ArcaMax

More even than deepest winter, I always think of autumn as soup weather.

The very fact that it seems like a transitional season -- with still summery days gradually giving way to cool weather and then, eventually, the first rains or snows -- suits it to all kinds of different soups, from light broths to robust bean concoctions. Not to mention ...Read more

Everybody seems to take apples for granted. They're always there in supermarkets and farmers market stalls, parents are packing them in kids' lunches, and some fast-food places now offer sliced apples as a healthy alternative to french fries (not that many guests necessarily go for that option). The fruit is also featured in some of the most ...Read more

Is it too soon to start talking about sick days?

I'm sorry to bring this up, but with two school-age boys at home, I know firsthand that children everywhere are back to their studies after a summer break.

We all want our kids to stay healthy and happy, of course. But it's hard to avoid the fact that at some point they'll have to stay home from...Read more

Is there really any other style of entertaining than casual during the summer months? Even for the most formal occasions my team and I focus on a warm, relaxed feeling this time of year. Same goes for at-home cooks. And that doesn't just apply to meals that you cook outside on the grill.

Indoors, too, casual style food is the right way to go in...Read more

We're in the middle of the best season for eating with our hands! Just think about it. Whether its burgers, hot dogs, ribs, fried chicken, sweet corn, ice cream cones or watermelon, summer often seems like the time of year dedicated to doing away with utensils.

Sweet corn may be my favorite food to eat with my hands. I'm always on the lookout ...Read more

Just as summer's days begin to feel the hottest, we can enjoy peaches at their best: sweet, incredibly juicy and unbelievably refreshing. They've been around, of course, all season. But the late-summer harvest, ripened under the warm sun, always provides the best specimens of all: more intense, even a bit spicy-sweet, and so plump that when you ...Read more

As a chef who is fortunate to be well known, journalists often ask me my thoughts about hottest food trend of the moment. Over the years, I've shared my thoughts about everything from gourmet pizza and Asian fusion cuisine (two major trends in which I played a role) to authentic barbecue to kale to the keto diet.

When questions have come lately...Read more

At the height of summer, I often happily imagine that Mother Nature has gone wild. What else could you think if you walk out into your vegetable garden or through the aisles of the farmers market and see tomatoes, zucchini, summer squashes, kale, chard, sweet corn, peas and other produce at their most beautiful, freshest, and most flavorful -- ...Read more

What a wonderful time it is when sun-ripened tomatoes come into season, as they are right now during the heart of summer.

Sure, you can find tomatoes -- even heirloom varieties of all colors, shapes and sizes -- in the market throughout the year, thanks to hothouse agriculture and international shipping. But tomatoes that have grown locally ...Read more

When I walk through my local farmers market right now, I couldn't be happier. Why? We're right in the middle of summer stone fruit season. Peaches. Nectarines. Apricots. Plums. Cherries. Some of the most succulent fruits imaginable are at their peak right now. I could make a meal for myself by just strolling past the stalls and enjoying all the ...Read more

What can a food lover do in summertime when it's too hot to go outside and grill? The answer is easy: Return to the stove with a recipe that's so quick, satisfying and light that you'll forget all about cooking outdoors.

The classic technique of sauteing is incomparably easy and so fast that you may sit down to your meal and blink your eyes in ...Read more

Are you still trying to decide on your Fourth of July main course? Or did you decide just moments ago to upgrade it? I've got good news for you: It's not too late.

The secret is to start with the right high-quality star ingredient. If you want chicken, seek out plump boneless breasts or thighs, with or without the skin, depending...Read more

When celebrating Fourth of July, many of us pay just as much attention to the food as we do the fireworks. But what should we serve? Hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs or chicken? Why not all four? Baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw? They all sound good!

What about dessert? Of course, there will be ice cream. But it almost goes without...Read more

It may have seemed like it would never arrive, but suddenly we're heading into summer. I love this season, because it gives me the chance to spend more time with my family now that the school year is over for my two younger sons. We may travel together a little, but mostly we enjoy warm-weather activities at home, including sports, swimming and,...Read more

With four sons ranging in age from 12 1/2 to 30, I always look forward to Father's Day. And even though I often enjoy preparing food at home for my boys and my wife Gelila, I'm happy to say that all of my offspring enjoy cooking themselves -- especially my second son, Byron, who completed a culinary degree and has joined the ...Read more

I love watching the seasons change through the produce I see in the farmers' market. Even in Southern California, where I live, it's amazing to witness new crops arriving as those of previous months begin to disappear. Those market stall offerings are among my primary inspirations as a chef.

Right now, springtime is drawing to a close as summer...Read more

I enjoy celebrating the start of the warm-weather grilling season by encouraging you to make a big impression when you cook outdoors. But let's face it: Sometimes, at the end of a busy workday or week, you want to relax and enjoy a great meal by simply tossing some burgers, steaks, chops, chicken, kabobs or fish on the grill.

That doesn't mean ...Read more