Restaurant Widow

Housekeeping Notes

My pages were wonky, and I am working on it.  In the meantime, you might have to search for things by using the Google search on the lower right hand side of the page.

All apologies! We'll have it fixed right as rain in just a few days.

Market report, diatribe, reviews and the like coming soon!

See You at the Market!!!

Don't forget I'll be at the Market Saturday morning at 9am!  if you see the time stamp, you will understand why I will look tired.  I've been baking corn muffins and butter since after work!  Whew!

I'll see you there!

I Owe You A Million Thank Yous. Here are a Few...

I was just writing a long-overdue email thank you note to a reader and realized I really needed to do the same to everyone out there.

Please don't think I have begun taking myself too seriously.  As a matter of fact, by putting some of these things in writing, I am asking for a swift, ego-chiseling kick from karma.

Some of these things are touchy-feely.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for your kind words of support, your ideas, suggestions, and yes, criticism last month during the whole negative comment debacle.  In retrospect, I don't get a lot of negative and judgmental comments, so maybe they sting more.  I'm not saying I don't get them because I'm great, I think I just don't have a controversial topic.  I was just reading Pasta Queen (Half of me) this morning and she was talking about how offended her readers are when they read about some of her food choices, and it really must take a strong armor to have your readers constantly judging your choices because you are writing about weight loss. 

Secondly, I want to thank everyone who came to see me at Pecha Kucha and said nice things.  When I went to my first PK, I knew I wanted to present, and then I proceeded to be terrified about it for the next few months.  The truth is, I selected the slides and then kind of mulled things over.  It wasn't until about 4 hours prior to the event, while writing out my note cards, that I came upon my theme.  Getting out of my comfort zone from time to time and spending time with other creative people really helps me rediscover my own creativity and get back my inspiration.

Thanks for letting me know that you don't mind advertising.  It is something I have really struggled with, but I feel strongly about the kind of advertising I will have, how it will look, and more than anything, how it will allow me to work harder and be better.  Having even a small amount of extra income will allow me to visit more restaurants and interesting things around the city so that you can do the same! 

Although I don't want to take myself too seriously, I do have to take blogging seriously from time to time, as silly as that might sound, but every day I realize how much more I could do for you out there, and for people who are coming to work, visit, or live in Columbus who never even knew there were food blogs in Columbus.

I have been struggling with inspiration lately, mainly because I have been letting other areas of my life take over (nothing serious!); but I need to remember that this is what I love doing, and give it and you the respect deserved, and start writing earlier in the day so I can get it done before I have to go to work.  At my age, I still have to work really hard to organize my priorities and stop procrastinating!  The arts community in Columbus, such as the Wexner Center, have nudged me to notice that I have let things like my "real" job drag me down and being around art and feeling that energy has reminded me that only I can allow my creativity to be stifled.

I want to thank everyone for coming to my dinners and expressing a desire to have more!  I have a few ideas for future events, which I will be talking about soon.  I definitely want to do some field trips where we can visit some of our favorite places; I'd also love to do a tour of places which inspire me and I hope will inspire you, too.  I would love to do some cooking classes - we can do all sorts of things!

Thank you to everyone who donated money to send me to Orlando for the US leg of the Bocuse d'Or, and to great folks like Walker from Columbus Underground for writing his foodie business owners and helping ask for money!  I will have updates soon.

I am really, really bad at answering emails, and I am working to get better. 

At any rate, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for reading, commenting, critiquing, sharing your pictures, your own market reports, book reviews, things I should do/read/eat/visit, providing your recipes, sharing your ideas, and everything you do to make the Columbus food community better and better.  I know that many of you would make better food bloggers than I am, you just don't have the time to do it.  Having your input is priceless.

RW Supper #2 Creamed Corn Recipe

I had a good questions regarding cutting the kernels off the corn, here's my response:

Good question.  I use a pretty sharp sushi knife - not an expensive one, just a $15 one I bought from Tensuke market.  I like to actually blanch the corn for about a minute first, and then shock it in cold water.  It really helps to keep the kernels from going everywhere when you are cutting them off.  I only cut about halfway through the kernels - the knife should slide right through.  Then, I take the back of the knife and run it over the cob, to get all the yummy stuff out.

