The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ had a three evening, two day, foodie packed schedule this weekend, with the logistics of this event being nothing short of mesmerizing. A three ring circus has less going on at any given moment than the Basie did on Saturday and Sunday. Andrew Zimmern was on the stage Friday night, while Giada de Laurentiis took her turn on Saturday night. Both familiar food network names, filled the theatre seats.
The vegetable gardens this season have become a mixed bag of problems and prodigious produce. Colorado potato beetles have turned up and devoured one of our tomato plants. The words ewww and ick came out of me several times. However, other plants are a goldmine of green for the kitchen.
Condiments, relishes and sauces can make or break a well prepared dish. A tasty addition to anything from simple scrambled eggs to a perfectly broiled steak can take a meal from ho-hum to sublime.
Writing about food can give you some unique opportunities. Sent to cover a local restaurant that would be featured on a major news show in the near future, I went in with low expectations. Thinking the news team would consider me in the way, the experience was completely to the contrary.
