Sic Semper Tyrannis

Grilled Sword with Cajun Blackening

50 degrees backyard 17 January, 2021

Good Grilling - 57 Fahrenheit in the back garden

pl

New York! New York!

Back of the freezer, cleaning out.  Two inches thick.  pl

More sword

63 degrees today, sunny tomorrow.  pl

Lamb Chops

porterhouse, medium, marinated for a couple of hours in good stuff

Grilled pork chops

Pork chops. Brined 24 hours in water, salt, sugar and soy. A dusting of McCormick Himalayan pink salt, pepper and garlic.

Seagoing turkey

Cut thick and so I cooked it 8 minute on a side.  A perfect medium.  I am trying out new seasonings and would put a little more on next time.  Sorry for the blur on the left side.   My hand must have wobbled.   pl

More Nueske

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Nueske brats.

12 minutes on low, 2 minutes on high.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratwurst

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nueske%27s_Applewood_Smoked_Meats

 

More red meat

pl

NY Strip

This was a good deal.  Our milkman who also delivers meat products dropped off a box of six from a restaurant supply company in the middle of the night while making his dairy delivery.  My security system filmed the delivery and I went out but he had already left.  We called to ask if they wanted them back.  They said to keep them.

He will get a nice tip for Christmas.

High heat, Montreal, 3.5 minutes on a side, a perfect medium, tender and pink inside the crust.  pl

Lamb Shoulder Chop

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Halibut

Five minutes on a side.  Should have been six on each side.  pl

Halibut - 30 October 2020

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A piece of heaven

Espadon

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Hanger Steak (onglet) tonight

From a Kosher butchery in Brooklyn, NY.  pl 

Grilled Cod

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Burgers tonight

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Pez Espada - $10.50/lb. on sale - Imported from Spain

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Hanger Steak (onglet) tonight

Same old blue and white "Blue Willow."  SWMBO says she has this pattern from a dozen US and UK makers because it was used in her parents home for "every day."  I will try to get her to allow me to use some other plates for the  entertainment value.  pl 

Nueske hot dogs tonight.

Nothing defrosted soon enough tonight.  So I grilled some of these splendid hot dogs from the Nueske family run meat market in Wisconsin.  Natural casings, beautifully smoked, I like'em a bit charred.  I prefer the New England style flat sided buns.  They lie well on the grill, but SWMBO likes the more rounded ones.  Ah, well.  pl 

https://www.nueskes.com/?sc=BINGPPC&msclkid=21b641f19a3c1c27bedd1e8a3a564f44&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2020-CTM-Branded-Search&utm_term=%2Bnueskes.com&utm_content=Branded-BMM&gclid=CPTWyKXCnuwCFfwBiAkd2w8Iqw&gclsrc=ds

 

Sword tonight

Hanger Steak tonight

Hanger Steak (Onglet) tonight. I grilled both halves of the steak.  There is a membrane between them that you have to cut out.  This side is for sammiches.  Olive oil and Montreal.  5 minutes on a side at 400 degrees.  pl

" New York is finished!" Altucher

• James Altucher has left New York City for Miami and may never return 
• In a blog post on Monday, he said business opportunities, culture and the food scene in NYC had all gone  
• They were wiped out by COVID-19, then a week of riots and looting sent other residents running for other cities
• Now, crime and homelessness is on the rise which is stopping people from coming back 
• It means that the city is not likely to recover as it has from every other crisis 
• After 9/11, people were forced back to their office jobs because internet speed was too slow for people to work from home, he said 
• Now, businesses can function entirely through Zoom 
• Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, said recently there was still a need to bring people back into offices
• Facebook is also investing in New York City to try to ensure it will remain a global business center   Altucher

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"The food scene..."  Yes there were a lot of very fine restos in the Big Crummy.  They were not worth a prolonged stay in Manhattan, although I must admit that the view from a hotel room on the 20th floor across Central Park was splendid.

But, the people more than made up for the menus with their curt pushiness and frantic activity.

I never liked the place, still don't.  If I live to see it in a much shrunken condition, a shadow of its former self, that will be just fine by me.  pl

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8635857/Why-NYC-WONT-survive-coronavirus-Entrepreneur-outlines-city-forever-changed.html

Boneless ribeye medium rare

About a pound, medium rare tonight.  Some mash anointed with the jus of the steak and a few spears of steamed asparagus.  ça suffit.  pl

 

 

River prawns as canal cleaners. Who knew?

