Classic New Orleans Cocktail with a Twist There’s plenty of folklore about this legendary cocktail, invented in New Orleans in the 19th century by Antoine Amédée Peychaud. And while the sazerac may not have actually been the first cocktail ever created, there’s a reason its popularity has stood the test of time. Originally made of bitters and… Read More →
BBQ Shrimp By Andrew Zimmern This recipe is adapted from a dear friend, Jamie Shannon, who passed away nearly 15 years ago. Jamie was the chef at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans and one of the world’s great tastemakers. Spicy, lemony, garlicky and rich, this barbecue shrimp is a real treat. Be sure to use… Read More →
Last week I was asked to share some ideas about why Presidential Candidates aren’t talking about FOOD. After all what we eat, how we grow and raise it, how we distribute it and what we do with the leftovers influences our environment, public health, national security, class issues, social justice issues like hunger, education, and… Read More →
Black Bean Clams with Green Onions By Andrew Zimmern As with most wok dishes, mise en place is everything. Once you prep all of your ingredients for this recipe, it comes together very quickly. The black bean sauce here is one of my favorites, it works well with most vegetables and proteins. You can find the… Read More →
If Queens, NY was its own city it could lay claim to being the greatest food city on Earth. As it stands now, it’s the largest of New York City’s five boroughs, has a population of almost 2.5 million residents, half of whom are foreign-born. Queens County itself is one of the top five most… Read More →
Bangkok is one of the most beautifully complex cities in the world. Its ability to teach a traveler the lessons of life make it one of my favorite destinations. I’ve been about 20 times and just when I think I’ve figured it out, I realize I don’t know a thing about it. The song says,… Read More →
An Andrew Zimmern-Style Snackadium This year we decided to ride the Super Bowl snackadium trend wave and make the ultimate food-filled novelty snack station. And, of course, we had to attempt one that looked like the new U.S. Bank Vikings stadium. The focal point of this snackadium is my Canteen Dog—a Piedmontese beef dog topped… Read More →
“syn•er•gy: two forces working together to create something greater than itself.” Spoon and Stable just announced its upcoming Synergy Series for 2016. In this really exciting, chef driven dinner series, Gavin and his team will host four New York, Michelin-starred chefs: Michael White, Michael Anthony, April Bloomfield, and of course, his mentor Daniel Boulud. To have… Read More →
Super Bowl Sandwiches From crispy beer-battered fried chicken and oozing mozzarella to Vietnamese-style porchetta and irresistible pulled pork, here are 9 sandwiches meant for a Super Bowl feast.
Traditional Shrimp Tempura By Andrew Zimmern When making tempura, the texture is as important as the flavor. Getting it right starts with the batter, a simple mixture of water, egg and flour. The methodology of stirring is vital; the combination of under-mixing and using cold water leaves lumps in the batter. That way the batter will actually… Read More →
Sweet & Smoky Salsa By Andrew Zimmern Tamarind puree gives this classic chipotle chile and tomato salsa a hint of sweetness.
The Purposeful Traveler A prolific travel writer and expert on Central America, Joshua Berman began his writing career after a stint in the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Nicaragua. He now writes a monthly column for The Denver Post, has published travel articles in the New York Times, Delta SKY, Sunset and National Geographic Traveler, acted as my guide… Read More →
Portuguese-Style Braised Striped Bass By Andrew Zimmern A firm white fish, striped bass holds up well in this rich, flavorful tomato-based sauce chock full of andouille and fragrant herbs. Be sure to serve with plenty of crusty bread for dipping.
Kale, Leek & Ricotta Bread Pudding By Claire Ptak This savory bread pudding was inspired by one of my favorite pasta sauces. Recipe excerpted from The Violet Bakery Cookbook by Claire Ptak.
