"Skate Grenobloise" written by Jbeatty on estrip.org

10/28/07 04:39 - 47ºF - ID#41846

Skate Grenobloise

I'm way too hung over to do anything more productive than cook and clean today. Thanks again PMT for a great party. It was nice meeting a few more people on the site.

Today I felt like making something quick and simple. So I chose Skate Grenobloise because skate takes about 4 minutes to cook and the sauce another minute. This dish is from the Dauphine region of France. Grenobloise means in the style of Grenoble, the capital of the Dauphine region. Apparently they prepare trout in a similar manner there. Since I'm not a chef I ripped off Bourdain's recipe and presentation. I have actually never had skate before today, I apparently have been missing out. This stuff is cheap, I mean really cheap. I paid less than $3 for a large fillet of it. It has a similar texture to Lobster and is a very mild whitefish. The whole recipe is nothing more than a skate wing, butter, capers, lemon juice, croutons and parsley. I had it with some asparagus and Pommes Puree. I am going to have to eat a lot more skate now that I know how great this stuff is.

Alright Yvonne I'm making Coq Au Vin next, probably in a couple of weeks after all of this school crap calms down a little. It's a chicken soaked in red wine and some vegetables over night and served with mushrooms, bacon and noodles. If anyone else is interested I will have two more servings left over. It's kinda boring just cooking for myself all the time.

Permalink: Skate_Grenobloise.html
Words: 261
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/25/07 11:53 - 51ºF - ID#41794

Evening plans

My best friend Ted is coming to town for the evening. We are going to see the Pat Metheny Trio which consists of Pat, Christian McBride, and Antonio Sanchez. Pat is probably my favorite jazz guitarist of all time. I'm always amused by how much we tend to bring down the average age of a jazz show. Why is it that young people just don't listen to jazz? It certainly isn't for lack of good stuff out there. Maybe its because there is more bad jazz than there is good jazz. Not to take an elitist stance on my taste in music but I always wonder why people flock to buy imnsfho rubbish, and then tell me my choice boring. Is it that many people don't want to really listen to music, are they more interested in singing along with the lyrics and dancing than they are thinking about what is being played? Anyway I guess I don't really care what people think of what I listen to, I just get annoyed when they let me know that it sucks.

But anyway this is the first time I will be seeing the Trio, I have seen the Pat Metheny Group twice now. If you have even a passing interest in modern jazz I would urge you all to listen to some of his stuff, especially either of the two albums Antonio Sanchez is drumming on. Not only is it very well composed but all of the players are professional musicians. I listen to music that is written and played by people I wouldn't necessarily consider professional musicians as well, but sometimes I just need to listen to a symphony orchestra play a complex piece of music.

We will most likely go out to drink somewhere thereafter if anyone is free later tonight. Although it may not be till 10:30-11pm.

john writes at 11:34:48 10/28/07 - Comment #27116: Popular music has overall been dumbed down in the last couple of decades. That said, there is still excellent music out there if one knows where to look. Also, there was a lot of pretty terrible music made in all eras, but people are less likely to remember that than remember the good stuff.

For example, if one were to mention the year 1974, how many people would immediately think of The Defranco Family's "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat" or the first Donny and Marie Osmond album rather than, say, Eric Clapton's '461 Ocean Boulevard,' David Bowie's 'Diamond Dogs,' or Brian Eno's 'Here Come the Warm Jets,' etc.

As one who loves complicated, discordant music, I also adore plenty of "simple" pop music. While in Memphis recently, I visited Sun Studio and Stax, and bought several CDs including a really good Johnny Cash Sun Records compilation and a 2 CD Stax comp. Some of that stuff, though simple, is absolutely amazing. Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" is, quite simply, one of the best recordings ever made. To put things in perspective, I also bought loads of Hawkwind, Neu! and dub CDs on this trip.

jenks writes at 11:53:04 10/27/07 - Comment #27042: Fair enough, and I mostly agree- it's worth paying attention to your music. But it just bugs me when people get all music-snob and think some music isn't "worthwhile" just because it's popular/accessible.

