I woke up early this morning and made a nut sculpture. Not to brag or anything, but its legs and arms are jointed and can move up and down. Its head can turn. Why did I do this?
Because nuts might save our lives.
While attending a Steve Martin concert this week at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, California, I savored a mixed-nuts starter so crunchy-velvety and spicy-sweet that I wished my walls and furniture and computer were stuffed with it so that I could reach out and eat handfuls of it all the time.
I grew up being told that nuts were dangerous, that they would make me fat, that nuts were an outrageous self-indulgent luxury to eat in secret or in shame and very seldom -- a status they shared with marshmallows, chimichangas and Mystic Mints. I grew up believing that nuts exuded evil otherworldly powers of enchantment: Eating one would force me to eat more. Nut alert. Danger: nuts.
But that has changed, given all the new studies -- even just over the last few months -- suggesting that nuts can stave off Alzheimer's and neurological decline, that almonds can reduce diabetes symptoms and pistachios can lower blood pressure. Brand-new studies also suggest that nut consumption can reduce obesity and that almonds actually have 32 percent fewer calories than was previously believed.
To welcome nuts into my life, I created a nut sculpture, using real nuts and wire. Here is the nut sculpture having lunch with his friend, the toy soldier:
And here is the nut sculpture on vacation in Easter Island:
Wente's executive catering chef Jeff Farlow told me that recipe for the mixed nuts accompanying the dinner served before the concert comprises "pecans, walnuts and almonds that have been roasted with a slurry of maple, cayenne and herbs like rosemary, lavender and sage," and that it appears in The Casual Vineyard Table by Carolyn Wente and Kimble Jones.
As previously mentioned, it was a Steve Martin concert, at which Steve riffed hilariously and played blazing bluegrass banjo with the virtuosic Steep Canyon Rangers. Here is a picture, taken during that concert, of the real Steve Martin:
And here is my nut sculpture portraying Steve Martin:
More and more chefs are using nuts these days as the main ingredient in luxurious, protein-and-antioxidant-rich starters, sides and snacks. At Boulevard Restaurant in San Francisco, Pam Mazzola serves a black quinoa and walnut brittle. House Smoked Almonds (see recipe below) are a popular snack at Corners Tavern in Walnut Creek, California -- a new venue from restaurateurs Mitch and Steve Rosenthal and Doug Washington, who are also behind San Francisco's highly acclaimed Town Hall, Salt House and Anchor & Hope, and Portland's Irving Street Kitchen. Vegan chef Barry Schenker uses tree nuts instead of milk, cream and eggs to form the silky foundation of his 100 percent vegan gelato, Genuto.
With the sole exception of that hippie classic, the nut loaf, have nuts spent too long as mere extras? How long must we wait before nuts become the main ingredient in main dishes too? Yes, they're expensive, but so are salmon and lamb. I pray for a day that is rife with nut paté, nut soup, nut shakes, nut cocktails and nut "steak."
Corners Tavern Smoked Almonds
For the lime salt:
Zest 10 limes with a microplane zester. Mix with 2 qt kosher salt.
Store in a sealed container.
For the seasoning mix:
3 Tablespoons paprika
1 Teaspoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons lime salt
Roast almonds at 300F until golden brown.
Then transfer to a smoker and smoke almonds with pecan chips at 180F for 2 hours.
Right after the almonds come out of the smoker, toss them in a bowl with just enough of the seasoning mix to coat. Top with a small squeeze of lime right before serving.
Nut-sculpture images courtesy of Kristan Lawson, used with his permission; Steve Martin image courtesy of Eli Photography/Wente, used with permission.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.