RadioGastronomy The table as the gravitational center of our lives.
Posts Tagged ‘4th of July’
Sticky, Sweet, & Spicy Asian-Style Chicken Wings
“Left wing, chicken wing, it don’t make no difference to me.” -American Depression-era folk legend Woody Guthrie
Panko-Crusted Wild Salmon Burgers with Watercress Salad & Miso Dressing
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” -Albert Einstein, German-born patent clerk, scientific visionary, and enviably humble human
Cardamom Scented Blueberry Buckle
“When any lagged behind, the cry of ‘blueberries’ was most effectual to bring them up.” -Henry David Thoreau, American poet, transcendentalist, and tree-hugger
Colorful Quinoa Grain Salad with Latin Flavors
“One grain of sand. That’s all that remains of my vast empire.” -Doe-eyed Childlike Empress, the fading, heart-broken, actually-very-old ruler of Fantasia in Wolfgang Petersen’s 1984 film adaptation of The Neverending Story
Lettuce Wraps with Wild Shrimp, Mango, & Vanilla Bean Salad
“Once, in college, I pooped my pants a little bit at a Country Steaks all-you-can-eat buffet and I didn’t leave until I finished my second plate of shrimp.” -Tina Fey as the lovable Liz Lemon, lover of junk food and Star Wars, on NBC’s consistently funny hit comedy 30 Rock
Salata Faki (Greek-Style Cold Lentil Salad)
“Well, it’s mostly lentils, but there’s some crockery mixed in.” -Nigel Planer as politically depressed neu-hippie Neil Pye in the early-80′s BBC Britcom comedy of manners The Young Ones
Erdäpfelsalat (Austrian-Style Potato Salad)
“I benefit from the Mr. Potato Head syndrome. Put a wig and a nose and glasses on me, and I disappear.” -Phil Hartman, immensely talented and sadly passed-before-his-time Canadian-American comedian, actor, and alum of such awesomeness as SNL, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, and The Simpsons
Spanakopita
“Eat your spinach, you no good infink. Eat it. EAT IT. Eat it.” -Poopdeck Pappy, Popeye’s spitting image and reluctant, foul-mouthed father
Pluot Clafoutis
“Would I blow everyone’s mind if I ate dessert first?” -The adorable Richard Ayoade as Reynholm Industries’ resident socially awkward über-nerd, Moss, on the hysterically funny Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd
Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Red Grapes, Toasted Nuts, and Garden Herbs
“I may not know much, but I know chicken shit from chicken salad.” -Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th American president and consistent deliverer of badass one-liners
Pissaladiére
“It was a meal that we shall never forget; more accurately, it was several meals that we shall never forget, because it went beyond the gastronomic frontiers of anything we had ever experienced, both in quantity and length. It started with homemade pizza – not one, but three: anchovy, mushroom, and cheese, and it was obligatory to have a slice of each.” -Peter Mayle, British writer and ex-advertising industry drone, in his famous book A Year in Provence
Classic Tom Collins
“Uh yeah, I’ll have a Tom Collins.” -Charmingly-schnozzed American actor Owen Wilson as Dignan in Wes Anderson’s 1996 breakout film, Bottle Rocket
Classic Insalata Caprese
“Three tomatoes are walking down the street: a Poppa tomato, a Momma tomato, & a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Poppa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, & smooshes him…..& says, “Catch up!” -The radiant Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Quentin Tarantino’s classic 1994 film Pulp Fiction
Thin-Crust Pizza with Fresh Figs, Goat Cheese, and Arugula
“Aaah, a marriage made in heaven. A frog and a pig. We can have bouncing baby figs.” -The Muppet Show’s wind-up Robot Kermit, who, unlike real Kermit, openly showed his affection for Miss Piggy
Crostini with Grilled Radish, Anchovy Compound Butter, & Micro Greens
“I know I’m an acquired taste – I’m anchovies. And not everybody wants those hairy little things.” -Tori Amos, American pianist, singer, composer, lyrical master, and fellow redhead
Classic Strawberry Shortcake
“I’ve got it all in here. Ultra Violets. Flying Saucers. Strawberry Bootlace. C’mon. Get involved.” -Self-proclaimed “confuser” Noel Fielding as “The Hitcher” in the trippy, brilliant television version of Britain’s so-so-so-good The Mighty Boosh
Wild Sea Bass Ceviche with Avocado, Purple Potatoes, & Fried Plantains
“It is almost as if happiness is an acquired taste, like coconut cordial or ceviche, to which you can eventually become accustomed, but despair is something surprising each time you encounter it.” -Lemony Snicket, pseudonym and alter-ego of American children’s writer Daniel Handler
Pickled Red Cabbage & Asian Pear Salad with Poppyseeds
“The time has come,’ the walrus said, ‘to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax – of cabbages and kings.” -Lewis Carroll, British author, clergyman, mathematician, and photographer, from his classic book Through the Looking Glass
Cilantro-Infused Gin Martini with Lime
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming: GERONIMO!” -Hunter S. Thompson, American writer, weirdo, & all-around style all-star
Homemade Pizza with Green Olive Tapenade & Buffalo Mozzarella
“Being in this band in the early 1980′s made you feel like you were part of a pizza.” -Roger Taylor, drummer of English 80′s superband Duran Duran
Baked Mac & Cheese with Herbed Panko Topping & Fresh Tomato
“He puts some MacAttack Mac & Cheese in the microwave and dons headphones and takes out a video game so he won’t be bored during the forty seconds it takes his lunch to cook.” -George Saunders, awesome American writer/satirist, from his 2006 short story collection In Persuasion Nation
Chipotle Jicama Slaw with Asian Pear, Green Cabbage, and Radish
“I wonder what you’d have on the side with a plate of Deep-Fried Anxiety. Pickles? Coleslaw? Potato-Strychnine mash?” -Robin McKinley, American writer and repeat Newbery offender (man I loved Newbery books as a kid…..The Westing Game! Ramona Quimby, Age 8! Sigh.)
Classic Guacamole
“I have an enormous amount of trouble trying to get people to come to my place. I hate it. I can’t tell you how much leftover guacamole I have ended up eating over the years. I don’t even know why I make it in such great quantities.” -Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin’s clueless and awkward boss on the American version of Ricky Gervais’s brilliant “The Office”
Crostini with Farmer Cheese, Radish, and Dill Spread
“I always wanted to be a farmer. There is a tradition of that in my family.” -Björk, eccentric Icelandic singer, avant-garde composer, producer, and actress