CP NM Mar 2013 asparagus
Recipes

Yakima aparagus with pine nuts, scallions, and chevre vinaigrette

Posted on May 21, 2013
Stuff

SIFF looks at food

Posted on May 20, 2013

Food People Take Note
As The Stranger’s Bethany Jean Clement points out in a recent Slog entry, included in  the lineup for this year’s the Seattle International Film Festival are a significant number of films that concern food, farming or eating.

I have already got tickets for French film “After Winter, Spring” and for Swiss film “More than Honey”, both documentaries.  As Bethany notes, I heard a lot of talk about this film, (which in French is titled “Des Abeilles et des Hommes” , or “Of Bees and Men”)  from farmers and others worried about the state of the environment during my recent trip to France.  Coming at the same time as recent action by the EU to ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which have been linked to the decline in world bee populations, this film seems especially timely.

Although I am a little reticent to take credit for that pun.

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Stuff

Draft Horses make a comeback

Posted on May 19, 2013

Photo New York Times 2013

According to an article in the New York Times, by Anne Raver, by some estimates, there are now about 400,000 farms in North America that use draft animals in some capacity…who knew?  Interesting article, though.

 

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Capitol Hill Soccer Jam to Benifit Seattle Street Soccer

Posted on May 16, 2013

What:  Capitol Hill Soccer Jam to Benefit Seattle Street Soccer
When: Saturday May 25, 2013, starting at 10am
Where:  Seattle University Campus, on Capitol Hill in Seattle

I think that Seattle Street Soccer is a great idea.  In their own words:

Street Soccer Seattle is a non-profit program dedicated to supporting and empowering young adults who have been affected by homelessness. At our core, we organize soccer teams for players from Seattle’s shelters, streets, and transitional housing programs….Street Soccer Seattle then uses this team platform to create a training curriculum of job preparation, life skills, and other specialized services, ultimately connecting participants directly to jobs, education, and housing.

Sounds like a good idea right?  And what could make more sense in soccer-crazy Seattle?  Actually, Seattle Street Soccer is part of  Street Soccer USA , a nationwide program helping street kids in over 20 cities.

The Capitol Hill Soccer Jam is a fundraiser for Seattle Street Soccer organized by a group of graduate students at Seattle University.  This round robin tournament is open to all teams of 4 players, for players over 15 years of age.  Teams pay a registration fee to participate and the proceeds from the event will all go to support the great programs of Seattle Street Soccer.

OK Hotshot, get your team together!

 

 

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Mark Bittman only eats meat after 6pm

Posted on May 15, 2013

Food writer Mark Bittman has a new diet plan that he hopes will help people lose weight and also help save the planet.  Its called “Vegan Before 6pm” and, as the name implies, it basically boils down to  not eating any animal products except at dinner.

It’s a little more complicated than that;  besides eliminating meat, fish and dairy, he also advocates getting rid of all processed foods during the day.  Then, after 6pm, he allows himself all the “foods he simply couldn’t give up”.

He claims that, not only does this diet succeed when other diets fail, it also will, if widely adopted,  lead to a reduction in the total world consumption of meat, which many scientists agree is necessary in both the fight to end world hunger and the battle against global warming.

It is certainly hard not to agree that the amount of meat consumed in America is extreme when compared to the rest of the world, or even compared to Europe and Japan.  And one has to agree that a diet free from processed foods and more directed toward fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with a more modest amount of meat, seems to make a lot of sense.

But what if I really like going out for a big lunch?

 

 

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Roasted Chicken Featured

Posted on May 12, 2013

Phote Seattle Times 2013

Le Pichet and Cafe Presse Chickens are Tops
You may have caught the photo of Le Pichet’s Poulet Roti on the cover of the Friday Weekend Entertainment section of the Seattle Times on May 3rd, 2013 (see above if you missed it).

