RECIPE: Oysters & Pearls

The great chef Thomas Keller, inventor of “Oysters and Pearls,” created a splendid first course with fresh-shucked oysters in a pearl tapioca sabayon, garnished with osetra caviar (today it’s domestic white sturgeon caviar, due to import restrictions). Here’s a video, here’s the recipe). Keller’s inspiration was a box on tapioca pearls he noticed on a…
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RECIPE: Tortilla Chips & Steak Appetizer For Cinco De Mayo

Crunchy and beefy! Photo courtesy National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.   This isn’t exactly an authentic Mexican recipe, but it’s close enough for Cino de Mayo. Presented by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“Beef, it’s what’s for dinner”), it’s a stylish, fresh way to serve guacamole or salsa with tortilla chips. Just…
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Cheese Ball Recipes for National Cheese Ball/Cheeseball Day

April 17th is National Cheese Ball Day. Here’s are 10+ cheese ball recipes, spelled cheese ball, if you prefer. The recipes are both savory and sweet. Whip up a savory cheese ball to serve with beer, wine or cocktails. Serve a sweet cheese ball with shortbread or other cookies for dessert.   The first recipe…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Hummus Salad

Use hummus as the base of a salad. Photo courtesy Chalk Point Kitchen | NYC.   Last month we featured 20 different ways to use hummus. But we left off at least one: this hummus salad. This appetizer concept, by Executive Chef Joe Isidori of Chalk Point Kitchen in New York City, piles crunchy veggies…
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RECIPE: Raw Scallops With Grapefruit

Raw scallops and grapefruit. Use dill or fennel fronds for decoration. Photo by Glen Allsop courtesy Estela Restaurant | NYC.   Before the tastiest citrus goes away until next season, consider this super-easy yet elegant (and low-calorie!) first course. Estela Restaurant in New York City made it with small “cocktail” grapefruits, but we added some…
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