Playing With My Food ~
A journal about food, thought, travel, and life; by Chef & Raconteur Chaz French.

Oxtail tacos with cuitlacoche, goat cheese, and salsa verde

Cuitlacoche is a fungus that grows on corn, in the United States, the FDA has gone to great lengths to eliminate this blight known as “Corn Smut,” in parts of Mexico they intentionally inoculate corn with the spores that deform the kernels and grow these fungal tumors.  They are intensely delicious, and they’re now being […]

Beer Braised Oxtails

Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed or 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh, chopped 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 2 dashes cayenne 1, two inch piece of green chili, minced (polbano,or other mild-medium chili) 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1/4 cup ruby red grapefruit juice 1 bottle (12ounces) Lagunitas IPA 1 1/2 to […]

Mother

This is a poem I wrote which later became a song, it was written many years ago for my teacher Guru Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati.  I am posting it here tonight as a wish that she gets well soon. Mother I go to sleep, you are there I wake up, you are with me I […]

A PS To Pat L.

I went to the clinic today and the triage nurse sent me to the ER for X-rays, and it turns out that I broke my left clavicle at the joint.  It will heal on its own in 4-6 weeks, while it’s in a sling.  And thankfully I can get basic treatment for free thanks to […]

An open letter to Pat L.

Dear Pat L. (who works at a Peet’s in the East Bay), You serve me my coffee somewhat regularly, your beard and tattoos make you easily recognizable and I often see you riding your bike around town, without a helmet.  Look, I’m not a preacher, I’m an atheist, but I feel compelled to share a […]

I’m A Judge At This Year’s Eat Real Festival!

I was  thrilled to announce that I was asked to be judge at this year’s Eat Real Fest’s DIY Charcuterie Contest, I am also saddened to annouce the DIY Charcuterie Contest was canceled due to liability issues over the remote chance of food poisoning. However…. I’ve now been moved to the panel for the DIY […]

I Think That It’s A Good Day

I think that it’s a good day to call family and catch up I think that it’s a good day to go to the beach I think that it’s a good day for a barbecue with friends I think that it’s a good day to help those less fortunate than you I think that it’s […]

Coming Soon…

PS: I won the contest. Tweet

Cheddar Brownie With Whipped Cream & Strawberries

Yep, you read that correctly, “Cheddar Brownie.”  And I’m here to tell you that it’s a brownie revelation. Update: August 1st. I won!  Vote for Chaz!. (deadline Friday July 29th). Some back-story, I was asked by the folks at Cabot Creamery to be one of five people to take part in their Summer Dessert Challenge.  […]

Dawn Wells (yes, of Gilligan’s Island) taught me something I didn’t learn in culinary school

I will never ever peel a potato again!   Seriously watch this video, it will rock your culinary skills. Tweet