Shrimp Scampi with Seasoned Breadcrumbs & Angel Hair Pasta By Andrew Zimmern For this butter- and garlic-infused Italian-American scampi, buy the best shrimp you can find because the success of the dish hinges on the quality of the seafood. For the sauce, I like to use a mix of anise-flavored Pernod and white wine for… Read More →
Classic Chicken Parmesan By Andrew Zimmern This chicken parmesan is my love letter to the Italian-American red sauce classic everyone craves. Sure you can gussy it up, but this recipe sticks to the basics—fried chicken topped with an easy homemade tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella melted under the broiler, and a touch of fresh basil.… Read More →
Read AZ and the Lost City of Ophir, and share your pics for a chance to win. I am thrilled with the positive response I’ve received about my new kids book, AZ and the Lost City of Ophir, the first novel in the Alliance of World Explorers series for middle-grade readers. It’s a rip-roaring, Indiana… Read More →
Garides Saganaki By Andrew Zimmern Garides saganaki is a classic Greek dish of shrimp, tomatoes, onion and feta. Cooked under the broiler, this bubbling one-pot dish is easy and so satisfying. Be sure to serve with plenty of crusty bread to sop up the sauce. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Minnesota Honey Producers at the State Fair After you’ve had your cheese curd fix in the Food Building, make your way next door to the iconic octagon-shaped Agriculture & Horticulture Building for a scoop of honey ice cream and a quick lesson on beekeeping. There’s a large footprint dedicated to honey and honey products made… Read More →
Minnesota State Fair Eating Strategy There are a few simple rules when it comes to a successful day of eating at the fair. First, don’t overload on your deep-fried fantasies in the first hour. Go with friends so you can indulge in your favorite fair classics along with a couple new food items. Do a… Read More →
The Story of Cinnie Smiths I always make a stop at Cinnie Smiths a priority. The cinnamon rolls are made in the booth from scratch right to order, with real butter, real cinnamon and real sugar. I’m getting hungry right now thinking about the gooey center of the warm cinnamon rolls, dipped in their homemade creamy… Read More →
Gizmo Sandwiches at the Minnesota State Fair Carla Wood and her Gizmo sandwich embody everything I love about the fair. The Gizmo is a ground beef and Italian sausage sandwich covered in their secret red sauce, topped with melted mozzarella. Every sandwich is made on premise from scratch. It’s an edible torpedo of pleasure and my idea… Read More →
Mouth Trap Cheese Curds All cheese curds are not created equal, trust me. My go-to at the Minnesota State Fair is Mouth Trap inside the Food Building. What makes their product so perfect? Ellsworth cheese curds, fresh from the creamery, delivered daily—a total of 65,000 pounds of curds over the course of the 12 day… Read More →
What is so great about the Minnesota State Fair? I’m sure you’ve heard me wax poetic about the food at the fair, but honestly, it’s the people that make me want to visit all 12 days. From the animal barns and seed art to bundt cakes and machinery hill, there’s much more to the fair… Read More →
Top 5 Minnesota State Fair Foods My most frequently asked question has to be: “Andrew Zimmern, what is the best thing to eat at the Minnesota State Fair?” It’s a really tough question to answer, there are too many great options. Alas, I’ve tried to dwindle it down to a few items you should absolutely… Read More →
Charred Tomato Sauce with Penne Pasta By Andrew Zimmern This chunky charred tomato sauce will brighten up your summer table. I like to prepare this pasta Roman-style by adding mint, parsley and crushed red pepper for a little kick. Charring the garlic and tomatoes directly on hot coals intensifies the flavor and lends a lovely… Read More →
Grilled Paella with Shrimp, Mussels & Clams By Andrew Zimmern Paella is traditionally cooked over an open fire. The crust develops superbly, while the aroma and flavor of the fire convect into the open pan. Grilled paella may seem intimidating, but it’s easy to accomplish if you follow a few simple rules. Make sure you have all… Read More →
Grilled Jumbo Shrimp, Two Ways By Andrew Zimmern When it comes to grilling shrimp, bigger is always better. Jumbo shrimp take more time to cook through, allowing them to stay in contact with the heat long enough to develop a char. For the juiciest shrimp, grill them with the shell on. The shell imparts a… Read More →
