I was casually flipping through my Mrs. Beeton recently and ran across coffee and tea prep. And was a little awed by just how true her recommendations for making good coffee still are 150 years later. Vive le Isabella Beeton!
Recently in Eats Category
Saturday my brother invited us over to Meathenge Labs for a little crawfish mayhem. The critters were shipped in live from Lousiana (he'll post about the vender soon I'm sure).
So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night, I hate to go and leave this pretty sight. So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, adieu, Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.So long, farewell, Au'voir, auf wiedersehen,
I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne
So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, goodbye,
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye,
Good bye
Ok, so this was supposed to be posted before we left over a week ago, but I ran out of time. It was very hectic! The flight went well. I recommend Virgin Atlantic's Media Wonderland for anyone who is nervous or bored on long flights. And about 328,000 mg of Xanax. Does wonders.
The Pan European Absinthe Safari is over! Just back from Paris-Saumur-Paris-Pontarlier-Couvet-Paris! Shacking up in London for the next five days. Staying in one place for the last leg of the trip is the best decision I've ever made. Wow.
Not too much shopping, but we've eaten our entire bank account. It is awesome. I think we had all of one meal that didn't consist of sausage. There will be pictures.
More when we're rested. Or home... I can't decide. Ha!
Heading to the Tower of London first thing in the morning for the London leg of the Kallisti Severed Head Tour 2007™. And then over to the Borough Market to get Mr. Kallisti some for real South African biltong.
Butter dances. She has since the first second we got her. Mr. Kallisti made her this hoola skirt ages ago, and while Harry was over he snapped a picture of her doin' her thang.
So. Much. Love.
Harry came over Saturday for a much needed absinthe tasting & red meat eating fest! He showed up with a half dozen (at least) little neatly labeled samples of vintage absinthes for us to taste and rate. I was the silent partner, did all the typing, and added my 2 cents when I had it "slight latex after-taste like a flavored condom." Yeah, that was me... Harry and Mr. Kallisti are off the hook for that one :p And that was just the Serpis 65!
The vintage line-up:
- Pernod S. A. Tarragona C. 1935
- E. Albado, Habana C. 1935
- Edouard Pernod C. 1914
- Three different samples from a 1914 Pernod cache
- H. Bazinet C. 1910
In between all that we went to Skates on the Bay and totally feasted on the red meat. Mwowr. And shrimp. And lavender cocktails. A rare treat indeed. It is crab season here and I think we're going to make a trip up the coast (read: cheaper) for Valentines Day and whole crab and oysters. I'm thinking Tomales Bay.
Do people actually like apples and nuts on their salads and pizzas??? Or is it just me that runs screaming from such gastronomic nightmares?
Seriously, as much as I love the fresh food revolution I go absolutely ballistic, and verbally so, everytime I see a pumpkin & pine-nut tamale at the artisinal grocery store. Dude, freak out.
I dream often of living some place less expensive, where I could afford to buy a house, where the people are a little less politically correct, and the cars are fewer... (insert "Swiss Family Robinson" theme music here)...
But I've had such an amazing week, all due to local color and local comforts.
Last thursday we took my uncle to see "Restoration Comedy" at Cal Shakes theater, which neither of us had ever been to. A gorgeous outdoor theater in the wilds of Orinda, nestled amongst the hills in a glade of giant eucalyptus, we were dive bombed by dragonflies throughout the performance, but no mosquitos (pronounced muskeetas if you're like me and yer mama is from the midwest)!
Look! I took a pictures with my new camera phone:
Wow. 1.3 megapixels and it still sucks. Only use in case of emergency! New phone is cool though :p
I'll let you read more about the play here. It is only playing til the 30th. It was so brilliant and so funny, and oft times so very GAY that I was literally falling off my lawn chair I was laughing so hard. And the costumes! Oy! Lots of costume puns and general fabulousness. If this play comes to your town, SEE IT.
We had dinner downtown at "Casa Orinda"... and old timey relic of a restaurant that has gone a bit upscale but still serves awesome fried chicken and and steak and spaghetti and stuff. And they had REAL GRAVY. Like not brown gravy, or craft service yellow gravy... real gravy. I could bathe in it.
The icing on the cake of a perfect evening: when we dropped my Uncle off he loaded me up with yet another chunk of his ancient library... specifically the Restoration plays (printed late 17th century), a contemporary copy of The Beggar's Opera (18th century), and a biography of Henry VII by Sir Francis Bacon (16th century). More on those later. After I roll around in them naked for a bit.
