MitchW

Haven't been, don't know if that'll ever happen. But...Helen Rossner has been, and it must've been tough (or was it?) for ol' Helen to to give props to someone (April Bloomfield) who knew and allowed terrible things to go on in a restaurant she partly owned and was in charge of. I'm so happy for April's psyche...and happy that April has come to terms with it. Oh lookie here - Helen feels guilt!!! And ambivalence. Didn't April already hand stuff off to someone else, somewhere else? I guess that lesson wasn't learned. Just...no.

In our short stay in Madrid last week (next time, it'll be a longer stay for sure), we (re)visited both the Museo del Prado as well as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. We had a need to (re)see some classic works, and both museums had excellent exhibitions currently running. At the Prado, before spending time getting as depressed as possible, we took in this: Reversos - a quite fascinating look at what goes on behind and in back of a work of art. Then it was time for depression, so we trudged to this: The Lost Mirror. Jews and Converts in Medieval Spain - what is there to say? To cheer ourselves up, we took in Bosch, el Greco, Goya and Velazquez. I then needed a drink. What an amazing museum; that's all. It's also great because they don't allow photography - I wish every museum would do the same (I know, I know, I take pictures, but I do it without annoying everyone around me, and also with the knowledge that, for instance, Las Meninas is not going to be better because I'm in front of the fucking painting). The following day, we headed out after lunch to the Reina Sofia. In addition to (re)seeing Guernica and it's attendant works (I particularly like the Dora Maar photographs of Guernica in progress), there was this wonderfully curated exhibition: Picasso 1906 -- The Turning Point - basically focused on one year of Picasso's life (when he was 25), an in depth look at what influenced him, and his influence on modern art. Astounding stuff. Since they let you take photographs at the Reina, what the hell... El Greco, for Picasso. Gertrude Stein, for Picasso. Picasso, for the world. Stendahled out.

How was the food?

When we first started listening to Chronic Town, R.E.M.'s debut EP (thanks to a piece I'd read by Christgau in the Voice), my then partner, other friends and I would often listen and try to figure out what lyrics were being sung. We never did. And I was lucky enough to see them on their first swing through California, at the Keystone Palo Alto, in June, 1983.

Try gin.

In San Sebastián, not necessarily a city known for its cocktail scene, we went to the fancy bar in our somewhat fancy hotel. Ordering a wet Martini for my wife, and explaining how she likes her Martini, said Martini was served. Only problem was, it was made with Martini Rosso. However, last night here in Madrid: both the “wet” Martini and the rye Manhattan were just fine (albeit free poured, but at least not shaken). Del Diego Cocktail Bar, in Chueca.

Magma = food good, service comical.

Yes, the no comments thing was basically started because they didn’t want anyone disagreeing with anything they wrote, even the factually inaccurate stuff.

One of the more disturbed paintings! Another… With a murder of crows. Another of his 3 final painting.

Of course, many VvG exhibitions over the years have been seen by many. This is his last, final painting. He painted, and then shot himself in the heart that evening, and died two days later.

I use a vacu-vin (sp. ?) once I open a bottle of vermouth, and keep the bottle refrigerated. They’ll last at least 3-4 weeks that way. And fwiw, I mostly buy and use 375 ml bottles, except when that’s impossible.

Really good meal at Soces last night.

She’s a good chef. Pig & Khao still hanging in.

Now I really miss that chicken and porridge dish from his first place here.

It’s good, and yeah they sure like to advertise!

One of @Sneakeater's favorite vegetables: Fioeretti, roasted along with some Brussels sprouts. But I only use olive oil, salt, pepper, and in this case, Silk chili. It was a side dish for spaghetti and meatballs! This needed no side...stir-fried chicken thighs, with carrots, celery, scallions, mushrooms, ginger, garlic, chili oasta of some sort. Jasmine rice. Freshly made crab cakes, vegetable samosas (possibly my favorite thing from Trader Joe's - it's the only frozen product I buy), and Brussels (again) in the Jacques style (i.e. sliced, sautéed).

We're gonna be in Spain in a week or so - Donostia and Madrid. We wanted to go back to Rekondo but closed for vacation, as are a number of others.

My last recommend from Chambo was Magma. We're going next week. Along with Soces. Le Gran Bain has a big counter/bar for solo diners and have always had good food there.

I'm sorting through, and reboxing, my collection of 45s. These are there: RIP

The only recipes I've seen without Dubonnet have sweet vermouth in lieu of.

I have master lists from a number of the early serious cocktail bars here in NYC (don't ask, please don't tell), and there are very few Fernet cocktails listed. The two above are the ones which pop, though as with @Sneakeater's Vieux Carré, proportions tend to differ based on the bar and/or the bartender. The recipe I show for the Don't Give Up the Ship (apparently via the Zig Zag) is: 2 gin; .5 Dubonnet; .25 Grand Marnier; .25 Fernet

Oh, nice!

@Orik - are you using Okume for your dashi ingredients, or another secret?!

I think, though I may be wrong, that calories may be controlled by the quantity of food one eats, and burns, on a daily basis.

I'll add pasta and rices to this.