 

"Beyond the consumer applications, Professor Sagi has also been involved in research on using the prawns to combat schistosomiasis, a debilitating waterborne disease that affects around 200 million people worldwide, primarily in impoverished areas. Also known as Snail Fever, the disease is caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes, which use aquatic snails as an intermediate host. Anyone swimming in, or drinking water inhabited by, these snails is likely to contract the disease, which can eventually lead to liver damage, kidney failure, infertility, or bladder cancer. In children, it may also inhibit growth and mental development.

Since the prawns are voracious predators of water snails, trials are underway to determine how commercial aquaculture operations can be most effectively configured for a parallel role as snail control centers. In a recent paper, Sagi and other proponents argue that the prawns could significantly reduce the number of infected people and the cost of the drugs required to treat them, plus the prawn ponds would provide permanent sources of food and income."  ars technica

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These are the size I am familiar with.

I have eaten a lot of these guys in SE Asia and in fancy restaurants in Dubai, Morocco and Abu Dhabi.  These are absolutely wonderful grilled with the heads on.  Oil, lemon, S&P, garlic, three minutes on a side.  The heads are deliciously crunchy.

This Israeli bio-engineering company has managed to raise them in tanks filled with females only.  Brilliant!  The males are a nuisance.  They are very territorial and fight all the time, injuring each other, killing other prawns and are thus much distracted from the serious business of gaining weight and making little prawns.  Yum.  pl

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/can-gender-bending-israeli-super-prawns-help-feed-the-world/

Grilled Sword filet tonight

A little irregular on the cut but that is what cooking art is about.  Salt, pepper, garlic, a little olive oil.  Watch it close.  Was running low on gas in that tank, had to nurse it along.  SWMBO ruled it delicious.  pl

 

Flat Iron Steak tonight (inside)

Lots of Montreal steak seasoning on both sides.  Heat a black iron pan until it starts to smoke.  Add olive oil to pan.  Cook it until crusty on both sides.  Then turn down the heat until medium rare.  Turn off heat and add wine and arrowroot to pan for pan sauce.  Whisk until lumps of arrowroot are gone.  Praise be!

Social Distancing the American Way....by Fred

I've decided to take your favorite president's, or one of them's, advice and reduce my exposure to city slickers corona, politicians and people who work for a livng. So pull up a chair and have a fine cup of some'n special while I tell you my tale of woe social distancing with my buddy, Buddy Bear. 

Here, have a cup of the good stuff, freshly brewed up, like a story in the NYT, or China Daily.

Fiberglass propane tanks - Who knew?

Any "poop" on whether these things are safe, what they weigh, etc.?  pl

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ow+they+make+fiberglass+propane+tanks&qpvt=ow+they+make+fiberglass+propane+tanks&view=detail&mid=FBB90CC80D25ADA454D1FBB90CC80D25ADA454D1&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dow%2Bthey%2Bmake%2Bfiberglass%2Bpropane%2Btanks%26qpvt%3Dow%2Bthey%2Bmake%2Bfiberglass%2Bpropane%2Btanks%26FORM%3DVDRE

Steelhead trout on the grill tonight

Never had this fish before.  Got some for cheap at the Aldi German discount grocery here.  This is a big fish.  It lives 50 years and grows to 45 inches.  It looks like salmon and is pink in color.  This is a Pacific Ocean fish that spawns in fresh water.  I followed a recipe that called for a little oil on it, salt and pepper, powdered onion and garlic.  This is a delicate fish.  Next time I will try a recipe with more ingredients.  It is very tasty.  pl

My Outdoor Kitchen

People have asked me what my outdoor kitchen is like.  pl

 

"Moroccan" sword tonight.

A couple of fine, wild caught, North Atlantic swordfish steaks (not from a supermarket).  Marinated three hours in:  olive oil, ponzu (drops), garlic, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, parsley and cilantro.  Five minutes on a side temp 140 degrees F.  A wonderful medium.  pl

Salmon filet on the grill tonight.

