Fish Stew February 1, 2005

I may as well admit that what I really want to eat is bouillabaisse, but that I am too lethargic to make it. Ordinarily I would blame the patriarchy for this, but in this case I believe it's the weather. This week-long episode of gloom and inhuman 45-degree temperatures is sucking the joie de vivre right out of me. I'm running out of clean long pants. Once they're gone, my will to live will undoubtedly be next.

Clams and Mussels in a Goddam Gorgeous Broth of Fennel, Tomato, and White Wine, With Red Bell Pepper, Zucchini, and Olives January 31, 2005

Like everyone else who presumes to eat in South Austin, I got some new Mexican oilcloth at that Mexcian gifty place next to Las Manitas. It really livens up the joint. Ay yi yi.

Wok-Mangled Vegetable Assortment With Sauce Chinoise, January 30, 2005

Rightly or wrongly, I make my sauce Chinoise by combining with half a cup of white wine or chicken broth a tablespoon of anything in my fridge that has a vaguely Asian label, and thickening the result with cornstarch. This particular dish was further festooned with sprightly "micro greens," which name is a marketing gimmick for the humble sprouted kohlrabi.

Ramen Noodles January 28, 2005

Many right-thinking people despair of ramen noodles, having ODed on'em when they were impecunious college students or hungover musicians, but not me. I actually like'em. I eat'em once a week whether I have money or a hangover or micro greens or not.

Leftovers From My Sister's Catered Event To Which I Was Not Invited Some Sort of Pork Tenderloin, Buttered Beans, Roasted Potatoes with Onions and Mushrooms, January 26, 2005

This stuff came from the 34th Street Café, which café my sister always engages to cater events she doesn't invite me to, based largely on their genius with Elgin venison sausage (notably absent, alas, from my doggy bag).

Elgin was a small town in Central Texas justifiably renowned for sausage until patriarchal TV "life coach" Dr Phil started videotaping its inhabitants and their personal problems. Now Elgin is just a shill for self-help books.

Breakfast Platter, Kerbey Lane South Lamar, Austin, January 26, 2005

Young Rachel may be looking askance at her weirdly eggless tacos, but you cannot shake a stick at Kerbey Lane's pancakes. This plate comes with bacon, which I consumed before remembering to take the picture, even though on this occasion it resembled the greasy fingers of death.

In the far background you can just make out one of those South Austin Elders, an abundant species. The males all have showy white beards and ponytails and jaunty chapeaux, and the females have one salt-and-pepper braid and small wire glasses. Both wear leather sandals of ethnic origin.

<<Previous