Some nights call for a bit of Latin flavor. While you could pick up a quick bite at a chain restaurant, consider taking advantage of the authentic Mexican and Latin-inspired restaurants Columbia has to offer. And while you can never go wrong with tacos, there is a smorgasbord of dishes from which to choose. Columbia […]
Cannoli, “The King of Sicilian Desserts.” If you say the word “cannoli,” there is a 50-50 chance that someone will tell you to “leave the gun, take the cannoli.” Cannoli were adapted from a dish brought to Sicily by the Moors more than 1,000 years ago. The Sicilians adapted it to what we know as […]
There’s not much that will win over your loved one more than chocolate. If you really want to wow that special someone this year, whip up a batch of these double love, double delicious, double chocolate chip cookies. When you eat them warm out of the oven, your heart will melt like the chocolate in […]
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, thoughts are turning to … chocolate. But which wine to serve with the holiday’s iconic sweet? We turned to Rachel Holman, CEO of Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport, for her thoughts on the pairing of wine and chocolate. “I treat my wine and chocolate pairings similar to my […]
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019. Cashews and pistachios are known for their good-fat, nutrient-rich, high-protein qualities. These no-bake delights address cravings without inducing the guilt of some other treats. This recipe is vegan, paleo, keto and gluten-free. 1 cup unsalted shelled pistachios 1 cup unsalted raw cashews ½ cup unsalted pumpkin […]
No secret in vegan and vegetarian circles, jackfruit has been gaining traction in mainstream cuisine as many look to eat fewer meat-based meals or try more exotic foods. Jackfruit is having a moment. A species of tree in the fig, mulberry and bread-fruit family native to southwest India, the jackfruit produces a large, bright green, […]
In the winter, I love doing greens that we typically think of roasting but, instead, slice them super thin for a fun, crunchy salad. This salad gets a roundness of flavor from the bright and vibrant dressing and the pop of pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates have increased in popularity in the past decade for their antioxidant […]
A flashing, red neon sign in the window of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Alley A reads, “Open now;” signaling that Big Mama Chim is back at a new location in downtown Columbia. On a chilly January night, or any night really, she can be found in the kitchen with her sleeves rolled up preparing for […]
Sometimes in the cold of winter, you need an easy dish you can make on a Monday and have for three or four meals throughout the week. Meatloaf is that dish. It is as easy or as complicated as you want. You can toss in ketchup, bread and seasoning, or grind your own meat, vegetables and […]
There’s nothing like a nice piping-hot mug of hot chocolate to chase the chills, but the modern version of sweetness had a more bitter beginning. This welcome winter warmer dates to about 500 BC, when the Mayans first drank a concoction of ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water and other ingredients, including chili peppers. Originally, […]
(Serves 4-6) 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons cocoa powder ¾ cup milk chocolate chips or bar, chopped Pinch kosher salt Milk and cream as needed Directions: Mix first five ingredients together and reserve until you are ready to make hot chocolate. Add 3 to 5 tablespoons of the mixture to just below […]
The holidays are upon us, and entertaining is in full swing. Chances are you’re planning to serve wine at your event but might be wondering which wines to serve and how much to buy. A general rule of thumb is to offer a dry red, a dry white, an off-dry wine (can be red, white […]
You can stuff just about anything into tamales. Cheese, vegetables, braised meat, seafood, chicken, venison, turkey, beans and dessert are all common, but you can come up with so many more with a little imagination. If you talk to anyone who has a tradition of making tamales in their family, they will probably gladly give […]
Around noon on weekdays, the parking lot is typically packed at Cajun Crab House, where Kevin Dinh and Linh Nguyen have been serving Southern-style seafood to Columbia residents for a little more than four months. The way Dinh tells it, though, the restaurant’s ongoing success is a bit of a happy accident. “I had not […]
Green bean casserole was first introduced in the 1950s and has grown in popularity, particularly at Thanksgiving. Although the original recipe was intended to be made with frozen green beans and canned cream of mushroom soup, I have made a few changes over the years. Like most dishes made during the middle of the century, […]
Cooking has always been a major event in my family, especially during the holidays. When I went to New York for culinary school, I was able to come back for only a short time over the holidays, so this left very little time to plan and execute our menu. We would start a slew of […]
Most people get a little nervous the first time they carve the turkey. It’s just food. You may mess up a little during the first couple of times, but it will get easier. I think carving a raw bird is easier. There is no pressure of a dining room full of guests waiting to eat, […]
To Chef Jeff Guinn, a meal is a masterpiece. Like an intricate theatrical production, he says a multicourse dinner presents a suspenseful storyline, interlaced with interesting peaks and plot-thickening valleys. Instead of viewing a meal as a means for satisfying a momentary hunger pain, The Broadway Hotel’s Executive Chef sees it for what it truly […]
The Columbia Area Career Center Culinary Arts Program (CACC Culinary) has been involved with Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) and its fall harvest festival, the Hootenanny, for the past five years. It is a showcase of local food and urban agriculture. We normally have a few dozen students who come to the event, but […]
One of my favorite things that come from the season change and cooler weather is a warm, boozy, delicious cocktail. Apple cider buttered rum has all my favorite spices and is sure to be just the treat you are looking for when partaking in fall festivities. Apple Cider Buttered Rum (Serves 4) 4 cups apple […]
