Category

Stories and Rants

  • The Ultimate Reservation

    For the past four years, every since I knew about it, really, I’ve been e-mailing El Bulli–frequently cited as the best restaurant in the world–for a reservation. And almost like clockwork, I get an e-mail back a few months later stating that because of intense demand (800,000 people applying for 8,000 possible reservations, according to…

  • A Thanksgiving Confession (with Two Recipe Suggestions)

    A Thanksgiving Confession (with Two Recipe Suggestions)

    One week from today is Thanksgiving, and it’s time to tell you the truth: I’m not cooking dinner this year! No, after cooking last year (see here) and the year before (see here) I’m giving myself a break this year, and enjoying time with my family instead. So there will be no frantic posting, no…

  • Are there any tomatoes in this heirloom tomato salad?

    Are there any tomatoes in this heirloom tomato salad?

    Hi Bouchon Bakery, how are you? I know we’re friends and that I’ve visited you many times in the past. I love your tuna nicoisse tartine and your roasted tomato soup with grilled cheese and your subtle salad with watercress, apples and blue cheese. But what’s the deal with your heirloom tomato salad?

  • My Worst Restaurant Experience Ever

    It’s not every day that you have your worst restaurant experience ever. Mine happened a few weeks ago, upon my return from Seattle and Cape Cod. Literally: it was my first meal back and the food gods rightly punished me for making a waste of it.Park Slope has two sushi joints I frequent: one is…

  • Have A Summer Dinner Party

    Have A Summer Dinner Party

    The weekend is here and you’re finally free to relax, to read, to toast yourself in the sun. But here’s what I think you should do: on Saturday? Go to a farmer’s market. If you don’t have one in your town, ok, you’re off the hook; but if you do, head over there and buy…

  • Cookies for Dessert

    Cookies for Dessert

    Here’s how I attack an impending dinner party: (1) I make dessert first; (2) I make/start the entree second; and (3) I make the salad and/or appetizers last so that when the guests arrive, the salad has only just been dressed and/or the appetizers are hot out of the oven. Recently, though, I made a…

  • Should Chefs Do Reality TV? A Discussion.

    [I just chatted online with my friend Diana, who works in reality TV, about that very subject. Here it is, unedited (reality-style), for your consumption.] AdamR218: i’m about to do a post about reality tv on my blog Diana: ooh AdamR218: i’m going to tell my readers never do it AdamR218: that you always end…

  • A Matzoh Moment

    A Matzoh Moment

    Certain experiences belong in that well-worn jar on the mantle: “Only In New York.” Take the experience I had the other night before joining Craig for our second anniversary dinner at wd-50 (post to follow). I was in the Lower East Side, walking on Clinton Street (or was it Rivington?) and I noticed a humming…

  • Do better ingredients make a difference?

    Do better ingredients make a difference?

    I make Cavatappi with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans on a very regular basis. (Click here for the recipe). It’s a great pasta dish because the sun-dried tomatoes make it taste bright and summery and the beans make it hardy (hearty? how do you spell that?) and substantial. Everyone loves it and plus you get…

  • A Funny Thing I Do (A Tip & A Recipe for Vanilla Bean Pudding)

    A Funny Thing I Do (A Tip & A Recipe for Vanilla Bean Pudding)

    What you see here is documentation of a very strange practice, a funny thing I do each time I pull a recipe from the internet. What I do is: instead of printing the recipe out with my printer (which is totally hooked up and ready to use), I grab a piece of paper and write…