Just wanted to take a minute to tell you how very much I enjoy your newsletter. It’s chill and folksy and very charming ... Not to mention that you and Anne consistently provide great links to fascinating books, movies and TV shows. Feels a bit like having a connection with an old friend. I am grateful for your efforts.
A book on pies should include a reference to the Australian eponymous meat pie. A pastry package consisting of a bottom pastry cup with a savoury beef mince and gravy filling and topped with a pastry lid sealed to the cup. When made properly and the pastry cooked correctly it is 3 inches of perfection. Traditionally always round but also square versions later became available. This pie is not to be confused with nor compared to the “gourmet” versions now masquerading as meat pies and containing all sorts of fillings like steak and mushroom, chicken and veg and any other concoction a hopefully famous pie maker can come up with.
Sometimes eaten with sauce and in the Aussie slang always known as a “dog’s eye with blood”. A right of young manhood is to eat the molten hot pie with or without sauce holding it in one hand while driving with the other without spilling it or getting third degree burns on your hand when the molten interior leaks out. And in the days of my youth doing that in a stick shift car.
Ah yes the great Aussie pie. Good ones can still be found on occasion.
Love your newsletter and all your books - i have them all. Neither my wife nor I can understand how you and your wife can cram so much in to a month. Do you never sleep?? Cheers from Australia
Ay ay ay…Babylon is an odd movie to recommend - self indulgent, aesthetically out of touch with its time period, bang you over the head look what a cool director I am nonsense…although I realize you didn’t ask me for my opinion…Chazelle has done exquisite work - not this time. Besides that Mrs.Lincoln, I loved the rest of your newsletter.
I really enjoy your newsletter. I often follow up on your recommendations on what to watch and read, plus I enjoy reading the links. It would wonderful if you would include where you watched something. I want to watch After Love but could not find anyplace it is available to watch. Now I am off to my public library site to request some books. If they don't have a copy I can request that they buy it.
Where I live, the county health department doesn't allow sponges in professional kitchens. Even though I'm retired, I follow those guidelines in my home kitchen.
Regarding savory pies, I hope you'll include Tex-Mex favorites like tamali pie or chili pie. Another favorite is this casserole (sometimes I add chopped carrots and Yukon Gold potatoes)), that, after about 2 hours of baking, gets topped with an egg-washed all-butter pie crust baked another 20-30 minutes until deep golden.
Also, regarding dog names. my mother is Filipino. When my dad was stationed in the Philippines in the mid 60s, construction workers from a different province were building an apartment complex across the street. My little brother was playing in the gated yard with our new puppy, and they were looking and laughing at the dog. My brother came in and asked what "masarap" means, which is "delicious" in Tagalog. I didn't have the heart to tell him, so I said it means "cute" which led to uproariousness when my mom came home and heard him saying that to the puppy. Three years ago, one of my sons ( a 43-year-old wannabe comedian) brought home a coal black Lab/Husky mix that he wanted to name "Dinner" Then he said he was going to name her "Waak" so that he could say he was going to "wok the dog". Haha funny. Thank goodness he settled on calling her Hope. We also have a black Chihuahua who came to us with the name Mocha because she looks like a coffee bean when she's all curled up. Awww...
Another great list to savor this Saturday. I am looking forward to your savory pie book. And the movie and book suggestions look intriguing, especially Turn Every Page, and another Laurie Colwin book is always a good thing. Another great book I just finished a couple of days ago was Ann's Fly Girl. Really captured the joy of flying and finding your place in the world by following your dreams and lots of hard work. Already recommended it to my book club.
Thanks for the info & link on velveting meat for stir frying. Also on using a beurre maniė instead of a slurry. I had used it last week to thicken a stew without knowing what it was called & I did notice that the gravy was a smoother consistency.
Don't know if you watch TV much but—if you do, perchance—I'd like to know what you thought of "Stolen Youth," that cult documentary about Sarah Lawrence College.
I will always enjoy a hearty chicken pot pie on a winter night. My wife is going out for tea today & mentioned that she so enjoys the chicken divan that they have on the menu. Now that could make a great pot pie.
Because your newsletter is so entertaining and well written, I want to gently call you out on your ageist remark about Robert Caro. "(fingers crossed; Caro is 87)." Someday, God willing, you will be 87 with all of your faculties intact and the benefit of all your experiences and education. If you are exposed to ageism, it will sting. Since your remark added nothing to the brief, I believe you can do better.
Hi Michael,
Just wanted to take a minute to tell you how very much I enjoy your newsletter. It’s chill and folksy and very charming ... Not to mention that you and Anne consistently provide great links to fascinating books, movies and TV shows. Feels a bit like having a connection with an old friend. I am grateful for your efforts.
I agree re: eggs! They should cost a bit she we can appreciate how and where they come from!
