The Gift of Culinary Growth

I am reluctant to call this a guide for the Foodie giftee.  These are gifts for the cooking enthusiast who aspire to grow.  

1.  Brooklyn based illustrator Claudia Pearson craftily uses color in her depictions of produce and cooking techniques.  Her etsy shop is filled with prints, books, and towels that are perfect to adorn a fledgling's kitchen and offer inspiration.

2.  This cheap easy kit is great for apartment brewing.  Alternatively, this and this set are ideal for starting a whole home-brew kitchen.  The second option even includes a keg!

3.  Shun knives are excellently balanced and lighter than European cutlery.  The 6" chef knife is perfect for smaller handed recipients for use of cutting most vegetables and fruits.

4.  The gift of Meat.  4lbs of Bratwurst.  Noms.

5.  Grow Your Own Organic Oyster Mushroom kit.  The perfect starter to pique their interest in mycology. 

-Jon

Gift Guide: Isle of Man

I am an enigma of a man.  I have been accused of being a nature-kind-of-guy and have been known to enjoy the occasional romp in the wilderness.  I also enjoy cleanliness, order, and ritual-esque bathing habits.  I was raised by a self-proclaimed Mountain Man named Hank who idolized John Wayne and owns a muzzle-loading rifle/powder horn.  I am a self-proclaimed lover of cats and idolize Louise Bourgeois.  I was a hair away from being an Eagle scout and enjoy sewing, knitting and lace-making.  From this enigmatic background I have sourced a collection of objects that allows me to enjoy the wild and wonderful beauty of nature while equally enjoying the finer aspects of life such as simple/beautiful design, cleanliness, and good fashion sense.  Please pass these treasures along to the man in your life.  Manly list for Manly folk.

1. This knapsack will adorn his back in style for his next day hike with plenty of pockets for compass, snacks, water and a change of clothes.  Constructed from waxed cotton canvas this pack will stand the test of time.

2.  The telnyashka is a symbol of masculine pride and the signature garment of the Russian Naval Force.  This quadruple knit sweater will keep the wearer warm into sub-zero temperatures.

3. Best Made... They are not boasting.  Buy anything from their website.  It is simple, beautiful and cool as Hell.  No one could be disappointed with their product.  Let he fell his next tree with "Compassion"(look at the axe handle).

4. This Black Peppercorn body wash from Molton Brown of London is spicy, musky and will invigorate the recipient instilling him with confidence or at least make him smell F...ing amazing.

5. Salt made from human tears (shed in Anger).  Any foodie would get a kick out of this salt brought to you by the irreverent and humorous London based Hoxton Street Monster Supplies.

6. "For men & women of distinction."  Says it all.  If I could grow a beard of substance this would so be in my medicine cupboard.

-Jonathan

Christmas Caramels

So, We have been absent.  This is likely because we have had nothing good to say.  Grace and I were discussing this last night while driving around nice neighborhoods and looking at the Christmas lights.  This year past has been a bad one.  Not that we didn't do some awesome things but I think we crossed the invisible and ambiguous line between comfort and complacency.  We have grown too comfortable.  So if I were the kind to make resolutions I would resolve to live more intentionally in 2013.  I think I just might yet do that. 

Christmas time is here.  I cannot adequately stress how much Grace and I love Christmas.  Oh yes, we love the Christmas Magic.  It is the season for some of the best cocktails and brews.  People pretend to be generous and loving for one month of the year.  And you get to bring a living tree into your house for a month... or two.  You can imagine our annoyance when we walked out of our bedroom to find our Christmas tree lying on its side in our living room with our cats pawing ornaments around the pine needle stricken floor.  I screwed the tree to the floor but we did lose a few ornaments to the cats' mischief.   

In an attempt to save on money and give the gift of our labor we decided to make caramels for coworkers and friends this Christmas.  I love caramels and wanted to take on the challenge of monitoring the thermometer to ensure proper temperature to make soft, sweet delights and not hard, brittle teeth enemies.  The first time Grace and I tried it was an overwhelming success... Until the "caramel" cooled and we were left with the latter of the two.  They tasted delicious but were also the hardness of slate.  The second attempt we got closer to our goal.  Soft caramels but no depth of flavor resulting from the longer boil time.  Attempt three is tonight so wish us luck.  I think we can do it.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

I mentioned last week how Grace and I seriously dislike the heat and therefore the season which is Summer.  Every Wednesday, from now until the Autumnal Equinox, I will be posting my favorite coping mechanisms for the heat, sweat, and weather. 