But I also don't want listening to music to have to be an EFFORT that makes my head hurt and feels like homework.

jbeatty writes at 01:40:59 10/26/07 - Comment #27007: Since you brought it up I am of the opinion that music is only worth listening to when you think about. To me music isn't background noise. It also doesn't have to be free form/avant garde (which I assume is how you define dissonance) in order to actively listen to it. In fact most music incorporates some amount of dissonance. Quite a bit of the music I listen to is simple, has catchy lyrics, and could be danced to. I don't think those characteristics exclude it from being worth critically listened to. I think if people took the time to think about why they liked something they heard ie. the form, lyrics, timbre, nuance or a multitude of other things then maybe more of this "mindless bubblegum drivel" would become less popular.

jenks writes at 08:17:45 10/25/07 - Comment #26949: "are they more interested in singing along with the lyrics and dancing than they are thinking about what is being played?"

yes and no. I don't want to hear mindless bubblegum drivel, but I'm also not into dissonant discordant stuff that you "really have to THINK about to appreciate". I understand that's not exactly what you're saying... But don't imply that music is only worth listening to if you really have to think about it...

jbeatty writes at 04:34:15 10/25/07 - Comment #26939: Thats funny Zobar. I actually just heard of this tune a couple of days ago but hadn't heard it yet. The original interview that Metheney did blasting Kenny G was hilarious and right on the mark. Kenny G is a talentless sellout. Every fucking tune that man plays is in the same key! It drives me mad.

zobar writes at 03:10:45 10/25/07 - Comment #26934: 'I agree with Pat Metheny/Kenny's talents are too teeny...' :::link:::

I actually used to listen to a lot more jazz when I was younger, but it's just that don't go out as much as I used to. The music itself is ok, but watching them _make_ the music is so much more interesting. I used to go to a lot of blues shows too, and the thing that surprised me about both kinds of shows was not so much that I was the youngest but that I was not the whitest.

- Z

jason writes at 03:03:23 10/25/07 - Comment #26932: Have a great time, man.

I think our popular music has been incredibly dumbed down over the past 30 years. Young people have no interest at all about where our musical roots are, and I agree that it is sad.

joshua writes at 01:42:08 10/25/07 - Comment #26913: Excellent - Pat Metheny is a legend.

Permalink: Evening_plans.html
Words: 310
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/20/07 01:38 - 58ºF - ID#41726

Too much information!

Everytime I see this informercial I burst into laughter. Seriously who the fuck is buying this?

Oh god it gets better

ladycroft writes at 12:35:06 10/25/07 - Comment #26897: ewe! mag citrate is repulsive. it's so hard to drink it, your mouth goes all watery and you start to gag. however...it IS cheap and it def WILL clean you out! just make sure you plan to stay home for the day ;)

jbeatty writes at 10:13:20 10/21/07 - Comment #26709: "the suspect was fed 50 bananas on doctors advice" What fucking doctor advises any human to consume 50 bananas?

metalpeter writes at 09:28:31 10/21/07 - Comment #26708: That story is insane I think the most I ever eat was close to 5 when I was younger I can't imagine shitting out 50 of them. That brings me to another point what about competitive eaters I can't imagine that after they eat all that food that they have fun taking an hour long dump, but who knows.

tinypliny writes at 12:33:49 10/21/07 - Comment #26707: Believe in bananas. :::link:::

LOL

james writes at 11:39:44 10/20/07 - Comment #26706: Jenks is not a believer?

SHUNE! SHUNE THE NONBELIEVER!

jenks writes at 09:49:39 10/20/07 - Comment #26705: that's.... retarded. Your colon is NOT full of slime and it does not need to be cleaned. But, if you really want to go clean yourself out, go to walgreens a buy a bottle of mag citrate for about 79 cents. That will do the trick.
At least, that is my (western medical) opinion.

paul writes at 07:19:22 10/20/07 - Comment #26703: That advertisement was on every night for so long. It would come on while I was programming and I would be too lazy to find the channel changer or get up. Needless to say I have seen it way to many times.

james writes at 05:51:28 10/20/07 - Comment #26702: Are you two not familiar with the latest health craze? Colon Cleansing?

OMG! It is off the wall crazy!

Basically, your intestines are lined with slime. This slime gets junk stuck in it over the years. These products are a cocktail of herbs and fiber that blasts the shit out of your intestines.

For a month you will discharge unidentifiable black sludge.

