Brassicas, Souffl�s & Okra: Single Subject Cookbooks
Remember when people hated broccoli? And Brussels sprouts? And kale and collard greens were something only Southerners ate, but that was about it. Happily the brassicas which also include bok choy, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, mizuna and tatsoi are in vogue. But if you only know a few ways to cook those glorious cruciferous greens, you should check out this book. The recipes sound like dishes you�d find on a trendy menu� Kimchi Pancakes, Moroccan Turnip and Chickpea Braise, Smoky Kale Salad with Toasted Almonds and Eggs. While it's a shame this book didn't come out in the Fall, that is my only quibble with it.
The French Cook: Souffl�sI love souffl�s. I just need the encouragement and reminder to make them more frequently. That is the role of Greg Patent aka The Baking Wizard, who offers up sound advice regarding the importance of separating whites and yolks, the freshness of eggs, the use of salt and sugar and the most crucial question of all, when are the whites beaten enough? As a chronic overbeater, this is something I desperately need to learn. From savory to sweet to frozen, there are recipes for 2, 4-6 and 8-10 so for just about any occasion. If you�ve only ever had a cheese or chocolate souffl�, try your hand at the Spinach and Mushroom Souffl�, Fresh Apricot and St. Germain Souffl� or Meyer Lemon Souffl�.
Okra: A Savor the SouthA whole cookbook on okra? Yes! This book takes on a vegetable that some love and others don�t. But seasoned chef and all around charmer, Virginia Willis can do magic with okra, frying it crisp, turning it into gumbo and also shares African, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Indian recipes for this odd vegetable. This book is a must for okra lovers, but also those, like me who don�t have a clue how to prepare it. I bought some okra just the other day and plan on making the West African Chicken Stew with Okra and Peanuts as well as the Limpin� Susan, with rice, okra and bacon. When tomatoes are in season I want to try the Old School Okra and Tomatoes.
Disclaimer: These book were provided to me as review copies. This post includes Amazon affiliate links.
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Off The Grid Fort Mason, 2014
So what�s new this year? There is no theme as there has been in some previous years, and the food is a little more approachable, perhaps a little less adventurous. But it�s still pretty darn delicious. Also this year? A DJ before and after the live music begins, arcade style games and extended hours (5-11pm). Here�s an inside tip, if you can�t deal with crowds, arrive between 5 and 6:30 pm before it gets too jam-packed.
I got a chance to check out a number of the new vendors and some of the new food from returning vendors. Here are some my top picks:
Nora Spanish Cuisine featured a savory paella with pancetta, bacon and chicken. It's a great dish for sharing.
This is just a sample of the shrimp taco done nacho style from The Taco Guys. Plump juicy perfectly cooked spicy shrimp are offset by cool and creamy avocado. If the taco tastes like the nachos, I�m in!
From Il Pipila, Guadalupe Guerrero�s nopales sope was bright a fresh tasting, very herbal and earthy. This is a specialty from Guanajuato, by the way.
From Il Pipila, Guadalupe Guerrero�s nopales sope was bright a fresh tasting, very herbal and earthy. This is a specialty from Guanajuato, by the way.
Drewski�s fried macaroni and cheese bacon balls were ooey gooey comfort food, reimagined.
While sadly the Hapa SF truck has ceased operation, Jeepney Guy�s deep fried kettle pork is destined to become a new classic. It�s basically a riff on Filipino lechon.
I�m a big fan of Casey�s Pizza. While normally I would never choose pepperoni, Casey�s is made by Zoe�s Meats in Petaluma and is outstanding. It's spicy and dry and makes this pizza something special.
New this year is a roaming beer cart from Magnolia. I recommend the Oysterhead Stout.
The Boneyard is offering Texas style brisket and pulled pork. I wrote about The Boneyard for 7x7 last year.
Looking for something sweet to nibble on while waiting for your turn at skeeball or shuffleboard? You might want to try some Sugar and Spun cotton candy in flavors such as li hing or matcha green tea. A little too sweet for me!
Another sweet treat that�s messy but not a bad choice if you�re willing to share, is the Johnny Doughnuts version of a Cronut, the CroDo with layers of flaky dough and a pastry cream filling. Next time I think I�ll try the lime mascarpone bismark�.
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