The count-down has begun! Kate is due with a baby girl on November 28. Elizabeth is due with a baby girl on December 7, but has been told she'll deliver around the 24th.
Is it mean if I pit them against each other and pretend they're racing?!?!
I know they're both pretty much at maximum capacity and ready to no longer be pregnant. And of course, they're completely excited to meet their little girls.
I hope they both come on November 22. 2 is my favorite number and I've always been the only one with a November birthday (til Letty) and they will be two of my favorite people on earth, so it seems perfect. Come on Kate & Elizabeth, don't let me down!
Whenever they do decide to make their entrances, I am hopeful and wishing for two speedy, un-complicated, natural, healthy births. Good luck, Mamas!
-----Oh yeah, in case you can't keep up with reproduction-mania, Mike & Kristin's baby is at 20 weeks right now, due the beginning of April.-----
our story, as it happens
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Kick Ass Baked Beans
I have to start by saying that for the first 20-some-odd-years of my life, I did not like beans at all. Something about the inside texture really turned me off. Joseph loves beans, and once we got together and I set out on my quest to know how to cook everything well, I have made so much progress with my bean cooking ability.
I had two ham hocks from 909 that I needed to use, that's what prompted me to make beans in the first place. And beans in a skillet over a campfire would make Joseph SO HAPPY! So, this is what I came up with.
One pound bag navy beans soaked overnight, then drained. You can use any kind of bean, or combo of beans that you want. And this recipe is just how I happened to make them this time. I don't write recipes down, unless it was extra delicious or to post it on here. My cooking varies all the time and I am able to incorporate pretty much anything I have laying around into something great. Knowing what role each ingredient plays and what quality it brings or purpose it serves in your dish, the more clear the possibilities become in cooking. I am still working on my Food Network Star application video, in which I have to declare my "theme". I told Joseph today, I have no theme or gimmick. It's just me and this is how I cook. I use what I have and I make it awesome. I can teach people how to buy the proper ingredients to stock their pantries, how to improvise and have confidence in their ability to do so, and how to make simple things that are homemade, cost efficient and mostly healthy. I think baked beans falls into that category. Although, I cannot lead you astray, despite the title, these beans are at no time baked.
In the bottom of a hot pot saute 4 slices chopped bacon. (I used pancetta, which I also had from 909, but I doubt anyone has that laying around, and bacon serves the same purpose.) Once the bacon has rendered some fat, add 1 tsp oil, half 1 chopped onion, 4 cloves minced garlic, two stalks celery chopped, one green pepper chopped, and saute about 10 minutes. Add one can diced tomatoes, beans, 2 bay leaves, 1 or 2 ham hocks, 1 T(ablespoon) paprika, 1 T chili powder, 1 T cumin, 1 t(easpoon) cumin seed, 1 t red chili flakes, one dried anaheim pepper, 1/4 cup bbq sauce, 2 t molasses and 6 cups hot water. Bring to a simmer, set heat on medium low and cook uncovered for 4 to 8 hours. The longer you're going to cook it, the lower the temp should be and you may have to add more water. I cooked mine for 10 hours and it was really thick and hearty. Season with salt at the end.
I also made corn bread muffins. I added a cup of bacon & corn chowder leftover from Tuesday to the batter and used bacon fat instead of oil. I also used coarse ground corn meal, instead of the fine stuff in the cardboard container. They were like corn-crack. Bacony corn-crack. I could sell them for $10 each just by letting people smell them right out of the oven. I will only be enjoying one of these calorie bombs, Joseph will eat the rest this weekend by the fire.
I had two ham hocks from 909 that I needed to use, that's what prompted me to make beans in the first place. And beans in a skillet over a campfire would make Joseph SO HAPPY! So, this is what I came up with.
