Recent Episodes

 

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

 

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

 

 

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

 
 

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

 

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

 

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

Try a Food Tour

Top 5 Lists

While Aspen is known as one of the hottest winter ski destinations, you might want to check out what this Rocky Mountain town offers in the summer. With consistently sunny daytime temps average 76 degrees with low humidity, Aspen is an equally alluring summer playground.
 
When the eves cool off to comfortable sweater wearing temps, throngs of music lovers and students migrate to the Aspen Music Festival. The festival runs for 8 weeks, providing 300 concerts for music lovers to enjoy over the summer months.
 
Best bet? Walk from any of these vegetarian dining spots to the Benedict Music Tent where most of the concerts are held on a bucolic campus. Bike racks are provided, as is ample parking. You don’t have to be vegetarian to love these veggie centric favorites. Here’s where I head after a morning of hiking or biking, or before a concert as the sun is setting.
 

1. Aspen Farmers’ Market

 

If it’s Saturday, it’s market day, so head to the middle of town and check out the vibrant farmers’ market. With fruit, veggies, baked goods and fresh cheese all available, come prepared to collect whatever appeals and pack it to go. Walk a couple of blocks to the gondola and head straight up Ajax mountain for awe-inspiring views and music on the mountaintop on Saturdays and Sundays at midday. Saturdays are classical days with musicians from the Aspen Music Festival toting their instruments to the 11,000 foot summit of Ajax to bounce their glorious tones across the snow capped peaks. On Sundays, catch lively bluegrass between 12-3.
 

$$
130 S. Galena 2nd Floor Aspen, CO
(970) 920-7149

 

2. Pyramid Bistro

 

Check out Pyramid Bistro, upstairs from the longstanding Explore Booksellers right on E. Main St. You can’t miss the historic Victorian house set behind a picket fence with the perennial garden alongside the sidewalk. Reserve enough time to enjoy your beautifully prepared meal and browse the eclectic book selection. Pyramid is open daily for lunch and dinners, offering both indoor and patio dining. WIth its mission of “providing fresh, nutrient dense food that is organic and locally sourced whenever possible” it’s perfect for anyone with dietary restrictions as they are happy to accommodate meat free, dairy or gluten free, or vegan needs.
 

$$$
221 East Main Street Aspen, CO
(970) 925-5338

 

 

3. 520 Grill

 

Another favorite that’s not far from the gondola, and down a flight of stairs that leads you to a hair studio, a marijuana store, and a clothing store, is 520 Grill. Affordable, fast, cooked to order eats ranging from fish tacos, to “veggie farmer” salad with options to top it off with wild salmon or sushi grade tuna are the order here. Owners Wheaton Augur and Troy Selby created a lot more than a lunch counter by offering a range that pleases lots of palates. We went back 2x in as many days, to get our fill of the kale-quinoa salad, fish tacos and the sweet potato fries. It’s all a little messy for the slopes but it’s perfect to eat right there, indoors or outside on a little shaded postage stamp of a patio.
 

$
520 E Cooper Ave, Aspen CO
(970) 925-9788

 

 

4. Chef’s Club at The St. Regis

 

After sunset, we switch gears and head to the more elegant Chefs Club by Food and Wine at the St. Regis Hotel. This recently inaugurated collaboration is successfully played out in the newly situated and re-designed dining room where the entire kitchen is in full view of the dining room. A long expanse of comfortable counter, the “chef’s table”, allows diners to view the magic happening under the confident and competent Executive Chef, Thomas Riordan. Highlights included an appetizer of four blinis (rye flour) topped with house smoked sturgeon mixed with red onions and nestled against egg “mimosa”. Teeny beluga lentils dotted the plate. Ready for some carbs? I opted for English Pea Agnolotti, a luxurious mound of house made pasta with shaved black truffles, morels, spring leeks,and creme fraiche reduction. Damn the diet. I’ll remember this one for a long time.
 

$$$$$
The St. Regis Aspen Resort, 315 East Dean Street, Aspen CO
(970) 429-9581

 

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5. Plato’s

 

