The Emilia region of Italy has long been considered the country’s gastronomic epicenter.  Similar to the position Lyons occupies in French gastronomes’ hearts, Bologna is said to be Italy’s gastronomic capital.  Given that such universally recognizable names like Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggianohail from…

        A stew for Spring may seem counter-intuitive but this one is quick and easy to prepare—to say nothing of how delicious it is. After starting with a quick sauté of diced pancetta and shallots,  I was quite surprised at how quickly the pork cooked…

Farmers Market Asparagus Spicy Pork with Asparagus and Chile West 66th Street and Broadway The Farmer’s Market in Richard Tucker Square         We live in a very urban setting in New York and it comes as somewhat a surprise to visitors that there’s a thriving Farmers…

        I’ve yet to find a recipe that comes close to the Shrimp Scampi that I grew up with. It was a dish that was so resolutely garlic-y, you could smell it coming up the driveway.  Later, when I lived in Italy, I found out…

As some of you may know, I am now writing a blog with www.Sokolin.com, a superb wine e-tailer which is located on the East End of Long Island.  From their 30,000 square foot ‘wine cooler’, they ship fine wine to collectors all over the world.…

Kibbi at Open Sesame  in Long Beach, CA I was quite surprised to read that lamb consumption is this country hit a new low last year. It’s a decline that’s been a long time coming.  The number of sheep raised in America is half what it was 20 years…

        I have some good friends whose families are Filipino. And although for some time, my friend Ethel has threatened to kidnap me and take me to Queens for some Filipino restaurant food, we haven’t made it yet.   Come to think of it,…

JAMIE OLIVER DOES IT AGAIN!  STEAK WITH HERBED SALSA AND A RECIPE FOR SWEET ENGLISH PEAS.          Food and Wine devoted their entire March 2011 issue to Healthy Recipes.   And I’m happy to say, they also included something called “A Week of Healthy Wines” in…

       When I was growing up, thrift was highly valued in our house. It didn’t really have much to do with how much we had or didn’t have.  I don’t know how many of my readers know this but the Scots are notoriously thrifty.…

      The old expression ‘while the cats away’ certainly applies to this particular dish.  Andrew was off in Texas visiting his family and I was here in New York playing away in the kitchen.  Now Andrew is not a picky eater but there are…

Eye of Round…not the tenderest cut but one of the least expensive         To cook a roast beef during the week has always struck me as quite an accomplishment.  Then I discovered the Eye of Round roast at Costco.  Now I grant you…

        One of the most fun things about last year’s Farmer’s Markets was the presence of our local winery, Wollfer Estate, at each one of them.  First it was staffed by my friend Cassie, until she landed a spot at the local TV…

        I remember a friend telling me that once she gave her husband a Wok for Christmas, it was pretty much Wok-around-the-clock from that point on. As I remember, he was one of the first men I knew who’d taken over the kitchen and cooked…

Mary Woltz of Bee’s Needs in Sag Harbor NY The East End of Long Island of Long Island is full of people doing wonderful things with food.  Among them is one my favorite people, Mary Woltz.  The North Carolina native has single-handedly invented “Bee’s Needs”,…