Man Made DIY

I've gone on record many times about my love for s'mores, and balancing that with the mysterious dichotomy that I only want to eat them about once or twice a year.

But! Switching up the classic graham+choc+mallow recipe for some… read more

Guess what? It's completely possible to make an absolutely amazing cup of coffee at home. And while it might be a bit different from scooping out those Folger's instant crystals into some microwaved tap water, as my old office mates used to do, it's not terrifically complex… read more

So, my girl got me the best Christmas gift of all time this year: a PID temperature controller, vacuum sealer, and a copy of Thomas Keller's Under Pressure. Which meeeaans.... I can now cook sous vide!

Sous vide [French for "under vacuum"] involves cooking food in airtight bags in temperature controlled water for long periods of time...essentially slow-poaching everything at an exact temperature. Since the food never rises over the desired doneness, it can never get overcooked! Neat, huh?

Of course, I played around in the week between Christmas and New Year's, but since it involves so much gear, I put it away with the decorations. But in the last few weeks, with all the crazy snow and ice, I've been staying inside, and really learning how to… read more

Hi friends - Next time your at the bookstore or newsstand, pick up the latest issue of ReadyMade (51, looks like this), and turn to page 44 to see an article by, well, me!

In it, I confess my love for big heavy kitchen tools made of rock and why… read more

Do you know the difference between a chinoise and spider? Do you know when to use a mezzaluna or a melon baller? Can you name at least 50% of the tools in your own kitchen drawers at this very minute? Do you want to use the word "splendiferous" as often as… read more