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One of my favorite Must-Read Spring books this year is Ready or Not by Cara Bastone! See the other Must-Read books here!
The New York Times recently wrote an A-Z guide for all things romance and they included The Slow Burn in the actual definition of the term ‘slow burn’. So that’s pretty exciting!
What an honor! The Slow Burn is an instant USAToday bestseller. Hope you’ll give it a try!
I wrote an article for the New York Times about my favorite romances that take you on a trip
Healthy food always seems to mean giving up flavor, but I loved chatting with chef Akhtar Nawab about his new book Good for You to try and dispel the myth. We talked about his favorite recipes and his secrets for adding more punch to your favorite healthy options.
Read MoreWhen I had my son suddenly everyone started talking to me about ‘baby food’ and ‘kid food.’ I had never been raised with the idea that somehow kids got to eat something different - we always just ate whatever my parents ate. And from having lived in India and watching kids eat an array of flavors it struck me as a sort of bizarre thing that our culture has imparted on us, that kids need to start with blander food. People now ask me all the time how I got Guy to eat and I always say it’s simple really: he never had a choice! Kids are sponges and you can teach them to love and appreciate food by giving them diversity and flavors from an early age.
Read MoreWe are all grappling now with how to approach restaurants, but what about for the chefs and owners themselves? We had a chat with Pig & Khao’s Leah Cohen to get her take on everything that goes into re-opening.
Read MoreAs much as I love cooking and sharing, the last few months have been particularly strange for me as someone who loves to learn from others. So even though it is looking like it will still be months before we can have a proper guest back in the kitchen, I am determined to keep learning from experts and bringing them to you! A little technology can go a long way!
Read MoreI think my love for Italy has been made pretty clear, so when a new pasta spot comes into town I am immediately there. When Stefano Secchi opened Rezdôra, focusing on one of my favorite regions, Emilia Romagna, I instantly went and was blown away. There’s nothing like homemade pasta done well, and Secchi has it across his menu in spades - but could that translate to making it at home?
Luckily Secchi came over to give us a recipe that anyone can make, no matter your kitchen equipment. It’s a beautiful shape called Strozzapreti and all you need is your hands. He shares his secrets and then finishes with a simple sauce.
Read MoreThere are few dishes as popular at restaurants as beef tartare. And yet despite being among the easiest to execute, most people stay away from it at home. Raw beef in a restaurant setting seems fine, but there is some kind of mental block to making it yourself. But is it really just as easy for home cooks?
Luckily we had the perfect person to answer this conundrum - Chris Starkus, the chef at Denver’s steakhouse Urban Farmer also operates Lost Creek Micro Farm , so he knows about sourcing from a multitude of perspectives. We got his breakdown of what to look for when purchasing meat for serving raw, the best cuts to buy and the perfect recipe to make it all come together. You might not get to be on a cattle ranch in Denver, but you can come pretty close.
Read MoreYou might know Rocco DiSpirito from television or as healthy cookbook author. But the chef also remains passionate about the cuisine he first became known for - Italian - and so he stopped by recently to show us his take on a classic recipe, Paccheri alla Genovese. The sauce is a meat sauce but that designation is a misnomer - its power comes from the giant pile of onions that are encouraged to cook down over hours. This sauce is as easy as could be because it mostly just takes time to sit and cook. So if you are in need of something warming for the cold weather, this recipe is it.
Read MoreThere is no other place like Shuko. The Japanese spot, which serves some of the best omakase and kaiseki in New York, has it’s own particular vibe that is unlike any other little corner of the city. A lot has been said about the music (let’s just say a lot more modern than most expensive temples to Japanese gastronomy) but more than that it is a sense of fun that often disappears when in the presence of excellent, high end food.
So I wanted to get a sense of what dish they felt best exemplified the restaurant, and I was not disappointed by the choice. Instead of the sushi they are most known for, the pick was a robata course from their kaiseki menu: the Grilled Gindara Cod. Why cod - one of the most common fish - for a restaurant that revels in finding the most special ingredients? Well because the best possible cod, prepared in the most thoughtful way, can still be the most excellent dish. And that’s the fun part of Shuko.
Read MoreSometimes the proof is in the flavor, and it’s almost impossible to convey something through a video. That’s how I felt when I tried a Beyond Sushi roll - because as a huge sushi lover it was hard for me to believe I could also fall in love with a vegan version. But Chef Guy Vaknin came by to share his methods and explain that his plant-based take on the classic Japanese dish could have its own excitement. And while I might never give up the real deal, I am definitely a convert.
Read MoreI spent my college years in the UK so I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Jamie Oliver. I was living there right as he was growing in popularity in the British consciousness (I might date myself here) and he was really my first introduction to British cooking, well before I knew I would have a career in food. And as years went on I loved watching him transform into an advocate healthy school lunches. He has always seemed to hold a sensible middle ground that advocated for healthy options while also not veering into total health fanatic category.
So the chance to sit down with him and chat about his newest book, 5 Ingredients, was a delight. We touched on everything from rock star ingredients that can transform a dish to getting kids cooking. Watch the video below to hear Jamie’s take and perhaps you might have a bit more confidence in your weeknight cooking!
