Labneh Dip with Peppers & Radishes Recipe adapted from Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel by Alon Shaya In this episode of AZ Cooks, I’m cooking the book, finding inspiration in my friend chef Alon Shaya’s new cookbook Shaya, a moving culinary memoir filled with recipes reflective of his path to… Read More →
Ma’s Muthia This recipe is from our Grandmother’s Best Recipe Contest winner Surtida S. Her grandmother combined her Indian roots with Tanzanian flavors to create this incredible dish of millet flour dumplings braised in a tomato-and-coconut-infused sauce chock-full of vegetables and aromatic spices. The smell and flavor of this recipe is intoxicating. “One of my… Read More →
Crispy Crab Rolls By Andrew Zimmern This dish combines my love of Asian cooking and my obsession with mid-19th-century Southern country club recipes. The crust of these crispy crab rolls filled with moist flaked seafood, is made with—surprise!—soft, white sandwich bread. Served with a doctored Thai sweet chile sauce, it’s an irresistible snack. Watch Andrew… Read More →
Salmon Gravlax By Andrew Zimmern This salmon is cured for two days with a mix of fresh herbs, star anise, Pernod, sugar and salt. The salt and sugar draw out the liquid from the fish, so the texture and flavor is superb without having to weigh it down to expel the moisture. While gravlax seems… Read More →
Roasted Leg of Lamb with Avgolemono Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Nothing beats roasting a whole leg of lamb. Roasting the leg of lamb directly on the oven rack will allow the meat to evenly brown and caramelize on all sides. While this recipe is best in the oven, it’s easily adaptable for the grill, cooking over… Read More →
Po’ Boys at R&O Restaurant There is no city in the world like New Orleans. Its history, culture and cuisine truly make it a magical and captivating place. From muffuletta sandwiches at Central Grocery to oysters Rockefeller at Galatoire’s, even the most touristy restaurants are irresistible. On my last visit, I discovered a new favorite… Read More →
Sticky Spicy Chicken Wings By Andrew Zimmern Of all the dishes I’ve tasted around the world, this is the one I’m happiest to have brought home and perfected in my own kitchen. Sticky, fatty, salty and sweet, the best versions of this recipe emulsify the chicken fat into the sauce as it reduces. They’re great… Read More →
Bull’s Horn Food & Drink Minneapolis has no shortage of throwback dive bars that embrace a no-frills come-as-you-are vibe, with self-service popcorn machines and cheap drinks. Even with a faint hint of stale cigarette smoke lingering, the nostalgia keeps the bar stools filled. The problem is, most of them don’t—or can’t—serve food beyond a frozen… Read More →
Martina Located in Linden Hills in the old Upton 43 space—which got stripped of its sterile Scandinavian decor for a more inviting dining room modeled after traditional estancias, or Argentinian ranches—Martina may be new, but its seafood-centric menu has earned its place among the city’s great restaurants. It’s the first solo endeavor of chef Daniel… Read More →
CONTEST COMPLETE AZ Cooks Your Grandma’s Best Recipes Contest Share a favorite, original recipe from your Grandma’s collection for a chance to win a great prize pack, a shout-out from Andrew Zimmern, and have your recipe prepared on AZ Cooks. Scroll down to enter! My grandmother only cooked a few dozen dishes on a regular… Read More →
Pajarito Just over a year old, Pajarito’s contemporary Mexican cuisine is still satisfying a packed house every night. Located on St. Paul’s West 7th St. in the historic Glockenspiel building, it’s proven to be the right combination of quality ingredients, superb flavors, affordable plates, great service and a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. I love a cheap… Read More →
In my video series, AZ Cooks, I’m sharing cooking techniques and recipes inspired by my childhood, travels and experiences in the professional kitchen, all in the pursuit of culinary literacy. Thanks for tuning in, your support and feedback have made this venture a success! From classics like key lime pie and meatloaf to wok-tossed crickets and… Read More →
“I would like to say that what I fear are the challenges that stand in front of me, when in reality what I fear is the cowardice that lays within me.” – Craig Lounsbrough 2017 was a crazy year for me filled with ups and downs, mistakes made, tragedies big and small, successes and disappointments,… Read More →
How to Make Paneer at Home By Andrew Zimmern One of the easiest cheeses to make at home is the classic Indian paneer. It’s a mild, fresh farmers’ cheese that takes on flavors really well, soaking up the sauce it cooks in. For my version of saag paneer, I like it to be soft and… Read More →
On’s Thai Kitchen Located in Midway on University Avenue, On’s Thai Kitchen always makes it onto my list of top 10 favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. There are many excellent choices for Thai cuisine in my hometown, but none transport me to Thailand quite like On’s. The 105-item menu has many recognizable standbys like fresh herby… Read More →
