I think we all agree that we’re going to need a lot more than one batch of cookies to get through the pandemic holidays. Well, here’s a whole bunch, courtesy of the Met Artists Newsletter team and one very special stage managing guest.
All in Recipe Corner
Recipe Corner: Rachele Schmiege’s Gluten-Free Peach Cobbler
We’re now four months into the pandemic, and while #pandemicbaking is no longer trending as heavily as it used to be, we know you’re still tempted to fire up that oven. (Even during a heat wave.) Why not give the gluten a break and try this incredible gluten-free peach cobbler from our gluten-free chorister Rachele Schmiege?
BONUS Recipe Corner: Hermit Cookies for Pandemic Hermits
Tender, chewy, and overflowing with gingerbread spices, these Hermit Cookies may strike you as more appropriate for the colder months. But considering we’re all playing the role of the hermit, quarantining and social distancing during the pandemic, these cookies are more appropriate than ever! Embrace your inner hermit and check out this delectable recipe!
Recipe Corner: Mary Hughes Brings Us Some Much-Needed Levity
Yes, we realize that this looks, rather disturbingly, like a kitty litter box that desperately needs a spring cleaning. But would you believe us if we said that all of the ingredients in Mary Hughes' Kitty Litter Cake were not only edible, but actually delicious?
Ned Hanlon vs. The Great Met Opera Bake-Off
Ned Hanlon. The man, the myth, the mystery. A Met Chorus bass-baritone and our beloved Chorus Committee Chair, you'd think he had enough on his proverbial plate, but recently he had his sights set on winning the Met's annual Bake-Off competition. Ned planned to win the judges panel over with his savory Chicken, Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomato and Feta Pie (shaped like a viking helmet, because opera), and he loved his idea so much, he's sharing the recipe with us!
Cocktail Corner: Opera + Booze = Happy Hour!
Holiday season got you down? We have some fantastic productions to get you through the end-of-year madness, as well as some delicious adult beverages to go along with the operatic themes!
Recipe Corner: AGMA's President, Master Of Pancakes
When AGMA president Ray Menard isn’t working as a fiendishly busy Production Stage Manager at the Metropolitan Opera (or, you know, dealing with never-ending AGMA business), he’s in his kitchen cooking up tasty treats. See what the talented renaissance man has up his sleeve in this issue’s Recipe Corner!
Dan Smith Will Teach You To Bake Scones
No, this is not a Recipe Corner from Dan Smith, the ubiquitous guitar teacher whose visage graces the community bulletin boards of countless Manhattan establishments. We're talking about one of our own, chorister Daniel Clark Smith, who will walk you through mastering his favorite blueberry scone recipe!
The Holiday Recipe Corner, In Which Lianne Reluctantly Shares Her Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe
In which Lianne Coble-Dispensa, the Met Artists Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, emerges from her tenure spent hiding behind bylines and furtively checking punctuation to reluctantly share her favorite Christmas cookie recipe, an uncommonly delicious (and simple) holiday shortbread.
Libiamo Returns: Operatic Wine Pairings
What beverages would you pair with your favorite Met operas? In the first of four volumes, Resident ersatz sommeliers Scott Dispensa & Lianne Coble-Dispensa share their pairing choices for the opening shows of the Met's 2018-2019 season.
Recipe Corner: Laura Fries and her Famous Red Velvet Cake!
After weeks of musical rehearsals and staging, the Met Chorus is looking forward to a treat to get us through the rest of pre-season! Soprano Laura Fries, one of our resident bakers, is pleased to share with us an easy (and extremely tasty) recipe for a perennial favorite: Red Velvet Cake!
Recipe Corner: Stephanie Chigas's Prescription for a Delicious Easter Meal
Easter came early this year, but if you're sad to see the season go, you're in luck: Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated on April 8th! Having eaten your fair share of ham and Cadbury eggs, why not mix things up with a light, savory, and spring-y dish, brought to you by our resident Greek chorister Stephanie Chigas...?
A Very Special Cocktail Corner, featuring a Toast to Turandot!
We've got a bonus recipe for you this month! Chorister Sara Heaton's husband, Justin Keller, is a creative mixologist who came up with a cocktail perfectly suited to the return of Puccini's Turandot...
Recipe Corner: Rebecca Carvin's Savory Onion Tart
Welcome back to the Recipe Corner, where members of the Met Opera Chorus (and members of the artistic staff!) share with you their favorite gastronomic delights! This month, chorister Rebecca Carvin offers a savory treat that can be customized to your liking...
Chris Schaldenbrand's Favorite Cookie Recipe
Bass-baritone Chris Schaldenbrand is the kind of gentleman you want in your life. Besides being a kind, talented, hard-working colleague, he is also an extraordinary baker. His professional-level cakes inspire the fiercest competition at the AGMA Relief Fund Bake Sale’s silent auction, and anything he bakes for a Met Chorus gathering is destined to be both admired, photographed, Instagrammed, and, well, quickly demolished.
The Met Chorus Artists are a talented bunch but rarely are those talents so... tasty! Christopher Schaldenbrand has been baking as long as he has been singing and, luckily for the rest of us in the chorus, he hasn't stopped since taking on the rigors of a full-time position.