December 27th, 2011
I ate McDonalds. Please forgive me as my quench to forgive my hangover exceeded the chef code of culinary principles & anti fast-food ethics. The gratification to my palette was less than satisfactory, but at least the fermented agave elixir lining my stomach was now fortified with good old’ fashioned Mickey-D’s saturated fats & patented triglycerides. I was always a chicken nugget with barbecue sauce kind of kid, but it wasn’t too often that we got to visit the clown’s joint – Dad wouldn’t have it, “No, we’re not eating that crap! Burger King is the only one that grills their burgers.” And so we’d forego the Big Mack for a Whopper all the time wishing it was Mom who at the wheel.
A long ass night with one damn long drive, I touched down in Los Angeles at 1:15am this morning after having catering an event in Palm Springs. I must be slipping back into the groove as I was about 87.4% happy with my timing, cooking & plating presentation – a big advancement from Fridays affair at the same house (I’m not one to scapegoat but on Friday I had “Mitilda the Moron Maid” as my only assistant and really, she should stick with Panda Express & Bubbilicious bubblegum). As for the three hour drive there and back? A journey as such provides one that solitary opportunity to really delve within and turn the channel in an endless search for the right tune, adjusting the volume to personal preference as the crisp desert air comes streaming through the window and Journey belt’s out “don’t stop believing” . . . jiving to the catchy beats until that annoying commercial promoting the latest and greatest Fat burner Pill steals your karaoke moment (I hardly needed any reminders of my late lunch selection). Somewhere between here & bum’fk nowhere, a thought occurred to me - as this journal is cause to share inspiration in all of its many forms, as I’m attempting to encourage you to explore self-awareness beyond the outlet of a kitchen . . . “we should include a song with each daily journal entry”
I’ve referenced my love for dancing before, but what is dancing without the music? I'd rather not try to make something out of nothing; your basic bass thumping will adequately suffice . . but it oh, how it can be so much more! What is music? It’s that billboard top charts song that you’ve assigned to your most recent love escapade, it’s that heart break melody that you’ve added to a repertoire of “let go’s” and it’s that elevating tune that was blasting over the gymnasium befuddled sound system as your team celebrated winning the first game of the season. Music has a way with our emotions –and why shouldn’t it? As much damage as mankind does it is our artistic creations that stand out as our pinnacles of potential. The chain of music extends deep into a series of artists aspiring to translate their talent into a profession.
At the conception, you have a song writer etching out the words to a love lullaby, the verses of sadness & loss, or the often harsh jibberish of street scene living. Then there is the composer who actually writes out the hieroglyphic notes applicable to any assortment of musical instruments, which brings us to those amazing individuals that followed their broke-ass Peter Pan flute dreams. Of course, there’s the lead singer & band who applies their uniqueness to the ballad and whence the song is consecrated, the album composition finalized, the CD cover drafted . . there is the dramatic concert performance involving theatrics, choreographers, lighting specialists - all acts placating to world of creative energy. The moment concludes with the fan – just like all of the preparations for an amazing dinner touched with a chef’s personality . . . it is that simple enjoyment and appreciation for an artistic production created by the hand of man. Cathedrals in the sky, Monet impressions, Billy Joel keyes . . we can be quite amazing when we choose to be!
And we conclude with some beckoned interaction here - I am open to your song suggestions that are most applicable to one of my past journal entries (I’m going to clean-them up a bit to our finalized “blog format”). Your input and participation are greatly valued as a guest at the dinner table . . . I might be scene whistling to the tune of my own beat , but we share the common dance floor of life. It’s up to you to decide if you want to join me, the tempo vibrating, the bass pulsating, the emotional triggers transporting one to an ethereal state . . you’re out of your body now, the feet shuffling to a different commander in chief, your hips swaying to the beat of freedom . . . let’s groove together baby cause I got's the moves like Jagger!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1PL2oeqDTY
Back to the beat,
Chef Scotty
The Sonnet of Shrimp Ceviche
You’ll need some quality chips for this recipe or if you’re adventurous you can buy tortilla’s and fry up your own . . . a precursor party at your casa? The club calls to you like the lime calls to avocado – love making in a bowl, shake your booty and remember that salt is your best friend!
Ingredients
• 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 red bell peppers, diced
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced, or to taste
• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 2 avocados, diced (optional)
• 2 ribs celery, diced (optional)
• chopped fresh cilantro & mint to taste
• salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Place shrimp in a glass bowl and cover with lime juice to marinate (or 'cook') for about 10 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. Meanwhile, place the red bell pepper, onion, jalapeno & mango (and avocados and celery, if using) in a large, non-reactive (stainless steel, glass or plastic) bowl.
2. Remove shrimp from lime juice, reserving juice. Dice shrimp and add to the bowl of vegetables. Pour in the remaining lime juice marinade. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to mix.
No comments:
Post a Comment