🍽Simple recipes, travel, and restaurant reviews blended to a juicy narrative…
The best time of year to buy a big, gorgeous ham is the moment you finally pick the last sticky bit of fluorescent jelly bean from between your back teeth. A few aisles down from the half-priced Cadbury eggs and leftover green plastic grass, you’ll find a refrigerated “bin” full of bargain cuts. For as... Continue Reading →
RagoĂ»t, RagĂą, Ragú…turns out your favorite childhood jar of “spaghetti sauce” has a long and storied history with roots all the way back to Napoleon. In France, ragoĂ»ts have been served for centuries. Typically, a rich and flavorful meat stew, the word comes from the verb ragoĂ»ter, meaning “to revive the taste.” The first mention... Continue Reading →
From Boston to Philly, Stromboli is a pizzeria classic. Decidedly Italian-American, the most popular tale of origin starts with Nazzareno "Nat" Romano at his restaurant in Essington, just outside Philadelphia. Sometime in 1950, fooling around with the idea of Italy’s “stuffed” pizzas, Nat’s experiments yielded a calzone-like dish filled with cold cuts, cheese, and peppers... Continue Reading →
Family members rush from overpacked cars colorfully-wrapped gifts in hand, trying to avoid the frigid night air. Inside, huddled around the fireplace or wood-burning stoves, groups form to exchange gossip and playfully tease loved ones. The RĂ©veillon, or Christmas Eve celebration is a high point on the French-Canadian calendar. Whether held before or after midnight... Continue Reading →
I have a shocking confession which the snobbish world of foodies would never forgive. I kinda like the Olive Garden. It's the guilty-est of guilty pleasures. Not 'go there once a week' like, but maybe twice a year. For someone my age who is not a professional chef or food writer, I have some pretty amazing... Continue Reading →
Favorite flavors of fall bubble together in this decadent casserole. Italy’s long history of serving pasta with pumpkin, or Pasta con Zucca is time-honored and well-respected. The classic combination of sweet pumpkin and earthy sage spiked by salty prosciutto is a proven champion. Basically, an un-cheesed mac & cheese, this is pure, delicious comfort. Just... Continue Reading →
Apologies for the tardiness of this post. I am current traveling in Russia and internet access is extremely unreliable. In these days of early sunsets and extra blankets, first days of school and endless meetings, we find comfort in familiar flavors and simmering stews. For more than a couple centuries, from every corner of this... Continue Reading →
I fell in love with cold sesame noodles sitting cross-legged in my pajamas on the floor of my freshman year dorm. The almost weekly ritual of “ordering Chinese” found new friends lining the long hallways like ducks in a row, leaning over each other to steal an egg roll, pass packets of spicy mustard, or... Continue Reading →
Shaded from the relentless midday sun by a brightly striped awning just steps from the Rivera’s unmistakable rocky beach, a mere salad rises to ritual. The embodiment of the CĂ´tes d’Azur’s character, pulling the summer’s best produce and seafood into a crisp, bright dish, light enough to enjoy as a break from the beach. Crunchy green beans... Continue Reading →
DISH...with Sean Brady 