With so many online food blogs, food and cooking websites, food TV shows and such, you may wonder: What do I need another cookbook? And, well .... I tend to ask the same question. For every excellent cookbook there are 50 mediocre ones published. And, if like me, your kitchen space is limited, you don’t have a lot of room for an extensive cookbook library. So I … [Read more...]
How to Make a Fab Fresh Pasta Dough
Through the years, I’ve tried dozens if different recipes for making fresh pasta dough. And after many, many trials and experiments, I’ve found this one to be the most dependable, resulting in homemade pasta that is worthy of the best restaurants Italy has to offer. The key to success with this recipe and technique is to let the pasta dough rest, allowing the gluten to … [Read more...]
A Perfect White Wine for your next Picnic: Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2016
I have been a fan of the fine wines from the firm of E. Guigal in Ampuis, France, for many years. These wines from the Côtes du Rhône are of very high quality, yet are typically priced quite reasonably. Founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, his son Marcel has led the family estate since 1961 and his son Philippe - Etienne’s grandson - serves today as Director and … [Read more...]
Conscious Dining: A Visit to The Dispensary
Not Your Daddy’s Diner David Heiblim knows a thing or two about comfort food. He’s the founder of both Este Pizzeria - specializing in East Coast-style pizzas - and Este Deli, which offers East Coast-style sandwiches and other deli fare. So it might come as no surprise that the main attraction at his newest restaurant is one of the ultimate comfort foods: pot pie. It’s the … [Read more...]
Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
This time of year, we have an abundance of fresh tomatoes and basil in our garden and so I was recently perusing recipes online to find a new way to use them. I came across this delicious halibut recipe that is perfect for a summertime meal. It originally appeared in the Once Upon a Chef cookbook by Jennifer Segal and was reprinted on The Splendid Table website. Try it; it’s … [Read more...]
Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon
If you know of a wine with the complexity, nuance and concentration of Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, priced at $16.95 or under, I’d sure like to hear about it. This is one of my top bang-for-the-buck picks of the many wines I’ve had the pleasure of sampling so far this year. According to Bonterra winemaker Jeff Cichocki, when discussing the density of flavors in Bonterra … [Read more...]
Eat Here Now: Five Outstanding Restaurants to Visit before They Explode
My stepsons and their friends recently waited an hour on a Saturday evening to be seated at the Red Iguana. Don’t get me wrong, like everybody else, I love Red Iguana. But I’ll be damned if I’ll wait an hour for a table anywhere. Not gonna happen. If, like me, you have a lot of hunger but very little patience, here are five outstanding restaurants that could explode any day. … [Read more...]
Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Recipe
Thanks to the opening of Viet Pham’s Pretty Bird restaurant in downtown SLC, you can now get authentic Nashville-style hot chicken here in Utah. But, it’s also pretty easy to make at home. Here is a recipe I really like which is based on the chicken at one of Nashville’s most popular hot chicken joints: Hattie B’s. This recipe makes really spicy chicken, but … [Read more...]
SaltFire Brewing: 12 Monkeys Double IPA
When I visited the newly opened SaltFire Brewing Co. in SLC recently, their pub wasn’t quite finished and open. However, I was able to score a handful of really excellent brews from their retail bottle shop and enjoy them at home. Owner Ryan Miller has created a number of great beers, including Charlotte Sometimes Summer Blonde Ale, Füry Kölsch, Saison de Trahison, Nzed … [Read more...]
Light Pasta with Shrimp and Arugula Recipe
At the original Michelangelo restaurant in SLC, they used to serve a pasta dish that was similar to this one and that I tried to recreate at home. This is a really nice, light pasta dish that’s perfect for a spring meal. And it’s a great way to use up some of the arugula from the garden. Ingredients: 1 lb. dried penne pasta (or your favorite pasta - … [Read more...]