Out with the Flu
The day after Christmas, Boo, Hunna and I went to see Sherlock Holmes at the movies. A person behind me was coughing like crazy. It is the only Patient Zero I can think of. Two days after that, on Dec. 29, I had a fever of 103. I had the fever for 5 days. I was sick, like, in bed sick and working only a few hours at at time, for two weeks. I'm writing this on Jan. 31 and I am still coughing. I don't know if it was swine flu or regular flu; they don't test. But I've never been sicker.
Greg, we think, had the flu in April, so he did not catch it. (He went out with the neighbors to Wasabi on New Year's Eve. I stayed home in bed.)
I end up going out the weekend of Jan. 9 — Kelli had a party and Marissa had a baby shower brunch — but it was a big mistake. The next week I was having chest X-rays to test for pneumonia. (Negative, thank goodness.) Anyway, I'm really on the mend now. But I did want to share here, not only because you may be wondering why we don't have any photos from New Year's Eve, but also because I come back the archives of SCF often, and in a few years — or even next year, when it's time to get that flu shot — I don't want to forget.
Greg, we think, had the flu in April, so he did not catch it. (He went out with the neighbors to Wasabi on New Year's Eve. I stayed home in bed.)
I end up going out the weekend of Jan. 9 — Kelli had a party and Marissa had a baby shower brunch — but it was a big mistake. The next week I was having chest X-rays to test for pneumonia. (Negative, thank goodness.) Anyway, I'm really on the mend now. But I did want to share here, not only because you may be wondering why we don't have any photos from New Year's Eve, but also because I come back the archives of SCF often, and in a few years — or even next year, when it's time to get that flu shot — I don't want to forget.
Christmas Night 2009 at The Farm
We had special guests for Christmas night this year: Marissa, Graham and Charlie! After our traditional tamale meal, Greg showed the little guy how to toast marshmallows for s’mores.
Christmas Morning 2009 at the Ranch
Christmas Eve 2009 at the Ranch
It was a low-key Christmas Eve this year, with Sarah and Wilson in Texas and Chris in Germany. We had six people around the table for pork, Brussels sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes.
Recipe: Anne's Goat Cheese Gratin
Here’s a sophisticated and delicious alternative to hot dips made with sour cream: a goat cheese gratin. It tastes sort of like a goat cheese pizza, and that’s a good thing. The recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, “Patricia Wells at Home in Provence,” and it would be easy to make your own, by using different herbs or adding vegetables, such as zucchini, or garnishes, such as scallions.
Christmas Eve Eve at the Farm
Greg and I celebrated our own quiet Christmas Eve on Dec. 23. I guess you could call it Christmas Eve Eve. We drank champagne and ate oysters, exchanged presents and made a mini feast of seven fishes. (OK it was 2 fishes. But it was delicious.)
Sour Cherry Farm’s Christmas Tree, 2009
This year’s tree was tall and thin. (Who doesn't love tall and thin?) It fit better in our little nook than almost any tree we’ve ever had, and we declared it our second favorite ever, after the 12-foot-high king-of-trees we had our last year at Burd Street.
Pork and Mushroom Stuffed Squid with Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
Coffeecake for Christmas Morning
We had another small mishap when it came to holiday baking this year. I decided to make a coffee cake for Christmas morning. Everything started out fine.
The Case of the Disastrous Chocolate Cake,
or The Christmas Dessert That Never Was
Not everything we make here at SCF is a resounding success. I’ve had my fair share of failures, especially when it comes to baking. After editing the recipes for a feature on holiday desserts that first ran in Rockland magazine, I was especially smiten with one for Chocolate Layer Mousse Cake with Cognac and Bittersweet Chocolate Curls. After spacing the work out over three days, I was really disappointed that, in the end, It just wasn’t working out.
Aldea: In a Sleek Room, Bold Flavors and Fun on the Plate
If you’re a big food person, you’ve probably already heard of Aldea , the modern Portuguese and Spanish restaurant in the Flatiron district. If you haven’t, you probably will soon. The chef, George Mendes, opened the resaturant this summer after working at for two years at Toqueville, and studying, working and staging for big names like David Bouley, Alain Ducasse, Alain Passard and Kurt Gutenbrunner. Like many avant garde, modern chefs, he also studied in Spain.
