Speak Up

Thursday, January 31, 2008

ChefMumbles

As I'm deciding which uncomfortable teaching shoes to wear this morning my chef peaks his head above the covers and askes:

"Did you switch at Mercer Kitchen"

to which I replied,

"Yes".

"Yeah, but did you switch?"

"Yes"

"Yeah, but did you switch?"

"Yes"


This went on for about five minutes and I still have no idea what he was talking about.
DCW_NYC
-H-

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

T Shirt Orders!


Much love to my mother-in-law for giving the logo a boost and now it's off the t shirt factory!

I am going to keep the cost as low as I can while still bringing you the best quality t shirt ever. FYI: I'm not trying to make money here.

The shirt:

white, sizes: small, medium, large and XL, 100% cotton, Jersey t, WOMEN'S style-this shirt is made for the ladies!

Premium 100% ringspun cotton gives this stylish tee a gentle hand that has won the hearts of thousands of women. Designed to find the middle ground between a boxy men's tee and a fitted fashion tee, our classic is cut for maximum comfort and a true women's fit. The tight jersey knit fabric has excellent coverage for no "show through," providing confidence at work or play. The soft texture of Queensboro Digital Printing is a perfect complement to this comfy creation. Don't settle for a plastic logo on a scratchy, boxy tee. Put your logo or design on a form-flattering shirt that you'll enjoy wearing at a genuine value price.


Sounds good right? I know you want one! Or two, or three...etc!


So, to order a shirt follow these simple steps!
1. Email me at desperatechefswives@gmail.com to place the order. I'll need you phone number, address, name, quantity and sizes needed.
2. I'll email you back to confirm that I go it and give you my address to send payment. (CHECK is best, but cash will do if you want to send it)
The cost will be $16.00.
3. Once I get your shirt, I will mail it ASAP via USPS Priority Mail.
Don't give me a check that is going to bounce. I'm not a shop, I'm just a wife trying to make some other chefswives happy. If I get any funny business, I'll kick you out of this exclusive club. Haha...now that I said that.
Thanks for ordering! I cannot wait to get the shirts out!
OH and ONE more thing! The orders must be in no later than FEBRUARY 14th! (Easy to remember, right?)
THANKS!
DCW_NYC
-H-

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

V-Day

One of the most dreaded holidays in chefwife history is Valentine's Day. Not only is it yet another table-for-one holiday, but on that chocolate covered, red-laced night your man is off cooking for couples making goo goo eyes at each other.

This is the first Valentine's that I have promised myself that I wouldn't spoil the chef. I am so bad about "blowing it out" with outrageously unnecessary gifts on holidays because for some reason I carry a heavy load of guilt. But that's another story. We have decided on $20 gifts fo each other. We'll be dining at Tailor where my husband's former tournant Eric Simpson works now. I hope I was allowed to say that. Oh, and needless to say it will NOT be on the actual Valentine's day. But you knew that.

So what are your plans? Add a comment or better yet answer the poll!

DCW_NYC
-H-

And what the heck do I get my chef for $20? Maybe a new book? Like he has time to read.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Another DCW Interview




So my newest DCW member and author of the Gourmet Girl Mysteries, Jessica Park did a great interview with me. I had such a fabulous time answering the questions so check it out on her blog!








By the way, I just finished her first book in the mystery series Steamed and I could not put it down. I was literally reading while I was driving. It was that good. I think my chef might even read it now, but probably not in public. Macho chefs don't exactly want to be seen reading a chick lit. Again, I highly recommend the series to keep your culinary-food scene-drama going, not that you need it.


DCW_NYC

-H-

ChefMumbles

This morning he whispered this into my ear:

"Is your station ready?"

Yes.

"No it's not."



DCW_NYC
-H-

Monday, January 21, 2008

All Clad Bargain!

I love a good bargain. I love that giddy feeling I get when I hunt and hunt to eventually find deep in the back of the rack a $250 dress for $39.99- no flaws. I find a lot of bargains at Home Goods and I know I've shared before my All Clad finds. Well yesterday was the mother of all All Clad finds.

