iron and wine

Last week, I was given a cheap bottle of port. It was given as a joke and, as was the point, it's terrible. Normally I would use a bottle of cheap wine for cooking but I'm  not sure if this works for port as well. I've been searching through recipes online but have found nothing mentioning cheap port (or suggesting a use for cheap port). So, it's experiment time. And, yes, the giver is going to be my guinea pig.

The easy
Blue cheese, port and walnut spread
Port wine glaze

The realistic
Chicken with figs in a port wine sauce

The slightly ambitious
Pepper-crusted beef tenderloin with chocolate-port sauce
Vanilla cheesecake with cherry topping

I will take the sun in my mouth

In October, Bonnie and I made plans to visit a new bar/restaurant, Henry Public, with the specific goal of trying the Wilkinsons. The date came (Halloween) and it was pouring rain. The month, for me, had been horribly busy and stressful, and the week leading up to Halloween was no exception. Bonnie, who met me in SoHo looking soggy and not too happy, had also had a bad week. But we're stubborn in general, and when it comes to food perhaps more stubborn than usual, so we made our way to the train and headed for Brooklyn.

Thankfully, after countless eye rolls at drunk people in costume, Henry Public proved to be well worth the trip. Bonnie and I were able to dry out at our little table, tucked in the back of the not too crowded seating area, and vent about work stresses. The staff put up with our many random requests and shared our Wilkinson-love... because the Wilkinsons were AMAZING. It's fried dough, yes. But it is fried dough covered with powdered sugar and served with a brown sugar dipping sauce. And on a rainy day at the end of a bad week with a friend who relates and listens... well, we decided that the next time either of us is having a bad day/week/whatever, this is the solution.


Thinking of things Dutch, I recently received a Tasting Table email about Dutch pancakes. I've never had one but they sound amazing. (Again, it's dough. It can't be that difficult.) Can we make winter plans for pancake brunches?