Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon Surrounded by a super sized state best known for its uniquely Texan way of doing things, Austin is an oasis of freethinkers and creatives with a vibrant music, film, technology and food scene. Austinites have a taste for experimentation that borders on the delirious and it’s reflected in their food—from traditional barbecue… Read More →
Bizarre Foods Season Premiere Tuesday July 25, 9|8c on Travel Channel On the season premiere of Bizarre Foods, I’m headed to Texas to explore American cowboy life, past and present. The cowboy is the last great American icon, a romantic, rugged symbol of our frontier past. Camping along the Chisholm trail—the storied bovine highway that… Read More →
In May, we decided to take a short hiatus from the Go Fork Yourself Podcast. Our dear producer, Beth K. Gibbs, left the nest to follow her passion. We’re excited for her, but she leaves big shoes to fill. Andrew, always an optimist, said we’d be back up and running by the end of June.… Read More →
Where to Eat & Drink in Portland Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley are the chef-owner duo behind Portland’s Eventide Oyster Co., Hugo’s and the brand new, noodle-focused The Honey Paw. A modern take on the classic American oyster bar, I love Eventide for their amazing raw selection, inventive Asian-influenced lobster rolls served in steamed buns… Read More →
Modern Take on the Classic Oyster Bar This is an amazing raw bar that serves a couple dozen varieties of fresh oysters and shellfish with innovative accoutrements like pickled ginger or kimchi ice. Dishes like the house-cured herring with beet ice amiably remind you that the kitchen is jamming on all cylinders and knows what it’s doing.… Read More →
Paradise Off the Coast of Panama Just 12 miles off the coast of Panama City, Isla Taboga is a tranquil tropical respite from the bustle of the rapidly growing metropolis. Hop on the ferry from Amador Causeway, take the less-than-an-hour scenic trip through the Bay of Panama to the small one-road island littered with beach shacks and leisure-seeking… Read More →
Don’t Forget the Oil Spray oil is really handy for both cleaning your grill and for applying a thin coat of oil to the grill grates before you put a piece of fish or chicken down. I use PAM Cooking Spray or canola oil all of the time when I’m grilling. I usually give a… Read More →
The Votes Are In! Hosted by yours truly and an expert panel of 43 in-the-know culinary experts, the 2015 Munchies: People’s Choice Food Awards recognize the best-of-the-best in the food biz. After more than five weeks of competition and hundreds of thousands of votes, Tablespoon.com reveals the 2015 winners in 20 different categories, from terrific tastemakers to top food… Read More →
Pig in the Stable The Cochon 555 weekend takeover kicked off with a Chef’s Course Dinner at Spoon and Stable last Friday—a seated five-course meal prepared by host chef Gavin Kaysen, Steven Brown, Erik Anderson, Doug Flicker, Diane Yang and yours truly. An amazing group of local chefs that have made this city’s food scene what… Read More →
A Few Important Issues Support Local Food The 70/30 law is a twenty-year-old sales ratio that’s no longer compatible with today’s dining culture. It’s antiquated legislation that needs to be removed for small businesses to be able to thrive and grow. Here’s the gist: In 1983, Minneapolis passed a law that required restaurants and bars… Read More →
NCSL 2014 Legislative Summit I’m committed to combating hunger in America and believe that solving hunger requires a social change movement, just like anti-smoking and seatbelt campaigns. At this year’s Legislative Summit in Minneapolis, state legislators came together to discuss and craft local solutions to hunger challenges. Thanks to everyone who organized the event and… Read More →
A Guide to Choosing the Right Knives My Go Fork Yourself co-host Molly Mogren is currently in the market for some new knives. And since I am a knife freak, she asked me which three knives are must-haves in every kitchen. In typical fashion, I couldn’t keep it to just three… but I tried my… Read More →
Four Burger Chains That Get it Right I love easy meals on a hot summer day. Between road trips, days on the water, shuttling the kids between summer camps and sports, stopping for a quick burger is the most practical and the MOST APPEALING option. Just because you’re eating quick-service grub doesn’t mean you have… Read More →
Up Your Burger Game The hamburger is a cultural constant in this country, the most iconic of American foods that defines us in many ways. It’s proletariat, it’s a kids meal, it’s high-end luxury food. And it’s one of my favorite things to eat. Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to perfect… Read More →
NFL Perks & Challenging the 70/30 Rule By Andrew Zimmern Local scribes and pundits have gone all “WHAT?!?!?!?” on their social streams expressing outrage that the NFL requested a massive perk list before awarding the 2018 Super Bowl to Minneapolis. All for free. That’s like crying fire after you passed around the gasoline and matches, for… Read More →
Giving Back Earlier this week, I visited St. Paul’s Payne Avenue Salvation Army to serve roasted chicken and mashed potatoes with head chef Jeff Ansorge and chat with the kids in the after-school program. The Salvation Army provides everything from basic needs and housing to rehabilitation and counseling to those in need. I was humbled… Read More →
