YumSugar

How to Prepare For a BBQ Festival

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:50:23 -0700

Over the long weekend, while many of you were hosting barbecues of your own, I headed over to Sparks, NV, for the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off, one of the country's largest outdoor barbecue events. I was more than stoked to chomp down on award-winning ribs all day long, but - given the scope of the festival and its four-hour driving distance from my house - I wanted to maximize my first experience there by being as prepared for the event as Michael Phelps was for the Summer Olympics. If you're planning on heading to a major barbecue festival (or any food extravaganza, for that matter), I've got some tips to share with you.

View Slideshow ›

Racking Up Ribs at Nevada's Best in the West Cook-Off

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:50:44 -0700

How much do I love ribs? I'd say that I was probably born with one in my hand, that's how much I love them - and grilling up a distinctive ginger-infused batch of my own recently only heightened my desire to indulge more. I've always had the itch to go to the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, NV. With more than 500,000 visitors and 100 tons of ribs, the six-day, free-admission rib festival is one of the largest outdoor barbecue events in North America. At the last minute, I decided there was no time like the present, and drove square across California and into the smoke. To find out what the event was like, keep reading.

View Slideshow ›

I Want My Baby Back Ginger-Glazed Ribs

YumSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:15:28 -0700

Summer is not Summer without enjoying a finger-licking good rib dinner where you go through numerous napkins. Although I'm a sucker for traditional ribs covered with barbecue sauce, after seeing the cover of a recent Bon Appetit, I was dying to try their Cambodian rib variation. Rather than the traditional tomato-based sauce, this recipe uses a combination of fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, and a lot of fresh ginger!

The marinade is quick to make, especially if you employ a food processor. I marinated my ribs for six hours, but overnight would be even better. Fresh off the grill and covered with lime juice, the ribs burst with sweet and sour flavor. The ginger glaze is much lighter and more refreshing than a typical barbecue sauce. If you want to sink your teeth into these ginger-glazed ribs, keep reading.

Chow Down on Pork 'n' Mango Skewers

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:15:20 -0700

Skewers are quintessential Summer food. They cook quickly on the barbecue, keep the house cool, and bring everyone outside to enjoy the wonderfully warm weather! This recipe for ancho-chile-marinated pork skewered with mangoes is a perfect combination of spicy and sweet. The cilantro sprinkled on top adds freshness and flavor to the already complex dish. To keep the entire dinner finger- and outdoor-friendly, I simply served it with barbecued corn. If you can't find mangoes, other fruits such as pineapples, peaches, or nectarines would be great substitutes. To get started on these succulent and tropical-inspired skewers keep reading.

Sunday BBQ: Sirloin Salad With Cilantro

YumSugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 06:00:37 -0700

Lately I've enjoyed vegetables as the focus of my meal in dishes such as Caprese and corn and cotija salad. But I spotted sirloin steak on sale at the supermarket, so this weekend, it's going to be all about the beef.

Since my steak and pineapple salad was so well-received, I'm lighting up the coals for another salad tonight. Warm, sizzling sirloin sliced against the grain, served with smoky onion wedges and a cilantro-jalapeño vinaigrette. What's not to like? Get jazzed for dinner tonight

Sunday BBQ: Grilled Squid With Ginger, Celery, and Apple Slaw

YumSugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 06:00:50 -0700

After eating my way through the tasting tents at SF Chefs. Food. Wine this weekend, I'm looking forward to sitting down to a dinner that's light and healthy, but still full of flavor. I'm going a bit off the beaten barbecue path: I'll throw some marinated calamari on the grill and serve it while it's still tender, warm, and freshly charred, with a bed of sweet-tart slaw.

If you've never cooked with squid before, don't be daunted. You can ask your fishmonger to clean it for you. Take a break from your standard meal tonight when you read more.

Grilled Squid With Ginger, Celery, & Apple Slaw
From Martha Stewart Living

Ingredients

Marinade
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons white or light miso paste
3 tablespoons sake
2 teaspoons mirin
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
8 calamari (bodies only), rinsed and dried
Slaw:
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Coarse salt, to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
5 celery stalks, halved lengthwise and sliced diagonally into 2 1/2-inch pieces
1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled and cut into matchsticks
2 scallions, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise and sliced into 2 1/2-inch matchsticks
3/4 cup sunflower sprouts
1 serrano chile, halved lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced crosswise
1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

