Wilfrid

Memories. The first ever post on Mouthfuls was me describing a dinner at Le Bernardin. I was taken to lunch there by the New York law firm that wanted to sponsor me for my green card. But why it’s front of mind is that I was just paging through Patricia Wells’ old Paris food guide, and there is Gilbert Le Coze standing up Le B in Paris. Ou sont les neiges d’auntun?

All helpful guys. 🙄

I had avocado toast for lunch. I am still allergic to avocados. Annoying. Not that I can’t eat them, but an hour of lips and throat on fire after.

I meant if I go it would be for an event in Durham, Raleigh being fairly nearby.

But then he did all the other stuff.

I have always heard good things about Asheville, but it’s a long way from what would take me there (if I go).

Coincidentally I was reminded of his work as a writer at the Poet’s House showcase (ongoing). Probably worth a look.

Nobody been?

Francie is impressing me every time. Seasonal dishes triggered my visit. First, an intricately flavored combo of soft, savory morels, white asparagus and a white asparagus mousse topped with caviar. Then what was billed as spring lamb, green garlic persillade, ramp, spring onion soubise. The ramp bulbs were very small, but the ramp leaves were put to use in the soubise. Excitement: unexpected fiddlehead ferns. Ordered three cheeses and was comped a fourth as usual. Laherte Frères "Ultradition Extra Brut," served in a regular wine glass and seemed a more generous pour than you'd get in a flute. Then a Jura chardonnay that paired amazingly with the asparagus: 2022 Domaine Tissot "Patchwork." I usually order the Listán Negro (2022 Pablo Matallana "La Bardona ~ Viñas del Norte") with meat here because I really like it.

No guys, this is Dominican salami. No intentional mould.

Would I enjoy two or three days in Raleigh? Food, drink, galleries? Am I right to check it out ahead of Durham?

A good trip. How many nights?

I chiseled a bit of white mould off the side of the salami before making the sandwich and I’m still here.

Not the Passover thread I expected.

It was supposed to be Rambo but they can’t afford to change the sign.

Oh yes, I forgot the music nights.

The Wayland on Avenue C? I only ever remember a boring yuppy crowd.

Nothing against Beyoncé at all, but I wince at all these stories about the first Black woman to top the country charts. Duh, she’s Beyoncé. Taylor Swift would top the R&B charts if she wanted to (maybe she did already, I don’t know). There are terrific Black women working in country/Americana. Hopefully Beyoncé will lift them up.

Yes, that’s right.

I did learn from Foxface about quail testicles.

Maybe I will find ramps under my pillow in the morning.

Ramps? I am seeing ramps on menus. Already? Okay I guess so.

So he is. And both treasures still with us.

There’s something more complicated going on because AI can’t actually “report” — it has no causal connection with the world. It’s trained on data and that doesn’t happen in real time. So the Chen Lung Ku story, from a few days prior, must have been based on facts a human pumped into the machine, then allowing the AI to pump out the story. But yes it’s all disappointing.

Oh wow, was still alive!