TIP OF THE DAY: Heirloom Tomato Salads: Russian-Style & Mediterranean-Style

Today’s tip showcases luscious summer heirloom tomatoes in two salads. Both are European-inspired, both are made without lettuce or other leafy greens.     RECIPE #1: RUSSIAN TOMATO & CUCUMBER SALAD Our Russian grandmother used a lot of sour cream, dill and scallions: as salad dressing, in borscht, on boiled potatoes and as a general…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Rambutan, Asian Fruit

[1] A bowl of rambutans, with some pieces peeled to reveal the white fruit inside (photo © HLB Specialties). [2] Rambutans ripening on the tree. The “haze” around the red fruits are green “hairs,” which have not yet ripened to red (photo © Bonayon). [3] A cluster of rambutans cut from the tree. They grow…
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FOOD 101: Rum Facts For National Rum Day

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum: August 16th is National Rum Day. (Here’s the pirate song, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.) Many thanks to Pat Croce’s Rum Barrel sports bar and grill in Key West (now closed, alas) for much of this information.     WHAT IS RUM? Everyone who knows the word…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes get a lot of press in the summer. July and August are the peak months to pick these most flavorful tomatoes. Are they worth the extra cost? And what exactly are heirloom tomatoes?     WHAT ARE HEIRLOOMS TOMATOES Heirloom produce—fruits and vegetables—are old varieties, typically with superior flavor, that have been bypassed…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Paella Pan Serving Plate

[1 & 2] Serve appetizer or dessert bites in a paella pan (photos © Empellón Restaurant | NYC.   Here’s an idea from Empellón Restaurant in New York City, which specializes in modern Mexican cuisine. Grab that paella pan, serving tray or oversize dish from its hiding place, fill it with crushed ice get ready…
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