This week is a perfect example of when Taste's worlds collide.
As avid cooks, we’ve been furiously planning our Thanksgiving coverage. I spent the weekend re-creating strawberry-pretzel salad, and Joy Summers did the same with a much-loved family recipe for Oatmeal Stuffing. My favorite might be Meredith Deeds’ Roasted Cranberry-Orange Sauce, which she brilliantly turns into a vinaigrette with the leftovers. We also have desserts for a crowd, thanks to Sarah Kieffer. I hope there’s room at your table for some of these recipes.
On the restaurant side, Joy had the news that the North Loop’s Graze food hall is now in the hands of the Travail chefs, and they’re bringing friends: Nixta tacos, thin-crust Wrecktangle pizza and cocktails from Meteor’s Robb Jones. The energy of the Travail chefs is infectious — watch for more surprises.
In a pinch-me moment, Joy and I were able to talk to celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich as she filmed a television special. The interview happened this summer at Owamni, but the show airs Tuesday on TPT. Lidia is just as delightful in person as she is on TV.
Happy Thanksgiving, and be sure to leave enough time to thaw your turkey.
-- Nicole Hvidsten, Taste editor
