Monday, September 29, 2008

Sweet Cheese

You may not know it, but some really good cheese is made right here in the South. Like everything in the food industry cheese has gone green, if you will. It’s an evolution that makes plenty of sense to me. Sweet Grass Dairy makes sense to me.

As farmers markets started to appear all over the place, we all started to learn more about the way our food is produced and we learned that we don’t have to eat food that is not produced in a sustainable, organic “like” way. If we choose not to, that is. And the more we learn, the more we choose not to eat the garbage that is the food offered in traditional grocery stores.

Ten or so years ago, when small “Green Markets” started popping up around Atlanta, those who shopped there were learning about vegetables. We learned how farms at these Green Markets practiced sustainability. We learned that no pesticides were being used on the produce from these farms. We started to see the chef from our favorite restaurant shopping at theses markets. It all started making sense and soon we wanted to get all our food from like minded producers. Not just our vegetables, but our meat, bread and dairy products etc.

And so it is. Now days you can be a locavore. You can get a large percentage of you food from a local producer. You can know just how the vegetables were grown, how the pig was raised, or the cow or the chicken or even the goat who’s milk went into to the cheese you bought this Saturday at the local Green Market. Because these producers are at the market each weekend not only selling, but educating and answering any and all questions. You can visit most of their farms if you like and see for yourself.

I started with cheese , didn’t I? That’s because Friday night Stacey and I participated in a cheese dinner at The Feed Store. We ate food is what we did, that’s how we participated, we ate. And we did it well. We ate the menu below and never complained. Not once.



Amuse Bouche
“Mediterranean Feta” – Cerignola Olive Petal Confit
“Heat” Green Tomato Pico de Gallo – Tortilla Chip

Appetizer
Pan Seared Foie Gras – “Lumiere” Stuffed French Toast – Ellijay Apple Sauce

Soup
Georgia Shrimp and “Thomasville Tomme” Bisque – Berkshire Pork Lardon Toast

Salad
Baby Arugula – Sous Vide Candied Beet – Fried “Green Hill” – Black Pepper Vinaigrette

Entrée
Churrasco Beef Tenderloin – Grilled Sweet Onions – Black Eyed Pea, Collard Green, and “Sevenwood” Casserole

Dessert
“Fresh Chevre” Ice Cream – Scuppernong Syrup - Mint


Sweet Grass Dairy is located in Thomasville, Georgia, not far from Tallahassee Fla. The young man who reps Sweet Grass (Gabe) lives in Tallahassee. He was at the dinner and I think he was pleased with what Peter and Cooper, the chefs at The Feed Store did with the six different cheeses they worked with.

I guess this was my point when I started this, you can get a lot of different food stuff from nearby. It takes a little effort and I have never fully embrace the idea. Just lately I am finding I want to embrace the idea a little more. I wanna eat the freshest food as often as possible.

This was a really good start.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Then, on to Knoxville

We got home from NYC late Thursday night and fed the dogs, they were starving and thirsty. We need to look into someone taking care of them while we’re away.

Anyway, Friday morning we got in the car and drove to Knoxville. We were having dinner with a friend, at a fund raiser, for Knox Heritage. This is the mission statement for Knox Heritage. “Knox Heritage advocates for the preservation of places and structures with historic or cultural significance”. Our friend is the executive director and she kicks ass, she’s awesome.

Friday night was a “Blues Brothers” themed dinner. It was held at Iron wood Studios, which was perfect because the whole vibe was gritty, kinda greasy chicken and this was a metal fabrication garage, so……



The food was spot on, just right, Jake and Elwood would have loved it. The apps were cheesewiz on a ritz or ruffles and onion dip. These were served by chicks on roller skates. For dinner they served beer can chicken, mac and cheese, corn pudding, and more. It was all real good and there was plenty

After dinner a Blues Brothers act did a show and it was great. They had a good band and did all the songs and acted out a few short pieces. They had the whole crowd dancing. It was a good party and Iron Wood is a cool studio. Click HERE to go to their web site and check out some of their sculpture’s.

