Recipes or Reservations

This dish turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The recipe was unbelievably easy to prepare. The final result was much more sophisticated and refined than I had imagined. I can’t believe I waited over 20 years to make it. Talk about procrastinating! I first discovered this recipe back in the early 1990’s. It was […]

This dish is a variation of “Chicken al Mattone” or “Chicken Under a Brick”. It is a classic Tuscan preparation where a whole chicken is split open, flattened, and grilled under a hot brick. In our household, it is called “Chicken Senza Scuse” or “Chicken Without Excuses”. The name was coined after several failed attempts […]

Last weekend, Janine was invited to a social gathering that didn’t require my attendance. I was off the hook. The day was filled with potential. Unfortunately, the weather put a damper on things. The heat and humidity prevented me from starting any projects around the house. The tides in Sandy Hook Bay were not ideal […]

                  Janine frequented a little Afghan restaurant in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen before we were married. It was a low-key, nondescript place with about eight tables. A mismatched assortment of Afghan-themed decor adorned the walls. She brought me there on one of our first dates. The owner recognized her immediately and asked if she wanted the […]

When was the last time you had a really memorable serving of Beef Stew? Not those childhood memories of the school cafeteria lunch special or your parents forcing you to finish your plate. The memory where fragrant aroma captures your senses and lures your attention down just as the bowl is set before you. At […]

Our little local grocery store has a pretty good butcher department. They always carry cuts of meat not often available in other national chains. I like to go there early Saturday morning when they are stocking the shelves and look for inspiration. Veal rib chops are usually always available. Their affinity for the grill makes […]

Winter rolled into New Jersey last week with a blast of Arctic air and the season’s first snowfall. The snowbirds have already migrated to warmer climates. The sand and sun crowd are busy hibernating in front of their televisions. The season may be dreaded by some but welcomed by Janine and me. Our winter refuge […]

One of my favorite food pastimes is encountering an excellent dish at a restaurant and then trying to recreate it at home. Recently, such a challenge presented itself at Zoe in Little Silver, NJ. The picture on the left is the version we were served at Zoe. The picture on the right is my version. Zoe is our local […]