Adam D. Roberts's Blog, page 81

Scenes from a Book Tour

Remember that time I told that joke about how I was going to blog my book tour as it happened? That was a hilarious joke! Because, as you might imagine, things got a little crazy after I wrote that. It became impossible to blog my tour as it happened and now, a few days after my Googleplex post, I’m feeling guilty about ever making that promise.

So let’s rewind. After the Eataly dinner, but before flying to San Francisco, I hosted a panel discussion in Brooklyn at the Greenlight Book Store with Amanda Hesser and Jonathan Waxman (seen above in a picture by Lizzie).

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Lunch at the Googleplex

When I was invited to give a Google Talk in Mountain View, CA last Friday, I was incredibly honored and flattered but, also, I was really keen on checking out the cafeteria. I mean: what kind of food would I find there? What do people who work at Google eat?

Luckily, my host Chris invited me to lunch first. And not only that, I was allowed to take lots of pictures. So prepare yourselves for a journey, a journey to the Google Cafeteria.

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Fried Potato Bread with Fried Chicken at Bar Tartine, Dinner with @ChezPim at State Bird Provisions

Yesterday I described a mini-drama in my head when I was choosing, on Wednesday, between the fried potato bread with fried chicken and something healthier at Bar Tartine. I went with something healthier and kind of regretted it.

So yesterday (Thursday), I went back with Kate from Serious Eats and we tackled the fried potato bread with fried chicken on top. You can see it in the above photo. I see that picture and think to myself, “Oh my God, I can’t believe I ate that.”

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Bar Tartine Sandwiches, Omnivore Books & The Tartine After Hours Cookbook Dinner

I’ve decided to blog my book tour as it happens!

We’ll see if I can keep up, but I have 50 minutes now to write this post before having to do more cookbook-related stuff. Yesterday was such a good day; it started where I am now, at Ritual Coffee in the Mission. It’s a great place to work with wonderful coffee and free WiFi. From here, I walked over to Bar Tartine to have a sandwich.

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Return to Zuni

When I was a nerd in high school (“What? YOU were a NERD in high school? That’s SHOCKING!”) my brother and I played many CD-ROMs. “Under A Killing Moon,” “The 7th Guest,” and, my personal favorite, “Return to Zork.”

This post has nothing to do with that except the title is an homage to that most peculiar video game, with creepy animations and a most memorable soundtrack. Instead, this post is about my return to one of San Francisco’s most beloved restaurants, a restaurant that I was dying to try my first time visiting here as an adult only to leave disappointed (see here). Was I disappointed this time around?

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Parm

Even though I shipped my cooking gear here to New York before arriving in September, things have been so busy and crazy it’s been difficult to find time behind the stove. When I get back from the west coast leg of my book tour (I leave tomorrow!) I have a lot of cooking I want to do; in the meantime, I’ve been checking many places off my New York “must eat” list. Here’s one of the best.

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

Hey Seattle!

Hey Seattle, I finally received the details for the cookbook dinner I’m hosting at Renee Erickson’s Walrus & The Carpenter on 10/22 at 6:30. The cost is $85 which includes wine, a copy of the book and a pretty spectacular menu that features oysters, mussels in cider cream, roasted pork, braised cabbage and sauteed dates with blue cheese for dessert. Just call 206-395-9277 to make your reservation and remember, this is your chance to get a copy of the book early (before it comes out officially on 11/13). Your other chance is at Book Larder where I’ll be giving a talk and signing books at 4 PM on Sunday 10/21. Can’t wait to see you!

Postcard from Eataly (10/9/12)

If my ears are made of ashes today, that’s because they’ve never burned harder than they did on Tuesday night when Lidia Bastianich–one of my food world heroes–introduced me at the first of two Eataly dinners we’re doing to launch my new cookbook. (The 2nd dinner, on November 9th, still has seats available here.) The whole night was surreal. Before the guests arrived, Ann Bramson, Artisan’s legendary publisher, came by to toast the book with me, Judy (my indefatigable editor) and Molly (my impressive publicist who arranged for this whole dinner, as well as all the dinners coming up). Then came the guests, friends and family, including my beaming parents.

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »

A Small Delay

I received a few e-mails yesterday from people expecting to receive their cookbooks only to find that Amazon changed the pub date to November 13th. It’s a small delay and rumor has it that books might be shipping earlier. Also: if you come to any of my events, you’ll get your books right away. See the schedule here and make it happen!

Where Do You Escape For Pre-Dinner Cocktails?

Here in 2012, cocktails are so omnipresent it’s almost impossible to imagine a restaurant meal without them. If you’re on a date, it might be tempting to have your cocktails and your dinner all at the same venue to save time and psychic energy deciding where to go. But that would be a mistake. Your date will only be enhanced by having your cocktail at a different venue: that way you double your conversation topics (the scenery, the waiter, the music, etc). So here are five cocktail joints that I highly recommend for your pre-dinner cocktails.

Click here to read the rest of this Amateur Gourmet post »