THE HEAT'S ON
I love vacation but hate getting there.
I'm kind of overextended right now. (I liked the comment a few weeks ago about my farm-binging - the poster who said I was "okra-extended"; made me laugh then and every time I think of it, I laugh again.) Lots of cooking, eating, writing, interviewing, driving, driving, driving. Like what?
OK: This week, I've been doing lots and lots of soups meant to be served chilled. My favorites? Melon, made from super-ripe cantaloupe, spiked with mint and jalapeno and whirred till creamy in a food processor. A little dab of heavy cream? Maybe. Heirloom tomato, with many herbs, a shot of sherry vinegar, and tons of fresh lime juice. Again, time in the food processor. Gazpacho? Of sorts, I suppose.
I went out to Hallock's on the hottest, muggiest day of the year to do a story on the island crops grown out there. (Read all about it in the Press on the 15th.) Charlie Hallock took me on a 35 mph golf-cart ride around the farm. It was like riding shotgun in an open-air Jeep on a Montana highway; I held on for dear life and loved every minute of the wild ride. Sitting expansive in the middle of New Egypt, Hallock's appears on the horizon as our local Great Plains. But there are acres and acres of exotics - jute, bitterball, sour-sour, callaloo. More. We are very, very lucky to have such fertile farms in our midst.
Yesterday was Philly. (Yes, it was HOT, even as I left at 11 p.m.) I'm working on a story about restaurant eats there, which we're planning to run in early-early fall. I've been enamored and admiring of Philly's dining scene for a bunch of years now; been saying, too, that it's more exciting at this time in restaurant life than NYC. Dinner was at Vetri and it was THE BEST. Call today to make your rez for October (it's two months ahead, to the date, and last-minute table-seekers will be eating elsewhere.) The house-made charcuterie platter is worth the trip alone. My dining companions from last night already have weighed in this morning with their just-awake exclamations. When my pal Steve, who'd pronounced himself positively, absolutely, without a doubt sated, stuffed and full, started plowing into the desserts, I had to slap a hand over my mouth to stifle the giggles.
I have a lot of writing still to do, but save for tonight's feeding, my eating's done. I think we really will be able to leave at oh-dark-hundred Sunday for Maine.
But, I'll be in touch before then. And I won't be out of touch while I'm away, because I have a surprise for all you food-centric folks - a host for this blog while I'm away, someone who will post snippets and bits I've written and moderate conversations. Plus, he's got some thoughts of his own.
I'll tell you all about it before I leave.
BUT, meanwhile, can you tell me about your summer vacation? If you've already taken yours, what did you do? If it's still to come, what's planned? And, of course, tell me about vacation eating!
cheers,
Andy
8.9.07
I'm kind of overextended right now. (I liked the comment a few weeks ago about my farm-binging - the poster who said I was "okra-extended"; made me laugh then and every time I think of it, I laugh again.) Lots of cooking, eating, writing, interviewing, driving, driving, driving. Like what?
OK: This week, I've been doing lots and lots of soups meant to be served chilled. My favorites? Melon, made from super-ripe cantaloupe, spiked with mint and jalapeno and whirred till creamy in a food processor. A little dab of heavy cream? Maybe. Heirloom tomato, with many herbs, a shot of sherry vinegar, and tons of fresh lime juice. Again, time in the food processor. Gazpacho? Of sorts, I suppose.
I went out to Hallock's on the hottest, muggiest day of the year to do a story on the island crops grown out there. (Read all about it in the Press on the 15th.) Charlie Hallock took me on a 35 mph golf-cart ride around the farm. It was like riding shotgun in an open-air Jeep on a Montana highway; I held on for dear life and loved every minute of the wild ride. Sitting expansive in the middle of New Egypt, Hallock's appears on the horizon as our local Great Plains. But there are acres and acres of exotics - jute, bitterball, sour-sour, callaloo. More. We are very, very lucky to have such fertile farms in our midst.
Yesterday was Philly. (Yes, it was HOT, even as I left at 11 p.m.) I'm working on a story about restaurant eats there, which we're planning to run in early-early fall. I've been enamored and admiring of Philly's dining scene for a bunch of years now; been saying, too, that it's more exciting at this time in restaurant life than NYC. Dinner was at Vetri and it was THE BEST. Call today to make your rez for October (it's two months ahead, to the date, and last-minute table-seekers will be eating elsewhere.) The house-made charcuterie platter is worth the trip alone. My dining companions from last night already have weighed in this morning with their just-awake exclamations. When my pal Steve, who'd pronounced himself positively, absolutely, without a doubt sated, stuffed and full, started plowing into the desserts, I had to slap a hand over my mouth to stifle the giggles.
I have a lot of writing still to do, but save for tonight's feeding, my eating's done. I think we really will be able to leave at oh-dark-hundred Sunday for Maine.
But, I'll be in touch before then. And I won't be out of touch while I'm away, because I have a surprise for all you food-centric folks - a host for this blog while I'm away, someone who will post snippets and bits I've written and moderate conversations. Plus, he's got some thoughts of his own.
I'll tell you all about it before I leave.
BUT, meanwhile, can you tell me about your summer vacation? If you've already taken yours, what did you do? If it's still to come, what's planned? And, of course, tell me about vacation eating!
cheers,
Andy
8.9.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 6:26 AM
3 Comments:
Our whole summer has been about food!
Have you tried Morimoto in Philly?
Closer to home have you been to Calypso Cafe in Neptune? It serves up Jamacian food..
Last night - Captain's Inn - Forked River...Tonight the Crab House - Seaside Heights
The Prime Rib in Philadelphia still does steaks in Style...and XIX at the Park Hyatt for late night bites and drinks in their 19th floor setting is sublime...
From your "okra-extended" friend...
Hi Lisa, Morimoto is pertty terrific, but in general, I'm a sushi purist. My personal favorite sushi is Yasuda, in New York.
Now, that said, you are making me crave one of his nutty, wacky, wonderful rolls and sushi-bar apps.
Have you ever been to Vetri?
OK, I'm feeling sheepish as I write this because I'm showing Shannon Mullen how to do this blog and using this comment reply as a sample. I can't talk and think at the same time.
Anyway, I'll tell you all about Maine in a few weeks. And I;ll miss you all!
cheers,
Andy
8.10.07
P.S. OKRA-extended - I want to send you a prize for your great name when I get back from Maine!.
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