Heyday A Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2015, chef Jim Christiansen’s thoughtful food is hyper-seasonal (often foraged) and speaks to his stint at Noma, with dishes such as grilled lamb with winter radish and stewed local oats, and hake with cauliflower, smoked cod roe emulsion and herbs (pictured above). Christiansen skillfully balances flavor, texture,… Read More →
Linguine with Clam Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Linguine with clam sauce is elegant enough to impress, yet incredibly easy to throw together. Resist the urge to fussy up this classic pasta dish. The beauty of this recipe is in the simplicity of the garlicky white wine sauce, which allows the briny, oceanic shellfish to shine.
Spoon and Stable After rising to chef stardom working for Daniel Boulud in NYC, Gavin Kaysen returned home in 2014 to open his first restaurant Spoon and Stable. Located in a beautifully renovated stable in the North Loop, it was the local restaurant opening of the decade. The hometown hero is one of the best… Read More →
San Francisco’s In Situ By Bob & Sue By offering the signature recipes of many of the world’s greatest chefs, Michelin 3-star chef Corey Lee of Benu and his executive chef Brandon Rodgers have made In Situ, located in the renovated Museum of Modern Art, one of the most unique dining experiences in the world. The… Read More →
Great Food Paired with Great Beer The folks behind Surly Brewing Co. are geniuses. Their new-ish destination brewery is an architectural stunner, with a wood and metal adorned taproom, glass-enclosed brewing facility, and a massive patio with fire pits and the occasional live music act. If I drank, I would be there all the time.… Read More →
Shrimp & Blue Grits with Andouille Sausage By Andrew Zimmern Recipes for this classic Southern dish vary greatly—some have sausage or bacon, some are loaded with mushrooms, some have a tomato-based gravy, while others have no gravy at all. Use this recipe as a good base, and feel free to experiment from there. The recipe… Read More →
Authentic Americana Cuisine Tune in for Bizarre Foods: Route 66 on Tuesday, February 21 at 9|8c on Travel Channel. Stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 is the most historic road in the country, an emblem of the American Dream. The fabled highway, also known as “the mother road,” is not just a means… Read More →
A Few Paris Gems By Bob & Sue In addition to our favorite Michelin 3- and 2-star restaurants (L’Astrance, Le Cinq, L’Ambroisie, Pierre Gagnaire, Jean Francoise Piege, and L’Atelier Robuchon), we enjoyed some exciting meals in smaller venues and bistros: Chez Georges This old fashioned bistro delivers classic dishes as well as anyone in… Read More →
Creamy Polenta with Pork Ragù By Andrew Zimmern Nothing says comfort food like a rich, hearty tomato sauce poured over a bowl of creamy polenta. This recipe feeds an army—with leftovers—so be prepared to freeze the extras for easy weeknight meals to come, or simply cut the recipe in half.
Impressive Valentine’s Day Recipes A love of good food is universal, it’s what connects us all… trust me, I’ve spent a lifetime trying to prove this very point. So this Valentine’s Day, skip the dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant and practice the art of seduction from the comforts of your own kitchen. Here are… Read More →
The Best Thing I Ate Last Week One Fifth is a new concept in Houston owned by my pal Chris Shepherd. Housed in a teeny old church that became an adult film studio before facing the wrecking ball, Chris got a stay of execution and is now putting a new restaurant in the space each… Read More →
Highlights from the Southern Barbecue Trail I’ll line up at Aaron Franklin’s a thousand times to eat his brisket, but traveling through Georgia and the Carolinas along the Southern barbecue trail was truly unforgettable. Barbecue has humble beginnings. It’s essentially American, a meal for gatherings that has a diverse range of styles, techniques and influences.… Read More →
Easy Peach Cocktail Light and refreshing, this citrusy peach cocktail gets a kick from spicy ginger beer.
The Best Thing I Ate Last Week Lucky for me, last week’s press junket for the season premiere of Bizarre Foods included lunch at Balthazar in New York City. Did I spring for the Plateau de Mer for one??? Yes, yes I did. This restaurant is one of my favorites in New York, serving French… Read More →
3 New Ways to Spice Up Your Chicken Wings An essential element of game day festivities, chicken wings are practically sacred food in this country. They’re economical, easy to cook and extremely versatile. Here are three of my favorite ways to dress them up. One-Pot Sticky Chicken Wings I first discovered this recipe while in Penang,… Read More →
Celebrate Chinese New Year With These Recipes Chinese cooking has complex, technique-driven elements, which makes it a bit daunting for the average home cook. But, practice makes perfect. Get a great cookbook, and cook a new dish twice a week. Next, make sure you have the right equipment (a good wok, a bamboo steamer) and the… Read More →
Fiery Chipotle Wings By Andrew Zimmern Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce give these crispy fried chicken wings a smoky, spicy kick.