This week it is ICE!  But not just any ice.  As a great imbiber of mixed adult beverages I have had some experience with different molds and trays for ice.  I love my Perfect Cube silicon tray but I must say that my favorite is a spherical mold made by Muji.

These smooth spheres of ice will not only look amazing in your next Gin and Tonic -or- Whiskey but they are actually better prepared than their 6-sided counterparts to more efficiently cool your beverage.  Reason being, A sphere has the least amount of surface area compared to its inner volume of any geometric shape.  So you can sip on your tipple knowing that you’re not drinking a watered down libation.  I got these for Christmas from my mother-in-law, by suggestion of Grace.  I love the simple, efficient Japanese design and the elegance of a sphere dancing happily in my beverages.

$11.75 /mold

Stay Cool

-Jon

Amateur

-Jon

Diatribes and Putt-Putt (not diatribes on Putt-Putt)

Um, It's summer.  Where did that come from.  It is almost JULY!  I know we've been suffering sporadic 80-90 degree days since March but we are officially in the season loved by so many. 

Grace and I however are cold weather animals, much like bears..  So we quite prefer the fall and spring to the dastardly months that comprise summer, then we hibernate through most of winter.  The point is I am ecstatic that the earth continues on its dance around the solar body we call the sun, revolving so that our hemisphere begins to angle in a way that the days shorten and we feel cooler climes.  It is poetic that summer begins on the longest day of the year knowing that each day after will be shorter and shorter.  When can I wear a sweater again?

Well we celebrated the first full day of summer yesterday by meeting our friends Ashley and Jason for some sushi and beers and afterward some Mini-Golf.  Mini-Golf was a blast except for the mid-aged couple (probably having an affair) who were playing a round in front of us who were playing around in front of us if you catch my drift.  We would walk up to the tee of the hole they were on and they would be making out on the green.  I fully support intimacy, but not on a Mini-Golf course at Magic Mountain in Polaris.  I did tell Grace that if I were ever to cheat on her I would take my date to Magic Mountain. HA.

-Jon

Bandito Photo

Well, we have spent the past month re-branding our photography side project.  We finally got tired of people asking Plim-what?  It has been exhausting but very rewarding.  New website is up and running and we booked a wedding for next year.  Yay!

-Jon

Chevron Test

Matris Die

Maybe it is my Catholic guilt but every time Mother's day rolls around I can't help but feel like a terrible son.  I managed to call my mother and step-mother so that is a step I guess.  Anyway, Happy Happy to all you bearers of children out there.  We wouldn't be here without you.  Special shout out to my mater.  Happy Mothers Day Mom.

-Jon

They're just chillin'

While researching Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour I stumbled across a blog featuring this gem of a picture of Richard Farina and the sisters Baez, Joan and Mimi. 

This makes me want to learn how to play the dulcimer.  And wear striped tank tops.  That will be my summer look, striped tank tops and mountain dulcimer. 

-Jon

Will Work For Food (& Beer)

Grace's co-teacher Chelsea asked her the other day if we would be willing to do some photography work for her husband Cliff, a Columbus restauranteur.  Simply, we would photograph some of his Filet Mignon Sliders which were being featured in a local magazine in exchange for the sliders themselves.

Let me just say, I am fully behind the exchanging of food for services.  I think we need to revert to a method of bartering or trading for things we need/want.  Any restaurants out there need their food photographed?  Feed me, I'll be there.

Anyway, after twenty-odd minutes of work, Grace and I kicked back and tucked into the sliders and beer provided for us.  I would like you to consider the absurdity of sitting alone in a restaurant's banquet room adjacent to the bar eating free sliders and beer.  When the waitress came in with our second beer she poked her head in and asked if she was in the right place.  It was like sitting at the kids' table or maybe more accurately at a servants' table out of sight.