But enough about his background, let’s get to the food. The dish everyone is raving about — and for very good reason — is the Arroz de Patio, with duck confit, chorizo, olives and duck cracklings. It’s one of those you can’t stop thinking about:
But enough about his background, let’s get to the food. The dish everyone is raving about — and for very good reason — is the Arroz de Patio, with duck confit, chorizo, olives and duck cracklings. It’s one of those you can’t stop thinking about:
16:45:00 on 12/22/09
by liz -
Restaurants -
Oyster Stew at Christmas, a Remembrance of Things Past
Warning: Post by Greg. Oyster stew on Christmas Eve got to be a tradition around our house at some point while I was growing up. It didn't come down through my family but was something Doris acquired. And apparently the tradition is pretty widespread, although nobody seems to know exactly where it derives.
Hunkering Down for the Big Storm
What do you do when there’s a big snowstorm coming? Invite some neighbors (and friends who can stay over) for a warm dinner of comfort food, cocktails and poetry and boardgames by the fire. Here’s Irene with her Manhattan:
Baking with Kelli and the Kids
After hosting the Small Bites Cookie Swap at work, I still had some baking of my own to do. So Kelli and I got Sarah, Mary Ellen and Hugh together and we made two of the winning recipes.
Pre-Theater at Angus McIndoe
Boo and I got the chance to see “A Little Night Music” with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones just a few days after opening night:
The celebs were still there — we saw Anna Wintour and Michael Kors in the audience and Boo sat next to Dr. Ruth (!) — and we enjoyed the show immensely. Of course, this site is about food, so.... beforehand, Boo and I headed to one of the best pre-theater spots around: Angus McIndoe. I got the burger:
The celebs were still there — we saw Anna Wintour and Michael Kors in the audience and Boo sat next to Dr. Ruth (!) — and we enjoyed the show immensely. Of course, this site is about food, so.... beforehand, Boo and I headed to one of the best pre-theater spots around: Angus McIndoe. I got the burger:
11:36:00 on 12/17/09
by liz -
Restaurants -
Holiday Lunch at Tarry Lodge
Tarry Lodge. Lunch. Holidays. Happy colleagues, indeed. I had the Garganelli with funghi trifolate. If you like earthy flavors, run to TL to get this.
20:38:00 on 12/15/09
by liz -
Restaurants -
Fried Fish at Irene's
Celebrating Carol Hamburger’s birthday has started to become somewhat of a tradition. Last year, she requested fried chicken. This year, she requested fried fish.
Potluck Sing-A-Long at the Farm
We invited a few friends over for a last-minute holiday gathering, and there were just two rules: You had to bring a dish, and you had to be ready to sing. I think the family band has earned another year of keep. Here are the photos:
Lunch at Artisanal
I had lunch with Eric, an old college friend, at Artisanal in the city the other day. The restaurant was packed, the service pretty much stunk, but sandwiches were very good. And the company was great. Here’s Eric’s cheddar sammy:
19:18:00 on 12/10/09
by liz -
Restaurants -
Rancho Gordo Bean Dish
Greg has been making some amazing dinners out of the heirloom beans we’ve been buying from Rancho Gordo. One weekend night, we each doctored our own bowl so differently that I had to photograph it. I’m sure you can imagine whose is whose.
Sunday Night Supper: Bon Chon Chicken
SCF fans may remember this post on Bon Chon chicken, the Korean-style wing joint in Fort Lee. Well ever since then, Greg has wanted to go back. Imagine his delight, then, when a branch opened about 10 minutes away from the farm. On Sundee night, after a busy weekend of entertaining, we didn’t want to cook, so he brought home a batch.
20:48:00 on 12/06/09
by liz -
Restaurants -
Brunch at The Farm
After the big Saturday night bash at the Ranch, the Farm decided to host a morning-after brunch. Chris was very happy to see that bacon was served.
Mom's Birthday Party
Sondra celebrated her 65th birthday with a festival holiday bash. Friend and family gathered, the Hudson House catered, and the evening ended with everyone gathered around the living room singing Christmas Carols and banging on the family band. Here's a look at the fun night:
Note: There are two sets of photos here — mine and Barbara's — so you'll see some duplicates. If you don't want to see the captions hit that little index card on the left of the words.
Note: There are two sets of photos here — mine and Barbara's — so you'll see some duplicates. If you don't want to see the captions hit that little index card on the left of the words.
