Cooking Up A Storm

"My only notion of cooking is to put everything in and stir it."-Quentin Crisp
in the 1975 film
The Naked Civil Servant

The following is on page 9 and 12 of the 'Te Matare Ramirez'
Restaurante menu in Buenos Aires, Argentina

SALADS

SWEAT OF A VIRGIN GIRL
Fresh salad of smoked salmon with spiced cream cheese, crunchy capers,
bouquet of fine endives, green olives, corn kernels and tomato chips.
With apple Martini vinaigrette dressing.

BETWEEN DESIRE AND SHAME
Floral salad with rolls of Spanish smoked ham, goat cheese, black olives,
cherry tomatoes, celery hearts and watercress.
Vinaigrette, made of cucumber, yogurt and rose water.
All is sprinkled with thyme seeds and flower petals.

STARTERS

LYING ON HER BACK SHE GRABBED HER ANKLES
Pulpy crab legs placed on crunchy angel hair baskets
served with Yucatan guacamole and nachos.

WITH GLUTTONY AS WELL AS LUST
Tender baby squid stuffed with saffron rice,
on crunchy potato strings served with corn blinis
and fresh salad.

I REJOICE THE HUMORS OF YOUR DESIRE
Warm, thick and melted brie cheese
wrapped in crunchy phila dough,
served with a pineapple and leek caramel brunoise,
and roasted scallions, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.

SUCH AN IMPROPER PLACE EXCITED ME
Marinated and grilled Thai wings in five spice lollipop,
served with mango chutney and Greek salad.

Please watch for the 'Main Courses' in the blog for tomorrow.

Twenty-five years ago today:

April 1, 1984, Sunday

I had to wake Chris up in the morning. For the start of the day we took a nearby trip to 'Clam Beach' in Humboldt County. I took a couple of splendid pictures that should look great. We broke a twig during our stroll. I have one piece of it. He has the other. It defines our everlasting and long friendship +++ (and then some). Chris is a nice guy.

We enjoyed pancakes and eggs back at the house made by the new chef: Chris Cordellos. After breakfast Chris and I explored Eureka for some outdoor fair that was going on. I bought some clothes (a pair of jeans, a maroon striped sweater and some tennis shoes).

We found ourselves relaxing at the house once again. Later in the afternoon we made strawberry daiquiri's.

Barbara (Chris' roommate) wasn't in the mood to see a "flick"; whereby, Chris and I went to see an excellent film called "Romancing The Stone" that starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

Kathleen is "A-1" in my book. It was a heartwarming, funny and adventurous story that had a little bit of everything.

After the show we stopped in to visit the historic Eureka Inn. It was founded in 1922. Here we enjoyed an Irish coffee and a Brandy Alexander. It was too good! I liked how the hotel was so plush and preserved. The town itself has a preserved feeling. It reminded me of how East Oakland looked when I was a small child in the early 1960s.

We arrived back at the 'Chris & Barbara' pad where the three of us rapped for a good while about our day, The Coast Guard and the mushrooms that grow wild in Humboldt County. As the yawning began it was decided that we should 'turn in' for the night. I awoke in the middle of the night and surprised Chris. Then I slept. I felt a sore throat coming on but hot coffee, chocolate and water seem to be slowly fighting it off.