Author Archives: David

Hosta la Vista

My first fine dining experience happened when I was an ignorant 20-year-old. I had managed to save enough cash from my job as a server in my dorm’s dining hall to take my girlfriend (known from that year on as … Continue reading

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Dots Unusual

Some of us are getting together to make ice cream with liquid nitrogen I have left over from one of the Harvard labs. Are you in?” How could I turn down an invitation like that? I’ve been dying to get … Continue reading

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The Butchered Pig is Better Than the Supermarket Spew and Roasted Head Will Serve You More Than Tenderloin Will Do *

She Who Must Be Obeyed, knowing that a tie or Sunday brunch wouldn’t cut it as Father’s Day gifts, bought me an early present: a pig butchery class presented by Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge. I didn’t think I’d get any … Continue reading

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The Cake is a Lie

The birthday cakes of my youth were simple affairs: you chose either chocolate or vanilla cake, and then either chocolate or vanilla frosting. The resulting four possible cakes were well within the skill set of any mom, although presentation values … Continue reading

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Grand Foienale

She Who Must Be Obeyed has never met a foie gras preparation she didn’t like. She’s had it on hot dogs, layered on a tart, served with brioche and apples, and even once as a smoked crème brulée. It wasn’t much … Continue reading

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Egging Me On

The addition of this item to the menu for the seventh annual birthday dinner was the result of a phone call to She Who Must Be Obeyed. One of our guests, a regular attendee since the inaugural dinner, was unable to … Continue reading

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A Boy and His Pig *

A year after the Halloween party responsible for the world’s worst pumpkin pie, my housemates expressed a desire to host another party, “but this one should be a full dinner.” I offered to cook, asked for possible menu suggestions, but … Continue reading

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Son of Sam I Am

I wanted to try a simpler menu for She Who Must Be Obeyed’s birthday dinner, especially after I remembered all of the work that went into last year’s affair. Still, I knew our guests would be expecting something with a modernist twist, … Continue reading

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Seventh Annual Birthday Dinner: Menu

I‘ve been busy, preparing to host the seventh annual birthday dinner for She Who Must Be Obeyed. I’m trying something different this year, focusing on a “whole hog” dinner theme instead of a longer series of smaller, labor-intensive courses. Here’s the menu: … Continue reading

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It’s All Gouda

Things have been busy here at Chez Belm. I’ve spent a lot of time putting my house in order (literally) and dealing with the freshly-minted moody teenager who has suddenly replaced He Who Will Not Be Ignored. I also realized I … Continue reading

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