tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46732795760179117812011-11-27T19:31:50.147-05:00Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.comBlogger1651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-87716820857648203312010-11-03T08:50:00.000-04:002010-11-03T08:50:10.091-04:00

Before we start this week's blog I have a bit of an announcement. This will be the last "regularly scheduled post" you are going to see until January. I have decided to apply for grad school, and am currently knee deep in application hell. Pile on top of that an insane November full of family visits both in NY and PA, and a number of other events I'm involved with. (One of these things is the

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-80354230538249683242010-10-26T22:11:00.002-04:002010-10-26T22:11:54.301-04:00

Hi guys. Well, I was 3/4 of the way through a blog about butternut squash ravioli. Then blogger randomly deleted everything and Auto-Saved before I could react. After 3 hours of work. Yup, the internet ate my blog. I'm going to bed. See you next week, Heather

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-85573714931681511422010-10-25T08:45:00.001-04:002010-10-25T08:45:00.915-04:00

I've been talking about beer a lot lately and it's probably not going to stop anytime soon.  At least not until next summer when the apartment starts feeling like it's on top of a lake of fire.  I can't help it; it's just so interesting.  Brewing beer is perfect practice for being a father.  Those little yeast cells are relying on me and me alone to create the perfect environment to survive and

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-34227670348189631342010-10-20T08:45:00.001-04:002010-10-20T08:45:00.688-04:00

The Belgian Tripel that I have in the fermenter right now is going beautifully so far--not bragging or anything.  The temperature is holding at a steady 68°F which is like Disneyland for yeast.  The airlock has been steadily bubbling for the last week or so and it's been very encouraging.  So encouraging, in fact, that I've decided to bang out another five gallon batch of brew right on the heels

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-6646464140643325152010-10-18T09:09:00.000-04:002010-10-18T09:09:00.490-04:00

There are foods out there that are legendary for being challenges. Dishes that have a number of very precise steps, dishes with chemical reactions, and if one step goes astray the whole dish collapses on you. This is why I've never attempted a soufflé. Or anything that requires a sheet of gelatin as an ingredient. For the longest time I have avoided a staple of Italian cooking, the risotto. 

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-58417845399410935412010-10-13T09:13:00.001-04:002010-10-13T19:19:36.564-04:00

I am so excited for Fall. Last year we were so slammed at this time with the wedding preparations, I'm really not certain October 2009 actually happened. I'm pretty sure it was just a lie. Last weekend on a visit to PA I wore heavy sweaters, I sat near a bonfire, and I drank cider. It was lovely, but that's not why I'm excited. The pumpkins are back. They have returned to my muffins, my lattes,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-54586840926115963992010-10-11T19:02:00.000-04:002010-10-11T19:02:25.905-04:00

Now that the temperature has gone down quite a bit, it looks as if I'm ready to start brewing again.  I did some research into which style I should pursue next; porter is something I've wanted to try for a while but it might be a little to similar to my nut brown ale.  I thought I should do something interesting, new and challenging.  It is in that spirit that I went with a Belgian-style ale.

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-34920800406498249742010-10-06T09:23:00.001-04:002010-10-06T09:29:08.410-04:00

Sunday morning I poked my nose out from under my comforter. Then I darted it back under. Yup, it was October all right. A chill has set in New York City, the kind that makes the air crisp and makes you think of little else but cider and pumpkins and hayrides. In my chilly apartment, however, it had me thinking about getting warm. The heat is not yet on in our building, so suddenly I had the

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-48599250376887356762010-10-04T08:45:00.001-04:002010-10-04T08:45:00.798-04:00

As many of you may know from the previous post, I was featured on WDEL's lovely Thirsty Thursday segment of The Rick Jensen Show.  Gina, a good friend from college, has made herself a staple at WDEL 1150 in Wilmington, DE.  About a month and a half ago, she visited our apartment and tried some of my nut brown ale, probably my best beer to date. I was buzzed into the studio and met up with Gene,

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-90608666428888738322010-09-30T23:13:00.000-04:002010-09-30T23:13:06.970-04:00

Will spent Thursday traveling to visit our friend Gina who works at WDEL 1150AM in Delaware. He appeared on the Rick Jenson segment "Thirsty Thursday" to talk about home brewing and the assembled group sampled his Nut Brown Ale. Rick scored it a 5 out of 6 and refereed to it as "Mapley". Listen to the full segment. (Quick tip, the beer stuff doesn't start until about 6 min 30 seconds in)

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-83586550446636999932010-09-29T08:13:00.001-04:002010-09-29T08:18:54.896-04:00

Quick Announcement! For our Delaware readers, Will will be on WDEL 1150 AM on Rick Jensen's "Thirsty Thursday" show, talking about home brewing. The show is conveniently on Thursday at 3:30pm. For those of you not in Delaware the station live streams on their website by clicking the "Listen Now" button. They also post the show for a week after its broadcasting, so check back for the link if you

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-84429371138210418852010-09-27T08:45:00.001-04:002010-09-27T08:45:00.364-04:00

In my effort to embrace gin as the staple of drinking culture that it is, I find myself revisiting the things I cast aside in my gin rebuking wake.  One of the drinks that I saw as an opportunity to ease myself into gin was a long island iced tea.  According to wikipedia "Long Island Iced Tea, a summer drink, was first served in the mid 1970s by Robert (Rosebud) Butts, a bartender at the Oak

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-68373016071907978182010-09-22T08:45:00.002-04:002010-09-22T08:45:00.200-04:00

