As soon as the weather cools, I rush to make risotto. I know there are summery versions, but to me it is a fall/winter dish, as my favorite risotto includes the rich flavors of pancetta and porcini mushrooms (and sometimes truffle oil). The one on the left also includes a scattering of other varieties of … Continue reading
Posted in September 2008 …
“Giada’s Kitchen” comes to Barnes & Noble
Time for fans of Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis to line up! The popular TV chef and author of Italian cookbooks visits Princeton’s Barnes & Noble (in the Marketfair mall) on October 2 at 5:00pm, to sign copies of her latest book, Giada’s Kitchen. I’ve been browsing through the book, and appreciate the updated take … Continue reading
Smokin’ Scallops
Just look at these beauties! Cooked them myself, and they were spectacular if I do say so. First, purchase the biggest freshest scallops you can find; I get mine at Whole Foods, or Shore Catch on the alternate Saturdays they’re at the West Windsor Farmers Market. New Jersey scallops are best! At home, I mixed … Continue reading
Chocolicious!
Take a good look at this photo. I know, it’s not easy to orient yourself to what’s going on there, because, silly me, I dove in with my spoon before remembering to take a picture! But that’s how good it looked; I could not restrain myself. But I quicky regained my blog consciousness and staved … Continue reading
NJ SPICE Grocery Index II
Here is a second installment of the NJ SPICE Grocery Index. This time I compared pricing on two common pantry staples, Dijon mustard and soy milk. Not surprisingly, since it is such a high volume item in their stores, Whole Foods offers good pricing on the latter, especially if you buy their store brand. But Stop … Continue reading
Dark Days Call For Dark Chocolate
Financial news got you down as low as the stock market? Dark days call for dark chocolate in my household! My current “arsenal” is pictured here. I always have a few bars stashed away, and I have to say a couple of squares of the good stuff really does seem to release some pleasurable endorphins. But be … Continue reading
Finally!
After years of anticipation and hard, hard work, Carlo and Raoul Momo’s beautiful new restaurant, Eno Terra opens this weekend in Kingston. I swung by for some opening festivities tonight, and caught this shot into their refrigerated case where their salumi (Italian for “cured meats”) are stored. Get a load of that big white slab … Continue reading
Life is Short, Recipes are Long
Sometimes I love spending time in the kitchen assembling the ingredients for an Indian meal. And other times – not so much. The list of spices for many dishes is extensive, so I tend to take shortcuts on a weeknight or other busy times. My biggest and favorite shortcut is a complete cop-out: Maya Kaimal … Continue reading
Blue Fish Grill
I can’t even remember how I heard about this place, but it was well worth the drive over to Flemington to check out Blue Fish Grill. It made for a lovely Sunday excursion (with shopping at Turntable Junction, too), and the lunch a friend and I enjoyed was a winner. … Continue reading
A Blog is Born
Ta Dum! I’d like to introduce you to a new blog from a local culinarian (is that a word?) I know from Dorothea’s House in Princeton, Linda Prospero. I always knew Linda appreciated good food (it’s the Italian heritage, natch), and could cook and write, but did not realize what a wonderful photographer she is … Continue reading
NJ SPICE 