We spent the next two days hanging out with our friend. We shopped the farmers market in the downtown square. We brunched at a restaurant that billed itself as a southern/latin fusion joint and they pulled it off just fine. We had huge biscuits and gravy with flat iron steak and chorizo sausage. They served Alan Benton’s bacon, that will tell something about this place. We had two fried eggs which topped off a stack of corn tortillas, black beans, wilted greens and other stuff I can’t remember cause about that time I went into a food coma and it lasted for the rest of the trip. I kinda remember sushi, I remember Bloody Marys, I remember wine, I remember grits, eggs, and cheese biscuits the size of my head.

I don’t remember driving home or anything else.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Some Photos from the last few days
















MATISSE SCULPTURE’S AT MOMA





















CELLOPHANE PREFAB HOUSE AT MOMA














SYSTEM 3 PREFAB HOUSE MOMA

















KIM’S LOFT DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE

Monday, September 22, 2008

24 Hours in NYC

So our plane lands about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. We wait in line for a taxi which is the only time I can remember when the cabs were not waiting for us. We head to Mineta Lane where “our” apartment is. Well it’s actually my cousins apt. but we call it “ours” whenever we’re there. Look for the key in the hiding place and can’t find it cause she is already home from work. So we check in, catch up, have a cocktail then head out on our three block walk to the le Poission Rouge. This is where the Tuxedomoon show is happening. Gut Bucket opens the show and unlike their name they are not hard to listen to. Our roommate leaves soon as she works very early the next morning. She works on the Law and Order SVU television show and they start shooting early in the a.m. Stacey and I stick around drinking very expensive drinks and enjoy a very good show. I mean very, very good. Just as I expected. So about 2 a.m Thursday morning we leave the bar and head to Mamon’s, which provides us with the best falafel sandwich in the city. Mamon’s in on MacDougal St. about one block from “our” apt. We take our sandwiches and head to the benches on the corner of 6th ave and Bleeker street, which is about 100 steps form “our” front-door. Damn good sandwich and good place to sit at 2:30 a.m. in NYC. Then it’s to sleep and awake about 9 a.m. I run around the corner to the Cafe Reggio which has been serving coffee and lite fare since 1927, a quaint spot indeed. I grab a couple cups and back in “our” apt we plan our day. 11 a.m. finds us just a few blocks away at Ditch Plains enjoying brunch. Very good food and service. Eggs Benedict and a killer BLT. We then walk about 20 blocks or so grab a cab and head to MOMA. We hardly ever go to NYC without a visit to MOMA. Even on a 24 hour trip. We want to see the prefab houses that are on display in an empty lot on 54th st. There are 5 houses that have been trucked in and assembled for all the MOMA visitors to enjoy. Stacey and I have been looking at different prefabs for years, with dreams of building one on our lake property. Of course you can’t go to MOMA without a walk through the galleries, so that’s where we start. Tons of good stuff to view, some new to us, some we have seen before, but I never get tried of anything showing at MOMA. We have a coffee at the Museum Cafe and then head outdoors to the prefabs. These prefabs are fab. Two in particular would be prefect for us and something we could afford. Maybe a lake house is in my near future. We go to leave and decide to take a second look at a couple of the prefabs. After that we head across the street to an Irish Pud for a pint and to make a dinner plan. We drink and go through our NYC restaurant guides looking for the prefect place to end our visit. We decide on Artisanal. Artisanal is a restaurant that specializes in cheese and wine. It also has a full menu. We ate there years ago and always wanted to return, so we take the opportunity to do so. We decide to walk the 30 or so blocks from MOMA to Artisanal almost stopping at another restaurant we came across. Their menu is on the sidewalk and looks good, but we move on and I’m am very glad we did. We get to Artisanal and sit in the bar area and start scanning the menu. We order a glass of wine each, Snails and a Tuna Tatar for starters. It’s all so good. We eat slow so we can enjoy every bit of this dining experience, also we have plenty of time to get to the airport. We order more wine and decide to split the hanger steak with pomme fritts and wilted greens. This turns out to be a great meal, good food, drink and the perfect pace. I also had the perfect dinner companion. By this time it is 7:30 Thursday night and we have been in the city for 24 hours. So we pay the check, walk out the front door, I stick my hand in the air and as if by magic a cab appears and takes us straight to the airport for our 9 o’clock flight back to Atlanta.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

How to get free tickets to the show

and a chance to meet the band.

