Monday, January 12, 2009

Questioning Myself

So, I'm willing to admit that this is kind of lame, but I found a fun questionnaire to answer. I secretly love being asked these kinds of things! Due to a lack of notable action in the kitchen lately, here's a little filler... This is a questionnaire from Cookthink.





Sweet or salty?
That's just unfair. I guess ultimately, I'm a total dessert fan so I'll have to go with sweet. Sorry savory, I love you too.


Which ingredient(s) do you use most?
Hmmm... lots of things. That's also tough. Aside from lots of protein and veggies, red pepper flakes. Onions. My husband says sugar... Dairy. I cook a wide variety of things, so I really use quite a variety of ingredients!


What’s the cooking sound you most love?
That sound when you first throw something to saute into a hot, oiled pan. Kuhchhhsssss. There's nothing like it. I love and notice it every time. And, if it counts, I just adore the whistling sound my teapot makes. It's so very homey.

What’s your favorite cooking smell?
onions caramelizing


What are the qualities you most admire in a dish?
comforting, utterly delicious, makes you want to make it again soon, gourmet twists, pretty, classic

What is your most treasured possession in the kitchen?
My charming butter-yellow Kitchen Aid mixer


What is a dirty word in your kitchen?
High-fructose corn syrup. Cilantro.

What are you afraid to do in the kitchen?
Smoke things. I bought this really cool stove-top smoker and I just haven't mustered up the desire/courage to try it out.


What won’t you eat?
Cilantro. Raw onions- I love them! But they make my stomach respond very poorly. IHOP.

Have you ever lost your appetite for a food you once loved?
Let's see. Taco Bell. I used to love it quite a long time ago. Whenever I have had it recently, I just think it's terrible. I don't know if it's possible but the quality seems to have gone even further downward? The Bean Burritos have about three teaspoons of beans in them, right? I never loved oysters, but I didn't hate them either. But during the summer, I went to see Sex and the City movie and arranged quite a little lovely time for myself. Before the movie, I went to Happy Hour at Nimbus and had the most disgusting thing ever to enter my mouth. I spit it out before I could even process it, and I was actually so overtaken with repulsion that I couldn't help make quite audible sounds like, 'aggh. uuggh. eeewww. eghh.' I've never eaten large portions of poop, but I can now say that I have. I bit into the soft and velvety flesh of a raw oyster shooter to immediately experience about two tablespoons of waste dramatically squirting out into every nook and cranny of my mouth. It was hands down the worst thing I've ever tasted and will ever likely ever taste. I'm a bit scarred now! I've been waiting to publicly get that rant off my chest!

Have you ever had a change of heart involving a food you once disliked?
Totally! Bleu Cheese. I grew up in a house that didn't eat the stuff. I had a few rounds of it, not literally, out in NYC while in culinary school and really couldn't stand it. I even had sampled some at the James Beard House and it was said to be this AMAZING stuff and of course I didn't have a palette yet for it and wasn't able to enjoy it. Looking back, I'm sure it was out of this world. Stilton is one of my favorite cheeses.


If you could choose one historical or living cook to make you a meal right now, who and what would it be?
I'm tempted to say someone like Thomas Keller or Eric Ripert because I know it would be the best meal of my life. But, I must stay true to my heart and say Ina Garten. For many reasons which I won't get into, it'd have to be her. She's a major inspiration for me and pretty much lines right up with my culinary personality and approach. I'd love to own a store similar to the one she had and spending any amount of time around her would be a total delight. She could make me just about anything. I'd love to try her Lobster Chowder, signature Roast Chicken, and the chocolate cake she made for an old business partner last season.



Who are your favorite cookbook authors/food writers?
There are so many! I love James Beard, Molly Wizenburg, Tessa Kiros, Rebecca Rather, Ina Garten, Nigella Lawson, anything by Gourmet Magazine, Lora Zarubin, and I love Martha Stewart's food styling.


What is your favorite food-related word?
Gourmet


What is your favorite food-related scene from literature or the movies?
I loved the movie Mostly Martha. I highly recommend everyone watch it. I loved the scene where the main male character makes dinner for Martha and her niece. I love the kitchen and also love how they eat dinner so casually with their hands and on the living room floor.

What’s your favorite food-shopping errand or journey?
I love getting on my husband's shiny, red scooter in the glorious summer weather and zipping down to the farmer's market or food co-op to pick up a little bag of treasures. It makes me feel like a citizen of a quaint little Italian village!


To which country would you move for the food?
Italy or France.

What’s your poison?
Unfortunately, a number of things having to do with flour, butter, and sugar.


What’s your standard outfit in the kitchen?
Whatever I happen to be wearing when the need or desire to cook/bake strikes.


You wish to die with what in your stomach?
A perfect medium-rare steak well-charred, salty, and peppery. With silky, rich potato puree and again, perfect Asparagus or green beans on the side. And then a heavenly piece of Coconut Layer Cake!

If heaven exists, what do you hope they have on the menu?
Meat, cheese, seafood, real lemonade, and cake. It's a given that there will be loads of 'heavenly' organic produce but those others might be questionable.

If you came back as a fruit or a vegetable, which one would it be?
Honeydew, a perfect crisp, flavourful, and sweet one. Those are hard to come by.


What are you craving right now?
Lasagna

2 comments:

tina said...

Oh I LOVE this post :) :) :) Made me smile a million times over - and LAUGH... yes, out loud at the CILANTRO comments. And then the taco bell, and I remembered how much I lOVED those cilantro-y burritos and you about heeved up your entire weeks worth of meals. OHHHH good times. I believe we were sitting in the living room with tuffy and christmas lights! :)

RachelleLouise said...

Thanks for the comment and memory, friend! I miss those days 'roomie!' Love ya!!