"So, as millions of Americans continue to develop an appreciation for the flavor dynamics of highly spiced food, why not do away with those outmoded notions of culinary superiority and just admit it: people eat spicy food because it tastes great. Then we can all enjoy a lot more wonderful dishes."
"Every bite was a sensual delight. Since there were only two bones, we began passing them around the table as if they were edible peace pipes. Aside from the sheer tactile pleasure of gnawing, everyone agreed that the meat that sat next to the bone was the sweetest, the most succulent part."
"There is one American ham that has been considered worthy company to these others: the Smithfield ham of Virginia. Part of this ham's appeal is its pedigree, which is enforced by a 1926 Virginia law that makes it illegal to call a ham 'genuine Smithfield' unless it has been dry-cured, then aged for a minimum of 180 days within the Tidewater town of Smithfield. Country hams from elsewhere in the South are cured in the same way but may not necessarily be aged as long."
"To cooks of our grandmothers' generation, who had never heard of aluminum cookware, cast-iron pans were indispensable. Both of our maternal grandmothers called theirs Griswolds. We assumed this was a quaint term of affection, discovering only recently that it was the name of the manufacturer."
"Watermelon is a very democratic fruit: large enough to feed a crowd, sweet enough to please children and low enough in calories to appeal to weight-conscious adults."
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar 