Eat this Word: Fennel Pollen

by jbfauthor on June 20, 2011

WHAT? Obscure no more. Once a little known spice used by Tuscans on meat or in soups and stews, fennel pollen was introduced to an American audience by food writer Faith Willinger, an American who has lived in Italy for nearly a quarter of a century. In the 1990s she brought American chefs like Mario Batali to a butcher shop in Panzano, Chianti, owned by Dario Cecchini, who sells specialty products of the area, including fennel pollen. The flowers of the blossoming wild fennel plant are coated in a mass of yellow pollen and, when shaken loose, the powdery condiment imparts a sweet fennel flavor and aromatic flowery scent. Batali was quick to incorporate the spice in his repertoire. As he explained to us a few years ago, "You sprinkle a tiny dusting on something hot, and it gives you this heady fennel perfume. It's amazing." WHERE? Sustainable New England at the

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News Feed: June 16, 2011

by jbfauthor on June 16, 2011

A glimpse of post-El Bulli Spanish cuisine. [NYT] Ever wanted to celebrate Swedish midsommar? All you need are food, friends, and schnapps. [NPR]

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Recipe: Blueberry Kuchen

by jbfauthor on June 15, 2011

If you hail from the Midwest, you may have heard of kuchen: it's the German word for cake. These crumbly and streusel-topped treats were imported to the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states in the region by German immigrants. This kuchen recipe from chef Jeffrey A. Savage of On the Marsh Bistro is made with almond flour and juicy blueberries. If you want to make it extra special, spin up a batch of his Grand Marnier–blueberry ice cream to go on top.

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On the Menu: Clyde Common

by jbfauthor on June 15, 2011

A protégé of JBF Award winner Dan Barber, Chris DiMinno has made a name for himself on the hot Portland food scene with Clyde Common, his ultracool European-style gastropub. At tomorrow night's Beard House dinner, DiMinno will pair his must-have Pacific Northwest ingredients with exquisite hand-crafted wines from Big Table Farm in Gaston, Oregon. You can make a reservation here. Hors d’Oeuvre Chicken-Fried Chicken Liver Skewers with Aïoli Clyde Common Charcuterie Smoked Trout Crostini with Sweet Onions and Crème Frâiche Farmer’s Cheese with Woody Herbs Pairing: Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Barrel-Aged Negroni Dinner Northern Pacific Hay-Cured Salmon with Rye Panzanella Pairing: Big Table Farm Brooks Estate Vineyard Riesling 2009 Wild Mushroom Stew

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