Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Try Your Hand at Pork Belly Steamed Buns this Weekend

Steamed pork buns are huge favorites on menus across the country, and it’s no wonder. With their pillow-y softness, rich fillings, and salty-sweet-sometimes spicy sauces, they represent everything we find craveable. Chinese-style steamed buns, known commonly as bao, are our most familiar representation of the dish, though you can find […]

Main Dishes

Turkey and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Makes 6 servings The familiar flavors of the Thanksgiving holiday come together in this shepherd’s pie. The individual ingredients freeze well and reheat easily for some quick comfort food all year round. This goes well with a green salad and steamed vegetables on the side. Ingredients 2 medium or 1 […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Dried Pasta

A box of pasta in the pantry means you always have something to cook. Be sure to seek out high-quality pasta and remember to cook it properly. It should be al dente (meaning that it has a pleasant “chew” but not undercooked). There aren’t very many tricks to cooking pasta, […]

Main Dishes

Vegetable Lasagna with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients Roasted Vegetables 1 large eggplant (about 2 lb) 4 medium zucchini (about 1 1/2 lb) 2 large ripe yellow tomatoes Kosher salt, as needed 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced Leaves from 6 thyme sprigs 3 red bell peppers Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed Extra-virgin […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Vietnamese-Style Fried Spring Rolls

Makes 20 pieces Spring roll wrappers usually can be found in the produce section. We opted to panfry these spring rolls, rather than deep fry them. Be sure the oil is heated properly. Ingredients 2 tablespoons peanut oil 2 teaspoons minced ginger 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white portion only […]

Main Dishes

Vinegar Chicken

Makes 6 servings Braising chicken in vinegar is a very popular cooking method in the Mediterranean. You will find numerous variations in different countries and regions, but this particular recipe is a version of the French poulet sauté au vinaigre, or vinegar chicken. The method calls for marinating the chicken […]

Chef's Notes Plus

What I’m Cooking: Crispy Lamb Pitas

I am such a fan of gyros and souvlaki and other Greek and Mediterranean-style “things in pita.” I occasionally make gyro meat at home, though without a rotisserie, it doesn’t quite have the same charm. This week’s pitas were my simplified homage to this favorite food, and I actually think […]

Chef's Notes Plus

What I’m Cooking: Lemon Baked Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

I haven’t always embraced my Italian-American identity. That’s not to say I’m not proudly Italian-American, or that I’m somehow ashamed of my Italian ancestry. It was more the Jersey Shore Italian-American stereotype that sort of haunted me, even before MTV entered the conversation. On campus at The Culinary Institute of […]

Main Dishes

Whole Wheat Penne with Roasted Cauliflower and Parsley Pesto

Pesto typically made with basil can be made with a variety of herbs including arugula, cilantro, dill, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme. Pesto originated in Genoa, Italy and gets its name because it was originally made with a mortar and pestle. Ingredients 2 lb cauliflower, sliced in 2-in x […]