But I Digress… | a blog by mari gold, on food, travel & life

Lakeside

Posted on August 12, 2016 by marigold

19th century Chautauqua audience

Thanks to cousins who own a house on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Western NY, I had a chance to visit. The Chautauqua Institution, (always referred to as “the Institution” with echos of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, although it’s not remotely similar), is a few miles up the road. Originally called the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, the Institution was founded in 1874 as an educational experiment in out-of-school vacation learning–with a heavy Methodist overlay. Today, about 7500 people visit during the nine week summer season attending readings, talks, opera, dance, concerts, and other programs.

We went to a talk by writer Lily King describing how she put together her book, Euphoria, a novel loosely based on the life of Margaret Mead. (If you haven’t read it, run, do not walk.) King is in her early 50s with long, blonde ringlets and a joyful, unaffected manner. It had been a while since I read the book– re-reading it was even better. FYI, the Chautauqua book club, more formally known as the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, began in 1878 making it the oldest continually operating American book group.

The Mikado was playing one evening, a version larded with Chautauqua- specific jokes and references. We went to see it performed in a very old, rather majestic theater. Another night, my hostess and I heard the Music School Festival Orchestra play a work by Richard Strauss, (yes, the waltz king but this was a tone poem with a title that translates as Alpine Symphony), accompanied by glorious nature photographs projected on three huge screens. Lots of mountains and snow with some bees, animals and plants thrown in as well as views of the planet.

Culture aside, one of my personal highlights was kayaking. Fortunately, the family vessel is very untippable. There I was, paddling along when suddenly the Sheriff’s boat appeared, inquiring via loud- hailer if I had a life vest with me. I didn’t but was close enough to the dock to pull in. Lesson learned.

We ate very well enjoying the bounties of the season. One night my cousin Susie casually produced a cherry pie; this is her recipe.

Susie’s Classic Cherry Pie

1 and 1/2 pounds (roughly 6 cups) sour cherries. Use frozen which takes care of the pitting. Squeeze out some of the moisture.

Dust bottom of unbaked pie shell (Pillsbury with no shame) with corn starch or flour and add cherries. Sprinkle 1 1/2 fresh lemon juice on cherries and about 2 tsp. sugar. Dot with butter.

Top with lattice crust (you can undoubtedly find a “how to” for this on YouTube.). Brush top with egg white.

Bake 10 minutes at 425 oven; then 30 minutes at 350. Cool.

Serve with ice cream, crème fraiche or nothing. It’s delicious at dinner and accompanies a cup of breakfast coffee nicely.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged kayak, lake, Mikado, pie | 5 Comments

More Than Engagement Rings

Posted on July 25, 2016 by marigold

The name Tiffany makes me think of robin’s-egg blue jewelry boxes and stained, leaded glass lamps. I got another think in Boston at the Ayer Mansion, the only surviving residence built and decorated by the master himself, Louis Comfort Tiffany. The house includes exterior mosaics as did Tiffany’s personal residence, Laurelton Hall, sadly destroyed in a fire in the 1950s.

Tiffany was one of the pioneers in the field of interior design. The house, on Commonwealth Avenue, was built from 1899-1902 for entrepreneur Frederick Ayer and his second wife, Ellen Banning Ayer. Together with his brother, Dr. James Cook Ayer, Mr. A. made his fortune in patent medicines including a little wonder for “chest complaint” that was popular and no surprise– turns out this cure- all was 3% heroin.

Boston Brahmins were appalled by the Ayer house that defied conventional norms, built as it was of limestone and granite amidst other houses of more classic red brick. Ayer went all out for Tiffany’s stained glass windows and a wonderful central light fixture that runs up all five floors. The house had an elevator so that Mr. Ayer, many years his wife’s senior, could be transported to the top floor where he reveled in the sanctuary that was his smoking room. Mrs. Ayer fancied herself an actress; accordingly, the entranceway is shaped like a stage with a proscenium arch and an inlay of a Romanesque temple that gives the illusion of depth.

