My Thanksgiving Menu, 2010

Hors d’Oeurves (brought by a guest) J Cuvee 20 Brut NV (Sonoma, California) J Brut Rose NV Wild Mushroom Soup with Madeira Naturally Raised Lancaster County Turkey, Spanek Roasted, with Sweet and Sour Pomegranate Sauce Sides Southwestern Cornbread Stuffing Mashed Root Vegetable Casserole with Caramelized Onions Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts …

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Coq Au Vin: The Coq Crows

Julia Child once described coq au vin as “probably the most famous of all French chicken dishes, certainly one of the most delicious.” But according to legend, it was invented by an Italian. Well, sort of. While Julius Caesar was conquering Gaul, the locals sent him an old rooster with …

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Alaska Salmon Part 2: Plenty of Choice in Choice Salmon

While Alaska produces a variety of excellent seafood, such as cod, halibut and king crab, salmon is the big enchilada. But salmon comes in several forms. First, there are two kinds of salmon, Pacific and Atlantic. All commercially sold wild salmon is Pacific, because it comes from ocean waters from …

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Avocado: Beyond Guacamole

As a name, alligator pear wouldn’t make it through the focus groups today. Nor would aguacate, which is what the Spanish called it when they couldn’t pronounce ahuacatl, Aztec for testicle. Thank God somebody came up with avocado. Beneath its leathery skin, the pear-shaped avocado has a buttery, sensuous fleshthat Americans …

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Blue Cheese: Singing the Blues

When we picked our 100 favorite cheeses for Wine Spectator’s special cheese issue, we were impressed by the number of excellent blue cheeses. Within the 16 that made the list was a surprising array of aromas, flavors and textures. For example, the French Bleu des Basques had a meaty aroma, …

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