The Column of Life

Chicken Marengo by Michael Glatz of Hotel Fauchère Milford, PA 2 boneless chicken breasts, about 1 to 1 ½ pounds ½ teaspoon sea salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon minced fresh thyme 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil 6 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac or grappa ½ cup diced canned tomatoes ¼ cup chicken stock 2 ounces crayfish or shrimp, chopped 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 eggs 2 slices French bread, toasted Preheated oven 375Fº 1. Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper, and thyme. 2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a sauté pan. 3. Add chicken and sear until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. 4. Transfer chicken to a roasting pan and roast for 20 to 25 minutes. 5. Using the same sauté pan over low heat, add garlic to the hot oil and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. 6. Add brandy or cognac and deglaze over medium-high heat until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. 7. Add tomatoes and chicken stock to pan and simmer until sau...

Bay Scallop Ceviche with Watermelon and Black Sesame [from Joe McAtee of Honey Doylestown, PA] Juice from 3 oranges Juice from 3 lemons Juice from 3 limes Zest from 1 orange Zest from 1 lemon Zest from 1 lime 3 cups chopped sea scallops 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and roughly chopped One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped One 2-inch piece lemongrass, roughly chopped 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 3/4 cup vegetable oil Sriracha to taste (optional) Salt to taste 3 cups chopped watermelon 2 tablespoons toasted black sesame seeds 1. In a large non-reactive bowl or container, combine the citrus juices and zests. Add the scallops and mix thoroughly. Place in refrigerator to chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 2. Meanwhile, make a vinaigrette: combine the shallots, jalapeño, ginger, lemongrass, garlic, rice vinegar, and honey in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. 3. With the motor running, add th...

What a pleasure to work with these guys. Roger and Damon were always la creme de la creme and they have now increased their creme-ness, so to speak, with Kevin Mulcahy, Jr who is part of the We Love Soaps team. Here they are with Dab the AIDS Bear and we've thrown a picture from last year's Love Out Loud with David A. Gregory and Dab. Both Dab and Gregeory will be appearing at Love Out Loud VI Come on and out May 11, 2011 at Prohibition 503 Columbus Ave ...6 to 9pm.

The girl's name Ronette \r(o)-nette, ron(et)-te\ is a variant of Ronni (Old English), and the meaning of Ronette is "strong counsel". Back in the last century when teenagers were listening to 45 rpms and AM radio, there was a Carole King song by the Ronettes, “Is This What I Get For Loving You.” Released in 1965 it embodied everything that was Brill Building, Phil Spector and what is sometimes known as The Girl Group Sound, all of which was a strong influence on the likes of butch rockers like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and “Miami” Steve Van Zandt. Since this is a set up for an anecdote. I’ll uncharacteristically revert to first person singular. The song wasn’t a huge hit, yet it was among my musical obsessions of the era. The vocal is rife with all the hormonal angst that I and, no doubt, my fellow teenagers had in an era that was on the threshold of sexual liberation. During one of the many gatherings I had at my house, one of my best female friends was sitting on m...

This is a redux post and it comes with the wish that the darkness may disappear and that you will all soon "walk in the rays of a beautiful sun." Xtianity didn't invent the life and death and rebirth cycle. It's part of nature and because it is, that means it's part of just about every major religion. The myth of the death and rebirth of Osiris antedates that of Jesus by centuries. Much of it has to do with humanity's desire for an afterlife. It varies from region to region, sometimes it means to be nothing and everything at the same time. It always involves -- of course -- some sort of transformation. As last week's post has already attested many xtians tend to focus on the suffering of their Messiah, yet even recovering Catholics know that Easter, the most important event in the liturgical calendar is a celebration of life. That's why its occurence is tied to the Vernal Equinox and the first full moon following it. How Pagan can you get? Well, not ne...

Wherever one’s position lands in the perennial discussion regarding Matt Crowley’s The Boys in the Band on its quality and/or political correctness, there is usually agreement that there are memorable moments of dialogue not without poignancy. For example the following-- Michael: … Physical beauty is not that goddamned important! Harold: Of course not. How could it be? It’s only in the eye of the beholder. Michael: And it’s only skin deep. Don’t forget that one. Harold: Oh, no, I haven’t forgotten that one at all. It’s only skin deep and it’s transitory too. It’s terribly transitory. I mean, how long does it last - thirty or forty or fifty years at the most - depending on how well you take care of yourself. And not counting, of course, that you might die before it runs out anyway. Yes, it’s too bad about this poor boy’s face. It’s tragic. He’s absolutely cursed! (takes “Cowboy’s” face in his hands) How can his beauty ever compare with my soul? And although I have never seen my soul, I...

The response "... You and the donkey you rode in on" must have come from Jesus Christ's bittersweet triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on what it is allegedly Palm Sunday. Well, maybe that's not the origin of that saying. It seems that Jesus the Christ might have made a bigger splash charging into Jerusalem on a stallion or some such -- but there's this Judaeo-Xtian penchant for humility, a sado-masochistic approach to life which might end up in torture and crucifixion. Still Xtianity's basic tenet and dogma is Resurrection and New Life -- something like eating chocolate which for many does provide a sense of well being. Therefore, in honour of the alleged avatar Jesus and chocoalte bunnies and the upcoming sacred season of the celebration of new life here is a recipe for some absolutely revitalizing chocolate mousse. Just sinful. He might have done better to ride into Jerusalem with a little orange brandy flavoured mousse if not exactly mounting one. The pres...