in. The introduction to the ideabook is here and the book itself is right here:

Trend-Resistant Classics

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

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Trendy: From My Brother and Sister

Sometimes they send me interesting links.

From Tom: the Muppets now have their own web-based cooking series. First, Coolio and now Miss Piggy? (link to the actual video here)

And from Erin: a digital urban farming toolkit, courtesy of the folks at Tulane. This Erin's last semester in architecture school and she's working on her Master's thesis, which relates to community spaces in New Orleans - that's how she ran across the toolkit. Also, in her words, "Urban farming? So hot right now." And she's right.

You Know What's a Shame?

When you open a bottle of 1985 Dom Perignon that someone (Mr. Kelly) got from Yogi Berra in the late 80's, and it's kind of a weird apple juicey color. And doesn't taste quite right.

That is a shame.

Going on around Town

For whatever reason, the end of summer also means the start of a whole lot. Within the next couple of weeks, there are a million things happening in Baltimore. Including:

• On Thursday, the 23rd, Baltimore International College is holding an open house for their food enthusiast classes - and it's focused on French food.
• September 23rd is also Dining Out for Life - Moveable Feast's annual fundraiser. Area restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds (from 20 to 50%) to to the organization which, among other things, delivers meals to homebound people with HIV/AIDS. This year, we're either going to Hautedogcarte or to Clementine - we haven't been to Hautedogcarte yet, but Clementine is donating the full 50% to Moveable Feast, and it seems like that kind of generosity should be rewarded.
• Finally, if you'd like, you can wrap up next week by trying out to be on The Next Food Network Star. On Sunday, September 26th, the show is holding auditions from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Pier 5 Hotel (711 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore). To audition, you'll need two recent photos, a resume, and a completed application (which you can download here). If you go, let me know please. I SO want to hear about it.

Old School Thursday: Forks, Foil & Cinnamon Raisin Bread Edition

Today, September 16th, is National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day, the Feast of St. Cornelius, patron of cattle and domestic animals, and the day before my mom’s birthday. It’s a big one.

Also, today in 1380, Charles V of France passed away. Charles V was one of the early monarchs who took a real interest in food, commissioning Taillevant to write Le Viander, which was the first professional cookery book written in France. Plus, the French started using forks during his reign. So, you know, that was a good thing – and if you’ve ever been to Medieval Times, where they make you eat with your hands, you know that’s true.

In other September 16th news, today in 1947, Reynolds Wrap, the first aluminum foil, went on sale. That makes me wonder: at what point in my life did I stop calling it Reynold’s Wrap, like my grandmother does, and start calling it foil? Probably around the same time I switched from Kleenex to tissue and Xerox to copy. Ah, the death of the brand-as-generic. But I digress.

So today, to celebrate? Well, use your forks. And your foil.

Why I Love Zingerman's

I have had such good experiences with everything I've purchased from Zingerman's - even the Camembert we sent to my mom that was a few days past it's sell-by date (maybe not officially, but the smell indicated it was so). One quick email to the company and they offered to refund, replace, or send my mom something new.

As a result, I already felt warmly towards the company. But even if I didn't, I would now, based solely on the contents of their most recent catalog. It includes short columns written by Zingermans employees, and a fabulous collection of foodstuffs. We're talking:

• Cured hog jowl
• Hungarian liptauer
• A home cheesemaking kit (for only $35!)
• Tarallini from Puglia

Plus, a perfectly reasonable explanation of good and bad nitrates and why some cured meats are dangerous, while others are not.

All in one little adorably illustrated catalog.

Kellys Like Wingies

This is how the Kelly family closed out their summer at Keuka Lake:

That's right, it's a wing-off. We weren't there to taste the goods, but Alicia reported some wholly unsurprising findings: Anchor Bar was good, Frank's was better and (drumroll) the Old Bay butter was by far the best.

Because Old Bay is always the best.