Coq Au Vin By Andrew Zimmern A traditional French stew, coq au vin is a rich red wine-braised chicken dish that’s easy enough for a weeknight meal, yet elegant and impressive for a dinner party or holiday meal. This recipe is so good I would serve it to chef Daniel Boulud without flinching. I often… Read More →
El Taco Riendo There are a handful of spots in the Twin Cities that I can rely on for excellent Mexican food, and El Taco Riendo is one of them. Located on Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis, the fast casual restaurant has a Chipotle-style ordering system where your meal is made fresh in front of… Read More →
Chocolate Swirl Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipe by Zoë François I am in desperate need of lessons when it comes to baking, and I can’t think of a better teacher than my friend Zoë François, an award-winning baker and author of the best-selling Bread in Five Minutes series. She is sharing her recipe for a ridiculously moist… Read More →
France 44 Cheese Shop Located at 44th and France in Linden Hills, this expansive corner shop is half wine and liquor emporium, half specialty cheese, meat and sandwich shop. In the gourmet grocery, you’ll find knowledgeable staff at the cut-to-order cheese counter who can help you select the perfect amount of cream or funk for… Read More →
Classic Turkey Gravy By Andrew Zimmern You can use this foolproof technique to make perfectly seasoned gravy from any roasted poultry. Add the giblets, onions and rich poultry stock to the bottom of the roasting pan to catch all of the drippings and deepen the flavor of the gravy. Then finish the gravy on the stovetop,… Read More →
Thanksgiving Turkey 101 By Andrew Zimmern Roasting a turkey can be intimidating. It’s the crown jewel of the Thanksgiving table, the star of the show—and yet so many things can go wrong, from dried-out white meat to overcooked stuffing and underseasoned gravy. Try these simple tips for Thanksgiving success, whether this is your first or… Read More →
The Travail Collective When you hear 3-hour 20-course tasting menu, my guess is you are not envisioning a restaurant with giant stuffed animals in the rafters of the dining room, or one with a raucous atmosphere where the chefs are also the waiters and food runners, and often microphone-wielding MCs who encourage group participation in… Read More →
Food Policy Action 2017 Scorecard Food Policy Action recently released their 2017 scorecard, revealing where members of Congress stand on important food policy issues in this country during a turbulent political climate. The 6th annual progress report shares objective information about votes taken and bills introduced by Congress on policies that affect everyone who eats,… Read More →
Bellecour My friend Gavin Kaysen’s latest project, Bellecour, is an absolute stunner. The award-winning chef’s return to the Twin Cities in 2014 to open Spoon and Stable came with unprecedented buzz—a few years later and it’s still near impossible to score prime time reservations—but the announcement of Bellecour sent diners into a frenzy, with more… Read More →
Pan-Fried Black Pepper Shrimp Chef Floyd Cardoz shares his recipe for simple pan-fried black pepper shrimp, adapted from his latest restaurant Paowalla. Located in NYC’s Soho neighborhood, Paowalla is a celebration of modern Indian cuisine specializing in the subcontinent’s vast library of breads (paowalla translates to “a person who makes and sells bread”), from the… Read More →
Pork Belly 101 By Andrew Zimmern Roasted pork belly is one of the most unctuous, delicious dishes that you’ll ever eat. To achieve a meltingly tender piece of pork crowned with crispy skin requires a multi-day process, but don’t let that scare you, it’s a simple technique. Serve it with bao, or on its own,… Read More →
Bar La Grassa This ode to Italy isn’t your grandparent’s eye-talian eatery. With moody date-night lighting beaming from chandeliers, a steel pasta bar that provides the best seats in the house, and a broad range of shareable plates, Bar La Grassa is one of the great Italian restaurants in the Twin Cities with consistently good… Read More →
How to Truss a Chicken My digital series, AZ Cooks, is all about culinary literacy. I want to give you the tips, techniques and recipes you need to become a better cook—from demystifying essential dishes from cultures around the globe to teaching basic methods for peeling, chopping and preparing everyday ingredients. Learning to truss a… Read More →
Brisket Nachos with Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa By Andrew Zimmern One of the easiest and most satisfying ways to utilize leftover brisket is to make a big platter of these insanely delicious nachos. Your friends will go crazy when you put these out on game day with a pitcher of margaritas…. be prepared to make a second… Read More →
112 Eatery Located a few short blocks from Target Field in downtown Minneapolis, James Beard award-winning chef Isaac Becker’s first restaurant is a favorite amongst chefs and service industry folks. That has as much to do with their steak tartare, famous 112 cheeseburger and foie gras meatballs, as it does with their night owl hours… Read More →
