STIR THE POTS

Oz meets west

I can't keep saying enough good things about my friends down under at the ABA, often they are recognized only for silly things like "shrimp on the barbie", Crocodile Dundee, Outback Steak house...but if you look down and deep you can really find some interesting and insightful bakers talking up a storm and even provoking conversation beyond bread baking. What is bread in our life? as a staple,an artisan craft and how we choose to make it, by hand or by machine.

Recently my mate, Graham sent members a newsletter and he mentioned this site as well as my posting over a 1000 post, quietly. Now that is a surprise as I use way too many expletives or even exclamation points to get my nutty points across. Luckily there are plenty of good people to keep me in check around the net, and I will start featuring some of my friends I have met online and if by good fortune in real life, which I hope to do!

Happy Baking

Dee Thai Restaurant

DEE Thai Restaurant

46-17 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, NY 11104  (718) 786-3137

DEE Thai Restaurant is the new kid on the block, in this case the blocks of my Queens neighborhood of Sunnyside. Hungry for lunch and not inclined to cook, I suggested to my wife that we go out for a meal in the neighborhood. Sunnyside is not what I would call gourmet central, though there are a few bright stars such Quaint restaurant. I hope there will be more opening soon. Safe to say the economy is not exactly promising, but hell the President has a check in the mail for you, so go out and shop or eat. No? Anyway, Sripraphai Thai Restaurant is the restaurant I visit in neighboring Woodside. It's a good place. And getting there isn't hard, but my wife suggested trying Dee Thai because it is local and Sunnyside seems to have limited choices, save perhaps El Rey Del Taco Deli.

So off we went. Upon entering, I was impressed with the interior. It's airy and reminds me of a Buddhist Temple. Or what I imagine a Buddhist Temple looks like in Thailand. Only with an aura that doesn't inspire prayer, but did make me want to meditate over something heavenly, like what was offered on their menu. Let's just say that for me Nirvana is manna on the plate, not in the sky. Anyway, the hostess offered us a table in the sun and a menu that reminded me of a school notebook covered with metallic plates. Hmmm. Interesting, as was the giant photo-mural on the wall of a Thai dragon boat. Made me think of the movie the King and I. But before I could even peruse the lengthy menu, the hostess offered us a separate drink menu, a variety of beverages ranging from exotic fruit juices to equally exotic teas. Always craving fermented liquids, I looked at the luscious list, then ordered a beer. To start off our meal, the hostess suggested a dish of grilled striped bass Pla Plow, Thai herbs in the fish wrapped in banana leaves with a special sauce. Intriguing but I craved a curry. Heat. Spice. Fire. Something to give me an excuse to order a couple of more beers. And boy, did they have curries, a variety with options of proteins or vegetarian,a build your own curry palace! Anyway, my wife ordered the Pla Plow which was beautifully garnished with flowers carved of carrots and the charred banana leaves covered the steaming fish inside, and suddenly curry seemed a bit... well, commanding but undistinguished. Thankfully the mussels, I had ordered  for an appetizer definitely satisfied. Cooked in clay pot they were laden with fragrant Thai basil, lemongrass and served with a spicy lime garlic and chili sauce. We shared a fresh vegetable roll, crunchy and well seasoned with a honey tamarind dipping sauce. OH,(her name actually!); our hostess, was very pleasant and helpful, she really wanted to please and lets just say I think…. no I know I will be back for another visit, so go out and support your restaurants in Sunnyside or anywhere in NYC.On my next visit I should try the jungle curry  to see if it is as hot or hotter than at Sripraphai's! Sripraphais Jungle curry to make a grown man cry!

Supan, (what bread shouldn't be!)

Supan is my wife's name for supermarket bread,(a literal translation super-pan). Something I have only eaten when there's nothing we made or bought at a genuine bakery. Until today. And let me tell you, Supan will never ever again grace my delicate palette. Well, never is a long time. But let's just say that it reminded me of a maxim worth pocketing. Here goes: factory bread sold in big supermarkets should be labeled something other than bread. Cause it may cost dough but it ain't dough.

Here's a tip. If you’re ever out of your own homemade or reputable local bakery bought bread, then just eat some yogurt till your bread is out of the oven! Oh, yeah, I guess I'm saying that it's worth buying bakery bread or baking it yourself. And it is! Sorry for the exclamation points but the subject does produce a slight froth in my brain. Partially because of the injustice of food economics today, namely they way  wheat and corn commodities have skyrocketed. Not only has corn syrup filled virtually everything on supermarkets shelves of all basic food groups, but now it competes with oil to fill the bellies of our gas hungry cars! What will happen to the basic food stuff of every day life? Bread! Kind of spooky, no?

Where was I? Oh, yeah, bread. Fake bread. Supan. Out of desperation for some nourishment for breakfast, I toasted a couple slices for a quick bacon and egg sandwich. While waiting, I read the label on the bag of this lifeless loaf, figuring the manufacturer was sure to include  that famous government pyramid graph extolling the virtues of grains and good eating, bread being one of those important groups!

Well then my eye wandered down the package to what seemed a bewildering statement on the importance of freshness.

But the worst was the list of ingredients that made me cringe - all the say down to the barrows of my bowels. Indeed, this wasn't just water, flour, and salt and all the normal ingredients, including umpronounceable mystery preservatives. But worse, hateful, the scourge of anyone who actually loves real food... what I saw right there on the bread I was toasting... corn sweetener, the ingredient that makes us obese and god knows what else?

Fortunately, I had fed my starter for a loaf of my favorite miche  the  night before!

So dear wife (and readers) no more supan. No mas. No mas. Though I have to start making sandwich loaves for my truly American favorite, a  peanut butter sandwich. Perhaps  sourdough. 

The cup, no not soccer, bread of course!

My co-producer sent me this video regarding the Coupe de Monde Boulanger, go USA!

La France a gagné!