For long time readers of this blog, you will remember that at one point I regarded baking with suspicion and indifference, only taking on the task when I came across recipes I wanted to eat desperately and knew no one else was going to make for me. There's a bit of a kitchen stereotype, men are chefs, women are pastry chefs, and the idea of making cakes and cookies was an affront to my sense of

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-33547560328534826232010-09-20T08:45:00.003-04:002010-09-20T08:45:00.997-04:00

I've spent my entire post 21 life having an aversion to gin.  Never cared for the stuff.  I remember trying it for the first time quite a while ago and thinking that it tasted like bug spray.  Later on, in my young innocence, a friend recommended a Tanqueray and tonic without realizing that Tanqueray is a brand of gin.  Burned again.  I'm not proud of it but it's true.  Since then I've been

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-61196660099356148342010-09-14T08:45:00.000-04:002010-09-15T00:13:29.625-04:00

Apparently I can't do anything the easy way. When I first made my own pasta Will stood dumbfounded, not having realized that pasta was something people made and didn't just get out of a box. This from a man who brews his own beer. I've made a few attempts at bread, but nothing worth reporting on as of yet. But this past weekend I really may have gone to the dark side of DIY projects, becoming a

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-70865262014292565512010-09-13T08:45:00.002-04:002010-09-13T08:45:00.465-04:00

I'm not usually one to incorporate beer into my cocktails, but sometimes the occasion calls for it.  One of the newer bars that we've been frequenting is called Sweet Afton.  It has a good atmosphere, knowledgable staff and these deep fried spicy pickles that are to die for. Anyway, Heather and I learned that they serve brunch on the weekends and some of the items looked intriguing.  We get there

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-21864664624695550472010-09-08T08:45:00.000-04:002010-09-08T08:45:00.531-04:00

Okay, so I haven't been 100% honest with all of you. Remember how I spent all of August cooking healthy, vegetarian food? Well the vegetarian part I was very dedicated to. The healthy part... August 13th marked Will's 26th birthday, and what was I supposed to do, hand the boy a dish of hummus with a candle in it? Birthdays require cake. Yummy cake. And I'd be damned if he wasn't going to have

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-69164936980089871302010-09-06T08:45:00.002-04:002010-09-06T08:45:00.044-04:00

This past couple of weeks has been good for our liquor cabinet.  Regular readers will recall that I recently received absinthe and pear brandy for my birthday.  I would like to add that I came to visit PA and my mother gave me a bottle of Courvoisier and Danny Devito's Limoncello. It occurred to me as I was staring at my Courvoisier that I've never made myself a proper sidecar.  I've read about

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-16325135604281106832010-09-01T08:45:00.001-04:002010-09-01T08:45:00.069-04:00

Happy September! It's the last day of healthy vegetarian cooking! It's been quite the adventure this past month, walking staight past the meat case, playing with all kinds of edible plants and legumes. It's working pretty well on the diet front, I am weighing in at 132.9 as of this morning, which means I reached the goal of 132.2 to133.2 that I set for myself at the begining of the month. I hope

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-40729255967707805422010-08-30T11:15:00.001-04:002010-08-30T11:15:18.130-04:00

Yesterday, Heather and I attended the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor's Island, an event at which the attendees are encouraged to dress up in period clothing--1920s or so--and enjoy live jazz music and dancing as well as some vendors and various planned events such as a tug of war.  They had all sorts of food, beer, and other refreshments, but only one type of cocktail. One of the event's

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-63408779212064400082010-08-25T08:35:00.001-04:002010-08-25T08:39:19.674-04:00

I didn't start out trying to rid my kitchen of meat. Once I got started though, I couldn't stop! It became a challenge: how long can I keep the meat-free kitchen going? And so healthy eating month gradually became Vegetarian Cooking Month, with the eggplant, squash, and chickpeas dominating my cooking. And boy howdy has it worked. That's right ladies and gentlemen, with a week to go I weighed in

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-2184620650347990872010-08-23T08:45:00.024-04:002010-08-23T08:45:00.313-04:00

I celebrated my birthday about a week and a half ago. In the weeks leading up to it, my parents were trying to decide what to get me. I sent them a list of stuff on my amazon.com wish list, but I also told them that there were a bunch of spirits that I wanted as well--things that I've wanted but couldn't work up the nerve to spend money on right now. Things like 15 year single malt scotch,

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-69691901477113068322010-08-18T08:45:00.004-04:002010-08-24T17:35:56.560-04:00

"But is it Vegan?" Will loves asking me this question every time I prepare a vegeatrian dish. He doesn't really care, If there's a burger on the menu at a restaurant, that's probably what Will's going to order. Cheeseburger? Even better. There's something just amusing to him about making a dish that conforms to a whole laundry list of things you can't have. And I personally feel that cheese and

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-32403932895617986432010-08-16T08:45:00.001-04:002010-08-16T08:45:00.476-04:00

We were strolling through our local farmer's market on a beautiful Sunday morning--Heather with her parasol and I with my handsome vest and pocket square that I purchased that very morning from a shrewd young haberdasher--when we saw a carton of blueberries and dared to dream. Four dollars a pint?  Why that's nary more than a tuppence. "Will, don't you have a fancy muddler at home?" says my

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-81216847858332189592010-08-11T08:45:00.000-04:002010-08-11T08:45:00.109-04:00

Up next in this series of dark rum drinks is something called a Hurricane. This is another recipe taken from the annals of Pennsylvania's Wine and Spirits Quarterly. I was intrigued by their section on dark rum and this recipe caught my eye because it looked fun and summery and it incorporates three different kind of rum: namely light rum, dark rum, and 151 proof rum. I already had all the

