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Weekend Butler: In the real world, real news, mostly ugly. In Butlerworld, better news: Actors. Comics. Writers, Movie, Concert Tickets, Roasted Fish
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Published: Sep 21, 2023
Category:
Weekend
IN THE REAL WORLD: Lucian Truscott IV reports: “Election deniers are in charge of elections in 17 states.” Jann Wenner, one of the founders of the Rock Hall of Fame, is removed from its board after giving an interview to the Times deriding female and Black musicians. Eric Clapton raises $2 million for RFK Jr at private fundraiser.
IN BUTLERWORLD:
HENRI MATISSE, THE CHAPEL IN VENCE
He started to design the chapel (photo, above) when he was 78. He finished when he was 83. He called it “the crowning achievement of my entire career.” You think: No way! What about the paintings? Watch the video.
DUSTIN HOFFMAN: “I WAS THERE AND ON TIME.”
According to Hollywood lore, in 1968 director John Schlesinger and Dustin Hoffman were scheduled to meet on a New York street corner to discuss a role. Minutes tick by, and while Schlesinger is there at the agreed upon time, after a while it becomes apparent to the director that Hoffman isn’t coming. Schlesinger is furious. To make matters worse, the director is harassed by an aggressive tramp.. Later, on the phone, Schlesinger yells at Hoffman for being rude. Hoffman defends himself: “I was there and on time.” Incensed, Schlesinger calls the young actor a liar. “Are you kidding me?” Hoffman retorts, “The tramp on the corner was me.” The role in question was that of a tramp. The film was “Midnight Cowboy,” which would win three Oscars.
JERRY SEINFELD: “YOUR BLESSING IN LIFE IS WHEN YOU FIND THE TORTURE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH…”
Thirty-eight years into being a stand-up comedian, Jerry Seinfeld was asked how his writing process has evolved over the years. “I do the exact same now as I did when I was 21 in 1975,” he said. He sits with a yellow legal pad, “My writing technique is just: You can’t do anything else. You don’t have to write, but you can’t do anything else.” That’s your day? the interviewer asks. That’s what you’ve done every day for thirty-eight years? That, to me, sounds torturous. “It is,” Seinfeld admits. “But you know what? Your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with…Find the torture you’re comfortable with, and you’ll do well.”
ASKING FOR A FRIEND: SATURDAY NIGHT TICKETS FOR HOT TUNA IN NYC
Two tickets to Hot Tuna at the Beacon Saturday night. Fourth row loge, dead center, $120 each. Contact David Handschuh.
THE WISDOM OF HARUKI MURAKAMI
“The first step in my novel-writing process is, metasphorically, to clean off my desk.”
GENIUS AT WORK: DOT DA GENIUS AND KID CUDI
Jann Wenner wouldn’t agree, but watch the correctly named Dot Da Genius mix Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N Night.
GENIUS AT WORK 2: GLEN HANSARD
Remember him? He starred in Once, a small film with a big heart. Now listen to him sing his guts out on Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks.”
COUNTING IT DOWN: “THE GREATEST CONCERT MOVIE EVER MADE”
The Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense” will be exclusively available in IMAX on 22nd September 2023, and theaters elsewhere on 29th September 2023. Watch the preview. For tickets, click here.
WEEKEND RECIPE
One-Pan Roasted Fish With Cherry Tomatoes
from the Times: In this quick, elegant dinner, cherry tomatoes are roasted with garlic, shallots, sherry vinegar and a drizzle of honey, turning them into a sweet and savory condiment for simple roasted fish. This versatile, year-round recipe is delicious with juicy end-of-summer tomatoes or even with a pint from the grocery store. Thick white fish such as cod or halibut work best here. Serve with rice, couscous or your favorite grains, and a green salad.
4 servings
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup thinly sliced shallots (about 1 large)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 large cloves)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 tablespoon sherry or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
4 (6-ounce) skin-on mild white fish fillets, such as cod or halibut
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (from about ½ lemon)
Chopped fresh basil, for serving
Chopped fresh mint, for serving
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the tomatoes, shallots and garlic in a 9-by-13-inch nonreactive baking dish. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. Pour over the tomatoes and toss to combine. Roast until the tomatoes have collapsed and the shallots are translucent, about 15 minutes.
While the tomatoes roast, pat the fish dry with paper towels, brush all over with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper.
Toss the tomatoes, move them to the sides of the dish and place the fish fillets, evenly spaced, in the center. Roast until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 10 to 12 minutes.
Sprinkle the entire dish with the lemon zest, basil and mint. Serve the fish with the tomatoes, spooning any remaining juices on top.
