Today is National Cheesecake Day and lips are being licked all around the nation. While standardly based on cream cheese and graham cracker crust, any number of variations have been invented. Pamela has changed her loyalty from Juniors to Gallaghers here in New York City (as you saw in yesterday's NYC Restaurant Week Review, I … Continue reading National Cheesecake Day
Food
NYC Restaurant Week Review – Gallaghers Steakhouse
NYC Restaurant Week is not just for dinner - you can choose a fancy lunch as well. Indeed, on of my favorite restaurants in New York - Gallaghers offers only a lunch option, they are packed every night without the special offers. You can get a terrific lunch for $26 or add $3 for dessert. … Continue reading NYC Restaurant Week Review – Gallaghers Steakhouse
NYC Restaurant Week Review – Leopard at des Artistes
As you may know NYC Restaurant Week is underway. You may not know that the "Week" is 26 days long. You can still enjoy. Most restaurants in the program offering one menu for the entire program and throw the really good stuff into a a category that requires additional cost to the $26 lunch and … Continue reading NYC Restaurant Week Review – Leopard at des Artistes
National Chili Dog Day – or as I know it – Pass Me Another Cheese Coney
Today is National Chili Dog Day, or if you are from Cincinnati - National Cheese Coney Day. Take a humble hot dog on a bun, add mustard, Cincinnati Chili, onions (optional) and mound it high with finely shredded mild cheddar cheese. Recently at the One Mile House Bar on Delancey Street here in New York … Continue reading National Chili Dog Day – or as I know it – Pass Me Another Cheese Coney
Restaurant Week Opens in New York
Twice a year this city puts on a special deal called Restaurant Week. It started yesterday and runs through August 17. Throughout the city 380 gourmet restaurants offer a $26 two course meal for lunch or a three course dinner for $42. It is a limited menu, usually with three options for each course, of … Continue reading Restaurant Week Opens in New York
National Caviar Day
Today is National Caviar Day - a very tasty and very expensive national day. You can find many kinds and cheaper versions of fish roe all over the place. But I am here to assure you that real stuff, the real expensive stuff is much better. Years ago I was given a gift certificate to … Continue reading National Caviar Day
National Pecan Day
Today is the national day for one of our most versatile nuts - the pecan. I love them in pies, in waffles, frosted with coatings both savory and sweet. Soft, with a laid back tang I will take them in any form I can find them. The only controversy is how these tasty treats are … Continue reading National Pecan Day
National Sugar Cookie Day
Today is National Sugar Cookie Day. Many people long for chocolate chip or complicated crazy complicated cookies. I long for simple perfection like a Snickerdoodle or delicious Sugar Cookie. It should be pillowy on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside and redolent of butter and plain sugar. If perfectly balanced it is delightful. Too … Continue reading National Sugar Cookie Day
National Fried Chicken Day
I do like fried chicken. If you travel to New York you should try DIRTY BIRD on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. They have some of the best chicken in these parts. But now I have finally made some at home to rival it. I have never made fried chicken that was perfect … Continue reading National Fried Chicken Day
Sourdough Baguettes
Recently tried the King Arthur Flour recipe for Sourdough Baguettes. You can find a video of the process below and the original recipe here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sourdough-baguettes-recipe I used the half measure to make three French style baguettes. In a large bowl combine 1 cup sourdough starter, just shy 3/4 cup lukewarm water and 1 1/2 cups … Continue reading Sourdough Baguettes
SodaStream
I have always enjoyed sparkling water, not so much colas and sodas, but yes on just plain bubbly water. It was always a pain to keep myself supplied, lugging heavy cases of mineral water or just plain seltzer up to the apartment. Often I would make shopping trips to exotic New Jersey, if I bought … Continue reading SodaStream
National Waffle Iron Day
Today is National Waffle Iron Day. Waffle Irons date back to the 14th Century and the Belgians are happy about that. Still, those early models were held over the open fire so I was happy in 1918 when electric waffle irons were introduced. It was a great relief to my tired arms. Today, I generally … Continue reading National Waffle Iron Day
Review – Booker T. Jones at City Winery
Catching up on some past shows as so much has been going on lately. I had the distinct pleasure to see a performance by Booker T. Jones at City Winery in New York. He has been a favorite of mine my whole life. Indeed my cell phone ring tone is "Green Onions" by Booker T … Continue reading Review – Booker T. Jones at City Winery
