The Small Town Chef

A bright, make-ahead pasta salad with crisp vegetables, two kinds of olives, fresh herbs, and charred lemon vinaigrette. I first made this orzo salad for a family get-together filled with pasta lovers—Italians, of course. I made what I thought was more than enough. Apparently, I was wrong. By the time I went looking for a little to save for lunch the next day, the bowl was empty. And I made a double batch! That was probably the best endorsement I could have gotten. What makes this orzo salad a little different isn't necessarily the ingredients. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, olives, onion, and fresh herbs are all pretty familiar territory. The difference is how I put everything together. Instead of tossing cold pasta with dressing and hoping it eventually picks up some flavor, I dress the orzo while it's still warm. The pasta absorbs that charred lemon vinaigrette as it cools, giving it flavor from the inside rather than simply coating...

Pistachio Pilaf, Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Blistered Tomato–Olive Relish & Lemon Basil Once again, my sister-in-law showed up with fresh fish from our local farmers market, where she works. Every so often, the fishmonger has some extra fresh seafood at the end of the weekend. Through a bit of good fortune, some of it finds its way into my kitchen. That’s how the tilapia for my Tilapia Piccata with Scampi Rice landed here—and this time, it was about three pounds of beautiful Spanish mackerel fillets with the skin still intact. I instantly went to the Mediterranean. More specifically, the Spanish Mediterranean. Mackerel is a rich, flavorful fish that can stand up to fire, garlic, olives, capers, ripe tomatoes and the sweetness of roasted peppers. I had garden tomatoes ready to use, plenty of Mediterranean staples in the pantry and a bag of pistachios that gave me an idea for the rice. A short time later, voilà—dinner was on the table. The mackerel wen...

Big Flavor. No Fuss. Perfect for Grilling or Roasting. If you’ve got pork and a pantry, you’ve already got the makings of something amazing. Dry rubs are one of my favorite ways to bring serious flavor without the need for extra sauces, marinades, or fuss. You mix it, rub it, let it hang out for a bit, and you're good to go—grill, roast, or even smoke. Today I’m sharing three bold, globally-inspired dry rubs I reach for constantly. Each one hits different: smoky and sultry, herby and bright, or warm and aromatic. These rubs are easy to whip up, easy to scale, and seriously delicious on everything from chops to pork shoulder to tenderloin. Let’s take a little world tour, shall we? 🌶 1. Mexican-Inspired Ancho-Cocoa Rub This rub is like a slow burn campfire—smoky, a little sweet, earthy from the cocoa, with just enough warmth to make things interesting. It’s killer on pork shoulder or anything you’re tossing on the grill for a taco night. What’s in it: 1 tbsp ancho chile powder 1 tbs...