The band is Tuxedomoon, Stacey and I are gonna fly to NYC tomorrow and see their show tomorrow night. Read the e mails I traded with one of the guys who works for the band to see how I “worked” this out. Remember the first e mail is the last one on the page, so scroll down and from there read up.

Hello Tracy

you are both on the band's guestlist, and a meet and greet with the
band has also been organised .
the person that will introduce you to the band is Carlos Beccera
(their manager), he will be at the merchandise stall .
regarding the CD, no worries i have send it registered and it takes
longer to arrive from Europe .
enjoy the show and the CD when it arrives .
best regards
Thierry

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 3:20 PM +0000 9/15/08, statra2@comcast.net wrote:
>Hello Thierry
>My wife and I have booked a flight to NYC on the 17th, is the offer
>to attend the Tuxedomoon show still open for us? Please let me know
>so I can buy tickets to the show if need be. I have not received my
>parcel, maybe not enough time since you mailed the last one, I
>remain on the lookout.
>Thanks
>Tracy Hartley

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9/5/08 Hello Thierry

I,m sorry for being such an ass, but this has been

frustrating for me. Now I'm gonna be a bigger ass

and take you up on the invite to see the show in NYC.

I can't believe they are playing in the states, I know

it's only their 4th time in 20 years or so. My wife

and I can be in NYC the 17th so just let me know

what I need to do on my end.

Thanks

Tracy Hartley

---------------------------------------------------------------

> -------------- Original message ----------------------
>From: Thierry Steuve
>> Hello Tracy
>>
>> sad to hear that the second parcel never arrived either .
>> if a customer is unhappy, we are unhappy as well .
>> I will personally resend you a copy by registered mail today .
>> if you happen to be in New York on the 17th, i will happily invite
>> you to the Tuxedomoon show @
>> http://lepoissonrouge.com/html/index.html
>>
>> please give me a sign when it reaches you and accept our apologies
>> for all this mess .
>>
>> kind regards
>>
>> Thierry
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> At 12:53 PM +0000 9/4/08, statra2@comcast.net wrote:
>> >Please refund my $ if you can't get the disc to me. i ordered the
>> >disc in may and nothing. can't you even send me a email telling me
>> >whats going on. I will contact my credit card soon and have the
>> >transaction refunded if I have to.
>> >thanks for nothing
>> >Tracy Hartley

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8/20/08 Hello Mr. Thierry

I have not received my disc as of today 8/20/08. I ordered it in May and after

receiving your e mail I expected to see it soon. Whats up, could you please

let me know

Thanks

Tracy Hartley

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> > -------------- Original message ----------------------
>> >From: Thierry Steuve
>> >> dear tracy
>> >>
>> >> first of all let me thank you for your order with crammed discs .
>> >>
>> >> we had a few complaints the last 3 weeks from customers who have not
>> >> received their order .
>> >> I would be grateful if you could tell me if yours arrived safely ,
>> >> since we had some problems with our postal services .
>> >>
>> >> best regards
>> >> --
>> >> for more information | interview requests | CDs | guest lists |
>> >> photo passes | etc.
Thierry STEUVE

Monday, September 15, 2008

laurie anderson goes underground



Yesterday Stacey and I went to the Ferst Center at Georgia Tech to see a live show by Laurie Anderson. Laurie Anderson is now 60 years young, maybe that is why the show started at 5 p.m. Everyone knows old people go to bed early, just ask Stacey and me.

