A Slow Start After a Nice Christmas

Notwithstanding my dire expectations, my computer upgrade went well, but even so I'm already getting behind on my intended blog reboot(s), as I've lamented elsewhere. To try to ramp up, I'll review the foodie portion of my Christmas.

First, the gifts: In addition to the cool molecular mixology kit I already mentioned, I got as gifts...

• Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher. When I launched this blog, I intended to devote some of it to writing about beers... and I did so, but I quickly realized I didn't have the knowledge or vocabulary to comment usefully. So I put this on my wish list to edumacate myself. Look for a review when I'm done reading.

• A beer (as a stocking stuffer!) called Criminally Bad Elf. I had intended to save it 'til I could apply my new expertise, but... nah; "It's dead, Jim!"


• The promise of a fine-dining outing, most likely at the Copper Beech Inn's Brasserie Pip, whose chef, Tyler Anderson, is a Chopped champion. (Count on a review when the time comes.)
  
  
• A vegetable slicerfrench fry cutter, which I actually intend to use to try to make fried yucca like we used to get at the late, lamented (in CT, at least) Pollo Tropical.

In addition, I cooked our Christmas dinner, making (at the request of my family) Korean pulled pork lettuce wraps with kimchi slaw and sesame-garlic mayo, according to the recipe my buddy Andy published. I sense a brand new holiday tradition in the making!