Wild local fish like flounder, stripers and bluefish are in season — all good stuff, in my opinion, to steam whole, Chinese style. This weekend as I was gathering ingredients for a 6-person dinner party, I familiarized myself with another: the wild local porgy. A small fish by nature (not many grow over 6 lb, [...]

Spicy Shredded Pork and String Beans over Rice

Pork Chop with Balsamic Reduction and Steam-Sauteed String Beans with Couscous
I have a feeling I’m not the only one who does this: buy two fresh ingredients, often with no particular dish in mind to make, and come up with two different preparations for them over the course of [...]

Thanks to Meredith for spotting this and forwarding it to me: outside.in, the blog that reports on blogs, issues and events in your neighborhood, has ranked Clinton Hill, Brooklyn the “bloggiest” neighborhood — in the nation. In fact, the only other neighborhood in the state of New York that made its top 10 list was [...]

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A homespun breakfast with all the merits of “a good start.” This weekend my neighborhood was once again bustling with brunching — the all-afternon affair elongated by the sluggish buzz of cool cocktails and the sun and sights of street dining. I never did feel especially healthy leaving one of these spring or summer brunches [...]

I’ve made similar recipes to this using chicken and olives, or just seafood, but in the aftermath of last weekend’s brunch I found myself with a bagful of apples. Crunching my way through the whole week, I’ve jettisoned the idea of baking (yet another) pie. There’s a lot more versatility in apples than we’ve traditionally [...]

In the wake of the tragic event at Virginia Tech, I’m feeling a little less than enthusiastic about food right now. There’s no knowing how all the ramifications of the tragedy will pan out, and until then, I’ll move on with my humble food blog. However, when you attach a memorable feast to a humanitarian [...]

They say that good, fresh fish should be served simple, with little preparation. I guess they haven’t tried these yet. It’s like the perfectly seasoned seared salmon fillet in one light, fluffy, flaky cake. The picture doesn’t do it much justice, I’ll admit, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Because I had such a frustrating time finding the “ultimate” coffee ice cream recipe in cookbooks and online, I decided to share the pastiche of my findings in one neat recipe. Following the cues for premium ice cream in my machine’s booklet, which is usually a more custardy, denser variety that uses egg yolks and/or [...]

I’ve long put off reading Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma and have for the past few days been soaking up that matte, darkly clad book like a parched sponge. Far be it from the only up-to-date source on the current industrialized food system that we live on, but sometimes it just takes thrusting yourself into [...]

Carmelized onions. Hint of shallots. Last bottle of Yuengling Lager from last weekend’s burger feast. Score: the roast with the most.
How many times have you seen that commercial for Fresh Direct where Cynthia Nixon keeps asking “What’s the TLC? Where does it say TLC?” Well, not all recipes necessarily need TLC. With some, you can [...]

If you see me on the street, folks, turn around and walk the other way. I’ve been a germ-ridden monster these past couple days, armed and ready to pass on the flu like a hackeysack. But oh, have I been making myself some good eats to treat sorry self.
It all began with a bottle of [...]

A lovely article in the New York Times Magazine last week that aimed to decode the recipe behind the perfect bowl of cold sesame noodles was all the excuse I needed to indulge you with another testament to my fondness for the dish.
It’s an unconditional love that extends from the classic cold staple to a [...]

Have it your way. Or mine (above): a beef patty pre-seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, minced shallot, salt and pepper with sharp white cheddar cheese, sliced mushrooms sauteed with sherry vinegar, micro greens, fresh onion and tomato, garlic-parsley mayo and a dollop of Dijon mustard on a homemade egg wash-brushed roll. Only a suggestion.