Archive for June, 2010

  • We’re back for the second week of Top Chef DC and as I watch the opening montage, I’m thinking, I didn’t even notice some of these people last time. Like Andrea from Talula in Miami Beach — hey, I used to eat there too! It is a White House themed episode with a “bi-partisan” sandwich and the contestants draw knives to see who they are partnered with. Angelo makes a smart-ass comment about how he owns a sandwich shop in NY and if he loses the challenge he might have to close the shop. Kenny meanwhile blathers that he doesn’t...

    Top Chef DC: School Lunch

    Posted on 2010.06.24 | No Comments
    We’re back for the second week of Top Chef DC and as I watch the opening montage, I’m thinking, I didn’t even notice some of these people last time. Like Andrea from Talula in Miami Beach — hey, I used to eat there too! It is a White House themed episode with a “bi-partisan” sandwich and the contestants draw knives to see who they are partnered with. Angelo makes a smart-ass comment about how he owns a sandwich shop in NY and if he loses the challenge he might have to close the shop. Kenny meanwhile blathers that he doesn’t...

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  • I’ve got some plaintains right now turning a nice black in my kitchen. I have loved plaintains even before we lived in Miami, and now I’m bummed about how difficult it is to find really good ones cooked up here. I do like that Cuban restaurant down on Kearny near Pine (Paladar Cafe Cubano – also their Cafe con Leche is great) but cooking up a batch at home is easy, and this recipe for Grilled Plaintains with Brown Sugar Glaze from Serious Eats is perfect for grilling season (which I guess is technically nearly year-round here in Berkeley). They...

    Foodblog-a-Round: The Odd Fruit or Vegetable

    Posted on 2010.06.18 | No Comments
    I’ve got some plaintains right now turning a nice black in my kitchen. I have loved plaintains even before we lived in Miami, and now I’m bummed about how difficult it is to find really good ones cooked up here. I do like that Cuban restaurant down on Kearny near Pine (Paladar Cafe Cubano – also their Cafe con Leche is great) but cooking up a batch at home is easy, and this recipe for Grilled Plaintains with Brown Sugar Glaze from Serious Eats is perfect for grilling season (which I guess is technically nearly year-round here in Berkeley). They...

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  • The new season of Top Chef is here. And bring out the snark, the snottiness and the nastiness. 17 chefs out of the gate. As always they are all over the place from self-taught personal chefs to the guy who has already earned a Michelin star and the one who won a rising star chef award. (Sidenote: the lines between the bottom of Top Chef Masters and the top tier of Top Chef contestents seem to be blurring. What’s the real difference?) There’s only one chef out of the lot whose restaurant I’ve eaten at — Kelly Liken, which is...

    Top Chef is Back — in DC

    Posted on 2010.06.17 | No Comments
    The new season of Top Chef is here. And bring out the snark, the snottiness and the nastiness. 17 chefs out of the gate. As always they are all over the place from self-taught personal chefs to the guy who has already earned a Michelin star and the one who won a rising star chef award. (Sidenote: the lines between the bottom of Top Chef Masters and the top tier of Top Chef contestents seem to be blurring. What’s the real difference?) There’s only one chef out of the lot whose restaurant I’ve eaten at — Kelly Liken, which is...

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  • Last night the biggest pig event of the year in San Francisco went down at the Fairmont Hotel: Cochon 555, featuring 5 different heirloom breeds of pig cooked up by 5 local area chefs and accompanied by some great wine. Tapped to compete in the San Francisco round (ahead of the national Grand Cochon) were Staffan Terje from Perbacco, Anthony Strong from Pizzeria Delfina, Dennis Lee from Namu, Thomas McNaughton of flower+water, and Morgan Maki of Bi-Rite Market. Oh, and also on hand doing some live butchering were the great Ryan Farr of 4505 Chicharrones fame and Dave the Butcher....

    Cochon 555: This Little Piggy Went to Perbacco…

    Posted on 2010.06.07 | 3 Comments
    Last night the biggest pig event of the year in San Francisco went down at the Fairmont Hotel: Cochon 555, featuring 5 different heirloom breeds of pig cooked up by 5 local area chefs and accompanied by some great wine. Tapped to compete in the San Francisco round (ahead of the national Grand Cochon) were Staffan Terje from Perbacco, Anthony Strong from Pizzeria Delfina, Dennis Lee from Namu, Thomas McNaughton of flower+water, and Morgan Maki of Bi-Rite Market. Oh, and also on hand doing some live butchering were the great Ryan Farr of 4505 Chicharrones fame and Dave the Butcher....

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  • I've been obsessed with berries this season, mostly eating them straight or maybe drizzled with lemon juice or coated in some vanilla yogurt or perhaps with a swirl of balsamic and a little sugar. But maybe it's time to get baking.

    Food-Blog-A-Round: Is it Summer Yet?

    Posted on 2010.06.01 | 1 Comment
    I've been obsessed with berries this season, mostly eating them straight or maybe drizzled with lemon juice or coated in some vanilla yogurt or perhaps with a swirl of balsamic and a little sugar. But maybe it's time to get baking.

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