Micah's Read of the Week, Vol. 2
Stuff Micah finds interesting this week: cocktails, wine clubs, summer recipes, an electric tweet from a Texas public library, and more
Hello, and welcome to Micah’s Read of the Week.
If you want more information about this newsletter, check out the introduction post here and Vol. 1 here.
Please, subscribe and share with a friend.
A note: I suggest a subscription to the Washington Post. I’ve linked and excerpted from several of their pieces this week. They are always running a sign-up special, and I can’t suggest it highly enough. So much outstanding content.
Now, on to the newsletter.
Read of the Week
Here’s the story featured on this week’s Mind of Micah podcast: Inside the NBA bubble's unofficial wine club
Imagine being an NBA player stuck in a hotel away from your dope mansion without your family or dogs for weeks. What would you pay to have shipped to you? For JJ Redick and many other players, the answer is wine.
IN THE DAYS leading up to the NBA's Florida reboot, New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick contemplated what provisions to bring for a stay in the Orlando bubble that would last at least five weeks. He initially focused only on the necessities and packed light. Then on July 8, once he arrived with the Pelicans at their appointed hotel, the Yacht Club, Redick gauged his room and hotel amenities.
One of his first efforts was to examine the wine list.
…In recent years, after several dining experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants in which an elegant Burgundy accompanied a world-class experience, Redick fell in love.
At his hotel in Orlando, Redick did not see any such wines available, or anything close.
"OK," he thought to himself. "I need to remedy this."
Redick dialed his New York-based wine broker and immediately asked him to send a shipment. Then Redick went online to purchase an 18-bottle wine fridge for his room -- something to keep the bottles at the appropriate temperature, ideally around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Click to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just read the whole thing right now.
A Heartbreaking Reminder to Please Wear a Damn Mask.
This is not a fun read. ‘It was me. I know it was me.’
I keep thinking: What if I’d stopped going to work when the first people started to get sick? What if I didn’t live with my mom? What if I’d stayed upstairs in my room like I’d been doing all week? What if I’d kept my mask on? What if I’d turned away when she reached out to hug me? We only had close contact that one time, and it barely lasted a few minutes, but that was all it took. A week later she was in the hospital. Ten days after that she was gone. That’s the timeline I have to live with, and it points right back to me. I got sick and then she got sick. I lived and she died. How am I supposed to let go of that?
This isn’t over. Please be safe.
Cocktail Corner
Lots of drink recipes out there this week.
First, via Texas Monthly, The Old Pepper.
¼ ounce hot sauce
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ ounce turbinado syrup*
1½ ounces bourbon
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 chile de arbol for garnish
Pour the hot sauce, lemon juice, syrup, bourbon, and Worcestershire sauce into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Cover and shake vigorously 20 times. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. To garnish, place the chile on the ice.
*To make turbinado syrup: Combine 2 cups turbinado sugar (Huerta uses the Sugar in the Raw brand) with 1 cup of water in a saucepan and stir to combine. Over medium-high heat, bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and let simmer until sugar is dissolved and the syrup is slightly thickened (about 3 minutes). Let cool and transfer to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Spicy.
I’m not much of a rum drinker, but this is a cocktail I could go for. It’s rum poured over an ice cube made out of coconut water. That’s the drink. Refreshing.
Tell me you don’t want to drink this.
This recipe comes from this emotional Esquire story about laid-off hospitality workers.
Grab a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz Rye, .75 oz lemon juice (fresh if you have it), and .25 oz simple syrup. (To make simple syrup: Boil 1 cup water, take off heat and stir in 1 cup sugar to dissolve and let cool in the refrigerator.) Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass, add large ice cubes leaving enough room at the top, and slowly float* about 1.5 oz red wine over a bar spoon.
Tweet of the Week
Spicy. Robert Littal is an essential follow btw. Also, the bubble is fun.
Tweet of the Week, Pt. 2
This made me laugh. Also, Sweet Baby Ray’s is trash.
Food Thoughts
Last week, we wrote a little bit about fresh summer corn. It’s delightful. Here’s an idea for what to do with all that fresh corn: make No-Churn Corn Ice Cream.
No need to hunt down an ice cream maker for this simple no-churn ice cream—just the sweetest fresh summer corn you can find. Corn kernels get blitzed in a food processor then strained and simmered down into a sweet pudding that forms the base of this dreamy dessert. A drizzle of store-bought dulce de leche provides the perfect buttery-sweet finish.