Evidently, a lot of people saw the photo and read the article that praised the roasted chicken at both Le Pichet and Cafe Presse as “the grand dame” of Seattle chicken roasting.   I say evidently, because sales of roasted chicken at both restaurants have been through the roof since the article appeared.  And they were already pretty strong. Continue reading →

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Events

Cooking Demonstration in the Pike Place Market

Posted on May 6, 2013

Pike Place Market Sep 11 4

What:  Cooking Demonstration
When:  Sunday June 23rd, 2013, from noon to 1pm
Where: In the Pike Place Market, as part of  “Summer Sundays on the Cobblestones”

On Sunday, June 23rd, I will be  giving a cooking demonstration in the middle of the street at the Pike Place Market.  The event, which will take place from 12noon to 1pm, is part of Summer Sundays on the Cobblestones, when Pike Place is closed to cars to make way for more farmer stands, musicians and other fun stuff, like cooking demonstrations.

I haven’t yet decided what I will be cooking, but you can be sure that I will be using produce available on Market stands that day.  And I will be offering samples of the dish that I prepare.  There is no charge for either the demonstration or the tasting, so brace yourself for summer crowds and come by.

For more information, visit the Pike Place Market web site.

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Events

May 2013 Corner Table Menu

Posted on May 3, 2013

What: Family-style dinner at Cafe Presse
When: Tuesday May 28, 2013 6:30pm
Where: The back room at Cafe Presse

The menu for the March Corner Table is complete!  The next Corner Table dinner at Cafe Presse is scheduled for Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 6:30pm.  Space is limited and by reservation only so call today to save your place.

The Corner Table is a fixed price dinner designed to celebrate the changing season and the conviviality of the table. The meal will include 3 courses from Cafe Presse’s seasonal menu presented in the traditional style that one might be served if invited to the home of a French family. The meal will also include French country wines selected by wine manager Marcel Boulanger. It’s not about connoisseurship or solemn swirling and sniffing. Instead, come celebrate the best that the season has to offer and the simple pleasure of gathering together with good things to eat and drink.  We hope you can join us.

This Month’s Menu

Salade d’asperges aux pignons de pin
“Cold asparagus, goat cheese vinaigrette, scallion, pine nuts”

              Poulet roti et sa salade de couscous au rhubarbe
 “Roasted natural half chicken;  cold couscous salad with spring onions, candied rhubarb, orange and mint”

Mousse glacée au citron
“Frozen lemon mousse served with whipped cream, lemon syrup and candied lemon zest”


$25 per person for the menu alone, $40 with wine (price does not include tax or gratuity)

 Dinner begins promptly at 6:30pm.

For further information or reservations please call Café Presse at 206.709.7674.

 

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Stuff

Our neighbor’s eggs

Posted on April 25, 2013

Neighbor's eggs April 2013

The house next to ours in Orthez is what I would term a manor house;  that is, a grand old home in its own modestly sized park.  I am sure that the term ‘manor house’ implies something specific, but to my eyes,  it’s a manor house.

Although it was originally built as the home for a single family, the current owners, sisters in their 80′s whose father built the house, have converted it to apartments for a number of families, one of which they occupy.  The park has been in part converted to garden and a meadow that is home to chickens, rabbits, a calico cat and usually, a number of migrating birds just passing through.

Monsieur Belkir, who keeps the grounds and tends the chickens is kind enough to offer us fresh eggs as often as we like, along with vegetable and lettuce in season.

We in turn contribute all our vegetable trimmings and stale ends of baguette by tossing them over the fence.  I think we get the better end of that bargain!

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Pigeon des Landes roti en poele et sa salade verte

Posted on April 23, 2013
Pidgeon April 2013 4

A farm raised bird from the market at Amou, broken down and partially bones, marinated with garlic, thyme and port.

A quick supper dish that really was an inspiration du marché as the French say…an inspiration from a farm stand at the Sunday market at Amou, a short drive north of Orthez in the adjacent region of Les Landes  Pigeon breast, legs, gizzard and heart, marinated with a bit of port wine, thyme and garlic, then pan roasted and served with a simple green salad.

I was a little surprised to find pigeon at the market in this part of France in April.  That’s because pigeon, or more specifically its wild cousin the  polombe is a fall specialty of the Béarn and the Pays Basque.  These game birds are hunted in the deep  mountain passes the Pyrenees each fall as they make their migratory journey south toward Spain and North Africa.  Continue reading →

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