Sunday, April 19, 2009

That time of year

I'm happy it's this time of year, and I don't mean spring, I mean duck-laying time. To be honest I really don't know the schedule, or whether they could potentially lay eggs all year round, but what I do know is that my friend's ducks are laying again. That's good news for me. I wrote about these duck eggs last year, but I think I have a few more readers this time around, so I will say it again.

Regular readers know that I am obsessed with eggs and their culinary "powers." I buy the best, freshest eggs I can find. The difference between your average mega-mart eggs, and some fresh, local, cage-free eggs is substantial, and I find that my mood is significantly diminished, when I run out of the good ones and am forced to use the others.


In my ongoing search for eggceptional eggs, I've set up a little network of purveyors. A cute girl gives me chicken eggs from her Americauna Hens, and my other buddy Jake gives me duck eggs from two ducks (Shawntrel and Goose) that he lovingly (I'm sure) cares for in his backyard. Life is good right?


This connection is important to me. You know in The French Laundry Cookbook, how Thomas Keller includes sections glorifying his purveyors? This is my equivalent. I remember when I went to Per Se, my server described one of the butters for bread. He said that it comes from seven cows, that produce butter, exclusively for The French Laundry and Per Se. When you have something like that, it's special. I'm Jake's only client.


As I said, his ducks have just started laying again, and my days have been transformed. Now that I can scramble up a few ducks eggs before I go to school, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day for me, not to mention the most looked-forward-to.


I tore through the dozen eggs he first gave me, and I will make quick work of the 18 he just gave me. I feel like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and I like it. Now if I could only imitate his tactics with women...

PS: That's my whole wheat bread!

12 comments:

cookingat11 said...

You're really lucky, having friends supply your egg needs. I have to settle for mega-mart eggs. I can only imagine getting 2 and a half dozen duck eggs. Your breakfast (I'm assuming it's breakfast) looks good. I ate homemade Pop Tarts. Last night at 8 or 9, I wanted to cook something, so I looked through some cookbooks, and your blog for inspiration. I saw your Pop Tart post from long ago, and remembered the 1,2,3 ratio for pie crust from Ruhlman's new book Ratio. I had some Nutella on hand and 5 Pop Tarts were gone by morning (thanks to me and my Nutella loving sisiter) So thanks for the inspiration.

Maria said...

I really need to introduce you to my 16-year-old sister. :)

Your posts are wonderful, your love of eating well contagious.

The eggs look delicious.

James said...

It is that time of year. Ducks normally lay from Feb - Juneish. But that depends on the breed. Indian Runners are good layers and some keep going all year round, although like chickens give them a bit of severe cold weather and they stop which means you get a break in duck and chicken supply - eggs as well as birds for cooking, as I so often find out in the winter.

When I called in to the farm a couple of weeks ago to pick up some eggs, they left the ones in the shop front and gave me ones from the basket in the back just laid a couple of hours before - you can't beat it for freshness.

Chris (Topher) said...

This is really strange. I just made a post with almost the same title.

Anyway, I love duck eggs. Much better than those from a chicken (in my opinion).

michael, claudia and sierra said...

i've never eaten a duck egg

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

c3 said...

Your enthusiasm is inspiring. I'm going to have to find some duck eggs! I, too, have never tried one!

Lorena said...

You are right, there is nothing like eating fresh eggs that you know where they came from. The taste is totally superior!

caroline said...

now I'm interested to taste the difference between duck eggs and what I'm used to.

And please don't take the Gaston route! We much prefer....well, anything but that ;)

caroline

Anonymous said...

Do you know that in all my years, I have never even thought of a duck egg? What are they like? How is the taste different from a Chicken egg? Why do guys with so much going for them always sigh and wish they were more like the Gaston's of the world? I know you were only alluding to how many eggs he has in the morning but still...:) you'd whip his ass in any catagory!!

Eternal Lizdom said...

There is someone you need to know about (if you don't already).

Jennifer McLagan

http://jennifermclagan.blogspot.com

She loves fat. And food. Has a few books. Intriguing!

Trig said...

The first time I experienced something like this was many years ago at Café Spice. Cyrus Todiwala told me he sourced his eggs from one particular farm in the west country - something unheard of for a London restaurant. But the taste...

Personally I love duck eggs, but a really great hen's egg is something very special.

michael, claudia and sierra said...

lucky me!!!