I love the cool stories we tell while we cook. Watching a pot simmer for hours can be like watching paint dry, so it’s nice to have a tale to tell to pass the time. While hashing out an upcoming article for the Post I was afforded some time with Will Artley, the Executive Chef at the Evening Star Cafe. Discussing comfort food he mentioned a breakfast dish that his mother regularly prepared. When Will asked what she was making she confidently responded “Batones Para los Preguntones”.
It had a nice ring, and supposedly described a hearty breakfast dish of tomatoes, eggs and tortillas cooked in a single pan. The dish was memorable enough to join Will’s repertoire, and he frequently made it in different kitchens. Each time he’d proudly announce its name…Batones Para los Preguntones. I’m guessing it was a humbling moment when he learned that every time he asked his mom what she was making, she was simply answering “For me to know, and you to find out”.
Sometimes we revisit our best dishes time and time again, becuase the smells they generate stimulate memories in a way that simple stories and recollections can’t replicate. But when dishes from our past join a favorite story or tradition we make recipes for memories that are lasting.
Steak and Eggs
