Alan's Updates

From LTHForum.com

Third year in a row we have had the privilege of cooking for Harbor Light Broken Bottle ceremony. Humbling and soul satisfying to work once again With Captains Merrill and Nancy Powers. In the past steak has been the focus, this year Jazzfood/Alan Lake suggested cheffing up the sides with twice baked potatoes, fresh, as opposed to frozen veg, and long simmered greens with ham hocks. Chef Lake made the greens, first time I've ever heard gastrique used in conjunction with ham hocks and greens. See linked article for photos & more info.

The first thing that I've done in Chicago in 25 years, Pensiero Ristorante has been a wonderful consulting project. I was called by the owner of the hotel in which it occupies the ground floor when the ex chef/owner abandoned it on Easter day. Put his keys on the hostess stand and walked off into the sunset. Left his financial records, his reference books and burned everyone involved. Va Pensiero had a distinguished history for over 20 years.

Faced with now owning a restaurant he knew nothing about, the first smart thing our reluctant landlord did was shutter it. In discussing his plight amongst his foodie friends, apparently my name came up twice in 48 hours as to who may be able to help. He called me, we met and here we are.

Food wise, I did my best to keep the spirit but also guide it into the present. It had been said that it was "suspended in amber" and had been resting on its' once formidable laurels (27 Zagat rating). That is not the case any longer. New menu, new paint job, new name, new staff for the most part... we are proud of what we've accomplished and will only improve with time.

Alan Lake Kenmore Promo 2 from Alan Lake on Vimeo.

Alan Lake Kenmore Promo 1 from Alan Lake on Vimeo.

Last year I worked out of town for approximately 8 months. All work and no play is not my style so upon coming home, I began to plan a vacation for my saint like girlfriend and myself. Something for her and something for me. She wanted Paris. I wanted exotic. A compromise was made... a week in Paris with a side trip to the medieval city of Beaune and then on to Istanbul for an additional week.

Paris seen through her eyes opened mine as well. I’d been there a few times but I’d never had a more enjoyable stay than this one. We touristed out, often wandering 20 miles a day or more and in general had the time of our lives.

Beaune, where this picture was taken outside the city wall, is the capital of the Burgundy wine country and had come highly recommended by my sister, the queen of wine, or as I joke “Your Wineness”. “Yes your Wineness. Of course your Wineness.”

I chose Istanbul (Constantinople) based upon its predominance in the world of cymbals, something close to my heart and something I’ve collected since I was a child. Beginning in 1623, Zildjian cymbals were manufactured there, originally for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

It wasn’t until the Turkish genocide of the Armenians in the early 1900’s that the Zildjian family, involved in an assassination attempt against the Sultan fled Turkey. Eventually settling in America in 1929 they set up shop in Quincy Massachusetts. Luckily, the Jazz age was upon us and they found a ready customer base among American musicians and composers who quickly embraced their incredible instruments. Prior to that, they were much more difficult to obtain as they needed to be imported and distribution was not nearly as efficient as it would later become once upon U.S. soil.

But Zildjian’s cymbal smiths and factory workers remained behind and they in turn started their own foundries/factories and continued the art as handed down over the centuries. I wanted to see that. I wanted to see cymbals that were still hand made and hand hammered in that very style today.

So, we went (as I said, my girlfriend is a saint and humored me). We were joined by “Her Wineness” for this part of the trip as she happened to be in Venice, and the three of us had a brilliant time. They indulged my cymbal fetish and I indulged their shopping fetish. Did you know that Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar has the most amazing authentic “fakes”? I’m sure Chanel is thrilled. I know the girls are.

So, I/we got to go to the Bosphorus cymbal factory, watch the entire procedure from start to finish and then try out the finished products in their adjoining showroom on a drum kit they had conveniently set up, which of course after sampling maybe 25 or so, I then had to buy my favorite.

All and all, a great experience on many levels. Travel is like that, I can hardly wait to hit the road again.

- Alan