One pound bag navy beans soaked overnight, then drained. You can use any kind of bean, or combo of beans that you want. And this recipe is just how I happened to make them this time. I don't write recipes down, unless it was extra delicious or to post it on here. My cooking varies all the time and I am able to incorporate pretty much anything I have laying around into something great. Knowing what role each ingredient plays and what quality it brings or purpose it serves in your dish, the more clear the possibilities become in cooking. I am still working on my Food Network Star application video, in which I have to declare my "theme". I told Joseph today, I have no theme or gimmick. It's just me and this is how I cook. I use what I have and I make it awesome. I can teach people how to buy the proper ingredients to stock their pantries, how to improvise and have confidence in their ability to do so, and how to make simple things that are homemade, cost efficient and mostly healthy. I think baked beans falls into that category. Although, I cannot lead you astray, despite the title, these beans are at no time baked.
In the bottom of a hot pot saute 4 slices chopped bacon. (I used pancetta, which I also had from 909, but I doubt anyone has that laying around, and bacon serves the same purpose.) Once the bacon has rendered some fat, add 1 tsp oil, half 1 chopped onion, 4 cloves minced garlic, two stalks celery chopped, one green pepper chopped, and saute about 10 minutes. Add one can diced tomatoes, beans, 2 bay leaves, 1 or 2 ham hocks, 1 T(ablespoon) paprika, 1 T chili powder, 1 T cumin, 1 t(easpoon) cumin seed, 1 t red chili flakes, one dried anaheim pepper, 1/4 cup bbq sauce, 2 t molasses and 6 cups hot water. Bring to a simmer, set heat on medium low and cook uncovered for 4 to 8 hours. The longer you're going to cook it, the lower the temp should be and you may have to add more water. I cooked mine for 10 hours and it was really thick and hearty. Season with salt at the end.
I also made corn bread muffins. I added a cup of bacon & corn chowder leftover from Tuesday to the batter and used bacon fat instead of oil. I also used coarse ground corn meal, instead of the fine stuff in the cardboard container. They were like corn-crack. Bacony corn-crack. I could sell them for $10 each just by letting people smell them right out of the oven. I will only be enjoying one of these calorie bombs, Joseph will eat the rest this weekend by the fire.
Camping Trip!
I'm busy packing for our camping trip tomorrow. It's been several months since the last time we camped, and we're both pretty excited to get a few sunny fall days at the lake in before winter. Since we are going to a lake that is nearby, (20 minutes from our house, 5 from the pool/disc golf course and 10 from a grocery store) we don't have to pack as much or be nearly as diligent about not forgetting things. Some of the sights where we stayed during the spring and summer were way too far from everything to get anything that you needed or forgot. This lake, which is a Texas State Park, even has wi-fi at it's campsites, so I may post a blog about our trip from our tent. No, I won't, I'm not taking the computer, that would negate the whole point of camping, which it to get away from all things plugged-in.
The weather is beautiful right now, in the high 70s all day and then it drops quickly into the 50s when the sun goes down. There is a slight chance of rain on Monday, but we're taking our chances. As much as I personally love to be outside in the quiet stillness, far from everything and everyone, situated comfortably on the shore of a huge lake, I get most enjoyment from watching Cooper. He knows what the tents and coolers mean and his excitement is incredible. Marshall loves being with us and relaxing outdoors, but he's more likely to just it park under a tree and nap than anything else. Cooper will run and play and swim from sun up until sun down and love every second of it.
We'll have some fabulous meals, even lakeside and over a fire. I've got some chicken breasts and pork tenderloin marinating. I also made some baked beans last night that amazed even me. I will post the recipe, it's simple and so freakin' good that everyone should have it. We're expecting some friends to stop by, so I'll be ready to feed a crowd. Other than grilling, Joseph will play disc golf and fish and I will read and lay in the sun. I plan to hike around the lake, there is a really awesome trail that I'm looking forward to trying out. Before the sun goes down (at 6pm) we'll drink some margaritas and enjoy the peace and quiet. We have not had a campfire all summer, so I am happy to finally get to use the s'mores ingredients that have been in my pantry for 6 months.
