Kitchen Breakfast

The next morning I thought long and hard about stoking a fire and making another glorious and hard core egg sandwich, but between having to break down the tent and another damp morning, I decided it against it. Instead I closed out my camp site, gathered all my things and went on over to the G. family house. It was too early for M. to be out and about, but others were already awake. I took some of the farm eggs I brought with me from Pennsylvania and made myself a similar breakfast, only with a few slices of bacon and salsa.

Cheesy egg center.

Yup.

Dinner Extravaganza c/o Bar Ferdinand

Two Fridays back L. texted me and asked if I might like to join her and BC for dinner at Bar Ferdinand. I wasted very little time and replied in the affirmative, which then gave me something to look forward to while I tried to tidy my generally cluttered bedroom existence. I cabbed it on over to Northern Liberties and within moments of getting to the door, met up with L. We went inside to claim our reservation and to wait for BC at the table. As the hostess was looking up the reservation we stood peaceably. Another member of the staff came up to the hosting table (podium? what is the word for that dang thing), and it turns out that this individual and I recognized each other; we were both graduates of Bard College. Bard is a funny place, and I can't rightly tell you that I actually ever spoke to B. So while I recognized him I couldn't be like 'oh remember that time we had a class together/had that conversation/had mutual friends!?' That said, we are friends on Facebook, so I know he likes to make a good stock from time to time. Turns out he's the sommelier at Bar Ferdinand, so soon after BC arrived, he came out and offered us complimentary glasses of sherry, as well as olives and salted marcona almonds. The sherry was Guiterrez Colosia's Oloroso 'Sangre y Trabajadero.' While I think we can all attest to my love of many different forms of alcohol, sherry hasn't been quite on my radar at the same level as, say, bourbon or gin, which makes anything I would say about the sherry pretty basic. And now I will go ahead and say something. What struck me most about it was that it didn't have that cloyingly sweet thing going on that I associate with the fortified wine. A little more mellow, though not without that kick that such beverages generally deliver to their imbiber. It was a really nice gesture and a great start to the meal. The olives and nuts were also tasty little treats to munch on while we got down to the business of cocktails and larger food decisions.
Our server told us the specials and I immediately found interest in the flatbread of the night, which was a mix of chorizo, shrimp, arugula and a few other ingredients I can't quite recall. The solution to this, as I know, is to actually write the stuff down as opposed to expecteing myself to remember things two weeks later...but that just means that the whole 'actually getting to eat the food' part of the meal will take longer...between my subpar photography and lapsed memory, I often wonder what I'm doing in the first place.
For my opening cocktail I was drawn to the Barcelona: Bulleit bourbon, Licor 43, bitters, and brandied cherries. This I liked very much. Nicely balanced. Smooth. Also, I am a sucker for the relatively new (to me in my limited circles) trend of fancy cherries in drinks, and these cherries were nice and fancy. A nice sweet note to go with the bourbon and bitters.
We chose to try two kinds of empanadas, the chicken and mushroom variety as well as the bacon, date, cream cheese variety. The chicken was nice and tender, and there was quite a lot of it. I wasn't really blown away by the resulting dish, but I wouldn't complain about it either.
And how can you really go wrong if you're including cream cheese in a pastry? You really can't. But I did really like how the sweetness of the dates melted with the creamy ridiculousness of the cream cheese, and the bacon did a great job of rounding out and uniting the two.
L. said that the calamari was good here, so we went ahead and ordered that as well. Definitely nice and tender, very crispy. I actually got a bigger kick out of the little fried peppers that mingled in with the calamari.
At some point we asked our server to tell us which of two of the less expensive sparkling wines would be a winning choice. He went and consulted with Bardian B., who then came out with a third option...which we a) enjoyed very much and b) were inspired to drop diamonds into. Well, L. is the only one with a diamond, but I think BC and I both got a thrill. Heh.
This was a nice Cava. B. gave us a little description of its qualities, which, again, I should have written down. What I can say with confidence is that it was bubbly and didn't have that weird thing that some sparkling wines can have. Some strange back throat lingering in a negative way. Wow, and I wonder why no one will hire me as a critic.
And finally, the cheese plate. The running theme of the evening continues here, as I cannot tell you anything about any of the cheeses, their paired accoutrements, or anything else. Failure alert. All I can say is that I liked the manchego and the creamy mess of a cheese that L. and BC weren't quite as enamored with.
By this point we were certainly giggly messes. Switching seats to have different combinations of us photographed...fixing each other's hair...knocking over chairs in our excitement over said photo combinations. But I don't think we were too out of control. Also, apropos of nothing, as I was walking to the washroom at some point, a man was walking in the opposite direction...and as he walked by me he slapped my ass and kept on going. I was both very offended and flattered at the same time. This is not a good sign for me: when what truly is sexual harassment makes you feel flattered, then you have not been getting enough ass slaps in your life. Let's move on from that thought, shall we?

