grad student – Catie Cooks

What Do You Do with a Degree in Food?

Although I didn’t officially celebrate graduation until May, it has now been one year since I finished the coursework for my gastronomy master’s degree. I am reflecting on what this degree has done for me and whether it was worth it. I won’t sugarcoat things. Grad school is ridiculously expensive. When self-financing a degree, it…

PinkGlow Pineapple

I am taking a class this semester called Food and the Senses. Part of this class is crafting lab experiments, and I will be sharing some of my projects with you. I was at Wegmans during Valentine’s Day weekend and saw pink pineapples on sale. As an avid pineapple lover, I have wanted to try…

Blue Apron Review

I am here to give my thoughts on Blue Apron. This is the third meal kit service I have reviewed for the blog. Interested in the whole journey? See my Hello Fresh review and my Plated review. During my time with a busy schedule at the law firm, I came to rely on regular deliveries…

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

This is a piece I did for my food writing class, inspired by Pastry Chef Janine Sciarappa. Apple Cider Doughnut CakeWith a Few Tweaks, Apple Cider Doughnuts Become Cake Move over pumpkin spice. Apple cider is here to claim its crown as the ultimate fall flavor. Apple Cider Doughnut Cake, inspired by the popular fall breakfast treat, brings the harvest…

Vegan-Ish

Let’s get one thing straight. This is not a post advocating for you to become a vegan. I am not vegan, and I am extremely confident I will never be one. I enjoy meat too much, and don’t you dare try to come between me and cheese. However, I have a great appreciation for vegan…

Quarantine Cooking – Puff Pastry Edition

Do you ever see a cooking video on Facebook and think, “Wow! I should make that!” You might share some recipes to your wall, or you might be like me and click ‘save for later’ only to never return to the recipe. However, this week I saw a cooking video so good that I knew…

Quarantine Cooking – Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry

Raise your hand if you panic-bought anything in the month of March. I think we all were guilty of making at least one panic purchase when the pending reality of Coronavirus hit. I shop for just myself, so I didn’t buy much out of the ordinary on that shopping trip in the midst of chaos.…

Quarantine Cooking – Babka Bread Pudding

I haven’t written in nearly a week. I got held up in some school work. I am still trying my best to preoccupy myself during the COVID-19 lockdown. I have lost track of how much TV I have watched and how many naps I have taken. On a more productive note, I have been reading…

Quarantine Cooking – Arctic Char and Noodle Salad

Hello everyone. I wanted to briefly check in before I get to work on my reading for Anthropology of Food. I just finished up with a simple but flavorful lunch using ingredients I had lying around. So, I wanted to talk about how to throw together a pantry meal. Oftentimes when I am cooking, I…

Coronavirus Anxieties and Spring Break Exploration at Democracy Brewing

It’s been a whirlwind of a week. This past weekend, I finished my last shifts at the tapas restaurant where I have been working as a host since I moved to Boston in September. Now that I am taking two masters courses and am working as a graduate assistant this semester, working four nights at…