Gordon Ramsay, Age 8

Though this isn't the real GR as a young boy, these two videos are sure to put a smile on your face. Especially if you're a fan of Kitchen Nightmares. The new season of the show starts this Thursday at 9 on FOX.





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-Hilary-

ChefWife Airwaves

I'm making waves again, this time with my better half-Erik. Mike Colameco has been kind enough to host Erik and I for a second time on his radio show, Food Talk. Check us out this Monday from 11AM -noon on WOR radio AM 710. If you can't make it to a radio, check back here afterwards for a podcast of the show. You can even call in if you have questions or comments! 800.321.0710

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-Hilary-

Chef Crush Contest!

The girls over at ChefCrush are having a contest to win two of Jessica Conant-Park's books: Simmer Down and Turn Up the Heat. I've read both books and love them! Head on over to ChefCrush and email them a picture of your crush-worthy chef!

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-Hilary-

Dining Worries

The chef and I will be celebrating our 3 year wedding anniversary in two months and we are trying to decide on a location to celebrate. Last year we went to Jean Georges and it was fabulous! But you know me, I could eat there to celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, May Day, Secretaries Day...Anyways, this year Erik made the suggestion of skipping the gift giving tradition and going to Per Se. As much as I'd love to go there, I think $275 per person is a little much for my budget, even without spending money on gifts! I can't seem to think of another place that is nice and romantic and not going to give me buyer's remorse as I'm signing the check. Erik suggested the new menu at Momofuko Ko for lunch since it's about 14 course and more money than their dinner menu. (?) No offense to Mr. Chang, but there is nothing less romantic than a noodle bar. At lunchtime.

Any ideas?

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-Hilary-

Summer Reading

What a long week. As the blog days of summer come to an end and I get back to work, Erik works what seems like 30 doubles in a row, covering for his sous chef. Where did the summer go? Is anyone else feeling like they're trying to squeeze in a whole summer within the last couple weeks of August?

I am grateful for my extended weekends during the summer because I've been able to do a lot of reading. I just got my hands on a great book, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn. Complete with recipes, this non-fiction tells of an American attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

THE SHARPER YOUR KNIFE, THE LESS YOU CRY is the touching and humorous story of Flinn’s transformation as she makes her way through the school’s arduous
curriculum and finds her soulmate along the way. It follows the good (falling in love in the most romantic city in the world while learning to cook like Julia Child) and the bad (with only a very basic understanding of the French language, learning to gut fish and cut the heads off rabbits under the strict tutelage of ill-tempered chefs). “The sharper your knife, the less you cry,” Le Cordon Bleu’s Chef Savard told the class, referring to onions, but Kathleen came to understand his words as so much more.

I enjoy reading food related books, and this one was no exception. I felt like I learned so much about French cooking, and the history of one of the most famous cooking schools in the world. It seems very different than what I imagined. After reading, I almost wanted to enter culinary school and I certainly want to make another visit to Paris. I would recommend this book, especially those interested in the culinary industry from the educational route.It's also very interesting to hear this story from a woman, the clear minority in the culinary world. I was hooked by page one with this quote by Harriet Van Horne:

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all."

You said it, sister! Chefs enter into this world leaving everything behind. Cooks give up so much, but not only the ones who choose to cook, the ones who love them sacrifice too.

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-Hilary-

Chefwife Wine

thank, Egullet.

A while back I heard about a wine called MV, named after Jean-Georges' wife, Marja. As it turns out, this wine is made exclusively for the Jean-Georges restaurants. This pinot noir is grown and bottled in Oregon at the Ponzi Vineyards. I wish I had more information on the wine, but since it's bottled only for the JG restos, there is not much press on it. If Jean-Georges or Marja are reading this, please email me! I've heard this wine is fantastic and I wish I could get my hands on some. I wouldn't mind having my initials on a bottle of delicious pinot noir. Actually I prefer something white.

