Steak Salad
recipes

Steak Salad

It’s satisfying when a really unusual flavor pairing turns out to be even better than you imagined. Steak and fresh cherries? Really? And celery? And yet it works in a savory-sweet-hot combination that will have you scraping your plate. The cherry juice combines with the steak juices in a way that will make you want to sing! The presentation is gorgeous, all reds and browns and bright green. And then there’s the jalapeño, which makes everything just pop! This makes […]

Nixon Meatloaf
food

Nixon’s Meatloaf

When Jeremy and I were writing our book, we tried to include at least one good story about each of the modern presidents, but when we came to Richard Nixon the whimsical anecdotes were not so easy to find. But here’s one thing you probably didn’t know – he was a man who could appreciate a good meatloaf. Chef Henry Haller was the Executive Chef at the White House for twenty-one years and through five presidents – Johnson, Nixon Ford, […]

recipes

Fried Oysters with Bacon

This is a recipe for the times when you need a snack ‘with a capital K’ – you know, when it’s not close to mealtime but you’ve got a powerful craving for something savory and bursting with flavor – and it can’t be just anything. Fried oysters are a rich treat, and when you add garlic and sage and bacon – well, of course it’s mouthwateringly good. A plate of these thrown down with a fresh round of beers on […]

sriracha-sesame-skewers-4
recipes

Sriracha Sesame Beef Skewers

SRIRACHA SESAME BEEF SKEWERS Sriracha is the chili sauce of the moment, an import from Thailand wildly embraced by every American fast food outlet from Applebee’s to White Castle. That doesn’t mean you should pass it by; on the contrary, sriracha is everywhere because it’s a howling wake-up call for the tastebuds. It doesn’t have to make tears stream down your face; used judiciously, it adds texture and heat that elevates a dish exotically. I added sriracha to my favorite […]

CHEESY EGGS AND POTATOES-4
food

Cheesy Eggs and Potatoes

Here’s an all-American breakfast to acknowledge a historic week. Inaugurals are like professional football games and the Macy’s Day Parade – better when watched from the comfort of your living room TV. After having experienced more than a few of them, here’s what I know: the weather will be iffy, the crowds are crazy, and traffic in Washington will be gridlocked from today until the 21st. Should you have the day off on the 20th (as Washingtonians do), with no place […]