CHEWING THE FAT

  Pasta is one of my comfort foods.  There is something so satisfying about a big bowl of pasta, the flavors of the sauce melting into the noodles, grated or shaved Reggiano Parmigiano cheese topping the dish and there, at the bottom of the bowl,…

I like Bobby Flay.  For quite a few years, I worked above his ‘store’. That would be his late lamented Mesa Grill. At Mesa, his take on Southwestern cuisine virtually introduced New York to the flavors of that part of the country.  Of course, along…

St. Barthelémy, or St. Barth, as its habitués call it, is an island slice of paradise just 12 harrowing minutes by plane from St. Martin.  But once you survive the plunge between two hills and what must be the world’s shortest runway, you’ve landed somewhere…

“Dinner”, Melissa Clark’s latest cookbook, is among the most highly anticipated cookbooks of the year.  Its author is a staff writer for The New York Times and pens its highly popular “A Good Appetite” column which is eagerly awaited every Wednesday in the newspaper’s “Food”…

Letizia Mattiacci: The Umbrian Cook on an American Tour By Monte Mathews Staff Writer Learn how to cook the cuisine of this Italian province from a native cook and teacher. Then you can make dishes like this gorgeous Melanzane alla Parmigiana…Eggplant Parmigiano Experience Umbrian cuisine…

By Monte Mathews Staff Writer  This private island retreat makes the perfect base for exploring Venice   Ask anyone who has been to Venice lately and you’re sure to hear that “La Serenissima” is hardly serene. Every year 22 million tourists flock to the city,…

Before I lunge into how to make a truly satisfying and remarkably authentic Pad Thai in whatever kitchen you call home, I must pause in memory of my mother.   Because ringing in my ears as I made this surprisingly easy version of the classic rice…

From The Daily Meal: A Five-Course Lunch to Celebrate New York’s Cheese Week By Monte Mathews Staff Writer A celebratory meal at Bar Boulud welcomes the French Cheese Board to New York The start of the French Cheese Board’s Cheese Week in New York City,…

Not too long ago, I happened upon an America’s Test Kitchen show on PBS. One segment featured their take on The Perfect Baked Potato.  There it was in all its simplicity:  Stabbed, Brined, Baked, Coated with Olive Oil, Baked again only to emerge in a…

Navarra, tucked up under France in Spain. I’ll often ask Andrew if he has any requests for dinner.  Most of the time he leaves me to my own devices.  But when he does ask for something, I jump. This recipe is the result of his…

Roast Chicken gone wrong. About a week ago, I had the Roast Chicken urge.  You know the one where you imagine a perfect roast chicken, brilliantly browned and crisp, with melt-in-your-mouth tender white and dark meat?  Well I duly went out and bought quite an…

Promises of “Curry in a Hurry” have mostly left me cold.  They led to soupy curries with no real character. Or they involved a collection of Indian spices that would overtake the capacity of any spice rack I’ve ever owned.  So when I came across…

A lot of bakers love this blog and all that Andrew bakes.  Sad to say, it’s been weeks since we published our last baking post…for Dorie Greenspan’s Beurre et Sel Jammers (see https://chewingthefat.us.com/2016/12/best-christmas-cookie-ever-dorie.html)not counting the skillet cornbread at New Year’s.  The reason is simple to…

  My latest Daily Meal Article lets you in on how to get the most out of your next Bourbon plus recipes for 3 New Orleans Cocktails By Monte Mathews Staff Writer 150 Bourbons and Counting Kenton’s is devoted to the all-American spirit locals love.…