By the way, I know NOTHING about wines. I wish I did but it seems so overwhelming. I thought about taking a class at the FCI, but again I get so nervous that I won't be able to contain all the wine knowledge in my little head, let alone tell the difference between grapes and regions. Though, it feels like my "duty" as a chef's wife to know all I can about dining, which includes wine. Hmm, maybe I'll start with etiquette classes. I could handle that.

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-Hilary-

Eggplant Three Ways

Today Erik ordered an eggplant pizza, eggplant parm, and an eggplant sub sandwich from the Italian place that delivers.

Ya think he likes eggplant?

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-Hilary-

He's My Favorite

Obviously those of you who read this blog have a chef you hold dear to your heart. He or she may be your husband, wife, son, father, neighbor, or all time crush. But I want to know about your number two. Who is the chef (besides your husband) who you adore? Does he host a tv show? Does he boast a soothing European accent? Does he cook the daily special at your local bistro?

My number two shouldn't be a shocker to most who know me. Jean-Georges Vongerichten is my favorite chef, besides Erik. Sunday night at Matsugen I was lucky enough to bump into Mr. Vongerichten. Ahhh, Jean-Georges. I don't know exactly what it is, but I just love the guy. I certainly don't have a crush him, but I explained it to Erik in this way: Jean Georges has supported and guided my husband for the last five years and anyone who cares for Erik in the same way I do deserves my appreciation. And when I think of JG, he's more than an Alsatian born restaurateur. The idea of JG is a combination of the culinary world that has been so good to us, Greg Brainin and the end product (thus far), Perry St.


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-Hilary-

Freedom of Choice

Spice Market

It's Sunday today. This is the first -and only - full day off together so a number of things are going to happen (as soon as Erik wakes up or course). Some weekend activities include, but are not limited to:

• Grocery shopping: For some reason Erik and I have always done the food shopping together. Due to odd circumstances I've had to push the cart alone and it's torture! I don't really enjoy grocery shopping anyways, but with Erik it turns into an event. Almost like a date.


• General Errands: Maybe we'll make a stop at our favorite love/hate store Wal-Mart for turtle food or Q-Tips. We might end up getting haircuts together. Or possibly we'll even walk to the bank to deposit :-), or withdrawal :-( some money.


• Veg Out: The word homebody doesn't begin to describe my love of relaxing at home. I love my home, my cats and my the general space and mood of this place. Erik and I watch movies, play games , and have now taken up exercising with the Wii Fit. Plus, staying at home seems to really help recuperate for another week at Perry St.


• Taking Walks: We don't have dogs, but we are beginning to walk a lot more, especially during the nice summer months. We have nice a nice neighborhood to stroll in with the NYC skyline right across the street and park right on the Hudson.
  
• EATING OUT: We have to, must, definitely need to eat out every weekend. Sometimes even three times in a day. I'm the CFO of this family so of course if there is food in the fridge, I'll want to stay home. But before the factory bell whistles on Saturday night, Erik is already planning our weekend eats. Sure, I should take his advice, he is a chef after all and knows a lot of great places. But I'm a human, I eat too and I don't know that I've ever picked our places of dining out. Once in a while when it's between two local joints, I will have my voice heard.

What is it with chefs eating out? Is it just Erik or are they all like this? Does he feel like he's earned it since he's done the cooking all week for others? Or is is trying to avoid cooking at home, again, since he's done the cooking all week for others?

Am I the only wife who feels I follow my husband blindly to any restaurant he wants to go to? Am I the only wife who would rather stay in more and eat out less? They say to pick your battles, and I think for now I'll let this one go. It's not terrible at all that my husband brings me to so many restaurants. After all, I wouldn't have the exposure to cuisine that I do without all the experiences of dining out.

And tonight: Matsugen.

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-Hilary-

PS Check out the new poll to the right!

Picnic Cancelled, Boo Hoo

Unfortunately the First Annual Chefs' Wives Picnic will have to be postponed due to uncooperative weather. I wish I could transform the weather to meet our picnic needs, but it looks like thunderstorms most of Saturday. I'll let you all know as soon I am able to plan another.

In other news, my most favorite gymnast, Nastia Liukin won the Women's All Around Championship. She is the true definition of Artistic Gymnastics.

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-Hilary-