After Mr. Ayer’s death in 1918, the house was taken over and almost wrecked by various businesses until it was purchased by an organization connected to the Catholic Church. There have been numerous renovations with many ongoing. I was a little surprised that visitors were allowed to touch as we went through but the preservation expert leading the tour seemed non-plussed. If you’re in the area, check out the house; tours of this National Historic Landmark are available on certain Saturdays and Wednesdays for a $10 donation. To find out about a tour or to rent the mansion for your next shindig, contact ayermansion@gmail.com.

Frederick Ayer and his muttonchop whiskers

It’s far too hot for Boston Baked Beans and I never liked Boston Cream Pie so here’s a recipe for Lobster Roll from Martha Stewart. Lobster Rolls are a summer classic and less expensive to make than to buy. Go for it.

Lobster Roll a la Martha

1 1/2 pounds cooked, shelled lobster meat (about four 1 1/2-pound lobsters), chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives (optional)

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon or chervil (optional) (I’d omit chives and tarragon but that’s personal)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (or to taste)

Coarse or sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

8 top-split hot-dog buns

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for rolls

Stir together lobster and mayonnaise. Stir in chives and tarragon (if using), and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, covered, while preparing rolls, or up to 2 hours.

Heat a large heavy skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Lightly brush outside of buns with butter; transfer to skillet. Cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. (Heat got to you; skip this step and just brush inside of buns with a little melted butter. Or not.)

Spoon about 1/2 cup lobster mixture into each bun. Serve immediately with a side of crunchy potato chips.

To drink, hoist a tankard of Sam Adams beer.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ayer, Boston, lobster, Tiffany | Comments Off

Too Marvelous for Words

Posted on July 10, 2016 by marigold

John Pizzarelli

The first time I heard of John Pizzarelli was at a New Year’s Eve party given by my husband. Somehow the two had met and John, then about nineteen, was persuaded to come play for a pittance. He was wonderful and the guests left happy, raving about his talent.

Fast forward to winter before last when I visited a friend in Sanibel, FL. We went to a benefit where John played and heard the same easy, wonderful style. Afterwards I reminded him about the long-ago party which I’m sure he’d completely forgotten– although he was very gracious at pretending.

Then I had the opportunity to hear John and his quartet last week at Jazz Standard, the club tucked beneath Danny Meyers’ Blue Smoke. Here’s my review just published in New York Arts: http://newyorkarts.net/2016/07/john-pizzarelli-jazz-standard-nyc/ Terrific evening all around–great food, perfect service, wonderful music.

The review mentions the group played Body and Soul, that great jazz standard written in 1930. The song has long been a family favorite, not only because it’s great work but also because my uncle wrote it. Saying this inevitably means someone asks “your uncle was Johnny Green?” No, he was Bobby Sour, one of the lyricists along with Edward Heyman and Frank Eyton; Johnny Green wrote the gorgeous melody.

Bobby Sour

“Body and Soul” was written in New York City for British actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence–long before her King and I days. The song was first performed in the US sung by Libby Holman in the 1930 Broadway show Three’s a Crowd.

This is all about classics and since it deals with Blue Smoke, the classic there is barbecued spareribs. This is my recipe for barbecue sauce which turns out terrific ribs.(If you know Danny Meyers you can try to wrest the Blue Smoke version from him.) I’ll leave you to deal with the actual ribs which are easy especially if you parboil them before grilling (or putting in the oven) to remove some of the fat.

BBQ Sauce (enough for a full rack and probably more)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

2 dashes hot pepper sauce

In a blender, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water and Worcestershire sauce. Season with mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Blend until smooth.

