D.J. Olsen's Polenta with Radicchio, Fennel and Herbs

Tap, tap. Cough. Hello? Anyone out there?

Apologies, dear readers, for my prolonged absence, though I imagine to some of you I'm starting to sound like a broken record. There was a bachelorette party and a crazy work week, yes, and then a few days when cooking seemed to be nothing but an afterthought and a busy weekend in which we went from Manhattan to the Bronx and back. Before I could say "boo", I realized I'd only blogged twice in two weeks.

Sometimes, I guess, you just need to take a break. And it felt pretty good to be out in the world, communing with the baby animals, eating pasta on Arthur Avenue, celebrating Becca's 30th birthday, and doing some serious bargain jewelry shopping with my girlfriends on Sunday. The computer could wait.

Besides, have I mentioned the fact that I will be bikini-clad in less than two weeks? If there's any reason to stop cooking (and writing about it), there's one right there.

I kid, of course. But it's true that cooking newspaper recipes isn't always the way to a hot body, even if you are sharing your meals with one very tall man who can eat his body weight in pasta on most days. I've had to choose carefully. So carefully, in fact, that I found myself eating bitter cornmeal mush for dinner tonight.

Well. I exaggerate maybe a bit. It wasn't all that bad. Creamy polenta flecked with herbs (not minced small enough by yours truly, the lazy git), then dyed a reddish color from sauteed radicchio and sweetened with julienned fennel. Oh sure, it sounds pretty darn good. But really? It was forgettable. A squeeze of lemon juice and a double portion of grated Parmigiano made it better, and a few good sprinklings of flaky salt helped it along as well. But on the whole? I think we should just agree to forget about this one entirely.

In lieu of a recipe, let's have a look at these silly monkeys instead.

Okay, fine, gorillas!

I think I'd have liked to take this one home with me.

Congratulations to Gemma and Seb, who have their very own little monkey to take home now. Welcome to the world, Charlotte Lucy!

Comments

[Lia]

Luisa, I've been blogging only about once every few weeks, so twice in two weeks doesn't sound so bad to me! :) We moved into our new place Friday and leave for Europe this week, so I'm not sure if I'll even get to squeeze one in before then. Where are you heading that will require a bikini? I'm bringing extra stretchy pants to France and Spain!

[Molly]

We're all still here! Don't worry, you can't lose us that easily. ;)

[radish]

the gorillas are so cute! no worries on being gone - it's hard balancing a job, friends, other life, etc. :) enjoy the spring!

[Mary]

Your excuses sound perfectly reasonable to me, but really, none needed. I'm having that bikini issue too, but it's funny, the blogger's 15 syndrome has hit my husband worse than me (oops) and now he's begging me to cut back on the sweets and rich stuff, "Can't you write about salad this week?" he asks me.

[Kathy]

I neglect my food blog horribly (but I'm pretty good about keeping up with the other ones), so don't feel bad.

Hm...the polenta. I hope it tasted better than it looks, at least. Eugh. :)

[Patricia Scarpin]

Luisa,

It's easy getting addicted to your blog - we won't go anywhere!

Have fun!

[Lydia]

Luisa, enjoy your little break! I had one forced upon me, and I realize now that I should take a week or so off every few months, to rest and recharge. Enjoy your holiday!

[Jessika]

If you have an atom-blog subscription to your blog (and others) you get photos blown up times way too much, especially when it came to THAT photo. Wouldn't eat it for the world so the lack of recipe is not a problem. And everyone is entitled to a break. If you could read mine you'd notice that I have been busy doing everything but cook for weeks. Tonight I am finally baking something totally new to me, a savarin cake.

[jenjen]

Too adorable. I would love to have a little monkey of my own to take home.

[shauna]

Oh goodness, my dear, blog when you want. We will always be here.

(And I have to echo an earlier comment. Not all great-tasting food has to look beautiful, but that one put me off right away. See, you still did your work. I'm not making that recipe!)

I want to hear all about your trip.

[ann]

dare I ask where you're going that a bikini-ready bod is necessary? somewhere fun?
I've made a risotto with those ingredients before and it was ugly and yummy at the same time!
cute gorillas!

[Luisa]

Lia - congrats on the big move! That is so thrilling. (and exhausting, I'll bet). Have a fantastic time in Europe - can't wait to hear all about it.

Molly - thanks, my friend ;)

Radish - cute, right? Man, I just wanted to scoop that little one up and cuddle him. Her?

Mary - that's funny. Oh, the fate of the blogger's partner...

Kathy - yeaaaah, that picture really does help the matter, does it.

Patricia - thank you thank you! That's sweet of you to say.

Lydia - I'll be gone on a proper holiday soon enough, so I'll do my best to squeeze in some blogging before then!

Jessika - ooh, savarin, that sounds lovely. How did it turn out?

JenJen - wouldn't that be fun? I mean, maybe a little rowdy and smelly, but oooh, the cuddles! ;)

Shauna - Thank you, sweetie! Kind of you to say ;)

Ann - A long weekend in Bermuda for a friend's wedding. Bikini bodies are haunting my waking hours right now. Ack!

[Susan from Food "Blogga"]

It's amazing how quickly time passes in the blogosphere when there are so many other things in life going on--we all understand. Sorry to hear your dish was forgettable. Perhaps it was the radicchio? I love fennel and radicchio but sometimes find the latter can be too bitter.

[Charlotte Lucy]

Dear Wednesday Chef
I like the pictures of the monkeys... my dad told me I sound like a monkey when I cry. I already love your blog
xx

[Christina]

I'm glad you're still posting--you are much more regular about it than I am. And, as always, I'm so happy you post about the "not-so-spectacular" meals as well as the good. You let us know what to avoid.

Geez, I'm always happy I stopped by The Wednesday Chef.

Have a good one.

[Julie]

That polenta is not a very encouraging color. Even if you'd said it was delicious, the best thing you'd had in ages, that color would make me think twice about making it.

The gorillas are enchanting. And congratulations to your friends on Charlotte Lucy's birth. (I love that name!)

[Anne]

Luisa-

You'll have to try harder to get rid of me. Have fun in Bermuda. You already look great so I see no worries for you on the bikini front!

xo, Anne

[Jessika]

The savarin turned out ok. the cake in itself was rather bland -- the effort should most certainly be placed on the fruit you serve with it and the sugar syrup you drench the cake with. My next project is rum babas and then a batch of basler leckerli(lost my job with a severance package - have too much time).

[Caroline]

Have you seen the new baby polar bear pics from Germany? I love baby animal pics.

[Luisa]

Charlotte - you are one adorable monkey and my favorite reader already.

Christina - thank you! You just made my day :)

Julie - yeah, the dish really was unspectacular in so many ways. (And I think you made Charlotte's parents' day.)

Anne - ergh, thank you. I'm trying to keep Nora Ephron's words in my head.

Jessika - Basler Leckerli in May! Yum, what an indulgence. I'm so sorry to hear about your job, but a severance package certainly sounds nice ;)

Caroline - KNUT! I am totally in love with Knut.