• East meets cornfields: Grilled steak, exotic flavors and honest food in an Iowa cafe

    • September 1st, 2010
    Chinese noodles, flavored with sesame oil, sesame seeds and cilantro and fired up with crushed red pepper, are topped with tender strips of grilled flank steak seasoned with cumin, chili powder and… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Want healthier meat and dairy? You’ll find it at “Home on the Range”

    • September 1st, 2010
    Pasture raising the animals we count on for meat and dairy products is healthier for everyone. A website that helps you find grass-fed food locally is the subject of my latest post on the USA… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Move over, mesquite: Tea-smoking infuses grilled chicken with delicate Asian flavors

    • August 25th, 2010
    Black tea, orange zest and a host of aromatics give Tea-smoked Grilled Chicken with Star Anise & Orange a satisfyingly complex taste. Recipe below. My few experiments with wood chips on the… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Medium Raw: Anthony Bourdain revisits Kitchen Confidential, 10 years later

    • August 25th, 2010
    Chef/author/TV personality Anthony Bourdain was in Chicago recently promoting his new book. I’m still starstruck from getting to see him speak. He’s the subject of my latest post on the… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Subtle, savory black magic: Linguine with Mushrooms and Black Garlic

    • August 18th, 2010
    Fermented black garlic, the mysterious ingredient that’s been exciting chefs for a couple of years, is now showing up in grocery stores. Here it works with just a handful of ingredients to… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Colorful news for your kitchen: Green cutting boards and black garlic

    • August 18th, 2010
    Dishwasher-safe cutting boards made from sustainable bamboo and fermented garlic that delivers subtle flavors and a striking appearance are the subjects of my latest posts on the USA Character… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Vietnamese beef stew blends flavors of multiple spices and cultures

    • August 11th, 2010
    Flavors from all over Asia (ginger, lemongrass, five-spice powder, garam masala, fish sauce…) spice up this delicious, aromatic, meaty stew that draws its inspiration from when Vietnam was… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Chicago small bites: Alfresco dining, help wanted for good cause and farm dinner, on a farm

    • August 11th, 2010
    Your outdoor meal at First Slice Pie Café helps provide meals for Chicago’s homeless; Greater Chicago Food Depository needs volunteers to help pack 40,000 family food boxes in 40 days; and City… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • A fresh, spicy surprise for summer: Watermelon Mango Salad with Blue Cheese

    • August 4th, 2010
    Watermelon, mango, blue cheese and cayenne pepper combine sweet, savory and spicy flavors in a fresh, colorful summer salad. Recipe below. When we started planning last weekend’s road trip to… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Biking across America in search of local food

    • August 4th, 2010
    On April 24, two friends set out on bicycles from Hardwick, Vermont, to explore the local food movement. As they approach their final destination—Portland, Oregon—my post on the USA Character… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Big flavor drives Cuban seafood dish, not big heat

    • July 28th, 2010
    Cuban-inspired Fish Fillets and Tomatoes relies on garlic, cumin, cilantro and capers to deliver big flavor; crushed red pepper flakes add just a touch of heat. Recipe below. When a Cuban-inspired… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Green .000367 Acres: Farming in Manhattan on a very, very small scale

    • July 28th, 2010
    The urge to grow your own food can strike in even the most urban environments. My post on the USA Character Approved Blog this week shows how one person answers that urge in the wilds of… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Multiple personalities, one delicious rustic dish: Eggplant Caponata

    • July 21st, 2010
    Versatile eggplant caponata, flavored with garlic, fresh tomatoes, golden raisins, red onions and parsley, makes a vegetarian meal for two, a side dish for four or an appetizer for a whole party…. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Chef Marcus Samuelsson approaches cooking and life without boundaries

    • July 21st, 2010
    The USA Character Approved Blog has now officially launched! For my first post-soft launch post, I’m profiling chef Marcus Samuelsson. For many of us, Marcus Samuelsson first appeared on our… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →

  • Bastille Day a perfect excuse for mussels, frites and all things French

    • July 14th, 2010
    A pair of simple, delicious French recipes this week—Mussels steamed in wine with shallots, garlic and lots of parsley and oven-fried pommes frites flavored with herbes de Provence. Lafayette, we… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]  Read More →
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