I love to toy with Bittman. I don't know why. Probably because he had the balls to publish a cookbook called "How to Cook Everything," and you and I both know Bittman can't cook everything. Never will.But I've softened on the chap. I caught him on TV, looking healthy, explaining his diet of mostly avoiding meats and ghastly food. Hear, hear, Bittman.
Two things, though. First, our Amy tells us his latest book is a little bit unuseable. (And when you cough out that many books, it's bound to happen... right, Ruhlman?)
Second, he ran another of those confounded 100-Best lists the other day in the New York Times. It was for 101 salad ideas.
You need salad ideas? A hundred and one of them? I pity the foo.
Of course (and here comes the caveat), one of them really caught my eye. Pan-seared corn niblets with chile, cheese, a squirt of lime and maybe tomatoes. Number 39 on the list. Street food, he called it, and I was smitten. Bitten. By Bittman.
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16 comments:
Meh. It's barely a salad; by that definition half of what I cook (whatever's in the fridge, tossed together with maybe some heat involved) is a salad. Give ME a book deal and I'll top that before the La Pavoni is even hot.
Truly, life is salad. Just ask Nora Ephron.
Ummm, is it wrong of me to feel slightly ill at the sight of that salad? There's something about it that's just wrong.
Mouse: It looks throw-uppy? I shoulda angled my shot better. It was really tasty.
Bittman comes across as somewhat arrogant, I think, but I have to admit to enjoying some of his suggestions...
Oh, and look, she's eating cheese again! Hope that means you're feeling better.
Nopalito has an almost identical salad on their menu right now!
I like Bittman. Affable is the word that comes to mind.
Zoomie: How observant of you that I'm eating cheese. It was a sheep feta; I'm avoiding cow dairy in the hope that... that's that. But it might not be. Grr. Felt crummy today.
Anyway, I'm cool with Bittman now. Seeing him on TV punctured any notion of arrogance, and I grudgingly admit I do like his recipes.
Joy: Charming! And so totally groovy that we can make it at home. You need to borrow Cranky for a night. I'll busy myself with O. You relax with a cocktail.
Greg: I'll go with "affable." I definitely warmed up to him. Rats. Who can I hate now? Ah! Frank Bruni.
You're just always so funny. I laughed out loud, reading this post. That's why I read you. As for Frank Bruni, did you read his big article in the NY Times magazine 2 weeks ago about his childhood weight problem? I kind of felt bad for him..
You know, I received that How To Cook Everything book this past holiday season and it's taking up a lot of otherwise valuable shelf space. However, I have consulted it on obscurantisms like...how to make MEATLOAF! Seriously, I somehow slept through that class.
I think everyone needs a nudge now and then. Especially when one has a lot of everything and somehow stonewall on what to do with it all.
And arrogant? I think it's just East Coast for "please take me seriously," that's all.
I NEVER do pasta salads but did make one for a neighborhood gathering from one of Mr. B's listeds. It had toasted walnuts, roasted peppers (I used very good ones), chevre and fresh herbs -- all of which I had here at home, no shopping necessary. The pasta was casafecce, which isn't as bad as it appears to sound: means homemade (but of course it wasn't), sort of pieces of pasta rolled but not closed, like open-sided penne, cooked up very firm. I give him snaps on this; and I almost made your corn salad last week.
Italian: Aw! Thanks. Y'know, I really disliked Bruni's magazine piece. All of a sudden he's "better"? Boink? Me disagree. Poor man. Maybe he's not fat anymore, and maybe he's not puking, but something ain't right and he's in denial.
Fast: Meatloaf! I'd probably use a recipe for it too; I so seldom eat it. Jeez. When did I last eat meatloaf? Now I want some.
Kudzu: Your salad sounds good. I'm not as wary of pasta salads... but I don't ever make them; so there.
I've never read anything by Bittman.
I'm bummed that I can't comment on your blog with my new website as my trackback. Boooo.
Most list of salad ideas are just reminders of what you've forgotten you already like. And this one looks delicious. . . thanks for sharing!
Yeah, really looks a bit throw-uppy to me. Seems more like a mix of remaining products in the fridge, nothing too great to salivate. The diy home solar panels enthusiast.
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