The Foie Gras Wars: One Foie, One Against

Snackhands recently turned the last page of this book. It was an intriguing nonfiction tale about how famed chef/restauranteur Charlie Trotter's decision to stop serving foie gras started a big hoo-ha in Chicago and other major food cities about the "to eat or not to eat" ethics surrounding this pricey delicacy. I have to admit I rolled my eyes when the author revealed himself as a vegetarian (writing a book about duck liver!), but he did manage to stay out of the fight himself and presented chefs, foie gras farms and animal-rights activists with equal time. Well, relatively equal; he actually seemed to spend more time with the pro-foie camp. And you can't blame him. Most of the crew crusading against foie gras came off like total nutjobs, and reading about them and their crazy exploits only made me want to eat foie gras even more. Along with duck breast atop creamy polenta. With a side of bacon. And a cheeseburger. And a steak.

You have to be a complete and total food nerd to read this book, and that I am. So much so that when I took quick trip to Chicago (during my Wisconsin stay) to see my good pal S (hereafter referred to as Chicago Meow on the Prowl, or CMoP), I was giddy to get the chance to visit lauded "encased meats emporium and sausage superstore" Hot Doug's, featured both in The Foie Gras Wars and on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations for the ridonkulous menu item: Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris.

I drooled at the prospect. I double-checked the website for hours of operation and specials. I printed out maps. I timed my drive. I brought a book for my anticipated hour-long wait in line. And when I arrived at the corner of North California and Roscoe, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was pretty sure that not only was I about to fall in love with foie gras, but also with Hot Doug himself.

Alas, as in all good love stories, there came an evil twist in the plot:

(Gasp.) HEARTBREAK!

Sister Snackhands

Date: Thursday, August 13th, 2009.

Event: Waterfest.

Main Attraction: Night Ranger.

(Also, bratwurst with ketchup.)

Review: Awesome. Bought the t-shirt.

One annual ritual during my summer travels to Wisconsin is attending at least one concert at Oshkosh's relatively new outdoor concert pavilion, built a few years ago to host concerts that became too much of an event to keep happening in the parking lot behind the library. In years past I've seen bands like The Tubes, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and... well, I can't remember who else. The bands, though the main attraction, are really not the point. The point is enjoying summertime in Wisconsin and getting my first brat of the season.

Mmmm, brats. (Rhymes with hot, not hat.) If you've never had one, well, I can't really help you. This delicious smokey sausage, best cooked in a pool of beer, outdoes any Italian sausage you could ever envision.

Now, Waterfest's brats are not the best on the planet. Or, probably, in the city of Oshkosh. Mostly, they've got minor brat flavor and a wimpy bun. You'd be much better off buying your brats from a troop of boy scouts selling them in any number of grocery store parking lots scattered across the state of Wisconsin. But when you are also getting a huge beer for six bucks and are surrounded by people who just don't care about what anyone thinks, truly relishing the music they loved in high school and that is still played on area radio stations, you'll take a sub-par brat and enjoy it like it is filet mignon stuffed with caviar. Especially when Night Ranger is playing "When You Close Your Eyes" and "Sister Christian." Go ahead, swallow that last bite of brat, take a swig of beer and sing along. Don't fight it.

Oh, Oshkosh. You hotbed of summertime entertainment. Of cheap beer and brats. Of steamy Thursday nights by the water. You perfect venue for bands whose prime was 20 years ago but who still rock out. You great collection of men in jean shorts and Harley-Davidson t-shirts. Of women with frosted lipstick and high alcohol tolerance. Snackhands loves you. See you next summer.

CakeHands

This week, SnackHands and Mother of SnackHands have been experimenting with fondant. We made our own using marshmallows, water and powdered sugar, and have been pretty excited with our results. Our first attempt resulted in this cake, which served a dual purpose as our entry in the Threadcakes cake contest (see our full entry here) and as a dessert for a Shakespeare Murder Mystery party:

This cake was all it took for us to become completely obsessed with fondant. Luckily, we didn't have long to wait for our second cake-decorating opportunity to arise. Today was my niece's 11th birthday (Happy Birthday, E!!!). Having learned some things from our first round of working with fondant, this one was a little bit more fun/less stressful to assemble. Here's how it turned out:

I am having so much fun playing around with fondant that if my friends, coworkers, relatives and acquaintances aren't careful, every minor event is going to be an excuse for me to present them with a cake. Got your driver's license renewed? Congratulations! Have a cake. Had to pay $3.75 in library fines? Awww, sounds like you could use a cake. New shoes? Here's a cake to match! Tuesday? Cakeday! You get the general idea.

So. You. Be prepared to eat a lot of cake. (At least until my next culinary obsession takes over.)