Tangy Grilled Wings By Andrew Zimmern Glazed with a combination of apricot preserves, mustard and sherry vinegar, these grilled chicken wings have an irresistible sweet and tangy flavor.
Where to Find Great Comfort Food in the Windy City By Bob & Sue In addition to three of our favorite fine dining restaurants in Chicago—Grace, Alinea and 16 at the Trump—we enjoyed several first time places for memorable comfort food: Credit: Huge Galdones Momotaro This large Japanese restaurant offers delicious sushi and high-quality small… Read More →
The Great Northern is an annual celebration of Minnesota’s most iconic season—but you already know that. What’s so exciting about this year’s festival is the food component, and none are more tantalizing than the debut of the Winter Table. As part of the 10 day festival of outdoor food, arts, and activity, The Bachelor Farmer and Spoon… Read More →
Vietnamese Shrimp Summer Rolls By Andrew Zimmern Packed with herbs, vegetables and shrimp, nothing beats a fresh Vietnamese-style summer roll. Make them for a healthy snack, fill up on them for dinner, or add the spring rolls to your deep-fried, cheese-laden lineup for a refreshing appetizer on game day. I use a classic combination of… Read More →
My Take on Crab Rangoon By Andrew Zimmern Most people envision deep-fried cream cheese when they hear the term “crab rangoon,” but I believe there are no limitations for this beloved Chinese-American appetizer. In this recipe, I fill wonton wrappers with lots of fresh crab, herbs and Indian-inspired flavors.
Pork Egg Rolls By Andrew Zimmern Studded with tons of flavorful vegetables, herbs and aromatics, I guarantee these are the best egg rolls you’ve ever eaten. Plan ahead, as you want the filling mixture to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.… Read More →
Spicy, Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Available at most grocery stores, bottled Thai chili sauce is a versatile condiment you should keep stocked in your cupboards. I doctor it up with fresh lime juice, fish sauce, sesame seeds, spicy chiles and mint for the easiest and most delicious dipping sauce I can… Read More →
We are the North. Let’s celebrate it. Northerners don’t apologize for winter—they embrace it. The Great Northern, a new collaborative winter experience founded by event leaders in the Twin Cities, has recently announced an exciting lineup of 10 days of outdoor winter dining events. It’s time to celebrate this place we call home (and the weather that comes with it).… Read More →
Sautéed Broccoli with Fish Sauce & Brown Sugar By Andrew Zimmern Think your kids won’t eat green vegetables or fish sauce? Hear me out. Browned butter, fish sauce and brown sugar are the holy trinity of flavor. Adding elements of sweet, salt and fat in healthful amounts will go a long way in getting your kids… Read More →
9 Healthy(ish) Recipes for Winter Here are a few hearty, yet healthy meals to get you excited about that post-holiday detox. Roast Chicken with Ratatouille Family meal nights across America just got easier, and so did entertaining on a budget. Ratatouille paired with roast chicken pieces is a classic combination that even your kids will… Read More →
Sous Vide Duck Breast with Port, Oranges & Juniper Berries By Andrew Zimmern Sous vide cookery is safe, convenient and easy. Cooking inside of a sealed container allows you to lock in flavors, juices and fats, unlike any other technique. It’s a foolproof method of cooking your favorite foods with precise temperature control. It’s also… Read More →
The Best Way to Welcome the New Year New Year’s Day is for taking a deep breath after a few weeks of holiday celebrations, lazing on the couch with the family, and naturally, eating lots of good food. Here are a few easy brunch ideas to start your new year off right (and combat that… Read More →
Foolproof Fondue By Andrew Zimmern Made the traditional way with a mix of Swiss cheeses and white wine, this recipe couldn’t be any easier. I like to serve this dish with plenty of sliced sausage, roasted or blanched cauliflower, cubed crusty bread, and boiled and cooled potatoes.
