Author: Max Strieb

A Quality Sandwich – Breaded Chicken Cutlet, Broccoli Rabe, Melted Provolone, and Hot Pickled Peppers on Ciabatta

A Quality Sandwich – Breaded Chicken Cutlet, Broccoli Rabe, Melted Provolone, and Hot Pickled Peppers on Ciabatta

The meatloaf sandwiches that my brothers and I were compelled to take for school lunch – lest we starve – were lacking in several components that make sandwiches such fine fare for a midday meal. In fact, they were so bad that they have become 

A Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

A Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

Some foods are a blank slate; they are a vehicle for other flavors. Take escargot, for example. They’re probably not too exciting on their own, but as a way to get your fix of garlic butter, they can’t be beat. Boneless, skinless chicken breast and 

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

We all make mistakes in the kitchen. Sometimes they are rookie moves, like the first time I roasted a turkey leaving the neck and bag of giblets inside. These novice errors can usually be chalked up to ignorance. How was I supposed to know they 

The Pepperoni Python – Pepperoni Stromboli

The Pepperoni Python – Pepperoni Stromboli

My friends Kathleen and Matt love to eat. Call them foodies or gourmands, they know how to enjoy a good meal and are partial to a nice bottle of wine. And they always want to share the food they eat and create with others. Hence 

The Bastardization of Birria – Braised Beef Tacos

The Bastardization of Birria – Braised Beef Tacos

I have to admit, I’ve never had birria, neither on a taco nor in a bowl. But the other day I saw a picture of a braised beef taco, and it looked tempting and delicious. I didn’t even know it was birria, but immediately I 

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Think about winter food; root vegetables, hearty soups and stews, braised meats. All delicious, they warm the body as we face the chill of the season. They are heavy and satisfying, getting us through the darkest, coldest months of the year.     But sometimes 

Gardening Is a 12-Month-A-Year Sport

Gardening Is a 12-Month-A-Year Sport

While the height of gardening season is late spring through the end of summer, gardening is really a 12-month-a-year sport. Yes, summer tomatoes may be the star of the show for many gardeners, but there is bounty to be harvested virtually all year long if 

Doing Dishes – Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Doing Dishes – Baked Macaroni and Cheese

From a very young age, my siblings and I – three boys, about two years apart – were forced to do dishes. Our parents, in their great wisdom, told us the sprayer on the kitchen sink hose was broken. Perhaps they feared a flood or 

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

As Covid continues to surge for the second winter, we unfortunately don’t expect to see many friends this holiday season, at least not up close and personal. That means any big New Year’s Eve plans may have to be put on hold yet again. And 

The Caribbean Life – Grilled Calamari for Greek Salad

The Caribbean Life – Grilled Calamari for Greek Salad

When we lived on St. Thomas in the Caribbean for two years in the mid-1990s, our favorite restaurant was not a local West Indian joint, but a Greek restaurant with the unoriginal name: Zorba’s. Despite this, we loved local food. A hearty serving of Bull