When I first started flipping through "The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home" by local authors Michael Zusman and Nick Zukin, I was a bit puzzled. It's not a slick book. Yes, there are glossy photographs, but they aren't impossibly perfect as are those in many books these days. There is no dust jacket, and the layout is a bit utilitarian. Don't get me wrong - the photos and layout … [Read more...] about Book Review – The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home
Don’t Wash Raw Chicken!
As a child, I can remember watching my mother carefully rinsing poultry before frying poultry. It was standard procedure in those days - we were taught to always wash raw chicken before cooking it. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has campaigned against it for some time. Most food scientists agree - washing chicken spreads dangerous bacteria all over your … [Read more...] about Don’t Wash Raw Chicken!
The Movie “Somm”, Raises the Curtain on the Master Sommelier Exam
You may not have heard of the organization, but in 1977, the Court of Master Sommeliers was established to provide a worldwide certification in the art, science, and history that is required to become a sommelier. The exam is brutal. Over the past forty years, only 211 candidates worldwide have earned the Master Sommelier Diploma.The feature-length documentary follows four … [Read more...] about The Movie “Somm”, Raises the Curtain on the Master Sommelier Exam
Fleur De Lis Bakery Pastry Chefs Win Portland’s Concours de Tartes aux Fruits
Two pastry chefs from Fleur De Lis bakery have won Portland’s 6th Annual Concours de Tartes aux Fruits. The gorgeous tart was:"Duck fat sucre lined with dark chocolate, layered with lavender pastry cream, and topped with black mission figs, Gonzalez Farm blackberries, and house-made plum syrup. The tart was a spectacular multisensory combination of seasonal freshness and … [Read more...] about Fleur De Lis Bakery Pastry Chefs Win Portland’s Concours de Tartes aux Fruits
More and More Restaurants are Loud by Design
Does it seem like more and more restaurants are so loud that conversation is next to impossible? Believe it or not, this trend is frequently by design.Studies have shown that people increase their rate of chewing by about 1/3rd when listening to faster/louder music, and that men tend to drink faster when the music is booming - I know I do; I want the get out of the damn … [Read more...] about More and More Restaurants are Loud by Design