About Me

Chris is creative director of Left Right Media branding and marketing agency in Austin. As a photographer and former engineer, Chris enjoys covering topics at the intersection of art and science.


Latest Stories

How Much is a Gram of Sugar, Salt, or Butter?
It's less than a teaspoon.
Jun 17, 2024
Drinking a Dash of Vinegar: 10 Shrub Recipes for the Summer
We’re talking all things preservation this week, so while you’re readying a batch of pickled vegetables why not mix a little of that vinegar into your next drink or cocktail as well? A roundup of shrewd shrubs to wet your palate await.Drinking vinegar is back in vogue and it’s not just because its distinct zing can curl your mustache. Mixing a tinge of vinegar into your drink or cocktail can add some complexity and savory overtones that may just have you coming back for more.
May 25, 2023
The Best Ways to Store & Reheat Bread: Advice from a Baker
I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Baker and Doughpuncher David Norman. David is a true artisan when it comes to baking breads, working each batch of dough carefully to achieve the consistency and quality he desires. I asked him about common misconceptions the public may have when it comes to baking and storing bread, and it turns out we may have been doing a few things wrong.
Dec 14, 2022
What Is Nougat Anyway?
I was enjoying a meal at a local restaurant this week — trying to manage one more bite of my entree before admitting I was full and calling it quits — when out came the waitress mentioning that the dessert special for the day was a nutella cake with homemade nougat ice cream. My regular stomach clocked out, and my dessert stomach clocked in. “We’re doing this!” But what the heck is nougat anyway?
Oct 8, 2022
How To Cook a Crispy, Juicy Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill
It’s our nation’s 4th of July celebration tomorrow, and like most holidays, this one deserves a feast — a celebration through food (and maybe beer, too). If you have a rotisserie attachment for your grill hanging around, it’s time to dust it off (and if you don’t have one, now might be the time to finally buy it). Because today, my friends, I’m going to show you how to cook the best darn rotisserie chicken you’ve ever had. Time to quit messing around.
Sep 22, 2022
How To Make Iced Coffee – French Press Method
Better iced coffee without any added fuss!
Sep 12, 2022
How To Pan-Sear Any Vegetable for a Quick Weeknight Side Dish
For as long as I can remember I’ve loved broccoli. It went with about everything…steak, chicken stir-fry, pasta, or even turkey and dressing. My mom didn’t have to remind me to eat my veggies when broccoli was on the plate, and to this day, I’ll eat right through a big bowl of it. Not everyone has a love affair with vegetables though.
Aug 28, 2022
Recipe: Miso-Maple Sweet Potato Tacos with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce
Now that you have taken the full behind-the-scenes tour of Jeanine & Jack’s radiant kitchen, we’re happy to bring you a special treat: a recipe from this cooking couple. You can count on Jeanine’s recipes to be bright, fresh, and full of flavor. These miso & maple glazed sweet potato tacos let us indulge in the tastes of fall. Jeanine not only gets her inspiration from several regional cookbooks, but also from the dining experiences she shares with her husband Jack.
May 17, 2022
38 Recipes to Make with That Can of Coconut Milk in Your Pantry
Don't let that can in your pantry go to waste.
Sep 10, 2021
Lunchbox Favorites: Remembering the Treats That Thrilled Me As a Kid
Remember back when things were simple? When you’d wake up in the morning and happily put on clothes that were picked out for you, even if they were pale yellow pants with a drawstring? When, on your way out the door, you’d grab your tin Voltron lunch box and know what was inside it without even looking? (Mine was peanut butter with strawberry jelly sandwich, edges trimmed, and a granny smith apple.
Sep 30, 2020
Recipe: Green PiƱa Colada Smoothie
Do you like piña colada? Then you’ll love this nutritious take on the classic. With its fresh coconut and no added sugar, you won’t feel guilty about enjoying this smoothie everyday. My friend Alejendra (who also happens to be a doctor) shows us how she makes her delicious green piña colada for her family.Alejandra believes in the power of a good diet and a healthy food lifestyle.
Jan 29, 2020
Summer Drink Recipe: Spicy Roasted Shishito Pepper Margarita
My new crush may very well be shishito peppers with sea salt. I tried them for the first time at a restaurant a few months ago and now I’ve been seeing them everywhere! They’re popping up at restaurants, the farmer’s market, and all over that make-me-jealous-of-what-you’re-eating app called Instagram. Well, it’s finally time to put these peppers where they belong — muddled in an ice-cold margarita with a few extra for munching alongside.
Jan 29, 2020
What’s Your Favorite Kind of Pie?
My 4th of July didn’t feel like the 4th of July. I had the cookout. I had the pool time. I had the fireworks. The one thing I didn’t have though, was pie! Suspecting that was the missing ingredient, I plan on making up for it in a big way. The “I’m making a pie, nobody will know about it, and therefore it’s all mine kind of way.” Devious, I know. When thinking about this grand plan, I started wondering what exactly my favorite type of pie is.
