year end: reality is a long game…. (2023)

Recently, La Tour d’Argent, a standard bearer of la grande cuisine since the 1500s – where kings and emperors have feasted, where the fork made its French debut – posted a horrifying video on Instagram of a soufflé being murdered at the table. It was scalped by the server, then disemboweled by the spoonful onto […]

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year end: reality is a long game…. (2023)

Recently, La Tour d’Argent, a standard bearer of la grande cuisine since the 1500s – where kings and emperors have feasted, where the fork made its French debut – posted a horrifying video on Instagram of a soufflé being murdered at the table. It was scalped by the server, then disemboweled by the spoonful onto […]

Continue

claiborne’s cheesecake

As I mentioned in my previous post, I hosted a dinner party last night. Eight guests. For dessert, I made cheescake. I don’t care for cheesecake… er, not sweet tooth except for ice cream and coffee-flavored desserts… but, seeing how most people do, I guessed that the majority of my dinner guests would be pleased […]

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claiborne’s cheesecake

As I mentioned in my previous post, I hosted a dinner party last night. Eight guests. For dessert, I made cheescake. I don’t care for cheesecake… er, not sweet tooth except for ice cream and coffee-flavored desserts… but, seeing how most people do, I guessed that the majority of my dinner guests would be pleased […]

Continue

to market, to market…

A piggy I ain’t but a piggy I bought. Yesterday, I went to one of my favorite markets for ingredients for a dinner party I threw last night (more on that later…). One of the things I love about the place is that that the staff is so personable and friendly. For instance: I had […]

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to market, to market…

A piggy I ain’t but a piggy I bought. Yesterday, I went to one of my favorite markets for ingredients for a dinner party I threw last night (more on that later…). One of the things I love about the place is that that the staff is so personable and friendly. For instance: I had […]

Continue

review: a leavening experience…

The first thing that comes to mind about the Twin Cities may be its notoriously frigid winters, the Twins, the Vikings, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or, sadly, the Mall of America – but not haute cuisine.  Au contraire. While perhaps not haute, I found very fine food in Minneapolis. Thus, this review debuts my […]

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review: a leavening experience…

The first thing that comes to mind about the Twin Cities may be its notoriously frigid winters, the Twins, the Vikings, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or, sadly, the Mall of America – but not haute cuisine.  Au contraire. While perhaps not haute, I found very fine food in Minneapolis. Thus, this review debuts my […]

Continue

i’m still here…

Sorry folks for my absence.  I’ve been “off-roading” across the country. I have been spending quite a bit of time in the garden, as well as visiting my parents. Foodie posts will resume shortly. MANY new restaurant reviews are forthcoming. Please be patient in standing-bye. In the meantime, I’ll share a bit of joy from […]

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i’m still here…

Sorry folks for my absence.  I’ve been “off-roading” across the country. I have been spending quite a bit of time in the garden, as well as visiting my parents. Foodie posts will resume shortly. MANY new restaurant reviews are forthcoming. Please be patient in standing-bye. In the meantime, I’ll share a bit of joy from […]

Continue

salt lick, anyone?…

Those who know me well, know that I don’t have much of a “sweet tooth.” I’m more of a salt lick. If I ever get the muchies, I’ll always pick salty over sweet. At ballparks, dad used to get mad at me for sucking all the salt out of the shells and not eating the […]

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salt lick, anyone?…

Those who know me well, know that I don’t have much of a “sweet tooth.” I’m more of a salt lick. If I ever get the muchies, I’ll always pick salty over sweet. At ballparks, dad used to get mad at me for sucking all the salt out of the shells and not eating the […]

Continue

love ’em, hate ’em, or join ’em?….

Courtesy of davecooks.net So there’s this new trend of “celebrity chefs” that has been taking America by storm for the past decade. The spotlight and stakes are only getting more intense as the years, months, heck, even days pass…. Vulnerability/Insecurity revealed: Sadly, the Ulterior Epicure is a tad envious of these folks – especially the […]

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love ’em, hate ’em, or join ’em?….

Courtesy of davecooks.net So there’s this new trend of “celebrity chefs” that has been taking America by storm for the past decade. The spotlight and stakes are only getting more intense as the years, months, heck, even days pass…. Vulnerability/Insecurity revealed: Sadly, the Ulterior Epicure is a tad envious of these folks – especially the […]

Continue

the great american dessert

Courtesy of epicurious.com A recent email discourse with an acquaintence: She: What are some “great American desserts?” Me: Hmm… well, A). Fruit Pies (apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, keylime, lemon meringue…I could go on forever…) [Edit: Frequent Citations reminds me that I should have included non-fruit pies – most notably pumpkin and pecan pies – both […]

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the great american dessert

Courtesy of epicurious.com A recent email discourse with an acquaintence: She: What are some “great American desserts?” Me: Hmm… well, A). Fruit Pies (apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, keylime, lemon meringue…I could go on forever…) [Edit: Frequent Citations reminds me that I should have included non-fruit pies – most notably pumpkin and pecan pies – both […]

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apparently, i’m spanish…

According to this silly test, I’m Spanish… does that mean I get a free meal at El Bulli? Your Inner European is Spanish! Energetic and lively. You bring the party with you! Who’s Your Inner European?

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apparently, i’m spanish…

According to this silly test, I’m Spanish… does that mean I get a free meal at El Bulli? Your Inner European is Spanish! Energetic and lively. You bring the party with you! Who’s Your Inner European?

Continue

what’s a salad to you?…

I will never forget the time I ordered a “Chicken Salad” at a diner on the Northshore of Chicago expecting to get slices of grilled chicken breast on a bed of greens and vegetables and to my horror, instead, I got a scoop of mayonnaisey shredded chicken on single romaine lettuce leaf and three stem-on […]

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what’s a salad to you?…

I will never forget the time I ordered a “Chicken Salad” at a diner on the Northshore of Chicago expecting to get slices of grilled chicken breast on a bed of greens and vegetables and to my horror, instead, I got a scoop of mayonnaisey shredded chicken on single romaine lettuce leaf and three stem-on […]

Continue

choose wisely…

Yes, I know I’m stalling for time until I can post an adequate, substantive post. Until then, humor me. Let’s play a game:1). If you could choose to eat only ONE cuisine (ethnic), which would you choose? Please try to be specific. Nation or (even better), national region suffices. 2). If you shrunk and became […]

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choose wisely…

Yes, I know I’m stalling for time until I can post an adequate, substantive post. Until then, humor me. Let’s play a game:1). If you could choose to eat only ONE cuisine (ethnic), which would you choose? Please try to be specific. Nation or (even better), national region suffices. 2). If you shrunk and became […]

Continue