I got to be honest, I almost went to bed early yesterday. This show started slow and then slowed down. The title of the show is “Homeland”, and Ms. Anderson, or is it now Mrs. Reed, had lots to say about the state of America and the most recent wars we have started. It’s a dark subject and the sound matched. Lot’s of low end, rumbling sounds from both bass guitar and keyboards. I think the fact that there was really not much of a visual show, which is what I remember most about previous shows, made the performance seem even darker.

Don’t get me wrong, this was just the first half of the hour and forty minute show. Just when Stacey nodded off, Ms. Anderson introduced her band and then invited her husband to join them for a number. So from stage right appears the godfather of all that is New York cool, Lou Reed. The old man took his seat on stage, yes he sat down, strapped on his guitar and they played a song, “the art of conversation”. Earlier in the day I had watched a video of them doing this song at Joes Pub in NYC. So it was cool to see it again, live.

Lou played one song and left the stage to a few folks trying to give him a standing ovation. The next song was far more upbeat then the first part of the show and got us all going again.

Ms. Anderson then invited Mr. Reed out again and BOOM, it was like the Velvet Underground had taken the show over. Suddenly a wall of sound was upon us. Along with the guy playing cello, Ms. Anderson’s electric violin, the fellow playing the hollow body electric bass and Kevin Hearn, of the Barenaked Ladies who was working the according, piano and synth, it was a beautiful thing. I found it to be very V.U. like and why not Lou Reed was playing the electric guitar. It made the show one of the best I have ever seen. Lou and I go way back, I could go on for pages and pages about the records he has been a part of and the “scene” he created along with the likes of Warhol, Burroughs, The New York Dolls, the Chelsa Hotel and on and on and on and on….. Sorry if you missed it.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Pigs Foot Bloody Mary

I got a pigs foot cooking on my stove right now. It was in the oven, but now it is on top and I’m gonna cook it along with chicken broth, celery, onion and bay leaf, for about 4 or 5 hours. Then I will have one of the ingredients I need for a Bloody Mary recipe from Cochon, a restaurant in NOLA.

I found this recipe in the latest issue of Garden and Gun magazine. I thought since I have been there and done that, I might as well try making this drink at home.

Step by Step: The Cochon Bloody Mary

1.Clear your afternoon (ideally a Saturday) of any responsibilities

2.Gather the ingredients:
1 can V8 (46 oz.)
2 tbsp. finely ground pepper
2 tbsp. whole grain mustard
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1.5 oz. pork broth
1.5 oz. lime juice
2.5 oz. lemon juice
3.5 oz. hot sauce (preferably Crystal brand)
2 oz. green hot sauce
1.5 oz. red wine vinegar
1 oz. olive juice
1.5 oz. okra juice (the brine from a jar of pickled okra)
vodka of choice

3. Mix it up: Combine everything in a pitcher – except vodka – and stir. To serve: Fill glass with ice. Add about 2 ounces of vodka. Fill with Bloody Mary mixure. Sit, garish, and serve. The mixture can be made ahead of time and kept in a sealed pitcher for up to a week.

Yield: ½ gallon (10 – 12 servings)

Tomorrow I am going to give a painting demo at the Serenbe Farmers Market. I plan on serving Pigs Foot Bloodies to anyone interested. I also plan on having a few myself, as public speaking is not my strongest point. So I figure if I give out drinks and have a few myself no one will notice weather I’m even there or not. Hell I may not know if I’m there or not.

For those of you who reside in the Huston, Tx. area this is a great hurricane party drink. I would suggest adding one ingredient, a piece of heavy duty plywood. That would be to pull up over your head after you get your Bloody Mary and before the storm hits!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Oak Grove Plantation



I met Liz Tedder at the Serenbe Farmers Market about a month of Saturday’s ago. Liz, and her husband George own and operate the Oak Grove Plantation and Gardens. Oak Grove Plantation is a Federal style house built around 1835 in Newnan, Georgia. Liz was selling plants and flowers from one of her many gardens at Oak Grove. I spoke with Liz and bought dried flowers which are call Love in Mist, the Latin name is Nigella. I also bought a Tuber Rose plant, can’t wait for it to bloom.

