Thursday, December 31, 2009

NEW YEARS EVE















We opted out of a party in NYC and decided to do dinner at Cucina. It proved to be a good decision. Snow on the ground. Full moon. A prefix menu. We ended up sitting next to a hilarious couple from Kingston. He's a hair dresser. She's an actress. We mostly talked about food, how modern Chef Gianni Scappin's preparations are and all the other fabulous places we've eaten. To over simplify, tonight we had Pizza, Squid, Lamb, Short Ribs, Chocolate Cake, Ice Cream, Panacotta and Biscotti. It was perfection and I'm stuffed.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

CHRISTMAS DAY















The day started early at the new home of Karl Åberg and Johnny Roberson in Phoenicia, NY. Lynne Hiriak, Creighton Bowman, Daniel Umlauf and Aude Tabet were their guests for the weekend and we arrived about 2 p.m. Renate, Roger and Paco Blancas arrived later. The food was fantastic... Salmon, White Fish, Beef Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Swedish Meatballs, Green Beans and Baked Ham. And, of course, in this crowd the Prosecco and Red Wine flowed like the Esopus River.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

CHRISTMAS EVE















Tonight I experienced my first Julbord at the home of Catarina Lundgren Åström in Hobart, NY. This Swedish Christmas smörgåsbord consisted of several Herring dishes, Cured Salmon, Boiled Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Caviar, Ham, Meatballs, Ribs and a Baked Egg Omelet. There was also something called Jansson's Temptation and Santa's Porridge. It was the perfect scenario to taste classic dishes for the first time. Catarina has cooked, photographed and published two Swedish Home cooking books of her family recipes. It was a wonderful evening and we got to meet some of her lovely friends and family. God Jul!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

SIRLOIN STEAK W/ CAULIFLOWER & BROCCOLI



A fabulous meal can be thrown together in no time and cost very little. This was a $7 Steak seasoned with lots of Salt and Pepper and a little Oil in a cast iron skillet then seared, let to rest and thin sliced. Fredrik sauteed Cauliflower and Broccoli in the same pan browning it in the drippings and topped it with a little Pecorino Romano. I ate it all wrapped in Corn Tortillas. Amazing textures. Absolutely delicious.

MICHAEL & BILL















We had the pleasure of food and fun at the home of Michael J Gould and Bill McElyea. They have a big country house in Roxbury, NY. Comfort was on the menu with Meatloaf wrapped in Bacon, Mac and Cheese and Roasted Cauliflower. It was delicious and so was the company. Fredrik and I woke up this morning in one of their guest rooms. It was beautiful to sit in their kitchen drinking Coffee watching the Sun come up over the snow covered hill behind their property. We didn't want to leave.