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Lucy Lean

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in Books· Comfort Food· Entree· Made in America

MADE IN AMERICA – [Virtual] Dinner Party Part 2 – ENTREES

I am now asked all the time “What’s your favorite comfort food?” and depending on my mood, the weather, the time of day and perhaps most importantly the season my answer is forever changing. One thing I do know is that pasta often makes it on to the list, accompanied by a nice glass of vino. You may well think you know how to cook a mean pasta but cook up some of Mario Batali‘s Pappardelle Bolognese (Photographed above and recipe in MADE IN AMERICA)  and not only transport yourself to one of my favorite New York restaurants, Babbo, but realise that every pasta dish you have cooked before just doesn’t match up. But let’s get back to our Dinner Party and take a look at the entrées our guests brought to share, and yes I know that technically pasta and risotto are considered Primi but I’ve kept this American and gathered all these dishes together under Entrées:

Pasta – Lasagna two ways

I was so lucky to have the Queen of Italian-American cuisine, Lidia Bastianich, give me her Italian-American Lasagna recipe for MADE IN AMERICA – and even more lucky to interview her when writing the book. She’s smart and funny, knowledgeable and insightful and most of all incredibly generous. Not unlike the woman who chose to bring Lasagna to the table for our dinner party – Susan Salzman The Urban Baker. Inspired after reading Lidia’s story it was exactly what I had hoped this dinner party could be – the book would unify the concept but beyond that everyone could bring to the table what they wanted. The biggest differences between the two versions is ricotta in Lidia’s and bechamel sauce in Susan’s. Both are equally warming and most definitely comforting. [Congrats to Sarah pao e queijo for winning the Made in America giveaway – a signed copy is on its way to you.]

Rigatoni Carbonara

Greg Henry from Sippity Sup joined our dinner with not one but two entries – I was happy to see him post about cooking up Barbara Lynch‘s rigatoni carbonara with guanciale on his recent trip to Palm Springs. As he said in the title of his post – About as comfortable as it gets. This is so super easy to make and so damn satisfying – bacon and eggs and cheese – and not just for breakfast but over pasta – er hello this is as good as it gets.

OMG Obsessed Risotto

I am calling this course OMG Obsessed Risotto in honor of Miss Gaby Dalkin of What’s Gaby Cooking who just got engaged. Congrats Gaby! Thomas is a lucky man – hope you will serve him the arugula risotto again and again – and now you can say “Even my fiancé – who always wants a protein with dinner, loved this on its own! #win.  Giuseppe Tentorri’s risotto combines puréed arugula with the rice to give a bright green peppery dish that’s delicious and gives you another serving of veggies as well #win!

Lemon Garlic Chicken

For me one of the most comforting aspects of cooking from MADE IN AMERICA is the aromas released in the process that waft through the house and make you mouth water. There’s a very satisfying feeling when my husband comes in from the studio and says “Wow something smells good!” and you know he’s not talking about my perfume but the chicken I have roasting in the oven. Brooke Burton of Foodwoolf is part of that team that makes your visit to a restaurant pleasurable – she’s a service coach who makes a living training the front of the house to make you feel comfortable. A virtual dinner party is perfect for her because it will fit in with her hours and so I was delighted to get her post about Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken – a little later to the table but better late than never and for this format no big deal. When I learned she was cooking the chicken I was thrilled – I mean roast chicken appears on many a list of comfort food and Michel Richard’s is one easy juicy chicken to make – you don’t even have to peel the garlic, which is a bonus given that the recipe calls for 20 cloves.

Kalbi Ribs with Macadamia Nut Rice

If it wasn’t for my friend Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen (and Todd and Diane the White on Rice Couple) there wouldn’t be a Ladles and Jellyspoons and I probably wouldn’t be blogging. A conversation in the park as our kids were playing led to Jaden threatening to buy the domain name Ladles and Jellyspoons and then sell it back to me for 10 x the price if I didn’t do it immediately. Don’t you just love how persuasive some people can be?

