ArcaMax

So many people think of sourdough as an all-American -- or at least North American -- phenomenon. Credit that to the fact that sourdough starters (wild yeast cultures regularly fed and nurtured to keep available for leavening bread) were mainstays not only of pioneering life but also among the miners who made sourdough the reliable daily bread ...Read more

It seems to me that people who love to cook at home often have two separate styles of recipes that they rely on. First come the everyday dishes that they make week after week for their family and any close friends who might drop by -- simple, straightforward, delicious food they can cook quickly and easily with minimal fuss. And then there are ...Read more

Anyone who has dined in one of my restaurants, read one of my books or articles, seen me on TV, or cooked or eaten with me personally knows that I think of the whole world as my pantry.

I love discovering ingredients and ways of cooking them that are new to me, and then mastering and sharing them with others. In the process, I'll often combine ...Read more

Anyone who has dined in one of my restaurants, read one of my books or articles, seen me on TV, or cooked or eaten with me personally knows that I think of the whole world as my pantry.

I love discovering ingredients and ways of cooking them that are new to me, and then mastering and sharing them with others. In the process, I'll often combine ...Read more

If you've been a reader of my column these past many years, you know you can expect one thing from me as surely as the fact that I love to help people cook and eat the best food possible: When December rolls around, at some point I'm going to turn my attention to Christmas cookies.

My love of holiday baking goes back to my earliest childhood ...Read more

If you've been a reader of my column these past many years, you know you can expect one thing from me as surely as the fact that I love to help people cook and eat the best food possible: When December rolls around, at some point I'm going to turn my attention to Christmas cookies.

My love of holiday baking goes back to my earliest childhood ...Read more

You've probably heard people talk about their "go-to" recipes. Maybe you have some go-tos yourself. They're those dishes that are easy to make, foolproof and always deliver delicious results that you can count on for just about any purpose, from family meals to casual get-togethers with friends to special-occasion parties.

With holiday ...Read more

You've probably heard people talk about their "go-to" recipes. Maybe you have some go-tos yourself. They're those dishes that are easy to make, foolproof and always deliver delicious results that you can count on for just about any purpose, from family meals to casual get-togethers with friends to special-occasion parties.

With holiday ...Read more

Here's a sobering thought as we all look forward to the bounty of Thanksgiving dinner: According to the subtitle of a study first published in 2012 and updated in 2017 by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, "America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to ...Read more

Here's a sobering thought as we all look forward to the bounty of Thanksgiving dinner: According to the subtitle of a study first published in 2012 and updated in 2017 by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, "America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to ...Read more

What's the first thing you'll serve to your guests when they sit down to Thanksgiving dinner next week?

That's an important question for any menu. The first course sets the tone for the meal to come. It should, as the old phrase goes, whet the appetite, sharpening the senses and adding a happy edge to guests' anticipation. A ...Read more

What's the first thing you'll serve to your guests when they sit down to Thanksgiving dinner next week?

That's an important question for any menu. The first course sets the tone for the meal to come. It should, as the old phrase goes, whet the appetite, sharpening the senses and adding a happy edge to guests' anticipation. A ...Read more

One of the questions reporters and restaurant guests like to ask me is whether I ever get bored eating the same delicious food all the time. The best reply I know is one of the most familiar proverbs in the English language: "Variety is the spice of life."

That saying, of course, applies to so many things. Life definitely would be boring if you...Read more

One of the questions reporters and restaurant guests like to ask me is whether I ever get bored eating the same delicious food all the time. The best reply I know is one of the most familiar proverbs in the English language: "Variety is the spice of life."

That saying, of course, applies to so many things. Life definitely would be boring if you...Read more

Many people refer to the Labor Day weekend, now more than two months past, as the unofficial end of summer grilling season. But those of us who love to grill know that you can't stop just because you've turned the calendar page.

There are diehards, of course, who brave the elements to continue grilling outdoors. I've even known ...Read more

Many people refer to the Memorial Day weekend, now more than two months past, as the unofficial end of summer grilling season. But those of us who love to grill know that you can't stop just because you've turned the calendar page.

There are diehards, of course, who brave the elements to continue grilling outdoors. I've even ...Read more

Many people refer to the Memorial Day weekend, now more than two months past, as the unofficial end of summer grilling season. But those of us who love to grill know that you can't stop just because you've turned the calendar page.

There are diehards, of course, who brave the elements to continue grilling outdoors. I've even ...Read more

I've seen it happen many times in my restaurants, and you've no doubt been on the receiving end of this phenomenon: Guests order a classic dish, something they've enjoyed elsewhere many times before, and when it arrives it looks nothing like what they'd been expecting.

The first reaction may be puzzlement or consternation or delight -- or a ...Read more