Frank Bruni

Frank Bruni is the anonymous food critic for the NY Times. This month he is slated to give up his post and move over to do some more food writing at NY Times Magazine. No word yet on who will be replacing him. However, he has been taking this transitional time to promote his new book Born Round which among other things, deals with his battle with bulimia.

However, the really super cool part is that he allowed a current photograph of himself to be released with an interview with Publishers Weekly. In the 5 years he has served as senior food critic, there have been absolutely no known photos of Bruni. Not even on Wikipedia. Until now. Now anytime he walks into a new restaurant he will likely be instantly recognized and of course, catered to. Or every chef who ever got a bad review will now know his face. And can start sharpening their knives.

Pictorial Representation of My Weekend

Good Luck

New menu at Good Luck!

We'll be there to try it out tonight. I like the sound of the black spaghetti and carrot salad with candied hazelnuts (despite my aforementioned overdose on hazelnuts -- it's time to get back in the saddle). And something tells me The Boy will want the house-made hot dogs. I'm also digging the amount of mint that's floating around the new menu. Especially in the patty pan squash whole-wheat pizza. Mmmm. I'm in a fresh herb mood after making shrimp pesto for dinner, followed by The Boy's chilled mint pea soup. Gotta catch up on the freshness while it's still around.

Cioppino

Just had the best summer weekend in Newport, Rhode Island and Westport, Mass. Reunited with our foodie pals Jay and Kate and took in a little folk music, a little sunshine, and a little 'Gansett beer (which it turns out is made right here in Rochester!). Of course there was much in the way of goodies to eat. At the Newport Folk Festival we brought The Boy's infamous curry chicken salad and the no-bake cookies, of course. Jay and Kate braised some short ribs and whipped up a quick salsa to make tacos with. Delish!

We returned to the Massachusetts shoreline in that perfect sun-baked, salty, tired, relaxed state of mind. And what was waiting for us but some local seafood!

So we got crackin' on a cioppino.

First we sauteed some celery and onions and a monster clove of organic garlic that was out of this world.

Add in some local chardonnay (pretty much the whole bottle actually). Then our good friend the Lobster, who died for a noble cause (and in the ideal way: sauna + white wine and garlic = how I hope to go).

After 8 or 9 minutes of steaming, she came out and the tomato paste and chopped tomatoes went in. The shrimp took a dip, then also came out. Next were the littleneck clams and the haddock, which had been sauteed with that same garlic beforehand. Shrimp and lobster bites came back to the party. Total perfection!

So I got to see my first lobster murder, we saw the roe, and I ate the "brains." A bit brutal but so very New England!

Michael Pollan Article

Michael Pollan is not exactly the shot-caller in our house, but I do find him to be at the very least interesting and thought-provoking. I especially liked this article he wrote for NY Times Magazine Wednesday. He discusses the influence of Julia Child on the boom of food television programming (and the upcoming movie Julie & Julia). And the surprising contradiction that as we become more informed on cooking, and watch more chefs (and other "personalities") cook, we actually cook less. Very confounding.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

I wanted to make some easy munchies to picnic with when we go to the Newport Folk Festival Saturday. The Boy is making his infamous Curry Chicken Salad, and we got some chips and trail mix to go with. Since I hadn't really dwelled on what to make until kinda late last night, and the summer temperatures made the prospect of baking cookies for 20 minutes in the oven a little less enticing than being mauled by tigers, I fell back on an old classic: the no bake cookie.

These were a staple at tailgates growing up. In fact, I've always just called them Flo's cookies, after our tailgate friend, and surrogate grandmother, who made them. Their ease is part of their brilliance, and a major contributing factor to my satisfaction. Anything that didn't need a massive shopping expedition to Wegmans, turning on the oven, or dirtying more than 4 dishes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies (I can't seem to find the same recipe I used just last night so this is an approximation from Exra Pound Cake, hands down my favorite blog name)
In a medium-to-large saucepan:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 stick butter

Melt into boil on high heat. Watch, stirring continually, until the boil has lasted only 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Then remove from heat (boiling longer will make them dry and crumbly).

Add in 3 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (which is pretty much the whole thing)
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Mix together, then plop tablespoon sized drop cookies on wax paper and let set until hardened. This may be difficult on a hot humid day, so place in the refrigerator if necessary.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown

Has the Beer Summit got you thirsty?

If you're free this weekend, and want to expand your beer connoisseurship beyond Beirut at Park Ave Fest, you should check into "Belgium Comes to Cooperstown" hosted by Ommegang. All day Friday and Saturday, Ommegang is offering tours of their brewery, followed by fun, festivities, "unlimited" beer tastings, live music, a screening of Across the Universe, a bonfire, and of course, Belgian-style beer from Ommegang and Duvel USA. You can even camp there overnight in order to fully enjoy the unlimited beer.

Also, Tap and Mallet is setting up a raffle with prizes including tickets for the event, and a Belgian home bar package. For the unlucky, it's $70 for tickets, $30 for a campsite.