Category Archives: Eating

Here we celebrate the best kind of food enjoyment: eating somebody else’s cooking, whether it be in a fine dining establishment or a hole in the wall.

Time to make the Election Cake

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

In the early days of the free republic, elections were a celebratory occasion. Voters would travel long distances by horse, wagon or on foot to their polling places and linger to have a festive meal, quite possibly involving strong liquor, … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Tomatillo Rice

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Tomatillo Rice was a happy accident. We had tomatillos left over from shish kabab and decided to toss them into a pilaf. The effect is transformative. It’s slightly tart with a very full and well-balanced taste that will complement any … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Summer Nicoise Salad

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Like Texas barbecue, the definition of a Nicoise salad inspires endless argument. Our summer nicoise salad recipe takes the approach that the ingredients should taste like summer, with only a few embellishments to bring out the flavor. Serves 2 but … Continue reading →

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My San Francisco food rotation 2024

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

I’m just back from a visit with family and 3 days at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. “Hardly Strictly” or simply “Bluegrass” (San Franciscans would never refer to the festival by its full name, just as they would never call their city … Continue reading →

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The stinky secret of Trader Joe French Brie

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Trader Joe has an affordably priced double cream French Style brie (the picture on the website is for a different product; look for the red label above). The stinky secret is that, when ripened, it turns into a feral spread … Continue reading →

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Is MSG good or bad?

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Is msg (monosodium glutamate) good or bad? Lots of discussion on this topic. There was a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen that would say good. They specialized in dishes featuring MSG (including a soup which had it dissolved in hot water … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Perilla (Shiso) Kimchi

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Once again we were faced with a bounty of shiso leaves at season end. This Perilla (Shiso) Kimchi recipe is an amalgam of several we found online. It’s got a nice kick to it and would be a welcome addition … Continue reading →

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Shish Kabob hacks

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Shish kabob by definition is sort of a hack, yes? You take random pieces of meat and veggies, marinate them in some way, then arrange on a stick and grill so the flavors meld. Our prep is pretty traditional with … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Best Tomato Jam

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Use this tomato jam recipe instead of the one we published previously; it’s got a better flavor balance and more pectin so it doesn’t mold as easily when you store in the fridge. A version of this has been published … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Pickled Strawberries

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Burnt My Fingers

Pickled strawberries are a good way to extend the season’s bounty. They’ll last longer in the fridge and can be used in salads or as a component of a charcuterie plate. This balanced version is not overly sweet or sour … Continue reading →

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