National Corn on the Cob Day
Today is National Corn on the Cob Day, the way God intended you to eat it, not creamed or mixed in succotash. One of my favorite memories is our family visits to the Ohio State Fair when I was young. Demolition Derby is a really cool concept when your age is in single digits. I … Continue reading National Corn on the Cob Day
This, That, and The Other Thing
THIS: Last night we tried the St. Louis Ribs again, but this time I cooked them at higher temp and for more time in the sous vide. As I had hoped they were even better this time. More experimenting to come for the Franken-Ribs! THAT: Tonight we have the tech rehearsal for my short play … Continue reading This, That, and The Other Thing
Franken-Ribs, the kitchen tale
I know I promised another review but circumstances require I put that off and relate a cooking adventure. You see, I like to play with my food. I recently became aware of a kitchen toy, I mean tool, called a stovetop smoker. My mind immediately turned to pork ribs, a category I have never been … Continue reading Franken-Ribs, the kitchen tale
National Cognac Day
Ok, I admit it. I like a number of different alcohol beverages. But my very favorite is cognac. The perfect post meal sip, cradled by my hand in a snifter, I get a special warm feeling as I close my eyes, the fire in the hearth crackling, resting from reading a book of French poetry, … Continue reading National Cognac Day
National Macaroon Day
Today is National Macaroon Day. You may think of the coconut cookie but I think of the French confections made of egg whites and delicious magic. It was a terrible burden but we decided to taste test several versions from Chelsea shops here in Manhattan to decide which was best. You're welcome. There was a … Continue reading National Macaroon Day
Gotta Get Graeter’s
Have you tried Graeter's Ice Cream? Founded in Cincinnati in 1870 they still make ice cream by hand 2 1/2 gallons at a time in a French Pot. What is that? You gotta see it: https://www.graeters.com/french-pot-process-ice-cream They have amazing regular flavors and tempting seasonal flavors (we just tried their Rocky Road, not available again until … Continue reading Gotta Get Graeter’s
National Escargot Day
I love all kinds of cuisines, including French. One of their signature dishes is escargot and is one of my favorites. Some people can't get around the base of the dish, delicious snails. But they now send positively tame compared to some of the adventurist food programs on cable TV. Essentially escargot is a delivery … Continue reading National Escargot Day
National Cherry Cobbler Day
Today is National Cherry Cobbler Day. I have always marveled at these craftsmen and worry that automation will make them obsolete. You have heard the stories of the cobbler's kid who have no cherries? That's the pits. Okay, I know when I've worn out my welcome and driven this topic into the ground. Have a … Continue reading National Cherry Cobbler Day
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Nothing beats a nice buttermilk biscuit. Perfect for honey or jam. Lovely for a breakfast sandwich with an egg and sausage. Absolutely necessary for a base with sausage gravy. Or heavenly just as a platform for butter. There is little else that I make that requires buttermilk so I seldom bought it. Until I discovered … Continue reading National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
National Eat What You Want Day
This may be one of my favorite National Days and one that basically includes all the other ones listed on this blog. It was founded to be an excuse to break your diet for one day, to indulge so that you are ready to go back to your dreary food life tomorrow having sated yourself … Continue reading National Eat What You Want Day
Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
Great article in the New York Times this morning revealing that the famous Swedish Meatballs come from a recipe originating in Turkey (Ottoman Empire) back in the early 18th Century. Turkey crowed and Sweden swooned but the article included a recipe. You can find it here... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/swedish-meatballs-turkey.html?module=WatchingPortal®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=3&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F05%2F02%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fswedish-meatballs-turkey.html&eventName=Watching-article-click So, of course I had to try it. … Continue reading Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
National Pigs in a Blanket Day
Today is National Pigs in a Blanket Day, when we celebrate flaky crust surrounding a meat product of vaguely mysterious origins. I don't want to ruin your enjoyment of these tasty snacks, but remind you to always eat kosher hot dogs. Trust me, you do not want to hear the stories of my younger days … Continue reading National Pigs in a Blanket Day
Walter Thinnes 
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