Tag Archives: Crane & Co.

Day 33: Chef Janny, Bistro Blanc

Posted on February 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

Wow…what a crazy end to the Super Bowl last night – I still can’t believe it.

Photo: Newsweek.com

Photo: Newsweek.com

Photo: Jen Rynda

Photo: Jen Rynda

Today’s handwritten letter recipient and Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady have something in common. They’re all about texture. When questioned about Deflategate, Brady said that it was all about the texture of the footballs.

Chef Janny Kim of Bistro Blanc in Glenelg, MD agrees, “I’m all about texture.” He was referring to food though, not footballs. The 28-year-old self-taught chef is delighting customers at this Howard County hidden gem. I was with a group of friends at the Chef’s Table that featured a 10 course mouth-watering menu.

Pillows of RIce: fermented sesame leaf, roasted peanut curry, toasted peanut and micro shiso

Pillows of Rice: fermented sesame leaf, roasted peanut curry, toasted peanut and micro shiso

The aerated celery soup, the grouper, suckling pig, the 29 day dry-aged ribeye and spicy dark chocolate ganache were my favorites, but they were all very good. I’ve never written a chef to tell them that I enjoyed there food – but why not?

I even found a postage stamp that featured Edna Lewis – famed James Beard awarded chef known for her southern style culinary creations.

BistroBlanc-2

Chef Janny,

Suckling Pig with nuoc mam pickled vegetables and leek emulsion

Suckling Pig with nuoc mam pickled vegetables and leek emulsion

I had the distinct pleasure of dining at your Chef’s Table Saturday evening. I live in downtown Washington, DC and have dined in wonderful restaurants here as well as in New York, Chicago, Lima, Sao Paulo, Paris, Madrid, Florence, London, etc. The food that you created for us was worthy of the coveted Michelin stars. Your intense flavors, complimenting textures and stunning presentation are a clear result of your passion and commitment to culinary excellence.

Thank you, it was outstanding!
Reed Sandridge

BistroBlanc

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Day 26: Aunt Sue

Posted on January 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

My Aunt Sue was the recipient of my letter on Day 10 – it was her birthday. As I mentioned then she’s struggled over the past year with several health problems and her memory has gotten much worse. Today I called her to see how she was doing and she sounded great – just like she used to. In fact, she said herself that she felt like parts of her memory were slowly coming back to her.

She lives in an assisted living center and is supposed to go to meals in the dining room, but since she’s been there she’s only been down to the dining room probably a dozen times. She said today that she has started going – and didn’t know why she hasn’t been going. I’m cautiously optimistic about these developments. Anyway, it was wonderful to have the old Aunt Sue back and share those special moments with her today. I hope that continues.

YoL-2-2

Dear Aunt Sue,

YoL-7It was so good to talk to you today. You sounded so good. I’m happy that you are getting out of your apartment more, eating in the dining room and meeting others. Getting out and being more active will surely help you feel better.

Ryan and I are planning to come down to TN the last weekend in February – we’re both looking forward to it!

I’ll call you this weekend.

Love you,
YKW [My Aunt Sue used to always sign her letters to me “YKW” for You Know Who]

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Day 23: Jack

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment


On Thursday I had the tremendous pleasure of visiting the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL. It’s an amazing place focused on promoting conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. They have an onsite hospital there too – which I got to see in action. I got to meet Jack Lighton, the President and CEO, who gave us a very special tour of the operations.

Day 23 JackThis is Sven – and this little guy, well he’s not that little actually, was attacked by a shark and has some bad wounds on his back right side. He was being treated by Dr. Charlie and others when we were there, so I got a behind the scenes look at them working on Sven. They were applying natural honey to his wounds – believe it or not honey works as a natural healing agent. Later they used cold laser therapy to expedite the healing. Despite being sedated, Sven gave the staff some work keeping him still during the procedure.

Jack was extremely gracious with his time. He showed me and my colleague Barney around the center and shared with us some of the terrific work they’re involved with. In the grand scheme of things it’s not much, but I wanted to send them a small donation to help them carry on the important work they do.

 

Day 23 Jack-6

Jack,

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule yesterday to meet with Barney and me. We were both very impressed – not only with your amazing work at the hospital nursing turtles back to health but also the broader work that you are engaging in throughout the region. Your passion for your work shines when you tell the story of the Loggerhead Marlinelife Center.

I look forward to exploring ways we can work together.

Good luck with your fundraiser next week – I’m sure it will be a tremendous success!

Sincerely,
Reed Sandridge

I saw this little fellow doing yoga - he's got his hind legs crossed!

I saw this little fellow doing yoga.

 

Check out the crossed legs!

Check out the crossed legs!

 

 

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Day 22: Mr. Zinsser

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment
Photo: pauldrybooks.com

Photo: pauldrybooks.com

It’s scary to write to someone who is internationally known and respected as an expert on writing, but that is what I’m doing today. I’m sending a letter to William Zinsser, author of On Writing Well and former Yale professor. The aforementioned book changed my view of writing more than any other book – and as you might expect, it’s impeccably written.

I half expect to get my letter returned to me, marked up in red pen by the 92-year-old writing authority, showing me how I could have improved my letter. That would be wonderful!

Zinsser-2

Mr. Zinsser,

Monogramed stationery from Crane & Co.

Monogramed stationery from Crane & Co.

No book on writing has impacted me more than On Writing Well. You’ve inspired me to always be true to myself and what I want to say – challenging me to examine whether every word is doing new and useful work. Thank you – not only for helping me to become a better writer, but also for influencing so many other writers whose work I read.

With admiration and respect,
Reed Sandridge

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Day 13: Ken

Posted on January 13, 2015 | Leave a comment


I met today’s recipient five years ago today. A proud and stalwart salesman of the Street Sense newspaper in DC, I’ve stayed in touch with him ever since meeting him through my Year of Giving project. You can read about the day we met and see a photo of Ken in action selling the paper here.

Ken Day 13

 

Ken,

Today marks five years since we met at the Dupont Circle metro stop at the corner of 20th and Q. Your passion and enthusiasm for Street Sense, your customers and soccer all inspire me to be passionate about things in my own life. I know you’ve experienced great challenges in your life, but you face them with strength and optimism and I admire that. I know your birthday is this Saturday – let’s go for lunch one day this week or next week to celebrate.

Your friend,

Reed

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