Recipes or Reservations

Soufflés are often considered delicate in nature and very difficult to prepare.  We’ve all heard horror stories of failed attempts. They are told with such angst that “The Night of the Unrisen Soufflé” has become a kitchen cult classic.   The reputation of this dish is nothing more than a culinary urban legend. They are fairly […]

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 […]

Mention comfort food and people generally think of homemade chicken soup or meatloaf and mashed potatoes. These staples of the American table deserve their due, but for Janine and me, the most comforting of all foods is pasta. Not the heavy, unrefined “Red Lead” over spaghetti that is often served for Sunday dinner, but a […]

“It’s not always about the food, it’s about the story.” I think Ruth Reichl, the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet, said that once.  My apologies if I am incorrect. (And no, this column is not about the fact many people are still puzzled and shake their heads and shrug about the closing of Gourmet magazine . Yes, I […]

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 […]

Risotto is a staple in our kitchen repertoire.  It is a hearty dish that is quick and easy to prepare with minimal mess. Once the basic technique is mastered, any number of different variations can be created by simply changing the main ingredient (in this case Shrimp) and the type of stock used. The Shrimp […]

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 […]

We were driving one day in Shrewsbury last year and had to go to Staples.  We noticed construction, etc. next door and wondered what they were building in the old restaurant’s place.  Then we saw a sign, “Trader Joe’s Coming Soon”.  My husband became as giddy as a little boy who just won all the marbles.  I […]