Putting Her Best Dish Forward As the first blind contestant on the home-cook competition show MasterChef, Christine Ha had her work cut out for her, but she overcame the obstacles and cooked her way to the top winning over the palates of three notoriously harsh critics. We chat with Christine about competing with a disability and… Read More →
Putting Her Best Dish Forward As the first blind contestant on the home-cook competition show MasterChef, Christine Ha had her work cut out for her, but she overcame the obstacles and cooked her way to the top winning over the palates of three notoriously harsh critics. We chat with Christine about competing with a disability and… Read More →
It’s What’s Inside That Counts A mad scientist in the kitchen, baking enthusiast Megan Seling is obsessed with stuffing cupcakes and brownies with unconventional surprises (think pumpkin pie, donut or even baklava-filled sweets). We chat with Megan about her new cookbook, Bake it in a Cupcake: 50 Treats With a Surprise Inside, her wicked sweet-tooth… Read More →
The Perfect Crust Best pizza in L.A., and these days, that’s saying a lot. Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali have created something special. I love any of the pizzas with Armandino Batali’s cured meats on it, but it’s Silverton’s crust that takes the star turn here. Contact 641 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles,… Read More →
Food Festival Mastermind At the helm of Southern Wine & Spirits’ communications and event planning, Lee Schrager is the brains (and charisma) behind the South Beach and New York Wine & Food Festivals – he’s planning the parties, wrangling stars and celebrity chefs, and pulling it all off without a hitch for 60,000 guests. We… Read More →
Food Festival Mastermind At the helm of Southern Wine & Spirits’ communications and event planning, Lee Schrager is the brains (and charisma) behind the South Beach and New York Wine & Food Festivals – he’s planning the parties, wrangling stars and celebrity chefs, and pulling it all off without a hitch for 60,000 guests. We… Read More →
Offal’s Leading Advocate At the forefront of the whole-animal movement, chef Chris Cosentino woos diners with old world techniques and artful pairings, turning organs and extremities into haute cuisine at San Francisco’s acclaimed Incanto. We chat with Chris about all things offal, Top Chef Masters and the city’s best restaurants. AndrewZimmern.com: You’ve become the king of… Read More →
Kansas City’s Barbecue Guru Ardie Davis, PhB (doctorate in barbecue philosophy), founded the American Royal BBQ Sauce, Rub and Baste Contest, has written nine barbecue cookbooks and is a backyard meat-smokin’ professional. We chat with Ardie about the country’s best barbecue, the competition trail and tips for championship-quality ribs. For your own taste, head to the American… Read More →
BBQ Genius In 2009, Aaron Franklin and his wife started smoking meat out of a trailer in an East Austin parking lot, though they quickly outgrew this spot when lines of fans and foodies began snaking around the block. Now at the brick-and-mortar restaurant, folks are still lining up at 9 a.m. for slabs of… Read More →
Authentic Korean BBQ This simply marked (but stylish) Korean barbecue joint is authentic enough to appease those who grew up eating their mom’s version of these dishes. Chef-owner Jenee Kim keeps it simple, focusing mostly on traditional Korean grilled meats and sides. The best part? You get to help. Items such as bulgogi (Kobe beef that’s… Read More →
Creme of Carmel By Bob & Sue The best restaurant in the greater Pebble Beach area may be Aubergine in the L’Auberge Carmel. Charlie Trotter trained chef Justin Cogley delivers highly creative dishes ranging from a Kumamoto oyster amuse with cucumber jelly and yuzu foam to Monterey Bay abalone paired with pickled sea lettuce, alba… Read More →
Cutting-Edge Comfort Food By Bob & Sue Portland’s Gabriel Rucker (James Beard Rising Star Chef for 2011) pushes the envelope with pigeon crudo, artichoke and Parmesan soup with lardo, beef cheek Bourgogne, and a deep-fried braised lamb shoulder with green garlic risotto. Comfort food at its best in a funky setting so typical of little… Read More →
Progressive American Cuisine By Bob & Sue We enjoyed a dinner at this gem of a restaurant with our friends, Lee and Terry. The Chef, Colby Garrelts, has been nominated several times for Best Chef Midwest by the James Beard Foundation. He offers an eclectic menu which includes a lavish Caviar presentation, a fresh Spring… Read More →
Montreal’s Best Bistro Joe Beef is one of Montreal’s flagship restaurants (and one of my favorites in the entire world). Located in the heart of Little Burgundy, this pint-size bistro & oyster bar is named after Charles “Joe-Beef” McKiernan, a famous 19th-century innkeeper and Montreal hero. The chalkboard menu changes daily and while the cuisine is… Read More →
Southern Cooking at its Best By Bob & Sue Located on 9,200 acres outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, and in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this unique gourmet destination offers the bold flavors of Southern cooking at its best. In addition to hearty breakfasts and lunches with plenty of grits, delicious thick-cut Benton bacon,… Read More →
Let’s Catch Up I have been on vacation and then off to shoot Iowa and Wisconsin episodes of Bizarre Foods America that will air in November/December. But I’m back and there is a ton to talk about so I will try to practice restraint and not overwhelm. Let’s catch up on a few things. The… Read More →
My kid and I crushed three jars of this stuff in the past month. It’s amazing peanut butter– super rich (and fun flavors, too). Best part: a portion of every sale goes to Project Peanut Butter, aimed at aiding malnourished children. Good stuff. Get yours at OpenSky.com.
