The Small Town Chef

Middle Eastern & Indian Spice Vibes   You ever take a bite of grilled chicken or beef and immediately feel like you’ve been transported somewhere warmer, sunnier, and way more exciting than your backyard? That’s the magic of these marinades. We’re diving into Middle Eastern and Indian-inspired flavors—these are perfect for chicken, beef, or shrimp, and they’re just as good on the grill as they are under the broiler or on a cast iron pan. Let’s get into it...   Yogurt-Turmeric Chicken Marinade (Indian-Inspired)   This one is creamy, tangy, and golden yellow from the turmeric. The yogurt works as a tenderizer, so you end up with insanely juicy grilled chicken that practically falls apart.   Ingredients (for 2–3 lbs chicken thighs or breasts) ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat) 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander ½ tsp chili powder or cayenne...

Italian & Mediterranean Vibes There’s something about that first real taste of warmer weather that gets me reaching for the grill tongs before I even know what I’m cooking. The windows are open, the air smells like cut grass and charcoal, and suddenly I want everything marinated, grilled, and piled high on a plate with a crisp white wine or cold beer. So let’s kick off Part 1 of my “Favorite Marinades” series with a few go-to recipes that lean into bold Italian and Mediterranean flavors. These are some of my ride-or-die marinades for chicken, pork, and beef—big on flavor, easy to prep, and perfect for lazy backyard dinners or that first cookout of the season.   Mediterranean Marinara Pork (or Chicken) Marinade This one was born out of a “use what you’ve got” moment with leftover marinara, and it’s become one of my favorite ways to marinate pork tenderloin or chicken thighs. It’s tomato-forward, herby, a little sweet and spicy—like if Sunday sauce took a vacation in Greece. Ingr...

Photo via Pexels Your relationship with food rarely exists in a vacuum. It's shaped by routines, emotions, expectations, and sometimes a quiet tension buzzing beneath the surface. If you’ve ever eaten through a bag of chips in a fog of stress or skipped breakfast because anxiety gnawed away your appetite, you’ve felt this firsthand. Mental health isn’t just a state of mind; it’s a powerful lens that colors your daily choices, especially the ones that end up on your plate.   Emotions as a Culinary Compass You often reach for food not because you’re hungry, but because you’re searching for comfort . Sadness might crave sugar. Boredom might beg for crunch. These connections between emotion and appetite form early and quietly entrench themselves in your habits. When you eat to soothe rather than nourish, your body often ends up sidelined in a transaction meant to appease the mind. Practice Healthy Snacking What's often missing in your approach to eating well is the space between me...

Some recipes come from deep thought and planning, others from a craving, but this one? This one was made for an afternoon with two of my favorite people — both serious cooks in their own right. One spent his younger years working the line and then transitioned into video post-production, the other’s a director of photography who’s worked with Robert Irvine on “Restaurant: Impossible,” and quite comfortable in a kitchen.  So yeah… let’s just say the bar was high. The goal? Build a flatbread that felt rustic but composed, something you’d throw together with a glass of wine in hand, but still worthy of raised eyebrows and second helpings. That's how this  shrimp flatbread recipe came about. At the heart of it is a roasted red pepper coulis: smooth, sweet, and smoky with a little backbone from shallots,  sautéed  garlic, and white balsamic vinegar. That gets layered over a spread of whipped goat cheese, roasted garlic, and anchovy — basically a savory, creamy dream. From...