Tony was a man of contradictions. His work from almost two decades ago inspired a rogue-ish bro culture in the chef world that in the past few years he came to revile and worked hard to repudiate. He told me almost 13 years ago that television was the “most vile mistress,” but he refined the… Read More →
Mayonnaise Dips & Sauces By Andrew Zimmern Now that I’ve taught you how to make homemade mayonnaise, here are a few ways to jazz it up for a dip, marinade, salad dressing or sandwich spread. Really, the possibilities are endless, so season to your liking with whatever herbs, citrus and spices you have on hand.… Read More →
Risotto Milanese By Andrew Zimmern Risotto is one of the simplest things to cook, yet one of the hardest dishes to master in the kitchen. The secret is patience, adding your stock little by little as the rice absorbs the starchy liquid to create a creamy texture. Risotto shouldn’t be dense or dry, it should… 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 →
Kielbasa Split Pea Soup By Andrew Zimmern My grandma started making a version of this almost 50 years ago, using kosher hot dogs and her mom’s pea soup recipe. Suffice it to say, it’s changed. Make it with your favorite Eastern European sausage—kielbasa, Krakowska and Ukrainian all rock in this soup. I like to use… Read More →
AZ Cooks Snack Bracket Champion We have a winner! This March has been full of surprises, and my snack bracket was no different. Although my money was on Chinese chicken wings making it to the championship, I’m happy to announce that our voters crowned roast pork belly as the AZ Cooks Snack Bracket Champion. I… Read More →
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon Surrounded by a super sized state best known for its uniquely Texan way of doing things, Austin is an oasis of freethinkers and creatives with a vibrant music, film, technology and food scene. Austinites have a taste for experimentation that borders on the delirious and it’s reflected in their food—from traditional barbecue… Read More →
Shrimp Étouffée By Andrew Zimmern Several years ago in New Orleans, I got a lesson in étouffée-making from the doyenne of Louisiana cooking, Poppy Tooker. It’s a day I will never forget. Étouffée is a riff on the old French verb “to smother,” and while there are as many recipes for étouffée as there are… Read More →
My Best Super Bowl Recipes Of course I’m disappointed the Vikings won’t be winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy on their home turf, but I am thankful for an amazing season and ready to welcome the world to Minnesota for Super Bowl 52 and the best week of events in NFL history. If you didn’t score tickets… Read More →
Homemade Crispy Onion Rings By Andrew Zimmern With a light and crispy batter, these buttermilk fried onion rings are a perfect snack for game day, or as part of a backyard burger bash side dish. It’s a classic Southern-style recipe, with an extra flavor boost from my Lemon & Shallots spice blend and hot sauce. Make sure… 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 →
Grand Cafe Important restaurants keep exploding all over the Twin Cities. Grand Cafe joins the list that includes Spoon & Stable, Heyday, Bellecour, Corner Table and many new to the scene like Kado No Mise and Martina, that are proof positive Minnesota is ground zero for some of the best food in America. Photograph… Read More →
Tips for Cooking with Red Wine Rule of thumb: When you’re cooking with wine, always use a wine you’d be proud to serve your guests, because as you reduce it, you magnify the good and the bad flavors. My favorite red wines to cook with are Rhone wines from Guigal. Ready to cook? Here… Read More →
Wok-Tossed Crickets in Black Bean Sauce By Andrew Zimmern High in protein and rich in minerals, crickets are the most popular insect eaten around the world. Tossing the crickets in a hot wok with Chinese fermented black beans is the best way to cook and eat the nutty, crunchy bugs. I think this is real… Read More →
Red Rabbit The newest member of the Red Cow family—owner Luke Shimp’s insanely popular burger-centric restaurant with several Twin Cities locations—Red Rabbit strays from the elevated bar food vibe to offer Italian classics, pizzas and wood-fired plates. Located on Washington Avenue with an easily recognizable red tufted exterior, it’s a welcome addition to the North… Read More →
