CHEWING THE FAT

Taco Tuesday could easily be replaced by these Tostadas, which still keep a South of the Border flavor but add a crunch and cashews to the mix.  It’s from Bon Appetit and it makes a great weeknight change-up.  The tostada is a great discovery.  Easy…

Of all the things that you can rely on when you want to make dinner special, the rack of Lamb should be high on your list.  It’s astonishingly easy to cook and requires very little effort.  That’s especially true with this method of cooking from…

Cuisine on the World’s No. 1 Cruise Line By Monte Mathews Staff Writer Chef Anthony Mauboussin, Culinary Director of Viking Cruises, has a lot on his plate, including 42 new dishes this year alone. Chef Anthony Mauboussin in Viking Star’s Demo Kitchen The cruise world…

Martha Stewart: Sheet Pan Expert For some time I’ve been intrigued by the concept of the Sheet Pan dinner. Basically all the ingredients—protein, vegetables, herbs and spices–are cooked on one large sheet pan.  Martha Stewart seems to be an expert in this regard.  She frequently…

Cauliflower Steak with Herb Salsa Verde Indian Spiced Cauliflower It’s Cauliflower season here and great heads of the vegetable are stacked high in our supermarkets and on our On-street vegetable stands.   If you remember Cauliflower as a somewhat tasteless vegetable, you’re likely familiar with the…

         I confess to being a tomato junkie.  I adore the fruit, and yes, botanically it is a fruit.   Nothing made me happier than the arrival of great little tiny tomatoes variously called ‘cherry’, ‘grape’ and most recently, ‘heirloom mixtures’.   They arrived in this country…

Color abounds in Old San Juan Old San Juan is quite a surprise.  For those of you who may have missed it, it’s the second oldest city in the Americas dating back to 1521.  It’s filled with history and vividly colored buildings on blue cobblestoned…

Chewing the Fat has been on a brief hiatus as I have been traveling gathering material for some new travel pieces for The Daily Meal. Pardon my absence but I think it will be rewarded with some new food ideas for you that will be…

         My passion for mushrooms only grows stronger in the fall. And I am always on the lookout for new ways to prepare my favorite fungus.  I was very excited to see a recipe that paired mushrooms I’d never even imagined combining with mushrooms—Cinnamon and…

       Our favorite restaurants often share one thing in common.  We go there without ever having to look at the menu.  We know the moment we walk in the door what we are going to order.  There’s the linguine  with clam sauce at West Bank…

My Meaty Patty Melt, the recipe is linked here.          From my very first taste of a Patty Melt, I was hooked.  Cheese-y, Onion-y, Buttery and of course Meaty, the earthy odor of Rye bread rises from the crisp package of ingredients that seem meant…

         There are times when all I crave for dinner is a big bowl of pasta and the infinite possibilities it presents.  First of all there are almost unlimited varieties of pasta spanning all shapes and sizes and textures.  From tiny orzo all the way…

Chef Keller in the Vegetable Garden For years I’ve relied on Julia Child’s “Screw Top Jar” method for making a basic vinaigrette which I’ve enhanced with Dijon mustard and a little Garlic.  It’s a good salad dressing and I like to keep it on hand…

The Best Cookie Ever for the Classic The Best Table from #TheBridgehamptonFlorist no matter who won.            As long-time readers know, the Hampton Classic Horse Show is unofficially the last blast of summer, a big party under huge tents that marks…