Directions

Make the marinade: Cook garlic, miso, sake, mirin, soy sauce, and oyster sauce in a pan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Let cool slightly.
Using a kitchen mallet, pound both sides of calamari a few times to tenderize. Insert a sharp knife into calamari, cut along seams, and then open like a book. Lightly score inner sides at 1/4-inch intervals. Add calamari to marinade, and let stand for 20 minutes.
Make the slaw: Whisk together ginger, vinegar, lime juice, sugar, and salt. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified.
Preheat grill to medium-high. (If you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for just 3 to 4 seconds.) Wrap 3 bricks or the bottom of a heavy skillet with heavy-duty foil. Remove calamari from marinade, and season scored sides with salt. Place calamari, scored sides down, on grill, and top with foil-lined weight. Grill until opaque, about 1 1/2 minutes. Cut into 3/4-inch-wide pieces.
Toss celery, apple, scallions, sprouts, and chile with 3 tablespoons dressing (reserve remaining dressing for another use). Arrange on a platter. Top with calamari, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Stovetop Beans Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:30:36 -0700

Although these legumes were traditionally cooked low and slow in the oven, today's baked beans, as they're often called, are actually cooked on top of a stove for a faster preparation that doesn't compromise flavor. Shed even more cooking time by using canned beans - or save cash by rehydrating dry beans instead. Regardless of how you prepare this dish, bacon plays a crucial part in achieving a pronounced smokiness, while molasses and dark brown sugar add a sweet flavor and pleasing caramel color. Be enticed by both recipes

Noteworthy Nibbles - July 7-14, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:31 -0700

July's biggest holiday may have come and gone, but there's still so much to celebrate in the realm of Summer eats - whether it's salmon, sandwiches, or super-sized ketchup. Next Tuesday, don't forget to raise your glass to France's independence day. I plan to hightail it straight to my nearest French bistro to enjoy some moules frites. What are your plans for Bastille Day?

If you know if anything else that's going on, please feel free to chime in below.

Traverse City, MI: National Cherry Festival - July 4-11
New Orleans, LA: Tales of the Cocktail - July 8-12
Hollywood, FL: Slow Food Glades to Coast Hot Tropical Night - July 9
Cordova, AK: Copper River Wild Salmon Festival - July 9-11
Park Ridge, IL: Taste of Park Ridge - July 9-11
Pleasanton, CA: Alameda County Fair's Rib Cook-Off - July 9-12

To see the rest, read more.

Brentwood, CA: Brentwood Cornfest - July 10-12
Cambridge, MA: Taste of Cambridge - July 11
Bedford, VA: Horse and Hound Wine Festival - July 11
Sandwich, MA: SandwichFest - July 11
Los Altos, CA: Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival - July 11-12
Coral Gables, FL: International Mango Festival - July 11-12
Buffalo, NY: Taste of Buffalo - July 11-12
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara French Festival - July 11-12
Collinsville, IL: World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival - July 12
Providence, RI: Rhode Island's World of Flavors - July 12
Seattle, WA: Seattle Chocolate Salon - July 12
Los Angeles, CA: Bastille Day Los Angeles - July 12
Athens, OH: Ohio Brew Week - July 12-18
New York, NY: Softshell Crab Extravaganza - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day on 60th Street - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day: La Fête Nationale - July 14

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 30-July 7, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:27 -0700

You may feel like Summer is already almost over, but there's still plenty of time to get in some quality food festivals. This week, that would include the classic Taste of Chicago (full of reliable Windy City staples like the Rainbow Cone and Vienna Beef hot dogs), the Naperville Ribfest (hands-down, the best ribfest I have ever been to), and the ultimate celebration of tart cherries, the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI. For those of you who can't attend one of the food festivals below, just remember: every 4th of July party is, indirectly, a celebration of food in itself.

Know of anything that's been left off the list? Don't hesitate to chime in below.

Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 30-July 5
Detroit, MI: Comercia Cityfest - July 1-5
Lombard, IL: Taste of Lombard - July 1-5
Naperville, IL: Naperville Ribfest - July 2-5
Mandeville, LA: Mandeville Seafood Festival - July 2-5

To see the rest, read more.

Healdsburg, CA: Zindependence Weekend at Bella Vineyards - July 3-5
Cedar Key, FL: Clamerica Celebration - July 4
Floyd, VA: Floyd Fandango Beer & Wine Fest - July 4-5
Traverse City, MI: National Cherry Festival - July 4-11
New Orleans, LA: Mixology Masters of New Orleans - July 6

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

Source