Name: Brassica chinensis, bok choy in Cantonese means “white vegetable”, also known as Chinese Cabbage.

Origins: Chinese cabbage was studied for its medicinal qualities during the Ming Dynasty. The vegetable then spread to northern China before being introduced to Korea where it became a staple vegetable for making kimchi. Now commonly available in North America, Bok Choy is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine.

Peak Season: Late winter to early summer. Read More

I think next to outdoor dining, my love for the farmers market is a close second place to the things that I anticipate most about the spring and summer months. It’s now that time of year when the two combine and farmers markets are starting to pop up. This month, the Morningside Park’s Down to Earth Farmers Market will begin to gather local farmers and purveyors from the tri-state area. Everything from fresh produce, meat, dairy, beverages, and even plants for your home and specialty baked goods will be available for purchase starting May 25th and running through December 7th. Farmers markets are a great way to incorporate fresh ingredients into your meals and also support hard working local farmers and artisans. Read More

With spring in full force and beautiful weather on the forecast, what better a time to round-up a few cocktails inspired by the season.

Strawberry Rhubarb Sangria: This recipe calls for the classic combination of strawberry and rhubarb mixed into a delicious and strong sangria.

St. Germain Spring Cocktail Recipes: Follow this link for many ways to use this elderflower liquor that is ever-so popular right now, and is versatile enough to pair with many traditional spirits.

Strawberry Basil Bourbon Spritzer: This cocktail is just as delicious as it is beautiful. Start taking full advantage of using fresh berries muddled in with your favorite liquor and mixer of choice. Read More

Harlem Shake, Lenox Avenue’s highly anticipated burger and milkshake joint opens to the public THIS Thursday, May 16th. Although partially expecting to benefit from this year’s viral sensation of the same name, Harlem Shake was planned and designed long before the dance craze mutated and surfaced.

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This past week, the Abba Museum opened in Stockholm, Sweden to hundreds of fans ready to relive the unique saga of the native pop group. (Too bad Marcus, a lifelong fan, wasn’t around for the unveiling.) The museum, in collaboration with the Music Hall of Fame, boasts unparalleled memorabilia, a full-service dance floor and the actual studio console with which Abba recorded their signature sound.

The group, who formed in 1972, released 8 chart-topping albums, won the Eurovision Song Contest and extensively toured the world until their break-up in late 1982; a legacy that would spawn countless tributes to the group. Read More

This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 12th and like many people, this writer will be, at the very least, calling his mom to wish her a good one, especially if I can’t get one of America’s 16,000 florist or 103 greeting card establishments on the phone in time. My mother, like many, definitely deserves a day set aside; a small compensation for her tireless and impassioned dedication to my survival. Read More

This week we took a rather technical view to recipes and the everyday foods we eat. We learned how to make fresh pasta, as well as the secrets to the perfect roast chicken (and ways to use the left-overs). We saw the health benefits and versatility of in-season arugula, and learned about a new way of eating in order to increase longevity. And finally, we transformed your store-bought, unhealthy dip-recipes into homemade healthy versions to liven up your next party. Here’s a look at our most popular stories of the week: Read More

Risotto is one of those dishes that bring amazing thoughts to mind. Risotto feels like luxury in a bowl, and each time a restaurant has risotto on the menu, I want to know all about it. Risotto is actually very flexible and works well with a lot of different flavors and combinations. Restaurants incorporate mushrooms, herbs, cheeses and  a lot of other delicacies into risotto and it’s hard not to  love every minute of it. Making risotto at home, may seem scary for some but it’s actually quite easy.  Follow these tips to creating the perfect risotto for dinner this week.  Read More

“My mom called me this morning to tell me everything that could go wrong. She just knows what a big deal this is for me.”

The mood at Red Rooster on Wednesday morning was equal parts excitement and frenetic energy as the team got ready for the arrival of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Marcus’s nerves were no exception–the dry cleaner didn’t have his favorite shirt ready and it was pouring rain outside. But as they say, the Queen waits for no one and so everyone had to be on point for the royal luncheon. Read More

There’s nothing like a good dip to round out your appetizer table at your party. However, store-bought dips are often loaded with fat and calories, having mayonnaise and/or sour cream as the base. And the potato chips used to serve the dip are full of sodium and preservatives, leaving you with a calorie-laden appetizer that is just plain run-of-the-mill. Read More