Make ribs, listen to a John Pizzarelli CD, many available via Amazon or iTunes or listen to this recording of Body and Soul by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse (the last recording she made before her death). www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OFMkCeP6ok

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged BBQ, classic, Pizzarelli, quartet, Tony Bennett | 6 Comments

Happy Bloomsday

Posted on June 16, 2016 by marigold

James Joyce

Today, as James Joyce fans worldwide know, is Bloomsday. (If you don’t know, June 16th is when Joyce’s work, Ulysses, takes place.) I’ve been a Joyce fan since, during sophomore year in college, I read it twice, in two different courses.

Thanks to a theatrically-connected friend, I went to the Bloomsday Breakfast, an annual event at NYC’s Bloom’s Tavern. After downing a Bloody Mary (9 AM is a bit out of my usual range but for Joyce…) we ate scrambled eggs, sausage and hash brown potatoes. Afterwards, smiling and nodding at all those in period costume, we went upstairs to hear readers of Joyce’s work including Malachy McCourt and his brother Alfie, Colin Broderick, Jim Norton, Charlotte Moore, Terry Donnelly, Brenda Meaney, Fiona Walsh and, to mark the end, Fionnula Flanagan who, as always, read the Molly Bloom sequence that ends in “yes, yes, yes” (part of why the book was considered obscene back in the day.) Tonight, Fionula will read it again at Symphony Space with other Irish talent.

The event is sponsored by Origin Theater, an organization that brings “European” playwrights work (largely Irish) to American audiences. Origin also sponsors the annual Irish Festival. Much of their work is wonderful.

Fionula Flanagan

This is a recipe for colcannon, a mixture of mashed potatoes with greens that can be kale, cabbage or whatever takes your fancy. It goes with anything, especially a glass of Guinness.

Colcannon

4 russet potatoes (2 to 2 1/2 pounds), (note to US readers: we call these baking potatoes) peeled and cut into large chunks

Salt

5-6 Tbsp unsalted butter (with more butter for serving)

3 lightly packed cups of chopped kale, cabbage, chard, or other leafy green

3 green onions minced (about 1/2 cup)

1 cup milk or cream (my take on this is that cream is really what’s intended but if you’re watching calories….)

Put the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water by at least an inch. Add 2 tablespoons of salt, and bring to a boil.

Boil until the potatoes are fork tender (15 to 20 minutes). Drain in a colander.

Return the pot to the stove and set over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the pot and once it’s hot, add the greens. Cook 3-4 minutes or until greens are wilted and have given off some of their water.

Add green onions and cook 1 minute more.

Pour in milk or cream, mix well, and add potatoes. Reduce heat to medium.

Use a fork or potato masher mash the potatoes, mixing them up with the greens.

Add salt to taste and serve hot, with a lump (the Irish would say a “knob”) of butter in the center.

Raise a glass to Joyce who never saw a drink he could resist.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Irish, Joyce, sausage | Comments Off

Manholes, Concerts, Cemetery and a Ferry

Posted on May 31, 2016 by marigold

Michelle Brody and the Manhole Gang

Manhole covers first appeared in the late 1840 with the coming of gas companies and waterworks. Originally, their surfaces had raised patterns so horses’ hooves wouldn’t slip. And how do I know this you may ask? Because I went on a very interesting tour of the manhole covers of 14th Street, sponsored by the Municipal Arts Society and led by artist Michele Brody. Ms. Brody efficiently managed about 40 people strolling east from 9th Avenue, pausing to examine different designs made by different entities over the years. At one point we stopped to see a coal chute that allowed fuel to be funneled directly into the basement of brownstones so that coal dust wouldn’t sully the living spaces of the house.

Near Union Square is a cover designed by Lawrence Weiner installed in 2000. In collaboration between Con Ed and the Public Art Fund, the cover reads “In Direct Line with Another & the Next,” a reference to the city’s grid. Brody herself designed a good-looking manhole cover that was installed but somehow (sadly) has been removed. The tour ended at the Con Ed Building to see the Millennium Cover.