How to Prep Lemongrass I love cooking with lemongrass. It’s a staple of many Asian cuisines that lends a unique citrusy aroma and flavor to soups, curries, marinades, stir-fries, dumplings and dipping sauces, even cocktails. Peel away the dried, tough outer layers, trim the top of the long stalk, pound the root end with a… Read More →
Japanese Beef Tataki By Andrew Zimmern This easy Japanese tataki is stunning and tastes even better. With a simple dish like this, buy the best beef you can get your hands on. Because it’s served very rare, using a tender, luxury cut like sirloin is important—trust me, it’s worth spending the extra bucks. Skip the… Read More →
Four Chile Salsa By Andrew Zimmern Using four different types of dried chiles adds a deep complexity to this thick salsa that’s hard to beat. It’s also incredibly versatile—use this chile salsa to braise pork, seafood or chicken, to accompany grilled beef, as a sauce for tamales or enchiladas, or simply as a dip for… Read More →
What to do with turkey leftovers By Andrew Zimmern I always make a Thanksgiving turkey because I love the leftovers turned into sandwiches, soups, and my son’s favorite, turkey tetrazzini. I use up my last scraps of meat and the salty kiss of some killer parmesan with this creamy pasta casserole. On a cold fall… 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 →
United Noodles & Unideli If you follow my social media or watch my shows, you know I’m obsessed with Asian cuisines—Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean… I love it all. And while there are plenty of great spots in the Twin Cities to indulge, I’m cooking it at home more often than not. Mastering the… Read More →
How to Prepare Artichokes The edible bud of a thistle plant, artichokes can be intimidating to prepare and cook. Covered in an armor of spiky bracts and filled with a fibrous inedible choke, their defense system is on point. Cleaning, trimming and prepping them for cooking is easy once you learn a few simple tricks.… Read More →
Ginger Scallion Noodles By Andrew Zimmern If you love to cook, you should learn how to recreate the tent poles of culinary wisdom from cultures around the world, starting with these addictive ginger scallion noodles. This recipe has the hallmarks of classic Shanghai-style scallion noodles mixed with Japanese-style charred scallion noodles with tsukemono pickles. It… 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 →
Ginger Scallion Oil Dipping Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Chopped scallions, grated ginger and salt are combined with heated peanut oil to create this flavorful dipping sauce—the perfect complement to my Hainanese chicken rice. This sauce is so easy to throw together and pairs well with a piece of grilled meat or fish, noodles, dumplings or… Read More →
Soy & Ginger Dipping Sauce By Andrew Zimmern This scallion, soy, cilantro and ginger dipping sauce is wonderful with dumplings, poached chicken or fresh egg noodles. If I have a lot of it left over, I use it as a marinade for chicken. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Sausage, Potatoes, Onions, & Mushrooms en Papillote By Jacques Pepin I wanted to show Shorey how to make a great one-dish meal for dinner, so I chose this one featuring sausage, potatoes, onions, and mushrooms en papillote. Papillote refers to a wrapping of foil or parchment paper in which meat or fish is cooked. This… Read More →
Tostones By Andrew Zimmern Twice-fried plantains, known as tostones, are a delicious side dish or snack found all over Latin America. Fry the plantain slices once to cook them through before you smash them, then again to make them perfectly crisp. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Birchwood Cafe Few Minnesotans have done more for local farmers and purveyors than Tracy Singleton. You can bet everything served at her iconic Seward restaurant was grown organically, sourced ethically, and hails from some cool Midwestern farm. She’s long been an industry leader in sustainable, eco-friendly practices, and has used her restaurant as a vehicle… Read More →
Wise Acre Eatery It seems just about every restaurant claims to be farm to table. In the case of Wise Acre, it’s part of the business plan. Depending on the time of year, 75 to 95 percent of ingredients originate on sister business Tangletown Gardens’ 100-acre farm in rural Plato, Minnesota, including Scottish highland cattle,… Read More →
