I think we’ve all had the experience of walking through the local mall, trying to shop and enjoy the day, when suddenly the aroma of yeast and salt and a little too much butter assails you. Or you are enjoying a sunny summer baseball game when you are distracted by the inviting […]
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During the summer, food is just tastier when eaten outdoors. I can remember all the meals I’ve eaten under a bright canopy of warmth; laughter floating through the air along with gentle breezes. When it comes to outdoor dining, I tend to stick with a couple of staples: fish is […]
Baguette is my favorite bread, and I think the ability to make one it is among the greatest tests of a culinary professional – along with macarons and omlettes and lemon curd. None of these are difficult to make, but they can be difficult to do well. I love baguette […]
There is a very special little boy in town this week celebrating his first birthday. There have been moments during the past year when his parents must have wondered if he would live to see this day. Fortunately, the HeartGift organization brought this young man from Uganda to San Antonio for life-saving […]
In a fine dining restaurant, guests typically have 3-5 petit fours to finish a great meal. The chef will send these beautiful concoctions along with the check to ensure that the diner leaves smiling. This tradition allows pastry chefs to show their skill at balancing flavors in a small presentation. […]
I love the classics, and American food is rich with influences from all over the world. Spices that have never grown here are incorporated with techniques that clearly came from another part of the globe. When considering “American” cuisine, we all think of apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and blueberry […]
It’s that time of year. Everything starts turning pastel, baskets abound, and rabbits are allegedly handling eggs filled with candy cream. It is the Easter season and we are making Peeps. The first time I saw this I was working with an amazing pastry chef, Amanda Cook. While we had […]
While exploring the streets of Mexico City I was treated to churros on more than one occasion. Typically they were stale and soggy, and the cinnamon was more spicy than enticing. When done right, however, churros can be a delicious and inexpensive crowd-pleaser.
There are times when you have to make something out of season at the request of the client. I always try to propose a more seasonal offering, but the customer is always right. This week, I am making strawberry ice cream just a few weeks too early. Personally, I prefer the […]
Crepes are one of the most versatile dessert components. There are standard crepes, crispy crepes, chocolate crepes, black pepper crepes – you name it. Crepes are a great vehicle for flavor and really demonstrate elegance in food. However, achieving a perfectly thin, even crepe batter that cooks quickly is no […]
Everyone loves empanadas. They are warm, flaky, sweet, salty, and typically filled with greatness. But, like the dessert pasta, what if we take them in a different direction? Instead of empanada dough – how about pineapple? Step one: buy really nice, ripe, juicy pineapples. A good trick to tell is […]
I know it seems a bit out of place. Dessert pasta? I love the idea. Soft, warm, supple pasta with a tender, sweet, rich filling. It’s the best dessert, and since it’s fresh pasta, it takes only minutes to finish. I like to make mine chocolate; but you could certainly […]