During the COVID crisis, takeout became the main source of income for the Artichoke Hart restaurant in Baltimore (other than Hart’s CIA income, of course).  Simple dishes were both popular, easy and quick to make, and were low cost: perfect for the situation where gourmet-style dishes were required but needed to be simple enough to…

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Even though we’re all supposed to stay home during the COVID crisis, a quick drive out to the country seemed feasible when the sun first came out. I found a responsible farm not far from home that was selling their produce, plants and flowers. I picked up some flowers to freshen up the dining room…

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Sausage and Grapes with Mashed This is my first post since the COVID-19 crisis began and we’re all inundated with news and opinion. So this is a comfort dish from–of all places–Italy, where they know how to create great flavour blends from the most unlikely combinations. I’ve posted the recipe before but during these difficult…

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One thing Young Oppenheimer had in ready supply at his Oswego Grocery Consortium was figs… lots of fresh figs. (New York Fried, Copyright 2019 Sunao Publishing). As a result, Artichoke Hart created several dishes using the sweet fruit. One hit was this one, especially when combined with cauliflower mashed. Cauliflower being the “hot” ingredient at…

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Rainbow Trout is a popular fish in Northern New York State area, including Oswego, where New York Fried (copyright 2019) takes place. Chef Artichoke Hart needed simplicity but elegance and this dish did the job. It has a similar taste and texture to Salmon but is not as dominant. This allows the rub flavouring to…

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When Artichoke Hart had to capture the attention of the British delegation, he knew he couldn’t stray far from basic meat and potatoes. But it had to be gourmet, so this is what he came up with, and it’s all about meticulous sauteeing and presentation. With strips of perfectly cooked steak atop a mound of…

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If you’re like me, you find the usual mussels dish wanting in that the sauce is all in the bottom. The mussels are often dry or lightly sauced and you have to use bread to soak up the beautiful juices in the bottom of the bowl. This recipe uses a thicker, creamier sauce so that…

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Looking for something exotic but simple to make? When Artichoke Hart had to come up with something quick for a lunchtime snack at Castillo’s warehouse, Shrimp Scampi Pasta is what he whipped up in about 20 minutes. (New York Fried, 2019, Sunao Publishing). INGREDIENTS 8 ounces linguine (or angel hair for a more delicate appearance)…

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Calorie counting is challenging to do on a long-term basis. The secret, according to Artichoke Hart (New York Fried, 2019, Sunao) is to not change what you eat; just eat less of it. Okay, that works with some foods but then you get sick of that and need to feel full. Fish is a great…

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Sounds fancy but it’s very simple really. Artichoke Hart was asked to come up with a low-calorie gourmet meal for the Scandinavians and this was the result. (New York Fried, Sunao Publishing 2019). Cauliflower Rice is simply finely chopped cauliflower (duh!). The sauce uses a simple yogurt base with chopped mint and cucumber added. And…

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