Just had this amazing brunch at Fiddlehead Cafe in Chicago (Lincoln Square) consisting of chicken and waffles, topped with Canadian bacon! I was skeptical of the idea of chicken and waffles, but now am a total convert. The combination of salt and sweet was so tasty. The texture of the waffles so light and fluffy, while the chicken was tender and juicy. Yum, yum.
Holy cow!
The ever present David Chang appeared on the Today Show with Matt Lauer this week. Here’s the video of David making kimchi. David’s new Momofuku cookbook hit bookstores this week.
Wow, tonight’s episode exposed how some chefs have no clue how to cook a vegetarian entree. You would think that they never cooked a vegetarian dish before! Natalie Portman, a vegetarian, was the guest judge. Mike Isabella got the boot after failing to cook his leeks correctly–they were undercooked and bitter. Natalie picked Kevin Gillespie’s kale dish as her favorite. The 2 remaining female chefs, Robin Leventhal and Jennifer Carroll, barely survived in the bottom 3 again!
Funniest moment: Upon trying one of the dishes, the beautiful host Padma Lakshmi commented that she tasted “a little prick on her tongue.” The comment drew immediate laughter from Natalie Portman, who tried to keep a straight face and maintain the appearance of a serious judge. Padma continued that she didn’t like the “small shallot” that “became big in her mouth.” Natalie commented something to the effect, that’s how it always happens. Hmmm…gives new meaning to food porn!!!
Winning dish: Kevin’s kale
Out: Mike for screwing up leeks and everything else
In anticipation of Thomas Keller’s latest cookbook Ad Hoc at Home, the NYT has a poignant article, “What the Last Meal Taught Him,” by Kim Severson. The article recounts Thomas’s reunion with this father in 2006 after the two hadn’t seen each other since his father left him at only age 5. After the reunion, Ed Keller moved to live next to Thomas, in a house next to the French Laundry–signalling the strong bond that the two had quickly formed. However, a tragic car accident in 2007 left Ed Keller a quadriplegic. Yet, for over a year, Ed, a former marine, battled on until his death in 2008.
Thomas Keller’s upcoming book “Ad Hoc at Home” is described in the article as more personal than his previous books. Can’t wait to take a look! It has just hit bookstores (at least Amazon!).
Resident Foodies reviewed Keller’s restaurant Ad Hoc–for which the book is named–back in 2007. This was our first restaurant review ever. Frankly, the video quality is not so impressive. But we weren’t trying to impress anyone. We made the video just for fun! Today, we’re a little bit more serious (and hopefully better at video editing), but we are so glad to have our start associated with Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc. For our start as Resident Foodies (TM) was truly ad hoc!
2007 Resident Foodies review of Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc
Wednesday is Episode 10 of Season 6 of Top Chef. Natalie Portman is the guest. TV dinners is one of the challenges. Should be interesting!