June 11, 2009
June Reboot
I feel compelled to go back to the basics, and in some way, the future.
May 31, 2009
June Bug
Stormy weather this weekend...
But the truth is that living in Canada makes one very happy when warm weather returns after long, cold and snowy winters. I used to laugh at the guys in shorts and sandels when the temps rose even the slightest above winter's chill. And now I have become one of them.
May 4, 2009
November 13, 2008
Dinner for One
I've been working hard since the year began and have become a little frustrated about the results. So last night it was time for some hard earned reward.
Off to my favorite restaurant downtown, because I had an hour to kill before an industry mixer which started at seven. The restaurant in question is Jamie Kennedy's Wine Bar on Church St.
As I ate and drank the meal I realized that my truly happiest moments as an adult revolved around cooking, eating and good wines. I tweeted about it from my seat at the Che'f bar as I watched my meal being cooked right in front of me.
The menu;
Seared Scallops with Pork Belly and Porky Beans - $12
Sweetly fresh and perfectly cooked sea scallops with a good sear, with cubes of fried pork belly and crisp bacon over a bed of braised white beans. Not salty at all, but rich and satisfying.
Wine - Fleury Pere & Fils "Brut Carte Rouge" Champagne - $25.80 (6oz)
Wonderfully dry and yeasty glass served nicely chilled. Surprisingly good match with the Scallop course.
Grilled Tri-Tip of Beef with Shaved Beet and Frisse - $12
Four slices from a grilled to order chunk of Tri-Tip served rare and I could see it resting on a cutting board for 3-4 minutes after being grilled. Slightly tough but perfectly cooked and seasoned with a crusty salt and pepper coating. Served over a shaved multicolored beet and frisee salad with a few sprigs of rapini as an additional garnish.
Wine - 2001 Hospice de Beaune Volnay - Santenots ler Cru "Cuvee Gauvain" Pinot Noir - $31.50 (6oz)
I've enjoyed Hospice wines before. They are quite expensive as they are a product of a charity auction for hospitals in France. This brought back a flood of sense memories even though I had a preference for the white burgundies from Hospice de Beaune...
It was remarkable; delicate in the French manner and clear with an exceptional smooth finish. Quite light with a perfect nuance, and again a surprisingly successful match.
It can be awkward eating alone. But this time, and at this place proved it can be a sublime exception.
November 4, 2008
September 8, 2008
Blogging since '96
Digging through ancient files (remember Zip disks?) revealed graphics from '96 I did on a tablet for my "blog" at the time.
It was way branded incorrectly, but I had the sense of blogging then, even if I have underperformed since.
August 26, 2008
The Wedge of Iceberg
Last week I had to order the iceberg wedge on a business trip to Ohio, as it included candied pecans, a "home-made" thousand island dressing and bacon bits.
Damn it was good. It is great to see these old school dishes reinvented and improved.
The next night we had an amazing meal at Lola's in downtown Cleveland. The client both recommended and made reservations for us.Good on them. Food is a universal human conversation; even if it might involve iceberg lettuce...
August 25, 2008
Purple flowers
Purple flowers all around.
What more does one need to feel connected to the universe?