Dear Local Gourmands,
For me, fall is dreamy afternoons of yellow leaves, cups of Earl Grey tea, a full color spectrum of squash in the market, debating which variety of apple is my favorite of the moment (honeycrisp), having an insatiable craving for New York State grape juice (god, it so so good), breaking out the soup pot, and making excuses to eat more than my fare share of Wilklow Orchard’s cider doughnuts. I was reminded this week, however, that fall is also the onset of sick season, and I have been out of commission the last three days with the flu. Serves me right– it was time to slow down. I have WNYC on as I doze and will myself to recover, and it seems every time I wake up, there’s more food news on the radio– from the pages of his new Momofuku cookbook, David Chang read about the quest to perfect his pork buns, Nigella Lawson gave us all the go-ahead to indulge in winter comfort foods, and Jonathan Safran Foer has been on the horn touting vegetarianism and his exploration of it in his new book, Eating Animals. That said, the fall food reading list is juicy this year. You can catch William Grimes reading from his new work, Appetite City, tomorrow night at the Tenement Museum, and next week the admirable Judith Jones reads from her latest gem, The Pleasures of Cooking for One.
Be well,
Jeanne
Wednesday, November 4, 6:30pm
William Grimes Reads from Appetite City
The Tenement Museum
108 Orchard St. btwn Broome and Delancey
*Free
William Grimes, formerly of the Times Dining section, reads from his new book, Appetite City at the Tenement Museum on the LES. Listen in on one of our city’s great food voices as he takes us back through Gotham’s gastronomic history.
Thursday, November 5, 4-6pm
Who’s Who and What’s What: The Evolution of the Food Cognoscenti in America
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, Third Floor
70 Washington Square South
Suggested Donation: $10
RSVP to 212.992.9018 or rsvp.bobst@nyu.edu
Clark Wolf moderates a panel of food historians, authors, and professors who will speak to the topic of the in-the-know food circle in America, and how it came to be. Panelists include: Mitchell Davis, Author and VP of the James Beard Foundation; Barbara Haber, Food Historian, Author, Curator & Chair of the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who Committee; Daniel Humm, New York Times’ Newest Four Star Chef; Marion Nestle, Author & NYU Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies & Public Health; Bob Spitz, Julia Child’s Biographer.
Sunday, November 8, 2-5pm
Nose to Tail Eating: Lamb Butchering Demo, Tasting, and Auction
The Institute for Culinary Education
50 W. 23rd St
Tickets, $55 and $75 available on-line only
Make good on your intentions to learn more about where your meat comes from by attending this workshop with master butcher Rudi Weid as he takes apart the carcass of a 110 lb lamb that was sustainably raised in the pastures of Three Corner Field Farm in Shushan, NY. “As Master Butcher Rudi wields his knives from head to hind quarter, he will discuss each section, muscle, and cut and you will enjoy another lamb, roasted, seared, and grilled, accompanied by New York State wine specially selected for the occasion. When Rudi is done, you will have opportunity to bid on cuts to take home. (Cash and checks will be accepted.) Proceeds from this event will benefit the Slow Food NYC Harvest Time program of good food education at schools in East Harlem, on the Lower East Side, and in Williamsburg.”
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Of note a few weeks down the road…
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30pm
Food Writing Forum: Judith Jones
Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street, room 510
Tickets, $5; free to all students and New School faculty, staff, and alumni with ID
The venerable editor and author Judith Jones reads from her new book, The Pleasures of Cooking for One, which was inspired by the recipes and stories she wrote about in her memoir, The Tenth Muse. Jones is in great part responsible for bringing international cuisine into America’s home kitchens by luring stories and recipes from cookbook luminaries like Julia Child, Lidia Bastianich, Marion Cunningham, Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey, Edna Lewis, and Claudia Roden, among many others.
Friday, November 13, 7pm
Slideluck Potshow
Aperture Foundation
547 W. 27th St, 4th fl
7pm potluck, 9pm slide show
Tickets, $10
Old fashioned entertainment– a potluck and a slide show– get their just desserts when teamed up in the infamous Slideluck Potshow which takes place in New York this November at the Aperture Foundation. Artsy attendees are encouraged to make their own culinary interpretation of the theme “outside in”. “Make a pineapple upside-down cake, inside-out rolls, bring “outside” food in, or take an ingredient out and make the recipe differently. We will have a table reserved for all the themed dishes – and please bring your recipe so we know what we are eating!” Potluck starts at 7, multimedia slide show rolls at 9.
Friday, November 13, 7pm
Roberta’s Farm Fundraiser
Starr Space
108-110 Starr St., Bushwick
Roberta’s throws another fundraising party to break ground on their 1-acre urban rooftop farm. Their last roof-raising party was a hit, so be sure to get in on the action– soup, booze, and supporting a very good cause will warm your soul.
Sunday, November 15, 1-5pm
Chocolate Cook-off
The Bell House
149 7th St., Gowanus
Tickets, $20 (includes a beer)
With all the bean to bar chocolate enthusiasm that’s come about of late, it’s fitting that the cook-off crazed have picked up on the trend and chosen to focus in on the serious Achilles heel: chocolate. Competitive cook-off pros Theo Peck and Nick Suarez team up with Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs of Food52 to bring the borough the Brooklyn Chocolate Experiment. Amateur chefs are challenged to bring their most delicious chocolate-based dishes ranging from sweet to savory to chocolate beverages. The audience and guest judges (including Bon Appetit’s Andrew Knowlton and ice cream guru Ben Van Leeuwen) will award prizes and cold hard cash to their favorites. Visit www.thefoodexperiments.com for more info or e-mail info@thefoodexperiments.com if you think you’ve got what it takes to participate.
Monday, November 16, 7pm
Jonathan Safran Foer
Barnes and Noble Union Square
33 E. 17th St.
The author of acclaimed novels Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close reads from his latest book, Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer’s first work of non-fiction.
Monday, November 16, 6-9pm
A Toast to Hot Bread Kitchen
Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave
Tickets, $50-$150
It was love at first read when we learned about Hot Bread Kitchen, the non-profit bakery that scored a feature in Edible Brooklyn in the Summer 2008 issue, and it’s been great watching them grow, popping up at conferences, markets, and CSA’s all over the city ever since. Now the innovative institution that employs immigrant women bakers, and supplies our toaster with some of its favorite slices, is expanding. Celebrate Hot Bread’s success and contribute to their future endeavors by attending their inaugural gala at Chelsea Market. Sip wine, watch baking demos, and take a spin on New York’s only corn-grinding bicycle.
Saturday, November 21, 1pm
Cheese 101
Stinky Bklyn
261 Smith St, Carroll Gardens
Tickets, $25
We know you love on cheese– that goes without question. Head over to Smith St. to learn how to talk the talk of the caves, the molds, and the rinds you adore. Stinky Brooklyn takes you on a tasting tour through the basics of elevated cheese appreciation. Learn about the history of cheese making, the differences in milk types, fromage styles, and cheesy lore.
Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4
Young Farmers Conference at Stone Barns
Registration is now open for this year’s Young Farmer’s Conference at Stone Barns.
