Appetizers

Apologies for not posting. Acute tendinitis has limited my ability to work on the computer. — I love feta cheese, but I forget about it. I’ll buy some, wonder why I don’t use it more in my cooking, then forget it for another six months. Here, then, is my latest…

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Pickled Grapes

October 25, 2023

As the holidays ramp up, so does the production of foods falling under the capacious, vague, generally alarming category of edibles labeled “great with a cheese platter.” Let’s not even discuss those foods that are “terrific with charcuterie!” Coming soon to a holiday table near you. Even the most cheese-loving…

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Fish Cakes

June 17, 2023

Before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, the closest I’d come to sampling a fish cake was the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish. I say that without sarcasm. In 2000 I found work at a large university. My colleagues and I often lunched out. One of our haunts was a…

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Nearly Summer Salad

June 8, 2023

Why nearly summer? Well, I don’t know about where you are, but where I am, it’s still cool. We even had rain a few days ago. More importantly, as salads go, it’s still too early for luxuries like heirloom tomatoes or baby cucumbers. Instead, nearly summer salad relies on some…

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The name of this dish was cause for lively discussion on instagram. Is it a rarebit or a rabbit? Is it Welsh or English? All my British friends assured me the dish is now referred to as a “rarebit.” Whether or not it is English or Welsh likely depends on…

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Cheese Straws

March 11, 2023

Some readers may feel cheese straws are right up there with gelatin molds involving mayonnaise. Stay with me, for the cheese straw has possibilities beyond the dinner-party-appetizer-with-drinks. I mean, seriously, do you ever hear me discussing my dinner party plans? Right. So hang in there. Cheese straws do necessitate turning…

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Turkey Mini-Burgers

July 10, 2022

Turkey mini-burgers happened because I detest turkey. Doesn’t that make you want to dive right in? Seriously, we live in a divisive era. Everyone has an opinion, and few of us want to hear the opposing side. This extends to what we put in our mouths. So, in a miniscule…

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Chopped Liver

January 18, 2022

There’s the old joke that goes four Jews, five opinions, and this is especially true where food is concerned. So it is with some trepidation that I offer a recipe for chopped liver. I consulted about a dozen books before settling on the chopped liver recipe in Anthony Bourdain’s Appetites….

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Ah, November. The container ships are in backed up in the harbor, and with them, some of the holiday craziness normally upon us by now. Am I a grinch to be grateful? Not that I hate the holidays. I don’t. But the enforced cheer is wearying, especially when it starts…

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Pate IK

October 23, 2021

Anthony Bourdain, ever irreverent, has this to say of paté-making: You’ve made meat loaf, right? You’ve eaten cold meat loaf, yes? Then you’re halfway to being and ass-kicking, name-taking charcutier. ‘Oooh…paté, I don’t know.’ Please. Campagne means country in French. Which means even your country-ass can make it.” Les Halles…

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