When I awoke yesterday morning, my throat was on fire. Great, so now I’m sick. (Or, as roommate Danny B. suggested, I may be allergic to pasta. If anyone were to develop a pasta-specific allergy, it would probably occur after the kind of nonsense I went through on Sunday.) I’ve also completed another recipe, but I spent yesterday afternoon on the couch like an invalid instead of actually writing anything, so you will have to wait until tomorrow to hear what I made. It’s just a dessert, so don’t get your hopes up for anything wild.
Roommate Lindsey made a fantastic Martha Stewart shrimp/coconut/noodle soup last night, and she did it in about 20 minutes, and it was exactly what I needed when I wasn’t feeling well. Martha will always trump Gwyneth, this I know for sure.
In the meantime, dear Gwyneth is reportedly going to be on the cover of Bon Appetit magazine. Well done, Gwyneth! Finally, some publicity.
I’m also currently weighing my options for obtaining duck confit. Gwyneth suggests ordering from D’Artagnan, but 6 pieces will run me $45, which is nausea-inducing. I’m pretty sure I know of at least one really good butcher’s shop in Portland that offers duck confit, so I’ll have to give them a call and shop around. I’m also going to be needing at least two or three more whole duck carcasses, so I may as well get friendly with my local duck butchers.
There’s also the option of attempting to make my own duck confit, which would be hilarious and probably turn out awful. Who knows if I’m crazy enough to try it.
As for today, I’m just going to drink a lot of tea.
The Danny/Gwyneth Project 
Hey Danny, try the farmer’s market for duck. Don’t know if it’s cheaper than the grocery store in Portland, but it’s worth a look. Also, I hear duck confit is seen from time to time at Costco.
I just roasted a duck last night! But it was a special occasion and belong to a food co-op that sells D’Artagnan ducks for about $20 each; not hideous, but still kind of a splurge for me.
Marti Stewart is my hero. Gwyneth won’t ever have paint colors like my Marti.
They for sure have duck confit at Chop in City Market, but I haven’t priced it recently.
Get well soon! Really hoping the dessert is Creme Brulee. I have a kit (torch and everything) and have NEVER used it. It scares me.
Surely there are a few duck hunters in your hometown in Wisconsin that could shoot and ship a couple to you. Anthony Bourdain cooked up some wild duck and he said they were great.
I’ve been out since dawn trying to get you a fresh duck for your birthday on Friday. No such luck. Can you make it with Canadian Geese or Pelicans? We’ve got lots of those!
Don’t you have swans and a bald eagle, too? I’ll take either.
Also, PLEASE don’t send me a dead animal for my birthday. That would be a very depressing thing to open.
Dare I suggest you make your own confit? It’s wicked easy and it’ll end up running you less than half of what D’Artagnan will charge for it.
You’re a brave, brave man going through Gwynnie’s book. Good luck!
P.S. It’s really, really hard to screw up homemade confit. You’re pretty much just soaking meat in hot oil.
Need Duck?? just go to Laurelhurst Park!!! Just Kidding. Have you been to Gartners meat market on Killingsworth?