With Halloween in mind, I’m turning my attention this week to a spooky looking, but delicious, cocktail called a Black Widow Martini. The recipe is from Tablespoon Kitchens and it’s a very simple drink to make, but one that looks stunning. This recipe makes four Black Widow Martini cocktails. Ingredients: ¾ cup pomegranate or grape juice 2 tablespoons coarse … [Read more...]
FOOD FREAK OUT: Global Tricks or Treats?
If you’re Hindu, chances are you consider a Burger King Angry Whopper to be pretty barbaric. And I’d imagine a vegan would think a double-cheese and pepperoni pizza from Domino’s to be barf-worthy. As they say, “One man’s fish is another man’s poisson.” Well, with Halloween around the corner I thought we’d take a look at some global goodies that probably seem pretty strange … [Read more...]
Chicken Fried Rice
One of my wife’s favorite comfort foods is Chinese-style fried rice. It’s one of mine, too. Fried rice is a good way to utilize leftover rice, chicken or other foods you might happen to have on hand. And, while this recipe is for fried rice with chicken, you could easily use shrimp, ham or other favorite proteins, or just make veggie fried rice. The key to success here is to … [Read more...]
Back to School: 5 Great Fall Cookbooks
I love the cool fall weather, in part because it gets me back into the kitchen. Autumn is my favorite season for cooking - a time when we reintroduce heartier, more robust fare and flavors and retire, at least temporarily, lighter summer menus. If you’re looking for inspiration to embolden your own cooking, here are some great new fall cookbooks to turn to. I’ve seen a … [Read more...]
Wine Down @ Epic
Photograph by Photo by Raj Eiamworakul on Unsplash.Epic Casual Dining in Midvale is a terrific spot for wine lovers to gather, and that’s especially true on hump day, when the eatery invites guests to Wine Down. Each Wednesday, Epic offers a budget-minded prix fixe 3-course Wine Down dinner with wine pairings priced at a mere $45, including wine ($35 for food only). The … [Read more...]
Molise 2.0: New Digs for Venerable Caffe Molise
In the Beginning … I first reviewed downtown SLC’s Caffe Molise - named for the Molise region of Italy - back in 1994. Shelley DeProto opened the restaurant that year and it was a modest affair. The dining room was festooned with white plastic patio furniture and the menu was limited. The food, however, was excellent and I still remember how much I enjoyed Shelley’s aio e oio … [Read more...]
Crab-Stuffed Spring Rolls
I love Vietnamese-style spring rolls, which are made using rice paper wrappers. They are really quite simple to make, and no cooking is even necessary. Obviously, you could put any ingredients you like into your spring rolls. So this recipe is really just a starting point. I love fresh crab, for example, but you could substitute shrimp or ground pork or just use veggies. Be … [Read more...]
Western Standard Saloon Lager
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a launch soiree at The Rest for a new High West Distillery endeavor: Western Standard Saloon Lager. Yep, High West has gotten into the beer biz. And it makes sense. You see, High West has a lot of bourbon barrels on their hands. So, why not age beer in them? That’s precisely what Western Standard is: the first barrel-aged lager … [Read more...]
Saffron Valley: 2018 Biryani & Kebab Festival
An Annual Celebration Each fall, Saffron Valley celebrates Indian cuisine from the north and south of India with its annual Biryani & Kebab Festival. It’s a terrific opportunity to sample some dishes that might not appear on the regular Saffron Valley restaurant menus. The festival features, as you might have guessed, kebabs and biryani. Biryani Biryani is one of my … [Read more...]
Braised Chicken Quarters with Herbs
This braised chicken is a terrific fall dish, full of hearty, robust flavor. If you prefer to use individual chicken thighs and legs as opposed to chicken thigh-leg quarters, go for it! The chicken and sauce is excellent with rice, noodles or mashed potatoes alongside. Ingredients: 3 Tbs. olive oil 4 bone-in chicken thigh and drumstick quarters (or separate thighs & … [Read more...]