The holidays, the holidays, the holidays. I have been driven to distraction by the holidays and all that they entail, which is why my postings have been rather irregular of late. But you are always on my mind, and there are many exciting things coming in 2008. I wish you all the best for this holiday season and for the New Year!
Cheese of the Week: The Cheese Log
“Nothing says holidays like a cheese log.”– Ellen DeGeneres
The cheese log. It’s a delicious smush of spreadable “cheese”, usually a mix of cheddar, swiss, blue or – gasp! – Velveeta. Add some cream cheese and then, really, anything your heart desires and what you have is a personal culinary expression of cheesy goodness. The cheese log (also known as” The Cheese Ball”) was probably the post-war hip hostess dish of the 1950’s and the simplicity and deliciousness of this creation spread across America like wildfire. Your grandma always put out a good, basic, honest one rolled in chopped walnuts. Your mom upped the ante and makes sure hers is swirled with port wine and rolled in gourmet mixed roasted nuts. Your sister Mary, the competitive one, goes all out and adds goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, cornichon pickles or whatever the trendy ingredient of the day is, all rolled in fresh herbs and toasted pine nuts. The cheese log is always best served with Triscuits or Ritz crackers, because that’s what folks really like and somehow it just doesn’t seem right to serve it any other way. So show some love and bring a cheese log to a party near you!
*** Shameless Plug Alert! *** Shameless Plug Alert! ***Jim Malone
Welcome to “Shameless Plug Alert”, the section of my blog where I serve up a great big sloppy slice of love to my creative friends. This week’s artist: Jim Malone.
Jim Malone recently performed an acoustic gig to support his new CD “Malone Alone”. His style is a mix of influences ranging from Dylan, Neil Young, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Otis Redding, Elvis Costello, Wilco, or as he himself says, “AM Radio in the Seventies” to name a few. He’s a little bit country and a little bit rock & roll. A little blues and a little soul. Shake it all up and what you have is a sound that is uniquely Malone.
On past CDs his compelling songs covered themes ranging from tortured love and lust, loneliness, rage and obsession all set against rocking rhythms. However the songs on his new CD represent a new phase for Malone – still edgy but now one about change and the passage of time, settling down, touching base and finding peace.
All of the tunes are winners. My favorites include “I’m Gonna Build a Log Cabin” which quotes an old traditional Appalachian folk song set against an electronic beat. “Autobiography” is a peppy, pop-infused letter to old lovers & friends. “It Rolls Like Rain” makes you want to hop in your car with a pal, crank it up and sing at the top of your lungs. “Run to Another” breaks your heart with its regret told with gorgeous simplicity.
Can you tell I’m a big fan? I think he’s one of the best songwriters out there. “Malone Alone” is available for song samples and download via his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/malonealone
I'm a born & bred Northern New Jersey-ite. A true Yankee according to my southern friends. I know more about what a good Veal Parmigiano should taste like than good BBQ. I don't know from 'Q. But I do know good food and what they’re smoking up over at Fette Sau is some good eats.
Last weekend Gastro Chic, Cheese Master Martin, The Design Maven & I trekked out to Williamsburg to the newly famous pork palace for a long overdue meeting of the minds. It was my third visit and I have been dreaming – craving – the smoked and tender Berkshire pork in its many forms.
This is a no-frills spot; Fette Sau is in a converted auto mechanics shop. It has a utilitarian feel to it, with cement floors and walls and long picnic tables. It’s also quirky – the beer pulls at the bar are made of knives and meat cleavers. The grouting for the white subway tiles around the bar is blood red. There are paintings of different cuts of meat on the walls. There is a video of a burning log playing on the flat screen TV. There is a giant smoker behind the counter. And the smell of delicious BBQ smacks you in the face when you open the door and it permeates every nook and cranny of the place.
We came here for the meat, and meat is what we got. It’s all good as far as I’m concerned, but this time I went straight for the fall off the bone pork ribs and smoked beef cheeks. They both had a sweet and peppery rub and were cooked to tender perfection (sauce here is served on the side). I have to say the side dishes here are an afterthought and were completely underwhelming, except for an order of Gus’ crunchy half sour pickles, which provided the perfect briny foil to the succulent smokiness. We also came for the bourbon. Fette Sau offers a wide selection of artisinal bourbons and has recently begun offering bourbon “flights” to help expand one’s bourbon appreciation, which I appreciate!
The following morning I opened my purse and was greeted with a blast of smoky memory, which made me laugh out loud and remember that I had some leftover ribs in the fridge to eat for dinner. Would I make the trek again? You betcha, just say the word.