Virtual Co-op Cooking

Some time ago I read an article in the Sonoma Independent about Co-op cooking. I was fascinated by the idea and ordered the the book Homemade To Go co-authored by Dee Sarton Bower and Mary Eileen Wells. It's a homey book that includes a start up guide and some bascic recipes for a group.The basic premise is you find four like minded families and each cooks a meal to feed all families once a week. That gives you three days a week you don't have to cook. With busy schedules for my wife and I that sounded great. A small investment in storage containers is about the only cost involved.I struggled with the co-op plan for a while and decided it would not be practical in my neigborhood and shelved the idea.

This week while rooting through my cookbook collection I came accross the book again and decided if I couldn't do the real thing, why not do it the virtual way. A quick look at the right side of my blog and the light bulb inside my head went on. Let's pretend that all you food bloggers are in my food co-op and I will decide what you will make for dinner tonight.

Sam at Beck's and Posh Autumnal Risotto

Dr. Biggles at Meathenge Tomatillo Chile with pork

Amy at Cooking with Amy Gremolata Chicken

Cookie crumb at I'm mad and I eat Roasted Califlower Soup

Jennifer at Novato Experiment Paella

Mona at Mona' Apple Antipasto and Focaccia from Arthur Street

Tana at Small Farms Pumpkin Soup with goat cheese

Brett at In Praise of Sardines Lamb with Romesco Sauce

Monkey Gland at Jam Faced Carbonara

Sweetnicks Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

Jennifer M. at Life begins at Thirty Rosie Chicken, butternut squash and scarlet runner beans

Good Eats all!!

If I left anyone out check in and I'll add you to the Co-op.

Tough Guy Chef

Les Halles Cookbook

I know I’m a Johnny come lately on this one. Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook has been out for some time now. The promotion phase is long gone. Frankly, I’ve been a little hesitant to read it. Why you ask? Cause I have this image of Bourdain I conjured from reading Kitchen Confidential and A Cook’s Tour. You know the cocky New York tough guy “Flaco” who charges around the world with his irreverent attitude and self deprecating humor. The descriptors are numerous. A man’s man, a chef’s chef, skull and dagger, pirate, ne’r do well, miscreant. I live vicariously through your travels. Now you’re writing a cookbook? Come on Tony say it isn’t so. You’re bustin’ my balls man!

It must be fate. I’m cruising the library isles and there’s Chef Bourdain all dressed in kitchen whites staring out at me. I don’t have to pay for the book so if it sucks big time no harm, no foul.

He shoots, he scores! This is more than a cookbook. Tony’s all here, badder than ever. He’s the same irreverent, expletive not deleted guy. I’ll recommend that some of you budding chefs read this book before spending a lot of hard earned dough on culinary school. This book is like a mini culinary class. The basics are covered, mis en place, stock making and knives. The recipes are broken down into manageable tasks and are easy to follow. The photos by Robert Di Scalfani are incredible. Don’t read this book if you don’t have quick access to food. It will make you hungry. Tony your da man! Heck, I’m even gonna buy the book.

Berkeley Green

I know UCB's colors are blue and gold and today is the big game. However, my time at Berkeley today was more on the green side. My daughter is a senior majoring in conservation resources. We got to tour her plot at the college garden. She grows bok choy, mustard greens, carrots, broccoli, arugula and kale. Lots of green leafy things in a compact little plot. It seems incredible that all this good veg will grow in an urban area. Even in her apartment she has some serious greens growing on the window sill.

all organic garden plot

garden on the sill

We also checked out the farmers market. It was busy as all get out and I was disappointed to find that the Fatted Calf stand had sold much of it's meaty goodies. Ok Dr. Biggles next time I'll reserve.

All this touring and shopping had worked up our appetites and we followed a recommendation for pizza at Arinell's around the corner on Shattuck. My first impression was not good. An industrial look and very little seating were a minus in my book. We had luck on our side and managed to hook a table. The sour look on the order takers face didn't do much to change my impression. This is New York style pizza so maybe the look is part of the ambiance. We order a large pepperoni $20 and hoped for the best. As we waited the crowds grew and we watched some very good looking slices go by in the hands of young hipsters. My name was called and the pizza arrived. It was huge with a thin but crispy crust. Just the right amount of toppings enabled you to fold the slice in half like they do in New York. I have to say this is best pizza I've tasted in a long time. Forget the atmosphere it's about the food stupid!

killer pizza!!