Hope everyone else has a great weekend. I'll post with some pictures when we get back on Tuesday.
Peace. And oh yeah, I can't believe OBAMA actually won. There is hope again.
The weather is beautiful right now, in the high 70s all day and then it drops quickly into the 50s when the sun goes down. There is a slight chance of rain on Monday, but we're taking our chances. As much as I personally love to be outside in the quiet stillness, far from everything and everyone, situated comfortably on the shore of a huge lake, I get most enjoyment from watching Cooper. He knows what the tents and coolers mean and his excitement is incredible. Marshall loves being with us and relaxing outdoors, but he's more likely to just it park under a tree and nap than anything else. Cooper will run and play and swim from sun up until sun down and love every second of it.
We'll have some fabulous meals, even lakeside and over a fire. I've got some chicken breasts and pork tenderloin marinating. I also made some baked beans last night that amazed even me. I will post the recipe, it's simple and so freakin' good that everyone should have it. We're expecting some friends to stop by, so I'll be ready to feed a crowd. Other than grilling, Joseph will play disc golf and fish and I will read and lay in the sun. I plan to hike around the lake, there is a really awesome trail that I'm looking forward to trying out. Before the sun goes down (at 6pm) we'll drink some margaritas and enjoy the peace and quiet. We have not had a campfire all summer, so I am happy to finally get to use the s'mores ingredients that have been in my pantry for 6 months.
Hope everyone else has a great weekend. I'll post with some pictures when we get back on Tuesday.
Peace. And oh yeah, I can't believe OBAMA actually won. There is hope again.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Lately
Before I started this blog I used to write a little bit on a blog on Myspace. But Myspace is kind of creepy and full of annoying things, which is why I prefer this lovely blogspot instead. I did really enjoy writing about what I had been doing or thinking or feeling. I've always tried to have a specific topic to write about when posting a blog here, but, as it turns out, our life isn't that interesting or eventful. And as much as I love to write and post about food, I'm beginning to feel a bit one-dimensional, like that's all I can do. So, in an effort to express a little bit more of myself in writing, I am going to begin writing regular LATELY blogs again. Stay tuned.
Here's a start.
Lately...
First and foremost, I am thrilled with our country. This is the first time in my life where any candidate or politician spoke in a way that I felt was directed at me. Like he was speaking to me, about what matters to me, making promises that will effect me positively. I believe he spoke to many many millions of other people in that way too, and that's why he won. He spoke to groups of Americans who have never thought that the men in Washington even knew they existed, and promised them the help they've needed for so long. I am hopeful and optimistic that Barack Obama will be in our country's history, not only as the first black President but as an effective, fair, honest and smart leader, something that our country SO BADLY needs right now. I didn't really grasp the enormity of the face that he is black and we just elected him president until watching Oprah yesterday. I would have voted for a Martian if I thought he was smart and would do a good job, and his being black never even entered my thoughts when deciding for whom I should vote. Oprah showed a clip of Martin Luther King as he spoke of his dream for his children to be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Only decades later and we have done just that, while electing the person for the most powerful position on earth. That's awesome.
I am getting ready for all the big changes that are on the horizon for us. I am *patiently* waiting for Kate to have her baby so I can get my road trip started. She's technically full term now, so the sooner the better, little girl, get a move on it! In the mean time, I am trying to find a suitable place for us to live in Austin. There are some issues as far as location, because Joseph will still be working in Marble Falls for a while, so we're limited to the southwest part of Austin, which happens to be one of the newest and most expensive parts of town. Ugh. Also, we are slightly limited because we have so much stuff. And dogs. It's not as simple in Austin as it is in Horseshoe Bay. To get into this house, the owner, my old boss from HSBR called me from Florida and said, "My house is available, do you still need a house? Move in in two weeks." Ahh, small towns do have advantages. I have to be patient and I'm sure I will find a lovely house with a big fenced yard, big kitchen and 2 full bathrooms (we have been spoiled by our separate bathroom situation!)available in January if I just keep looking.
