Long Island Top Amateur Chef Contest

Heard on Party 105 there's a contest for the top amateur chef of Long Island. It happens on Tuesday, June 17, 7:00 PM at Maxwell & Dunne's Natural Steakhouse in Plainview. Contestants are to make their best chicken dish for "celebrity" judges. Of course, looks like you have to get chosen after giving some info about the dish on the website linked to above.

So, if this sounds good to you, go for it. But, for me...I like Party 105 (most of the time), and I'm surprised they are co-sponsoring this thing. I thought they were cooler than that. I mean this thing is lame, even for me. And I'm the lamest guy I know.

So, come on, just play Totally Hooked and stick to the club music before I lose respect for you.

Dine Out

This morning, in the Northampton area I saw a black Ford F-150 with a license plate that said "DINE OUT."

Who could this be? A restaurant critic? A restaurant owner? A chef? Or some chunky bastard who likes to eat out a lot?

If anyone knows, shoot me an email or leave a comment.

Book Review: The Sweet Melissa Baking Book

Melissa Murphy, from the Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Brooklyn has put out a cook book: The Sweet Melissa Baking Book. I've never been to her pastry shop (I can't bring myself to say patisserie, like a little sissy) but have heard good things and wanted to check the book out.

This is a serious baking book, folks. It’s doesn’t have a bunch of Betty Crocker, Holly Hobbie oven recipes. And that’s a good thing.

Reader: But, Butter Lover, aren’t you only capable of making Holly Hobbie-type recipes? You're not very bright.

Butter Lover: True. However, the wife is the dessert maker in our house. She loves the book and has been baking up a mess of goodies with it. So far: Brooklyn Brownout Cake, Sweet Almond Cake with Lemon Curd and Lemon Mascarpone Frosting; Spiced Pumpkin Cookie Cakes; and Black Bottom Brownies (brownies topped with cheesecake).

Most of the stuff has been great. But, to be honest, the lemon curd didn't seem to go well with the almond cake. Both were good, by themselves. Together, not so much. Maybe Sweet Melissa does it better.

My only real complaint is that there are only a few pictures. As in, out of 60 recipes (let's say), there are maybe 10 pictures. I want a picture for every recipe, damn it.

It's a good book. A serious baking book, and a great addition to your cooking library.

Updates

Holy crap! It's been about two months since my last post. I'm sure my loyal readers (hi mom!) are weeping into their pillows every night, wondering when I'll start posting again. (Just kidding. I wouldn't want my mother reading this garbage.)

Update: the Green Cactus Grill on Main Street is Islip has closed shop. And I never got around to posting a review. I'm sure the Stony Book locale is still operating. Can't say I'm surprised about the Islip place. I only went there on weekends but never saw it busy. I guess they weren't getting enough profit from the lunchtime crowds. It's a great location, but no close parking, of course. Not in those downtown areas.