Hey, Good Lookin’ — What Ya Got Cookin’?
North of the 49th parallel, Thursday, November 6th is ‘National Men Make Dinner Day”.
Why Dick Van Dyke?
Gravel Roads could locate very few images of men in the kitchen, retro- vintage-dated. Other than Dick displaying a rack of ribs on a rather manly-sized platter.
Why Hank Snow?
By all accounts Hank Snow was not only a country music legend, but a gentleman and a humanitarian.
And in one of his few, very rarely filmed performances (above), he also sang about cooking. Or so I thought.
Born Clarence Euguene Hank Snow in Brooklyn (Nova Scotia, Canada).
In 1954, Hank’s influence with the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, persuaded the directors to allow Elvis Presley to perform on stage for the first time. He and Presley’s promoter, Colonel Tom Parker, formed a management team which effectively controlled the young singer’s career for some forty years.
A victim of child abuse and extreme poverty, Snow established a foundation which continues in his name today, the Hank Snow International Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse.
“Hey, Good Lookin” was originally written by Cole Porter in 1942. Snow created a variation of the song and lyrics which he recorded in 1951.
If you’d care to croon while you cook, here are the lyrics to “Hey Good Lookin'”.
And the connection with Gravel Roads?
This song became a staple of brother Orest’s guitar-playing, singing repertoire. One of many country performing artists he followed.
According to pundits, the song centers around a self-confident man, able and willing to cook up some homemade love.
That was not the understanding of one naive five-year old in Gravel Roads. To this day, I still think of Hank in the kitchen, strumming.
And Canada?
“National Men Make Dinner Night” was the brainchild of Canadian genius, Sandy Sharkey also a DJ and journalist. What originated as a ruse to trick her husband, caught on so rapidly, that it spawned an international movement, the effects of which can be felt in the United Kingdom and even State-side.
Participants introduce neophytes — tongue-in-cheek — to official rules such as “clean as you go” with bonus points awarded along the way for proper adherence, thereof.
And men make dinner night?
Pure-play: Canada and brother Orest. Aside from my Mother, he was the best cook and the only “man” cook I’d ever witnessed in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s reading the “Good Housekeeping” cookbook.
Or sautéing; or whisking; or searing.
Or even soufflé-ing.
And could the man ever bake bread, yeast-raised, old-fashioned bread.
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge required to be indoctrinated into the Gravel Roads’ version of ‘National Men Make Dinner Day’, we humbly set forth the following . . .
Suggested sustenance
Gravel Roads had roast turkey for Canadian Thanksgiving followed by turkey soup, turkey tortillas, turkey pot pie, turkey pasta, turkey casserole, turkey chili, turkey crepes, turkey chowder, turkey ‘ad nauseam’. Shortly, Gravel Roads will have more turkey for American Thanksgiving.
Enough with the turkey (and chicken). No turkey (or chicken) options presented herein. As per Gravel Roads. Ergo, for your manly consideration . . .
- Pork Au Poivre
Pork tenderloin in a peppercorn blend, sliced into medallions and seared. Pan deglazed with wine and mustard combination. Served with Apple Barley Salad.
- Orange-Glazed Salmon
Spicy-sweet Sockeye salmon. Sautéed and served with russet potato home-style fries.
- Lamb Chops with Strawberry Balsamic Sauce
With spinach salad and a buttermilk dressing.
- Pretzel Dogs with Kraut Relish
Served with warm Dutch potato salad.
- Dessert
Strawberry and Pineapple Trifles with amaretto and vanilla yogurt.
Should your curiosity, appetite and manly instincts prevail, in tomorrow’s post we’ll present a shopping list and simple instructions for preparing each of these. — Gravel Roads.
