 |
| Jane & I sharing lunch @ MoMA, NY circa 2007 |
Name:
Jane Lerner (@janelerner)
Home (+
hometown swap): Brooklyn, NY / BK Swappers
Profession: Writer and editor
How did
you first get involved in food swapping? How long ago?
My involvement with the swap is all because of Twitter! After being on Twitter
for a few years, in early 2010 I started corresponding with Kate Payne
(@hipgirls) who invited me to the very first swap that she was hosting with
Megan Paska (@bkhomesteader). The 20-person event was held in Kate's home in
Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and I got to meet a number of people I knew online but
whom I'd never met in person. Several months and a few swaps later, Kate moved
to Austin, Texas, and asked me take over the co-organizing duties. Meg and I
now share the responsibility to keep BK Swappers happening.
 |
| Jane's famed gravlax for the swap potluck |
What did
you make for the last food swap and what inspired your choice?:
For the last swap (November 20, 2011) I brought three jars of
salted-caramel-rum sauce; two bottles of Spanish olive oil steeped with whole
chilies, cardamom pods, mustard seeds, star anise, coriander seeds and Sichuan
peppercorns; and three containers of an Indonesian-style lime and tamarind
dipping sauce/marinade. No direct inspiration there, though I am always looking
at my cookbooks to find good swappable recipes and I keep a running list of
ideas. I'm not much of a proper canner (I'm still not confident that I won't
poison other swappers with botulism), so that informs what I make, for sure.
What’s
your favorite thing about swapping? I love coming
home with an amazing bounty, and having these goodies in my fridge for weeks.
It makes me so happy every time I use something I scored at the swap. Plus, I
have tons of love for the swappers who come to our events—everyone is so
appreciative and nice, and I've made many new friends.
 |
| Recent BK Swappers haul |
Who or
what most influences your cooking? I think about
eating, cooking and entertaining so much that virtually everything influences
my ideas on the topic. Living in NYC I eat out a lot, and am always trying new
things—every meal feels like an opportunity here and I try not to squander it.
What’s
your favorite kitchen tool? A perfectly sharp knife. Or the
gorgeous, bright-yellow enamel Dutch oven I inherited from my mom.
Your
current flavor or ingredient obsession? Coconut milk. I
made coconut milk-chocolate pudding last week. And I can't stop making rice
with a can of coconut milk in place of half the water—I top it with a fried
egg, crispy shallots, cilantro and a huge spoonful of sambal oelek. I also have
a thing lately for toasted coriander seeds.
 |
| Swap sheet for Salted Caramel Rum Sauce! |
Biggest
food surprise? That food would become the focus of my
career to the extent that it has. I never expected to be in the food world
professionally, nor thought that I would derive such pleasure and happiness
from preparing food for my friends and family.
If the
Rapture came tomorrow, what would your last meal on earth be?
I'm taking a whole day, sorry. For breakfast, smoked-meat hash and a lox and
bagel sandwich from Mile End in Brooklyn, along with a giant bowl of
fresh-picked raspberries, blackberries and hunks of perfectly ripe papaya;
Xi'an Famous Foods' cumin lamb noodles and Momofuku pork buns for lunch, along
with a salad from Ti Couz in San Francisco circa 1996 (while I'm in SF I'll
take an El Farolito carne asada super burrito too); for dinner I'll party hop
between Per Se (wines, caviar, impeccable vegetables), Minetta Tavern (duck-fat
potatoes, maybe a steak) and the mei goreng I had standing on a street-corner
in Bali 17 years ago. Then I'd make a piece of home-baked sourdough toast,
spread it thick with two tablespoons of soft butter, eat it, and die.
Favorite
local food experience: Walking up and down my very own
street—Court Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn—and saying hello to the local
shopkeepers, buying the specialty of the house at each place. There's the best
mozzarella at Caputo's, homemade soppresata at Esposito's, renowned sandwiches
and ridiculous pastries at Court Street Grocers, Frankies' meatballs and
pretzel baguettes at Prime Meats Deli, killer coffee at Black Gold, all served
by my neighbors and friends. It makes me happy.
Recipe by Jane:
Cabbage
Coconut-Milk Slaw
1 small
head of Napa cabbage, thinly sliced (you can throw in a bit of red cabbage too,
if you like)
1 small
red onion, thinly sliced
1 carrot,
grated
1 red bell
pepper, thinly sliced
1 large
bunch cilantro, chopped
1 small
jalapeño, chopped fine
1 can
coconut milk
juice of 2
limes
salt to
taste
Mix together the vegetables, cilantro and,
jalapeño in a large bowl. Shake the can of coconut milk before opening, and
pour the can into the bowl. Add in the lime juice and salt to taste, mix
thoroughly. Let sit for at least 30 minutes before serving; the cabbage will
soften and the flavors will come together as it sits. Serves 8-10, if not more.
No comments:
Post a Comment