July 2009

 

Charlie Trotter: Food for Thought

31 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in chefs & restaurants, food

Cooking is not really that difficult. In fact, it’s more about love and touch and caring than about special techniques or magical recipes. – Charlie Trotter It is intriguing to discover what tidbits our minds file away, only to thrust them to the surface when we least expect it. I started this adventure with the idea of presenting “Charlie Trotter on Tomatoes;” he swoons for them, too, so I was eager to capture his thoughts on such a glorious ingredient. Then I revisited his cookbooks. Though I have read them many times, my mind has been so preoccupied with his…

NO COMMENT

Scotland: A Homecoming

30 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in travel

When I visited Scotland for the first time with my mother in 2004, I didn’t have so much as an inkling what my life would be like 5 years later. At that time I barely knew a certain chef named Mark Tafoya, and though I had a food blog, it was the “old-fashioned” kind, without tags or permalinks or anything of the sort. How wonderful it feels to know that now, in addition to sharing some snippets with you from the road, we’ve also captured some of my family’s history on video, and that story can now be shared with…

NO COMMENT

On the Tequila Trail

24 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in beverages, videos

In honor of National Tequila Day, I’m reposting our On the Tequila Trail video series. Cheers! Join Chef Mark and Jennifer as they explore the Amitatan Valley of Jalisco, Mexico to discover the true soul of Tequila, from harvesting agave plants to quizzing people on the streets of NYC about their Tequila knowledge. Main lesson learned: Sip, never slam, fine Tequila. Episode 1: The Soul of Tequila Don Enrique Partida, who has spent his life growing blue agave, shares his poetic expression and passion for the plant. His estate-grown agave is cultivated, roasted and distilled to make Partida Tequila —…

NO COMMENT

FP85: Geeks & Greek Gastronomy

22 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in podcast

My friend Sam Sotiropoulos from www.greekgourmand.com joins me for a chat about all things food geek, from ancient Greek history to how to find real feta in the supermarket.

NO COMMENT

Off to Scotland with Mum

22 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in food

The first time I traveled to Scotland with my mother was in 2004, when the Culinary Media Network was a mere blog-type thing called “Gastronomic Meditations,” and my newsletter had about 4 subscribers. It was my first time there, and we were able to visit the house in which she was born — many, many moons ago. Don’t tell her I said that. I wrote a few things about my discoveries then, so I thought I’d recap my first impressions (listed at the end of this post). Next week Chef Mark and I are taking Mom back for a little…

NO COMMENT

Andy Husbands on Hell’s Kitchen

20 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in chefs & restaurants, news & buzz

OK, I don’t watch television (the one I have here is unplugged and in a corner), but in this case I actually have a reason to promote a television show. You see, my pal Andy Husbands, chef/owner of Tremont 647 in Boston’s South End, is making his debut this week on Hell’s Kitchen. Andy and I became friends in Boston many moons ago, when I was cutting my teeth in the food world, and I liked him instantly because he’s full of sass, piss and vinegar. He also makes a killer Tibetan momo. Hell’s Kitchen premiers Tuesday night, July 21,…

NO COMMENT

Gilded Fork Affiliate Program

18 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in news & buzz

With the release of our first cookbook, The Gilded Fork: Entertaining at Home, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from our loyal readers, listeners and viewers. Since many of you have been eager to help us spread the message about the book, we’ve created an affiliate program for that and the sumptuous products in our Gilded Fork Boutique. Our affiliates will receive a 10% commission on all sales made from people you send through your affiliate link, on ANY products in the boutique, from the cookbook to artisanal olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and flavored sea salts. We’re also adding…

NO COMMENT

Julia Child: Boutez en Avant

15 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in chefs & restaurants

Cooking is not a chore, it is a joy. Dining is not a fuel stop, it is recreation. – Julia Child “Full steam ahead.” It is a phrase that would serve as a mantra for the ebullient woman that was Julia Child. This giant of character, spirit, and stature changed the meaning of cuisine for a culture with its feet firmly implanted in a quagmire of frozen dinners and canned, limp ingredients. (Here is where I am supposed to say: “We have come so far!” But have we? More on that in a moment.) As a child, I was enthralled…

2 COMMENTS

Everyday Indulgences: Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Sugar

06 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in indulgences, recipes

It’s that glorious time of year when farm stands are beginning to overflow with the season’s finest. Given my tactile nature, I always find myself drawn to the piles of gently fuzzed peaches, seemingly awaiting my greedy touch. My favorites are the elbow-drippers — once you’ve tasted such decadence, it’s practically impossible to eat any other kind of peach. And though peaches are wonderful on their own, there is something to be said for the allure of caramelization. I’ve grown quite fond of grilled fruits in the past couple of years, and this recipe has become a favorite: Grilled Peaches…

NO COMMENT

Everyday Indulgences: Scent-suality

03 Jul 2009, Posted by Jennifer Iannolo in indulgences, sensuality, wellness

With all that’s happening around us, I find that my decadent and frugal sides are like rival angels on my shoulders. The stress of keeping so many balls in the air to keep things moving forward — seemingly without a minute to breathe — leaves me utterly worn out, and there are times when I simply want to indulge myself. Of course, I also want to do this without making my wallet cry. If you’ve read or heard me wax poetic on basil leaves, you know that I can find indulgence in seemingly ordinary places and things, so I’ve decided…

1 COMMENT