And finally, my favorite spot to dine is Plato’s, an intimate restaurant at the Aspen Meadows Resort, the home of the Aspen Institute. I love the Bauhaus structure and floor to ceiling windows bumping up to breath-taking views of the glimmering sunset over the Rockies. Plato’s inspired menu is a contemporary and simplified interpretation of comfort cuisine, utilizing local and organic ingredients. Of the seven starters offered, five were veg or fish, putting the kosher keepers and vegetarians at the table in a position to choose freely. Chilled strawberry soup with Greek yogurt, burrata and tomatoes or Colorado Ruby Red trout with trumpet mushrooms? We opted for most decadent and chose Spring Pea Risotto with firm English peas, mascarpone, nasturtium and Fruition Pecora cheese. Creamy, rich with nuanced melding of flavors, and perfectly al dente Carnaroli rice did not disappoint.
 

$$$$
Aspen Meadows Resort, 845 Meadows Road, Aspen CO
(970) 925-4240

 

 
What’s your go-to vegetarian dish in your favorite restaurant?
 

 

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Liz Rueven launched Kosher Like Me to share resources for other kosher keepers and vegetarians who seek local, seasonal, organic, best options when dining out and about. She splits her time between her home in coastal Connecticut and New York City. Relish.com recently named her one of their 5 favorite Jewish bloggers to follow.
 

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Check out 4 Bloggers Dish: Passover: Modern Twists on Traditional Flavors, which contains over 50 new recipes from four award winning food writers who have gotten to know each other through their blogs: Whitney Fisch of Jewhungry, Liz Rueven of Kosher Like Me, Sarah Lasry of The Patchke Princess, and Amy Kritzer of What Jew Wanna Eat.
 
In addition to mouth-watering modern recipes such as Balsamic Braised Short Ribs, Matzah Brie Caprese, Spaghetti Squash with Quinoa Meatballs, Sautéed Kale, Tomato, and Mushroom Quiche with a Hash Brown Crust, and Cinnamon Donut Balls, this e-cookbook also includes step-by-step instructions and beautiful visuals as well as helpful tips such as Freezer Instructions, Prep Ahead Rules, and a To-Go Guide.

New York City is an eating town. Everywhere you turn there is an abundance of food to purchase. Actually, even if you don’t leave home, deciding where to order in from can be an hour long process. I was born and raised in the boroughs of New York and am definitely not complaining because I love having not only choices when I eat, but that I have delicious choices when I eat. However, if you have limited time in New York, I’ve narrowed my long list of must eats to just five dishes you have to try when you are here. In my head I keep going back and forth wondering if I should have swapped out one dish for another because there is so much good food here, but I have a feeling that you won’t be disappointed with any of these five items.
 
 

1. Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings at Pok Pok

Amazing. It just kind of sneaks up on you how wonderful these Asian style chicken wings are and you don’t realize how addicting they are until you have eaten the entire plate. Pok Pok uses Amish chicken wings that have been marinated in sugar and fish sauce, then fried and then tossed in a beautiful, caramelized sauce. They are a tiny bit on the salty side, but in a good way because it makes your beer that much more satisfying.
 

117 Columbia St., Brooklyn, New York
(718) 923-9322
http://pokpokny.com/

 

 

 RELATED: Top Five Downtown New York City Restaurants

 
 

2. Spaghetti at Scarpetta

The ‘holy crap’ reaction to this dish is that you are being charged $24 for spaghetti. But I guarantee you that it is worth every single penny. I have gone back on multiple occasions to just sit at the bar of this meatpacking neighborhood restaurant to eat a bowl of this fresh, simple and intensely comforting bowl of pasta. What’s amazing is that the sauce is simply tomatoes, some seasoning, butter and cheese. But because great ingredients are used and the pasta is very well made, it really elevates the dish and turns it into spaghetti that you have never had at home, unless your grew up in Scott Conant’s household.
 

355 W 14th St., New York, New York
(212) 691-0555
http://www.scottconant.com/restaurants/scarpetta/new-york/menu

 

 
 

3. Doughnuts at Doughnut Plant

My mouth waters at the thought of a doughnut from doughnut plant. And to show you how gluttonous this shop makes me, let’s just say that I have never left with just one doughnut. I have also never left with less than four doughnuts. Not only do they have a variety of seasonal doughnuts depending on what produce is at its peak, but they have different styles for you to choose from such as yeast, cake and filled depending on your own personal preference. Whenever I go I purchase one of the seasonal doughnuts, a doughnut of the day, a Crème Brulee and a yeast Vanilla Bean. Some of my other favorites also include the Tres Leches, Peanut Butter & Jam and Blackout Cake.
 

