Sunday, October 10. Getting Ethnic At Sesame Inn. The Cool Water Ranch is very quiet. Mary Ann and I have not learned how to function without the daily presence of our kids. So, except for dining out, she does her things (she's writing a diet book, and keeping up with the latest scandals imagined by the right-wing media). And washing clothes and cleaning house, none of which she allows me to do even if I take the initiative. This is not only because of her feeling that such jobs are distaff, but because she knows of my endless workload. I'm still catching up from the six days I took off (sort of) to go to Chicago.
We broke for lunch in the early afternoon and went for a Chinese lunch at the Sesame Inn. I've always liked the place; Mary Ann has only lately warmed up to it. They cook offbeat food there, some of it too ethnic for the average eater. Steve makes much of this authenticity, and sends us something adventuresome to try every time we're in there.
Today, a double-cooked duck. After marinating in spices for many hours, it's steamed until cooked, then flash-fried to order. The sauce was a dark brown bowlful on the side, looking as if it were made with a dark roux.
"Don't be too civilized eating that," Steve said. "Pick it up with your fingers and dip it in the sauce. Eat it right off the bone." We did. It was tenderer than it looked, because the meat was very dark--more mahogany than auburn--under a crisp skin. It was indeed good, with the flavors of the cloves and five-spice powder (I think that's what it was) coming through subtly.
We led up to the duck with a luckily perfect first course. The menu just calls it "cold noodles." It's Chinese spaghetti, cooked and then chilled, tossed with peas and carrot shreds and a brown sauce that tasted peanutty to me. Close: Steve said it was sesame paste. And no small amount of red pepper. A great starter.
Steve says his family came from the Szechuan province, home of the hot and spicy. I usually order a dish here along those lines. That explains the Szechuan chicken with cabbage on the left side of the duck. Mary Ann had a hankering for pork with green beans. Too much food, of course. But that happens every time we come here. This guy could do a great Eat Club dinner.
It was a warm but pretty day, and with the sun going down much earlier every night this time of year, it was actually comfortable for cutting the grass. I mowed our two grassy acres more thoroughly than I've been able in over a year. It's the first time the ground has been dry enough to do that without running the risk of getting stuck in mud. I think this will be the last time I cut grass this decade. Well! That accomplishment should help me sleep soundly tonight.
Sesame Inn. Mandeville: 408 N Causeway Blvd. 985-951-8888.
