Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grilled Cheese (but were too busy to ask) Everyone (?) knows how to make grilled cheese—college kids make them on their desks using a clothes iron—but not everyone knows how to make a perfect one. Longer slow cooking makes for delectably crunchy bread and thoroughly melted cheese. There is no reason why the...
Read MoreNew England Little Neck Clam Chowder
I have to qualify this as Little Neck chowder as most chowder in New England is made with large chowder clams aka quahogs. Technically, most eastern hard-shell clams are quahogs, but they are named and sold according to size. Quahog is reserved for the largest of the hard shell clams. This is a not-so-thick, less creamy chowder than most. I like it this...
Read MoreFrank Pepe’s
It never gets old, eating clam pizza at Pepe’s in New Haven. Ever. If we are headed to any destination north or east of the Bronx, then Pepe’s is ‘on the way.’ I’ve been going there for decades and it hasn’t dropped a stitch in all that time. Maybe the people who wait on you are nicer. All the pizzas are worth the trip...
Read MoreGood Ol’ Jersey City BBQ
A few nights ago, good friend (and JC newbie) Laurie and I made it to our first Sam A.M. Supper Club dinner. It will not be our last. Mac and cheese, cornbread, barbecued ribs and chicken, killer cole slaw, baked beans and dessert. And bring you own. My first visit to Sam A.M was about a year and a half ago. I discovered Sam A.M. like Columbus discovered...
Read MoreButtermilk Cornbread
I don’t know why I think of cornbread as a summer thing, but I do. Maybe because it’s picnic-y or because it goes so well with other summer things like cole slaw, barbecued chicken and all kinds of salads. I’m doubling down on the summer thing by adding fresh corn kernels to the mix. “Out of season,’ aka not summer, leave out the kernels. This is closer to...
Read MorePizza Heaven
Last week’s pizza offerings included a zucchini with sliced tiny squash, some of the blossoms and toasted breadcrumbs. So you’re going through Facebook and you see an invitation to a pizza tasting at Razza, possibly the best pizzeria in the area, on July 23. If you don’t believe that it’s the best pizza in the area, go and check it...
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