A Press Democrat Blog

Proximal Kitchen

Cooking locally, with really sharp knives

The Costco Report: Organic Chicken w/ Meyer Lemons & Rosemary from My Garden

Monday, at 8:00 by

The Costco Report: Episodic observations on where to port safely, and what to avoid like a pestilence, when navigating an ocean of consumer non-durables under a sheet metal sky… In today’s edition, a pretty good deal on organic chicken, and a nice way to use your seasonal garden while you cook it. If you insist on eating strictly local products from small family businesses that hold themselves to the highest possible standards of ethics and quality, I certainly won’t be… Read More »

Meat, Braise, Love

Monday, at 11:57 by

Beef Short Ribs in a Zinfandel Chili BraiseProducing a braise in your own kitchen is a bit like making porn in your own bed: It rewards practice, because when you get it just right, it’s the best you’ll ever see, and all the times you don’t, it’s still a very long way from sucking. Similarly, there is just so much to love about the braise: Purely from a gastronomic perspective, no other cooking technique so easily employed by the home cook comes close to creating the depth and concentration of flavor than does the properly executed braise.… Read More »