Out in the Cold

I love cookbooks.  I love to read them like novels.  The best ones to read are those with stories to go with the recipes or lots of extra tips and tidbits of information tucked in.  After I'm finished reading I will often cook my way through a book trying many if not all of the recipes.

Lately I've been wanting the Ad Hoc at Home cookbook.  It all started when food gal posted several sample recipes like pineapple upside down cake and leek bread pudding. Then recently I was in Williams Sonoma and saw a sign advertising a book signing for the author.  Let's just say it didn't take much thought before I bought the book and scheduled a trip back.

Naturally, the book signing fell during a cold snap around here.  Ok, so not cold like South Dakota in the winter cold, but cold for the SF bay area.  Cold enough that I really was regretting wearing my cute brown flats sans socks or stockings cold.  

I had dragged my husband along and we stood in line and chatted with the people near us.  It was great that they were such a friendly bunch because we had a couple of hours together.  I was also grateful I had purchased my copy in advance because the store ran out of books.

The line was quite long.  It was long enough that it generated quite a bit of interest.  Many shoppers stopped and asked what we were waiting out in the cold for.  One little girl in a stroller said it best when she asked her mom, "are they all waiting for Santa?"

After about two hours we had finally made it to the front of the line.  

It was a great surprise that in addition to Thomas Keller, the chef de cuisine, Dave Cruz was also there signing books.  Even after a very long day of greeting people and signing enough books to induce severe arm cramps, they were both very pleasant.

Now to finish reading the book and decide what to cook first.  Well, cook second.  My husband has already requested we try making the potatoes pave first.

-- marcella