in this city for two years and never so much as darkened the door of either of our two Trader Joe’s. I had him and his DW to our house, where I made pesto-crusted salmon (homemade pesto made with my own garden basil),...

). Though some of their dishes push the culinary envelope, they always have a substantial number of local specialities. On my last trip, for example, I had ravioli stuffed with fresh caciotta and a sauce of tomato and basil,...

On the Italian front, we like the pizza at Marco’s (North Asheville location). They have an excellent crust and use real mozzarella and fresh ingredients, including their own sausage and meatballs and fresh basil. I would...

corn was just a mild sweetness, the sage flavor was difficult to perceive, although the crystal-clear cube was intriguing, the smoked cream (topped with sea salt) tasted like salted cream that had been stored in a chimney, and...

+ basil + balsamic for a simple summer salad on a skewer. made various tomato-based chilis (i’m vegetarian). sun-dried tomatoes. copied a tomato, caper, green olive stew i recently had at a mexican restaurant. alternate...

, is my favorite stop for big and mini cupcakes, cookies, scones, brownies and more. I can’t help it, I gotta munch on all the samples I can when there. Ledette is usually there, and always so nice! The Artisan Cheese...

pizza places? Anyone look at Ed Levine’s top 5 and see how many of them are using low grade flour, non-imported tomatoes, less expensive cheeses, non-home grown basil? Yet, there they are on the list and folks love 'em....

on Monday, Tuesday, etc. I have limited cooking skills, so unless it is an allergy, I really wouldn’t appreciate someone telling me they “can't” have x for one effing meal. I hate basil, should my host not serve...

. I actually think that you trend towards snobbishness when you ignore the common name for something, and use elaborate descriptiveness instead. "A melange of summer vegetables lightly braised with olive oil, basil and red wine...

or the house special soup I’ve had plenty of “authentic” neapolitan pizzas: San Marzano tomatos, imported buffalo cheese and olive oil, fresh basil, all sorts of tricks with crusts. More than half just plain...

wife was a pretty lousy cook all around. He had never had cilantro or fresh basil! After ten years of “food re-education” he will try anything, adores a huge variety of ethnic foods, brings me cookbooks when he sees...

that there was no master menu planner, so there was too much of some things and none of other things. The only pumpkin pie was the store bought one that we bought as back up “just in case.” There three kinds of turkey...

is found at my local chain supermarket ot restaurant. I was thinking at Raleys, everybody is interested in more interesting foods, that is why Philly comes in a zillion flavors. If people would just explore the little corner...

Nakorn, Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove. Well worth the drive (yes, it takes you PAST Renu Nakorn, but you know what? this one’s better) if you get mango salad with crispy shrimp or catfish, and the wild boar in basil...

pies with thin crusts and a variety of toppings using local fresh produce, but the simple tomato, mozzarella, and basil pie is the real winner. Arinell (See also ChowNews #111, 127) and Amici’s (See also ChowNews #129) both...