Once in awhile I give private cooking lessons. It’s a word of mouth thing and, every so often, I donate one to a silent auction for a good cause. Last night I taught some lovely people how to cook various fish recipes (as well as a better way to chop garlic and herbs, how to hold a knife, and some other basics that can make a *huge* difference for the average home cook). We had a good time and felt terribly virtuous because we were having a good time for Obama–they bought me at a fundraiser.
Shocking, isn’t it, that an over-educated San Francisco resident like myself would be pro-Obama? In many ways it’s a very pleasant little bubble that we have here on the edge of the country. One major advantage, besides the amazing produce and other foodstuffs, is that no one bothers to buy ad time in this market. If we want to see the political ads we have to search them out on youtube. I know what an advantage this is because I’ve made the mistake of visiting my family in Minnesota around Halloween in the past. The ads are relentless, punishing, mind-numbing, crazy-making. I don’t know how people in the swing states stand it.
So with hope in our hearts we cooked halibut and bread kebabs (a fabulous quick dinner that serves equally well for a weeknight meal or a casual dinner party) as a little snack to get us started. Then we dove into salt-crusted striped bass, spaghetti with anchovies, and greens with currants and pine nuts. Just a note on the striped bass. It’s hard to find 3 lb. striped bass. The more common 2-lb. specimens work just fine, but only need about 20-25 minutes in the oven.
I felt bad we weren’t doing a dessert. It ends up the concern that we would miss that little something sweet at the end of the meal was completely unfounded. I have never–ever–seen a candy drawer like they had. It put my mother’s stash to shame: 
Marilyn | 25-Oct-08 at 10:10 am | Permalink
Love the bottle of Tums tucked in at the edge of the candy drawer.
Molly | 25-Oct-08 at 10:52 am | Permalink
I know! I was going to point that out but then thought it would be such a special treat for those who took a really good look at the contents.