Random Notes

Inspired by a bounty of cherokee purple tomatoes and lettuce from our csa, Niedlovs sourdough, farm fresh eggs from Brock Creek farms on Signal Mountain, a bumper crop of basil in our garden(basil aoli), some previously opened goat cheese and a Benton's bacon ice cream Saturday night at Town House restaurant in Chilhowie, we threw down with some blt's tonight. Combined with a Grenache based blend from Pax called cuvee Moriah (the 2004), a chicken salad requested by the kids (leftover chicken from the grill with some grapes and a bit of curry), and some simply grilled okra (with olive oil, sea salt and pepper), we had a terrific simple summer meal. The Pax wines often evoke a bit of bacon fat for me, and this particular bottle was no exception. The downside of all this was this was the last of 10 pounds of Benton's heaven and another pork run to Bentonville (well, actually Madisonville, Tennessee) is imminent and necessary. Mail order is never as fun as seeing the masterful genius Allen Benton in person....darned if he doesn't remind me of Jimmy Carter. The Cuvee Moriah still has some years left as mouth drying tannins showed themselves still.

Caroline was reading an article(June 2009, Bon Appetit) to me on our drive back from Virginia this weekend about bacon drippings/fat being fairly equivalent as far as health goes as olive oil, etc. I can remember in our own family the can/jar of drippings kept close by in the kitchen. So tonight, we filled an old jar with the leavings from frying up the Bentons...a guilty pleasure for sure. Anybody else returning to this "old" practice?

Here's a puzzle. How will the James Beard Foundation handle Townhouse and its chefs? Joint award for best chef/best new chef(s)? Best new restaurant? Best dessert chef and best chef separately? How long will it take for them to find the place...we're certainly in the process of notifying/contacting them, but will it be too far from a major airport for them to easily send reviewers?

James Beard recognized Restaurant Eugene is on the agenda for this coming weekend.