Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

5 Recipes for Late-Summer Dinners

In August, we start to see the end of summer produce. But those last fruits and veggies to ripen in the summer sun just happen to be some of our favorites to cook! Whether you’re swimming in tomatoes, eggplant, or peaches, let these recipes inspire you for the last of […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Big Game-Day Foodie Face-Off

You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy The Big Game, especially when there’s a great spread. Chips and dip, fried foods, and pigs in a blanket are all favorites, but we love the tradition of serving regional foods from the competing teams. This year, we’re looking to (in […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Cataplana Clams

Makes 5 small-bite servings A cataplana is a hammered copper, hinged pot of Portuguese origin that resembles a clam shell. It is used to steam shellfish and can be used on the stovetop or in the oven. Besides being fun to cook in and a bit unusual, it also looks […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Cleaning Soft Shelled Crab

Soft shelled crab is a summertime delicacy with a short season and limited availability, so when the time comes, you have to be ready! Soft shelled crabs are typical “hard shell” crabs that are caught and prepared during their molting phase. In preparation for shedding, the crab develops a thin, […]

Main Dishes, Soups and Stews

Crab and Mushroom Chowder

Makes 8 servings Many supermarkets now carry a greater selection of mushroom varieties, such as shiitake, oyster, and cremini mushrooms. You can make this delicious chowder using a single variety or a combination. Avoid white mushrooms, though; they don’t have the flavor and texture needed for this hearty soup. Ingredients […]

Main Dishes

Crawfish Étouffée

Makes 4 to 6 servings Étouffée is the name given to dishes like this one that are gently cooked in a covered pot. Crawfish, or crayfish, are sold live or as cooked meat. If you buy crawfish meat, look for the words fat-on. Crawfish fat is an integral part of […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Grilling Fish and Seafood

Finding a great source for perfectly fresh fish and seafood is the grill cook’s greatest challenge. Once you’ve located a reliable source, rely upon them to guide you to other types of fish and seafood you can try. Almost any fish can be successfully prepared on the grill, as long […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Prepare a Bisque

A good bisque reflects the flavor of the main ingredient. If you have added cream to round out and mellow the soup, it should not mask the main flavor. All bisques are slightly coarse or grainy, with a consistency similar to heavy cream. A crustacean bisque is pale pink or […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to: Make Chowders

Good chowders have a rich flavor, balancing the main flavoring ingredient(s) and supporting aromatic and finishing flavors, a velvety texture, and a lightly thickened consistency, similar to heavy cream. If you are making a shellfish-based chowder (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.), before beginning, steam the main ingredient in stock or water […]

Main Dishes

Malaysian Stir-Fried Rice Noodles

Makes 6 servings Char kwey teow is probably one of the most iconic noodle dishes in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Commonly sold at the hawker centers of the region, the recipes for char kwey teow vary from vendor to vendor. Most feature wide ribbon–style rice noodles, Chinese sausage, eggs, and […]