The Rake: Consider the Egg

What I Saw at the Food & Wine Show

Stephanie March — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:38:19 -0600

The convention center was predictably packed for the Food and Wine show this weekend. I managed to skulk through the aisles and saw some good stuff:

Top Bite: the Hope Creamery salted butter on a cracker. One simply beautiful, creamy bit of elegance.

Harvest Moon

Stephanie March — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:07:31 -0600

First of all, I swore that I would never move back home. I was city-bound and the suburbs could eat my dust, for all I cared. And I had a cute little house in Tangletown and lived a happy life with a 5-10 minute trip to an endless amount of food choices.

Funny how life gets in the way of life.

Text Your Tuna

Stephanie March — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:28:28 -0600

If you're one of those people who is annoyed by restaurant texters, thumbs madly pumping away on their phone while they ignore the others at their table, relax. They may be saving the ocean.

Day Off/On

Stephanie March — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:30:09 -0600

Today is one of those odd holidays. Some people have the day off, others must work. Restaurants are clearly open, but school is closed. There's no real celebration or gift-giving or feast involved, but because it's an election year, maybe we should spend some time thinking about President's Day.

Or maybe we should buy a German sausage rug.

Or we could check out what Andrea Strong has to say about the New York food scene on her new blog.

V-Day Food Flix

Stephanie March — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:27:14 -0600

Being married to the restaurant industry means that, for me, today is not that special. My entire adult life I've either worked the night or sat home while my sig other does.

Of Ice-fishing, Lust, and BBQ

Stephanie March — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:53:40 -0600

Speaking of running into ex-crushes ...

There I was at the DMV, getting my license renewed when I thought I recognized the guy sitting in the row behind me. Because I was thoroughly primped for my photo-op (this time I swear it's going to be a good pic), I felt a little bit psyched that fate had dealt me the chance meeting on that particular day.

Souper Tuesday

Stephanie March — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:15:14 -0600

After the all the caucusing, I'm sure you'll want to burrow into the couch with a piping hot bowl of intellegence and comfort. With each spoonful you'll feel better, listen a little less to the talking head on the TV and a little more to your inner voice. Soup is egalitarian, soup doesn't make snide remarks, soup is there for YOU. Saddle up, get your stock bubbling, it's going to be a long year.

Super Crap

Stephanie March — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:41:55 -0600

Here's what some people don't understand: you can be a food freak without being a food snob. If ever there was a testament to that, it would be the feast of SuperBowl Sunday.

The issue isn't the guacamole, it's the cachet of the guacamole. Hot-wing away, my friend, but consider the sauce. You won't find fois and foam at my house on Sunday, but you will find seasoned onion strings and home-made potato chips. But that's just because I'm bored by the game so I focus on the food, shocker.

Here's a hit-list, if you're so inclined:

Three Dozen Plus One

Stephanie March — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:20:37 -0600

Today is my birthday.

I'm not afraid of coming birthdays, and I don't intend to stop the count-up. Despite all of its challenges (living with teenagers, IRS tax audit, five year old with pneumonia), through the mud and the stars, life on the whole is pretty good.

So today is MY day, the one day a year that I book solidly to do whatever I want (sans Fiji, of course). And because this is the last year I'll have a five year old in tow, I plan to have some silly fun.

Restaurant Redux Part 2

Stephanie March — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:10:53 -0600

Did that last post inspire you to gather your recipes and put together a business plan? Have you been thinking "I throw great dinner parties and I make a heckuva salsa, why don't I open my own Tex-West place?"

Whoa there, Nelly. There's more to it than you think. Thank goodness the BBCA is around to provide you with the proof.

Restaurant Redux

Stephanie March — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:04:39 -0600

It's an odd feeling when a restaurant closes. If it had a big-name chef or the affection of local critics, the closing can cause much hullabaloo (as was witnessed one recent winter). If the eatery was not-so-celebrated, as is more often the case, the closing happens quietly, sadly.

An American Truth

Stephanie March — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:36:30 -0600

There are those, here in Boston, who will say that Paul Revere never made his historic Midnite Ride, that he actually sent a neighbor to warn the countryside. And some people will giggle at your naïvety when you mention the Boston TEA Party, as if everyone should be so silly to think that it was actually tea being stored in those rum barrels.

It's enough to shake a history buff. But if you run back to your historic hotel, where you decide to take refuge in culinary history, you might not be comforted.

Wicked Pissah

Stephanie March — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:47:00 -0600

I'm out here in Boston during this lovely Nor'Easter. As a true-hearted girl from Minny, it's my duty to throw a few What's-The-Big-Deals around and trudge through the slush in just a fleece declaring the 33 degrees to be a bit "balmy". I wear my Northern pride and January birthday like a fierce badge.

But on to the eats...

Last week, the city happily basked in warmer than normal weather, which made it the perfect walking city. I had pizza on the brain and my local pal Alex told me to walk to the North End and find Regina's.

Stone Crabs

Stephanie March — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:32:51 -0600

It's almost time for those beautiful little pink stone crab claws to hit the market.

The first time I ever put claw to mouth was in a kitchen cooler with my friend Wade, the guy behind the fish at Oceanaire. We stood in the chilly box furtively dipping the black-tipped gems in a little mustard-mayo and sliding the sweet, soft meat from the claw with our teeth. It was just a perfect moment, that's all.

