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Category: Sides and Salads

Classic Marinara Sauce

This classic Italian sauce is a staple for many dishes and can easily be enjoyed on it’s own over pasta. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for bread, calamari, or mozzarella cheese sticks.

Continue reading “Classic Marinara Sauce” →

Posted on March 2, 2025March 11, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Dinner Tonight, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Old World, One Pot Wonders, Pasta, Recipes, Rubs and Sauces, Sides and Salads, Weeknight Dinners8 Comments

Essential Garlic Bread

This quick and easy version of Garlic Bread is made from pantry and fridge essentials, comes together in a flash, and is a perfect accompaniment or side dish to almost any meal.

Continue reading “Essential Garlic Bread” →

Posted on January 6, 2025March 18, 2026 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Old World, Sides and SaladsTagged basic-garlic-bread, best-garlic-bread, essential-garlic-bread, how-to-make-garlic-bread, quick-garlic-bread. 4 Comments

Mediterranean Salad

A great salad is the perfect compliment to any meal, and the secret lies in using fresh ingredients – and a homemade salad dressing.

Once you learn to make your own salad dressing – which is simple to do – you’ll never buy store-bought again.

Continue reading “Mediterranean Salad” →

Posted on December 30, 2024January 13, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Inspiration, Mediterranean, Old World, Sides and SaladsTagged greek-salad, homemade-salad-dressing, Mediterranean, Mediterranean-salad. 1 Comment

How To Build The Perfect Charcuterie Board

It may be counterintuitive, but the secret to building a great charcutier board lies in choosing ingredients that to some degree actually oppose – rather than compliment – each other. This keeps the experience interesting enough that people will want to keep munching.

Continue reading “How To Build The Perfect Charcuterie Board” →

Posted on December 25, 2024December 25, 2024 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Complete Meals, French, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Old World, Recipes, Sides and SaladsTagged charcuterie, charcuterie-board, cheese, food, how to build a charcuterie board, how to make a charcuterie board, new years eve dinner, Recipes, what goes in a charcuterie board. Leave a comment

Rice Pilaf

Sure, you can use Near East or even the Riceroni version – which are surprisingly good – but here’s how to make you own authentic Rice Pilaf.

Continue reading “Rice Pilaf” →

Posted on December 23, 2024August 10, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Mediterranean, Old World, Sides and SaladsTagged homemade rice pilaf, rice pilaf, rice pilaf from scratch, the intrepid gourmet, the intrepid gourmet rice pilaf. 4 Comments

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Older posts

⛋ Kitchen Notes | FALL 2026

Seasonal Feature

Pistachio-Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Parsley-Mint Chimichurri

This dinner is a segue into fall. The lamb is earthy and evokes deep summer, while the heirloom carrots foreshadow the cool and fragrant months to come, with just a hint of warm spices and maple. Crispy smashed potatoes are comforting yet not too rich, and the bright peppery arugula salad provides a welcome jolt of acidity to balance this flavorful meal.

Morning Coffee Read

Steak au Poivre with Apple Brandy Pink Peppercorn Sauce

Using Pink Peppercorns elevates this dish by contributing a fruity, floral depth while Himalayan Pink Salt provides a minerality which perfectly complements any cut of beef.

Tips & Tricks

7 Kitchen Hacks Used By Pro Chefs That You Should Be Using At Home

If you want to learn to cook like the pros, start with some of these tried-and-true pro hacks that have the potential to make your life infinitely easier in the kitchen.

Gear

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things…

“Japanese chefs believe that their soul goes into their knives once they start using them… You wouldn’t put your soul in the dishwasher, now would you?” — Masaharu Morimoto

About The Intrepid Gourmet

Hi! My name is Jim. I'm so glad you found your way to my blog!

I'm an avid cook, recipe developer and culinary enthusiast. At the end of the day though, I'm just a regular guy who loves cooking, eating, and sharing a fantastic meal with others.

I firmly believe cooking is for everyone, and that anyone who wants to learn to cook - and cook well - can do so.

As my grandfather used to say "If you can read, you can cook!" There is literally nothing to stop you from trying your hand in the kitchen - you'll be surprised what you can do!

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Full Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a product recommended here (or even better, buy it!), I may make a small commission.

Please note that all the products with which I choose to affiliate are ones that I have actually have tested and most of them I currently use and stand by in my own kitchen; I recommend them because I believe they will make a difference to you as well.

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Disclaimer Cooking can be a thrilling experience, but is also inherently dangerous because most of the time it means using heat, which means fire, and sharp things, like knives, to say nothing of eating raw or undercooked things that might be housing various diseases, including but not limited to bacteria, salmonella, e Coli, trichinosis, etc. which can poison you.

By reading this blog, clicking on any links contained herein, or trying to prepare or eat any of the recipes contained herein, YOU, the reader, assume full responsibility for any and all outcomes (delicious or otherwise) related to the process of preparing, cooking or eating anything suggested in this blog.

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Have fun out there. Eat well, live well, come home with all your fingers, don’t blow yourself up or set your kitchen on fire or eat anything poisonous. Best of luck!

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Category: Sides and Salads

Classic Marinara Sauce

This classic Italian sauce is a staple for many dishes and can easily be enjoyed on it’s own over pasta. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for bread, calamari, or mozzarella cheese sticks.

Essential Garlic Bread

This quick and easy version of Garlic Bread is made from pantry and fridge essentials, comes together in a flash, and is a perfect accompaniment or side dish to almost any meal.

Mediterranean Salad

A great salad is the perfect compliment to any meal, and the secret lies in using fresh ingredients – and a homemade salad dressing.

Once you learn to make your own salad dressing – which is simple to do – you’ll never buy store-bought again.

How To Build The Perfect Charcuterie Board

It may be counterintuitive, but the secret to building a great charcutier board lies in choosing ingredients that to some degree actually oppose – rather than compliment – each other. This keeps the experience interesting enough that people will want to keep munching.

Rice Pilaf

Sure, you can use Near East or even the Riceroni version – which are surprisingly good – but here’s how to make you own authentic Rice Pilaf.

Morning Coffee Read

“It’s Called Cooking…”

A few years ago I accidentally dumped an entire five-quart Dutch oven of coq au vin into the back of a friend’s oven.

Wine. Chicken. Mushrooms. Pearl onions.

Everywhere.

4 minute read

Food Science

The Truth About MSG

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) has gotten a bad rap for decades, but the question remains: is it really as bad for you as everyone thinks?

15 minute read

Quick Read

Steak au Poivre with Apple Brandy Pink Peppercorn Sauce

Using Pink Peppercorns elevates this dish by contributing a fruity, floral depth while Himalayan Pink Salt provides a minerality which perfectly complements any cut of beef.

3 minute read