Creativity on a Plate By Bob & Sue Chefs Erik Anderson and Josh Habiger have been named to Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs 2012 list, yet The Catbird Seat was already considered by food lovers as one of the country’s hottest destinations and toughest reservations. This incredibly creative restaurant provided memorable food and… Read More →
Dueling Chefs G E Bowles kicks Steve Dolinsky out of his new eatery Josh Habiger unloads on John Mariani Eddie Huang unloads on everybody, most recently Marcus Samuelsson in the Observer. And Marcus responded. We all say sh*t we don’t mean to, but is it just me or is it odd that the Observer editors… Read More →
Dueling Chefs G E Bowles kicks Steve Dolinsky out of his new eatery Josh Habiger unloads on John Mariani Eddie Huang unloads on everybody, most recently Marcus Samuelsson in the Observer. And Marcus responded. We all say sh*t we don’t mean to, but is it just me or is it odd that the Observer editors… Read More →
Light, Refreshing & Perfect for Summer By Andrew Zimmern I love this dish. Served as a main with fried green tomatoes and crusty baguette or a hearty appetizer, it’s one of my go-to summer staples. You could make the soused shrimp ahead of time and it’ll be good, but it’s best when served immediately. I like… Read More →
For Incredible Mexican Food… In a city full of great Mexican places, this is my pick for something a little less down and dirt. I love Chef Ortiz’s fantastic, modern takes on guac, tacos, plus killer drinks & desserts (pastry chef Laura Sawicki is one of the best in the country). Contact 400A West 2nd… Read More →
The farm bill is here and it’s not a pretty picture. This affects all Minnesotans, every one of us. And it dictates policy for another five years, read this post and the three excerpts and DO SOMETHING today to make a difference. The letter at the bottom of this post is a note I got… Read More →
Cabrito, Cabrito, Cabrito The first Austin Food + Wine Festival went off without a hitch– a stunning event, and one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in a while. A HUGE thanks to Food + Wine and the folks at C3 Presents for their hard work and dedication. You guys are the best at… Read More →
The Julia Child of the Net generation. Nadia G. can cook up a storm. She’s the creator and host of Cooking Channel’s Bitchin’ Kitchen, and she certainly knows how to make a meal rock ‘n’ roll. We chat with Nadia about humor, music and what makes a kitchen bitchin’. AndrewZimmern.com: What five things does a kitchen need… Read More →
“If you don’t have flair, then to Hell with you!” – Caren Zimmern It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my mother’s passing. We celebrated the life of this amazing woman last Friday at a small “memorial cocktail party” in Minneapolis. As some of you know, my mother had unique… Read More →
When I first heard of Man v. Food show, I was skeptical. So this guy goes around the country, attempting to conquer iconic food challenges (i.e. scarfing an entire 72-ounce steak at Amarillo’s Big Texan Steak Ranch), while we watch? But a few minutes into the show, I was hooked. Adam Richman’s wit, charm and seemingly endless… Read More →
