Beverages and Cocktails

Grilled Watermelon and Bourbon Cooler

Makes 1 serving Put a surprising twist on a classic summer treat! Grilling the watermelon not only makes for a beautiful garnish, but adds a depth of flavor. not often found in a simple cocktail. Rhubarb bitters should be pretty easy to find. Check your local liquor store or specialty […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Grilling Fish and Seafood

Finding a great source for perfectly fresh fish and seafood is the grill cook’s greatest challenge. Once you’ve located a reliable source, rely upon them to guide you to other types of fish and seafood you can try. Almost any fish can be successfully prepared on the grill, as long […]

Chef's Blog

Grilling Seafood—Insider’s tips from CIA Chefs

Seafood lovers! You don’t want to miss the joys of grilling this summer! With just a few tips and tricks from our seasoned CIA chefs, your next barbeque is sure to go swimmingly! Chef Sandy Sauter A clean and well-seasoned (with oil) grill is crucial for seafood, since it tends […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Grilling with Cedar Planks

Fish that is grilled on a cedar plank is imparted with the smoke of the grill and the woodsy flavors from the cedar, giving it incredible depth of flavor. For variety, you can use hickory, mesquite, or even a fruit tree wood like apple or cherry. The planks don’t last […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Grilling with the Whole Family!

It’s grilling season, and we wanted to remind you that grilling can be a family activity—even if Dad thinks he’s the grill-master! Grilling is an easy, quick, nutritious, and flavorful way to cook lean pieces of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables. Wood, gas, or charcoal heats the grill bars and […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Grissini

Makes 2 dozen bread sticks Grissini are thin, crisp breadsticks—long and pencil-like in appearance, and Italian in origin. In this recipe, the dough is flavored with chopped rosemary and boldly accented with Asiago cheese; variations on flavoring are many and may include garlic, other herbs or hard cheeses as your […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Group Staycation, Destination: Sicily

Our bodies might still be stuck at home, at least partially, but if you’re like us, your mind is wandering. Remembering past vacations is fun, but mentally planning future journeys (and imagining what we would eat first!) is the sort of optimistic thinking we need. Our travel buckets lists are […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Guide to Herbs

Whether they are the featured flavor or employed to support the theme of a dish, herbs add a generous layer of complexity. Ideally they are used fresh; in many cases, drying will compromise their fresh flavor. This is especially true for tender herbs such as basil, parsley, and chives or […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Guide to Radishes (and What To Do With Them)

When I first moved to the United States from Germany, where I grew up and began my career, I was surprised at how little radishes are used in American cuisine. They are, to me, delicious! Not to mention inexpensive, long-lasting, and full of nutrients. Radishes are root vegetables of which […]