Recipes or Reservations

Note: This technique can be used on most poultry including turkey, chicken, duck, pheasant, and game hens.  Begin by cutting off the tail bone at the point where it joins the body of the bird. Cut off both wing tips at the joint. Remove the wish bone by first spreading the loose skin by the […]

A while back my weight was pushing maximum density.  I first noticed my pants were tight when I buttoned them. Then my prominent paunch began to resemble Buddha’s belly. It was time to drop some pounds. Portion control was the first order of business. I had to learn to push myself away from the table. […]

My earliest food memory recalls making homemade ravioli with my family as a child. It was typical of Sunday dinner in our household. Everything was made from scratch and everybody pitched in. The task was labor intensive but far more rewarding than buying frozen ravioli from a store. It was an event that brought the […]

The term “French-cut” or “Frenching” a rack of meat refers to cleaning the rib bones that protrude from the meat base.  The process removes the sinew and muscle tissue that exists between the bones and then scrapes them clean. Note:  This method can be used for pork, lamb or beef. A boning knife with a […]

Janine was always a little nervous eating around me when we first started dating. It didn’t matter if we were dining at a swanky restaurant or having a simple meal at home. She would display proper table manners at all times. The first time we ate rack of lamb proved to be a defining moment. […]

Fish is by far my favorite food. In fact, I like everything about fish. I like catching fish. I like cooking fish. I especially like eating fish. I even like the way fish smells. If it was up to me, I would eat some sort of fish every day. Unfortunately, Janine does not share my […]

This type of recipe is right out of Escoffier’s playbook. I learned how to make it at the Ecole Ritz Escoffier in Paris. The school is located right across the hall from the very same kitchens that August Escoffier himself once presided over. I really enjoy this type of cooking. It is labor intensive and […]

Few foods are more satisfying than Beef Short Ribs. When properly prepared, each bite is rich on the palate and delivers a complex, pronounced flavor. Our appetite for them never seems to tire although our sources tend to be seasonal. We order them all year-long when dining out, but only prepare them ourselves in cooler […]

I love going food shopping. It doesn’t matter where or when.  If fresh produce is involved, I’m in! For me, internet grocery delivery services will never replace the local market. Purchasing food is a sensory experience just like eating the final product. You have to see it, touch it, pick it up and give it […]

The only regret I have about our last trip to Italy was not being able to enjoy a Porchetta Panino. Sadly, it was not from lack of trying. Porchetta is Rome’s ubiquitous street food. It consists of a boneless whole pig that is seasoned with herbs and roasted on split. Slices of meat are carved to […]