My first impression of Strasbourg was one of ease, accessibility, and relaxation. Strasbourg, after the sprawl and bustle of Paris, was a welcome relief. I was staying with a friend who has an apartment in the central neighborhood of Petite France, so I was close to everything. From one side of the surrounding canal to […]
I’d eaten tarte flambée years ago, at a restaurant in downtown San Francisco that no longer exists (though I believe that space now houses Kokkari). It really made an impression on me, because it was unlike anything I’d ever had before. A thin crispy crust smeared with something creamy, covered with bacon and onions, and […]
My friends in Paris had warned me that true French éclairs* were very different from the ones I make, which contain a vanilla bean pastry cream lightened with whipped cream, and are dipped in bittersweet chocolate ganache. The classic éclair does double duty with its flavor profile: a chocolate éclair has chocolate pastry cream, a […]
I don’t typically make resolutions, but given the spirit of the New Year surrounding us all, I thought that setting a few cooking goals for 2015 would be in order. Several of these have been on my mind for years, and I’m hoping that committing them to writing, and sharing them here, might inspire me […]
I seem to have failed at my blogging goals for December, but I did manage to bake a round or two of Christmas cookies this year. I have a standard cookie that the holiday would not be complete without, though we’ve never settled on a name for them. My husband alone can eat half a […]
My first trip to K’s Hamburger Shop was a momentous one imbued with confusion. In fairness, it doesn’t take much to stir things up at K’s because things are as they have always been and will forever be. A quick glance at the menu speaks volumes: fruit or vegetable jello ($1.25); biscuit and gravy […]
There are as many opinions in the world about hamburgers as there are people who eat them. No doubt you’ll disagree with my own favorite, but that is as it should be. We are each as unique as the burgers we eat. My father’s secret recipe involves horseradish and red wine. My friend Gideon’s burgers […]
When I was quite small, maybe 6 or 7 years old, one of my favorite things was getting a good whiff of the jar of fresh nutmeg my Mom kept on the counter. It didn’t get used all that often, so this was a treat: a heady, spicy, citrusy scent that I absolutely loved. (Nutmeg […]
Yesterday I opened a can of navy beans and was greeted by a strong, cheesy smell. This followed the spray of carbonation that zinged out when I began opening the can—a sure warning sign. But the smell! It was unmistakeably wrong. When I looked at the beans, their liquid was creamy white, not clear. I […]
There are few things more satisfying than a bowl of long-simmered beans, drizzled with a little olive oil and grated parmigiano-reggiano, and served with a few slices of crusty bread for dipping. On a cold night this will take away a deep chill; and for a drained and despondent soul, this will soothe and nourish. […]
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