Sunday night, in the middle of our little heat wave (yes, it was 94 in El Cerrito) we went to The Merritt Bakery for dinner in Oakland. Another relic, and old diner, again specializing in fried chicken and cake! It was sooper. We then went and saw the pirate movie at The Grand Lake, yet another beloved anachronism: the gigantic gilded movie house. Used to go there quite a bit as a kid.
Last night we drove to the City for a hair cut. And nipped down to 16th Street and Pancho Villas for burritos. It may be hard to believe, but you just can't get Mission style burritos anywhere but the Mission. Berkeley don't have it. No sir. It is only fifteen miles away, and there ain't nothin' like it no where else. Sigh.
I am replete. Living here is no punishment, despite the high cost of living. I still fantasize daily about Baltimore or Portland or New Orleans or the Wilds of BigFoot Country. Sigh.
Mr. Kallisti: Why'd the picture all come out so funny and washed out?
Me: Because it is July in San Francisco and it is cold and grey outside.
We spent the 2nd in the other China Town: Clement Street. But first stop was Bill's Place on Clement & 24th. Yarm! Perfect example of the greasy spoon with yummy food. Their french fries are to die for.
(pic stolen from nadja)
Paul came up this last week for his show of custom painted vinyl at Super 7 (please to buy). Went to the opening friday and had a blastorama! Lots of friends, beer & plastic monsters. I fell in love with a red glitter godzilla and Mr. Kallisti promptly smacked it on the counter and brought him home for me, along with 2347834 beasties. Yay beasties! I could decorate an entire room w/ this godzilla as the centerpiece. He's just that fabulous.
Ever hear a Kallisti's blood curdling scream? Well, Mr. Kallisti did when I got this in the mail today...
There's a reason they don't actually put "20 Year High School Reunion"... so they are not liable for my coronary. Someone, fan me!
And then there's this:
Mr. Kallisti: "Kallisti, a porn room and "Slerpis at home".
Now I really do have everything I need."
Everyone say Happy Birthday! He's 37 on Saturday... now we're off to Tahoe in the morning. I want mountains, a pedicure and thou. Oh, and maybe all you can eat crab at the buffet. Mmmmmm!!!
OMG. Weekends are so awesome. I've been singing happy saturday songs all morning (very off key, of course).
We went and saw Oliver Twist last night. And it was brilliant. BRILLIANT, I say...
The murder of Nancy is a pivotal moment in English literature. Gah, Dickens is a god. And Polanski surely does him justice.
And on that note, something I've been meaning to share: Mr. Kallisti loves me so much he mounted this old magazine cross-promotional bit on hotdogs and the Broadway production of Oliver! a few months ago. Two great tastes that taste great together!
Note the red & yellow thumbtacks. Aw!
And Biscuit caught sleeping in my MSD clothing box. My bad for leaving the lid off, I guess! But you get the picture about what a small kitty he is.
We're cleaning the house, getting ready for the Halloween decorations that will be going up tomorrow. The nephews are coming over to help, fun will be had by all! Oh boy.
Also, I've pre-ordered Liebchen. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Diep, I can't wait to see her.
This is what we did last night. I had the Hacienda Combo, in case you wanna know... beef taco, beef enchilada & a chile relleno. "Beef" as in hamburger. Teehee!
And check out what we did Saturday night! I likes my brother lots.
Spent yesterday as Sister of the Host at the First Bay Area's Food Blogger's Picnic, hosted by my brother at MeatHenge.com and several of his buddies. OMG. I am still full of yummy goodness. And sunburned to boot.
And look, my arms in a stranger's blog (scroll down a few images) pouring some mighty fine Nouvelle Orleans absinthe. I thought: now here's a crowd who can appreciate a fine artisan-made liquor. I did several food network style presentations, giving history, background, method, tasting notes and myth busting. Much approval and interest all around. Very receptive, and they DIDN'T ARGUE when I told them why it wasn't proper to set the sugar cube on fire.
Also, did I mention the meat? OMG. My brother is a genious.
Sorry I haven't been around this week, answering emails or replying or sharing my dollies. I've had a house guest all week... I'm so excited. She's moving back to the area after having been in San Diego for 6 years and finished her Masters. In one week she landed a job as a teacher in a very challenging school district and got a large studio in our neighborhood. YAY! I'm so proud of her I could squeal (and I do, frequently). School starts one week from today so she's running back home to pack up and move everything up here in the next few days. Yowie.
But it is 10pm and the milk tea heaven store across the street is closed. Yummy, milky goodness that tastes like melon and cake.
Gah!
And a big pink straw to suck up the giant tapiocas. Sloop!