Con Ed’s Millenium Manhole Cover (is this what bill payment funds?)

As the weather finally warmed, Memorial Day weekend was a perfect time to visit Governor’s Island with one of my daughters and a friend. Crowded although not overly so, my guess is that on a weekday morning you’d have it almost to yourself. The ferry trip takes about seven minutes while providing a stellar view of the NYC harbor. The island housed a colonial militia in 1775. Along the way it served as a military administrative and training center; army music school; federal arsenal and more. Currently, 22 acres are designated as the Governors Island National Monument and administered by the National Park Service; 150 acres are administered by The Trust for Governors Island. Plans are afoot (assuming enough money is raised) to further improve the already pretty nice park. As part of the visit, we went to Colonial Landing for a chamber concert by the highly-regarded Parker Quartet.

On Memorial Day itself, I went to the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn where the likes of Leonard Bernstein, DeWitt Clinton, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Jean-Michel Basquiet and others lie. The concert, played by the Interschool Orchestra of New York, was pretty good but conductor and host, Brian Worsdale, should rethink his introductory speechifying. Pieces ranged from Something’s Coming from West Side Story to Moon River.

All this to say that New York has a zillion slightly off -beat places to explore and enjoy. Bet you knew that.

Since there’s no real thread to this anyway, I’m digressing further by including a recipe for a Lemon Glazed Loaf I made for Mother’s Day.

Lemon Glazed Loaf (Pound) Cake — courtesy Ina Garten

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
3 extra-large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
For the glaze:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it’s all incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Very lemony. Nice served with fresh raspberries. I shudder to think of what their carbon footprint was as they were not yet in season. Nice served with coffee or Prosecco (as what isn’t?)

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Queen

Posted on April 28, 2016 by marigold

Old Time Showboat

No, not Elizabeth even though she’s celebrating her 90th, but Cincinnati, dubbed the Queen City during its mid-19th century boom and sometimes called that today. The city is on the Ohio River right across from Kentucky. To reach my hostess’ house, we crossed the river via the historic Anderson Ferry making me long for the departed days of big river steamboats. Probably read Showboat too many times as a teen.

Loved the annual flower show on the riverside with many tributes to sister cities (never realized one city could have so many sibs). The African tribute was a gorgeous red-and-yellow with great fabrics while one bridal shower tabletop made me yearn to have or throw a party.

The Contemporary Art Museum, one of the first museums designed by the late, great Zaha Hadid, didn’t get to me but perhaps that’s because it’s crammed into downtown. I did like the exhibit by Korean-American Do Hoh Suh, full of life-size, mundane items like a toilet and microwave all crafted from bright colored mesh.

The Westcott House by Frank Lloyd Wright is in Springfield, about an hour and a half from Cincinnati. The Prairie style home was built for locals Burton and Orpha Westcott in 1908. Like all Wright structures I’ve seen, it’s spare, elegant and uncomfortable-looking although the reflecting pond in front softens it a tad. Per Barb, our terrific docent, we learned that progressive-minded Orpha insisted that the children’s playroom be on the ground floor (usually the kids were tucked away upstairs) and Wright gave in. One of the Wright-designed lightbulb fixtures is original; the rest were re-created for a perfect match.

We went to a very fine production of David Mamet’s Glen Garry Glen Ross at The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, a very complicated name for a new, good looking playhouse. The Incline District gets its name because–you guessed it– it’s situated on a hillside. If the area gets enough momentum, apparently not yet a sure thing, it will be a nice neighborhood with housing, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Although I’m not in the gluten-free camp, my hostess is. Herewith her recipe for muffins that meet that requirement and actually taste good. Give it a shot.

Jude’s Gluten Free Oat Muffins

2 cups gluten free oat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup plain kefir (can substitute buttermilk)

1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine kefir, oil, baking soda and vinegar

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and slowly stir into combined liquid ingredients

Line muffin tin with paper liners or grease tins

Fill each about 3/4 full

Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and muffins spring back to touch.

