The Sip and Feast Podcast

When we think of Thanksgiving, images of perfectly glistening turkeys leap to mind. But as much as we romanticize the bird, the reality is that the sides are the real reason we love Thanksgiving! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/5yvld3QGbr8 Forget the bird and bring on the sides We love a good Thanksgiving turkey with its crisp golden skin, tender juicy meat, and lots of gravy, but when it comes...

Costco is often heralded as the home of many a great deal, but consumers are wondering if their latest offering is worth it. Costco's Le Creuset deal has sparked numerous headlines recently and we're here to examine whether or not it's worth the money and the toll it's sure to take on your storage situation! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/nwGQz-MyE-U Costco recently added a $4,499 157-piece Le...

For many, the official start of Fall isn't the Autumn Equinox or the changing leaves. It's when Trader Joe's Fall Finds hit the shelves. For a limited time, the store is chock full of orange-colored packages filled with pumpkin, apple, and maple goodies that we simply can't resist! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/0YMMZiCt7fw While Trader Joe's isn't by any means a one-stop shop for our family's...

Steak Pizzaiola is a dish I ate frequently as a kid but hadn't fully reveled in its frugality until I grew up and had to feed my own family. While many restaurants try to fancy it up with expensive cuts of beef, the good news is this old-school meal is actually better when more affordable methods are employed. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/KWqFs4UE3tQ Steak Pizzaiola, or carne alla pizzaiola,...

It's no secret that warehouse clubs like Costco have fantastic deals, especially when it comes to feeding a family. Whether it's olive oil, cheese, or something as simple as half-and-half, there are so many reasons why we love Costco! It continuously proves itself to be one of the best places to find deals to fit the budget and lifestyle of many families. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/FpfQI24x...

Pasta fazool, or pasta e fagioli, quite literally translates to "pasta and beans", but it's so much more than that. It's a bowl of comfort seasoned with nostalgia and a heavy sprinkle of history. And while there are many ways to make it, and many ways to pronounce it, one thing is consistent: it's always delicious! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/FllIY-mtKeI What is pasta e fagioli? The only req...

Besides spaghetti and meatballs, no other dish is as wildly popular as Chicken Parmigiana, or chicken parm. This comforting meal can be found in every pizzeria and red sauce joint in the New York metro area but is also available across the country at various chain restaurants. Chicken parm is so synonymous with Italian-American food that many may find it hard to believe it is almost impossible to...

In late 2021 I fell in love with a relatively obscure dish, Pasta alla Norcina. Unknown to many in the New York metro area as it deviates from the red sauce-heavy dishes found in most of our local restaurants, it was clear I needed to create an instructional video and recipe to help bring this recipe to our audience. Doing so was not without its challenges. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/--kYih...

Whether store-bought or homemade, condiments are typically used to enhance the flavor of a meal. Here we discuss the top Italian condiments and how you can use them to elevate your favorite meals! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/I-jPTS3lMeQ If you've followed us for any amount of time, you can probably guess some of our favorite condiments, especially as they relate to Italian and Italian-Americ...

Have you ever watched a film whose depiction of food left you starving? Maybe it was the food itself, the way the actors ate or prepared the food, or even the story leading up to a final climactic meal. Listen as we discuss some of the best food scenes in movies, and how they left us wanting more! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/fsu0t7PQUQY Some of the most famous scenes in film relate to food....

Are there certain ingredients you shy away from using, or certain meals you won't make because you're afraid you might screw them up? Listen as we explore some culinary situations that may give you pause, and some tips to help conquer your food fears! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/nhLUVyV-57E For many cooks, both novice and seasoned, certain ingredients or meals can be intimidating. Do you del...

Shrimp are one of those ingredients that are perfect for novice cooks. They're easy to find, easy to prepare, and cook within minutes. If you've ever wanted to know all about shrimp as they relate to cooking, whether it be the size, variety, or cooking methods, give Shrimp 101 a listen! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZG7iLf3EHaY Shrimp are one of our favorite ingredients to work with and, as di...

It's back to school season and for many families that means busier, tighter schedules. To help, we've compiled a list of the best 30-minute meals that are actually doable! Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/Ob5kf2xREJc When schedules get busy, take-out is often the "easy button" of choice, but that can get expensive and annoying! In the time we spent lamenting over where to order from and what to o...

Food myths run rampant in our world, whether it be online or through old wives' tales handed down through the years. Much of this misinformation applies to the culinary world and we’re here to talk about it and decide which of them hold water. If you prefer video, watch the full episode 10 YouTube video version. Shortly after we published our instructional video for Pasta alla Norma, we received a...

If the produce found at the grocery store has you feeling underwhelmed, disappointed, and frustrated, you’re not alone. One solution is to grow whatever you can at home, even if it’s just a few herbs! If you prefer video, watch the full episode 9 YouTube video version. If the produce found at the grocery store has you feeling underwhelmed, disappointed, and frustrated, you’re not alone.  One solut...

It seems as though every year a new "must-have" kitchen tool rears its head accompanied by a flurry of recipes with a focus on that specific tool.  But for many of us with limited kitchen space, the true utility of these tools and gadgets is an important consideration. If you've ever been left shaking your head and wondering which kitchen gadgets are actually worth buying, you'll want to give a li...

Deli culture, much like pizza and bagel culture, is part of the New Yorkers' (specifically Long Islanders') DNA.  If you're from Long Island, you know someone who worked in a deli or have worked in one yourself, and you most definitely have a strong opinion about which deli you think is best.  If you prefer video, watch the full episode 7 YouTube video version. We explore deli culture through the...

This is episode number 6 of The Sip and Feast Podcast.  In this episode, we're discussing The Food Network and the changes it and other cooking programs have made over the years.  If you watched The Food Network intently from its beginning you know it took a turn from substance and instruction to pure style and dramatics. Why did this happen and is it such a bad thing anyway? Maybe it's what the a...

This is episode number 5 of The Sip and Feast Podcast.  In this episode, we're talking New York pizza.  It took Jim over 150 pounds of bread flour and lots of time messing up pizzas before he really nailed down the technique. While the traditional New York Pizza took the longest to perfect he also put time into making a Sicilian and Grandma pizza. We'll also discuss other things you can make with...

This is episode number 4 of The Sip and Feast Podcast.  In this episode, we're talking about extra virgin olive oil.  What makes a good extra virgin olive oil?  When is it appropriate to use extra virgin vs regular olive oil?   We'll also discuss other uses for olive oil from an orange olive oil cake to a great cocktail called the oliveto. Finally, we answer a few listener-submitted questions. We...

This is the third episode of The Sip and Feast Podcast.  If you prefer video, watch the full episode 3 YouTube video version. In this episode, we're talking meatballs.  What makes a great meatball?  What type of ingredients are needed for tasty meatballs and how do you keep them tender? Besides classic Italian meatballs, we also discuss non-meat meatballs like eggplant meatballs and polpette di pa...

It's no secret that Italian-Americans feel strongly about their sauce.  Whether it's the age-old dispute of sauce vs. gravy or types of tomatoes or meat to use folks usually have a strong opinion.  The Sunday sauce podcast episode is dedicated to demystifying the passion of the sauce. If you prefer video, watch the full episode 2 YouTube video version. When a viewer shared their confusion around t...

Every business has a backstory, and ours is no different. The Sip and Feast backstory started in a small kitchen back in the 1980's and through the years was fueled by family, food, and determination.  If you prefer video, watch the full episode 1 YouTube video version. Since starting the Sip and Feast YouTube channel in 2018, we're often asked to share more of our history, how we got here, and wh...