On The Value Of The $200 Fennel Braiser

-
This is probably indicative of my state of mind, but I got super furious when I saw the following ad on epicurious:

A $200 fennel braiser.  Questions like: 
  • Who the fuck would spend 200$ just for the task of a fennel braiser?  
  • What unique qualities of fennel could be coaxed with a special braising device?  
  • Why would anyone think they could get away with this scam?
  • Where did epicurious get the gall to sell such a ridiculous item?

I had to research this further.  Within seconds my rage converted into amusement.  With myself.  At myself.  For within two clicks, I found the following:




Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    This made me laugh! I was also enraged until the light bulb turned on!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa~~September 14, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    You weren't the only one who saw that ad and thought WHO & WHY??? Thanks for doing the research and clearing that one up...DUH on my part.


    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

    ReplyDelete
  3. pescolarOctober 1, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    Well, you are not alone either... or are you?

    ReplyDelete
  4. ScottOctober 1, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I just found this post when I googled "Fennel Braiser" to figure out why someone would need a special braiser for fennel, and why on earth that special piece of equipment would cost 200 bucks. Finding this post was great. Now.... $200.00 for braising COBALT, that makes way more sense. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. pescolarOctober 1, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    200$ to braise cobalt is a steel!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Escolar: The World's Most Dangerous Fish

-
Image
Escolar is the most controversial fish that you are likely to find in your fish market. This firm, white fleshed fish has an incredibly rich flavor, often described as 'succulent', or a fattier version of swordfish. Why so rich? It turns out that Escolar's diet contains food high in wax esters. Wax esters that are really difficult for Escolar to digest. As a result, these esters build up in the fish. Where is the controversy in a buttery, delicious fish? I would say it is in the laxative like effect it has on a certain percentage of the population. Well, a 'laxative like effect' is how my fish monger described it. Others would describe it as closer to diahhrea. An expert would call it 'keriorrhoea'. Literally translated, it means 'flow of wax'. Oily orange droplets pouring out your pooper.  Keriorrhoea occurs because the wax esters in the flesh of the fish pool up in your intestine. Some reports of Escolar related illness include cramp
Read more

White Tuna Explained (Escolar vs. Albacore)

-
Image
I am not the first person on the Internet to tell you that White Tuna is a confusing order at the sushi bar.  While there are a host of fish that can be mislabeled as White Tuna, the two most common ones are the Albacore Tuna and our dreaded and delicious friend, the Escolar . What Is White Tuna? I worked really hard to source both fish in a raw form so that I could bring you pictures.  And by 'worked really hard', I really mean: I would keep going to the same fishmonger and ask them if they had Escolar and Albacore.  Escolar isn't very difficult to find but Albacore can be problematic.  Finally, I found some at the Lobster Place  in Chelsea Market. So, let's take a quick look:
Read more

Cheap Skate (i8P)

-
Image
I generally shy away from fish that is on sale at any fishmonger. The only reason I can think of for reducing the price of something is because you want to get rid of it. And there are only two reasons you are trying to get rid of something. You have more than you want of it or there is something wrong with it. But, you know, I was at Whole Foods. I figured that whatever I was purchasing couldn't be that bad. So, with that rationalization trumping my better judgement, I purchased two pounds of skate. Skates are bottom dwelling Chondrichthyes, similar to Rays, like a Sting Ray, Manta Ray or Sugar Ray (Well, at least the bottom dwelling part). Which you don't really think of as delicious. But it can be. My issue with Skate is that it is alway prepared the same way. Brown butter, capers and a squeeze of lemon. Awesome the first time, horrifically boring the umpteenth time. However, I had an idea in my head (ideas that I have in my pancreas I don't usually act on) th
Read more