Still Sounds Pretty Good to ME

Jason Wilson in The Smart Set, on being a "lifestyle" writer (in his case, a spirits writer):

When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming Ernest Hemingway. Now, I travel and drink and tell people where to travel and what to drink. Close enough, I guess, though likely closer to the paunchy, boozy, crazy late Hemingway than the younger, dashing one who ran with bulls, drove ambulances in the Great War, and wrote good novels. It’s sort of like dreaming of becoming Elvis when you’re young, and then actually becoming Elvis years later — but you’ve become the wrong one, the Elvis who performed sweaty and overweight in rhinestone jumpsuits.

Also in that article: an interesting examination of specialty liqueur marketing, how liquor trends happen, and the flavored vodka explosion. Pretty up my alley.

This Was in Jail

Remember this? It's the old desk we bought from Housewerks a few weeks ago. They'd collected it from a prison. Well, after some serious sanding and a couple of coats of bottle green car paint (Cooper tells me it's a Porsche color) and varnish, courtesy of Burt at Pollard's Towing, it now looks like this:

It's been bolted to the floor in Dixon's room, where it has already become a favorite spot for scientific experiments and lots and lots of hard work. All in all, it's pretty cool.

Alicia Is a Good Friend

She went to the lake for Labor Day and look what she brought me:

The bag of pink salt on the left is to replenish the supply she brought me last year from the lake. It's fairly fine and mild and looks very pretty in a salt cellar.

The other two types, though, are brand new. I haven't yet tasted the Eden sea salt, which comes from Brittany, but it is so fine that it looks like pale sand. And the little plastic container is filled with hickory-infused salt - it smells like smokey barbecue sauce.

Some people give t-shirts as souvenirs. I like that my friends give salt.

Old School Thursday: Three Wise Men Edition

Today is National Steak au Poivre Day and you know what? I really like steak au poivre. I don’t make it much, but when I do, it makes me very happy. So I can’t complain that it’s got it’s own day.

And what a day it is. First of all, today is Harland Sander’s 120th birthday. He’s more commonly known as Colonel Sanders – the founder of KFC, where there’s no trans fat, but plenty of fat-fat. Delicious fat-fat.

Also, today in 1901, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec died. I’m a huge fan of many things created during the latter part of the 19th century in France, so it’s no surprise that Toulouse-Lautrec is one of my favorite artists. His posters capture something bigger than just the art scene of the time.

Finally, fifteen years ago today, in 1995, popcorn great Orville Redenbacher passed away. Popcorn lovers everywhere naturally mourn the loss.

Today, the celebration is obvious, if a little random: steak, popcorn chicken, and absinthe. Right?

Maryland Wine Makes the Big Time

Last week, my college friends Sumi and Martina had dinner at Choptank, where Sumi loved the Smith Island cake and confirmed, on Facebook, that Maryland is totally hot.

This morning, Discovery Doug (who made it through the hostage situation without incident, fortunately) sent me an NYT article suggesting that Maryland has captured New York's attention in more ways than one.

The article, which appears in the "Journeys" section, is about traveling through Maryland to visit wineries - clearly something close to my heart. While I'm not a fan of Maryland wine for the most part (with the exception of the Black Ankle albarino, which is very good), I am a fan of Maryland wineries.

Boordy, especially, does a fantastic job of hosting events that are just about as fun and family-friendly as they come. We've spent several really nice afternoons hanging out at the vineyard and just yesterday, a friend mentioned that she loves their Thursday night farmer's market (where all the food is by Clementine).

I think the state has a ways to go in terms of actual wine production, but everything's got a learning curve, right? I learned from the article that Maryland is on the same latitude as Bordeaux, so maybe there's hope.

My other big takeaway? Marylanders don't spit. Confirming what I already knew: we're pretty fun here.

Five Years. That's Right: Five.

Today is M&G's fifth birthday, which kind of astounds me, until I think about all the things that have happened in my life since I started blogging. Like having an actual flesh-and-blood child (who will turn four this month), undertaking a major home renovation/addition, and completing somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 work projects.

It's been a pretty busy five years.

