New Gear Report

Surfas is a dangerous place for me. Maybe someone needs to step in and conduct an intervention.

Here’s the loot inventory of odds, ends and awesomeness from today’s raid:

  • Truffle salt
  • Cast iron griddle/grill (2 sides, covers 2 burners on stove)
  • Stainless steel tongs
  • Two round egg rings
  • 1 oz. ladle
  • Heavy-duty meat thermometer
  • Imported British sausages (they call them “bangers” heh-heh)
  • A wad of pre-made pizza dough
  • Organic imported olive oil

The griddle/grill is seasoning as I write this, per the instructions in one of my first posts here. I can’t wait to give that bad boy a lifetime of kick-assery. As for those bangers…we may just have to whip up one of those truly British delicacies – Toad in the Hole. Not as gnarly as it sounds. My kid loves it. In fact, I’ll wager it will be one of the best (and easiest) dishes of mine you’ve ever tried. Keep watch for it.

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Jamie Oliver: Ted Prize Winner 2010

Not a recipe in this post, but I wanted to share this. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver gives an urgent plea to address the dietary diseases that are affecting millions, driving 10% of our healthcare costs (set to double to 20% in 10 years). Listen to this lecture, and be amazed, as I was.

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New Foodie Blog

My friend Veronika has started her own food blog to share all the wonderful things that she makes in her kitchen. You may remember Veronika from this post. Let’s hope she adds some of her Mom’s awesome Bulgarian recipes as well. Pay her a visit and let her know the Gentleman’s Kitchen sent you.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Spending Valentine’s Day weekend with my daughter. Making some simple treats that she loves. Started with some plug & play Pillsbury cookies. This morning, Cupid brought her a little heart-shaped box of chocolates, and Daddy made chocolate pancakes. Just add a couple spoonfuls of Hershey’s cocoa powder to your regular pancake mix. Don’t forget to dust with a little powdered sugar when serving.

Going to collapse in a chocolate coma heap and figure out something for dinner that’s relatively healthy to offset the decadence.

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Jesus, Deliver Us From Hunger

Dominos PizzaSometimes I don’t feel like cooking squat. Nope, sometimes I want to just click a button and have something brought to me. This week is “back to work” week for many folks. Those relaxing days when you could plan out meals, research ingredients, take your time preparing something, write shit for your blog – those have given way to the crazed crunch days that come with the digital media industry. Thus I came home last night around 8PM, looked at the refrigerator full of ingredients, and said, “Screw it – I’m getting Domino’s.”

Dominos Pizza isn’t the best pizza by a long shot. I order from them partly because they have the easiest system. I’ve always said, “never underestimate the collective buying power of lazy Americans”, and they seem to have heeded my words and built a web-based ordering system that blows away other online food delivery. It’s all Flash-based, streamlined and gives you a live play-by-play of the process of your order, from prep to delivery. Another reason I keep coming back is they have a great online deal: two large pizzas and a 2 liter drink for under $24. This means I can eat for the next three days for very little money and a few clicks. But the real reason I order from them is they have a cook named Jesus. That’s right, you filthy pagans – JESUS is back. And he’s kicking ass at Dominos.

When I place my order, the online tracker dutifully tells me “Jesus began preparing your order at 8:13PM.” – and I get a sense of great inner peace. Jesus doesn’t skimp on the toppings. Believe me – Jesus knows a thing or two about bread. He gets the crust just like I like it – thin and well-done. Like a giant Communion wafer. Jesus doesn’t goof around in the kitchen either – he hustles that order right out the door. I tip his apostle Paolo well. Consider it a double-tithe at 20%.

Just like Matthew 14: 13-21, Jesus rocks the house with a ton of food and very little up-front investment. It’s a freaking miracle.

 

Cooking With Kids

Happy kid.Standing rule: kids get to lick the beaters. Related rule: make sure you unplug the mixer and remove the beaters first. She would have got the spatula too, but Daddy was using it as an air microphone while rocking out to Def Leppard.

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Introducing the Gentleman’s Kitchen

Welcome to the new site. In the articles to follow, I will be sharing recipes, techniques, tips and recommending equipment for bachelors everywhere who want to elevate their game in the kitchen. I will be writing on a number of topics as we go along. It’s not just all about me, though. Feel free to comment, ping me on Twitter, ask questions and share your own experiences.