Buttermilk Banana Bread By Claire Ptak For the first five years of Violet, I resisted adding banana bread to the menu. It always seemed to me like something you only made at home, with old bananas. I am not a huge fan of banana and, indeed, was never a huge fan of cake made from them.… Read More →
Devour Johannesburg A lively and diverse city, Johannesburg—known by locals as Jozi, Jo’Burg or Joeys—is the largest city in South Africa. With a history chock full of crime and decay, the city’s future is heading in a different direction. An influx of creative energy has tourists eager to visit and the city is coming back… Read More →
Nan-e Barbari By The Hot Bread Kitchen One of our most dramatic-looking breads is nan-e barbari, a 14-inch/35cm oblong. A defining characteristic of the barbari, apart from its shape, is that its surface is spread with roomal, a flour and water paste, before baking, which puts a layer of moisture directly on the bread. This… Read More →
While filming in Nashville for the Music City Food + Wine Festival last September, I had the opportunity to hang out with the sensational Rachele Lynae. Rachele is one of the hottest young crossover country talents I’ve heard in years. She’s got a musical growl that could scare a grizzly bear and she’s as down… Read More →
Traditional Beef Stroganoff with Fingerlings By Andrew Zimmern Many Americans associate beef stroganoff with a gloppy school cafeteria lunch or a Betty Crocker slow cooker meal. But this recipe, made with beef tenderloin and flavorful mushrooms, will blow you away. It follows the flavor profile of a traditional Russian stroganoff, a creamy sauce rich with… Read More →
While filming in Bangkok this past fall, I had the distinct pleasure of hanging with Mark Wiens, a prolific video blogger in Southeast Asia who also happens to be a Bizarre Foods mega-fan. Together we visited the Dusit area of Bangkok and dined at Soei, an amazing off-the-radar restaurant that should be on everyone’s must-visit list. P’soei Kurtcharoen… Read More →
Where to Eat in Iceland’s Capitol By Devan Grimsrud Reykjavík is many things. It’s a port city, the capital and largest city in Iceland, and the northernmost capital in the world with a latitude of 64°08′ N (I would know as my only memento from the touristy gift shop was a magnet stating this very… Read More →
What’s in a name? We compiled a list of some of the most bizarrely named places on the planet. I mean there really is a Fucking, Austria just two miles east of the German border. Actually pronounced to rhyme with “booking,” the tiny town of Fucking is most famous for its traffic signs. British and American soldiers who… Read More →
Wok Cooking Essentials Wok cooking is intimidating, but it’s the most versatile and handy tool in your kitchen. It can braise, fry, sauté, and even make a handy smoker (I use one of my woks fitted with a small inset grate to tea smoke duck and squab all the time). Because of its unique shape,… Read More →
Easy Party Dip By Andrew Zimmern Elevate the typical artichoke dip with a healthy dose of crab. You’ll thank me for it.
Appetizers for a New Year’s Eve Bash Skip the pricey pre-fixe menus and over-crowded bars, and host your own New Year’s Eve soiree. There’s no better way to ring in the new year than a spread of finger foods and a house full of friends and family. Here are a few of my favorite hor d’oeuvres, from… Read More →
Eating Words: A Norton Anthology of Food Writing Edited by literary critic Sandra Gilbert and professor and award-winning restaurant critic Roger Porter, Eating Words is a vast volume of exquisite food writing, from Biblical times through modern day. It’s a historically and conceptually diverse anthology, that goes beyond mere consumption and explores food’s relation to politics,… Read More →
Delicious French Comfort Food By Bob & Sue Picking the one greatest comfort food restaurant in the world would be challenging. But in France, naming the best Michelin 3 star comfort food restaurant might quickly focus on George Blanc, east of Macon. This is because of its two great signature dishes known for the simplicity… Read More →
Mulled Red Wine Gluhwein, or a spiced red wine, is a popular warm beverage at European Christmas markets. A German tradition, the very smell of gluhwein will put you in the holiday spirit, as the cinnamon, clove and orange fragrance wafts through your kitchen. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a big crowd.
The Ultimate Chocolate Dessert By Andrew Zimmern This is the chocolate cake recipe you need in your back pocket: dense, moist, rich and coated in a decadent chocolate ganache. Feel free to decorate the top however you’d like—raspberries, strawberries, chocolate shavings, truffles—or leave it plain. To make easy truffles, put the leftover ganache in the… Read More →
Ham & Apple Breakfast Hash By Andrew Zimmern This easy yet satisfying breakfast hash is the perfect use for leftover ham after a big holiday feast. It hits all the right notes; salty bacon and ham mixed with sweet apples, and a little spice from the cayenne.
