Food

Recipes

Shake Shack’s Frozen Vanilla Custard

This is Shake Shack’s master recipe for their Concretes (dense frozen custards) and milkshakes. It’s tweaked so you can make it at home. A plain base like this is a perfect canvas for an array of toppings. (Or streak them into the pan before you freeze). We love the combination…

Recipes

Ginger & Turmeric Energy Balls

These energy balls are so easy to make and so much more flavorful than what you can buy. A great and healthful afternoon pick-me-up!…

Recipes

Mulled Wine Punch

The longer this punch stands, the spicier the mixture will be. Strain out flavorings when it tastes right to you, and warm gently before serving, if desired.

Recipes

Shrimp Toasts

Brandon fries these sandwiches in clarified butter so the toast doesn’t burn while preserving the delicious flavor. To make clarified butter, you’ll need to bring melted butter to a simmer in a small pot to allow the water and milk solids to boil off, or you could buy ghee.

Recipes

Seared Duck With Prune & Endive

This is a great recipe for a cocktail party. Guests can assemble bites as they wish!…

Recipes

Banana “Corks” With Chocolate Fondue

Brandon uses a silicone bouchon or “cork” mold to make these lovely little cakes. Buy the molds online or use a muffin tin, but you’ll get 14 larger cakes instead of 20 bouchons if using a muffin tin.

Recipes

Seared Scallops & Artichokes

The numeral 10/20 refers to the size of scallop (10–20 scallops per pound). Look for Espelette pepper at gourmet stores, or online through The Spice Trader.

Recipes

Cheese Fondue With Fried Bread

For this recipe, it’s important that the wine mixture doesn’t get too hot or your cheese will separate and curdle.

Recipes

Soy- & Hot Honey-Glazed Faux Chicken Sandwich

Plant-based chicken options are proliferating in the freezer aisle. This faux chicken sandwich is delicious with the addition of an addictive soy glaze and a lightly pickled sesame-laced slaw. Prep the slaw ahead of time, but dress it just before serving. We found Gardein’s faux chicken to have the best…

Recipes

Planta’s Zucchini “Spaghetti” With Charred Tomato Salsa

Adapted from Chef David Lee’s Zucchini Spaghettoni recipe at Planta restaurant. This zucchini sauce is delicious over spiralized vegetables and also suits pasta noodles. It’s a great dish for grain lovers and carbophobes alike!…

Recipes

French 227 Cocktail

This take on the classic cocktail is named for 227 Ossington Ave. — the address of Man Ray Bar à Vin and La Banane. Make a batch by multiplying the ingredients by eight, then combining the gin, liqueur and lemon juice in a container.

Recipes

3 Fuss-Free Recipes From The New Cookbook, Cooking For Good Times

Chef Paul Kahan may have built a culinary empire in Chicago, but he’s also known for his casual style of entertaining at home. He knows that getting everyone involved, and having drinks and snacks while you cook together is key to a fun gathering. In his latest cookbook,…

Recipes

Grains With Roasted Cauliflower, Black Olives & Oranges

Try this Grains With Roasted Cauliflower, Black Olives & Oranges recipe from the new cookbook, Cooking for Good Times. This is pretty much an all-weather dish, but it’s particularly great in winter when there’s nothing green comin’ out of the ground. Cauliflower is something you can always get…

Recipes

Roasted & Marinated Roots With Smoky Yogurt, Crisp Lentils & Dill Vinaigrette

Try this Roasted & Marinated Roots With Smoky Yogurt, Crisp Lentils & Dill Vinaigrette recipe from the new cookbook, Cooking for Good Times. Don’t let “smoky yogurt” make you think I’ve gone all cheffy on you. Yeah, in the restaurant, the yogurt is actually smoked, but then I…

Recipes

Bacon-Wrapped, Chorizo-Stuffed Dates

Try this Bacon-Wrapped, Chorizo-Stuffed Dates recipe from the new cookbook, Cooking for Good Times. I first had these dates when my wife Mary’s dad, Bob, brought them to one of the epic Christmas parties that we used to throw every year for the restaurants’ staffs (until we…