Dreaming of Spaghetti and (Meatless) Meatballs

I love spaghetti and meatballs — making it, eating it, talking about it. That’s part of why I began obsessing over Anna Francese Gass’s new recipe for ricotta polpette before it was even published. Anna’s polpette are essentially ricotta dumplings, made from nothing more than cheese, bread crumbs and eggs, seasoned with parsley, salt and…

Cook With Your Senses

Whenever I make brown butter, the first cue that it’s almost ready is sound: that moment when the frenetic hiss of melting fat goes quiet. That’s when I know the moisture has cooked out and the milk solids are about to caramelize at the bottom of the pan. The next sign is scent. Does my…

The Singaporean Hawker Market Comes to Midtown

The Vasper It’s not on Madison Avenue, but this 120-seat restaurant and bar in the Park Avenue Mondrian evokes the 1960s “Mad Men” era with classic cocktails, chips and onion dip and lobster Thermidor for two. (Wednesday) 444 Park Avenue South (30th Street), 646-948-2464, thevasper.com. KJun Pun intended, this mash-up of Korean and Cajun, formerly…