 

From a supermarket.  Marinated it for a couple of hours in:  olive oil, soy, citrus soy, teriyaki sauce, salt, pepper, mustard powder, ginger powder, garlic powder, red wine.

Cooked on the grill flesh side down, then skin side down, flesh side up until it reached 140 Fahrenheit in the thick end.  Basted with the marinade.

A delicious medium well (how we like it) nice and juicy.  Even the skin was delicious and infused with the marinade.    pl

Forget The Palm restaurants

SWMBO and I ate at the Palm on 19th Street in DC for many years. It was long the ultimate in Italian steakhouses. The food went downhill and then improved. We went there last night for her birthday. The place has IMO become just another expense account dump. Food was mediocre. The service was cloying and obsequious. They couldn't even get the takehomes right. i cut up my 837 Club card today and have written them They will not see us again.  pl

Tuna Steaks tonight

I've been cooking fish lately in my outside kitchen. A nice piece of halibut the other night and yellow fin tuna steaks tonight. I made a marinade of soy, teriyaki, olive oil, garlic and a little ginger. Five minutes a side on high heat and then reduced heat for another five, a glorious medium was the result. I use copper grill mats over the grates. This keeps the thing from falling apart. Suggestions for fish to grill beyond sword, tuna and halibut?  pl

Do the Brits and the French eat BBQ?

"BBQ Pitmasters is an American reality television series which follows barbecue cooks as they compete for cash and prizes in barbecue cooking competitions.

The series premiered on TLC on December 3, 2009. The eight-episode first season was filmed in a docu-reality format as it followed several competing BBQ teams around the country to various BBQ contests.

Season two premiered on August 12, 2010 at 10 pm EDT featuring a completely new competition game show-based format.^[1] Each week, four teams competed against each other. Challenges included common protein and more exotic meat. Weekly winners faced off against each other in the second season finale as they vied for $100,000 and the Kingsford Cup. The judges for the second season were Myron Mixon, Art Smith, and Warren Sapp.^[2] Kevin Roberts served as host.   wiki

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Is this show seen in the UK and France?

American BBQ is meat (to include fowl and seafood) smoked slowly for a long time, carefully judging the time, temperature (normally low) and seasonings.  Cooking like this is an art, developed over centuries to cope with tough meat like beef brisket, beef shoulder clod and whole hogs if necessary.

This is quite a different style of cooking than "grilling."  "Light the fires, and kick the tires."

Is this program available overseas and has American BBQ caught on?  pl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBQ_Pitmasters

Who knew that eating garlic was haram, or maybe just discouraged in Islam? Not me.

"A shooting at the Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California injured 15 people and killed 3 more, bringing a horrific end to the popular annual event attended by thousands.

A 6-year-old boy was one among those killed, his father said.

“My son had his whole life to live and he was only 6,” the father of Stephen Romero told NBC Bay Area. “That’s all I can say.”

The wounded were taken to multiple hospitals, and their conditions ranged from fair to critical, with some in surgery Sunday night. At least five were treated and released.

Gilroy police said at a press conference that officers engaged the shooter in less than a minute, though the scene was still considered active and nearby areas were kept on lockdown into the night."  usatoday

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/29/gilroy-garlic-festival-shooting-what-we-know/1854727001/

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‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have delivered a Friday sermon. In it he said: “O people, you eat two plants that I only find offensive: onion and garlic. I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and if he detected their odor on a man in the mosque, he would order [the man] to be taken out to Al-Baqī‘. So anyone who [wants to] eat them, let them eliminate [their odor] by cooking.''

Explanation

‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) told those who were attending the Friday sermon that they “ate two offensive plants: onion and garlic”. Arabs use the word ''offensive” for objectionable and reprehensible words, actions, possessions, food, or people. This is established in a Hadīth that Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “Anyone who eats from this offensive tree let them not come close to our mosque.” [Muslim] “…onion and garlic”: Everything that has an offensive odor, such as radish, leeks, tobacco, and cigarettes are included here. Onions and garlic are mentioned in particular because they are eaten often. Leeks are stipulated in a Hadīth reported by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) and narrated by Muslim. So if anyone smelled of onion or garlic in the mosque, they would be ordered to be taken out as far as Al-Baqī‘, because it offends not only people but also the angels, as was related in an authentic Hadīth. In Ibn Mājah, we read: ''At the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) if a foul odor was detected on a man, I would see him seized by the arm and taken out to Al-Baqī‘.” “So anyone who [wants to] eat them, let them eliminate [their odor] by cooking.” This is because cooking eliminated the odor and if the odor is eliminated, one may enter the mosque because the reason for the prohibition no longer exists. Cooking onion and garlic thoroughly is required if someone wishes to enter the mosque for prayer or any other purpose. If it is not time for prayer, one may eat them raw. The command to cook them is meant to prevent offending others.  hadeethenc.com

