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 […]

“We fight, get beat, rise and fight again”

On the eve of our country’s birthday I want to remember and remind why we celebrate the 4th of July and pay some respect to just one of the many brave men and women that were instrumental at the country’s inception.  Nathaniel Greene was George Washington’s top general and the man that would have succeeded Washington […]

Thanks for making it interesting George

  Larry and I were a third of the way up the north side of Paris mountain when a white-jersey clad rider flashed by us, descending at an incredible angle and speed.  “Damn, I think that was Hincapie!” My cycling buddy Larry worked third shift and lived around the corner so four or five times […]

Watermelon Mojito

I believe I read somewhere that watermelon is the most popular fruit in the world.  Embraced by all cultures, all ages and all nationalities, watermelons were first grown by the Egyptians almost 5,000 years ago.  And aren’t the early Egyptians the same guys that first brewed beer?  Genius. Once you cut into an average size watermelon, good […]