Jun 8, 2019
That Sweet, Ooey, Gooey Crunch: 8 Ways to Enjoy S’mores
Is there anything more fun than s’mores? For me it brings back nostalgic childhood memories, the warmth of friendship around an open campfire. But there’s no reason you can’t enjoy them now, too! Try one of these eight takes on the classic and remind yourself why melted chocolate is oh-so-great.No one is quite sure about the origin of the s’more (contraction for “some more”).
Jun 5, 2019
Why Chickpeas Are the Perfect Travel Snack: And 8 Recipes to Try!
All this week we’ve been talking about travel snacks here on The Kitchn. An ideal travel snack is portable, versatile, configurable, and heat-resistant. (Unfortunately that last factor rules out chocolate as a viable option.) You know what meets all those criteria in spades, though? The chickpea! Roast ’em, dry ’em, shake ’em all up. You’ve just found your new travel buddy.I’ve been pretty unimaginative in roasted chickpea creations.
May 24, 2019
How To Make Cranberry Mustard for the Holidays
We’ve been featuring great homemade food gifts here on The Kitchn this week, and with holiday leftovers abound one can always appreciate a savory condiment to freshen things up and add new flavors. Today we’re going to show you how to make a Cranberry Mostarda, with the help of Chef Mat Clouser of Swift’s Attic. Then we’re going to wrap things up and gift some to our friends for the holidays.
May 24, 2019
How To Make Smoked Salmon
I love to cook, and love to entertain. There’s something about sharing a meal with friends, or even strangers So today I’m going to show you how to prepare a smoked salmon two ways. One for the delicate palate and another for the person who’s looking for something boldly sweet and spicy. During the summer I always cook a few things in the smoker as a good reason to have an outdoor party or two.
May 2, 2019
Make Your Own Emergency Hangry Kit
With all the holiday hustle and bustle, hangry outbreaks are not uncommon this time of year, much to the chagrin of our significant others. Hangry happens suddenly, unexpectedly, and it won’t go away until you do something about it. Fortunately, you can stave off the worst symptoms by making your own personal hangry kit to stash in your purse, messenger bag, or car.A perfect hangry kit should have a mix of essential flavors (salty, bitter, and sweet) so you can go to it for any craving.
May 2, 2019
Marion Cunningham’s Brandy Snaps
My absolute favorite thing about the holidays — besides the time with family and friends — is hands-down the COOKIES! Retail stores and local craft shops are known to pass out a few fresh cookies to spread the holiday cheer as you shop, and I’ll typically grab an extra sample or two when the wife isn’t looking. “I’m just not sure if that’s nutmeg or cinnamon I taste, I think I’ll just have to try one more to be certain.
May 2, 2019
5 Juice Recipes To Kickstart the New Year
It’s 2013. It’s time to start another year. It’s time to get back into the routine of our daily lives. And if you’re like me, it’s time to figure out a way shed the extra pounds gained from all those holiday treats. Oh, but aren’t they’re always worth it? From smoked turkey to ham, from sweet potatoes and broccoli cheese casserole to fudge and gingerbread men, I’ve indulged in just about every culinary delight over the past couple months.
May 2, 2019
My Safety Drink at Questionable Bars: Tequila Ginger Ale
If you only have two ingredients, they better both be great… err, at least decent. That’s precisely why I order a Tequila Ginger Ale. Tequila, is my favorite spirit. Maybe because I’m Mexican and have some inborn affinity towards it or maybe because the good stuff has an earthy bite that I enjoy (thanks to the agave plant it’s distilled from). It’s something I can drink straight, and even when it’s bad it’s not all that bad — at least in my book.
May 2, 2019
Rally Your Friends: Throw an Outdoor Paella Party this Summer!
I absolutely love Spain. The culture, the people, the enthusiasm for life and for food. Where else in the world can you go, at half past midnight, and see three generations of people celebrating no particular occasion outside of a cafe? Where else in the world can you find a 24″ pan of paella — piping hot, and filled to the brim with fresh seafood?  Though the former may be hard to replicate, the latter is something worth throwing a party for.
May 2, 2019
Southern Recipe: Cholula Chicken-Fried Steak with Gravy
Don't forget to serve it all with gravy.
May 2, 2019
Bite-Sized Inspiration: 10 Sweet and Savory Miniature Nibbles
After having my share of grilled meats and veggies over the weekend, I’m decidedly in the mood for something more compact. Just want a bite or two of something tasty? Here are 10 bite-sized nuggets of inspiration! From savory to sweet, you can give your meals a sizeable spin to freshen things up. Try some of these recipes below for a weekday meal or dinner party treats. Don’t let their size fool you into having more than you can account for.
May 2, 2019
The Best Thing I Cooked Last Week: No-Bake Veggie Enchiladas
Everyone has probably at some point cooked or eaten a veggie enchilada. Typically, black beans are subbed in for meat, and you cover everything with a tomato-based sauce and a layer of melted cheese. These veggie enchiladas, though — with a roasted carrot sofrito — are something entirely new and fresh. They’re the best thing I cooked I last week.There’s soffritto and sofrito.
