Chef's Blog - Barefoot Grand Traverse

Chef’s Blog

Greetings!

I always laugh when I see that somebody has updated their status on Facebook with something like “Just brushed my teeth” or a twitter post: “parking the car now” Who has time?

Chefs are busy folks; my days start early and end late, so I don’t waste a lot of time on “empty” blogging. On the other hand, I love sharing the excitement I feel over a well made sauce or a perfectly turned vegetable, that sweet rich smell when garlic hits the hot pan with olive oil.

So I won’t waste your time updating my blog every time I change my socks, but when I do post, you’ll know its something tasty. Thanks for reading.

Article: Dining with a bunch of strangers on a farm has never been so good July 27, 2009

(from Chicago Tribune)

During some farm dinner tours, guests stroll through tomato arbors before enjoying the still-warm fruits of their vines.

But on this one,…

Article: Cookin’ with Coolio: 5-Star Meals at a 1-Star Price July 16, 2009

(from Chicago Tribune)

For you non-mid-90s mainstream hip hop fans, this is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., better known as Coolio, the Grammy-award winning rapper now…

Article: In a Third Act, Pig is a Star May 30, 2009

(from New York Times)

As the trendier precincts of the restaurant universe evolve further and further into one big pigout, it’s becoming harder and harder…

Spicy Beef Salad “A La Outpost” May 25, 2009

Here’s one from the archives by request. This salad was a staff and guest favorite back at my first restaurant in Chicago; “The Outpost.” It…

And Just Like That… May 22, 2009

Winter for me, has been cold and dark. Trying to find time to train for the Bayshore Marathon inevitably led to long runs before the…

Article: Celebrity Chef is Just 13 May 19, 2009

Chicago Tribune’s interesting Q&A with an aspiring 13-year old chef. Read the full article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-greg-grossman-young-chefmay18,0,2167715.story

Article: Why Americans Over Eat May 12, 2009

A good article from the Chicago Tribune that highlights a former FDA official’s thoughts on why Americans tend to over eat. Read the full article…

Article: Restauranteurs Find Local Food Advantageous to Bottom Line May 01, 2009

Here’s a good article on the Energy Bulletin web site that reinforces the move towards local foods.

Read the article here: http://www.energybulletin.net/node/48629

Video: Food, Inc. April 27, 2009

How much do we really know about the food we buy at our local supermarkets and serve to our families?

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert…

Article: Bringin’ the Bacon April 22, 2009

Take a walk through Chicago’s apparent love for bacon with this fun slideshow from Metromix.com.

Read the article here: http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/photogallery/bringin-the-bacon/1106602/content

Video: The Art of Baking Bread April 15, 2009

Batch to batch, crust to crust ... In tribute to the beloved staple food, baking master Peter Reinhart reflects on the cordial couplings (wheat and…

Video: What’s Wrong With What We Eat April 15, 2009

In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what’s wrong with the way we eat now (too…

Article: Is a Food Revolution Now In Season? April 15, 2009

A good article in the New York Times that talks about how the local food movement is really taking shape, even in the White House. Read the…

Article: Eating Food That’s Better for You, Organic or Not April 15, 2009

Here’s an interesting article on the growing popularity of organic foods and better eating habits. Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/weekinreview/22bittman.html

Article: Sugar is Back on Food Labels April 15, 2009

An interesting recent article from the New York Times, entitled “Sugar Is Back on Food Labels, This Time as a Selling Point.” Read the full…

The Coming of Spring April 09, 2009

It’s spring, or what passes for spring in Northwest Michigan anyway. A time when a young mans fancy turns to… fruits…

Article: Morality Bites April 09, 2009

Mustering some sympathy for the bedeviled ham and beef. A good read from the Chicago Tribune.

Read the article: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/sep/21/food/chi-mxa0921mazaginemoralitypg10sep21

Article: The Whole Hog Project April 09, 2009

The culmination of a year-and-a-half-long series from Chicago Reader in which an unrepentant omnivore faces his food. A great read…

Read the article: http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/wholehog/

Best New Chefs 2009 Announced April 07, 2009

Food & Wine Magazine has released their list of winners for, “Best New Chef of 2009.” As a past winner (2000), I like to keep…