The chef and I went to Home Goods just to browse around but we both had to check the kitchen section JUST IN CASE we would find a discounted pot or pan. The heavens opened up, but not for long. We both spotted an awesome 12 inch skillet, BUT it was the SAME one we already bought at Home Goods a couple years ago. Damn.

Then, another glimmer of hope, a 6 quart stockpot....that was already bought at Home Goods last year. Damn
Then finally, the big one hit. Three beautiful Cop R Chef pieces. A 10" open stir fry, a 6 quart saute pan, and a 1 quart saucepan with a lit-still in the box! I cannot stress enough how helpful discount stores can be. There is no way we would pay full price for those precious pots when we can get them at 50% off or more. So I'll be hunting down Home Goods until we are a rich a famous chef and chefwife power couple. And probably then, we'll still hunt at Home Goods. It's just too fun.
DCW_NYC
-H-

Friday, January 18, 2008

The Wives Want Shirts


You've spoken, or voted rather and I'll fulfill your need for t-shirts as soon as I can. I would love to get the logo on the shirt, but it needs a little fine tuning if its going to be blown up.
And now some complaining: I am so lucky to have a chef who gets two days off each week: Sunday and Monday. So as a teacher I am even more fortunate to be able to have quite a bit of Mondays off myself. And wouldn't you know, this Monday is Martin Luther King Day. I had a great TWODAY weekend with my chefhusband planned but it's also the beginning of restaurant week in NYC. So, as the story goes, this chefwife will be again home alone so the chef can make the bridge and tunnel foodies happy for a night. Sigh.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

ChefMumbles

This morning before getting out of bed at 6:02 a.m., I pulled the covers over my husband and said: "Good Morning".

In response: "I love you. I'll make sure the runners don't touch your risotto."

Ooooookaaaaaaay.
DCW_NYC
-H-

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Perry St. Says Goodbye to Tyler Kord

Tyler Kord

Sous Chef TK and his Chef Erik Battes


Self proclaimed "Senior Extreme Sous Chef Commander of the Year" Tyler Kord the sous chef at Perry St. will fry his last rice cracker crusted tuna tonight. After two years of dedicated service this brilliant and charismatic chef will be leaving the Jean Georges nest and open his own restaurant in Brooklyn. My chef husband is happy for Tyler, but his departure is bittersweet. It is not the case in all restaurants, but the relationship between coworkers in restaurants, is more akin to a family than most other professions. Tyler and Erik were the only BOH management the restaurant had after the restaurant decided to cut down to only one sous chef. That meant that they constantly had to rely on each other for back-up and support. Tyler always said that if he could drink beer and smoke cigarettes while at work, he would never leave. And now I think he will get that opportunity with his own restaurant. No corporate office to answer to anymore! If he wants to serve a hot dog wrapped in a slice of pizza topped with Chinese chicken and broccoli for an amuse bouche, HE CAN!!! (and probably will)... I am going to be the first to say that Tyler's restaurant has the potential to be nothing but amazing, and I can't wait to see what he puts on the plate. As long as his personality shines through in his food, it will be something special.



DCW_NYC
-H-
And TK, I expect a comment on this.
Tyler reprimanding his successor, Omar for not having a beard as handsome and masculine as his own.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Support the Wives!

Being that this a community of women who seek comfort and support from each other, I don't see why that support cannot be through the other venues in our lives. I've placed a linklist to the right where I will compile any websites that you want me to promote to other wives via this blog. Maybe you write books, maybe you make jewelry, maybe you organize closets. Whatever it is, I want to be a small stepping stone to your success through "networking" on this site.


Send me an email/comment with your website and a short description. If you have something to offer, we'll take it!

DCW_NYC
-H-

P.S. I won't take personal ads, for-sale listings and anything else that belongs on Craigslist.

