photos: m&j
This Monday at the farmers market at Union Square we found the most wonderful pears from a little farm in Upstate New York near New Paltz. So fresh, juicy and delicious – we would have baked a tart if we didn’t eat them all up so quickly!
© Zentropa Films, 2011
Like many of his works, this Lars Von Trier film has already stirred up quite a bit of controversy (see Von Trier being ejected from Cannes, 2011) and is not going to appeal to everyone. But the imagery, light, composition, color and the look of his film, in totality, is just stunning to behold. That can certainly not be denied.
photos: Trevor Tondro, Erin Baiano & Tony Cenicola for the New York Times
A very interesting NYT piece on affinage: the craft of maturing and aging cheeses that is taking on a nearly religious status with some of the country’s top cheese mongers. Revered by some (Murray’s Cheese, Artisanal) and debunked by others (Steven Jenkins of Fairway), the practice of affinage, first developed in France, is now being finely honed in temperature and humidity controlled “caves” below Bleecker Street, as well as by specialists and zealots all over the world, and has become a part of the great cheese debate so often written about and discussed within cheese making & epicurean circles. This debate precipitated a very interesting blind taste test for Tia Keenan, Julia Molskin and Florence Fabricant – some of New York’s top foodies and cheese specialists – the results of which might be what you’d expect if you follow this sort of thing. But, by all means, decide for yourself.
photos: m&j
Upstate on a crisp, fall morning, the mist and morning dew became the loveliest diffusion for the rising sun. Perfection.
photos: Andrew Spear & Brian C. Frank for the New York Times, photo of photos in Martha Stewart Living: m&j
It’s giant pumpkin growing season and both the photos in Martha Stewart’s October issue of Living and The Great Pumpkin Race described so fascinatingly by Julia Scott in the New York Times Home Section are totally riveting and quite hilarious. With the standing record for an oversized pumpkin weighing in at 1,810 lbs and a single seed from that behemoth hero going for an unprecedented $1,600 – oversize pumpkin growing has become quite a serious business with some out of this world (NASA) science to back it up. The lengths to which these dedicated farmers go to grow humongous, beautiful and unblemished pumpkins is obsessive, outrageous and definitely worth the read!
© Columbia Pictures, 2011
© Columbia Pictures, 2011
We were lucky enough to see screenings of both “Moneyball” and “The Ides of March” this month at the DGA Theater, NYC – each with wonderful talkbacks that followed with the films’ respective directors (Mr. Miller and Mr. Clooney) not to mention some truly spectacular and awe-inspiring moderation, post-Moneyball screening, by the fabulous Mike Nichols!
photo: Jennalee Rhodes
Thank you, Jennalee, for this moody and beautiful Japanese memento of your trip – look forward to hearing all about it on set when you return!
photos: m&j
Fragrant, earthy, sweet and vaguely exotic – this subtle, jammy fruit makes such a light and perfect meal ender this time of year. We’ve been so lucky to have the two trees in Maryland producing quite a bumper crop for the first time this season – thank you for the inspired planting, Wright and Patsy!
photos: Brad Swonetz for The New York Times, m&j, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (1832) and Marcus Nilsson for The New York Times
This New York Times Magazine was read from cover to cover before either of our heads had even hit the pillows on Saturday night – such a great issue full of so many interesting tips, recipes, factoids and wonderful opinions by our favorite food writers. Some highlights; last supper wishes from a famous few, how breakfast has evolved through the ages, the party planning menu matrix, food in art, literature, cinema and the many musings of Michael Pollan, Amanda Hesser, Sam Sifton, Mark Bittman, Mimi Sheraton, Maud Newton, Bill Buford and Eric Asimov … seriously just too much to get into – plus an interview with Mad Men creator, Matthew Weiner, to boot! This one’s a keeper.
images: © Wayne Thiebaud
We love these pre-pop era paintings from the 1950s and ‘60s depicting the kind of production line style food found in diners, bakeries and cafeterias. With his heavy use of pigment, sophisticated, exaggerated colors and well-defined shadows, Wayne Thiebaud’s work looks so modern, even today.
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