Fun with photos! L. has some more good ones with BC.
A lovely and unexpected evening. A great thanks goes out to Bardian B. for the extra treats!

Bacon and Eggs in Gregory Town

There had been some discussion of going to the Rainbow Inn and seeing the two dudes we met earlier in the day play music, but the timing was off just a bit. They weren't starting til later in the evening, it was 5. So we drove back to the apartment and ended up having a quiet night in, which was actually lovely. We read our books. Ate some macaroni and cheese with hot dogs. Drank a few beers. Peaceful. Quiet. The next morning I woke up refreshed and renewed and cooked up a mother load of bacon as well as eggs. Then I sat outside and ate it. I think L. had some bacon and hard boiled eggs.
This cat just wouldn't quit with the cuteness and the crazy.

Christmas Breakfast

After a rousing round of present opening and mimosas, we enjoyed bacon and sausage and monkey bread. Then I think I pretty much took a nap until dinner.

Eggs and Bacon and Cantaloupe

The next morning C. did another round of bacon making and then I threw together some scallion/cheesy scrambled eggs.
The breakfast was rounded out with a little fresh fruit.

Fresh Fruit, Eggs and Bacon

I went back to the house and washed up a little and then went to the kitchen. I thought it might be nice to start breakfast for the still slumbering mini-masses (can three people really be a mass?) but soon after I began eyeing a cantaloupe, NC Catherine joined me in breakfast thinking. We decided on a cantaloupe, strawberry, blue berry bowl of fresh fruity goodness and NC Catherine also began frying up bacon.
Once the bacon was fried, we used its grease for eggs. This was my egg.

Breakfast Bagel c/o Rybread

Another morning I didn't have to go into work til 10, but I was still up by 8 something, so I decided to go to Rybread and get myself coffee and a breakfast sandwich while finishing up Mockingjay (the third and final Hunger Games book). I sat at one of their two tables out front. The bagel didn't disappoint, though the coffee left something to be desired. I am persnickety about timing, and should have sat there and allowed myself to finish the book before getting to work, but I was convinced that I was going to be late. In the end I was 15 minutes early to work and 15 pages short of finishing the book. What's done is done. The book, for example, is now done. But I won't bother you with my thoughts on that. Just read it.

Breakfast c/o Sabrina's

One morning my new friend G. and I had breakfast at Sabrina's and Spencer's Too. After we sat down G. got kind of excited about some dude sitting in the corner. The dude's name, according to G., was Bernard Hopkins. This meant nothing to me, but I guess the guy's kind of a big deal if you follow boxing at all. G. hoped to go over and say something to him and I was willing to take a photo of what was sure to be a momentous meeting of the minds, but the timing wasn't quite right. So, in the end, G. ran after him and may or may not have called him 'a beast.' I'm not sure if I'm making that up. Breakfast was two poached eggs, turkey bacon, toast and potatoes. Satisfying to me in my belly.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel

On Saturday the ominous feeling of sickness began to pervade my entire body. But I refused to acknowledge it. So I made a bacon, egg and cheese bagel. Look how nice it looks. I'm sure it was quite tasty too...but I only took a few bites before realizing that it just wasn't going to work for me. My sickness was not of the pukey variety, but something so heavy (no matter how delicious) just wasn't doing it for me. You'll note that I'm just post, post, posting away. Or maybe you won't note that. I'm noting it. I'm trying to catch up as much as possible now so that I won't be completely behind when I get back from JAMAICA. So, expect a slew of posts today and then nothing for a while. And then lots of photographs of me in sunglasses, probably getting pinker and fatter with each passing frame.

