http://www.elliebarczak.com Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:42:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Just after Labor Day, the cool curtain of autumn has once again gently descended upon the Midwest. It smells like fall; the sun’s heat still beads the sweat on runner’s foreheads but the air is crisp and laced with the urge to apple pick. Dialogue   Fall also makes me want ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/09/a-few-rooftop-dinners-night-3-simple-and-indulgent/ Night two was all about the drink, and a gentleman named Wyatt. I like a great cocktail but I am usually more focused on the food (while sipping wine of course). My friend had other plans. He was fastidious in the drink prep and presentation. Wyatt- at toast to you.   Out ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/08/roof-top-dining-night-two-happy-hour-special/ Right now in Madison it is too hot to do anything.  114 degree heat index about a million percent humidity……good thing I did three rounds of roof top dining before this swath of the south moved up passed the Mason Dixon line.   Night One Menu: Grilled Lemon Cumin Chicken Salt and Pepper ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/07/a-few-roof-top-dinners-night-one/ The radish is a thing of beauty. In fact one species is so enchanting it has earned the name Beauty Heart. I can’t wait for these baseball-sized veggies to appear at the farmers market. I have about 3 weeks to wait.  Slices of a beauty heart, a good glug olive ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/07/radish-fest/ Last week, sitting beside the Ohio river and listening to the Cincinnati Reds beat the Yankees (yay) I consumed as much sea food as I could possibly fit in my stomach (then had carrot cake just to even it out in there.) The meal was really lovely, but more than the ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/06/deep-thoughts-over-cheap-wine/   I had my first 3 Way this weekend…and yes, it was good for me.    I have been traveling to Cincinnati Ohio for nearly 8 month now seems time to do a little experimenting: I finally decided to have a 3 way. Heck, I’m an open minded person, why not.    Skyline Chili is ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/06/it%e2%80%99s-finally-skyline-time/ Back home for a weekend to show off my city, and what was I most excited to do? Well, eat of course. Starting with a Kramarczuk's Hungarian sausage loaded with onions and sauerkraut at the Twins game on friday, every meal was a delight from my past. From lunch at Lucia's ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/06/back-to-the-motherland-minneapolis-mn/ THE DANE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET IS BACK! Finally the vibrant fuchsia center of beauty heart radish graces my plate, tender arugula leaves are passed out as samples by the man who harvested them in the Saturday dawn and bunches of aromatic ramps catch my eye for a spring pesto. This is ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/05/the-farmers-market-is-back/ Salt, it’s not just a seasoning, it is a sauté pan, a grill rack or a sushi tray; a butter maker, a Carpaccio curer or a beautiful serving tray. That is, when you’re dealing with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt.  The block is identical to rose quarts-- fault lines of salty whiteness ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/05/cooking-on-sea-salt/ Oscar results are in and the Kings Speech cleans up. Personally, I think it was the safest choice of the 10, a goodie but not a risky decision by the Academy. But that is just my little aside. Speaking of results, I owe you some restaurant week feed back! If ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2011/03/and-the-oscar-goes-to/