RECIPE: Spring Pea Crostini

[1] Spring Pea Crostini (photo courtesy Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog). [2] Spring peas fresh from the field (photo courtesy The Chef’s Garden). [3] Fresh mint (photo courtesy Good Eggs). [4] Fresh spinach (photo courtesy Good Eggs). [5] Garlic, to infuse the olive oil (photo courtesy Domain Image).   One of the great treats of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Breakfast Tartines

Tartine is the French word for an open-faced sandwich with a rich spread or fancy topping. The word actually refers to a slice of bread. Tartine is the French diminutive of the Old French and Middle English tarte, derived from the Late Latin torta, a type of bread*. We have a childhood recollection of a…
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TIP OF THE DAY #2: Grilled Cheese Tips

[1] A Caprese grilled cheese sandwich made with mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil. Here’s the recipe from Cooking Classy. [2] Dessert grilled cheese: queso blanco and fresh raspberries (photo courtesy Litehouse Foods).   April 12th is National Grilled Cheese Day. We’re passing along these tips for a better grilled cheese sandwich from the culinary team…
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FOOD 101: Mahlepi or Mahleb, A Middle Eastern Spice

We would never have heard of mahlepi or mahleb*, a Middle Eastern spice, were it not for Greek tsoureki (photo #1), one of our favorite Easter breads. Tsoureki, a soft, sweet and buttery braided yeast loaf, is famous for its embedded Easter eggs. We’ve never made it because it’s a two-day process, and we never…
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FOOD 101: French Bread, Italian Bread, The Difference

[1] A basket of baguettes, made by Hewn Bread in Chicago. Baguette is the longest French loaf. [2] Note how these French loaves are shorter than baguettes. On the top shelf, slender ficelles appear to the left of batards, which are wider than baguettes. On the lower shelf, smaller bâtons in the front are wider…
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