Lately the weather has been really beautiful. I have actually had to break out my fuzzy slippers from last winter a few different times, which is something I dreamt about during the last 2 months of 90+ degrees. There is still a burn ban in our county so we have not been able to have a fire yet, which is one of the best parts of fall. It's cool and breezy, but you don't need a sweater until the sun starts to go down. I think we are going to go camping next week at Inks Lake. We never made it to Lake Travis last weekend, and we're both eager to get in just one more camping trip this year. Inks Lake is close enough to Marble Falls that we can camp for 2 or 3 days and still come into town to take care of whatever needs to be done. Perfect! And since we'll be lakeside, we can totally have a fire. That should be a nice getaway and I'm looking forward to it.
Okay, that's a start. Later.
Here's a start.
Lately...
First and foremost, I am thrilled with our country. This is the first time in my life where any candidate or politician spoke in a way that I felt was directed at me. Like he was speaking to me, about what matters to me, making promises that will effect me positively. I believe he spoke to many many millions of other people in that way too, and that's why he won. He spoke to groups of Americans who have never thought that the men in Washington even knew they existed, and promised them the help they've needed for so long. I am hopeful and optimistic that Barack Obama will be in our country's history, not only as the first black President but as an effective, fair, honest and smart leader, something that our country SO BADLY needs right now. I didn't really grasp the enormity of the face that he is black and we just elected him president until watching Oprah yesterday. I would have voted for a Martian if I thought he was smart and would do a good job, and his being black never even entered my thoughts when deciding for whom I should vote. Oprah showed a clip of Martin Luther King as he spoke of his dream for his children to be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Only decades later and we have done just that, while electing the person for the most powerful position on earth. That's awesome.
I am getting ready for all the big changes that are on the horizon for us. I am *patiently* waiting for Kate to have her baby so I can get my road trip started. She's technically full term now, so the sooner the better, little girl, get a move on it! In the mean time, I am trying to find a suitable place for us to live in Austin. There are some issues as far as location, because Joseph will still be working in Marble Falls for a while, so we're limited to the southwest part of Austin, which happens to be one of the newest and most expensive parts of town. Ugh. Also, we are slightly limited because we have so much stuff. And dogs. It's not as simple in Austin as it is in Horseshoe Bay. To get into this house, the owner, my old boss from HSBR called me from Florida and said, "My house is available, do you still need a house? Move in in two weeks." Ahh, small towns do have advantages. I have to be patient and I'm sure I will find a lovely house with a big fenced yard, big kitchen and 2 full bathrooms (we have been spoiled by our separate bathroom situation!)available in January if I just keep looking.
Lately the weather has been really beautiful. I have actually had to break out my fuzzy slippers from last winter a few different times, which is something I dreamt about during the last 2 months of 90+ degrees. There is still a burn ban in our county so we have not been able to have a fire yet, which is one of the best parts of fall. It's cool and breezy, but you don't need a sweater until the sun starts to go down. I think we are going to go camping next week at Inks Lake. We never made it to Lake Travis last weekend, and we're both eager to get in just one more camping trip this year. Inks Lake is close enough to Marble Falls that we can camp for 2 or 3 days and still come into town to take care of whatever needs to be done. Perfect! And since we'll be lakeside, we can totally have a fire. That should be a nice getaway and I'm looking forward to it.
Okay, that's a start. Later.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
HE DID IT! WE DID IT!
It happened.
It really happened.
He won.
He won Florida and Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia!
He actually won.
No scandal or recount. A landslide victory.
It's real.
It's true.
64 million Americans voted for Barack Obama!
No one can take away what our country did.
We did it.
The United States got together and made the right decision.
Make us proud, Barack! We fought hard to have you fight for us.
November 4, 2008 is the day I became proud to be an American again.
January can't come fast enough!