I have this feeling that if I don't give out the creamed corn recipe and soon, I will arrive home one day to an angry, corn-hungry mob.  I am afraid you will be scandalized when I tell you how easy it is.  There are a few keys here.  Namely, really, really good bacon and lots of fat.

It's almost too easy.  Because let's face it, bacon + cream make everything better.  But I do think this is one of those occasions where the best ingredients truly do make a difference.  I just don't think you would get the same result with cheap, thin, grocery store bacon and canned corn.  Everything - except the bacon - in this recipe was local and of the best quality.  Which isn't to say it's the most expensive - seriously, I bought a half gallon of Snowville Creamery heavy cream (at Weilands - thanks guys!!) which we used for making butter, whipped cream, and in the creamed corn.  It was $8, which might seem high, but 2 quarts of Kroger brand heavy cream was $8.40.  So the Kroger brand is more expensive and you have no idea where that milk comes from or how the cows were treated.

The bacon used here was Broadbent Bacon; it comes from 400 miles away in Kuttawa, KY, which is local, according to Whole Foods.  I wouldn't really consider it local per se, but it really, truly is incredible.  You can buy it at Weiland's, where it is in front of the meat case (not refrigerated).  I used the maplewood smoked bacon; I had so many complements on the bacon, I thought it was worth noting.  This is pretty much a staple here in the Widow household, because even one piece will add amazing flavor to a whole pot of, say, cabbage.  If you must have local bacon, I wholeheartedly recommend both Blues Creek bacon (in the North Market) and Thurn's amazing double-smoked bacon.

Okay, enough preachy talky, more bacon, please.

I'm going to do my best to provide a real recipe, because the truth is, I don't use one.  I just have a feel for these things.  After you make it a few times, you will, too.  I promise.

Lisa & Jon's Creamed Corn - Serves 2

4-8 strips really good thick bacon, depending on how many bites the cook will eat, cut into strips
2 small leeks or a medium onion, diced
6 ears corn, kernels removed
salt
pepper
2 cloves garlic, mushed
Heavy Cream - let's say 1/4 cup, but probably more

Render the bacon in a nonstick pan over medium heat.  Drain off half the fat (leave bacon in pan) and add the onions (we used small leeks from the Wayward Seed CSA).  Stir until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes, and then add the corn and season with salt, pepper, and crushed garlic.  Add the heavy cream - there should be enough to make the corn look more creamy than corny, and then let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the cream has reduced and everything is creamy and yummy looking (yes, that's a scientific cooking term).  If I were at home, cooking for myself, I'd add a nice dash of cayenne pepper powder.

Okay!  There's your recipe!  I hope you enjoy!  And remember, it's full of dairy, which has calcium.  Calcium is good for you.  So is corn.  And bacon, while it might not be good for your waistline, is very good for your soul.  (If you see the pictures others took of the dinner and of me, you will see that my, er, soul, is very well fed.  Maybe a litte too well fed, quite frankly.  I think it's time to take my soul for a few long walks.)

Rogue Beer Dinner @ Deepwood

The very nice folks at Deepwood recently invited me and a group of my readers to attend their first beer dinner (thanks guys!).  I had three diverse readers - PJ, Josie, and Bethia - join me for an evening of beer drinking and eating great food. 

I started the evening off with one of Deepwood's signature cocktails, Gin & Juice.  I love to order anything called gin and juice, but when it's gin and watermelon juice, I'm totally in.  YUM.

The group for the dinner commandeered almost the entire restaurant, and we were grouped in lots of large and small tables.  Our educators for the evening were Deepwood sous chef and beer enthusiast Colin Vent, who designed the menu, and Bob Gera, a Rogue rep who gave us a little history and information on each beer.

