Saturday, August 22, 2020

Convention...Almost Fall...and A Cup of Deconstruction

"I'll just sit over here in my nest and watch."  ~Sofi

Recently stumbled across a trend I had somehow missed out on for two years.

Deconstruction.

Who knew?

Certainly not John and I, who had no idea it existed until this week.

After finding the deconstructed Christmas decorating I delved further and discovered, apparently, deconstruction was quite The Trend for a couple of years.

Better late than never...I guess.

The deconstruction spans decor, runways and food.


And whereas I found the deconstructed fashions to be...well...not for me...

I was intrigued by some of the decorating ideas...and, of course, the foodie in me loved the idea of deconstructed meals.

The Beef Manhattan Hobby Kit.

Some assembly necessary.

The brainchild of 3 Star Michelin Chef Ferran Adria from Spain.

Deconstruction sometimes involves just breaking down a familiar dish into its components presented artfully separate on the serving dish with a splash of sauce.

Or it can be a change of texture (i.e. gelification or foams)

Or in the presentation.

The final trick to Deconstructed Food is that when the ingredients (consumed separately) are finished the diner recognized the memory taste of the dish they represent.

What they have just eaten.

I must fix a dinner like this sometime, for us.

Sounds like a fun and wonderful challenge!

Tonight, since there were already tacos on the menu...I tried the components approach and enjoyed it very much.

Tah Dah.

Deconstructed Taco.

One pile of sour cream with julienne ripe tomato.

One pile with shredded cheddar blend cheese.

Larger chunked beef cooked in spicy taco seasoning and spread between the two.

A wedge of lettuce.

Broken taco shell pieces.

And Cilantro Garnish.

(no salsa, or I would have daubed a red circle in the left hand corner of the plate)

All of the ingredients eaten solo...and success...because by the end of dinner it was indeed a taco...maybe even better than a conventional taco in that you really paid attention to the different textures, temperatures, and flavors.

Saw an artful presentation of deconstructed Beef Wellington...and deconstructed chocolate cream pie that I want to try with us, sometime!

Deconstruction.

Who knew?

The Democratic National Convention all presented virtually this year in light of Covid-19.

Speaking of deconstruction...of Trump and his chances for any hope of re-election.

Caught the highlights.


Both Michelle and Barack Obama's speeches

Jill and Joe Biden

and, of course, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's Acceptance Speeches.


Class Acts, all of them.

It will be so refreshing NOT to have the daily chaos and shit-show we have been subjected to for the last 4 years.

And a return to decency and decorum.

Waking to crows cawing and chilly mornings, now.


The patio garden waning. The roses bloomed and spent and their foliage getting the deep wine color at the tips. The herb basket is full as well as my catnip and ready to cut and dry soon.

I've been using off it fresh all Summer...and still have enough basil to Feed the World.

I see Pesto with Pasta soon!

And my favorite time in the Patio Garden

Early.

The first morning sun...with a cup of coffee!

Soon it will be time to decorate for Fall.

This Week's Book

And it was okay...

Just okay.

I had imagined this being a building-the-perfect-beast from someone with an intimate inside seat.

And it was.

Sort of.

It was also the lives of everyone else caught in Fred Sr. and his wife's web.

And how their dysfunctionality destroyed their children (including Fred Jr. and Donald) and even their grandchildren.

 (including the author).

It is a sad book full of hurt, pain and an attempt at catharsis as Mary explores the death of her father (Fred Jr) and the blame she (still) places on Donald and her grandfather whose actions and indifference and callousness and expectations she blames for both her parents divorce, her father's alcoholism and his death.

It proves that money cannot buy manners, compassion, love, happiness or contentment.

And why clinical psychologists often need their own analyst.

Eye-opening read...and somewhat depressing.

This Week's Movie:

The Broadway Production.

Just incredible!

Jonathan Groff was probably my favorite as Mad King George...as well as providing a great deal of humor.

If you have not seen this, and you love musicals...you must!

A Cinderella Saturday here...and maybe some playing in the plants later.

Have a Great Weekend...