Month: July 2013

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q

Everything’s Made From Scratch Nick Pihakis and his father, Jim, opened the first Jim ‘N Nick’s barbecue joint more than 25 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. Known for a commitment to quality and an everything-made-from-scratch philosophy, the barbecue chain has now grown to more than 30 restaurants. Barbecue purists may scoff at the idea of a multi-unit…  Read More

Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q

Pit-Smoked Perfection Open since 1984, Miss Myra’s serves real hickory-smoked barbecue, cooked in a custom-built brick pit, alongside a killer line-up of homemade Southern desserts. It’s still a family-run restaurant and a favorite with locals, with fantastic chicken, ribs, pulled pork, legendary “white sauce” and a slew of home-style sides such as green beans, coleslaw,…  Read More

5 Questions: Supenn Harrison

Bringing Thai to the Twin Cities Supenn Harrison introduced Minnesota to the flavors of her native Thailand when she opened her first Sawatdee restaurant in 1983. Thirty years later her story is one of great success – she’s the owner of seven acclaimed Thai restaurants, a cooking class instructor, the recipient of numerous awards and…  Read More

Biang!

Masters of Xi’an Cuisine Jason Wang of Xi’an Famous Foods fame is a phenomenal young entrepreneur. The family-run Chinese food empire is a result of an amazing combination of old world techniques ­– David Shi, the father, is a great chef from China who opened the first Xi’an Famous Foods in the Flushing mall in…  Read More

Go Fork Yourself: Twin Cities

Twin Cities Let’s cut to the cheese Andrew calls in from the road on this week’s Go Fork Yourself. Andrew and Molly talk about the hot weather, the real identity of Ruth Bourdain, and possibly the worst travel-recommendation article ever written. They let us know where visitors to the Twin Cities should really visit. Articles discussed on…  Read More

5 Questions: Melissa Chou

San Francisco’s Pastry Star Melissa Chou has presided over pastries at San Francisco’s Michelin-starred Aziza for the past five years, creating impressive desserts that wowed the folks at the James Beard Foundation (she was a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2012 and 2013) and San Francisco Magazine, which named her Pastry Chef of the Year…  Read More

Bizarre Bites: Fugu

Danger! Beware of Japanese restaurants boasting glowing, globular, fish-shaped lanterns…it might mean a meal there could be your last. The lantern signifies that they specialize in serving toxic fugu, also called puffer fish or blowfish. Japan has been home to the fugu dish for hundreds of years, if not more. Anthropologists discovered remnants of fugu…  Read More

La Provence

A Taste of Provence in Cajun Country During the Bizarre Foods America Third Coast shoot, I loved hanging out with my buddy John Besh doing all things duck at La Provence, his acclaimed restaurant located just north of New Orleans on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. At this day-trip-worthy French eatery, Besh and chef Erick Loos…  Read More

Go Fork Yourself: Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever Rest & Relaxation Both returning from time at their cabins, Andrew and Molly talk about cabin life, old family recipes, and classic pranks. Plus, we hear Andrew and Molly’s take on Paula Deen. Get the recipe for Aunt Suzanne’s Famous Caramel Pecan Bars. Questions We want to include your listener questions in upcoming…  Read More

5 Questions: Raghavan Iyer

Indian Cooking in a Midwestern Kitchen Raghavan Iyer’s new cookbook, Indian Cuisine Unfolded, opens up the world of Indian cuisine for the American home cook by recreating some of his favorite dishes with ingredients found in the typical American grocery store. The Bombay native also narrated a Twin Cities Public Television documentary called Asian Flavors based on…  Read More

Remembering Dorothy Levy

Celebrating the Life of an Amazing Woman Dorothy Levy passed away earlier this week, her obituary is here for those who want to see a sketch of what an incredible woman she was. To those who knew her, there is often a forgetful space, as there typically is for those who have been so accomplished…  Read More

Happy Garden

Cantonese Dim Sum Dating back more than 120 years, Honolulu’s Chinatown is reportedly the oldest in the United States, and it’s teaming with fantastic Chinese snack shops, bakeries, markets and restaurants. This neighborhood is energized by new waves of immigration and enriched by the prolific bounty of the South Seas. For old-school Cantonese dim sum,…  Read More

Go Fork Yourself: Shrimp Week

Shrimp Week Sensational Crustations It’s all things shrimp on this week’s Go Fork Yourself. Andrew and Molly talk about the best varieties of shrimp, what to look for in the grocery store and what to do when you get them to your kitchen. Plus, they talk about The Taste, Brian Malarkey and Nigella Lawson. Want more shrimp…  Read More

5 Questions: Hank Shaw

Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook Hank Shaw’s James Beard award-winning blog, Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, documents his adventures hunting, gathering and cooking with editorials and recipes that expound his admirable, back-to-nature philosophy – we need to take ownership of the food we eat by buying, hunting, foraging and consuming honest ingredients. The former line cook and…  Read More

Fourth of July Recipes

Summertime Recipe Round-up The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. There’s no better way to celebrate America’s independence (and my birthday) than sitting around with the family, swimming, grilling up my favorite meat, noshing on fresh summer eats and indulging my inner pyro. Here are a few of my top picks, from…  Read More