Banking, Food, Friendship, Sumo Oranges & Alex Guarnaschelli
It All Comes Together!
About a month ago we had a "Georgica Reunion" dinner. Georgica Bank was a start-up community bank that had its IPO and subsequent launch stymied by the financial debacle known as the 2008 Great Recession. (Ah, life.) We meet periodically because despite the heart-break, we just love each other. We all went our separate ways, and somehow our fearless leader managed to reunite us in different capacities down the line. Aside from our shared experiences, laughs, challenges, and triumphs, we also share a love of food and cooking. All four of us are exceptional cooks in our own right. Reunions extend to our spouses too. It feels like family.
So what does this have to do with Alex Guarnaschelli you might be wondering. At our recent dinner an unlikely conversation started up... about cooking shows. I am always surprised when I find out how often and much men watch cooking shows! I love them, and also HGTV. Our dinner conversation started out going through the shows we like, and those we don't. Sorry to say, but we all would be OK with eliminating the lengthy runs of baking competitions leading up to key holidays. Favorites included Beat Bobby Flay, Tournament of Champions, Triple Threat, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, The Kitchen (talking to you Food Network), Chopped, and Alex vs America. We then discussed how many of the shows center around competitions, innovations in flavor and technique, but not so much "how to prepare this meal," as shows of old did. Think Julia Child, also think Lessons in Chemistry! BUT, since our last dinner together, I have been "fed" (OK, pun intended) some great knowledge/information, and “how-to” by Alex Guarnaschelli. And some serious meal-prep videos by Ina Garten.
Recently Alex's videos (I hope she doesn't mind if I call her Alex) on vinegars, salad dressing, preparing chicken, sweet potatoes, Sunday sauce, and sumo oranges have appeared in my newsfeed. I must comment about the sumo oranges video. First of all, what the heck is a sumo orange and why are they so expensive? Well, per Alex, aside from being huge, when they are in season (now!) and available on sale (also now!) they are incredibly delicious, juicy, and a true treat-flavor spectacle. So satisfying! A giant THANK YOU to Alex G. I didn't know that. You must watch this video-- you feel like the juices are going to squirt you through your screen. Alex even shows you how to peel them. But aside from all of that, her demeanor (aka tone and manner) is so smart, warm, and injected with humor that you feel like you are hangin' with a friend in her kitchen for a short visit. AND THEN, on top of this, sometimes her dog makes a cameo appearance!
In conclusion, this is how banking, food, FRIENDSHIP, sumo oranges, and Alex Guarnaschelli flow together on Hummingbird.
Here's the sumo orange video.