Food Forward '08

Stephanie March — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:26:39 -0600

Forget about looking back ... let's guess what's in store for 08!

If a rat can charm us, why not a bug? The next great food film to be revered by adults and tolerated by kids will be a jaunty romp with Corky Cockroach as he sings his way through a scrappy life spent in the bottom of a Caesar salad bowl.

Two Parties

Stephanie March — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:33:44 -0600

Most restaurant industry slaves refer to New Year's Eve as "Amateur Night". Having worked plenty of NYE's in past, I can't say that I'm eager to go out and cram myself into a bar with a bunch of sweaty, drunk people. Have fun.

I wouldn't mind tucking into a cozy booth at a favorite restaurant, but we always seem to have too many revelers in our pack and no one can make a decision as to the best location.

So it's my house for the fest. But what manner of fest shall we have?

Fancy Schmancy

A Cratchit Family Christmas

Stephanie March — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:24:11 -0600

I read this the morning of every Christmas Eve. It helps remind me of the essential importance of a humble, shared feast. I gift this to all cooks as they start their ovens.

Balls of Bourbon

Stephanie March — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:43:36 -0600

Been a bit boozy lately, haven't I?

Well, it is the season of holiday parties, family gatherings, and all manner of cold-weather frolic that can be greatly enhanced by hot cocoa with a "bump"...

It's Nana's fault.

The old girl was a former society debutante who started smoking when she was a Campfire Girl and cocktailed promptly at 4pm until the day she died at the ripe ol' age of 90.

Shop n' Nosh

Stephanie March — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:16:25 -0600

I am WAY behind on shopping. I know I've been writing out gift guides for y'all, but that doesn't mean that I'm surrounded with foodies in my real life. I have to buy Bionicles and Restoration Hardware tchotchkes like the rest of you.

The Jewels of Nordeast

Stephanie March — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:58:12 -0600

Last night I finished my week's run of holiday parties/steak-binge with a soiree at Jax. I wore a kicky ruffled tux shirt and drank Dewar's all night, because that's what Jax calls for.

Cookie Party

Stephanie March — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:52:47 -0600

Do you have a cookie party in your future?

Is there a massive plan afoot to organize friends/co-workers/relatives/cellmates for a gathering in which an inordinate amount of cookies is exchanged?

I have a love/hate thing going for the cookie party. The premise is a bit appealing, bake dozens of one kind of cookie and bring it to a social gathering where there will be dozens of other cookies for which you make an even swap: Ta-daa, now for the price of one recipe, you have a huge variety of cookies.

But (and here comes the Scroogey part) most of them suck.

Love and Bacon

Stephanie March — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:23:39 -0600

Last night I drank a lot of the beautiful, golden, silky liquid known as The Macallan 12. So I apologize if this isn't my most shimmering post.

Local Food Heroes

Stephanie March — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:32:11 -0600

Food Heroes don't leap tall buildings in a single bound, their deeds are rather more humble. They get in the dirt when it's still frozen or wake up before the sun to hang out with the goats. They spend their summer weekends working the markets or give up holiday time to make the most of the retail flurry. They live the dream, and for a few dollars less than most of us would expect.

The Very Serious Incident of the Gift Basket

Stephanie March — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:13:52 -0600

It was last year when the UPS man left the box by our front door. As always, when unexpected boxes arrive, there was excitement and a flurry of dancing about the foyer. Upon quick and furious destruction of the box, we discovered a gift basket.

The Tea Lady

Stephanie March — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:58:00 -0600

If you were casting the role of Tea Lady, you might choose a soft woman with a doughy nature. Maybe you'd pick a spinster who has a serious passion for bone china and a pension for plushy chairs and quiet nights by the fire. Maybe she has cats, lots of cats.

Restaurant Hall of Fame

Stephanie March — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:57:48 -0600

For the restaurant industry, this week marks the final push of the year: Sell those gift cards! Book the holiday parties! Throw open the new doors and get some butts in chairs (welcome Otho and finally Red Stag)!

Last week was different. Before all the hubbub there was time for a moment of reflection.

The Feast Index

Stephanie March — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:32:27 -0600

"Be not angry or sour at table; whatever may happen put on the cheeful mien for good humor makes one dish a feast."

from the Shaker manual Gentle Manners.

THE FEAST INDEX

Estimated number of turkeys rasied in Minnesota in 2007: 46 million

Rank of Minnesota in the top six turkey producing states: 1

The Giving Guest

Stephanie March — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:07:07 -0600

Tradition hasn't rooted so firmly in my kitchen that I cook the Thanksgiving meal every year. Sometimes I am a guest at the feast, like the mjority of people, an eater. It's a beautiful thing, for a cook to be cooked for, and I never take that invitation lightly.

It should be one of the first rules of life that you never show up to a feast empty-handed, and I'm not talking about pot-luck. A little gift, a little prize, a little special something that will make the host smile ... it's a small price for a full belly.

That being said here are some peccadilloes to avoid:

T-Day Seven Days Out: The Bird

Stephanie March — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:09:22 -0600

The bird is the word.

T-Day: Eight Days Out

Stephanie March — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:41:51 -0600

It's go time.