Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 6, 1994 TAG: 9407070018
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ALMENA HUGHES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"It's a showcase for local talent, it's an important selling point for downtown when companies or individuals are considering locating here, it's a chance to get away from the office for a little while and get refreshed and have a nice time," Johnson said.
He suggested bringing lunch to eat while watching the free performances on the stage at Jefferson Street and Franklin Road. You could pick something up from the many downtown eateries, or bring something from home.
Johnson has parlayed his self-taught cooking skills into the zany TV show ``Cookin' Cheap,'' entering its 15th year in syndication, which he co-hosts with buddy Larry Bly. Always in favor of mixing cooking with fun, Johnson came up with some brown-bag suggestions to complement the Brown Bag Arts performances.
"Of course, you want things that are easily portable and that won't spoil," he said. "Commercial mayonnaises have so many preservatives that they're probably pretty safe. Or you can do things like marinated salads, cookies or fresh fruits."
"One of the funniest scenes in 'Hello, Dolly!' is when Dolly has to eat this enormous plate of chicken and dumplings," Johnson said.
While the Mill Mountain Theatre cast is presenting excerpts from the play, you can down your own chicken and noodle-like dumplings, kept hot in a thermos or microwave heated just before show time. The versatile 56-page cookbook from which this recipe was culled is available free by sending your name and address to: The Perdue Collection, P.O. Box 2417C, Salisbury, Md. 21802.
Johnson said the eclectic music of Brass 5, who always grace the city's Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony, brings to his mind turn-of-the-century picnic fare, like burgers or chicken. Combine the two in a chicken burger from chef Marcel Desaulniers' "The Burger Meisters," ($20, Simon and Schuster, New York).
In this imaginative new book, Desaulniers, who makes the masterpieces on The Learning Channel's "Death By Chocolate," takes meats and vegetables burgers-building to new heights, and even includes a decidedly nonmeat chocolate burger with a chocolate bun and raspberry relish. The book complements a new Desaulniers cooking show set for fall on The Learning Channel.
Pole, Trafidlo and Phillips and Roanoke Acoustic Wonders both have a folksy feel reminiscent of sprouts and trail mix, Johnson said. Enjoy their music while crunching munchable granola-based "Grab It G.O.R.P." snack. Or match a batch of espresso-based scones with the coffee-house jazz side of Roanoke Acoustic Wonders. You could but wouldn't want to shortcut this recipe, nor its visually striking as well as informative source, "ESPRESSO: Culture & Cuisine," by Karl Petzke and Sara Slavin ($14.95 and $19.95, Chronicle Books, San Francisco).
Johnson said he sees Bad Poetry In Motion cutting antics and juggling fruit. Put your fruit to more practical use in a salad or no-bake bites. Then, when Rare Bird flies in with its bluesy sounds, break out a favorite food of actor Dan Aykroyd, alias Blues Brother Elwood Blues.
Elwood's recipe is among those from 18 blues, gospel, jazz, zydeco, rock 'n' roll and soul artists in a wonderful 40-page collection of photos, biographies and mouthwatering dishes, published by McIlhenny Company for Tabasco pepper sauce. One dollar from each "Cookin' up the Blues" sale goes to the House of Blues Foundation, which was organized to foster racial harmony by teaching the social, spiritual and artistic legacy of the blues. The book costs $10 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. Order through (800) 634-9599.
Gospel sounds transport Johnson back to his youth and country-church picnic foods, such as potato salad, ribs and fried chicken. His favorite rib recipe, from food expert James Beard, is simply to place a slab of unseasoned ribs on a rack and bake them for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Take them out, salt and pepper both sides, turn them over on the rack and bake an additional 30 minutes or so until done. "They're the best I've ever tasted," Johnson said.
Try them for Star City Gospel Music Workshop Association's appearance.
Wrap up the series with Key West, touted by its members as "Jimmy Buffett in the Caribbean." Johnson said he equates the act with key lime pie, but you might want to try a more transportable slice of key lime cake.
"These performances are very free-wheeling. You can come and go as you please," Johnson said. "If it rains, the show will be canceled and not rescheduled. But we hope it won't do that and that people will just come out and have a wonderful time."
MARYLAND-STYLE CHICKEN
UN-FRIED CHICKEN
GRAB IT G.O.R.P.
ESPRESSO-HAZELNUT SCONES
NO-BAKE FRUIT BITES
CONFETTI ORANGE FRUIT SALAD
FRESH ORANGE & BLACK BEAN SALAD
ELWOOD BLUES' CHICKEN SANDWICH
SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN BURGER WITH HONEY MUSTARD MAYONNAISE
MAIDA HEATTER'S KEY LIME CAKE
MOJO (CUBAN GARLIC-CITRUS SAUCE)
Brown Bag Arts lunchtime performances Fridays, 12:15-1 p.m., Crestar Plaza, downtown Roanoke. Friday, Mill Mountain Theatre excerpts from ``Hello, Dolly!''; July 15, Brass 5; July 22, Pole, Trafidlo and Phillips, folk; July 29, Roanoke Acoustic Wonders, folk/jazz; Aug. 5, Bad Poetry in Motion, juggling and foolishness; Aug. 12, Rare Bird, blues and jazz; Aug. 19, Star City Gospel Music Workshop Association; Aug. 26, Key West, Jimmy Buffett in the Carribean.
by CNB