The Alt Table
Everyday home cooking from my table to yours.
Featured Table of the Month:
Every month, The Alt Table pulls up a chair at someone else’s table. I sit down with a new featured person, listen to the stories behind the food they love, and create recipes inspired by those memories. Here’s who’s at the table this month.
November 2026: Clarence’s Table
Clarence Alt is a man who never met a fire he didn’t want to feed, and if it can be smoked, it’s getting smoked. Armadillo eggs, chili, even chicken soup get the wood-fire treatment, with Mare at his side and a quiet “I ain’t mad at it” for a job well done.
Recipes from Clarence’s Table
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Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine and Pancetta
My dad has his own way with beef stew. He reaches for the pressure cooker, which gets the beef fork-tender in a fraction of the time. He keeps the vegetables classic, but varied depending on the mood: the carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions you’d expect in a bowl. He has been know to occasionally add…
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Smoky Roasted Chicken and Fennel Soup
This smoky chicken soup gets its flavor from technique, not equipment. Roast two small chickens, char the vegetables for the stock, and layer smoked paprika at three stages for a broth that tastes slow-cooked and campfire-warm. It’s a from-scratch soup made for fall and winter, and it’s the kind of dish that’s even better the…
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Smoky Chili Recipe with Beef, Sausage & Bacon
This smoky Dutch oven chili is loaded with beef, breakfast sausage, and crispy bacon. Poblanos and chipotle in adobo give it a deep, smoky heat, and hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes make the base rich and red. It’s mild enough for the whole family, and it’s even better after a night in the fridge. Top it…
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Orange Braised Chuck Roast: Tender Shredded Beef Recipe
Chuck roast is one of the most forgiving cuts for a cozy, low-effort dinner, and this version makes the most of it. A salt-and-pepper dry brine seasons the beef deeply, and a hard sear builds a rich crust. Then the orange braised chuck roast cooks low and slow in a Dutch oven with fresh orange…
Freshly Served!
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Mussels in Red Sauce with San Marzano Tomatoes & Garlic
Why You’ll Love This Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need Tips for the Best Mussels What to Serve with Mussels in Red Sauce Crusty bread is a must for soaking up the sauce. Toasted baguette or ciabatta rubbed with a cut garlic clove is a good upgrade. For a bigger meal, spoon the mussels and sauce over…
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Shepherd’s Pie with Potato Gratin (Beef Chuck Version)
This shepherd’s pie takes the cozy idea of a meat-and-potato casserole and slows it way down. Beef chuck braises with Italian sausage, fennel and beet in Pinot Noir until it’s rich and spoonable. Over it goes a shingled potato gratin with layers of caramelized onion cream and Gruyere. It’s a Sunday dish, and it fills…
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I Ain’t Mad at It: Clarence Alt’s Table
Clarence Alt is a man who never met a fire he didn’t want to feed, and if it can be smoked, it’s getting smoked. Armadillo eggs, chili, even chicken soup get the wood-fire treatment, with Mare at his side and a quiet “I ain’t mad at it” for a job well done. The Brisket That…
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Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine and Pancetta
My dad has his own way with beef stew. He reaches for the pressure cooker, which gets the beef fork-tender in a fraction of the time. He keeps the vegetables classic, but varied depending on the mood: the carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions you’d expect in a bowl. He has been know to occasionally add…
-
Smoky Roasted Chicken and Fennel Soup
This smoky chicken soup gets its flavor from technique, not equipment. Roast two small chickens, char the vegetables for the stock, and layer smoked paprika at three stages for a broth that tastes slow-cooked and campfire-warm. It’s a from-scratch soup made for fall and winter, and it’s the kind of dish that’s even better the…
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Smoky Chili Recipe with Beef, Sausage & Bacon
This smoky Dutch oven chili is loaded with beef, breakfast sausage, and crispy bacon. Poblanos and chipotle in adobo give it a deep, smoky heat, and hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes make the base rich and red. It’s mild enough for the whole family, and it’s even better after a night in the fridge. Top it…
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Homemade Tomato Soup with San Marzano Tomatoes
Tomato Soup with Beef Chuck Roast and Havarti Grilled Cheese There’s a short list of meals that feel like a hug, and tomato soup with grilled cheese is at the top of it. This version keeps the soup simple and puts the extra effort into the sandwich. If you’ve made my beef chuck roast, this…
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Chuck Roast Lasagna with Pulled Beef
Why You’ll Love This Lasagna Ground beef lasagna is great, but pulled chuck roast takes it somewhere else. The beef is tender and rich, and it stays in real shreds between the layers instead of disappearing into the sauce. Add a quick tomato sauce built on anchovy and thyme, a creamy ricotta filling, and a…
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Orange Braised Chuck Roast: Tender Shredded Beef Recipe
Chuck roast is one of the most forgiving cuts for a cozy, low-effort dinner, and this version makes the most of it. A salt-and-pepper dry brine seasons the beef deeply, and a hard sear builds a rich crust. Then the orange braised chuck roast cooks low and slow in a Dutch oven with fresh orange…
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Vietnamese Coconut Iced Coffee (Easy 5-Minute Recipe)
Vietnamese Coconut Iced Coffee: My Favorite Souvenir from Vietnam In August, we traveled to Vietnam with friends. The flights were reasonable and the lodging was affordable, which, in hindsight, should have tipped me off. The timing was probably a mistake. We arrived to insane heat and even more insane humidity, bouncing between steamy rainstorms and…
