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Happy Holidays!
I am sure you all know that books and music make wonderful gifts, especially for those people you may find difficult to buy for. This month, I make a few recommendations in various categories. In addition, you can purchase any of the books or recordings mentioned here from Amazon.com. Just follow the links provided within each review. |
Can't make up your mind? Give an Amazon.com gift certificate to
everyone on your Christmas list! Buy it Now! |
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REVIEWS |
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Play With Your Food
by Joost Elffers, Saxton Freymann Stewart Tabori & Chang, September, 1997. Hardcover - 112 pages. |
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Play With Your Food is a picture book for all ages. In it, Joost Elffers transforms
fruit and vegetables into delightful creatures - pear mice, orange cats, okra grasshoppers - with
a little help from a knife and a few other kitchen ingredients. In addition to the photos of the dozens of
amazing critters, there are illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to change items from
your pantry or garden into cute little creations.
I can only imagine that a child might find a peapod or broccoli spear infinitely more edible should it first become an aardvark or antelope before it becomes dinner. And if not, he or she probably had a great time playing with his or her food. And of course, adults should be encouraged to play as much as possible. This book is a nice addition to any coffee table, as well as to the kitchen bookshelf, or even the kid's library. |
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Martha Stewart's Christmas by Martha Stewart Crown Publishing, November, 1989. Hardcover - 144 pages. |
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Good Ol' Martha is always concocting something new, whether it be a special stuffing for the holiday turkey, or a wreath for the door. True, there are few of us with enough time or desire to create home-made wrapping paper, place-card holders, and spiced cranberry walnut chutney, much less carry it off with aplomb. But it's still amazing to watch Ms. Stewart do it...and to see how she makes things seem so easy. The crafts seem simple, but not "craft-y;" there are no cute geese with bows or any other faddish notions. Just lovely decorative items and delicious recipes. For those of us who do care to make the holidays a bit more personal, to give a decorative touch that speaks of us and not of the shopping malls, this book, and each of Martha's other informative guides, is one to own. |
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Emeril's Creole Christmas by Emeril Lagasse, Marcelle Bienvenu (Contributor) William Morrow & Company, October, 1997. Hardcover - 192 pages. |
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Who doesn't love Emeril? Ok, so I can think of one or two men who are a tad jealous of their
women's fascination with the guy. He's full of spicy personality and seems to have a helluva
lotta fun in the kitchen - his enthusiasm for cooking is contageous. Spend an hour or two watching Emeril Live on the
Food Network, and BAM!, you'll fall for him too, as he kicks things up a notch.
In this cookbook, the New Orleans restauranteur-cum-tv personality gives us pages full of tasty Creole foods for the holidays: sugarcane baked ham, pralines, popcorn shrimp, rum balls, plus menu plans and gift ideas. The book is nicely illustrated with color photos of the food, but alas, not enough photos of Emeril in action (much to the chagrin of a friend ;)). |
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REVIEWS |
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Fantasy. |
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Ahhh...this album brings back memories of childhood, times spent in front of the tv, watching the
many wonderful animated Christmas specials. It's like a tiny time machine, packaged in a shiny, mirrored disc (also works great
as a tree ornament!) All of the familiar songs - from "Christmastime is Here,"
to "Skating" are represented on this 12-track collection of timeless favorites from a master of jazz.
This is a must have for anyone's collection - buy it for the nostalgia. It brings a sense of calm and homey familiarity to the hectic and often stressful Christmas season. Other Must-Have Holiday Music: Wishes You A Swinging Christmas Ella Fitzgerald Verve, 1960. Buy it now! The First Lady of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, bops along with the Frank DeVol Orchestra on these twelve classic tracks, lending to them a finger-popping freshness. Much-loved holiday tunes such as "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," and "Frosty the Snowman" are transformed from mere childish tunes to jazzy, swingin' ones. This is one of my favorite of Ella's recordings, and one of the few Christmas albums I don't mind hearing over and over again. The Christmas Album Manhattan Transfer Sony, 1992. Buy it now! More great jazzy Christmas tunes from some of the best jazz vocalists around - the Manhattan Transfer. This album has a real old-fashioned "music of your life" feel to it, so even Mom and Pop should appreciate the smooth sounds of the season. Especially on "The Christmas Song," sung with the help of Tony Bennett. |
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REVIEWS |
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The Wizard of OZ
Directed by Victor Fleming. Rated G. 1998 Warner Brothers (Originally 1939 MGM) |
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Just a few months shy of its 60th birthday, the Wizard of Oz looks better than ever. Now
with a digitally restored picture and a soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital Stereo Sound,
the glorious colors and sounds of the original have been rejuvenated. And what a dramatic difference it makes to see the 1939 Technicolor classic on
the big screen! After many years of watching it on tv, and then on video, seeing this movie as
it should be seen is a real treat.
Unfortunately, the Wizard of Oz will probably be out of the theatres by the time this issue goes to print. But there should be a major remastered video and DVD release shortly, to commemorate the 60th anniversary. If you do get the opportunity to see this film in a theatre in your lifetime, do it! |
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REVIEWS |
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Red Brick Station
The Avenue at White Marsh White Marsh, MD |
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I have been going to this restaurant on a weekly basis for the last several months, so it makes
sense to finally review the place. Red Brick Station is a brewpub/restaurant with a fire house feel,
run by a group of local investors and a British chef. Sound like an unlikely combination? Well,
it really isn't. Although fire stations are known to be the homes of good cooks, but Great Britain is
not, the mix works well anyway. The restaurant menu offers up such staple fare as burgers and the now
ubiquitous "wrap." There are also British specialties such as a tasty version of fish and chips, plus
roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and "bangers and mash," an ummm, interesting sausage and mashed
potato dish. My friend Denise and I usually begin with an appetizer of buffalo wings. At Red Brick station, they are slightly sweet, with a touch of curry powder, and served with the usual blue cheese dressing and celery stick accompaniments. Carnivores that we are, we then order burgers. I like the "Red Hot" version: their 8oz burger is topped with blue cheese and more of that yummy wing sauce, plus sauteed red onions. The burgers are tender and juicy, and never fail to please. We have ordered salads in the past, and although the portions are obscenely huge (half portions are available), the salads fall short of greatness. The one time I tried their oriental chicken salad, it seemed as if I received an entire 747's rations of honey roasted peanuts. Red Brick Station offers six different types of beer on tap, from IPA to Porter, plus assorted special brews, all made on the premises. I tried a sampler of the six regulars, and found all to be well-crafted and very flavorful. The menu has beer recommendations for most of the food items listed. Red Brick might also have the ultimate cheap meal - the nacho appetizer. This towering mound of fresh tortilla chips layered with cheese, salsa and black olives, and topped with more salsa and sour cream can easily feed three or four people. At $7.50 for the whole mess, plus the price of an iced tea or soda, one can emerge from the restaurant well fed for less than $5. |
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