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-64651357463363296232010-08-09T08:45:00.001-04:002010-08-24T17:34:43.531-04:00

"I think I bought too many vegetables," I said the other night, staring at a counter full of eggplant, peppers, zucchini, squash, and onion.  "Well how many is the recipe for?" my husband asked, looking a bit daunted himself. "Two.""I guess it should be alright then.""Um....""What?""I added things," I admitted, as I grabbed my knife. This vegetable thing might be getting out of hand. The weight

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-1399430748399549752010-08-04T09:16:00.002-04:002010-08-24T17:34:08.027-04:00

"Oh dear. That's not good." That was my reaction the other morning when, for the first time in a month, I weighed myself. I wasn't entirely surprised, and I imagine you aren't either, even before I had just stopped weighing in, the scale had been creeping dangerously upward for a few months. Taking the month of July off to just not care at all hadn't helped things. Still I regret nothing. The

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-70284617028915722962010-08-02T08:45:00.002-04:002010-08-02T08:45:00.579-04:00

On the Pennsylvania trip we took last weekend, I picked up the publication the state owned liquor stores put out. It's called Wine and Spirits Quarterly, it's free and as you would imagine, it comes out every three months. The things published in it need to be taken with a grain of salt because the only things featured happen to be the same things featured in the store. At least thats the way

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-79971781716907404992010-07-28T08:45:00.007-04:002010-07-28T10:30:01.013-04:00

The fruit was taunting me. "Fresh from Jersey!" the signs proclaimed as I passed mounds of soft looking peaches and containers of blueberries. It wasn't that I didn't know what to do with them. I knew all too well. Last summer I had labored over a pie that was straight from heaven, full of juicy peaches and blueberries that burst with flavor. The problem? Pie crust. Under the very best

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-31611229036792486232010-07-26T08:45:00.002-04:002010-07-26T16:09:50.794-04:00

Keeping in line with some of the themes I've been playing around with--savory cocktails, summer drinks, pirates--I thought I would share with you fine people a delightful cocktail that is fairly simple and yet deeply satisfying.Pirate'sadapted from Epicurious-1 1/2 oz. dark rum-3/4 oz. sweet vermouth-dash angostura bitters-3-4 ice cubesStir ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-29814755775767186432010-07-21T08:45:00.003-04:002010-08-24T17:47:44.135-04:00

After the grilled zucchini I made a few weeks ago, the flavor has been haunting me. That juicy, fresh flavor that a recently cut zucchini has, the vibrant green. Zucchini season just inspires me to eat veggies. Will and I have been on a bit of a veggie kick lately (which means that I'm on a veggie kick and Will eats what I make him. What's he going to do, cook for himself?) brought on by the

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-22096403194132986952010-07-19T08:45:00.002-04:002010-07-19T08:45:00.202-04:00

As the weather heats up in the summer, one thing we try to do is keep plenty of rum on hand. We do this for two reasons: 1) Rum is incredibly versatile in a wide array of summer drinks.2) We're pirates. Yarrrr. Sometimes one gets bored with the typical things that can be done with rum (rum and cokes, daiquiris, mojitos and the like) and feels the desire to branch out and do other things. I

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-41832945089481663882010-07-14T08:45:00.001-04:002010-07-14T08:45:00.393-04:00

Queens is not really the coolest borough to live in. It lacks the history and inherent "we're better then everyone" nature of Manhattan, and it lacks the cool rep of Brooklyn. To those paying attention, however, Queens is building some pride. We have cool bars like Dutch Kills, Studio Square and Sweet Afton. 5 Napkin Burger, a place that has gained a following in Hell's Kitchen, just opened a

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-67426135066120030622010-07-12T08:45:00.001-04:002010-07-13T16:44:30.564-04:00

The highlight of week in terms of alcohol is the new bar in downtown Manhattan called Painkiller. Heather an I have been reading about it for the last couple of weeks and have been scouring our calendar to figure out when we were going to finally do it. The stars aligned this past Wednesday night when Heather and I decided to meet our friend Sean after work for a couple of drinks. So off we went

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-81949834564636663742010-07-07T16:45:00.001-04:002010-08-24T17:31:16.813-04:00

In the boiling hot weather that has permeated the East Coast this summer, Americans favorite method of summer cooking has been everywhere. America loves to grill. Loves it. Can't get enough. From the NY Times 101 Ways to Grill last week to the increasing numbers of Food Network stars being shoved out of the comfortable havens of their studio kitchen sets and into really fake looking backyards,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-81632764052883779472010-07-05T08:45:00.002-04:002010-07-13T16:45:09.621-04:00

Sometimes in the world of drink mixing, it's important to be bold enough to improvise. The New York Times dining section from June 24th of last year had a great series of articles and recipes on summer drinks which I filed away for later. When we started to get bored with our old standby drinks this summer, I dusted it off and hunted around for inspiration. Many of the drinks--with the exception

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-59086597122525559572010-06-30T08:45:00.044-04:002010-06-30T08:45:00.405-04:00

With the blazing heat over the weekend, I did not feel like staying inside cooking. Thank God a few months ago I had scored tickets to the NYC Food and Film Festival's World's First Food Truck Drive-In. The idea was that the festival attendees would stroll in and the food would do the driving. Armed with my camera, an empty stomach, and a few good friends we ventured under the Brooklyn Bridge to

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-5302495084535434852010-06-28T08:45:00.002-04:002010-07-13T16:45:34.843-04:00

