Esther’s cookbook travels to Amsterdam and Tokyo

Now that all the 10 Itinerant Cookbooks have been distributed to the root participants, the followers of the project have been anxiously awaiting the first feedback. And here it is thanks to my friend Esther of Gainesville.
Here is her picture of the recipe she made and the great write-up of her experience cooking for the Itinerant Cookbook Project.

Chicken Marsala with Linguini by Esther of Gainesville

“Amsterdam, June 31, 2009

Dear Chef Gui,
Thank you so much for entrusting me with the “California Pizza Kitchen Family Cookbook.” Said cookbook is now in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where I am currently visiting my mother. It lay on the kitchen table until my son (11 years old) resolutely decided (“Let’s just get it over with!”) that the time had come to carry out our kitchen mission and cook some pizza. Except that when push came to shove we chose not to make pizza. We did not even make “Chicken Milanese” (“schnitzel,” as my kids astutely remarked) but, again at the suggestion of my son (“Let’s at least make something new”), we went outside our comfort zone and decided on “Chicken Marsala with Linguini.”
Instead of shopping for chicken breasts at the local supermarket chain (“Albert Heyn,” or “Appie Heyn” for the locals) which sells it sterile and wrapped in plastic, we went to the Islamic butcher. There the chicken breast was pounded so hard by a boy of about 15, that at some point I had to intervene and stop him (“Enough! No more!”), or the chicken breast would have ceased to be.
I had a hard time selling the kids on the mushrooms that were supposed to top off the dish. They have developed somewhat of a mushroom prejudice after a dining experience in an all mushroom restaurant (emphasis on “all”) in Brussels. But after some bribing on my part (chocolate mousse for dessert) we bought the needed mushrooms and the green asparagus—which costs a fortune in the Netherlands, for some reason. Then to the liquor store for a big bottle of Marsala wine.
The family part of the dinner prep ended there. After that, it was just me in my mother’s kitchen, struggling with too many pots on the 30 year old, 4 burner gas stove, as the recipe called for just about everything to be cooked separately and then to be combined. It was mayhem. As I was transporting the chicken breast from kitchen counter to the skillet, I dropped one of them in the marsala wine sauce that was boiling on another burner. The sauce splashed in all directions. But I regrouped, cleaned up, and continued.
I decided to forego straining the marsala sauce in order to eliminate pieces of shallots and garlic, however, since there was absolutely no counter space left.
The dinner was a resounding success. We (my mother and I) washed it away with a nice bottle of Vacqueras. The cookbook will continue its journey all the way to Tokyo, where my brother resides.

Best wishes,

Esther”

What is this blog about? Read the first post here.

You can check out and buy all itinerant cookbooks by clicking here.

Where are the Itinerant Cookbooks now?

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Here are the Itinerant Cookbooks:

Started in Tampa, FL with Margaret. Was in Tampa, FL with Noel, in Mt Elgin, Ontario with Rosemary. Now in York, Ontario, with Janice.

Started in Brandon, FL with Dave. Now in Brandon, FL with Dave.

Started in Nice, France with Marc-Antoine. Was in Bar-sur-loup with Faye. Now in Exeter, UK with Judie.

Started in St Petersburg, FL with Janet. Now in St Petersburg, FL with Janet.

Started in Dunedin, FL with Janis. Traveled to Chicago. Now in San Francisco, CA with Liz.

Started in Gainesville, FL with Esther. Traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Now in Tokyo, Japan with Martin.

Started in Plant City with Lynne. Traveled to Ann Arbor, MI with Horace.

Started in Largo, FL with Marty. Was in Madeira Beach, FL with Carol. Now with Sharon in Brandon, Mississipi.

Started in Brandon, FL with Debbie. Now in Tampa, FL with Jeff.

Started in Dunedin with Bob. Traveled to Chicago with Bob. Now in NY with Dan.

Thank you to our book sponsor, Wiley. Please check their website here.