There’s an interesting new trend in the world of food: services that provide everything you need to cook meals from scratch (except salt, pepper, and olive oil), including detailed recipes, portioned for your family. I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to these services, though I was peripherally aware of them: Hello Fresh was a…
Easy Braised Greens with Creamy Polenta
There is nothing revolutionary about this dish. It’s just southern greens and pot likker served over cheese grits. I make it often, and have never shared it because it’s so simple. I’ve always figured if this is the kind of thing my readers want, there are a million recipes out there. The only thing is,…
California Pizza Kitchen
A few weeks ago I had a blogging experience I’ve never had before. Out of the blue, an email from California Pizza Kitchen arrived asking me to try their “new, elevated menu“… at their expense. I’ve been offered special treats at Pollito con Papas and free Thai tea at Talin’s Pop-Up Dumpling Shop, but no one’s…
Eating Chicago: Osteria di Eataly
Last weekend I was in Chicago for BlogHer Food ’15. They kept us busy with keynotes and breakouts and meals and sponsors, all on the Gold level of the downtown Hyatt, which was nice enough – but underground. So chances to actually see Chicago (or the sky!) were few. One chance came on Saturday with…
Japanese Fried Rice Omelet (Omurice)
When I pulled out my copy of Lucky Peach’s 101 Asian Recipes the other night, I intended to make the Malaysian “Economy Noodles” as I said I would at the end of my cookbook review. However, I ran into a problem: My enormous tub of Asian noodles (I have a similar one of European-style pasta)…
Off to BlogHer Food ’15!
I’m heading off tomorrow to this year’s BlogHer Food conference, in Chicago. (The photo above is from the last one I attended, 2013’s Austin conference.) It should be a great weekend. Last time I came home full of excitement and ideas, with a few new friends and a bag full of swag. Also full of…
What I’m Reading: Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes
I have subscribed to Lucky Peach, David Chang‘s cooking magazine, since the very first issue. I remember how excited I was when that first issue came, with its cover photo of a plucked chicken being lowered into a stockpot. I felt very, very cool. Like I was a tangential part of a crazy punk-rock cooking scene. Lucky Peach…
Spiced Apple Sour Cream Bundt Cake
Finally, finally, fall is truly here. We’ve turned on the heaters, we’ve put on our sweaters, and baked goods are emerging from the oven. Without a doubt, this apple cake is not only the best thing I’ve baked so far this fall, but one of the best things I’ve ever baked: big chunks of flavorful…
Farewell to the Downtown Flying Star
The news broke last week: Jean Bernstein is closing a third Flying Star restaurant, this one the incredible space on Silver and 8th downtown. Whatever you think of Flying Star – and a lot of people love to hate it – the local chain is an Albuquerque institution that regularly wins “Best of” in almost…
Eating California: Jang Su Jang Korean BBQ
As we were putting our bags in the trunk for our trip to California last month, our neighbor jogged up. He pulled the earbuds from his ears and asked where we were going. We told him, and that we were hoping to find some good food. And thank goodness we did, because all casual-like he…