Food Features

I just got back from a lovely visit to New York, spending Easter with my daughter Anne’s family in their Brooklyn apartment. Admittedly, New York City is a bit of a culture shock to this old Midwesterner. There’s no place to park a car, the grandkids can’t just run outside and ride their bikes, and […]

Growing asparagus is an exercise in delayed gratification. Hungry gardeners must wait two to three years after planting asparagus before harvesting their first crop. Once established, however, a well-maintained asparagus patch will give generously for 30 years or more. It also forms tall attractive foliage during the summer and can serve as a screen or […]

I’ve been on a mushroom binge of late. I just finished watching the 2019 Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend watching it. Now I’m reading Michael Pollan’s 2018 book How To Change Your Mind which delves into the renewed interest in the therapeutic psycho-active properties of certain mushrooms. Because […]

After months of comforting cold weather cuisine, the arrival of fresh spring herbs can add some much needed freshness to mealtime. Even early in the season those lucky enough to have established plantings of herbs in a sheltered spot may already be enjoying some of the most flavorful and nutrient-dense rewards of spring. Chives are […]

My early childhood religious upbringing was predominately guilt-driven, and over the years, many of the things that have given me pleasure – such as butter – have been enshrouded in a veil of guilt. I was born in the 1950s and grew up on margarine. When I went away to college in the 70s and […]

Cupcakes are pure fun. Whether they’re elegant or whimsical, simple or ornate, tender cupcakes topped with decadent frosting are a perfect way to celebrate the arrival of spring. It’s possible to make beautiful creations no matter your experience or skill level and without specialty decorating tools. To begin with, use a reliable recipe and make […]

Restaurants that care about the well-being of their employees make sure that their basic needs are met. At Audrey in Nashville, where I’m employed, work stops every afternoon for a half hour so the team can gather for a communal family meal. The responsibility of preparing family meal rotates through the kitchen staff. Recently it […]

The Illinois Product Expo was held at the State Fairgrounds this past weekend, March 4-5. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the event has been connecting Illinois producers directly with hungry customers for over 20 years. When I arrived at the Orr building around midday on Saturday the parking lot was packed and the […]

I’ve really gotten deep into LSK recently. It’s been helping me unlock potentials that have always been there but I’ve never before noticed. I’m discovering flavors and aromas and colors that I’ve never experienced. It’s really been transformative! I’m not talking about micro-dosing with a new psychedelic drug, but rather an ages-old marinade from Asia. […]

After a long day fighting spies in the service of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, there is apparently nothing more relaxing than ordering a vodka martini dry, shaken not stirred. James Bond’s iconic cocktail recipe has become so ubiquitous that it’s become the standard formula served at most bars and restaurants. Generally it is made with […]

The Japanese have a concept known as Mottainai, which expresses a sense of regret over waste. Mottai comes from a Buddhist word that refers to the interconnectedness of all things, living and non-living, and -nai means negation. Therefore, Mottainai is an expression of sadness over the wasted opportunity of things that have yet to reach […]

Working with chocolate can be tricky, but creating glossy, beautiful treats is possible in your own kitchen as long as you stick to a few key principles. Professional chocolatiers spend years mastering their craft and use expensive specialty equipment to melt and stir their chocolate to the perfect consistency. However, with a little science and […]