A few years ago I visited Prague, Vienna and Bratislava around this time of year – just before Christmas. There’s certainly a downfall to this particular season in Central Europe – it’s fricking freezing – but there’s also a huge upside: the traditional Christmas Markets. As one approaches the town square – a typical location, […]
Smoking stuff is awesome; We’ve already established that. If chocolate can be smoked, why not olive oil? But olive oil is ruined by heat. Even “cold smoking” cheese can get up to 90 degrees, a temperature that can will ruin a good bottle of EVOO. So what’s a guy to do? If that guy is […]
As great as it is to taste delicious artisinal chocolate, or a pure, well-made extra virgin olive oil, those types of items rarely break, well, new ground. There’s something truly exciting then, as a virtual explorer of the food world, when one finds a product that is actually unique. That offers something I haven’t tasted […]
In the Philly area, chef Chip Roman is known mostly for his savory exploits, notably pulling off a #1 ranking on the Philly Mag “Top 50 restaurants” list with the underdog BYOB Blackfish in 2011, scoring one of Food & Wine’s “Top 10 Dishes” at Mica, which was also named one of the “10 Best […]
Olives are widely considered to be a warm-weather fruit. Mediterranean breezes, Côte d’Azur, etc. Although it should be noted that EVOO is produced in every Italian region, even the cooler ones. In the US, only California is known for its olive oil production. Similar to wine, 50 years ago. Slowly, however, the production is starting […]
For those of us with European heritage – especially Southern European – there’s an enduring fantasy: traveling back to the old country, discovering some family plot, getting back in touch with the land. Making wine. Or cheese. Or oil. Finding yourself, while shedding the shackles of modern life. It’s fun to think about. For a […]
I only spent a short time in Belgium, just passing through on a whirlwind post-college European Vacation, many years ago now, yet I do have one endruring memory: the waffles. As an American kid, of course I was always exposed to the idea of “Belgian” waffles, really American waffles made with an iron of deeper […]
Though I spend a fair amount of time in the Charleston, SC area, I have yet to make the trip to Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, a semi-famous local eatery known for its whimsical hot dog creations. In researching this piece, I even discovered they were featured on Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” (selected by […]
Essentially street market fare that’s been available in hundreds of different varieties in Egypt for years, Dukkah, or Duqqa, has gained a cult following in the US more recently. Traditionally mixed with oil and used as a dip for bread for vegetables, it is now also leveraged as a crust for meat, a seasoning for […]
Smoke is hot. Not literally. (Well, sometimes literally, but that’s not what I mean.) Currently, a trend is emerging on the outskirts of the food community, with artisans and small producers, but, mark my words, it won’t be long before it seems like every mainstream, mass-produced product is available in smoked flavor. Just wait. I’m […]