The Sweet Life

What does a poor, currently broke (too much dining out I think) pastry cook buy with the last of her cash? The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller, that's what. I've been eyeing this tome ever since I discovered it years ago. At $50.00, it's not something I would just waltz right in and buy, but I had a coupon from Borders for 40% off in my email and since there's a store a block away from work, I bought it. It didn't help that my co-worker told me that she was going to go buy a book she wanted, which is how the seed was planted. So, I printed out my coupon at work and ran over on my break. I was originally looking for Essence: Recipes from Le Champignon Sauvage by David Everitt-matthias , but they still don't have it in. The French Laundry . . . I would look through the book whenever I went to the bookstore and daydream of food. And now that I have it, I don't know, the anticipation is gone. It sits on my kitchen cart, still in the shrink wra...

I was going to title this post, Japonais , but when I saw my stats for this blog, I changed my mind. Sep 2, 2007. Where did the time go? In between the long days at work, and the agonizing sleepless nights (no, I don't have a sick kid at home, just Mr. Sandman's annoying cousin, Mr. Insomnia) I've lost all sense of time. Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is just down the street. I don't have to tell you that I haven't been cooking or baking much, just look at the dust on my blog and it'll tell you. I've just been busy, unimaginative, uninspired. But with everything I've tossed from the fridge and cabinets, I can say I've a very clean kitchen! But don't fret-I'm not starving. I'm well taken care of between the line crew and overnight cooks, so I haven't missed too many meals. It's just on those days when I'm off from work I get a little nervous about what and how to feed myself. My eating habits are not what I am po...

Summer, where have you gone? In between sleepless nights and long workdays, I have lost a large chunk of my year. It started out promising with the first day of the Farmers Market, and ended up here. Me, sitting in front of my computer scratching my head wondering what, exactly, have I done? I've been to the Market outside my window twice. Yes, twice. Though many a Saturday morning I have found myself (as on many other mornings) awake twisted in my sheets, hearing the first trucks pull in and start setting up. And when the sun starts to make an appearance, I fall asleep, only to wake a few hours later just in time to shower and head off to work. I did manage to go to the Green Street Market. Once. And was too tired really to be impressed with anything. I actually bought something, not because I really wanted to cook and eat it, but because I felt I was supposed to. What little produce I did manage to buy died on my counter or in my fridge. I am ashamed. My birthday. Ye...

You Are Cookie Monster Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!" The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Today is the first day of the Farmer's Market that's closest to me. It's every Saturday from now through October. Excited, and sleepy (I didn't get many winks last night) I ventured over to the ATM and walked to see what's available. What really got my attention were the flowers. I really wanted peonies, but my allergies were acting up. Let me correct that, I really wanted one of everything, but couldn't get too much. The one thing I don't like about my apartment is that there's no balcony, and no direct sunlight. I did see strawberries and rhubarb, but I'd made a tart a little while back and wasn't in the mood to make another one. Besides that, Thursday and Friday were my days off and I don't know next week's schedule yet, so I didn't want the produce to rot away in the veggie bin. I didn't walk away empty-handed, nor did I leave with anything exciting: beautiful spring onions, dried tart cherries (I just love these thing...

Well, not yet, almost. I've got 22 days until the big day. I've been busy with work and resting from work, I haven't thought much about the day other than that it's coming up, I'll be a year older, and I want to go out to dinner. And then there's the problem of the cake. I have no idea what I want to bake. For myself. So I need everyone's help. I'm out of ideas about what to make, but I know what I like to eat. bittersweet chocolate (of course) coffee pecans almonds peanuts caramel vanilla cinnamon blueberry brown sugar pomegranate cherries mascarpone This is a short list, and I'm sure I'll think of things I've missed. But I need all the help I can get. Post your ideas in the comments. Thanks!

Tonight I went with my chef to represent pastry for an off-site event. There were celebrity chefs from the Food Network as well as local chefs. It was an all out event, there was a Chinese woman dancing a traditional dance, they even had a white dragon dancing from the first room where they had the savory food, silent auctions, and entertainment to the second room where we had desserts and a live auction. After setting up and going over the game plan, Chef and I went walking about to see the sights. We separated and as I wandered over to the other side of the hall, glimpsing Ming Tsai, I heard a familiar voice. I look up and guess who turns around . . . Iron Chef America Cat Cora! We chat, she offers me some of her dish, I compliment her, and as I turn away, I see none other than Giada De Laurentiis! There are so many people in the area, I figure I didn't have a chance to go see her before I had to finish setting the food out by 7:30. I made my way to our corner and speak t...