Salsa’s Best Friend (and taco’s too) Curtido is a taco condiment staple, especially in the Yucatan where it is featured on Cochinita Pibil, Mexico’s answer to low and slow pulled pork. I like it on many tacos, especially the meaty ones likes Carnitas or Campechano(steak and chorizo). And making it could not be more simple.

The Vitals: the recipe: Al Pastor Traeger Hack the smoker: Traeger Ironwood 885  the time: about an hour the full nelson: too damn fun not to try Lazy Sunday cookouts have been a running theme in my backyard lately. On Sundays, like in this Instagram Reels post, I’ve been hitting up my neighborhood carniceria. Their selection of marinated meats and salsas are damn tasty when I don’t feel like dedicating a weekend for the prep. And it gave me a ...

I might be the host of Spring Baking Championship but a baker I am not. But that doesn’t mean I can’t test the waters. When Studio 512’s host Stephanie Gilbert challenged me to a baking challenge . . . I knew I had to step up. With some guidance from Spring Baking Champion Nacho Aguirre, I came up with this: a mini chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and macerated raspberries or “Ali’s wedding proposal cake” for short. It’s in honor ...

A Pakistani curry specialty with a Texas twist.

Food Network + Cooking Channel's Ali Khan craves Vietnamese Meatballs and threw together an impromptu recipe. Served up in taco form.

Italian Beef Meal Kit: messy deliciousness in the comfort of your own home

I was gifted a copy of Sunday Supper’s by Suzanne Goin some 15 years ago. In that time I have probably prepared a handful of recipes which is more a reflection of the involvement the book requires. Broken up be Seasons, you would be wise to stick to the one you are currently in and have access to a good Farmer’s Market. True to the chef’s resumé and accolades, this book is not for the novice cook nor a busy ...

So McRib is back and I got excited. I mean, it’s the McRib . . . the only sandwich at McDonald’s thats as McDonalds as the freaking Big Mac. Now it has been more than a minute since I have had one and I just couldn’t eat a McRib and post about it. I had to make it better. So here it is, My McRib hack, which I swear to whatever higher power you believe in, is worth the minimal ...

It’s 47 degrees outside, football is in full swing and it’s high time I figured out a real deal Texas chili recipe. Spoiler alert: I used tomatoes. Yeah, I did. And I used ground beef, albeit coarse ground aka chili grind from a butcher shop called Longhorn Meats. No beans though, and that deep hue of red was from making my own chili powder. I even have two versions for you and my inspiration came from an award winning recipe ...

Pork Chile Verde It’s a hearty, comforting Mexican icon. Superb in tacos, burritos, over rice or even just in a damn bowl, Pork Chile Verde is a staple on both sides of the border. Thanks to one of Food & Wine’s Best of the Best cookbooks from years back, I stumbled upon a Rick Bayless version where chunks of pork shoulder are braised slowly in an oven along with tomatillos, cilantro and pickled jalapeños. Despite countless versions of Pork Chile ...