Brunch c/o Farmicia and S.'s Dad

At some point in the days leading up to my barbeque I realized that only three people were officially coming. This made me a little sad, as that would be a pretty small barbeque for such a large deck. But the numbers ended up swelling a bit more without becoming overwhelming (I still overpurchased on everything except beer). Included in the guest list was S. S. actually lives in Brooklyn, so when I invited him to the barbeque I didn't really expect him to attend. But! He did. I wouldn't say he came down for the event (because that would be a lie) but because he was already visiting his parents in the area, he did get to enjoy the beer, burgers and sausage I had on offer. The next morning S.'s father was to pick him up and they were going to have a meal together. S. asked me for recommendations, and whether I would like to come. I struggled with recommendations but found it quite easy to accept the invitation. In the end I thought that he and his father might enjoy Farmicia. L. and I certainly did when we went there months and months ago. I ordered the chorizo, egg, potato and cheese quesadilla type thing. S.'s father ordered the English muffins with country style bacon, eggs and cheese...and then he ordered a side of bacon, which officially made him one of my favorite people. Bacon dish with a side of bacon? Yeah, I like how you roll.
I drank copious amounts of their coffee and also ordered a non-alcoholic bloody mary with a proper amount of horse radish.
Thanks very much to S. for coming to the shin-dig, and to his father for driving us to Farmicia, buying me a meal and then driving me home in the midst of ridiculous heat and rain.

Eggs and Bacon c/o M&A

The following morning A. made eggs and bacon for breakfast. I think I may have actually prepared the first run of coffee for the day...without ruining it, which is sort of surprising because I don't really make coffee for myself ever. Maybe I will start. No, probably not.

Breakfast Omelet

On Saturday I made myself a tasty omelet. Yes. Yes I did. It had a slice or two of bacon, chopped tomatoes and fancy Whole Foods cheddar inside, and was accompanied by another slice of bacon and a little ketchup.

My cast iron skillet had been ignored, and a little abused, over the last year, but I finally got around to putting things right between us. In other words, I worked the little rust-spot off and re-seasoned the thing. Since then, there has been a renaissance of cast iron cooking. A renaissance I tell you! Giant drumsticks! Corsets! Jousting! Wait, no, that's not right.

Poached Egg Paradise

Last week I went grocery shopping. Among my purchases were frisee lettuce, potatoes, bacon and organic eggs. These ingredients expressed a sincere desire to become a Salade Lyonnaise and, for the most part, that is actually what they turned out to be. Except that I didn't feel like crisp-iying the potatoes, so I just used some of the chicken I roasted over the weekend instead (I know, not the same at all). While the finished dish was quite tasty, let's take a moment to discuss the perfection of poaching I managed to do. I tried a new method: put giant ladle in sauce pan, crack egg into giant ladle. The water looks murky in this picture because I didn't have any white vinegar to firm the egg up, so I used red wine vinegar instead (do with what you have, dontchaknow).
The result? I mean. Look at it. It is globerrific, just bursting with yolky yumminess. It is, as far as I am concerned, exactly what anyone should look for in a poached egg: firmly together, a distending oval of oozing yolk, hidden by shiny white-ness. You wonder about the oozing?
Behold! Oozing! But not so much oozing that the whites weren't cooked all the way. No clear white icky for me. My faux Salade Lynonnaise was just so happy making. I can't even begin to tell you how long I have been trying to poach an egg just right, well, I could begin to tell you: years. I have been trying for years. Putting eggs into funny little contraptions that only bore hockey puck eggs, coralling eggs into saran wrap and tying them with butcher's string or rubberbands, hoping that the plastic wouldn't melt into the egg or leach toxins into the finished product. Years!
I have not tried to recreate this experience, so scared am I of a possible set back on what I am still deeming an absolute triumph of poaching will. What? I'm pleased, is all.

Sandwiches, Dal, Oh My!