This is supposedly very healthy for you. But I just think it is gross.

jbeatty writes at 03:27:31 10/20/07 - Comment #26693: Im not sure, but I think I'm going to stay away from it.

jenks writes at 02:19:24 10/20/07 - Comment #26686: WTF are they selling???!!! Shit enlarging pills so your craps aren't inadequate??!!

james writes at 02:19:08 10/20/07 - Comment #26685: I used to work at the local health food store: Feel-Right (I refuse to spell it how they do). Daily people and I would chat about their bowel movements. I would help them pick out the right herbs, the right fiber, adjust their diets as to clean out their clogged, sewer-like guts.

Sometimes they would come back and describe their stool to me.

Thank god none brought pictures.

Permalink: Too_much_information_.html
Words: 27
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/20/07 03:53 - 62ºF - ID#41722

Making no sense

Tonight somebody who holds slightly no significance in my life told me something that will change their life forever. It's not that I think nothing of this person, its that I don't really know her. She is around my age with similar circumstances. 27-28 years old pursuing a bachelors degree in (whatever)... and bang!, Pregnant! This makes me really think about where I am in my life. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever known, but really what the kicker is not how smart she is, but how charismatic she is. She is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. I am worried sick about what the fuck she is going to do.

The dick who put her in this state is gone. She wants nothing to do with him, and I don't blame her. But how is she going to raise this child by herself?? I think I'm reasonably smart and resourceful, but how the fuck would I handle this? Life comes at you so fast sometimes. She is probably much more capable of raising this child by herself than I give her credit for, but I see how my best friend and his wife (in a stable home) deal with the day-to-day challenges of raising children. How is she going to do this while trying to better herself and get ahead?

Permalink: Making_no_sense.html
Words: 230
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/16/07 11:41 - 56ºF - ID#41681

I love dogs but...

this is getting ridiculous. My upstairs neighbors decided to leave for a few days and left their two dogs by themselves (well some guy comes to feed and walk them a couple times a day). But I am not exaggerating when I say they have been fucking barking almost non-stop for the last three hours. I'm tempted to hit the ceiling with a broom, but I have a feeling it will only make it worse. So much for sleeping tonight.

Permalink: I_love_dogs_but_.html
Words: 80
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/14/07 05:45 - 56ºF - ID#41650

Sunday Dinner

For the past couple of weeks I have been drooling over Rue Franklin's fall menu. It all sounds so delicious, but considering they aren't open on Sunday and I wanted to cook it myself, I decided to make an Autumn French meal. I was going to do a three course, but I thought that sounded a bit extravagant for just me. Plus I didn't really have the time to make an Apple Galette on top of the other two things I was cooking. I took both of the recipes from Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook. Which I highly recommend for anyone who likes classic French Bistro cooking with a bit of unrefined commentary from the writer.

For the first course I made a pot of Onion Soup. This recipe includes lots of onions obviously, port, balsamic vinegar, a heart attack inducing amount of butter, slab bacon (which Wegmans does not have freaking have!), bouquet garni, crouton, and a mound of Gruyere. I find any dish that requires me to use a butane torch is all that much more pleasurable to make. I have a really shitty gas broiler in my dwelling and the torch is necessary to get that nice brown on the cheese.

Second course was Coquilles St Jacques. Basically this dish is dry scallops, again a ton of butter (this is French food after all), more heavy cream than a human should consume in one sitting, Fumet, shallots, chives and some champagne.

Both of these dishes are quite simple to make. The hardest part really is getting my crummy equipment to cooperate. It's a real PTA to get that nice brown color on my scallops with a beat up sauté pan and gas range that just doesn't put out the required amount of Btu's for the job.

john writes at 10:47:52 10/28/07 - Comment #27113: I love that cookbook. I haven't made anything out of it in ages, though.

