Terry Boyd | USA Character Blog

Top Five: Summer Grilling Tools

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:30:00 -0500

No doubt about it, we Americans love to grill. Whether you're a fan of charcoal and the classic Weber kettle or prefer the convenience of gas, there's something almost primal about cooking outdoors. So as you prepare to get your grill on this summer, here are five Character Approved tools and accessories that will make you love grilling even more.

[Image: Weber]

Out in the Kitchen: Celebrating LGBT Pride Month

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:30:00 -0500

LGBT Pride Month is celebrated every June to recognize the contributions of LGBT people around the world. And what's a celebration without food? This week, we honor Character Approved gay and lesbian chefs in restaurants (and food trucks) coast to coast. Check some of them out in the slide show below!

[Images: Melanie Burford/Special to The Chronicle, Dina Avila/Eater, Annisa, BBQ Bus, Nancy Leson/Seattle Times, TastyChomps]

Father's Day: Father/Son Team Brings Latin Flavors, Acclaim to Houston

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Last month, we celebrated Mother's Day by honoring a mother/daughter chef team. This month, we're toasting the father/son team of Michael and David Cordúa for Father's Day. Nicaragua-born father Michael is widely seen as a pioneer of South American cuisine in the US. A James Beard Foundation award semi-finalist, the self-taught chef was named one of America's "Top Ten Chefs" by Food & Wine. He's also the only Texas chef to be inducted into Food & Wine's Hall of Fame.

Michael's first restaurant, Churrascos, was the first upscale Latin American-style restaurant in America when it opened in 1988. Esquire magazine called it one of the "Best New Restaurants in America." In 1993, he opened Américas, a high-concept restaurant showcasing the diverse cuisines of North America, Central America, and South America. Esquire named this one "Restaurant of the Year."

Houston-born son David began working as a dishwasher in his father's kitchen when he was 15, where he developed his own love of the culinary world. After earning diplomas in both pastry and cuisine at the famed Cordon Bleu in Paris, David refined his own personal cooking style in restaurants in France (including the two-Michelin-starred La Tour D' Argent) and California. He's now back home in Houston, working with his dad as Executive Chef of their seven award-winning restaurants, which go from high-end dining to family fast food, all with Latin and pan-Latin flavors.

In April, the father and son team went to New York to prepare a special meal at the James Beard House. It was Michael's third time cooking there, David's first. And it's just the latest accolade bestowed on this Character Approved father/son duo.

[Image: Johnny Hanson]

Handcrafted Coffee, Spice, and Pepper Grinders Masquerade as Contraptions

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:00:00 -0500

In a world of sleek, modern, automatic-everything kitchen tools, Red Rooster Trading Company's handcrafted mills have a charming Rube Goldberg/Monty Python animation quality to them. They're made in Southern Missouri by a husband and wife team, Justin and Britta Burrus, and sold in coffee shops and small boutiques across the country and online.

The Camano Coffee Mill (shown left) features an adjustable cast iron conical burr coffee grinder that gently crushes the beans instead of cutting them, releasing their natural oils for improved flavor. The manual grinder doesn't build up heat as electric grinders can, so there's no burning or bitterness. And the hand operation of the mill turns making that morning cup of coffee into a pleasing hands-on ritual.

The Mabana Pepper Mill (shown right) mounts a similar conical burr grinder atop a wood base made of American black walnut and cherry. Justin and Britta make a number of other items for the kitchen and home, including crush grinders for spices, cutting boards, and wooden coasters. Everything is wrapped in hand-stamped burlap bags, packed in shredded recycled newspaper (from the local paper), and shipped in a gift box.

The old-fashioned, contraptionlike appearance and hand operation of these Character Approved grinders make them a perfect fit for the artisanal everything movement. To find a shop near you or order online, visit the Red Rooster Trading Company website.

[Images: Red Rooster Trading Company]