Pasta with Mozzarella, Basil & Tomatoes This summertime orecchiette with mozzarella, basil and tomatoes is the easy pasta dish you need right now. I love topping mine with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It’s an easy dinner (vegetarian, too!) you’ll return to all summer long. Reasons I love this easy pasta recipe: It can be served… Read More →
Fried Mozzarella Sandwich By Andrew Zimmern Mozzarella in carrozza, which means carriage in Italian, is the ultimate cheesy sandwich with soft, gooey mozzarella nestled between egg-battered bread that’s fried until golden and crispy. In this recipe, I blend anchovies with herbs, lemon, capers, and butter for a salty, savory spread that helps cut the richness… Read More →
The Perfect Crust Best pizza in L.A., and these days, that’s saying a lot. Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali have created something special. I love any of the pizzas with Armandino Batali’s cured meats on it, but it’s Silverton’s crust that takes the star turn here. Contact 641 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles,… Read More →
The Perfect Crust Best pizza in L.A., and these days, that’s saying a lot. Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali have created something special. I love any of the pizzas with Armandino Batali’s cured meats on it, but it’s Silverton’s crust that takes the star turn here. Contact 641 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles,… Read More →
Craveable Meatball Pull-Apart Sliders By Andrew Zimmern This easy crowd-pleaser has become a favorite in my household, for parties, on game day, as an appetizer or dinner. The combination of pork, veal and chicken makes a beautiful, tender meatball that’s elevated with my flavorful Andrew Zimmern Badia Italian spice blend – with REAL flavors of… Read More →
The Gizmo Sandwich By Andrew Zimmern If you can’t get to the Iowa or Minnesota State Fair to get a real Gizmo, this is for sure the next best thing.
What to Eat at the Minnesota State Fair I like to stick with tradition when it comes to the State Fair, never passing up an opportunity for cheese curds, a foot-long hot dog, an ice cold 1919 root beer and a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies. Fair food doesn’t need to be, and probably shouldn’t… Read More →
My Best Recipes for 4th of July There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday (and my birthday) than relaxing with family, hanging out by the grill and enjoying fresh summer produce. Here are a few of my favorite recipes, from all-American cookout classics like barbecue chicken and baked beans, to picnic perfect salads and a… Read More →
Classic Chicken Parmesan By Andrew Zimmern This chicken parmesan is my love letter to the Italian-American red sauce classic everyone craves. Sure you can gussy it up, but this recipe sticks to the basics—fried chicken topped with an easy homemade tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella melted under the broiler, and a touch of fresh basil.… 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 →
Mexican-Style Grilled Cheese By Andrew Zimmern Often used for quesadillas, Oaxacan string cheese is a mild mozzarella-like cow’s milk cheese that melts beautifully. It’s the perfect choice for this gooey grilled cheese sandwich, paired with leftover pork, onion and fresh tomatillo salsa. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Homemade Pizza, Two Ways Recipe by Peter Campbell Chef Peter Campbell of Red Wagon Pizza explains two methods of baking pizza at home. For a crispier crust, dock the blank dough and bake it without any toppings on a preheated pizza stone. Allow it to cool, then bake it a second time with the sauce, cheese… Read More →
Mushroom, Ricotta & Sausage Calzone Recipe by Peter Campbell 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 recipe for calzones. I love the concept of a mobile pizza, especially when it’s stuffed with my favorite trio—Italian sausage,… 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Black Sheep Pizza One of my favorite pizzerias in the Twin Cities, Black Sheep Pizza brings something different to the table. While I love traditional Neapolitan-style, blistery thin crust pies, Black Sheep’s coal-fired pizza—with its chewy, crisp, sturdy and slightly charred crust—has a nostalgic East Coast vibe that always hits the spot. The menu is… Read More →
My Ultimate Brisket Sandwich By Andrew Zimmern Building the perfect sandwich is all about finding the right balance of flavor and texture. Brisket is a fatty, rich meat, so you need to add enough acidity and sweetness to create the best bite. With homemade pickled jalapenos, a pleasantly piquant Russian dressing, sweet and sour koolickles… Read More →
Gizmo Sandwiches I would rather be at the Minnesota State Fair than anywhere else in the world. Why? The people, the food, the sense of community and tradition. 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… Read More →
Punch Pizza There are plenty of great pizza places in the Twin Cities, but Punch will always have a special place in my heart. Now with eight locations across the metro, their first location, which opened back in 1996 in St. Paul’s Highland Park, is my favorite. Co-founders John Soranno, who grew up in Milan,… Read More →
The Ultimate Roasted Tomato Soup By Andrew Zimmern Nothing hits the spot more on a chilly day than dipping grilled cheese into tomato soup. In this recipe, I take the classic pairing to the next level—adding prosciutto, tomatoes and caramelized onions to the cheesy sandwiches and slow-roasted tomatoes to the soup for an intensified, rich flavor.
Nachos with Queso Fundido By Andrew Zimmern I serve this dish all the time at house parties, for both adults and kids. These super sophisticated nachos are built with several components, all made from scratch and delicious on their own. When served together, they will blow your mind. I wouldn’t ask you to go through… Read More →
Easy, Weeknight Homemade Mac and Cheese By Andrew Zimmern Of the dozens of recipes for this comfort food classic that I have in my recipe file, this one is unique. I start cooking on the stovetop, melting the cheese into a rich, creamy sauce, then finish it in the oven. It’s cheesy and easy, super… Read More →
Back-To-School Recipes It’s September, the kids are in school and it’s time to get back into the routine of family dinners. If you’re looking for inspiration this fall, here are a few mainstays at the Zimmern household. I’ll admit, these are not all 30-minute recipes and some may take planning ahead. But, they’re all fairly… Read More →
We tasted new food at the Minnesota State Fair – here’s our take. By AndrewZimmern.com Staff Tasked with sampling a slew of new foods at the State Fair, we skipped breakfast and headed out early Thursday morning with empty stomachs and open minds. There were pleasant surprises (maple bacon shaved ice!), a few safe bets (anything with… Read More →
Where to Eat at the Minnesota State Fair I love the Minnesota State Fair so much that I try to go all 12 days. Every year there’s a list of new food booths, serving all types of novelty deep-fried on-a-stick creations, but I’m a traditionalist when it comes to state fair chow. What’s the key… 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.
Devour Rome One of the cradles of Western civilization, Rome is a city full of globally influential art, culture and architecture. Over 4 million tourists flock to the Italian capital every year, visiting ancient Roman ruins, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope in Vatican City, and, often times, binging on Italian gelato, pizza… Read More →
Summer Tomato Sorbet By Andrew Zimmern This is the best and most interesting way you’ve never utilized your favorite tomatoes from your market or garden. I make this recipe all summer long with everything from orange sunburst cherry tomatoes to Valencias to German Striped: the bigger the acidity and sweetness of the tomatoes, the better.… Read More →