First up, we had a little bite of house-cured gravlax, salmon cured in hops with a few microgreens and a Parmesan crisp; the matching beer was Juniper Ale, and the two paired really well.  The salmon was very well executed; the texture was like buttered silk, and the cure on the salmon was great.  The salmon brough out an almost floral character in the beer:

Next, my favorite course of the evening, Honey - Quail Braised Quail with Gingered beets, cider vinegar Reduction.  The quail was rich and sweet, and my only complaint about the beets is that there weren't enough of them - a feeling agreed-upon by all in our group.  The presentation looks simple, but it was incredibly flavorful.  We all laughed at how quails look like little people on the plate - mine kind of looks as though he's about to do the Radio City kick line thing.  I ate every bite, even though I usually sacrifice half of my quail to Husband because I get tired of the tedium of eating their tiny little legs, but this time I did my best.  There were two beers with this: Smoke ale and Old Crustacean Barleywine.  Both beers were a great match, but I thought the Smoke ale made a very interesting match; it paired reallly well with the rich and sweet quail.  I have a feeling it will be great in some chili or braised pork something or other:

Third, we had an eel "sandwich" on a naan-like bread with Hibiscus BBQ sauce, braised red cabbage, onion ring, and stuffed squash blossom.  Reactions were mixed on this dish.  While we all agreed the onion ring, squash blossom, and cumin & fennel flavored cabbage were delightful, I think I'll stick with Japanese eel preparations (I'm sorry Colin, I hope you don't hate me as much as all the chefs in my restaurant do).  I commented at the bravery of the chef to select a stuffed squash blossom as a garnish, because they can be a pain to stuff and prepare, so I was thrilled to see it on my plate.  I do believe that is the first squash blossom I've seen in a restaurant in Columbus, and I love them, so kudos.  The beer here was the Morimoto Black Soba Ale, which everyone at the table really loved.  I have never purchcased this beer because it's kind of threatening, but I really enjoyed it, and it went really well with the dish.  I was surprised at how well it paired with the cabbage:

Next up, we had bison!  Very nicely marinated in coffee and slow-poached in olive oil until it was perfectly, and I mean perfectly, cooked throuout, it remained nice and meaty.  Frequently olive oil poaching, when done incorrectly, can lead to mushy meat, but this was perfect.  Also present was Valdeon (a piquant blue cheese) polenta.  Well, as Chef chef knows, polenta is the way to my heart, so that was a delight - again, very well executed with a nice custardy, but still pleasantlly "gritty," texture.  As a garnish, a tiny cluster of currants had been dipped in sugar syrup and placed on the plate.  A fun garnish, which I hope everyone at least tried.  I plan to steal this.  Currants are notoriously tart, but the candy finish made them tart & sweet at the same time.  Again, I love currants, and you never see them on dishes in Columbus, so this was another pleasant surprise.  The beer here was Imperial Stout, a surprisingly light-bodied yet full-flavored stout which had nice, food-friendly acidity:

Cheese!  Chimay, a nice almost Meunster-like soft cheese which is rich and nutty.  You might recognize the name of this cheese from it's dangerous monk-made beer partner, Chimay beer.  There was also a Goat Cheese fritter, and Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue, an Oregon blue cheese which is slowly cold-smoked over hazelnut shells; this cheese is really, really good - filled with pleasant crunchiness and a strong but not acidic blueness.  It was only appropriate, what with it being smoked with hazelnut shells, that it would be served with Hazelnut Brown ale.  This was my favorite beer of the evening.  The aroma was pure hazelnut and the beer was smooth and round.  I think it would be perfect for my pounda pounda pounda cake (flourless chocolate cake with ground hazelnuts):

Lastly, a mildly hot and smokey chipotle ale along with surprisingly hot habanero pate de fruits, an intriguing and tasty smokey caramel mousse (put that on the regular menu) and yummy adobo truffles, topped with crunchy salt.

The dinner was great; I was very full at the end.  The pacing was nice and the pours of the beers - important since some of them have over 9% alcohol - were large enough to enjoy throughout the courses without being so heavy that we were inebriated at the end of the dinner.  Of course, you could purchase extra beer if the pairings weren't enough.  All beers were available for retail price, around $4 - $20, beers in various sizes.  This dinner was a great value (I thought) at $65 a person, and I would definitely go again.

Thanks Amber, Catherine, Colin & Brian!!  It was great!

Things to do in Columbus::August 27th Edition

Well, for most of the city of Columbus and surrounding areas, school is starting today.  Can anyone believe it is almost September?  At the Sunday Supper this weekend, Chef Jon and I were talking about how the summertime flies by, and then the winter just drags. on. forever.  I had a dream last night it was snowing.  Not ready!!  Oh well.  It gives us plenty of time to think and ponder on what we are going to do next year.  Maybe actually pickle something?  Who knows.