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Well pilgrims,  SWMBO and I visited the fair town of Gilroy, California many years ago whilst studying Arabic at the Defense Language Institute at Monterrey, California.  She has always been diligent in researching and directing our visitations throughout regions where we have lived.  Gilroy bills itself as the garlic growing capital of the universe, although I think there are parts of Syria which could have contested the title before the outbreak of civil war.  Driving through little towns in central Syria it was interesting to see many shops and homes adorned with hanging bundles of white garlic. 

I, personally, love the "stinking rose."  For me, a dish without garlic is a disappointment.  There are exceptions. Strawberry shortcake may be one.  Garlic is widely used in Lebanese and Syrian cooking.  There is a lovely white dipping sauce eaten in Lebanon that reeks of garlic. I love it and always ask for more of this to be brought to the table.

But, alas, there ARE several hadiiths in different "books" (collections) of hadiths that strongly express opposition to eating raw garlic and/or onions.  Evidently the Prophet did not like the smell of either and told the originator of these various hadiths that if people ate either they should stay away from the mosque lest the angels themselves be offended by the odor.  Well, someone recounted that he had said that.  On the other hand, his favorite wife, Aisha let it be known that the last meal He ate had garlic in it. 

For those uninformed or generally uninterested Islam generally considers both Qur'an, (the uncreated literal thought of God transmitted to the Prophet), and hadith, (stories supposedly recounting the utterance and practice of the Prophet and early community [Umma]) to be scriptural bases of all else in the faith, jurisprudence, etc.)  There are, of course a wide variety of collections of hadith accepted as valid by differed consensus (ijma') groups.  And, as someone will remind me, the Ibadhis do not think the Qur'an to be "uncreated."

In any event it seems odd that this rifle toting scoundrel cut his way through a security fence to avoid the guards and police. Once inside the perimeter he opened fire at random targets with some sort of semi-auto rifle firing in bursts of three or four rounds that sound like a "bump stock." Or not. 

The police killed him quickly but as of this writing he remains unidentified.  It will be interesting to find out what this Garlic Avenger had in what passed for his mind.  pl

https://hadeethenc.com/en/browse/hadith/8953

Dinner - 21 July, 2019

In the interest of "sharing" on SST, I just want to tell you what I cooked tonight. It's too hot outside (100F) to cook at my outside kitchen. Soo, I had a 1.25 pound prime ribeye that had been hanging around for just about enough time. I fried it, like in Spain or France. Heavy, well seasoned cast iron skillet, mixture of canola oil and butter in it. Lots of salt and black pepper on all sides of the steak. Start at high heat and sear the beast on all sides including the edges. Reduce the heat and cook until desired doneness. Result - a lovely medium rare.  pl

May Day in the City of Light

"French police have fired tear gas on masked protesters who joined large May Day demonstrations in Paris.

Traditionally a union-led day of action in the country, this year's event brought both the "yellow-vest" movement and so-called "black blocks" of dark-clad protesters onto the streets.

Some smashed shop windows and threw projectiles at the more than 7,000 officers deployed.

Police responded with tear gas and water cannon, and arrested 380 people.

About 38 people were wounded, including 14 officers - one of whom was hit in the head with a paving stone."  BBC

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The French National Police said today that they will uphold the right of protest in the face of riotous demonstrations in the street.  I applaud their willingness to do so.

But, the damned rioters have now gone too far.  In the film above you can see them raising hell in front of one of my favorite lunch places in all the world, the "Relais de l'Entrcote" in the Rue Marbeuf in the 8th Arrondissment or it could be in from of the Montparnasse branch of the restaurant.

The sliced steak served with a lovely butter/garlic/shallot sauce is just marvelous. 

