In common use, the phrase au gratin has become synonymous with a meat, vegetable, or other dish that has cheese in it (macaroni and cheese being the most ubiquitous gratin dish of all).
But that’s not always the case.
Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs and seasonings added to a dish to add herbal notes to the flavor. The herbs used in a bouquet garni can be fresh or dried.
The herbs are either tied into a bundle with kitchen twine or gathered up into a cheesecloth bundle to make removal from the pot easy once the cooking is finished.
The most common way to organize peppers is by the degree of their heat, or pungency. The chemical that carries the heat in pepper is called capsaicin, and its concentration determines just how hot a given pepper is.
The common measuring unit is a Scoville heat unit (SHU) developed by Wilbur Scoville, a pharmacist, in 1912. The heat ratings are assigned by the results of a panel of taste testers, not objective data.
Spring is finally here! The weather is getting warmer and many plants are waking up from their long winter naps. We love to incorporate the light, refreshing flavors of springtime into our cooking. We asked the Lobels to share with us their favorite spring ingredient!
The Lobel family of Lobel’s Prime Meats in Manhattan and Lobel’s of New York online butcher shop are fourth- and fifth-generation butchers. With our Cut of the Month series, we will bring you their wealth of knowledge and expertise on specific cuts of meat, including their unique characteristics, preparation methods, and how to select the best cut.
Brisket is one of our more popular cuts. Customers are always asking for it, and we’ve learned over the years that people are passionate about their brisket! That said, brisket is not the same thing to all people. To some, it’s the quintessential cut for good ol’ low-and-slow barbeque. To others, it’s a slow-cooked comfort food. And to others, it’s the centerpiece to a traditional Passover feast.
For these reasons, we’ve selected brisket for this month’s Cut of the Month.
While the concept of sausage is simple, thousands of variations can be found throughout the world. Sausages can be fresh, cured, smoked, or cooked. They are made of beef, pork, veal, chicken, and more. And they can include myriad ingredients, from spices and herbs to fruits, vegetables, and cheeses—and even liquids such as beer, whiskey, or blood. Our “Sausage in Profile” series aims to introduce you to different types of sausage—their flavor profiles, histories, and uses—from familiar favorites to unique finds.
Here in the U.S., the name kielbasa refers to a specific type of Polish sausage, but in Polish “kielbasa” is just the general word for “a sausage.” There are many varieties of Polish sausage, as sausage is a staple in Polish cuisine. The sausage Americans are thinking of when they refer to Kielbasa is “Polska Kielbasa Wędzona,” or Smoked Polish Sausage. While each manufacturer of this sausage has its own recipe, this sausage is generally known to contain pork, beef, garlic, marjoram, and spices.
While the concept of sausage is simple, thousands of variations can be found throughout the world. Sausages can be fresh, cured, smoked, or cooked. They are made of beef, pork, veal, chicken, and more. And they can include myriad ingredients, from spices and herbs to fruits, vegetables, and cheeses—and even liquids such as beer, whiskey, or blood. Our “Sausage in Profile” series aims to introduce you to different types of sausage—their flavor profiles, histories, and uses—from familiar favorites to unique finds.
Addictively flavorful and plump with cheese, Kaese Krainer is a hidden gem among sausages. Swiss cheese mingles with mildly smoked pork and beef to create this luscious and hearty sausage.
Meatloaf and meatballs are at one end of the spectrum of ground meat dishes that range up to finely textured pates and terrines. Most recipes for meatloaf and meatballs are interchangeable in terms of ingredients. What distinguishes one from the other is the shape.
Contrary to what you might think, Chicken Cordon Bleu and its relations are not of French origin. French-inspired, yes. But as near as anyone contends, this preparation is a rather recent invention. Some trace its origins to 1940s Switzerland, although the first mention of Chicken Cordon Bleu in print, specifically, turns up in the New York Times, circa 1967.
The Lobel family of Lobel’s Prime Meats in Manhattan and Lobel’s of New York online butcher shop are fourth- and fifth-generation butchers. With our Cut of the Month series, we will bring you their wealth of knowledge and expertise on specific cuts of meat, including their unique characteristics, preparation methods, and how to select the best cut.
Lamb is often on our minds come March. The spring holidays are just around the corner, and lamb is a popular selection for both Passover dinners and Easter celebrations. Likewise, the old English proverb about March weather also brings lamb to mind: March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. For these reasons, we’ve selected Leg of Lamb for this month’s Cut of the Month.
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