Profile

AlisonEats

I'm a freelance food writer and editor, currently working my way through Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts program at the California School of Culinary Arts, and happily making my peace with butter, cream, eggs, and caul fat.

  • Website
  • Location: Marina del Rey, California
  • Favorite foods: Lobster tacos, any kind of homemade mac 'n' cheese, homemade pizza, chocolate, cheese.
  • Last bite on earth: Puerto Nuevo-style lobster with clarified butter, refried beans, rice, and fresh flour tortillas--heaven!

Rant: What The New York Times Doesn't Know About Bánh Mì

Yeah, it was pretty awful, especially when it named the NomNom Truck for the best bahn mi in LA. The NomNom Truck???? But, it did make me want to trek down to Westminster for some really good bahn mi...

Who else hates how holidays take over food websites/magazines?

Yep, I'm with you. And I used to work at a food magazine, so I've been responsible for perpetrating this torture because holiday issues are big newsstand sellers (attracting lots of peeps who don't cook year-round and appreciate the recipes/menu ideas/tips/etc.). And every year we had to come up with a new way to spin it.

Scooped: Gingerbread and Trappist Ale Ice Cream

Man, this looks good!

Spicy refrigerator pickle recipe help needed!

These are easy, too: http://nourishnetwork.com/2010/07/14/spicy-sweet-pickled-cucumbers/

Lettuce Wrap Recipe Request

Here's another, for beef bulgogi: http://nourishnetwork.com/2010/06/30/grass-fed-beef-bulgogi/

Enjoy

'Top Chef Masters,' Episode 6: Just The Tasty Bits

Goat is turning up everywhere these days, it seems (http://nourishnetwork.com/2010/05/12/old-world-meats/), so I was surprised that both chefs who used it had trouble with it.

James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards 2010 Predictions

I hope you're wrong about Highlands Bar & Grill. It's a fantastic restaurant, great chef/owners, and so deserving of the recognition.

Do You Have a Favorite Brand of Butter?

Kerrygold & Plugra are great; and Land o' Lakes is a good-value runner-up. These days, I'm using Tillamook, which is good, too, and always seems to be on sale at the store.

Pumpkin Pie Brûlée

sounds tasty--and easy. And a good excuse to buy a kitchen torch.

The Secret Ingredient: Crème Fraîche

Thanks for the tip to use creme fraiche in mac 'n' cheese. I had some homemade stuff that needed to find a tasty home: http://eatcheapeatwelleatup.com/2009/09/08/you-fraiche-thing/

Seriously Italian: Saffron Fregola with Potatoes and Peas

Oh, my, made this last night, and it was insanely good. Try it.

Why I Hate 'Hell's Kitchen'

Leeber & mikebmassey are right--you should check out Ramsey's shows on BBC America. If I had an ailing restaurant, I'd want his help, as long as it was for the BBC version. The American version of Ramsey's character is awful.

The Ultimate Breakfast Pancake

OK, wow. That's just....wow. Gorgeous!

The United States of Pizza: Alabama

Bettola's & Davenport's pizza in B'ham are awesome!

http://EatCheapEatWellEatUp.com

Seriously Italian: Saffron Fregola with Potatoes and Peas

Thanks for the post, Gina. I just bought a sack of fregola and your recipe looks like a tasty way to use them!

http://EatCheapEatWellEatUp.com

City Flavor Guide: Grand Rapids

that is some damn good peanut butter

A Father's Office Burger for Father's Day

Actually, looking at the picture and having had an FO burger, Brad got really close. Adding the lamb is a good idea. You also could buy some dry-aged ribeye and grind it in a food processor. Cool story!

http://www.EatCheapEatWellEatUp.com

Nutrition Info for recipes

I second dhorst's tout for Nutrition Data. It's a pretty good tool, and free!

In Videos: 'Tom Colicchio on Taste' Diet Coke Commercial

I didn't love it. It's supposed to be Tom Colicchio on taste, with a capital "T". Problem is, Diet Coke taste like sh*t.

I need to go pots and pan shopping!

I love my All-Clad. I did buy a set, which generally works out better than buying them piecemeal. Checkout retailers like Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table, and Cooking.com--sometimes they have good promotions that also throw in extra goodies.


One cup coffee makers

I used to have a Keurig, which was OK. It died after about a year, and they offered to sell me another one. I opted to get a Cuisinart drip machine instead (it was cheaper and has been more reliable).

Upside: loved making 1 cup at a time.
Downside: had to order those damn little K-cups online (and pay for expensive shipping). Plus the plastic cups are such an environmental faux pas.

iPhone in the kitchen

I can't find Silver Spoon when I do a search for the iPhone app, and when I do a Google search, I come up with unrelated stuff. What's the URL?

iPhone in the kitchen

That what I do--open the Web site with a recipe and put it on the counter. But I'll check out Silver Spoon.

Baking with agave nectar

Thanks so much for the linx/advice!

Serious Eats City Guide: Los Angeles

Yay, for the LA content. More, please!

And check out this fun supper club: http://alisoneats.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/underground-supper/