Cluck cluck cluck!
Meet Lucy Cluck Cluck. This cute two year old is named after another cute two year old, who lives in New York City and whose first words were Cluck! Cluck! You gotta love a kid who walks around Manhattan talking like a chicken.
She's the daughter of my beautiful friend Amanda, a professionally trained chef who grew up in Scotland with an incredible fruit and vegetable garden, has eaten her way through the Mediterranean more than once, is passionate about local and seasonal eating, and creates the kind of simple yet flavorful, ingredient-driven dishes I love, only she manages to do it with far more panache than I ever will.
She's the daughter of my beautiful friend Amanda, a professionally trained chef who grew up in Scotland with an incredible fruit and vegetable garden, has eaten her way through the Mediterranean more than once, is passionate about local and seasonal eating, and creates the kind of simple yet flavorful, ingredient-driven dishes I love, only she manages to do it with far more panache than I ever will.
Her blog is called Figs, Bay & Wine, and it's full gorgeous photos and fabulous food. On the first of each month she presents a harvest calendar that showcases the local bounty currently available at New York greenmarkets. I want to hang most of the March 2011 photos on my wall.
Amanda took a few years off from blogging after her Lucy Cluck Cluck was born, but thankfully for us she's back and better than ever with mouthwatering original recipes. How about Gateau Basque with Cherry Eau de Vie (this looks so good—don't let her fancy foreign names for what are often simple 'peasant' dishes scare you away); Holy Ghost Cassoulet; Tuscan Kale Salad with Beurre Noisette and Sherry Vinaigrette; Pork Tenderloin Roasted in Mustard & Thyme with Roast Carrots & Brussels Sprouts; Orecchiette with Sausage, Broccoli Rabe & Tomato (which I'm going to make using some of my easy Homemade Italian Sausage); Flounder en Papillote with Fennel, Olives, & Lemon; or Poached Eggs with Winter Greens & Pancetta?
There are dozens more tempting dishes in her recipe archives. A couple of summers ago I made her Yellow Pepper Coca with Capers, a popular Spanish type of pizza that makes fantastic summer tapas, using sweet peppers from my kitchen garden and am still daydreaming about it.
Amanda's smart writing is fresh and informative, an entertaining read even if you never venture near the kitchen. She also knows how to turn a bad experience into a good story, as evidenced by this recent post about her adventures applying to Manhattan preschools, which includes a simple recipe for Tarte aux Oignons, Caramelized Onion Tart with Black Olives. After that terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, that had me laughing so hard while reading about it I was crying, she may be wishing little Lucy, who has no trouble forming complete sentences, would just go back to clucking—at least until they secure her a spot in preschool.
If you do stop over for a visit at Figs, Bay & Wine, I hope you'll take a moment to leave a comment and say hello to Amanda and my favorite little big city girl.
Want to see more of our Lucy Cluck Cluck and her seven siblings?
4/13/09: Chick Days Are Here Again!
6/12/09: Last One Born's a Rotten Egg! (April chick pics shared in June)
6/14/09: Another Chick Pic
6/15/09: Pizza Party! (yep, we sometimes feed our chickens pizza)
10/25/09: Egg Layers, the Next Generation
The Daily Donkey 50: The Chickens Hatch a Plan While Dan Snoozes Nearby
What a lovely story about the naming of your chicken. We're definitely thinking of getting our own clucking clan soon and were spending the afternoon with friends today thinking of names.
ReplyDeleteI had a look at Amanda's blog and have bookmarked it. It looks great but not so great when you're hungry and waiting for dinner! x
The chicken's name made me think of "Lady Kluck" Maid Marian's lady-in-waiting in the Disney "Robin Hood." But the real story of her name is even cuter!
ReplyDeleteI'm hung up on the idea of a calendar of local produce. I buy what's in season at the farm market, but with a list like this, I could plan ahead.
ReplyDeleteOh, who am I kidding. I'll just buy it and cook it or preserve it, no matter what!
Thanks for the lovely shout out Susan! Lucy loves that photo of Lucy Cluck Cluck! xo A
ReplyDeleteThank you for the site recommendation! I have it bookmarked! And a happy belated birthday to your farmguy!
ReplyDeleteI luv that name. Very cute.
ReplyDelete