Author: The Rake

  • Cheese Fondue

    Ingredients 1 large garlic clove, crushed slightly but left whole 2 cups dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc 8 ounces Emmentaler cheese, grated 8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons dry sherry (optional) Dippers Bread cubes Cooked sausages Steamed broccoli or cauliflower Small whole new potatoes, cooked Method: Rub the garlic…

  • Georgia O’Keeffe: Circling Around Abstraction

    This is a strongly curated show—just as the Walker’s recent Picasso exhibition was. Both venture to transform familiar work by presenting it with vigorous scholarship and a fresh eye. In this case, the focus is on the circle—the paradigmatic composition in many of O’Keeffe’s abstractions—and it’s a valuable insight that had been lying there in…

  • Look Who Lost Her Appetite

    In Spanish we say: “confundir la gimnasia con la magnesia.” It means because two words sound alike their meaning is not the same. I expect a seasoned food critic like Mr. Iggers to know the difference between “marinara” and “marinera.” (“The Up-side of Groupthink,” September) They belong in two very different cuisines. The idea that…

  • The Toast of Powderhorn

    I jumped for joy to read in Ann Bauer’s conversation piece with Karl and Annamarie Rigelman (“Sweet and Savory,” August) about the croissants made at May Day Café. Without any hesitation May Day offers the best croissant in town, period. I am a true fan of the May Day, and give all the credit to…

  • A Hole in "News Hole"

    Last month The Rake dedicated an issue to the stories that we missed while we were reading about the bridge collapse (“News Hole”). While we in Minnesota were asleep at the bridge, we didn’t notice that people concerned for a free Tibet traveled to China and hung a banner on the Great Wall. These protesters…

  • Moving at an Unsafe Speed

    Tom Bartel’s editorial about the bridge collapse, “The Roman Arch: Mixing Metaphors Instead of Concrete,” touched on the dilemma or even the cause of the collapse. “ … It’s clear as well that politicians and bureaucrats who answer to politicians have no stomach for inconveniencing drivers …. What representatives of our government’s work receive more…