Mister Branzino's Newsletter

Mister Branzino's Newsletter is a weekly publication sharing unique food finds, recipes, and cooking tips, with occasional thoughts on fatherhood and lifestyle. It covers a wide range of cooking methods, culinary discoveries, ingredient substitutions, and global food trends, highlighting efficiency in the kitchen and the joy of home cooking.

Cooking and Recipes Food Trends Ingredient Substitutions Kitchen Efficiency Global Cuisine Lifestyle and Fatherhood

The hottest Substack posts of Mister Branzino's Newsletter

And their main takeaways

🐟 Food Find Friday - Feb 16, 2024

79 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Trends
  1. Many Lebanese restaurants are owned by Palestinians, Iraqis, and Syrians who brand themselves as Lebanese, but Google now allows businesses to identify as Palestinian.
  2. Basmati and Jasmine rice have distinct differences, but some find they can be interchangeable in certain dishes like Middle Eastern foods.
  3. A 6-5-4-3-2-1 shopping method is gaining popularity for efficient and cost-effective grocery shopping, emphasizing a mix of veggies, fruits, proteins, starches, sauces, and one fun item.

🐟 Food Find Friday - Feb 9, 2024

59 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Healthy Eating
  1. Healing Chicken Noodle Soup is a comforting dish to try when someone is sick.
  2. Parents have a responsibility to set boundaries and lead kids in healthy eating habits.
  3. Making quick and tasty sheet-pan meals like lemon-garlic salmon can simplify family dinners.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

🐟 Food Find Friday - Jan 19, 2024 🐟

19 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Recipes
  1. In-n-Out is listed as one of the best places to work in America on Glassdoor for 2024.
  2. COQODAQ, a new NYC restaurant, serves up fancy fried chicken alongside champagne.
  3. Consider splurging on Parmigiano Reggiano over Parmesan for your dishes, as it's worth the extra cost.

🐟 Food Find Friday - Jan 12, 2024

19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food history Cooking tips
  1. Mister Branzino explores food finds weekly, sharing interesting discoveries from the past 7 days.
  2. National Quitter's Day is real, happening around January, when many people struggle to stick to their new year resolutions.
  3. Caesar salad, often associated with Italian-American cuisine, is actually a Mexican invention from Tijuana, sparking a food historical war.

🐟 Food Find Friday - Jan 5, 2024 🐟

19 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes
  1. Try out El Moro's churros in the USA for a delicious treat
  2. Consider using a Wonderbag for slow cooking with African-inspired technology
  3. Check out the best recipes of 2023 from NYT Cooking and explore cooking seasonally

Potato Leek Soup

19 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipe Ingredients Equipment Tips
  1. The recipe shared in the post is for a super simple yet fancy Potato Leek Soup, also known as Vichyssoise.
  2. The ingredients required for the soup include chicken or veggie stock, leeks, onion, potato, chives, Half-and-Half, butter, and olive oil.
  3. For equipment, you'll need two pots, a blender, cutting board, knife, and spatula or wooden spoon to prepare this delicious soup.

🐟 Food Find Friday - Dec 8, 2023

19 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Food Trends Food culture Food Media Food Industry
  1. People are opting to eat from hot bars at grocery stores more than at restaurants due to the macro-economy, so cooking at home can be a good money-saving option.
  2. National Cookie Day was celebrated last week, and there's a delicious peanut butter cookie recipe featured that's worth trying.
  3. Food & Wine's 2023 Holiday Gift Guide is recommended for Christmas shopping, with gift ideas like the Yeti Rambler being appealing. Still enough time to get gifts.

Eat Like Trump: Steak and Ketchup

19 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes
  1. The recipe provided is for making Trump's favorite meal of steak with ketchup using a reverse sear technique.
  2. The recipe includes ingredients like NY Strip steak, salt, pepper, butter, garlic, lemon, and Sir Kensington Ketchup.
  3. Following the detailed directions, the steak is seared after cooking in the oven and then served with ketchup after resting.

Green Rice

19 implied HN points • 08 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. The recipe for Green Rice includes ingredients like olive oil, onion, cilantro, garlic, tomatillos, and spices like salt or bouillon cube.
  2. The cooking process involves steps like sautéing the vegetables, blending a green mixture, simmering the rice, and serving with scallions and cilantro.
  3. This recipe serves 4-6 people and provides a flavorful dish that can be a great addition to any meal.

Hummus

0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking DIY
  1. Making homemade hummus is quick, delicious, and better than store-bought. Follow the simple steps and enjoy the superior taste.
  2. Be mindful not to add olive oil into the food processor when making hummus. Save it for garnishing to enhance the flavor.
  3. Get creative with toppings to elevate your hummus, like adding pine nuts toasted in butter or creating a spicy jalapeño topping.

Shepard's Salad

0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Vegetarian Salads Cooking
  1. Shepard's Salad is a quick, easy, and delicious way to use up tomatoes and herbs
  2. The recipe ingredients include tomatoes, green onions, cucumbers, mint, garlic, olive oil, and more
  3. To make Shepard's Salad, wash and chop the veggies, mix with other ingredients, and let sit before serving

Achiote Chicken

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Ingredients Meal Prep Cuisine
  1. Achiote Chicken is described as the best chicken ever by the author.
  2. The recipe for Achiote Chicken includes key ingredients like achiote powder, garlic, and orange juice.
  3. To achieve the best flavor, it is recommended to marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours to overnight before cooking.

