Bon Appetit March 2022

IN THE OFFICE we have been playfully referring to this month’s magazine as the Pot Issue. Not pot as in cannabis! But rather a reference to the fact that so many of the belly-warming recipes in this issue come out of a big steaming pot. First we turn the spotlight on potlikker, that residual goodness left behind after you boil greens or beans. In “The Power of Potlikker With Carla Hall” (page 70), the inventive Southernborn chef shares how she uses one base to flavor two recipes each, for a total of three potlikkers and six recipes. There is little I like more than a two-for-one deal, so I can’t wait to try the Smoked Paprika and Sun-Dried Tomato Potlikker out of which both Braised Chicken Thighs With Olives and Herbs and…

LOW-EFFORT, HIGH-REWARD DINNERS p. 1 0 INDIGENOUS PANTRY MUST-HAVES p. 2 6 Caffeine Kick There’s no better workday pick-me-up than excellent coffee. But during the winter I won’t brave wind tunnels or even a drafty foyer for it. My tiny desk-friendly pour-over station means I don’t have to. The Chemex makes 16 ounces, or two-ish thermoses, of coffee with a generous splash of milk—just what I need to refocus and reset—and the Fellow kettle’s precise temperature dial and elegant gooseneck let me baby my beans to my neuroses’ content. It takes just seconds to pour fresh brew into Hay’s sleek insulating Sowden thermos. After a few sips I’m caffeinated and composed.…

SCALLIONS ARE LIKE a good friend—available, adaptable, and always a pleasure to see. In her debut cookbook, I Dream of Dinner (So You Don’t Have To), out April 12, recipe developer Ali Slagle shares low-effort, high-reward recipes that keep weeknight cooking from getting redundant by using different techniques for common ingredients like the humble scallion. In Slagle’s recipe for Roasted Roots With Green Salsa (page 12), scallions are roasted alongside carrots and sweet potatoes, adding smoky char and depth to a fresh chunky tomatillo salsa. Roasted Roots With Green Salsa Don’t ditch your carrot tops—they add earthiness to the bright salsa that adorns these tender carrots and sweet potatoes. If your carrots came without greens, add cilantro instead 4 SERVINGS 3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 lb.), scrubbed, cut into ½"-thick wedges8 small carrots…

The Hot Spots • Coctelería La Palma Mariscos y Mas • 5 Points Market & Restaurant • Ruiz Hot Dogs Los Chipilones • The Citizen Hotel • La Indita • Sushi on Oracle • Barrio Charro • Mercado San Agustin • Noodleholics • El Taco Rustico • Tanque Verde Ranch • Tito & Pep • Tumerico When to Visit Spring. The weather isn’t triple digits yet, so you can soak in the clear skies and blooming desert flowers. September also works beautifully with lush post-monsoon greenery. Where to Stay The Downtown Clifton, a hotel with a notable in-house restaurant and bar, is walking distance to Tucson’s cocktail corridor on Scott Avenue. What to Bring Back Monsoon Chocolate bars and bonbons, flour tortillas from Tortilleria Doña Esperanza…

AS A TUCSON NATIVE I’ve spent the past three decades savoring the city’s distinctive combination of aromas and flavors. First comes mesquite—the robust, earthy smoke from this native wood triggers memories of impromptu bonfires and family gatherings with grilled skirt steaks. Second, thin, lardy Sonoran flour tortillas, which make all other tortillas feel like dry, puffy flatbread. Then there are the roadside burritos: Never bursting with fillers, they showcase tender grilled or braised meats that you dress according to your taste. (For me that means just a spritz of lime, a pinch of onion and cilantro, and a touch of fiery chile de árbol salsa.) This mountain-ringed desert city is home to a diverse population of Native communities, immigrants, and college kids. Strolling downtown you might spot a day-tripper from…

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Don’t skip this combination zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum, where a mountain lion, a red-tailed hawk, and an ocelot live in their native settings. Sabino Canyon Hike the scenic trail to Seven Falls for a moderate trek, but take waterproof shoes for the waterfalls. Mission Garden Learn about the layered history of Sonoran agriculture at this fascinating living museum. Saguaro National Park Don’t hug the saguaros, but admire their abundance alongside the stunning mountain sunset view. Arizona Zipline Adventures Check out the landscape from above, then eat at Peppersauce Kitchen, where you can bring your own beer and build your own burger.…