Cuppa joe goes well with these.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged muffin, Ohio, Wright | Comments Off

It’s Always Sunny in…

Posted on April 11, 2016 by marigold

A little of Big Sur

What is referred to as mid-coastal California, aka the area near Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey. Actually, the weather wasn’t always fully sunny but it changes very fast especially in the Carmel Valley where friends rented a great house with 360 degree views.

I collected my car at the San Fran airport to drive to the house. The car was billed as compact but in truth was almost a skateboard with a steering wheel. It was the new Nissan Juke — fun to drive but not the wheels of my dreams–but I can’t complain as it took me wherever I wanted.

Only in California?

Big Sur is as beautiful as ever, crashing waves, hairpin turns and, at certain times, very crowded with hikers, campers, families etc. I stopped at Dteejens Inn where breakfast was ending. Then went to Nepenthe to see it but wasn’t hungry; by the time I got back there the parking lot was impenetrable. Ended up having a terrific lunch at the Big Sur Bakery which also sells gas, a good thing as my teensy car was down to vapors. Note to foodies: everything on the menu here looked wonderful and other diners were very enthusiastic.

Point Lobos has excellent hiking on well-marked trails. The day I visited the famed harbor seals and sea lions must have been catching up on Netflix as none were in evidence. if you visit, pick a weekday and park on the road, not in the very small parking areas.

Artichokes: steamed, fried, bread

I’m a huge artichoke aficionado so Castroville was a must. Fried choke hearts were good, the artichoke bread interesting but the whole artichoke was steamed into submission and missing the requisite “bite.” Artichokes on sale at the next door market were the price I pay in NYC so I passed.

Terminally cute Carmel has shops, restaurants and the Sunset Center where my hostess took me to a concert given by the excellent Monterey Symphony orchestra. We also went to Pacific Grove which has a more authentic vibe than Carmel along with fewer people and less attitude. Carmel Valley has several wonderful restaurants, among them Roux where the food is innovative and often show-stopping.

Red sangria at Roux

I skipped the Monterey Aquarium but went to the John Steinbeck Center in Salinas where there are reminders of Steinbeck’s prolific career with film clips, author notes and the like. Good place to take a kid who is a reader.

This is my take on lunch at the Big Sur Bakery:

Avocado Toast –Big Sur Bakery

Slice of high quality bread cut in half and lightly toasted

Mashed avocado (1/2)

Honey

Goat cheese

Candied kumquats or Meyer lemons

1 1/2 pound sugar

To candy the kumquats you have to buy them–not hard but not as ubiquitous as, um, regular lemons. Cover fruit with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, combine 1 cup water and the sugar, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Pierce each piece of fruit 2 or 3 times with a paring knife. Drop fruit into the sugar syrup and continue to simmer for 15 minutes for kumquats or 20 minutes for lemons. Remove from heat and leave the fruit steeping in the syrup unrefrigerated for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and slice into thin slices to use in this recipe. Nibble the rest.

For the open- face sandwich: drizzle some honey on the bread. Top with the mashed avocado. Dot with goat cheese and top with slices of the candied kumquat artfully scattered.

Say OM. Or maybe Yum.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged artichoke, avocado, California, Sangria, seal, sun | 3 Comments

Water, Water Everywhere

Posted on March 11, 2016 by marigold

Botswana flag

Zimbabwe flag

Victoria Falls is in Zimbabwe, next door (geographically–bureaucratically it’s miles) from Botswana. Borders of the two countries are about twenty feet apart but crossing from B to Z involves going into an immigration “office”, forking over $30 and waiting two minutes for a Zimbabwean visa, a government money machine. We went first to our hotel on the Zimbabwe side (the Falls are on the Zim/Zambezi border) and then into the entirely missable town, a haven of souvenir shops and men hawking dubious goods.

