We’re taking it easy this weekend, so no recipes today. Instead, I thought I’d point you toward a few things I’ve found interesting recently:
- Carol Blymire, who cooked through the French Laundry Cookbook, has just started her new project, cooking through the Alinea cookbook. I’m in awe of this, because we have the book, and dude, it’s no joke.
- If you’re curious about the experience of eating at Alinea, check out Jess Thomson at Hogwash’s article about her visit. Her hilarious piece was included in “Best Food Writing 2008.”
- For some contrast and more about about Alinea and Grant Achatz, this New Yorker profile is fascinating, and its exploration of the way that taste and aroma function in our experience of eating is a must-read, even if you don’t care about Alinea.
- If you’re more about the home-cook experience, leave all those chemicals alone and take a look at “How I Beat KFC’s ‘Family Meal’ Challenge.” When our friend dropped this in our inbox, she gave this money quote: “In America, if we are what we eat, most of us are fast, cheap, and easy.”
Have a good Saturday!
5 comments
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November 8, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Tim
Thanks for sharing the Jess Thomson article, it was great. My experience at Alinea was pretty similar. More theatre than dining and by the end of the night I was sort of a mess. You end up overwhelmed by the theatrics and decadence of it all. (You also end up really drunk if you do the wine pairings- they promised me that I wouldn’t end up drunk but after 9 glasses of wine….!!!) It is a really special experience and living in Chicago I am always tempted to return, but since the meal costs almost as much as I pay in rent—I have not yet. Ha. Anyway, thanks for all of the good links!
November 9, 2008 at 10:54 am
Victoria
I am Simon Hopkinson’s “Roast Chicken” books in the British editions and find them to be wonderful to read. And look at. The illustrations are great.
November 9, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Victoria
Woops. I meant I am reading…….sorry.
November 9, 2008 at 2:36 pm
EB
Every time the stupid KFC meal ‘challenge’ commercial comes on I always get mad. They really are doing their best to persuade us that we can’t provide a healthier version of their inexpensively produced death in a bucket. Know what? Not a challenge.
November 10, 2008 at 7:34 pm
hannehanne
Tim– I’m jealous, I’d love to have the experience! Man, Chicago’s an awesome city.
Victoria– I ordered the Hopkinson books from my library. Can’t wait to check them out!
EB– We don’t watch TV except for online, and I’m not sure we even have that commercial in Canada, but it still makes me mad… good to know we’re not alone.