INGREDIENTS: 1 medium brown onion, cut into medium dice 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 3/8-inch thick rounds 1/2 head green cabbage, sliced or cut into 2-inch squares 1 cup white wine (such as Gewurztraminer or Riesling) Water or light stock as needed 8 ounces of prepared chestnuts 1-2 apples such as Cameo, Granny...Read More

Peeling and cutting thick, tough-skinned winter squashes can be challenging, even for a chef! Here are some tips: To remove the stem, use the back of the knife or cleaver closest to the handle, or use a mallet to knock it loose. When cutting the squash, see if the skin is really slick. If it...Read More

This dish originates in Okinawa, where bitter melon is commonly used. This is a variation of what is viewed in Japan as a signature recipe of Okinawa. INGREDIENTS: 1 bitter melon, split lengthwise, seeds and spongy pulp removed 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon grapeseed or other neutral-flavored oil 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, divided 3...Read More

I love to take things from the sweet side of the kitchen and use them as a savory dish and the following recipe is an example. INGREDIENTS: 1 medium-small pumpkin, about 3 pounds, split and seeded 1-2 heads of garlic, broken up into individual cloves* 4 large eggs 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1-2 teaspoons...Read More

Use this sprightly sauce on chicken, seared fish, or pork chops. A perfect way to use any Hachiya persimmons that are super soft. INGREDIENTS: 2 large ripe, soft Hachiya persimmons, peeled, and seeded 1 tablespoon minced shallot 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, or as needed 1/2 cup sweet...Read More

I like celeriac for its deep earthy flavor and pleasantly toothsome character. Apples seem made to go with it – the crunch and bright flavors are the perfect complement. This is a salad that is easy to expand upon. You can add ingredients to the salad itself, such as adding green, raisins, or nuts. Or,...Read More

The term “gratin” refers to the cooking vessel and the way it is used, not just the dish itself. Anything can be cooked “au gratin” and there are many variations of gratins – just potatoes, or potatoes mixed with other root vegetables, such as parsnip, turnip, or onion. Mushrooms, kale, artichoke hearts, and olives can...Read More

This dish is easy to throw together and has a big impact in the flavor department. Given that vegetable sizes are not exact, the measurements for the oil, butter, and salt are more of a guideline and should be adjusted as needed. Be sure not to have too much liquid in the pan bottom or...Read More

This dish is an amalgamation of what many consider to be rustic flavors that combine to make a very elegant dish that has big, deep flavors. This dish was inspired by porcini I found growing outside my cabin door one Thanksgiving at Lake Tahoe. This dish is flexible in that you can substitute or omit...Read More

For this dish, you want to look for uniform-sized sunchokes. If you can find the ones that don’t have knobs, so much the better. I like to use the ones that are around an inch in diameter and 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long. A note about the peeling sunchokes – don’t bother. They...Read More