The Falls, while not word’s highest or widest, are considered the largest existing sheet of falling water. They were “discovered” by David Livingstone in 1885 –he’s one half of the probably apocryphal quote, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” uttered by reporter Henry Stanley. Livingstone, the first European to see the falls, was suitably impressed, naming them in honor of Queen Victoria. The more colorful name, still in use is Mosi-oa-Tunya—”the smoke that thunders.”

Our local guide walked us from one end of the falls to the other passing through rain forest vegetation. You get delightfully wet here and there. Along the way you climb down a longish flight of stone steps to see the Devil’s Cataract and then up to view Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, where the water yields a perpetual rainbow, and other sections . Towards the end of the path is the Victoria Bridge where guys bungee jump, screaming (with fear, delight or some combo of the two) as they plunge. (I passed.)

Leaving the park there is a statue of mining magnate Cecil John Rhodes who was Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896 and is now very un- PC due to his imperialistic attitude and setting the template for apartheid.

This recipe has nothing to do with the Falls or Africa but water is part of the name and it makes delicious soup.

Watercress Soup
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 large white potato (12 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice (2 cups)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
2 bunches (14 ounces total) watercress, thick stems trimmed, coarsely chopped
Lemon wedges, for serving
Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and garlic, cook until sizzling and fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in potato and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 1 minute.
Add stock and 1 1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in watercress. Return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among soup bowls and squeeze a lemon wedge into each bowl. Serve immediately.

Serve as a first course or a light lunch with bread and cheese, perhaps a salad. There are lots of excellent South African white wines to drink with this although not all are easy to find in the U.S. Good hunting.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Botswana, bridge, water, Zimbabwe | Comments Off

Into Africa

Posted on February 28, 2016 by marigold

Our first stop after entering sub-Saharan Africa at Johannesburg was Eagle Island, a private game reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. After the “rules” were laid out–the main one being not venturing out at night without a staff member in case of animal unruliness–we were served an elaborate high tea and met Moses, our guide. Moses knows every tree, springbok and termite for miles –even this tiny, baby banded mongoose.

Next morning on our first game drive (getting up at 5 or so is part of the game reserve drill), we met antelopes of many flavors (by the end of the trip I kick myself for inwardly saying “oh, just another herd of Impala”), warthog, elephants, hippos in water (when they open those jaws wide, it’s not to say “ahh”, it’s to signal displeasure) and a Malibu stork killing and swallowing a long snake. Yummy.

When not out viewing animals, our digs are beyond luxurious with beds shrouded in mosquito netting, excellent food, terrific in-and- outdoor showers, our own mini-pool and an introduction to that all-African snack, biltong, similar to our beef jerky and available in beef, kudu and other exotic flavors.

Looking out from Eagle Island

Several days later we move, via another ten-seater plate, to Ngoma Lodge further north overlooking a stunning view of the Chobe River. Here I learn to tell if an elephant is a lefty or righty (check which tusk is more worn down) and how to sex a giraffe (boys have thicker horns.) It’s also where Johannes, our guide, pulls our Land Rover off the road at lunchtime, setting out a complex meal complete with tablecloth and napkins. Afterwards there’s a dramatic afternoon show at the river: Impala locking horns to practice fighting; two large male elephants struggling as one attempts to hold the other underwater while the rest of the herd arrives trumpeting to check on the fracas. Then it’s Murder on the Chobe when a cow is set upon by a crocodile. The struggle is both gruesome and fascinating; we watch for a long time as the cow runs out of steam. Back to the lodge for drinks and dinner but, thank God, the choices are grilled fish or lamb curry, not beef.

