SOME

FOOD
Thanksgiving Dinner 2006 Guest of Honor John Ashbery

By Geoffrey Gatza

Thanksgiving Dinner 2006 Guest of Honor John Ashbery

Apex of Toems
APRITIF

Ros

AMUSE-BOUCHE
Ossetra Roasted Cauliflower Emulsion Hudson Valley Sauternes Liquid Black Truffle

POTAGE ET SALADE
Consomm Root English Pea Hawaiian Blue Potatoes Periwinkles Vanilla

PLAT PRINCIPAL
Peking Turkey Sage Pumpkinseed Red & Gold Roasted Beets Cabbage Sweet-Potato Blanc Manger Parfum Lestragon Risotto

Im Inventing Mostly

DESSERT ET DIGESTIF
La Bche Cortland Apple Armagnac

Menu
APRITIF Veuve Clicquot Ros Reserve Champagne 1995

AMUSE-BOUCHE Une Dclinaison: Caviar, Foie gras torchon, Truffes

French farm-raised ossetra caviar with roasted cauliflower emulsion, Hudson Valley foie gras mi-cuit in sauternes with house brioche, and liquid black truffle

POTAGE ET SALADE Consomm

rich double duck consomm with brunoise of celery root, crimini, sweet carrot and English pea, and truffle quenelles

Coeur de Palmier
fresh Hawaiian heart of palm, curly endive, grapes poached in vanilla, blue potatoes, periwinkles and mango dressing

PLAT PRINCIPAL Peking Roasted Free-Range Turkey With Sage Pumpkinseed Dressing, local red and gold roasted beets, cabbage confit, sweet-potato dauphinois, savoury blanc manger and risotto of cauliflower, sauce parfum lestragon

DESSERT ET DIGESTIF La bche de Nol et Armagnac

A log-shaped cake made of chocolate and chestnuts clouds with Cortland apple ice cream. Representative of the special wood log burned from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day in the Prigord, which is a holdover from a pagan Gaul celebration. Armagnac is a distilled grape brandy produced in Gascony, just southeast of Bordeaux, France.

APRITIF

Veuve Clicquot Ros Reserve Champagne 1995

Ros

How contumely clear away the falling autumn leaves, winter is on the way! God Damn! What is it that I can do for you? Sincerely, what tribute can I make for, him, the The poet of our time. Pointedly, what would you do? I mean really what would you do? Ask over some friends, have some tannic wine and savagely cubed cheese. Have some oaf spill wine all over his shirt while his friend chats up the crowds. An inspired tribute indeed. Would you then maybe place his name on a library wall or against an elegant stack of columns in a green square in the park or ordain in his honor the local penitentiarys infirmary? How indeed? If it were up to me, I would make this fancy meal, the best, most innovative of events for twelve hundred poets! Ask all to raise in toast, one glass of sparkling roses. Inhaling, saying nothing, drinking in the shooting stars of imagined evenings someplace else, we, all alone among all of our friends. [ It would be this silence that would be the ultimate honorarium to you, my dearest, Ashbery ]

AMUSE-BOUCHE

Une Dclinaison: Caviar, Foie gras torchon, Truffes

French farm-raised ossetra caviar with roasted cauliflower emulsion, Hudson Valley foie gras in sauternes with grilled brioche, and liquid black truffle

Ossetra

Thinking about freedom through this thin pane of glass, I can look at the wind blowing my dinner away. The sun is so hot here, but it is somewhere near this place that I entered . I cannot find my way out. The spider turns over and over as if I am going to die here. When I am tired then well maybe. Hell try but not now. His children are still on Erms wing, chewing what little remains. What will I tell my own children about these times when they run into other children and they ask, hey what does your dad do and theyll have to look down say something like, he was eaten by something larger.

