Chef's Notes Plus

How to Choose Olive Oil

Olive oil can be fruity, nutty, sweet, zesty, peppery, rich, intense, and assertive; mild, mellow, light or heavy, subtle, and delicate; opaque or clear, deep olive green, pale green, gold-green, golden, or pale yellow. Like wine, no two olive oils are exactly alike. The most wildly-available olive oils in the […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Lime-Honey Vinaigrette

Makes about 2 cups Room-temperature citrus is easier to squeeze. Warm for 10 seconds in the microwave if needed to bring the fruit to room temperature. Before squeezing, roll the fruit on a hard surface while applying pressure to break the membranes holding the juice. This vinaigrette can be prepared […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

North Africa’s Fiery Sauce

Culinary cultures based in steamy equatorial climates all have their own spicy chile condiments, like Mexico’s hot salsas, Indonesia’s sambals, Caribbean vinegar-based habañero sauces—even our own Louisiana’s Tabasco. But harissa, the garlic-laced spice paste of Tunisia, shared also by Morocco and Algeria, imparts a singular fruity complexity in the luxurious […]