I'm taking a little break while San Geraldo prepares dinner. As you might remember, San Geraldo is not only a great cook, he's great at turning the kitchen into a disaster area.
(Click here, if you dare, for a reminder.) It can be quite a shock to the digestive system to head into the kitchen immediately after a San Geraldo dinner — no matter how brilliantly prepared. So, we've developed a routine. He cooks in stages and I clean the same way. I usually do one or two interim clean-ups followed by the final one after dinner. When he's ready, he just calls out, "There's a clean-up." You'd be surprised what magic I can work in 5 minutes. As for San Geraldo, well, you'd just be surprised...
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| (CLICK ANY IMAGE TO INCREASE THE SHOCK.) |
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| DINNER IS ON THE TABLE. |
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| WHILE DINNER COOKS... |
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| CLEAN-UP NUMBER ONE. |
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| YOU'D BE... |
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| ... SURPRISED. |
I need a Mitchell 2014 :-)
ReplyDeleteNubian:
DeleteDoesn't everyone? (groan...)
All great cooks use everything they can get their hands on while in the kitchen and leave a mess behind them. THE sign that they are good. I can only imagine how good San Geraldo's recipes are if his mess is any indication.
ReplyDeleteAs for your clean up skills....you are hired Mitch! Go team Go!
Jim:
DeleteIf that's the measure, San Geraldo is one of the best cooks in the world.
My hubby cooks like that too - texas chainsaw massacre in the kitchen, but he is a good cook. I clean and cook at the same time. So much more relaxing after dinner. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteWhen I DO cook (rarely) I have to clean as I go or I feel out of control. To pull off the meals that San Geraldo makes, I'd never be able to keep up. But, yep, the idea of facing the complete mess after dinner is not very pleasant.
Even when I conscientiously clean up after myself along the way, it seems like there's a mess still to take care of after dinner. I think I'll try calling out, "There's a clean-up" next time, and see if "someone" has come in and spiffed up the joint by 5 minutes later. Ha!
ReplyDeleteYou're a good équipe! (=team... en français)
Judy:
DeleteSan Geraldo says that no matter how well he does keeping the kitchen presentable while he's cooking, there always seems to be an explosion at the very end. It's "equipo" in Spanish and, yes, we are!
That's quite a normal mess in our kitchen - only I do try to clean up as I go; Leon provides much needed back-up when available, and 95% of the time when company is involved. He is a much better cleaner than I am - it's his business, cleaning. But not matter what, it seems there are always dishes in the sink - even after dinner and the dishes are done ... someone is always making tea and cookies or a dish of frozen yogurt, or a bowl of fruit salad...or a late night bowl of cereal...
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteOh, I have a someone in this house, too (guess who) who always manages to appear with another dirty dish/bowl after I've put everything away and wiped out the sink. But I suppose that's better than when he leaves the dirties stacked up on the bookshelf next to his desk.
I need you to come over now, Mitch! Too bad "over" is an ocean and change. Oh, well. I guess I'm stuck with my own clean up.
ReplyDeleteMadeline Kahn left us far too early--she still makes me laugh!
Michelle:
DeleteI would stop by to wash the dishes, but given the weather there... you're on your own.
San Geraldo said the same as you when he watched the video.
Since I'm the (only) cook and bottle washer (Bill ingests and compliments) I tend to one pot meals. Could be because we have only 1 gawd-damned pot in this place.... but... I envy the Saint that he has a clean-up crew (okay, it's a crew of one... doubt if Dudo and Moose help much) waiting in the wings. BUT... you didn't show the result of all that ... hmmm.... reason for the pots and pans that you cleaned up. What did he fix?
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteI'm slipping on the meal photos! The night pictured was carrillada. Increíble..
My partner does clean up a bit as he goes, but there is always plenty for me to do at the end.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteSan Geraldo sometimes does his own clean-up as he goes and then I feel guilty. I need to earn my supper somehow.
Clean up in aisle three...I need you in my kitchen, Mitch!
ReplyDeleteJudith:
Delete"Clean up on aisle three..." is exactly what I hear in my head whenever he calls out. He is so Midwestern in his requests, however. He always adds, "... no rush" or "when you have the chance" or "if you feel like it."
It does look as though you're eating well! I think you're safe as long as you and San Geraldo completment one another's strong points so well!
ReplyDeleteKristi:
DeletePerfect complement. We remind me of Jack Sprat and his wife.
Loved the clip with Madeline Kahn - a happy surprise.
ReplyDeleteMarty:
DeleteAnd I don't think there's anyone who could surprise us quite like Madeline Kahn.
He is an artists-chef and you cannot stop a genius, think of the kitchen as his canvas of life in preparation of great dishes.
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteWhich begs the question... "But is it art?" Well, for certain, the food is.