Roasted Cauliflower Emulsion

a compote of disappointment with gouda on sevengrain Everybody is very sensitive to hear of pale cauliflowers colliding with brick walls completed drill after drill we were prepared for this, this artistic disaster. First responders well, responded, of course we all know what we thought, first, but all evidence suggests that this was basically

Gouache on cardboard with cut-outs We do not release any titles until we notify next of kin, but we want To reassure, that even with the glass breaking and the grey smoke rising, This was obviously not an attack, arriving on the scene Nobody else could substantiate that it is either or some kind of

Hudson Valley
For Dr. Slessinger

Nothing is gone except, well, everything. The magic, evacuated. With the best intentions in the world, the nuns have ruined the Mens Room. A lifeless harlequin wearing long mannequin robes of red Chinese silk. An out dated fashion reminiscing old Venice, half moons phasing. A slipping memory into the night, black sturgeons rafting up valley. The specimen are standing outside their room quarreling with popes and kings, engaged with lumber wars. The cosmic struggle between the truth and the lie meeting the differing needs of the age and culture, and the empty pestilences and their women and their red plaid bundle of soft cheeses for sale in the parking lots. Objectivity never makes anyone happy.

Sauternes

She controls a vast international art empire, and is designed, she says, to make the world a better place. But for those who are aware of the body, he is proving to be as controversial in death as he was in life.

I am here, nailing a raindrop to the wall

Bored by the classics and determined to test new forms and limits, is exploring her options while she still has them. Zoroaster laughed on the day of his birth!

Liquid Black Truffle

Now I have my finger prints all over it. Almost too easy to go in and buy this gold pen. You have the money and she is all very kind. But the other day I didnt have anything and she was not that nice. It was not the store, making her go all funny it was her own self policing, get back in the herd, moo or her manager, moo he was outside smoking, I saw him when I entered. He told me not to stay long, so I didnt. And I didnt as they dont give out Gold pens to people who have nothing. moo and I had nothing on, well I had a light for the managers cigarette, he asked me for a light, I had a book of matches. He looked at me and gave me that look that you give you know that scowl mooo And so she was nice as pie, asking Gertrude all sweet like, go and get that nice pen for the man in the red coat. I was naked last time I was here, moo; she was not sweet old Melly that day. No! A naked man with no money and no manager on the floor is enough to even make your dear granny go gaga.

POTAGE ET SALADE

Consomm
rich double duck consomm with brunoise of celery root, crimini, sweet carrot and English pea, and truffle quenelles

Coeur de Palmier
fresh Hawaiian heart of palm, curly endive, grapes poached in vanilla, blue potatoes, periwinkles and mango dressing

Consomm

The fly is in the soup

And the trick is to make this as clear as possible. That means to remove the proteins from the liquid, trap them essentially in the foam, and that will cause flavor to be removed as well. So you will have to replace that in the raft. If you slice in long thin strips, fine like hair, the onion, celery and carrot then mix that with the whites and then add that to the just-before-simmering stock, bring slowly up to heat while stirring cautiously so as to make a raft but not overly disturb the process from happening. You might end up with a tissue paper stew. Time is required to do this properly and if you cannot afford the time then simply open a can of broth. Youll save time and a blazing headache. Its a lot to learn and hard to pass down from paper. You need my hand to guide your hand, not word for deed. And besides, once you get past the seeing it, the clarity of the matter, its only a fancy thin soup. Campbells will please more people as this is what they grew up on. Standing in lunch lines with orangey pink trays waiting for beef barley, a break from raking leaves, a thermos at half time. These memories are your soups enemy, you must contend with these before you set the match to the stove and ignite that pilot. No trick will do. When it comes to soup, mind, it is the light warmth of velvet sleep you try to recreate.

Root

Dont make me talk about that because you know I will. His dragon called out to me from the shelf, remember. I learned my greatest lesson, letting her go on her own. His morbid curiosity with insects is rather disturbing. Drove candy left in his wreath over to their new place. If you could play well it would be something different. That cap makes you look dignified, really I like it/you. Holy crap look outside, its only October and it snows. Fairy godmother of us all you beautiful gray muse. Your endless compassion for all our broken people. In jail for two felonies, I thought that gin was water. A stalwart figure of silent strength, father for adults. Time moves differently when you curl within him. You have that motherly attraction to whom we open. I admire her and feel sorry for her at the same time. The craftiest fucker alive since Ulysses was Odysseus. Not sure what will happen really, his noose is slackened. All your troubles would be solved if you had some sex. You were acting like you on coke, so it became normal. Cash money aint nothing for a fool, watch TV mother. If I could separate him from his world, fill empty vessels. With that gone you look dont look like your evil twin. What the fuck am I going to do with you, I mean fuck. Like sitting in front of the Monsignor confessing it all. If they found out about any of that youd be exposed. The one who could sign off our cartoon, thats all folks. Must have a curse on her or something, such bad luck. Best person in the world, youd replace family for him. He sat right on my feet the first time we met, good boy. Light comes from her artistic soul, refracted butterflies. Just so damn nice to be around and yet your never there. Never met him so I cant say for sure, but sounds nice. Her one word was crunchy Templeton the rats terrific. Even the fashions change to meet her pregnant body. Hes not a bum at all, just needed the job not the hair. You can never really be sure what he doesnt not fix. Sexiest when they are as insecure as your dire enemy. Her hair is always set differently and that is all I have.

