Ann Mah's newsletter / Nov 2018
November 2018 newsletter
Hello!
I think I ate about 20 pounds of queso during my brief trip to Austin last month, but as the saying goes, what happens in Texas, stays in Texas. (That's how the saying goes, right? :) Just as I was feeling sad about leaving the processed cheese behind, I discovered a new cookbook, Queso!, which is devoted exclusively to... queso! What kismet! The book offers 50 regional recipes for the beloved chile-cheese dip, including my personal fave from Torchy's Tacos. I can't wait to try it.
Aside from eating Tex-Mex, I enjoyed exploring Austin's parks and bookstores, especially the legendary indie BookPeople, where I was thrilled to sign copies of The Lost Vintage. I also drank the best margarita of my life at the traditional Mexcian restaurant, El Naranjo, and ate a wonderful farewell breakfast of chalupas and queso at Rosita's Al Pastor. I'm not sure if breakfast queso is a thing, but it is now!
Here's what else I've been up to...
What I've been eating
–Can you fall in love with a cookbook? That's how I feel about Everyday Dorie, the latest volume from Dorie Greenspan. The recipes are bright and inventive, exciting enough for company, but easy enough for everyday. So far I've made an herbed ricotta spread, breaded chicken milanese with a crunchy salad, a lower east side brunch tart filled with smoked salmon, dill, and capers, and oven-charred tomato-stuffed peppers twice. I love this book and look forward to cooking from it more, and more, and more!
–Did you know that the Instant Pot makes delicious and fast coq au vin? It does and I was delighted to share my recipe with Food52, along with some French pressure cooking tips.
–Now that fall weather is here (hooray!) I have rediscovered a favorite old cookbook, The Four Seasons of Pasta. I'm especially loving the heartier recipes, like pasta with chickpeas, garlic, and escarole, or pasta and beans with fresh fennel and tomato.
–Sometimes all you want for dinner is cheese on toast. This recipe for Welsh rarebit (rabbit?) is the best. From the ever thorough and precise Felicity Cloake, of course.
What I've been reading
–Last summer I ate at a restaurant in London that felt like a home I never knew existed. It's called Darjeeling Express and I was honored to share owner Asma Khan's story in this article for New York Times Travel.
–I'm fascinated by the cheating scandal that happened at the final exam of the Court of Master Sommeliers.
–I discussed my love of Burgundy (region + wine) with the lovely Miranda Mills of the Tea and Tattle podcast.
–Planning a trip to Paris? Here are my favorite neighborhood spots to eat, shop, and hang out.
–Here's a fun Washington Post article about all the Instant Pot cookbooks coming out this fall, and I'm so happy Instantly French was included. I'm also feeling extremely thrifty with my single pot :) For more pressure cooking advice, check out the transcript of the live chat I did with Wash Post's food folks last week.
–Finally, I am one hundred percent guilty of over-using exclamation points in my email correspondence (exhibit A: this newsletter). But this video from the WSJ might get me to stop. Maybe. !!!
A bientôt!
There are only two weeks left until Thanksgiving! Have you started your countdown clock yet? I'm thinking about making Everyday Dorie's triple-layer parsnip and cranberry cake. It has a cream cheese frosting that looks and sounds sumptuous. Whatever may be on your menu, I hope it's delicious and that your holiday is festive and relaxing. See you next month!
Amitiés,
Ann