From Portland, Maine (above with my family–mom Rose in black) last Friday until now–getting to St. Louis from Minneapolis was the only nightmare travel experience of the whole week. A series of 5-minute-too late events meant a missed flight/mad turbulence once we did get airborne and a general anxt-ridden morning which began at 5:00 am…. View Article

The Cooks of Crocus Hill restored my faith in the Twin Cities after the disappointing turn-out at famed Indie bookstore Maggers & Quinn the night before. Cooks is a fantastic store, so well put together with a cozy vibe and well edited selection of goods. I couldn’t be happier with my above pictured new dishwashing… View Article

One of the zany things about visiting TV stations across the country is coming across so much local talent/news folks/producers/and various other denizens of morning television. Here in Minneapolis, our escort/food team of Isabel and Tim are so well liked and friendly that we’ve had a really fun morning. Pictured above is Lois, one of… View Article

Thanks to another awesome indie book store, Davis Kidd for hospitality and good folks. Am psyched that Catherine, from the staff bought Mad Hungry and actually stocked her pantry from the books Guy Pantry suggestions: ready to cook any time. Had a mirror image fam in the audience: tall dad and 3 young boys too…. View Article

Nashville has a very cool vibe which you begin to pick up right away. Thankfully we made our 7:10 flight out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Podcast, talk and signing at the A2 library was so well organized. You can check it out on their website if interested. But, was so happy my cousin Tom… View Article

Ann Arbor Library’s Jenny Hoffman kindly gave up her Sunday aft to get us to Ann Arbor where our first stop was legendary Zingerman’s Deli, zingermans.com in Ann Arbor for Pastrami and Corned Beef Sandwiches and Latkes (served with Calder sour cream): what a crazy little place full of personality, great cheeses, and local honeys,… View Article

On Portland, a few more details must be told. First, back to Rabelais, Fine Books on Food & Drink. this is a MUST for anyone interested in food books: new, used, rare etc. Don and Sam are so on point, filled with knowledge about the books, cooking and food. Was only bummed I couldn’t stay… View Article

Harvest on the Harbor, Portland Maine: a food fest where I’m at. Last night, after a couple local TV gigs (here with kathleen/207 from WCSH and John from WPXT ) we had a great demo/signing where we made, Shrimp Scampi, Carmelized Cauliflower(from MH), Gnocchi with Pesto and Beef Braciole (the last 2 from Lucinda’s Authentic… View Article

For a New York City girl whose watched her local libraries reduce their hours, staff, locations etc., it was with utter amazement that we pulled up to the brand new Darien, CT library for a book signing. The architecture, space, light and bustling activity are incredible. Yes, this fortunate town privately funded it which is… View Article

This morning 2 of the boys came with me to the MARTHA show where we made New York-style bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/bacon-egg-and-cheese-sandwich, from MH which turned out to be awesome because our crack producer, Barbara Fight (aka Babsy) came up with the awesome idea to serve them to the guys at the beginning… View Article

You can tell by the way he is looking after his grandmother and nieces (bro, uncle and father in background) that this young graduate (on graduation day) knows how to take care of the business of others. And so it goes, as with so many of his 2009 grad-ilk that the job hunt is actually… View Article

Think of this pie as an original pop tart: same ingredients as regular pie but flatter and rectangle. It’s made here with apple and raspberries but any fruit filling will work (just get the thickener to fruit ratio correct). Next time will make Pear and ginger. This is a great grab and go snack. Sarah… View Article

After years of machines, battery operated foamers and overpriced coffee house coffee, we’ve perfected the handmade cappuccino which I’ve come to love more than most (except perhaps one in an Italian cafe but that’s another story). As for the actual coffee, many kinds of beans are good but few are as consistent Illy: dark roast… View Article

The cookbook Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys officially hit the stores yesterday and I’ve had many questions re the whys hows and what-fors of this project. So, here’s the deal–what I’ve learned over the last twenty plus years feeding many folks in my home: if you cook for the people you love and teach… View Article

The Kiln and The Kitchen workshop: Good Hope, JAThe Jerk Pit at Scotchie’s Teaching and cooking in Jamaica last year was fun AND hot (in all senses of the word)! Why Jamaica? Just because I love it. From this little dot in the middle of the ocean comes many, many riches: music, architecture, literature, a… View Article

Being that the grape jelly was foremost on my mind as I wondered through the local farmers market up at Columbia University on Sunday, I was drawn in the by the duck salesman selling all manner of duck parts from naturally raised and handled ducks including the gorgeous breast which also happened to be very… View Article

4lbs concord grapesplain grapes washed and cooked (mashed) 10 minutesdrained through flannel sheetsqueezed tooIT BE GELLIN‘ My excitement this morning at both this beautiful day and my gelled jelly is pretty high. Mostly it’s because I’ve never made it, it’s really easy but requires a few details for success. First off, I don’t have a… View Article

image rephotographed from Quenting Bacon’sAm making hot sauce from the plethora of chilis growing in my humble little container garden. Published in both Jamaican books, this sauce recipe is spicy with a hint of sweet and a nice acid/salt balance–everything you want in a hot sauce. Mango can replace pawpaw (papaya) too. And, habanero can… View Article

Doubles are the most insanely delicious Trinidadian snack: chick peas cooked in a spicy curry tucked inside a roti-like dough: OMG. Big ups to our beloved Michelley for all her Trini influences and taking us out to Flatbush ave in Brooklyn for Doubles and Chubbies. Her Curried Crab and dumplings, a recipe included in my… View Article