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.

My San Francisco food rotation 2024

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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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Recipe: Deli Style Cole Slaw

Deli Style Cole Slaw is too expensive in the deli nowadays, so let’s make our own. We’re talking about the sweet-and-sour mayo-based product that is ubiquitous in New York delis and goes beautifully with an overstuffed Italian Mix sub. We … Continue reading

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Taste Test: Onion Burgers

Our onion burger taste test derives from two distinct American culinary legacies. In 1921 in Wichita KS, Walt Anderson and Billy Ingram founded America’s first fast food restaurant, White Castle, selling hamburgers steamed with onions. A few years later in … Continue reading

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Taste test: house brand Worcestershire sauce

The Lea & Perrins brand is synonymous with Worcestershire sauce, right? But what if a supermarket house brand is just as good at a fraction of the price? Time for a house brand Worcestershire sauce taste test! According to Wikipedia, … Continue reading

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