OK, so you’ve (reluctantly) agreed to cook Thanksgiving dinner for the family this year, or maybe it’s your first time tackling what is arguably the most difficult meal of the season to plan and prepare. It will be a formidable task. So much planning, the endless prep, the fight for oven space – the list goes on and on. There’s a whole gaggle of close family (and that weird cousin you only see once a year) in the other room,…
I’m always on the lookout for a great place to have dinner with friends and family. Market Street in Frederick, MD has several fantastic dining options, but for this visit, I traveled to the north end of that busy street for a taste of French cuisine at Up on Market Bistro. As the name implies, the bistro (and attached inn) is styled in the classic décor and furnishings of a typical French bistro or brassiere found all over Paris. Brass…
The craft beer industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years. Now, in the beginning, that was a good thing. We were becoming more like Europe, where in countries such as Germany, it seems like every small town has their own brewery, and the beers there are generally good, unique, and flavorful. The first brew pubs were packed here in the U.S., and for connoisseurs of that wonderful, malty beverage, it was a golden age. Beer…
Living in a rural area in the summer is a magical time. Gardens are in full bloom, and all over the countryside, local fruit and vegetable stands are busy, presenting fresh and just-picked produce used in our favorite summer recipes. They may be a formal market, a lean-to on the side of the road, or even just a small table at the end of a driveway (where payment is made on the honor system), but no matter where you find…
I don’t know how long it’s been since the last time you went out to eat at a casual dining chain, but the landscape sure has changed – and not for the better. First off, I’m going to do my “old man” rant on QR codes. Now, I do technology as a profession, so I understand that it does help in some cases. I also understand that the younger generation has no problem adapting to these advances, but I’d like…
On a hot summer night, sometimes the last thing anyone wants to do is turn on the grill or oven and prepare dinner for the family. These days, there’s another option that is quick, easy, and can also be creative and fun. Charcuterie. Whoa, slow down there, Maurice. I’m not eating any weird pig’s stomach or cast-off chicken parts. Not to worry. While “charcuterie” is a French word (which actually deals with the art and science of preserving meats), the…
Ahhh, the summer garden. Who doesn’t love the thought of walking out of their back door and picking some ripe, juicy tomatoes, tender lettuces, or snipping off some fresh herbs to be used in that favorite kitchen recipe? Well, hold on there a minute, all you Gordon Ramsey wannabes. First things first. If you want to reap all of those delicious rewards, there’s a little sweat equity involved to get there. I’m not saying that having a small garden is…
One of the biggest expenses in a typical household after those pesky rent/mortgage/car payments every month is groceries. We all have to eat, and things are certainly not getting any cheaper at the local supermarket. What’s a body to do? Well, I feel your pain, and as someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I employ quite a few strategies to help make my food dollar go as far as possible. I’m certainly no expert, but here…
We humans are a fickle lot, jumping on the latest taste and flavor bandwagon when it comes to food and beverage choices. So, what’s on the horizon for 2024? Where does the industry think our taste buds and habits are heading? I’ve scoured the internet for multiple clues (so you don’t have to) and come up with a few trends that the pundits say are in store for us in the coming year. Plant Based Choices – More and More…
More than any other holiday meal, you know what’s on the menu for the Thanksgiving feast. Turkey. It’s what’s for dinner. For those of you with some experience with this kitchen event, you’ll know that cooking a Thanksgiving turkey is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough meal to nail, not only from the timing of all of those sides, but for cooking the bird itself, and there are as many ways to cook that holiday fowl as…