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 →
Cheesy Chive Biscuits Recipe by Kate Jennings These are the best biscuits that have ever been baked in the studio kitchen. The key to the irresistible flaky texture is to not overwork the dough. We used a mix of cheddar and swiss here, but you can substitute for any sharp cheese you have on hand.… 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 →
Bizarre Foods: Pony Express Premieres Tuesday July 3, 9/8c on Travel Channel! We filmed in some truly amazing locations for this season of Bizarre Foods. There were moments in each episode where I just had to pinch myself—whether it was driving a real World War II tank in Belgium, trout fishing in Scotland with Angus… Read More →
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 →
Recipes for a Father’s Day Grill Out Being a father is my life’s greatest joy. Parenthood is the best gift of all, and spending time by the grill or in the kitchen teaching my son the ropes is my favorite way to spend Father’s Day. Here are 10 recipes to inspire you to fire up… Read More →
Garlic Herb Croutons By Andrew Zimmern An essential topping for Caesar salad, these garlicky, herb-infused croutons are a great way to use up leftover bread. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
How to Make Pizza It’s Pizza Week in the AZ Cooks kitchen, and we’ve recruited our friend and pizza guru Peter Campbell, chef/owner of Minneapolis’ Red Wagon Pizza Co., to share his tips for creating restaurant-quality pizza at home. Pizza Dough Roasted Tomato Sauce Pizza Sauce with Canned Tomatoes Homemade Pizza, Two Ways… 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Posole By Andrew Zimmern Hominy is the star of posole, a hearty Mexican stew loaded with chiles. While canned hominy is readily available, dried white corn hominy from Rancho Gordo has a superior flavor and toothsome texture that I love. I’ve long sung the praises of Rancho Gordo’s top quality products, and this heirloom prepared… 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 →
#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 →
How to Prepare a Geoduck We go behind the scenes at last year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival to show you how to prepare the most delicious clam in the world. I often say eating geoduck is like kissing a mermaid. Try it and I guarantee you’ll agree. The giant clam can be daunting… 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 →
Bull’s Horn Food & Drink Minneapolis has no shortage of throwback dive bars that embrace a no-frills come-as-you-are vibe, with self-service popcorn machines and cheap drinks. Even with a faint hint of stale cigarette smoke lingering, the nostalgia keeps the bar stools filled. The problem is, most of them don’t—or can’t—serve food beyond a frozen… Read More →
Bizarre Foods Season Premiere January 23 9|8c on Travel Channel From the North Woods of the fabled Paul Bunyan to the Mexico City of the Aztecs, this is one of the most exciting seasons of Bizarre Foods we’ve ever made. I’m revealing the food and stories behind notable characters, cultures and mythology, both here in the… Read More →
Martina Located in Linden Hills in the old Upton 43 space—which got stripped of its sterile Scandinavian decor for a more inviting dining room modeled after traditional estancias, or Argentinian ranches—Martina may be new, but its seafood-centric menu has earned its place among the city’s great restaurants. It’s the first solo endeavor of chef Daniel… Read More →
CONTEST COMPLETE AZ Cooks Your Grandma’s Best Recipes Contest Share a favorite, original recipe from your Grandma’s collection for a chance to win a great prize pack, a shout-out from Andrew Zimmern, and have your recipe prepared on AZ Cooks. Scroll down to enter! My grandmother only cooked a few dozen dishes on a regular… 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 →
Grilled Pineapple Salsa By Andrew Zimmern This chipotle-infused pineapple salsa pairs beautifully with grilled or fried fish. Grilling the pineapple brings out its natural sweetness while adding a rich, smoky flavor and caramelized texture. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Pajarito Just over a year old, Pajarito’s contemporary Mexican cuisine is still satisfying a packed house every night. Located on St. Paul’s West 7th St. in the historic Glockenspiel building, it’s proven to be the right combination of quality ingredients, superb flavors, affordable plates, great service and a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. I love a cheap… 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 →
