N'York

[rushthatspeaks]

Or, a city that in general I enjoy so little that I must abbreviate. However, my fiancee lives here, so. It is very good to be here and be with Ruth. On Saturday I went to pick her up after work and we dropped by the main branch of the library, the one with the lions, and saw a really cool exhibit on Russian interaction with the rest of the world from ancient times through Catherine the Great. We hadn't known it was there, we were just browsing. I was particularly fond of the Edo-era Japanese chapbook featuring an ukiyo-e print of what they thought Russians looked like, and also of the Muscovite written-in-Latin explanation of Chinese philosophy for the general public, written in the mid-17th century-- you want to see a Latin text on the I Ching, that's where you go. On Sunday Signey came over (Yay! Yay! It had been *way* too long) and I made my first stab in the direction of Hollandaise sauce for brunch Eggs Benedict. Verdict: toast, fine (next time English muffins). Mango to substitute for ham: fine, juicy and meaty and not too sweet. Poached eggs: fine, despite having poached them in a frying pan held over a pot of boiling water because I do not own a double boiler. They came out correctly delicately textured yet completely cooked. Hollandaise sauce: I can separate an egg. I seem unable to manage much beyond that. Maybe when I have a real double boiler it will be easier. The sauce tasted right and had the right color, but I took my eyes off it for less than a second when it was time to add the boiling water and lo, the egg curdled, breaking the roux and losing that nice creamy Hollandaise texture. Next time will be better, as I was really in a position there of needing three hands, one to hold the pot over the pot of boiling water to simulate double boiler, one to stir the sauce, and one to add the boiling water to the sauce. I need a double boiler. It is becoming something of a problem.

After that the three of us went and wandered around Chinatown and Little Italy, which are good areas to wander. I do not want to know what the live frogs in buckets were for. I was good and resisted buying any of the amazing Chobits posters. We only located one pet store, and it only really sold tropical fish and was a mildly skanky establishment. We did, however, run across D&K's Bakery, leading me to speculate that said two characters have retired to go into business together. Somehow I can see them owning a bakery. I don't know why.

So has been good. I must go see how my dough is doing.

Comments

[wayman.livejournal.com]

Double boilers are good things.

Though a third arm may be a more realistic possiblity than you thought.

For hollandaise sauce, I cheat and use those red packets you can get at a grocery: just add milk and butter.

[weirdquark]

I own a double boiler. When y'all move up here you may use it whenever you like.

[khava.livejournal.com]

Wow, you're getting to be as bad as me, with the cooking and food-blogging thing!

[gaudior.livejournal.com]

Not knowing what hollandaise sauce is supposed to look like, all I can say is that it tasted absolutely yummy. Which is the point, being food. So grin.

Love.
Ruth.

[eredien]

The exhibit was the one that Rabidfangurl saved the article about for me; you may remember that one lunch where I was quoting at you about Russia--that was from the article about the exhibit.

There will be much quizzing about exhibit and stuff later.

Good to hear that you saw Signy. I second your idea that it's been too long since she's been seen around. Mayday, Signy?