Oh, and you have to be a wife/gf/ mother of a chef.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

ChefMumbles


I'm going to start a new recurring post topic based on the things my chefhusband says in his sleep. This all started about 5 years ago when he was on his externship at Jean-Georges. One night he got up, put his coat on and opened the bedroom door. I asked where he was going and he said he had to "inject baby tomatoes with a vinaigrette" at work. Uh....psycho! Ever since then I have been startled in the night to discover Erik talking about all sorts of food/work things. Sometimes I mess with him and tell him the purveyors never came and we are down two cooks. But sometimes I just say, "Don't worry TK [his counterpart chef] handled it".


So the latest in chefmumbles:
"I need dill and salsify"

Whatever, chef. I'm on it.

DCW_NYC
-H-

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

ChefWife Toys

Hello All!
So thanks to chefwife Jessica Conant-Park (Gourmet Girls Mystery Series) I have been inspired to make a new poll. I've been thinking about getting some sort of promotional item to lure more viewers to the blog and create a general buzz to promote it. I've got my much needed business cards in the mail from my most favorite VistaPrint. I order EVERYTHING from there, and all kinds of things for work too that are FREE. And who doesn't love FREE?

I was wondering if you could do me the honor of voting on my new poll about which promotional item to get. If I so something like T shirts I would definitely have to charge, but it would be at cost. I'm not trying to make money off any chefswives and as you know most wives are not exactly rolling in the moolah. But we do deserve it. I would really like to get t shirts, because that is something that is totally functional too, but I might have to take pre-orders. A little much? Please vote and comment, this is for you! I want to to show my appreciation as well as ask your help in promoting my site in your area.

Thanks and don't forget to vote! If there is something else you think I can brand with "DCW" please let me know. Comment, or email anytime.


DCW_NYC
-H-

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Simmer Down

Despite my fear that there was nothing chefwife-related left on the Internet, I met Jessica Conant-Park via Myspace. She is married to chef William Park and is thus a CHEFWIFE. Hooray! An author who writes books about a clever social worker and a cute chefboyfriend. The best part is that her depiction of this chefboyfriend is extremely accurate. My favorite line regarding the chefboyfriend in a possible bliss filled marital future: "As to the visions of [chefboyfriend] off feeding and tending to other people while our kids and I were home alone, well, it rubbed me the wrong way."

Is she in my mind? I fear the same thing! I hate knowing that my man is building beautiful meals for strange foodies while I'm at home eating Wheat Thins for dinner. So unfair.

Back to the book: only moments ago I finished the second book in her series of mysteries entitled: Gourmet Girl. The first book: Steamed, the second: Simmer Down (what I read) and the third to be released on March 4: Turn Up the Heat. Did I mention that Jessica writes alongside her mother Susan Conant-even more reason to read. The books even come with recipes from the story that her created. I cannot wait to try to the Sesame-Honey Vinaigrette.

I highly recommend reading these books-and I know you all have time on Saturday nights while again, your man is tending to the culinary needs of strangers. And aren't we all in the business of supporting each other? I'm so happy that Jessica has been given the opportunity to make the most of her knowledge about the culinary world and turn it into a delightful read.
Thanks Jessica! Looking forward too Turn Up the Heat!

DCW_NYC
-H-

Friday, January 4, 2008

Wife Power!


As many of you know or don't know, Jean-Georges gave out his latest cookbooks, "Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges" out to all of his chefs. This holiday gesture was sweet to say the least, but the best part of all: the dedication.

I opened the book to see the most beautiful thing:
To My Wife,
Marja;
My children,
Cedric, Louise, and Chloe;
And to all my
Dedicated Restaurant Staff
Around the World.

Now, THAT is what I like to see. A great chef thanking his WIFE. Duh, we need more credit like that. Yes, the chefs have got all the talent when it comes to their profession. But who deals with their whiny selves when they just worked 9 doubles straight and pulled of a 28 million covers in the first seating alone? That's right: the WIVES. So go us. Not only that, but he thanked his staff as well. People can say what they want, but as far as being a chefswife I feel like I'm employee of JG and I don't mind.

DCW_NYC
-H-