English Pea

If you look directly over there you will see a photo of a fruit bat. It is the one I raised up from a little furry mosquito, the face of A baby rat in a leather shawl, a plaid sentimentality overtakes me When I think on dear old Alfy, or Lord Venison, or Matildas fav, Tennisanyone. What one will allow to be a part of ones family, eh. No not very conventional, no, not as exquisite as say a leopard, the Ajaxs never seem to stop fawning over theirs, or orangutans, elks Or centipedes. Yes, our little Alfy was, as the neighborhood never Ceases to describe as a disgusting darkening bat, never filthy, mind You, disgusting. His velvet cage was not as grand as the Normans But you would find it quite comfortable if you, yourself, found your Self without a room and this to your size, the finest of bat beds made. No its true, and I will prove as much when we visit the estate later This evening. You will of course meet Matilda, those rotten Ajaxes With their mangy lap cat will no doubt be dropping in, unexpectedly As is their way, you know; Luxemburgish. One would think they could use a telephone for something other than a tether for their little monsters, but no, its oh did you see what Trixie did this afternoon, or my mister muscles can recite Dante. Oh its truly delightful the shameful way in which they continually embarrass their standings in the lodge. No wonder why they say what they do, but they are as they are, I am only repeating what they are saying in the streets. Its better to know what the word is, dont you agree? Of course you do you being a man of the world and all. Oh Gar con, would you freshen up our drinks, they seem have gone south. So you were saying, that a little bit of dishonesty in business practice is Viewed acceptable, indeed. Please go on, I merely wanted to locate you

Hawaiian

I dont suffer from hallucinations I did see those bodies, waking. The walking dead hold the sleeves of the dancing white vampire before the carved expression of a macadamia nut Tiki god. How did they disconnect the generator? How will we survive without power? Are fighting to take control of our minds, our souls and commanding us dance. With the evil dead ancient civilization The captain afraid Laser rifle pointed. I hear something. What was that? Whos there? I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I turned, snap they were gone. Distant red light flashing terror. A woman screams everywhere, there! tell me who did it Shes in shock. Nothing It was nothing She just broke down Tell me whats happening, now!

Blue Potatoes

To be placed on the menu of my last meal before execution

A taste poem Some things one cannot say: Gather ingredients together on a plate. Then place one at a time in the mouth. Chew up and enjoy its simplicity and then directly proceed to next item for the flow and context of the poem. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Ice cold strawberry Dip rest of strawberry in melted Belgian milk chocolate One leaf of tarragon Cold grilled beef tenderloin Sirachi hot sauce Half of a boiled, chilled Peruvian purple potato drizzled with olive oil and sea salt

Periwinkles

Sunlights Haze in Summertime Dusk

A taste poem Some things one cannot say: Gather ingredients together on a plate. Then place one at a time in the mouth. Chew up and enjoy its simplicity and then directly proceed to next item for the flow and context of the poem. 1) Cold wildflower honey 2) One leaf of flat Italian parsley 3) Slice of a yellow tomato 4) Slice of yellow watermelon 5) Slice of cucumber with olive oil and salt and pepper 6) A thin slice of cold red bliss potato with a drop of fresh lemon juice

Vanilla

Angry vanilla Angry in our sweater vests To strive, to find, to ask, at a tailgate party on Football Sunday in front of mothers grilling meat, corn; fathers and boys imbibing pig bladders Zooks! For just a moment please, stop the war

PLAT PRINCIPAL

Peking Roasted Free-Range Turkey With Sage Pumpkinseed Dressing, local red and gold roasted beets, cabbage confit, sweet-potato dauphinois, savory blanc manger and risotto of cauliflower, sauce parfum lestragon

Peking Turkey

Svmer is icumen in, Lhude sing cuccu! Growe sed and blowe med And spring e wde nu, Sing cuccu! Awe blete after lomb, Lhou after calue cu. Bulluc sterte, bucke uerte, Murie sing cuccu! Cuccu, cuccu, wel singes u, cuccu; Ne swik u naver nu, Sing cuccu nu. Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu nu!