At any rate, this weekend is the time when the all the summer-related festivities begin winding down and we get back to real life.  No more music in the parks during lunch time, no more Waterfire on the Mile.  On the other hand, the Warhol exhibit is coming!

• Okay, once again, greedy and selfish Lisa the Waitress gets the first event!  This Saturday I will be at the Clintonville Farmer's Market, passing out treats.  I'm thinking of something involving butter.  Yum.  Hopefully.  I will be there at 9am at the Volunteer booth, so at the corner by the automotive store.  Stop by and say hi!
• Thank you very much to Anne for reminding me that this Monday is the Ohio Green Living Fayre.  This is the second annual fayre (I believe) and I believe last year's event was a great event.  There are lots of events and demonstrations going on, as well as lots of things for kids and great food.  Grass fed burgers, anyone?
• If you aren't having a cookout or anything on Labor Day, why not head up north to the Hills Market for their hog roast?  YUMMY.  For only $8, you can get pulled pork, baked beans and cole slaw.  I am so there.  I love me some hog roast.  Beer, wine, and Boar's Head hot dogs will also be available.  Click below for more information:
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• This weekend is the Columbus Greek Festival!  Talk about a good festival for eating.  You can eat the basics - gyros and souvlaki - or go inside for a nice spanakopita.  Or, enjoy the lamb roast outside.  Admission is $5. 
• Of course, the Lion King begins tomorrow.  They will be in town for about a month.  There are tickets at all price points, but they are going fast. 
• Thursday is the last Wex drive in.  *sigh* The Statehouse and the Wex team up to bring you The Talk of the Town, starring Cary Grant, at 8pm.  One of my Sunday Supper attendees suggested beginning the evening at the OSU Urban Art Space for a discussion on art & ecology.  There will be a talk at 4pm, a biodynamic & organic wine tasting at 6pm, then free tours of the building's rooftopgardens at 7.  From there you can stroll over to the statehouse for the film!  Read more about the evening's downtown events here.
• I just became a member of the Wexner Center!  So can you!
• This Friday is the last Rythm on the River, along with Waterfire on the Mile and a presentation from BalletMet. 
• Monday is the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival.  Lots of things for the kids to do, along with lots of things to see, do and buy.

RW Dinner the Second!!

Whew!  I am so tired from working all day yesterday (I know, some of you actually work all day, every day) that I almost slept through a work meeting today.  When I arrived (late late late), my boss talked to me for a few seconds and then said "do you need some coffee?"  Wow.  I had no idea it was that obvious!  That is but a string of embarrassing moments in my life this week

- at work the other night, I accidentally poured wine into an ice bucket instead of someone's glass; no, I'm not joking.

my life has been so embarrassing lately that you'd think I'd turned into some wreck of a lush.  When I poured wine into the ice bucket, my guest say "have you been drinking?!"  No, I replied, I suppose karma just decided I needed an ego check.  I don't know what that has to do with anything, except that if you ever have those weeks, maybe you'll feel better. 

So, my second dinner went really well (I think so) and once again, we had a great and diverse crowd.  I learned a bit from the last time; it still wasn't perfect, but I think it was a little more relaxed.  I hope so, anyway.

As usual, I completely forgot to take pictures.  Fortunately, my guests didn't!  And guess what?!  I've been blogged about!!  Click here to read Bethia's account of the dinner: http://hungrywoolf.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/dinner-chez-lisa/.

And for those of you who did or didn't attend, here is the menu, along with the wines.  In addition to the wines listed, Husband made a really delicious Sangria of rose with fruit and watermelon juice.  YUM.  Recipes to follow (corn first!!) I promise:

Restaurant Widow Sunday Supper

Canapes

Rhoades Farms Miniature Bell Peppers Stuffed with Blue Jacket Mozzarella or North Ridge Organics’ Lamb Chorizo

-

Puff Pastry topped with Lake Erie Creamery

Goat Cheese and Sun Gold Tomato

1^st Course

Watermelon with Blue Jacket Gretna Grilling Cheese

Gruet Brut Rosé 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

2^nd Course

Salad of Assorted Ohio Heirloom Tomatoes

2007 Château du Roquefort Rosé

Côtes de Provence, France

Main Course

Roasted Happy Amish Chickens, Roasted Tri-Color Potatoes,

Creamed Corn and Green Beans

2006 Tenuta dell Tere Nere Etna Rosato

Sicily, Italy

Dessert

Nectarine and Peach Crisp

Gruet Brut Rosé 

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Champagne’s Gruet family brought Old World knowledge and skill to the high altitude mesas of New Mexico.  100% Pinot Noir aged for 24 months on its lees.” A lovely, bright floral bouquet with hints of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. On the palate, it is rich, dry and fruity. The berry flavors continue on the palate, revealing more strawberry, raspberry, cherry.

