In Viet Nam, fish sauce–or nủớc mắm–is on every tabletop, but in the States, it hasn’t yet become a mainstream condiment. While the pungent smell of fish sauce right out of the bottle might throw the uninitiated for a loop, it goes away once the sauce is added–with discretion–to a dish. The fish sauce simply [...]
At Summer Winter, an upscale restaurant in Bedford, Massachusetts, I sat staring out the window at the on-site greenhouse brimming with organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flowers. Sure, the local sustainable food movement has taken off wildly in the last few years, but few restauranteurs can harvest right outside their door like Chefs Clark [...]
Traditionally used only as a garnish, kale is fast becoming the new superfood. Kale is among my favorite leafy greens. Not only because it is packed with healthy nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, calcium, manganese, and loaded with cancer-protecting isothiocyanates, but also because it tastes so darn good. [...]
Though seemingly a staple on the Eastern seaboard, crab cakes are pure decadence to me. Properly prepared, they are exquisitely light yet sinfully rich, a perfect balance of tangy zing and buttery goodness. [...]
Just about everybody’s had an artichoke that has been boiled or steamed to death—served, of course, with the ubiquitous mayonnaise or melted butter dip. It’s how we all grew up. But, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, try grilling these giant thistle-like buds. They work wonderfully as a light main course on a [...]
Chocolate is one of those inexplicable things that people crave. Sure, there are scientific studies that try to explain the dietary lust, citing things like caffeine or magnesium, or more complex chemicals like theobromine, phenylethylamine, and anandamide. But when it comes right down to it, none of that matters. When you get a hankering for [...]
The search for truth is nothing compared to the search for the ultimate poke recipe. The variations are infinite, the possibilities endless. Traditional versus avante garde, seared verus raw, fruit versus vegetable, and on and on. But, half the fun is stumbling upon flavor and texture combinations that cry out for recognition. So it is [...]
When most folks think of curries, they gravitate to those that feature meat and seafood. But this vegetarian curry is so simple to make, yet tastes so complex and wonderful, that it will require real discipline to not eat the whole thing while standing in front of the stove. Most of the ingredients come directly [...]
If you already know that poke (pok-ay) is Hawaii’s ultimate fresh, local delicacy (“poke” literally means “to cut,” as in fresh fish), you know just how addicting it can be. So much so, that you may want to make it every day once you are in the Islands or in an area where good, fresh [...]
There’s nothing like crusty bread, fresh from the oven. In a perfect world, I would bake fresh bread every day, just to smell it. The thing is, I am particular about my bread, demanding the right crumb and crust for each kind I make. This often translates into long hours of proofing and kneading and [...]
I have been a big fan of artichokes for as long as I can remember. I consider myself a bit of an artichoke ambassador, introducing the uninitiated to this edible thistle with finger-licking gusto. Even so, I have never been overwhelmed with the results of steaming an artichoke on the stovetop, the most common method [...]
Yellow peppers are such an important part of eating Mexican food that it’s impossible to even think of grilling up some carne asada or fajitas without including that ubiquitous yellow pepper. Drop into any grocery with a reasonable selection of Mexican staples, and you will find mountains of yellow peppers, probably next to the fresh [...]
Nothing says Hawaii like poke. Nothing! If you’ve been to the islands and gotten out of the tourist joints, you know that poke (pok-ay) is Hawaii’s ultimate fresh, local delicacy. (“Poke” literally means “to cut,” as in fresh fish.) It is divine in its deliciousness, mind altering when done right, and utterly addicting! My favorite [...]
Just saying the word “jambalaya” evokes visions of a sweltering, rain-soaked afternoon, right out of a James Lee Burke novel. Late-night walks down Bourbon Street, ice-cold bottles of Dixie beer nestled in mounds of ice, and fully laden shrimp boats putt-putting in from the Gulf. That’s jambalaya! [...]
In Big Timber, Montana, I used to spend hours tucked away in the North Forty, a cozy coffee house on the main street. The chairs were comfy, the wi-fi was zippy, and it always smelled like something wonderful was in the oven. My favorite treat from the tiny kitchen was the homemade nut bars, served [...]
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