Tag Archives: pig

Dinner at Publican

Our Chicago hosts for the week, having recently moved to the area themselves, asked me to recommend a place for dinner that would accommodate their varied tastes, which ranged from the adventurous to the not-at-all adventurous. I recommended Publican, the … Continue reading

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Chicago Dogs

We were somewhere around Park Ridge on the edge of the Chicago when the fatigue began to take hold. I remember saying something like “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive….” And suddenly there was a terrible roar … Continue reading

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Dinner at Lola

We have returned from out vacation trip to Chicago, a drive that we thought best to split into two days each way. On the westbound leg we decided to stop in Cleveland for the evening, knowing the next day would … Continue reading

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No Salami For Me

Today I received a comment from Matt, one of the judges of the Charcutepalooza competition. It was a follow-up to yesterday’s post about my salami-making adventure, which I am reposting here: I would highly suggest against drying salami at 75F. … Continue reading

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Ah, Salami, I Like ’em

Since writing this post, I have been advised about some important food safety issues concerning the temperature at which I cured the salami. Please read Matt’s comment below, or this post. Forces conspired against me, intent on foiling my latest … Continue reading

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Better than Baloney (Charcutepalooza Challenge 7)

If you are a regular reader of this blog, it may surprise you to learn that I was a very picky eater as a kid. Bag lunches rotated through peanut butter sandwiches, jelly sandwiches (but never PB & J), an … Continue reading

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Paella with Chorizo and Chicken

As I have mentioned previously, The New York Times 60-MInute Gourmet was my go-to cookbook for years. In my recently rediscovered copy, on a heavily stained page 170, is a recipe for paella, a dish I had never tasted before … Continue reading

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Charcutepalooza Challenge 5: Cold-Smoked Chorizo

If the Sixth Annual Birthday Dinner (the reporting on which will continue this week) wasn’t enough to keep me busy in the kitchen, I had the May Charcutepalooza challenge to complete as well. I had already figured out meat grinding … Continue reading

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The Triple Bacon Blast

When I made my 100% homemade BLT, I asserted that it was the best bacon sandwich I’d ever eaten. My English friends disagreed, telling me in no uncertain terms that a proper bacon sarnie (or bacon buttie) consisted of pork … Continue reading

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Bacon-Bourbon Jam

I managed to survive preparing another Easter dinner for my extended family of 25 guests. Thanks to some clever planning by my mother and me, my Sunday afternoon in the kitchen was a relaxed affair consisting mostly of shuffling pans … Continue reading

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