Brandy Alexander Day, You Say?

Truth be told, we had no idea it even was such a thing as Brandy Alexander day.  But apparently, such a cocktail merits an entire day reserved for it's consumption and riotous revelry! 

The kind gents over at Hire the Barman sent us over their infographic for said Brandy Alexander day, and you know how we feel about infographics....

Without further ado...

Get Shakin!

xxG

Clean Food by Terry Walters - Giveaway - CLOSED

So.  It's almost the end of January.  How's your New Years resolution doing?  Given up already?

Let us share with you our New Years resolutions:

1.  Eat more fruits and vegetables.
2.  Eat more fruits and vegetables.

We've recently discovered an awesome cookbook that is filled with tasty recipes that are produce and grain heavy to help us stay focused on those healthy eating goals in 2013.  Terry Walters' Clean Food; A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source offers delicious recipes for eating well in any season.  Easy recipes from soups to salads, savory seasonal veggies, grains, pastas, desserts, to tasty snacks, this book will keep you excited about each season's offerings, and new delicious recipes to share with your friends and family.

The basic premise of eating clean, is eating as close to the source (nature) as possible.  Which means, less processing, and more seasonal foods loaded up with their natural nutrients!  We love this book because it is full of gorgeous recipes that are very veggie centric, and it's a delicious resource to help us add more produce to our day to day diet.  (It is, after all, too easy for a woman to live on BBQ ribs alone).

Pear Tart, Don't Mind if I Do.

The book is organized into the seasons - making it easy to select recipes with ingredients that are fresh.  Ms Walters also gives direction as to how to cook your foods in order to preserve as much of the natural goodness as possible.  The book is very vegan centric (which we are clearly not), and yet the recipes are not intimidating or full of artificial substitutes.  With gorgeous photography and recipes such as Seared Fennel with Meyer Lemons, Green Tea Poached Pears with Pomegranate Glaze and Pistachios, and Winter Squash with Chestnut Casserole, you're bound to be drooling at the mouth, and (gasp) craving more vegetables!  (Victory!)

And today, we are giving away a signed copy of Clean Food for one lucky winner!

: : : THE GIVEAWAY : : :

Clean Food

A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source

Signed by the Author, Terry Walters

: : : HOW TO ENTER : : :

1. Leave a comment on the post answering: your new favorite vegetable.  (Kobocha Squash!)

2. Tweet #CleanFoodGiveaway @xxGastronomista and @TerryWalters

3. *Extra entry* “follow” Gastronomista and/or “like” us on Facebook.

The contest closes in one week (12 pm EST). Winner will be selected on Wednesday, January 30th, and will be emailed that day.


Good luck, and many thanks to Clean Food; A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source author, Terry Walters!



Want more?

Ms. Walters is hosting a live Q&A session about eating clean tomorrow January 24th live at 7pm on Ustream! 

Log on here:


xxG  

Danny Bowien on Chinatown & Pork Pancakes

Confession.  We spend many hours of the day Chinatown, NYC.  Probably too many hours. 

But, we eat damn well, that's for sure.  It's clear, Chinatown has grown on us.  For the better.

We are smitten with this video of Danny Bowien on Nowness, a chat with the new golden boy chef on the block; his inspiration, what motivates him, why he loves what he does, and what he likes to eat (pork pancakes). 

Danny Bowien: Mission Chinese on Nowness.com.

It is true, the charm of the people of Chinatown is wildly endearing, family owned restaurants that make really good food, with little expectation of fame or notoriety in this crazy city.  It's an inspiration, to say the least. 

And, we know where we're going for lunch tomorrow....

Rebecca Horn on Eggs

The egg.  What an amazing object.  A symbol of femininity, food, and fragility.  Ms Rebecca Horn shares our enthusiasm for eggs; she has used them as a protagonist in her work for many years.  Machines often serve as the supporting actor - painting them, throwing them, or buffing their shells.  Other eggs rest perilously under boulders waiting to be crushed, cast into lead for safe keeping, or speared, somehow retaining their proud shape. In all of her works the eggs are made more precious, more fragile, their thin shells exposed and fetishized.

Without further ado, Ms. Horn on Eggs:

Rebecca Horn, Metamorphosis, 2012

Rock, Cast-Iron Skull, Steel, Egg, Light, Wooden Podest

Rebecca Horn, Lolita, 1997

Leather Glove, Ostrich Egg, Copper Rod in Plexiglass Box

Rebecca Horn, Oeufs d'Autruche, 1985

Charcoal and Colored Crayon on Ostrich Eggs and Metal

Rebecca Horn, Ostrich Egg Struck by Lightening, 1995

 

Rebecca Horn, To Sleep as Little Spoons, 1990

 

 

Rebecca Horn, Missing Full Moon, 1989

Copper Sculpture with Goose Egg Set in Lead

Rebecca Horn, Pendulum with Emu Egg, 1987

Aluminium, Emu Egg, Electric Motor

Rebecca Horn, Universe in an Ostrich Egg, 2008

2 Brushes, 1 Blue Coloured Ostrich Egg, 1 Funnel, Steel, Electronic, Motor and Pedestal