Vitello tonnato is one of my summer specialties. But when I told Teresa about it, she turned me down cold. “That’s such a weird dish,” she said. The version I […]
Recipe Box
FROM THE LARDER
Stalking the Elusive Red Currant
A once-forbidden fruit becomes a sparkling jelly
I got this text in mid-July: “Dani says to tell you that she has ripe currants if you’re interested.” Currant cultivation was, I had thought, forbidden in Massachusetts. But legal […]
COOK’S KITCHEN
Corn Chowder With BLT Salsa Is a Marriage Made in August
A light, no-cream soup is the base for a bacon, herb, and tomato topping
When my next-door neighbor left a bag of local corn and tomatoes on my doorstep, it was like Christmas in July. I am polyamorous when it comes to corn and […]
COOK’S KITCHEN
A Gift of Preserved Lemons Awakens a Mussel Memory
Chatham mussels meld deliciously with North African flavors
Mussels will always seem glamorous to me. The first time I had them, they were presented so artfully: a small woman carrying a steaming, oversized stainless-steel pot walked into the […]
THE ESSENTIALS
A Platter of Zucchini Fritti, Just Like Aunt Lil’s
Sultry seaside air inspires a quest to recover a crisp, salty taste memory
It’s that time of year. Unlike some people, I don’t dodge neighbors heading my way with a basketful of zucchini. This beautiful, versatile vegetable can be sautéed, frittered, grilled, or […]
FORAGING
A Secret Path to the Season’s Sweetness
Picking wild blueberries is a labor of love, with benefits
TRURO — I wasn’t sure what to expect when my boyfriend, Miles, headed down an unfamiliar sandy path lined with scrubby green underbrush. “Follow me,” was all he said. We […]
FROM THE LARDER
A Couple’s Flavorful Connections Between the Cape and Kalamata
Fresh Greek olive oil is the secret to a silky gazpacho
Olive oil may have always been ubiquitous in some lucky American subcultures, but it wasn’t in mine. I remember the first time my mother ran across olive oil on an […]
BACKYARD KITCHEN
The Secret to Chicken That’s Grilled but Not Charred
Listening to Johnny Cash leads a cook to build a ‘ring of fire’
Grilling is one of the great joys of summer. There’s that distinctive smoky flavor, that primal connection to the live fire outside, drink in hand. Not to mention no hot […]
FROM THE LARDER
Neighborly Recipes for Midsummer Parties and Family Visits
Cold carrot soup and pound cake as a palette for berries from a community cookbook
Almost everything seemed to go quiet as those early days of the pandemic unfolded. But messages kept coming from Wellfleet Preservation Hall. Word from there was a comfort, reminding me […]
THE ESSENTIALS
The Modest Fish Cake Rewards a Second Look
Crispy outside, creamy inside, and served with a bite of local history
I first spotted fish cakes on an inn’s menu on Martha’s Vineyard. After daring to order them for breakfast, I’ve made them at home ever since — though more often […]
ALL IN
Bob Costa’s Classic Oysters
A famous Wellfleet recipe from The Joy of Shucking returns
I was delighted to read in last week’s Independent that Bob Costa’s poker game is now up and running again after a two-year Covid pause (“Who’s Got the Cards?” page […]
SPIRIT OF THE SEA
‘I’ll Have the Thalassa me Kritharaki, Please’
Orzo with seafood and a convincing Greek accent
I’ve always loved Greece and Greek cuisine. I first traveled around Greece as a student when I was 20. I was invited back in 1981 as part of a team […]
KITCHEN GARDEN
An Early Summer Arugula Salad
Yogurt, lemon, and olive oil are counterpoints to spicy greens and radishes
Somebody gives you flowers and you put them on the kitchen counter, and every time you see them you smile and feel fond of that person. It’s very nice. But […]
NOLA DISPATCH
At Casamento’s, the Next Best Thing to My Mother’s Oyster Loaf
Layered, butter-crisped oysters that make more than a mere sandwich
NEW ORLEANS — As I step in from the bright-hot sun that is beating down on the sidewalk here and settle into the cool dimness of Casamento’s, I am reminded […]
SIX-MINUTE SATISFACTION
Crispy, Fragrant Chinese Scallion Pancakes
Patching together an approximation of a Chinese-American kitchen in Truro
Last August, a week after I moved to Truro and joined the Independent, I spent a day scouting out my grocery options. The Wellfleet Marketplace sometimes has baby bok choy, […]
