Happy new year to all of you! I took a two week break and am reluctantly rejoining the world. In Chicago, that means a cold, cold world. Bryan and I took a break from the frigid weather and spent some time at Garfield Park Conservatory, one of our favorite places in Chicago. Inside the warm and sunny gardens, the sound of snow and ice sliding off of the conservatory glass is the only clue to the reality of the outside world. It is the perfect escape. Also, their agave plant is blooming- which is a sight to behold. Chicago, keep it in mind when winter is getting you down.
Recipes as usual return in a couple of days but I wanted to let you know about an exciting upcoming event. I am teaming up with my friend Sandra Holl of Floriole Bakery to help host/create a special dinner that you can attend! I am thrilled to get the opportunity to collaborate with the Floriole team and to meet some of you in person! I’ve been wanting to find an opportunity to connect with readers in the real world, and this is perfect. It will be like my blog world comes to life, but you get to actually eat!
Details will follow, but put it on your calendar for February 2 (Groundhog Day!). Once we have the menu worked out, I’ll let you know all about it and how to order tickets, etc. I can tell you now that Sandra and I are planning a 4-course meal inspired by our experiences growing up in the Midwest. It will include some serious comfort food, and be the perfect meal for a cold winter night.
More soon. In the meantime, I would love to hear about your holidays and the new recipes you tried. What has been going on?!
amelia says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 3:30 pm
if only chicago were closer, i would totally buy a ticket! sounds like a dream night.
Susan says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Your photos are fabulous! That first one took my breath away.
Happy New Year!
Dawn (KitchenTravels) says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Beautiful flora photos. This post reminds me of S. F.’s Conservatory of Flowers – one of my favorite places in that city. Sorry I’ll have to miss your February dinner, it sounds wonderful. Have fun!
Sasa says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 7:27 pm
That sounds so amazing! Wish I could come… Hopefully you’ll do a world food tour soon ^_^
Sivan Harlap says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Do one in NYC!!! You can team up with me :) I have a place we can hold it!!
Jen says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Oh, your pictures give me hope that these gray, dreary months WILL pass! So excited to hear more about your new culinary adventure!
Jen says:
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Oh, P.S. I gave Mondel Bread to everyone on my list and it got rave reviews. Thank you for continuing to give us approachable and delicious recipes!
Renate says:
January 4th, 2011 at 9:44 am
I made your recipe for Cream Cheese and Chive Biscuits ahead of time and froze them to make Christmas breakfast easier. Instead of cutting them in squares, I used a larger circle cutter. Then Christmas morning, I cooked up an egg mixture in round silicone rings of the same size as the biscuits. The ‘McBiscuits’ were a big hit! Those stuck in the kitchen starting preparation of the main dinner meal wrapped their biscuit in waxed paper and appreciated their portability. Thanks again for such a great recipe. I look forward to more recipes coming soon.
Beautiful photos, Tim!
Skye says:
January 4th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Love the pics! It finally stopped raining here in No CA, and the sun has graced us with its presence. I made a homemade cornbread dressing/stuffing for Christmas Eve. Hadn’t tried it before and it turned out marvelously. It included homemade cornbread, freshly made sausage, mushrooms, water chestnuts,carrots, and so forth. Quite tasty. =)
Tim says:
January 4th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Jen- so glad the mondel bread was a success!
Renate- That sounds like a delicious Christmas breakfast, nice work!
Skye- That cornbread dressing sounds so good. I made stuffing for the first time this year, and found it really satisfying. Will definitely be trying new recipes in the future.
Caroline Shields says:
January 4th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Tim – I’m tres excited about the dinner. You are on my calendar and I can’t wait to hear more.
As for the holidays… they were lovely. I am the proud new owner of Good to the Grain, so I have been at Whole Foods stocking up on lots of different flours.
Cheers,
Caroline
Tim says:
January 4th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Caroline, when I got that book I immediately ordered like 10 pounds of grains from Bob’s Red Mill! It was a real struggle to store all of that…ha. Hope to see you in February!
kari says:
January 4th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Tim, while I love reading all you have to say about Chicago (am dying to experience Floriole), I now regret that you don’t live in Washington, DC! Your dinner sounds like a total delight.
I am working my way through gingerbread recipes right now. Liked the one from Canal House, but Claudia Fleming’s is my out-of-this-world fave. Looking into that blood orange tart next. Happy new year!
Tim says:
January 4th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
thanks for the recommendation of the gingerbread recipe. I will try the Fleming. Have you made the one from the Tartine Bakery book? I have been curious but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
kari says:
January 4th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
No I haven’t! I’ll report back when I do. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
stefani says:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
I so wish I could be there!
stefani says:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
eee I forgot to say in my last comment that I love your images of leaves – in particular the spiky leaf and the zig zag. graphic nature!
Caroline says:
January 5th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
On Feb 4 I will likely be bursting with baby but if I can roll myself there, I would love to attend.
Garfield Park Cons…. great idea!
Batya says:
January 7th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Tim, absolutely gorgeous photos. If you ever find yourself in NYC, check out Wave Hill Gardens…and if you make a dinner here, sign me up!
I’ve been making: beets with blood oranges, arugula and macadamia nuts (Five Leaves Brooklyn); spinach and sheep’s milk ricotta gnocchi with asiago (Convivium Osteria); mushroom barley soup…and the best of comfort sweet, Belgian Sugar Waffles (Gaufres de Liege), which I will post on Sunday. Happy 2011 and keep up the great work!
Tim says:
January 7th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Batya, that all sounds so good! I’ll look forward to waffles…
lynh says:
January 8th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Such great news! my friend’s “save the date” is actually the weekend before, so I won’t be able to fly out to chicago for this but what a great idea! And another vote for an nyc event. :)
Lately I’ve been eating a lot of mel clark’s kale salad, fennel and apple salad, and the lamb stew with a base of shallots from arabesque served 10 people with leftovers.
Speaking of the recipe you posted before this, panna cotta – my sister and I just made mario batali/amanda hesser’s panna cotta (from cooking for mr. latte). My whole family loved it and it wasn’t as low in fat as your version but simple, great. Thanks for all your recipes this year, and your great taste. Happy new year!
lynh says:
January 8th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
PS I forgot about the cocktails I’ve tried. Boozehound was a great book that I think you would love, and if you don’t have any, the bitter truth’s celery bitters are amazing.
Kaitlyn says:
January 14th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
I’m so excited for your dinner in February Tim! I hope I can help out!
Tim says:
January 14th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
I hope you can help out too, Kaitlyn! That would be extra fun.