Pico de Gallo

0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cuisine Ingredients Cooking Culture
  1. Pico de Gallo is a spicy and flavorful salsa from the Yucatan Peninsula.
  2. Key ingredients in Pico de Gallo include tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and citrus juices like orange and lime.
  3. Adding spice to Pico de Gallo is optional and can be adjusted based on personal preference, typically using serrano pepper for heat.

Yogurt Cucumber Salad

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. This yogurt cucumber salad recipe is perfect for beginners as it is easy to make and requires simple ingredients.
  2. The salad is a refreshing and delicious dish that can impress your friends with its flavors.
  3. For an extra kick, consider adding rice wine vinegar to the salad for a more acidic taste.

Easy Chicken Tacos with Creamy Jalapeño Salsa

0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Ingredients
  1. The recipe shares how to make Easy Chicken Tacos with Creamy Jalapeño Salsa using simple ingredients like chicken thighs, jalapeños, and cilantro.
  2. The recipe provides step-by-step directions on how to cook the chicken, make the creamy jalapeño salsa, and assemble the tacos with additional ingredients like pico de gallo and avocado salad (guacamole).
  3. The post includes a link for paid subscribers to access additional content and recipes from Mister Branzino on Substack.

Lebanese Potato Salad

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Ingredients Cooking Salads Cuisines
  1. This Lebanese Potato Salad recipe eliminates the need for mayo by using fresh ingredients like lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs for flavor.
  2. The recipe includes simple steps like boiling the potatoes, adding frozen peas at the end, and combining all ingredients for a refreshing salad.
  3. The salad pairs well with dishes like burgers, BBQ ribs, or steak, making it a versatile and delicious side dish.

Hamburger

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Ingredients
  1. Excellence in cooking often starts with mastering the basics, like making a great hamburger.
  2. This classic burger recipe includes simple steps like preparing patties and assembling with your favorite ingredients.
  3. You can customize your burger by trying different variations, like adding special sauce, caramelized onions, or unique bun choices.

🐟 Food Find Friday - Dec 15, 2023

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Fast Food Bread Cooking
  1. Grilled chicken sandwiches at fast-food spots like Chick-fil-A can be a healthy and convenient choice, especially when on the go.
  2. Be cautious when buying 'sourdough' bread - true sourdough should only include water, flour, and salt, without added yeast or preservatives.
  3. Freezing items like deli meat, green onions, and heavy cream can be a convenient way to preserve ingredients for later use in the kitchen.

Pasta Primavera

0 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Ingredients Cooking
  1. The Pasta Primavera recipe includes a variety of ingredients like asparagus, peas, pine nuts, and feta cheese.
  2. The cooking directions emphasize starting with boiling water, making the green yogurt sauce, and mixing all ingredients thoroughly at the end.
  3. To enhance the taste, consider adding spices like paprika or chili flakes when toasting pine nuts.

Eat Like President Biden: Chicken Parmesan

0 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. Learn how to cook Chicken Parmesan like President Biden with step-by-step instructions and ingredients.
  2. Cool cooking tips included, like how to check if oil is hot enough using a wooden spoon.
  3. Options for customizing the recipe, like using portobello mushroom instead of meat, make it versatile.

Hella Fast Meatballs

0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. The recipe for Hella Fast Meatballs includes basic ingredients like beef, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese mixed into small meatballs.
  2. The meatballs are quickly broiled before being cooked in marinara sauce for a simple yet tasty dish.
  3. This recipe is versatile and can be served with pasta or as a sandwich, making it a convenient meal option.

Black Beans

0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Ingredients Tips
  1. Soak black beans overnight or at least 8 hours before cooking to ensure tenderness.
  2. Avoid adding salt while boiling black beans to prevent them from becoming tough.
  3. This black bean recipe can be adapted to use other types of dried beans as well.

Green Gold Avocado Salad

0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. The post shares a recipe for a delicious Green Gold Avocado Salad with simple ingredients like avocados, scallions, lime, and cilantro.
  2. The recipe includes easy directions like scooping out avocado flesh, adding seasonings, and mashing everything together.
  3. The post encourages engagement by requesting readers to subscribe to the newsletter, share the post, and provide feedback to improve.

Gremolata

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking tips Condiments
  1. Gremolata is an Italian condiment made with parsley, lemon and orange zest, garlic, capers, and scallions.
  2. It can be used to flavor chicken, fish, or osso bucco dishes.
  3. Making gremolata involves simply mixing all the ingredients in a bowl before adding it to your dish.

Lemon Zaatar Chicken and Potatoes

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Ingredients Meal Prep
  1. The recipe for Lemon Zaatar Chicken and Potatoes includes simple ingredients like chicken, potatoes, lemon juice, and zaatar, making it easy to prepare and ideal for serving 4-6 people.
  2. The dish can be accompanied by a tomato and yogurt salad, and any type of potatoes can be used to create a delicious meal.
  3. After baking, the leftover liquid can be transformed into a lemony-zaatar gravy by reducing it down by half in a small pot, adding an extra layer of flavor to the dish.