Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, and Travel
The idea for this spicy sesame cucumber salad came to me when I was trying to figure out what I could make as a quick veggie side when all I had was a cucumber and some seasonings. I thought about deli style cucumber salads, which are often a little spicy and have that great vinegary... Continue Reading →
Okra stew (or bamia) is a household dish for most Egyptians. The preparations vary depending on who is making it and what is on hand, but the general idea is often similar. In this case, the okra stands out as the highlight accentuated by seasoning and made heartier with meat. The dish can easily accommodate... Continue Reading →
Ful Medames (ful mudamas or just ful or foule) is considered by some as the unofficial National dish of Egypt (second only to Koshari). There are many preparation styles in Egypt, let alone across Middle Eastern countries. Among them, the simplest method involves some olive oil, cumin, salt, and maybe a little lime with the... Continue Reading →
Meatloaf is one of those dishes most Americans grew up eating at some point or another whether at home, school lunches, or the occasional restaurant. Like any dish that's so widespread, meatloaf comes in a variety of shapes, textures, flavors, and even cooking methods. It's easily a comfort food in my book. Not all meatloaves are... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I don't have a lot of time to cook and I need dinner ready by - well - dinner time. Slow cookers are perfect for easy meals that pack a lot of flavor. One of my favorite foods to make in the slow cooker is braised short ribs. When made in the slow cooker,... Continue Reading →
I've always enjoyed a good spinach and artichoke dip. I say, "good," because sometimes it can fall short whether it's too watery or too bland. With that said, I rarely order it at restaurants. I even have friends that will write off a restaurant that offers spinach and artichoke dip on the menu as they... Continue Reading →
From the kitchen of Chef Benjamin Sukle, the two-time James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Northeast and the people of the nationally renowned Birch came Oberlin Restaurant. The idea behind the second restaurant opening in 2016 centered on making even more versatile use of local ingredients provided by local purveyors in a casual setting.... Continue Reading →
It doesn't get much easier than this lentil soup recipe. I learned this recipe from my mother who made it especially during lent, but also any time we had a craving for lentil soup. One of her favorite idioms is that less or simple is often more when it comes to cooking. That's especially true... Continue Reading →
At first glance Chengdu Taste might seem like just another Chinese-American restaurant. The big difference is that Chengdu Taste features authentic Szechuan cuisine in addition to Chinese-American favorites. Many of the menu items showcase familiar Chinese-American fare like crab rangoons and General Tso's chicken. However, the restaurant really shines when serving its authentic Szechuan cuisine.... Continue Reading →
