Flavor explosion

Preparing grilled asparagus and chocolate-covered strawberries

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise, but somehow it always does. The first seasonal local produce arrives, and the intensity of its flavor shows us just what pale substitutes weR

Cheapskate steak

Why must we turn to the same cuts of cow every time?

As summer makes its debut, cowboy wannabes across America are pulling out their grills, great and small, for a season of smoke, fire, and, alas, the same old underwhelming steaks. Wh

Cheap riches

A bowl of beans and rice is hearty, healthy — and cheap

It was the summer of 1988, and it was stinking hot in Philadelphia. My pal El and I were brand-spanking-new college graduates and had no idea what we wanted to be when we grew up. Although w

Snobbish about food

Too many people have no idea what real food tastes like

My kids tell me I’m a food snob, and it’s an accusation to which I cheerfully plead guilty. But my snobbishness isn’t about exotic ingredients or fancy preparations —

Time to pick and eat apples

Varieties for every taste available at area orchards

We marked the first day of autumn just last week, but plenty of signs of the new season have been appearing — not the least of which the fact that the local Starbucks is featuring pump

Yes, it's the same ol' D'Arcy's

New location, but it's still packed and the food's delicious

My friend Joyce, who now lives in Dallas, recently requested two food items during a visit to her hometown of Springfield: a Vose’s corn dog and a D’Arcy’s

New treats

Thai coffee, chocolate-covered berries, and fried cheesecake are among new state fair fare

Guess what they’ve fried this year!

Cheesecake debuts in the deep fryer

It’s a wiener world

Three best bets for hot dogs in the capital city

Hot dogs may just be the easiest, most accessible food around. Think about it: They’re one of a few foods sold and eaten just about everywhere, from discount and hardware stores to

appetite