Chef's Notes Plus

10 Drinkable Soups for Outdoor Gatherings

During these cold winter months, our gatherings are typically indoor and out of the elements. But this year is unlike others, and many of us are taking our socially-distant get-togethers outside. Eating outside can be a challenge, since your hands are cold, your face is cold, and your food gets […]

Chef's Notes Plus

4th of July Side Dishes to Steal the Show

Either you’re the person who waits all year for a grilled hot dog or burger, or you’re the person testing the limits of those paper plates with a scoop of every side dish, because nothing beats a good potato salad. Of course, no food decision is a bad decision, so […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

5 Game Day Dinners for Hungry Fans

When it comes to the big game, snacks are all well and good. But for those of us who like to eat a proper dinner at half-time, pigs-in-a-blanket might not fit the bill. If your crowd likes a well-rounded dinner-time meal, try some of these game day-ready dinners that can […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Be This Year’s Best Guest with These Recipes

One of the biggest challenges for dinner guests on Thanksgiving is choosing a dish to bring along that won’t take up precious oven space for reheating. It’s too risky! That’s why we always choose something that can be served cold, or better yet, at room temperature. Here are some of […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Election Day Fried Chicken

As far as we know, Election Day fried chicken is not a tradition, though maybe it should be? If, like the rest of the country, your nerves are a little shot after this election cycle (give it a rest, 2020!), Election Day Buttermilk Fried Chicken might be the thing for […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Halloween Dinner (or, a Candy Appetizer)

You are in official Halloween weather watch mode, when you finally decide: do I have to wear a jacket over my awesome costume!? Your friends at the CIA are rooting for you, and our fingers are crossed for clear skies and warm breezes for your candy-gathering adventures! But before you […]

Side Dishes

Pommes Frîtes (French Fries)

Makes 6 servings We all know what the “perfect French fry” is, and the beauty of making them at home is you get to decide what shape they will be, if they’ll have skin, and exactly how salty they will be. Use this classic French-style recipe as a guide, but […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Saucy Chicken Wings Without a Recipe

Wings are a Big Game staple, and while take-out wings on the couch is a whole mood, there is also a whole world of homemade, customizable wings waiting for you! Making wings at home is easy, whether you want them crisp and fried or roasted and tender. Here, we break […]

Chef's Blog, Family Fun

Take it With You! Make-ahead Recipes for Camping

Summer is the time for getaways, and we especially love road trips that end with camping! Everyone has a different idea of what camping means. You might be a no-frills camper who hikes through the woods with just the essential gear, sleeping in the grass under the stars. Or maybe […]