The approach of restaurant chefs to recipe development differs greatly from that of editors of cookbooks and food magazines for the home cook. While researching and writing articles and books, then, my challenges include scaling down the amounts of ingredients to work for a small dinner party instead of a […]

When I talked to my editor about doing an article on Jamaica, she told me about Coonamessett Farm in Falmouth where workers prepare a Jamaican buffet every Wednesday.a Our conversation reminded me of some of the recipes I brought back from a winter vacation in Jamaica, a vacation that was […]

Whenever I visit Mexico, I find the food and culture the most fascinating, exciting, and unique part of the experience. Once a year, I leave winter and work-related business behind and lay in the warm sun and go for long swims in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. There’s […]

Steamy and Easy The once plentiful American lobster is now a delicacy that plays a starring role in this easy, one-pot clambake. I like to celebrate the Fourth of July with a clambake on my deck or back yard. If it is a beautiful day, I transport it to the […]

Solitary dining Meals so special you’ll be glad they’re yours alone By JOHN F. CARAFOLI CONTRIBUTING WRITER This is a time of uncertainty and unrest for all of us. It makes me think of my career as a food stylist and how frivolous it seems given what is happening in […]

Many years ago, I was living in Chicago, immersed in a demanding, high-pressure job, and needed to get away to somewhere quiet and peaceful to replenish my mind, body and soul. A friend mentioned Rio Caliente, a spa in Mexico, describing it as a tranquil, special place. Plates of Huervos […]

When I was 7 years old, my first job was picking wild blueberries in mid-August. I would sell them to the owners (two sisters) of By Way Lunch, the local luncheonette. It was a real challenge for me at that young age because they would buy as many as I […]

No one looks forward to surgery. As a healthy, active person I have always dreaded it, particularly the thought of being incapacitated for any length of time. For years I had pain and some limited function in my left knee, but through yoga, swimming, acupuncture and a few unconventional methods […]

Picture-perfect Make your holiday parties and treats sparkle, using the finishing touches the professionals do In addition to writing my monthly column, “Cooking with Carafoli,” and developing recipes for a wide range of clients, I also work as a food stylist. Many people ask me what this means. It’s an […]