Wednesday, June 29, 2011

HERRING PAIRING



"HOW CAN A SINGLE FOOD ITEM MAKE ME SO HAPPY?", I THOUGHT AS I SLID ANOTHER HERRING DOWN MY GULLET AND WASHED IT DOWN WITH CHILLED POTATO VODKA, SERVED WITH A CRACK OF BLACK PEPPER. (NICE TOUCH, WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT?) THANKS TO RUSS AND DAUGHTERS AND ASTOR LIQUORS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A CELEBRATION OF OILY, FATTY, FISHY DELIGHTS.

 APRIL BLOOMFIELD NAILS IT


THANKS MARK AND NIKI




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

SUMMER TIME EATS

GRANTED, FALL IS THE SEASON I LOVE THE MOST: HUNTING SEASON STARTS, THE STRIPERS START TO BLITZ OFF MONTAUK, AND I BUST OUT MY PREFERRED SEASONAL WARDROBE. BUT, THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THE BOUNTY AND VARIETY OF THE SUMMER FOOD EXPERIENCE. (COLD BOTTLES OF ROSE INCLUDED.)

BERRY GALETTE
 FRENCH RADISHES W/ BUTTER AND SEA SALT
 (ROSE IN BACKGROUND)
 HERB STUFFED ROTISSERIE CHICKENS 

Friday, June 24, 2011

AIRSTREAM + EDDIE BAUER


I HAD A 1971 AIRSTREAM SAFARI AND LIVED IN IT AT WILLIAM BROWN FARM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS OR SO BEFORE WE HAD ANY TYPE OF HOUSE OR CABIN.
IT WAS LIKE (AS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE) LIVING ON A BOAT. ITS ALUMINUM SKIN WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THE INTERIOR WAS EFFICIENT AND WELL DESIGNED. UNFORTUNATELY THE MICE TOOK UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AFTER WE BUILT THE HOUSE AND I SOLD IT TO MY FRIEND KEN. (WHO NEEDED A SEASONAL DWELLING FOR FLY FISHING.) I HAVE TO SAY THERE ARE TIMES I REALLY MISS IT. I STILL FANTASIZE ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER AND THIS EDDIE BAUER COLLABORATION MAY BE JUST THE TICKET.


MY 1971 SAFARI,
SET UP FOR A SUMMER'S EVENING OF ENTERTAINING.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

SUMMER STYLE REDUX


I PICKED UP A NEW PAIR OF WHITE BUCKS FROM THE BASS SIGNATURE LINE. I LIKE THEM. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, A GOOD SHAPE AND NOT A BIG INVESTMENT. THE LACES THEY CAME WITH LACKED A LOT TO BE DESIRED THOUGH. THEY LOOKED MORE LIKE LACES FOR YOUR TRAINERS RATHER THAN A DRESS SHOE AND THEY DID NOT STAY TIED. I NATURALLY TURNED TO MY FAVORITE LACE-THE CORDO HYDE. IT TOOK A BIT OF LOOKING BUT I FOUND A WHITE PAIR. (HINT: THINK GOLF SHOE)


NEXT CAME THE THE WANT OF A CLASSIC BLUE BLAZER. (THANKS FREE AND EASY VOL 6) I KNEW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE THAT THE BROOKS BROTHERS BOYS SIZE 20 FITS ME A LA BLACK FLEECE. SO, A RECENT STOP AT THE BROOKS BROTHERS OUTLET TURNED THIS UP. THOUGH I REALLY DID LIKE THE ORIGINAL BUTTONS THEY PROVED TO HAVE A BIT TOO MUCH BLING AND I CHANGED THEM FOR A FLAT SOLID BRASS VERSION.


FINALLY, I DITCHED THE HEAVY OYSTER BRACELET ON THE ROLEX SUB FOR THIS REGIMENT RIBBON WATCH STRAP FROM SMART TURNOUT.





Monday, June 20, 2011

TETE A TETE

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR TO COOK OFF THE HEADS AND OFFAL OF LAST YEARS PIGS AND MAKE LIVERWURST.
HEADS COME TO BOIL
LIVERS, HEARTS, KIDNEYS
KEEP IT SIMPLE: 
LIVERWURST ON WHITE TOAST 
WITH LOCAL SPRING ONION
AND MUSTARD
(HIGH LIFE IN THE BACKGROUND)



Friday, June 17, 2011

(MAJOR) HEAD TO TAIL EATING

THIS BEAUTY (THAT I KEPT) WILL BE TURNED INTO A FEW (TO SAY THE LEAST) TASTY MEALS. (THE BELLY SAUTEED WITH OLIVE OIL, TARRAGON AND A SQUEEZE OF LEMON WAS UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS.) THE HEAD WAS HUGE ON THIS FISH AND SEEMED THE PERFECT BODY PART TO TURN INTO STOCK. (IF I COULD FIT IT IN THE POT)

FISH STOCK: 

ONE GIANT STRIPER HEAD
ONION
SHALLOT
THYME
BAY LEAF
PEPPERCORN
PARSLEY
CARROT 
CELERY
(NOT SHOWN)
1/3 CUP WHITE WINE 
BUTTER
4 QUARTS WATER


FIRST THE VEG AND HERBS ARE SWEATED IN THE POT WITH THE BUTTER.
SECOND YOU ADD THE HEAD (OR WHAT EVER FISH PARTS YOU HAVE) ON TOP OF THE BED OF VEG AND HERBS. NEXT ADD THE WINE, THEN THE WATER. BRING THE WHOLE MESS TO A BOIL AND TURN DOWN TO A SIMMER FOR ABOUT 30 MIN (SKIMMING THE TOP WHEN NEEDED) 
AFTER THE 30 MIN STRAIN IT ALL THRU A FINE SEIVE AND STORE IN FRIDGE OR FREEZE.









Thursday, June 16, 2011

ON THE BOAT

I GOT A CALL FROM MY FRIEND BRYAN YESTERDAY TO COME OUT ON HIS BOAT THAT IS SLIPPED IN QUEENS (HE IS A FISHING GUIDE, ONE OF HIS MANY TALENTS) HE SAID THE BUNKER WERE IN AND SO WERE THE MONSTER STRIPED BASS AND BLUEFISH THAT GORGE ON THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR. BRYAN MENTIONED HE CAUGHT A 50 POUND STRIPER EARLIER IN THE WEEK BUT, THERE WERE NO PROMISES, AS THIS IS OFTEN FICKLE BUSINESS.
OK, I SAID I'LL BRING THE BEER.

FANTASY HOUSE BOAT
 PIC SUCKS BUT THIS IS A MASSIVE SCHOOL OF BUNKER
 OUR BAITS:BUNKER
 THE ROCKAWAYS (QUEENS) IN THE BACKGROUND
P.S. THIS IS A BIG F'ING NET
BIG BLUEFISH ARRIVED IN THE EARLY EVENING
 ONE FOR THE POT