Jaden is most definitely a doer – she comes from that Tony Robbin’s school of thought – say you are going to do it and then do it and it’s a great way of going through life. When I started Made in America I had a vague notion that I might photograph some of it – little did I know I would end up taking all the photos – the chefs, the food and everything in between. And not just pushing the button to take the shot but cooking up and then food styling each and every recipe. One of the first things I did before I’d written a word was sign up and buy a ticket to Jaden’s Food Blogger Camp in Mexico so that I could learn how. So thank you so much Jaden – love you whatever outfit you wear and however drunk you get! (I’m thinking cognac at Balthazar that we sipped and you then woke up with no recollection of it – but who’s judging?! )

It was Peter Merriman who gave me the recipe for Kalbi Ribs that Jaden chose for our dinner and I’m so happy I will be seeing Peter next week at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai for our MADE IN AMERICA weekend. And we have a winner from our little contest – Carrie Vitt of Deliciously Organic will be coming to Hawaii for our special weekend with Evan Kleiman and Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre to join Chefs James Babian and Linda Rodriguez at the Four Seasons on the Big Island. Congratulations to Carrie and thank you to all who took part – the chefs really enjoyed reading your entries and selecting a winner was tough. I wish I could take you all – perhaps next time? And yes there is going to be a next time.

NEXT UP Our Virtual Dinner Party PART 3 DESSERTS


Filed Under: Books, Comfort Food, Entree, Made in America Tagged With: Babbo, Balthazar, Barbara Lynch, Brooke Burton, carbonara, Foodwoolf, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Gaby Dalkin, Greg Henry, hawaii, Jaden Hair, Kalbi Ribs, Lasagna, Lemon Garlic Chicken, Lidia Bastianich, Made in America, Mario Batali, Merrimans, Michel Richard, Peter Merriman, risotto, Sippity Sup, Steamy Kitchen, Susan Salzman, The Urban Baker, Virtual Dinner Party, What's Gaby Cooking

« MADE IN AMERICA – [Virtual] Dinner Party Part 1 Apps, Salad and Seafood
#GoFishLA – Sunday October 23rd – To Celebrate MADE IN AMERICA »

Comments

  1. susan says

    October 18, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    great round up, Lucy. As always your writing is inspiring, heart felt, and totally descriptive. Somewhat sad that I won’t be going to the islands with you – but hopefully next time!

  2. Georgia Pellegrini says

    October 21, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    That trussed chicken is boggling my mind. Pure art!

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Always chasing rainbows 🌈 woke up to this odd l Always chasing rainbows 🌈 woke up to this odd light and thought if the sun just came up and it’s raining there must be a rainbow 🌈 and sure enough there it is! New administration and a new day for America and the world #GoJoe #GoKamala #MadameVicePresident
I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watc I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.  #WutheringHeights #EmilyBronte the in between - How it started How it ended - bedroom monochromatic light at 7am this morning to 7pm tonight and cocktail time with Tink gin and @david_austin_roses post parents evening and then in the middle I went on a walk with @chloescotland - actually it was an adventure to find the prettiest 13th century church with a moat and a graveyard filled with snowdrops and the tiniest grave - a child? And headstones that were leaning over - I thought tipsy Chloe thought giving up and I was reminded of the Brontë passage about #unquietslumbers #ghostsinmygarden swop harebells for snowdrops - the peace and quiet of a tiny graveyard with a moat and lopsided headstones and peace and quiet - a moment of calm and hope as the #inauguration looms large and as we keep to the rules of lockdown #stayhome #staysafe
Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks and just when you think it can’t get any worse it does - Covid levels rising and hospitals dealing with record numbers of very unwell patients, a third lockdown and schools going online and exams cancelled, then there was the runoff in Georgia 💙 overshadowed by the insurrection in D.C. which led to the swift impeachment (again), there’s the excitement of Joe Biden’s inauguration that is being sucked away by the pandemic, the rise of white supremacy with troops guarding the Capitol and ever present fear.  But through it all we have to have hope - for the vaccine, for the teachers helping our kids learn online, for the nurses and doctors working against the odds, for M&S and Ocado deliveries,for a new administration, for arrests of violent rioters, for congress doing its job and for decency to be about to be sworn in.  It’s a lot and we all struggle daily to keep our heads above water.  On a personal level I find painting helps, as do walks in nature and family suppers, I’m wearing pretty dresses, silk underwear and wrapping myself in soft cashmere and yes I’m consuming more champagne than I usually do - if not now then when?  #Lockdown #Stayhome #staysafe #EnglishCountryHouse #EnglishCountryside
#snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops #snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops today - last year the lawn was carpeted in white, this year nothing.  Maybe they are late? Painted a small bunch #oilpaint #flowerpainting #snowdroppainting a sign of #spring I chickened out of painting the tiny glass jug that was a Christmas present - not sure I know how to paint that aqua colour - help!  #EnglishCountryhouse #EnglishCountryGarden #englishcountryside #Lockdown #Staysafe #stayhome
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