Green Gumbo

August 29, 2010 · View Comments

Green Gumbo RecipeGreen Gumbo, with Andouille sausage and bacon

Earlier this week, we had a few days that were drizzly and dreary here in New York City. It’s a bit early in the year for the sun to retreat into hibernation, but the cooler weather was a welcome respite to the penetrating heat.

Although the weather has cooled down, it’s still summer, and the markets were flush with greens of every variety. After bagging some lithe, fuzzy okra, a bunch of emerald green lacinato kale, and carrots and beets with greens still attached, I decided to recreate one of my favorite takes on gumbo. It’s called Green Gumbo, and was originally prepared as a meat-free alternative during Lent. continue →

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Duck breast with plum emulsion

I grew up believing that simple foods are often the best. This minimalist philosophy is perhaps most evident in summer, when the greens are greener and the berries sweeter. I often jest that my recipes are simple because I’m lazy, but in all honestly, it’s because I believe that good ingredients need little embellishment.

Mis en Place for Crispy Duck Breast with Plums

As a marketer, I know that the key to selling more product is to evoke an emotional reaction from your consumer. It’s what drives people to make impulsive purchases that were never planned, or part of the budget. While I try to restrain myself from extemporaneous purchases in most of my life, food is one area where I let my emotions run free, and I give free rein of my wallet to my every whim. continue →

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Your Best Rice Dishes

August 23, 2010
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I asked you to show me your best rice dish for a chance to win a Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker, and show me you did. We received entries representing Mexico, Italy, India, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and some that were unique creations. Now comes the hard part. The judges (Bee, Alice, and I) will spend [...]

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Red Shiso Shochu and a Cocktail

August 22, 2010
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If you’ve eaten at a sushi restaurant before, you’ve probably seen shiso. Shiso (also known as perilla), is a member of the mint family with broad jagged edged leaves. The green variety is often used as a garnish, but it also makes for a great herb, with a unique aroma, vaguely reminiscent of mint and [...]

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Show Me Your Rice

August 18, 2010
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You may not have won the first rice cooker, but I still have one brand spankin’ new 5.5 cup Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker to give away courtesy of Zojirushi. This one goes to the person who sends in the best sounding/looking rice dish, that could be made in the Zojirushi. To enter, just send [...]

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Green Bean Curry

August 15, 2010
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Maybe it’s the Asian part of me, but I love getting a good deal. This especially holds true when it comes to high quality food, like the produce they have at the Union Square Farmer’s Market. So how does one go about getting a discount at the farmer’s market you ask? Don’t worry it doesn’t [...]

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And the winner is…

August 14, 2010

Before I tell you who won the rice cooker, I have to say that I really enjoyed reading all of your responses to my question “Why do you like rice?”. The thoughts, memories, and insights that you all shared made me realized that there’s more to rice than the sustenance it provides. For some people, [...]

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French Onion Soup

August 11, 2010
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It’s the middle of summer and over 90 degrees outside, but I had to make French Onion Soup as a prop for a photoshoot… And it was worth every drop of sweat. Sure, I could have mocked something up with watered down coffee, bread, and cheese, but a fake dish never looks quite as delicious [...]

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