it's officially Manhattan season!

David Sedaris, bears, a very good Jarlsberg dip, and Drops of God

A flamboyant midori sparkle drink of some nature ^ and me with my usual gin 😅

I’m happy to report that the weather is just cool enough to warrant my favorite Fall shift. Manhattan season. Last night, after the Green Lantern book club. After Jordan’s amazing dip and some great banana bread that Rachel made, I went to see David Sedaris with my friend Hunter. Her birthday present from Gary. I was thrilled to share it with her. David Sedaris is undoubtedly hilarious. I have been amused with him since the owl story. If you haven’t read it and want to find someone in search for an owl that ends up somehow with human remains instead, this is your man and your story. Happy Tuesday ! But you’re also reading someone with maybe a sick sense of humor. I loved Father Ted, Mighty Boosh, and Monty Don Holy Grail long before Gen Z gave a shit. I know who Old Gregg is, but do you? I digress!

Dudley's ^

One of the best parts of last night was after the show, it ended up with drinks around a table with new and old friends and a late night. Lincoln and I had Manhattans and I will say that I am missing some of the core ingredients for his recipe. However, my Manhattan recipe is almost identical ! I’ll publish his tomorrow if I get the wares. I am missing cherry bitters and Old Forester Rye. So, I scoured the whole house for Rye whiskey. I’ve been locking it up here and there for future work things, but there is so much liquor in this house it’s crazy. I finally found some rye whiskey in the attic to at least make my recipe. It’s Colonel EH Taylor Straight Rye. Don’t tell. I used it anyway ! Along with the Carpano Antica Vermouth , the Regan’s Orange Bitters, and the Angostura Bitters. And Luxardo Cherries. One ! Not Three! Listen below to me tell my story of how I learned three cherries in a drink is tacky. We all learn somehow. Thank you Lissa.

Also, my Manhattan for now:

Maybe i’ll post Lincoln’s London Manhattan tomorrow along with the latest edition of Speak Your Piece if it's still in the trunk of my car.

Let’s see. What else has happened ? The brazen bear at Mamaw’s became even more brazen last week. It was just a few feet in front of me. And however unsettling this very well be, I welled up with anger at the rednecks standing in front of the fire department telling it to, “Get and go on.” There is no more passionate a me than when I get on one about animals and wrongdoing. If I had heard one more thing I would have gone over to them. The police there actually cornered the bear. I kept thinking, “ if they shoot this bear in front of me, I will lose my mind.” They did not. They just beeped their horn. It walked across the road despite this and later that night when my dad said the game warden was down there. I yelled that the bear had cubs ! So, mom and I drove off the hill and she told him. He said they were going to shoot the bear with rubber bullets to haze it from being so ok with people. I listen. I don’t like this either . But I almost get it. I still manage to poke my head out the window and say, “WELL, I just wanted you to know that it had babies and I did not want to leave those children without their mother.” Defiant and proud I hurled myself back into my seat. They really may regret encouraging me to have an opinion.

Otherwise, we watched Drops of God. And it really is so so good. I haven’t watched The Bear yet, but I imagine this is the intoxicating wine version of that. It’s so so good. older now perhaps, but good.

I loved it. I love a mini series type deal. So, I can find out the ending. Camille . Why are all fabulous French women named Camille? Other questions I have.

Otherwise, I cooked some dinner for the family. I decided to pull up my book that I wrote and found the section I wrote on salmon and fish cooked in parchment. It’s so easy, but it looks great thrown on china. In the wrapper and all and takes all of about 13 minutes.

Perfect shrimp by the way…

I kind of did this version where you impart all of this flavor in the broth. I want to do it more. A French term that escapes me. But essentially you can throw lemon, herbs, peppercorns all of this jazz in the water along with your shrimp, but in that method you don’t cold shock the shrimp after. I did do water salty like the sea and peppercorns. But I wonder if the ice bath washed off some of this flavor. I am going to play with it more soon I think. But shrimp cocktail is always good and good for you.

I was sick a few weeks ago. The dreaded Covid struck. And ever since food wise I've been picking all my meals based on ingredients. And I did it, because I wanted to get back faster. If I can, I want every ingredient to be doing something good. I want actually nourishing ingredients in my food for the most part right now. I can't explain it well. But basically I wanted pozole because it is chicken broth and thighs packed with vegetables hominy. Best energizing sick food ever. Otherwise, salads with lots of greens. Quinoa. Fermented foods like kimchi, pickles . Pickled everything which is good for gut health. Okra, Carrots, whatever. Oatmeal (grains). Honey . Salmon. Citrus (vitamin c) . Shrimp, some store bought smoothie with tons of vitamins and mushrooms and berries what feels nourishing to my body. And that's how I always cooked most all my week night dinners. Thinking about those ingredients and wanting each to be good and play a part. I love herbs and vitamins, but really I know I should also be eating them in each meal. Damiana is my new fun herb addition there. Not saying I haven't loved the occasional cheese sticks, manhattans, and snacks. I had spinach dip and tons of bread and snacks for meals yesterday. I argue though, that a cheese dip and a manhattan can feel nourishing, however! The soul is important to keep happy. And right now mine wants all the good shit. A homemade banana bread. The jury is out on the benefit of the Goodfella's cheese sticks. 😂 Soul points for that one ! But I notice I feel a lot better when I at least try to think about food that way.

And lastly, I leave you with Jordan’s dip. This is really amazing. Make it this weekend. Serve it up with some Jack O Lantern Pet Nat. Which I learned about at Pearl’s from Chelsea.

Happy October guys. Hopefully, i’ll be back with that Manhattan recipe soon. Hope you’re well. ❤️

Alex