Mediterranean
Have you discovered how different olives are one from another? Or coaxed dried salt cod into a creamy bacalao? How long does it take for Parma or Serrano ham to cure? (As much as four years for the best) and how many liters of genuine balsamic vinegar are released for sale each year? Grab a slice of Manchego cheese or dip your spoon into fresh ricotta (how do they make that stuff?) while you consider how easy it is to bring the Mediterranean into your kitchen without getting your feet wet.
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Two women to watch - 26 Aug 2010
There are culinary people whose careers are worth keeping an eye on. On my list of foodies to follow is Janet Cam, one of the restaurant world's really good general managers - warm but professional, with a great wine palate to boot. And she's about to be back on the floor of a new Washington restaurant in whose kitchen you'll find Roberto Donna's once right-hand/left-hand executive chef, Amy Brandwein. read more...
Pizza - how many calories in your favorite pie? - 11 Aug 2010
When you order a pizza, it's hard to resist wolfing down the whole thing. But a 4-ounce slice may contain more calories than you realize. So know the score when you choose your pizza topping. From Margherita to Pepperoni, here's what they deliver. read more...
Gazpacho - 28 Jul 2010
Terri Cutrino, executive chef of Cafe Atlantico's' recipe for that refreshing and pretty soup perfect for summer soup which you can prepare well ahead of sitting down to eat it. read more...
Risotto - the grains of truth - 21 Jul 2010
You can't make risotto from any old rice. Certainly not from a Carolina short grain. That'll just make a rice pudding. If you buy the right rice, turning out a perfect risotto is not hard. read more...
Desserts: Sopa de Chocolato Blanco con Compota de Frutos Rojos - 24 Jun 2010
This is one of those recipes we all hunt for: a dish, in this case a dessert, that is impressive to taste and to look at, that can be whipped up with little effort and time. It came from Santi Zabaleta, when he was chef of Taberna del Alabardero. Now you'll find his cheerful face at A & H Seafood & Gourmet in Bethesda, which he owns. read more...
Pesto - 17 Jun 2010
One taste of pesto is an instant ticket to Italy. And it isn't hard to make, with no really precise amounts. It's worth making yourself because pre-packed pesto too often tastes like damp lawn clippings. read more...
Tuna ventresca - 17 Jun 2010
Tuna ventresca is the Ferrari of canned tuna to the jalopy of regular canned tuna. Good tuna is a useful summer stand by. Build a Salade Nicoise around it or team it with a can of drained cannellini beans, slices of red onion and a good glug of olive oil with a grind of black pepper for a summery meal. read more...
Wild Mushroom Risotto with Spring Asparagus - 2 Jun 2010
A good deal of fear surrounds the making of risotto. But as Geoffrey Tracy, owner-chef of Chef Geoff's and Lia's recipe makes clear, the prime technique to pull off this favorite dish is twelve to fourteen minutes of calm and patience. read more...
Robert Weland - Chef of Poste - 20 May 2010
Chef Robert Weland makes his own charcuterie — and more — at his Penn Quarter restaurant, Poste. He grows his herbs and tomatoes in the garden beside the restaurant and he hosts a weekly Market to Market dinner, taking small groups on a tour of the Penn Quarter Farmer's Market then cooks a 5-course meal with the produce. read more...
Bittersweet Mocha Grappa Torte with Walnuts - 23 Apr 2010
Domenica Marchetti, author of Big Night In, from which this recipe is taken, says: "I can't even count the number of times that chocolate tortes have been a source of disappointment to this chocolate lover...either too liquored up, too jammy, too nutty, too dry, or too dense (giant chocolate truffle, anyone?). That's why I am so in love with this recipe; it delivers everything it promises."
So I tried it. And she's right. But the photo is of my version not her elegant one. Tidying up its overspill was a treat - I just ate the bits I sliced off for beautification... read more...
Mozzarella with the mostest - 15 Apr 2010
There's mozzarella and mozzarella. (And then there's bufala mozzarella, made in the authentic fashion of Southern Italy from buffalo milk.) read more...
Anchovies - 15 Apr 2010
One of the most unpopular fishes, anchovies are the culinary equivalent of the Wonderbra. They add body to any dish and most opponents don't even know they're there if they can't see them. read more...
Marchone - 15 Apr 2010
I wish I could tell you this is a photo of a grocery in Washington. It isn't. It's a typical food store in Italy. And Marchone's, which this isn't a picture of, isn't by any stretch one of the best Italian groceries in town. But reliable and unpretentious, it's a place to come for a few elusive ingredients. Good quality salted anchovies, for instance. read more...
Iberico de Bellota Pork Loin baked in sea salt with sliced Spanish cured ham - 17 Mar 2010
If you're not up for a traditional lamb at Easter, here's a really easy but impressive pork dish, from Jose Andres. read more...
Olives - 2 Mar 2010
All olives begin life green. After that, it gets complicated. With so many varieties available, here's a breakdown of the most common to help you avoid the pits... read more...
Mike Isabella - Chef of Zaytinya - 2 Mar 2010
In March 2007, Mike Isabella started at Zaytinya. Just a few months later, the hip downtown mezzethes restaurant won a RAMMY award. read more...
Fish: Sautéed Shrimp with Cannellini Beans - 4 Nov 2009
Shrimp and cannellini beans make a surprising and successful combination in this quickly cooked recipe from Savino Recine, owner-chef of Primi Piatti, a man who believes in providing richness in taste without resorting to unhealthy dairy products. read more...
Savino Recine - Owner-chef of Primi Piatti - 4 Nov 2009
Savino Recine, owner chef of Primi Piatti, doesn't just have a magical touch with Italian food. He can also magically open a bottle of wine and bend your cutlery without touching either. read more...
Quince - 4 Nov 2009
Quince season is short, so run out to a Middle Eastern market like Yekta or an Asian market like H Mart or Le Market, and pick out some of these yellow, pear-like and scented fruits to chop into a rough-on-the-tongue stewed puree or to make membrillo, the Spanish paste to eat with Manchego or Cheddar cheese, or for an exquisite translucent coral pink jelly to go with cold meats. read more...
Starters: Mushroom and Goat Cheese Fonduta - 21 Oct 2009
When Stephen Scott was chef at Zola, he served this Fonduta as an appetizer. But it makes a great Sunday supper for two served with a crisp green salad in front of a favorite TV movie. And if you can't get hold of every type, use what's available. read more...
It may be sacrilege to say so, but I did have a moment's wonder at Julie Powell dedicating a whole year to cooking out Julia Childs. Life is surely too short. But I admired her staying power. Most cookbooks contain only a handful of recipes you actually want to tackle - though heaven forfend that I should level this criticism towards Mastering the Art of French Cookery.Anyway, here's someone who really slackened my jaw. Meet Todd Wilbur, who spends his time to trying to recreate food made by the industrial giants. He wants to cook Krispy Kremes just like the factory. He wants to clone Big Macs, Yoo Hoo chocolate drinks, and dozens more junk foods, to taste just like the real (or unreal) McKoy.
Papaya and lime - natural partners
Chew On This: The FDA - eggs on its face
Hey, mixologists! An organic whisky's coming!
Two women to watch
Monster ice cubes
Jelly - the jewel-like vogue dessert
Jelly - the new old dessert
My favorite markets - Wagshal's Delicatessen
Supermarkets bring the farm in
Chew On This: The water diet!
Gluten - what is it?
Chestnut flour products for the gluten intolerant
Chew On This: Eat dark chocolate twice a week!
Pea Vichyssoise
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