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Table of Contents
My Really Old, Kinda Famous Dad
Also by Julie Crabtree
Discovering Pig Magic
For Jay
The Taste of Poetry
Food is the poetry
of the mouth,
in its combinations comes
the exquisite tastes of life.
In delicate preparations,
the master chef
pours his heart out,
an exquisite art form.
Time honored tradition,
dedicated for human pleasure,
delivering music in its consumption,
arousing sense of taste.
In a mixture of spices,
the sweet blending,
simmering treasure of innovation,
sparkling liquor of interaction,
the notes come together
in a meal of perfection.
—David Lester Young
June 21, 2003
A note from Ariel
You are about to read the story of one crazy year in my life. When I remember all that happened, both the great and the really sad, it’s mixed together with all the things I made in the kitchen. That might seem weird, but I find making fantastic food gives me sanity. I can’t tell you this story without also telling you about what was going on in my kitchen as everything unfolded. These recipes are mixed in with the chapters, and there’s also a listing of them in the back of the book. They are my own, and I hope you’ll try them for yourself. I have also included some of the tips and tricks I have learned over the years as I’ve studied the art of food. Maybe you too will make something really fabulous despite the drama all around you.
Prologue
Earthquake
The earthquake started like they always do. Suddenly. Nicki and M were sitting on barstools watching me fold wontons one minute; the next second we were all thrown on the floor. I instinctively crouched against the cabinets as the wavelike motion of the earth rattled the flour canister off the counter. It hit