PRESIDENT OBAMA, We're glad to have you!
It really happened.
He won.
He won Florida and Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia!
He actually won.
No scandal or recount. A landslide victory.
It's real.
It's true.
64 million Americans voted for Barack Obama!
No one can take away what our country did.
We did it.
The United States got together and made the right decision.
Make us proud, Barack! We fought hard to have you fight for us.
November 4, 2008 is the day I became proud to be an American again.
January can't come fast enough!
PRESIDENT OBAMA, We're glad to have you!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Dinner, thanks to Cafe 909
This is what I made for dinner Monday with some of the food I brought home from Cafe 909 on Friday.
Pear & Beet salad with homemade Ricotta
Grilled Tuna, Creamy Polenta, Wilted Escarole & Chickpea Putanesca, with balsamic reduction drizzle
I have been cooking most of the afternoon, getting ready for tomorrow night. I kept being amazed and and getting excited when I found ingredients today that I didn't have before Friday that I was able to use. I have a batch of sourdough rising, which I'm going to bake into little boules (round) to serve as mini sourdough soup bowls. I had forgotten that Mark gave me a huge bowl of yeast. HUGE, like yeast for bread baking for the next 2 years. Awesome!!! I made a big batch of corn chowder, with the two ziploc bags I brought home full of frozen corn that I myself had cut off the cob and blanched. It will be served in my mini bread bowls. Now I am going to make a batch of vanilla pudding, homemade not from the box. It is what I am using (my quick substitution for annoying-to-make pastry cream) to pipe into the center of giant chocolate cupcakes for tomorrow. I got a big cupcake pan yesterday, as well as mini bread loaves and a pan of mini bundt cakes. I got a Cuisinart hand-mixer, too. I have never had one, because I have always had my orange Kitchenaide and never needed one. But I bake a lot more now and it will really come in handy, and Joseph likes to lick the beaters because it makes him think of his mom. I also got a candy thermometer (for making cheese and candy) and pink tongs. That was just at the kitchen store.
For dessert we had:
Goat cheese cheesecake with spiced plum sauce
2006 Food & Wine Magazine Top 10 Best Restaurant Dishes of the Year
Frozen Pistachio Parfait with Burnt Honey Caramel
Pear & Beet salad with homemade Ricotta
Grilled Tuna, Creamy Polenta, Wilted Escarole & Chickpea Putanesca, with balsamic reduction drizzle
I have been cooking most of the afternoon, getting ready for tomorrow night. I kept being amazed and and getting excited when I found ingredients today that I didn't have before Friday that I was able to use. I have a batch of sourdough rising, which I'm going to bake into little boules (round) to serve as mini sourdough soup bowls. I had forgotten that Mark gave me a huge bowl of yeast. HUGE, like yeast for bread baking for the next 2 years. Awesome!!! I made a big batch of corn chowder, with the two ziploc bags I brought home full of frozen corn that I myself had cut off the cob and blanched. It will be served in my mini bread bowls. Now I am going to make a batch of vanilla pudding, homemade not from the box. It is what I am using (my quick substitution for annoying-to-make pastry cream) to pipe into the center of giant chocolate cupcakes for tomorrow. I got a big cupcake pan yesterday, as well as mini bread loaves and a pan of mini bundt cakes. I got a Cuisinart hand-mixer, too. I have never had one, because I have always had my orange Kitchenaide and never needed one. But I bake a lot more now and it will really come in handy, and Joseph likes to lick the beaters because it makes him think of his mom. I also got a candy thermometer (for making cheese and candy) and pink tongs. That was just at the kitchen store.
For dessert we had:
Goat cheese cheesecake with spiced plum sauce
2006 Food & Wine Magazine Top 10 Best Restaurant Dishes of the Year
Frozen Pistachio Parfait with Burnt Honey Caramel
November 2
We had a lovely Sunday celebrating number twenty-eight. Our plans to hang out at the lake changed into sushi for lunch, shopping and mojitos at the Hula Hut at sunset. Here are some pictures:
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Amy's 25-hour Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Amy! How special that your 28th birthday happens to coincide with daylight savings, giving you the ultimate gift of more time... the 25-hour birthday!