Best way to start the weekend is a good cup of coffee and Michael’s newsletter. Still got my fingers crossed for a Michael Ruhlman You Tube channel.
A book on pies should include a reference to the Australian eponymous meat pie. A pastry package consisting of a bottom pastry cup with a savoury beef mince and gravy filling and topped with a pastry lid sealed to the cup. When made properly and the pastry cooked correctly it is 3 inches of perfection. Traditionally always round but also square versions later became available. This pie is not to be confused with nor compared to the “gourmet” versions now masquerading as meat pies and containing all sorts of fillings like steak and mushroom, chicken and veg and any other concoction a hopefully famous pie maker can come up with.
Sometimes eaten with sauce and in the Aussie slang always known as a “dog’s eye with blood”. A right of young manhood is to eat the molten hot pie with or without sauce holding it in one hand while driving with the other without spilling it or getting third degree burns on your hand when the molten interior leaks out. And in the days of my youth doing that in a stick shift car.
Ah yes the great Aussie pie. Good ones can still be found on occasion.
Love your newsletter and all your books - i have them all. Neither my wife nor I can understand how you and your wife can cram so much in to a month. Do you never sleep?? Cheers from Australia
Ay ay ay…Babylon is an odd movie to recommend - self indulgent, aesthetically out of touch with its time period, bang you over the head look what a cool director I am nonsense…although I realize you didn’t ask me for my opinion…Chazelle has done exquisite work - not this time. Besides that Mrs.Lincoln, I loved the rest of your newsletter.
I really enjoy your newsletter. I often follow up on your recommendations on what to watch and read, plus I enjoy reading the links. It would wonderful if you would include where you watched something. I want to watch After Love but could not find anyplace it is available to watch. Now I am off to my public library site to request some books. If they don't have a copy I can request that they buy it.
Great letter as always. Time together is the best gift. How can I watch After Love?
Many thanks,
Denise
Brian Polcyn's Five Lakes Grill was one of my all time favorite restaurants- I'm eagerly awaiting the pie book.
I like a good chicken pot pie myself, extra cayenne please.
Where I live, the county health department doesn't allow sponges in professional kitchens. Even though I'm retired, I follow those guidelines in my home kitchen.
Regarding savory pies, I hope you'll include Tex-Mex favorites like tamali pie or chili pie. Another favorite is this casserole (sometimes I add chopped carrots and Yukon Gold potatoes)), that, after about 2 hours of baking, gets topped with an egg-washed all-butter pie crust baked another 20-30 minutes until deep golden.
Also, regarding dog names. my mother is Filipino. When my dad was stationed in the Philippines in the mid 60s, construction workers from a different province were building an apartment complex across the street. My little brother was playing in the gated yard with our new puppy, and they were looking and laughing at the dog. My brother came in and asked what "masarap" means, which is "delicious" in Tagalog. I didn't have the heart to tell him, so I said it means "cute" which led to uproariousness when my mom came home and heard him saying that to the puppy. Three years ago, one of my sons ( a 43-year-old wannabe comedian) brought home a coal black Lab/Husky mix that he wanted to name "Dinner" Then he said he was going to name her "Waak" so that he could say he was going to "wok the dog". Haha funny. Thank goodness he settled on calling her Hope. We also have a black Chihuahua who came to us with the name Mocha because she looks like a coffee bean when she's all curled up. Awww...
Pre-ordered you book. I'm freezing large ice cubes in anticipation. Cheers!
Another great list to savor this Saturday. I am looking forward to your savory pie book. And the movie and book suggestions look intriguing, especially Turn Every Page, and another Laurie Colwin book is always a good thing. Another great book I just finished a couple of days ago was Ann's Fly Girl. Really captured the joy of flying and finding your place in the world by following your dreams and lots of hard work. Already recommended it to my book club.
Thanks for the info & link on velveting meat for stir frying. Also on using a beurre maniė instead of a slurry. I had used it last week to thicken a stew without knowing what it was called & I did notice that the gravy was a smoother consistency.
Don't know if you watch TV much but—if you do, perchance—I'd like to know what you thought of "Stolen Youth," that cult documentary about Sarah Lawrence College.
I will always enjoy a hearty chicken pot pie on a winter night. My wife is going out for tea today & mentioned that she so enjoys the chicken divan that they have on the menu. Now that could make a great pot pie.
Your newsletter is fantastic!
I look forward to your thoughts and observations each month.
Because your newsletter is so entertaining and well written, I want to gently call you out on your ageist remark about Robert Caro. "(fingers crossed; Caro is 87)." Someday, God willing, you will be 87 with all of your faculties intact and the benefit of all your experiences and education. If you are exposed to ageism, it will sting. Since your remark added nothing to the brief, I believe you can do better.