Yes. More lunches. I appreciate the boss-men sustaining our brains through lunches during the busy season, but it feels like I haven't had to properly feed myself in weeks and weeks. I don't know if I would still be alive if it weren't for V8. Okay, I'd still be alive, but I have definitely not been eating enough straight up vegetable matter these days. I'm thinking about brining a chicken today, we'll see if that happens.
Any who, this is another Primo hoagie. Specifically the 'American Classic' which is comprised of: Coteghino, Natural Casing Genoa Salami, Ham & New Yorker American Cheese. It was good.
Another day, and Mugshots food for lunch. I ordered the Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Apple offering, and added cheddar for good measure. I didn't meat melted cheddar, so that was a negative surprise, and I don't know how to say this but...there is actually such a thing as too much bacon, and this sandwich was proof of this truth. I did not eat the whole thing.

We also tried Tiffin for a change of pace from King of Tandoor. KoT hasn't been quite as satisfying an eating experience as last year, this is partially a result of a less reliable delivery person and, I don't know, it's just not quite as satisfying. I speak for myself. Anyways, I ordered the Saag Paneer Tiffin, which included dal, rice, saag paneer and potatoes. Very good.
The cheese element was particularly good, slightly silkier than KoT's rendition.
Their side sauces weren't quite as great, their pickled onions were sweeter and they didn't include green sauce, which I always enjoy.
Oh food.

Boxing Day Stroll

On Boxing Day I did some work then took a slightly longer walk around town. Slightly being the key word, of course. During the walk, a car (one of the few I saw) rolled up to me and the lady in the driver's seat asked me where the nearest Starbucks or McDonalds was. I told her there was a McDonalds in Monteagle, but that I couldn't even begin to guess where a Starbucks might be. She seemed unconvinced that I wasn't keeping a super secret Starbucks from her, which made tell her how funny it was that she even asked. Because it was funny. Sewanee is literally a two traffic light town. Yeah, it's got a little business district, and does manage to support two coffee houses (though I think Stirling's may be seriously subsidized by the university?) but Starbucks? Chain anything? Not yet. Actually, that's not true. The school's bookstore is run by Barnes and Noble. Okay. So. I lose. But! In terms of food and groceries? Everything's local. That's kind of neat, actually.
It was a sunny day, but cold and with a wind.
I entered Abbo's Alley from University for a change.
The spring in the background is right below the gym. When I was a kid the paths to it weren't as maintained, and there was somehow less open space above it (I think maybe a parking lot was built), all of which led to the site feeling slightly more hidden, something not everyone got to know about. Or that is how I thought about it then. Now when I go see it, I don't feel like it's as special. Well, it's better when the daffodils are around on your approach.

When I returned home, my mother made scrambled eggs and bacon. Here they are in front of the Christmas present my uncle and aunt gave my parents (they also gave me a great new purse that I have already begun to use).

OSU versus Penn State c/o Gettysburg Eddie's

After my tower climb and battlefield drive-by, I went on over to a new business in Gettysburg called Gettysburg Eddie's. It was my job to snag a table with a good television view for the OSU Penn State game that would be happening a little later (the relatives were still at the Gettysburg game). Eventually we all came together and ordered a number of extremely not-good-for-you-but-tasty appetizers. These appetizers included a spinach and artichoke dip that was mainly spinach and cheese.
Spicy fried pickles (I didn't really pick up on their spiciness but K. and my aunt L. did, so I guess there was a kick?).
And bacon and cheese loaded potato skins. We each had two beers while watching the first half of the game and eating on this food. The bill? $26. Amazing.
At half time, L. felt a headache coming on and thought it best to return to the hotel for a little rest. We all went back, watched the rest of the game and then E. K. and I went to Tommy's to see our cousin F. and his wife. K. and I shared a small pizza. I am a sucker for mushrooms, but these mushrooms were out of a can and not pleasing to me. Have you noticed that the first three places I ate in Gettysburg all had men's names in their titles? I did. I'd like to get Ernie, Eddie and Tommy together and see what they create...except that I think they're all dead.
After our dinner, we returned to the hotel (best in Gettysburg according to my well-researched forays into other options...wait, that's not true, I have been coming to this hotel since forever, and the one other hotel I stayed in was not at all superior). K. and I then went over to the on-site Appalachian Brewing Company bar and had a few pints while playing Rummy. Here is a note K. wrote me at one point. It warmed the cockles of my heart.