Potatoes are one of those foods that goes well with any meal, any time of the day. Hash browns often are paired with popular morning items such as eggs, pancakes or french toast. When combined with veggies, cheese and a sprinkling of cornflakes, the crunch that comes is a welcome side to the evening’s main course.
Being stuck in the house as the winter weather whipped around probably gave many a chance to get creative when cooking. Not being able to get to the supermarket — or better yet, getting there and being greeted by empty shelves — has a way of making a person think.
Macaroni and cheese has been a beloved side dish in America since the 19th century. With roots coming from all corners of the globe, including Italy, Paris and England, it’s no wonder this much-traveled dish is long overdue for an infusion of local creativity. Thanks to Eileen Collins, of the 300 block of Wolf Street, the modern makeover includes hot dogs and beer, making her Mac and Cheese Dog Casserole the perfect combo comfort food.
Over the past few weeks, Mother Nature has sprinkled the city with more than enough snow to keep schoolchildren happy and adults in top shoveling form. While the appeal of fluffy, white streets may soon lose its flavor, Dolores Collins’ Zucchini Casserole is sure to put a smile back on those frozen faces. The resident of the 2000 block of South Hancock Street recommends a generous sprinkling of Parmesan for an added layer of flavor (no shoveling required).
Center City’s newest steakhouse is Chops, which joined an ever-growing list of restaurants where carnivores have their day. It opened last month on the site of the breathtakingly beautiful Oceanaire, an upscale fishhouse that sank about a year ago.
Those of us who relish fine dining are acutely aware of the high markup on wine. This is one reason BYOBs are reproducing like rabbits.
Fans of the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” are familiar with Masaharu Morimoto. He’s a brilliant technician in the kitchen, known for his Japanese creations, but he can put ingredients together resulting in dishes from the world’s cuisines.