A Tour of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Ham

We spent this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN visiting a very good friend of Amy’s and on the way back we stopped at Benton’s Country Ham in Madisonville, TN.  Benton’s is perhaps the most famous, most sought after bacon and country ham producer in the United States.  Their pork is featured at the finest and […]

Summer Pizza with Handmade Mozzarella

A dear friend of ours recently paid us a visit, just long enough to share some wine and pizza.  Kelly loves good pizza but is careful about her diet so I made the pizza dough and made the mozzarella.  A few local tomatoes, some basil from our garden, a shave of Parmesan and a splash […]

Shore Lines

Sands of Fortune swirl past my eyes As the bleached bones of the un-living Are once again cleansed by the tide Frothy water hushes our exchange While we walk in search of constancy on this ancient shore of change   Her many layers of faith, quietly challenged and bent The breeze stiffens, demands respect Vacationers, […]

Salad on the Grill

Ever grilled Romaine lettuce?  It’s quite delicious and gives me one more reason to light up the grill and cook outside.  Plus I had some white truffle oil that I was dying to try. Like Truffle Oil?  Try this one from Degredient.  Now I know all about Gordon Ramsay fussing about crappy truffle oils being […]

Cabot Pimento Cheese & Chicken Soup

  I’m always taken aback when I cook at a friend’s house and I’m asked if I “mind cooking.”  I’ve actually known chefs that would answer “Yes.”  Seriously, if you don’t love it then why would you do it?  While spending a week at the beach with friends I’ve been doing a lot of cooking […]

The State of the Market

  When we moved to Greenville in 1994 I had embraced the idea that great restaurant food should have a sense of place.  In short order I ended up as Chef at a recently opened bistro that featured a New-American style menu and I set about creating a regional focus.  I sought out local farmers […]

A Blogging Award for chefjohnmalik.com

  My good friend Shaunda Wenger has awarded chefjohnmalik.com with the Versatile Blogger award.  This is an informal trophy that bloggers pass back and forth to let their followers know who they follow, admire and appreciate.  Shaunda is a gifted writer and author of nine books and her first book (which we have) the Book […]

Cinnamon Blueberry Sweet Rolls

I really love sweet rolls, buttery brioche dough filled with cinnamon, sugar and sometimes butter, rolled up and set atop a sweet glaze with nuts and or raisins.  An early morning cup of coffee with my lovely wife and a couple of handmade sweet rolls, life could not get any better.  This past weekend we had a guest […]

Hot Stones or Deep Tissue?

A friend of mine recently gave me one heck of a present, a massage.  So I made my reservation and at the appointed time I introduced myself to a lovely young woman and proceeded to get undressed.  She offered me the choice of deep tissue or hot stones and naturally I answered “Yes please!”  After […]