Asparagus Snuggled In Bacon

Posted on by Leave a comment
Bacon always makes everything better -- including asparagus.
Bacon always makes everything better — including asparagus.

Pick a card, any card.

Then, fire up the grill.

“The BBQ Companion” collection of 50 recipe cards (Smith Street) is sure to spark fun with backyard grilling this summer.

Think of them like flash cards — only each one contains a different grilling recipe along with a color photo of the finished dish.

The recipe cards, of which I received a review copy, were created by Sydney-based food writer Oscar Smith.

The collection includes 50 different grilling recipes to enjoy.
The collection includes 50 different grilling recipes to enjoy.

The recipes include everything from “Firey Lemongrass Chicken Wings,” “Grilled Lamb Loin with Anchovy & Garlic Butter,” and “Fish Tacos with Chipotle Sauce” to “Haloumi Burgers with Peperonata” and “Rum-Spiked Barbecued Banana Boats.”

In keeping with spring’s bounty, I drew the recipe card for “Asparagus-Wrapped in Bacon.”

Read more

The Oven Does All the Work For Slow-Cooked Beef Ribs in Korean BBQ Sauce

Posted on by 2 comments
English-cut beef ribs go Korean-style in this easy recipe in which your oven does all the work.
English-cut beef ribs go Korean-style in this easy recipe in which your oven does all the work.

Consider this devilishly good dish the savory equivalent of a “dump cake.”

Instead of a boxed cake mix dumped over canned fruit in a pan, “Slow-Cooked Beef Ribs in Korean BBQ Sauce” is basically beefy ribs plopped into a pan with a robust mix of minced garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and Korean fermented pepper paste known as gochujang.

There’s no need to sear the beef ribs beforehand, either. Just lay them in the sauce in the pan, slide into the oven, and practically forget about it for the next 6 hours.

The beef will emerge so tender that it falls off the bone, and the meat juices will have melded into the sauce, making it even more delectable.

This super simple recipe is from “RecipeTin Eats Dinner” (Countryman Press, 2022), of which I received a review copy.

Read more

Dining At One Fish

Posted on by Leave a comment
Reel in the warm cornbread with cultured cream and smoked trout roe at One Fish.
Reel in the warm cornbread with cultured cream and smoked trout roe at One Fish.

Last week, I went fishing — and got One Fish.

Plus a superlative meal.

One Fish Raw Bar opened in 2021 in downtown Campbell next-door to Manresa Bread, and what a find it is. Chef-Owner Trent Lidgey opened his small, fine-dining raw bar after stints as sous chef at San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn, chef de cuisine at The Lexington House in Los Gatos, and most notably, sous chef at Uni Restaurant, a modern izakaya in Boston where he oversaw the sashimi program.

In downtown Campbell.
In downtown Campbell.

The vibe is relaxed and the food meant to be shared tapas-style. There’s a small patio in front with outdoor dining available, as well as seating inside at tables and high-counter seats. There are also seats right at the chef’s counter, reserved for guests partaking of the $185-per-person 11-course sashimi tasting menu. A final option is the 5-course family-style meal ($95-per-person for the standard; $135-per-person for the premium).

Read more

When You Visit Maui And Tote Home Exquisite Vanilla Beans, You Must Make This…

Posted on by 2 comments
A rich cake fragrant with three vanilla beans and vanilla extract.
A rich cake fragrant with three vanilla beans and vanilla extract.

For the longest time, I have wondered what happened to the glorious Maui Gold pineapples that I used to snag so easily at Bay Area Costcos and local grocery stores.

A recent trip to Maui turned up an explanation for why they are MIA here — along with an unexpected gift of wonderfully aromatic Maui-grown vanilla beans.

It all started one morning just after I finished breakfast at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Guests like myself staying in the newly revamped Hokupa’a Tower rooms enjoy breakfast bites on the lanai included in their reservations. To make the lanai more festive, the resort often has featured performers, chef demos or other entertainment.

Maui-grown vanilla beans.
Maui-grown vanilla beans.

That morning, I spied Michael Schenk at a counter, cutting up samples of Maui Gold pineapples to give out to guests. Or rather, my nose first caught wind of the unmistakable sweet, tangy, tropical scent of the fruit and I followed it to its source.

Read more

Cute Little Creamy Jammy Coffee Cakes

Posted on by Leave a comment
There are layers upon layers of goodness to enjoy in these little coffee cakes.
There are layers upon layers of goodness to enjoy in these little coffee cakes.

Moms are so accustomed to sharing everything — their food, favorite sweater, the family car, and most of all, their time.

So, this Mother’s Day, gift her something that she can call her very own, something she can indulge in selfishly, thoroughly, and completely.

I’m talking “Creamy Jammy Coffee Cakes.”

Bigger than a standard muffin but clearly smaller than a full-on cake that requires slicing, these individual coffee cakes are the perfect size to feel pampered with.

The recipe is from “100 Morning Treats” (Chronicle Books), of which I received a review copy. It’s by Sarah Kieffer, the Minneapolis creator of the award-winning The Vanilla Bean Blog, and the baker who popularized the famed pan-banging, cookie-baking technique.

This fun book is filled with all manner of homey treats to enjoy for breakfast, brunch, and beyond. You’ll fall for everything from “White Chocolate and Fig Pound Cake,” “Giant Carrot Cake Cinnamon Roll,” and “Brioche Bagels” to “Sheet Pan Danish” and “Cheesy Croissant Casserole.”

Read more
« Older Entries Recent Entries »