TIP OF THE DAY: Add Crunch To Burgers & Sandwiches

[1] A crunchy layer of potato chips—waffle chips are a nice touch—adds texture and flavor to the Bacon Chili Crunch Burger at San Diego-based Slater’s 50/50 (photo © Slater’s 50/50). [2] Fried chicken skins on the Blanco Burger at Lucky Rooster in Hilton Head (photo © Lucky Rooster). [3] Crunch pork rinds on a burger…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Add Crunch To Burgers & Sandwiches”

TIP OF THE DAY: Serve A Main Dish With Four Sides

If you’re accustomed to serving your dinner protein with one vegetable and a starch (potato, noodles, rice)—or veg and a side salad—here’s a tip on “diversification.” It was inspired by this dish from Bluewater Grill, with several locations in California and one in Phoenix. Their chefs know that serving multiple items generates more excitement. That’s…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Serve A Main Dish With Four Sides”

TIP OF THE DAY: Create Excitement With Multiple Garnishes

[1] Multiple garnishes turn a piece of grilled fish into something special (photo courtesy Boutros Restaurant | Brooklyn). [2] It can be as simple as this: an appetizer of merguez sausage and shishito peppers (shown), or steamed asparagus, or scallops, etc., accented with a zigzag of one condiment and dots of another (photo courtesy Pain…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Create Excitement With Multiple Garnishes”

TIP OF THE DAY: Finding The Perfect Pork Chop Preparation

Growing up, we had pork chops for dinner once a week. Mom pan-fried them with a Dijon glaze, and served them with sides of caramelized onions and her skin-on, chunky mashed potatoes. Caramelized onions mixed into the mashed potatoes, by the way, generates an even better flavor experience greater than eating them separately. Some caramelized…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Finding The Perfect Pork Chop Preparation”

TIP OF THE DAY: Add Crunch To Your Foods

When chefs create a recipe, they include elements of salt, acid, fat and heat (and sometimes, a pinch of sweetness). It’s all about flavor: Salt enhances flavor; acid balances flavor; fat delivers flavor and mouthfeel; and heat (pepper, chiles, etc.) is a counterpoint. But what about texture? Good recipes take time to add texture as…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Add Crunch To Your Foods”