Husband has commandeered the kitchen, preparing to have his mother's side of the family for our "Christmas" celebration tomorrow, and my most recent dining experience was so terrible I'm not ready to write about it. I did, however, update my Top 5 list as a result, feeling I can no longer recommend the establishment. Why? Because if my guests always feel as if they are right and well-cared for, I should feel the same when I dine out. See if you can find what's missing.
All of that to say, it's been a slow week here at Chez Widow, but I did want to give these crumbs:
- A reminder that Oink!Moo!Cluck! farm is still delivering once a month during the off-season, so if you are finding yourself searching for something local and delicious in this off season, they will bring chicken, pork, beef, sausages and all sorts of things right to your door! Order by Wednesday the 17th for Saturday the 20th delivery. You can see their assortment at their website, and place orders via email.
- I just learned you can make delicious cafe au lait with a stick blender! More an that later.
- Saveur magazine apparently thinks canned peas - not any special canned peas, mind you, just canned peas in general - are worthy of a top 100 recommendation. I didn't think this year's list could get any worse than last year's, but there you have it. Canned Peas.
- Here's a little bit of wine education for those of you who order 2 year old California cabernets at dinner and then insist the bottle stay on the table, unpoured, to "breathe" while you enjoy your pre-dinner cocktails: if you think the wine can breath while in the bottle, try this: try to breathe through a sippy straw - it's tough, isn't it? How about, you let me pour the wine into a nice big glass, letting it get some air, and you try to refrain from drinking it all before your nice big steak arrives? Capiche?
- I read the best book this week (in about 14 hours flat, practically nonstop), and I've been recommending it to everyone I like. Toast
, by Britain's Nigel Slater, is one of thse books so well written it kind of made me want to hang up my pen. It's a coming of age story told in food - mind you, a boys' coming of age, and there are certain things which go along with that which might make the book inappropriate for some sensitive readers. Touching without ever being precious, it's a great read - sad and funny, sometimes at the same time, go out and read it!
Well, there are just a few thoughts from my week. Let's toast to the coming week being more exciting than the last - Cheers!