Big Game Final Score Cal 27 Stan 3 Go Bears

Three is a lucky number

I was a man on a mission. The Mrs. needed me to pick up bread crumbs and Falafel mix for what ever I she was making for dinner tonight. I headed off to Scotty's Market, a few minutes from my day job. Scotty's is a gourmet market and has been since before there was gourmet markets in Marin. OK that's another story. I stumble towards the car dodging the homeward bound commuters and low and behold there's an ice cream shop called three twins ice cream.

I'm supposed to be dieting so probably shouldn't be indulging. The place is cute and the product is organic so.... what the hey. I stand in line behind some beautiful children and mommies that look like they are straight from Beverly Hills 90210 casting. It's my turn and I pick the pumpkin ice cream. The beautiful mommy next to me says "you're about to be spoiled for life". This turns out to be a profound statement. "Oh my God!" I shriek like a valley girl. This stuff is hella good.

As I try to regain my composure to play the food professional I like to think I am, I meet the owner Neal Gottlieb. I fire questions at him as he trys to keep up with the customers. He is dedicated to making his products from local sustainable sources. Straus Organic milk products are the base for the ice cream. Even the spoons and cups are of compostable materials. A percentage of the sales are donated to earth charities. Neal has a background in retail finance and spent some time in the Peace Corps. He is trying to marry his business expertise with earth friendly practices.The big question in my mind is where the name three twins comes from. Turns out he is a twin and his twin married a twin and they live together. Makes sense.

I grab a pint of pumpkin to go. At home I am twice a hero. Not only did I get all the items on my shopping list, but I brought home ice cream. My wife tasted the pumpkin ice cream and said "Oh my God". Great minds think alike.

Yummy!

Jessica likes her ice cream . She's a twin too.

three twins ice cream

641 Del Ganado Road

San Rafael, Ca. 94903

415- 492-TWIN

Taste of Nepal

I've been sticking close to home for blog ideas. Can't really explain it because normally I like to cruise about and see what's going on out there in food land. My daughter recommended a local restaurant that specializes in Nepalese and Indian cuisine. I hate to admit that this type of food is outside of my normal culinary comfort zone. I've never really had an opportunity to explore it. Today was my chance to stay close to home but challenge new food horizons.

I was underwelmed by the bland decor as we entered the restaurant. The good news for me was that most of the clientele appeared to be of Nepalese decent. This signals the food will be the genuine article. On arrival we were served a basket of what I later found out was Papad, a lentil cracker. They came with a taste tease of two dipping sauces. A cilantro/mint sauce and a tamarind sauce which were in a word ethereal. Light and tasty a great way to start a meal. After much agony with the menu we selected these dishes.

Daal Bhat Achar - steamed basmati rice with lentil soup and house chutney.


Chicken Aloo - diced chicken cooked with potatoes in a spicy gravy


Chicken Tandoori - chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, broiled in the clay oven served with onions and carrots- comes with naan

All the dishes were excellent. With a double gold for the tandoori chicken.Yes that is steam rising from the sizzle plate! The portions were large enough to supply us with dinner fixings as well. Who can pass up dessert.?

Mango Ice Cream -like a mango creamsicle

Kheer- rice pudding with various spices.

Never found out what the various spices were. The only thing I found except rice pudding was almonds mixed inside.

Sometimes exploring new horizons pays off.

Taste of Nepal Restaurant

2033 Novato Blvd.

Novato, Ca. 94947

415- 898-8523

On a roll

Judging by the crowds I thought they must be giving merchandise away free at the Marin Farmers Market last Sunday. No, just the usual suspects stocking up on veggie goodies. It really is a great time of year at the Market. The last of summer's bounty mixed with all the fall favorites. The only disappointment was that no Meyer Lemons could be found. We bought baby bok choy, mandarin oranges, lettuces, spinach, and some lovely fingerling potatoes. We were trying to make healthy choices this week.

That was until we entered the bread vendor's aisle. A little carb loading never hurts. That's when the idea struck me. Let's have a croissant taste off. Sounds simple eh?
We purchased a plain croissant from each of the four vendors at the market. On the way home, just to make it sporting, we purchased one from Safeway. The tasters consisted of me, my wife and three of my kids. We had no guidelines other than personal tastes.