As Heather tells it, she and her Texan friend Amira go to a bar in Manhattan called Death and Company. Amira has a habit of going to a bar and asking for cherries on the side. The bartender will usually oblige without much thought and slide a shot glass of maraschinos her way for her to enjoy as she sees fit. This time around, the server looks at her quizzically and though slightly puzzled,

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-53799276402269165572010-06-21T08:41:00.000-04:002010-06-21T08:41:35.574-04:00

Good morning all! I have just returned from 5 days in Chicago at a conference, and Will just returned from a friend's wedding. (Congrats Joe and Megan!) In all of the excitement, ummmmmm, no one actually sat down and wrote a blog. We're sorry! Well, not that sorry. Because actually, we're going to take the whole week off. You know, stand back, take a deep breath, and then start with the cooking

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-85946007291460076292010-06-16T08:30:00.000-04:002010-06-16T08:30:00.240-04:00

Last month I read a seductive description of seared radishes in the Times. I became determined to try cooking these root vegetables. I shopped, cooked, and was frankly not thrilled. Maybe it would be different if I was a huge fan of raw radishes; perhaps then I would have been more enamored of the cooked ones. As it was, I just found them kind of bland and disappointing. To concoct that

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-44125253169314551632010-06-14T08:45:00.002-04:002010-06-14T16:53:19.192-04:00

Occasionally it's nice to make drinks in a big pitcher and work on it over the course of an evening or weekend afternoon. It gives one the opportunity to relax and enjoy several rounds without having to constantly labor after each. I suppose there are several cocktails that lend themselves to be made in large quantities. On a couple of occasions, I've made mojitos that way. But there are certain

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-9873313272624790712010-06-09T08:45:00.001-04:002010-06-09T08:45:00.945-04:00

I have been staking out the farmers markets. Every time I was near one, I would do a cursory glance. Strawberries? No. Damn. So I'd buy some tomatoes, and herb plant or two, and go on my way. In the grocery store I would pass California strawberries and sigh, because I was being stubborn. I was insistent on having local strawberries, so the taste would be the absolute freshest. Memorial Day

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-43406209919449778602010-06-07T08:45:00.000-04:002010-06-14T16:55:31.133-04:00

Summertime in our apartment can be pretty ruthless. We don't really have the funds to keep our apartment cool all the time. All we have is a window unit in the bedroom that we use when we're trying to sleep. Believe me, it's no fun waking up drenched in sweat. The reason I'm telling you this is because one of the last lines of defense against the mercury expanding doldrums of summer is cool

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-56619982365950211532010-06-04T08:45:00.001-04:002010-06-06T16:31:44.248-04:00

Well, it happened again. Summer hit, my air-conditonless apartment has become a sauna, and I have thoughts like, "I should turn the oven up to 500 degrees and roast fish!" Every year it's like there's a part of my brain that can't figure out the formula Oven=BAD. But I had to do it! The seasonal recipe seduced me! It's not my fault the seasonal recipe didn't come with seasonal cooking

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-16256930094356395892010-06-02T08:45:00.001-04:002010-06-14T16:56:45.005-04:00

I'm in a very summer drinks kind of place right now. Normally I tend towards the aromatic, savory types of cocktails, but sometimes you just have to give in to what your heart desires. And since our apartment is largely un-air conditioned, my hearts have been desiring drinks that are cold, citrusy and refreshing. And as it happens, this line of thinking led me to a place I've been meaning to

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-13477213088301656032010-05-31T10:30:00.000-04:002010-05-31T10:37:40.216-04:00

We did it! We've lasted 1 year of blogging! For a whole year we've been making drinks and cooking up a storm. In the past year we have had nearly 2,400 independent visitors from 57 countries and 48 states! I also only need 5 more Twitter followers to reach 100. Come on people. You know you want to follow. Thanks for reading everyone, it's been so great sharing my insane ramblings, crazy

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-66626171453709539582010-05-26T08:35:00.084-04:002010-08-24T17:49:04.075-04:00

Back when I met Will, his diet consisted mainly of chicken tenders and fries. "Ah," I thought, "A true American diet. He will eat anything that can be found in a shopping mall food court." And then I discovered I was wrong. Oh sure, the pizza, the burgers, the Auntie Anne's Pretzels, all that he was good with. But horror of horrors, Will wouldn't eat Chinese food. Lo Mein, Egg Rolls, Wonton Soup

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-33610106956343567562010-05-24T12:00:00.000-04:002010-05-24T12:11:43.166-04:00

Heather and I are looking forward to Summer and all its bounty: The outdoor concerts, the reopening of Governor's Island, the ability to go from place to place without being encumbered by a jacket. I've been trying to help the warm weather along by focusing on some citrusy drinks in preparation for the season--specifically ones that focus on lime. I prefer drinks that incorporate lime to those

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-83867593235980852782010-05-19T08:45:00.000-04:002010-05-19T08:45:00.173-04:00

I am a sucker for a season change. In the fall, a tinge of color on a leaf sends me straight for the pumpkin recipes. In the winter, the first hint of a flurry has been buying the largest hunk of meat I can roast. But spring, spring is intoxicating. It is a test of patience and wills, staring at farmers market tables where an early spat of warm days or a sudden cold snap can alter by weeks the

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-35201998600308275812010-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:002010-05-17T08:00:08.769-04:00

In my last blog about PDT, I mentioned a cocktail called the Bobby Burns cocktail that I enjoyed. The ingredients listed were Benromach 12 year scotch, Dolin sweet vermouth and Benedictine. The problem with bars is that they never list the proportions of the liquors they use. Damn them and their not giving me detailed instructions on how to make all of their signature creations. Bastards. In