May 2, 2019
The Best Thing I Cooked Last Week: Grilled Dutch Baby
The oven in our home is enormously inefficient. It takes so long to preheat because it has to preheat our whole kitchen first. This all makes for quite an unpleasant conundrum in the summer, but under the right influence it can also lead to some unexpected discoveries. Why not keep the house cool by keeping the oven off and cooking outside? Why not try cooking a Dutch Baby on the grill?
May 2, 2019
America’s Most Frequently Dyed Foods
Recently a friend and I stopped in to try out a new sushi bar setup inside our neighborhood Whole Foods. We started with a mandatory carafe of sake and a seaweed salad, a particular favorite of mine as of late. When the first round of orders came out, my friend commented how the seaweed salad wasn’t bright green, as we’re used to seeing. We then realized this was because the salad wasn’t dyed for visual appeal.
May 2, 2019
6 Books to Make You a Better Cook in 2014
This time of year I could always use a good book recommendation — particularly as I’m trying to regain the cooking mojo that appears to still be out on holiday vacation. I usually find my inspiration around the open flame of a grill, but the winter season has me hunkered down on a couch by another type of fire (with mandatory hot chocolate). Here are some recent cookbooks I’m considering as I embark on being a more well-rounded cook. 1.
May 2, 2019
7 of My Favorite Art Prints for the Kitchen
Home is where the art is. If you’re hoping to infuse your kitchen with just a touch more personality this year, try carving out some room for a framed print. Find your style (contemporary or classic) and function (inspiration or utility) with some of my favorite prints. Try placing the chalkboard print in front of the glass on a flat-colored frame to give off the look of a hand-written chalk. Or add some interest by hanging three similar prints in different color variations side by side.
Jan 24, 2014
Rediscover the Patty Melt
With all of the work and time put into preparing holiday meals, family feasts and friendly gatherings, sometimes you just need a break — something simple to prepare, something that satisfies your most basic cravings, something that makes use of all that fresh baked bread that has found its way to your kitchen table. As far as American cravings go, there’s just something about a simple hamburger.
Dec 12, 2013
So You Don’t Like Turkey? Consider These Still-Festive, Still-Meaty Alternatives
My wife isn’t the biggest fan of turkey… which is a polite way of saying that she hates it! “She’s just never had a good turkey,” you might say. Au contraire mon ami, she’s had ’em done all the right ways from all the right people. Yet still, as far as she’s concerned, turkeys can pack its bags and jettison on a private plane co-piloted by Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Off to Never Neverland!
Nov 7, 2013
The $500 Lotus Rice Recipe
I try out a lot of recipes in the kitchen — some good, some bad, some worth filing into a digital locker of some sort. Like wine, I rarely try the same thing twice: there simply are too many new tastes to explore. Sometimes, though, a recipe speaks to you on an emotional level. And sometimes, making it costs you $500. How did this recipe cost me $500, you ask? The cost of the ingredients totaled no more than about $10.
Oct 17, 2013
The Best Thing I Cooked Last Week: Thai Coconut Seafood Soup
It’s officially fall. Let in the cool breeze and bring on the warm soup. Last week this surprisingly simple and quick-to-prepare soup took the crown of “best thing I cooked” so I just had to share. If you’ve got 12 minutes, you’ve got time to make this for dinner tonight. I usually take so-called “30 minute recipes” with a grain of salt, as they rarely take 30 real minutes to execute from knife to spoon.
Sep 26, 2013
Tasting Vanilla? It Might Be Beaver Butt. (And the FDA Approves.)
A popular headline resurfaced last week, and it was hard to miss. “Are you eating beaver butt?” The surprising answer is maybe if you eat any processed or pre-packaged foods. The FDA-approved food additive castoreum is a common vanilla substitute billed as a ‘natural flavoring’ on ingredient labels. Turns out it’s made from beaver butt.
Sep 19, 2013
Have You Had Coffee From a Siphon?
I enjoy a coffee, espresso, or latte every morning, and I typically get a pour-over when I go out for coffee at a popular local cafe here in Austin. But this particular day was different: I decided to order something from that gold-rimmed contraption in the photo above that looks like a prop from a Tim Burton movie. What is that? How does it work? And is it really worth all the hubbub?The so-called contraption is a siphon coffee filter.
Aug 15, 2013
What the Heck Is a Sesame?
This question, from part of a joke from late comedian Mitch Hedberg, got me really wondering. Where do sesame seeds come from, and what would they grow into if we ever gave them a chance? Turns out the mysterious ol’ sesame is more than a street and not just a way to open things.Sesame fruit are triangular-shaped pods (not too dissimilar in form to okra) that contain the famous seeds the plant is cultivated for, with India being the largest exporter.
Aug 13, 2013