“For the last two weeks, we have had a continual round of strawberry parties….. This last week we gave a strawberry company of about seventy.” – From a letter written on June 26, 1859, by Mary Todd Lincoln to a friend. In the mid-1800s, late spring and early summer was strawberry party time in Springfield. […]
Food columnists
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In love with lettuce
PHOTO BY KERRY MICHAELS/TNS The lovely young lettuces of late spring/early summer are gorgeous enough to be ornamentals; some so beautiful they’re worthy of floral arrangements. Green lettuces range from palest celadon, chartreuse, Kelly green to forest. Some are speckled with red – one is named freckles; some varieties, such as Lollo Rosso, are darkly […]
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The spears of spring
Asparagus polonaise PHOTO BY PETER GLATZ Yes, I know that asparagus is available in groceries these days pretty much year round, but it’s still something best enjoyed in spring, just plucked as it shoots from the earth in nearby fields. Grocery asparagus that’s been stored for long periods and shipped thousands of miles may be […]
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Ravioli
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION “What’s your favorite cuisine?” It’s a question I’m frequently asked – and one I’m never comfortable answering. Do I really have to choose? My answer at any given moment may depend on the season, a cookbook I’ve been reading, a restaurant at which I’ve recently eaten, recipes I’ve been developing, […]
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Surviving winter’s end
Switzerland cheese toast with butternut squash apple bisque. PHOTO BY PETER GLATZ Enough, already! I am officially sick of winter. Living in a place that has changing seasons is actually something I prize. That even includes winter. True, I don’t get quite as excited as I did when I was a child about the first […]
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An appetite for love
Almost flourless chocolate cake with fresh raspberries and raspberry coulis. PHOTO BY DOUG YOUNG/TNS From Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel: Tita’s blood (which got into the sauce when she pricked herself on the roses) and Pedro’s roses proved quite an explosive combination. …when Pedro tasted his first mouthful (of the quail in rose […]
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Alzina
Alzina in her kitchen. PHOTO BY Sara Roahen She’s been called “The Greatest Cajun Cook Alive” – not least by people with the expertise to say so. A documentary has been made about her, magazine articles written, other media have featured her. Culinary “pilgrims” from far-away Brooklyn and even further-away France have come to eat […]
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My New Year’s resolution: No more healthy, sort of
This column started out as a rant. For a while now, I’ve wanted to bang my head against a wall almost every time I hear the adjective “healthy.” So I decided my 2015 New Year’s resolution would be that I will no longer refer to specific foods and eating practices as healthy. In truth, it’s […]
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Custom Cup Coffee
Kendra Boesdorfer, co-owner of Custom Cup Coffee located at 321 E. Monroe St. PHOTOS BY DAVID HINE Brent and Kendra Boesdorfer are passionate about coffee: its endless nuances of flavor that depend on location, terroir (soil), altitude; as well as growing, harvesting, processing and roasting methods. And they want you to become passionate about coffee, […]
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Low carb feast
PHOTO BY PETER GLATZ Well, it’s that time again. After all the holiday feasting, many folks (myself included) want to counter the effect of all those cookies, eggnog and other indulgences. Over the years I’ve become convinced that the most effective way to lose weight is with a low carbohydrate diet. That said, your body […]
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‘Downton Abbey’
The cast of “Downton Abbey.” PHOTO COURTESY PBS I’m not ashamed to admit it: I’m hooked on “Downton Abbey.” “They should have called it Downton crack,” said my daughter Ashley, a fellow enthusiast. “Downton Abbey” which appears in America under the aegis of PBS’s “Masterpiece Theater,” has become the most watched ,television series in history. […]
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Take a break with some simple soups
The days before New Year’s Eve can be a respite from holiday excess. Not always, especially when families are frequently scattered and celebrations occur not on exact dates, but when it’s possible for everyone to assemble. This year, we’ll be celebrating Christmas Eve and Day on New Year’s Eve and Day – very different for […]
