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Thursday, February 27, 2003
Why we should keep our waiters away from the funny pages The New Yorker, fourth in a series:
(Not to say it wouldn't be true.)
posted by Sandor Weisz at 11:07 AM | Comment?
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
"Loiseau's death recalled the legendary 17th-century Francois Vatel, said to have killed himself over a failed meal at which King Louis XIV was the star guest. The fish had reportedly arrived late."
It is hoped that nobody in our employ will take themselves with this much seriousness, if any at all.
posted by Luke at 7:41 PM | Comment?
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
There's no place we've written about more than our favorite "primitive concept of a supper club," La Cumbamba. It's where we first discussed this fantasy, and it was the subject of our first post. Ever since it's fed our dreams as well as our bellies.
We were heartbroken, then, to learn that La Cumbamba has closed, this time for good. (Ever since my last visit in August I've been saying, "I need to go down to Wicker Park and see what William's up to. Next weekend." The obvious lesson is to never eat tomorrow what can be eaten today.)
But what the restaurant gods taketh, they occasionally giveth: 2311 W. North will reopen as the Handlebar, a bicycle-themed restaurant founded by a few Critical Mass activists. Their goal is to be to bike freaks what Twisted Spoke is to motorcyclists. It sounds right up our alley, as both diners and would-be restaurateurs. In fact, it sounds like they've been reading our playbook. There's a bike rack out back, as have we have suggested. It will have ties to Critical Mass, as we have suggested. And the basement will be a gathering place for activists, as we have suggested.
We went to an event there this weekend, and it looks like it's going to be a great place. Some of William's art is still there, and his giant pots still hang over the open kitchen, like tympanis hovering over the symphony. The first dinners will be served this Friday and Saturday, and soon the Handlebar will be open full-time and for weekend brunch. I can't wait.
As one restaurant dream gives way to another, it's appropriate that today is the second anniversary of our blog. A year ago, Sandy asked whether we were any closer to our dream than when we started. The answer now is the same as the answer then: not much. The year's biggest progress came when Sandy got laid off. That same month, we had an amazing morning helping in a professional kitchen. Otherwise, there's been little change. We're still volunteering each Thursday morning at Inspiration Cafe, we're still having a ball learning new things in the kitchen, and our tip jar still stands at $10.
I remained convinced we have the creative moxy to make a place work. After a few months of hard-core instruction, I think we'd have the chops, too. What's missing? Business sense, chutzpah and money -- lots and lots of money.
But, hey, we're still having fun. And when our windfall happens -- and we know it will -- we'll be ready. In the meantime, we'll continue our brainstorming (and moaning about chains, like the new Red Lobster -- ptooey! -- that just opened downtown).
And since I can't go to La Cumbamba today, I'll have a celebratory lunch at La Fonda, an excellent Colombian place in my neighborhood. Its proprietors aren't nearly as eccentric or wild as La Cumbamba's, but they seem charming and plucky nonetheless, and I'll raise an arepa in a toast to us, to our blog and to William, who I hope will be spending the day pounding nails at his new orphanage.
posted by Luke at 10:00 AM | Comment?
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Now that the nominees have been announced, it's time to start planning the party. Every year I'm in charge of the Oscar party, and every year I try to prepare foods that are thematic to the five Best Picture nominees (and sometimes a straggler or two, if they're noteworthy). These year we've got Chicago, Gangs of New York, The Hours, LOTR:TTT and The Pianist. What to do? Here are some ideas. Suggestions are welcome.
Chicago: So the obvious choices are Chicago-style hot dogs, deep dish pizza or cheezeborgers. I doubt any of those were identified with Chicago back in the '20s; nor are any of them very appropriate party food. Perhaps I'll opt for Canadian bacon, to honor where the movie really took place.
Gangs of New York: Much of the movie's story is set against the 1863 draft riots. So, draught beer? That'd be difficult to set up in my apartment. One of the gangs is called the Dead Rabbits. That lends itself to any number of possibilities. I'm leaning toward just putting out a big hunk of cheese.
The Hours: A variety plate of hors d'oeuvres should work nicely, preferably ones with a heavy does of thyme.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Easy. Lembas Bread.
The Pianist: Ignoring the obvious sexually-tinged homophonic possibilities, the best choice is probably your most basic ebony-and-ivory-type food: the black and white cookie. Look to the cookie!
posted by Sandor Weisz at 4:10 PM | 7 comments
Friday, February 07, 2003
The most expensive meal I've ever eaten came to just over $100, including wine and cocktails. The restaurant was Grace, and it certainly was an exquisite meal, one of the best I've ever had. The whole thing was a treat from an employer; I'm sure I'd never spend that kind of money myself. Okay, maybe not never, but it'd have to be a pretty damn worthy occasion, much more so than just the completion of a project. Like, say, pitching my first major league no-hitter. Or winning the presidency.
But then again, I'm not a food fetishist. That'd be someone, as this article identifies, who won't blink at spending $400 for a truffle dinner -- a meal so small that it doesn't take more than 10 minutes to consume. Or someone who orders wine by scanning the prices and picking the one that's highest. As much as I like truffles and wine, it's hard to envy such behavior. This is no longer simply the ability to spend excessive amounts of money -- it's the need to. No thanks. I'd rather stick to my cheap, yet tasty, eats.
But that's just my take. I suspect our restaurant will stay on the low end of things, price-wise, somewhere closer to Hot Doug's than Charlie Trotter's. However, there's no reason we can't create one special item for the closet fetishists, something involving, say, truffles or foie gras or free range dingo. You never know when the urge to splurge on a meal will hit, and we should be ready in case it hits while you're seated at one of our tables.
posted by Sandor Weisz at 12:57 PM | 7 comments
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