Food & Drink

Zabaglione (za-ba-lee-ohn) is a seemingly magical dessert that originated in Italy in the 15th century. Egg yolks are whipped with wine and sugar to create what is essentially a boozy custard sauce. Originally made with Marsala, the French quickly adopted their own version of the recipe using Sauternes, a lusciously sweet white wine from Bordeaux. […]

Of all the plants in my vegetable garden, I have a special fondness for Swiss chard. Unlike asparagus, which makes an early spring appearance and then quietly goes to seed, or Brussels sprouts, whose tasty orbs do not come to maturity until the fall, Swiss chard graces my garden from late spring through the long, […]

We all have nostalgic taste memories from our childhoods. It might be for things like our Mom’s brownies or our grandmother’s lemon meringue pie. Any discussion we might have about the best way to make a particular dish will ultimately be evaluated and compared against what you grew up with. If I were to tell […]

There are two gnarled old cherry trees on the south corner of our old family farmstead. I’m astonished every spring when they burst into bloom and that they’ve managed to survive another year without pruning, spraying or intervention of any kind. The crop of sour cherries is usually ready to harvest in mid-June, but the […]

I am very passionate about both food and music and few things bring me more pleasure than dining al fresco at a musical performance. Al fresco in Italian translates to “in the cool,” and has come to refer to dining in the fresh air. The combination of delicious food, live music and a beautiful outdoor […]

“Have you got your garden in yet?” It’s a question I’m often asked in springtime and I’m never quite sure how to respond because there’s never really a point when my garden is “in” or “out.” The first plantings actually happen in autumn of the previous season, after tender annuals like tomatoes and squash have […]

I’ve been hearing that Panama is one of the best places in the world for Americans to retire. It’s a tropical destination with incredibly beautiful scenery and is less than a three-hour flight from Miami. Panama is warm and humid at sea level and cool in the mountains. It lies southwest of the hurricane belt, […]

Whether you’re worn out from yard work or looking for a breezy meal to welcome in the warm weather, these dinner-worthy dips are as nutritious as they are tasty. They all keep well in the fridge for three to five days, making them perfect for meal prep. They’re economical as well. Homemade hummus costs half […]

NPR’s Morning Edition recently reported on a study published in The British Medical Journal that concluded that eating ultra-processed foods harms our health. The study, which was based on data compiled from more than 9 million people, found “consistent evidence” that people who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods have an increased risk of anxiety, […]

I was recently asked to participate in a blind tasting of freshly bottled 2023 rosés. The wines ranged in hue from pale cherry to deep pink, and many were bursting with classic rosé aromas of juicy berries and watermelon, delicate florals and complex spicy notes. My notepad was dotted with hastily scribbled stars and exclamatory […]

Good cornbread is humble and simple. Great cornbread is aromatic, toothsome and flavorful. Cornbread is best when baked in a ripping hot cast-iron skillet and served warm while the aromas are at their fullest. Really good cornbread comes from really good cornmeal. Really good cornmeal is made from corn that has been grown organically, still […]