It's also been a pretty busy summer, which is why, even though I've known that this anniversary was coming up, I never really planned anything special for it. Last night, when we got home from the beach, tired and cranky, I remembered that today is, well, today, and that I wanted to recognize the anniversary in some way, even if it's a small one. That's when I started reading.

Just clicking through the archives, I ran across tons of posts I barely remember and a ton of meals that I'd have completely forgotten if it weren't for the magic of the internets. Lots of crappy, amateurish photography (especially from the early days) and rambling paragraphs that try to connect art with food.

But some of it, I actually enjoyed rereading. I didn't make it through the whole blog last night - as it turns out, I can write a lot over five years - but I did collect a handful of posts that I still find interesting. Kind of a "best of" collection (except not complete. And maybe not all "best.") And, for your reading pleasure, that's right here:

• How I learned to cook
• How cooking transcends
• On fashion and food
• Matisse doesn't eat
• The food of Hogwarts
• In praise of regionalism
• Happiness is making decisions
• Lamenting the rise of the kiddie foodie
• Dots and food and romance
• Futurism's failure
• Remembering parties past
• I ruin my microwave
• The start of the Grande Diplome project
• Hot dogs and jean shorts at Keuka Lake

One more note: thanks to everyone who reads, whether it's every day or just once. It's nice to know that I'm not just shouting out into the darkness. Really nice.

Trendy: Infused Whatever

Apparently infusing is so hot right now and this does not surprise me even a little bit, as I have been infusing the hell out of both liquor and simple syrup for the past few months (it happened last summer, too).

Right now, in my kitchen, this trend is looking a little something like this:
"That" is simple syrup infused with lemon, mint and rosemary. Since it's the end of summer, I'm in a rush to use all of our herbs before they shrivel up and die - and drinking herbs always seems like a good idea.

Here's how I make it:

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• zest of 2 lemons (cut into big chunks)
• mint leaves from 3 sprigs

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until all the sugar is dissolved (don't boil). Remove the pan from the heat and add the rosemary, lemon zest and mint leaves to the syrup. Let them steep until the syrup cools, then remove the mint leaves. (Mint is strong.) Place the rest in the refrigerator to chill for an hour or two (or a day or two).

Before using, strain the syrup to remove the zest and rosemary.

We use this to make a drink that is so refreshing, it's kind of dangerous. Fill a rocks glass with ice and add a shot of gin (or vodka, if you're into that sort of thing). Top with three tablespoons of syrup and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, then fill the glass the rest of the way with selzer. Stir and prepare to be refreshed.

Speaking of selzer, it's become the hot secret ingredient around our house lately. Like bacon, it seems to make everything better.

9.02.10

We've got one more thing to celebrate today: those plucky kids at West Beverly High. Happy 90210, everyone:

Old School Thursday: Fire & Ice Blueberries Edition

Today is National Blueberry Popsicle Day. Now, I have had a lot of popsicles in my day, but I don’t think I’ve actually ever had a blueberry popsicle. Not that I’m opposed to the concept but, come on, does it really need a whole day? I blame the ever-powerful blueberry lobby.

Today is also St. Agricola of Avignon Day. He is the patron for rain and good weather (please, St. Agricola, ask Earl to avoid Maryland)…and storks. Obviously.

There’s not a whole lot of news today, but here’s something that’s interesting: today in 1666 the Great Fire of London began. The fire, which burned for four days and destroyed over 13,000 buildings, started in the shop of the King’s baker. Good reminder to all those pastry chefs out there to…just be careful.

So today, to celebrate, I guess we’re stuck with blueberry popsicles. Maybe with gin?

Cool Classes in Baltimore

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from someone at the Baltimore International College about a new series of classes they're offering for "lay people" (for lack of a better term). They're a mix of hands-on classes and demonstrations and cover a bunch of different topics, from ethnic cooking to holiday meals.

The classes are short - just one evening - but unfortunately I can't make any of them this semester. Truly unfortunate, too, because check out the description for the cheese tasting class on September 16th ($60):

Sample various domestic, regional and international hard and soft cheeses while
sampling and pairing with various wines.

Kind of my wheelhouse, right?

If you can make it, I highly recommend giving them a shot...