Chicken Skewers with Za’atar By Andrew Zimmern Here’s a peek at research and development for our Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen: Skewers concept at Minneapolis’ Target Field. In this recipe, we marinate chicken thighs in za’atar (a blend of thyme, sumac and sesame seeds that’s commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking), lemon and olive oil, before skewering… Read More →
Classic Caesar Salad By Andrew Zimmern This beloved dish was invented nearly a century ago in Tijuana by a chef named Caesar Cardini, who threw together a salad with the only ingredients he had on hand after the restaurant sold out of its regular offering. It has since turned into an American classic, a staple… Read More →
Lobster Rolls, Two Ways By Andrew Zimmern Here are two easy recipes for everyone’s favorite summer sandwich, the lobster roll. Do you prefer mayonnaise or brown butter? I couldn’t decide, so I’m showing you how to make both. A buttered and toasted bun stuffed with fresh lobster is essential, after that dress it up the… Read More →
AZ Cooks Snack Bracket We’ve narrowed down 16 of my most popular recipes to 2! In this final match up, salty roast pork belly goes head to head with sweet chocolate chip cookies. We need your votes to figure out which one is the best dish. Need a refresher? Watch the videos below and help us… Read More →
AZ Cooks Snack Bracket Round 3 We’ve narrowed down 16 of my most popular recipes to 4, but we still need your votes to figure out which one is the best dish. Be sure to vote for your favorite in every match-up! Need a refresher? Watch the videos below and help us pick the winner. <a… Read More →
AZ Cooks Snack Bracket 16 of my most popular recipes are facing off in a competition to find out which one is the best dish. Be sure to vote for your favorite in every match-up! Need a refresher? Watch the videos below and help us pick the winner. SALTY MATCH-UP #1 SALTY MATCH-UP #2 SPICY… Read More →
Shepherd’s Pie By Andrew Zimmern Shepherd’s pie is a rustic, humble and comforting dish, and a great way to feed a crowd. This hearty casserole is traditionally made with lamb, but feel free to substitute ground beef, or a mix of beef and lamb, if you’d prefer. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
The Zimmern List Premieres March 13 9|8c on Travel Channel! My new show, The Zimmern List, premieres March 13 and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Each week I’m criss-crossing the United States as your personal travel guide, sharing the must-try restaurants, food trucks and take-out joints in my favorite cities. In the first episode, I travel to… Read More →
#myZimmernList Needs Your Videos! Share your favorite food experience from a restaurant, food truck or picnic area for a chance to win a t-shirt and have lunch with Andrew Zimmern in his home city of Minneapolis. Scroll down to enter! My new show, The Zimmern List, premieres March 13 on Travel Channel and I couldn’t… Read More →
The Ultimate Seafood Tower By Andrew Zimmern This is Plateau de Fruits de Mer 101. First, learn how to dispatch a lobster and cook it in a court bouillon, and then how to steam crab, mussels and shrimp in a multi-tiered bamboo steamer. I’ll teach you how to shuck oysters and clams with the proper… Read More →
How to Shell a Lobster Buying a live lobster, dispatching it, cooking it properly and then extracting all of the meat can be an intimidating process. I totally get it. However, if you love lobster—or are trying to impress someone with a luxurious meal—cooking it at home is easier than you think and far more… Read More →
How to Kill a Lobster Dispatching a lobster is most likely what’s preventing you from cooking it at home, but learning the proper and most humane way to do it will make it less intimidating. I believe the most humane way to kill a lobster is to first put it in the freezer for 5… 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 →
Dry-Rubbed Fried Chicken Wings By Andrew Zimmern Do you want to be king of your chicken wing castle? Deep fry a batch of wings before tossing with your favorite dry rub and melted butter. Chicken wing supremacy is really that simple. Here, I’ve used two different types of dry rub—one with herbs, garlic and onion,… 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 →
