Friday, October 19, 2012.
Trees Falling. Chicken Vesuvio.
In our ongoing battle with the raccoons, Mary Ann keeps hearing that the animals are getting onto our roof--and from there into our attic--by way of the trees that hang over the house. For the last few weeks, Mary Ann has heard a few pest-control people say that three trees in particular had to go. Today, a treecutter came over and, for $500, did the job. Two of the trees (a black tupelo and a gum) came down cleanly. But one--a pine with a lot of big, high branches--twisted on its way down and was about to go the wrong way. They brought in an assortment of chains and ratchets, and somehow made it fall in the desired direction.
I added this to a list of jobs I didn't want to have, one I began keeping when I was a teenager. Others on it include cement mixer, tunnel guard in the tunnels around Manhattan, oyster shucker, and IRS agent.
I stayed home to keep my eye on the treecutters and the dog Susie, who was not happy that trees were being stolen from her woods. I took her for a walk to get her away from the action. She wound up getting lost in the woods, and I didn't see her again until after the radio show.
I was surprised that I was able to talk MA into Ristorante Carmelo for dinner tonight. She was actually enthusiastic about the idea. Also unexpected: the place was almost full. Carmelo has installed himself as chef again (he goes back and forth between cooking and working the dining room). His daughter Francesca waited on us, and remembered that I liked Negronis.
Every chef who makes chicken Vesuvio tells me the same thing about it. Something like this: "When you say chicken Vesuvio, I know what that means, but nobody else in the world does." The dish--a saute of small chicken pieces, onions, and sausage, with a hot of other possible ingredients--is not seen much around New Orleans. I couldn't remember having had it from Carmelo, either here in Mandeville or in his original place in the French Quarter. It's more common in the Northeast. But Francesca said it's always been on the menu.
Carmelo's version is offbeat in having a light red sauce mixed with the ingredients. I thought it was terrific. It joins veal Sorrentina and his wild mushroom pasta as my favorite dishes here.
Mary Ann was also happy. She had a fillet of redfish Mediterranean style: olives, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil.
At the end of the meal, I wanted a few pieces of cheese to wrap things up. I didn't think they had a cheese plate, but they did--one big enough for at least four people. Mary Ann began speculating how much that would cost. The answer: $12. She guessed $30. I didn't guess. Who won?
Carmelo. Mandeville: 1901 US Hwy 190. 985-624-4844.
To browse through all of the Dining Diaries since 2008, go here.