Sumer Is Icumen In is a traditional English round, possibly the oldest such example of counterpoint

Risotto

Winter is icumen in, Lhude sing Goddamm, Raineth drop and staineth slop, And how the wind doth ramm! Sing: Goddamm. Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us, An ague hath my ham. Damm you; Sing: Goddamm. Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm, So 'gainst the winter's balm. Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm, Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.

Sumer Is Icumen In was parodied in Ancient Music; Ezra Pound (Lustra collection, 1913-1915)

DESSERT ET DIGESTIF

La bche de Nol et Armagnac

A log-shaped cake made of chocolate and chestnuts clouds with Cortland apple ice cream.

Representative of the special wood log burned from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, which is a holdover from a pagan celebration in Gaul. Armagnac is a distilled grape brandy produced in Gascony, just southeast of Bordeaux, France.

La Bche
Ginger Syrup in Four Variations Similar ingredients arranged differently take an astonishing turn

[ 1 ] Mild 1 pound fresh ginger, large chop 1 Cup Sugar 1 cup white wine or Champagne Cook until syrupy consistency. Leave ginger in mix over night then strain. [ 2 ] Hot 1 pound fresh ginger, finely mince 1 Cup Sugar 1 cup white wine or Champagne Cook until syrupy consistency. Leave ginger in mix over night then strain. [ 3 ] Ruby 1 pound fresh ginger, large chop 1 Cup Sugar 1 cup Red wine Cook until syrupy consistency. Leave ginger in mix over night then strain. [ 4 ] Mahogany 1 pound fresh ginger, large chop 1 Cup Sugar, caramelized dark 1 cup white wine or Champagne Cook until syrupy consistency. Leave ginger in mix over night then strain.

Cortland Apple
Geoffs Thai Yellow Curry
4 Tbsp good Madras Curry powder and a knob of creamery butter Saut out the curry powder for at least 1 minute an a half or until toasted add to it: 4 or 5 cloves Garlic minced finely 2 Tbsp Ginger finely grated really fine or youll be chewing on it later 1 or 2 Red peppers fine dice 1 or 2 Yellow peppers fine dice 1 Vidalia Onion fine dice Basil handful chiffonade 1 Jalapeo small, fine dice with no seeds. Cook the curry powder and then on high heat!!!! add the garlic and cook for a few minutes, then add the ginger and cook out, then add the Jalapeo and cook it out some, then add the onion and cook for 4 minutes until the onion is caramelized. Then add the peppers and cook them. Then add the liquid ingredients below. 2 cans Coconut milk cup Real and I mean real maple syrup, not that pancake topper crap, wont work for this or make ginger syrup with a large ginger root sliced up nicely added to 1 cup white wine and 1 cup sugar cook until thick and syrupy. 1 can ginger ale or pale ale depending on if you make with ginger syrup or not. Heavy cream to make it even Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes then add 4 or 5 Chicken breast cut in strips Yellow squash cut in strips Zucchini cut in strips 2 Cortland Apples, diced Any other veggies you may want to add and is not on list Cook for a half hour or until chicken is done. Serve over quality jasmine rice with India Pale Ale.

Armagnac

Wasabi Mayonnaise 4 tablespoons of a quality Wasabi paste.

If you use powdered, mix with white wine to bloom for 15 minutes into paste

1 cup Basic Mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Rice wine vinegar 4 tablespoons Vermont Maple Syrup 1 Scallion, sliced finely 1 Teaspoon Ginger finely grated really fine or youll be chewing on it later cup plain yogurt or sour cream Vietnamese Chili Garlic Sauce to taste Salt, white pepper and nutmeg to taste Mix all ingredients together chill for at least half an hour.