The contestants

Back row left to right
Panorama Bakery 3 1/8 oz $1.75
Crepe et Brioche 3 1/8 oz $2.00
Pastisserie Francaise 3 5/8 oz $1.45

Bottom row left to right
Skully's Bakery 4 5/8 oz $1.50
Safeway 2 ¼ oz $1.00 sale price- regular price $ 1.29

The results mes amis!

First place Panorama Bakery -Unanimous decision- Buttery flavor and airy layers

Second place Skully's Bakery - A little drier but a nice sweet taste

Here's where it got complicated. There was no concise decision at this point. Every body had different taste concepts. It should be noted that all these products rated at least very good. Not a stinker in the bunch. I would serve any of them with pride. Next time I think we should do a fudge tasting.

Retro Chic- Norm's Roast Haus Hof Brau

What’s old is new again. Gas crisis, indictments and cover ups, this sound familiar? I am not a crook! Libby or is it Liddy? I’m convinced if you hang around on this planet long enough you’ll begin to see the repeats.

A sales rep came to the office the other day. She wore a business suit consisting of a mini skirt, matching jacket, tall black boots and pantyhose. I was immediately enamored. Holy smoke, she dressed exactly like my wife did when I met her undisclosed number of years ago. Are pantyhose back in style? Will they bring back L’eggs in the egg shaped container? How about Joe Namath in a pantyhose ad? Ugh, there’s a visual I didn’t need.

I saw kids doing the hustle on T.V.last week. Is it my refined sense of Déjà vu or should I break out the disco shirts? Somebody call the fashion police! No tight fitting clothing for the over forty people. That’s why they invented relaxed fit.

What’s this got to do with food? I’m telling you about Norm’s Roast Haus Hof Brau in Novato. No CIA graduates putting their fingers all over your food. No sommelier or uppity waiter waiting in the wings. No fancy food stacking except for the stack of meat on my French Dip. That’s right meat and potatoes and lots thereof.

The owner, Norm, looks like a former football player. At the very least he spends a little time at the gym. He learned the restaurant business from his dad who worked in a number of upscale San Francisco establishments. Norm greets and thanks customers of all ages who flock to his door.

The real artist here is the carver. His name is Felipe. You don’t want to challenge him to knife fight. His blade moves at lighting speed as he expertly slices and trims your meat selection. There’s ham, turkey, roast beef, pastrami to name a few. Some of the counter staff wear shirts that say “Eat Meat” on the back. This is the place to do that.

Felipe

Is Hof Brau back in style? Judging by the crowds here, it was never out of style. As things change they remain the same. I know one thing that’s never coming back, my thirty three inch waist. On the bright side, my wife still has the legs for a mini skirt.

French Dip

The New Yorker - Pastrami with coleslaw, thousand island dressing, and light and dark rye

Ham sandwich with cheese

Prime Rib with 2 sides--My son chose mashed potatoes and potato salad
All the above with 2 drinks cost me $44 The price was retro too!

Portable Potable Picnic

On one of my recent journeys I was shocked to pay nine dollars for a well drink and four dollars for a diet coke. I paid a lot for the ambiance. It costs about twenty-seven cents, retail, for an ounce of vodka. It made my tightwad brain go to work.

When my wife’s grandfather passed away we inherited his travel bar. He had lived through some tough economic times. Even though his standard of living had improved, he hated to pay a lot for booze. I rummaged the house and, low and behold, found the bar. I remembered the tradition he had started and my wife and I carried on for a time. It was time to revisit old times. When traveling, take the bar along for a potable picnic.

Every good picnic needs food. I visited my local Safeway deli where I purchased soppresata salami, prosciutto, and provolone cheese. Judy’s breadsticks, mixed nuts and a selection from the antipasto bar completed the menu. I stuck with two basic shaker drinks, a cosmopolitan for the wife and a dry vodka martini for me. We packaged everything up and headed out to test our picnic skills. The result, you see, was quite splendid

Dry Vodka Martini
1 ½ oz. vodka
Whisper the word vermouth
Shake vigorously with ice
Strain, add olives
Serve

Cosmopolitan
1 ½ oz vodka
½ oz. triple sec
generous squeeze fresh lime juice
Splash cranberry juice
Shake vigorously with ice
Strain and garnish with lime wedge
Serve

Notice:
Drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. Follow all laws and regulations. Wrap that rascal. Brush and floss. Make your mamma proud.