OK, Macron,  a national treasure is threatened.  Get your act together.  pl

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48119183

http://relaisentrecote.fr/

A few thoughts

1.  My gums have healed nicely.  I had NY Strip steak and eggs with grits for breakfast this day at Bob and Edith's Diner.  That was about $15.  A good day.The temperature in the back yard is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and my chipmunks have come back to the surface.

2.  Trump ought to consider trying to get GM to sell or lease Lordstown to General Dynamics as a place to build some of the Army's new family of vehicles.  The place employs 4500 people from all over that part of Ohio when at full capacity.

3.  A border closure will hut Mexico badly and might force Mexico to impede these migrants but the back-pressure from businesses in the US is going to be very tough to face up to.  Cutting off aid to Central America won't do much.  We have been funding CA economic development since 1960 with n0 visible effect.  The local elites just soak up the money.  That is unlikely to change.  The elites are glad to see these people leave.  They are a distraction from the process of stealing American money.  Since the Congress will not change the asylum law, we have no choice but to build a barrier system strong enough to keep a lot of them outside the country until the poss arrives.  The Democrats want open borders so that a flood of illegals can be voted eventually after they are disguised by things like motor voter laws.

4.  Trump should follow the advice he is getting and de-classify and disclose every single thing that Barr, Mueller and Rosenstein can manage to do.

5.  The Deep State villains in the US and the UK should be pursued and punished.  pl

French Canadian meat stuffing for fowl.

(Regimental Color of the VanDoos)
 

"Put all ingredients in large pan except crackers. Cook on medium heat until meat is well cooked, approximately one hour stirring occasionally, so it will not stick to bottom of pan. Add 1 ladle of turkey drippings.Simmer for 20 minutes and drain 3/4 of liquid from pan. Add rice (or crushed crackers or bread cubes instead of the rice) until the rest of liquid is absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste.Store the stuffing in refrigerator overnight to get more flavor and then stuff the turkey."  geniuskitchen

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This approximates the way my mother stuffed turkeys, capons, and other fowl.  My father particularly liked goose and guinea hen.  The giblets; heart, gizzard and liver as well as the neck meat should go into the mix after grinding.

This is really good stuff and is rather like the filling in a Canadian tourtiere.   Any that doesn't fit in the bird can be cooked in a casserole dish.  pl   

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/french-canadian-meat-turkey-stuffing-411915

Deplorable in Paris - by Fred

A journey in the cold snows of winter, to the land of my forebears. A light snow fell as I walk to the cathedral my ancestors prayed in before they embarked on their journey to a new life in the New World. A day much like this; at the end of one year, before the birth of the new. Long ago when the world was lit only by fire.

I wonder what they would make of the lights of ours? Electric lamps and guards before the door to the house of God. They would recognize what was within; the joy at the birth of the hope of salvation. Even now, in the winter of such contentment, the song and the joy remains the same.

Such was the day on my arrival in the City of Light that Christmas Day. A chill wind and soft snow with just enough warmth to threaten a thaw. No throngs of gawking tourists; just a long, thin, line of worshipers moving ever forward past the barriers and the watchful eyes of the CRS. Few seats were vacant. Only a few were filled with visitors from distant lands. A sermon in French and in Latin. My ancestors would recognize the temper of our times.

Such a different day, just two days later, at that other cathedral of the City, St. Sulpice. A paved road stretches forth from the Luxembourg Gardens to Place Saint Sulpice. 

Guards and tourists too at one end. At the other? No throngs at the door, no CRS, no guards visible at all. A few tourists, a few parishioners. Just we few, we happy few. Lost souls hearing the echo of the Word. The soft baa, baaing of the black sheep is heard within the cathedral, though most do not know their condition, nor how close damnation - or salvation, lies. For there at the edge of the Nave stood Mephistopheles with - a bag of cookies. His hand out stretched in temptation to his pupils. His eyes gleaming as he tempts in mockery of the communion.

How close to evil we come, so close, when an anger equal to that of pagan Achilles rises in our breast. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil, so goes the prayer. A softer passion moved me. I took a few short steps when at the edge of the transept I was brought to a stop by what I beheld at a nativity display. Just beyond the velvet rope, stretched out full length, giving coins and prayers to the baby Jesus, a woman of middling age. Tears ran down her faces; and down the faces of the French women who stood in amazement, in compassion. They crossed themselves and spoke soft prayers to God. Life played out before me in all its sadness and hope and glory. The third calendar day from the one we mark as the birth of our savior. A trinity indeed.

