Celebrating with food for every occasion, May brings us Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby!
For Mother's Day, I am honoring and celebrating three women who inspired me. First, my mother, Lenore, who taught me to cook with love and to walk through life smiling. Her recipe for Shrimp Newburg, luscious and creamy, was always my favorite dish. Each recipe was her whim. "Cook with your heart and careless abandon!” And I do!
My Aunt Betty loved roasting a Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn Sauce. "Let it rest before slicing!" she would say; a lesson I teach repeatedly. Her buttery pastry Salmon en Croûte & Creamy Dill Sauce is a highlight on my Bubbles & Brunch menu! Betty taught me simple and elegant ways to prepare and present.
I met Julia Child at my restaurant in San Francisco in the 1980s. Anxiously star-struck, I was preparing one of her recipes, Tarte Tatin, for a book signing. Upon the unmolding was a frightful unfolding. The tarte stuck in the pan. My shining moment turned upside down and inside out. Julia laughed and proceeded to say, "There are no mistakes in the kitchen! We will make parfaits!" So, she whisked up some eggs, folded in the cream, then chiseled out the apples and pastry. As if it had been planned all along, delicious mouthfuls layered beautifully into stemmed wine glasses. Behold "Tarte Tatin Parfaits." A valuable lesson.
Viva Mexico! Playa del Carmen has always been my go-to destination for relaxation. Shrimp Ceviche and Micheladas are a specialty there. The sweetest shrimp are bathed in citrus and tucked between flavorful vegetables. Que rico! Alberto, the chef at the resort, takes his breaks with me; we share Micheladas, and talk about culture, food and recipes. I invite you to celebrate and dine with me on May 5th. I will take you to Mexico in flavor and fun!
The Kentucky Derby! A catered affair! Host a Bluegrass-themed party in the greatest Southern tradition, and I will deliver trays of deliciousness. Ethereal Cream Biscuits with Fig Port Chutney, Blue Cheese Butter, and Ginger Ale-Brown Sugar Smoked Ham make up my delectable Derby Sandwich. Pouring Mint Julep Punch and serving Triple Crown-Worthy Kentucky Derby recipes will put you in the winner's circle!
My next blog entry will include recipes for each of the dishes mentioned above.
Comments