Moqueca de Peixe By Andrew Zimmern I tasted moqueca for the first time along the Brazilian coast south of Rio de Janeiro, and I was instantly hooked. Brazilian seafood stews of this type will blow your mind. Every time I cook this dish for friends and family, even on Food Network’s All-Star Academy, the reaction is… Read More →
How to Make Bearnaise Sauce By Andrew Zimmern A derivative of the classic French mother sauce hollandaise, bearnaise is an egg yolk-butter emulsion flavored with shallot, tarragon, white wine and vinegar. It’s the perfect pairing for a steakhouse dinner. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
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 →
How to Break Down a Whole Chicken Everyone should know how to break down a whole chicken. For one, it’s economical—whole chickens are much cheaper per pound than chicken breasts. Plus, if you buy a whole chicken, you can cut it into the specific pieces you need for the dish you’re making…. and, you’ll have… 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 →
How to Make Chicken Lollipops Looking for a fun presentation for chicken wings or legs? Learn how to make chicken lollipops, an easy frenching technique where you scrape the meat away from the bone to create a lollipop shape. The chicken will be more succulent and easy to eat with its bone handle. Learn how… Read More →
Honey & Rye Located less than a mile from the office, Honey & Rye has been a favorite since it opened four years ago. All of our carb-loving dreams came true when that retro-era corner dry cleaners transformed into a neighborhood bakery. It’s not a run-of-the-mill bakehouse or one that stocks its cases with trendy… Read More →
Figs & Smoked Mozzarella Wrapped in Prosciutto By Andrew Zimmern Smoky, salty and sweet, these prosciutto-wrapped figs with smoked mozzarella are a perfectly balanced appetizer that only takes a few minutes to throw together. They’re a great addition to a holiday spread and make for a classy upgrade to your game-day finger foods. Watch Andrew… Read More →
Mexican Hot Chocolate By Andrew Zimmern The only thing better than a mug of hot cocoa during the holidays is a mug of homemade Mexican hot chocolate. Rich and spicy with hints of vanilla, nutmeg and allspice, it’s comfort in a cup that warms you from the inside out. Throw away that dusty box of… Read More →
Homemade Eggnog By Andrew Zimmern A rich and creamy holiday drink, eggnog is simple to make at home. It’s worth the extra effort—the store-bought version pales in comparison to the real thing. Serve it plain with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or perfume it with a few tablespoons of bourbon for the adults. Watch Andrew make… Read More →
The Food Building The brainchild of Kieran Folliard, the city’s famed serial food entrepreneur who made a name and fortune from Kieran’s Irish Pub and 2 Gingers whiskey, the Food Building brings together two top makers in the Twin Cities, Red Table Meat Co. and Baker’s Field Flour & Bread. An accessible food production hub… Read More →
Chopped Chicken Liver By Andrew Zimmern If you want to cook like a baller Jewish grandmother, this chopped chicken liver is a great place to start. My Bubbe made this to-die-for dish for every holiday meal. It’s been one of my favorite recipes since I was a kid when I would spend hours upon hours… 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 →
Fried Eggs By Andrew Zimmern I like to hard sear my fried eggs in browned butter because I love the wonderful crispy edges. Every cook should master this easy technique—there are so many dishes that benefit from a runny-yolk fried egg topping, like a brisket breakfast hash or my riff on pasta carbonara. Watch Andrew… 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 →
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 →
Hollandaise Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Mastering this classic French mother sauce is a skill every cook should learn—it provides a base for many other sauces and is a versatile technique to have in your back pocket. Making traditional hollandaise can be intimidating, many attempts to emulsify butter and egg yolks have certainly resulted in a… Read More →
My Grandmother’s Meatloaf By Andrew Zimmern This is a hearty meatloaf of beef, pork and veal studded with flavorful vegetables. Just like my grandmother, I like to put one slice of bacon on the bottom of the loaf pan to aromatize the dish, and another on top to baste it while it cooks. If you’re… 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 →
Pho 79 As the cold weather settles in, all I’m craving is a steaming bowl of pho with rich, flavorful beef broth. Lucky for me, the Twin Cities are a pho-lover’s paradise. And in a town chock-full of great Vietnamese restaurants, it’s difficult to name the best, so I won’t go there. What I can… 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 →
Caramel Apple Pie Recipe by Michelle Gayer The only way to improve on a classic apple pie is to layer the filling with decadent homemade caramel sauce. In this special edition of AZ Cooks, I invite Michelle Gayer into the kitchen to teach me a thing or two about making the ultimate caramel apple pie.… 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 →
Sweet & Savory Mixed Nuts By Andrew Zimmern If you like to entertain, you need this easy recipe in your back pocket during the holiday season. Put a bowl of these spiced nuts out for a snack, add them to an appetizer spread, a cheese and charcuterie board or your dessert table. You could even… Read More →
Spaghetti Squash Crumble By Andrew Zimmern If you’re looking for an alternative to mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables, try this spaghetti squash crumble. A gratin of soft roasted squash topped with crunchy seasoned breadcrumbs, it’s the ultimate sweet-and-savory fall side dish or centerpiece for a wonderful vegetarian meal. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
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 →
Mulled Red Wine By Andrew Zimmern Gluhwein, or spiced mulled wine, is a popular warming beverage served at European Christmas markets. A German tradition, the very smell of gluhwein will put you in the holiday spirit, as the cinnamon, clove, ginger and orange fragrance wafts through your kitchen. It’s an easy and festive drink to make… Read More →
Young Joni Young Joni’s presence on my list of must-try restaurants should come as no surprise. What chef Ann Kim and her team have accomplished is exceptional and worthy of all the national attention—which includes recognition from GQ and Eater as one of 2017’s best new restaurants in the country. And while this may be… Read More →