Liz ask me what I was selling at the market and when I told I painted picture she offered me a pile of old tin roofing from one of the out buildings at Oak Grove. Well I said hell yea, I wanted that tin, when could I come get it?

Next thing ya know it’s Monday and I’m at Oak Grove getting my tin roofing. Liz took me to the pile of tin and pointed out the house it came from. She said that at one time it was the slave quarters, she explained how they had restored it and added plumbing and electricity. We walked through the old building and she pointed out the different projects they had done to fix the place up.

Once I had loaded up my truck with the tin roofing I drove back to the main house to find Liz. After looking around and knocking on a few doors I just started walking the grounds. Out back was a small swimming pool with a vine covered walk way. As I walked around I found all kinds of gardens and work sheds for gardeners. I found the plants that were for sale and noticed the pear trees. I also noticed I was walking around a garden the was round and had a fence around it. Liz told me it was he “kitchen Garden”, it was loaded, I’m sure they ate from this garden everyday.

They have lot’s going on at Oak Grove Plantation. They have a Bed and Breakfast, they do weddings and all kinds of events. There is also a cemetery on the property, it’s not hidden, it’s right in the middle of things. Liz and George plan on restoring the Graveyard. I plan on doing lot’s of paintings on the old tin from the slave quarters. Folks always like it when you can tell them where the salvaged materials, used to produce a piece of art or furniture, originated from. So I’m looking forward to that. I also bought a pear tree from Liz that day. I have it planted in the backyard and have enjoyed a few pears already. There were about five pears on the tree when I bought it. They are nice and firm just the way I like my pears. Crispy.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Recently….




















So, this is the label for the Hog Wash wine that was made from one of my paintings, it was part of a lot auctioned off by the High Museum.

Pretty cool ain’t it?

This is the pig Linton Hopkins was cooking in the La Caja China roasting box. It was part of the High Lot as well.
















We saw this guy a few weeks ago, you can see the finished product roll Tuesday, 2/24/09, in beautiful downtown Mobile, Alabama.

Mr. Big Stuff

I don’t know much about the artist Julian Schnabel. I know he is a big guy, I know he does big art, I know he likes big old antiques, I know he likes to wear silk robes and I think he is into wine. I have seen magazine spreads on him and his habitats and dogs and bla bla bla.
Julian Schnabel

So I watched his film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” today and as little as I know about Julian Schnabel it reminds me of what I do know about him. The film has his style all over it. It’s a big film in an understated way. It opens with visuals that are made from x-rays which sets the tone for the over all feel of the film. It is shot so that some scenes are just a single image. One shot of a wheel chair bound man, on a platform in the surf is beautifully done. There are many scenes that remind you who is shooting this movie.

It’s also a good movie, even if ya only watch and don’t dissect movies the way I do. It’s a story about a guy who had everything going for him and then had nothing but his left eye going for him. I like movies that tell one story and don’t run in a different direction with love triangles and other bull shit that can just ruin a movie and is usually irrelevant. It’s a singular, simple, easy to watch movie. So watch it.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Johnny D’s Adventures in the RedWood Forest

So the last two post and today’s post are short pieces that John Duke has sent to the radio station in Ely, Minnesota. John is a good friend who has worked for the summer in the Red Wood National Park. John is a veterinarian and for a few years had a practice in Atlanta’s south-side. He was never really happy doing this so he sold the clinic and moved to Ely. He works for either the Boy Scouts or for private companies as a guide. His usual gig would be to spend two weeks at a time guiding groups though lakes and trails from Canada to Ely. He also enrolled in classed at the local college and qualified for his current job in the Park. Knowing John and from these “tramissioms” I would say he is having the time of his life. He is doing something he truly loves. John is one of those people I was talking about who would love to be married and have family, but that’s not the way it has worked out for him and so he has found happiness in other means. This guy would be a great husband and father and I hope like hell one day he is, but til the time is right he doing something else he love’s. Check out this one.

