I muttered this question to myself as I clicked through reviews of nearby restaurants and markets in my little neighborhood of Fox Point, Providence. There are a lot of places boasting authentic Portuguese cuisine, along with bread and pastry or a wide variety of madeira. While I miss so much about living in Washington, D.C., Providence has surpassed my expectations related to food offerings. One of the greatest surprises has been getting to know Portuguese cuisine, and seeing how embedded this culture is within the area. Immigrants from Portugal heavily settled Fox Point at the beginning of the 20th century, drawn here for manufacturing and waterfront employment opportunities. I recently learned that thirty-two percent of residents claim Portuguese ancestry in our neighborhood.

March 24, 2017March 27, 2017 by KD

Marinated & Steamed Chinese Eggplant

Eggplants are not quite in season (far from it, actually), but when a beautiful bunch of dark purple nightshades cropped up at the grocery store, I just couldn’t resist. These are Chinese eggplants, different from Italian eggplants in their long, thin appearance. The skin of Chinese eggplants is also thinner than the ones you’d normally find in the produce aisle.

March 20, 2017March 21, 2017 by KD

A Recipe for the Spring

Today is the first day of spring! If it’s still cold and snowy where you live, surely you’ve noticed the daylight lasting longer, and that alone is a cause for celebration. The recipe below, called salmagundi, is the perfect recipe to ring in spring on a full belly.

Read more “A Recipe for the Spring” →

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 by KD

Corned Beef and Cabbage for Your St. Patty’s Festivities

How lucky are we that St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday this year? We’ve an excellent chance to celebrate the proper way: with too much Irish whiskey and maybe some green beer. But you can’t have a proper St. Patrick’s Day without some corned beef and cabbage!

March 15, 2017March 16, 2017 by KD

The Excellent Marketing of Aslin Beer Co.’s Master of Karate

The quickest way to inspire a cult following for your beer is to name it in reference to a pop culture benchmark, ideally with a cult following itself. Aslin Beer Co. of Herndon, Virginia recently released a pair of beers marketed in this way, and what’s even better is that the beer is phenomenal.

March 13, 2017March 14, 2017 by KD

Squid and Farro with White & Green Beans

About five years ago, I stumbled upon what would become one of my favorite recipes ever: Squid and Farro with White & Green Beans. You might quake at the idea of cooking with squid, but the flavors in this dish are so appealing that you may just change your mind. Read more “Squid and Farro with White & Green Beans” →

March 10, 2017March 13, 2017 by KD

Better Than Delivery Pad Thai

If you often find yourself falling into the “too tired to cook, let’s order delivery” camp, I’ve got about 75% of the solution right here*. This recipe for pad thai is quick, easy, and so good you may want to double the recipe for leftover lunch all week!

March 8, 2017March 9, 2017 by KD

Current Obsession: Raw Cheese

What is “raw” cheese? It’s mysterious! Delicious! *Slightly* illegal! You’d better sit down, cause you’re about to get some dairy knowledge.

March 6, 2017March 7, 2017 by KD

How To Cook a Steak Without Fear!

Nothing (NOTHING) has been more intimidating in my culinary adventures than learning to cook a steak. I’m not even talking about grilling, or marinating, or doing some impressive open-fire paleo stuff in a cutthroat competition. I’m just talking about cooking a nice hunk of beef, for myself, in a kitchen, on the stove. Cooking steak while inexperienced (CSWI) is intimidating for two reasons:

March 3, 2017March 20, 2017 by KD

The Best Chili Recipe You’ll Ever Find

Without a doubt, the chili recipe below is THE BEST. What, you may ask, defines “the best chili ever”? It’s one that’s: (a) easy; (b) has the right consistency; (c) comes together quickly; and, of course, (d) tastes good. The recipe below delivers all of this, and then some!

February 27, 2017March 6, 2017 by KD

In Case of Emergency… Spaghetti Carbonara

Picture this: it’s 3 p.m. on a Friday. You’ve had a hectic week, with no time to go to the grocery store. Your fridge resembles the Gobi Desert. In some masochistic slip of the tongue, you’ve invited a few friends to dinner at your place… and now you’ve got to feed four people. Oh, did I mention you have about 30 minutes to spare between arriving home and your guests showing up? WHAT DO YOU MAKE?!

the cursory cook.

What Is Portuguese Cuisine?