Restaurant Widow

A Children's Book for Bakers, and Anyone

One of the things I love about baking for the restaurant is going in early on Saturday mornings, where I can be alone and listen to Weekend Edition Saturday.  (Yes, I am a complete and total NPR dork.)  I live for the sessions Scott Simon has with Daniel Pinkwater, a children's author.  They choose a new childrens book and take turns reading it (you should really follow the link and listen to it).  This week, I was standing over the stove melting chocolate and was almost reduced to tears by the sweet book they chose, The Bake Shop Ghost, by Jacqueline Ogburn.  You should buy it for all the kids you know.

80,000 Calories Later

I am finally home!  It might be a few days before I can do good recaps of my trip, since I thought it would be a good idea to return home and immediately work 2 double shifts.  Ah, well.  Until then, here's my obligatory picture of the Bay Bridge, taken from the Ferry Market Building.  Why didn't I take one of the Golden Gate bridge? you might be asking.  I don't know. 

San Francisco Update, sans Pictures

First of all, I would like to apologize for any typos in my previous post, as I was in a haze of oblivion induced by too much Xanax and Dramamene which, although they allowed me to take the 6 hours in the air without having a Twilight Zone John Lithgow meltdown, made my first day here a little hazy.  And the next day, to be true.  I have decided to leave the typos in, though, because I think they're funny in a really humiliating,  I-can't-believe-I-have-an-English-degree-and-am-always-criticizing-everyoneelse's-grammar-yet-couldn't-write-in-complete-sentances sort of way.

Anyway, on with a little packing diatribe: A memory card reader weighs 2 ounces, and can be removed from my computer by hardly moving a muscle.  Now, I remembered to bring 4 kinds of lotion, 5 handbags, 2 cashmere sweaters, 2 velvet blazers (one brown, one pink), a sequined scarf (but no coat), 3 hooodies, 2 camera batteries, a cell phone charger, 14 magazines, at least 10 tee shirts (for 6 days) and 20 pairs of socks and yet, AND YET!! forgot the card reader.  Ditto the USB port.  Ah, well.  Fortunately I opted for the 1 Gig memory card, so I am in little danger of running out of room for pictures whilst here (I have 522 pictures remaining).  But you won't be enjoying any of them until at least next Friday.

Well, today will be spent wandering around Chinatown and hopefully eating some noodles.  But first, a stop at the Hangar One/St. George's Tasting Room.  Sounds a little dangerous, but I think we can handle it.

San Francisco Sojourn

Through the amazing anti-breakdown powers of Xanax, I have just endured the 6 hour flight to the West Coast without incedent.  Restaurant Widow will be on a brief hiatus as I eat my way through San Francisco with friend and fellow restaurant widow Jen (chef husband).  Please stay tuned for a few updates alas, without pictures until I return, of my escapades. 

Here's the plan:

Friday Night: dinner at Jack Falstaff

Saturday:  Morning at the Ferry building, wandering around Chinatown, dinner at Jai Yun

Sunday:  Many, many beers at Toronado recounting good old days with Jen, her husband Chef Dan (with whom I used to work), and our friend Sous Chef Phil, another good friend from all of their days back in Columbus.  Next door, apparantly, is a place with called Rosamunde million sorts of sausages to be enjoyed with said beer.  It's a German girl's dream!!

Monday:  Another friend, who we will call Jen 2, will be arriving.  Tentative plan is for an early dinner at Bouchon (can you say 5 ounces of foie gras?), then a visit to a local.

Tuesday:  Headed up to Napa again - hopefully a visit to one of my favorite wineries - Haven's, and then we will be headed to foodie mecca.  I'll just give you a hint:   

Wednesday:  The plan is to spend the morning in Berkeley, hopefully a little stint at Edmond St. John's winery, a quick lunch at Chez Panisse with dessert at Sketch Ice cream shop.  A very early dinner to be had at Zuni Cafe.

Thursday:  Get up at the crack of dawn and head back.

Thanksgiving Recipe #3 - Sweet Potato Casserole

You'll have to trust me on these potatoes without a picture, as I haven't made them in awhile.  I will try to post a picture at some point.  Forget the mini marshmallow topping and the sticky, syrupy sweet potatoes that make everyone turn their nose in disgust.  I have converted many an avowed sweet potato hater - including Husband - with this fabulous casserole.  If you want to be a purist, you can use fresh sweet potatoes; I rather prefer to use canned because 1. Thanksgiving is stressful enough without peeling two kinds of potatoes and 2. the canned variety, having sat in canning liquid, seem to lose some of that fibrous texture common in sweet potatoes.  But of course, it's up to you.

This recipe, with some minor changes, comes from my Mother, who has to e-mail it to me at every major holiday since I can't seem to keep track of it from year to year.  Thanks Mom!

Sweet Potato Casserole - serves 6 - 8

4 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 large cans in light syrup, drained) - if using fresh, peel and chop into 1" chunks, then boil in salted water.

