Writing about food since 2004.
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Orangette’s Butternut Squash and Chickpea Salad with Tahini
Going through old pictures, just now, I found the picture you see above and smacked my lips at the memory: “Hey!” my brain sang out. “That’s that delicious butternut squash and chickpea salad with tahini you made from Orangette’s website.” According to the picture, I made this on December 19th. So please follow this link…
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Let Her Eat Cake
What I didn’t tell you at the end of the last post is that I had a secret weapon in my arsenal to impress Lauren. She who worships at the altar of chocolate, she who mocks me for my chocolate aversion: she would be the recipient of a two-tiered ganache covered chocolate creation from Martha…
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Plastic Pork Shoulder
Dear Suzanne Goin, I love you and your book Sunday Suppers at Lucques. It’s the book I go to when I want to dazzle, when I want to blow my guests out of the water. On Friday, my guest would be none other than Lauren, a great friend and former roommate who was there at…
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Fried Chicken & Collard Greens
The plan was for my usual roast chicken (which, by the way, you should only salt until it has a light coating: those who said it was too salty took my recipe too literally!) but then, as I was standing there in the grocery store, I spotted collard greens. “My, my,” I said to myself…
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The Amateur Gourmet’s Thanksgiving Game Plan
Attached you will find a PDF file that’ll either inspire great terror or great awe. It’s a massive document, with all the recipes broken down over the days I’m home to cook. My only fear, right now, is too much sweet stuff: I may need to add mashed potatoes. But, alas, it is 1:06 AM…
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Thanksgiving Recipe Testing: Pear & Beet Salad, Freezable Biscuits, and Pumpkin Mousse Parfait
This year, I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner for sixteen people. Let me say that again. This year, I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner for sixteen people. Pardon my French, but holy s**t what the f**k am I thinking? Sorry for cursing (do you say cursing or cussing? I say cursing) but this is a bit scary.…
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How To Roast A Chicken
Of all the dishes in my repertoire, this is the one that gets the biggest wows, the one that Craig requests the most often, the one that never fails to impress: it’s the roast chicken from the Chez Panisse cookbook with a few touches of my own (namely: potatoes and garlic). This video will show…
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Polenta Power
In the Chelsea Market, on 9th Ave., there’s an Italian goods store that features rows upon rows of imported treasures from Italy. There you’ll find salt-packed anchovies, genuine San Marzano tomatoes, even white truffles for several hundred dollars a pop. Every time I go in there, I marvel at the goods and then I leave…
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Ssam Bar Brussels Sprouts
“This is a coup,” said Craig, eagerly chewing a caramelized, spicy, salty, and sweet Brussels Sprout. “This could get kids eating Brussels sprouts all over the country.” The recipe comes from superstar chef David Chang and it’s a knock-out. It’s a knock-out at his restaurant and it’s a knock-out at home. The components marry in…
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How To Make Your Guests Love You In Five Short Steps
1. Buy Medjool dates, remove the pits. 2. Stuff each date with a square–or stick–of real Parmesan (1- by 1/4 inch) 3. Wrap each date with 1/3 a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. 4. Bake in a preheated oven at 450 degrees for 5 minutes, then turn with tongs and bake 5…
