Is Ice the Ultimate Luxury?

IN HAWAII IN late December, the snow fell all night. Atop the dormant volcano Mauna Kea — the tallest peak in the islands and in the Pacific, rising nearly 13,800 feet above sea level — flakes collected in 10-foot drifts, sealing off the road to the summit until plows could come through. This was no…

Summer Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant, in all of its oblong, amethyst glory, can be an enigma to home cooks. At least, that’s the takeaway from emails I’ve received from readers, especially now that it’s everywhere: stores, markets, gardens, C.S.A. boxes. You have eggplants galore (and varying tastes for them), I have dinner ideas. Welcome to Recipe Matchmaker: Eggplant Edition.…

An Even Better Way to Eat Hard Boiled Eggs

Now that I’ve settled into the warm weather and its rituals, market runs and farm visits, ripening fruits crowd my kitchen counters, fresh greens burst from my crisper bin and tomatoes, chiles and lemongrass await, gifts from my little garden patch. And, once the hottest August afternoons arrive, I find myself navigating two competing desires:…