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-22020315184901906492010-05-12T09:00:00.001-04:002010-05-12T09:17:33.462-04:00

There are two things I've been obsessed with lately. One is eggs. The other is the new spring fruits and veggies. I'm mad about them, and desperate for them. I spend half an hour circling the farmers market this week before I came to terms with the fact that the East Coast just didn't have strawberries yet, but I didn't leave empty handed. My bag was bulging, it is officially Asparagus season.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-35287622695991748262010-05-10T12:00:00.002-04:002010-05-10T19:21:23.979-04:00

Yesterday, Heather and I spent the entire day in the East Village. The main purpose of the trip was to attend a pig butchering demonstration and bluegrass music at Jimmy's No. 43 on 7th st. It ended at 4:00 and we were kind of left to our own devices for the rest of the evening. This, it seemed, was the perfect opportunity to try an establishment that I've wanted to try for a while. PDT.PDT

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-11589220170667946782010-05-04T23:00:00.001-04:002010-05-05T00:06:13.372-04:00

My mother likes the words "Over Programed." A lot. And applying them to me. This is usually due to some insane project I've decided to undertake where I forgo all shortcuts, forsake the premade, and insist on everything being "original" and "from scratch". Personally, I prefer the term Ambitious. My ambitiousness this past weekend came in the form of trying to kill two birds with one stone. One

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-31423815455124801972010-05-02T23:00:00.000-04:002010-05-02T23:00:01.028-04:00

The third batch of beer has been completed. It's a Nut Brown Ale and it's coming right off the heels of the "Stout" I made for round two. I put the word Stout in quotes because when you look at it, the first thought that comes to mind is not Stout. It's very good, but it's very pale. I might have guessed that it would be that way from the very beginning. It looked a little pale from the

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-33663333871237028062010-04-28T08:45:00.031-04:002010-08-24T17:53:38.443-04:00

Do you ever have those restaurant foods that drive you mad? A single dish that will float in your mind, demanding you return to the establishment to sate a craving? To me, this is the Soy Sauce Egg (otherwise known as Shio Tama) at Ramen Takumi (formerly Setagaya) near Union Square.. These are soft boiled eggs, with a tantalizingly runny center with a solid white, marinated in soy sauce and left

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-89751555224093849162010-04-25T22:00:00.001-04:002010-04-25T22:29:11.914-04:00

Warning: Heather got out of the kitchen and made some cocktails. This means the following blog is written with less cocktail expertise then when Will writes it. Explanations of ice usage and shaking methods might be a little more elementary then usual. Just smile at her and nod. Will's been a bit busy lately. There's been some late nights at work, we've had some nights out with friends, and as a

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-62784216218966602952010-04-20T23:00:00.001-04:002010-05-04T15:45:40.323-04:00

One of the things I like about mixing cocktails is its timelessness. Thumbing through my copy of The Savoy Cocktail Book, I feel like an archaeologist discovering an ancient text. At the time my grandfather was born, these were the drinks people were consuming. The names of some of these drinks are great--old-timey and cheeky--with names like the "mule's hind leg cocktail" or the "damn the

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-85284224612015125122010-04-19T09:00:00.001-04:002010-08-24T17:54:29.170-04:00

The tarts were following me. In cookbooks, on blogs, in restaurants, I kept coming tart after tarts, some sweet, some savory, all looking insanely good to eat. I've had difficulty with pie crust in the past, however, (edible but not pretty) and tart crusts seemed too similar. Also it was baking, and I'm not a huge fan of baking. Finally though, the New York Times broke me down. I was minding my

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-9014199319201132822010-04-13T22:00:00.003-04:002010-08-24T18:00:31.496-04:00

Spring is a tempting bitch. A warm breeze passes through, some sunshine passes through the clouds, and you think, "It's Spring! Spring is here!" And you know what happens next? You get spring confused with summer, or at the very least you get early April confused with late May, and you decide that fresh veggies are just around the corner. You see one tulip and you become convinced that asparagus,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-6322295388705381242010-04-12T08:45:00.002-04:002010-04-12T08:45:00.946-04:00

This past weekend Heather's mother was in town, and we made a second visit to a trendy restaurant in Tribeca called Locanda Verde. Heather's been referring to this as the current "Sex in the City" restaurant since it's getting so much buzz and press at the moment. Any cocktail mixer worth his salt, however, knows that Cosmo's are out and the "of the moment" drinks tend to be of the speak easy

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-56765425414096124562010-04-07T09:00:00.002-04:002010-05-04T15:44:29.833-04:00

Readers of this blog know I am a fan of the Momofuku restaurant empire. I could bathe in the ramen and live solely off the cookies. When David Chang's cookbook came out last year though, I was hesitant. First it was just kinda expensive, retailing for $40 in most places in NY, and second, the buzz was that the recipes were uncookable. These were not the pandering recipes of most restauranteurs,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-50363637066487720492010-04-05T08:45:00.000-04:002010-04-05T08:45:00.290-04:00

After a rainy couple of weeks it's good to see some nice weather. It allows us to do some things we might not otherwise be able to do--chill out in Central Park, walk to a few places that we might normally take a cab or subway to. But one of the other phenomena that occur during nice weather is that we can actually get a table and be comfortable in one of our favorite local coffee shops,

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-17183514605555937912010-04-02T00:26:00.006-04:002010-04-02T00:44:33.207-04:00