1/3 cup butter

pinch salt

2/3 cup honey

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp flour

a good pinch cayenne

Preheat oven to 350.  Mash together with electric hand mixer until just blended.  Butter a 9" square Pyrex baking dish and place the mashed sweet potatoes in. 

Topping:

1 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

Combine the ingredients and spread evenly over the sweet potatoes.  Bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned and hot.  This recipe may be assembled a day ahead of time and baked before serving.

Thanksgiving Recipe #2 - Party Potatoes

  I don't really think Thanksgiving should be fancy; it's really about spending time with your family, maybe watching some football, and eating a lot of turkey.  Usually dry turkey, but we'll get to that on another post.  These potatoes, whipped in the mixer and containing no roasted garlic or truffle oil nonsense, have been a favorite guilty pleasure of mine for as long as I can remember.  One note of caution, however - if you make them, be prepared to make them again and again.  Everyone loves them.  Make sure all of your dairy ingredients are at room temperature before you begin, because potatoes do not like to be overmixed.  Please don't try to lighten it up by using low fat dairy products, that's just wrong.  I'll tell you how to make wonderfully delicious, low-fat potatoes in another post, but for now, just make the nice fattening potatoes.  It's Thanksgiving.

This recipe comes from my grandmother. 

Party Potatoes - serves 8-10, depending on your family's love of carbohydrates.  In my house, it serves about 6...

10 pounds nice, un-fancy Idaho potatoes

2 sticks butter, cut into cubes

1 8 oz block cream cheese, cut into cubes

1 8 oz tub sour cream

salt

pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Peel your potatoes and chop into 1" pieces; boil in well salted water until soft.  Drain and return to the pot.  Mash a little with a potato masher and then get your hand mixer (or transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer, use a paddle attachment).    Add one stick of the butter, the cream cheese and the sour cream.  Mix until just blended; season with salt and pepper to taste and stir.  Place the potatoes in a large casserole dish and dot the top with the other stick of chopped butter.  Bake for about 40 mintues or until the top is very slightly brown and butter is all nice and melty.

WCB #22

Ike and Abe's collective fat rears can hardly fit on the kitchen stool!  I'd buy another one, but I so rarely see them sharing so nicely.  Head over to Masak-Masak for the roundup and much more!  Okay, and fine - if you want to see what's happening in Weekend Dog land, please visit Sweetnicks.

Quick Lunch at Restaurant Japan

I have heard enless things about Restaurant Japan - that it had the best sushi in town, it's the best Japanese, etc.  Husband was there a year ago but as a Restaurant WidowER, as I was working that evening.  I was totally jealous and decided to try it out for lunch by myself.  It wasn't exactly what I was expecting - the long, clean lines and good lighting I associate with Japanese restaurants here translates as a cafeteria.  Sit at the long sushi counter and avoid the strange MCL experience altogether.

There is a nice list of sushi as well as noodle options for lunch.  The back page features the standard Japanese language menu that makes one wonder what one is missing.  On my next visit, I will definately ask for an explanation.  I opted for the sushi/noodle combo.  Pictured is the sushi combo (l-r tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and sweet shrimp, with a "Manhattan" roll below - crab and avocado with tobiko ((flying fish roe)) on the outside).  I also had the tempura udon; fat chewy udon noodles in a nice broth with large pieces of shrimp tempura floating about.

Everything was fine - good, even, and it made a nice quick lunch for one, although not quite as good a value as Japanese Oriental; my tab was $18 (hot tea was included) with tip (albeit there was more food than I could eat).  They do a lot of volume here, so you know their seafood is fresh, and everything is well-executed.  It's just that it's no Kihachi.  I promise to do a Kihachi summary soon.

If you're near Restaurant Japan, stop in across the courtyard at Seafood Japan, their Japanese grocery store.  As the name implies, they have a large selection of seafood, from baby octopi to eel to himachi kama.  They also have a large array of Japanese condiments and noodles, and an extensive selection of bentos (prepackaged lunch boxes) to go as well as a sushi counter.  They have ready-to-go sushi boxes, but you can also place an order to go.

Info:  Restaurant Japan and Seafood Japan 1173 Kenny Centre Mall (corner of Kenny Road and Old Henderson, just south of "new" Henderson)  Columbus (Northwest Side/Arlington)  614.451.5411

Burgundy Room Dublin

The new Burgundy Room opened yesterday in Dublin.  I got a little sneak peek Sunday night, and took a few pictures.  The new location is more restaurant and less bar, offering the same tapas menu as the Short North Location, plus a more extensive lunch and dinner menu.  We sampled the mussels, cheddar soup, butternut squash soup, calamari, bruschetta, chicken ravioli, and the very good porterhouse steak, along with a bottle of René Geoffroy champagne.  Here's a picture of our spread on the bar:

Here's a closeup of the Tomato, Hummus and Cucumber Bruschetta:

and the Smoked Chicken Ravioli with Prosciutto and Caper Cream Sauce:

Info:  Burgundy Room 6725 Avery-Muirfield Drive Dublin  614.798.9463