As we were polishing off the sliders, Chelsea stopped in for a beer and Cliff joined us with another round and his appetizer sampler.  Driving home Grace and I belted out some Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris on the freeway.  Perfectly strange and wonderful night. 

-Jon

Papa's got a brand new...

...promotion!  Just move on up!  You know what that means for tonight, little bit of James, little bit of Curtis, some martinis and dancing.

Jam! "This week we have the Pope... and lasst, next week we have the Reverend Al Sharpton."
Oh, that always makes me happy.

I feel good, get up off of that thing.

Hasta Luego

-Jon

What We Are Eating: Fish Odyssey 2012

Grace and I have been hitting the fish counter at the Market District hard (this past week some Salmon and Mussels).  The salmon I grilled simply with fleur de sel and topped with fresh lemon.  The mussels I tossed on the grill for a couple minutes and then served them sprinkled with chopped parsley in a soup of beer (I used a light citrusy IPA from Epic), sauteed shallot and garlic, and lemon juice.  Side salad of spinach with homemade balsamic Romano dressing and a barley salad (modified from Martha) with lemon Dijon dressing accompanied. 

-Jon

Geiger's Blood

Growing up I had a Hawaiian Shaved Ice stand in my neighborhood.  The blend of saccharine syrup and shaved ice was intoxicatingly delightful to a young man.  One of my favorite flavors was Tiger's Blood, a combination of coconut and cherry.  As a slightly older man I chose to create an actually intoxicating delight based on my childhood favorite.  And Geiger substitutes Tiger so well in the title.

Muddled lime and maraschino cherry, mixed with ice, rum, maraschino syrup, and coconut milk make a sweet refreshing drink perfect to sip on vacation, preferably with an umbrella, or with spicy cuisine such as Thai.  For an extra treat, serve it over shaved or crushed Ice.

-Jon

Dance this mess around

Giz has been asking me to make him a berry pie since god was a boy. I still haven't come through, but I decided yesterday to keep him at bay with a berry tart until I am in pie making spirits.

I whipped up a recipe of Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee (which is easy despite its fussy French name), pressed it in the tart pan and baked it for 15 minutes. Then, I spread a thin layer of lemon curd on top of the shell. I topped that with a mix of blackberries and blueberries which I then brushed with a lemon simple syrup (boil equal parts sugar and water with the zest of one lemon). Because I was feeling especially nice, I also made some fresh whipped cream as a topper. 

Jon was so jazzed that he started dancing in to the living room with his piece of tart. The tart danced right off the plate.

 

-Grace

(Not so Root)Beer Floats

A few years ago Grace and I went to a private beer tasting for employees of the company I work for.  The highlight was a beer float made with Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout.  When we got home we took it to the next level.  We used Dragon's Milk, our favorite bourbon barrel aged stout from New Holland Brewing.  Since then we have pushed the envelope and tried many different beers.  Last night we tried two of our (other) favorites.  We each had a Russian Imperial Stout, Grace had Thirsty Dog's Siberian Night and I had North Coast's Old Rasputin.  They both complement a vanilla ice cream well because of their high alcohol and deep sweet flavors.

-Jon

Colombian Food Truck

Well Grace and I decided not to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the masses this year by getting an adequate Mexican lager and sticking a lime in it.  We rebelled against the Holiday all together by getting some Columbus Brewing Company IPA from our local carry-out.  For food we went south of the south of the border by going to the Colombian Food truck parked in the carry-out's parking lot.  They have a mean spicy aji sauce!  To go with their exceptional condiment we each got an arepa, a baleada, and I polished off the meal with an asada taco.  Simple and wonderful.

The plantains on the other hand... not so good.

-Jon

Don't lose your head

I filled up a pint glass with milk and settled down to eat dinner, when my spouse chimes in (exasperatedly):

"Please don't use the pint glasses for milk again. It takes ten washes before the glass will form a proper head again."

Four letters: N-A-R-C

-Grace

Man of Leisure

Well, Giz decided to use up all that extra vacation time and treat himself to a staycation this week. It was almost as much of a treat for me as it was for him. I came home from work every night to dinner on the table, and the apartment was spotless. He even did the laundry (and he never does the laundry).

