Homemade pickles in just an hour
A recently immigrated Irish friend was over for sandwiches, and I asked if she'd like a pickle on the side. She said she'd never had one, but would love to...
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Polenta: A stirring success
As a class of foods, those dishes that fall under the general category of "mush" are not generally appreciated as very, well, classy. Often associated with the poor and the...
Espagnole, a French mother sauce worth its stock
Like any French mother sauce, espagnole is not meant to be served as is. Rather, it's a base for any number of other, more complex sauces. Why you need to...
Turning to a French source on tomato sauce
I would bet that most people, when they think of tomato sauce, they think Italian. In fact, tomato sauce is found the world over. It's even one of the five...
Veloute smooths the way for many sauces
Today we continue our Dance of the Mother Sauces with another roux-thickened beauty: veloute. Like most mother sauces, veloute is not meant to be used on its own. Rather it's...
Mastering hollandaise sauce
If you're anything like me, you might be a little concerned that you didn't put on quite enough weight over the holidays. (I still have one pair of jeans I...
Follow these simple steps and you’ll get the perfect sauce
French chefs talk about the five "mother sauces" from which all other sauces emerge. In America, we tend to keep it simple: We've got barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, and gravy....
A taste of summer: Simple sparkling wines
Questions for Belinda Chang, wine and service director at Osteria Via Stato (620 N. State St., 312-642-8450), Lettuce Entertain You's latest Italian concept, which features wine served by the bottle,...
A taste of summer: Oysters (yes, even in months without an R)
Questions about oysters for Dirk Flanigan, chef at the new Blue Water Grill (520 N. Dearborn St., 312-777-1400), which boasts an elaborate raw bar. So, you and oysters go way...
A taste of summer: Hot dogs with a french-fry topping
Questions for Matt DeSantis, co-owner of Gene and Jude's hot dog stand (2720 River Rd., River Grove, 708-452-7634). Tell us about Gene and Jude's. My grandfather was Jude DeSantis. He...