- The cook doing her stovetop thing and a bowl of her winning Mussels for One (or Two) -- the perfect seafood supper.
Here at Food52, we almost always wish we'd had dinner last night at lastnightsdinner's house. With six wins spanning both the first and second Food52 Cookbooks, two runners-up and 22 Editors' Picks -- the numbers say it all. But the beauty of this "desk jockey by day, home cook and food blogger by night" out of Providence, RI is only confirmed by the stats. Instinctual yet disciplined, lastnightsdinner is a cook whose food has soul and, if you've ever made one of her recipes, you know you can taste the love.
There are so many hits, so many dishes we all make again and again (the mark of a great recipe, no doubt). And she has something to please every palate -- for the Italophilic among us, from gnudi to cacciatore (a.k.a. Hunter's-Style Chicken) she's got us covered; for those who cook for crowds, Short Rib Chili or Borrachos and her Classic Caesar. You could even do a lastnightsdinner Dinner Party (gotta love a woman whose ideal number of guests is 8-12). We're thinkin' Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs as an hors d'oeuvres, followed by Seared Scallops with Spring Onion and Tarragon Cream or Beef Chopped Salad. How fitting that she would be the first cook lit up by our redesigned spotlight -- truly an all-star in our book. Huzzah!
Read our profile Q&A with lastnightsdinner below -- and follow her on Twitter and her blog Last Night's Dinner.
- What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
either lamb kidneys or grilled duck hearts, both of which were delicious - What do you cook when home alone?
it varies, but will usually have an egg on top - Your most treasured kitchen possession:
my Wusthof chef's knife - Your ideal meal:
migas at my Grandma's kitchen table - Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook:
the tasting menu at Le Bernardin - The number of bottles of wine you own:
not nearly enough - The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
8-12 - Kitchen pet peeve:
dirty or cluttered countertops - Your favorite cookbook:
Sunday Suppers at Lucques
- .
- A plate of her winning Linguine with Sardines, Fennel & Tomato and the latest addition to lastnightsdinner's table: Julian.
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francesca gilberti
I am a young cook, eater, and writer living in New York.
Some past articles from this author you'll love:
Behind the Scenes of Food52's Recipe Contests
How to Prepare a Parsnip
How to Roast Any Winter Squash
19 Comments on lastnightsdinner:
Lovely spotlight for you Last Nights Dinner. Julian is beautiful.
Congratulations, I love reading your recipes and seeing your photos! And I'll add I love an egg on top of anything.
Your little Julian is beautiful. Warm congratulations.
Some what new to this site and absolutely love this feature. As for your linguine with fennel and sardines, Yumm.
Congratulations lastnghtsdinner on this feature and the adorable Julian. I love your linguine with sardines!
So happy to see you and baby Julian here, Jen! You are a true talent in the kitchen, a lovely person and as a fellow native Detroiter, a kindred spirit.
Yay!!!! Many many congrats on being featured here, on the new baby, and life in general!!!
Very cool. Love how Julian is getting media play already!
Congrats, Jen. Well deserved and overdue. I love so many of your recipes. Even (especially) your seafood ones, with which you continue to stomp me! :-) PS - congrats on the beautiful new addition to your family!
Ah Jen - so happy for you. Perfect first profile for the new site and SOO well deserved, and it's nice to see Julian profiled too! As wonderful as your food is - it's your ability to reach out and interact with so many of us here and on Twitter and Facebook that make you a friend and not just an avatar on Food 52.
Congratulations! What a fabulous, well-deserved spotlight. Enjoy your sweet boy - what a precious photo.
A well-deserved honor to one of the first cooks on the site who reached out to me 2 years ago when I was a home cook who had yet to take a photo of food. Best wishes to you and your lovely family, Jen.
A well-deserved honor to one of the first cooks on the site who reached out to me 2 years ago when I was a home cook who had yet to take a photo of food. Best wishes to you and your lovely family, Jen.
i love lastnightsdinner - i go to her ingredients sidebar whenever i'm stumped on how to use up something. :)
Yay for Jen! So many of my new favorite recipes come from you - yet another reason I'm thankful for Food52.
Whoa - just hopped online to check out the (wonderful!!) redesign, and stumbled on this - thank you so much!! There's always a seat at our table for you, food52 friends :)
No question about it, it is the perfect spotlight.
I love the latest fixture - he's so cute. Good to see you under the lights - and I love your hair. What's that got to do with food?
Wow--Jen! So cool that you're in the spotlight just in time for the new design! Congratulations--hope you are having fun with Julian and that you are feeling well!
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