Food Pairings (file under Productivity!)

So I spent the vast majority of this weekend assembling a forty page list of ideal food pairings. It was a grueling, seemingly endless, but joyful experience which came out of a request from a friend for a little help in the kitchen. L, is a new mother, a dutiful wife, but as she pointed out, not the best in the kitchen. As such, I had been delaying my time to do this, predominantly because it is pretty mind numbing. But it is done I am very proud to say and I think that L will find it very helpful.

To illustrate what I mean. Take Turnips as an example. First I would mention the season in which it is ideal. I would then write out all of the ideal pairings.

Apples Lemon Boil
Bacon Lemon Thyme Fry
Butter Maple Syrup Puree
Carrots Mustard Sauté
Cheese Onions Simmer
Chives Paprika Steam
Cider Potatoes
Cinnamon Salt
Cream Sherry
Animal Fat Tarragon
Garlic Thyme

I would then also identify the various methods of cooking preparation that could be used. As you can see above. If any of you are interested in the list let me know and I will be happy to email it to you.

Brillat – Savarin once said; "The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star."

Are you dreaming big and inspired? Shooting for your new dish? In whatever way that pleases you? WHY NOT?

A la prochaine

SDM

Us and Them (file under inherently different)

I touched on this in numerous earlier posts but I wanted to expand a little.

Working in a restaurant in a professional kitchen people fall into two types of categories. At least for me. Us and Them.

Us, we are the ones that cut, chop, dice and slice. Sear, grill, fry and blanche. We are the ones that are at the restaurant hours before it is even a thought in your mind. We are the ones who take the raw ingredients and with passion and with some know how transform the inherent beauty of that ingredient into something else. We are the ones who cajole, push, tempt and even sometimes threaten our ingredients demanding from them that they be the best damn thing that we can create. Us, we are the ones who drink, smoke, laugh, curse and make fun of one another, while standing over a searing piece of Foie Gras or Tenderloin or whatever. We are the ones that after a long day at work seek to let our hair down the same way as you but our manner is much different not to mention the hour. Us, we are the ones that choose or fate and celebrate it everyday and could never, I mean EVER sit behind a desk. Its not in our blood. And now after doing this for nine months I can tell you with no uncertainty that I have NO IDEA how I ever did sit at a desk.

Them – You, reading this. You are them. And them can basically be described two ways. Not us. And finally the ones that we seek everyday to wow, impress and tantalize. We are your servants and that is who we are. What we do truly is who we are. And you, THEM, are not us.

Pink Floyd once wrote;

Us, and them
And after all were only ordinary men.
Me, and you.

Are you dreaming big and inspired?

A la prochaine

SDM