here it is. harold mcgee http://www.amazon.com/Food-Cooking-..._B000APD9MQ_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371793236&sr=1-1
I don't tend to like gastronomic dishes more, but they are fun to eat. There is a coffee house in Portland called rimsky korsakoffee house and back 20 years ago now, they had some anniversary where they made every food item out out of plastic or ceramic, but every non food item was made edible. So you eat the fork and plate, but leave the ice cream. Fun and creative, and this was before the gastronomy revolution.
I tend to like some of the stuff in general. Was trying to get into Jose Andres' restaurant "e" in Vegas next weekend but couldn't get in (only 16 seats per night) which does the most molecular stuff out there....he has a place here in LA...had some Foie Gras cotton candy...a reinterpreted version of a philly cheesesteak (puffed air bread, etc) ..heres a recipie http://www.molecularrecipes.com/fun/air-bread-philly-cheesesteak/ and several cocktails that used spherical cherries, cotton candy mojitos and crazy shit like that. its pretty dope stuff. doesn't really fill you up, but generally they actually taste well at the places I've been.
Never been to one like that. It does sound fun, with the right people. I assume hard on the wallet. Great for a special occasion, but not likely not an everyday fare.
yeah, definitely not. this one was about $250pp not including wine pairings, but I wasn't going to pay anyways. but once in a while i'll do a great meal like that. the place in LA, you can just eat at the bar and try some of the stuff..they are served as tapas...unfortunately they took the philly cheesesteak off the bar menu and kept it in the dining room and there's a foie gras ban here now...so that's out. that foie gras cotton candy was fucking insane. only like $10 bucks for the thing too.
going back to the veggie thing, Indians do some awesome vegetarian dishes, especially with things like Jackfruit and I love their spinach dishes.
For an outdoor picnic may I suggest hummus? Very easy to make. You can used canned garbanzo although better with dry. At any rate: In processor mix can garbanzos, small clove garlic, 1/4 tsp cumin, pinch cayenne Mix 2-3 T lemon juice & equal volume water, pour in feed tube with motor running, scrape sides Mix 2 T olive oil and 1/4 cup tahini, pour in same way. Add more water if needed, season with salt if needed. It's vegan and reasonably non perishable for a picnic. Good at room temperature. Can eat w/ vegetables or with pita. I'd give my pita recipe but it takes 2 days to make. Figs are eaten as fruit but are botanically flowers. That's why fig trees don't "flower" like apples or citrus or peach. The figs are inverted flowers and the "seeds" inside are the actual fruit. Incidentally, strawberries are actually leaves and their "seeds" are the fruit as well.
I forgot to say drain & rinse can of garbanzos. Or soak 1/3 cup dry overnight, cook in 1 quart water with 1/8 tsp baking soda for about an hour, and use the cooking liquid in place of water in original recipe.
If it's not too late, put some goat cheese between the pancetta and the asparagus. also, try bacon wrapped dates baked in the oven.
I didn't know that about figs. Great way to start my day, learning something about nature. Thanks. As far as hummus or many of the other suggestions, I've settled on asparagus with fried pancetta and garlic, with a spritz of lemon and some lemon zest, salt and white pepper. It's easy, tastes great, can be served hot or cold, and will provide a green veggie for the pot luck.
I like goat cheese, but I have noticed a lot of people don't, and so for a pot luck I try and bring something innocuous.
Understandable, but I would say asparagus is starting to push into that realm of "beyond pizza and cheeseburger" palate.