This was my weekly report to WELY about 2 weeks ago:  Hello Ray, Do you
still read Dr. Seuss on the air? We have a book in our visitor’s center
called “The Lorax.” Wondering if you have read it. When they had
almost cleared off all the coastal redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens.
Semper means always, virens means living), the logging companies
unofficially boycotted Dr. Suess’ “The Lorax.” I bought it this week
and thought I might send it to you. Didn’t know Dr. Seuss could be so
controversial. The main character, Once-ler, says, “But those trees!
Those trees! Those Truffula Trees! All my life I’d been searching for
trees such as these. The touch of their tufts was much softer than
silk. And they had the sweet smell of fresh burtterfly milk. I felt a
great leaping of joy in my heart. I knew just what I’d do! I unloaded
my cart.” We get all kinds of visitors into the center to browse for
these books, or to get information, or to just see what we know. I’ll
try to describe two common visitors. The first is a guy named Ima Ina
Hurry. He would like for me to explain all the interesting features,
vistas, trees, and trails. By the way, he has all day. But he needs to
get to San Fran tonight. San Fran is 350 miles south. I look at my
watch. Its 3 o’clock in the afternoon. So I patiently point out all
the easy stuff on the map that he can catch along Hwy 101 on his way
down. I talk for about 8 minutes and he asks, “Anything else?” I say,
“Well, you see I have already taken your “time bag” and I have stuffed
it completely full. In fact, it is about to spill over. Have fun and
be safe.” (I think to myself, “I hope he doesn’t manage his money the
same way.”) The other visitor is a lady named Donna Botherme. She
walks in and refuses to make eye contact. I say, “Good morning!” She
mumbles something back without looking. We have the antidote for her.
Linda Davis, one of my roommates. Linda is retired from the Air Force
civilian service and is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She says, “Can
we help you with any information? We have a 12 minute film about the
redwoods. Would you like to see it? Where are you coming from? Which
way are you headed?” I mean Linda really wants everyone to not leave
without any info, even if they don’t want it. So when Ms. Botherme
doesn’t accept any of the proposals, Linda practically puts her in a
headlock with one arm and uses her yellow highlighter in the other hand
to mark up the official free park map. Ms. Botherme will usually say,
“Oh. Wow! I didn’t know. Thanks.” Have fun and be safe. jd

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

More from the Redwood National Park

Week 7 - The foot bridge is in!
I can now ride my bicycle into
Crescent City on an old
narrow coach road that winds between the
big redwood trees. I feel like an Ewok riding on a cruiser in the movie
"Star
Wars." Once on pavement in the outskirts of Crescent City, I pass a
short dead end side street called...Minnesota Ave. Funny, I have seen
no other state street names here, except for...Iowa Street. I hiked
into Fern Canyon a few weeks ago, where the valley floor is flat and
about 20 feet wide and has a small creek running in it. The walls are
vertical, about 35 feet tall and completely carpeted with moss and 8
different species of ferns. Sunlight slits through the top kind of like
light penetrating a key hole. Water trickles down the sides in places.
Red alder trees grow along the gravel creek
bed in spots at 45 degree angles and with branches shooting off the
trunk straight up like miniature trees themselves. They do this because
their roots get washed out easily during winter floods. Its not spring
floods that washes them out because remember, this is a temperate
climate and winter is the rainy season. The Pacific Ocean is the big
HVAC system and keeps this area cool in the summer and warm in the
winter - no spring snow melts to flood Fern Canyon. I tell visitors
that not seeing Fern Canyon would almost be like going to Paris and not
seeing the Eiffel Tower. I think I saw a Pterydactyl flying through
there! Maybe it was just a big Raven. Until next week. j.d.