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