You Think You Know, But You Have NO Idea

Boy do you learn a lot about what you don't know about food around chefs. I was invited over to a friend of a friends apartment for a cookout with chefs. The chefs work at the popular NYC restaurant Jean-Georges and went to the culinary school, CIA.

Among the menu was skirt and hanger steak, corn, potato salad, three bean salad, and pickled ramps. Even though the list sounds pretty traditional, it was the preparation that made it unique. The potato salad had hard boiled eggs and dill in it. The steaks were perfectly cooked and marinated in lemon, olive oil, garlic, and cilantro. They also grilled with lump charcoal instead of charcoal briquettes. Lump charcoal is harder to manage however briquettes tend to contain additives and give an unwanted flavor to the meat.

LUMP (upper)

BRIQUETTES (lower)

The pickled ramps were my favorite, even though I didn't know what they were. Shortly after my 20 questions, I learned a ramp is a wild leek that is only available in the spring season.

Here is a pickled ramp recipe:

http://steamykitchen.com/4241-asian-pickled-wild-leek-ramp-bulbs.html

You don't have to pickle them, but since they are only in season for a short period pickling allows you to enjoy them all year long!

If You Grill It, They Will Come

After much research and input from the Grill Master, my Dad, I settled on the Weber Performer for my first grill. Well I didn't really settle...my parents bought it for me as a housewarming gift. They are the best!

Ladies, this machine is a man magnet. It has a similar effect to when guys spray themselves with Axe or when female students linger outside the law building. If you spray it, linger around it, or grill it...they will come.

I got my name, Toasty Buns, from this grill. Whenever I would be hosting a cookout, I always walked around and asked people if they wanted their buns toasted. Everyone started calling me Toasty Buns.

Now onto the amazing specifics of this grill:

• Uses charcoal but has a gas starter
• Has a bin to hold the charcoal and a bin for the ashes to fall into
• Tabletop to set all your meats, etc. on
• Hinge on the side to put the lid when grilling
• Hooks to put all your utensils

If I had to mention any negatives:

• Expensive at $300-$400 (not including the $50 cover)
• Limited amount of grilling space
• You have to put it together (pretty simple assembly)

Alright, enough salivating...just go out and buy it!

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns