I cook because I love to eat. I garden because I love to cook.
In 1979 we only had a small black and white television, so I did not watch much as a child. I do remember a commercial for Ortega tacos, in which people debated the best part about having tacos for dinner – making them or eating …
On a Saturday night, if my wife Marci and I have no other plans, we may hang around the kitchen with a glass of wine while I cook up a tasty meal. Sometimes I know exactly what to cook; I’ve thought about it and I’ve …
Banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made on a toasted French baguette, may be the world’s most perfect sandwich. There are a riot of flavors and textures in every bite that balance each other perfectly. It is sweet and crispy from the daikon radish and carrot …
The best summer foods to grow in your garden are the ones that have the simplest preparations for the table. Asian shishito peppers are one of those foods. They grow easily and abundantly, and when it’s time for harvest, you pick them, sear them for …
People sometimes ask me about my favorite fruit or vegetable that I grow in the garden. Truthfully, the answer is whatever is ripe at the time. But, there are definitely some crops that rise above all others. For example, fresh garlic, which is sticky and …
As I came inside from shoveling a foot of heavy spring snow this morning, I noticed that the leaves are starting to emerge on my potted fig trees, which are still stored in the garage for winter protection. It seems everyone, including the plants, knows …
Last weekend my wife and I dropped off our son at LaGuardia Airport in Queens for his return flight to college. Whenever I’m in Queens I can’t help but take a detour to the neighborhood of Flushing, one of several Chinatowns in New York City. …
The blizzard of 2018 passed yesterday, and today we are still stuck inside with temperatures in the low teens. Tonight it’s expected to be in the single digits. There’s no reason to go outside, except to let the dog out. Weather like this calls for …