Purple Lover 04! With her comment naming the Irish Soda Bread as her favorite, Purple Lover is the winner of the Short and Saucy Calphalon Pot. Thank you to everyone that participated!Yup that's a new haircut. We're trying to think of something even better for our 1 year blog aniversary in June, so keep watching the blog! What to expect in the next 100? I've been deeply interested in Asian

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-24834780015963567522010-03-30T22:00:00.002-04:002010-08-24T17:58:31.173-04:00

There are times when my husband comes home, and looks at me like I'm crazy. These times usually coincide with some crazy cooking project I've delved into. When the kitchen was so covered in flour from my fresh pasta experiments, when the entire apartment was filled with the heavy sent of barbecue sauce, I was the recipient of extremely concerned glances and the deeply worried "Honey?" Such was

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-28336683101010298992010-03-29T08:45:00.000-04:002010-03-29T08:45:00.570-04:00

So Heather's on an egg kick. There's a lot of them about as of late. It makes me a little nervous because I'm not the biggest fan in the world. More specifically, I like them in a certain context. I like them as an ingredient in things--cakes, french toast. But there's something about the smell of a cooking egg that nauseates me. But raw egg, which is arguably grosser, doesn't bother me at

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-89216191193875040012010-03-26T08:45:00.002-04:002010-05-04T15:46:46.218-04:00

One Hundred!!!!! That's right after months of cooking, drink making, and photo taking we have reached blog #100! In honor of the momentous occation, we are celebrating by giving back to you, our wonderful readers! It's an Epicurette giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment to this post, saying which food or drink blog we posted was your favorite. We'll write down everyone who comments on

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-44489738024458820382010-03-23T23:00:00.000-04:002010-03-23T23:00:05.105-04:00

I'm a sucker for a good sale. Look in my closet and I can tell you which BCBG boots were discounted on Amazon, which Calvin Klein heels scanned for $20 less then marked at Bloomingdales, and which Kate Spade purse I purchased out of season for 50% off. Ask my husband who is comfortably resting on the Anthropologie bedspread I scored for half price, it's like a sport for me, and I pride myself in

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-6063404249083834462010-03-21T22:00:00.001-04:002010-03-22T09:16:19.187-04:00

It's time for another Video Blog. The fruity sweetness of this drink makes it perfect for the warm weather we've been having this week. Admittedly it's kind of a girly drink but every now and again, that can be a good thing. Sometimes girly drinks can be the most refreshing...especially if you put a little umbrella in them. Enjoy.If you're interested in infusing liquor with fresh fruit, check

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-42163565745901950962010-03-17T08:45:00.002-04:002010-03-17T00:25:34.866-04:00

I wasn't going to do Irish Soda Bread this year. Or ever really. It's one of those things that I tried like a million years ago, didn't like, and had decided, nope, not for me. It's dry, it's crumbly, it doesn't taste very good, I thought. Then March hit, and the American addiction to Irishness was out in full force. Recipes popped up for stews, potato dishes, and that blasted bread. When Smitten

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-30863968398607685762010-03-15T10:34:00.001-04:002010-03-15T10:35:21.126-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is coming up and rather than spend it talking about green beer, drunken singing and fistfights (all fun topics that may require separate posts) I thought it might be fun to talk about Irish whiskey. Our first little tutorial on the subject was on our honeymoon in Ireland when we visited the Old Jameson Distillery. We've enjoyed Jameson previously, but didn't know a whole lot

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-39836890824772669342010-03-10T09:00:00.001-05:002010-08-24T18:03:52.889-04:00

I'm not sure I'm ever going to get around to making Beef Bourguingnon. Last summer it was all the rage after the release of Julie and Julia, one of Julia Child's most famous dishes. But... it was July. Beef Bourguingnon is a heavy beef stew, one that requires leaving your oven on for four hours. In the insane heat of my un-airconditioned apartment, there was no way that was on the menu last

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-45658432136388531842010-03-08T08:45:00.000-05:002010-03-08T08:45:00.290-05:00

In celebration of Heather's birthday, I took her out for a trendy date night. The main event of the evening was a restaurant called Locanda Verde in Tribeca. Last year, she clipped a review out of Time Out: New York and put it on my pillow. This was soon before the wedding and put on the back burner for a while. Once the wedding was over, back on my pillow it went. To Heather's credit, I'm

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-61011221780207424712010-03-03T08:45:00.000-05:002010-03-03T08:45:00.791-05:00

I did not do a lot of cooking this week. No, it wasn't because I was tired, and no, it wasn't because I was snowed in and had no ingredients. I was on vacation! I kissed Will goodbye for a few days, my mother swung into town and together we hopped a Greyhound bound for Bean Town, we were headed North for Boston. The two of us hadn't seen one particular Boston resident, my incomparable Aunt Donna,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-74378417621833283262010-03-01T12:00:00.000-05:002010-03-01T12:01:56.152-05:00

Note from the Editor: Due to schedule conflicts this spring, Will and I are switching days. This means you can get your weekly dose of beer and cocktail anecdotes on Monday, and your food stories and recipes on Wednesday. We hope this doesn't mess up your chi too badly.Thanks!Epicurette As I was brewing my first beer, I knew that the next batch would be a stout. Heather, when giving me my beer

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-74035343843087411262010-02-24T08:45:00.000-05:002010-02-24T08:45:00.336-05:00

After I bottled my beer, I set the bottles on the bookshelf to shield them from the harsh ambient light. I had two weeks to stare at the forty-three bottles of beer on my bookshelf and contemplate their contents. There's a certain element of awe involved. Soon it will be ready to unleash upon the world. Will it be good? Will it be bad? Who knows? Such is the mystery of life. It could be

