Cooking Up An Appetizing Conversation With Melissa Clark
Interested in learning a simple way to prepare duck?
If your first reaction consists of a sarcastic laugh and a confused brow, then you are not alone. As someone who just learned how to properly roast a chicken, the thought of attempting a more upscale and trendy bird (mmm… duck fat fries) is intimidating. But according to New York Times food columnist and cookbook author, Melissa Clark, cooking-up a duck can be incredibly simple and delicious.
Preparing duck is just one of the many topics Clark discussed at Kramer Books & Afterwords Café this past Thursday, where she hosted an intimate book-signing event to promote her latest cookbook, Cook This Now. At the event, Clark met with a group of local bloggers and food-passionate individuals to compare notes on everything from frying latkes to roasting duck and what’s next on the food trend horizon.
Over coffee and breakfast, attendees also took their turns asking Clark questions about her adventures in food, including what it’s like to work at the Times, her next big project and what she does with leftover food when she tests recipes. (Let’s just say she has some very lucky neighbors.)
Cook This Now is Clark’s latest book, but definitely not her first. In fact, she has written 32 other cookbooks, many in collaboration with celebrated chefs, including Daniel Boulud, Claudia Fleming and White House pastry chef, Bill Yosses.
Her latest book, however, is Clark’s personal collection of simple, yet inventive, comfort-food-style recipes inspired by the seasons and family – A collection that includes everything from hearty stews to effortless salads and rich cakes and brownies.
And while I am not quite sure I am up for a full-on duck challenge (despite Clark’s persuasive and informative account with the bird), I definitely can (and will) tackle her new recipe for braised pork shoulder with tomatoes, cinnamon and olives over polenta.
For more information on Melissa Clark and Cook This Now, visit her blog at: http://melissaclark.typepad.com/blog/.
Image Courtesy of Melissa Clark
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