There’s this restaurant menu trend to “deconstruct” dishes. What it means is that the chef has prepared and artfully arranged separately on the plate all the components of a dish usually cooked together. I’ve seen deconstructed ratatouille with segregated piles of zucchini, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes; deconstructed stews with the baby carrots, leeks, and turnips [...]
Apple Pie Deconstructed
November 13, 2009
July 26, 2009
I heard the architect Frank Gehry say in a documentary about his design process that he needs to look at a building model for a while and wait to see what irritates him about it. He’s right. We don’t fix things that don’t irritate us. Creativity and problem solving require the itch of irritation first. [...]
May 11, 2009
In Nashville, the running of the Iroquois Steeplechase is the official season opener for summer picnics and cook-outs. Named after Old Iroquois, Belle Meade’s celebrated racehorse, the annual event held the second Saturday in May keeps alive the equestrian tradition of British high society. Translated, that means lots of partying in dandy clothes and showy [...]
January 5, 2008
It was Knopf editor Judith Jones who helped make Julia Child a star. These are her favorite cookies.
Get tips for making perfect skillet cornbread. It's the only bread to serve with summer fresh vegetable suppers. 