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-126655074720869372010-02-22T08:45:00.001-05:002010-02-22T08:45:00.838-05:00

Well, it's happened. The moment has arrived. I am officially 27 years old. I'm not entirely sure how that happened. I'm pretty sure I was turning 21 about 10 minutes ago; I'm still half convinced when I wake up most mornings that I'm going to be late for my first class. Then I roll over and discover I'm in a grown up big girl apartment in Queens sleeping next to my husband. It's a bit jarring.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-75101394312990308162010-02-17T08:45:00.000-05:002010-02-17T08:45:00.360-05:00

The first time I tried a McClure's pickle was a newer restaurant in Astoria called Sweet Afton. They are served as a side, battered and deep fried. The best part about them is that they are spicy. They leave a burn in your mouth that makes you want another one. Before you know it you've eaten them all and are sad. We had kind of forgotten about them until recently when Heather and I were

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-88582012704535853522010-02-15T08:45:00.002-05:002010-02-16T09:19:03.457-05:00

There are few things as amusing to me as the concept of Mardi Gras. The idea is that the day before Ash Wednesday we all go friggen crazy, indulging in all of the things that you aren't supposed to do during Lent. Essentially, the church inadvertently created a day of debauchery. Rome must be very proud of itself. The indulgences are different depending on the part of the world. In the UK it's

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-36946636378152077052010-02-10T08:45:00.002-05:002010-05-04T15:45:14.378-04:00

A few weeks ago--in Anthropologie of all places--I spotted an old timey looking book called The Savoy Cocktail Book. Heather dragged me there to look at housewares and such so I was groping for entertainment to begin with--you know, between being fascinated by floral patterns on linens. The book is a 1999 reprint of a 1930 book that features all kinds of specialties from the Savoy Hotel in the

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-17702149213418574582010-02-08T10:00:00.004-05:002010-02-08T10:45:33.536-05:00

Valentine's Day is coming up quickly--a time of flowers, red tinted everything and sweets. As I pondered what I was going to make my husband of three months and partner of seven years, it seemed like the obvious choice among the New York diet was that of the cupcake. It's a ubiquitous desert that threatens my willpower daily, working just a stones throw from both Cupcake Cafe and Billy's Bakery.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-89765660148102652232010-02-05T08:45:00.000-05:002010-02-05T08:45:00.405-05:00

My office thinks I'm trying to make them fat. I'm not really. I'm trying to keep myself from getting fat. It's not malicious, it's just selfish. I like to make savory things and I'm even getting the hang of this baking thing. The problem is, if I leave that stuff hanging out in my apartment, with only Will and myself to eat it, it's going to get eaten. Upside Down Pear Cake for dinner suddenly

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-50167146430181306582010-02-03T08:45:00.002-05:002010-02-03T08:45:00.171-05:00

On one of our many trips to Dutch Kills, Heather and I decided to order a "bartender's choice." What he came up with was a Vieux Carre--a sweet and savory mix of Benedictine, cognac, sweet vermouth, rye whiskey and bitters. The name of this drink is French for "Old Square," a reference to the French Quarter of New Orleans. I'm not particularly a football fan (baseball is my game,) but since

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-39220022235313222772010-02-01T08:45:00.005-05:002010-05-04T15:50:51.763-04:00

With my resolution to learn decent Italian cooking this year (and thereby resist the temptation of dining out every night as the Italian trend sweeps NY) I decided that in order to make truly authentic dishes, I would need to be able to create my own pasta. Since I already owned a Kitchen Aid mixer, the pasta roller and cutter attachments were the obvious choice, and I ordered a set. They arrived

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-21402799342913207462010-01-29T08:45:00.000-05:002010-01-29T08:45:00.167-05:00

Will ate a raw oyster. I saw it happen. If you had asked me five years ago if my husband would ever pick up a piece of raw seafood and put it in his mouth, I would have laughed at you. To this day I haven't even tried sashimi on him. But Monday night, sitting at a bar in the East Village, Will ate not one, not two, but about eight raw oysters. I have never been so impressed with his sense of

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-6035284485556509522010-01-27T08:45:00.001-05:002010-01-27T08:45:00.639-05:00

The long weeks of buying beer, drinking it, and amassing bottles has finally paid off. It's bottling day, people. As Heather and I were mapping this whole brewing thing out, she said that she didn't want anything to do with the first part of the process--the boiling, the extract dissolving, the wort chilling and the yeast pitching. I think in her head, I was going to destroy her entire kitchen

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-89200780496627849142010-01-25T08:45:00.004-05:002010-01-25T12:51:11.802-05:00

I am bad at considering cooking ethnic cooking for dinner. When planning a weekly menu, it just never enters my consciousness as a possibility. And when I do crave it, I live in NY, so I can get some of the best take out around, made by people who actually know what they are doing. This is never more true then in my own neighborhood of Jackson Heights, a Mecca of Indian food. Tandori, curry, naan

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-35836283660467436952010-01-20T08:45:00.002-05:002010-01-26T12:51:14.475-05:00

As part of our ongoing quest to gain more knowledge about the world around us (funny how the world around us is usually a bar,) we decided to sign up for a brewer's yeast class at the Brooklyn Kitchen. Ever since our knife skills class, Heather has had her ear to the ground for new and interesting classes. (Since that class they have been expanding. When we took our first class the instruction

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-74242119423268872522010-01-18T08:45:00.000-05:002010-01-18T08:45:00.123-05:00