   

2007 Château du Roquefort Rosé Corail

Côtes de Provence, France. 100% biodynamically farmed. 35% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Cinsault and equal parts Carignan, Rolle and  Clairette. “Pale pink. Wild strawberry, pink grapefruit and honeysuckle aromas are brightened by dusty minerals and white pepper. Racy red fruit flavors are light in body and possess impressive clarity. Firm citrus and red fruit flavors leave a juicy impression in their wake.”

2006 Tenuta dell Tere Nere Etna Rosato

Sicily, Italy.  Most Sicilain vineyards are planted on the hot and sunny flatlands near the ocean.  Summer time highs often exceed 100° and the wines show it.

  The vineyards of Tenuta dell Tere Nere sit nearly 2,500 feet up on the slopes of Mount Etna.  Day time highs may reach 95° but night time lows dip into the 40’s, even during the summer.  These cool nights extend the growing season which increases complexity and preserves freshness. “A blend composed predominantly of the indigenous Nerello Mascalese. A light salmon in color, it reveals compelling aromatics and ethereal sweet fruit on a deceptively light to medium-bodied frame, with outstanding length and purity. It offers extraordinary complexity at this level.”

Special thanks to…

Rhoades Farms

Tonight’s Guest Chef Jon Mason of Alana’s

Winners Picked!

If you didn't receive an email from me, I am sad to say you did not win a date with Lisa the Waitress.

I will email everyone if one of my dates fall through!

Things to do in Columbus::August 20th Edition

How can it already be August 20th?  Oh!  It's my parents' anniversary today!  Happy 42nd?!! Mom & Dad!!  Wow.  That's really amazing. 

So.  We've been enjoying really amazing weather which has been great for us but bad for tomatoes.  I'm still enjoying the tomatoes this year, I'm just glad I'm not trying to grow any.

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Okay, so obviously the previous was written yesterday.  And now it's today.  I'm a day late with the events.  And I'm sure I'm missing lots of things!

• Once again, I get the first event!  I will be presenting at Pecha Kucha tonight (read a little bit about how I described PK)!  Wish me luck! I will be presenting after intermission, so if you can't make it until later, you can still catch my rambling!
• Tonight is another Wex drive-in.  There's Pam's Popcorn & Jeni's Ice Cream!  Tonight's movie is 20 Million Miles to Earth.  Tomorrow, you can see The Shining!  Click over to their calender for all events, and don't forget to become a Warhol Club member!  The Warhol exhibit begins September 13.
• Tonight is Third Thursday in the Short North.  Retail shops will be open late to give 9-5ers a chance to shop some of the most unique shops in Columbus.
• This Sunday is the last Jazz Sunday at Goodale park.  *sigh* Summer is ending.  At any rate, Lisa Webster & Friends will play, and this show begins at 12:30.
• Tuesday is the last lunchtime concert in the Topiary park and features Blues band Teeny Tucker.
• Tonight at Whole Foods, you can learn about sushi & sake; Saturday you can learn about organic lawn care and canning tomatoes; and on Monday you can learn about brain food for the kiddies.
• This week at Sur la Table, learn advanced knife skills (Sat), cooking with beer & wine (Mon), saucemaking (Tues), rustic Tuscan (Wed), and Curries & Kebabs (Thurs)

Update to Deepwood Competition

1. Husband might have to work, so if you are more excited to spend time with Mr. Waitress, prepare to be disappointed.
2. However, if Husband can't go, that means one more person can!
3. I'm not sure where the Mario Batali rumor came from; I haven't heard that one yet!  So, regardless of whether you like Mario, you could still sign up.  Mario is kind of a notorious food-blog hater, so I am sure he won't come to our table.