Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I love bacon because it can be the star of a recipe or a wonderful supporting flavor. It also stands alone so well, especially stolen off the cookie sheet after my fiance has oven-cooked a pound of it.

Roasted grape tomatoes tossed with pasta.

If Roberto's is open in Taos, it has great New Mexican food. Also, for a darned good burger, Blake's Lotaburger's green chile cheeseburger makes a great picnic lunch if the weather is nice.

My favorite vendor in Savannah is probably the herb lady, but I'm also a sucker for the farm-fresh eggs of Adcote Farms!

Tomato aspic, as made by my grandmother. It was also available at a cafeteria that was a family favorite, so I could frequently get my jellied tomato goodness with a dollop of mayonnaise. I never see it out anymore, despite still living in the South, but I have made it before!

Dipping the corner of the tortilla chip into the salsa bowl each time we went out for Tex Mex. I wanted the salsa so badly, but it was just too hot for my young taste buds. Now when I visit my father, we often have to ask for a second bowl of salsa so we don't have to fight over it!

Spanish tortilla de patata. Onions, potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, and eggs. What could be simpler? It makes a great dinner and a great sandwich when between two pieces of crusty bread.

Smoke Station in Savannah for best local bbq

Mmm. New York strip!

Making bacon brittle for our Super Bowl party last year.

Grape tomatoes roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper, tossed with pasta. Top with some good Parmesan, and it's a fast, satisfying meal.

When I'm lucky enough to be near there, City Market in Luling, TX. For local barbeque, I like the Smoke Station here in Savannah.

Strip steak for a regular night, porterhouse for a splurge!