We don't have much planned, but that's kind of how we like things. We are meeting some friends at their campsite at Lake Travis tomorrow, to spend the afternoon with the dogs at the lake. The weather is completely amazing right now and the dogs will appreciate one more chance to go swimming this year. In the evening we're cooking dinner together at home. Monday, because one (extra long) day of celebrating isn't enough, we are going into Austin for a sushi lunch at my very favorite place on Earth and a little birthday shopping. I think I want the ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchenaid and some new cute-butt jeans. I have a cute butt now, I have earned some kick-ass jeans. I may see something else that I want instead, that's what I have come to love about Joseph's gift giving technique (which is to put off shopping and let me shop for myself). I'll let you know what I decide on.
Then, the party will continue on to Tuesday, when we host our Election Day Party. That one won't be about me, hopefully it will be a celebration of the first steps of getting our country to suck less.
We don't have much planned, but that's kind of how we like things. We are meeting some friends at their campsite at Lake Travis tomorrow, to spend the afternoon with the dogs at the lake. The weather is completely amazing right now and the dogs will appreciate one more chance to go swimming this year. In the evening we're cooking dinner together at home. Monday, because one (extra long) day of celebrating isn't enough, we are going into Austin for a sushi lunch at my very favorite place on Earth and a little birthday shopping. I think I want the ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchenaid and some new cute-butt jeans. I have a cute butt now, I have earned some kick-ass jeans. I may see something else that I want instead, that's what I have come to love about Joseph's gift giving technique (which is to put off shopping and let me shop for myself). I'll let you know what I decide on.
Then, the party will continue on to Tuesday, when we host our Election Day Party. That one won't be about me, hopefully it will be a celebration of the first steps of getting our country to suck less.
Cafe 909... The last days
I helped close down Cafe 909 last night. I won't tell you again how sad I am that such a delightful restaurant, with spectacular food had to close its doors. We managed to have a great time this past week and make the most of sending each other off to our new adventures. Because Chef is such a great guy (not a jerk, at all!) he sent the three cooks home with hundreds and hundreds, yes, hundreds of dollars worth of goods. I'm serious, I brought our big camping cooler and filled it completely full. Then I filled a milk crate with stuff too. I got tuna steaks, ribeyes, calamari, quail, spices (even saffron!), sauces, oils, orzo, polenta, wine, beer glasses, pounds of local cheddar and aged parmesan cheese, pistacio parfaits and the sauce goes with it, cheesecake, a spice cake and 1/2 gallon of spiced plums, and all the leftover ingredients from the line after service was over. We have so much food that I have decided to skip our traditional fancy dinner date for my birthday tomorrow and stay home and cook for us here. The food will be better than any restaurant in Austin and we have excellent wine, all here, all paid for. I will also use quite a big of the ingredients I brought home to cook for our Election Day Party on Tuesday. Chef is also going to send each of us all of his recipes, that's 25 years worth of culinary genius! and all his menus from the five years that 909 was open. I will keep those recipes for the rest of my life, they are priceless and Mark is very generous and kind to share them with us.
Here are a few photos from the the last night of service at Cafe 909.
My friend, Joe the Waiter
The view from where I stand before we opened for the last time
Shift Beer
Everybody, The End
Here are a few photos from the the last night of service at Cafe 909.
My friend, Joe the Waiter
The view from where I stand before we opened for the last time
Shift Beer
Everybody, The End
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Cafe 909 Tasting Menu
This week at Cafe 909, Mark did a Wine Pairing Tasting Menu. I did a little bit to help get it ready and then stood next to him watching, occasionally holding something or getting something. I got to see him really show off his talents, which are among the finest. He's been nationally recognized for a reason and I got to see it first-hand.