We tried to see Hitchhikers last night in Emeryville with the effervescent and lovely Cola. We got to the theater early, got the best seats, but half way through the Star Wars preview the lights went on and the fire alarm started sounding. We were ordered out of the theater. When let in a few minutes later (a false alarm, duh) we of course had lost our seats. There was a long line of others who had lost their seats waiting to get refunds. So we left, went home and pouted.
I know I'm the last person on the planet to see it, but we watched Napoleon Dynamite instead. Seemed like a cross between Square Pegs, Welcome to the Dollhouse, and Ghost World. Took a long time to figure out what decade they were in. Still not sure because of all the purposely anachronistic references. But refreshing, none the less.
SO. We woke up early this morning and headed to the city to attempt to see Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy AGAIN. This time at the Sony Metreon. Where we could geek out on the rest of the surroundings before and after the movie. The film was good in its own right, but lacked the sparkle and verve of the BBC radio recordings, books & tv series. I loved Stephen Fry's narration, he sounds very close to the original (though this is not a prerequisite) and I enjoyed the Marvin/Arthur Dent cameos from the TV series.
After the movie, and a spin at the Portal One arcade, we didn't feel like going home yet so we headed to Japan Town for books & sashimi & soba.
Still hasn't sunk in. O. M. G!
Also, just got back from the Alameda Antiques Faire and got some Cool Stuff™. Pix to follow, I'm sure...
I've had no time to paint my F05. Bleh.
BUT, oh man... I ate raw oysters for the first time last night. Went to din-din with lovely friends Morrigan, Meatbear and Crosby of the Forum to "Spenger's Fish Grotto" last night, which is an old Berkeley landmark restaurant my grandmother used to go to. Old fashioned style wood panelled walls covered with giant stuffed fish, guns, and sea farin' gear. Lovely bar too.
Dear Dad,
I ate fried calamari, fresh oysters and a whole Dungeness crab. Are you proud of me yet?
Love,
Me
Honestly, seafood has been a mystery to me my whole life. I have to be brave and adventurous to try new stuff. And oysters, well... they're raw! But they were really good. Tasted like the ocean. There is difference between being fishy, and tasting like the ocean. Wow, that was fun.
No drinks over 50¢... All drinks Man sized! A two part menu for the restaurant and their take-out offshoot "The Side Door."
Chickens serving cocktails, it just don't get much better than that.
Bertola's Restaurant was a local favorite when my brother and I were growing up along the San Pablo Ave. corridor. Gramma used to take us on the weekends. Weeeeeeeeee!
Click while it is still on the front page of the Chronicle food section. Or click here for a direct link to the article.
That burly redhead with fambly is my brother and his wife and kids.
Weee! Now I'm going to go read the article.
And if you look reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally close at the second pic you can see the dollfie I made for my brother, Madamoiselle Crepinette in her red gingham get-up. DOLLFIE IN THE NEWS! I like to help.
I couldn't be happier.
I wish, o' wish I could get veggie back bacon this side of the pond.
Also, if yer down, this oughta cheer ya up.
ONE MISSION BURRITO
How far does a Mission super burrito go in meeting your daily food goals under the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines? It's heavy on refined grains, salt and saturated fat, and provides much of a day's worth of food (based on the average moderately active adult woman's needs of 2,000 calories a day).
TOMATO 1 slice (.6 ounces)
ICEBERG LETTUCE 5/8 cup (1.4 ounces)
Counts as: 1/2 cup vegetables (out of 2 1/2 cups daily; 1 cup of lettuce counts as 1/2 cup)
COOKED PINTO BEANS 3/4 cup (5 ounces)
Counts as: 3/4 cup vegetables (out of 2 1/2 cups)
SPANISH RICE 1 cup (4.8 ounces)
Counts as: 2 servings of refined grains (out of 3).
COOKED CHOPPED BEEF 1 cup (3.7 ounces)
Counts as: 2/3 of daily meat/chicken/fish (5.5 ounces)
SHREDDED CHEESE 1/2 cup (2 ounces)
Counts as: (including sour cream, below): 1 1/3 servings dairy (out of 3 servings)
FRESH SALSA 1/2 cup (4 ounces)
Counts as: 1/2 cup vegetables (out of 2 1/2 cups daily)
SOUR CREAM 3 tablespoons (1.8 ounces)
Counts as: See cheese, above
GUACAMOLE 3 tablespoons (2.1 ounces)
Counts as: 1/4 cup vegetables (out of 2 1/2 cups)
TORTILLA 12-inch flour (3.1 ounces)
Counts as: 3 servings of refined grains (recommendation is 3), plus 1/4 day's added fat
Weight: 1 2/3 pounds
Fascinating (scary) article in its own right.