379 Grand St., New York, New York

http://doughnutplant.com/

 

 

RELATED: Interview with author of Noshwalks New York

 
 

4. ‘21’ Burger at the Bar Room at the 21 Club

You can also order this delectable burger at the 21 Club restaurant, but I just love the décor of the Bar Room. It was love at first bite with this burger, but I must tell you that it has more of a meatloaf flavor profile than it does your typical, salt and pepper, grilled burger. I eat it with my hands, like a big burger should be eaten, and don’t care how I look to the fancy neighboring tables. Though, I must say that I must look like I am sincerely enjoying it every time because usually someone leans in to ask me what I ordered.
 

21 W 52nd St., New York, New York
(212) 582-7200
http://www.21club.com/

 

 
 

5. Pizza

Growing up in New York, pizza is near and dear to me. And because of this, I must separate the types of pizza offerings into three categories and then offer up my top pick for each category.
 
New York Style Pizza at New Park New York style pizza are big triangle slices of pizza that you usually see in movies, being served on paper plates, folded in half and that leaves patrons pulling on strings of cheese with each bite. New Park’s sauce, mozzarella and slightly charred bottoms make for a perfect New York slice.
 

New Park Pizza
15671 Cross Bay Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11414

http://newparkpizza.com/

 

 
 
Neapolitan Pizza at Don Antonio. The men behind Don Antonio have so much experience in the pizza world, it’s no wonder that they have become one of the hottest Neapolitan pizza places in the city. Neapolitan pizzas are sold as small pies, cooked at very high temperatures in a wood brick oven, have a chewy crust and have to meet certain standards set by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana in order to be called Neapolitan pizza. Be sure to try more than one pie at Don Antonio because they are just that good.
 

309 W 50th St., New York, New York
(646) 719-1043
http://www.donantoniopizza.com/

 

 
 
Brick Oven Style Pizza at Grimaldi’s think of what is called a brick-oven pizza in New York as an Americanized version of a Neapolitan. It’s normally sold as a pie (though much bigger in size than a Neapolitan), very thin, cooked in a coal brick oven and has a crust that is crispy on the outside with a slight chew on the inside. Because they are so thin, you can easily go through half a pie before you start to get full and want to stop eating. Grimaldi’s just knows how to cook their pies beautifully, so much that you will want to get one to go with you.
 

Grimaldi’s
1 Front St. New York, NY 11201
(718) 858-4300

http://www.grimaldis.com/

 

 
 

 

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About Joyce Huang

Joyce Huang is a New York native, owns TheAlchemyShop.com, is the CCO at LustreLife.com and runs the food blog, Chasing James Beard. Find her on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @JoyceHuang1126.

 

Rhode Islanders are not used to 12-foot snow berms or cold spells that last more than a couple of days, so this winter has been an especially cruel test of our endurance. But if there is one silver lining to The Blizzard of 2015 (aka The Blizzard That Never Ended), it is this: we’ve had a justifiable excuse to order hot chocolate like it’s no one’s business. Granted, that’s my M.O. year-round, and if you’re like me, you don’t need a historic winter to entice you to order hot chocolate. These decadent beverages require no excuse, but just in case you find yourself in need of a drink that warms you from the inside out, here are the top 5 hot chocolates in Providence.
 
 

1. The Shop

The Shop is new to Providence, having only opened in August 2014. The owners are a young couple often found ringing up orders and creating beautiful latte art. They care about quality service and are happy to answer questions, particularly those about their coffee and their locally sourced selection of Humble Pies. The Shop is perfect for setting up a laptop and getting cozy with your neighbors on the bench-style seating. What makes this hot chocolate unique is its flavor profile. During the month of January, the owners experimented with different flavors of hot chocolates: Peanut Butter, Raspberry, Peppermint, and Banana, all topped with a homemade marshmallow. Even though I went back every week and thought all were delicious, the peanut butter hot chocolate was like drinking a melted Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. WOWZA. Currently, patrons are voting on Facebook for their favorite flavor, which will then become a staple menu item, so it’s safe to say I hope Peanut Butter gets the vote!
 