Hmmm... Didn't I make those scallops last Thanksgiving? I'm having a hard time remembering because I was really sick that whole week. That sucked. Hopefully this year will be better. I need to remember to dig out the real cold weather clothes before we fly up...

joshua writes at 12:58:33 10/16/07 - Comment #26357: Damn. I want that cookbook - Bourdain is a hero of mine.

lauren writes at 11:43:26 10/15/07 - Comment #26291: jbeatty who ARE you and why aren't you at MY house on sunday night cooking me dinner!?

imk2 writes at 11:00:30 10/14/07 - Comment #26278: jbeatty, please, pleeeeease invite me over for dinner?????

james writes at 09:34:30 10/14/07 - Comment #26272: calamari rings and okra

tinypliny writes at 07:59:00 10/14/07 - Comment #26269: It looks pretty delicious. You are a true chef. :)

Fake chef that I am, I am sure I would die of guilt eating so much butter. I really envy you, because I often shortchange all my dishes. I bend and hammer recipés so that I can get the butter out. In fact, my kitchen often does not have butter or sugar. In spite of the many exhortations from my mum/dad to cook "true", I wander all along the substitute path and innovate with not-so-great results. But I am good at pretending that all that butter-cutting has resulted in an awesome dinner and ooh and ah over things which have barely a tsp of oil and would taste like crap to normal people. :)

Oh well. Maybe I should change my substituting ways...

jbeatty writes at 07:48:10 10/14/07 - Comment #26267: (e:paul) Thank you! it turned out well.

(e:jim) Sounds like a plan, except for the fact that I live in a shoebox that could only accommodate maybe five people if we crammed in.

(e:james) What does a typical post briss dinner menu consist of?

james writes at 06:48:43 10/14/07 - Comment #26260: Will you cater our dog's briss?

paul writes at 06:27:25 10/14/07 - Comment #26257: Damn, that looks so yummy, fantastico.

jim writes at 05:55:54 10/14/07 - Comment #26252: I think the next (e:strip) dinner will be at your house. You don't mind cooking for 20 people do you?

Permalink: Sunday_Dinner.html
Words: 307
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/13/07 12:49 - 54ºF - ID#41626

Sportsmanlike hockey fight

Whoever said fighting in hockey was unsportsmanlike?

Permalink: Sportsmanlike_hockey_fight.html
Words: 9
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/11/07 04:08 - 58ºF - ID#41601

College makes me laugh

As a whole college students are smart enough to learn and understand advanced concepts in numerous subjects...

Apparently we haven't quite figured out how to use a fucking microwave.

john writes at 10:30:00 10/28/07 - Comment #27111: Everyone has their "duh" moments. I started a fire in the microwave once. I walked down the street in the middle of winter to buy a couple slices of pizza, and instead of doing the intelligent thing and eating them there, I carried them home in the cold and then tossed the bag in the microwave, forgetting that the slices were wrapped in foil. The foil sparked and the bag caught on fire. Luckily I was standing there so I could stop the thing, pull the slices out and stick them on a plate before they burned up.

metalpeter writes at 07:55:19 10/12/07 - Comment #26193: I think the reason that sign is there is cause you allways here that so it kinda sounds like an urban legend. I'm sure people have gone to reheat chinesse food or something with a twist tie and not known it metal and sparks fly everywhere or forget and leave a fork on there plate. If the sign is there then something like that must have happened at least a couple times.

janelle writes at 11:21:52 10/11/07 - Comment #26145: They probably had one too many students learn that lesson the hard way.

lauren writes at 07:31:22 10/11/07 - Comment #26134: But but but...I though microwaves were kinda like duct tape, they can fix anything!

james writes at 06:20:14 10/11/07 - Comment #26131: I love that about college.

1) you study the most useless, academic stuff.

2) you are in an environment with people with no real obligations and no supervision.

a real formula for learning the intimate details of cellular biology while simultaneously getting a meth addiction.

carolinian writes at 05:12:22 10/11/07 - Comment #26125: Nor have they figured out that aluminum is a metal.

ladycroft writes at 04:52:34 10/11/07 - Comment #26124: oh oh oh!!! i just bought a new phone here a few weeks ago. as i was trying to find the page on where to load my sim card, i came across the following warning:

"do not dry phone in microwave"

Permalink: College_makes_me_laugh.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/09/07 11:22 - 73ºF - ID#41558

Video Games Live

I just found this today on youtube. It's pretty cool, somebody has orchestrated a bunch of old games and set it to a video. Apparently the Buffalo Philharmonic will be performing it this Sunday

. Selections include Mario Brothers, Zelda, Tron and Final Fantasy. I would like to go but not certain I want to cough up $29 to see it especially since Rollins is tonight, the New Pornographers are next week Pat Metheny Trio is coming to Buffalo in two weeks. Sorry the video is kinda crappy but you get the idea.