We’ll Drink to That
January is the perfect time to get out from under your warm blanket and commit yourself to attending some social engagements. Here are two great events worth sprucing up for.
Charlotte Ann Albertson’s Cooking School is presenting a five-course wine-pairing dinner at Yangming on Jan. 12. The chefs will create delicious Asian-fusion dishes, and each plate will be paired with a wine selected by master sommelier Gregory Moore, formerly of Le Bec-Fin. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with champagne and butlered hors d’oeuvres; dinner follows at 7:15 p.m. $100 (taxes, tip and wine included). 1051 Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr, yangmingrestaurant.com. Call (610) 527-3200 for reservations.
On Jan. 28, Georges’ restaurant is holding the January installment of its monthly wine dinner series. Napa Valley’s Bouchaine Vineyards will supply the wine, to be paired with five courses from Georges’ kitchen. 7 p.m. $85. 503 W. Lancaster Ave., Eagle Village Shops, Wayne, georgesonthemainline.com. Call (610) 964-8744 for reservations.
Thank the Lourdas
I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s downright difficult to think of new and interesting things to cook for dinner. I’m always scanning cookbooks and food magazines for inspiration and ideas. That’s why I was so happy when word of a new cookbook came my way. Marina Kamilatos, chef and owner of Bryn Mawr’s Lourdas Greek Taverna, has written Lourdas: A Greek Family Cookbook.
The great thing about this book is how personal it is. Kamilatos shares experiences from her trips to Greece and includes specialty recipes and cooking techniques from her yia yia (grandmother), as well as her mother and father, both of whom imparted recipes influenced by different Greek heritages.
For the most part, the dishes are pretty easy to make. And it definitely offers something for everyone, from the yemistes piperies (stuffed peppers) and pastitsatha (braised chicken in tomato sauce) to the fassoulatha (white bean soup) and spanakorizo (spinach and rice).
Here’s to getting out of that cooking rut!
$36.95. Visit amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.
Winter Fresh
One of the things I look forward to most is spring, when the outdoor farmers’ markets start setting up. Until then, a huge challenge for any chef is finding tasty, locally sourced dishes to cook in the winter months.
But, thanks to the Haverford Township Farmers Market Association—which runs the Oakmont Farmers Market in Havertown from May to November—health-minded individuals can take advantage of farm-to-table cooking with the Oakmont Winter Market. That is, all who’ve signed up for Oakmont’s newsletter will receive an e-mail letting them know which farmers/vendors will set up at the market on the second Saturday of each month through early May, plus what goodies they will have in stock.
After you browse the vendors and their products, and have a list together of what you want, simply order directly from the farmer. You can then pick up your goods on the specified Saturday. Participating vendors change monthly but have included Backyard Bison, MyHouse Cookies, Éclat Chocolate, Shellbark Hollow Farm and Lindenhof Farm. The remaining dates are Feb. 12, March 12 and April 9.
Sign up for the newsletter at oakmontfarmersmarket.org.