$
460 Wickenden Street, Providence, RI
(401) 684-1140
http://www.theshopfoxpoint.com

 
 

2. New Harvest

New Harvest is a Rhode-Island-born coffee roastary that got its start fifteen years ago in a drafty shed in Rumford, Rhode Island, and now their coffee is sold in shops and Whole Foods Market stores across New England. Their namesake shop is located downtown, inside of the newly revived Providence Arcade. One of the benefits of New Harvest, aside from their prime location and killer coffee, is that they’re open early in the morning and stay open well into the night (10pm weekdays, 12am Thursday-Saturday). There are business suits by day and hipsters by night, and the baristas are magicians. Not only do they create the fluffiest hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted (i.e., it was as light and airy as it was creamy and chocolatey), they also create masterful latte art. Bonus? After noon, they offer a full bar, so if anyone likes Baileys in his or her hot chocolate…I’m just saying.
 

$
130 Westminster St, #118, Providence, RI
(401) 438-1999
http://www.newharvestcoffee.com

 

RELATED: Take the Providence Foodie Quiz

 
 

3. Duck and Bunny

This is one of the better known establishments in Providence. The restaurant calls itself a “snuggery” to allude to its coziness, and it was built into an old house. The original floors and fireplaces still remain intact, and it feels as if you’re walking into a family’s home. They’re known for their brunches and selection of cupcakes, but their hot chocolate is the best kept secret in Rhode Island—it is, I think, my favorite of them all. They offer a “regular” hot chocolate, but I advise going for the one on their cocktail list, the Drunken Raspberry Chocolate. It’s out of this world. This drink epitomizes “sinfully delicious” with its rich raspberry flavor, its smooth finish, and its dangerously sweet intoxicant: ChocoVine’s Raspberry Chocolate wine. I would have never thought a dessert wine would blend well with hot chocolate, but one cannot taste wine; rather, one experiences an added sensation of warmth and an almost immediate buzz. Even my guy friend, who arrived skeptical, wished he’d ordered a larger size after his first taste. Anyone who likes raspberry and chocolate (surely anyone with a pulse) will fall instantly in love.
 

$$
312 Wickenden St, Providence, RI
http://www.theduckandbunny.com

 
 

4. The Elephant Room

This is one of my favorite places in all of Rhode Island. It’s located in Pawtuxet Village, only a ten-minute drive from Duck and Bunny, and is worth the journey because the ambiance cannot be beat. It’s a tearoom by classification, and their tea list is as extensive as a beer list is in Belgium. They offer sweet and savory crepes, and because I can never decide between them, I usually get one of both. One Friday night, following tea-infused cocktails (brunch and lunch are their prime times, but they have live music on weekend evenings), the chef asked me if I would like to try their hot chocolate, and I’m so glad I did! With homemade whipped cream that tasted like melted marshmallows, it was pure bliss.
 

$
2170 Broad St, Cranston, RI
(401) 461-2170
http://elephanttearoom.com

 
 

5. Sweet Indulgence

Also located in Pawtuxet Village, Sweet Indulgence has won multiple awards for offering the Best Cupcakes of Rhode Island. And no wonder: this is the Mecca for all things chocolate and dessert. Imagine Willy Wonka’s idea of heaven, add the color pink, and you’ve created Sweet Indulgence. Designed and run by Johnson and Wales graduates, this shop offers chocolates, cupcakes, brownies, lemon bars, homemade waffles, and best of all, the most exquisite hot chocolates you ever did see. Topped with marshmallows and chocolate shavings, they like chocolate bars melted and stirred. And if you visit in the summer (or just prefer cold drinks), you can try a frozen hot chocolate. It tastes better than smoothies because it still maintains the essence of a hot chocolate despite being blended and cold. I don’t question it; I just enjoy it. You should, too.
 

$
2202 Broad St, Cranston, RI
(401) 467-4850

 

RELATED: About the Food Scene in Providence, Rhode Island.

 

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About Jenny Currier

Jenny is a transplant to the east coast from Roswell, New Mexico. She used to swim with dolphins for a living, but now she writes, eats, and travels. She also holds down several jobs in order to support her eating habit. Her tagline likely reads, “Sometimes I’m funny.”