Believe it or not, that wasn't even the best part. The best part was that we got to spend a whole weekend AT HOME with NOTHING TO DO. The last time we had a weekend off together without having to travel was well over a year ago.

We did lots of antiquing, movie watching, and lunch dating. It was marvelous. We also went out for a date to our favorite tea house, Zen Cha, for some bubble teas. I'm kind of wishing we could make this house-husband thing a permanent gig.

-Grace

"That's the stuff you got to watch" -Levon Helm

Due to Levon Helm's extensive and varied career as a member of the Band, a Grammy winning musician and all-around-good-guy I cannot eulogize him half as well as his friends, colleagues, and family can.  That being said, Grace and I will mourn the loss of a special and talented musician.  That's all I got.  Just a morose post in tribute to great musician.  Thank you for your musical legacy Mr. Helm.

-Jon

P.S. Just listened to The Weight after posting and started crying.. I'm a softy.

What's your bag, man?

I have a lovely cross-body bag from H&M that Spouse got me for Christmas 2010. Unfortunately (as is the curse with all cheap accessories), it has already been repaired once, and it's looking like it might be on its way out.

I'm in the market for a magical over the shoulder bag that cost less than 100 (read: 50) dollars, but I am coveting this beauty from afar.

Also, as a shameless rip-off of "what's in your bag" posts. Here is what is actually in my bag right now:
My wallet, listing notebook, Water bottle from life factory, Several Le Pen's (because I am very prone to dropping them in the produce section of Giant Eagle). Hairbrush (nicknamed Black Beauty), Burt's Bees Hand Repair Cream AND Hand Salve because my hands are seriously that dry. Tampons, target receipts and a smashed fortune cookie.


Clearly, I don't clean out my bag nearly often enough. 

-Grace

Geiger-isms Vol. 1

 The Geigers are notorious for talkin' crazy.

• Brush your tusks - brush your teeth. 
•  I had better brush my tusks before we go out; that pasta gave me zoo breath.
• As the Geiger walks - about 1.5 times as fast as the average person walks. Jon is 6'5'' and all legs. His stride is incredible. I actually walk pretty fast too, but my short legs put me at a disadvantage.
• The coffee shop is about 10 minutes away as the Geiger walks, but you might want to give yourself 15.
• Antenna Monster - water bug
• Ah! There's an antenna monster next to the washing machine! Grab a shoe!
• Frickenfracks - Edgar and Martha 
• I forgot to feed the frickenfracks this morning, and they were going bat shit when I got home from work.

-Grace

Hippity Hop

Well, we've wrapped another Easter. It was our first one back home since we moved away for college. We caught up with our littlest family members,

exchanged some boozy baskets,

and did a bit of sporting.

We also ate an obscene amount of Polish food (not pictured...really, for your own sake). It was a grand old time.

-Grace

ZAA!

So I had to walk to the grocery store and community market today.  It rained for about one hour today.  Guess which hour I chose to walk to the grocery store and community market today...  Also guess who left his umbrella at work...

Well the soak was worth it.  Fruits of my labors included Margherita Pizza and a Basil/Arugula Pesto Pizza with Asparagus, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts.  Both with Fresh Mozzarella and Romano.  Delicious!  And grilled to boot. 

Well, I am nearing the end of my rope.  I have 15 more days til my stay-cation and I do not know if I can wait that long.  Oh well, at least I got Saturday and Sunday off for Easter and my nephew's 2nd B-Day.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

-Jon ( the little retail associate who could )

What's the matter Edgar? Is Marthy In Trouble?

Grace and I cannot get off of Sangria...  I think we have made it 3 times this week.  Our favorite combo so far is as follows.

Sangria
• 1.5 liters dry Red Wine (we used cab)
• 1 Pint Strawberries
• 1 Blood Orange, thinly sliced
• Juice  of 1 Lemon
• Juice  of 1 Lime
• 1 bottle of Bundaberg Ginger Beer, or other strong ginger beer

The cats always wake us up around 7:45 begging for food.  But the other morning, Edgar seemed to have a bit more persistence to his meows.  This may have been why...

