The Skeptics Have Landed
50 years ago, three American astronauts traveled to the moon, two of them landed on it, then all three returned safely to Earth. In the following years six other missions went to the moon, one failed to arrive (Apollo 13) while the other five had successful flights. 12 Americans have set foot on our moon […]
The Final Serving of Conch Salad
I love almost everything about South Carolina. Except for Frogmore Stew. There. I’ve said it. Overcooked shrimp, sausage from who knows where, undercooked red potatoes, and way too much Old Bay. That pretty much describes 90% of the Frogmore Stew I’ve ever had. And yet I’ve eaten a lot of Frogmore Stew and loved every […]
Merry Christmas Dad
Robert could’ve passed for an NFL linebacker. He stood six foot five and every inch of his frame was chiseled muscle and dark tattooed skin. On another day, his embrace, if not for the tears that ran down his cheek, might’ve felt life threatening. “Brother Malik, if only I had someone like you in my […]
Merry Christmas Dad
Robert could’ve passed for an NFL linebacker. He stood six foot five and every inch of his frame was chiseled muscle and dark tattooed skin. On another day, his embrace, if not for the tears that ran down his cheek, might’ve felt life threatening. “Brother Malik, if only I had someone like you in my […]
You’ve Already Won
So you didn’t win a billion dollars. Well here’s a news flash: Money is no guarantee of happiness. I know because I’ve won the lottery and it’s so much more than money. Every time my wife kisses me, when she whispers in my ear and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand […]
Preparing Your Restaurant for Florence.
Are you prepared for a week without power? Here’s my tips to help your restaurant survive Hurricane Florence. Tonight. Cook and serve whatever you can. Offer to-go meals, half price specials, whatever it takes to move your food. When you’re preparing to close, freeze what you can, clean out all garbage, make certain you’ve […]
Jonah and The Whale
It’s inaccurate. As in it never happened. In the first place, who could’ve survived such an experience? Can you imagine how inhospitable the belly of a whale actually is? A large whale such as a humpback, must have gallons and gallons of bile floating around its insides and even spending a few minutes inside its […]
Thank you, Madeleine
“Chef Malik, would you like to come to California and cook with me this summer?” Her French voice crackled with sincerety and authenticity and I can remember thinking this could only be one particular woman on the other end of the line. Madeleine Kamman. Several months later I was flying to California’s Napa Valley to […]
A Side of Hospitality
The go to model in today’s restaurant business typically features counter service, no matter how grand their culinary aspirations. The restaurant industry has never been static and in the last five to ten years it’s really had an overhaul. I’d guess it’s because so many young cooks watched employers close their doors during the years […]
The Things You do For Love
“Too many broken hearts have fallen in the river Too many lonely souls have drifted out to sea You lay your bets and then you pay the price The things we do for love, the things we do for love” 10 CC from their hit, The Things We do For Love, 1977 She wanted […]