Earlier this week Will expressed an interest in driving around the USA. This is an interest his father has also has, except he wanted to do it in an RV. This is not quite my idea of a vacation. As I rolled it around in my head though, I did start thinking about a few parts of America that had three things I go crazy over. Good music, good booze, and good food. Savannah, Georgia sprung to mind as

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-7780411718293351102010-01-15T08:45:00.000-05:002010-01-15T08:45:00.329-05:00

Am I a bad foodie? As I am writing this I am trying to force defrost a week old sausage in a plastic baggie in a bowl of water for my dinner. I may also be sipping straight bourbon simply because I was reading about Beer and Bourbon Festival today that I can't afford to go to and was hankering for it, and didn't have the energy to turn it into a proper cocktail. Some nights I create complicated

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-77089548794963487652010-01-13T10:43:00.001-05:002010-02-16T23:23:20.821-05:00

For those who don't know already, Heather was nice enough to get me a beer brewing kit for Christmas. I'm not sure I needed another obsession, but I'm happy to roll with it. My gift was the kit, a box of ingredients for an IPA (India Pale Ale) and an accompanying book, How to Brew by John J. Palmer. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out because it is very well laid out. If you

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-82631512044169047062010-01-11T08:45:00.012-05:002010-08-24T18:05:45.772-04:00

Well December came and went. It was fun, it was hectic, it was a tiny bit high in calories. I blame the fondue. Or the peppermint cheesecake. Or the wine and cocktails. Okay, there were a lot of calories that found their way into my diet in the month of December. But now it's January and I'm walking past all of the super obnoxious "New Year, New You" posters, because apparently no one is tired of

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-63432534088923823032010-01-06T08:45:00.000-05:002010-01-06T08:45:00.648-05:00

A few years ago, Heather bought a Feist album and it contained a song called "Brandy Alexander." It's a mellow little slow jam that has kind of a groovy feel. Heather liked the song so much that she became fixated on getting a brandy alexander. She would wake up in the morning and want a brandy alexander for breakfast. When I told her that cereal would be better, she asked if she could pour

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-75461009783192167152010-01-04T08:45:00.011-05:002010-03-23T23:05:44.630-04:00

First a quick Thank You to everyone who left such lovely comments to the wedding photos. We were extremely touched at the outpouring of well wishes. You guys rock! Okay, on with the blog.As 2009 drew to a close, food publications rushed to predict what food trends were over and what trends would dominate the new year. With these predictions they posted tantalizing pictures of the new "it" foods.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-61692204281090314372010-01-01T16:30:00.002-05:002010-01-01T16:53:30.121-05:00

As a gift to all of you (since I didn't get around to doing this last Friday for Christmas) I present photos of the lovely wedding brunch reception we had at the Joseph Ambler Inn. I didn't eat a lot of the food (I was corseted into that dress) but I understand it was great. All the photography here was done by Lamb & Drake Photography. Enjoy!The jam we had as wedding favors. They were from Bucks

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-33911618729027704402009-12-30T08:45:00.000-05:002009-12-30T08:45:00.388-05:00

This week's blog is designed as a little grab-bag of minutia: A few thoughts that may not have enough content for a full post, but are still worth sharing. When Heather and I exchanged Christmas presents this year, we discovered that each of our main event presents were suited to the over 21 crowd. I had purchased Heather a one-year membership to the New York Times wine club. Heather and I both

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-50896414524501879722009-12-28T08:45:00.000-05:002009-12-28T08:45:00.367-05:00

I'm in love with lobster. It's a cliche, I know, the most typical luxury food out there, but I just don't care. Throw it in the pot, dip in in butter, make it a bisque, plunk it on a roll, I will eat that expensive crustacean and smile while doing it. Last winter I was in luck, a crazy lobster glut led to the NY Times telling me that I could get myself a cheap lobster, and I think I had one in

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-54314572110146411192009-12-23T08:45:00.000-05:002009-12-23T08:45:00.229-05:00

In the week or so leading up to the cocktail party we threw this past Saturday, we gradually picked up some essentials. As the bar master of the household, it was my job to decide what the loose drink menu is to be. The decision was martinis, gimlets and manhattans with battery of basic mixers and special requests invited. As readers of past blogs may know, I likes me a good vodka martini. I

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-22089135941592691982009-12-21T08:45:00.000-05:002009-12-21T08:45:00.260-05:00

When Will and I moved to NY two years ago, we were thrilled with our luck at scoring a place with a large living room (though a tiny kitchen, but what can you do). How perfect, we thought, for parties, we'll be able to fit all of our friends in here! The master procrastinators that we are however, we never really got around to it. Despite my affection for feeding people and Will's skill with a

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-65021842094862472902009-12-16T08:45:00.002-05:002009-12-16T08:45:00.302-05:00

It's time for another drink recipe and demonstration. This one comes to us from the New York Times in an article about rum. The title of the article was "Staging a Rum Rebellion" and its theme was that while recently rum has taken a back seat to gin and whiskey in serious cocktail culture, there are bars out there doing innovative things with different kinds of rum. This drink in particular

Willie J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07603350351231549577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673279576017911781.post-12939452152229697602009-12-14T08:45:00.005-05:002010-08-24T18:05:12.661-04:00

Maybe it was frigid weather that just showed up in NY one day that made me crave a summery, Californian type food. Maybe it was the fact that both Catfish and Avocados were on sale at Whole Foods. There is even a slight chance that the 11 tablespoons of butter in the Pear Upside-Down Cake had me going to the gym every day last week that made this healthy recipe so very attractive. Whatever it was

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01141813609139839134noreply@blogger.com2