It was a short walk, though one long in contemplation, toward the Cluny and the Medieval Age. How did Goethe put it? Das Ewig Weibliche zieht uns hinan?  Long I stood in contemplation in front of her. “I’m with her” has such different meaning here.

Hours later a different longing, a secular one? A primal one? Growling out, from the stomach. A simple longing, for mothers cooking? Such a shift from food for thought, and the soul. I ventured out again, on a different road, one well paved, well traveled:


A few turns, a darkened street, a single lite. So much like that first night in France, in the century passed. 

Here it lies, just beyond....an adventure.

This must be the place, for romance, 

for, shall I say it, dinner?

Mmm, mm.  A full day, a full belly, satiated I journeyed forth again, to find just how late the hour.

Even the night owls had ventured home to bed. An example I was looking forward to follow. Just a few steps more, a minute or two only from this very cafe. It was then, so unsuspectingly, at the very threshold of the Inn that I was set upon so suddenly - by a fierce beast with black hair and white fangs. I thought can it be, the hound, the Hound of the Baskervilles!? Why here is the scoundrel:

Well, he is a hound. More Puppy of Paris than diabolical beast. Lemon (pronounced the French way) the Puppy of Paris. Well there is only one thing to do after being set upon by such as he. Uphold the tradition - of Americans abroad. I took him (with the owners permission)  into the courtyard for a round of fetch. It was then the urge struck me; and yes, I did the deed, just like so long ago with Lil' Yeller. I taught a young dog a new trick. There were some hastily concealed smiles, betrayed by flashing eyes, from the ladies behind the counter when they heard young Lemon sound forth the proper greeting to the master when he returns home: "Baarrrooooo!".  I wonder how that greeting sounds in French? At least in the future no one will mistake him for a puppy. I know, it was, in a word, Deplorable.

Thus concluded the most important events in the tale of a winter journey. 

Saturday in Paris ..... Observations by Fred

New Yorkers before me, LA moguls behind, to the right the road, to the left; Le Steak

Millennial children, children no more; narcissist still. The photo, then photos, then surfing.

The line wraps around, 20 people 20 minutes. One car towed. Almost worth a photo, that. Why a New Yorker thought it was worth a video I don’t know but I do know it was sunny and 78 in Catalina. Poor Roderick, he forgot the gin. Important information for those in LA to  transmit to their colleagues in Paris. How little did Alexander for see the evolution of his invention.

Black dress, white apron, formal service with a semi forced smile. I’ll receive a real one later tonight. Relais de l ’Entrecote. Paps frites, steak, walnut salad. That’s it. Well there is wine and desert. The cuvee I think. Yes the full bottle. This is Saturday night in Paris.

Dinner arrives: the steak, the frites, the wine. First scent, first sip. The aroma of spring, fresh berries with a hint of oak. Who needs tea and madeleines when one has frites?

First frite, first temptation, first memories. I close my eyes, yes, memory lives. It is 19Reagansomething. Toulon. Christmas Eve. Le Fleet Mediterranean is afire with lights. A celebration at anchor, at home. What time is it in Paris? In Washington they know, “The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!” They must be at dinner in Paris.

Thomas, Nolan, John, Fredrick. Shopping bags scented with perfume, stomachs agrowl.  An ally, a lighted menu. Five steps down, a door. Five words of French between us. Steak, frites, le adventure. The four Americans, after days of scrubbing, still slightly scented of 37 days of diesel and amine and sweat. Perfume de submarine.

She’s eight months if a day. She waves us to a table, the last table. Four menus appear. Needless for what do for young red blooded American men desire for dinner in a strange, strange land?  Like ravenous wolves we make short work of a fine meal and chew up a lovely language all the while; but in innocence, like the wolf.

Thomas glances at his watch. Mickey is pointing to 11. The hour approaches. The mousse and coffee are gone, as are the other guests. The bill arrives. Her smile has faded, her hair is damp, her belly full to bursting.

