“This is what life is about.”
One of my favorite things about writing this blog–aside from my amazing readers–is the friends I’ve made through it over the past five years. Among all of the people I’ve broken bread with, Gene Lee of Eat Drink Man has to be my most kindred food spirit. He has a remarkable palate, he’s a riot to hang out with, and he is just one sick cook. After many meals out together, Gene and I started cooking meals for each other, Moon, Moon Junior and Mrs. Eat Drink Man. These dinners have become somewhat more frequent over the past few months and those meals have been some of our best nights this summer. Gene doesn’t do anything half-assed. He learned to cook from his mother who, despite living in a rural Tennessee town, cooked elaborate, traditional Korean meals from scratch. Gene approaches each meal with the same admirable dedication.
I don’t let just anyone cook in my kitchen (Moon calls it the lion’s lair), but I was more than happy to give Gene free reign. One of the first meals Gene prepared for us was straight up Korean fare. Despite my ferocious love for Korean food, I’d never eaten home-cooked Korean food. Gene remedied that by going BIG and making us an amazing dinner.
Gene getting to work (his TWO coolers full of ingredients not pictured).
The final product: banchan, pork belly, tofu soup, noodles, and more.
Not to be outdone, it was my turn at bat the next time the Lees came over. I made a gratin (boiled the potatoes in cream and everything), rack of lamb, and a ratatouille of sorts using the vegetables from my garden.
The ratatouille before hitting the oven.
The gratin.
The lamb resting on our nifty cutting board we received as a wedding gift.
One thing I had been dying to do was cook together. We had played around with the idea of doing some dishes from one of our favorite Japanese cookbooks, but Gene suggested something more American: burgers. My burgers at home never turn out the way I want them to (read: like Holeman’s or Bocado’s). However, I was confident Gene would help me tame the beast. He did the patties:
I did the prep and worked on making fresh French fries using this AWESOME method from Serious Eats. Gene also turned out some amazing onion rings coated in a crazy good batter he whipped up with some souped up Korean products.
The finished product on some buns we bought from Alon’s (Gene’s candy-like griddled onions sadly not pictured):
Poor Gene was so tuckered out (read: drunk) he didn’t make it past one bite of his amazingly delicious burger (as modeled above). However, before he passed out on my couch, he turned to me as we were cooking and dancing side by side, and said “this is what life is about.” I couldn’t agree more.
Love this post-thanks for sharing! It’s always fun to “break bread” together. It’s something that (sadly) I don’t do nearly enough. Everything looks so good-from the gratin and the (perfectly cooked) lamb chops to Gene’s wonderful Korean spread. I like to think that I’m a decent cook, but I can never get my burgers nice and pink like the one pictured above. I need to work on it!
Awesome post. I completely agree. Mind sharing that gratin recipe? I haven’t found one I’m in love with.
Thanks!
The gratin is super simple. I don’t have any measurements, but this is the general method:
Simmer sliced Yukon gold potatoes in cream with a few garlic cloves until par-cooked.
Drain, cool, and layer with shredded gruyere, fresh thyme, salt and pepper in a baking dish.
Bake at 375 for about 30-45 minutes until bubbly. Let it rest for about 5-10 minutes so it firms up.
Enjoy!
very cool Jen. The lamb looks perfect. I’ve recently discovered the fun of cooking with my friends; it has to be one of my favorite things to do lately.
How’d you like those french fries? Kenji is one guy I’d like to cook/eat with.
Very nice post. What is the purple in the gratin? Eggplant? That’s a beautiful picture.
Just gotta say how much I like this post. As a big fan of both your blog and EatDrinkMan’s, this post is pure win.
Truly what life is all about…good times with good friends and great food. The ratatouille with the veggies from your garden looks delicious!
I do hope Marietta can truly taste the difference of this Mediterranean Cuisine. I am so stuffed and satisfied and I ate from the vegetarian selection. I was fresh and filling and oh so flavorful. The domas were out of this world. I have had them from Greece, Chicago and NY and it could not have come close to the flavor. Totally awesome that my 11 year old and 17 year old were eating out of each others plates and finally attacked mine… the desserts are equally full of love and quality ingredients.