Comments on: Elements of Cooking: Shoemaker

By: GoP

GoP — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

My son’s speech therapist is named Mrs. Yell. Just had to throw that in there.

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Ad Hoc x 3 ? You lucky bastard.

By: jacqueline church

jacqueline church — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Is “porcupining” (as in Porcupining a Mango) a chef or shoemaker term?
I linked here in answer to my reader’s question about how to cut a mango.
Cheers,
Jacqueline
http://theleatherdistrictgourmet.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/how-to-cut-a-mango-and-more-on-the-delicious-drupe/

By: pete dogg

pete dogg — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Paul Shoemaker, the same tool who spoke of “tusking” a chicken…

carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/2008/04/french-laundry-at-home-extra-trussing.html

By: Denny Bob

Denny Bob — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Speaking of strange names for the profession. I had my vasectomy performed by Dr Richard Chopp in Austin TX. Top that.

By: allie

allie — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

The definition of “shoemaker” is discussed (and agrees almost word-for-word with Chef Cruz) in “Kitchen Confidential”.

(I just finished reading it yesterday, my memory’s not that impressive)

By: pete dogg

pete dogg — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Paul Shoemaker, the same tool who spoke of “tusking” a chicken…

carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/2008/04/french-laundry-at-home-extra-trussing.html

By: Phillip Runion

Phillip Runion — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

dear sir,

If one were making a pork belly confit, and happened to fall a bit short of rendered fat, would clarified butter be a reasonable substitute to top off with?

thanks

By: luis

luis — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

allright guys lets just all agree this is not one of Rulhmans best topics and move on…or rather maybe he will move on to something really great!. Like stir frying local fish and veggies in a cast iron wok?
From the books I have been reading up on this subject I am amazed at the veggie combinations.
There should be rules I think! but I am far from sure as to what these rules are based on???
I have it on very very good authority that I need to get a rice cooker if I mean to cook kick ass japanese stir fry dishes.
Me, I am still zperimenting with the damm pressure cooker.

By: Bob delGrosso

Bob delGrosso — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

I respectfully disagree with Mr. Cruz’s definition of “shoemaker” and your endorsement of it.
The word “shoemaker” is not so context bound and can be used to describe not only how someone is behaving at one moment in time, but as a general assessment of their lack of talent.

So sometimes during the heat of service someone might behave like a shoemaker, while the dolt who can’t boil water is always a shoemaker.

I’ve also seen this term applied to people outside of the cooking world who are not very good at their chosen profession.

By: Kate in the NW

Kate in the NW — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

You people are punny.
I have a sudden craving for sole…or maybe tongue.
(you see, I’m not too straight-laced to make a joke…)
On with the shoe!
PS – how long with this last?

By: Steven Morehead

Steven Morehead — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Talk about offensive language!!!! Where I come from if you can sling hash that probably means given the right coaching and experience you can probably hang with the big dogs. That and your willingness to accept that slinging hash is not the worlds most glorious culinary incarnation. So slinging hash doesn’t make you cool being receptive to the people that are trying to teach you the ways of the culinary gods does.

By: Natalie Sztern

Natalie Sztern — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

If that Chef, in John’s story had any sense he should have had the shoemaker stitch up his hand….lol

By: Natalie Sztern

Natalie Sztern — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

…..but as the saying goes for the shoemaker…the road to hell was paved with good intentions….and don’t wear Manolo Blahniks in the kitchen!!

By: BenM

BenM — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

It’s funny, I’ve heard that term bandied about for years and had no idea they used it in the kitchen! In stone masonry, which is my craft, calling someone’s work “a shoemaker’s job” means that they either don’t know what they are doing or they don’t have the ability. “Shoddy” workmanship also invokes the shoemaker, dosen’t it? The poor bastards don’t get a break!

By: John Mitzewich

John Mitzewich — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

That’s terrible! Didn’t you feel like a heel?

By: kanani

kanani — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

What do people in the shoe industry call their slackers?
I’ve had shoes custom-made. Once, there was this particularly annoying pair that required multiple fittings. The things had to be taken apart and remade several times. When I finally got them, the freakin’ heel fell off the third time I wore them.
I remember calling my cobbler a “hobbler.”
However, I was fortunate that he never cooked for me.

And lucky you, Michael, for being up in Napa. Great place, great produce, meats, cheeses, wines, scenery… great everything. Make sure you stop in at Cowgirl Creamery.

By: kanani

kanani — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

John...funny! Ah, almost forgot. When you get back to Napa, go make the pilgrimmage and visit Chester Aaron. Professor of creative writing, author, grower of 100 types of garlic, writer of tomes on it as well. You'd love him. Say happy birthday to him, I think he's 86.

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

I almost went on a date once with a restaurant line cook named Shoemaker, but I just couldn’t get my brain around it. True story.

By: Pookha

Pookha — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Funny how the footwear industry bears the brunt of epithets.

There was a famous science fiction author who, when an editor published what the author considered a second-class story (after the editor had gotten done ‘editing’) would insist the magazine used the pen-name “Cordwainer Bird”, i.e. someone who makes shoes for birds.