Read MoreAny time spent with Carla Hall is just pure delight, due to her being among the most genuine and charming people around. But it is extra fun getting to cook from her newest book - Carla Hall’s Soul Food - because it is such a beautiful personal exploration. The book takes a unique perspective on her own background and includes a lot of vignettes via a road trip.
But of course the recipes are what really draw us all in and I couldn’t wait to get her unique take on shrimp. Her Cracked Shrimp recipe is a twist on the cracked conch she saw when she worked in the Caribbean and it has completely shifted my view on cooking shrimp. Watch the video below to see her technique and get the recipe to try it yourself!
Read MoreEvery party needs a good cocktail to start and it shouldn’t be made in a vacuum separate from the food. Instead it should all flow together like different elements to the same meal.
Alex Guarnaschelli - chef at Butter and a judge on Food Network’s Chopped - is of the same mindset, which is why she included an entire section for cocktails in her book The Home Cook. So when we had a chance to catch up with her I wanted to get her chef’s perspective on a good cocktail to serve to kick off a party. Her take is a classic and simple lemon ginger concoction that goes perfectly with easy bar snacks.
Read MoreI think we are all suckers for Rice Krispie treats and I have certainly been known the cook with cereal before (if you haven’t tried the Sweet Salty Crunchy Steak you are missing out). But Duff Goldman is taking it to a whole new level.
He has a new menu at the Kellog’s Cafe where he is making every part of a meal with cereal. From Corn Flakes Mac and Cheese to a Fruit Loops pastry cream he has dreamt up every way you can add cereal to a dish. The key reason to do it, for him, is all about the texture. There’s just something about the crunch of cereal that can add an element into a dish.
Read MoreAnyone who knows me knows I am oh-so-skeptical of any baked good that is gluten or dairy free. Most of the time they feel like a sad imitation - sure, if you have to eat it then it would be great. But if not, why bother?
Angela Garbacz of Goldenrod Pastries in Nebraska makes you rethink all of that. Her recipes feel like they just happen to be gluten free but you would never notice it. This recipe is for anyone missing those summer blueberries and doesn’t mind taking the slightly-less perfect versions and throwing them in a cake. The other secret is a touch of cardamom to give it a luxurious depth.
Read MoreOver the summer I try to eat as much lobster as humanly possible. Nothing speaks to me quite like a lobster roll when it is hot outside.
You can actually eat lobster all year long but in the summer (and into the fall) you actually get new shell lobsters which have their own wonderful texture. I spent a lot of time up in Maine last year learning about the differences in lobsters (you can find them up the coast from Canada as well, but I am a bit in love with how Maine handles their lobsters).
At any rate as the season changes (or doesn't, based on the weather where you are!) I wanted to break out of my roll rut and try something new. Luckily Kwame Onwuachi was in town to show me a flavorful and bright take on a lobster salad that will keep you hanging on to warm weather. You might recognize Kwame if you have been to his DC restaurant Kith/Kin or if you are a fan of Top Chef!
Read MoreThere are some dishes I just can't ever get enough of and in the summer I will have ceviche in any form. But some have sauces that make you want to lick the bowl at the end.
I went to De Maria in Soho recently and every dish had that joyous pop of flavor that makes you want to just jump for joy. But the leche de tigre on the ceviche really took the cake.
If you're not familiar, leche de tigre is a sauce used in Peruvian cooking to add a bright citrus pop to their famous seafood. It is literally 'tiger's milk' and its a creamy take on a lot of flavor. But the one at De Maria was the perfect combination of texture and citrus so I knew I needed the recipe. Turns out it is as simple as can be.
Watch the video below or follow the recipe below for a sauce you'll want to put onto everything.
Read MoreSometimes life just requires baking. In those moments nothing is better than a cookie. And when you want simplicity to go along with it, a shortbread cookie can be the ultimate satisfying treat.
Jim Lahey, the brilliant mind behind Sullivan Street Bakery grew up on Walker's Shortbread. I became a bit addicted to them myself when I lived in Scotland. But unlike Lahey I didn't spend years honing and perfecting my own version. Luckily he was willing to share his Italian take on the classic
Read MoreI am obsessed with the middle ground of recipes that are easy but look fancy. So when I saw Adrienne Cheatham's sweet potato gnocchi recipe I knew I had to share it.
Gnocchi is one of the only pastas I make at home because it is so easy and yet it seriously impresses people. But the sweet potato twist takes it a step further because with no extra work you are adding an extra comforting flavor and a beautiful color. Combine that with my absolute fave miso paste and you had me at hello.
You might recognize Adrienne from last season's Top Chef (where she was a total boss and made it to the finals) but now you can find her at her pop up dinners, Sunday Best, which showcase her classically trained, Southern-inspired cooking. Mostly now I just want her to come cook with me every day. But in lieu of that we have a video of her awesome technique and a full recipe below.
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The Slow Burn was featured as one of 13 Charming Books to read on Book Bub! Read it Here!