I really like these no-churn ice cream recipes made with cream and sweetened condensed milk. I’m gonna stock up on corn this week, and give this one a try.
Speaking of summer produce, here’s an easy weeknight recipe, Italian Sausage, Squash and Pasta Skillet. We’re not exactly setting the culinary world on fire here, but this seems like something worth making a big batch of and enjoying the leftovers all week. I’d go with whole wheat pasta here fwiw.
Here’s a Fun Story About the Making of “The Blues Brothers”
Not a great movie. But some wonderful quotes from Dan Aykroyd and Director John Landis via The Guardian:
At the time, cocaine was a currency. For some of the crew working nights, it was almost like coffee. I never liked it myself but I wasn’t going to police others’ behaviour.
We lost John one night. But it wasn’t because he was high, it was because he was hungry and didn’t like what was available to eat on set. I couldn’t find him anywhere. Finally, I saw this path going through a parking lot and into a nearby neighbourhood so I followed it. The neighbourhood was dark except for one house. I knock on the door and say, “Excuse me, we’re shooting a movie and missing one of our actors.” The guy goes, “Oh, Belushi? He came in about an hour ago, raided my fridge and crashed on my couch.”
By the time we were shooting, John had become addicted to cocaine. Cocaine makes you drink, and drinking makes you take more cocaine. Strangers would see him and give him drugs. It was difficult to keep them away. He almost died on the movie. For me, the biggest tragedy is that in Animal House he was there 100% for me and himself. In The Blues Brothers at the best moments he’s there 75% – but he’s great, so most people don’t notice.
Political Stories That Will Probably Lead Some People to Unsubscribe from This Newsletter and Call Me a Cuck
The Clintons and James Carville have spent decades talking about a “Vast, right-wing conspiracy.” The truth is, there isn’t a vast conspiracy. There’s a few, well connected, powerful, crafty, and effective right-wingers that disproportionately affect our political system. Here’s one example: A Well-Connected GOP Strategist Is Helping Kanye West Get on the Ballot in Wisconsin
Kanye West has officially submitted signatures to appear on the ballot in Wisconsin, arguably the most important state on the presidential map — and those signatures were dropped off by an experienced GOP operative with ties to President Trump’s campaign.
(Lane) Ruhland recently represented the Trump campaign in its lawsuit to force Priorities USA, a Democratic super-PAC, to pull an anti-Trump ad off the airwaves. She was in court representing the Trump campaign just last week.
From WaPo: Kanye West’s presidential bid bolstered by Republican operatives in at least five states:
In Arkansas, a Republican operative who signed West’s ballot petition was at one point interviewed to be Trump’s campaign manager for his 2016 bid.
And West’s ballot petition in Ohio was signed by a lawyer who has previously represented state Republican campaign committees.
You probably didn’t subscribe to read about Trump, but this one stood out. Again, from WaPo: A president ignored: Trump’s outlandish claims increasingly met with a collective shrug
Shortly after a deadly explosion in Beirut this week, President Trump offered a theory — backed by no apparent evidence — that the devastating incident was “a terrible attack,” claiming “some of our great generals” thought it was likely the result of “a bomb of some kind.”
Such a bold proclamation from a U.S. president would usually set off worldwide alarms. Yet aside from some initial concern among Lebanese officials, Trump’s assertions were largely met with a collective global shrug.
More than 3½ years into his presidency, Trump increasingly finds himself minimized and ignored — as many of his more outlandish or false statements are briefly considered and then, just as quickly, dismissed. The slide into partial irrelevance could make it even more difficult for Trump as he seeks reelection as the nation’s leader amid a pandemic and economic collapse.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This Week’s Most Entertaining Tweet From A Public Library
Are you tired of streaming movies, and want to go old school? We got hundreds and hundreds of Blu Rays and DVDs just for you!
Curbside Larry is truly electric. And that’s coming from the Power Plant Picks guy.
Where else can I find Micah content?
I’m glad you asked.
Podcasts: Mind of Micah, Back Door Cover, Too Much Dip
Twitter: @micahwiener & @producermicah (Why two twitters? It’s a long story)
Instagram: @micahwiener
LinkedIn: @micahwiener
Haha. Bravo on this week's read.