The Dinner Party Matrix
September 30, 2011 5:28 PM   Subscribe

The Dinner Party Matrix from Mark Bittman. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts grouped by cuisine and ingredient.
posted by Anonymous (11 comments total)
 
Yum. Thanks!
posted by pemberkins at 6:10 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]


Hmmm... the recipe for the Latin American pear dessert has oddly worded instructions.

2. Add pears; simmer over medium-low heat until tender, 10 to 20 minutes.

3. When the pears are cool, discard the poaching liquid.


I assume he means for you to take the sauce pan off the heat when it's done simmering, and then let pears cool in the water before removing the pears and discarding the liquid. (This is what he says in the other recipes.)
posted by oddman at 7:00 PM on September 30, 2011


Funny, in my world too Martinis account for 1/3 of all drinks.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:02 PM on September 30, 2011 [2 favorites]


As my wife and I say, "F'ing Bittman." (we don't actually say f'ing, but you get the point). How does this dude have something like 2,000 recipes under his belt when the people on Food Network are treading water to get barely an eighth of that put up?
posted by Gilbert at 10:19 PM on September 30, 2011


Because Bittman actually cooks. Food Network markets.
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:05 PM on October 1, 2011 [1 favorite]


A lot of Bittman's recipes aren't really what most people would consider recipes; they're more like "Cut up unspecified quantities of these vegetables; sprinkle with dill; serve." Of course, it's still impressive given that he spends most of his time as a food scold these days.
posted by Ralston McTodd at 2:47 PM on October 1, 2011


I am going to have to try one of the braised fish recipes, though.
posted by Ralston McTodd at 2:57 PM on October 1, 2011


Ralston McTodd, considering Paula Dean's recipe for peas with butter, or Rachel Ray's Late Night Bacon chef d'oeuvre, you must admit Bittman still comes off looking pretty talented by comparison.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:27 PM on October 1, 2011


It seems like much of the point to an exercise like this is to show people how they can be creative with basic recipes, making a substitution or two that gives the result a totally different twist. I like this about Bittman. He's just a regular guy who likes making food and isn't afraid to experiment a little. He wants to show you that you could be that guy, too.
posted by snofoam at 3:34 PM on October 1, 2011


I do think Bittman can be pretty good when he gets into a less minimalist mode; I particularly like his stuffed cabbage recipe.
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:45 PM on October 1, 2011


Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Dinner Party Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
posted by xedrik at 7:42 PM on October 1, 2011


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