Eggplant Extravaganza

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.…

Every Peach Shines in This Tart

It’s such a short window, when peaches are ripe enough to eat just as they are, so it’s tempting to elevate this complex, floral fruit: to wax just a little bit too lyrical. Notes of vanilla are present, traces of almonds. Echoes are heard in chardonnays and rieslings, sémillons and proseccos. But a perfectly ripe…

Where I Ate in New York City

I strongly believe that a little leap into the unknown is healthy for the psyche, which is why I’m taking a leap of my own: Starting this week I’m temporarily leaving the Food section, and this newsletter, to spend three months editing and reporting on The Times’s Live desk, which you may know as the…

Five Easy Dinners for Peak Zucchini

Last week, we talked tomatoes; this week is all about our zeal for zucchini, with recipes devoted to summer’s low-key charmer. While I love zucchini, I do not love mushy, watery zucchini, and so it’s essential to lean on recipes and techniques that best show it off. As usual here at Five Weeknight Dishes, we’re…