It was May, 2004, during a glitzy dinner celebrating that year’s James Beard Awards at a mid-Manhattan hotel.
Gabriella Gershenson, at that time a fledgling food writer living in New York, was seated next to me. I discovered that I and this soft-spoken young woman with thick, wavy black hair and a winning smile were kindred souls. Read more…
In Memoriam: Anthony Bourdain – an inspiration to me and the huge number of devotees who followed his ground-breaking, intrepid and wondrous work – committed suicide while filming an episode of Parts Unknown in France on June 8, 2018. He was one of a kind. RIP dear friend. Read more…
“I dedicate my work every day to the colleagues I lost on 9/11” – chef Michael Lomonaco.
Michael Lomonaco loves food and people. But it was an act of hate that pushed him into the spotlight: the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.
Michael was executive chef of Windows on the World: a restaurant once on top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Following the attacks, he helped raise $23 million for the families of foodservice workers killed that day. Those included 79 of his staff working the morning shift and a hot dog vendor on the ground outside. I interviewed him in May 2002. Read more…
“Bland, intractably beige, and (most unforgivably of all) suspended in jelly, the bottled version seemed to have been fashioned, golem-like, from a combination of packing material and crushed hope.” From an article about gefilte fish by Rebecca Flint Marx in The New Yorker (October, 2016)
The above is eloquent testimony to the bad reputation of gefilte fish – a downhome, humble staple at the Jewish holiday table. Read more…
Martinson coffee, founded by my great-uncle Joe Martinson, and a cake to go with it
This appeared in the Toronto Star in 2002 and it is included my book “Dish” – a collection of my columns with recipes. I was reminded of it when I was at a Wegmans supermarket in New York State and bought a can of Martinson’s coffee. There are a few theories about the origin of the phrase “cup of joe.” I prefer this one.
By Marion Kane
A cup of joe.
Who would have thought I am related – albeit distantly – to the “Joe” of that famous culinary phrase.
It all began, as is often the case, almost by accident. Read more…
NEW YORK: Call it my Higher Power, divine intervention, a charmed life …..
How else to explain this almost unbelievable story?
It was Day Three of my recent four-day visit here. (Two more days were spent travelling from and back to Toronto by VIA/Amtrak train – a quick word of advice, don’t try it and, if you do, take enough to eat for the 12-hour trip as the “food” from the cafe car, including coffee, is basically inedible.) While here, I also attended parts of the Food Network Wine & Food Festival: a new offshoot of the Miami event that’s been going for several years and is a similarly hectic, celeb-studded whirlwind of demos, parties and tastings. More on that later. Read more…
Bulldog coffee shop is my favourite place for coffee in Toronto, bar none.
Located downtown at 89 Granby St., just south of Carlton and east of Church, its owner and latte artiste par excellence Stuart Ross has created a cozy yet chic little enclave where the ambience and superb coffee are key attractions.
It’s my place of choice to start the day and the perfect spot to meet a friend or business associate. In fact, everyone I’ve introduced to Bulldog has quickly become a regular. It’s got a New York feel – busy, welcoming and sophisticated, in a good way. Read more…