The balance paid yet still pockets empty. Duty beckons. Duty. Francs, who needs francs when duty calls? Babies need francs, to bath them, to cloth them, to love them.

Time has flow by in an instant. It is Saturday in Paris. A rumble grows from afar, from Place de Monge. Generation Indentiare, closer now, closer they come. “France for the French!” Is it “Hammer time” on Rue  de Ecoles? The volume is a roar as they march by my hotel window. The rain is soft. Tears? Tears from Joan perhaps, the Maid of Orleans? No. From Jesus, who weeps for he knows what is to come.

Life, life must be lived. The diner must be eaten. The New Yorkers and the Moguls; they must be endured. Such are our trials. Easy trials to pass when one in Paris on a Saturday.

The waitress arrives. I tell her to bring desert for the New Yorkers and put it on my tab. It is their first anniversary I explain. They are still newlyweds. Seven years in June as she gestures to herself. Her smile is genuine now.

The Moguls? In the back, with the expense account crowd. Lost in the ravages of superficiality, in Paris on a Saturday. Phones still in hand. The internet; strangling the mind of man as easily as nets in water strangle fish.

Click, click click. Heels strike the sidewalk as I turn left a Foucquet’s. It is only a short stroll on the Champs Elyse, towards the Etoile, watching the crowd. A glance at the watch, not Mickey’s hand this time. The time of the child is past. Onward I stroll. Past wealth, past crowds, past joy, past homelessness.

Questions arise: Which beggar to grant charity, which to deny? What duty beckons now?

What time is it in Paris? Don’t they know “The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!”? What time is it in Paris? In Washington it is a dark hour and the year is 20Neoconsomething.

US sanctions on Cuba interfere with my drinking!? (by CP)

Every summer the rise of temperatures rings in Cocktail season, and I stock up on suitable quality spirits for my bar. I have a preferred online vendor, which has a good selection and good prices, for some of my spirits.

♦ An unexpected obstacle

Alas, this year I experienced an unexpected obstacle: My Germany based vendor's Pay Pal didn't work, because of a bug, and when I asked what was up. I was told, in several calls, a story that I initially got totally wrong. What had happened was this:

In 2011 or so my vendor, and many other German online traders, received an E-Mail, in English, that demanded they drop all their Cuban products, or else lose their PayPal services. It was outright blackmail. Those who didn't, had their Payl Pal accounts frozen. What triggered this was apparently US government pressure on Pay Pal to enforce Helms Burton in Germany, on Germans.

As it went, my vendor then obtained an injunction and Pay Pal settled out of court, agreeing that Pay Pal lifts the freeze of the vendor's account while the vendor sells products from Cuba by other ways (bypassing US entities).

Normally, about US sanctions on Cuba I couldn't care less about. If you fools choose to deprive yourself of quality Cuban rum and cigars, just because you can't get over the Bay of Pigs, or the continued existence of Communism in your neighbourhood - it's your loss, not mine, and if you insist on silly ideas like having Helms-Burton, your hassle, not mine. Or so I thought, and with some reason.

New Athenaeum Post

Cajun Mardi Gras

http://turcopolier.typepad.com/the_athenaeum/2013/02/cajun-mardi-gras.html

Still Compiling Readers' Recipes on The Athenaeum...

FYI: "A Virtual Feast" over on The Athenaeum is still soliciting SST/TA readers' favorite recipes.  Any & all food prep comments welcome!  

BTW, I've already tried three of these recipes out- Yellow Dog's Pecan Pie, B.D. Warbucks' Red Pepper Soup, & Medicine Man's Peanut Soup.  All were excellent.  http://turcopolier.typepad.com/the_athenaeum/2011/12/a-virtual-feast.html

-Maureen Lang

Tourtieres a Noel

This savory meat pie is easy to make and wondrous at midnight at a party on a cold winter's night.  It is even better warmed up the next day.  Babak, you can make this with any kind of meat.  pl

http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/recipes/tourtiere-quebec-meat-pie/

Rappahannock Oysters

 
I bought a couple dozen of the "Olde Salts" today, took them home and shucked them.  We had them tonight with home made horseradish sauce, lovely.  The two young fellows selling them are the owners of the place.  I have no commercial affiliation with their company.  pl

http://www.rroysters.com/