Exploring the Charming Flavors of Brookline, PA
January 27, 2012 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Stories
Brookline, located just south of downtown Pittsburgh, is known as the city’s second-biggest neighborhood. The area has experienced an emergence of new independent businesses, particularly food shops, over the past few years. It was through an invitation to join a walking food tour from Sylvia McCoy, owner of ‘Burgh Bits and Bites, I was able [...]
How to Roast Beets in 5 Easy Steps
January 9, 2012 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Sides, Tips
My appreciation for the mighty beet grew around the time they started to appear in my winter CSA box. Before I found them awkwardly interesting and, frankly, annoying at the same time. They are a pain to clean, they stained my hands several shades of magenta and would take hours to transform into anything edible. [...]
Can food be flavorful & beautiful while staying on budget?
November 26, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Stories
Food has always been a central part of life – dating back to childhood days when I whipped up culinary confections in my mother’s kitchen. Food has become even more of a focus in my adulthood where I am now deep into a full-time graduate program in food studies. Whether I’m touring local food businesses, [...]
Friendsgiving Blessings
November 24, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Stories
Off I go…over the river and through the woods with a picnic basket in tow. With our families scattered throughout the country, a small group of friends decided to host our own Friendsgiving festivities this year. The menu reads like a who’s who list of traditional Thanksgiving fare with each friend contributing a dish or [...]
Cheesy Alexia Fries & Giveaway
November 4, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Stories
The picture above is my favorite way to eat French fries – grilled chicken, smothered in melted cheese and a dollop or two of sour cream for good measure. I had the opportunity dive deep into the world of fries with Alexia Foods “Reinvent a Classic” contest over the summer. For an entire month, my [...]
Spiced Rum Vanilla Extract
October 8, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under More, Tips
Baking cookies has always been a guilty pleasure for me. The first recipe I ever created was a monstrous cookie adapted from three distinct recipes. Even as an adult, I have a well-practiced system that ensures perfection each and every time. However, there is one special ingredient that makes my cookies even more unique than [...]
Cozy Noodles & Rice: Thanks for the Memories…
August 20, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Food Studies, Stories
I opted to take a 12-week food writing course this summer, along with a few other twisted souls, for my graduate degree. The class challenged my writing skills and helped to expand my perspectives about food. Plus, I got to meet several amazing writers, magazine editors, photographers, and chefs who are all focused on the [...]
Blueberry Basil Cocktail
August 14, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Beverages
The whole idea for this beverage started when I was standing over my two basil plants. I hovered over them in awe at how well they are growing this summer. It seemed like every time I clip, the bushier they grow. I couldn’t fathom the idea of making anymore pesto. So I clipped a few [...]
Red Sangria
August 9, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Beverages
The first time I had sangria was many years ago on New Year’s Day. A group of friends decided to go to a local tapas restaurant that was running a special brunch that day. We showed up in our pajamas to receive half-off sangrias and a gift card toward a future purchase. It was actually [...]
Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
July 26, 2011 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Salads, Sauces
This dressing is creamy, chunky and tangy all at the same time. What’s not to like? I decided to try something different when whipping together a dressing for a steak house salad. Rather than adding the traditional amount of sour cream, I opted for Greek yogurt instead. This substitution incorporated a slightly Mediterranean tang to [...]


