My photographs are of restaurant kitchens in Northern and Southern California, Chicago, and New York.
A note to the Chefs: Thanks for the fabulous meals!
where the image is meant to titillate and inspire the cook
A Salad of Steamed Baby Beets, Frisée , Cumin-Paprika Fried Organic Garbanzos, Shallots and Greek Feta
The inspiration for this dish came from our dinner at AOC. Here, organic garbanzo beans are fried in olive oil with diced shallot, smashed garlic clove, hot paprika, and ground cumin.
Organic frisée is layered with very thinly sliced shallots, steamed baby beets splashed with good red wine vinegar and sea salt and freshly ground pepper, topped with Greek feta cheese. Warm garbanzo beans with the cumin-paprika olive oil is spooned over the top. The red wine vinegar on the beets plus the fragrant olive oil on the beans makes a great “deconstructed” vinaigrette. (I am excited to submit this dish, too, to “My Legume Love Affair” Event by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook Blog).
Last week, the folks at Foodbuzz invited Featured Publishers to dine at Suzanne Goin’s awesome AOC restaurant in Los Angeles. Ben of Château Petrogasm blog selected the refreshingly esoteric wines to pair with this extraordinary meal including one of the few domaines that make excellent red Sancerre, Domaine Vacheron 2005. Ben’s wine blog of tasting notes through images is pure genius…
Strangers just a few hours earlier, we departed after hugs and well wishes.
A heartfelt thank you to the folks at Foodbuzz for hosting this event and especially for fostering a unique camaraderie among strangers with a like passion for all things food related.
We enjoyed our Cha Gio at the tiny, six table restaurant Nam’s Red Door in San Pedro, California where the menu hasn’t changed one bit in over 30 years.
Chopped pork, crab meat, black mushrooms, cellophane noodles and Asian spices wrapped in rice paper, then fried.
To assemble: wrap the spring roll in a lettuce leaf, add cucumber, mint, and cilantro, then dip in nuoc mam and, if fond of heat, add the ubiquitous Chili Garlic Sauce.
Beverage pairing: Cold Vietnamese Beer “33” Export
Also try:
Mi Xao Ga – crispy egg noodles topped with chicken and vegetables
And for dessert:
Bánh Flan
Caramel custard became part of Vietnamese cuisine through the French colonization of Vietnam. The Vietnamese way is to steam the custard as opposed to the French method of cooking in a bain-marie. Delicious, very light and fluffy.
Ăn nào! Bon appétit !
Hamachi Crudo with Champagne Grapes Preserved Meyer Lemon, Lemon Verbena and English Pea Puree
Chilled Maine Lobster with Saffron Aioli
Blue and Dungeness Crab Cake with Harissa, Herbed Couscous and Yogurt-Lime-Cucumber Sauce
Foie Gras Duet: Seared with Cherries and Cassia Gastrique
Foie Gras Duet: Parfait with Orange Cognac Gelée
Sumac Coated Australian Barramundi with Linguicia and Grilled Calamari Strewn Israeli Cous Cous with Castelvetrano Olives
New Zealand John Dory withTomato-Date Chutney, Tiny Summer Squash, Cumin Scented Zucchini Puree and Chick Pea Panisse
Blueberry Mascarpone Cake served warm with Lemon, Candied Corn, Créme Fraiche Ice Cream and Blueberry
Red Velvet Pudding served warm with Mascarpone Ice Cream, Cocoa Nib Streusel and Raspberry
Warm Cinnamon Doughnut and Lemon Doughnut Hole
The End.
We enjoyed this meal with an absolutely fabulous bottle of Peter Michael La Carrière (French for “the quarry”) Chardonnay 2004 recommended by Sommelier Cara Bertone. Tasting notes: A terroir-driven minerality dominates the aroma: crushed stone, baking flour and sweet pear. The minerality is highlighted by notes of citrus oils, William pear and lemon. Touches of tangerine and sweet vanilla complete the elegant bouquet. Rich and intense, the 2004 La Carrière presents on the palate wonderful concentration and elegance.
The entire staff was outstanding, thank you to all, especially Chef Ted Hopson who even took us on a tour of his kitchen!
From the website: “Inspired, adventurous and inventive sums up the Water Grill. Praised by Zagat Survey as Los Angeles’ top seafood restaurant since the day it opened, Water Grill has become an institution of excellence. In service, food, presentation, décor, ambiance and overall guest experience, this Downtown favorite exceeds all expectations.”
We agree.
And thanks, Rob 🙂
My Julia Child floribunda roses (butter yellow) with French Perfume hybrid tea roses (pink with yellow center) and 5 fresh herbs from Gail’s Garden: rosemary, basil, sage, mint, and flowering oregano.
Julia Child writing about 1949:
“On August 15, I turned thirty-seven years old. Paul bought me the Larousse Gastronomique, a wonder-book of 1,087 pages of sheer cookery and foodery…By now I knew French food was “it” for me. I couldn’t get over how absolutely delicious it was.”