This is how we found Martha sleeping in the living room.  Flat on her back with her front paw twitching.  I swear, sometimes I think that cat is on something.  And yes reader, I agree with you, Grace and I need children so I can stop taking pictures of the cats and talking about them ad nauseum.  Until then, look at how cute she is!

-Jon

Oh Oberon, O beron, O(h)beron

Well, we didn't get our free beer last night.  Sad.  We did purchase our favorite brew from Bell's, one Two Hearted Ale.  Nom noms.  And we did receive the promised swag.  Look at those sweet tats!  Wow are we styling.

O Oberon.  The best of the summer ales.  Here is to another summer, let it be as mild as the winter was.  Fingers crossed.  I hate the heat.

Your love is like beer

Our Craigslist ad for Plimsoll Photography is posted and we are anxiously awaiting some love.  Though not the missed connections kind of love...   Anyway, tonight Grace and I are going to the first keg tapping of Bell's Oberon in Columbus for the season (one of the few perks of working retail).   Oberon is not my favorite brew but it is free and there is some delightful Bell's swag involved.  And since Bell's is one of the Geiger Family's favorite breweries we are ready to rock and roll.

Walking to the coffee shop today I appreciated the spring chill.  Since we skipped winter I was afraid we would jump right past Spring too.  Luckily, for the time being at least, the high 80 degree weather has receded and we central Ohioans can enjoy late March with more seasonable temperatures... only with trees and flowers in full bloom.. in peril of frost.  Argh!  Oh well.

 And now for something completely different. 

Last night Grace and I got some curry at Market District after our grocery shopping. It was both delicious and heartburn inducing for Grace.  Since she wasn't feeling well I offered to down the Old Rasputin Stout I was drinking with dinner and she responds with, "Don't rush love, it is a fine beer."  I only nodded in agreement and reflected on the fact that I got a keeper (the spouse not the fine beer).  Thank you spouse, your love is like a fine beer... I will savor it.

 -Jon

Macca

Dear Sir McCartney,

I love you but you need to stop releasing albums featuring your myspace/facebook photos on the cover or in the inserts.

 

Seriously, it's like you took those pictures in a mirror.
I love your music; keep up the great work.

Love,
Jon

P.S. Did you pick all those wild flowers yourself?  They are very pretty.

If it ain't Brooklyn, don't fix it

It was a short trip to New York but it was jam packed with fun.  Eyoab is now 1 though he won't admit it yet.  After the party we went to a few bars for some beverages with the sisters and Grace's cousin Rachel.  We did some car bombs, ate some Swiss cake rolls, talked about the shocker... 

Sunday we went out for brunch with Grace's mom in DUMBO at AlMar, and it was delightful.  Grace and I both got egg toast (an egg baked on top of toasted brioche with fontina cheese.)   We also had some restorative morning cocktails; Bloody Marys for the ladies, Bellini for the gent.

After that we went to Brooklyn Bridge Park to ride the carousel transplanted from the old Idora park in Youngstown and photograph the nephews.  Then we bopped around Park Slope and we got some cocktails at Bogota, a Colombian joint. 

Now we are exhausted and on our way back to the Capital of the heart of it all with a quick pit-stop in Youngstown.  When we get back we have the daunting task of sifting through the thousand pictures we took.  No but seriously.  At least a thousand.  (Note: Just counted.  1125 photos)  As fun as it was I am so ready to be going back to the cats and our own bed.  (Note: An hour after we got home, cat pissed on bed.  Yay!)

-Jon

Brooklyn Bound

Only 4 more work days until Grace and I make like marauders and trek to the great city of Brooklyn.  Our youngest Nephew Eyoab, also known as the Nuggle is turning 1 on Saturday and we could not be more excited.  Grace's sister Katie, the mother, agreed to let us make the decorations, and cakes.  To which I say yay!  The Geigers love a party.  Also I hope that seeing the Nuggle can sate our baby fever to some degree. 

Take a Picture it will last longer

Well the Geigers took full advantage of Daylight Savings time and meet some friends in the park yesterday.  Trees are starting to bud, and I am happy about it.

