The CHOW 13

Our first annual awards, presenting a baker’s dozen of provocateurs, trendsetters, and rabble-rousers.

Cheap and Beautiful

High-impact tableware on a low-impact budget.

Learn the difference between French and American flour and ways you can substitute for the real thing.

Haven’t been in a year or so, but Ash Creek Saloon on the Bridgeport/Fairfield line is really good. Here’s a review of their Norwalk location. Link: http://westchesterweekly.com/gbase/Dining/content.html?oid=oid:80660

), but what accounts for such price differences, other than name brand markup? Should I be on the lookout for bone ash content? Glazing technique? Multiple step processes? Anything else? I am only considering simple white patterns...

by this method. Shellfish would be cooked briefly on the coals at the side of a fire so that, as soon as the contents started to froth, they were removed from the heat. This method avoided the shellfish being overcooked and tough....

On mine you just press the Self Clean oven, set the timer, and press start. Nothing will leak out since it turns the contents into ash. I’ve never removed the storage drawer. Also, if you have any oil or liquid on the floor...

Yes, I’ve found that “making” cake flour really doesn’t replicate true cake flour which has different protein and ash contents. So, Das Ubergeek and Mr. Taster, have either of you been able to find...

the hot lid, and you need something to safely lift the lid. There are hooks for the purpose, though I use locking pliers. I remove the lid with the coals and ash still in place. Keeping the ash out of the pot is the trickiest part...

I’ve never been there, but the Ashe County Cheese Company in West Jefferson is occasionally featured on public TV. http://www.ashecountycheese.com/ I’ve been to the Shatley Springs Inn many times and for that type of...

I also read that French flour has a higher ash content...i.e., more foreign content. (specifically they referred to things like ant heads and other bits etc.)....

a high sugar content coating.

A friend left town and gave me the contents of her spice rack inlcuding a bottle of Shichimi Togarashi. It appears to be some sort of mix and smells peppery. Does anyone know what it is and how it is used?

Real Balsamic vinegar can only be produced in Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. The process of making it begins by cooking Trebbiano grape juice. This cooking reduces the water content of the juice, turning it into a syrup...

for the desired texture. As mentioned above, 1:9 Na:K was the best in my hands, but I resorted to 1:1 for taste reasons. M also uses total carbonates at 1%. I suspect that the ideal ratio and concentration will vary depending on...