StephanieL

Kedgeree, using tinned smoked herring.

I just read that Ferdinando's Focacceria in Carroll Gardens closed in February, after 112 years in business. It remains the only place I've ever been able to get Manhattan Special as a fountain drink. It may be revived in the fall, per Eater, so let's hope.

Coronation No. 1--nice if you don't want something too strong: 1 1/2 oz. dry vermouth 3/4 oz. fino sherry 1 barspoon maraschino liqueur 2 dashes orange bitters Place all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

--Grilled lamb chops and summer squash --Leftover chakalaka from a potluck we went to yesterday --N's birthday cake

I like fireworks when I'm at a sanctioned event. I hate them when they're being shot off in my neighborhood, where the houses are all close together. I really hate the ones that are just huge booms, big enough to shake the house.

Blueberry pancakes. Mucho carbs. 😉

Baguette hunk topped with ricotta, fresh blackberries, and a drizzle of honey.

The fare gates on BART were kaput system-wide this morning, so free ride!

N got into a mood for strudel after our trip, so she used our homegrown apples and marionberries, plus frozen filo dough, to make some on Friday. For some reason, the strudel recipe on the filo box calls for a lot of breadcrumbs, more than I expected, so to me it's a little disappointing. She also used our blueberries (and homemade applesauce--the woman was really busy) to make Maida Heatter's blueberry-applesauce tea cake for a potluck/house party yesterday. The recipe makes 2 loaves, so we got to keep one for ourselves. Next up: I get to do some baking--a sour cherry chocolate torte for N's upcoming birthday.

N made fish broth a couple of days ago, but not all of the jars sealed properly so she used the broth in those jars to make fish soup tonight with cod filet, canned clams (plus the clam juice), Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, and red pepper. Sourdough baguette on the side.

This one was pretty good too: https://www.montafon.at/en/my-montafon/special-features/sura-kees

Found the most gorgeously runny Reblochon at a cheese shop in Salzburg, one evening, which became our dinner when spread on some locally made seeded rolls. It was seriously liquid.

Pan-seared salmon, risotto (with homemade fish stock), and sauteed homegrown lambs' quarters and ball squash.

Got ripped off big time by a taxi driver in Vienna, just going from the main train station to our hotel (which was not all that far from the station). Not thinking clearly or I would have seen the scam right away. (N didn't spot it either.)

It went up to 92 in Vienna a couple of days ago. I'd packed some short-sleeved shirts, but no shorts. It made walking around the town a bit of a slog. Landed in SF yesterday evening and needed a long-sleeved shirt and a jacket. Just 54 degrees at 6 AM today.

Pete Townsend & Roger Daltrey.

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Bucatini with shrimp and homegrown summer squash in a light cream sauce with dill, parsley, and feta.

The Berkeley location on San Pablo Avenue is called Everetta & Jones, funny enough. No indoor seating, unfortunately. I work near the Wharf, so I'm very excited to have E&J as a lunch option. A Dominican restaurant is also coming into one of the vacant spaces. As for Alioto's, I'm a little sorry that I never got to eat there, but Scoma's fills the bill as does another place on Jefferson, Cioppino's (looks touristy but is actually decent).

N has now set up an elaborate water timing system for while we're on vacation, since it's not going to rain again until October. Hopefully, we won't lose too much.

It's less gloomy in my part of the East Bay. The plants could use some clouds, frankly.

RG's Chile Sin Carne, made with Vaqueros. Cornbread on the side.

No, I haven't read her. I'd never even heard of her until now.

Mona of the Manor, the (definitely) last installment of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series. This looks back to 1993 and focuses on Mona, whom Maupin relocated to England in the 1980s and then forgot about, only to mention that she'd died of ovarian cancer sometime between Sure of You and Michael Tolliver Lives. A pleasant story, with a few 2024 sensibilities grafted onto the early 90s.

Ah, cold borscht on a hot day!