Colleen and Eric were very entertaining models.  Half of their photos are up on Plimsoll's Website. The rest should be up shortly.

Grace took a few snaps of me holding my Uncle Mike's old medium format camera as well.

Jon

I'm a Wet Cat

My day off and it's raining.  Rotten luck.  Yesterday it was 65 and sunny.  Today it is dreary and wet.  I feel like a child staring outside chanting for the rain to go away.

Well I can't go for a walk so here is a random quote about the wet stuff:

"Water?  No thank you sir, no, Fish make love in it."  -Marcus Brody

I love Indiana Jones... Don't judge me.

-Jon

Mug Cakes and Spring

Tacos were delicious last night.  Afterwards we required a sweet treat so Grace mixed up mug cakes while I did dishes.  Noms.

Winter never really came to central Ohio this year, but that doesn't make the spring weather outside any less delightful.  After a walk home from work along the Olentangy River this afternoon we had a delightful cookout dinner:  Hot Dogs, homemade slaw and Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA.  In conjunction with a game of pinochle with our good friend Paula (Pa) it was a delightful spring day.

-Jon

TACO NIGHT!!!

First I must eulogize our coffee pot.  It served us well until it didn't.  Grace and I awoke Saturday to discover our coffee pot had stopped working.  After checking reviews of our make and model Grace discovered that many others had the same issue that we did.  However there were a select few whose pots set fire..  Looks like we were lucky. 

For thrift sake I purchased a new French Press (at least until we can figure out the warranty) to deliver the sweet brew for us in the interim.  Four cups down today. My eye is twitching. 

Noms.

Good news is that it is taco night!  Tonight: Chicken Tacos w/ Avocado.  The Geiger house's favorite.

-Jon

Argghhh!!

Do you ever have those lovely days when you don't have a single thing to do?  Well, I don't.  This could have something to do with my inability to relax.  I try, I really do but there just isn't the time. 

For the time being however I can breathe easier.  I just delivered the initial round of concept boards to a client... okay... my Dad.  In an effort to be supportive of my talents my dad asked my to do the design work for his new life coaching company.  My undergrad was in sculpture, not design. The last time I opened Adobe Illustrator was in a digital media class 6 years ago.  Despite those facts I muddled through and delivered good results.  So now a reward: french press coffee, sewing, and maybe some Nico.  If only I had a scone, then I could really relax.  Sad.

-Jon

P.S. If you know any post-middle aged semi-retirees interested in starting a new career in search of a life coach send them to me... I know a guy.

Gnocchi

 A few years ago my sister gifted my brother and me a gnocchi making class from an Italian cooking instructor, Loretta Paganini.  If you are in the Cleveland Area or are interested in a fun trip I highly recommend her cooking school as a unique day activity.

It was a lovely morning and the delightful little dumplings has been my go to recipe for special dinners when I have most of the day to prepare.  The second most important take away was the pronunciation.  Loretta wouldn't let us proceed with the class until we properly said gnocchi.  Her suggestion, Curly.  Gnocchi = Nyuk-i.

If your only experience of gnocchi is a vacuum sealed package from the market then I recommend committing yourself to an afternoon of cooking these little babies.  You won't be disappointed.  Recipe. 

 

 

Edgar helped..

Remember Curly: Gnocchi = Nyuk-i

-Jon

Plimsoll Photography

So it has been an entire month since we began radio silence.  The reason for this is the birth of a photography business we have been working on since November.  It is called Plimsoll Photography and is very nearly alive.  More to come once the website is completely alive.  In the mean time... Edgar.   Who has been our most eager subject.

Let them eat cake

Holidays are important to celebrate.  It reminds us of what is truly important.  Holidays such as National Drink Beer Through a Straw Day, National Bob Dylan Day, and National Chocolate Cake Day....

Okay, the first two are only observed in the Geiger household but the last is the real McCoy.  A day set aside for our collective love of chocolate cake.  We celebrated this nationally important occasion with my favorite chocolate torte recipe from a Moosewood Cookbook served, of course, on the pedestal I gifted Grace for Christmas. 

-Jon