It is a true shame that his restaurant is closing next week. Cafe 909 is a gem of a restaurant in a sandy bowl of pebbles. It has been my pleasure to work there and learn from Mark Schmidt. I have only been working there a short nine weeks, and I don't remember it being so awesome when I worked there last year, but I have grown very fond of and close to the people I work with. David is the pantry guy, the professional baker who has been cheerfully guiding me in my sourdough journey. He's also my political tutor, updating me on statistics and answering so, so many questions. Mike is a worldly loner cook, back from 18 months in Ireland, about to go to NYC to cook with the very best, in Marble Falls for only one reason, which is to learn from Mark. I fit in someplace in the middle, inwittingly exposing how truly naive I am, making everyone laugh sometimes, being a chatterbox and keeping pace all the while with the two awesome cooks on either side of me. Mark can be a [jerk], but for the most-part, he is a kind and respectful leader, happy to help in so many ways. I am very sad to see this restaurant close, to be losing my job and to see the friendships that were developing end. I have warned them all that I'm not "Amy the Crying One" for nothing, I never fail to deliver tears in any (even slightly) emotional situation. I have the utmost respect for Mark and his wife Shelly for the way they run their business and the knowledge they have about what they do. It's been a while since I felt that way at work.
These pictures aren't in the right order and I am not smart (patient) enough to put them in the correct order right now. You get the point though. The man for whom the tasting was is the owner of a winery, and he brought some incredible vintage wines (1970-1992). The courses in the order they were served was this:
Japanese Flavors -oyster, escolar & kiwi tartar, eel, tuna sashimi
Seared Foie Gras, candied butternut, ginger
Sturgeon, grilled sardine, blood sausage risotto
Squab breast, carrot puree, most delicious sauce
Smoked lamb, lamb chop, roasted baby leeks, artichokes and cauliflower
Marcona almond stuffed fig, honeycomb, bleu cheese, olive oil
And those are David's cloverleaf Brioche rolls!
It is a true shame that his restaurant is closing next week. Cafe 909 is a gem of a restaurant in a sandy bowl of pebbles. It has been my pleasure to work there and learn from Mark Schmidt. I have only been working there a short nine weeks, and I don't remember it being so awesome when I worked there last year, but I have grown very fond of and close to the people I work with. David is the pantry guy, the professional baker who has been cheerfully guiding me in my sourdough journey. He's also my political tutor, updating me on statistics and answering so, so many questions. Mike is a worldly loner cook, back from 18 months in Ireland, about to go to NYC to cook with the very best, in Marble Falls for only one reason, which is to learn from Mark. I fit in someplace in the middle, inwittingly exposing how truly naive I am, making everyone laugh sometimes, being a chatterbox and keeping pace all the while with the two awesome cooks on either side of me. Mark can be a [jerk], but for the most-part, he is a kind and respectful leader, happy to help in so many ways. I am very sad to see this restaurant close, to be losing my job and to see the friendships that were developing end. I have warned them all that I'm not "Amy the Crying One" for nothing, I never fail to deliver tears in any (even slightly) emotional situation. I have the utmost respect for Mark and his wife Shelly for the way they run their business and the knowledge they have about what they do. It's been a while since I felt that way at work.
These pictures aren't in the right order and I am not smart (patient) enough to put them in the correct order right now. You get the point though. The man for whom the tasting was is the owner of a winery, and he brought some incredible vintage wines (1970-1992). The courses in the order they were served was this:
Japanese Flavors -oyster, escolar & kiwi tartar, eel, tuna sashimi
Seared Foie Gras, candied butternut, ginger
Sturgeon, grilled sardine, blood sausage risotto
Squab breast, carrot puree, most delicious sauce
Smoked lamb, lamb chop, roasted baby leeks, artichokes and cauliflower
Marcona almond stuffed fig, honeycomb, bleu cheese, olive oil
And those are David's cloverleaf Brioche rolls!
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