Lamb Curry (converted to pounds from kilos so you don’t have to)
2 lbs boneless lamb
1 large onions, chopped, about 3 1/2 cups
3-5 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp olive oil with butter
2-3 Tbsp curry powder
2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp ground coriander
1 Tbsp cumin
1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped (OK, use dried)
1 tsp thyme, dried
1/2 Meyer lemon sliced (with rind) –(you can cheat with a regular lemon)
2 peeled and chopped apples (tart green granny smith if possible), about 2 cups
1/4 cup raisins (if you like them–not all that African but good in this dish)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
8-12 small potatoes, quartered, about 1 1/2 pounds
Preheat oven to 300° F. On stovetop, add butter-and-oil mixture to a large covered pot or Dutch oven and turn the burner to medium-high. Brown e meat well and remove it from pan.
Add curry powder , turn heat down to medium and cook gently for a minute or two. Add onions and garlic and cook 5 minutes. Return lamb to pan.
Add coriander, black pepper, cumin, rosemary, thyme, sliced lemon, apples, chicken broth, raisins if using, salt and pepper. Cover the pot and put it in the oven. Cook for 2 hours. Check at 2 hours to see if the meat is falling off the bone. It should be starting to do so. Add the potatoes and cook for another 45 minutes.
To serve, adjust salt and add some more curry powder or cayenne if you dish spicier. Serve over rice with chutney and yogurt.
With this, drink St. Louis Lager, a major beer brand in Botswana. Or, choose from one of S0uth African’s excellent red wines. Or, let it all hang out with mango juice.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Africa, biltong, elephant, hippo | 4 Comments

Posted on January 25, 2016 by marigold

Seized: Inside the Mystery of Epilepsy, an arresting documentary film about the condition, had its genesis via a woman I’ve known since she and my younger daughter were in first grade. The woman, diagnosed as a teen, is now grown with three lovely daughters and a relationship with filmmaker Peter Schnall of Partisan Partners who made the movie together with co-producer Elizabeth Arledge. Seized, screened at the Directors Guide Auditorium on West 57th Street, follows four families, each with a member who has uncontrolled seizures, showing them and their doctors exploring the newest therapies. Some of these help a lot; some a little, some don’t seem to be effective.
All but one of the families was present and participated in the after-film Q–and-A. As many in the room deal with seizure disorders, it wasn’t a huge surprise that someone had an episode; coincidentally, a man seated next to me who was assisted out by Orrin Devinsky, MD, Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry Director, NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, and the doctor the woman who inspired the film works with. In the near future, the film will be available on public television (check local listings); copies will be available to present at schools, libraries and other organizations. It’s well worth watching and hopefully will break down some of the stigma associated with the condition.
Cut to a very different group in a different part of town. The setting was the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. The event, Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids, is a program of the All Stars Project, to help decrease mistrust between relatively rookie police and inner-city youth. A group of kids and cops “enacted” a typical workshop with role playing; afterwards, we were directed to engage the nearest police officer in conversation for fifteen minutes. I especially enjoyed chatting with a very young Chinese officer, a recent graduate of the Police Academy who is assigned to a tough area in the South Bronx. The program is a great effort although as a white woman I certainly can’t fully understand what it must be like to be challenged by police largely because of the color of my skin.
For the life of me, I couldn’t find a recipe to relate to epilepsy, inner city teens and police so coped out (pun intended) to offer:

Grilled Tuna Puttanesca
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, quartered lengthwise
1-1/2 tsp. rinsed and drained capers
4 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, minced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Pinch granulated sugar
1-1/2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 5-oz. tuna steaks (preferably about 1 inch thick)
Heat a pan over medium-high heat.
Combine the tomatoes, olives, and capers in a medium bowl. Heat 2 tsp. of the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. (lot of mediums here, sorry) Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, just until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and sugar; stir in the tomato mixture and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and take off the heat.
Brush both sides of the tuna with the remaining 2 tsp. oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook until rare to medium rare in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Slice the tuna into thick slices and serve topped with the salsa. (If you feel like going more all out, serve with linguini or other pasta.)

Beer? Wine? Your call but cheers for the patients, doctors, kids and cops.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cops, epilepsy, tuna | 1 Comment

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