Children of the ’90s: Rejoice, for bruschetta is due a revival. If you, too, grew up with parents piling carelessly cut tomatoes on any old piece of toasted bread and dropping it on the table with a flourish, this bruschetta is for you. But instead of the oft-abused balsamic vinegar of our youth (please, a … Read more
In Trentino–Alto Adige, mushrooms are cultivated and foraged. The mushrooms found throughout the region have been revered since ancient times and referred to by the ancient Romans as the food of the gods. Found both in cultivation caves and out in the woods growing wild, the bounty lends itself to various uses. Simple buttons, trumpets, … Read more
Chaat is one of my all-time favorite foods. It can be a snack, a shareable side for game day, or a dinner all on its own. This take on aloo chaat swaps the typical boiled spuds for frozen tater tots that get crisped up and tossed in spice-infused ghee. Using tater tots not only saves … Read more
Holi is the Hindu festival of colors and welcomes the arrival of spring in India. There are many delicacies that are prepared during the celebrations, but one is particularly special: dahi vada, also known as dahi bhalla. This is a beloved Indian snack of fermented lentil dumplings that are fried until golden brown, then soaked … Read more
It only takes a handful of ingredients to turn a can of young green jackfruit into smoky, savory meatless “carnitas.” Layer them high atop tortilla chips, cheese, and black beans before heating through in the oven until melty. Top these hearty nachos with pickled jalapeños, sliced radishes, and all the fixings. They’re perfect for dinner, … Read more
Though I’ve lived almost my entire life in the South, I was an adult the first time I encountered fire crackers, a so-called Southern staple, at a neighbor’s Christmas party. A year or so later I read Sheri Castle’s paean to the Alabama favorite in Southern Living. Reading it made me nostalgic for something I … Read more
Whether you call them summer rolls or fresh spring rolls, this popular Vietnamese snack is easy to make at home (though it can take a fair amount of time to assemble). Prep a few ingredients in advance, grab a friend to help form an assembly line, and you’ll have no trouble cranking them out for … Read more
Wings top of my list of party snacks. And when I think of perfect wings, it’s not the spicy burn of Buffalo that I’m after. My mind goes South to another city: Atlanta, the capital of lemon-pepper wings. The zingy mix of lemon and pepper probably started eons ago in India, but as a seasoning, … Read more
In 1985 the first blooming onion hit the fryolator at Russell’s Marina Grill in New Orleans, a creation of chef Jeff Glowski. Glowski’s friend and colleague, Tim Gannon, brought the fried onion to a neighboring restaurant in NOLA. And then, in 1988, take a wild guess what popular restaurant chain Tim Gannon cofounded. The blooming … Read more
An American institution shrouded in red-hot mythology, the Buffalo wings recipe that kicked off the game day and bar night staple is hard to pin down. According to one origin story, a proprietor of Anchor Bar in Buffalo invented hot wings sometime in the 1960s. Faced with hungry patrons and a fridge full of chicken … Read more