Iron Chef

Warning: The FG is concerned that her select readership may be under the impression she lives alone on Stiletto Island. Never fear, there are others in the real and virtual world she has stooped to conquer. If you see yourself ... or someone you think is you ... here and you don't like your moniker or you have an oh-so-cleverer one, the FG may consider your input. You know where to find her.

I spent early Saturday night chatting with East Coast Guy about the peculiarities of time zones, and watching Todd English and Mario Batali face off on Iron Chef America. Secret Ingredient - Pizza Dough. I love to cook, and was reminded of the Blue Fairy and the Vintner, a charming and generous couple from a nearby island. They play iron chef games with a group of friends, and I was fortunate to be invited to a year-end celebration once. Their face-offs have featured, among other secret ingredients, beets, tomatoes, tofu, potatoes, corn, eggplant and mushroooms, and the accompanying tales of triumphs and defeats are book-worthy. My fav tale was of the potato martinis - fingerling potatoes were marinated in potato vodka ... or perhaps it was vermouth? ... frozen, sliced to stand on end and hollowed out like sake boxes. Then potato vodka martinis were served in the potato 'glasses'. V. creative. And then there were the candied eggplant bits, folded into a creamy mousse and served in dyed eggshells with tiny spoons ... clearly I could go on and on.

And then, off to a first birthday party ever ... for a lovely woman in her late 20's who, for reasons of family of origin religious persuasions, has never had a birthday party. It is a fascinating thing to contemplate, as one who grew up attending birthday parties ad nauseum. The Birthday Diva has promised to sport a tiara, so what are we waiting for?