I think beets get a bum rap. I admit the staining power of red beets can be a little off-putting. I can understand that the slightly earthy taste, which I really like, would turn some people off. However, I'd like to make the case that if well-prepared and combined with other ingredients, they are quite delicious. Aside from being delicious, beets possess many health-producing characteristics. … [Read more...]
Fennel and Apple Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
I abhor licorice candy. Maybe it's the chewy, stick-to-your-teeth texture or the intense flavor. Maybe it's that Milk Duds and Sugar Babies always won out at the Malco Theatre concession stand of my childhood. The idea of black candy also freaked me out a bit, but I didn't like the red version any better. Fennel, on the other hand, is a different story. Even with the same licorice flavor, … [Read more...]
Arugula, Cantaloupe, and Ham Salad with Pink Peppercorn Vinaigrette
In Serenbe, a New Urban community south of Atlanta, the Farmhouse restaurant features fried chicken on their Sunday brunch and locals flock there to enjoy the southern fare. The bustling farm to table restaurant also dishes up other regional sides, such as squash casserole and fried green tomatoes. Diners can wash it all down with bottomless Mimosas. Bruce and Felix treated us to brunch on … [Read more...]
Cucumber Rolls with Pesto Shrimp Salad
When I think of summer, I think of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. A previous post features one of my very favorite salads for this season. Basil occupies a prominent place in my herb garden this summer and I'm always looking for ways to use it. For this post, I decided to make a batch of pesto and pair it with shrimp salad. The recipe will make more pesto than you need for this dish, but it … [Read more...]
Broccoli and Farro Salad with Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
Farro might just be my new favorite grain. The first time I tasted farro, I was struck by the texture. I savored the sensation of the chewy kernels as they rolled around my mouth, slightly resisting my bite but yielding into a burst of nutty and earthy flavor. What I realized is that texture is one of the characteristics I like most about food. Obviously, taste and aroma are important but texture … [Read more...]
Farro Caprese Salad
I think you all know by now that I love to grill. If the weather cooperates, I'm firing up the grill several times a week and the menu regularly includes salmon, steak, pork chops, or chicken. I'm always on the hunt for the perfect side dish for whatever is coming off the grill and this dish might just be that perfect side. Farro (pronounced FAHR-oh) is an ancient whole grain that is an … [Read more...]
BLT Salad
Spring has finally arrived in Atlanta and warm days always draw me outside to my patio and grill. This time of year, I cook several meals a week on the grill and this week New York strips were on the menu. Give me a grilled piece of meat paired with a salad of some kind and I'm a happy guy. This salad, a twist on a classic summer sandwich, is always a hit. I particularly like the inclusion of … [Read more...]
Kale Salad with Slivered Almonds and Pomegranate Vinaigrette
When I looked at the photograph that I took for this post, I realized that I was three months late for the perfect Christmas salad. As Christmasy as it looks, it's makes a beautiful and healthy accompaniment to any meal any time of the year. I love eating foods that are vibrantly colored. As a rule, fruits and vegetables that are deep and vibrant in color are full of vitamin and … [Read more...]
Fava Beans with Red Onion, Pecorino, and Lemon Vinaigrette
It's only been in the last couple of years that I have become a huge fan of fava beans. I was aware of them for years, but I didn't really know how to prepare them. Many people heard of fava beans in the 1991 movie, Silence of the Lambs, when Hannibal Lector stated, "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.". Not an image I want to remember, … [Read more...]
Shrimp, Avocado, and Mango Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
My family is visiting for Thanksgiving and I decided that a Wednesday prelude to a total food orgy on Thursday should be a fairly healthy salad. Does anybody remember Green Goddess salad dressing? I'm old enough to remember that it was all the rage in the 70s and 80s. It's a great dressing but it was sidelined by Ranch dressing later in the 80s. I'm all for a revival of Green Goddess and I'm … [Read more...]
Grilled Caesar Salad with Parmesan Crisp
A few years ago, we went to Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa with our friends, Bruce and Felix. Bern's is one of the most famous steakhouses in the Southeastern U.S. We were seated at the table at which Ms. Bern always dines and her personal waiter served us for the evening. To say that our evening at Bern's was a food orgy is an understatement. For some reason our waiter took a liking to us and began … [Read more...]
Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad with Haricots Verts, Avocado, and Roquefort Vinaigrette
I took a mini vacation to Northern California in June with my brother, Ray, and my cousin, Delia. The weather can be a little iffy during the summer, but we lucked out and had spectacular sunny and warm days. When I travel, I live for the food. When I'm eating breakfast, I'm thinking about lunch, and during lunch, I'm obsessing about what we'll have for dinner. The Bay area has some of the best … [Read more...]